Being Pastoral: The Fact of the Matter

Vision 2019: Looking 4-1 Being Pastoral Ephesians 4:7, 11-14 Introduction: I. Truth as a Foundation A little exercise: A. How do you know truth? You are taught it. What if the thing you are taught as truth is false? a. Colors (color-blind people) Red, Blue, Green b. 1 + 1= (2) – 1 - 1= (0) – 1 * 1= (1) – 1 / 1= (1) c. If you believe colors & math are one thing while others are taught right, it makes you look like a fool… B. Let’s drill down & enjoy some meat. Ephesians 4:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: NKJV that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. NLT a. Coming into agreement with the Word of God aligns you with the character, nature & holiness of the Almighty, Hashem. You are to emulate the actions & character of God; as He is merciful, you & I are to be merciful, as He is patient, kind & forgiving, so are we. Jesus said, John 5:19Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things so ever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. b. Coming into agreement with the Word of God you put on the mind of Christ. Philippians 2:1-4 (BIBLE) NLT c. What is the purpose of this teaching & innate desire to experience this level of spiritual walk? Ephesians 4:13bthat we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. NLT C. Spiritual Maturity equals Holiness a. The "standard" of holiness of the LORD is not necessarily what man's religion has made it. Most people have their own preconceived idea of holiness based on preferences, upbringing or systems of philosophy & ethics. It is God Who makes us holy. When He consecrates, sets you apart for His service (this is not just preachers who are "set apart.") Holiness grows from a relationship with God & knowledge of Jesus Christ. b. Hear the words of the Psalmist, Psalm 101:2I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. NLT • A blameless life (tamim) is not an unattainable perfection, but a character which reflects the character of God. • As you draw close to the LORD & pursue an intimate relationship with Him, you discover – His holiness. Why does Father want you to be mature & no longer children? Ultimately so that, "we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head." CJB Ephesians 4:15b NLT says, growing in every way more and more like Christ. But what is going on in the lives of those who refuse, deny or turn away from the truth of the teaching of the Word & from receiving instruction from the Five-fold ministry given to the Church? That's what we want to look at & consider today. (Illustration of woman on 600 lb. life who lived under complete denial believing the Doctor & his reports were all lies because she refused to change.) Ephesians 4:14So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. AMPC Remember the ship Paul was on & how far off course it became as it was driven for days at the mercy of the violent wind & waves? I still remember eighth grade history when the teacher, who attended a mainline denomination church, told us the God of Christianity & the god of Islam were the same. My science teacher taught evolution & how we all evolved from monkeys. In High School most of the kids were drinking, getting drunk every weekend, smoking weed in the school parking lot during lunch &etc. A woman I worked with in High School was in Wicca & tried to get in my head about me not having to respect my parents & my Christian walk was unnecessary. We sat & listened to David Koresh & his teaching of the Word. Any one of these & countless other opportunities I have had to be tossed to & fro, carried off by another wind of doctrine. But God! Psalm 119:105 (BIBLE) II. The Fact of the Matter Remember the application: Facts are replete with truth & truth sets you free. A. Bible = Foundation Psalm 119:11Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee. Having the Word of God in your heart is your solid foundation for truth. It is the plumb line, the scale, the balance, the measuring stick… God's Word in your heart, quickened by being sensitive & listening to Holy Spirit will ward off false doctrine & crazy ideas & philosophies of men. B. Deceit = Instability Satan perverts & deceives, as the AMPC states, "[the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men." Why will someone lie & try to pull you over to their opinion? Obviously, to change your mind, your heart in doing so it is a "changing wind of doctrine." This is extremely dangerous in spiritual matters, (Believe a lie & be damned) the Bible says, 2 Thessalonians 2:10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. NKJV C. Filled = Full a. We are taught what the great command is, Jesus said, "Matthew 22:37Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Look here, if your heart, soul & mind are filled with love to the LORD, there will not be room to love anything of this world. b. Another scripture, 1 Corinthians 6:19Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Remembering Holy Spirit dwells within you & your body & spirit belongs to God would keep you from straying with every wind of doctrine. III. Conclusion A. The Excuses. You may say, "Oh, I come to church some. I know I love Jesus, we are working it out." Judas, though lived with, walked with, witnessed the miracles of Jesus he strayed because he did not live a blameless life & never matured in his spiritual life reflecting the character of God. B. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST.