July 2, 2024
Who Should We Be Watching?
A discussion about 1 Corinthians 16:13
A discussion about 1 Corinthians 16:13
WEBVTT
1
00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:08.439
Looking at our world from a theological
perspective. This is the Theology Central podcast
2
00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:17.039
making Theology Central. Good afternoon everyone. It is Tuesday, July the second,
3
00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.839
twenty twenty four. It is currently
two forty five pm Central Time,
4
00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:28.440
and I am coming to you live
from the Theology Central studio located right here
5
00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:38.079
in Abilene, Texas. Now,
it was January the fourteenth, January the
6
00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:45.799
fourteenth, nineteen eighty four. January
the fourteenth, nineteen eighty four. Right,
7
00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.679
do you remember that some of you
weren't alive? That's okay. January
8
00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:56.759
fourteenth, nineteen eighty four. I
was sitting in my bedroom, Buffalo Gap,
9
00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.119
Texas. I was sitting in front
of all of my stereo equipment,
10
00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:08.159
and I was listening to the top
forty pop radio station. Now, nineteen
11
00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.599
eighty four. You gotta know who
was the king of pop at that time,
12
00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:17.640
right, Michael Jackson was ruling the
world in nineteen eighty four. Okay,
13
00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:22.239
So Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson nineteen
eighty four, Okay, all right.
14
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:23.439
And so all of a sudden,
the DJ said, hey, we
15
00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:26.799
have a new song and Michael Jackson
is on it. And I was like,
16
00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:30.920
WHOA a new song? Wait?
When did Michael put out a new
17
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.280
song? Now the song is not
by Michael Jackson, but Michael Jackson is
18
00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.359
on the track, and I'm like, okay. Now, there was no
19
00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:40.799
one in the room to talk to, but I basically was like okay.
20
00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:46.799
No one interrupted, this is going
to be life changing. January fourteenth,
21
00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:51.560
nineteen eighty four. I cannot tell
you the exact time, but I'll never
22
00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:56.799
forget when the song started because the
lyrics went something like this, Who's watching?
23
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.719
Tell me? Who's watching? Who's
watching me? I'm just an average
24
00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:07.319
man with the average life. I
work from nine to five. Hey,
25
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.680
I won't say the next word.
I pay the price. All I want
26
00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:15.000
to do. All I want is
to be left alone and my average home.
27
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:20.759
But why do I always feel like
I'm in the twilight zone? I
28
00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:24.319
always feel like somebody's watching me,
and I have no privacy. I always
29
00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:29.639
feel I always feel like somebody's watching
me. Tell me? Is it just
30
00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.800
a dream? When I come home
at night, I bolt the door real
31
00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:38.120
tight. People call me on the
phone. I'm trying to avoid but I
32
00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:42.000
can. But can the people on
TV see me? Or am I just
33
00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:46.439
being paranoid? When I'm in the
shower and I'm afraid to wash my hair
34
00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:52.240
because I might open my eyes and
find someone standing there. People say I'm
35
00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:57.800
crazy, just a little touch,
but maybe showers remind me of Psycho just
36
00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:01.759
too much. That's why always feel
like somebody's watching me. Oh come on,
37
00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.280
I know some of you. You
don't remember it. You're you're way
38
00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.800
too young. I mean you should. You may not remember it, I
39
00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:09.240
mean you should know it. I
mean you don't have to be born at
40
00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:12.439
a time to know. I mean, we know who Beethoven is, we
41
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:14.479
know who Mozart is, we know
who the Beatles are. You don't have
42
00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:16.319
to be born and know a song
because you have access to every song that's
43
00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:20.199
ever been made on any streaming service. So you should know it. But
44
00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:24.080
okay, but even if you don't. All I cared about now At first
45
00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:28.039
I tuned in because Michael Jackson's on. He does the backing, he does
46
00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.080
the background vocals, so I just
oh, there's Michael. Oh, there's
47
00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:34.800
Michael. Oh there's Michael. Oh
there's Michael. That's all I cared about
48
00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:38.199
it first. But then I was
like, I like this song. I
49
00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:42.000
like, okay, this is kind
of clever. Okay, this is kind
50
00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.360
of funny, somebody's watching me.
Am I paranoid? Am I just a
51
00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:49.159
little touched? Maybe showers remind me
of Psycho? Just too much? Okay,
52
00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:51.360
I remember, I'm like and then
next thing you know, you know,
53
00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:53.759
everybody's walking around singing song. And
then of course you run to MTV.
54
00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:57.840
You want to see the video.
You gotta see the video. I
55
00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:01.919
loved that song. So watching me
by Rockwell, if you don't know the
56
00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:05.479
original artist rockwell, okay, that's
who it was by. Of course everyone
57
00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:09.800
just knows Michael Jackson was on the
song. But that's the song. Now,
58
00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.319
why am I talking about January the
fourteenth, nineteen eighty four and me
59
00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.079
listening to a song you probably don't
care about music or you probably think is
60
00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:19.959
horrible and ungodly. I understand you
don't talk to Christians about music, but
61
00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:27.759
I had to use that opening illustration
because that's all I can think about because
62
00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:30.519
just a little while ago, I
was listening to a webcast. Now,
63
00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.959
remember we're all supposed to be listening
and watching the live webcast on the Sermon's
64
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:39.160
two point o app. That's the
challenge, right, that's the challenge for
65
00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:42.279
the next two weeks, is you're
supposed to be watching the live webcast.
66
00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.079
I know there's plenty of them going
on right now that we're supposed to be
67
00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:46.959
watching, but that's what you're supposed
to be doing, just choosing random ones.
68
00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.399
So I chose a random one.
And at first it was really I
69
00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:54.040
was maddening. I was just sitting
here in my chair just rocking back and
70
00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:57.800
forth because it was just silence.
That the way the camera angle was,
71
00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.800
it just showed this huge Bible and
then someone we kind of walk up there,
72
00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.959
take a drink of water, walk
away, nothing, nothing, nothing,
73
00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:11.319
nothing. Finally the service began,
and you know, all I can
74
00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:19.240
say it was very formal, ver
very formal, Okay, very just very
75
00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:27.519
not a lot of how can we
say? It was very understated, very
76
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:32.240
somber, some may say, very
reverent. Right. They sang Psalm forty
77
00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:36.720
six, They did a scripture reading. The scripture was First Corinthians, chapter
78
00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:42.079
sixteen. They read the entire chapter. Then they prayed. And this is
79
00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:46.120
probably no exaggeration the pastor his prayer, and I don't think I'm trying to
80
00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:49.639
be fair here. It felt like
it was twenty minutes long. It was
81
00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:54.079
like a twenty minute long prayer and
it felt like a sermon, Like I
82
00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.839
was thinking, as I'm listening to
this prayer, should I have my head
83
00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:59.920
bout or should I be taking notes? Because I mean, he talked about
84
00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:06.160
election and predestination and effectual calling and
regeneration, and it just went on and
85
00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.439
on and on and on. I
think he covered every major I think he
86
00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:14.759
covered everything from Genesis to Revelation.
It was the longest prayer and the history
87
00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:17.120
of recorded prayers. Okay, so
it's like okay, good, good,
88
00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:24.040
right, good, all right.
Then finally the sermon began on First Corinthian
89
00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.959
sixteen, and it became it became
obvious really really quick that even though he
90
00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:34.160
read the whole chapter, he wasn't
going to actually expound or exegete the chapter.
91
00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:39.519
He was going to focus primarily on
one verse. And I'm like,
92
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:43.040
okay, okay. And in fact, as soon as soon as anytime I
93
00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.399
hear a sermon and the pastor says
turned first Corinthian sixteen, it's almost inevitably
94
00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.959
they're either going to talk about money
giving, right, because that's the first
95
00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.839
part of First Corinthian sixteen if you
look at it, First Corinthian sixteen,
96
00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:58.600
Verse one. Now concerning the collection
for the saints. I have given an
97
00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.920
order to the churches of Gala.
Even so do ye again. It tells
98
00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:05.600
you how the collection of the saints, how the giving should be done in
99
00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:10.000
the church. All right, So
it's either going to be that, and
100
00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:14.120
if it's not that, it's inevitable
it's going to be. First Corinthians,
101
00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:23.000
Chapter sixteen, verse thirteen, where
we read this word watch somebody's watching me,
102
00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.199
okay, watch now. At that
point I wasn't really thinking about the
103
00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.240
Rockwell song, all right. But
he read watch ye stand fast and the
104
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:35.720
faith quit you quit, you like
men, be strong, Let all your
105
00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:42.639
things be done with charity. But
he focused primarily on verse thirteen, watch
106
00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:46.079
ye stand fast in the faith,
quit you like men, be strong,
107
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.920
all right, or as it reads
in this translation, watch stand fast in
108
00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:56.480
the faith, be brave, be
strong, Let all that you do be
109
00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.160
done with love. I think he
was reading from the King James. He
110
00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:03.480
was reading from the King James.
But so there's two translations, so I
111
00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.680
didn't really give much thought about it. The watch there didn't really jump out
112
00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:11.319
at me at that point, so
then he kind of basically before he really
113
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:16.399
started expounding or executing. First Corinthia
sixteen thirteen. He went back through kind
114
00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:20.920
of an overview of First Corinthians,
which is I thought was really good.
115
00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.079
Right. He went through kind of
the overview, but then he got to
116
00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:28.959
First Corinthian sixteenth sixteen thirteen, and
in some ways it felt like he kind
117
00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:35.080
of forgot everything that came before,
because immediately he said, watchy. Now
118
00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.679
here's the question and One Corinthians sixteen
thirteen. This is the if we were
119
00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:41.840
in a harmoneutics class, this is
what I would do. I would walk
120
00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.960
in and all right. Class today
is First Corinthians, chapter sixteen, verse
121
00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:50.840
thirteen. Day. I hope you
do well. Good. Portion of your
122
00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:56.080
semester grade is going to be determined
on how well you can interpret this verse.
123
00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.159
But we're not going to even have
you work on the entire verse.
124
00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:03.679
We're gonna just have you work on
the first two words, watch ye.
125
00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.759
That's all we're gonna focus on.
Watch ye. And here's the question,
126
00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:16.399
what should you be watching? For? What should you be watching? So
127
00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.600
immediately when I started thinking this out, as I'm listening, writing out my
128
00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.600
own hypotheses, I'm like, you
know, who should I be watching?
129
00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:26.360
Somebody's Oh wait, okay, oh
the Rockwell song January the fourteenth, nineteen
130
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.440
eighty four. Then immediately, because
I relate everything to music. Okay,
131
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.600
so then I started thinking about the
song. But really I want you to
132
00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.879
think about and that's the question.
That's the interpretive hermenudic class question of the
133
00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.080
day. All right, whoever gets
this right, you'll be val victorian.
134
00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.519
Whoever gets this wrong, you get
kicked out a seminary. Okay, are
135
00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:46.559
you ready? You've got to get
this right. Who are you to be
136
00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:52.200
watching for? Who are you to
be watching for? A First Corinthian sixteen
137
00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:58.840
thirteen. Now in the webcast,
he turned it into watch for Satan.
138
00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.200
Satan is out to get you,
watch for his schemes, watch for his
139
00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:07.639
devices. And I think most I
think if you preach that in most churches,
140
00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:11.039
they'd be like, amen, we
need to be watching for Satan.
141
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:16.159
But I'm going to challenge that,
and I'm going to argue that in the
142
00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:20.080
context of First Corinthians sixteen thirteen,
that's not telling you to watch for Satan.
143
00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.919
So you can either go, Now, what some people may say,
144
00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:28.879
watch for Satan. You may agree
that of the things I'm about to tell
145
00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:33.000
us we need to watch for,
or you may say watch for both but
146
00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.799
I just think in the context here, I don't know if Satan is really
147
00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.840
the focus here, all right,
And so I just started doing a little
148
00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.440
bit of research. The first thing
I wanted to know is, well,
149
00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:48.960
is Satan mentioned in First Corinthians.
Well, I know the only place,
150
00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.399
and I could be wrong. I
believe he's mentioned in First Corinthians chapter five,
151
00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:56.080
verse five. But when First Corinthians
five to five, Paul is not
152
00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:58.279
telling them to watch out for Satan
or Satan is out to get you,
153
00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:03.200
no, actual look what they're telling
them to do in First Corinthians chapter five.
154
00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:07.360
This is pretty fascinating. And First
Corinthians chapter five, we know we
155
00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:11.840
have some sexual sin going on in
the church, right it is actually this
156
00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:15.360
is First Corinthians chapter five, verse
five of First Corinthia chapter five, verse
157
00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.679
one. In the New King James, it is actually reported that there is
158
00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:24.919
sexual and morality among you and such
sexually and morality has not even named among
159
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.200
the gentiles. Hey, there's you've
got some sexual sin going on in your
160
00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.720
church. Even the gentiles don't even
talk about this. You guys are taking
161
00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.840
it to a whole new level.
Now, Please note this is happening inside
162
00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.799
the church, inside the church.
Inside the church, I know, we
163
00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:43.960
always like to think the church is
the bastion of family values and the church
164
00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:50.399
is the fortress of sexual morality.
The church is just as messed up as
165
00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:54.799
everything else, because we are,
say, by an imputed righteousness, meaning
166
00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:58.080
we are declared to be righteous,
but in practice we're still sinners. Okay,
167
00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.399
well, we can get a whole
discussion there. But there's some something
168
00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:05.279
going on. So what is going
on in the church That a man has
169
00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:13.159
his father's wife. So there's a
son having relations with his father's wife.
