A Church Of 200 Ministers - [Colossians 4:17]

Well, good morning it is again my privilege to be here this morning and I Bring to you I think a Rather unusual message only because you wouldn't normally think oh, that's the passage I've got to preach but I'd like to invite you to open your Bibles to Colossians chapter 4.

Reading Colossians 4 and Setting the Scene

Colossians chapter 4. I'm going to begin Reading in verse 7 and go to verse 18 and before I do that I Would like you as I read through it and as we kind of develop this and I'm going to do what you're never supposed to Do.

I'm going to give you an extended introduction and whenever I talk to somebody and review their messages I always say don't do a long introduction. So I'm doing it today, but What I want us to do as we read this as we walk through this is I want us to really kind of develop the mindset.

I Don't know how else to say this but to think like you are the first century church at Colossi. That's where the Colossian people were by the way is in Colossi. Starting in verse 7 from Colossians 4 Paul writes as to all my affairs.

Titius our beloved brother and Faithful servant and fellow bondservant in the Lord will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very purpose. That you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts and with him Anesimus our faithful and beloved brother who is one of your number.

They will inform you about the whole situation here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends you his greetings and also Barnabas is Barnabas's cousin Mark about whom you received instructions if he comes to you welcome him and Also Jesus who is called justice.

These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. Epaphras who is one of your number a bond slave of Jesus Christ sends you his greetings always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God for I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Luke the beloved physician sends you his greetings and also Demas. Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. When this letter is read among you have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans.

And you for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea say to Archippus. Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord that you may fulfill it. I Paul write this greeting with my own hand remember my Imprisonment grace be with you now usually.

You know. Honesty check here when you're reading through the New Testament you get to the end of these letters. You're like yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Come on Paul get on with it close the thing so I can get to the next book.

Because it's just like you know so-and-so says hi say hi to so-and-so for me. And I think I think that's kind of the the mindset that we can get into and I'm certain if we were sitting there in The church in Colossi we'd be going.

Okay. I know what's happening now the letter starting to wind down. He's telling us who's greeting and who we should greet and who he's curious about and this and the other thing. But let's go to the setting first of all again I want you to think about this like you're in that first century church in Colossi who wrote the book of Colossians.

Obviously Paul did. And he was even as verse 18 tells us a prisoner. Remember my imprisonment he says. This is one of the prison epistles makes sense you're writing from a prison. These become known as the prison epistles along with Ephesians Philippians and Philemon.

While you're in jail you write a lot of letters. Paul wrote these letters while he was in prison. Now where was Colossi? It was a city in what is now part of modern, Turkey. It was about 100 miles east of Ephesus in the region of the seven churches of Revelation 1 to 3.

So right in that cluster of churches over there Colossi was at one time a vital trade center very rich area. But then the main road got diverted and it no longer went through Colossi and so like many boom towns it started to Decay it started to become less and less wealthy.

So what was the Colossian Church like? Colossi's population was mainly Gentile meaning Non-jews, but there was a large Jewish settlement there dating back to Antiochus the Great. If you remember Antiochus the Great is the one who desecrated the temple a Lot of Jews left after he took over and some of them settled in Colossi.

But this racially blended city also had a racially blended church. Well part of the problem back, then is you weren't just racially blended you were Religiously blended. You had different different backgrounds.

The Gentiles would be largely pagans and they would bring some pagan background some pagan baggage as it were into the church and The Jewish population on the other hand would bring in some legalism, so you had combination of legalism mysticism kind of forming together.

The church was founded by Epaphras we'd find that out in Colossians 1 5 5 through 7 who apparently was saved during a visit to Ephesus and Then started left Ephesus and started this church in Colossi when he returned home now.

That's evangelism somebody gets saved. They learn a little bit and they go off and they start a church. Being able to reproduce what you know and to see that actually grow into a church that is amazing and a testimony to the work of God in the life of Epaphras but Epaphras as The church grew and as he saw the problems creeping into this church.

He was very very concerned as any pastor or leader would be about The church and so he went to Rome to get Paul's input on What he should do. So why was the letter written to the Church of Colossi? Well, it was written sometime between 60 and 62 AD and the Colossians as I said were in danger from within the church as is often the case and as The case today if you were here a couple weeks ago during Sunday school, you know that The false teaching comes frequently from inside the church.

