 You ready? 2nd Corinthians 13. I'll begin reading at verse 1. Paul writes this will be the third time I'm coming to you by the mouth of two or three witnesses. Every word shall be established. I've told you before and foretell as if I were present the second time and now be an absent I write to those who have sinned before and to all the rest that if I come again I will not spare since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me who is not weak toward you but mighty in you for though he was crucified in weakness yet he lives by the power of God for we also are weak in him but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith test yourselves do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you are disqualified but I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified so Paul is stated and as I begin my introduction Paul is just stated that he has a concern for the church he had said that in chapter chapter 12 and he had made it very clear that he has a concern for the condition of the church and he had said I fearless when I come I shall not find you such as I wish he's saying I'm concerned when I show up that that I'm gonna be seeing that you're not living properly I'm I'm concerned that when I do arrive I'm gonna find that you're not you're not maturing and growing in the things of the Lord you see what he wanted was the church to grow he wanted the church to spiritually mature but because of the false teachers who had crept in and were influencing people and yes those false teachers still come into churches yes they still influence people they don't necessarily have to walk in the doors of the church all you need to do is turn on your television all you need to do is listen to the radio sometimes satellite radio or whatever and you'll hear these teachers and all so they're continuing to influence they don't necessarily have to walk in the way they did in the Corinthian church but they certainly have infiltrated and he's concerned he's concerned that that the church is not going to grow spiritually because these false teachers are undermining the maturing of their faith you see the desire of a pastor is that the church he serves grows and matures in the things of the Lord the spiritual maturity of the church actually encourages the pastor it comforts the pastor when he knows that that the people that he shepherds are in love with Jesus Christ it blesses him it encourages him when they're in the Word of God when they're maturing spiritually you see I read social media comments daily that grieve me there are so many people who post things they don't have an understanding of and want to debate and want to re prove and rebuke I received a rebuke just yesterday from somebody who doesn't apparently know me and it happens all the time people who are furious at their keyboard who do nothing they don't open up the Bible they don't ever pray through they've never cried a day for the church but but they're they're so wise and so equipped to tell others how to do but they themselves don't do and and I read these social media comments and and they grieve me and I can tell I can tell who reads the Bible I can tell who attends a Bible teaching church just by their comments and it saddens me when I read some of the things that people feel free to post you see a genuine pastor actually grieves when the church is unhealthy in Galatians 4 verse 19 Paul had said oh my dear children I feel as if I'm going through labor pains for you again and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives I'm going through the agony of watching you mature you see the pastor's greatest joy is when the church is living for the Lord John wrote in 3rd John verse 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth and so Paul has a great concern for these Corinthians because these infiltrators have undermined the work of the Spirit and so he's been writing all of these chapters to encourage them and to correct them and to warn them and so Paul begins this particular portion of the Scripture by bringing that to them and saying this will be the third time verse 1 that I'm coming to you by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established see Paul had opened this letter by stating that he had put off this trip in chapter 1 verse 23 he had said I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth the reason I didn't return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke and so he had made mention in the beginning concerning the fact that he had planned on being there but hadn't come so now he's able to make the trip and when he comes he's making it clear I'm going to deal with my detractors he says this is the third time that I'm coming to you by mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established so he's speaking about the mouth of two or three witnesses when he speaks of two or three witnesses that's what you have as a what is called a precedent it's a precedent that is established by Jewish law that somebody cannot receive an accusation especially one with that's a capital offense without without people able to to validate that by a witness and and that's found in the Old Testament in various portions but Deuteronomy 19 verse 15 is one example where it says one witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sins at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established so he's saying this is going to serve as my third witness against those who are influencing you that's how he's using that verse in verse one here he says in verse two I've told you before and for Tal is if I were present the second time and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before and to all the rest that if I come again I will not spare so this follows that pattern of the three-fold witness he says I have I have in verse two he says I I write to those who have sinned before he has spoken of these earlier they were