Tony Evans - Releasing God's Restoration

July 12, 2026 | 27:29

Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.

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Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - Releasing God's Restoration | July 12, 2026
  • ...
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  • Tony evans: we are in the restoration business.
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  • Part of why the church of jesus christ exists
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  • Is to restore.
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  • God's normal way of working is through his people
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  • For the improvement of his people,
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  • And so that is why people are to gather
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  • As part of the family of god, not just for a sermon,
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  • Not just for a song,
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  • But to be healed or to be a healer.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Tony: far too many churches have settled in to be hospices
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  • Set up to make people comfortable,
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  • When god created us to be hospitals
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  • To make people better.
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  • Far too many people will come to church just to salve
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  • Their religious conscience,
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  • Not necessarily because they want to improve, heal,
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  • Or become better followers of jesus christ.
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  • And unfortunately, many churches have accommodated
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  • This hospice mentality,
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  • And instead of hospitals, they become spiritual event centers
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  • Where people come for their weekly show,
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  • The show from the pulpit, the show from the choir,
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  • The show from the singing.
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  • And when the show is over, they go about their lives
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  • Until next week, same time, show time.
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  • Paul, in chapter 6 of the book of galatians,
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  • Speaks to this church who has been infiltrated
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  • By a group of people called judaizers.
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  • The judaizers were the legalists of the day,
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  • And they were holding these christians hostage
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  • To the old testament law that they were unable to satisfy
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  • As a way for them to measure their spirituality,
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  • And paul has to correct this false teaching
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  • That has infiltrated the church of galatia,
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  • Taking away the freedom of the saints
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  • To be all that god had created them to be.
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  • And in chapter 6, the first five verses
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  • That we have read,
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  • He gives an assignment to the church,
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  • And an assignment to every member of the church,
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  • Because the word "you" in verse 1 is plural.
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  • So he is not speaking to just an individual,
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  • He's not just speaking to you, he's speaking to y'all--
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  • That is, to the collective gathering of saints--
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  • To talk about our hospital care,
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  • To talk about this healing environment spiritually
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  • That the church is to provide
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  • If it's going to be an authentic hospital
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  • And not a hospice event center.
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  • He says in verse 1 of chapter 6, "brethren."
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  • So i'm talking to christians, fellow saints.
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  • "even if anyone is caught in a trespass,
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  • Restore such a one."
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  • A trespass is a sin.
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  • He says, "if somebody is caught in a sin--"
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  • Meaning, they are stuck in a sin that they can't get out of,
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  • They have an addiction, a stronghold,
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  • A set of circumstance that is holding them hostage,
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  • And they can't break away.
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  • Some of us have been in those situations.
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  • We all know people who are in those situations
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  • Where they're trapped and they can't get out.
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  • He says, "your job is to restore such a one."
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  • In other words, to unhook them
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  • From the thing that's trapped them
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  • That they can't get out of.
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  • That is one of the fundamental roles
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  • Of the church body of believers is to be a restorative agency
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  • For people who are in circumstances and situations
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  • That they're unable to hook themselves from.
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  • The greek word for "restore" means
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  • To re-set a broken bone or to re-stitch a torn net.
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  • It was used of mending something that had gotten frayed
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  • In some form or fashion.
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  • What god says is "i want you in the family of god
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  • To be a place where folk who have been tore up
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  • From the floor up,
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  • Folk who've been broken can come and know
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  • That there are doctors and nurses who are there,
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  • And one of their purposes is to fix that which is broken."
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  • One of the spiritual responsibilities of believers
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  • Personally and the house of god collectively
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  • Is where broken people who are stuck
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  • And caught in circumstances and sins
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  • That they are unable to get out of,
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  • There is a place that they can go
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  • Where healing is part of the reason
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  • Why they are there.
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  • He says, "restore such a one."
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  • But he gives a qualification.
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  • He says in verse 1, "you who are spiritual,
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  • Restore such a one."
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  • He says, "i want you who are spiritual
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  • To restore such a one."
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  • What does it mean to be spiritual?
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  • To be spiritual means you're operating by the spirit,
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  • And in order to know
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  • Whether you're operating by the spirit,
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  • It means you're operating according to the word.
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  • So you're operating according to the word,
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  • Which means you're operating by means of the spirit,
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  • Which means the spirit can intercede based on the word
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  • To bring healing into the life of the person
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  • Who's caught, or broken, because of sin and its effect.
