1 00:00:00.250 --> 00:00:03.750 Real Life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast, with 2 00:00:03.750 --> 00:00:07.130 intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the 3 00:00:07.130 --> 00:00:09.010 saints, and impact our culture. 4 00:00:09.390 --> 00:00:11.710 He's saying, fall in love with me, and 5 00:00:11.710 --> 00:00:13.930 I will impart things to your thinking and 6 00:00:13.930 --> 00:00:17.250 to your heart, to your desires that please 7 00:00:17.250 --> 00:00:18.970 me and please you. 8 00:00:19.970 --> 00:00:21.950 Well, I'm going to be a Christian, and 9 00:00:21.950 --> 00:00:24.670 I'm going to follow Jesus, and it's going 10 00:00:24.670 --> 00:00:26.130 to be a real bummer, but you know, 11 00:00:26.170 --> 00:00:27.410 I'm bearing my cross. 12 00:00:27.490 --> 00:00:29.310 It's really a drag to be a Christian, 13 00:00:29.310 --> 00:00:32.310 but I am one, and here we go, 14 00:00:32.510 --> 00:00:35.950 and come and follow me, and no thanks. 15 00:00:37.450 --> 00:00:38.430 No, that's okay. 16 00:00:39.070 --> 00:00:40.470 Listen, that's not what he gave us. 17 00:00:40.870 --> 00:00:43.090 If you delight yourself in God, he will 18 00:00:43.090 --> 00:00:45.610 put desires in you that you want that 19 00:00:45.610 --> 00:00:46.130 are from him. 20 00:00:50.290 --> 00:00:52.670 You can get the outlines of this podcast 21 00:00:52.670 --> 00:00:56.650 by going to Jackhibbs.com slash podcast. 22 00:00:56.650 --> 00:00:59.950 Today, if this podcast lifts you up and 23 00:00:59.950 --> 00:01:02.210 encourages you to live a more fulfilled life 24 00:01:02.210 --> 00:01:04.310 in Christ, then make sure you leave us 25 00:01:04.310 --> 00:01:05.870 one of those five-star ratings. 26 00:01:06.490 --> 00:01:09.550 To us, that's like saying amen or yes, 27 00:01:09.750 --> 00:01:12.250 then that rating will encourage others to listen. 28 00:01:12.970 --> 00:01:15.030 Now, open your hearts to what God's word 29 00:01:15.030 --> 00:01:16.010 has to say to you. 30 00:01:16.470 --> 00:01:17.890 Here is Jack Hibbs. 31 00:01:18.710 --> 00:01:20.870 We're diving in now to this working love 32 00:01:20.870 --> 00:01:21.850 for our first argument. 33 00:01:21.990 --> 00:01:23.590 In verse 14, we learn that it's having 34 00:01:23.590 --> 00:01:24.970 a clean conscience. 35 00:01:25.470 --> 00:01:28.110 Your conscience is one of the most precious 36 00:01:28.110 --> 00:01:29.150 things that you possess. 37 00:01:30.810 --> 00:01:31.630 It's not your money. 38 00:01:31.810 --> 00:01:32.850 It's not your youth. 39 00:01:32.930 --> 00:01:34.070 It's not your strength. 40 00:01:34.510 --> 00:01:35.230 Your conscience. 41 00:01:35.650 --> 00:01:38.650 Listen, if your conscience is plagued, you could 42 00:01:38.650 --> 00:01:39.350 go insane. 43 00:01:39.430 --> 00:01:40.110 Did you know that, everybody? 44 00:01:40.610 --> 00:01:41.430 I'm not a doctor. 45 00:01:41.650 --> 00:01:42.850 I'm not a psychologist. 46 00:01:43.070 --> 00:01:45.710 I'm an observer, and the facts are what 47 00:01:45.710 --> 00:01:46.110 they are. 48 00:01:46.330 --> 00:01:50.930 People with consciences that are wearied down, burdened, 49 00:01:51.010 --> 00:01:54.790 and grieved by a life that they've lived 50 00:01:54.790 --> 00:01:57.470 in a questionable way or whatever, and their 51 00:01:57.470 --> 00:02:00.910 conscience is clouded, it leads to all kinds 52 00:02:00.910 --> 00:02:03.230 of other types of phobias and issues of 53 00:02:03.230 --> 00:02:03.570 life. 54 00:02:04.850 --> 00:02:07.930 Yet, it's only Christianity, it's Christ, that offers 55 00:02:07.930 --> 00:02:09.570 a clear conscience. 56 00:02:10.930 --> 00:02:12.210 I want you to think about that for 57 00:02:12.210 --> 00:02:12.490 a moment. 58 00:02:12.930 --> 00:02:15.490 That's why doing all of the religious things 59 00:02:15.490 --> 00:02:19.050 that religion demands of you doesn't fix a 60 00:02:19.050 --> 00:02:20.190 thing on the inside of you. 61 00:02:20.310 --> 00:02:21.370 It doesn't fix you. 62 00:02:22.250 --> 00:02:25.270 Only Christ can fix you on the inside, 63 00:02:26.430 --> 00:02:29.690 and he clears your conscience of all the 64 00:02:29.690 --> 00:02:30.590 things of the past. 65 00:02:30.970 --> 00:02:31.670 Isn't that good news? 66 00:02:31.690 --> 00:02:33.430 That you can be washed of all the 67 00:02:33.430 --> 00:02:35.370 memories maybe people don't know. 68 00:02:35.470 --> 00:02:39.190 Now look, everybody knows something about each of 69 00:02:39.190 --> 00:02:40.210 us to some degree. 70 00:02:40.870 --> 00:02:43.270 You might say, I've pretty much hidden my 71 00:02:43.270 --> 00:02:43.710 life down. 72 00:02:43.790 --> 00:02:44.810 No, no, somebody knows something. 73 00:02:44.910 --> 00:02:45.590 Your mom knows. 