in sin and they were remaining unrepentant remember as chapter in chapter 12 how he had said in verse 20 I fear less when I come I shall not find you such as I wish and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish and then he began to speak of what was taking place in the church he says contentions and jealousies outbursts of wrath selfish ambitions backbiting whisperings conceit and tummels and so he began speaking of the condition of the church these are the people who've been influenced by the false teachers always remember that you begin to live what you believe in the false teachers were teaching them things that were actually leading to them having this kind of life and so he's spoken of this he said there are those who are in sin and they're remaining unrepentant and I'm going to deal with them when I get there is what he's saying because sin cannot go unchallenged but in verse two he also speaks of all the rest not to all the rest those those Corinthians who are being influenced by the false teachers so I'm going to speak to those as an apostle Paul is saying to those who are living ungodly lives and I'm also speaking to those of you who are being influenced in a very direct way by these false teachers and he says in verse two and I'm not going to spare you in other words I'm going to deal with you as your deeds deserve I'm going to exercise my authority and I'm going to do that through church discipline now why is he telling them that he says that to give them an opportunity to repent an opportunity to mend their ways if you will if they repent and they reject false teachers and the teachings they're going to be restored and restoration by the way restoration when when you've failed and you've been corrected and you've repented and you're restored restoration into fellowship with the Lord Lord's people is not simply feeling bad and going on as if nothing had happened there there are numbers of people who who have unfortunately have sinned and you say oh I'm I'm sorry no big deal and they move on that's not real restoration that's not real repentance real repentance is demonstrated by change in attitude in action real repentance is is hating the sin not making an excuse for it we already saw in 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 verses 10 and 11 that godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret but worldly sorrow brings death see what this godly sorrow has produced in you what earnestness what eagerness to clear yourselves what indignation what alarm what longing what concern what readiness to see justice done at every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter so true repentance is demonstrated by change in attitude as well as actions and so he's speaking concerning that when he says in verse 3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me who is not weak towards you you see the false teachers have convinced some that Paul was a phony they wanted evidence that this man had authority now he had to deal with this demand and he did so earlier in the letter remember in 2nd Corinthians 3 1 and 2 he said do we begin again to commend ourselves or do we need as some others epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you and then went on to say you are our epistle written in our hearts known and read by all men in 2nd Corinthians 12 verse 12 he had said truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance and signs and wonders and mighty deeds earlier he had spoken in 1st Corinthians chapter 9 and he had said in verses 1 and 2 am I not an apostle am I not free have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord are you not my work in the Lord if I'm not an apostle to others yet doubtless I am to you for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord what is it that they desired him to prove they wanted him to prove that Christ was speaking in him they wanted proof of his ministerial authority that Christ spoke through Paul you know that that is something that is common to this day sometimes I don't know how to say this and maybe I shouldn't it's first service I'll say it second I won't you know I don't want to seem to be thin skin that's a whole problem but I'd like to use things that are relevant as examples I don't know how many in this room here or who are listening to me at home right now hope you're enjoying your coffee I don't know how many of you think of me as a pastor who is who lacks compassion and labels people evil and has an angry disposition perhaps some of you think I do I don't know maybe you do maybe you think I'm that way I don't know I hate you no I don't shetcho melt I don't know perhaps I strike you that way how many of you think that I'm self-righteous and judgmental perhaps you do I don't know but I hope that you those of you who know our ministry I hope that you hope that you would know that that's not true of me that I have a compassion for people and a passion for your life to be blessed and a passion for the church to live for Christ to make an impact in a very dark and lost world and that that fuels my heart when I preach that I would hope that you would think that after almost 50 years of walking with the Lord in 47 years of teaching the word of God and 39 years of pastoring this church I would hope that I've earned in some to some degree your respect and appreciation in some ways you know I'm 70 years old today I could be retired for five years but I don't want to be I want to serve God and I want to serve God with you and that's what motivates my heart and and that's just the truth that's just the truth not all people appreciate that and not all people want that and and I understand that I really do but you will always have people who who will call into question and all who you are based on how they feel about what you said or what their opinion is related to how you put it and the bottom line is the apostle paul well that's