170
00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:18.039
Okay, something's going on here.
This is an issue, all right.
171
00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.919
So and you were puffed up and
have not rather mourned that he who have
172
00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.919
done this deed might be taken away
from among you. The people in the
173
00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.120
church are kind of like, well, you know, so what, We're
174
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:31.919
not gonna do anything about it.
We're just gonna We're just not gonna do
175
00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.360
anything about it. So what does
Paul tell them to do? Here we
176
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:39.120
go for indeed, as this is
verse three. For indeed, as absent
177
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:43.120
in the body, but present and
the spirit, have I already judged,
178
00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.919
as though I were present him who
has done this deed. And the name
179
00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.759
of our Lord Jesus Christ. When
you are gathered together along with my spirit,
180
00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:54.200
with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ, deliver such a one to
181
00:12:54.360 --> 00:13:01.480
Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This is church discipline. Hey,
182
00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.360
this is going on. You guys
don't seem to care. So I'm gonna
183
00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:07.080
tell you what to do. When
you come together, you turn this person
184
00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.399
over to Satan for the destruction of
the flesh. This is not be on
185
00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.879
the lookout for Satan. Satan is
out to get you. This is not
186
00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.480
even. This is not even.
Satan is the cause of this. There's
187
00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:20.159
no blame of Satan. There is
no warning about Satan. This is like,
188
00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.600
no, give the man to Satan
so Satan can destroy his flesh.
189
00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.360
Right. I mean, that's why
church discipline is the most frightening, horrifying,
190
00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:33.639
scary concepts like I should scare people
to It's why you used to.
191
00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:37.720
It should be like the last last, last, last, last, last,
192
00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.200
last, last, last last last
last beg please please No, I've
193
00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:45.639
got to avoid church discipline at all
costs because you're basically taking a person saying,
194
00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:50.440
here you go, Satan, kill
them, destroy their flesh. Now
195
00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:54.600
you're doing so in order that the
person then will be broken and repent of
196
00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:00.480
the particular sin. But it's a
frightening concept. But so right there,
197
00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:05.559
I know, and First Corinthians Satan
is not seen as the cause or the
198
00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.000
concern or the enemy. Really,
it's not really focused on that much.
199
00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:13.919
So in light of One Corinthians sixteen
thirteen, who should we be watching for?
200
00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.919
Should we be watching satan? I
don't think First Corinthian sixteen tells me
201
00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:24.000
watch for Satan. So let's let's
back up and let's do a little work
202
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.919
here. So I while I was
listening to this webcast, I started doing
203
00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:31.679
some work, right I think.
And now you can correct me if you
204
00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.440
think I have anything wrong here,
But I believe I'm pretty accurate and the
205
00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:39.759
church, and the only reason I
feel somewhat I feel somewhat confident about my
206
00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:45.840
approach here is I did spend four
years going verse by verse through the Book
207
00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:48.799
of First Corinthians, and I've taught
every single verse of the book. I
208
00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:52.000
spent four years in the Book of
First Corinthians. So I think I'm I
209
00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:56.799
think I'm pretty good taking who knows
how many seminary and Bible college classes on
210
00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.559
it. So I feel like I
have a basic grasp of it. I
211
00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:03.320
could be wrong on my approach to
One Corinthians sixteen thirteen, but I think
212
00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:09.000
I feel pretty confident with what I'm
about to say. The church in corinth
213
00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:13.440
Now, remember this is the way
I always describe it. When I was
214
00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:18.320
preaching the First Corinthians for four years, every single service Sunday school, Sunday
215
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.679
morning, Sunday night, when in
some cases we were using four services a
216
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:26.600
week to teach First Corinthians, I
stated it every single time. First Corinthians
217
00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:28.600
is a letter written to a church
that was located in the city. The
218
00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:33.559
city was influencing the church more than
the church was influencing the city. I
219
00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:35.799
said that over and over, and
people got I mean just every I mean
220
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.039
I could walk into my church now
and just start saying that, and everyone's
221
00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.440
going to finish it. They may
not know anything else, but they know
222
00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:46.720
that, all right. And in
that church, that church faced various issues
223
00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:54.840
and challenges that were causing division and
morality and confusion among the believers. These
224
00:15:54.879 --> 00:16:00.399
problems included division based on loyalty to
different leaders, sexual morality within the church,
225
00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:06.519
lawsuits among believers, misuse of spiritual
gifts, and proper conduct during the
226
00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:10.360
Lord's Supper, and some serious questions
about marriage. And while we can get
227
00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:15.799
into a whole discussion about that food
sacrifice to idols and other and questions and
228
00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:22.559
doubts about the resurrection, all of
that was going on. In fact,
229
00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:25.679
I put an outline. I could
break this down for you, but I
230
00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:29.879
can just go through quickly through probably
about maybe six major issues. There were
231
00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:36.480
divisions and factions in the church First
Corinthians chapter one, ten through seventeen something
232
00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.320
along those lines, divisions and factions
in the church. There was clearly sexual
233
00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:42.639
in morality, as we've seen in
First Corinthians chapter five. We can go
234
00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:48.679
say versus one, verse eleven,
twelve something along those lines. There were
235
00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:52.320
lawsuits among believers that were suing one
another. I think that's not like First
236
00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:56.399
Corinthians six, one to ten,
one to nine, one to eleven.
237
00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:02.159
Somewhere along those lines. Then there
was clearly some serious issues about spiritual gifts,
238
00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:04.440
and I think that kind of covers
on Corinthians twelve through fourteen. And
239
00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:07.400
I know I put the Love chapter
there, but I think the Love chapter
240
00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:12.119
is instrumental in trying to fix their
misuse of spiritual gifts because you should be
241
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.160
caring about other people more than flaunting
your own gift. Okay, we could
242
00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:22.160
get into the whole discussion there and
proper conduct during the Lord's Supper. Okay,
243
00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:26.279
I think that's that First Corinthians eleven. I mean they had some serious
244
00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:30.480
people were dying and getting sick with
the how they were approaching the Lord's table.
245
00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:33.079
It's one of those things that I
don't think anyone takes. I look
246
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.400
the way most churches serve the Lord's
Supper. I'm like, I don't think
247
00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:38.200
anybody here takes this seriously, because
if you really believe people were getting sick
248
00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.680
and dying, I would think there
would be some serious cause of concern for
249
00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:47.039
how you approach the Lord's table.
I think there would be like you would
250
00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.799
fence the table. You would not
have close communion or open community. You
251
00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:53.759
would have closed communion. Nobody unless
they were a member of the church you'd
252
00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:57.240
even be near the table. Okay, I mean we could have long discussion
253
00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:59.799
there, right, I mean,
if people are going to die, you
254
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.720
hand it out. Hey, we're
gonna hand out the Lord's supper. I
255
00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.160
mean you may die, but hey, thanks for visiting our church. Now,
256
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:08.720
drink the Lord's here's the cup and
the bread. If you die,
257
00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:11.319
don't blame us, I mean,
like, okay, no, all right.
258
00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:17.400
Then there's questions about marriage, food
sacrifice, the idols, and the
259
00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:22.160
resurrection. And you have this in
chapter seven eight and fifteen is the resurrection
260
00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:26.000
chapter. So you have all of
that. Then chapter sixteen you have questions
261
00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.319
about giving. Now you could argue
whether there was a problem there. So
262
00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:33.680
those are the main problems. Divisions, sexual morality, lawsuits, misuse of
263
00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:37.480
spiritual gifts, and proper conduct at
the Lord's table. And then all kinds
264
00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:41.640
of issues pertaining the marriage, food
sacrifice, them, the idols, and
265
00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:45.759
the questions about the resurrection. And
then we could talk about chapter sixteen giving.
266
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:56.680
Those were the issues. Those were
the issues. Now now I'm taking
267
00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:06.880
this from a different this is not
me. In order to understand the exhortation
268
00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:14.839
in First Corinthians sixteen thirteen, we
have to consider the entire epistle. It
269
00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:22.680
is helpful to consider the overarching themes
and messages conveyed throughout the letter. How
270
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:26.079
can we interpret the exhortation in light
of the context of the entire epistol?
271
00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:30.079
How can we interpret it? So
my thing is, if you're gonna say,
272
00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.160
who are we to be watching for? He went into Satan, Satan,
273
00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:37.240
Satan. Now I'm not gonna say
that's all he focused on, but
274
00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:40.759
I felt like that it really started
turning into that, and I was sitting
275
00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:44.480
here going, I just don't get
the Satan part. Where is he getting
276
00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:49.759
Satan from? How did Satan show
up here? I think the issue is
277
00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:55.799
what the what he is exhorting them. If I can speak correctly what he's
278
00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:57.400
exhorting them to do, I mean, I can spit it out. Just
279
00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:03.480
be patient with me. He's exhorting
them to be watching I think something specific
280
00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:11.759
that would be related to everything that's
wrong in the Church of corinth. Now,
281
00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:15.519
see, some people say it's Satan
is the fault, Satan is the
282
00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:19.319
problem. Satan is the problem,
and I look Satan. We talked about
283
00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:25.279
Satan last Sunday. Okay, we
talked about him, and I went through
284
00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.680
a lot of the issues and subjects, and we can get into a big
285
00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:32.359
talk about Satan. But I think
in fir Corinthian sixteen, I don't think
286
00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.759
you're being told to watch out for
Satan. Satan. I don't think is
287
00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:45.039
ever blamed for most of it throughout
the epistle, Paul addresses various issues within
288
00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:51.519
the Corinthian Church, such as division
and morality doctrinal errors. By exhorting the
289
00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:56.400
Corinthians to be on guard or to
watch, he underscores the importance of spiritual
290
00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:03.200
vigilance and the face of those challenges
the Corinthians are called to be alert to.
291
00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:07.839
Well, I think the issues in
the church. Now, I've got
292
00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:17.680
a lot more notes here, but
let's I'm going to say that the hypothesis
293
00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:23.200
that the exhortation in First Corinthian sixteen
thirteen is about Satan, I'm going to
294
00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:29.440
say that that exhortation does not stand. I don't think it is supported by
295
00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:33.480
the textual evidence of the chapter.
In fact, even in the message I
296
00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:37.319
was listening to, he had to
go to Ephesians and then bring Ephesians over
297
00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.640
to First Corinthians. I know,
you stay in the original context first and
298
00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:45.279
foremost. If you're going to go
do cross referencing, the cross reference has
299
00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:48.400
to have some link and be related
in some way, shape or form,
300
00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:52.039
typically right, typically, I think. So, So here's what I'm going
301
00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:59.440
to say. I'm going to put
forth the hypotheses that Watchee just start with.
302
00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:10.000
Watchie is that he is telling them
to watch them. Somebody's watching me.
303
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:15.319
Yeah, you, we have to
watch ourselves. The church loves to
304
00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.759
watch the world, and we've got
to be. Oh, everyone, we
305
00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.599
need to be on the lookout for
the world. Watch what the world is
306
00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:25.279
doing. Watch what's going on in
the culture. We got to fight the
307
00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.559
culture. We got to be on
the lookout. We got to be on
308
00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.119
guard to that. You better be
on guard. Not to the people outside
309
00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.680
the church. You better be on
guard to the person sitting in your pew.
310
00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:40.519
You you the problem. I'm the
problem. Somebody better be watching me.
311
00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:44.839
And it's me that has to be
watching me, because I know me
312
00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.559
better than the person sitting next to
me. I know me better than you
313
00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:53.039
listening to me, because I know
what's going on inside of me. Oh.
314
00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.400
I can put on a good facade, but I know I need to
315
00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:08.359
be watching me. The way one
source breaks this down, beyond your guard,
316
00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:14.559
stand firm and the faith. Be
creageous, be strong, beyond guard,
317
00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:18.440
be alert. Paul urges the Corinthians
to be watchful and alert, to
318
00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:22.880
be aware of potential dangerous temptations and
spiritual attacks. The admonition highlights the importance
319
00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:26.799
of vigilance and discern it in the
Christian walk. Now, the only problem
320
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:30.119
I have with that source it completely
ignores the context. No, he's saying,
321
00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:33.119
hey and light of Look, he's
giving you sixteen chapters of a church.
322
00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:38.920
He's writing the people. You guys
have failed failed, failed, fail
323
00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:45.160
fail fail. Like if I was
grading for the church at corinth I'd be
324
00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:48.440
like, guys, look, I'm
not even gonna bother giving you an F
325
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:51.880
because I'd have to apologize to all
the f's ever given to anybody else.
326
00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:55.839
You guys are so your score is
so low there's no way to score it.
327
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:00.000
You're the biggest your churches. Your
church makes the s of course look
328
00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:04.640
godly, and they're a pagan city. You make the pagans look more godly
329
00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.839
than the godly. Okay, Like
it would be like, you guys are
330
00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:15.200
a mess. You need to be
watching you. You've got all of this
331
00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:19.000
failure. You've got to stop.
You gotta worry about you. You've got
332
00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:25.599
to watch yourself. Now, I'm
gonna look up First Corinthians sixteen thirteen.
333
00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.799
I didn't even think about doing this, But remember I'm reacting to all of
334
00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:32.720
this in very real time, very
real time, I'm gonna go first Corinthians
335
00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:40.799
sixteen thirteen. First thing I'm gonna
do is look at how this is translated
336
00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:45.200
in like every English translation. Be
on your guard, be on your guard,
337
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:49.240
beyond guard, be watchful, be
on the alert. What are you
338
00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:52.599
guarding? What are you watching?
