0:00:00.220,0:00:03.460 As you can imagine, [br]it is an unspeakable joy 0:00:03.460,0:00:06.140 for my wife Diana and myself 0:00:06.140,0:00:07.140 to arrive at this day, 0:00:07.140,0:00:10.100 when our son can be officially recognized 0:00:10.100,0:00:12.119 as a shepherd 0:00:12.119,0:00:16.679 in a church of the blood-[br]bought people of God. 0:00:16.679,0:00:18.660 It is also a sobering reality 0:00:18.660,0:00:21.660 in light of what we have heard. 0:00:21.660,0:00:23.780 And mine is to bring a charge to you, 0:00:23.780,0:00:27.630 the congregation of Grace Community Church 0:00:27.630,0:00:29.410 as to your responsibilities 0:00:29.410,0:00:32.480 in receiving a pastor to be among you 0:00:32.480,0:00:34.210 and as the Scriptures say, 0:00:34.210,0:00:37.270 to be over you in the Lord. 0:00:37.270,0:00:39.870 And I want to bring to [br]you from God's Word, 0:00:39.870,0:00:42.190 six areas of responsibility 0:00:42.190,0:00:44.130 given to you by the Lord 0:00:44.130,0:00:46.850 as you receive a new pastor. 0:00:46.850,0:00:48.610 And I'll get right to it. 0:00:48.610,0:00:50.170 The first one is this: 0:00:50.170,0:00:53.160 Recognize him according to the gifts [br] 0:00:53.160,0:00:55.730 and graces God has given. 0:00:55.730,0:00:57.260 Someone has said, 0:00:57.260,0:00:59.989 "Only God can make a minister. 0:00:59.989,0:01:02.700 Only God can make a pastor." 0:01:02.700,0:01:04.430 And that's true isn't it. 0:01:04.430,0:01:06.900 Because only God can furnish a man 0:01:06.900,0:01:08.570 with the graces of character 0:01:08.570,0:01:10.730 and the gifts of leadership and preaching 0:01:10.730,0:01:13.360 that are needed to [br]shepherd the flock of God. 0:01:13.360,0:01:15.490 Only God can make a pastor. 0:01:15.490,0:01:18.020 Now that doesn't mean [br]that there are not people 0:01:18.020,0:01:20.030 who run into the pastorate 0:01:20.030,0:01:21.999 not having been called and sent by God. 0:01:21.999,0:01:23.300 There are men who do that. 0:01:23.300,0:01:27.620 In our day, sadly, there are even [br]women who do that, wrongly. 0:01:27.620,0:01:28.840 Why do they go? 0:01:28.840,0:01:31.080 In some cases, they go to try to live up 0:01:31.080,0:01:33.320 to the misguided expectations of others. 0:01:33.320,0:01:35.510 Perhaps a father who says, 0:01:35.510,0:01:37.500 "My son is going to be a pastor." 0:01:37.500,0:01:40.040 In other cases, a man [br]likes to study theology 0:01:40.040,0:01:42.729 and he thinks, "Well, [br]that would be a nice job. 0:01:42.729,0:01:44.450 Being holed up in a room, 0:01:44.450,0:01:46.510 reading theological books all day. 0:01:46.510,0:01:48.770 I think that'll be a nice gig!" 0:01:48.770,0:01:52.400 Others are very sociable, [br]and they would say: 0:01:52.400,0:01:54.589 "You know, I like [br]to socialize with people 0:01:54.589,0:01:57.050 and being a pastor I get [br]to socialize with people. 0:01:57.050,0:01:59.189 I think I'd like to be a pastor." 0:01:59.189,0:02:01.170 More culpably, sadly, there are people 0:02:01.170,0:02:04.010 who like to exercise control and power [br] 0:02:04.010,0:02:05.420 over other people. 0:02:05.420,0:02:08.690 And they enter the ministry [br]for that wrong reason. 0:02:08.690,0:02:10.869 And others, because of a large ego, 0:02:10.869,0:02:13.190 they like to be front and center 0:02:13.190,0:02:14.929 and be the center of attention. 0:02:14.929,0:02:17.020 There are people, there are men, 0:02:17.020,0:02:18.480 sadly even women, 0:02:18.480,0:02:20.989 who seek to run into pastoral ministry 0:02:20.989,0:02:25.260 without having been [br]called and sent by God. 0:02:25.260,0:02:30.019 But only God can equip, and call, 0:02:30.019,0:02:34.140 and send a true shepherd. 0:02:34.140,0:02:37.050 And your job, church at Laredo, 0:02:37.050,0:02:40.200 therefore is not to make a man a pastor. 0:02:40.200,0:02:41.910 You can't do that. 0:02:41.910,0:02:46.009 It is to recognize the man and men 0:02:46.009,0:02:47.999 that God raises up among you 0:02:47.999,0:02:50.419 to be in that calling. 0:02:50.419,0:02:53.119 And that's what you are doing today. 0:02:53.119,0:02:54.750 You are recognizing, 0:02:54.750,0:02:57.609 based on the qualifications given by God 0:02:57.609,0:03:01.209 in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 0:03:01.209,0:03:03.209 you are recognizing a man 0:03:03.209,0:03:05.909 whom you believe God has give you 0:03:05.909,0:03:08.329 to shepherd your souls. 0:03:08.329,0:03:12.119 Your work is the work of recognition. 0:03:12.119,0:03:15.049 And may I say, that I heartily concur 0:03:15.049,0:03:18.069 with what is being done today. 0:03:18.069,0:03:20.549 If I might say some personal words 0:03:20.549,0:03:24.189 as the father of this young man, 0:03:24.189,0:03:27.889 I have marveled at the grace of God 0:03:27.889,0:03:31.649 that has brought him to this day. 0:03:31.649,0:03:35.939 I never groomed my son to be a pastor, 0:03:35.939,0:03:37.459 because it was my conviction 0:03:37.459,0:03:39.790 that I don't make men pastors. 