The Lord's Slave

Grab your bottles go to second Timothy as we continue in our exposition of this wonderful New Testament epistle. As the apostle Paul is writing from the Roman prison to Timothy. He slipped Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus and he in effect is superintending through Timothy, the pastoring of this church, and particularly how to organize it and how it should function. I called this beautifying the broad if we do the work of the church. The local church, God's way and God gets glory. And that's what the church is for his beauty is Shanda forth out of the church. The church is he is creator, by which he portrays who he is, his power, his wisdom is beauty. So as we obey what the word says and the power of the spirit we are reflecting our God to the world and that's the most important thing that God is glorified. So we come to second Timothy chapter 2 in today's section is verses 23 through 26. Yes, this is somewhat repetitive, but that's the way Paul is.

He keeps hitting on certain things because he knows Timothy needs it. The church at Ephesus needs it, and the church of every age needs the reminder. Verse 23 but refuse foolish and ignorant speculations knowing they produce quarrels.

The Lord's bondservant or slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind, all able to teach patient with raw when wronged with gentleness correcting those who, in opposition to perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will I be entitled. This exposition, the Lords slave Paul has been using a lot of metaphors in this letter he used Houston household and we talked last week about the vessels are utensils in a house and how he used them figuratively now uses the metaphor from the world the that the agent that he was living in and that was slavery was very common, is common throughout the world better fact in world history almost every corner of the globe had extensive slave practice. It was certainly true in the ancient world in which Timothy was living, but here Paul uses it for us Christians. Believers in Jesus Christ. We are slaves bondservant the same thing of Christ. You see, everyone is held captive everyone hearing my voice are who lives in the whole world is is in bondage. Everyone is a slave you're either in the captivity are in bondage to our slave of Christ or of Satan and sin, but everyone is there is no exception and there is no neutral ground. Those who would claim let you know probably not be a Christian. I'm not really committed to God, and committed to his price but not in the conservative of a believer have a good guy know your you're the worst of the worst. Those of you think your own neutral ground somewhere between your the best instrument. Satan has your the best message that you can be "somewhat ethical are clean are morally upright, but not a fanatic not really sold out to Christ, you can lead more people to help anyone could weather is no neutral ground, you're either try slave or your Satan and sins slave in our text today.

He picks up on that metaphor we see in verse 24 the Lord's bondservant. The Lords slave. That's what I've been titled this the Lords slave I he says about the Lord slave.

Let's back up second for impact. This is written to Timothy, the pastor of a local church so has special application to church leadership, but it certainly has instruction and application for all of us who name the name of Christ and belong to his church were I piece to reject foolish and ignorant speculation. He's to reject foolish and ignorant speculation.

Why should I reject that none were talking about within the church. When there is what Paul turns here foolish and ignorant speculation comes up in a church body.

What we to reject that what we just try to keep everybody happy and can accommodate some of these strong personalities who want to have their own spin on things of their own viewpoint. What the reason we have to do it is because were not our own boss.

We have a box where slaves of someone else in our master said to reject and that all be enough to get a million there something called authority and God has all authority. Well first about reject foolish and ignorant speculation.

A because it's foolish and ignorant coming.

That's exactly what he says here and I would unpack this, the word refused has an idea of hearing, understanding, and then setting it aside so you're to hear their narrative. If you will. Their viewpoint when you find out it's just speculation. It's extra biblical there's no sound Bible basis for their viewpoint. Their teaching are there movement, then your to reject. Don't let it get a foothold in God's church of the same word is used in first Timothy 47 where he says have nothing to do with worldly fables don't entertain it. Nothing says it's it's foolish and ignorant. The word foolish comes from a base word that the scholars say has the idea of one who is dull you will like this one who is stupid, one who is blockheaded one who is without reason or want of mental sanity is in a Timothy there's no tomatoes break that this is especially true in immature churches I haven't had a chance to reform to eat a good level biblical spiritual help when your nose churches are going to be these guys pop in and pop up among you will submit we think will remove this way of knowing that this is a better teaching me what Paul's doing what Timothy could not hear us out in Timothy when you realize there they're going own human emotion and speculation, not on sound biblical exposition Vineyard understand something that stupid. That's what Paul say that is stupid and blockaded.

It's foolish to list the words of a fool are least one who's acting foolish in your to reject.

