0:00:05.243,0:00:06.686 Question. 0:00:06.686,0:00:12.270 "Can you explore this [br]topic of fear of men?" 0:00:12.270,0:00:14.584 So that's the topic: fear of men. 0:00:14.584,0:00:17.805 "Now, if a believer 0:00:17.805,0:00:21.774 is free from sin, 0:00:21.774,0:00:24.096 how can one feel so dominated 0:00:24.096,0:00:27.412 by this particular gripping sin?" 0:00:27.412,0:00:28.938 Now, he writes more, 0:00:28.938,0:00:30.669 but I'm going to stop right there. 0:00:30.669,0:00:34.108 I often get questions [br]that are worded like this. 0:00:34.108,0:00:36.074 You say, like what? 0:00:36.074,0:00:39.408 I often get somebody that says to me, 0:00:39.408,0:00:42.137 "I know I'm a Christian. 0:00:42.137,0:00:46.180 Please explain to me [br]how I can be living in sin." 0:00:46.180,0:00:50.295 That approach is common. 0:00:50.295,0:00:52.346 I know I've been regenerated. 0:00:52.346,0:00:53.796 I know I believed. 0:00:53.796,0:00:55.466 I know I'm a Christian. 0:00:55.466,0:00:57.999 And yet, would you please explain to me 0:00:57.999,0:00:59.783 how it is that I can be controlled 0:00:59.783,0:01:02.218 by this un-Christian conduct? 0:01:02.218,0:01:03.880 Those are the kind of questions 0:01:03.880,0:01:05.977 oftentimes that you get. 0:01:05.977,0:01:09.847 And it's like, ok, there's a fatal flaw 0:01:09.847,0:01:13.057 in logic there. 0:01:13.057,0:01:15.887 One of the things is this: 0:01:15.887,0:01:18.815 We don't want to just [br]assume we're Christians 0:01:18.815,0:01:20.242 and then ask the question - 0:01:20.242,0:01:21.943 it's like, I know I'm a Christian, 0:01:21.943,0:01:23.735 even though when I look at the Bible, 0:01:23.735,0:01:26.308 the things that the Bible says [br]are true about Christians, 0:01:26.308,0:01:29.265 I don't see are true in my life.[br]So would you please explain to me? 0:01:29.265,0:01:30.404 I know I'm a Christian, 0:01:30.404,0:01:32.133 but how is it that my life can be 0:01:32.133,0:01:34.456 characterized by un-Christian conduct 0:01:34.456,0:01:36.222 when I know I'm a Christian? 0:01:36.222,0:01:38.012 (Incomplete thought) 0:01:38.012,0:01:40.285 And I would like to turn it around 0:01:40.285,0:01:42.750 and say I'd rather you explain to me 0:01:42.750,0:01:44.808 how you can be a Christian 0:01:44.808,0:01:47.411 when your life is full of [br]un-Christian conduct. 0:01:47.411,0:01:49.342 I can't explain that to you, 0:01:49.342,0:01:51.242 because I think what's happening is 0:01:51.242,0:01:54.479 is you are basically starting out 0:01:54.479,0:01:57.278 by a faulty assertion. 0:01:57.278,0:02:00.432 You've got a faulty presupposition here 0:02:00.432,0:02:02.371 that is making your logic bad 0:02:02.371,0:02:03.718 all the way through. 0:02:03.718,0:02:05.396 You want to turn the thing around. 0:02:05.396,0:02:07.143 What you really want to do is say, 0:02:07.143,0:02:10.280 the Bible says that true and legitimate 0:02:10.280,0:02:12.321 Christianity looks like this; 0:02:12.321,0:02:15.114 ok, now I'm going to examine my own life 0:02:15.114,0:02:17.128 in light of what the Bible says 0:02:17.128,0:02:18.792 true Christianity looks like. 0:02:18.792,0:02:20.647 If I measure up to the standard, 0:02:20.647,0:02:22.033 that's a positive thing. 0:02:22.033,0:02:25.088 If I don't measure up to the standard, 0:02:25.088,0:02:27.507 that may mean I'm in trouble. 0:02:27.507,0:02:29.833 That's how you want to reason. 0:02:29.833,0:02:32.145 But anyway, we'll go on. 0:02:32.145,0:02:35.047 "As with matters of the soul, 0:02:35.047,0:02:37.728 a short question is hard [br]to compress everything. 0:02:37.728,0:02:39.187 I would like to ask you about 0:02:39.187,0:02:43.309 this deplorable sin of [br]fear of man in general. 0:02:43.309,0:02:45.491 It takes on many words today, 0:02:45.491,0:02:47.509 i.e. social anxiety, man-pleasing, 0:02:47.509,0:02:49.740 seeking glory in this world, etc., 0:02:49.740,0:02:51.818 but strangely is not [br]something talked about 0:02:51.818,0:02:53.893 much in church. 