something that all ministers go through but that's what we've been looking at in 2nd Corinthians the apostle paul had people who had crept in who were undermining and influenced the people and he's concerned about that because they're calling into question his qualifications to minister to them and we've gone through this he's already stated that he has the qualifications of an apostle he was selected by the Lord he'd seen the risen Christ his letters were being circulated in the churches they were considered authoritative he performed the signs of an apostle but now they're saying that they need proof that Jesus is speaking in him in other words we need proof that that Jesus is inspiring paul to communicate the things that he says well in Matthew chapter 10 verse 20 Jesus said it will not be you speaking but the spirit of your father speaking through you Jesus had said that the apostles would be inspired to speak the words that God gave to them and so in challenging paul to exert his authority they in reality are challenging Jesus who placed him in that position you see Jesus gave paul his authority in 1st Corinthians 117 he said Christ didn't send me to baptize but to preach the gospel not with words of human wisdom lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power but the fact that he hadn't come to them seemed to reinforce the false apostles accusations they could claim that that he didn't want to come because he was afraid to see them face to face so by delaying his arrival he gave them time to repent is what he is saying i'm giving you time to deal with the situation don't mistake my delay as proof of being afraid to deal with problems in second in rather in romans chapter 2 verse 4 paul had said to the church do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness tolerance and patience not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance just because you haven't been hammered by God yet doesn't mean that he approves what you're doing sometimes people think that they can get away with something because nothing's happened to them yet therefore God must approve this and paul had already had said in romans chapter 4 paul had said do you think that God's patience is giving you permission do you think that God's patience is is saying that he approves what you're doing no he's giving you time to repent so by delaying his arrival he gave him time to repent in their immaturity they were regarding his patience and his gentleness as weakness they thought he was weak and they presented themselves as strong and so paul's about to correct this he's about to demonstrate to them the authority that he's been given by jesus and and again that's something he'd warned them about in 1 Corinthians 4 21 he had said to them what do you want shall I come to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness what do you want do you want me to arrive and bring a correction or do you want me to arrive so we can just have sweet fellowship it's up to you and as he's speaking about that and he had said since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me who is not weak towards you but mighty in you verse 4 he says though he was crucified in weakness yet he lives by the power of God for we also are weak in him but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you and so when jesus was crucified he didn't resist those who killed him he was crucified in weakness and it appeared a week to those that took him and put him to death this fulfilled isaias prophecy isaia was written over 700 years before christ and in isaia 53 verse 7 speaking of messiah isaia wrote under the inspiration of the holy spirit that messiah he was oppressed and afflicted yet he didn't open his mouth he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is silent so he did not open his mouth that was fulfilled when jesus stood before Pontius Pilate and Pontius Pilate kept questioning him and jesus refused to answer him and finally he said to him don't you understand are you answering me nothing do you not understand that i have the power of life and death and and jesus says you have no power unless it was given to you from above and that's the bottom line no man has anything that god didn't permit and so jesus looked weak when he was standing before Pontius Pilate he looked weak when he carried that cross he looked weak when they when they nailed him to it he looked weak when they raised it up and dropped that post into that hole and they heard that sickening thud of that post hitting and and his body sagging and the groan that would have come out he looked weak he looked weak when the people walked by and their tongues began to wag he saved others let him save himself if you really be god come down off of that cross we'll believe you he looked weak but he wasn't he was showing strength he submitted himself unto death he voluntarily chose the weakness of mortality in Hebrews chapter 2 verse 14 and 15 it says since the children have flesh and blood he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death that is the devil and free those who all their lives are held in slavery by fear of death and even today there are still many who are held in slavery by fear of death they're afraid i don't think we should go run in front of a car so we can go to heaven quicker i'm sure of that but i refuse to be under the fear of death because the worst thing that'll happen to me when i die is the best thing that could ever happen to anyone i get to see jesus face to face now that's something that has removed the fear of death now i don't necessarily want to die in an ugly way i'm kind of hoping that i'm asleep on a plane when it hits i don't know all i know is that one of these days i'll see him face to face is that bad is that something to be afraid of one of these days walking with jesus christ in heaven is that something you're afraid of why why why would i let fear dominate my