Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:06.240
Please remain standing, and let's give
our attention to Ephesians chapter six, versus
2
00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:14.949
five through nine. I said that
we are slaves of the Lord in my
3
00:00:15.109 --> 00:00:20.109
prayer, and I mean that in
the way that he fully owns us and
4
00:00:20.230 --> 00:00:25.899
we are fully obligated to serve him
and love him. I'm under a human
5
00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:30.100
master. This is quite difficult to
do, but under God it is a
6
00:00:30.379 --> 00:00:37.250
rich blessing. We consider his instructions
now to those who have, who are
7
00:00:37.409 --> 00:00:41.329
stationed in life, particularly as slaves
or, as listed here, bond servants,
8
00:00:41.850 --> 00:00:46.890
and consider God's word to them.
Let's give our attention now to God's
9
00:00:46.929 --> 00:00:53.320
Word Ephesians chapter six, of verses
five through nine. Bond Servants, obey
10
00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:58.159
your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you
11
00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:02.679
would Christ, not by way of
I service, as people pleasers, but
12
00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:07.030
as bond servants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart,
13
00:01:07.989 --> 00:01:11.989
rendering service with a good will as
to the Lord and not to man,
14
00:01:11.790 --> 00:01:15.750
knowing that whatever good anyone does this, he will receive back from the Lord,
15
00:01:17.390 --> 00:01:21.579
whether he is a bond servant or
is free. Masters. Do the
16
00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:25.659
same to them and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both you,
17
00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:30.659
their master and yours, is in
heaven and that there is no partiality
18
00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:34.569
with him. May God bless his
word to us. You may be seated.
19
00:01:41.849 --> 00:01:48.319
We continue this evening hearing Paul's instructions
to to our households, and he
20
00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:52.120
addresses a particular part of our households
that, as far as I know,
21
00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:59.760
none of us have. None of
us have a slaves or bond servants in
22
00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:06.109
our homes. None of us are
masters of of these slaves. None of
23
00:02:06.150 --> 00:02:09.870
us are slaves, at least in
the same way that is meant here,
24
00:02:10.710 --> 00:02:15.099
and so this will perhaps challenge us
in some ways, as we've talked about
25
00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:22.580
in these other sections of Paul's instructions
to our homes, our households, we've
26
00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:28.340
asked ourselves, how do we think
about the instructions that may not directly apply
27
00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:31.169
to us? If you're not a
wife, how do you hear the instructions
28
00:02:31.289 --> 00:02:35.289
to wives? If you're not a
husband, how do you hear the instructions
29
00:02:35.449 --> 00:02:38.770
to husbands, and so on and
so forth. And now we have this
30
00:02:38.930 --> 00:02:44.090
clear command to bond servants and how
they are to relate to their masters,
31
00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:51.280
their earthly masters, and so,
as before, this may not and I
32
00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:55.680
don't think does relate directly to any
of you in this exact same way that
33
00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:00.189
they would have experienced it. But
then again, you might be surprised by
34
00:03:00.310 --> 00:03:05.550
how it relates. And certainly,
as we see in Verse Eight, we
35
00:03:05.710 --> 00:03:09.949
have instructions that are given to all
of us very directly. It says,
36
00:03:10.030 --> 00:03:14.740
knowing that whatever good anyone has done
this he will receive back from the Lord,
37
00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:21.500
whether he is a bond servant or
is free. Wells we think about
38
00:03:21.860 --> 00:03:24.780
these instructions, let's buy a get
begin by thinking a little bit about the
39
00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:31.090
context in which this command to bond
servants come. I'm first a word about
40
00:03:31.569 --> 00:03:36.689
this word, bond servant. It's
probably not one you've used this last week
41
00:03:36.729 --> 00:03:42.479
or maybe ever in your entire life, except for reading the Scriptures. I
42
00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:47.639
want to help you to understand this
first by reading a somewhat lengthy section that
43
00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:52.080
you will find in your bibles,
but it is not actually a part of
44
00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:57.030
the Bible properly speaking, and I'm
talking about a word that is found in
45
00:03:57.150 --> 00:04:00.870
the preface of your bibles. I
won't ask you to raise your hands how
46
00:04:00.909 --> 00:04:05.509
many of you have read the preface
in the Bible, but I would encourage
47
00:04:05.509 --> 00:04:09.909
you to do that sometime. You'll
every time I've ever done that I've found
48
00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:15.699
interesting and fascinating things there. This
is from the preface to the English Standard
49
00:04:15.740 --> 00:04:19.100
version. If you happen to have
that particular version, you might find this
50
00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:27.050
preface at the very beginning of your
bibles. I had one version of the
51
00:04:27.170 --> 00:04:30.410
ESV that didn't have it in it
and all the other ones I did look
52
00:04:30.449 --> 00:04:36.170
in, in look in, did
have it in there in the preface you'll
53
00:04:36.209 --> 00:04:43.000
see a section that call says English
translations of the Bible and as you look
54
00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:49.600
down those paragraphs there's another one that
says special notes and under that section there's
55
00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:58.310
a little paragraph. Nope, that's
not the one I want. There's one
56
00:04:58.389 --> 00:05:10.579
that begins. This is why we
have verse references right. Well, I
57
00:05:10.660 --> 00:05:14.019
have the quote written here and perhaps
you can. You can find it on
58
00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:16.980
your own, but I'll read you
this quote that I have written down from
59
00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:21.649
the preface regarding bond servants in particular. That's where we're after. Third,
60
00:05:21.769 --> 00:05:28.610
a particular difficulty is presented when words
in biblical Hebrew and Greek refer to ancient
61
00:05:28.649 --> 00:05:34.839
practices and institutions that do not correspond
directly to the modern world, such is
62
00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:40.160
the case with the translation of a
bed in Hebrew and do loss in Greek
63
00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:45.279
terms, which are often rendered slave. These terms, however, cover,
64
00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:51.430
however, actually cover a range of
relationships that require a range of renderings.