74 00:02:45.850 --> 00:02:50.310 Listen, mom knows things because everyone knows that 75 00:02:50.310 --> 00:02:52.190 once a woman becomes a mother, she grows 76 00:02:52.190 --> 00:02:53.670 eyes in the back of her head. 77 00:02:54.910 --> 00:02:57.270 How did our moms know what we were 78 00:02:57.270 --> 00:02:57.730 doing? 79 00:02:58.790 --> 00:03:00.190 Did you ever make a face at your 80 00:03:00.190 --> 00:03:01.390 mom when she was walking away? 81 00:03:01.590 --> 00:03:03.050 Would she upset you? 82 00:03:03.510 --> 00:03:04.890 Like, go to your room, she turned around 83 00:03:04.890 --> 00:03:07.610 and walked away, and you went, and she 84 00:03:07.610 --> 00:03:08.810 said, I see that face. 85 00:03:10.210 --> 00:03:12.410 Listen, if moms can see stuff like that, 86 00:03:12.530 --> 00:03:13.390 God can see it. 87 00:03:15.440 --> 00:03:18.620 But when we come to him with repentance 88 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:20.960 and we say, Lord, I'm sorry for the 89 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:22.400 life that I've lived, for the things that 90 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:22.900 I've done. 91 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:26.740 God's message to us is that he came 92 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:29.260 to relieve us of all the guilt and 93 00:03:29.260 --> 00:03:32.200 the shame and the penalty of death and 94 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:32.520 hell. 95 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:38.080 That's all the benefits of coming to Christ 96 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:38.920 and so much more. 97 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.880 And one of those glorious things is a 98 00:03:40.880 --> 00:03:42.040 conscience being cleared. 99 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:44.820 And having a clean conscience, you cannot buy 100 00:03:44.820 --> 00:03:48.220 it, you cannot earn it, you receive it 101 00:03:48.220 --> 00:03:48.720 from the Lord. 102 00:03:48.820 --> 00:03:50.700 And verse 14 tells us beautifully, look at 103 00:03:50.700 --> 00:03:52.840 this Paul says, and I love it, he 104 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:57.040 says, I know and I'm convinced, that's a 105 00:03:57.040 --> 00:03:57.920 strong statement, right? 106 00:03:58.940 --> 00:04:01.880 By the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing 107 00:04:01.880 --> 00:04:03.100 unclean of itself. 108 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:04.040 So what does that mean? 109 00:04:04.140 --> 00:04:05.980 That means Paul must have eaten pork from 110 00:04:05.980 --> 00:04:07.580 time to time, that's what it must mean. 111 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.300 This is Paul the Jew, this is the 112 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:13.880 Jew, the top shelf Jew, now born again. 113 00:04:14.160 --> 00:04:16.440 He says right here, I know and I'm 114 00:04:16.440 --> 00:04:18.019 convinced, Paul, what is it? 115 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.420 That nothing is unclean of itself. 116 00:04:20.579 --> 00:04:23.180 We're talking not about sin, that is unclean. 117 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:27.040 We're talking about things like eating, drinking, foods, 118 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:29.740 conduct in that way. 119 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:31.120 Paul says, I'm convinced. 120 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:33.940 It's not bad to have a pork sandwich 121 00:04:33.940 --> 00:04:34.820 from time to time. 122 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:36.540 Kahlua pork? 123 00:04:39.640 --> 00:04:41.960 You say, Jack, I think that's very offensive. 124 00:04:42.200 --> 00:04:42.440 Why? 125 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:43.540 Why do you think it's offensive? 126 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:44.640 Look what he says. 127 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:47.080 He says that nothing is unclean of itself, 128 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:49.380 but to him who considers anything to be 129 00:04:49.380 --> 00:04:50.600 unclean, to him it is unclean. 130 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:54.040 If you, listen, Paul is saying, look, God 131 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:56.140 made it all, I'll eat it. 132 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:57.840 If I'm hungry, I'll eat it. 133 00:04:58.180 --> 00:04:59.180 You say, Paul, but you're a Jew. 134 00:04:59.440 --> 00:05:01.020 Yes, I am a Jew, and I'm a 135 00:05:01.020 --> 00:05:01.800 real Jew now. 136 00:05:03.020 --> 00:05:05.300 I met Jesus as Messiah, that makes me 137 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:06.160 super Jew. 138 00:05:09.780 --> 00:05:12.920 I know who he is, and God has 139 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:13.500 made everything. 