life now again i might as well go i open the door might as well talk for a moment um i'm not stupid i lock my doors at home i lock my doors in case marie's coming after me i wear a seatbelt i don't go into areas at certain times certain places for obvious reasons unless god tells me to thank you jesus he just doesn't tell me to i just don't want to make unwise presumptuous decisions i'm not going to jump off of a a roof because the angels are going to lift me up unless i dash my foot against the stone but at the same time i can't live afraid i have the peace of god that passes all understanding and i really do believe my name is written in the lamb's book of life and ultimately though i don't want to net i don't want to leave my girl i don't want to leave my marie i want to be with her as long as god gives me but even when i go home he's her god too and he will take care of my wife and my children and my grandchildren and i'll be with him and i'll get to see my dad and my mom and my grandfather whom i never met he died when my my mom was 14 but he was a believer i have his bible i get to meet my mother's mom who was a believer i get to meet my grandparents in heaven i have a baby waiting for me in heaven with my children who died in the womb and i have so many that have preceded me why would i be afraid to go there why would i live in such a way that it seems i have no faith i i'm not presumptuous i'm not running around kissing people in the mouth saying i ain't afraid of coronavirus i'm not doing that you know i'm i'm i think there's a wisdom don't don't don't test the lord guys don't test the lord don't test him don't presume on him but don't live in fear either god hasn't given us a spirit of fear but a power and love and a sound mind that's what he's given to us hold fast to him hold fast to him show wisdom but don't be afraid you see jesus appeared weak jesus appeared weak when he went through what he went through he appeared weak when they mocked him he appeared weak when they fastened that crown of thorns on his head he appeared weak when they took that staff and pressed it in and the blood flowed down his face he appeared weak when they took that scourge and whipped him and ripped the skin right off of his bones he looked weak when he carried that cross and he looked weak when he laid there and they placed him on it and when they dropped him in that hole he looked weak but the third day after that he showed power by the resurrection and that's who we worship and so yes you can appear weak but paul is making it clear god's strength is made perfect in weakness and the strength of salvation is revealed and the righteousness and the love of the cross he said in verse four he lives by the power of god by the power of god he was raised from from death to life you see his father the supreme manifestation of power resurrected him from the dead in acts 13 29 and 30 paul said when they had carried out all that was written about him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb but god raised him from the dead in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 14 by his power god raised the lord from the dead and he will raise us also he says in verse four we also are weak in him but we shall live with him by the power of god we shall show you the strength of the risen lord as we deal with these false teachers i may appear weak but i have the proper authority through christ and i will use it and because i'm empowered by him i will wield my authority because jesus gave me this authority he says in verse four again we shall live with him by the power of god toward you his life is in us we will show you that we're not as weak as our opponents say by his authority we will as his apostles deal strongly with false teachers we're not as weak as you may think and so as he's saying this he goes on to say in verse five examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith test yourselves do you not know yourselves that jesus christ is in you unless indeed you're disqualified examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith some among you are expecting me to defend my ministry and prove that jesus is with me as an apostle i challenge you examine yourself to see whether you're even saved you seek to challenge my authority notice verse three again we just read it you seek a proof of christ speaking in me you seek to challenge my authority but now i'm turning that around and i'm saying test yourself rather than cross examining paul check your own heart and he's saying are you saved do you really know christ do you have a relationship with god through jesus christ are you sure you're saved because if you are saved that proves my ministry to you is from christ remember i've quoted this more than once he had said to them in first quinthians for he had said though you may have 10 000 instructors in christ yet you have but one father i begot you in the gospel and so if you are turning away from or being influenced away from the things that i've shared with you look at your own heart and see whether or not you're even saved you want to challenge my authority how about challenging your own in philippians three verse 15 he said let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things if you disagree on some point i believe god will make it plain to you examine yourself here's something for us a real practical i think practical application again in verse 5 examine yourselves as to whether you are in christ test yourselves how do you know you're saved you feel safe today and you don't feel safe tomorrow you know a lot of people today and and i i see that as an observation not simply criticism an observation um and it's a natural thing by the way it's not something that i'm saying is is um something i can't understand i do understand this that our feelings sometimes are what we rely on you know if it feels good you know it can't be wrong if it