0:03:39.790,0:03:42.379 I never even imagined it. 0:03:42.379,0:03:45.729 Quite frankly, for many years - 0:03:45.729,0:03:47.839 and his brother and sister are here 0:03:47.839,0:03:49.419 and can testify to it - 0:03:49.419,0:03:51.789 Jeremy was our fun-loving, 0:03:51.789,0:03:54.419 people-loving jock. 0:03:54.419,0:03:57.849 Much more likely to have [br]a soccer ball on his foot 0:03:57.849,0:04:01.519 than a book in his hand. 0:04:01.519,0:04:03.139 But it's been amazing to watch 0:04:03.139,0:04:05.579 what God has done. 0:04:05.579,0:04:07.359 Beginning midway through college, 0:04:07.359,0:04:11.009 when he decided to [br]plant his flag for Christ. 0:04:11.009,0:04:13.929 Started a fellowship of [br]Christian athletes on campus, 0:04:13.929,0:04:15.909 and from there on after, 0:04:15.909,0:04:17.880 every Sunday night at eight o'clock, 0:04:17.880,0:04:20.180 he would be teaching his [br]fellow college students [br] 0:04:20.180,0:04:21.650 from the Bible. 0:04:21.650,0:04:25.420 And then there was the first [br]professional contract in Finland 0:04:25.420,0:04:27.920 where he had a premature mantel 0:04:27.920,0:04:31.640 of leadership responsibilities [br]thrust upon him; 0:04:31.640,0:04:33.720 where he was looked to teach and lead 0:04:33.720,0:04:36.760 a rather immature group of saints. 0:04:36.760,0:04:38.560 And we did a lot of Skype-ing, 0:04:38.560,0:04:40.800 across the Atlantic that year. 0:04:40.800,0:04:43.690 But it was then that I [br]began to see in him 0:04:43.690,0:04:45.600 a shepherd's heart. 0:04:45.600,0:04:47.230 He would review with me a letter 0:04:47.230,0:04:50.630 that he was writing to [br]someone twice his age 0:04:50.630,0:04:52.140 giving counsel. 0:04:52.140,0:04:54.220 And as I read that thing I said: 0:04:54.220,0:04:57.050 "I could not do any better than that!" 0:04:57.050,0:04:58.380 The truth-content, 0:04:58.380,0:05:00.300 and the love and grace in that letter! 0:05:00.300,0:05:01.850 And I began to see... 0:05:01.850,0:05:03.690 I began to say to myself: 0:05:03.690,0:05:05.950 "If I know anything of what a pastor is, 0:05:05.950,0:05:07.540 of what a shepherd's heart is, 0:05:07.540,0:05:11.120 I'm beginning to see it in my son." 0:05:11.120,0:05:14.420 And then, two years spent 0:05:14.420,0:05:16.650 in the Conway's home 0:05:16.650,0:05:19.470 and in the church in San Antonio 0:05:19.470,0:05:21.950 for which my wife and I 0:05:21.950,0:05:24.660 are tremendously grateful 0:05:24.660,0:05:27.440 for the influence, Tim and Ruby, 0:05:27.440,0:05:30.830 of your home, your lives, 0:05:30.830,0:05:33.620 the influence of the church. 0:05:33.620,0:05:36.670 It has been hugely challenging 0:05:36.670,0:05:39.600 and formative in our son's life. 0:05:39.600,0:05:41.590 And we are forever grateful 0:05:41.590,0:05:45.550 for God's usefulness of you in his life, 0:05:45.550,0:05:48.870 bringing him to this day. 0:05:48.870,0:05:51.470 So, church of Laredo. 0:05:51.470,0:05:53.350 You can't make a pastor; 0:05:53.350,0:05:54.710 now or in the future. 0:05:54.710,0:05:57.180 But you are called to recognize 0:05:57.180,0:06:00.370 those whom God has gifted and called. 0:06:00.370,0:06:01.760 And you're doing that today. 0:06:01.760,0:06:04.240 The second thing that [br]is your responsibility 0:06:04.240,0:06:07.080 is to receive him as a loving gift 0:06:07.080,0:06:10.610 of the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. 0:06:10.610,0:06:20.460 I turn briefly (or just listen) [br]to Ephesians 4:9-11. 0:06:20.460,0:06:22.120 You are to receive him 0:06:22.120,0:06:26.070 as a loving gift of your glorified Savior. 0:06:26.070,0:06:33.270 In Ephesians 4:9-11 we read: 0:06:33.270,0:06:36.070 "Now this expression, 'He ascended', 0:06:36.070,0:06:38.040 what does it mean except that He also 0:06:38.040,0:06:40.530 had descended into the [br]lower parts of the earth? 0:06:40.530,0:06:43.060 He who descended is Himself also 0:06:43.060,0:06:46.160 He who ascended far above all the heavens, 0:06:46.160,0:06:47.900 so that He might fill all things." 0:06:47.900,0:06:49.260 And notice verse 11 0:06:49.260,0:06:51.110 "And He gave some as apostles, 0:06:51.110,0:06:52.509 and some as prophets, 0:06:52.509,0:06:54.759 and some as evangelists, and some as..." 0:06:54.759,0:06:58.149 as the Greek would likely [br]have it, "pastor-teachers." 0:06:58.149,0:07:01.000 Jesus descended to live a perfect life 0:07:01.000,0:07:03.890 that we could not live, and died a death 0:07:03.890,0:07:06.720 in our place that we deserved to die! 0:07:06.720,0:07:09.390 And then He was raised from the dead, 0:07:09.390,0:07:11.830 He was ascended to the Father, 0:07:11.830,0:07:14.060 and He's glorified at [br]the Father's right hand 0:07:14.060,0:07:16.240 and from that place of glorification, 0:07:16.240,0:07:18.630 He has given gifts to His Church. 0:07:18.630,0:07:22.170 Rather, He has given men [br]as gifts to His Church! 0:07:22.170,0:07:24.390 He gave apostles and prophets. 