So not only foolish, i.e., dull, stupid, blockaded a sentence ignorant slot pulses.

I can't put enough superlatives on this to make my point ignorant has the idea of half educated or uneducated. So these are stupid, blockaded arguments from people who have our half educated in all it is is speculation. Speculation has the idea of questionings and brothers and sisters. Always remember that and for moms and dads. This is very true, but your children. There are evil forces out there. They want you to always say don't know about the pastor and elders. There just just just to get you to call into question moms and dads. There are evil forces and by the way, in the mechanism by taken over public education. Thank God we still have godly influences out there, and God bless you. If you're in public education. We need to pray for you. Your the front line of the war, but there are strong forces and if they can do it anything. They'll start with how you think mom and dad's morals's mom and dad's values that are not right, and I want to start this wickedness in kindergarten and that's all it is is speculation and disputation questionings will. In our context back here Paul is writing to the church. He said in Timothy this stuff is foolish and it's ignorant this disputing and questioning is not to be allowed refuse it. The idea get his hearing. When you understand what it is rejected and shut it down. Proverbs 26, four and five ties in strongly here. Do not answer a fool according to his folly. Another word you not to answer a fool according to his argument of foolishness.

You're to answer him. According to what he deserved. So what is a food deserve to be shut down is not to be allowed to be heard not. It's been we can say.

Decades now since we've had any doubt in out foolish ignorant speculation tried to trouble this church and thank God for that to get a mental that were now can say going on, decades, we've had such a long season of sweet spiritual, God centered unity and blessed this year and I praise the Lord for that. And that's the mark of the church that has not arrived but has matured in Christ. But there are those times and for our church plant pastors, and pastor trying to to reform typical churches to biblical health to be times when you have to have a backbone and you had to shut some things down there people that you have to say were not hearing you again, there's no biblical basis. In those early days when we went through a long, long years of difficulties in strife and speculations and divisions. It was hard and I had a common phrase I would tell people outside bring an open Bible proved to me thoroughly from Scripture.

Where were wrong and I'll agree with you, and I mean that this isn't about me brothers and sisters. You can't stand the way we've stood for these decades if it was about us. You can only stay in the way we stood for these decades if it's about him because then he gives you the strength to stand are you will be instead bring any time anywhere.

Anyone not been extended. I could interest them.

If you think were off-track wearing make clear Scripture, and I'll agree with you, and by the way, we've had a person I was a person or for exactly a person in recent years common after we presented the budget. Should I think this all be like this and this ought to be like that and I looked at what he was saying and it amounted to no change in doctrine and no problem in the church trusted okay will change it is looked at me like I thought was what the fight you wanted 5000 here rather than 5000 there that you figure speech is not exactly a site which is a digital thing, is it okay will do that one, not what knife he got down to foundational doctrines of church structure and function that I'm not dogmatic, bull dogmatic some things you have to refuse well. These kinds of foolish and ignorant speculators do not promote the faith and morals of the church in the spiritual unity of the church.

Just the opposite. He says there in verse 23, he continues, they produce quarrels the very end of the verse speed through this because this just means they produce divisions. It's literally means produce has the idea of a breeding ground.

It's a breeding ground for fighting. When you allow those people to have a voice in the church and one since everyone has a voice but not if you're trying to undermine the church's doctrine and purposes that are decently if not thoroughly biblical. Now we do know that in the early church. They had a lot of this going on and there was a lot of difficult medevac Paul when he leaves this church before he's arrested. He tells the elders of this church. I don't know with Timothy was already installed to oversee that point or not but he tells the elders builder body there's going to be savage wolves coming from without and rise up with in and try to lead away the flock. He told this is what happened. Now it's happening you telling Timothy fight against it. Don't let it have a foothold. We must re-establish our conviction conviction that all basis for all teaching in the church must be sound doctrine from the word of God. There are those who would like to come in and take up their speculations and paste all the Scripture here and there to try to make it look Orthodox when it absolutely is not all discussions must have the Scriptures as the ground of authority. We do not allow doctrinal descriptive discussions to carry on without our part, from the sound exegesis of the biblical text as the ground of authority. We must not entertain teaching based on man's opinion. Paul says that's boneheaded stupid and uneducated and it speculation and you are to refuse it. Well, Thursday. Not only does it tell you is it foolish and ignorant so that's why you refuse it. Not only does it produce fight to the breeding ground for fights. Thirdly, and I bring this from the systematic context of all of Scripture, and that is, it does not serve God's purposes and God's glory.