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  • He says, "you who are spiritual," based on the word,
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  • Which then the bible calls the spirit,
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  • The spirit of truth who only operates on the word,
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  • Who uses the person who's operating with the truth
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  • In the life of the person who needs to be restored
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  • In order for them to get the healing
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  • That they have come to the hospital, spiritually,
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  • To receive.
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  • He says, "you who are spiritual, restore such a one."
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  • In other words, we are in the restoration business.
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  • Part of why the church of jesus christ exists
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  • Is to restore.
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  • Now, he talks about two groups of people in verse 1.
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  • He talks about the person needing to be restored,
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  • And he talks about the spiritual persons
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  • Who are doing the restoring.
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  • So this place should be made up of one of two people:
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  • People who have come because they're trapped
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  • In something they can't get out of
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  • And people who are spiritual enough
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  • To help get them out of it because they love the word,
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  • Operate by the spirit, in order to bring divine help
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  • To release the person from that which is holding them
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  • Illegitimately hostage.
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  • He says, "i want you to do this."
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  • And the reason why you want to do this
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  • With spiritual people
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  • Is that you've got to operate with truth.
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  • See, and that's what spiritual people do:
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  • They appeal to the truth.
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  • That's why he says in verse 1,
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  • "restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness,"
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  • In the spirit of gentleness.
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  • In other words, don't hurt the person more.
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  • In other words, when you're trying to help
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  • Somebody who's caught, who's stuck,
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  • You're not trying to make them more caught and more stuck,
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  • Because you are sticky.
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  • He says, "you do it with the spirit of gentleness."
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  • You've seen a doctor use a scalpel.
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  • They take their time to make the cut.
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  • They're not slashers,
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  • 'cause they're not trying to hurt more.
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  • They're trying to to be as careful as possible
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  • While still dealing with the problem.
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  • You see, because restoring doesn't condone wrong.
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  • Restoring doesn't cover up what's really going on.
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  • But restoring seeks to fix it
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  • Based on the truth of the problem
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  • That is seeking to be addressed.
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  • He says, "i want you to restore with the spirit of gentleness";
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  • That is, it becomes inextricably clear
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  • "i'm here to help."
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  • Paul says to people, to the church of corinthians,
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  • 1 corinthians chapter 4, verse 14,
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  • Where he was correcting all their issues, he says,
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  • "i don't say this for your shame.
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  • I'm not trying to embarrass you. i'm not trying to hurt you.
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  • I'm just saying this because i wanna help you
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  • And i wanna encourage you."
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  • So we are to be in the business of restoration,
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  • But the business of restoration done in such a way
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  • Where people know we care about their improvement.
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  • In all of our lives, things can get crooked,
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  • And we need some folks to put some braces on us
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  • So that they get back in alignment
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  • So that things get straight again.
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  • But he says, "don't just try to hurt
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  • When you do it; try to help when you do it."
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  • With the spirit he calls the spirit of gentleness,
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  • The spirit that is seeking to use
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  • Spiritual truth with a kind heart
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  • In order to bring healing to a situation,
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  • Because sometimes you can get trapped
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  • In things you don't wanna be trapped in,
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  • But like the lady in the commercial who says,
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  • "i fell down, but i can't get up."
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  • That happens to many people over time
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  • In many different ways.
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  • He says, "you who are spiritual,
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  • I want you to be a hospital.
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  • I want you to be a place where healing occurs
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  • Because there are doctors and nurses and technicians
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  • That are spiritual people who understand
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  • One of their roles in being part of the family of god
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  • Is to help the hurting."
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  • That's why if you only show up to show up,
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  • If you only show up to be helped but not to help,
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  • Then you don't understand the nature of the church.
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  • It's not an event center for a weekly event.
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  • It is a place where caring people
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  • Care for people
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  • And are being cared for themselves.
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  • So, he says, "this is what i want you to do."
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  • If you've ever seen a dog wrapped around a pole,
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  • And the dog is trying to get unwrapped
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  • But it's tightening itself more
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  • Because it doesn't understand it's gotta go this way
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  • To unwrap, so it keeps pulling this way
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  • To try to get out from around the pole,
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  • But it can't get out.
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  • It needs somebody to re-steer it
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  • Back in the right direction so it can be released
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  • From the trap it keeps tightening on its own.
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  • He says, "that is one of the reasons
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  • Why the church exists,
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  • And the way god releases restoration
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  • Is through his people."
