Lead by Learning to Follow

Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22
Broadcast Featured Image

Pastor Colin on the fifth commandments. The fifth commandment, “honour your father and mother,” is expanded to include respect for all authority figures, urging the Israelites to honour judges, kings, priests, and prophets.

The sermon identifies four key observations about leadership: God gives leaders to His people, God distributes authority among different roles, leaders must have godly character and abilities, and the people must honour their leaders. Pastor Colin also addresses three major temptations leaders face: power, sexual immorality, and greed, stressing the importance of leaders saturating their lives with the Word of God to overcome these temptations.

Finally, Pastor Colin points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate leader who perfectly exemplifies these principles. Jesus, as the prophet, priest, king, and judge, holds all authority and provides the model for godly leadership. The sermon concludes with a call to follow Christ by believing His word, trusting His sacrifice, accepting His judgment, and obeying His commands.

1 00:00:00,720 –> 00:00:04,400 Well, please have your Bible open again at the book of Deuteronomy. 2 00:00:04,400 –> 00:00:10,720 Moses is speaking for the last time to God’s people that are on the verge of the promised 3 00:00:10,720 –> 00:00:18,080 land, and here’s God’s servant, and he’s pleading with them to live and to walk in ways that we’ll 4 00:00:18,080 –> 00:00:24,559 see the continued blessing of God upon his people. And we’ve been following what Moses 5 00:00:25,120 –> 00:00:27,840 He’s been speaking about the dynamics 6 00:00:27,840 –> 00:00:31,680 of a godly life, that is to fear the Lord and to love the Lord. 7 00:00:32,799 –> 00:00:39,520 Then he is laying out the structures of a godly life. Applying it to the family, 8 00:00:40,080 –> 00:00:47,279 how it works out in terms of festivals or particular times to release debts and so forth 9 00:00:47,279 –> 00:00:52,320 and so on. And as we’re making our way through this book, I think you will have picked up 10 00:00:52,400 –> 00:00:57,279 in this series, that Deuteronomy really follows the pattern of the 10 commandments, 11 00:00:57,279 –> 00:01:02,320 so if you have your Bible open now and look back over where we’ve been the last couple of weekends, 12 00:01:02,959 –> 00:01:09,680 in chapter 15, the year of cancelling debts, is really an application of the fourth commandment, 13 00:01:09,680 –> 00:01:14,879 that is the law relating to the sabbath. And then last weekend we looked at the festivals in 14 00:01:14,879 –> 00:01:20,800 chapter 16, and again that is an application of the fourth commandment. It’s an application of 15 00:01:20,879 –> 00:01:27,519 the sabbath to the rhythm of the year of God’s people. Now as we come to chapter 17, we’re 16 00:01:27,519 –> 00:01:32,720 really moving to a new section of the book, and Moses is dealing clearly with the subject of 17 00:01:32,720 –> 00:01:37,919 leadership, and it seems right to view this as an application of the fifth commandment. 18 00:01:37,919 –> 00:01:42,239 It’s following the same order and it does this throughout the entire book. 19 00:01:42,239 –> 00:01:49,440 You remember the fifth commandment, honour your father and your mother. Now your father and your 20 00:01:49,440 –> 00:01:56,160 mother are the first figures of authority in your life. And God says you are to honour them. 21 00:01:56,959 –> 00:02:03,919 And so now what we find in these chapters is Moses is beginning to apply and expound and explain 22 00:02:04,480 –> 00:02:10,399 the implications and applications of the fifth commandment to honour your father and mother, 23 00:02:10,960 –> 00:02:17,199 to hold those who are placed in authority, in positions of authority, in a position of honour. 24 00:02:17,199 –> 00:02:23,520 And so what we’re looking at today is how Moses speaks about the offices of leadership, 25 00:02:23,520 –> 00:02:29,360 the requirements that God has for a godly leader, and then the calling that God has to 26 00:02:29,360 –> 00:02:36,720 his people to hold those who are appointed as leaders in honour. Now it had originally been 27 00:02:36,720 –> 00:02:42,639 my intention to focus simply on the King in the passage that was read from chapter 17, 28 00:02:42,639 –> 00:02:47,600 but I’ve come to feel that what will be most useful for us today is to take the broader sweep 29 00:02:47,600 –> 00:02:54,720 of the teaching that Moses gives to us here with regards to leadership. I want to draw very 30 00:02:54,720 –> 00:03:01,360 simply first, four observations about leadership from the passage of scripture here. Secondly, 31 00:03:01,360 –> 00:03:06,960 to identify from the scriptures, three particular temptations that all leaders face 32 00:03:07,839 –> 00:03:13,520 in every culture in every century, and then to identify from the scriptures, 33 00:03:13,520 –> 00:03:20,160 one priority for all leaders, and then finally, to see how all this speaks to us 34 00:03:20,160 –> 00:03:23,600 about Jesus Christ. So I hope you have the Bible open in front of you. 35 00:03:23,600 –> 00:03:28,240 Let’s begin with four observations about leadership. The first observation is simply this, 36 00:03:28,800 –> 00:03:33,600 that God gives leaders to his people, and we should thank God for this. 37 00:03:34,320 –> 00:03:39,440 Notice that there are four offices of leadership, beginning in chapter 16, in verse 18. 38 00:03:40,080 –> 00:03:47,360 First, there’s the judge. Then there’s the King. Then there’s the priest, and fourthly, the prophet. 39 00:03:47,360 –> 00:03:53,279 First, the judge. Chapter 16, in verse 18. Appoint judges and officials 40 00:03:53,839 –> 00:03:57,600 for each of your tribes in every time that the Lord is giving to you, 41 00:03:57,600 –> 00:04:03,759 and they shall judge the people fairly. Now, as I’ve been reflecting on this 42 00:04:03,759 –> 00:04:10,880 over these last days, I’m just struck again by the relevance of God’s Word to us. 43 00:04:12,639 –> 00:04:19,040 What happens every time a name comes up as a nominee for the Supreme Court? 44 00:04:20,320 –> 00:04:22,959 We go through all of this process, don’t we, 45 00:04:22,959 –> 00:04:28,640 in which questions are being asked about what. Does this person lean to the right, 46 00:04:29,440 –> 00:04:37,600 or does this person lean to the left? Does this person have a political partiality? 