feels so right that kind of thing you know i it my feelings are my truth we hear that all the time you know it's my truth you know like like everybody's got a brand of truth and there's no such thing as a standard for truth and today we live in a world of opinions where people's opinions are regarded as equal to scriptures commands and so if i don't like what it says or it doesn't feel comfortable for me then therefore it must be wrong or i'll review it or come back to it at a later date and all of that and so we're living in a time where our feelings are what determines our faith and the problem is is that's not how it works what we have is we have facts and then we place our faith in the facts which produces the feelings and sometimes the feelings are are confused so we have to go back to the facts what does god's word say and then we trust that and then god has a way of working through our feelings when our first god saved you know i i had this exhilaration as a matter of fact it was so great that my wife marie who who knows my testimony a good portion of it when she got saved she was really concerned that she may not be and and i asked her why is that and she says because when you got saved you you had this exhilaration you had this this you talk about how weight was removed from your shoulders and and i never had those feelings so marie told me that from the beginning i i i never had those feelings well marie had a different life than i did i had a lot of things that that i was washed from i had a lot of sin that had burdened me marie's life was different than mine she didn't carry those things and so for her she thought because she didn't feel this exhilaration she wasn't saved and and even from the beginning i said it's never our feelings it's always a fact it's what god did god so loved that he gave jesus christ said if you believe in me you're gonna have life if you confess christ is lord and savior trusting him with all of your your heart placing your faith in him you're born again and and those are the facts that's what scripture says but the feelings will follow and sometimes you may have this exhilaration you may during the worship there's times during worship with a song certain lyric you know the song devotion it's an old song but it's a song that's that's my song that's one of my favorite christian songs because it speaks my heart deeply because that's what i have for him and i'm so grateful i'm so grateful see i tear up it's okay i don't i'm not comfortable with it but i do it because i'm opening my heart to you that means something to me but i'm not saved by the feeling i have i'm saved by the fact of what he did and that's how it works that's christianity and see how do you know you're saved it's not by your feelings it's by what god says so john tells us in first john if you take notes you might want to note this first john gives us various insights one of the things is that i know that i'm saved how can i know i'm saved is that that that his word becomes something that i cling to and i want to obey obedience to the lord is is revealing of my faith i keep his command do you desire to obey god do you want to do what he says in his word in first john 2 3 and 4 john said we know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands the man who says i know him but does not do what he commands is a liar the truth is not in him so somebody who says oh i love jesus but they're constantly in sin john says that's not you're not telling the truth because somebody who loves jesus christ may not become perfect but his heart and her heart desires to obey him and the life does change in john 1415 jesus said it like this if you love me keep my commandments a second thing that can help you to test your own heart to see whether christ is in you is love it's love for god and it's love for other people because love is the earmark of a believer it's been called the birthmark of a christian love even the early pagans would write one famous writer said behold how they love one another that was the mark of the believer in first john 3 verse 11 this is the message that you heard from the beginning that we should love one another and if you love one another the world that doesn't love one another sees that as an evidence that you you've been born from above in first john 4 7 and 8 dear friends let us love one another love comes from god everyone who loves has been born of god and knows god whoever does not love does not know god because god is love so what happens in your life when you come to faith in christ you begin to love people you begin to care about them strangers even that that sometimes your heart may well up with pain or sorrow when you see them in a condition that they're in and it's because you care you care for the people who don't know christ and then you develop these deep bonds with those who do you actually begin having a family you know and it's a it's a face-to-face family by the way because what we've done with the advent of so much of the the social media that we have is we've replaced messages and and even online viewing of of worship services we've replaced that with the real life being close to actual living human beings one of the things that that i i have great concern about with this isolation that people are in is it's increasing depression there are more suicides there's more drugs being taken more violence in the home these things through the isolation and the continuing depression that people are experiencing you know we need each other guys that's why i am i am blessed that you that you're here right now i'm blessed by that and i hope that that you are refreshed and being around people and and that's a good thing it's a good thing the first thing god ever says it's not good is that the man should be alone and the isolation that we've been placed into is actually a bad thing and i and i i believe very strongly that one of the