0:07:24.390,0:07:26.060 Earlier in that letter it says 0:07:26.060,0:07:28.420 the church is built upon the foundation 0:07:28.420,0:07:31.480 of the apostles and New Testament prophets. 0:07:31.480,0:07:32.890 He gave evangelists. 0:07:32.890,0:07:35.390 Christians disagree as to [br]what an evangelist is. 0:07:35.390,0:07:37.050 I would take it to mean those who 0:07:37.050,0:07:39.140 take the gospel into virgin territory. 0:07:39.140,0:07:41.670 But he gave pastor-teachers. 0:07:41.670,0:07:44.150 And church at Laredo. 0:07:44.150,0:07:46.669 The point for you is this: 0:07:46.669,0:07:51.450 Jesus Christ, your [br]ascended, glorified Lord, 0:07:51.450,0:07:55.060 is giving you a gift today! 0:07:55.060,0:07:57.440 It's a gift of His love! 0:07:57.440,0:08:01.330 It's a token of His grace and favor! 0:08:01.330,0:08:02.940 Little flock in Laredo, 0:08:02.940,0:08:05.010 Jesus has His eye on you. 0:08:05.010,0:08:06.889 He has not forgotten you! 0:08:06.889,0:08:08.450 He loves you 0:08:08.450,0:08:10.170 and is giving you a gift. 0:08:10.170,0:08:11.210 Someone has said: 0:08:11.210,0:08:12.860 "Pastors are not needed 0:08:12.860,0:08:14.570 for the being of the Church, 0:08:14.570,0:08:15.919 but for its well-being." 0:08:15.919,0:08:17.530 And I think that's true. 0:08:17.530,0:08:18.590 Acts 14:23 says, 0:08:18.590,0:08:20.770 "When they had appointed elders 0:08:20.770,0:08:22.660 for them in every church..." 0:08:22.660,0:08:25.840 The idea was they were already churches 0:08:25.840,0:08:27.940 before they had elders. 0:08:27.940,0:08:30.740 Elders are not needed for [br]the being of the church, 0:08:30.740,0:08:32.328 but for its well-being. 0:08:32.328,0:08:33.919 If the church is to flourish 0:08:33.919,0:08:36.658 and grow internally and spiritually, 0:08:36.658,0:08:40.169 if it is to expand numerically [br]and evangelistically, 0:08:40.169,0:08:42.259 it needs shepherds. 0:08:42.259,0:08:43.990 Jesus loves you. 0:08:43.990,0:08:45.209 He has His eye on you. 0:08:45.209,0:08:50.089 He is giving you a gift, [br]today, of a pastor. 0:08:50.089,0:08:53.069 Receive him as a gift 0:08:53.069,0:08:55.299 of Christ's love for you. 0:08:55.299,0:08:59.710 Thirdly, you are to respect him 0:08:59.710,0:09:03.600 for the sake of his [br]diligent labor among you. 0:09:03.600,0:09:06.639 And for that I turn you [br]to 1 Thessalonians 5, 0:09:06.639,0:09:08.539 just two verses. 0:09:08.539,0:09:12.339 Either turn there or just listen. 0:09:12.339,0:09:15.050 "But we request of you, brethren, 0:09:15.050,0:09:16.050 that you appreciate those who 0:09:16.050,0:09:18.670 diligently labor among you 0:09:18.670,0:09:20.749 and have charge over you in the Lord 0:09:20.749,0:09:22.529 and give you instruction..." 0:09:22.529,0:09:23.669 Now listen to this, 0:09:23.669,0:09:26.679 "and that you esteem [br]them very highly in love 0:09:26.679,0:09:28.800 because of their work." 0:09:28.800,0:09:30.460 Now let's unpack briefly, 0:09:30.460,0:09:32.339 some of those words. 0:09:32.339,0:09:35.939 The word "appreciate" is [br]actually the word "to know", 0:09:35.939,0:09:38.430 but it's understood in [br]the Hebraistic sense 0:09:38.430,0:09:41.430 of having regard for, cherishing, 0:09:41.430,0:09:43.670 paying attention to. 0:09:43.670,0:09:45.579 The word "esteem": 0:09:45.579,0:09:48.579 consider, think, account, 0:09:48.579,0:09:50.319 it means to have deliberate 0:09:50.319,0:09:52.799 and careful judgment. 0:09:52.799,0:09:54.809 "Esteem very highly." 0:09:54.809,0:09:57.339 That's the word used in [br]Ephesians 3:20 when it says: 0:09:57.339,0:09:59.759 "God is able to do super abundantly 0:09:59.759,0:10:02.079 beyond what we ask or think." 0:10:02.079,0:10:06.050 You are to super abundantly esteem him, 0:10:06.050,0:10:09.629 but for his work, his diligent labor. 0:10:09.629,0:10:11.860 And that word "labor" means 0:10:11.860,0:10:14.999 wearisome effort, intense labor, 0:10:14.999,0:10:16.930 it actually comes from a verb that means 0:10:16.930,0:10:19.980 to beat the breast in grief. 0:10:19.980,0:10:23.309 He is to be a hard diligent worker, 0:10:23.309,0:10:27.839 sometimes to weariness of body and soul. 0:10:27.839,0:10:29.329 And he admonishes you, 0:10:29.329,0:10:31.269 he puts in your mind truth 0:10:31.269,0:10:33.169 that leads you back into the way. 0:10:33.169,0:10:34.470 You put all this together 0:10:34.470,0:10:36.249 and this is what you get: 0:10:36.249,0:10:40.600 You are to know, pay attention to, 0:10:40.600,0:10:43.899 have regard for the laborious work 0:10:43.899,0:10:46.899 that your pastor is doing among you. 0:10:46.899,0:10:48.980 What does that mean practically? 0:10:48.980,0:10:50.860 Take some time to think 0:10:50.860,0:10:52.840 about the many hours he takes 0:10:52.850,0:10:54.920 to study the Word of God, 0:10:54.920,0:10:56.319 in order to teach it 0:10:56.319,0:10:58.439 and preach it and counsel it 0:10:58.439,0:11:02.329 accurately and profitably for your soul. 0:11:02.329,0:11:04.330 Give attention to the hours he spends 0:11:04.330,0:11:06.370 in prayer over your souls. 