47 00:04:39,040 –> 00:04:43,600 Questions about the leanings of our judges are all around us. 48 00:04:45,359 –> 00:04:50,079 And here we are in midterm elections. Have you been struck in this recession by the 49 00:04:50,640 –> 00:04:56,320 staggering amounts of money that are being spent on midterm elections? 50 00:04:57,440 –> 00:05:02,000 And it is reasonable to ask the question, where is this money coming from? 51 00:05:02,000 –> 00:05:07,519 And what are the commitments that are being made in return for this money? 52 00:05:07,519 –> 00:05:11,200 These questions are all around us, are they not? Look at verse 19. 53 00:05:12,160 –> 00:05:17,119 do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, 54 00:05:18,239 –> 00:05:25,359 for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 55 00:05:26,480 –> 00:05:30,640 Now you see, God is speaking here about the corrupting power of money. 56 00:05:32,160 –> 00:05:36,320 When money is given to secure a particular outcome, 57 00:05:36,399 –> 00:05:43,119 that’s what a bribe is. Even wise people, God says, lose their ability to see clearly, 58 00:05:43,119 –> 00:05:49,440 the money clouds their vision. And even righteous people, verse 19, God says, 59 00:05:49,440 –> 00:05:57,040 end up twisting their words. So when God speaks about judges, this is obviously speaking to us, 60 00:05:57,040 –> 00:06:02,880 isn’t it? It’s immediately relevant. Second, Kings chapters 17 and verse 14, 61 00:06:02,880 –> 00:06:10,399 the King must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself, verse 16. Now, you know that the 62 00:06:10,399 –> 00:06:16,880 horse in those days was the means of exercising military might and if you were seeking to become 63 00:06:16,880 –> 00:06:24,959 aggressive towards other nations in a military way, you would acquire large numbers of horses. 64 00:06:25,679 –> 00:06:29,760 And so, I simply need to ask the question, it needs- it’s rhetorical, it needs a answer, 65 00:06:29,760 –> 00:06:35,119 are there nations in the world today that are building military power and thereby threatening 66 00:06:35,119 –> 00:06:40,160 the stability of the world? Answer, obviously yes. When God speaks about kings, 67 00:06:41,040 –> 00:06:48,799 the building of military muscle is speaking to us. Third, priests. Chapter 18 verses 1-13. 68 00:06:49,760 –> 00:06:54,880 The Lord, verse 5, has chosen them to stand and minister in the Lord’s name 69 00:06:55,760 –> 00:07:01,279 Question, do we have any issues in the world today that are related to abusive priests? 70 00:07:02,079 –> 00:07:07,040 Does that sound familiar? Men who were put in a position of trust, 71 00:07:07,920 –> 00:07:13,119 men who were called to minister in God’s name and abused that trust and brought immense pain 72 00:07:13,920 –> 00:07:20,480 to vulnerable people. When God speaks about priests, He is speaking to us. 73 00:07:20,559 –> 00:07:28,160 And fourthly the prophet, chapter 18 verses 14 to 22, God says, verse 18, 74 00:07:28,160 –> 00:07:33,920 I will put my words in his mouth. That is the mark of the prophet, he speaks the word of God. 75 00:07:34,480 –> 00:07:39,440 But then verse 20, God speaks about a prophet who presumes to speak in my name, 76 00:07:39,440 –> 00:07:42,000 things that I have not commanded Him to say. 77 00:07:43,920 –> 00:07:49,920 Do we have a problem today with people who are given the trust of a pulpit 78 00:07:51,359 –> 00:07:57,760 and then use it to speak, not the word of God, but simply to speak a message of their own creating? 79 00:07:58,799 –> 00:08:04,799 Absolutely. It is all around us. So when God speaks to prophets, he is speaking to us. 80 00:08:04,799 –> 00:08:09,519 So folks, just to read this scripture and to connect with it, 81 00:08:09,519 –> 00:08:16,320 we live, do we not in the world where too often we see the trouble caused by the biased judge, 82 00:08:16,959 –> 00:08:23,519 the abusive priest, the false prophet, and the tyrannical king? We live in a sinful 83 00:08:23,519 –> 00:08:28,799 and a fallen world, and the failings that we see in our leaders are merely a reflection 84 00:08:28,799 –> 00:08:36,320 of what resides within us ourselves. So we need these words from God in every culture 85 00:08:37,599 –> 00:08:45,119 and in every generation. Now, seeing the connection, I want you to notice that 86 00:08:45,119 –> 00:08:50,479 these words of God are particularly given to God’s people. Here are God’s people, 87 00:08:50,479 –> 00:08:55,119 they’re coming into the Promised Land and now they’re going to be surrounded by other nations, 88 00:08:56,239 –> 00:09:03,280 and the other nations will be loaded with bias judges and abusive priests and false prophets 89 00:09:03,280 –> 00:09:09,520 and tyrannical kings and people who despise the whole lot of them. But you see what God is saying. 90 00:09:09,520 –> 00:09:12,719 He’s saying through Moses, now among you it is to be different. 91 00:09:12,719 –> 00:09:18,640 Among my people I am calling you to something that is different 92 00:09:18,640 –> 00:09:24,640 from the pattern that you see in the world. And so my first observation is that God gives 93 00:09:24,640 –> 00:09:30,320 leaders to his people. Here’s the second observation, God distributes authority 94 00:09:31,359 –> 00:09:38,159 so that it never resides in one person alone. A very important observation from the teaching 95 00:09:38,239 –> 00:09:45,200 the Scripture, very important for the church today. God distributes authority so that it 96 00:09:45,200 –> 00:09:54,719 never resides in one person alone. Now, notice the wisdom of God. Why are these four different 97 00:09:54,719 –> 00:09:59,440 offices of leadership? The Judge, the Prophet, the Priest, and the King, why are these 98 00:10:00,320 –> 00:10:12,479 distinguished? Answer, all authority lies in God himself, it resides in him. But in this fallen 99 00:10:12,479 –> 00:10:22,880 world, when God gives authority by delegation to men, he spreads it out. And the reason that he 100 00:10:22,880 –> 00:10:30,080 spreads it out is that even the best leaders are sinners in the process of being redeemed. 