0:02:53.893,0:02:55.099 Some personal context: 0:02:55.099,0:02:57.256 I recently discovered that my struggle 0:02:57.256,0:02:58.947 to communicate freely with people 0:02:58.947,0:03:00.751 without fear for many years 0:03:00.751,0:03:03.014 is directly proportionate to my desire 0:03:03.014,0:03:05.661 to seek God above all things. 0:03:05.661,0:03:08.377 (And that would make sense.) 0:03:08.377,0:03:10.217 I hate this sin, 0:03:10.217,0:03:13.795 yet in my pleading with [br]God for repentance..." 0:03:13.795,0:03:15.211 Can we just stop right there? 0:03:15.211,0:03:17.986 God never tells us to [br]plead for repentance. 0:03:17.986,0:03:22.619 God tells us to repent. 0:03:22.619,0:03:24.742 "I hate this sin, yet in my pleading 0:03:24.742,0:03:26.468 with God for repentance 0:03:26.468,0:03:28.502 and looking to Christ, it seems 0:03:28.502,0:03:32.805 I am only seeking to be [br]cured from such sin - 0:03:32.805,0:03:34.759 the burden of anxiety, without wanting 0:03:34.759,0:03:36.267 more of God. 0:03:36.267,0:03:37.985 How can this be?" 0:03:37.985,0:03:39.803 Again, he's asking me questions 0:03:39.803,0:03:42.560 about how can this be. 0:03:42.560,0:03:44.772 "I struggle in wondering how can such 0:03:44.772,0:03:47.806 an odious sin be present [br]in a believer's life." 0:03:47.806,0:03:51.062 You see, there's that bad logic again. 0:03:51.062,0:03:53.660 "How is it true repentance 0:03:53.660,0:03:56.453 if every day is just a repetitive struggle 0:03:56.453,0:03:58.792 to turn away from this?" 0:03:58.792,0:04:00.338 Well, it's not. 0:04:00.338,0:04:03.239 (incomplete thought) 0:04:03.239,0:04:05.408 He's asking how can it be true repentance 0:04:05.408,0:04:07.307 as though the first assumption is 0:04:07.307,0:04:08.597 it is true repentance. 0:04:08.597,0:04:11.201 Well, the reality is 0:04:11.201,0:04:13.251 he's describing that which is not 0:04:13.251,0:04:16.556 characteristic of true repentance. 0:04:16.556,0:04:19.752 "In conclusion, it really is exhausting. 0:04:19.752,0:04:22.022 Never have I felt so [br]dominated and controlled 0:04:22.022,0:04:23.674 by any sin as this. 0:04:23.674,0:04:25.725 It pains me that this is bigger than 0:04:25.725,0:04:28.363 the God I profess to believe in. 0:04:28.363,0:04:30.796 Never also have I felt so helpless, 0:04:30.796,0:04:33.939 like one who does not know Christ. 0:04:33.939,0:04:37.549 Yes, it makes me question [br]assurance deeply." 0:04:37.549,0:04:39.614 And it should. 0:04:39.614,0:04:41.435 And so in the end, it sounds like 0:04:41.435,0:04:45.924 his thinking is somewhat[br]on the right track. 0:04:45.924,0:04:49.016 "But in all this, thank you and James 0:04:49.016,0:04:50.382 for reading this." 0:04:50.382,0:04:52.082 (incomplete thought) 0:04:52.082,0:04:54.157 So the end is thankfulness. 0:04:54.157,0:04:56.025 But let's talk about this. 0:04:56.025,0:05:02.930 Aside from his making certain assumptions 0:05:02.930,0:05:08.463 which are backwards, 0:05:08.463,0:05:11.477 (incomplete thought). 0:05:11.477,0:05:15.160 Let's do a bit of a theology [br]of the fear of God. 0:05:15.160,0:05:17.033 Anybody think of any texts 0:05:17.033,0:05:19.023 that deal with the fear of God? 0:05:19.023,0:05:24.085 Or, being a man-pleaser? 0:05:24.085,0:05:27.483 Or, anything of that sort? 0:05:27.483,0:05:29.477 (from the room) Matthew 10:28 0:05:29.477,0:05:32.041 Tim: Matthew 10:28 0:05:32.041,0:05:33.968 Do you have it right there? 0:05:33.968,0:05:36.748 "And do not fear those who kill the body, 0:05:36.748,0:05:38.883 but cannot kill the soul. 0:05:38.883,0:05:41.501 Rather fear Him who can destroy 0:05:41.501,0:05:44.369 both soul and body in hell." 0:05:44.369,0:05:46.096 Then He goes on to say, 0:05:46.096,0:05:47.846 "Fear not, therefore, you are 0:05:47.846,0:05:53.525 of more value than many sparrows." 0:05:53.525,0:05:55.142 Tim: Anybody think of any others? 0:05:55.142,0:05:56.149 (from the room) 0:05:56.149,0:05:58.555 The beginning of wisdom. 0:05:58.555,0:06:00.246 Proverbs 1:7? 