evidences that i know god is is my love for one another and love for you and and our love for each other and do you have love for people the third thing is generosity and service prompted by the love and example of christ generosity and service prompted by the love and example of christ in first john 3 17 and 18 whoever has his world's goods sees his brother in need shuts up his heart from him how does the love of god abiding him my little children let us not love in word or in tongue but indeed and in truth generosity and service in galatians 5 13 brethren you've been called to liberty only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another are you generous spirit do you do you want to help somebody do you care for others that's a good evidence that you know the lord a fourth thing is the internal witness of the holy spirit the one who bears witness with our spirit there's this internal witness in first john 4 13 we know that we live in him and he and us because he's given us of his spirit in first john 5 10 he went on to say he who believes in the son of god has a witness in himself my mom used to say i know that i know that i know that jesus lives within me there's a witness within you there's that sense that he's in you and you wanted to help people about that my mom was at the doctors and and the doctor my mom had a series of illnesses from the time she was a very young woman and so there she is at the doctor's office and the doctor is speaking to her and is about to listen to her heart so he takes out his stethoscope and and he places his stethoscope on my mom's heart and my mother says to him do you hear him now he's saying this crazy old lady what are you talking about do i hear him you know seriously he's looking at my mom says you should have seen his face david because he had his stethoscope on my heart i said did you hear do you hear him and he looks at uh huh uh hear who and she says jesus he lives in my heart let me tell you how he got to live in there my mom used to share with people and take opportunities to why because she loved the lord and she loved people that's an evidence you don't want someone to go to hell do you believe in hell you don't want people to go there so you tell them about jesus christ who saves them transforms their life because you love them and the holy spirit within you prompts you to share in romans 8 16 the spirit himself testifies with our spirit we are god's children you see that leads to what i just said our desire to tell the world about jesus christ in first john chapter 4 verse 14 we have seen and testify that the father has sent his son to be the savior of the world in john 3 17 god sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved do you know him examine yourself is he your lord is he your savior were you to be standing before him and were you in a heavenly tribunal and and he is the judge is there and he says why should i allow you to enter into my kingdom what is it that you say to him i tried hard i went to church i gave things away i served in a soup kitchen when it was thanksgiving i would go and serve meals to people on and a mission at you what do you tell him i and the only answer that will get you into heaven is i was a sinner saved by the grace of god jesus died on a cross for me he washed me and cleansed me with his blood he was buried the third day here rose from the dead and he ascended into heaven he sent his holy spirit i received christ as my lord and my savior and the only thing that makes me able to enter into your kingdom is what he did for me and that's how god will say enter into the joy of your lord because that's how you enter into the kingdom of heaven it isn't because you're so good because you're not it's because he's so good that he made it possible for you that's how you know because so many people think well i try hard i go to church no he said examine yourself as to whether you're in the faith test yourself and see a genuine believer has confidence that the lord is in them now it is good to do a personal inventory because there's such a thing as self deception he was confident that the majority would pass the personal inventory but others might not but they could still repent they could exercise saving faith they could be forgiven they could be saved they could know that jesus saved him but he says some might be disqualified notice verse six i trust that you will know that we are not disqualified because he had just said in verse five do you not know yourselves that jesus christ is in you unless indeed you are disqualified that word disqualified was used when you tested metals and coins it speaks about not standing the test it's that which does not prove itself as it ought it's unfit it's it's it's it's a counterfeit it's worthless you go to the bank and and you give them your your cash and they put it through machine and they test it to see whether or not it's a counterfeit and a counterfeit will be spit out of that counting machine well some people have a real appearance that they're good and there are some people who are by the standards of the world let's face it are our good people they're caring people they're serving people the generous people they're they're nice people they're the kind of people you like to be around and and all of that but they don't have a saving faith and then when you put them next to someone who claims to be a christian who has no joy you know who doesn't love who doesn't serve at all and they say well i'm going to heaven because and the other guys well they look at the different lives and they wonder and so i think it's really something that we ought to be aware of how can i know that i'm saved well genuine faith is revealed in repentance genuine faith is revealed in a desire to live a righteous life genuine faith is revealed by sincere holiness it's revealed by a willing obedience to god through his word genuine genuine faith is is