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  • Yeah, he can do it directly and sometimes he does,
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  • But that's not his normal way of doing it.
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  • God's normal way of working is through his people
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  • For the improvement of his people.
  • 00:11:33.975 --> 00:11:35.910
  • He says, "i want you who are spiritual
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  • To restore such a one,
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  • To bring them back in alignment."
  • 00:11:39.914 --> 00:11:42.484
  • We are god's jaws of life,
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  • And if you've seen the jaws of life
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  • When there's been a car accident,
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  • You've seen this big utensil come in.
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  • But they have to be careful, because the person is trapped,
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  • So they have to be careful in how they do it
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  • So that the person is not hurt more.
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  • So they work in tandem with carefulness
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  • Because they wanna release the person,
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  • But they wanna do it in such a way
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  • Where not more damage occurs.
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  • So he says, "this is what i want you to do.
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  • I want you to be this kind of environment."
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  • But then he says something else.
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  • In verse 2 he says, "bear one another's burdens,
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  • And thereby fulfill the law of christ."
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  • A burden is not a sin. he deals with sins in verse 1.
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  • A trespass, that's a sin, verse 1.
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  • A burden is a load, a weight,
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  • Something too heavy to carry on your own.
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  • He says, "bear one another's burdens."
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  • A burden is when life has gotten too heavy,
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  • When the weight of what you're dealing with
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  • Is too much for you to bear,
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  • When the problems have just mounted and mounted
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  • On top of each other,
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  • The losses have mounted and mounted
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  • On top of each other, the financial needs
  • 00:13:02.964 --> 00:13:05.667
  • Have accumulated more and more on top of each other,
  • 00:13:05.667 --> 00:13:09.237
  • The emotional pressure that you're feeling,
  • 00:13:09.237 --> 00:13:12.140
  • You think you're gonna lose your mind
  • 00:13:12.140 --> 00:13:13.808
  • Because all of this pressure is on you.
  • 00:13:13.808 --> 00:13:16.244
  • You feel this weight of life on you.
  • 00:13:16.244 --> 00:13:20.582
  • That's a burden.
  • 00:13:20.582 --> 00:13:22.584
  • He says, "bear one another's burden."
  • 00:13:22.584 --> 00:13:27.422
  • And when you have lived long enough
  • 00:13:27.422 --> 00:13:29.357
  • And you have gone through enough,
  • 00:13:29.357 --> 00:13:30.725
  • You will hit the time in your life
  • 00:13:30.725 --> 00:13:32.961
  • When it becomes weighty to be alive,
  • 00:13:32.961 --> 00:13:35.797
  • Weighty to deal with all of these problems,
  • 00:13:35.797 --> 00:13:38.333
  • All of these difficulties, all of these challenges,
  • 00:13:38.333 --> 00:13:41.302
  • All of these hurts, and you're gonna need a spotter.
  • 00:13:41.302 --> 00:13:45.273
  • He says, "bear one another's burden."
  • 00:13:45.273 --> 00:13:47.842
  • In other words, be a spotter until you need to be a spottee.
  • 00:13:47.842 --> 00:13:53.081
  • In other words, make sure that you are available to serve,
  • 00:13:53.081 --> 00:13:57.051
  • To help, somebody else who's under the load of life,
  • 00:13:57.051 --> 00:14:00.788
  • Because there's coming a time
  • 00:14:00.788 --> 00:14:02.357
  • When the load will be too much for you to bear
  • 00:14:02.357 --> 00:14:06.094
  • Because that's how life is sometimes.
  • 00:14:06.094 --> 00:14:09.330
  • It becomes weighty, heavy, and too much to handle.
  • 00:14:09.330 --> 00:14:16.137
  • And you can talk spiritual all day,
  • 00:14:16.137 --> 00:14:18.439
  • You know, "god is good all the time,
  • 00:14:18.439 --> 00:14:20.541
  • And all the time god is good,"
  • 00:14:20.541 --> 00:14:21.876
  • And "jesus can fix it," and all that.
  • 00:14:21.876 --> 00:14:24.078
  • All that's true, but the way he does it,
  • 00:14:24.078 --> 00:14:29.717
  • Normally, is through his people.
  • 00:14:29.717 --> 00:14:32.387
  • That's his normal way of doing it.
  • 00:14:32.387 --> 00:14:34.255
  • So if his people aren't right,
  • 00:14:34.255 --> 00:14:36.557
  • The people with problems are in trouble.