0:06:00.246,0:06:05.355 "The fear of the Lord is the [br]beginning of knowledge." 0:06:05.355,0:06:07.448 Tim: We're talking about the fear of man. 0:06:07.448,0:06:08.321 (from the room) 0:06:08.321,0:06:10.651 "Whoever confesses Me before men..." 0:06:10.651,0:06:12.808 Tim: "Whoever confesses Me before men..." 0:06:12.808,0:06:16.222 That's an interesting one. 0:06:16.222,0:06:18.220 Proverbs 29:25 0:06:18.220,0:06:20.271 That's a big one. 0:06:20.271,0:06:22.112 Why don't you quote that? 0:06:22.112,0:06:23.809 "The fear of man lays a snare, 0:06:23.809,0:06:25.808 but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." 0:06:25.808,0:06:30.249 Tim: The fear of man lays a snare. 0:06:30.249,0:06:32.649 (incomplete thought) 0:06:32.649,0:06:36.333 I often think of a text 0:06:36.333,0:06:38.913 very close to the beginning of Isaiah. 0:06:38.913,0:06:42.089 It's in Isaiah 2 that has to do with this. 0:06:42.089,0:06:44.461 Anybody know the text I'm talking about? 0:06:44.461,0:06:45.815 (from the room) Verse 22, 0:06:45.815,0:06:47.469 "Stop regarding man 0:06:47.469,0:06:49.360 in whose nostrils is breath, 0:06:49.360,0:06:50.746 for what account is he..." 0:06:50.746,0:06:52.113 Tim: I remember Paul Washer 0:06:52.113,0:06:54.233 preaching on that text. 0:06:54.233,0:06:56.429 Stop regarding man. 0:06:56.429,0:06:58.786 Another one that jumps to my mind 0:06:58.786,0:07:00.651 is this one: 0:07:00.651,0:07:04.347 It's found in John 5. 0:07:04.347,0:07:07.739 And this is very helpful. 0:07:07.739,0:07:10.987 Because what Jesus says is, 0:07:10.987,0:07:12.854 He looks at the leaders there. 0:07:12.854,0:07:15.203 You remember, He's been seeking 0:07:15.203,0:07:20.910 to make the case for [br]Himself being the Christ, 0:07:20.910,0:07:25.134 and He's putting all this proof; 0:07:25.134,0:07:27.747 all these witnesses before the people. 0:07:27.747,0:07:29.877 And He says, "I say these things so that 0:07:29.877,0:07:31.048 you might be saved." 0:07:31.048,0:07:33.817 But as He's getting toward [br]the end of the chapter there, 0:07:33.817,0:07:36.598 He says this: 0:07:36.598,0:07:43.260 "How can you believe..." who do what? 0:07:43.260,0:07:47.781 Seek the glory of men. 0:07:47.781,0:07:49.403 Receive honor from one another 0:07:49.403,0:07:51.721 and not the glory or the honor 0:07:51.721,0:07:53.450 that comes from God. 0:07:53.450,0:07:54.810 Here's the thing, 0:07:54.810,0:08:02.769 how can you believe...? 0:08:02.769,0:08:04.852 you know what? 0:08:04.852,0:08:08.008 It is an issue of faith. 0:08:08.008,0:08:09.404 It is an issue of believing, 0:08:09.404,0:08:16.180 if you really think about the fear of man. 0:08:16.180,0:08:27.907 How do we overcome the fear of man? 0:08:27.907,0:08:28.962 Faith. 0:08:28.962,0:08:31.349 What is it that you believe? 0:08:31.349,0:08:32.287 (from the room) 0:08:32.287,0:08:36.750 That you are of more [br]value than the sparrows. 0:08:36.750,0:08:40.438 Tim: Well, if you think about Jesus' words 0:08:40.438,0:08:42.202 that you ought not to fear those 0:08:42.202,0:08:44.698 who can kill the body only 0:08:44.698,0:08:47.082 and then there's nothing [br]more they can do to you, 0:08:47.082,0:08:52.668 but fear Him who can what? 0:08:52.668,0:08:55.840 The idea is you're [br]comparing God and people. 0:08:55.840,0:08:57.781 Even when you think about Peter 0:08:57.781,0:09:01.143 before the Sanhedrin. 0:09:01.143,0:09:04.854 We ought to obey God rather than man. 0:09:04.854,0:09:08.305 Now man will put pressure [br]on you to obey him. 0:09:08.305,0:09:10.909 The issue is this, 0:09:10.909,0:09:18.735 that you fear him most 0:09:18.735,0:09:24.425 whose approval you seek most. 0:09:24.425,0:09:26.280 That's a reality. 0:09:26.280,0:09:30.872 If you seek the glory of man, 0:09:30.872,0:09:32.898 then you fear man's disapproval 0:09:32.898,0:09:35.739 more than anything else. 0:09:35.739,0:09:37.156 And that's a real issue. 0:09:37.156,0:09:38.760 And see, what Jesus is doing is 0:09:38.760,0:09:41.670 He's confronting us with the truth. 