65
00:05:51.949 --> 00:05:55.870
So you see their point. They're
they're saying there is one word in these
66
00:05:55.910 --> 00:06:00.709
languages that mean various different things.
They're used in different contexts either slave,
67
00:06:00.990 --> 00:06:06.300
bond servant or servant, depending,
as always. That's my addition there on
68
00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:14.100
the context. Further the word slave
currently carries associations with the often brutal and
69
00:06:14.339 --> 00:06:19.730
dehumanizing institution of slavery in Nineteen Century
America. For this reason, the esv
70
00:06:19.889 --> 00:06:26.329
translation of the words of bed and
Dulass have been undertaken with particular tension to
71
00:06:26.410 --> 00:06:31.649
their meaning in each specific context.
Thus, in Old Testament Times, one
72
00:06:31.689 --> 00:06:36.519
might enter slavery either voluntarily to escape
poverty or to pay off a debt,
73
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:42.680
or involuntarily by birth, by being
captured in a battle or judicial sentence.
74
00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.269
Protection for all in servitude, and
ancient Israel was provided by the Mosaic Law.
75
00:06:48.269 --> 00:06:51.790
In New Testament Times, a due
loss is best described as a bond
76
00:06:51.870 --> 00:06:57.430
servant, that is, as someone
bound to serve his master for a specific,
77
00:06:57.470 --> 00:07:02.019
usually lengthy period of time, but
also as someone who might nevertheless possess
78
00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:08.860
property, achieve social advancement and even
be released or purchase his freedom. The
79
00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:13.620
translators then end with this. The
ESV usage thus seeks to express the nuance
80
00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:18.129
of meaning in each context. Where
absolute ownership by a master in is in
81
00:07:18.290 --> 00:07:23.569
view, as in Romans slips six, slave is used, where a more
82
00:07:23.889 --> 00:07:27.930
limited form of servitude is used,
bond servant is used, as in First
83
00:07:27.970 --> 00:07:31.360
Corinthians seven, twenty one through twenty
four, where the context indicates a wide
84
00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:35.959
range of freedom, as in John
Fifty one, servant is preferred. Footnotes
85
00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:40.920
are generally provided to identify the Hebrew
or Greek and the range of meanings that
86
00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:47.149
these terms may carry in each case. So this hopefully provides a helpful explanation
87
00:07:47.269 --> 00:07:53.670
of how one set of translators approached
a difficult question. How do you think
88
00:07:53.709 --> 00:07:59.339
about these words that God gives to
us in relationship to the contexts in which
89
00:07:59.339 --> 00:08:01.699
we have now? And the way
they tried to deal with with that is
90
00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:09.379
by using different words for different kinds
of service that express and get after the
91
00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:16.329
particular context that is used. With
that being said, here in Efhesians chapter
92
00:08:16.490 --> 00:08:22.850
six. The ESV chooses the word
Bond Servant as the best English translation of
93
00:08:22.649 --> 00:08:28.560
this particular institution. What Paul is
addressing here. Bond Servant, is the
94
00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:33.519
best way to express the reality of
the situation of these people in the household.
95
00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:41.629
The preface I just read from the
ESV is largely correct and what it
96
00:08:41.750 --> 00:08:46.789
says fact. I don't have any
corrections to make, just perhaps some things
97
00:08:46.870 --> 00:08:52.190
to add and give more nuance.