  • 00:14:36.557 --> 00:14:41.663
  • Because they've decided to be a hospice, not a hospital.
  • 00:14:41.663 --> 00:14:46.467
  • He says, "bear one another's burdens."
  • 00:14:46.467 --> 00:14:51.172
  • Come alongside and help people carry the weight,
  • 00:14:51.172 --> 00:14:55.977
  • To carry the load that is weighing them down.
  • 00:14:55.977 --> 00:15:01.182
  • And so he says, "if anyone thinks he is something
  • 00:15:01.182 --> 00:15:09.524
  • When he is nothing, he deceives himself," verse 3.
  • 00:15:09.524 --> 00:15:16.264
  • God's translation of that is "you ain't all that
  • 00:15:16.264 --> 00:15:18.266
  • And a bag of chips," all right?
  • 00:15:18.266 --> 00:15:21.936
  • Okay, don't think you're too good
  • 00:15:21.936 --> 00:15:24.505
  • To help somebody else.
  • 00:15:24.505 --> 00:15:26.307
  • That's why he says in verse 1,
  • 00:15:26.307 --> 00:15:28.109
  • "watch out for yourself lest you be in the same position
  • 00:15:28.109 --> 00:15:31.112
  • That this person is in who you're refusing to help."
  • 00:15:31.112 --> 00:15:36.684
  • Don't think you are all that,
  • 00:15:36.684 --> 00:15:38.252
  • That you're too good to be a servant--
  • 00:15:38.252 --> 00:15:41.556
  • Too good, too big, too--
  • 00:15:41.556 --> 00:15:47.929
  • You have too many titles in front of your name--
  • 00:15:47.929 --> 00:15:51.366
  • That you can't be a servant,
  • 00:15:51.366 --> 00:15:56.170
  • That you can't be used of god to help somebody else.
  • 00:15:56.170 --> 00:15:59.374
  • Nobody is that important.
  • 00:15:59.374 --> 00:16:02.110
  • He says, "and the only person you're fooling is yourself,"
  • 00:16:02.110 --> 00:16:07.448
  • Because god knows you ain't all that.
  • 00:16:07.448 --> 00:16:09.784
  • And let life go left on you long enough,
  • 00:16:09.784 --> 00:16:12.353
  • And you'll discover you're not all that.
  • 00:16:12.353 --> 00:16:17.125
  • He says, "you are deceiving nobody but yourself."
  • 00:16:17.125 --> 00:16:21.662
  • If you've got this "self" mentality--
  • 00:16:21.662 --> 00:16:24.899
  • "i'm too good for that.
  • 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:27.835
  • I don't have to serve.
  • 00:16:27.835 --> 00:16:29.437
  • I don't have to be caring about anybody else.
  • 00:16:29.437 --> 00:16:32.974
  • I'm concerned about three people:
  • 00:16:32.974 --> 00:16:34.475
  • Me, myself, and i."
  • 00:16:34.475 --> 00:16:37.378
  • He says, "you have tricked yourself,
  • 00:16:37.378 --> 00:16:39.614
  • You have fooled yourself."
  • 00:16:39.614 --> 00:16:45.753
  • So we're dealing with restoring on two levels:
  • 00:16:45.753 --> 00:16:50.858
  • Releasing somebody, releasing somebody
  • 00:16:50.858 --> 00:16:54.962
  • Who's caught in a sin,
  • 00:16:54.962 --> 00:16:57.298
  • Or somebody who's under the load,
  • 00:16:57.298 --> 00:17:00.802
  • Relieving them.
  • 00:17:00.802 --> 00:17:02.603
  • So release or relieving.
  • 00:17:02.603 --> 00:17:05.339
  • We should all be available to be used of god
  • 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:08.176
  • To release somebody caught
  • 00:17:08.176 --> 00:17:09.777
  • Or to relieve somebody who's under the load.
  • 00:17:09.777 --> 00:17:14.015
  • That's what it means to belong to the family of god,
  • 00:17:14.015 --> 00:17:16.818
  • And that's what it means to, what he says,
  • 00:17:16.818 --> 00:17:19.053
  • "fulfill the law of christ."
  • 00:17:19.053 --> 00:17:22.056
  • Hmm, what is the law of christ?
  • 00:17:22.056 --> 00:17:24.725
  • James chapter 2 calls it the royal law.
  • 00:17:24.725 --> 00:17:31.966
  • It's the law of love.
  • 00:17:31.966 --> 00:17:33.301
  • The law of christ is the law of love.