140 00:05:13.780 --> 00:05:16.580 Now look, he, this is, you have to 141 00:05:16.580 --> 00:05:17.540 admit, this is amazing. 142 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.020 You might say, oh, that's pretty, that's pretty 143 00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:20.720 much like me. 144 00:05:20.840 --> 00:05:21.380 Really it is. 145 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:24.100 I have not matured to that level because 146 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:25.880 I have actually seen some of you. 147 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:29.580 We've gone out to dinner, and you, right 148 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:32.380 in front of me, ordered calamari. 149 00:05:35.820 --> 00:05:36.520 Do you know what that is? 150 00:05:38.850 --> 00:05:41.030 Listen, when they bring something to the plate, 151 00:05:41.830 --> 00:05:43.310 to the table on a plate, and it 152 00:05:43.310 --> 00:05:48.250 has suction pad cups on it, and people 153 00:05:48.250 --> 00:05:49.630 eat, they go, oh, it's so good, you 154 00:05:49.630 --> 00:05:50.330 ought to try it. 155 00:05:50.470 --> 00:05:57.170 They're chewing this thing like it's rubber. 156 00:06:00.150 --> 00:06:02.250 Are you saying, Jack, are you offended by 157 00:06:02.250 --> 00:06:02.450 that? 158 00:06:02.830 --> 00:06:03.970 I'm just sickened by it. 159 00:06:04.450 --> 00:06:05.450 It may not be offended. 160 00:06:05.970 --> 00:06:08.230 If you want to eat it, if you've 161 00:06:08.230 --> 00:06:10.170 got clearance between you and God to eat 162 00:06:10.170 --> 00:06:11.690 that thing, that's your business. 163 00:06:11.870 --> 00:06:13.110 I'm not judging you, brother. 164 00:06:13.650 --> 00:06:14.850 I'm just saying this. 165 00:06:15.050 --> 00:06:15.450 Why? 166 00:06:16.730 --> 00:06:18.590 God put it at the bottom of the 167 00:06:18.590 --> 00:06:20.350 ocean so you wouldn't get to it. 168 00:06:20.730 --> 00:06:23.390 You swim down to get it, and you 169 00:06:23.390 --> 00:06:25.190 bring it up and it looks like it's 170 00:06:25.190 --> 00:06:28.270 from outer space, and somebody says, let's eat 171 00:06:28.270 --> 00:06:28.570 it. 172 00:06:29.390 --> 00:06:30.350 That's wrong. 173 00:06:31.510 --> 00:06:33.330 But I'm a babe in Christ. 174 00:06:34.010 --> 00:06:37.210 You'll have to handle with my weakness where, 175 00:06:37.450 --> 00:06:39.010 why don't you just eat stuff that God 176 00:06:39.010 --> 00:06:42.450 puts, that walks around on earth? 177 00:06:43.810 --> 00:06:46.410 But of course, I'm kidding with you, sort 178 00:06:46.410 --> 00:06:46.590 of. 179 00:06:46.930 --> 00:06:49.350 Paul says it's not unclean. 180 00:06:49.850 --> 00:06:51.290 God gave it. 181 00:06:51.450 --> 00:06:52.190 You can eat that. 182 00:06:52.330 --> 00:06:53.170 You can have that. 183 00:06:53.550 --> 00:06:55.490 But the point is your conscience. 184 00:06:55.770 --> 00:06:58.710 Are you cleared in your conscience in this 185 00:06:58.710 --> 00:06:59.070 area? 186 00:06:59.790 --> 00:07:02.550 And if he's just talking about food things, 187 00:07:03.230 --> 00:07:05.070 what about other things that we're not going 188 00:07:05.070 --> 00:07:06.510 to bring up in this room right now 189 00:07:06.510 --> 00:07:09.190 that somebody would require you to violate your 190 00:07:09.190 --> 00:07:09.810 conscience? 191 00:07:10.330 --> 00:07:14.970 Question, are they a Christian that's requesting you 192 00:07:14.970 --> 00:07:16.190 to violate your conscience? 193 00:07:16.350 --> 00:07:17.790 It ought not to happen. 194 00:07:18.830 --> 00:07:21.750 Christians do not cause other Christians to violate 195 00:07:21.750 --> 00:07:23.950 their conscience for this very truth. 196 00:07:25.250 --> 00:07:26.990 And the second thing is, as I mentioned 197 00:07:26.990 --> 00:07:30.270 last week, even in the world around us, 198 00:07:30.350 --> 00:07:33.130 the world itself can say you must do 199 00:07:33.130 --> 00:07:33.850 this thing. 200 00:07:33.910 --> 00:07:37.150 And according to the Bible, if it's against 201 00:07:37.150 --> 00:07:38.770 your conscience, you're not to do it. 202 00:07:39.850 --> 00:07:40.630 Think of that. 203 00:07:41.490 --> 00:07:43.590 Your conscience is so precious. 204 00:07:44.430 --> 00:07:45.450 And I want to read to you something 205 00:07:45.450 --> 00:07:46.850 by the great Albert Barnes. 206 00:07:46.990 --> 00:07:47.650 I love this guy. 207 00:07:47.790 --> 00:07:49.230 I read a lot of Albert Barnes. 