It does not serve God's purposes and God's glory. The purpose of the church is to glorify God bring him honor and praise and glory and who initially he's the God of all truth. So if we allow quote in order to not hurt people, people's feelings or quote in order to not upset so-and-so because he has a strong impression about something you get his feelings are hurt and try to hurt the church if we allow them to have their way, and have their say and they're not really grounded on truth then were dishonoring the God who were supposed to be glorifying were casting forth in non-truth, rather than reflecting any meeting out from us, God's truth.

So these things have to be dealt with is God's purpose is that his church glorify him.

Ephesians 321 unit somewhat of a theme verse for our ministry here. To him be glory in the church.

This is written to a local church and all we know into the glorified state occurs when Jesus returns his glorious local churches. To him be glory in the local church and in Christ Jesus parts on a plane. They put some side-by-side Christ and his church because they are one both for time what to say to all generations and been forever and ever. So it doesn't serve the purposes of God in his glory are that's number one. Refuse foolish and ignorant speculation that want because you're the Lord's life. Timothy, this isn't fun.

This is an easy matter fact, if if if a lot of pastors were honest being an effective pastor is too often defined by I got is able to keep the powerbrokers in the church, happy by letting them have enough of their way will that might be easiest for a while but what you will do when you face Jesus Christ, to whom you are supposed to be a slave you are. After he got his church is way that's an idolatry. We can't do that now Roman to avoid quarreling.

Why because you're the Lord sliding so Timothy, when you're dealing with some of these things. It's going to be a temptation for you to get in the flesh, and just be quarrelsome if you will.

And that's the phrase he uses here in verse 24. Look at it. The Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome now. I think in the context of Paul's most likely saying here if you entertain these foolish and ignorant speculations you yourself are producing an atmosphere of quarrelsome this Timothy your you're adding to be a being a quarrelsome environment. You're supposed to us here. It identify what it is and it is not biblically thorough to shut it down went with when you are hearing these things and you are observing these things and you shut them down, then you are doing with the Bible sister earnestly contend for the faith that, and that's our first sub point here.

You shut down quarrelsome this by contending for the faith. So Timothy your contending for the faith. When you shut down these extra biblical speculations that want to divide the church not condition conditioned contending rather for the faith increase includes silencing un-biblical speculation and doing the hard work of expositor in the biblical text. So the church knows the truth are abnormal. Not only contending for the faith is to avoid quarrels. But secondly, by being kind to all is what he says in verse 24 Timothy on top of this is a lot of people are ugly and harsh and mean you have to be very firm, but you can maintain a kindness. It has the idea being gentle I see a note of Paul's maturity here as he sang the Timothy have to be balanced. Yes there are times when you have to be like Jesus when he rebuked the Pharisees over and over, and he publicly scathingly precisely powerfully embarrassed them, called them a brood of vipers called them dead men's bones which in the Jewish context of the place of death was uncleanness. I mean that's productive pretty manly when you in this context context 2000 years ago in Jerusalem looked at the religious authority figure.

But the dead men's bones.

All you are not. Jesus was real straightforward real harsh and real, convicting, and rebuking the time for that but pulses Timothy also by the way, unless you're called to be Jesus our pastor.

This probably your role so much. There is a difference between called to expound and leave Novus expound the truth and leaned over to the church and the way the laity should respond. Each event every now and then somebody rises up in the church and they appoint themselves. John the Baptist you know.

John looked at paired and said you got another man's wife and just publicly shamed him were that's probably not the role of the average church member but this be balanced.