  • 00:17:33.301 --> 00:17:37.705
  • He says, "i want you to fulfill the law of christ,"
  • 00:17:37.705 --> 00:17:40.908
  • Complete the law of christ.
  • 00:17:40.908 --> 00:17:42.877
  • You fulfill the law of christ not by just saying,
  • 00:17:42.877 --> 00:17:45.146
  • "i love the lord."
  • 00:17:45.146 --> 00:17:46.881
  • That's not fulfilling it, that's talking it.
  • 00:17:46.881 --> 00:17:49.750
  • Fulfilling it is when you are relieving and releasing--
  • 00:17:49.750 --> 00:17:54.122
  • Releasing somebody caught or relieving somebody
  • 00:17:54.122 --> 00:17:57.191
  • Who's under the load.
  • 00:17:57.191 --> 00:17:58.693
  • He says, "you are fulfilling the law of christ."
  • 00:17:58.693 --> 00:18:00.895
  • In other words, you are showing love not talking love.
  • 00:18:00.895 --> 00:18:04.999
  • Anybody can say, "i love god" and "i love you, you love me."
  • 00:18:04.999 --> 00:18:08.603
  • Those are cute words, but they must be married
  • 00:18:08.603 --> 00:18:11.672
  • To biblical action.
  • 00:18:11.672 --> 00:18:14.075
  • Love has not been manifested until it's been demonstrated.
  • 00:18:14.075 --> 00:18:20.681
  • And you demonstrate it by relieving and releasing
  • 00:18:20.681 --> 00:18:24.685
  • The burden of others.
  • 00:18:24.685 --> 00:18:26.020
  • In other words, god measures how much you love him
  • 00:18:26.020 --> 00:18:30.258
  • By how much you're loving other members of his family.
  • 00:18:30.258 --> 00:18:36.230
  • That is the measurement that god uses.
  • 00:18:36.230 --> 00:18:38.933
  • And if he sees that you only come in the church for you,
  • 00:18:38.933 --> 00:18:42.370
  • You're only concerned about your blessing,
  • 00:18:42.370 --> 00:18:44.539
  • You're only concerned about your miracle,
  • 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:46.807
  • You're only concerned about what god has done for you lately,
  • 00:18:46.807 --> 00:18:50.278
  • You are not fulfilling the law of christ.
  • 00:18:50.278 --> 00:18:54.715
  • You're talking a good game, i'm talking a good game,
  • 00:18:54.715 --> 00:18:57.919
  • But we're not walking a good game.
  • 00:18:57.919 --> 00:19:00.454
  • And so he says, "this is the dynamic
  • 00:19:00.454 --> 00:19:03.024
  • Of the people of god: to relieve and release"--
  • 00:19:03.024 --> 00:19:05.626
  • That is, to restore-- "the lives of others."
  • 00:19:05.626 --> 00:19:11.566
  • Now, he says, "each one must examine his own work,"
  • 00:19:11.566 --> 00:19:19.807
  • Because this is the work he's called us to do,
  • 00:19:19.807 --> 00:19:23.010
  • "and then he will have reason for boasting."
  • 00:19:23.010 --> 00:19:26.214
  • He says, "if you wanna be able to brag on
  • 00:19:26.214 --> 00:19:28.583
  • How great a christian you are, show me your work.
  • 00:19:28.583 --> 00:19:33.087
  • Show me who you cared about.
  • 00:19:33.087 --> 00:19:34.789
  • Show me who you served.
  • 00:19:34.789 --> 00:19:36.324
  • Show me who was somebody down that you encouraged.
  • 00:19:36.324 --> 00:19:38.926
  • Show me somebody who was sick in an illness you had
  • 00:19:38.926 --> 00:19:41.062
  • And i got--i let you get healed,
  • 00:19:41.062 --> 00:19:43.698
  • And now you have the opportunity to encourage them
  • 00:19:43.698 --> 00:19:46.000
  • With your testimony on how i healed you
  • 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.402
  • So that they can know i can heal them.
  • 00:19:48.402 --> 00:19:50.271
  • Tell me about the work you've been doing.
  • 00:19:50.271 --> 00:19:52.173
  • Tell me about the person who was down who you encouraged.
  • 00:19:52.173 --> 00:19:55.376
  • Tell me about the person on the sick list
  • 00:19:55.376 --> 00:19:57.545
  • That you called.