101 00:10:31,039 –> 00:10:39,280 And so God never gives delegated authority as a whole to any one person. That is why it was 102 00:10:39,280 –> 00:10:44,559 very important in ancient Israel that no one person could hold all these four offices. The 103 00:10:44,559 –> 00:10:49,760 priest couldn’t also be the king, the prophet couldn’t also be the judge, and so forth and so on. 104 00:10:50,719 –> 00:10:55,760 Because this is important, let me read to you a quotation from Christopher Wright and he says 105 00:10:55,760 –> 00:11:00,880 this very perceptively. He says the clear distinction and separation of different 106 00:11:00,880 –> 00:11:07,200 kinds of authority can be seen as a significant precursor to some of the principles of democratic 107 00:11:07,200 –> 00:11:14,080 government especially the separation of powers. No single person could hold all four offices. 108 00:11:14,640 –> 00:11:22,320 None of the authorities is given supreme authority over the others. Now that’s a very important 109 00:11:22,320 –> 00:11:28,080 principle in a fallen world and as we talk about the scriptures and seek to apply it, 110 00:11:28,080 –> 00:11:35,440 you may like to talk about how this works out in the church. What does it look like 111 00:11:35,440 –> 00:11:43,440 among the people of God? And although you can’t draw, I think, strict uh, defined kind of lines, 112 00:11:43,440 –> 00:11:50,400 let me just encourage you to think of it this way. When in the church there are cases of discipline, 113 00:11:51,440 –> 00:12:01,599 they come to who? The elders. For the elders in our church are called to act as judges. They 114 00:12:01,599 –> 00:12:07,039 are called to make judgements in situations of discipline, that’s what they do. Then we have 115 00:12:07,039 –> 00:12:15,599 a church board that is given and trusted a kingly role. Then we have pastors who are given a 116 00:12:15,599 –> 00:12:20,960 prophetic role. They are to speak the word of God publicly and they’re to speak it privately 117 00:12:20,960 –> 00:12:25,200 into the lives of God’s people. And if you’re asking the question, well, now, who are the 118 00:12:25,200 –> 00:12:32,000 priests, the answer, of course, is all of God’s people are the priests who stand and minister 119 00:12:32,239 –> 00:12:39,119 Lord’s name always. Now, folks, this is a very important principle that we’re looking at here. 120 00:12:39,119 –> 00:12:46,320 God distributes authority so that it never resides in one person. And I wanna tell you 121 00:12:46,320 –> 00:12:53,200 with great thankfulness that that principle is wisely applied in the way that this church is 122 00:12:53,200 –> 00:13:01,119 governed, and if you’re a discerning person, you will be profoundly thankful for it. 123 00:13:02,719 –> 00:13:08,880 Now here’s the third observation. God gives leaders to His church. Leadership never resides 124 00:13:08,880 –> 00:13:16,559 simply in one person. Always be concerned if you see that pattern in a local church. Thirdly, 125 00:13:16,559 –> 00:13:24,159 leaders are to be qualified in character and viability. Notice what God says about the king 126 00:13:24,159 –> 00:13:29,520 particularly, be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses, verse 15. 127 00:13:30,239 –> 00:13:37,039 Moses gives to us seven marks, no less than seven marks of a godly king. It’s fascinating to me 128 00:13:37,039 –> 00:13:43,039 that all of them are reflected in the New Testament. See the Bible is one book. I want you 129 00:13:43,039 –> 00:13:49,359 to see the flow and the unity of it. So for example, verse 15 of chapter 17, the king must 130 00:13:49,359 –> 00:13:56,719 be anointed by God that flows into the New Testament, act six three, choose men who are 131 00:13:56,719 –> 00:14:04,320 full of the Holy Spirit. Second, the king must be from among God’s people, verse 15, which flows 132 00:14:04,320 –> 00:14:09,520 into acts chapter six, and verse three, you’re to choose from among you from among the community 133 00:14:09,520 –> 00:14:15,679 of those who are bonded together in faith and in service. Number three, the king must exercise 134 00:14:15,679 –> 00:14:21,840 faith verse 16, he is not to be a man who puts his trust in horses. So acts chapter six, 135 00:14:21,840 –> 00:14:28,200 in verse five, they choose Stephen, who is a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. 136 00:14:28,200 –> 00:14:36,239 At number four, the king must be loyal. He is not to be a man with many wives, verse 17. 137 00:14:36,239 –> 00:14:42,559 So that flows into 1 Timothy chapter three in verse two. The elder must be the husband of 138 00:14:42,559 –> 00:14:48,400 but one wife. It’s the same principle you see. Number five, the king must not be greedy. He 139 00:14:48,400 –> 00:14:54,400 must not, verse 17, accumulate large amounts of gold or silver, which in 1 Timothy chapter three 140 00:14:54,400 –> 00:15:01,840 in verse three, becomes the elder must not be a lover of money. Number six, the king must be 141 00:15:01,840 –> 00:15:06,159 a student of scripture. He’s to read the law of God all the days of his life, verse 19. 142 00:15:06,960 –> 00:15:12,320 Which comes over into 1 Timothy chapter three in verse nine by saying the deacon is to hold 143 00:15:12,320 –> 00:15:17,919 the deep truths of the faith. Hold the deep truths of the faith and to hold them with a clear 144 00:15:17,919 –> 00:15:24,239 conscience. Number seven, the king is not to consider himself better than his brothers. Verse 145 00:15:24,239 –> 00:15:30,640 20, which comes over into first Peter chapter five in verse three, elders are to serve, 146 00:15:31,280 –> 00:15:39,200 not lording it over the flock, but being examples to them. And you see the wonderful unity of this. 147 00:15:39,840 –> 00:15:44,479 There’s a certain character that God is looking for 148 00:15:46,000 –> 00:15:50,239 among those who are to be trusted with great responsibility in his church, 149 00:15:51,200 –> 00:15:57,119 wherever that be in the world. Whatever century you live in, whether it’s Old Testament or New 150 00:15:57,119 –> 00:16:04,719 Testament, the character that God is looking for never changes. And so discerning members 151 00:16:04,719 –> 00:16:11,520 of a congregation must learn to recognize and discriminate where it exists, where it does not. 152 00:16:13,599 –> 00:16:17,359 Fourth observation, God’s people are to hold their leaders 153 00:16:18,000 –> 00:16:24,719 in honor. Look at chapter 17 in verse 12. God’s calling his people to be different from the world 154 00:16:24,719 –> 00:16:32,799 where there’s all this abuse that goes on and all this despising and hatred that comes as a 155 00:16:32,799 –> 00:16:40,320 result of it. And God is saying, now here’s the kind of leader that is to be chosen and is to 156 00:16:40,320 –> 00:16:48,960 be trusted among my people. And then he says this, chapter 17 verse 12, the man who shows contempt 157 00:16:49,599 –> 00:16:56,559 for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the Lord, your God. 158 00:16:56,559 –> 00:17:03,520 You see what happens to him? Do you see what happens to him? He must be put to death. 