What are you in the alert for?
339
00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:57.799
You're an alert and watch yourself.
The church has been a total mess.
340
00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:03.640
Guys. You gotta watch yourself.
You gotta see how all of these issues
341
00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:07.440
I've addressed, whether it's sexual and
morality, whether it's people dying at the
342
00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:10.400
Lord's table, I mean, maybe
you should care a little bit about people
343
00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:14.400
dropping dead. Maybe maybe you needed
to be watching your own pride and arrogance
344
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:18.880
when it comes to spiritual gifts.
Maybe you need to stop suing one another,
345
00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:21.720
Like all these things, you need
to be watching you. You need
346
00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:25.599
to be on guard for you.
You need to be on the alert of
347
00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:29.559
you. The church constantly. You
listen to Christian radio, listen to Christian
348
00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:33.640
podcast. Oh the world this,
Oh they did this on Netflix, they
349
00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.799
did this in this show, And
we got to be watching this, and
350
00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:37.920
we gotta be guarding this, and
we gotta be banning this, and we
351
00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:40.000
gotta be censoring this, and we
gotta be on the look out for this,
352
00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.559
and we gotta be on the lookout
for that. Oh, social media
353
00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:45.599
is destroying us. This everything is
something else. How about we just look
354
00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:49.640
at the problem that we have.
We're the problem. I'm the problem.
355
00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:53.240
Hello, it's me, I'm the
problem. Okay. Now, in quoting
356
00:25:53.240 --> 00:26:02.880
Taylor Swist, Okay, you get
the idea. We're the issue. We
357
00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:06.880
got to be watching us. Now, if I go to the actual Greek
358
00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:11.799
here, I'm going to go to
the uh. I'm going to go to
359
00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:18.359
the intilinear watchee as it is in
the King James. Watchee. Is this
360
00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:21.720
Greek word? Here's watchee. Oh, this one should be fun to say.
361
00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:27.759
Here's this Greek word. Strong's g
eleven twenty seven, Gregreo, Gregareo,
362
00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:33.000
greg Garreo. Okay, it is
issues twenty three times, it's twenty
363
00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:37.160
one times. Watch one time,
wake, be vigilant one time. Strong's
364
00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:44.640
definition to keep awake, watch,
be vigilant, wake, to watch is
365
00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:48.279
the outline of biblical usage to give
strict attention, to to be cautious,
366
00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:53.200
to take key. Let's through remission
and some destructive calamity would could possibly overtake
367
00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:59.279
you. You got to be paying
attention. Why do you have to be
368
00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.240
paying attention? Because we have a
sinful nature. Look what I know.
369
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.519
We always want to worry about everything
outside of us. The greatest danger lives
370
00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:18.960
inside of you. The greatest threat
is inside of you. What pastors should
371
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:22.400
do They should hand out mirrors.
There should be a mirror, and every
372
00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:26.559
pew there should be a mirror.
And then the pastor every Sunday should come
373
00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:32.839
up and go, ladies and gentlemen, I have on good authority identified what
374
00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.039
is the greatest threat to your spiritual
life? And everybody like what, pick
375
00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:41.599
up the mirror, look at the
mirror. You, not the person sitting
376
00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:45.519
next to you, not the men. Stop blaming the women. Women,
377
00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:51.079
Stop blaming the men. Everyone.
It's you kids. Stop blaming your parents
378
00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:56.440
parents, Stop blaming your kids.
Stop blaming your circumstances. It's you worthy
379
00:27:56.519 --> 00:28:02.200
issue. Watch ye yourself. If
somebody's watching you, and it should be
380
00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:06.240
you watching you. You have to
be, in a sense, your own
381
00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:10.519
best accountability partner. You know why
you can be your own best accountability partner
382
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:15.759
because you know when you're playing games, Come on, you know when you're
383
00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:18.400
like, oh, I so want
to stop doing this, but I'm going
384
00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:26.000
to do it soon. Oh,
come on, we all know. I
385
00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:29.440
don't think this is about saying.
I think it's about us. Now,
386
00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:33.319
there's the watch, be alert,
be guard, beyond guard, pay attention.
387
00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:38.359
You you you you you you you
you you you you you you you
388
00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:42.240
you. That's what we have to
be on the lookout for. Now.
389
00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:56.400
It says watche stand fast, stand
fast. This translation has it watch says
390
00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:02.599
stand fast, stand fast. The
this translation has or I'm gonna go to
391
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:15.079
the Greek here stand fast. Is
this Greek word strongs gnine stayko, stayko
392
00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:18.559
steakko. Now this is kind of
the way. Now, he did a
393
00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:21.799
good job in the webcast pointing this
out. Now he he put it.
394
00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:25.160
He focused on Satan. But what
I did appreciate is he kind of said
395
00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.759
that there's a progressive order here.
And I do like that. First,
396
00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:32.480
you're on a lookout, you're on
the alert, you're on guard. Right,
397
00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:36.640
you're on guard, you're standing post, right, standing post. When
398
00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:38.559
when I was in the United States
Military, I was put on a team
399
00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:45.200
called the Dirty Dozen. Right,
we were given a test and guess what
400
00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:48.559
our reward was for acing? And
you had to ace the test. Guess
401
00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:52.920
what the reward was for acing the
test? You got put on guard duty
402
00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:56.960
overnight. Yay, yay, I'm
so glad I passed that. If I
403
00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.640
would have known what the test was
gonna give me, I would to flunk
404
00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:03.559
the thing fifty times over. But
okay, I got so. There you
405
00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:11.559
are two in the morning, guarding
a door to the dormitor. Everyone else
406
00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:18.240
in there is asleep, and you're
there guarding a door. Just oh,
407
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:22.559
I mean, all you're doing is
just standing there. You're just watching the
408
00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:26.079
door. And if anyone comes to
the door, you have to assure that
409
00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:30.000
they have proper identification, a proper
authority to enter the room. If they
410
00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.039
don't, you have to turn them
away. No matter who they are,
411
00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:36.200
they don't have proper identification, you
turn them away if they yell, scream
412
00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:38.880
threat and you but you are to
stand guard. You are to be alert.
413
00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.640
Now, if someone came to the
door and saw you and you're in
414
00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:48.000
there sleeping, you're in trouble.
I'll never forget Desert Storm. I get
415
00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:51.960
sent well, I didn't know where
I was going. The plane breaks down
416
00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:53.640
over New York City. Then we
get taken off the plane because a terrorist
417
00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:56.799
threat a terrorist threat. The whole
thing's crazy. We end up back on
418
00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:59.759
the plane. We don't know where
we're going. Next thing, you know,
419
00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:02.240
they're like, hey, we're about
to approach our landing and I look
420
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:03.279
out the window. I'm like,
wait a minute, there's no sand,
421
00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:10.279
there's no desert or not or nowhere
near a rock or nowhere near Kuwait where
422
00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:12.440
are we? And it's like we
land in Germany. I'm like, ooh,
423
00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:15.559
this is pretty cool, right.
So we end up in Germany at
424
00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:18.160
a place called Swabrooke, and now
we are there to set up a turnkey
425
00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:21.680
facility. That means everything is ready
in the building. All we got to
426
00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:25.240
go in turn the key, pull
everything out, and we're now ready to
427
00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:29.759
go to set up a medical facility
so those who are wounded or seriously injured
428
00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:33.240
and the front lines can be then
airlifted to us and then we can provide
429
00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:37.079
you know, surgery or whatever else
is needed. Okay, so we get
430
00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:41.039
it all ready, We're good to
go. But here's the thing. The
431
00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:45.359
hospital was downtown Swabrook and the military
base was I don't know, ten fifteen,
432
00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:49.160
twenty miles from where it is,
so we had to take city buses
433
00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:55.759
they said city buses to pick us
up and drive us to the hospital.
434
00:31:55.920 --> 00:32:00.839
Right, So we have a shift
at the hospital. We get on the
435
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:05.480
bus and we drive back to the
military installation, the Air force base.
436
00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:09.839
The bus pulls up and the bus
driver's just sitting there. It's I don't
437
00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:13.519
know, it's like midnight, one
in the morning. I don't even know
438
00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:15.759
what time it is. And we're
just sitting there, sitting there, sitting
439
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.519
there, sitting there, sitting there, sitting there, sitting there, and
440
00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:21.880
the bus driver is picking up his
radio and he's calling other people and he's
441
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:24.720
laughing, and he's saying something in
German, and we're like, what is
442
00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:28.960
going on. All of a sudden, one of the sergeants look out,
443
00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:34.599
and we're like, you've got to
be kidding me. We're in the middle
444
00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:42.039
of a war, heightened heightened security
alerts for all military installations of the possibility
445
00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:46.079
of terrorist attacks. And guess what
the guards were doing. They were sound
446
00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:53.759
asleep the military installation. Anybody could
have just driven right on to the militaries.
447
00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:59.039
They were gone, they were out. And now here's the civilian bus
448
00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:02.480
driver laughing at the situation. So
he gets the sergeant gets out. He
449
00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:06.599
walks up to them, walks all
the way into the guard check they're just
450
00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:09.440
completely asleep, and he goes bang
and then they jump up and he's like,
451
00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:13.480
you're dead and your career is over. Now. I don't know what
452
00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:16.720
happened to him, but obviously they
were in serious, serious trouble because they
453
00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:22.119
were asleep at the guard at the
gate. They were asleep at their post.
454
00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:24.519
They in a sense, had abandoned
their posts. Well, we are
455
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:31.599
sometimes asleep to the danger of us. We got to be looking for us.
456
00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:35.839
We got to be in a sense, we need to take a test
457
00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:38.240
to see how good we are at
watching us. How good at you are
458
00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:42.160
watching here? Are you an alert? Are you guarding yourself? Well?
459
00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:44.680
So, in a sense, we
have to be on the lookout. So
460
00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:47.640
you think about we're guarding. So
let's take the first part. Watche we're
461
00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:52.759
looking, we're watching. Oh,
I see the threat, I see the
462
00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:55.000
problem. Now what we're watching is
us, And I see the issue inside
463
00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:59.680
of me. I see a desire, a feeling, a thinking. I
464
00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:01.559
see I see issues inside of me. So I gotta watch. I gotta
465
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:05.279
watch. And what do I do
after I watch? What do I do
466
00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:07.559
after I watch? And I and
I and I see what do I do?
467
00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:19.599
I do this strongs g stayko I
stay o steako, stayko I watch
468
00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:22.559
and then I stayko i stako.
Okay, what does that mean? It
469
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:30.519
means to It is to be stationary. It is to preserve. It is
470
00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:36.039
to stand fast the outline of biblical
usage to stand firm, to persevere,
471
00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:39.840
or to preserve, to persist,
to keep one standing. I'm to be
472
00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:44.480
stationary, I'm to be I am
to stay right there, not move.
473
00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:47.000
But what am I standing like?
So what what a lot of people think
474
00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:51.559
you'll do? Oh? This means
I'm going to stand against it. Now.
475
00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:53.840
Look, look, I think it's
fascinating the way the text is read
476
00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:59.000
or the way the text is written. Watch stand fast in the faith.
477
00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:07.920
Stand fast in the faith. I
find that fascinating. Now one source put
478
00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:09.920
it this way, if I can
go back to my nose, stand firm
479
00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:14.880
in the faith. The call to
stand firm and the Faith emphasizes the need
480
00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:17.960
for unwavering commitment to the core tenets
of Christianity. Believers are encouraged to hold
481
00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:22.159
faster their beliefs, to remain steadfast
in the truth of the Gospel despite challenges
482
00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:27.000
or opposition. What I think is
when you are watching and you're looking for
483
00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:30.960
yourself, you see your depravity,
your weakness, You see your doubt,
484
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:35.280
you see your fear, your confusion, your anxiety, you see all of
485
00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:38.039
the dirt right like you know,
you're watching and you know what's in the
486
00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:42.880
behind the closet door. You know
what's there, and you see stuff that
487
00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:45.880
makes you think, what is wrong
with me? Why am I so depraved?
488
00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:49.880
Why am I such a sinner?
Why do I want to do this?
489
00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:52.679
Why do I desire this? Why
do I not care about anybody else?
490
00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:55.039
Why do I only care about So? You know what, You've got
491
00:35:55.039 --> 00:36:00.360
to stand firm in your faith in
Jesus Christ, standing firm in the faith
492
00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:06.079
of his imputed righteousness. You're standing
firm in the faith of his work and
493
00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:09.400
his obedience. You watch and you
see, and you stand firm in the
494
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:15.079
faith of Christ. Everything thinks it's
like stand firm against these things. I
495
00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:17.199
think it's staying firm in your faith. Now I do agree, it's standing
496
00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:22.199
firm in the basic tenets of Christianity. But most important, you're standing firm
497
00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:27.039
in your faith that we live by
faith, that just lives by faith.
498
00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:30.760
And what does that mean? I
live my life based off my faith in
499
00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:34.840
the finished work of Jesus Christ and
his imputed righteousness. Because when I'm watching
500
00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:38.119
and I'm on guard and now I'm
on alert, i am gonna see the
501
00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:43.360
constant issues inside of me. And
I may want to throw my hands up
502
00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:47.639
in despair and say that's it.
I give up. I'm a complete dumpster
503
00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:53.280
fire. I'm trash, I am
I'm a loser. I'm pathetic, I
504
00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:58.960
am weak, I am depraved,
I am disgusting, I am vile.