  • 00:19:57.545 --> 00:19:58.879
  • Tell me about the person that you walked beside
  • 00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:01.415
  • Because they didn't know where else to turn."
  • 00:20:01.415 --> 00:20:03.651
  • He says, "when i see your work,
  • 00:20:03.651 --> 00:20:05.653
  • Now we can talk about you bragging.
  • 00:20:05.653 --> 00:20:07.989
  • Now you can call yourself the goat,
  • 00:20:07.989 --> 00:20:09.957
  • Because i've seen what you've done
  • 00:20:09.957 --> 00:20:12.226
  • Not just heard what you've said."
  • 00:20:12.226 --> 00:20:14.762
  • He says, "and then you will have reason to boast on yourself
  • 00:20:14.762 --> 00:20:18.199
  • And not against the backdrop of somebody else."
  • 00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:23.137
  • You say, "well, that sounds like a lot of work.
  • 00:20:23.137 --> 00:20:28.409
  • That sounds like a lot of work."
  • 00:20:28.409 --> 00:20:30.745
  • Okay, god is not asking you to do this for everybody.
  • 00:20:30.745 --> 00:20:34.181
  • He's asking you to do this for somebody.
  • 00:20:34.181 --> 00:20:37.818
  • You can't solve everybody's problem,
  • 00:20:37.818 --> 00:20:39.987
  • But if you got hundreds and thousands of people
  • 00:20:39.987 --> 00:20:42.356
  • All reaching out, all touching another,
  • 00:20:42.356 --> 00:20:44.725
  • All seeking opportunities to fulfill the royal law,
  • 00:20:44.725 --> 00:20:47.428
  • Nobody gets overloaded,
  • 00:20:47.428 --> 00:20:48.763
  • Because everybody's doing the little that they can,
  • 00:20:48.763 --> 00:20:50.731
  • So everything is getting done
  • 00:20:50.731 --> 00:20:52.233
  • Because the whole family of god is tied to it.
  • 00:20:52.233 --> 00:20:58.673
  • He says something to help you out,
  • 00:20:58.673 --> 00:21:01.342
  • Help me out, help us out.
  • 00:21:01.342 --> 00:21:03.244
  • "for each one will bear his own load,"
  • 00:21:03.244 --> 00:21:06.247
  • In verse number 5.
  • 00:21:06.247 --> 00:21:08.082
  • Oh, this is good news.
  • 00:21:08.082 --> 00:21:11.118
  • He says, "you help bear the burden,
  • 00:21:11.118 --> 00:21:16.023
  • But everybody has to bear their own load."
  • 00:21:16.023 --> 00:21:19.026
  • Ah.
  • 00:21:19.026 --> 00:21:20.361
  • In other words, you don't let other people
  • 00:21:20.361 --> 00:21:22.630
  • Give you the whole load.
  • 00:21:22.630 --> 00:21:25.633
  • You help them with the burden,
  • 00:21:25.633 --> 00:21:27.635
  • But you don't take the whole load.
  • 00:21:27.635 --> 00:21:29.837
  • In other words, you don't let them off the hook
  • 00:21:29.837 --> 00:21:32.039
  • For what they should be responsible for themselves.
  • 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:35.109
  • You help them with the burden,
  • 00:21:35.109 --> 00:21:36.510
  • But they gotta carry their own load.
  • 00:21:36.510 --> 00:21:40.414
  • The bible says we're to feed the poor.
  • 00:21:40.414 --> 00:21:41.982
  • The bible says we're to help the poor.
  • 00:21:41.982 --> 00:21:43.718
  • But the bible also says, "a man that does not work
  • 00:21:43.718 --> 00:21:46.821
  • Should not eat."
  • 00:21:46.821 --> 00:21:49.290
  • So they can't say, "feed me, feed me,
  • 00:21:49.290 --> 00:21:50.991
  • Feed me while i stay home."
  • 00:21:50.991 --> 00:21:53.027
  • No, if you're an able-bodied person,
  • 00:21:53.027 --> 00:21:55.396
  • You better go get a job, or i ain't feeding you
  • 00:21:55.396 --> 00:21:57.398
  • No more, okay?
  • 00:21:57.398 --> 00:21:59.367
  • So we are to help with the burden,
  • 00:21:59.367 --> 00:22:01.535
  • But we're not to take the whole responsibility.
  • 00:22:01.535 --> 00:22:04.505
  • And a lot of people will do that.