We're all concerned about what's going on outside the church what about what's inside the church. So he went to go get some advice from Paul about what to do. Paul sends this letter to them with Titicus Who was accompanying the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master Philemon a member of the Colossian Church.

So those two brought the letter back along with the letter to Philemon. So You've been sitting there in church hearing this letter from the Apostle Paul read to you aloud. Now, of course that brings up a whole Number of lessons one is the importance of reading the Word of God aloud in a congregation and just think about that if you were just sit there and hear the whole book of Colossians read to you and That that was what they did but Paul Wrote this sent it to them and and you've been listening to this as the Church of Colossi and Then we get down to this list of individual greetings and that really that would be you know If it opens if a letter opens in a specific way and they did and then you have the body of the letter and then you Have this closing this is what marked the closing.

Tychicus and Onesimus: Faithful Messengers and a Transformed Life

So people are really kind of folding their Bibles as it were putting their water bottles under their seat. They're ready to go. You know, it's over Time to go get lunch but what he says about these men and how he says it sets the tone for what I'm going to Discuss with you this morning first notice the two men that he sent with the letter Verse Seven as to all my affairs.

Tishakus our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond servant in the Lord will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very purpose so here you have a Tishakus and just imagine the trust that Paul had in him.

He was in effect Paul's ambassador. He was his spokesman that he sent to this church that was in trouble. He knew they were in trouble. He knew they were facing false teachers false teaching and he sends this particular individual.

Notice how he describes him. Calls him beloved. Means obviously dearly loved dear beloved prized. Valued he was someone who was very valuable to Paul says he's faithful. This is somebody that is dependable.

I trust this guy. I am sending you him even though I love him and I'd love him to stay right here with me. But I'm sending him because he's faithful. I know he's gonna tell you the truth and I know that you will trust him, too.

He also calls him a fellow bond servant in the Lord. Now imagine again, you're sitting in that church in Colossae the Apostle. Paul says I'm sending this man to you and you should consider him as a fellow bond servant in the Lord.

Fellow bond servant to Paul. You should equate him With me. Paul says you should think of him in the same way that you think of me an apostle of Jesus Christ. Just as I am Christ messenger. He is my messenger.

I think you'd listen to that guy. It's a pretty impressive thing to have on your resume Paul describing you as beloved faithful and a fellow bond servant in the Lord. In addition to Tishicus Paul is sent on Isamus Verse 9 and with him on Isamus our faithful and beloved brother who is one of your number.

They will inform you about the whole situation here now. Philemon. Of course, it's Philemon chapter 1. Philemon verses 10 and 11. This is what we read about on Isamus. I Appeal to you for my child on Isamus.

Whom I have begotten in my imprisonment. Who formerly was useless to you, but now is both useful both to you and to me. Formerly was useless. This is the man who is accompanying Tishicus. He was a poor servant.

How bad was he. Well, he was so bad that he ran away. And note, you know people point to this, I mean I've been dealing with Unbelievers a lot and they say well look, you know slavery in the end even in the New Testament.

Well slavery was never commanded. We weren't told to keep slaves. It was just acknowledged as a condition of mankind. But look at that begotten put by Paul. What did Paul mean by that? He didn't have a baby.

He was just talking about listen under my ministry. This man came to faith in Christ and so now to think about how he changes. He was once unfaithful Useless and a fugitive. Now, he is faithful beloved and a brother.

The change the work of change in a life Jesus Christ transforming a life someone who was disobedient who ran from what was right to someone who goes back now faithful beloved a brother. Paul goes on to describe six men who were with him or ministered to him in Rome verse 10.

Fellow Workers in Rome: Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus Called Justice

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends you his greetings now he was from less than Thessalonica and He had traveled with Paul. In fact, he was one of the men who had traveled with Paul to Jerusalem. To take the money that Paul had collected for the Church of Jerusalem.

And I think it's also interesting that he was actually grabbed by the angry mob in Ephesus when things turned ugly in Ephesus. Aristarchus was one of the ones who was grabbed by the mob. But he was a man who had willingly suffered for the cause of Christ and was with Paul in prison.

He also talks about Mark verse 10. Also also Barnabas's cousin Mark about whom you received instructions if he comes to you welcome him. Well, Mark was the writer of the gospel according to Mark and we would think boy that that must be a real stalwart.