505
00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:00.760
I don't even does serve to breathe. And you know what, there's a
506
00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:05.079
probably from a theilological standpoint, when
you compare yourself to the holiness of God.
507
00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.519
Oh of that is true. But
I'm gonna stand firm in my faith.
508
00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:12.599
I'm not going to crumble because of
my depravity. I'm gonna stand firm
509
00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:15.320
and faith, knowing my only hope
is not on me trying to be a
510
00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:19.199
better person. But it's about me. Guess what, standing firm in my
511
00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:27.679
faith? But then what's next?
Watch stand fast in the faith, be
512
00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:31.679
brave, quiet quite you like men, I think is the way the King
513
00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:37.440
James puts it. Be be courageous, all right, I'm gonna I'm gonna
514
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:40.880
go to the Greek here. I'm
gonna go to the Greek here. Okay,
515
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:45.440
they're wanting, uh, they want
a donation here. I don't want
516
00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:46.639
to give you a donation. What
I need is to get back to the
517
00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:50.679
text or here we go. All
right, So watch you stand fast and
518
00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:53.639
faith, Quit you quiet, Quit
you like man. I keep saying it
519
00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:58.119
the wrong way. I apologize because
I've got multiple translations. Here, quit
520
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:01.559
you like men? Is this is
a the of a Greek word strong's g
521
00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:07.639
four O seven, andrids am I
anddrids of I ondrids of I. All
522
00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:13.840
right, this is used one time, all right, Quit you like men?
523
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:19.239
Choose one time? All right.
It means to uh to act manly,
524
00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:23.320
quit like men, to be a
man, be manly, to make
525
00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:28.880
a man of or make brave,
to show oneself a man, be brave.
526
00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:31.320
I think the idea. I like
the idea the way it's translated to
527
00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:38.400
the new King James, be brave, bravery. You need to be brave.
528
00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:43.840
You need to be courageous. Now
why well, you're you're looking out
529
00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.440
and you're like, oh man,
oh man, oh man, I'm a
530
00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:49.960
sinner. I got this problem.
There you're you're watching yourself and then guess
531
00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:52.480
what. You stand firm in your
faith and guess what you need. You
532
00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:57.400
need to be brave and courageous in
light of your depravity and you and that
533
00:38:57.559 --> 00:39:00.280
bravery comes from the fact that you
stand in the puted righteousness of Christ,
534
00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:05.079
which gives you the strength to say, you know what, I should probably
535
00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:08.679
walk away and embarrassment because I'm a
hypocrite, but I'm gonna stand firm and
536
00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:14.320
I'm gonna be courageous because I stand
firm in the faith of what Christ did
537
00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:22.360
for me. My notes, I
put it this way, Paul's encourages the
538
00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:27.880
Corinthians to exhibit courage and the face
of adversity and face of your own failure
539
00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:30.000
and face of you. I think
what he's seeing to do, be strong
540
00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:35.760
or be brave here, be brave
in the face of your own failure,
541
00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:38.840
in your own look. Guess what
you after Paul lays out all of your
542
00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:42.840
failures. You know what I would
think about doing. I would think about,
543
00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:45.000
like, you know what, maybe
just call it a day. This
544
00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:47.960
church thing, this Christianity thing,
is really not working out for me because
545
00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:52.199
I keep sinning and I keep failing. No, no, no, no,
546
00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:57.039
no, Stand firm in your faith
and then be be brave to stand
547
00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:59.000
there. You know why, it's
going to be hard to be brave,
548
00:39:59.079 --> 00:40:04.079
because everyone's going to be like hypocrite, sinner, loser, never do what
549
00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:07.239
you're supposed to do. You fall
short continually. You're a loser. You're
550
00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:10.719
pathetic. Accusation after accusation, you
know what, And sometimes all you can
551
00:40:10.760 --> 00:40:16.360
say is, you're absolutely right.
I have no business calling myself a Christian,
552
00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:20.320
but you know what, I'm a
Christian not because of what I do,
553
00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:23.559
but because of what Christ did.
It takes a little bit of bravery
554
00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:29.960
to continue to stand there when everything
around you everyone should say, just give
555
00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:36.119
it up. You're not even being
remotely You're everyone in the Church of Court
556
00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:37.000
should just kind of walk away.
Go. You know what, well,
557
00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:42.320
let's just close this church down and
call it a day because we are losers.
558
00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:46.079
No, stand firm and your faith
and be brave, and the face
559
00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:51.239
of that failure and the face of
your weakness, and the face of your
560
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:59.440
shame and the face of your sin, be courageous. It's boldness, it's
561
00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:07.960
fearlessness because of because you're standing firm
in your faith. So watch what do
562
00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:10.079
you want what are we watching?
Who are we watching? We're watching ourselves.
563
00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:13.400
We stand fast in the faith.
Why do we have to stand fast
564
00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:15.320
in the faith? Because I don't
know, Watch yourself and report that back
565
00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:20.440
to me. You're gonna you're gonna
see some really disturbing things. You're gonna
566
00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:22.519
need to stand fast in your faith. And guess what, You're gonna have
567
00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.599
to be brave because as you're standing
fast in your faith, you're going to
568
00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:28.880
be confronted with your own failure,
in your own hypocrisy. And if you
569
00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:30.280
and look, I don't know how
old your kids are now, just wait
570
00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:34.199
till they get a little bit older. They'll point out all of your hypocrisy
571
00:41:34.320 --> 00:41:37.079
or the propriority, telling your their
Sunday school teacher about how messed up you
572
00:41:37.119 --> 00:41:42.400
Mom and dad are all right right? Be brave? Next, be strong,
573
00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:47.280
Be strong. The King James has
it as watch ye stand fast in
574
00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:51.639
the faith? Quit you like man, be strong? That idea, be
575
00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:54.320
brave. Now be strong. The
command is to be strong, and justcourse,
576
00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:58.400
the idea of drawing that you're drawing
strength. But I think the idea
577
00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:00.760
where do we standing strong in?
I think we're standing strong in the context.
578
00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:05.159
Everyone will kind of go other directions. So I'm gonna not rely on
579
00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:08.079
any other resources here. I think
we are being strong in our faith.
580
00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:13.800
We're being strong in our position in
God. Look, I'm not gonna be
581
00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:16.440
strong in my ability to do better. Look, I mean think about it
582
00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:21.599
from a political from a logical standpoint, Why would Paul even give them this
583
00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:25.639
exhortation. They've demonstrated in sixteen chapters
they can't do anything right, So now
584
00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:28.760
they're going to go ahead and do
things right. No, I think what
585
00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:30.679
he's saying, Hey, guys,
based off all your weakness and failure,
586
00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:35.400
you need to watch yourself and then
you need to stand firm in your faith
587
00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:40.480
and then be brave in your faith
and be strong in your faith. Be
588
00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:45.239
strong in the fact that I am
in Christ, and in Christ, not
589
00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:50.840
practically but positionally, I'm a new
creature. The old is gone. Everything
590
00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:54.639
is new. I am perfect and
holy. Be strong in that. If
591
00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:58.440
you're going to be strong in your
efforts, are going to be strong in
592
00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:00.559
your attempts to do the right thing, You're gonna just realize you're not that
593
00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:06.079
strong. Look, as long as
you have a sinful nature, whatever strength
594
00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:12.639
you pretend to have, it's only
it's only it's only a pretend strength,
595
00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:17.599
because internally you are a depraved sinner
and it's there, whether you can maskt
596
00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:24.280
or not. So watch, stand
fast in the faith, be brave,
597
00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:31.760
be strong, and let all that
you do be done with love. Everything
598
00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:34.920
you do, do it with love. You know why you should be able
599
00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:37.239
to do everything you do with love, because the only reason that you can
600
00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:40.320
stand firm in your faith is because
not because you love God, but because
601
00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:44.239
He first loves you. He sent
his son to die for you, and
602
00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:47.400
in Christ he is giving you.
He is accredited to your account perfect a
603
00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:52.039
righteousness. So you can stand firm
in that, and then you can be
604
00:43:52.199 --> 00:43:54.760
brave, and you can be strong
because of what you are in Christ,
605
00:43:55.000 --> 00:44:00.039
not because of what you are in
practice. You watch to see how the
606
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:02.960
stuff you are you're strong, and
you you stand firm in your faith,
607
00:44:04.199 --> 00:44:07.800
then you are brave and you're strong. And then we should do everything out
608
00:44:07.800 --> 00:44:15.000
of love because of the love we
have received. That I think is a
609
00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:21.199
better approach to First Corinthian sixteen thirteen. And I don't think it's about me
610
00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:29.440
watching Satan. I think it's about
me watching me. I didn't even get
611
00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:32.719
to all my notes. In fact, ignored ninety percent of my notes.
612
00:44:34.760 --> 00:44:37.719
All right, there we go.
I don't think I I think the only
613
00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:39.880
thing I may have messed up is
quit. You like man? Quiet?
614
00:44:40.199 --> 00:44:43.760
Quit you like man? Right?
Yeah, I think that's the only thing
615
00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:45.000
I may have messed up. Right. If I messed that up, I
616
00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:54.480
apologize, all right. I think
everything else I got halfway decent. Probably
617
00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:58.719
messed up some of those Greek words
pretty good. See, you know what,
618
00:44:58.840 --> 00:45:00.679
I'm watching myself and gives what I'm
seeing. I'm seeing my mess ups,
619
00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:05.360
I'm seeing my failures. Now this
is in podcasting, but in my
620
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:07.239
normal life. Guess what. And
when I watched myself, I said,
621
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:07.960
oh, kN I messed up here, and I messed up here, and
622
00:45:08.039 --> 00:45:10.960
oh I had this bad thought and
wooh I had this and do this and
623
00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:14.159
I had lust, and I had
this and I had creed, and I
624
00:45:14.199 --> 00:45:16.599
had this, and I had this, and I had hatred, had bitterness
625
00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:20.559
and this and this and this and
this and this and this and this and
626
00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:22.480
this and this and this and this. Oh man, I'm a man.
627
00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:25.239
I'm going to stand firm in my
faith. My faith is in the finished
628
00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:29.679
work of Jesus Christ, and He's
imputed his perfect righteousness to me. Now
629
00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:32.840
in the light of that truth,
I am going to be brave. I'm
630
00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:37.920
going to be brave and even though
people may accuse me and falsely accuse,
631
00:45:37.239 --> 00:45:42.039
not even falsely accused me, correctly
accuse me and say all kinds of horrible
632
00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:44.079
things about me, it may be
all true, but I'm going to be
633
00:45:44.119 --> 00:45:46.079
brave in the face of that because
of what I am in Christ Jesus,
634
00:45:46.119 --> 00:45:51.239
and I'm going to be strong in
that positional standing. And I'm going to
635
00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:58.159
try to then respond and do everything
I do out of love. And I
636
00:45:58.199 --> 00:46:01.800
think that interpretation day is true to
the text, and I don't have to
637
00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:05.719
go import something in there. Now. You could argue, well, how
638
00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:07.800
does that fit with Satan if you
want to bring Satan into it. I
639
00:46:07.880 --> 00:46:17.679
just think the context there tells us
exactly what's going on personally. I think
640
00:46:17.719 --> 00:46:22.599
it does. But you can give
me your thoughts. Now. That is
641
00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:27.880
all based off the live webcast that
was ending as I went live. That's
642
00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:30.079
what I was like. Now he
said some other things there that were just
643
00:46:30.119 --> 00:46:35.039
in this crazy stuff, like you're
not showing reverence to God if you're like,
644
00:46:35.159 --> 00:46:37.840
I don't know, leading singing or
preaching and you put your hand in
645
00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:40.079
your pocket. That and if you
get ready to tell people it's time to
646
00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:45.280
pray and you're smiling, that is
somehow not showing reverence to God. That
647
00:46:45.440 --> 00:46:47.400
was the most insane thing. The
thing I'm going to find the audio clip
648
00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:52.039
from is he referred to ordinances as
a means of grace, which is insane
649
00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:57.840
because that's sacramental language, not the
language of a church that believes in ordinances
650
00:46:57.880 --> 00:47:00.480
versus sacrament. So we're going to
definitely do some work on that. All
651
00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:07.840
right, there we go. That's
my adventure and live webcasting on the two
652
00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:10.320
point oh app today. I don't
know how your day is going. Now
653
00:47:10.519 --> 00:47:15.199
go listen to some random live webcasts
on the Sermon's two point oh app.
654
00:47:15.239 --> 00:47:19.519
That's remember for the next two weeks. That's your challenge. Just whatever's on
655
00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:22.239
the live webcast. It look,
you don't get to choose whatever is there.
656
00:47:22.280 --> 00:47:23.679
That's what you get. Now.
If there's multiple ones, just try
657
00:47:23.679 --> 00:47:25.760
to pick a random one. Don't
try to look and see you oh oh
658
00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:29.559
I know this church. No no, no no, just try to just
659
00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:32.119
close your eyes and pick one.
Like Wednesday night, they'll probably be a
660
00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:36.920
five six hundred. Just choose a
random one, all right, take good
661
00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:43.679
notes, summarize it. He focused
on first Crientia sixteen thirteen, telling us
662
00:47:43.719 --> 00:47:47.880
basically to watch for Satan. I'm
saying first Criuentia sixteen thirteen is about us
663
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:55.079
watching us. Somebody's watching me,
probably should be me. Thanks for listening,
664
00:47:55.519 --> 00:48:00.199
everyone, Have a great day.