159 00:17:05,040 –> 00:17:12,319 You must purge the evil from Israel. Now folks, relax. We do not in the church 160 00:17:12,319 –> 00:17:20,719 put to death people who show contempt, that’s the word, for spiritual leaders. 161 00:17:22,000 –> 00:17:28,640 But there may be times when it is necessary to put such a person out of the church. 162 00:17:29,760 –> 00:17:35,839 That church discipline is the New Testament equivalent of what is being said here with 163 00:17:36,560 –> 00:17:42,959 regards to the Old Testament Scriptures. This is why the Scriptures says in the 164 00:17:42,959 –> 00:17:50,880 New Testament, you see, warn a divisive person once, then warn him a second time, 165 00:17:52,160 –> 00:17:57,839 and after that, warn him a third time? No. Have nothing more to do with him. 166 00:17:58,959 –> 00:18:00,160 Have nothing more to do with him. 167 00:18:00,400 –> 00:18:07,280 This way in the Scriptures, you see in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, 168 00:18:07,280 –> 00:18:12,160 the apostle says, we ask you brothers to respect those who work hard among you 169 00:18:12,160 –> 00:18:19,199 and are over you in the Lord. Hold them in the highest regard in love. That’s God’s Word to us. 170 00:18:20,079 –> 00:18:25,599 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work and live at peace with one another. 171 00:18:26,160 –> 00:18:32,239 So God’s people, we’re being told here, are to appoint leaders who are worthy of honor 172 00:18:33,280 –> 00:18:39,040 and they are to give to these leaders the honor that is due. 173 00:18:40,160 –> 00:18:44,640 So this is very practical teaching, isn’t it? For us and for all of God’s people, 174 00:18:44,640 –> 00:18:48,719 any place in the world, in any generation. Four observations about leadership. 175 00:18:48,719 –> 00:18:54,079 Number one, God gives leaders to his people. Thank God for that. We’d be in chaos without it. 176 00:18:54,719 –> 00:19:01,439 Without it. Second, God distributes authority so that it never resides in one person alone. 177 00:19:01,439 –> 00:19:08,560 Third, leaders are to be qualified by character and by ability. And fourth, God’s people are to 178 00:19:08,560 –> 00:19:14,000 hold their leaders in honor. That is what God is saying to his people as an application of 179 00:19:14,000 –> 00:19:20,560 the Fifth Commandment, which is honor your father and your mother. How we handle authority 180 00:19:21,199 –> 00:19:29,119 is a matter on which God speaks to us. Now, that’s the first thing. Here’s the 181 00:19:29,119 –> 00:19:39,119 second more briefly. There are particular temptations that all leaders face. 182 00:19:40,160 –> 00:19:47,040 So inasmuch as God has given any trust, any responsibility to you, you need to 183 00:19:47,040 –> 00:19:55,520 be particularly aware of the special temptations that come to those who are trusted with leadership 184 00:19:55,520 –> 00:20:01,599 in any sphere, whether it be in the church or anywhere else. And focusing in particularly 185 00:20:01,599 –> 00:20:07,119 on what is said to the king here, and we’re told that the king will face particular temptations 186 00:20:07,119 –> 00:20:13,119 that come from three directions. As soon as I say them, you’ll say, oh, I might have guessed. 187 00:20:13,359 –> 00:20:22,400 Money, sex, power. Anything new there? That’s right there in the book of Deuteronomy. 188 00:20:23,760 –> 00:20:29,280 Here are the temptations that leaders face. Number one, power. The king must not acquire 189 00:20:29,280 –> 00:20:36,160 for himself great numbers of horses. Now, I’ve observed, I think this is a common reality of 190 00:20:36,160 –> 00:20:43,439 life, most leaders would like to have more power. But God says to the king, 191 00:20:43,439 –> 00:20:47,760 be very careful about that. All kings have horses, 192 00:20:49,520 –> 00:20:55,439 but don’t acquire great numbers of horses for yourself. In other words, don’t try to become 193 00:20:55,439 –> 00:21:04,000 a power, it’d be a temptation to you. With regards to temptation in the sexual spear, 194 00:21:04,000 –> 00:21:10,400 verse 17, he must not take many wives or his heart will be led astray. 195 00:21:11,359 –> 00:21:15,439 Now, you know that it was common in those days for a king to have not simply a wife, 196 00:21:15,439 –> 00:21:21,599 but to have a heir him and wives from different royal families, from surrounding nations would 197 00:21:21,599 –> 00:21:26,239 be taken and there would be a great wedding and this was a means in the ancient world 198 00:21:26,239 –> 00:21:32,479 of stealing political alliances. And inevitably with many wives there came into the royal court, 199 00:21:32,560 –> 00:21:36,319 the worship of many gods. This is what happened to King Solomon 200 00:21:36,319 –> 00:21:38,959 and the Bible says it turned his heart from the Lord. 201 00:21:40,479 –> 00:21:43,680 I think there are other applications of this that speak to us. 202 00:21:44,800 –> 00:21:51,280 A man with one wife has the gift of someone next to him who can tell him the truth. 203 00:21:52,239 –> 00:21:57,439 Isn’t that a good thing? Do you think a man with a hair him ever heres the truth? 204 00:21:58,400 –> 00:22:02,640 Really, think about it. A man with a hair him is surrounded, 205 00:22:02,640 –> 00:22:06,800 not with the truth but with the sweet fog of flattery and lies. 206 00:22:08,959 –> 00:22:11,199 And God says this leads the heart astray, 207 00:22:12,880 –> 00:22:17,839 someone who speaks the truth in your life, not a group of flatterers. 208 00:22:20,000 –> 00:22:20,959 And in our time 209 00:22:21,680 –> 00:22:27,439 when we live in a culture that is saturated with pornography, 210 00:22:28,800 –> 00:22:33,680 Christian men are surrounded by many women. 211 00:22:35,680 –> 00:22:38,719 And God says this leads the heart astray. 212 00:22:40,160 –> 00:22:45,119 So beware of the lure of this temptation. 213 00:22:45,119 –> 00:22:50,079 Then with regards to money, verse 17, 214 00:22:50,079 –> 00:22:55,400 He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. 