The thing you want to understand about these
98
00:08:52.269 --> 00:08:56.299
servant is that slavery in the ancient
world was much more varied than what we
99
00:08:56.460 --> 00:09:01.700
know of slavery in America, and
this is helpful because, as we think
100
00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:05.500
about how these first Christians might have
heard this, we might think that there
101
00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:11.009
was a range of situations in which
they themselves were in, a range of
102
00:09:11.169 --> 00:09:16.769
possibilities, a wage of difficult ethical
challenges and questions or how they might go
103
00:09:16.929 --> 00:09:24.120
about fulfilling their service. Some slaves, bond servants were high ranking, powerful
104
00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:31.399
bureaucrats, others worked in the minds
and did terrible, backbreaking work. Some
105
00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:37.879
were close members of the family and
we're even buried right along with the children
106
00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:43.509
and other members of the family.
Others were not close at all. Some
107
00:09:43.870 --> 00:09:50.389
were women enslaved because of the passions
of men. Some chose to become slaves
108
00:09:50.429 --> 00:09:54.659
to live a better life, to
be free of debts. They gave up
109
00:09:54.779 --> 00:10:01.379
their freedom in order to gain protection
and help from their master. Some went
110
00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:09.129
into slavery servitude willingly. Others were
kidnapped and sold into slavery. Some were
111
00:10:09.250 --> 00:10:13.289
born to it, their parents already
being slaves. Some who were left to
112
00:10:13.409 --> 00:10:18.370
die as infants, a common practice
in the ancient world, were the often
113
00:10:18.450 --> 00:10:24.000
picked up and then brought or prest
into bond servants, bond service in a
114
00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:28.759
particular family. And of course,
as you might imagine, some masters were
115
00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:33.279
kind and some were not. Some
slaves were honest, loyal, hard workers
116
00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:39.629
and others not. The slave master
relationship and a household, as you might
117
00:10:39.669 --> 00:10:46.429
imagine, was perhaps a difficult one
at times. Can you imagine perhaps not
118
00:10:46.470 --> 00:10:50.340
a slave but just a servant,
let's say, a live in a person
119
00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:56.419
who's helping that you're paying, living
with you and your family seven all the
120
00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:01.299
time, seeing everything, watching everything, being very personal and all of your
121
00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:07.610
affairs. Some, under Matt were
honest and loyal hard workers. Others would
122
00:11:07.610 --> 00:11:13.809
try to undermine their masters at every
point. Some even murdered their masters in
123
00:11:13.889 --> 00:11:18.600
their beds. And so from all
of this you can see that slavery in
124
00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:26.600
the ancient world was very complex,
nuanced and deeply woven into the fabric of
125
00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:35.110
society. Christianity, True Christianity,
posed a potential threat to all of this
126
00:11:35.029 --> 00:11:41.830
in a very serious way. How? So? Well, because, in
127
00:11:41.950 --> 00:11:46.509
addition, but well, I'd say
for first of all, because Christianity,
128
00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:52.019
believing God's words as it is,
did not see the slave as a half
129
00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:56.980
of a person or a partial person
or a nonperson, but instead saw each
130
00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:01.019
and see is, each and every
person, as someone who's made in the
131
00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:05.970
image of God. Like all others. A slave had dignity and was commanded
132
00:12:07.009 --> 00:12:11.210
to be treated with respect and love
and hospitality, just as any other person
133
00:12:11.409 --> 00:12:16.759
made in the image of God was. Christians had a duty, before the
134
00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:22.759
Lord of Heaven and earth to treat
every person, even their enemies, even
135
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:30.590
their slaves, with this kind of
respect. It also elevated Christianity, elevated
136
00:12:31.149 --> 00:12:37.590
slaves to an enormously high position.