He was from what we can gather a disciple of Peter and somebody who had Spent some time in the company of Christ would seem to be impressive on his own, but he had failed to press on in the work of the gospel and This possibly or probably led to a rift between Paul and Barnabas so that they split up in their missionary work.

But look about or look at what Paul says about him now he says that The Colossians if Mark comes you should welcome him means that they should be Receptive even as they would be of a guest into their homes.

All has been forgiven. Mark is Again, our beloved brother. Someone that we should welcome as a dear guest into our homes. Mark had been completely reconciled to Paul and so Paul commends him fully not saying hey.

Don't forget about what he did with the whole Barnabas thing and all the problems. He when he just left when Mark abandoned us forget about that. He's been restored fully. You should take him into your homes.

Also justice. Verse 11 and also Jesus who is called justice. Now the name Jesus was very very common in the Jewish community back then and After salvation he was known as justice most likely in deference to the Lord.

I mean certainly if you became a Christian and your name was the same as the Lord's you would not want to be called Jesus. I wouldn't think. So he he he comes to be known by that different name. Now notice these men are the only fellow workers that had been a comfort to him.

Paul situation was difficult. I mean he was chained all the time. I I don't know that they had yard time like they do in prisons now, but it was miserable. This was beyond anything that anyone talks about in today's prisons.

It was absolutely a miserable pitiful situation to try to live in. And he had come to cherish these men who served with him. Now they were Jews and they could identify with Paul in a number of levels.

Of course, they used to be Jews and had become Christians. They were opposed to the truth and now they were Changed by the truth. He goes on a verse 12. Epaphras talks about a paphras who is one of your number and other in other words a member of the church at Colossae a Bond slave of Jesus Christ sends you his greetings always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers like Paul he was a bond slave as I said, probably the founder of the church a Person who voluntarily and wholeheartedly served the Lord.

We heard about it this morning. Brother Lewis was talking about it. What it means to be a bond slave how you are free. But you of your own free will choose to be a slave of someone to consider yourself their servant.

So when you are a bond slave in the New Testament sense, you are a bond slave of the Lord. You're his voluntary slave as it were. Notice that it says he worked earnestly on behalf of the church at Colossae and then it says even how he did that work.

By praying for them. What's the implication of that that real prayer real. Effectual prayer takes effort. It's spiritual work. It counts for something you have to labor at it. You ever tried to pray for somebody for any extended period of time, you know, how difficult that is.

And Paul says a paphras works Earnestly, he labors earnestly on your behalf in his prayers. Why. That you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. The prayers of a paphras had but one aim the complete Sanctification of the Saints at Colossae and such prayers were commended by Paul.

That was real spiritual work and a paphras was quite the prayer warrior. It wasn't just praying for the church at Colossae verse 13. He was also praying for those who were at Laodicea. Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Now, that's a ministry that's serving the body. He goes on he talks about Luke the beloved physician sends you his greetings now I don't know, you know to me this almost sounds like Luke was just kind of in the room.

And he says hey Luke you want to send your greetings? Yes, I do. But he's the beloved physician also the human author of the gospel according to Luke and the acts of the Apostles. Traveled with Paul frequently tended to him.

Paul was not a Well man in a number of respects physically had difficulties. It was good to have a doctor with him. And then he goes on to Demas. Now Demas gets almost no reference at all 14b and also Demas.

Okay, Demas sends his greetings. Demas says hi. But Demas was at this time someone the Apostle Paul Knew would mean something to the Church of Colossae when they read his name. When they heard the name Demas they would know this guy.

But what they didn't know. What he didn't know was how this would turn out. 2nd Timothy 4 verses 9 and 10. Paul writing to Timothy and he says this is his last letter. So some time has passed here and he says make every effort to come to me soon for Demas.

Having loved this present world has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia. So Paul writes to Timothy and he says please come see me. Demas loved this present world and the implication is more than serving Christ and has deserted me so these men Had been fellow prisoners.

They had been encouraging to Paul there were well thought of by Paul in the Colossian Church even though Demas Kind of the exception there was somebody we didn't know yet. They didn't know yet was going to abandon Paul in the future.