God bless
1
00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:08.439
Looking at our world from a theological
perspective. This is the Theology Central podcast
2
00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:17.039
making Theology Central. Good afternoon everyone. It is Tuesday, July the second,
3
00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.839
twenty twenty four. It is currently
two forty five pm Central Time,
4
00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:28.440
and I am coming to you live
from the Theology Central studio located right here
5
00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:38.079
in Abilene, Texas. Now,
it was January the fourteenth, January the
6
00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:45.799
fourteenth, nineteen eighty four. January
the fourteenth, nineteen eighty four. Right,
7
00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.679
do you remember that some of you
weren't alive? That's okay. January
8
00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:56.759
fourteenth, nineteen eighty four. I
was sitting in my bedroom, Buffalo Gap,
9
00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.119
Texas. I was sitting in front
of all of my stereo equipment,
10
00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:08.159
and I was listening to the top
forty pop radio station. Now, nineteen
11
00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.599
eighty four. You gotta know who
was the king of pop at that time,
12
00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:17.640
right, Michael Jackson was ruling the
world in nineteen eighty four. Okay,
13
00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:22.239
So Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson nineteen
eighty four, Okay, all right.
14
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:23.439
And so all of a sudden,
the DJ said, hey, we
15
00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:26.799
have a new song and Michael Jackson
is on it. And I was like,
16
00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:30.920
WHOA a new song? Wait?
When did Michael put out a new
17
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.280
song? Now the song is not
by Michael Jackson, but Michael Jackson is
18
00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.359
on the track, and I'm like, okay. Now, there was no
19
00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:40.799
one in the room to talk to, but I basically was like okay.
20
00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:46.799
No one interrupted, this is going
to be life changing. January fourteenth,
21
00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:51.560
nineteen eighty four. I cannot tell
you the exact time, but I'll never
22
00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:56.799
forget when the song started because the
lyrics went something like this, Who's watching?
23
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.719
Tell me? Who's watching? Who's
watching me? I'm just an average
24
00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:07.319
man with the average life. I
work from nine to five. Hey,
25
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.680
I won't say the next word.
I pay the price. All I want
26
00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:15.000
to do. All I want is
to be left alone and my average home.
27
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:20.759
But why do I always feel like
I'm in the twilight zone? I
28
00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:24.319
always feel like somebody's watching me,
and I have no privacy. I always
29
00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:29.639
feel I always feel like somebody's watching
me. Tell me? Is it just
30
00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.800
a dream? When I come home
at night, I bolt the door real
31
00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:38.120
tight. People call me on the
phone. I'm trying to avoid but I
32
00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:42.000
can. But can the people on
TV see me? Or am I just
33
00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:46.439
being paranoid? When I'm in the
shower and I'm afraid to wash my hair
34
00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:52.240
because I might open my eyes and
find someone standing there. People say I'm
35
00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:57.800
crazy, just a little touch,
but maybe showers remind me of Psycho just
36
00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:01.759
too much. That's why always feel
like somebody's watching me. Oh come on,
37
00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.280
I know some of you. You
don't remember it. You're you're way
38
00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.800
too young. I mean you should. You may not remember it, I
39
00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:09.240
mean you should know it. I
mean you don't have to be born at
40
00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:12.439
a time to know. I mean, we know who Beethoven is, we
41
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:14.479
know who Mozart is, we know
who the Beatles are. You don't have
42
00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:16.319
to be born and know a song
because you have access to every song that's
43
00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:20.199
ever been made on any streaming service. So you should know it. But
44
00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:24.080
okay, but even if you don't. All I cared about now At first
45
00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:28.039
I tuned in because Michael Jackson's on. He does the backing, he does
46
00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.080
the background vocals, so I just
oh, there's Michael. Oh, there's
47
00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:34.800
Michael. Oh there's Michael. Oh
there's Michael. That's all I cared about
48
00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:38.199
it first. But then I was
like, I like this song. I
49
00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:42.000
like, okay, this is kind
of clever. Okay, this is kind
50
00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.360
of funny, somebody's watching me.
Am I paranoid? Am I just a
51
00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:49.159
little touched? Maybe showers remind me
of Psycho? Just too much? Okay,
52
00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:51.360
I remember, I'm like and then
next thing you know, you know,
53
00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:53.759
everybody's walking around singing song. And
then of course you run to MTV.
54
00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:57.840
You want to see the video.
You gotta see the video. I
55
00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:01.919
loved that song. So watching me
by Rockwell, if you don't know the
56
00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:05.479
original artist rockwell, okay, that's
who it was by. Of course everyone
57
00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:09.800
just knows Michael Jackson was on the
song. But that's the song. Now,
58
00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.319
why am I talking about January the
fourteenth, nineteen eighty four and me
59
00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.079
listening to a song you probably don't
care about music or you probably think is
60
00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:19.959
horrible and ungodly. I understand you
don't talk to Christians about music, but
61
00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:27.759
I had to use that opening illustration
because that's all I can think about because
62
00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:30.519
just a little while ago, I
was listening to a webcast. Now,
63
00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.959
remember we're all supposed to be listening
and watching the live webcast on the Sermon's
64
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:39.160
two point o app. That's the
challenge, right, that's the challenge for
65
00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:42.279
the next two weeks, is you're
supposed to be watching the live webcast.
66
00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.079
I know there's plenty of them going
on right now that we're supposed to be
67
00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:46.959
watching, but that's what you're supposed
to be doing, just choosing random ones.
68
00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.399
So I chose a random one.
And at first it was really I
69
00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:54.040
was maddening. I was just sitting
here in my chair just rocking back and
70
00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:57.800
forth because it was just silence.
That the way the camera angle was,
71
00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.800
it just showed this huge Bible and
then someone we kind of walk up there,
72
00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.959
take a drink of water, walk
away, nothing, nothing, nothing,
73
00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:11.319
nothing. Finally the service began,
and you know, all I can
74
00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:19.240
say it was very formal, ver
very formal, Okay, very just very
75
00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:27.519
not a lot of how can we
say? It was very understated, very
76
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:32.240
somber, some may say, very
reverent. Right. They sang Psalm forty
77
00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:36.720
six, They did a scripture reading. The scripture was First Corinthians, chapter
78
00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:42.079
sixteen. They read the entire chapter. Then they prayed. And this is
79
00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:46.120
probably no exaggeration the pastor his prayer, and I don't think I'm trying to
80
00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:49.639
be fair here. It felt like
it was twenty minutes long. It was
81
00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:54.079
like a twenty minute long prayer and
it felt like a sermon, Like I
82
00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.839
was thinking, as I'm listening to
this prayer, should I have my head
83
00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:59.920
bout or should I be taking notes? Because I mean, he talked about
84
00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:06.160
election and predestination and effectual calling and
regeneration, and it just went on and
85
00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.439
on and on and on. I
think he covered every major I think he
86
00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:14.759
covered everything from Genesis to Revelation.
It was the longest prayer and the history
87
00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:17.120
of recorded prayers. Okay, so
it's like okay, good, good,
88
00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:24.040
right, good, all right.
Then finally the sermon began on First Corinthian
89
00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.959
sixteen, and it became it became
obvious really really quick that even though he
90
00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:34.160
read the whole chapter, he wasn't
going to actually expound or exegete the chapter.
91
00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:39.519
He was going to focus primarily on
one verse. And I'm like,
92
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:43.040
okay, okay. And in fact, as soon as soon as anytime I
93
00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.399
hear a sermon and the pastor says
turned first Corinthian sixteen, it's almost inevitably
94
00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.959
they're either going to talk about money
giving, right, because that's the first
95
00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.839
part of First Corinthian sixteen if you
look at it, First Corinthian sixteen,
96
00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:58.600
Verse one. Now concerning the collection
for the saints. I have given an
97
00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.920
order to the churches of Gala.
Even so do ye again. It tells
98
00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:05.600
you how the collection of the saints, how the giving should be done in
99
00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:10.000
the church. All right, So
it's either going to be that, and
100
00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:14.120
if it's not that, it's inevitable
it's going to be. First Corinthians,
101
00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:23.000
Chapter sixteen, verse thirteen, where
we read this word watch somebody's watching me,
102
00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.199
okay, watch now. At that
point I wasn't really thinking about the
103
00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.240
Rockwell song, all right. But
he read watch ye stand fast and the
104
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:35.720
faith quit you quit, you like
men, be strong, Let all your
105
00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:42.639
things be done with charity. But
he focused primarily on verse thirteen, watch
106
00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:46.079
ye stand fast in the faith,
quit you like men, be strong,
107
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.920
all right, or as it reads
in this translation, watch stand fast in
108
00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:56.480
the faith, be brave, be
strong, Let all that you do be
109
00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.160
done with love. I think he
was reading from the King James. He
110
00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:03.480
was reading from the King James.
But so there's two translations, so I
111
00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.680
didn't really give much thought about it. The watch there didn't really jump out
112
00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:11.319
at me at that point, so
then he kind of basically before he really
113
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:16.399
started expounding or executing. First Corinthia
sixteen thirteen. He went back through kind
114
00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:20.920
of an overview of First Corinthians,
which is I thought was really good.
115
00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.079
Right. He went through kind of
the overview, but then he got to
116
00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:28.959
First Corinthian sixteenth sixteen thirteen, and
in some ways it felt like he kind
117
00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:35.080
of forgot everything that came before,
because immediately he said, watchy. Now
118
00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.679
here's the question and One Corinthians sixteen
thirteen. This is the if we were
119
00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:41.840
in a harmoneutics class, this is
what I would do. I would walk
120
00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.960
in and all right. Class today
is First Corinthians, chapter sixteen, verse
121
00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:50.840
thirteen. Day. I hope you
do well. Good. Portion of your
122
00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:56.080
semester grade is going to be determined
on how well you can interpret this verse.
123
00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.159
But we're not going to even have
you work on the entire verse.
124
00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:03.679
We're gonna just have you work on
the first two words, watch ye.
125
00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.759
That's all we're gonna focus on.
Watch ye. And here's the question,
126
00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:16.399
what should you be watching? For? What should you be watching? So
127
00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.600
immediately when I started thinking this out, as I'm listening, writing out my
128
00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.600
own hypotheses, I'm like, you
know, who should I be watching?
129
00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:26.360
Somebody's Oh wait, okay, oh
the Rockwell song January the fourteenth, nineteen
130
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.440
eighty four. Then immediately, because
I relate everything to music. Okay,
131
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.600
so then I started thinking about the
song. But really I want you to
132
00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.879
think about and that's the question.
That's the interpretive hermenudic class question of the
133
00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.080
day. All right, whoever gets
this right, you'll be val victorian.
134
00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.519
Whoever gets this wrong, you get
kicked out a seminary. Okay, are
135
00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:46.559
you ready? You've got to get
this right. Who are you to be
136
00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:52.200
watching for? Who are you to
be watching for? A First Corinthian sixteen
137
00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:58.840
thirteen. Now in the webcast,
he turned it into watch for Satan.
138
00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.200
Satan is out to get you,
watch for his schemes, watch for his
139
00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:07.639
devices. And I think most I
think if you preach that in most churches,
140
00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:11.039
they'd be like, amen, we
need to be watching for Satan.
141
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:16.159
But I'm going to challenge that,
and I'm going to argue that in the
142
00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:20.080
context of First Corinthians sixteen thirteen,
that's not telling you to watch for Satan.
143
00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.919
So you can either go, Now, what some people may say,
144
00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:28.879
watch for Satan. You may agree
that of the things I'm about to tell
145
00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:33.000
us we need to watch for,
or you may say watch for both but
146
00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.799
I just think in the context here, I don't know if Satan is really
147
00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.840
the focus here, all right,
And so I just started doing a little
148
00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.440
bit of research. The first thing
I wanted to know is, well,
149
00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:48.960
is Satan mentioned in First Corinthians.
Well, I know the only place,
150
00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.399
and I could be wrong. I
believe he's mentioned in First Corinthians chapter five,
151
00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:56.080
verse five. But when First Corinthians
five to five, Paul is not
152
00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:58.279
telling them to watch out for Satan
or Satan is out to get you,
153
00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:03.200
no, actual look what they're telling
them to do in First Corinthians chapter five.
154
00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:07.360
This is pretty fascinating. And First
Corinthians chapter five, we know we
155
00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:11.840
have some sexual sin going on in
the church, right it is actually this
156
00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:15.360
is First Corinthians chapter five, verse
five of First Corinthia chapter five, verse
157
00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.679
one. In the New King James, it is actually reported that there is
158
00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:24.919
sexual and morality among you and such
sexually and morality has not even named among
159
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.200
the gentiles. Hey, there's you've
got some sexual sin going on in your
160
00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.720
church. Even the gentiles don't even
talk about this. You guys are taking
161
00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.840
it to a whole new level.
Now, Please note this is happening inside
162
00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.799
the church, inside the church.
Inside the church, I know, we
163
00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:43.960
always like to think the church is
the bastion of family values and the church
164
00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:50.399
is the fortress of sexual morality.
The church is just as messed up as
165
00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:54.799
everything else, because we are,
say, by an imputed righteousness, meaning
166
00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:58.080
we are declared to be righteous,
but in practice we're still sinners. Okay,
167
00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.399
well, we can get a whole
discussion there. But there's some something
168
00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:05.279
going on. So what is going
on in the church That a man has
169
00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:13.159
his father's wife. So there's a
son having relations with his father's wife.
170
00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:18.039
Okay, something's going on here.
This is an issue, all right.
171
00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.919
So and you were puffed up and
have not rather mourned that he who have
172
00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.919
done this deed might be taken away
from among you. The people in the
173
00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.120
church are kind of like, well, you know, so what, We're
174
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:31.919
not gonna do anything about it.