208 00:07:49.750 --> 00:07:50.870 And by the way, you know what is 209 00:07:50.870 --> 00:07:51.670 wonderful to read? 210 00:07:51.950 --> 00:07:53.950 He was an American pastor, by the way, 211 00:07:54.050 --> 00:07:57.090 who was absolutely committed to abolishing slavery. 212 00:07:57.710 --> 00:07:58.170 Isn't that great? 213 00:07:58.210 --> 00:07:58.890 I love that. 214 00:07:59.690 --> 00:08:00.950 And you know what's great also about reading 215 00:08:00.950 --> 00:08:02.110 old guys that are dead? 216 00:08:03.370 --> 00:08:04.610 They can't change their mind. 217 00:08:05.390 --> 00:08:06.690 So they're safe to read. 218 00:08:07.730 --> 00:08:10.050 He says, a clear conscience is often understood 219 00:08:10.050 --> 00:08:11.990 as the inner sense of right and wrong, 220 00:08:13.030 --> 00:08:15.770 aligning one's behavior and intentions with moral and 221 00:08:15.770 --> 00:08:16.710 divine standards. 222 00:08:17.410 --> 00:08:20.010 There is a consistent thread throughout scripture that 223 00:08:20.010 --> 00:08:22.890 shows conscience is a God-given faculty. 224 00:08:23.850 --> 00:08:24.890 This is very smart. 225 00:08:25.050 --> 00:08:26.270 This is very, very insightful. 226 00:08:26.930 --> 00:08:29.810 This observable reality of man's struggle with what 227 00:08:29.810 --> 00:08:31.390 is right and wrong is one of the 228 00:08:31.390 --> 00:08:34.370 most powerful evidences of man having been created 229 00:08:34.370 --> 00:08:38.289 by the ultimate morality, which is God himself. 230 00:08:39.549 --> 00:08:40.610 Can you say amen to that? 231 00:08:40.990 --> 00:08:42.350 That's an awesome statement. 232 00:08:42.610 --> 00:08:43.610 You can use that today. 233 00:08:44.310 --> 00:08:45.530 And he said it's so long ago. 234 00:08:45.610 --> 00:08:45.750 Why? 235 00:08:45.850 --> 00:08:47.070 Because it's eternal truth. 236 00:08:47.550 --> 00:08:49.790 And every one of us has a conscience. 237 00:08:50.150 --> 00:08:52.030 And God wants your conscience to be cleared. 238 00:08:52.290 --> 00:08:54.150 I want to remind you, the Bible wants 239 00:08:54.150 --> 00:08:57.710 you free from a dark conscience. 240 00:08:58.230 --> 00:09:00.210 Is the God of the Bible good or 241 00:09:00.210 --> 00:09:00.650 what? 242 00:09:01.810 --> 00:09:03.830 He wants you to be set free from 243 00:09:03.830 --> 00:09:04.630 all of that. 244 00:09:05.070 --> 00:09:07.030 The Bible tells us in Romans chapter 12, 245 00:09:07.110 --> 00:09:09.830 verse 4, for as we have many members, 246 00:09:09.950 --> 00:09:11.810 look in this room right now, every single 247 00:09:11.810 --> 00:09:14.350 one of you is a member of one 248 00:09:14.350 --> 00:09:16.470 body, this gathering together. 249 00:09:16.570 --> 00:09:19.270 Let's just call second service church. 250 00:09:21.550 --> 00:09:24.370 Singular church made up of all of you, 251 00:09:24.490 --> 00:09:25.410 these people right here. 252 00:09:26.030 --> 00:09:27.590 And it says, but all the members do 253 00:09:27.590 --> 00:09:28.810 not have the same function. 254 00:09:29.230 --> 00:09:32.110 Verse 5, so we being many are one 255 00:09:32.110 --> 00:09:33.110 body in Christ. 256 00:09:33.350 --> 00:09:33.830 Isn't that beautiful? 257 00:09:34.030 --> 00:09:36.510 And individually members of one another. 258 00:09:36.990 --> 00:09:38.230 What a tremendous thing. 259 00:09:38.530 --> 00:09:38.890 Watch me. 260 00:09:39.230 --> 00:09:39.850 Watch my body. 261 00:09:40.050 --> 00:09:40.790 Look, I'm moving. 262 00:09:40.910 --> 00:09:41.990 Look, I'm walking sideways. 263 00:09:43.250 --> 00:09:44.250 Watch my hands. 264 00:09:44.870 --> 00:09:46.230 I'm going to move over here now. 265 00:09:46.910 --> 00:09:48.450 You want to know how that just happened? 266 00:09:49.410 --> 00:09:50.150 Think of it. 267 00:09:50.770 --> 00:09:52.490 A lot of stuff went on just now 268 00:09:52.490 --> 00:09:53.350 for me to do this. 269 00:09:54.590 --> 00:09:57.150 My brain was moving and thinking stuff. 270 00:09:57.370 --> 00:10:00.570 My brain was sending signals to my nervous 271 00:10:00.570 --> 00:10:04.610 system, my neurological system, speaking to the muscles 272 00:10:04.610 --> 00:10:06.810 and the sinew of my body, the bones, 273 00:10:07.250 --> 00:10:09.610 all of this moving the apparatus from one 274 00:10:09.610 --> 00:10:13.750 side to the other side, this bio machine 275 00:10:13.750 --> 00:10:14.970 that God has given us. 276 00:10:15.430 --> 00:10:19.510 And it all happens literally at the origin 277 00:10:19.510 --> 00:10:20.730 of something that is invisible. 278 00:10:20.730 --> 00:10:22.970 My soul, my spirit, my conscience. 279 00:10:23.630 --> 00:10:24.390 Think about that. 280 00:10:24.790 --> 00:10:27.110 What you think and what you do and 281 00:10:27.110 --> 00:10:30.030 how you live is not pre-programmed. 