0:11:06.370,0:11:07.900 Men in the ministry are to give 0:11:07.900,0:11:09.740 more time to prayer like the apostles: 0:11:09.740,0:11:11.440 "We will give ourselves to prayer 0:11:11.440,0:11:13.009 and the ministry of the Word." 0:11:13.009,0:11:14.879 And he's gonna be laboring hours 0:11:14.879,0:11:16.579 in prayer over you individually. 0:11:16.579,0:11:18.179 And think about those hours 0:11:18.179,0:11:20.509 he's spending in prayer for your needs, 0:11:20.509,0:11:24.189 for your souls, for your struggles, 0:11:24.189,0:11:27.269 for your hurts, for your sins. 0:11:27.269,0:11:29.609 Take stock of the hours he will spend, 0:11:29.609,0:11:30.800 and does spend, 0:11:30.800,0:11:33.420 sitting down with you as families; 0:11:33.420,0:11:36.490 giving you a spiritual check-up. 0:11:36.490,0:11:38.110 Checking up in how you're doing 0:11:38.110,0:11:39.349 in your devotional life. 0:11:39.349,0:11:42.030 How are things in the marriage?[br]How is your family life? 0:11:42.030,0:11:43.719 How are you training your children? 0:11:43.719,0:11:45.129 How are you using your gifts 0:11:45.129,0:11:46.769 for the edification of the church? 0:11:46.769,0:11:48.730 How can you be a better witness 0:11:48.730,0:11:51.730 to the lost ones around you? 0:11:51.730,0:11:53.559 And consider also the many hours 0:11:53.559,0:11:57.309 that he spends counseling you one on one; 0:11:57.309,0:12:01.060 listening patiently, and [br]then seeking to give 0:12:01.060,0:12:05.040 thoughtful, wise, and biblical advice. 0:12:05.040,0:12:06.610 Think of the times that you 0:12:06.610,0:12:08.369 or a loved one has a crisis, 0:12:08.369,0:12:11.389 and maybe lands in the hospital. 0:12:11.389,0:12:14.199 Who is likely to be the first one 0:12:14.199,0:12:16.379 at your bedside to pray, 0:12:16.379,0:12:18.829 to comfort, to minister? 0:12:18.829,0:12:22.399 It's likely going to be your pastor. 0:12:22.399,0:12:24.389 And as you think about these things, 0:12:24.389,0:12:26.929 God is saying to you as a church: 0:12:26.929,0:12:30.589 "Super-highly esteem him 0:12:30.589,0:12:32.689 for that diligent work 0:12:32.689,0:12:35.009 that he is doing among you." 0:12:35.009,0:12:38.970 And may I make a logical [br]deduction from this? 0:12:38.970,0:12:42.550 As you super-highly esteem him, 0:12:42.550,0:12:47.009 will you look for ways [br]to express that to him? 0:12:47.009,0:12:48.959 I've been a pastor for a lot of years, 0:12:48.959,0:12:51.399 and one of the things [br]I've noticed over the years 0:12:51.399,0:12:54.089 is people tend to [br]appreciate their pastors, 0:12:54.089,0:12:57.599 but rarely tell them. 0:12:57.599,0:12:58.450 You ask a man: 0:12:58.450,0:12:59.979 Do you appreciate your pastor? 0:12:59.979,0:13:01.459 "Oh, our pastor is wonderful! 0:13:01.459,0:13:03.730 He feeds us so well on the Word of God, 0:13:03.730,0:13:07.579 He's such a patient, [br]loving counselor to us!" 0:13:07.579,0:13:10.350 Have you ever told him that? 0:13:10.350,0:13:13.519 "Well, I think there was [br]a time a few years ago. 0:13:13.519,0:13:17.319 I might have mentioned something." 0:13:17.319,0:13:20.319 You know men, it doesn't work in marriage 0:13:20.319,0:13:22.759 to be like the proverbial guy who 0:13:22.759,0:13:23.879 said to his wife, 0:13:23.879,0:13:26.410 "Look, I told her I loved [br]her when I married her, 0:13:26.410,0:13:29.439 and if I change my mind, [br]I'll let her know." 0:13:29.439,0:13:31.860 Now that doesn't work [br]in marriage, does it? 0:13:31.860,0:13:33.320 You can hardly tell your wife 0:13:33.320,0:13:36.470 enough times in the day, "I love you!" 0:13:36.470,0:13:39.559 Assuming it's sincere. 0:13:39.559,0:13:40.949 People of God, 0:13:40.949,0:13:44.000 express your appreciation 0:13:44.000,0:13:46.100 for your pastor and his labor. 0:13:46.100,0:13:48.679 "Oh, but I don't want [br]him to get a big head!" 0:13:48.679,0:13:50.570 Let me tell you, God knows how 0:13:50.570,0:13:53.410 to keep a man's head small. Okay? 0:13:53.410,0:13:54.410 God knows wonderfully 0:13:54.410,0:13:56.040 how to balance encouragement 0:13:56.040,0:13:57.269 with humbling. 0:13:57.269,0:13:58.939 You leave that to God! 0:13:58.939,0:14:00.829 And you just seek to encourage him, 0:14:00.829,0:14:02.509 and there are many ways to do that. 0:14:02.509,0:14:03.702 And church at Laredo, 0:14:03.702,0:14:04.895 from what I know of you, 0:14:04.895,0:14:06.209 I need to just commend you, 0:14:06.209,0:14:07.859 because you have expressed 0:14:07.859,0:14:10.709 your esteem and respect in so many ways. 0:14:10.709,0:14:11.920 Material gifts, 0:14:11.920,0:14:14.920 household furnishings for his apartment, 0:14:14.920,0:14:19.020 money for books, books; 0:14:19.020,0:14:20.680 you've already done much of that. 0:14:20.680,0:14:21.949 You know the highest way 0:14:21.949,0:14:23.980 that you can show respect for your pastor 0:14:23.980,0:14:26.839 however is to allow the Word of God 0:14:26.839,0:14:29.030 that he teaches, preaches, and counsels 0:14:29.030,0:14:30.749 to take root in your life, 0:14:30.749,0:14:32.259 and to let him see the fruit 0:14:32.259,0:14:33.499 being born in your life 0:14:33.499,0:14:35.230 from what he's laboring in. 0:14:35.230,0:14:40.749 That's the greatest way [br]to show him respect! 