Timothy verse 24 list. Be kind to all you need to have the wisdom to know the difference. Timothy there sometimes when you're hard like steel but most of the time you're to be soft like velvet with the say that Abraham Lincoln was steel velvet. I want to be more like steel velvet so this includes the spirit and the tone it has the idea of patients will pick up on that in a moment. We have to remind ourselves in interchurch environment are really in any environment where there's truth in error raising up and the truth is combating the air, the sometimes even God's elect can get crossways in the war and they need the continual kindness of the shepherd to guide them back to the truth but in balance were reminded if they do not receive the shepherds kind exhortations they may end up receiving the shepherds excommunication. Titus one 1011 reminds us of the same thing in the and in the olive tree. As Paul telling Titus to get those churches in order. He said there many rebellious men noticed empty talkers there speculation. There's a speculators again to verse 11 who must be silenced by strong again is very upsetting all households messing up God's church, but in balance Timothy strive toward being the Lord shepherd as a patient and gentle one correcting the error so that some of the genuine sheep crawl called in the crossfire can be guided by the truth. Now this happens really every Sunday when the word is preached. There is a shepherding of our hearts back to the truth.

There's a shepherding of our thinking back to biblical thinking is a shepherding of our values back to biblical values. The shepherding of our priorities back to biblical priorities. What because were not our own were somebody else's slave instead a bondslave had no rights and that's the Greek word Paul uses readily for believers in here for himself and for Timothy but obviously is true of all of us will thirdly avoid quarreling not only by by contending for the faith that is excluding those who are quarrelsome. Secondly, by generally being kind to all.

Thirdly, bobbing patient already able to teach being able to teach.

This is the idea of solid teaching and tireless teaching because as I just said the sheep are constantly needing correcting and reminding something that's been so real in my heart for many years now is my growing love for the sheep. I love you really mean that. And there's not anything in me that enjoys a harsh correction I would do it if necessary, but quite honestly it had been necessary in a long long time.

So generally, as process, much as possible. The shepherd wants to lead with that gentleness and patience in his teaching the sheep to get back on track. And then fourthly patient when wrong. If you're going to be a leader of God's church, if you're called to preach your by the way, if you're going to be in a sound church and faithfully serve God in it, you're going to need this truth patient when wronged 18 Robertson Baptist. Most esteemed Greek scholar says the four phrase patient when wronged means putting up with evil. If you're going to be faithful in doing God's work you had to put up with evil in the idea here is, there will be evil done against you and it's going to be continually done against you if you are a faithful under shepherd of price, the chief Shepherd and Timothy you can't retaliate every time they attack you. There's not enough you to retaliate that much balance again. Paul did defend himself and retaliate against some of the false things said about him. He did it quite exhaustively.

For example, to the Corinthians, but he did it because if they can diminish Paul's reputation that diminish the effectiveness of effectiveness of his office of apostle and so pastor has to discern when are these attacks diminishing my reputation. Therefore there diminishing Christ effectiveness through my ministry. Now that's serious. I may not matter but Christ ministry through me matters, but in balance of things. Overall you just be patient and endure through a lot of that is a lot of that going on. I don't know if you're aware this but maybe more so in the past, but I'm sure most of the pastors but a lot of strange's stuff said about million of us are you aware that in the community. This strange stuff. The one that never lets go is you have to turn in your W-2s when you join the church so they can make.

Should everyone of you that was asked to turn your W-2 when you join Christ left church would you raise your hand if you're listening out there in radio and television, Internet, when nobody's raising the but yet those kind of things to put the leadership in a bad image. You just have to live with that in and I did so I like Spurgeon when Charles and Spurgeon was pastoring in London.

He had the public media that hated him because he was incredibly popular and influential in London. Secondly, he had the Armenians that believe you helped save yourself they did because he was a staunch Calvinist held the sovereign grace.

But then he had the hyper Calvinist who didn't believe in calling them to repentance and faith are doing missions they hated so he was hit by ever so as Spurgeon once it one day said well they can't hurt me anymore. Everything that's possible that you could possibly say about somebody has now been said that I've gotten through all that they can't her minimal wears one thing if your leader in a church or a faithful member in church or small group leader in a church or deacon in the church are an elder in church of the preaching pastor the church you would have to be patient when wrong is mostly does allow that after you just got. Be patient, Matthew 511 Jesus said it so clearly. Blessed are you, not if, but when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you know don't listen this when I do all that. All that evil against you.

Here's what you said because of me is because of me. Paul had experienced so much of this Paul is in prison. Paul is on death row. Paul will soon be executed because they persecuted him and said evil about him that was untruth because of his love for Jesus. So Paul knew Timothy's younger your writing to Timothy and Timothy need to be reminded that this goes with the territory.

But we need to remember if one is a man of God are woman of God. The tax against him are against the God of the man they hate Christ and they will hate you. John 1518 and 19.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.