282 00:10:30.710 --> 00:10:32.470 It's the decision that you make. 283 00:10:33.050 --> 00:10:34.530 It's the choices that you make. 284 00:10:36.010 --> 00:10:38.510 And our body, our bodies will move based 285 00:10:38.510 --> 00:10:41.430 upon how it's being led. 286 00:10:41.710 --> 00:10:42.530 And how about this? 287 00:10:42.690 --> 00:10:45.290 The body of Christ in this room should 288 00:10:45.290 --> 00:10:47.450 be led by the mind of Christ right 289 00:10:47.450 --> 00:10:50.930 now so that you and I live out 290 00:10:50.930 --> 00:10:53.590 as members, individual members of one body. 291 00:10:54.270 --> 00:10:55.370 So I've got an elbow. 292 00:10:55.730 --> 00:10:57.030 I have fingers. 293 00:10:57.690 --> 00:10:58.830 We're like that. 294 00:10:59.750 --> 00:11:01.430 We are all different parts. 295 00:11:01.650 --> 00:11:03.490 Can I say this without having you freak 296 00:11:03.490 --> 00:11:03.790 out? 297 00:11:05.810 --> 00:11:08.330 If we are to be members of one 298 00:11:08.330 --> 00:11:11.050 body and that we are to be the 299 00:11:11.050 --> 00:11:14.430 church, all of a sudden it doesn't matter 300 00:11:14.430 --> 00:11:15.930 if you belong to a church of 10 301 00:11:15.930 --> 00:11:18.270 people or a church of 10,000 people. 302 00:11:18.450 --> 00:11:20.050 The truth is still the same and it 303 00:11:20.050 --> 00:11:20.610 is this. 304 00:11:21.010 --> 00:11:23.270 If you're a member of the body of 305 00:11:23.270 --> 00:11:25.290 Christ, not a member of this church, forget 306 00:11:25.290 --> 00:11:25.830 that. 307 00:11:26.390 --> 00:11:27.210 That's irrelevant. 308 00:11:28.310 --> 00:11:29.950 If you're a member of the body of 309 00:11:29.950 --> 00:11:31.450 Christ, it means that you're a child of 310 00:11:31.450 --> 00:11:31.710 God. 311 00:11:31.790 --> 00:11:33.430 And if you're a child of God, it 312 00:11:33.430 --> 00:11:34.550 means that you have a function. 313 00:11:36.190 --> 00:11:37.450 My question to you, don't answer. 314 00:11:37.710 --> 00:11:39.130 My question to you is if you're saying, 315 00:11:39.270 --> 00:11:41.230 yes, I am a child of God, then 316 00:11:41.230 --> 00:11:43.490 my next question to you is the proof 317 00:11:43.490 --> 00:11:45.230 of that will be your function. 318 00:11:47.430 --> 00:11:49.250 Who are you and what are you in 319 00:11:49.250 --> 00:11:49.950 the body of Christ? 320 00:11:50.030 --> 00:11:50.670 Does that make sense? 321 00:11:50.770 --> 00:11:51.510 Look, do you have an elbow? 322 00:11:52.090 --> 00:11:53.030 You know what it does. 323 00:11:53.370 --> 00:11:53.730 Do you have knees? 324 00:11:54.310 --> 00:11:54.990 Do you have ankles? 325 00:11:55.790 --> 00:11:56.470 Do you have eyes? 326 00:11:57.050 --> 00:11:57.930 They all have a function. 327 00:11:58.870 --> 00:12:00.470 So the Lord would say to us or 328 00:12:00.470 --> 00:12:03.270 challenge us individually, what's your function? 329 00:12:03.710 --> 00:12:04.510 So how do I know? 330 00:12:05.270 --> 00:12:06.050 Here's the test. 331 00:12:06.770 --> 00:12:10.590 If you can not go to church for 332 00:12:10.590 --> 00:12:14.940 a month and nobody misses you, you don't 333 00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.520 have a function. 334 00:12:17.930 --> 00:12:19.510 You say, well, that kind of stings. 335 00:12:19.990 --> 00:12:21.070 I know it stings. 336 00:12:21.730 --> 00:12:22.590 It's the point. 337 00:12:24.870 --> 00:12:25.650 I'll give you an example. 338 00:12:26.250 --> 00:12:28.870 Don't you love these parking lot servants that 339 00:12:28.870 --> 00:12:29.370 are out there? 340 00:12:29.590 --> 00:12:31.990 These ministers of parking. 341 00:12:33.310 --> 00:12:33.650 Yeah. 342 00:12:34.210 --> 00:12:35.830 You know how dangerous it is to be 343 00:12:35.830 --> 00:12:37.770 those guys out there, those guys and gals. 344 00:12:38.290 --> 00:12:39.670 And you should hear the things they hear 345 00:12:39.670 --> 00:12:41.510 because not everybody who comes here is a 346 00:12:41.510 --> 00:12:43.670 Christian, if you know what I mean. 347 00:12:46.610 --> 00:12:48.790 But I have over the years come to 348 00:12:48.790 --> 00:12:50.050 trust these guys out there. 349 00:12:51.050 --> 00:12:53.010 So for example, for me to go home, 350 00:12:53.410 --> 00:12:55.630 I've got to go out this West exit 351 00:12:55.630 --> 00:12:58.150 over by LA Fitness. 352 00:13:00.430 --> 00:13:01.890 And that's a busy street. 353 00:13:02.170 --> 00:13:04.010 And I don't even look at the traffic 354 00:13:04.010 --> 00:13:04.370 anymore. 