Archippus and the Call to Take Heed to Ministry

Now there's a little bit of transition in verses 15 and 16 where Paul Encourages fellowship with other Christians tells the Colossians to make sure the letter That they're reading is also read in Laodicea and that they get the letter That Laodicea has and they read it aloud in that congregation, by the way, I'm not going to go into a huge excursus or a Sidebar on this but I believe that that letter is probably the letter to the Ephesians.

And now we come to verse 17 and this is where I want to focus. This is where we've all been going here. As we're sitting there and we're running down this list of names and we're listening and we're going.

Oh, yeah, we know that guy. Oh, it's really nice that Paul would say this about that person. Oh, this is good. This is good Demas. Who's he? You know, we you know kind of we're just going through these names then we get to verse 17.

And this is a shocking radical departure from this list. Say to Archippus as a congregation. Say to Archippus. Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord that you may fulfill it this this is Unique in all of Paul's letters for him to single out one person to say listen church.

Go and talk to this man. There are exhortations at the end of other letters, I mean, for example if we think about Second Corinthians, you know examine yourselves see if you're even in the faith those kind of things.

But for one person to just have the spotlight, I mean, I we don't know it would be speculation. But just imagine you're sitting there in the church Colossi and all sudden kind of the spotlight as it were is just on Archippus.

How would you like to be him? I mean, here's the church services going on. You've sung some hymns you've had Charlie get up and play the guitar and Dan on the Keyboards and you've sung some some other songs.

You've had the reading of the Word of God. Maybe you've had a sermon. Maybe you've had communion. This letters winding down and you're just like I mean everything is done in your mind and then wait a minute say to Archippus.

Paul is commanding everyone in that church to confront and exhort Archippus with regard to his ministry. Again, how would you like to be sitting there and your name is Archippus? This is uh, this is not probably exactly what you have in mind.

Many commentators have concluded that because we can we could figure out Extrapolate that Archippus is likely very young. That he was an interim pastor or maybe even a replacement for a path for us. In fact, many of them think that he was Philemon's son.

But in any event, he may have been the interim Pastor he may have had a very significant ministry. We don't really know it's just kind of guesswork. But the the implication there would be that he was a little bit timid and he needed some encouragement much like Timothy did.

Even so let's say that's right. How would you like to be the temporary interim pastor or the new pastor and have the Apostle Paul say church. Go talk to Archippus. Make sure he does his ministry, right?

Now what else do we know about Archippus. Not much in Philemon. Paul calls Archippus a fellow soldier. Now we get the idea and this kind of builds towards the idea that maybe he was a pastor. He calls him a fellow soldier.

Which means basically a comrade-in-arms and it's used of those who devote themselves to the service of the gospel. So we know that Archippus was serious about the ministry. It's a term of honor in other Greek literature.

Interestingly. It talks about it makes the soldier the foot soldier equal to the commander-in-chief in Another it makes the warrior equal to the king. So this was a quite a title that Paul bestows on him and Again, as I said before these letters to Colossae and to Philemon are written about the same time.

So there's no reason to think that Paul is just simply blasting Archippus. But even so it's got to be a little unsettling to hear your name called out like that. Now he calls him out but he tells them to Tell Archippus to take heed to his ministry.

And this verb Would normally be something Translated to see. I see. You know I spy it's just kind of a general verb like that. But in this context it means to pay close attention to to give strict oversight to.

Now if Paul were writing Bethlehem Bible Church. Would he single you out. Would he say church. I want you to talk to so-and-so. Tell him or her to take heed to their ministry. I have to tell you the Apostle Paul wrote if my name was Archippus and I'm sitting there.

That is a major jolt of adrenaline. I'm gonna be a little taken aback. And if we have that same situation today, and he was to call one of us out I Think that would be pretty shocking. I think that would be great motivation for serving as I said just based on what we read in Philemon.

We could basically judge that Archippus's Ministry was significant, but can I ask you a question? What is not significant in terms of ministry in a church? What ministries does a church have where we could just go well, you know what.

Nursery not important. Sunday school not important. Ushers not important. It's everything working together that makes the church run. Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 12. If the whole body were an eye in other words if the body of Christ had one part, and it was just I.

We had multiple eyes. Where would the hearing be if the whole were hearing. Where would the sense of smell be. But now? God has placed the members each one of them in the body just as he desired if they were all one member.

Where would the body be. In other words if they were all exactly the same there be no body? We wouldn't talk about the body of Christ. We would talk about the eye of Christ the ear of Christ the nose of Christ the hand of Christ.