We're just gonna We're just not gonna do
175
00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.360
anything about it. So what does
Paul tell them to do? Here we
176
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:39.120
go for indeed, as this is
verse three. For indeed, as absent
177
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:43.120
in the body, but present and
the spirit, have I already judged,
178
00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.919
as though I were present him who
has done this deed. And the name
179
00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.759
of our Lord Jesus Christ. When
you are gathered together along with my spirit,
180
00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:54.200
with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ, deliver such a one to
181
00:12:54.360 --> 00:13:01.480
Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This is church discipline. Hey,
182
00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.360
this is going on. You guys
don't seem to care. So I'm gonna
183
00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:07.080
tell you what to do. When
you come together, you turn this person
184
00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.399
over to Satan for the destruction of
the flesh. This is not be on
185
00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.879
the lookout for Satan. Satan is
out to get you. This is not
186
00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.480
even. This is not even.
Satan is the cause of this. There's
187
00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:20.159
no blame of Satan. There is
no warning about Satan. This is like,
188
00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.600
no, give the man to Satan
so Satan can destroy his flesh.
189
00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.360
Right. I mean, that's why
church discipline is the most frightening, horrifying,
190
00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:33.639
scary concepts like I should scare people
to It's why you used to.
191
00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:37.720
It should be like the last last, last, last, last, last,
192
00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.200
last, last, last last last
last beg please please No, I've
193
00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:45.639
got to avoid church discipline at all
costs because you're basically taking a person saying,
194
00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:50.440
here you go, Satan, kill
them, destroy their flesh. Now
195
00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:54.600
you're doing so in order that the
person then will be broken and repent of
196
00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:00.480
the particular sin. But it's a
frightening concept. But so right there,
197
00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:05.559
I know, and First Corinthians Satan
is not seen as the cause or the
198
00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.000
concern or the enemy. Really,
it's not really focused on that much.
199
00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:13.919
So in light of One Corinthians sixteen
thirteen, who should we be watching for?
200
00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.919
Should we be watching satan? I
don't think First Corinthian sixteen tells me
201
00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:24.000
watch for Satan. So let's let's
back up and let's do a little work
202
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.919
here. So I while I was
listening to this webcast, I started doing
203
00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:31.679
some work, right I think.
And now you can correct me if you
204
00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.440
think I have anything wrong here,
But I believe I'm pretty accurate and the
205
00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:39.759
church, and the only reason I
feel somewhat I feel somewhat confident about my
206
00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:45.840
approach here is I did spend four
years going verse by verse through the Book
207
00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:48.799
of First Corinthians, and I've taught
every single verse of the book. I
208
00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:52.000
spent four years in the Book of
First Corinthians. So I think I'm I
209
00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:56.799
think I'm pretty good taking who knows
how many seminary and Bible college classes on
210
00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.559
it. So I feel like I
have a basic grasp of it. I
211
00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:03.320
could be wrong on my approach to
One Corinthians sixteen thirteen, but I think
212
00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:09.000
I feel pretty confident with what I'm
about to say. The church in corinth
213
00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:13.440
Now, remember this is the way
I always describe it. When I was
214
00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:18.320
preaching the First Corinthians for four years, every single service Sunday school, Sunday
215
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.679
morning, Sunday night, when in
some cases we were using four services a
216
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:26.600
week to teach First Corinthians, I
stated it every single time. First Corinthians
217
00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:28.600
is a letter written to a church
that was located in the city. The
218
00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:33.559
city was influencing the church more than
the church was influencing the city. I
219
00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:35.799
said that over and over, and
people got I mean just every I mean
220
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.039
I could walk into my church now
and just start saying that, and everyone's
221
00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.440
going to finish it. They may
not know anything else, but they know
222
00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:46.720
that, all right. And in
that church, that church faced various issues
223
00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:54.840
and challenges that were causing division and
morality and confusion among the believers. These
224
00:15:54.879 --> 00:16:00.399
problems included division based on loyalty to
different leaders, sexual morality within the church,
225
00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:06.519
lawsuits among believers, misuse of spiritual
gifts, and proper conduct during the
226
00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:10.360
Lord's Supper, and some serious questions
about marriage. And while we can get
227
00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:15.799
into a whole discussion about that food
sacrifice to idols and other and questions and
228
00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:22.559
doubts about the resurrection, all of
that was going on. In fact,
229
00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:25.679
I put an outline. I could
break this down for you, but I
230
00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:29.879
can just go through quickly through probably
about maybe six major issues. There were
231
00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:36.480
divisions and factions in the church First
Corinthians chapter one, ten through seventeen something
232
00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.320
along those lines, divisions and factions
in the church. There was clearly sexual
233
00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:42.639
in morality, as we've seen in
First Corinthians chapter five. We can go
234
00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:48.679
say versus one, verse eleven,
twelve something along those lines. There were
235
00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:52.320
lawsuits among believers that were suing one
another. I think that's not like First
236
00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:56.399
Corinthians six, one to ten,
one to nine, one to eleven.
237
00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:02.159
Somewhere along those lines. Then there
was clearly some serious issues about spiritual gifts,
238
00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:04.440
and I think that kind of covers
on Corinthians twelve through fourteen. And
239
00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:07.400
I know I put the Love chapter
there, but I think the Love chapter
240
00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:12.119
is instrumental in trying to fix their
misuse of spiritual gifts because you should be
241
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.160
caring about other people more than flaunting
your own gift. Okay, we could
242
00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:22.160
get into the whole discussion there and
proper conduct during the Lord's Supper. Okay,
243
00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:26.279
I think that's that First Corinthians eleven. I mean they had some serious
244
00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:30.480
people were dying and getting sick with
the how they were approaching the Lord's table.
245
00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:33.079
It's one of those things that I
don't think anyone takes. I look
246
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.400
the way most churches serve the Lord's
Supper. I'm like, I don't think
247
00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:38.200
anybody here takes this seriously, because
if you really believe people were getting sick
248
00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.680
and dying, I would think there
would be some serious cause of concern for
249
00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:47.039
how you approach the Lord's table.
I think there would be like you would
250
00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.799
fence the table. You would not
have close communion or open community. You
251
00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:53.759
would have closed communion. Nobody unless
they were a member of the church you'd
252
00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:57.240
even be near the table. Okay, I mean we could have long discussion
253
00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:59.799
there, right, I mean,
if people are going to die, you
254
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.720
hand it out. Hey, we're
gonna hand out the Lord's supper. I
255
00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.160
mean you may die, but hey, thanks for visiting our church. Now,
256
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:08.720
drink the Lord's here's the cup and
the bread. If you die,
257
00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:11.319
don't blame us, I mean,
like, okay, no, all right.
258
00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:17.400
Then there's questions about marriage, food
sacrifice, the idols, and the
259
00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:22.160
resurrection. And you have this in
chapter seven eight and fifteen is the resurrection
260
00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:26.000
chapter. So you have all of
that. Then chapter sixteen you have questions
261
00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.319
about giving. Now you could argue
whether there was a problem there. So
262
00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:33.680
those are the main problems. Divisions, sexual morality, lawsuits, misuse of
263
00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:37.480
spiritual gifts, and proper conduct at
the Lord's table. And then all kinds
264
00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:41.640
of issues pertaining the marriage, food
sacrifice, them, the idols, and
265
00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:45.759
the questions about the resurrection. And
then we could talk about chapter sixteen giving.
266
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:56.680
Those were the issues. Those were
the issues. Now now I'm taking
267
00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:06.880
this from a different this is not
me. In order to understand the exhortation
268
00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:14.839
in First Corinthians sixteen thirteen, we
have to consider the entire epistle. It
269
00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:22.680
is helpful to consider the overarching themes
and messages conveyed throughout the letter. How
270
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:26.079
can we interpret the exhortation in light
of the context of the entire epistol?
271
00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:30.079
How can we interpret it? So
my thing is, if you're gonna say,
272
00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.160
who are we to be watching for? He went into Satan, Satan,
273
00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:37.240
Satan. Now I'm not gonna say
that's all he focused on, but
274
00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:40.759
I felt like that it really started
turning into that, and I was sitting
275
00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:44.480
here going, I just don't get
the Satan part. Where is he getting
276
00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:49.759
Satan from? How did Satan show
up here? I think the issue is
277
00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:55.799
what the what he is exhorting them. If I can speak correctly what he's
278
00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:57.400
exhorting them to do, I mean, I can spit it out. Just
279
00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:03.480
be patient with me. He's exhorting
them to be watching I think something specific
280
00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:11.759
that would be related to everything that's
wrong in the Church of corinth. Now,
281
00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:15.519
see, some people say it's Satan
is the fault, Satan is the
282
00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:19.319
problem. Satan is the problem,
and I look Satan. We talked about
283
00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:25.279
Satan last Sunday. Okay, we
talked about him, and I went through
284
00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.680
a lot of the issues and subjects, and we can get into a big
285
00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:32.359
talk about Satan. But I think
in fir Corinthian sixteen, I don't think
286
00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.759
you're being told to watch out for
Satan. Satan. I don't think is
287
00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:45.039
ever blamed for most of it throughout
the epistle, Paul addresses various issues within
288
00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:51.519
the Corinthian Church, such as division
and morality doctrinal errors. By exhorting the
289
00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:56.400
Corinthians to be on guard or to
watch, he underscores the importance of spiritual
290
00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:03.200
vigilance and the face of those challenges
the Corinthians are called to be alert to.
291
00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:07.839
Well, I think the issues in
the church. Now, I've got
292
00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:17.680
a lot more notes here, but
let's I'm going to say that the hypothesis
293
00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:23.200
that the exhortation in First Corinthian sixteen
thirteen is about Satan, I'm going to
294
00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:29.440
say that that exhortation does not stand. I don't think it is supported by
295
00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:33.480
the textual evidence of the chapter.
In fact, even in the message I
296
00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:37.319
was listening to, he had to
go to Ephesians and then bring Ephesians over
297
00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.640
to First Corinthians. I know,
you stay in the original context first and
298
00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:45.279
foremost. If you're going to go
do cross referencing, the cross reference has
299
00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:48.400
to have some link and be related
in some way, shape or form,
300
00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:52.039
typically right, typically, I think. So, So here's what I'm going
301
00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:59.440
to say. I'm going to put
forth the hypotheses that Watchee just start with.
302
00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:10.000
Watchie is that he is telling them
to watch them. Somebody's watching me.
303
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:15.319
Yeah, you, we have to
watch ourselves. The church loves to
304
00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.759
watch the world, and we've got
to be. Oh, everyone, we
305
00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.599
need to be on the lookout for
the world. Watch what the world is
306
00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:25.279
doing. Watch what's going on in
the culture. We got to fight the
307
00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.559
culture. We got to be on
the lookout. We got to be on
308
00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.119
guard to that. You better be
on guard. Not to the people outside
309
00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.680
the church. You better be on
guard to the person sitting in your pew.
310
00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:40.519
You you the problem. I'm the
problem. Somebody better be watching me.
311
00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:44.839
And it's me that has to be
watching me, because I know me
312
00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.559
better than the person sitting next to
me. I know me better than you
313
00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:53.039
listening to me, because I know
what's going on inside of me. Oh.
314
00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.400
I can put on a good facade, but I know I need to
315
00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:08.359
be watching me. The way one
source breaks this down, beyond your guard,
316
00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:14.559
stand firm and the faith. Be
creageous, be strong, beyond guard,
317
00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:18.440
be alert. Paul urges the Corinthians
to be watchful and alert, to
318
00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:22.880
be aware of potential dangerous temptations and
spiritual attacks. The admonition highlights the importance
319
00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:26.799
of vigilance and discern it in the
Christian walk. Now, the only problem
320
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:30.119
I have with that source it completely
ignores the context. No, he's saying,
321
00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:33.119
hey and light of Look, he's
giving you sixteen chapters of a church.
322
00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:38.920
He's writing the people. You guys
have failed failed, failed, fail
323
00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:45.160
fail fail. Like if I was
grading for the church at corinth I'd be
324
00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:48.440
like, guys, look, I'm
not even gonna bother giving you an F
325
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:51.880
because I'd have to apologize to all
the f's ever given to anybody else.
326
00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:55.839
You guys are so your score is
so low there's no way to score it.
327
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:00.000
You're the biggest your churches. Your
church makes the s of course look
328
00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:04.640
godly, and they're a pagan city. You make the pagans look more godly
329
00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.839
than the godly. Okay, Like
it would be like, you guys are
330
00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:15.200
a mess. You need to be
watching you. You've got all of this
331
00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:19.000
failure. You've got to stop.
You gotta worry about you. You've got
332
00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:25.599
to watch yourself. Now, I'm
gonna look up First Corinthians sixteen thirteen.
333
00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.799
I didn't even think about doing this, But remember I'm reacting to all of
334
00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:32.720
this in very real time, very
real time, I'm gonna go first Corinthians
335
00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:40.799
sixteen thirteen. First thing I'm gonna
do is look at how this is translated
336
00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:45.200
in like every English translation. Be
on your guard, be on your guard,
337
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:49.240
beyond guard, be watchful, be
on the alert. What are you
338
00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:52.599
guarding? What are you watching?
What are you in the alert for?
339
00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:57.799
You're an alert and watch yourself.
The church has been a total mess.
340
00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:03.640
Guys. You gotta watch yourself.