0:14:40.749,0:14:42.769 Here's a fourth thing: 0:14:42.769,0:14:45.649 Rejoice his heart by your obedience, 0:14:45.649,0:14:48.279 and some of you know [br]where I'm going with that. 0:14:48.279,0:14:51.579 Hebrews 13:17 0:14:51.579,0:14:56.029 Rejoice his heart by your obedience. 0:14:56.029,0:14:57.660 The writer to the Hebrews says: 0:14:57.660,0:15:00.459 "Obey your leaders, submit to them. 0:15:00.459,0:15:02.659 they keep watch over your souls 0:15:02.659,0:15:04.549 as those who will give an account. 0:15:04.549,0:15:06.599 Let them do that with joy, 0:15:06.599,0:15:08.149 and not with grief, 0:15:08.149,0:15:11.769 for that would be unprofitable for you." 0:15:11.769,0:15:13.999 We live in a moral universe, 0:15:13.999,0:15:15.889 and God reigns over this universe, 0:15:15.889,0:15:17.829 He is the absolute authority 0:15:17.829,0:15:19.829 and King of this universe! 0:15:19.829,0:15:21.489 By nature, we are in rebellion 0:15:21.489,0:15:23.250 against His authority however. 0:15:23.250,0:15:24.239 The Bible says, 0:15:24.239,0:15:26.700 "we've all turned to our own way." 0:15:26.700,0:15:28.729 But when we've become rightly related 0:15:28.729,0:15:31.239 to God through faith in Jesus Christ, 0:15:31.239,0:15:34.400 we become a submissive people. 0:15:34.400,0:15:36.730 Submission becomes a watch-word 0:15:36.730,0:15:38.239 for the child of God. 0:15:38.239,0:15:40.259 We submit ultimately to God, 0:15:40.259,0:15:42.649 but one of the ways we show [br]our submission to God 0:15:42.649,0:15:44.839 is by submitting to the human authorities 0:15:44.839,0:15:47.139 that God has put over us. 0:15:47.139,0:15:49.509 Wives, be submissive to husbands. 0:15:49.509,0:15:51.259 Children, obey parents. 0:15:51.259,0:15:54.049 We are to obey the governing authorities. 0:15:54.049,0:15:58.689 Employees are to obey employers. 0:15:58.689,0:16:02.369 And God has called His redeemed people 0:16:02.369,0:16:05.369 to put themselves into local assemblies, 0:16:05.369,0:16:07.519 churches, where there are elders, 0:16:07.519,0:16:08.989 pastors, overseers, 0:16:08.989,0:16:12.369 who are over them in the Lord. 0:16:12.369,0:16:16.910 And this text of Scripture [br]calls us to obey them. 0:16:16.910,0:16:20.309 Literally "to be persuaded" by them. 0:16:20.309,0:16:22.209 And to submit to them, 0:16:22.209,0:16:25.709 literally "to give way to, [br]to yield" to them. 0:16:25.709,0:16:31.600 And let me point to a two-fold [br]responsibility that this gives us. 0:16:31.600,0:16:33.109 On the one hand, 0:16:33.109,0:16:36.489 obey your leaders, submit to them... 0:16:36.489,0:16:39.229 Brothers and sisters [br]in the church of Laredo, 0:16:39.229,0:16:43.679 when your pastor labors [br]in the Word of God, 0:16:43.679,0:16:47.090 to tell you what biblical words mean 0:16:47.090,0:16:51.519 what biblical sentences mean, in context, 0:16:51.519,0:16:56.449 near and far, consistent [br]with systematic theology, 0:16:56.449,0:16:59.670 the doctrine fitting in with the [br]other doctrines of the Bible, 0:16:59.670,0:17:01.550 consistent with biblical theology, 0:17:01.550,0:17:03.160 consistent with the whole sweep 0:17:03.160,0:17:04.970 and totality of God's revelation; 0:17:04.970,0:17:07.740 when he is getting out of God's Word 0:17:07.740,0:17:10.060 what is pretty clear the Holy Spirit 0:17:10.060,0:17:11.510 put into God's Word, 0:17:11.510,0:17:14.080 and he's giving it to you accurately, 0:17:14.080,0:17:16.660 brothers and sisters, obey it! 0:17:16.660,0:17:18.770 Do what it says! 0:17:18.770,0:17:20.320 Believe what it says! 0:17:20.320,0:17:22.280 Think the way you're supposed to think! 0:17:22.280,0:17:24.020 In doing so, you won't so much be 0:17:24.020,0:17:26.250 obeying a fallible man, 0:17:26.250,0:17:28.300 but you'll be obeying God 0:17:28.300,0:17:31.900 and that will be to the [br]blessing of your soul! 0:17:31.900,0:17:35.370 It will also bring him joy! 0:17:35.370,0:17:38.050 Remember what the elder Apostle John said? 0:17:38.050,0:17:40.670 "I have no greater joy than this, 0:17:40.670,0:17:42.630 than to hear of my children 0:17:42.630,0:17:44.550 walking in the truth." 0:17:44.550,0:17:47.590 And a true shepherd has no greater joy 0:17:47.590,0:17:50.040 than to hear of his spiritual children 0:17:50.040,0:17:53.030 walking in the truth. 0:17:53.030,0:17:56.590 Rejoice his heart by obeying, 0:17:56.590,0:17:59.590 not what he says, but what God says! 0:17:59.590,0:18:01.640 And there will be a wonderful circle 0:18:01.640,0:18:03.630 of celebration and joy. 0:18:03.630,0:18:06.290 You will be blessed for [br]doing what God says, 0:18:06.290,0:18:08.010 and he will have joy 0:18:08.010,0:18:10.450 for seeing the people under his care 0:18:10.450,0:18:11.930 walking in the truth. 