But it is the body of Christ. Paul goes on and says but now there are many members but one body and. The eye cannot say to the hand. I have no need of you or again the head to the feet. I have no need of you.

The body of Christ is to function together. Some of us may be the eye some of us may be the foot some of us may be the hand. But it is all of us working together. So let's say for the sake of argument that Archippus was gifted as the eye that would be vital, but if he was the hand still vital in verse 17.

Note the source of Archippus's ministry. Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord. Now the verb received is used with the same nuance as when Paul reports in 1st Corinthians 15 that he has received the gospel.

In other words, this is a direct reception. Ministry is given not by leadership not by the church. But it is in an extended sense received in the Lord. It is divinely appointed. If you are serving in the in the nursery, you are serving Christ by serving in that nursery.

If you're serving at the door greeting people as they walk in you are serving Christ as you do that. What ministry do we have here at BBC that is not given to you as a stewardship by the Lord? We went through Ephesians 2 this morning if we did that we're not going to but if we did.

Has he not saved each and every single Christian unto good works? The answer is yes, and among those good works is service within the body of Christ. Look again at verse 17. There's the word that and you just go.

Well, what's significant about that? Well. It is the Greek word henna and it shows purpose. So we could look at it this way. So that you may fulfill it or in order that you may fulfill it. The outcome of taking heed to a ministry given to you by the Lord is the fulfillment of that ministry.

Let's say archipuses ministry was a bit overwhelming to him. Let's see it. Let's say like Timothy. He was a bit timid. Let's say that he felt like he had more weight than he could handle. Do you not think that it would be an encouragement to him for the imprisoned Apostle someone who was suffering daily in?

The midst of all these greetings commendations at the end of this letter. To command the entire church to come alongside Archipus to encourage him to focus his attention and energy on this God-given ministry with the promise.

With the promise that if he did so it would be fulfilled. How could he know that how could Paul know that? Because it was God-given. It was a God-given ministry and if Sanctification is the one aspect of life.

Yes, we. If we're to look at it this way. Who saves you God or you well God does who sanctifies you you or the Holy Spirit? Well, the answer is yes. Because you have to work out you have to work out your own sanctification with fear and trembling who how do you serve?

Well, do you serve on your own strength? Hopefully not. But certainly some of your strength must go into it. We can only do what we do by the grace of God, but God uses willing vessels when he saves you he puts an Obligation on you and he gives you the ability to fulfill that obligation.

So as Archipus was faithful as he gave heed to his ministry as he worked at his God-given Ministry, it would be fulfilled If God calls someone to serve and they are faithful to that calling. Will God the Sovereign God of the universe not bring about the precise result he has designed for that ministry.

The answer is yes, of course, he's going to do that now. Let me ask you This I've I've developed five groups and I'm going to not take a showing of hands. But I want to figure out that just as I walk through this I want you to think about where you are in terms of your service to the body of Christ.

Five Kinds of Church Members and the Call to Serve

And we have five categories as I said we have full speed half speed engine malfunction. Not qualified to serve probably like no engine and in need of an overhaul or burned out. Let's talk about full speed first taking heed literally.

Focusing yourself wrestling your ministry down to the ground doing everything you can exhausting yourself in service to God. Now there are many ministries here at Bethlehem Bible Church that are being done with excellence.

My question this morning is whatever ministry you have here at Bethlehem Bible Church. Are you paying close attention to this ministry? So that and it is a God-given ministry. Are you paying close attention to it?

So that You might fulfill it so that God might be pleased to work through you to serve the body of Christ. Are you operating at full speed? That's group number one second group half speed. Some might be operating at half speed or three core speed.

90 speed. You might serve and do what is needed. But it's not something that weighs on you as a ministry not all the time anyway. Do you think you ever think to yourself? How could I improve this ministry so that it might better serve the body?

Do you ever do a little brainstorming sessions and just think okay, this is what I'm doing. How could it be more effective for the church? What resources could I bring to bear what? What would make this better?

What would bring about a better result? What we what would be more pleasing to the Lord? Do you ever? Lay awake at night. Find yourself thinking. There's something more I can do. I just don't know what it is.