You gotta see how all of these issues
341
00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:07.440
I've addressed, whether it's sexual and
morality, whether it's people dying at the
342
00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:10.400
Lord's table, I mean, maybe
you should care a little bit about people
343
00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:14.400
dropping dead. Maybe maybe you needed
to be watching your own pride and arrogance
344
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:18.880
when it comes to spiritual gifts.
Maybe you need to stop suing one another,
345
00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:21.720
Like all these things, you need
to be watching you. You need
346
00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:25.599
to be on guard for you.
You need to be on the alert of
347
00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:29.559
you. The church constantly. You
listen to Christian radio, listen to Christian
348
00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:33.640
podcast. Oh the world this,
Oh they did this on Netflix, they
349
00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.799
did this in this show, And
we got to be watching this, and
350
00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:37.920
we gotta be guarding this, and
we gotta be banning this, and we
351
00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:40.000
gotta be censoring this, and we
gotta be on the look out for this,
352
00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.559
and we gotta be on the lookout
for that. Oh, social media
353
00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:45.599
is destroying us. This everything is
something else. How about we just look
354
00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:49.640
at the problem that we have.
We're the problem. I'm the problem.
355
00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:53.240
Hello, it's me, I'm the
problem. Okay. Now, in quoting
356
00:25:53.240 --> 00:26:02.880
Taylor Swist, Okay, you get
the idea. We're the issue. We
357
00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:06.880
got to be watching us. Now, if I go to the actual Greek
358
00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:11.799
here, I'm going to go to
the uh. I'm going to go to
359
00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:18.359
the intilinear watchee as it is in
the King James. Watchee. Is this
360
00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:21.720
Greek word? Here's watchee. Oh, this one should be fun to say.
361
00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:27.759
Here's this Greek word. Strong's g
eleven twenty seven, Gregreo, Gregareo,
362
00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:33.000
greg Garreo. Okay, it is
issues twenty three times, it's twenty
363
00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:37.160
one times. Watch one time,
wake, be vigilant one time. Strong's
364
00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:44.640
definition to keep awake, watch,
be vigilant, wake, to watch is
365
00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:48.279
the outline of biblical usage to give
strict attention, to to be cautious,
366
00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:53.200
to take key. Let's through remission
and some destructive calamity would could possibly overtake
367
00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:59.279
you. You got to be paying
attention. Why do you have to be
368
00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.240
paying attention? Because we have a
sinful nature. Look what I know.
369
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.519
We always want to worry about everything
outside of us. The greatest danger lives
370
00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:18.960
inside of you. The greatest threat
is inside of you. What pastors should
371
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:22.400
do They should hand out mirrors.
There should be a mirror, and every
372
00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:26.559
pew there should be a mirror.
And then the pastor every Sunday should come
373
00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:32.839
up and go, ladies and gentlemen, I have on good authority identified what
374
00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.039
is the greatest threat to your spiritual
life? And everybody like what, pick
375
00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:41.599
up the mirror, look at the
mirror. You, not the person sitting
376
00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:45.519
next to you, not the men. Stop blaming the women. Women,
377
00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:51.079
Stop blaming the men. Everyone.
It's you kids. Stop blaming your parents
378
00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:56.440
parents, Stop blaming your kids.
Stop blaming your circumstances. It's you worthy
379
00:27:56.519 --> 00:28:02.200
issue. Watch ye yourself. If
somebody's watching you, and it should be
380
00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:06.240
you watching you. You have to
be, in a sense, your own
381
00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:10.519
best accountability partner. You know why
you can be your own best accountability partner
382
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:15.759
because you know when you're playing games, Come on, you know when you're
383
00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:18.400
like, oh, I so want
to stop doing this, but I'm going
384
00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:26.000
to do it soon. Oh,
come on, we all know. I
385
00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:29.440
don't think this is about saying.
I think it's about us. Now,
386
00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:33.319
there's the watch, be alert,
be guard, beyond guard, pay attention.
387
00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:38.359
You you you you you you you
you you you you you you you
388
00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:42.240
you. That's what we have to
be on the lookout for. Now.
389
00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:56.400
It says watche stand fast, stand
fast. This translation has it watch says
390
00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:02.599
stand fast, stand fast. The
this translation has or I'm gonna go to
391
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:15.079
the Greek here stand fast. Is
this Greek word strongs gnine stayko, stayko
392
00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:18.559
steakko. Now this is kind of
the way. Now, he did a
393
00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:21.799
good job in the webcast pointing this
out. Now he he put it.
394
00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:25.160
He focused on Satan. But what
I did appreciate is he kind of said
395
00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.759
that there's a progressive order here.
And I do like that. First,
396
00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:32.480
you're on a lookout, you're on
the alert, you're on guard. Right,
397
00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:36.640
you're on guard, you're standing post, right, standing post. When
398
00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:38.559
when I was in the United States
Military, I was put on a team
399
00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:45.200
called the Dirty Dozen. Right,
we were given a test and guess what
400
00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:48.559
our reward was for acing? And
you had to ace the test. Guess
401
00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:52.920
what the reward was for acing the
test? You got put on guard duty
402
00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:56.960
overnight. Yay, yay, I'm
so glad I passed that. If I
403
00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.640
would have known what the test was
gonna give me, I would to flunk
404
00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:03.559
the thing fifty times over. But
okay, I got so. There you
405
00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:11.559
are two in the morning, guarding
a door to the dormitor. Everyone else
406
00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:18.240
in there is asleep, and you're
there guarding a door. Just oh,
407
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:22.559
I mean, all you're doing is
just standing there. You're just watching the
408
00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:26.079
door. And if anyone comes to
the door, you have to assure that
409
00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:30.000
they have proper identification, a proper
authority to enter the room. If they
410
00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.039
don't, you have to turn them
away. No matter who they are,
411
00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:36.200
they don't have proper identification, you
turn them away if they yell, scream
412
00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:38.880
threat and you but you are to
stand guard. You are to be alert.
413
00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.640
Now, if someone came to the
door and saw you and you're in
414
00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:48.000
there sleeping, you're in trouble.
I'll never forget Desert Storm. I get
415
00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:51.960
sent well, I didn't know where
I was going. The plane breaks down
416
00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:53.640
over New York City. Then we
get taken off the plane because a terrorist
417
00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:56.799
threat a terrorist threat. The whole
thing's crazy. We end up back on
418
00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:59.759
the plane. We don't know where
we're going. Next thing, you know,
419
00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:02.240
they're like, hey, we're about
to approach our landing and I look
420
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:03.279
out the window. I'm like,
wait a minute, there's no sand,
421
00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:10.279
there's no desert or not or nowhere
near a rock or nowhere near Kuwait where
422
00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:12.440
are we? And it's like we
land in Germany. I'm like, ooh,
423
00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:15.559
this is pretty cool, right.
So we end up in Germany at
424
00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:18.160
a place called Swabrooke, and now
we are there to set up a turnkey
425
00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:21.680
facility. That means everything is ready
in the building. All we got to
426
00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:25.240
go in turn the key, pull
everything out, and we're now ready to
427
00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:29.759
go to set up a medical facility
so those who are wounded or seriously injured
428
00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:33.240
and the front lines can be then
airlifted to us and then we can provide
429
00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:37.079
you know, surgery or whatever else
is needed. Okay, so we get
430
00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:41.039
it all ready, We're good to
go. But here's the thing. The
431
00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:45.359
hospital was downtown Swabrook and the military
base was I don't know, ten fifteen,
432
00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:49.160
twenty miles from where it is,
so we had to take city buses
433
00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:55.759
they said city buses to pick us
up and drive us to the hospital.
434
00:31:55.920 --> 00:32:00.839
Right, So we have a shift
at the hospital. We get on the
435
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:05.480
bus and we drive back to the
military installation, the Air force base.
436
00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:09.839
The bus pulls up and the bus
driver's just sitting there. It's I don't
437
00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:13.519
know, it's like midnight, one
in the morning. I don't even know
438
00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:15.759
what time it is. And we're
just sitting there, sitting there, sitting
439
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.519
there, sitting there, sitting there, sitting there, sitting there, and
440
00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:21.880
the bus driver is picking up his
radio and he's calling other people and he's
441
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:24.720
laughing, and he's saying something in
German, and we're like, what is
442
00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:28.960
going on. All of a sudden, one of the sergeants look out,
443
00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:34.599
and we're like, you've got to
be kidding me. We're in the middle
444
00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:42.039
of a war, heightened heightened security
alerts for all military installations of the possibility
445
00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:46.079
of terrorist attacks. And guess what
the guards were doing. They were sound
446
00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:53.759
asleep the military installation. Anybody could
have just driven right on to the militaries.
447
00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:59.039
They were gone, they were out. And now here's the civilian bus
448
00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:02.480
driver laughing at the situation. So
he gets the sergeant gets out. He
449
00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:06.599
walks up to them, walks all
the way into the guard check they're just
450
00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:09.440
completely asleep, and he goes bang
and then they jump up and he's like,
451
00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:13.480
you're dead and your career is over. Now. I don't know what
452
00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:16.720
happened to him, but obviously they
were in serious, serious trouble because they
453
00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:22.119
were asleep at the guard at the
gate. They were asleep at their post.
454
00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:24.519
They in a sense, had abandoned
their posts. Well, we are
455
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:31.599
sometimes asleep to the danger of us. We got to be looking for us.
456
00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:35.839
We got to be in a sense, we need to take a test
457
00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:38.240
to see how good we are at
watching us. How good at you are
458
00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:42.160
watching here? Are you an alert? Are you guarding yourself? Well?
459
00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:44.680
So, in a sense, we
have to be on the lookout. So
460
00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:47.640
you think about we're guarding. So
let's take the first part. Watche we're
461
00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:52.759
looking, we're watching. Oh,
I see the threat, I see the
462
00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:55.000
problem. Now what we're watching is
us, And I see the issue inside
463
00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:59.680
of me. I see a desire, a feeling, a thinking. I
464
00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:01.559
see I see issues inside of me. So I gotta watch. I gotta
465
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:05.279
watch. And what do I do
after I watch? What do I do
466
00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:07.559
after I watch? And I and
I and I see what do I do?
467
00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:19.599
I do this strongs g stayko I
stay o steako, stayko I watch
468
00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:22.559
and then I stayko i stako.
Okay, what does that mean? It
469
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:30.519
means to It is to be stationary. It is to preserve. It is
470
00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:36.039
to stand fast the outline of biblical
usage to stand firm, to persevere,
471
00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:39.840
or to preserve, to persist,
to keep one standing. I'm to be
472
00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:44.480
stationary, I'm to be I am
to stay right there, not move.
473
00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:47.000
But what am I standing like?
So what what a lot of people think
474
00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:51.559
you'll do? Oh? This means
I'm going to stand against it. Now.
475
00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:53.840
Look, look, I think it's
fascinating the way the text is read
476
00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:59.000
or the way the text is written. Watch stand fast in the faith.
477
00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:07.920
Stand fast in the faith. I
find that fascinating. Now one source put
478
00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:09.920
it this way, if I can
go back to my nose, stand firm
479
00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:14.880
in the faith. The call to
stand firm and the Faith emphasizes the need
480
00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:17.960
for unwavering commitment to the core tenets
of Christianity. Believers are encouraged to hold
481
00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:22.159
faster their beliefs, to remain steadfast
in the truth of the Gospel despite challenges
482
00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:27.000
or opposition. What I think is
when you are watching and you're looking for
483
00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:30.960
yourself, you see your depravity,
your weakness, You see your doubt,
484
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:35.280
you see your fear, your confusion, your anxiety, you see all of
485
00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:38.039
the dirt right like you know,
you're watching and you know what's in the
486
00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:42.880
behind the closet door. You know
what's there, and you see stuff that
487
00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:45.880
makes you think, what is wrong
with me? Why am I so depraved?
488
00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:49.880
Why am I such a sinner?
Why do I want to do this?
489
00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:52.679
Why do I desire this? Why
do I not care about anybody else?
490
00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:55.039
Why do I only care about So? You know what, You've got
491
00:35:55.039 --> 00:36:00.360
to stand firm in your faith in
Jesus Christ, standing firm in the faith
492
00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:06.079
of his imputed righteousness. You're standing
firm in the faith of his work and
493
00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:09.400
his obedience. You watch and you
see, and you stand firm in the
494
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:15.079
faith of Christ. Everything thinks it's
like stand firm against these things. I
495
00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:17.199
think it's staying firm in your faith. Now I do agree, it's standing
496
00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:22.199
firm in the basic tenets of Christianity. But most important, you're standing firm
497
00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:27.039
in your faith that we live by
faith, that just lives by faith.
498
00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:30.760
And what does that mean? I
live my life based off my faith in
499
00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:34.840
the finished work of Jesus Christ and
his imputed righteousness. Because when I'm watching
500
00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:38.119
and I'm on guard and now I'm
on alert, i am gonna see the
501
00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:43.360
constant issues inside of me. And
I may want to throw my hands up
502
00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:47.639
in despair and say that's it.
I give up. I'm a complete dumpster
503
00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:53.280
fire. I'm trash, I am
I'm a loser. I'm pathetic, I
504
00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:58.960
am weak, I am depraved,
I am disgusting, I am vile.
505
00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:00.760
I don't even does serve to breathe. And you know what, there's a
506
00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:05.079
probably from a theilological standpoint, when
you compare yourself to the holiness of God.
507
00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.519
Oh of that is true. But
I'm gonna stand firm in my faith.