a having an actual real love for god's word and a love for him you see some in the church were actually unsaved and that made them open to false prophets that's the condition of the church today we lack discernment because of a lack of personal devotion to prayer in the word and when you don't spend don't spend time in prayer in the word in fellowship with genuine believers guys you're vulnerable to deception you're vulnerable when you're not spending personal time in the word and when you're not spending time in prayer and not having healthy fellowship you're vulnerable you see the pastor has a responsibility of teaching the whole counsel of god because that's intended to safeguard the sheep and it reveals the heart of a true pastor john uh 21 tells us beginning at verse 17 that he had said to him the third time simons son of jonah do you love me Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time do you love me he said to him lord you know all things you know that i love you and jesus said to him feed my sheep feeding sheep is a calling of a shepherd and feeding sheep reveals the love for christ and that is so important that paul made a strong statement to them in 1st grintians 1534 he said awake to righteousness do not sin for some do not have the knowledge of god and i speak this to your shame you have people in church that you've not cared enough to challenge and encourage for them to know jesus christ you have people who are gathered and that took place early in the church it does to this day who go to church thinking themselves to be christian or believers and you're not teaching them what god actually says and because that's true there are unsaved people who are calling themselves christians convinced that they are and i say this to your shame because you haven't been clear with them you know when i teach and i'm about to close a couple of final thoughts i've shared this at pastors conferences let me share it with you very briefly very briefly i've shared this with fellow calvary chapel pastors more than once i've told the church you need to look at the people that you minister to be very careful i've told pastors that you don't get caught up with this quest for fame for this desire for greatness be very careful that you don't become the centerpiece of your church when you look up here towards this pulpit look behind me and that's the whole purpose of this church we would see jesus because one of these days and it's not that long you know i'm an old man another man will be behind this pulpit a younger man prayerfully a good man and as i'm looking for that future he has to be more than just a good-looking guy or used used to be he needs to be more than a good-looking guy an eloquent speaker a forceful personality visionary eloquent good communicator knowledgeable of scripture all of those things would be pluses what he needs is he needs to love jesus and he needs to love you i will never put anybody in this pulpit to take this fellowship if they don't love you i don't care how well he speaks i don't care how strong he is if he doesn't love you i will not place him in this pulpit because you need a shepherd who loves you you need someone who will teach you the truth but who loves you with all of his heart and that's what i'm looking for and in the future that's what i'm going to leave behind because that's how it should be and a shepherd needs to teach the sheep line upon line precept by precept a little bit here and a little bit there so you get the whole council of god because i've shared with the pastors take a moment and look at the sheep because out here there's a woman who lost her husband and she's a widow living without a man she lived with for years there's somebody over there who just lost their dad and there's somebody over here whose child is very sick and there's somebody here who's lost the job and there's somebody here who's going through tension with the neighbor there's somebody there are so many so many tears that arrive on a sunday morning so many needs so many so many people with with concerns so many people with with pain they carry it on their shoulders every day and then they come to church on sunday and they and what they encounter a guy who wants to use them to to pad his resume to say i've got so many people who show up i just don't have enough room for them no jesus not only looked at the the multitude he looked at the individual also and he cared about the individual as well as the multitude and that's what christianity is and that's what paul is saying and that's the kind of thing he is paul was a shepherd he cared about the sheep and these false teachers were creeping in undermining their faith and he said who is indignant and i don't burn when somebody uses you and hurts you it causes me anger why because i'm fleshly no because i love you and i don't want you to take an advantage of because i care for you and i want you to follow christ and i want you to wake up because there are people who are amongst you who don't know the lord i say this to your shame the leadership is failing to preach and teach clearly and unbelievers are becoming comfortable that's why i have strong opinions related to the direction of this nation but no president's ever going to make us a better nation only jesus can and that's why we keep our eyes on him that's why you see in contrast to the false teachers paul was the real thing and when the word is rightly divided it produces a well-fed healthy growing congregation but it also prunes the vine of those who aren't interested in following jesus crimes when the word is rightly divided it builds up believers and it purges those who aren't interested that's how it works and so that's how ministry is so he says teach the word of god i trust that you will know that we are not disqualified i trust that you will know we're the real deal because we love you and we've given our life to share with you