If you are of the world, the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world. Accuracy of the word for church means the call together. Once the assembled ones I chose you out of the world. Because of this ceases, the world hates you, so real quick. How can we continue then as as pastoring people to teaching God's truth and standing for God's truth. How can we continue to be kind to all actively continue to be patient when the world and as so many others are against us give you frequent thoughts would dispute this and run on okay you have this is a long outline you have time to get it all down. Just try to remember with the spirit want you to remember how to go to that number one remember, it's not against you, and it's not about you in November.

That is not against you. If you're standing for God truth is not get your tickets.

Christ is not about you, your be crucified with Christ to be crucified with Christ, not against you is not about you, will we were going through difficult difficult.

But here's how should serve as a dazed years.

Ms. Pam would often remind me and she just seemed to hold up real well and it did and she said hon that you are God's men and this is God's work. They were against God and Jesus had of peace and she did better not. She's also said that the years if of you not seen the long-term results of those who so viciously raised her head to undermine God's work they didn't do well there last didn't do well the families didn't work out well is not against you is not about you to about the God we love and serve. That's of their tech invokes number two it's predicted and expected. Remember God.

Jesus told us very clearly and Bob what are you listening church. Our world is not the same world. It was 20 years ago.

You understand where really square pegs into round hole. Now switch predicted and expected.

We could get some backlash pulses in Philippians 128 in no way alarmed by your opponents.

That's all I want to hit on.

Here we sit where you shop that you got people oppose you while you shop that many who claim to be God's people oppose what you're teaching and preaching bosses watch us alarm you.

This is the way it is. So that's what you can keep on teaching and keep on being kind and be patient with all this is happening will number three. Another reason why we can do this. Not only is it not against you, not about you. Not only is it predicted inspected but thirdly, as the church matures it will diminish. That's walk and say that whatever evil that arises were not seeing it come up within the body anymore. We saw that a lot in years past, but it's been a long long time saw one of you just don't know how much pastors out there that follow Mr. need to hear that word is the right in the middle of it. There thing he will it ever end with the undermining will the backbiting with a questioning with the speculation with the with the slanders against my kitty litter every if you hang in there brothers it will diminish greatly greatly Psalm 133 once is behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.

That's a picture of a mature spiritual fellowship is good and it's pleasant are occurring on III, as the Lord slave your to be correcting the airing who will listen correcting the airing who will listen. That's that's one of the difficult parts of pastoring are leading in the churches is a continual role of correcting that's what preaching the word. Does it corrects me as I'm studying and preparing to preach it pricks you as it goes out.

But where where where blessed to be corrected from God's word. Verse 25 with gentleness correcting those are in opposition now know this is this is those who are not quarreling any longer. They're willing to listen to their shepherd. To say okay I need to understand better you help me understand better than what how you to do that a with a gentle tone and tenor.

This is the second time he's hit on this idea, gentleness. So let that be word for you parents sometimes as a parent you gotta crack the whip you have a harsh word. I get that there's part. But most of the time. If you speak the truth to listen to me, not with a lot of drama.

Just a clear word with the tenor and the tone of gentleness.

It's powerful Bob Sousa gentle answer turns away wrath a lot to that lot to that if they're not obstinate and brazen and harsh. Then use that tone. In that spirit that gospel humility and you are to produce that. Galatians 61 says to restore an airing one in a spirit of gentleness.

Now, again, the context is if they're willing to listen and they're going to try.

Then look brothers and sisters were all airing ones. A man if you work airing ones. I could just preached y'all one time for about two hours and we just dismiss them to to be glorified, but every week I airing you air. Sometimes I call it you leak every week. We need correcting again and people they would say why do you enjoy that strong preaching and correction because I got a new love in my heart.

God is holy and perfect this my joy to be more like him and I made the preaching of the word. It's my food, saw the Senate better than silver and gold is better than the muscles are leaked about you but I need a been listening told Dr. Vance Hebner some lightly on podcast men hundreds enrich my soul because Dr. had the 1950s and 60s was saying what were saying today about the church. He turned over Willie fees. It is great.

So this is turning over in his grave if he could understand what's going on in the church today.

You can imagine how far we've gone well. Gentleness correcting. He says to the word correcting their means disciplining.