355 00:13:04.470 --> 00:13:06.870 I just look at the guy and the 356 00:13:06.870 --> 00:13:07.710 guy's going like this. 357 00:13:07.810 --> 00:13:09.510 And I mean, he's like, like the New 358 00:13:09.510 --> 00:13:09.790 York. 359 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.880 And I'm just looking at him because if 360 00:13:14.880 --> 00:13:17.620 you don't, if you don't obey him, because 361 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:19.500 there's two lanes and he'll, he'll look at 362 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:21.180 you and he'll put down his finger like 363 00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:25.460 this, meaning you in this lane and translation 364 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:26.640 stay in this lane. 365 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:28.060 If you go on the other lane, it's 366 00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:28.840 not going to be good for you. 367 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.660 So he's going like this and he goes 368 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:32.100 like this. 369 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:33.480 And I go like that. 370 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.200 And I don't even look, I trust him. 371 00:13:37.260 --> 00:13:38.480 I don't even look to see I'm just 372 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:42.770 watching him and he points and I go, 373 00:13:43.250 --> 00:13:46.770 think of the power that he has or 374 00:13:46.770 --> 00:13:47.630 that she has. 375 00:13:49.110 --> 00:13:51.570 And they're guiding and they're, they're serving. 376 00:13:52.710 --> 00:13:54.290 And then listen, you might say, well, I 377 00:13:54.290 --> 00:13:55.670 don't know what my function is because all 378 00:13:55.670 --> 00:13:56.830 I do is pray for the church. 379 00:13:56.890 --> 00:13:58.630 That's all I can do is pray you 380 00:13:58.630 --> 00:13:59.790 to the front of the line. 381 00:13:59.950 --> 00:14:02.050 If you are praying for this church and 382 00:14:02.050 --> 00:14:04.090 for this work and what God is doing, 383 00:14:04.190 --> 00:14:05.290 you go to the front of the line 384 00:14:05.290 --> 00:14:07.850 because we can't breathe without you praying. 385 00:14:07.990 --> 00:14:08.910 We cannot breathe. 386 00:14:09.010 --> 00:14:11.890 We can't function without you serving, but you 387 00:14:11.890 --> 00:14:15.210 must ask yourself, whatever church you attend, maybe 388 00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:17.690 you're visiting wherever you're going to go back 389 00:14:17.690 --> 00:14:18.170 home to. 390 00:14:18.270 --> 00:14:20.230 You got to ask yourself, what is my 391 00:14:20.230 --> 00:14:22.410 function in the church that I go to? 392 00:14:23.130 --> 00:14:24.290 Do they need me? 393 00:14:24.810 --> 00:14:25.930 Because guess what? 394 00:14:26.270 --> 00:14:28.270 We need each other. 395 00:14:29.170 --> 00:14:30.490 And that's not a theory. 396 00:14:31.630 --> 00:14:32.670 Where's your kids right now? 397 00:14:33.390 --> 00:14:34.430 People, where's your kids? 398 00:14:35.730 --> 00:14:37.150 Are they in children's ministry? 399 00:14:38.010 --> 00:14:39.070 You know why they're over there? 400 00:14:39.370 --> 00:14:40.770 It's not because you're tired of them. 401 00:14:42.250 --> 00:14:44.310 That's not the reason it's possible, but that's 402 00:14:44.310 --> 00:14:44.910 not the reason. 403 00:14:47.260 --> 00:14:49.500 The reason that they're over there is because 404 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.020 they're with people. 405 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:54.000 Because, you know, if our people decided to 406 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:57.120 leave, your kid would find you when they 407 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.680 got hungry enough, they would find you. 408 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:03.960 But your children are being served by people 409 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.260 who have opened themselves up to serving. 410 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:09.920 And that's the whole body of Christ Jesus, 411 00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:12.380 is that we minister and love one another. 412 00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:14.940 And the more that we do that in 413 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:16.440 the name of Jesus, for the glory of 414 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:19.480 Jesus, listen, we decrease. 415 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.700 And I like to think of it this 416 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:20.860 way. 417 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:23.920 Our problems and our centrality decreases and we 418 00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:26.520 become happier people, while you, on the other 419 00:15:26.520 --> 00:15:29.380 hand, we increase you because you are the 420 00:15:29.380 --> 00:15:31.160 object of our love for Jesus. 