  • 00:22:04.505 --> 00:22:05.840
  • There are a lot of people will try to use
  • 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:07.875
  • The sympathy of other christians and the sympathy of churches
  • 00:22:07.875 --> 00:22:11.512
  • To alleviate them of being responsible.
  • 00:22:11.512 --> 00:22:14.949
  • And paul says, "no, you don't go that far.
  • 00:22:14.949 --> 00:22:17.017
  • You help lift the burden.
  • 00:22:17.017 --> 00:22:20.020
  • You don't take the weight and say, 'let me just lift
  • 00:22:20.020 --> 00:22:21.822
  • The weight for you.'"
  • 00:22:21.822 --> 00:22:25.726
  • You say, "why do this--why? why does this matter?"
  • 00:22:25.726 --> 00:22:33.534
  • Well, here's why it matters.
  • 00:22:33.534 --> 00:22:35.736
  • It matters because james says,
  • 00:22:35.736 --> 00:22:39.540
  • In james chapter 5, verse 19 and 20,
  • 00:22:39.540 --> 00:22:43.811
  • That when we help a person, we save their lives.
  • 00:22:43.811 --> 00:22:51.952
  • And that can be their physical life,
  • 00:22:51.952 --> 00:22:53.821
  • It can be their spiritual life,
  • 00:22:53.821 --> 00:22:56.223
  • But he says, "when we come and we intervene
  • 00:22:56.223 --> 00:22:59.627
  • In somebody who's caught in a sin," he says,
  • 00:22:59.627 --> 00:23:02.596
  • "we save their lives."
  • 00:23:02.596 --> 00:23:04.865
  • We keep it from going south further.
  • 00:23:04.865 --> 00:23:08.569
  • You don't just let people, particularly fellow saints,
  • 00:23:08.569 --> 00:23:13.140
  • Go left.
  • 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:14.475
  • You let them go left and you say,
  • 00:23:14.475 --> 00:23:16.644
  • "well, i wish you the best."
  • 00:23:16.644 --> 00:23:19.380
  • He says no.
  • 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.714
  • He says, "you save their lives,
  • 00:23:20.714 --> 00:23:22.850
  • Because satan wants to destroy them,
  • 00:23:22.850 --> 00:23:24.618
  • Satan wants to kill them.
  • 00:23:24.618 --> 00:23:26.120
  • Physically, spiritually, he wants to destroy their life."
  • 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:32.460
  • God responds to christians who intervene.
  • 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:37.298
  • Oh, this is an important principle.
  • 00:23:37.298 --> 00:23:39.700
  • For christians who intervene to somebody,
  • 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:42.136
  • To--or another christian who's going south
  • 00:23:42.136 --> 00:23:45.506
  • And you intervene-- it's called interposition--
  • 00:23:45.506 --> 00:23:48.442
  • When you interpose yourself in the middle of that.
  • 00:23:48.442 --> 00:23:51.846
  • Exodus chapter 4, god is gonna kill moses.
  • 00:23:51.846 --> 00:23:55.549
  • He's going to take moses's life because moses has refused
  • 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:58.819
  • To circumcise his son.
  • 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:01.622
  • And the bible says in exodus chapter 4
  • 00:24:01.622 --> 00:24:03.824
  • That moses was--god was on his way to kill moses.
  • 00:24:03.824 --> 00:24:07.528
  • But then it says his wife zipporah intervened
  • 00:24:07.528 --> 00:24:12.266
  • And went to her son and circumcised her
  • 00:24:12.266 --> 00:24:15.836
  • Before god got to moses.
  • 00:24:15.836 --> 00:24:18.606
  • God is on their way to kill moses,
  • 00:24:18.606 --> 00:24:21.542
  • But zipporah interposes herself prior to god getting there.
  • 00:24:21.542 --> 00:24:26.881
  • She circumcised her son, and the bible says,
  • 00:24:26.881 --> 00:24:29.783
  • "and when god saw what zipporah did,
  • 00:24:29.783 --> 00:24:32.520
  • His wrath turned from moses," his wrath turned from moses,
  • 00:24:32.520 --> 00:24:36.957
  • Because somebody loved him enough
  • 00:24:36.957 --> 00:24:39.293
  • To interpose themselves
  • 00:24:39.293 --> 00:24:41.462
  • Before god had to take care of it themselves.