It means instruction with correction so were not going to leave someone in CN in error with gentleness small group leader with gentleness, brother to brother sister to sister with gentleness pastor the people if they're trying gentleness never harshness never coldness correcting one another. This foolish and worldly concept that well. I can't discipline my children because I love them, you need to repent. You don't get to raise your children.

According your emotions. You raise your children. According to the one to whom you serve as slave.

He tells you how to raise your children erasure children the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

That's a lot of unconditional love. That's a lot of forgiveness and that's a lot of gentleness, but it is correcting discipline.

You see, if you do if you don't discipline your children is not because you love them.

First of all, it's because you don't love them, you don't love them.

If you don't discipline them.

Secondly, if you don't discipline your children, you have the sin and idolatry of your feelings because you're putting your sentiment, your feelings about a wife that's what's running our call today as much a silly, nonsensical, immature, childish feelings and emotions. Well, I feel it's my tray for your trick God is the God of truth God's truth.

We tell our feelings submit to our God. You'll find out if you commit what's right your feelings catch up pretty soon you feel good about what's right, not about what's wrong you're making an idol out of your sentimentality is your feelings over God's wisdom. You don't discipline your children or anyone because quote you think you love them that they remain in error. Their life is dishonoring to God and robs God of the glory he deserves will first of all correctly airing who will listen with a gentle tone and tenor say pastor you didn't preach that with a gentle tone and tenor will mean to us want to hear it at those books in the back about and takes a lot of volume to get up there help them on every agenda there will are you you just give nestled in up there, you scrunched up with mama I see you registrants up there with mama and you never come down here in Moab you need to come down I'm teasing. I'm glad you're up there so you won't spread your germs all over us down here that's what were doing armor spread naps of the germs will get us the correct airing ones with a gentle tone and tenor correct airing ones with the hope that endures all my goodness. Strapping for this verse 25 agenda scripting those in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance. The phrase, if perhaps is a word the leader means that any time God could do it. You don't know when you start gently correct and one that that's willing to listen. The startup brazen obstinate, they get a firmer hand but these are the ones who said okay. I'm open because you don't know any time God made grant them repentance. This is a powerful encouraging truth. We never know when God's spirit may move on a person's heart keep on loving them with the truth. Keep on teaching them with the truth. Keep on correcting them with the truth.

Keep on gently shepherding them by the truth. You never know when God may move move in Romans 1016 and 17.

However, they did not all heed the good news. Preaching the good news. A lot of people rejected Paul's writing Romans like a lot of people rejected public hunting tears. The Jews, the Jews overwhelmingly rejected the good news of their Savior Christ. For Isaiah said it was will happen this way. Romans 1016 something Lord is believed our report so faith comes by hearing, present tense hearing and people even hearing people nearing in hearing what the word about Christ, hearing the truth about Christ. This is the context of believing for salvation. We know that if they keep on hearing. Some will repent and be saved. God will grant repentance and no folks, no brothers and sisters to bring someone to Christ is not that we want to give them the least amount of truth and stop we want to give them the most amount of truth about Christ, the more we can get them under Bible preaching and teaching the ball we can get them in small groups, the more likely God is to grant them repentance. That's a hope that endures. Listen to me folks. If God does the granting. Therefore, God does the saving lesson. No one, no one, no one is without hope that maybe the last moment, but a terrible tragedy in our rabble is going out into eternity. But if I've heard the gospel parts about that in the last moment they try to God and are gorgeously converted not promoting deathbed conversion.

Trust me what I'm promoting is there is great hope.

This hope endures all the way to the last breath because it is God that saves but if you tell me this person got a job for this hope he's got a drug. The doctor that he's got a walk this island do this thing, and that ritual and that sacrament.

Then there's not hope for a lot of people but God does it in the heart.

There's hope, there's hope, the word grant here is the same thing that was said in acts 1118 when they were worried about all the Gentiles coming to Christ. Even the Jews first thought only Jews could receive the Savior and also know these non-Jews a Gentile start getting say, and I had a meeting about it and when they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God and sing well then God has granted to the Gentiles.

Also, the repentance that leads to life.