421 00:15:31.380 --> 00:15:33.440 How are we going to wash Jesus' feet 422 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:33.860 today? 423 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.360 By loving on you. 424 00:15:37.430 --> 00:15:38.230 It's that simple. 425 00:15:39.670 --> 00:15:41.110 But we need to make sure that that 426 00:15:41.110 --> 00:15:41.450 happens. 427 00:15:41.590 --> 00:15:43.130 And the beautiful thing about that is it 428 00:15:43.130 --> 00:15:45.150 brings about the second point, and that is 429 00:15:45.150 --> 00:15:46.610 having the right priority. 430 00:15:47.150 --> 00:15:49.490 The right priority in church life is in 431 00:15:49.490 --> 00:15:50.130 verse 15. 432 00:15:50.430 --> 00:15:52.490 For if your brother is grieved because of 433 00:15:52.490 --> 00:15:55.190 your food, that is, you insist that it 434 00:15:55.190 --> 00:15:57.370 has to be your way, you are no 435 00:15:57.370 --> 00:15:59.330 longer walking in love. 436 00:15:59.590 --> 00:16:01.970 Do not destroy with your food the one 437 00:16:01.970 --> 00:16:03.910 whom Christ died. 438 00:16:04.430 --> 00:16:06.410 For this person, Christ died. 439 00:16:07.150 --> 00:16:08.890 And so this is a whole thing about 440 00:16:08.890 --> 00:16:10.970 us growing up into the area of being 441 00:16:10.970 --> 00:16:16.050 one of priority, that our brother and sister 442 00:16:16.050 --> 00:16:20.230 matters more in our lives than we matter 443 00:16:20.230 --> 00:16:20.890 in our lives. 444 00:16:21.010 --> 00:16:22.170 You see, Jack, how can you say that? 445 00:16:22.170 --> 00:16:24.970 Because we're programmed to love ourselves. 446 00:16:25.090 --> 00:16:25.590 It is true. 447 00:16:25.670 --> 00:16:27.030 We are programmed to love ourselves. 448 00:16:29.190 --> 00:16:30.690 The Bible says this. 449 00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:32.890 Paul writes to the church at Ephesus and 450 00:16:32.890 --> 00:16:34.210 he says, Husbands, love your wives. 451 00:16:34.650 --> 00:16:36.110 Treat your wife good. 452 00:16:36.470 --> 00:16:39.530 If you love yourself, love your wife. 453 00:16:39.930 --> 00:16:41.310 Isn't that a true statement? 454 00:16:41.390 --> 00:16:42.030 Think about that. 455 00:16:43.350 --> 00:16:44.750 If you really think, you know, if you 456 00:16:44.750 --> 00:16:47.950 want to take care of yourself, love your 457 00:16:47.950 --> 00:16:48.350 wife. 458 00:16:50.350 --> 00:16:52.190 Women, you should have said amen right then. 459 00:16:52.410 --> 00:16:52.970 That was your moment. 460 00:16:53.750 --> 00:16:58.470 Husbands, be really good to your wives and 461 00:16:58.470 --> 00:16:59.750 it'd be good for you. 462 00:17:00.790 --> 00:17:01.330 Yes. 463 00:17:01.590 --> 00:17:05.900 Oh, priority. 464 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.000 Others first. 465 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.660 And that's one of the great indicators. 466 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.900 Are we really Christians? 467 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:14.900 Do we love others, even a stranger? 468 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.960 How is that possible? 469 00:17:17.520 --> 00:17:20.119 Listen, before you meet Jesus, when you hear 470 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:22.680 him say, love strangers, love your enemies, it's 471 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.700 like cuckoo. 472 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.300 Let's be honest, that's crazy talk until you 473 00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:28.060 become a Christian. 474 00:17:28.520 --> 00:17:31.140 And then somehow God gives you compassion for 475 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.960 that person who has ruined your life. 476 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:36.180 That person who is just disgusting to you. 477 00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:38.860 Every Monday you have to show up and 478 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:41.760 work with them all week long and they're 479 00:17:41.760 --> 00:17:42.720 driving you crazy. 480 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:44.400 And then you become a Christian on Sunday. 481 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:47.400 And then you go back to that person 482 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:50.320 on Monday and you have this supernatural thing 483 00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:52.960 in your heart going on where, why do 484 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.240 I care about that guy now? 485 00:17:54.280 --> 00:17:55.520 He used to drive me nuts. 486 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:58.020 And now I care about him. 487 00:17:58.560 --> 00:18:00.140 Folks, I'm telling you, that's one of the 488 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:02.020 evidences of God's presence in your life. 489 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.660 It's amazing. 