May I should go get input from somebody else? Maybe there are things that I can change or improve that. I just can't see do you pray about where you serve? Do you ask God to help you? To come up with new ways better ways to serve has your ministry become One of grudging duty, I pray that's not the case our third group.

Engine malfunction, which means you have no ministry to heed. Imagine this again, you're the Church of Colossae. Paul writes church. Say to Archippus oh Wait forget it. He doesn't have a ministry. It's kind of a silly idea and Frankly so is the idea of a Christian without a ministry.

There may be reasons why ministry is difficult or even impossible for a season. I mean if you have young children It may be a difficult or impossible for you to serve. Although you might find that you're able to serve in the nursery you might find that you're able to serve in other ways.

Maybe it's phone calls or something like that. You might have two jobs. Because you're in a financial bind. You might have some kind of physical difficulty that makes it hard to serve. But let me give you some reasons that are not okay.

To not have a ministry. I have no idea what I would do. I just don't know. I'm not really sure Where I would fit in. Well, we have now a chart that lists all the deacons all the things that they're in charge of and As I said when we first developed this you can go and ask one of those deacons and we will find some place for you.

To serve here's another one that just doesn't work. I don't think I can help. It's a little bit of false humility. 2nd Corinthians 4 7 says this but we have this treasure in earthen vessels. So that the surpassing greatness of the power Will be of God and not from ourselves.

Paul talking about himself talking about the power of the gospel describes himself as An earthen vessel. Other places, you know a clay pot and the idea is this is no great thing that I am. The Apostle Paul says it's not me and he says in other places, too It is God at work through me.

It's all about the power of God. If you don't think you can help it's because you are Underestimating the power of God. None of us are perfect. Not one of us we are all earthen vessels and It is God's might and God's strength and God's power that enables any of us to serve at any time.

Reason number three why you think well, I I'd really can't serve. Isn't that why we have elders and deacons? Aren't they supposed to do everything? Check with the deacons. They want to agree with that one.

The Bible doesn't know anything about Christians not serving in the local body. Number four. Not qualified to serve. Now there are some people who aren't biblically qualified to serve. Who are those people?

Those would be folks who are either not saved or those who are saved who are currently living in disobedience. Now maybe you're sitting there this morning thinking. What is this guy talking about? Take heed to my ministry.

What is a ministry? It's a service to the Lord that ministers to the local body of believers that must be enabled by the Holy Spirit. Let me say that again. It is a service to the Lord. That ministers to the local body of believers that must be enabled by the Holy Spirit.

That means if you have not received Christ. You cannot have a ministry. You might be able to do something at the church. But it will not be a ministry because you don't have the Holy Spirit if that describes you this morning.

Then may I just urge you in the most forceful way I can to look at your condition knowing. Every single person knows that they sin every single person knows that they are Imperfect that they vary that they don't hold up to the perfect standard of God.

That if God was to come down and say are you perfect they'd have to say no and yet God demands absolute perfection. He's not going to allow imperfect beings into his presence. He hates sin. He will not abide sin.

Sin cannot abide in his presence. You say well that doesn't really help me. I'm a sinner. God's holy and he doesn't like sin. Well, the good news is God sent his son Jesus Christ God in the flesh. Who lived a perfect life never did anything wrong did everything, right?

Died a Horrible death a death that we deserved was raised from the dead on the third day and now. By repenting by changing our minds about our self-reliance and about God and who he is and turning from our sin.

Relying solely upon Jesus Christ. We can be saved. In other words, we can stand before God and we all will one day stand before God and not say I did it. I was great. I was perfect. We'll never say that we can say I believed in your son Jesus Christ who was perfect on my behalf.

That's what we will say. We stand righteous before God not because of our own inherent righteousness. But because of what Christ did on our behalf and if you don't believe that if you haven't been saved I would urge you to repent and be saved today.

Now if you are a Christian you're living in disobedience. Maybe you have a pattern of sin in your life. I have two suggestions. Number one is straight from Bob Newhart. Stop it. Whatever your pattern of sin is stop it.

It's easy to say maybe you need some help. Well, we can help you but stop it. It's wrong. Secondly examine yourselves. Trees that consistently bear bad fruit might be bad trees. Meaning maybe you've deceived yourself into thinking you're saved when you're not but stop that pattern of disobedience whether that means Simply repenting of it or coming to the realization that you're not saved and throwing yourself on the mercy of the Lord himself.