0:09:41.670,0:09:45.908 It really has to come down [br]with what you believe. 0:09:45.908,0:09:49.215 You know, I remember situations 0:09:49.215,0:09:51.304 when I worked as an engineer. 0:09:51.304,0:09:55.044 I remember having meetings [br]with my department. 0:09:55.044,0:09:56.734 I remember being in a meeting 0:09:56.734,0:09:58.587 and I remember guys telling 0:09:58.587,0:10:03.616 some bad joke or something, 0:10:03.616,0:10:07.326 and I remember being in that situation. 0:10:07.326,0:10:09.470 And right there, it's: 0:10:09.470,0:10:12.503 Am I going to honor God or am [br]I going to laugh at these guys? 0:10:12.503,0:10:14.895 Am I going to make these [br]guys feel uncomfortable 0:10:14.895,0:10:16.425 by the way I respond right now, 0:10:16.425,0:10:18.252 or am I going to seek God's approval? 0:10:18.252,0:10:20.276 Is it their approval or God's approval? 0:10:20.276,0:10:23.697 And what happens is the scales come out. 0:10:23.697,0:10:25.654 Instantaneously, they come out. 0:10:25.654,0:10:27.803 Whose approval do I seek most? 0:10:27.803,0:10:29.667 Now a lot of that has to do with 0:10:29.667,0:10:32.329 do you really believe God is right here? 0:10:32.329,0:10:34.037 Do you believe He's right with you? 0:10:34.037,0:10:35.973 Do you believe He's watching? 0:10:35.973,0:10:39.096 Do you believe that there's an accounting? 0:10:39.096,0:10:41.683 Do you believe that there's an approval? 0:10:41.683,0:10:44.041 Do you believe that you can grieve Him? 0:10:44.041,0:10:47.876 Do you believe that if [br]you seek man's approval, 0:10:47.876,0:10:51.746 you're going to grieve the Spirit? 0:10:51.746,0:10:54.746 (incomplete thought) 0:10:54.746,0:10:59.127 Do you really believe those things? 0:10:59.127,0:11:02.585 That doesn't mean there isn't fear. 0:11:02.585,0:11:04.479 The thing about fearing God more than 0:11:04.479,0:11:05.718 fearing man doesn't mean 0:11:05.718,0:11:07.653 that the fear of man goes away, 0:11:07.653,0:11:10.830 but it means that when [br]you're confronted by it, 0:11:10.830,0:11:12.804 God gives you a courage 0:11:12.804,0:11:14.064 to do the right thing 0:11:14.064,0:11:15.577 and to believe the right thing 0:11:15.577,0:11:17.878 and to believe that He is worth 0:11:17.878,0:11:21.011 having the approval of more than man is. 0:11:21.011,0:11:22.988 But it really comes down to 0:11:22.988,0:11:24.422 you have to be convinced; 0:11:24.422,0:11:26.276 you have to believe that reality 0:11:26.276,0:11:27.775 when you're confronted with it. 0:11:27.775,0:11:29.167 Look, I don't know anybody - 0:11:29.167,0:11:31.762 maybe some of you can raise your [br]hand and say you know what, 0:11:31.762,0:11:33.592 I really don't care what any man 0:11:33.592,0:11:35.724 or any woman or any child thinks of me 0:11:35.724,0:11:38.054 in any scenario at all. 0:11:38.054,0:11:40.049 I care not at all. 0:11:40.049,0:11:41.770 I doubt there's any like that. 0:11:41.770,0:11:43.197 Why? 0:11:43.197,0:11:45.165 We're social creatures. 0:11:45.165,0:11:47.144 We do like the approval of man. 0:11:47.144,0:11:48.678 You know what the thing is? 0:11:48.678,0:11:54.817 We like to be liked. 0:11:54.817,0:11:57.006 And that's one thing that makes it hard 0:11:57.006,0:11:58.323 about becoming a Christian, 0:11:58.323,0:12:01.018 because you're thrown into a situation - 0:12:01.018,0:12:04.689 I'll tell you, this is one [br]of the tell-tale signs 0:12:04.689,0:12:07.393 of true Christianity - 0:12:07.393,0:12:09.924 is when men and women 0:12:09.924,0:12:11.197 claim they've been saved 0:12:11.197,0:12:13.118 and you throw them (incomplete thought). 0:12:13.118,0:12:15.139 This tends to be such a hallmark 0:12:15.139,0:12:18.748 of the hypocrite. 0:12:18.748,0:12:20.179 They're man-pleasers. 0:12:20.179,0:12:22.572 The hypocrite is a man-pleaser. 