0:18:11.930,0:18:14.430 But I need to qualify that 0:18:14.430,0:18:17.930 for the balance of truth. 0:18:17.930,0:18:21.440 I had an old Amish bishop [br]or minister once say to me: 0:18:21.440,0:18:23.330 "For every mile of road, 0:18:23.330,0:18:26.330 there's two miles of ditch." 0:18:26.330,0:18:30.820 And I'm always concerned [br]about balancing truth. 0:18:30.820,0:18:32.460 The main duty people have got is: 0:18:32.460,0:18:34.350 obey your leaders when they bring you 0:18:34.350,0:18:35.690 the Word of God, 0:18:35.690,0:18:39.460 but I need to say this [br]for the balance of truth. 0:18:39.460,0:18:44.690 All human authority is limited. 0:18:44.690,0:18:48.860 All human authority has boundaries. 0:18:48.860,0:18:51.860 Only God has absolute authority. 0:18:51.860,0:18:54.130 And you are to obey your pastor, 0:18:54.130,0:18:56.010 as long as he is bringing to you 0:18:56.010,0:18:58.010 the Word of God. 0:18:58.010,0:18:59.930 But when he goes outside of the bounds 0:18:59.930,0:19:01.020 of the Word of God; 0:19:01.020,0:19:04.560 when he misaligns himself [br]with God and His Word, 0:19:04.560,0:19:06.290 may I say that you are to 0:19:06.290,0:19:10.440 conscientiously and respectfully disobey. 0:19:10.440,0:19:12.060 We see that in the Scriptures, 0:19:12.060,0:19:14.210 when the Hebrew midwives were commanded 0:19:14.210,0:19:15.360 to kill the Hebrew baby boys. 0:19:15.360,0:19:18.100 Exodus 1:17 says, "They feared God 0:19:18.100,0:19:19.950 and did not do as the king of Egypt 0:19:19.950,0:19:21.490 had commanded them," 0:19:21.490,0:19:22.630 but let the boys live. 0:19:22.630,0:19:24.200 They defied the human authority 0:19:24.200,0:19:25.790 and God blessed them for it. 0:19:25.790,0:19:28.070 In the New Testament, the apostles 0:19:28.070,0:19:30.200 are told by Jesus, "Go and preach!" 0:19:30.200,0:19:32.190 The human authorities come and say, 0:19:32.190,0:19:34.100 "Stop teaching in this name!" 0:19:34.100,0:19:37.220 And they were put on the horns [br]of a dilemma, weren't they? 0:19:37.220,0:19:38.356 If you got two horses 0:19:38.356,0:19:40.403 and they're going in opposite directions, 0:19:40.403,0:19:42.630 you better jump on one, [br]and let the other go. 0:19:42.630,0:19:43.630 If the boat is moving, 0:19:43.630,0:19:44.840 departing from the dock, 0:19:44.840,0:19:46.160 you can't stay on the dock 0:19:46.160,0:19:48.110 and jump on the ship at the same time. 0:19:48.110,0:19:49.560 You gotta make a choice. 0:19:49.560,0:19:51.360 And they said, "Whether it is right 0:19:51.360,0:19:53.100 in the sight of God to listen to you 0:19:53.100,0:19:54.600 human authorities or to God, 0:19:54.600,0:19:55.560 you be the judge. 0:19:55.560,0:19:57.170 We cannot stop speaking 0:19:57.170,0:19:59.070 the things we've seen and heard." 0:19:59.070,0:20:00.690 And a chapter later, they said: 0:20:00.690,0:20:04.950 "We must obey God, rather than men." 0:20:04.950,0:20:06.260 I have passion for this [br] 0:20:06.260,0:20:08.270 because for nearly eleven years, 0:20:08.270,0:20:11.220 I have worked among one [br]of the most legalistic groups 0:20:11.220,0:20:12.830 claiming to be Christians 0:20:12.830,0:20:14.170 anywhere on planet earth: 0:20:14.170,0:20:15.620 the Old Order Amish. 0:20:15.620,0:20:17.430 And I have seen what man-made rules 0:20:17.430,0:20:19.060 and traditions do to 0:20:19.060,0:20:21.460 sear the conscience of people 0:20:21.460,0:20:24.060 and keep them from [br]understanding the Gospel. 0:20:24.060,0:20:26.430 And so I sound this as a balancing note. 0:20:26.430,0:20:28.990 And friend, it's no small matter. 0:20:28.990,0:20:31.310 It's a matter of Lordship. 0:20:31.310,0:20:32.870 Who will be Lord? 0:20:32.870,0:20:34.540 There's only one Person 0:20:34.540,0:20:35.810 who has the right to be 0:20:35.810,0:20:37.810 the Lord of your conscience, 0:20:37.810,0:20:39.950 your soul, and your life. 0:20:39.950,0:20:41.700 Romans 14:9 tells us: 0:20:41.700,0:20:44.410 "For to this end, Christ died 0:20:44.410,0:20:47.200 and lived again that He might be Lord 0:20:47.200,0:20:49.390 both of the dead and the living. 0:20:49.390,0:20:51.460 But you, why do you judge your brother?" 0:20:51.460,0:20:54.670 It's the context of Christian [br]liberty of conscience 0:20:54.670,0:20:57.180 where it's not a moral issue. 0:20:57.180,0:20:59.140 Christian, don't judge one another. 0:20:59.140,0:21:02.450 Let Christ be the Lord of [br]your brother's conscience. 0:21:02.450,0:21:05.910 You never want to sacrifice [br]the Lordship of Christ 0:21:05.910,0:21:07.660 over your conscience. 0:21:07.660,0:21:10.010 Now, am I saying that because I think 0:21:10.010,0:21:12.190 there's any realistic danger 0:21:12.190,0:21:15.430 that my son, your pastor, [br]will lord it over you? 0:21:15.430,0:21:17.840 I don't have that concern in the least. 0:21:17.840,0:21:20.830 And as I know, the [br]pastors represented here, 0:21:20.830,0:21:23.390 they are not those who lord it over. 0:21:23.390,0:21:26.150 They are humble servant-leaders. 