215 00:22:56,119 –> 00:22:58,839 Now, you can see the point of this because being the king, 216 00:22:58,839 –> 00:22:59,920 I mean, if you were the king, 217 00:22:59,920 –> 00:23:02,479 think of the opportunities to accumulate 218 00:23:02,479 –> 00:23:04,560 large amounts of personal wealth. 219 00:23:04,560 –> 00:23:06,760 And God says, now, as you’re given the trust 220 00:23:06,760 –> 00:23:07,599 of being the king, 221 00:23:07,599 –> 00:23:10,160 you’re not to use this for your own advantage, 222 00:23:10,160 –> 00:23:10,959 you are not to do this, 223 00:23:10,959 –> 00:23:13,359 don’t use your position for personal gain, 224 00:23:14,000 –> 00:23:16,719 that’s what he’s saying. 225 00:23:16,719 –> 00:23:18,000 Now, are you not struck, 226 00:23:18,000 –> 00:23:20,199 as you see this in the Bible, 227 00:23:20,920 –> 00:23:24,439 how human nature never changes? 228 00:23:25,640 –> 00:23:28,119 The temptations that God’s people were facing 229 00:23:28,119 –> 00:23:33,479 more than 3,000 years ago and half a world away 230 00:23:33,479 –> 00:23:35,719 are exactly the same temptations 231 00:23:35,719 –> 00:23:39,880 that leaders face here and around the world today. 232 00:23:40,199 –> 00:23:45,119 So knowing that these are the temptations 233 00:23:45,119 –> 00:23:45,920 that leaders face … 234 00:23:45,920 –> 00:23:48,479 Was there anyone surprised by NF this, by the way, 235 00:23:48,479 –> 00:23:49,280 was anyone surprised? 236 00:23:49,280 –> 00:23:51,400 Of course not. 237 00:23:51,400 –> 00:23:53,359 But knowing that these are the temptations 238 00:23:53,359 –> 00:23:55,400 that leaders distinctively face, 239 00:23:55,400 –> 00:23:56,560 the question becomes, 240 00:23:56,560 –> 00:23:59,479 how is the King to face these temptations 241 00:23:59,479 –> 00:24:01,199 and to overcome them? 242 00:24:03,479 –> 00:24:06,800 So I move from identifying three temptations 243 00:24:06,800 –> 00:24:11,800 that leaders face to one priority for leaders to pursue. 244 00:24:13,160 –> 00:24:14,680 And it’s simply this. 245 00:24:15,520 –> 00:24:20,520 Saturate your life in the word of God. 246 00:24:21,680 –> 00:24:23,920 The only way to stand against temptation. 247 00:24:25,359 –> 00:24:30,359 You saturate your life in the word of God. 248 00:24:31,160 –> 00:24:34,000 And notice how this is spelled out for the King. 249 00:24:34,000 –> 00:24:36,760 First he’s told, he’s to write the word of God 250 00:24:37,119 –> 00:24:42,079 verse 18, when he takes the throne of his kingdom 251 00:24:42,079 –> 00:24:47,079 he is to write for himself on a scroll, a copy of the law. 252 00:24:48,699 –> 00:24:50,979 Now this is so fascinating. 253 00:24:50,979 –> 00:24:53,660 Nobody else in Israel was required to write out 254 00:24:53,660 –> 00:24:56,819 the entire book of Deuteronomy by hand. 255 00:24:56,819 –> 00:24:59,199 But the King is. 256 00:24:59,199 –> 00:25:01,640 Here’s this man and he’s given such a trust 257 00:25:01,640 –> 00:25:03,959 and he’s given such a responsibility. 258 00:25:04,959 –> 00:25:09,280 When he’s crowned, his first task is not to go and rule, 259 00:25:09,280 –> 00:25:12,640 his first task is to go and learn how to rule. 260 00:25:14,140 –> 00:25:17,099 And he learns this by writing out the word of God, 261 00:25:17,099 –> 00:25:19,160 that is the book of Deuteronomy, this law. 262 00:25:19,160 –> 00:25:22,439 He writes out the 34 chapters in his own hand 263 00:25:22,439 –> 00:25:24,239 on a scroll that he keeps with him 264 00:25:24,239 –> 00:25:26,979 for the rest of his life, his own personal copy. 265 00:25:26,979 –> 00:25:29,239 It’s almost as if the people of God 266 00:25:29,239 –> 00:25:32,520 when they place the crown on the king’s head, 267 00:25:32,619 –> 00:25:33,939 they’re saying to the people, 268 00:25:33,939 –> 00:25:36,079 now we’re placing this trust in you 269 00:25:36,079 –> 00:25:39,219 and we need to know that the word of God is in you 270 00:25:40,079 –> 00:25:42,819 and that the word of God dwells in you richly. 271 00:25:43,680 –> 00:25:46,699 We need that word of God to be deeply in you 272 00:25:46,699 –> 00:25:50,859 more than we need it to be deeply in anyone else. 273 00:25:50,859 –> 00:25:53,199 So here’s what we want you to do. 274 00:25:53,199 –> 00:25:56,920 You go off into the study, take the crown off your head 275 00:25:56,920 –> 00:25:59,579 and you sit down with a copy of the book of Deuteronomy 276 00:25:59,579 –> 00:26:02,599 and you write out on a scroll, in your own hand, 277 00:26:02,599 –> 00:26:05,880 word for word, every word that God has given 278 00:26:05,880 –> 00:26:07,939 so that it will be in you. 279 00:26:09,140 –> 00:26:10,699 This is what we want you to do. 280 00:26:12,339 –> 00:26:13,839 How long do you think it took? 281 00:26:14,979 –> 00:26:16,699 When we read the book of Deuteronomy, 282 00:26:16,699 –> 00:26:19,020 it took two and three quarter hours 283 00:26:19,020 –> 00:26:20,500 we read the entire book out loud. 284 00:26:20,500 –> 00:26:22,199 What a wonderful evening that was. 285 00:26:23,199 –> 00:26:27,180 My guess is that to write the entire book of Deuteronomy, 286 00:26:27,300 –> 00:26:29,619 of which I have not done, but then I’m not a king. 287 00:26:30,819 –> 00:26:33,359 My guess is it’s probably a full week’s work. 288 00:26:34,939 –> 00:26:37,819 And there the king is, can you picture him? 289 00:26:39,020 –> 00:26:39,859 And he’s writing. 290 00:26:41,339 –> 00:26:42,780 And there’s this long scroll, 291 00:26:43,920 –> 00:26:47,219 and it’s his personal copy, 292 00:26:48,699 –> 00:26:51,660 of this book, the word of God. 293 00:26:52,979 –> 00:26:56,140 Now when he’s written it, what’s he to do next? 294 00:26:56,140 –> 00:26:58,459 Look at what it says, verse 19. 295 00:26:58,459 –> 00:27:02,619 It, that is this personalized handwritten copy 296 00:27:02,619 –> 00:27:05,380 of the book of Deuteronomy is to be with him. 297 00:27:06,560 –> 00:27:09,619 And he’s to read it all the days of his life. 298 00:27:10,500 –> 00:27:12,140 It’s to be with him. 299 00:27:12,140 –> 00:27:14,119 So this, you picture the scroll now, 300 00:27:14,119 –> 00:27:16,020 he’s written it out, it’s rolled up. 301 00:27:16,020 –> 00:27:21,020 It’s to be on his nightstand and it’s to be in his study. 