0:12:22.572,0:12:26.443 He appears holy in certain situations, 0:12:26.443,0:12:28.704 because you're watching him. 0:12:28.704,0:12:31.115 And he wants to appease you. 0:12:31.115,0:12:32.776 But I'll tell you, you take him 0:12:32.776,0:12:35.481 and you throw him on a bar stool, 0:12:35.481,0:12:37.183 and he'll appease the people there. 0:12:37.183,0:12:38.870 You throw him in the workplace, 0:12:38.870,0:12:41.422 and you have a guy [br]tell a dirty joke at work, 0:12:41.422,0:12:43.508 he'll appease. 0:12:43.508,0:12:45.354 I remember Craig telling the story 0:12:45.354,0:12:48.498 about checking out a piece of machinery 0:12:48.498,0:12:51.055 from a tool crib - a tool of some kind 0:12:51.055,0:12:52.107 he was checking out. 0:12:52.107,0:12:54.538 And the guy there used [br]the Lord's name in vain, 0:12:54.538,0:12:56.942 and Craig said something to him 0:12:56.942,0:13:00.576 about not using the name [br]of the Lord thy God in vain, 0:13:00.576,0:13:04.123 and the guy went off on him. 0:13:04.123,0:13:06.328 Craig was shocked how badly the guy 0:13:06.328,0:13:08.830 went off on him. 0:13:08.830,0:13:11.055 And that's the thing. 0:13:11.055,0:13:13.466 Sometimes people will go off on you. 0:13:13.466,0:13:15.897 Or sometimes you'll just be shunned. 0:13:15.897,0:13:18.663 Sometimes you'll be the outcast. 0:13:18.663,0:13:22.585 Sometimes it's just the [br]smirk on people's faces. 0:13:22.585,0:13:26.972 Sometimes it's just not [br]being included anymore. 0:13:26.972,0:13:30.626 See, it all comes down to, 0:13:30.626,0:13:31.667 you know what? 0:13:31.667,0:13:35.829 I want the approval of my Lord 0:13:35.829,0:13:39.199 more than I want their approval. 0:13:39.199,0:13:40.594 And that's really the issue. 0:13:40.594,0:13:43.655 It tests - to the hilt - 0:13:43.655,0:13:45.732 it tests what we believe. 0:13:45.732,0:13:46.996 It's powerful. 0:13:46.996,0:13:49.487 And there in John 5, that's the issue. 0:13:49.487,0:13:53.640 Jesus said I don't seek the glory of man. 0:13:53.640,0:13:55.558 And that really needs to be the place 0:13:55.558,0:13:57.722 we as Christians are. 0:13:57.722,0:13:59.710 Yes, there's a place to seek approval 0:13:59.710,0:14:00.942 in the sense that 0:14:00.942,0:14:04.349 you know, you want to be [br]a good worker at work. 0:14:04.349,0:14:05.933 But you know what, when your boss 0:14:05.933,0:14:08.659 wants you to do something wrong? 0:14:08.659,0:14:10.526 My brother-in-law Rick, 0:14:10.526,0:14:13.643 his boss wanted him to cheat 0:14:13.643,0:14:20.794 on the item list/inventory 0:14:20.794,0:14:22.674 on these shipments that come in 0:14:22.674,0:14:24.485 on these pallets, 0:14:24.485,0:14:25.872 and he resigned. 0:14:25.872,0:14:26.839 I'm not doing it. 0:14:26.839,0:14:30.054 His boss told him, [br]"you are going to do it." 0:14:30.054,0:14:32.477 There was a time they [br]had to take inventory 0:14:32.477,0:14:35.490 on something and his boss had been 0:14:35.490,0:14:38.913 wrongly inventorying [br]things for a long time, 0:14:38.913,0:14:41.061 and he told Rick, you are going to do it. 0:14:41.061,0:14:44.204 And Rick said I'm not going to do it. 0:14:44.204,0:14:48.332 This is where we get put to it. 0:14:48.332,0:14:51.004 How can you believe? 0:14:51.004,0:14:53.481 See, that's the thing. 0:14:53.481,0:14:56.753 What's Jesus saying there? 0:14:56.753,0:14:58.695 Think about those words. 0:14:58.695,0:15:00.621 How can you believe 0:15:00.621,0:15:05.377 when you seek the glory of man? 0:15:05.377,0:15:15.686 (unintelligible) 0:15:15.686,0:15:18.678 It's like loving God and money. 0:15:18.678,0:15:21.141 They're conflicting loves. 0:15:21.141,0:15:22.931 They're conflicting interests. 0:15:22.931,0:15:24.770 (Incomplete thought) 0:15:24.770,0:15:29.394 It's like, ok, I'm there in [br]the engineering meeting, 0:15:29.394,0:15:34.254 and a guy says something that's wicked, 0:15:34.254,0:15:37.658 and everybody else is laughing. 0:15:37.658,0:15:39.417 How am I going to respond? 0:15:39.417,0:15:41.366 (incomplete thought) 0:15:41.366,0:15:44.949 Where's my love? 0:15:44.949,0:15:50.677 What is it that I desire most here? 0:15:50.677,0:15:54.714 And Jesus talked about it. 0:15:54.714,0:15:57.616 Eric brought up the text. 0:15:57.616,0:16:00.453 Before men - what we do before men. 0:16:00.453,0:16:02.153 How we proclaim Christ. 