0:21:26.150,0:21:29.650 But some of you have been [br]under abusive leadership. 0:21:29.650,0:21:31.300 And you need to be warned. 0:21:31.300,0:21:33.240 Human authority is to be obeyed, 0:21:33.240,0:21:37.430 only insofar as it obeys God and His Word. 0:21:37.430,0:21:40.110 So, submit to your pastor. 0:21:40.110,0:21:42.040 When he's bringing you the Word of God 0:21:42.040,0:21:44.880 publicly or privately, do what it says! 0:21:44.880,0:21:48.100 Submit, but make sure he's giving you 0:21:48.100,0:21:51.550 the Word of God, not his own opinions 0:21:51.550,0:21:53.790 because he has no warrant from heaven 0:21:53.790,0:21:55.440 for giving you anything other than 0:21:55.440,0:21:58.260 what God says in His Word. 0:21:58.260,0:22:05.450 Fifthly of six: Imitate him [br]insofar as he imitates Christ! 0:22:05.450,0:22:08.290 Now you notice they all [br]start with "R" don't they? 0:22:08.290,0:22:11.630 And if you like alliteration [br]as I do, you can say: 0:22:11.630,0:22:16.710 "Resemble him as he resembles Christ!" 0:22:16.710,0:22:21.490 In Hebrews 13:7, we are told: 0:22:21.490,0:22:24.270 "Remember those who lead you, 0:22:24.270,0:22:26.540 who spoke the Word of God to you 0:22:26.540,0:22:28.990 and considering the result of their conduct, 0:22:28.990,0:22:31.240 imitate their faith." 0:22:31.240,0:22:34.320 I'm thankful that my [br]son has practiced that. 0:22:34.320,0:22:36.430 He has learned a lot of faith 0:22:36.430,0:22:38.550 at Grace Community Church in San Antonio, 0:22:38.550,0:22:41.530 the kind of faith we've [br]heard powerfully proclaimed. 0:22:41.530,0:22:43.950 And he's walking in [br]the path of that faith, 0:22:43.950,0:22:46.090 and I'm grateful - grateful to God; 0:22:46.090,0:22:49.120 grateful for the human [br]instruments that He uses. 0:22:49.120,0:22:53.390 Paul said, "Imitate me [br]as I imitate Christ." 0:22:53.390,0:22:55.590 And Paul said to Timothy, 0:22:55.590,0:22:57.790 "Don't let them despise your youthfulness, 0:22:57.790,0:22:59.720 but set the believers an example 0:22:59.720,0:23:04.020 in speech, conduct, [br]love, faith, and purity." 0:23:04.020,0:23:06.630 Examples are meant to be imitated. 0:23:06.630,0:23:08.240 Now make no mistake about it, 0:23:08.240,0:23:10.930 Jesus is our exemplar. 0:23:10.930,0:23:14.000 He is our example par excellence. 0:23:14.000,0:23:16.090 But Jesus has gone to Heaven, 0:23:16.090,0:23:18.520 and Jesus has given us human role-models 0:23:18.520,0:23:20.510 that we are intended to imitate. 0:23:20.510,0:23:22.520 That's one of the things pastors do. 0:23:22.520,0:23:23.520 Peter said, "Don't lord it over." 0:23:23.520,0:23:25.450 To elders, "Don't lord it over 0:23:25.450,0:23:27.200 those committed to your charge, 0:23:27.200,0:23:29.430 but be examples to them." 0:23:29.430,0:23:32.300 You see, the reason overseers 0:23:32.300,0:23:34.050 in 1 Timothy 3 must be - 0:23:34.050,0:23:36.610 and there's a little Greek [br]participle of necessity - 0:23:36.610,0:23:38.980 "An overseer must be (dot dot dot)!" 0:23:38.980,0:23:41.990 The reason they must be [br]those things is because 0:23:41.990,0:23:44.810 all the people of God [br]ought to be those things. 0:23:44.810,0:23:46.500 We all ought to be above reproach. 0:23:46.500,0:23:49.000 We all ought to manage [br]our households well. 0:23:49.000,0:23:51.600 We all ought to be gentle and considerate 0:23:51.600,0:23:53.400 and have our children under control 0:23:53.400,0:23:54.630 with all dignity. 0:23:54.630,0:23:56.880 We all ought to have good reputations. 0:23:56.880,0:23:58.280 Pastors must be those things, 0:23:58.280,0:24:01.280 because all people [br]ought to be those things. 0:24:01.280,0:24:03.620 Here's another reason [br]to study your pastor, 0:24:03.620,0:24:06.110 to know him, to consider him 0:24:06.110,0:24:08.440 not only that you might esteem him, 0:24:08.440,0:24:11.440 but that you might imitate him 0:24:11.440,0:24:14.630 in so far as he is imitating Christ. 0:24:14.630,0:24:17.700 And then finally, remunerate him 0:24:17.700,0:24:20.030 according to his merit. 0:24:20.030,0:24:21.900 Remunerate him - that means pay him - 0:24:21.900,0:24:23.380 according to his merit. 0:24:23.380,0:24:25.870 1 Timothy 5:17 says, 0:24:25.870,0:24:28.300 "The elders that rule well are to be 0:24:28.300,0:24:29.300 considered worthy of double honor, 0:24:29.300,0:24:31.720 especially those who work hard 0:24:31.720,0:24:33.630 at preaching and teaching. 0:24:33.630,0:24:35.980 For the Scripture says, [br]'You shall not muzzle 0:24:35.980,0:24:38.080 the ox while he is threshing' ." 0:24:38.080,0:24:41.480 Here's a biblical basis [br]for paying pastors. 0:24:41.480,0:24:44.240 Now that doesn't mean that [br]all pastors need to be paid. 0:24:44.240,0:24:47.070 You have some from San Antonio [br]who are bi-vocational, 0:24:47.070,0:24:48.740 they're not paid by the church. 0:24:48.740,0:24:50.810 But the Bible says there are some men 0:24:50.810,0:24:53.380 who work especially hard [br]in preaching and teaching, 0:24:53.380,0:24:56.080 who ought to be given double honor. 