490 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.760 And I love when God does that kind 491 00:18:05.760 --> 00:18:07.440 of stuff because we're the ones most shocked. 492 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:11.460 He's remarkable, but it's all about priority and 493 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:13.280 the right priority at that. 494 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.960 I made this comment in my notes. 495 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.780 If you do have the notes downloaded on 496 00:18:17.780 --> 00:18:19.360 your device on page three, it says we 497 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:21.580 live in the most perfected age of carnality. 498 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:24.860 We have modernized sin and rebellion against God. 499 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.120 Have we not in this world that we're 500 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.600 in right now? 501 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:29.440 We have perfected carnality. 502 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.580 We've perfected sin. 503 00:18:31.760 --> 00:18:33.440 And sometimes we say things like this. 504 00:18:33.520 --> 00:18:34.180 Well, you know what? 505 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.740 I'm going to do this if my brother's 506 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.640 offended or not. 507 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.920 I've got liberty in Christ to do it. 508 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.260 Friend, you're being carnal. 509 00:18:42.450 --> 00:18:44.890 You're not to exploit your liberties in Christ 510 00:18:44.890 --> 00:18:46.810 at the expense of your brother's conscience. 511 00:18:47.450 --> 00:18:49.070 The priority is your brother. 512 00:18:50.330 --> 00:18:51.910 The priority is your sister. 513 00:18:53.370 --> 00:18:55.090 And we must remember that this is a 514 00:18:55.090 --> 00:18:57.670 very powerful thing that you and I as 515 00:18:57.670 --> 00:18:59.750 believers, and I'm going to warn you up 516 00:18:59.750 --> 00:19:00.850 front, this is where it gets a little 517 00:19:00.850 --> 00:19:04.190 strong here right now, because if we fix 518 00:19:04.190 --> 00:19:06.850 our eyes and affection upon Jesus, we'll quickly 519 00:19:06.850 --> 00:19:09.650 see him elevated to his right place of 520 00:19:09.650 --> 00:19:10.950 honor in the church. 521 00:19:11.570 --> 00:19:12.530 I'm convinced of that. 522 00:19:12.530 --> 00:19:15.010 The book of Colossians tells us that he 523 00:19:15.010 --> 00:19:17.150 is the head of the church. 524 00:19:17.890 --> 00:19:20.270 You got to wonder how many headless churches 525 00:19:20.270 --> 00:19:23.650 are there in America today, where Christ is 526 00:19:23.650 --> 00:19:25.970 not glorified, he's not obeyed, he's not honored. 527 00:19:27.050 --> 00:19:30.350 God wants us to dwell together in unity. 528 00:19:31.130 --> 00:19:34.150 He says how precious, how beautiful it is 529 00:19:34.150 --> 00:19:36.410 for the brethren to dwell together in unity. 530 00:19:36.770 --> 00:19:37.710 You guys are smart. 531 00:19:38.250 --> 00:19:40.190 The qualifier is brethren. 532 00:19:41.930 --> 00:19:44.730 God does not and is not committed to 533 00:19:44.730 --> 00:19:45.050 unity. 534 00:19:46.350 --> 00:19:48.730 It's a byproduct of truth. 535 00:19:50.990 --> 00:19:54.190 To be unified around the truth is how 536 00:19:54.190 --> 00:19:57.610 God executes the ministry. 537 00:19:58.310 --> 00:20:00.830 He doesn't have people come together in unity 538 00:20:00.830 --> 00:20:01.970 for unity's sake. 539 00:20:02.070 --> 00:20:02.730 That's insanity. 540 00:20:03.670 --> 00:20:04.810 That's impossible. 541 00:20:05.150 --> 00:20:06.990 But when we are gathered together in the 542 00:20:06.990 --> 00:20:08.670 same truth, then there's unity. 543 00:20:13.020 --> 00:20:15.760 This Jack Hibbs podcast, as well as all 544 00:20:15.760 --> 00:20:18.780 the broadcast outreach opportunities, are listener supported. 545 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:21.660 Will you consider partnering with us through a 546 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.340 special gift? 547 00:20:23.020 --> 00:20:26.760 Go to Jackhibbs.com to learn more and 548 00:20:26.760 --> 00:20:27.640 stay connected.