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.