  • 00:24:41.462 --> 00:24:47.234
  • So it is to save the life,
  • 00:24:47.234 --> 00:24:50.871
  • Because we are to love one another enough
  • 00:24:50.871 --> 00:24:54.141
  • To care about the consequences of sin
  • 00:24:54.141 --> 00:24:58.279
  • And the bur--pressure of burden,
  • 00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:03.484
  • And because we're gonna need that same interposition
  • 00:25:03.484 --> 00:25:07.888
  • In our circumstance.
  • 00:25:07.888 --> 00:25:11.025
  • Your job and my job, if we're gonna be
  • 00:25:11.025 --> 00:25:13.160
  • A real church and not a fake church,
  • 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:15.829
  • If we're gonna be a hospital and not a hospice
  • 00:25:15.829 --> 00:25:18.899
  • Is to make sure we're not making the thing worse,
  • 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:23.270
  • Because we are a family that cares enough
  • 00:25:23.270 --> 00:25:26.807
  • About the family of god to be his agents of restoration,
  • 00:25:26.807 --> 00:25:32.012
  • Whether it's relieving or restoring
  • 00:25:32.012 --> 00:25:33.480
  • In any possible capacity.
  • 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:37.251
  • 1 peter chapter 4, verse 8, says,
  • 00:25:37.251 --> 00:25:39.453
  • "love covers a multitude of sins."
  • 00:25:39.453 --> 00:25:42.590
  • Love doesn't cover up, but love covers.
  • 00:25:42.590 --> 00:25:45.426
  • In other words, it doesn't make the situation worse.
  • 00:25:45.426 --> 00:25:49.630
  • He says that "if you do this, you are positioning yourselves,"
  • 00:25:49.630 --> 00:25:53.867
  • We are positioning ourselves to have something
  • 00:25:53.867 --> 00:25:56.637
  • We can take to god.
  • 00:25:56.637 --> 00:25:59.673
  • Last week i talked about hezekiah.
  • 00:25:59.673 --> 00:26:02.242
  • Hezekiah was dying.
  • 00:26:02.242 --> 00:26:03.777
  • God says, "you're going to die."
  • 00:26:03.777 --> 00:26:07.247
  • Hezekiah then prays to god, and he says to god this thing.
  • 00:26:07.247 --> 00:26:12.353
  • "remember the good i did."
  • 00:26:12.353 --> 00:26:15.556
  • He says, "remember the people i helped.
  • 00:26:15.556 --> 00:26:18.926
  • Remember the kindness i showed."
  • 00:26:18.926 --> 00:26:21.729
  • And when god remembered what he had done,
  • 00:26:21.729 --> 00:26:26.000
  • "before the prophet left the courtroom,"
  • 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:29.203
  • The bible says, "god changed his mind."
  • 00:26:29.203 --> 00:26:32.239
  • One day you're gonna face something where you need god
  • 00:26:32.239 --> 00:26:34.775
  • To change his mind.
  • 00:26:34.775 --> 00:26:36.410
  • You're gonna face something where you're gonna need god
  • 00:26:36.410 --> 00:26:38.445
  • To reverse your situation.
  • 00:26:38.445 --> 00:26:40.414
  • You're gonna face something where you're gonna need god
  • 00:26:40.414 --> 00:26:42.916
  • To deal a death blow to something coming against you,
  • 00:26:42.916 --> 00:26:46.954
  • And he's gonna check your credit report.
  • 00:26:46.954 --> 00:26:49.590
  • He's gonna check your kindness report.
  • 00:26:49.590 --> 00:26:51.859
  • He's gonna check your ministry report.
  • 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:54.094
  • He's gonna say, "well, i tried to get you
  • 00:26:54.094 --> 00:26:57.031
  • To help somebody, but you were too busy.
  • 00:26:57.031 --> 00:26:59.433
  • I tried to get you to care for somebody,
  • 00:26:59.433 --> 00:27:01.502
  • But you were too much into yourself.
  • 00:27:01.502 --> 00:27:03.337
  • I tried to get you to minister,
  • 00:27:03.337 --> 00:27:04.938
  • But you didn't wanna serve, you just wanted to be served."
  • 00:27:04.938 --> 00:27:08.242
  • "but god, i need you to intervene for me."
  • 00:27:08.242 --> 00:27:11.945
  • Well, god wants to see you to intervene for others
  • 00:27:11.945 --> 00:27:15.249
  • So that when you need him to intervene for you,
  • 00:27:15.249 --> 00:27:18.018
  • You got a credit report with a high credit score.
  • 00:27:18.018 --> 00:27:22.489
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:22.489 --> 00:27:22.489