0:16:02.153,0:16:03.714 How we testify to Him. 0:16:03.714,0:16:07.928 How we stand for Him before men. 0:16:07.928,0:16:09.329 That's a real issue. 0:16:09.329,0:16:10.957 And it comes down to the truth. 0:16:10.957,0:16:13.215 It comes down to what you believe. 0:16:13.215,0:16:17.895 That's really the issue. 0:16:17.895,0:16:19.373 (from the room) 0:16:19.373,0:16:21.857 I also think it comes back 0:16:21.857,0:16:23.819 to the validity of the walk. 0:16:23.819,0:16:27.413 I was talking about earlier today 0:16:27.413,0:16:29.221 Luke 22 0:16:29.221,0:16:33.887 and how Christ commanded Peter to pray, 0:16:33.887,0:16:36.295 and he slept instead, 0:16:36.295,0:16:39.338 which led him to follow at a distance, 0:16:39.338,0:16:41.287 and following after that, 0:16:41.287,0:16:45.097 he denied the Lord before a servant. 0:16:45.097,0:16:46.922 And I think it just goes back to 0:16:46.922,0:16:48.540 our personal walk with the Lord 0:16:48.540,0:16:51.058 on a daily basis. 0:16:51.058,0:16:53.279 If we don't have that intact, 0:16:53.279,0:16:55.590 there's no power going forth 0:16:55.590,0:16:58.197 in the workplace or at school 0:16:58.197,0:17:01.197 or at Walmart or wherever we're at. 0:17:01.197,0:17:03.583 I mean, I've seen significant difference 0:17:03.583,0:17:05.535 in my own walk when there's days 0:17:05.535,0:17:08.101 where I've spent little time in the Word, 0:17:08.101,0:17:10.037 and I go to work 0:17:10.037,0:17:12.188 and face the same situation 0:17:12.188,0:17:16.689 where I'm denying the [br]Lord in a certain way. 0:17:16.689,0:17:18.464 Versus on another day when I spent 0:17:18.464,0:17:19.919 quality time with Christ, 0:17:19.919,0:17:21.294 and then go to work, 0:17:21.294,0:17:23.487 face the same trials and [br]the same temptations, 0:17:23.487,0:17:24.814 but I overcome it. 0:17:24.814,0:17:27.519 So I think it just comes back to 0:17:27.519,0:17:29.739 your daily walk with the Lord. 0:17:29.739,0:17:31.461 Tim: Well, if we think about this 0:17:31.461,0:17:33.473 being a matter of faith - 0:17:33.473,0:17:36.911 faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. 0:17:36.911,0:17:39.666 There's a reality that when a person 0:17:39.666,0:17:42.503 is prayerfully in the Word 0:17:42.503,0:17:46.435 and then he goes off into this world, 0:17:46.435,0:17:49.779 the Spirit grips people's [br]minds with truth. 0:17:49.779,0:17:52.248 That truth is prevalent. 0:17:52.248,0:17:53.484 It's before your eyes. 0:17:53.484,0:17:55.458 It's there. It's fresh. 0:17:55.458,0:17:57.119 The Spirit makes it so. 0:17:57.119,0:17:59.352 And it tends to be powerful. 0:17:59.352,0:18:02.774 And it's not like [br]Christians don't hesitate, 0:18:02.774,0:18:05.787 but you know, when the Word is fresh 0:18:05.787,0:18:08.022 and it's there and it's vivid, 0:18:08.022,0:18:13.496 it's constraining - it's compelling. 0:18:13.496,0:18:15.882 Yeah, you're not going to do well 0:18:15.882,0:18:18.466 in this battle if you're not in the Word 0:18:18.466,0:18:21.295 and your faith isn't being constantly 0:18:21.295,0:18:24.305 stirred by the Word, by the Spirit of God 0:18:24.305,0:18:28.258 using the Word in your life. 0:18:28.258,0:18:30.065 One more before we end. 0:18:30.065,0:18:30.781 (from the room) 0:18:30.781,0:18:32.951 (unintelligible) make a distinction 0:18:32.951,0:18:35.332 for, say a new convert may [br]get confused on this, 0:18:35.332,0:18:37.818 but like in Galatians 1:10 it says, 0:18:37.818,0:18:39.679 if I'm still trying to please man, 0:18:39.679,0:18:41.669 I would not be a servant of Christ. 0:18:41.669,0:18:44.121 But then in 1 Corinthians 10, 0:18:44.121,0:18:46.428 Paul says I try to please everyone 0:18:46.428,0:18:47.929 in everything I do. 0:18:47.929,0:18:50.107 Now, he says not seeking my own advantage, 0:18:50.107,0:18:53.196 but some new Christian, [br]they read 1 Corinthians 10, 0:18:53.196,0:18:55.120 and it says I try to please everyone. 