508
00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:12.599
I'm not going to crumble because of
my depravity. I'm gonna stand firm
509
00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:15.320
and faith, knowing my only hope
is not on me trying to be a
510
00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:19.199
better person. But it's about me. Guess what, standing firm in my
511
00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:27.679
faith? But then what's next?
Watch stand fast in the faith, be
512
00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:31.679
brave, quiet quite you like men, I think is the way the King
513
00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:37.440
James puts it. Be be courageous, all right, I'm gonna I'm gonna
514
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:40.880
go to the Greek here. I'm
gonna go to the Greek here. Okay,
515
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:45.440
they're wanting, uh, they want
a donation here. I don't want
516
00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:46.639
to give you a donation. What
I need is to get back to the
517
00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:50.679
text or here we go. All
right, So watch you stand fast and
518
00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:53.639
faith, Quit you quiet, Quit
you like man. I keep saying it
519
00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:58.119
the wrong way. I apologize because
I've got multiple translations. Here, quit
520
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:01.559
you like men? Is this is
a the of a Greek word strong's g
521
00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:07.639
four O seven, andrids am I
anddrids of I ondrids of I. All
522
00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:13.840
right, this is used one time, all right, Quit you like men?
523
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:19.239
Choose one time? All right.
It means to uh to act manly,
524
00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:23.320
quit like men, to be a
man, be manly, to make
525
00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:28.880
a man of or make brave,
to show oneself a man, be brave.
526
00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:31.320
I think the idea. I like
the idea the way it's translated to
527
00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:38.400
the new King James, be brave, bravery. You need to be brave.
528
00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:43.840
You need to be courageous. Now
why well, you're you're looking out
529
00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.440
and you're like, oh man,
oh man, oh man, I'm a
530
00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:49.960
sinner. I got this problem.
There you're you're watching yourself and then guess
531
00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:52.480
what. You stand firm in your
faith and guess what you need. You
532
00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:57.400
need to be brave and courageous in
light of your depravity and you and that
533
00:38:57.559 --> 00:39:00.280
bravery comes from the fact that you
stand in the puted righteousness of Christ,
534
00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:05.079
which gives you the strength to say, you know what, I should probably
535
00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:08.679
walk away and embarrassment because I'm a
hypocrite, but I'm gonna stand firm and
536
00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:14.320
I'm gonna be courageous because I stand
firm in the faith of what Christ did
537
00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:22.360
for me. My notes, I
put it this way, Paul's encourages the
538
00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:27.880
Corinthians to exhibit courage and the face
of adversity and face of your own failure
539
00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:30.000
and face of you. I think
what he's seeing to do, be strong
540
00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:35.760
or be brave here, be brave
in the face of your own failure,
541
00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:38.840
in your own look. Guess what
you after Paul lays out all of your
542
00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:42.840
failures. You know what I would
think about doing. I would think about,
543
00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:45.000
like, you know what, maybe
just call it a day. This
544
00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:47.960
church thing, this Christianity thing,
is really not working out for me because
545
00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:52.199
I keep sinning and I keep failing. No, no, no, no,
546
00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:57.039
no, Stand firm in your faith
and then be be brave to stand
547
00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:59.000
there. You know why, it's
going to be hard to be brave,
548
00:39:59.079 --> 00:40:04.079
because everyone's going to be like hypocrite, sinner, loser, never do what
549
00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:07.239
you're supposed to do. You fall
short continually. You're a loser. You're
550
00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:10.719
pathetic. Accusation after accusation, you
know what, And sometimes all you can
551
00:40:10.760 --> 00:40:16.360
say is, you're absolutely right.
I have no business calling myself a Christian,
552
00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:20.320
but you know what, I'm a
Christian not because of what I do,
553
00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:23.559
but because of what Christ did.
It takes a little bit of bravery
554
00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:29.960
to continue to stand there when everything
around you everyone should say, just give
555
00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:36.119
it up. You're not even being
remotely You're everyone in the Church of Court
556
00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:37.000
should just kind of walk away.
Go. You know what, well,
557
00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:42.320
let's just close this church down and
call it a day because we are losers.
558
00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:46.079
No, stand firm and your faith
and be brave, and the face
559
00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:51.239
of that failure and the face of
your weakness, and the face of your
560
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:59.440
shame and the face of your sin, be courageous. It's boldness, it's
561
00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:07.960
fearlessness because of because you're standing firm
in your faith. So watch what do
562
00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:10.079
you want what are we watching?
Who are we watching? We're watching ourselves.
563
00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:13.400
We stand fast in the faith.
Why do we have to stand fast
564
00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:15.320
in the faith? Because I don't
know, Watch yourself and report that back
565
00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:20.440
to me. You're gonna you're gonna
see some really disturbing things. You're gonna
566
00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:22.519
need to stand fast in your faith. And guess what, You're gonna have
567
00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.599
to be brave because as you're standing
fast in your faith, you're going to
568
00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:28.880
be confronted with your own failure,
in your own hypocrisy. And if you
569
00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:30.280
and look, I don't know how
old your kids are now, just wait
570
00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:34.199
till they get a little bit older. They'll point out all of your hypocrisy
571
00:41:34.320 --> 00:41:37.079
or the propriority, telling your their
Sunday school teacher about how messed up you
572
00:41:37.119 --> 00:41:42.400
Mom and dad are all right right? Be brave? Next, be strong,
573
00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:47.280
Be strong. The King James has
it as watch ye stand fast in
574
00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:51.639
the faith? Quit you like man, be strong? That idea, be
575
00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:54.320
brave. Now be strong. The
command is to be strong, and justcourse,
576
00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:58.400
the idea of drawing that you're drawing
strength. But I think the idea
577
00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:00.760
where do we standing strong in?
I think we're standing strong in the context.
578
00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:05.159
Everyone will kind of go other directions. So I'm gonna not rely on
579
00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:08.079
any other resources here. I think
we are being strong in our faith.
580
00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:13.800
We're being strong in our position in
God. Look, I'm not gonna be
581
00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:16.440
strong in my ability to do better. Look, I mean think about it
582
00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:21.599
from a political from a logical standpoint, Why would Paul even give them this
583
00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:25.639
exhortation. They've demonstrated in sixteen chapters
they can't do anything right, So now
584
00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:28.760
they're going to go ahead and do
things right. No, I think what
585
00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:30.679
he's saying, Hey, guys,
based off all your weakness and failure,
586
00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:35.400
you need to watch yourself and then
you need to stand firm in your faith
587
00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:40.480
and then be brave in your faith
and be strong in your faith. Be
588
00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:45.239
strong in the fact that I am
in Christ, and in Christ, not
589
00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:50.840
practically but positionally, I'm a new
creature. The old is gone. Everything
590
00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:54.639
is new. I am perfect and
holy. Be strong in that. If
591
00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:58.440
you're going to be strong in your
efforts, are going to be strong in
592
00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:00.559
your attempts to do the right thing, You're gonna just realize you're not that
593
00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:06.079
strong. Look, as long as
you have a sinful nature, whatever strength
594
00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:12.639
you pretend to have, it's only
it's only it's only a pretend strength,
595
00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:17.599
because internally you are a depraved sinner
and it's there, whether you can maskt
596
00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:24.280
or not. So watch, stand
fast in the faith, be brave,
597
00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:31.760
be strong, and let all that
you do be done with love. Everything
598
00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:34.920
you do, do it with love. You know why you should be able
599
00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:37.239
to do everything you do with love, because the only reason that you can
600
00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:40.320
stand firm in your faith is because
not because you love God, but because
601
00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:44.239
He first loves you. He sent
his son to die for you, and
602
00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:47.400
in Christ he is giving you.
He is accredited to your account perfect a
603
00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:52.039
righteousness. So you can stand firm
in that, and then you can be
604
00:43:52.199 --> 00:43:54.760
brave, and you can be strong
because of what you are in Christ,
605
00:43:55.000 --> 00:44:00.039
not because of what you are in
practice. You watch to see how the
606
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:02.960
stuff you are you're strong, and
you you stand firm in your faith,
607
00:44:04.199 --> 00:44:07.800
then you are brave and you're strong. And then we should do everything out
608
00:44:07.800 --> 00:44:15.000
of love because of the love we
have received. That I think is a
609
00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:21.199
better approach to First Corinthian sixteen thirteen. And I don't think it's about me
610
00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:29.440
watching Satan. I think it's about
me watching me. I didn't even get
611
00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:32.719
to all my notes. In fact, ignored ninety percent of my notes.
612
00:44:34.760 --> 00:44:37.719
All right, there we go.
I don't think I I think the only
613
00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:39.880
thing I may have messed up is
quit. You like man? Quiet?
614
00:44:40.199 --> 00:44:43.760
Quit you like man? Right?
Yeah, I think that's the only thing
615
00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:45.000
I may have messed up. Right. If I messed that up, I
616
00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:54.480
apologize, all right. I think
everything else I got halfway decent. Probably
617
00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:58.719
messed up some of those Greek words
pretty good. See, you know what,
618
00:44:58.840 --> 00:45:00.679
I'm watching myself and gives what I'm
seeing. I'm seeing my mess ups,
619
00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:05.360
I'm seeing my failures. Now this
is in podcasting, but in my
620
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:07.239
normal life. Guess what. And
when I watched myself, I said,
621
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:07.960
oh, kN I messed up here, and I messed up here, and
622
00:45:08.039 --> 00:45:10.960
oh I had this bad thought and
wooh I had this and do this and
623
00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:14.159
I had lust, and I had
this and I had creed, and I
624
00:45:14.199 --> 00:45:16.599
had this, and I had this, and I had hatred, had bitterness
625
00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:20.559
and this and this and this and
this and this and this and this and
626
00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:22.480
this and this and this and this. Oh man, I'm a man.
627
00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:25.239
I'm going to stand firm in my
faith. My faith is in the finished
628
00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:29.679
work of Jesus Christ, and He's
imputed his perfect righteousness to me. Now
629
00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:32.840
in the light of that truth,
I am going to be brave. I'm
630
00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:37.920
going to be brave and even though
people may accuse me and falsely accuse,
631
00:45:37.239 --> 00:45:42.039
not even falsely accused me, correctly
accuse me and say all kinds of horrible
632
00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:44.079
things about me, it may be
all true, but I'm going to be
633
00:45:44.119 --> 00:45:46.079
brave in the face of that because
of what I am in Christ Jesus,
634
00:45:46.119 --> 00:45:51.239
and I'm going to be strong in
that positional standing. And I'm going to
635
00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:58.159
try to then respond and do everything
I do out of love. And I
636
00:45:58.199 --> 00:46:01.800
think that interpretation day is true to
the text, and I don't have to
637
00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:05.719
go import something in there. Now. You could argue, well, how
638
00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:07.800
does that fit with Satan if you
want to bring Satan into it. I
639
00:46:07.880 --> 00:46:17.679
just think the context there tells us
exactly what's going on personally. I think
640
00:46:17.719 --> 00:46:22.599
it does. But you can give
me your thoughts. Now. That is
641
00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:27.880
all based off the live webcast that
was ending as I went live. That's
642
00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:30.079
what I was like. Now he
said some other things there that were just
643
00:46:30.119 --> 00:46:35.039
in this crazy stuff, like you're
not showing reverence to God if you're like,
644
00:46:35.159 --> 00:46:37.840
I don't know, leading singing or
preaching and you put your hand in
645
00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:40.079
your pocket. That and if you
get ready to tell people it's time to
646
00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:45.280
pray and you're smiling, that is
somehow not showing reverence to God. That
647
00:46:45.440 --> 00:46:47.400
was the most insane thing. The
thing I'm going to find the audio clip
648
00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:52.039
from is he referred to ordinances as
a means of grace, which is insane
649
00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:57.840
because that's sacramental language, not the
language of a church that believes in ordinances
650
00:46:57.880 --> 00:47:00.480
versus sacrament. So we're going to
definitely do some work on that. All
651
00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:07.840
right, there we go. That's
my adventure and live webcasting on the two
652
00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:10.320
point oh app today. I don't
know how your day is going. Now
653
00:47:10.519 --> 00:47:15.199
go listen to some random live webcasts
on the Sermon's two point oh app.
654
00:47:15.239 --> 00:47:19.519
That's remember for the next two weeks. That's your challenge. Just whatever's on
655
00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:22.239
the live webcast. It look,
you don't get to choose whatever is there.
656
00:47:22.280 --> 00:47:23.679
That's what you get. Now.
If there's multiple ones, just try
657
00:47:23.679 --> 00:47:25.760
to pick a random one. Don't
try to look and see you oh oh
658
00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:29.559
I know this church. No no, no no, just try to just
659
00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:32.119
close your eyes and pick one.
Like Wednesday night, they'll probably be a
660
00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:36.920
five six hundred. Just choose a
random one, all right, take good
661
00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:43.679
notes, summarize it. He focused
on first Crientia sixteen thirteen, telling us
662
00:47:43.719 --> 00:47:47.880
basically to watch for Satan. I'm
saying first Criuentia sixteen thirteen is about us
663
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:55.079
watching us. Somebody's watching me,
probably should be me. Thanks for listening,
664
00:47:55.519 --> 00:48:00.199
everyone, Have a great day.
God bless
Spreaker
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
PocketCasts
Amazon Music
Overcast
Audible
Castro
iHeartRadio
Castbox
Podchaser
TuneIn
Deezer
Pandora
RadioPublic
Podcast Addict
RSS Feed
YouTube
Fountain
PlayerFM
Goodpods
Podverse
Podyssey
Breaker
Podurama
Audacy
JioSaavn