0:24:56.080,0:24:58.130 In the context of that chapter, 0:24:58.130,0:25:00.380 it means monetary pay. 0:25:00.380,0:25:02.300 Widows were to be honored 0:25:02.300,0:25:03.980 in the sense that they were 0:25:03.980,0:25:05.880 to be put on the roles of the church. 0:25:05.880,0:25:07.810 They were to be financially supported. 0:25:07.810,0:25:09.540 And the statement about the ox 0:25:09.540,0:25:11.630 really seals it, doesn't it. 0:25:11.630,0:25:13.100 Don't muzzle the poor beast, 0:25:13.100,0:25:14.930 he's treading out the grain. 0:25:14.930,0:25:17.420 Take the muzzle off, let him [br]nibble on some grain. 0:25:17.420,0:25:19.840 Well, God cares about animals. 0:25:19.840,0:25:22.670 The righteous man has regard [br]for the life of the beast. 0:25:22.670,0:25:24.040 But He cares far more about 0:25:24.040,0:25:26.780 those who labor in [br]His spiritual vineyard. 0:25:26.780,0:25:30.610 There's a place for paying pastors. 0:25:30.610,0:25:31.910 So. 0:25:31.910,0:25:35.150 And here again, church of Laredo, 0:25:35.150,0:25:37.560 I commend you. 0:25:37.560,0:25:40.220 You have taken good care [br]of your pastor so far, 0:25:40.220,0:25:44.580 according to the means [br]that God has given you. 0:25:44.580,0:25:47.100 Beyond the salary you have given him, 0:25:47.100,0:25:50.060 you have given him household furnishings, 0:25:50.060,0:25:52.440 money for books, books, 0:25:52.440,0:25:54.710 extra-monetary gifts, 0:25:54.710,0:25:56.980 bonuses, loaning him a car 0:25:56.980,0:26:00.680 when his car is in repair in the shop. 0:26:00.680,0:26:03.050 And here's something very creative. 0:26:03.050,0:26:06.490 More than once, somebody [br]at the church in Laredo has, 0:26:06.490,0:26:07.570 at a social event, 0:26:07.570,0:26:09.550 stolen his keys, 0:26:09.550,0:26:11.840 taken his car out to the gas station, 0:26:11.840,0:26:13.790 filled it with gas, brought it back, 0:26:13.790,0:26:15.670 put the keys back in the same place. 0:26:15.670,0:26:17.270 Leaving him wondering: 0:26:17.270,0:26:18.680 "I thought it was half empty. 0:26:18.680,0:26:20.540 How did it get filled?" 0:26:20.540,0:26:23.410 Many have been the expressions of love 0:26:23.410,0:26:26.780 that you have given [br]to my son, your pastor. 0:26:26.780,0:26:30.850 We as parents are [br]deeply grateful for that, 0:26:30.850,0:26:34.560 but above all, God is going [br]to bless you for that. 0:26:34.560,0:26:35.880 Because in doing it - 0:26:35.880,0:26:39.260 since he is a gift of [br]the glorified Christ to you - 0:26:39.260,0:26:43.350 to do it for him, you're [br]doing it for Christ. 0:26:43.350,0:26:45.200 Have you noticed that Jesus 0:26:45.200,0:26:47.540 takes very personally, first of all, 0:26:47.540,0:26:50.900 the things done against His people. 0:26:50.900,0:26:56.080 "Saul, Saul, why are you [br]persecuting Me?" [Acts 9:4] 0:26:56.080,0:26:58.130 He also takes very personally the things 0:26:58.130,0:27:00.510 that are done for His people. 0:27:00.510,0:27:04.410 "Insofar as you have done it [br]to the least of these My brethren, 0:27:04.410,0:27:06.750 you've done it unto Me." [Matthew 25:40] 0:27:06.750,0:27:10.280 In taking care of your shepherd, [br]your under-shepherd, 0:27:10.280,0:27:12.180 you're doing it for Christ. 0:27:12.180,0:27:15.050 And the Lord Jesus will bless you for it. 0:27:15.050,0:27:17.980 So, people of God in Laredo, 0:27:17.980,0:27:21.710 but also in San Antonio, Corpus, Austin, 0:27:21.710,0:27:23.830 or whatever church you represent, 0:27:23.830,0:27:26.220 take these things to heart. 0:27:26.220,0:27:28.730 Look to the Lord Jesus for the grace 0:27:28.730,0:27:32.430 to carry out these [br]privileges and responsibilities. 0:27:32.430,0:27:34.740 Recognize the men among you 0:27:34.740,0:27:37.740 who display the gifts and graces 0:27:37.740,0:27:40.150 that fit them to be a pastor. 0:27:40.150,0:27:44.860 Receive him as a loving gift [br]of the glorified Christ. 0:27:44.860,0:27:48.780 Respect him for the sake of [br]his diligent labor among you. 0:27:48.780,0:27:52.640 Rejoice his heart by obeying the truth 0:27:52.640,0:27:55.180 that he brings to you, [br]publicly and privately. 0:27:55.180,0:27:57.940 Imitate, or resemble him, 0:27:57.940,0:28:02.260 insofar as he imitates Christ. 0:28:02.260,0:28:03.910 And take care of him materially, 0:28:03.910,0:28:07.060 as he sows spiritually among you. 0:28:07.060,0:28:08.920 Take care of his material needs. 0:28:08.920,0:28:12.010 That is God's pattern. 0:28:12.010,0:28:14.600 Well, may God richly bless you 0:28:14.600,0:28:17.230 with growth in grace internally, 0:28:17.230,0:28:20.660 with additions of souls [br]saved from the community, 0:28:20.660,0:28:22.030 and may your loving, 0:28:22.030,0:28:24.240 victorious Lord Jesus Christ, 0:28:24.240,0:28:25.760 in the days ahead, 0:28:25.760,0:28:28.430 give you additional elders - 0:28:28.430,0:28:30.950 because plurality is His norm - [br] 0:28:30.950,0:28:34.057 and even deacons. Amen.