Praise Lord repentance is a change of heart to to change of mind. It requires both when the mind changes you begin to grasp who is truly wise, you begin to say I'm not the wise one, God is. I don't know how to run my life. God does. I can trust my eternal future to what I think I mistrusted to God's Christ and rest on him. Your mind changes your mind goes from silly man based speculation speculations rather to the truth but also repentance is not only a change of mind is a change of heart from your heart which you've been looking to and what you been embracing that your joy and your pleasure has changed and will not say continues changing now you find your delight in this triune holy God, that you find your joy in his Christ to God for you and loves you immensely. Now you find joy in hearing his word proclaimed straight and true because your choice of changed now. Trust me brothers and sisters that does not notice that does not mean that this old unredeemed human humanity were housed in doesn't still have its quote, joys and pleasures, but there's at least the strong germ of the new Joyce and the new pleasures in God that's in there. You just need to keep feeding it, cultivating and growing because guess what all the joys in this world will pass away and do nothing for you with joy in Christ will increase on forever into eternity. What a gift God's given us know. Listen to me. What a gift God's given us to give us the capacity to find joy in him. This repentance I've turned from thinking I'm smart. Another way to thinking only Christ is and I've turned from thinking that that that that I could have joined pleasures in this world and that's all that really matters to say no that still tales but something else appeals to me is joys and pleasures in Christ you have a change is a change in you with the Bible calls the new birth is with the Bible calls being made alive in Christ is what the Bible calls believing on Jesus Christ our hearts change because you see the heart of our problem is the problem of our heart's. The person who disputes against the clear teaching of Scripture has as his root problem. The problem of from his heart living sin. That's what his heart embraces the problem is not an intellectual problem versus a moral problem first from the heart. The loss man love sale for the love sin and that's what he develops theologies, speculations about what teaching ought to be right instead of going to the book. Remember the will. Most of you are here, but in the sessions. Do the true church conference. I thought about John 717. If anyone's willing to do his will, he will know the teaching other words, if there's a heart change in their something in you. This is all to please God now want to glorify you know what I think know what the world thinks, but God think I'm drawn to want to do that now he's is it that your heart then you identify you'll be able to know what is truly authoritatively God teaching and what is not.

It's a process, but that changes when your heart changes, you will begin to reject the speculations that have no real biblical foundation that the world would bring into the church and you anchor your soul on the truth of sound doctrine from the word of God.

Now verse 26 and I'll close Lisa God can grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the church rooster for 26 and they may come to their senses.

That is the idea of going from insanity to sanity and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. Pretty powerful denunciation of the speculators we saw in verses 23 and 24 is not there held captive by Satan in their doing his will till Paul tells Timothy here's a way that you might win some of them if they come from the insanity of their funding biblical viewpoint to grasp the new viewpoint come to saying and actually the insanity word in the Greek text is usually moron is the word that we get moronic from about moron from good to go for moronic thinking to same thinking until that happens, Satan has complete power over them and they live so many of them in open denial. Have you seen that people who are blind think they see it all site is blinded their eyes. They think they can see and they fly out their freedoms do not have the most gross un-biblical immoralities being flaunted today, under the guise of were free. They flaunt their freedoms yet they are in chains. The boxes there held captive by Satan there both blinded and bound their minds in their lives are captive captive to Satan.

And he turns them whithersoever he wishes.

This is the pitiful course unto the power of Christ changes them. They know not freedom until they become the captives of Christ we live a paradox, you know that don't you were slaves and we live at least freed us work captive to Christ.

So what if in captivity that we long for more see because every one of you to sleep somebody ever wanted you said Something everyone of you has a master it's either God or Satan. Everyone who is Bob Dylan after he made his profession of faith in Christ.

However genuine it is. I'm not really sure. But he did write some powerful biblical lyrics and very simple ones I play him sometimes because my wife hates Bob Dylan and I do. I just think what what he says is so good song called, you gotta serve somebody because all for them no matter what you argues all these places in life and he says you have to serve somebody. It may be the devil or it might be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody. He's right. Are you a slave of Christ with her contacts.

Here's the way to deal with certain thing whole lot more be enslaved to Christ and what this text points out with this product text points out how we deal with issues and conflicts problem to the church as a slave of Christ should do it.

What powerful parallels there are for your life, your home, your marriage or family, your world, your serve somebody. Maybe the devil it might be Lord your sleep somebody listen to me right now.

This fact your slave is with the glorious freedom of Christ, the terrible wrath coming bondage of Satan