302 00:27:22,119 –> 00:27:25,300 And when he goes into meetings, he’s to take it with him. 303 00:27:25,300 –> 00:27:27,079 And when he walks from one room to another, 304 00:27:27,079 –> 00:27:29,880 can you picture the King with his robe and with his crown 305 00:27:29,880 –> 00:27:32,640 and he’s walking from one room to another behind him, 306 00:27:32,640 –> 00:27:34,780 there’s an assistant and what’s he carrying? 307 00:27:34,780 –> 00:27:35,839 He’s carrying the scroll 308 00:27:35,839 –> 00:27:37,979 because the King is going to want to refer to it. 309 00:27:37,979 –> 00:27:42,839 Every day, every day, have the Bible on your nightstand. 310 00:27:43,800 –> 00:27:47,040 Put the Bible on your desk, bring the Bible to the church. 311 00:27:47,040 –> 00:27:49,339 Bring the Bible on the train. 312 00:27:49,339 –> 00:27:52,819 Have the Bible when you’re in meetings, let it be with you. 313 00:27:53,819 –> 00:27:55,319 But not only with you, 314 00:27:55,319 –> 00:27:58,300 because you can have it with you and have it closed, 315 00:27:58,300 –> 00:28:01,020 you’re to read it, read it all the days of your life. 316 00:28:01,020 –> 00:28:03,959 As you read the Bible, it will shape your thinking. 317 00:28:03,959 –> 00:28:05,839 It will form your character. 318 00:28:05,839 –> 00:28:07,599 It will energize your life. 319 00:28:07,599 –> 00:28:09,760 It will direct your ministry. 320 00:28:10,839 –> 00:28:12,079 Read the Bible in faith, 321 00:28:12,079 –> 00:28:15,040 read the Bible in repentance and keep reading it, 322 00:28:15,040 –> 00:28:17,719 Moses says all the days of your life, 323 00:28:17,719 –> 00:28:21,439 fill your heart with the promises of God. 324 00:28:21,660 –> 00:28:24,439 Shape your will by the commandments of God, 325 00:28:24,439 –> 00:28:27,959 guard your life with the words of God. 326 00:28:27,959 –> 00:28:32,800 Then you will be able to face the temptations of money 327 00:28:32,800 –> 00:28:34,800 and of sex and of power. 328 00:28:36,540 –> 00:28:40,719 Now King David, who was the best of a very mixed bunch 329 00:28:40,719 –> 00:28:42,800 in the Old Testament. 330 00:28:42,800 –> 00:28:44,939 King David had his own personal failures, 331 00:28:44,939 –> 00:28:46,599 you know about that, 332 00:28:48,239 –> 00:28:50,780 but King David gives us this testimony 333 00:28:50,920 –> 00:28:52,560 that he sought to follow the Lord 334 00:28:52,560 –> 00:28:54,520 with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. 335 00:28:54,520 –> 00:28:56,900 You’ll find it in Psalm 119 in verse 11. 336 00:28:56,900 –> 00:28:59,219 He says this, this is how I’m trying to do it. 337 00:28:59,219 –> 00:29:01,979 I’m a man, David is saying, who’s failed in many ways, 338 00:29:01,979 –> 00:29:03,500 but here’s what I’m doing. 339 00:29:03,500 –> 00:29:06,599 I have hidden your word in my heart 340 00:29:06,599 –> 00:29:08,979 that I might not sin against you. 341 00:29:08,979 –> 00:29:10,560 You see what he’s saying? 342 00:29:10,560 –> 00:29:12,319 This is my defense. 343 00:29:12,319 –> 00:29:16,219 This is how I’m able to stand against temptation. 344 00:29:16,219 –> 00:29:19,959 By taking in the word of God day by day, day by day, 345 00:29:20,040 –> 00:29:24,219 I’m hiding it in my heart and filling my life with it. 346 00:29:28,140 –> 00:29:33,040 Spurgeon made this marvellous comment about John Bunyan. 347 00:29:34,060 –> 00:29:36,560 Spurgeon was a great fan of John Bunyan 348 00:29:36,560 –> 00:29:39,180 and of his profoundly biblical writing. 349 00:29:40,680 –> 00:29:44,319 Spurgeon says this, Bunyan studies the Bible 350 00:29:45,400 –> 00:29:49,199 till his whole being was saturated with scripture, 351 00:29:50,520 –> 00:29:53,319 and then Spurgeon says when you read Bunyan, 352 00:29:53,319 –> 00:29:55,739 You feel as if you want to say 353 00:29:55,739 –> 00:29:58,939 this man is a living Bible. 354 00:29:59,839 –> 00:30:03,079 If you prick him anywhere, 355 00:30:03,079 –> 00:30:06,520 you will find that his blood is bib-line. 356 00:30:06,520 –> 00:30:09,439 It’s a very famous line from Spurgeon, that. 357 00:30:09,439 –> 00:30:11,219 You prick him anywhere, 358 00:30:11,219 –> 00:30:14,180 you’ll find that his blood is bib-line. 359 00:30:14,180 –> 00:30:16,119 You see, it’s in him, 360 00:30:16,119 –> 00:30:17,260 and Spurgeons went on to say 361 00:30:17,260 –> 00:30:19,719 the very essence of the Bible flows from him. 362 00:30:19,839 –> 00:30:22,319 He cannot speak without quoting a text 363 00:30:22,319 –> 00:30:25,680 and his soul is full of the Word of God. 364 00:30:25,680 –> 00:30:28,880 Friends, that’s the kind of leader we want, isn’t it? 365 00:30:28,880 –> 00:30:32,380 That’s the kind of pastor I want to be. 366 00:30:32,380 –> 00:30:33,959 If you’re aiming for ministry, 367 00:30:33,959 –> 00:30:36,979 take this as foundational for your life. 368 00:30:38,280 –> 00:30:39,839 Aimed to be that kind of elder, 369 00:30:39,839 –> 00:30:41,920 aimed to be that kind of father, 370 00:30:41,920 –> 00:30:45,160 that kind of leader in your own home. 371 00:30:45,160 –> 00:30:48,280 Seek to be that kind of Christian. 372 00:30:48,280 –> 00:30:50,680 If you were to prick him anywhere, 373 00:30:50,680 –> 00:30:53,119 his very blood is bibline. 374 00:30:53,119 –> 00:30:54,040 It’s in him. 375 00:30:55,359 –> 00:30:56,839 Now, you see, that’s what God’s saying 376 00:30:56,839 –> 00:30:58,400 is critical for the king 377 00:30:58,400 –> 00:31:01,160 and therefore, critical for all who have spiritual leadership 378 00:31:01,160 –> 00:31:03,599 and everyone who wants to be useful 379 00:31:03,599 –> 00:31:06,000 in the work of Jesus Christ. 380 00:31:07,099 –> 00:31:09,680 So write it, God says to the king, 381 00:31:09,680 –> 00:31:10,540 and then read it. 382 00:31:10,540 –> 00:31:12,599 Have it with you always, and read it. 383 00:31:12,599 –> 00:31:13,439 Get it into you. 384 00:31:13,439 –> 00:31:16,660 Let your life be saturated in the Word of God. 385 00:31:16,760 –> 00:31:19,020 Tell me one of these folks who has a Bible for years 386 00:31:19,020 –> 00:31:20,979 that hardly looks like it’s been opened? 387 00:31:23,160 –> 00:31:26,219 And then, of course, God says, obey the word. 388 00:31:26,219 –> 00:31:28,060 It’s to be with him, verse 19. 389 00:31:28,060 –> 00:31:30,300 He’s to read it all the days of his life, why? 390 00:31:30,300 –> 00:31:33,119 So that he may learn to revere the Lord, his God. 391 00:31:33,119 –> 00:31:34,119 There’s the fruit. 