0:18:55.120,0:18:56.724 And then in Galatians 1:10, 0:18:56.724,0:18:58.748 it says if I'm trying to please man, 0:18:58.748,0:19:00.140 I'm not a servant of Christ. 0:19:00.140,0:19:02.108 I think you kind of already hit on this, 0:19:02.108,0:19:03.804 but what's the big difference there 0:19:03.804,0:19:05.423 between both of those verses 0:19:05.423,0:19:06.630 in what Paul's saying? 0:19:06.630,0:19:09.180 Tim: Well, obviously, there's a time 0:19:09.180,0:19:12.462 to please God when it offends men. 0:19:12.462,0:19:14.374 And then there's a time 0:19:14.374,0:19:19.837 to make sacrifices for the sake of 0:19:19.837,0:19:24.710 proclaiming the Gospel which pleases God 0:19:24.710,0:19:27.747 and pleases the men [br]that you're preaching to. 0:19:27.747,0:19:30.395 For instance, when you think of Paul 0:19:30.395,0:19:32.326 addressing the Corinthians, 0:19:32.326,0:19:37.389 he did things like not accept money 0:19:37.389,0:19:38.800 to please men - 0:19:38.800,0:19:40.246 to put men in a place where 0:19:40.246,0:19:43.210 he wasn't creating a stumbling block. 0:19:43.210,0:19:44.950 Basically, when he's talking about 0:19:44.950,0:19:47.539 pleasing man in that case, 0:19:47.539,0:19:50.170 he's not talking about pleasing them 0:19:50.170,0:19:52.423 while he's disobeying God. 0:19:52.423,0:19:54.550 He's talking about pleasing them in a way 0:19:54.550,0:19:57.232 that pleases God, because it promotes 0:19:57.232,0:19:58.938 the Gospel. 0:19:58.938,0:20:01.442 And basically, are we not told 0:20:01.442,0:20:03.427 that as much as possible we should 0:20:03.427,0:20:05.190 live at peace with all men? 0:20:05.190,0:20:08.201 That is a way that God is pleased with 0:20:08.201,0:20:11.008 as we're seeking to live with man in peace 0:20:11.008,0:20:12.505 as much as possible. 0:20:12.505,0:20:14.891 But what happens is we get confronted 0:20:14.891,0:20:19.483 by situations where the [br]two are in conflict - 0:20:19.483,0:20:22.368 pleasing God or pleasing man. 0:20:22.368,0:20:23.971 They're not consistent. 0:20:23.971,0:20:26.828 And when they butt heads - 0:20:26.828,0:20:30.018 when it's pleasing God or pleasing man 0:20:30.018,0:20:32.940 and you can't do both, 0:20:32.940,0:20:35.770 that's where Jesus is saying 0:20:35.770,0:20:39.300 that you need to testify [br]of Him before men, 0:20:39.300,0:20:41.636 and you need to proclaim Him before men. 0:20:41.636,0:20:44.031 You need to stand for [br]what's right before men. 0:20:44.031,0:20:46.411 And you need to not fear man. 0:20:46.411,0:20:47.899 The issue is this: 0:20:47.899,0:20:51.085 when pleasing God brings [br]the scowl of a man, 0:20:51.085,0:20:53.142 or even brings the sword, 0:20:53.142,0:20:55.406 where they can kill your body. 0:20:55.406,0:20:58.793 (incomplete thought) 0:20:58.793,0:21:00.979 You know, in all of it, 0:21:00.979,0:21:03.067 you want your eyes on the Lord. 0:21:03.067,0:21:04.467 Ok, what pleases You? 0:21:04.467,0:21:07.026 Does pleasing You please my parents? 0:21:07.026,0:21:09.956 I mean, pleasing You is pleasing [br]my parents right now, Lord? 0:21:09.956,0:21:12.304 Yes. Ok, I'm going to please my parents. 0:21:12.304,0:21:13.331 My parents are happy. 0:21:13.331,0:21:15.581 (incomplete thought) 0:21:15.581,0:21:17.107 What it means to be a Christian 0:21:17.107,0:21:19.738 and to obey the Lord is [br]making my parents happy. 0:21:19.738,0:21:21.617 But He also said He's bringing a sword. 0:21:21.617,0:21:24.639 There's times I look to Him and He [br]says you need to go to the left. 0:21:24.639,0:21:26.085 And it's like, ok, I look at my parents 0:21:26.085,0:21:27.465 and they're scowling [br]because they don't want me 0:21:27.465,0:21:28.991 to go to the left, but I look at the Lord 0:21:28.991,0:21:30.152 and He's saying go left. 0:21:30.152,0:21:31.140 Ok, I go left. 0:21:31.140,0:21:33.342 Now the sword comes in the family 0:21:33.342,0:21:34.422 and there's division. 