392 00:31:35,060 –> 00:31:38,699 And follow carefully all the words of this law 393 00:31:39,819 –> 00:31:41,060 and these decrees. 394 00:31:43,020 –> 00:31:44,920 So the king will have his philosophy. 395 00:31:45,359 –> 00:31:47,420 The king will have his own vision 396 00:31:47,420 –> 00:31:51,359 and his own values, as every leader does. 397 00:31:52,380 –> 00:31:54,420 But he must allow the word of God 398 00:31:54,420 –> 00:31:56,160 to be constantly rebuking him 399 00:31:56,160 –> 00:31:58,579 and correcting him and teaching him. 400 00:31:59,979 –> 00:32:02,420 The word of God must always be shaping his thinking, 401 00:32:02,420 –> 00:32:05,079 always be challenging his ideas. 402 00:32:06,680 –> 00:32:09,880 That is why one of the great cries of the Reformation 403 00:32:10,819 –> 00:32:12,520 was this, semper reformanda. 404 00:32:16,880 –> 00:32:19,739 Semper reformanda, that’s what the Reformers said, 405 00:32:19,739 –> 00:32:23,739 which means always reforming, 406 00:32:23,739 –> 00:32:25,119 always reforming. 407 00:32:26,380 –> 00:32:28,680 See what the Reformers had grasped was this, 408 00:32:28,680 –> 00:32:30,819 we don’t want to be the kind of people who say, 409 00:32:30,819 –> 00:32:33,619 hey, we’ve got justification by faith worked out. 410 00:32:33,619 –> 00:32:36,339 And so we’ve got everything in place, we know it all. 411 00:32:37,339 –> 00:32:39,420 The Reformers were wise enough to grasp 412 00:32:39,719 –> 00:32:41,579 because as Luther said, my mind is captive 413 00:32:41,579 –> 00:32:44,260 to the word of God, that a true Christian 41 00:32:44,260 –> 00:32:46,800 is a person who is always seeking to grow 415 00:32:46,800 –> 00:32:48,719 and to develop and to be challenged 416 00:32:48,719 –> 00:32:51,359 and to be stretched by the word of God. 417 00:32:51,359 –> 00:32:53,680 However long you’ve been a follower of Christ. 418 00:32:55,359 –> 00:32:57,000 So the true Christian leader 419 00:32:58,680 –> 00:33:00,959 is always being challenged by the word, 420 00:33:00,959 –> 00:33:04,920 always being humbled by it, always learning from it. 421 00:33:07,000 –> 00:33:08,859 We are not to pose as people 422 00:33:08,859 –> 00:33:11,160 who think we’ve got it all right, 423 00:33:12,760 –> 00:33:16,260 but as people who are always seeking humbly 424 00:33:16,260 –> 00:33:19,180 to follow the word of God. 425 00:33:21,339 –> 00:33:25,500 So write it, read it, obey it. 426 00:33:27,199 –> 00:33:29,260 Now, the very last thing is simply this. 427 00:33:30,839 –> 00:33:35,839 Who is this king who bears all these marks 428 00:33:36,219 –> 00:33:40,859 and overcomes all these temptations 429 00:33:42,400 –> 00:33:44,060 and follows all these laws? 430 00:33:45,239 –> 00:33:46,300 And you know where I’m going, 431 00:33:46,300 –> 00:33:48,699 you read through the Old Testament story 432 00:33:48,699 –> 00:33:50,420 at the various kings that follow 433 00:33:50,420 –> 00:33:51,920 in the Old Testament scriptures 434 00:33:51,920 –> 00:33:53,819 and with a few exceptions, 435 00:33:53,819 –> 00:33:56,939 they were pretty much a sorry lot, weren’t they? 436 00:33:56,939 –> 00:33:58,859 The vast majority of them surely never 437 00:33:58,859 –> 00:34:00,660 wrote out a word of the book of Deuteronomy. 438 00:34:00,660 –> 00:34:03,699 In fact, in the later period of Israel’s history, 439 00:34:03,699 –> 00:34:05,520 instead of being copied out by hand 440 00:34:05,640 –> 00:34:07,000 by every new king, 441 00:34:07,000 –> 00:34:10,239 what happened was that the copy of the word of the Lord, 442 00:34:10,239 –> 00:34:12,399 which was in the possession of the priests 443 00:34:12,399 –> 00:34:16,520 was left to languish and gather dust in a vault 444 00:34:16,520 –> 00:34:19,399 in the temple until, in the time of Josiah, 445 00:34:19,399 –> 00:34:21,459 you may remember that story, it was found 446 00:34:21,459 –> 00:34:24,040 and Josiah heard something for the first time 447 00:34:24,040 –> 00:34:25,540 he’d never even heard before. 448 00:34:26,919 –> 00:34:29,219 And even the greatest king David 449 00:34:30,439 –> 00:34:33,199 failed in his own calling and found himself 450 00:34:34,040 –> 00:34:36,879 as a leader hanging on the mercy of God, 451 00:34:36,879 –> 00:34:39,479 which is the position that every true Christian leader 452 00:34:39,479 –> 00:34:40,760 is always in. 453 00:34:42,280 –> 00:34:47,120 So in the fullness of time, God sent his son. 454 00:34:48,239 –> 00:34:50,120 And because he is God with us, 455 00:34:50,120 –> 00:34:53,739 he has all authority in himself. 456 00:34:55,760 –> 00:34:57,600 And God’s anointing is on him. 457 00:34:58,560 –> 00:35:01,120 And he is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. 458 00:35:01,560 –> 00:35:04,659 And so he truly is a King from among God’s people. 459 00:35:05,739 –> 00:35:08,439 And he is saturated in the Word of God. 460 00:35:08,439 –> 00:35:11,439 Even as a young boy in the temple, 461 00:35:11,439 –> 00:35:12,479 his mind is filled. 462 00:35:12,479 –> 00:35:14,199 Look at how many times the Lord Jesus 463 00:35:14,199 –> 00:35:16,080 quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures, 464 00:35:16,080 –> 00:35:18,379 and especially the book of Deuteronomy. 465 00:35:18,379 –> 00:35:19,879 He goes out into the desert. 466 00:35:19,879 –> 00:35:21,959 He overcomes temptation. 467 00:35:21,959 –> 00:35:23,080 His great humility. 468 00:35:23,080 –> 00:35:26,199 He does not come riding into the city 469 00:35:26,199 –> 00:35:28,000 on a great massive horse. 470 00:35:28,000 –> 00:35:32,679 He comes into the city riding on a donkey. 471 00:35:32,679 –> 00:35:34,639 And this King, because he is God, 472 00:35:34,639 –> 00:35:37,719 is also the priest who on the cross 473 00:35:37,719 –> 00:35:40,280 makes himself to be the sacrifice 474 00:35:40,280 –> 00:35:43,000 for our sins to reconcile us to God. 475 00:35:43,000 –> 00:35:44,659 And because he is God with us, 476 00:35:44,659 –> 00:35:46,439 he rises from the dead 477 00:35:46,439 –> 00:35:48,919 because death cannot keep a hold on him. 478 00:35:48,919 –> 00:35:50,639 And he comes to his disciples, 479 00:35:50,639 –> 00:35:52,120 and you remember what he says. 480 00:35:52,120 –> 00:35:55,280 He says, all authority. 481 00:35:55,280 –> 00:35:56,919 Not just some of it. 482 00:35:56,919 –> 00:35:58,959 Not parceled out authority. 483 00:35:58,959 –> 00:36:03,320 All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. 