0:21:34.422,0:21:36.554 But see, all the time [br]my eyes are on the Lord. 0:21:36.554,0:21:38.362 That's what Paul's talking about. 0:21:38.362,0:21:40.952 Paul's talking about, ok, [br]his eyes are on the Lord, 0:21:40.952,0:21:43.179 when it has to do with [br]what's being encountered 0:21:43.179,0:21:44.910 over there in the Galatian churches, 0:21:44.910,0:21:47.637 you've got Judaizers who are in opposition 0:21:47.637,0:21:50.078 to the truth of God and the Gospel of God, 0:21:50.078,0:21:52.420 and he's going to stand for the Gospel 0:21:52.420,0:21:54.802 even though it offends [br]all these other people. 0:21:54.802,0:21:57.117 Now in another case, with the Corinthians, 0:21:57.117,0:22:00.051 it's a matter of - to [br]not make any obstacle 0:22:00.051,0:22:03.167 for the Gospel, I'm not [br]going to take any money 0:22:03.167,0:22:04.448 when I preach the Gospel. 0:22:04.448,0:22:06.053 And God's pleased with that too. 0:22:06.053,0:22:07.295 My eyes are on the Lord. 0:22:07.295,0:22:08.979 And so, when following the Lord 0:22:08.979,0:22:10.993 is going to put me [br]in opposition to men, 0:22:10.993,0:22:11.747 so be it. 0:22:11.747,0:22:14.241 When following the Lord is going to [br]put me at peace with all men, 0:22:14.241,0:22:15.399 so be it. 0:22:15.399,0:22:17.374 Some seasons are going to be one. 0:22:17.374,0:22:19.419 There are times He will make our enemies 0:22:19.419,0:22:20.624 to be at peace with us. 0:22:20.624,0:22:22.158 And there are other times that 0:22:22.158,0:22:24.806 even the closest people [br]will be at war with us. 0:22:24.806,0:22:27.134 And we just have to keep our [br]eyes on the Lord all the time. 0:22:27.134,0:22:29.344 That's another reason we [br]need to be in His Word. 0:22:29.344,0:22:30.333 We need that Word. 0:22:30.333,0:22:32.141 We need to be renewing our minds 0:22:32.141,0:22:33.972 with that Word all the time. 0:22:33.972,0:22:34.895 All the time. 0:22:34.895,0:22:36.662 Because everything about this world - 0:22:36.662,0:22:40.836 this world is given to man-pleasing. 0:22:40.836,0:22:43.420 And if you're not [br]constantly in the Scriptures; 0:22:43.420,0:22:44.587 constantly in the Word; 0:22:44.587,0:22:46.561 constantly renewing your mind, 0:22:46.561,0:22:48.224 you just end up thinking worldly. 0:22:48.224,0:22:50.188 And the worldly way is to please. 0:22:50.188,0:22:51.755 It's to dress to please. 0:22:51.755,0:22:53.214 It's to act to please. 0:22:53.214,0:22:55.927 It's to put on a show to please. 0:22:55.927,0:22:57.394 It's to get the applause. 0:22:57.394,0:22:58.560 It's to get the smile. 0:22:58.560,0:23:01.249 It's to get the approbation of mankind. 0:23:01.249,0:23:05.318 That's what the world does. 0:23:05.318,0:23:10.489 And even more, it's to get the jealousy 0:23:10.489,0:23:11.660 of other people. 0:23:11.660,0:23:13.515 It's to get the envy of other people. 0:23:13.515,0:23:15.810 It's to outdo other people 0:23:15.810,0:23:17.667 so that they admire you 0:23:17.667,0:23:19.043 and they want what you have 0:23:19.043,0:23:20.439 and they covet what you have 0:23:20.439,0:23:21.848 and they covet your spouse 0:23:21.848,0:23:23.061 and they covet your house 0:23:23.061,0:23:24.516 and they covet your vehicle. 0:23:24.516,0:23:27.280 It's just living with this [br]mindset all the time 0:23:27.280,0:23:30.878 of other people, other [br]people, other people. 0:23:30.878,0:23:32.964 I mean, even as a preacher, 0:23:32.964,0:23:37.263 it's like, ok, this thing can hit you 0:23:37.263,0:23:38.352 at any level. 0:23:38.352,0:23:39.831 You're going into the pulpit. 0:23:39.831,0:23:43.557 Is my primary objective: [br]I want to please the Lord? 0:23:43.557,0:23:44.695 You look at men. 0:23:44.695,0:23:46.508 There's lots of preachers that preach 0:23:46.508,0:23:48.661 the way they do because 0:23:48.661,0:23:51.474 that guy might not give as much. 0:23:51.474,0:23:53.861 They might leave the church. 0:23:53.861,0:23:58.046 At every level, we're confronted by this.