484 00:36:04,320 –> 00:36:06,479 In other words, he is the prophet. 485 00:36:06,479 –> 00:36:07,520 He is the priest. 486 00:36:07,520 –> 00:36:10,560 He is the King and he is the judge. 487 00:36:10,560 –> 00:36:12,879 Therefore see the point. 488 00:36:12,879 –> 00:36:16,320 Therefore, because all authority is given to him, 489 00:36:16,320 –> 00:36:18,679 because he is the prophet, priest and King, and judge, 490 00:36:18,679 –> 00:36:21,800 therefore go and make disciples of all nations. 491 00:36:21,800 –> 00:36:25,639 That’s why baptizing them in the name of the father 492 00:36:25,639 –> 00:36:28,280 and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. 493 00:36:28,280 –> 00:36:31,580 We are to call people from every nation, 494 00:36:31,580 –> 00:36:34,800 from every culture to faith in Jesus Christ, 495 00:36:34,800 –> 00:36:36,520 to become followers of Jesus Christ. 496 00:36:36,520 –> 00:36:37,360 Why? 497 00:36:37,360 –> 00:36:40,000 Because all authority belongs to him. 498 00:36:40,000 –> 00:36:44,000 He is the King of Kings and he is the Lord of Lords. 499 00:36:46,280 –> 00:36:50,219 And so here’s the thing that I want us to take away now. 500 00:36:51,219 –> 00:36:53,479 When you know who Jesus is, 501 00:36:54,979 –> 00:36:58,979 then you will grasp what it means to follow him. 502 00:37:00,679 –> 00:37:02,179 He is the prophet. 503 00:37:03,340 –> 00:37:07,560 So to follow Christ is to believe his word. 504 00:37:07,560 –> 00:37:09,419 It means that I give up the right of saying, 505 00:37:09,419 –> 00:37:12,939 well, Jesus says this, but I think that. 506 00:37:12,939 –> 00:37:15,699 To become a follower of Jesus means for you, 507 00:37:15,699 –> 00:37:18,020 if you are his follower, 508 00:37:18,580 –> 00:37:21,639 that his word defines truth for you. 509 00:37:23,979 –> 00:37:28,360 And when you have a different thought from his word, 510 00:37:28,360 –> 00:37:30,260 you’re wrong and you change your mind. 511 00:37:30,260 –> 00:37:32,239 That’s what it means for us to submit ourselves 512 00:37:32,239 –> 00:37:34,520 to the word of God. 513 00:37:34,520 –> 00:37:37,899 Christ to be the prophet in authority over us, 514 00:37:37,899 –> 00:37:40,899 not the one who suggest ideas to us. 515 00:37:42,000 –> 00:37:46,459 And following Christ means that we trust in his sacrifice 516 00:37:46,500 –> 00:37:47,659 because not only is he 517 00:37:47,659 –> 00:37:49,659 the one who speaks the word of truth to us, 518 00:37:49,659 –> 00:37:53,580 he is the priest who offers himself as a sacrifice for us. 519 00:37:53,580 –> 00:37:56,100 So to be a Christian means that you trust 520 00:37:56,100 –> 00:37:59,379 the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made of himself, 521 00:37:59,379 –> 00:38:02,820 the shedding of his blood, the tearing of his own body 522 00:38:02,820 –> 00:38:06,219 in order to make atonement for your sins. 523 00:38:08,360 –> 00:38:11,820 And because Jesus is the judge, 524 00:38:11,820 –> 00:38:13,540 to be a follower of Jesus means 525 00:38:13,699 –> 00:38:16,439 that you accept Christ’s judgment. 526 00:38:18,399 –> 00:38:22,500 We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 527 00:38:22,500 –> 00:38:24,159 You say what does it mean for me 528 00:38:24,159 –> 00:38:27,459 to accept Christ’s judgment about me? 529 00:38:27,459 –> 00:38:28,300 Listen. 530 00:38:29,620 –> 00:38:33,860 We are justified by faith, 531 00:38:35,040 –> 00:38:38,479 through Jesus Christ our Lord and in this way 532 00:38:38,479 –> 00:38:40,060 we have peace with God. 533 00:38:40,060 –> 00:38:42,979 What’s his judgment about you if you have faith 534 00:38:42,979 –> 00:38:44,739 in the Lord Jesus Christ? 535 00:38:44,739 –> 00:38:46,139 Here’s his judgment about you. 536 00:38:46,139 –> 00:38:48,219 You have peace with God. 537 00:38:48,219 –> 00:38:49,719 That’s how you get peace in your own soul. 538 00:38:49,719 –> 00:38:52,020 You accept the judge’s verdict about you 539 00:38:52,020 –> 00:38:54,780 which is why Paul says in Romans in chapter eight, 540 00:38:54,780 –> 00:38:56,600 it’s God who justifies. 541 00:38:56,600 –> 00:38:58,280 So who is he who condemns? 542 00:39:00,179 –> 00:39:02,060 When someone says to me, well I know God’s forgiven me 543 00:39:02,060 –> 00:39:04,800 but I can’t forgive myself. 544 00:39:04,800 –> 00:39:06,479 I say something like this. 545 00:39:07,419 –> 00:39:10,000 Well if the blood of Jesus was good enough 546 00:39:10,000 –> 00:39:11,939 for God to forgive you 547 00:39:13,219 –> 00:39:16,060 are you putting yourself in a higher position than that? 548 00:39:17,760 –> 00:39:20,060 Good enough for him but not good enough for me? 549 00:39:21,679 –> 00:39:24,260 And because he is King to be a follower of Christ 550 00:39:24,260 –> 00:39:26,840 means to obey Christ’s command, 551 00:39:26,840 –> 00:39:30,340 he says to his redeemed people if you love me 552 00:39:31,560 –> 00:39:34,000 you will obey my commandments. 553 00:39:35,780 –> 00:39:37,679 Let’s bow in prayer together shall we? 554 00:39:38,300 –> 00:39:43,300 Jesus my shepherd, savior, friend, 555 00:39:44,139 –> 00:39:46,320 my prophet, priest, and king, 556 00:39:47,500 –> 00:39:52,500 my lord, my life, my way, my end. 557 00:39:54,100 –> 00:39:56,840 I accept the praise I bring. 558 00:39:58,540 –> 00:40:01,899 We worship you Lord Jesus Christ as our true prophet, 559 00:40:02,879 –> 00:40:04,719 our great high priest, 560 00:40:05,979 –> 00:40:07,800 our justifying judge, 561 00:40:09,000 –> 00:40:10,479 and our king of kings, 562 00:40:11,479 –> 00:40:15,639 and bless you that all authority has been given to you. 563 00:40:17,199 –> 00:40:19,179 Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray 564 00:40:19,179 –> 00:40:20,800 and everyone said Amen.

Details

Sermon Series
Date
Primary Audience

Monthly Offer

Get 3 free copies of ‘Green Pastures, Still Waters’ by Colin Smith, as well as an Open the Bible UK bookmark and pen, when you set up a monthly gift of at least £5, or a one-off gift of at least £50.

Donate

Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

Linked resources

Sermons on Deuteronomy You already have faith, so what’s it going to take for you to become a man or a woman on a mission? You have been shaped by faith and the tendencies and fears of your parents. But now God is calling you. It’s your moment of opportunity. You need to be ready.

Colin Smith

Search

Search

Header Submit Search