These words, you remember, that we're
137
00:12:37.629 --> 00:12:43.230
reading here in these household codes,
come on the heels of discussion about the
138
00:12:43.389 --> 00:12:48.539
inaugurated Kingdom of God in the world, that we are coers with Christ,
139
00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:52.139
that he has blessed us in the
heavenly places with every spiritual blessing. And
140
00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:58.179
when Paul says that, he's not
just talking about the wealthy of the congregation
141
00:12:58.690 --> 00:13:03.529
or the free people in the congregation
or the men or whoever. He means
142
00:13:03.769 --> 00:13:09.129
everyone, the children, the women, the slaves, the men, the
143
00:13:09.289 --> 00:13:15.159
freed people, the rich, the
wealthy, everyone who puts their faith in
144
00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:22.919
Christ belongs to him. They become
part of his family and in that way
145
00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:28.710
they are equal with those who sit
around who are sitting around them. This
146
00:13:28.990 --> 00:13:37.309
is why James chastises the church for
giving preference to those who have high honor
147
00:13:37.470 --> 00:13:43.100
and station or wealth in the church. No partiality, he says. Paul
148
00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.620
says we are one in Christ,
neither male nor free, Male, female,
149
00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:54.340
slave, free Jew gentile. We
all are one in him and because
150
00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:58.370
of this is our reality in Christ. The expression of this kingdom on Earth
151
00:13:58.570 --> 00:14:05.929
institutionally is the church, and that
could create for some interesting situations. There
152
00:14:07.090 --> 00:14:11.960
is no biblical reason why a slave, for example, couldn't be an elder
153
00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:18.519
or minister in a church, even
an elder and an overseer of his overseer,
154
00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:24.070
an interesting situation to imagine. How
would you, perhaps, as a
155
00:14:24.269 --> 00:14:30.389
master, as an overseer, deal
with your servant, as your elder in
156
00:14:30.429 --> 00:14:37.149
the church? I don't know of
any particular examples from history in which this
157
00:14:37.350 --> 00:14:39.700
was the case, or at least
I couldn't think of them in the time
158
00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:43.659
that I had, but this to
me does not seem like an unrealistic kind
159
00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:48.460
of possibility. What are the qualifications
for an elder in the church? Simply
160
00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:52.409
that a man be of good character
and of good faith, that he be
161
00:14:52.490 --> 00:14:58.009
able to lead and and and teach
in the in the way of the Gospel.
162
00:14:58.370 --> 00:15:05.570
If Christianity was truly followed, a
slave would not have a special section
163
00:15:05.769 --> 00:15:09.399
to sit in, he would not
be limited in his access to word or
164
00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:13.320
doctrine or teaching. The spirit would
not be doled out only partially to him.
165
00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:20.799
Know he or she would have full
access to all the gifts of Christ,
166
00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:26.429
just as anyone else. Can Imagine
how that might change your perspective on
167
00:15:26.629 --> 00:15:33.149
things as a slave, to become
a Christian, to be elevated to such
168
00:15:33.190 --> 00:15:39.620
a high status in the eyes of
God, to have him as your master
169
00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:43.220
above all masters, to know that
to him you owe a duty and a
170
00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:50.970
responsibility above all else, would change
everything the way you see. Do feel
171
00:15:52.210 --> 00:15:56.370
think it would all be framed in
a new way? Of course, this
172
00:15:56.490 --> 00:15:58.769
isn't unique for the slave. It's
the same for husbands, it's the same
173
00:15:58.850 --> 00:16:03.049
for wives, for children, for
parents, for all of us, and
174
00:16:03.169 --> 00:16:07.240
whatever our particular callings are. The
fact that we are called by God,
175
00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:11.320
that we are adopted into his family, that he pours out this inheritance on
176
00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:15.879
us, which Peter says is kept
in heaven for you, Unfai, aiding,
177
00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:22.750
undefiled, these things ought to change
the way we act, the way
178
00:16:22.750 --> 00:16:30.070
we live, the way we think
about ourselves. Well, how what effect
179
00:16:30.230 --> 00:16:36.340
ought this to have in the home? We've considered that, for wives and
180
00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:41.259
for husbands, for children and parents, fathers in particular. But about bond
181
00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:47.019
servants? If you met a bond
servant who would recently be Crem a Christian,
182
00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:51.450
what would you advise him? What
would you advise her? Well,
183
00:16:51.490 --> 00:16:56.370
now we come to Paul's answer to
that question. He says bond servants obey
184
00:16:56.490 --> 00:17:03.319
your earthly masters with fear and trembling, the flip side of that being with
185
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:08.599
a sincere heart. Two ways I
think of expressing the same thing, as
186
00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:17.990
you would Christ. Paul wants them
to think about their service to their earthly
187
00:17:18.109 --> 00:17:22.349
masters, who may or may not
be Christians, as service to him,
188
00:17:22.710 --> 00:17:27.029
even as he said to wives and
two children, to obey your parents and
189
00:17:27.109 --> 00:17:33.579
the Lord or to submit to your
own husband's as to the Lord. Here
190
00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:41.819
obey your earthly masters with a sincere
heart, as you would Christ. And
191
00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:45.849
how is that? Well, Paul
says, not by way of I service
192
00:17:45.930 --> 00:17:51.769
as people pleasers, but as bond
servants of Christ, doing the will of
193
00:17:51.890 --> 00:17:56.690
God from the heart, rendering service
with a good will, as to the
194
00:17:56.890 --> 00:18:03.000
Lord and not to man. What
an encouragement I think this would be to
195
00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:07.000
me if I were in this situation. Three times he says, as you
196
00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:11.440
would Christ, as spawn servants of
Christ, as to the Lord. Three
197
00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.470
times he reminds them again, again
and again, you belong to him.
198
00:18:17.269 --> 00:18:19.789
This work that you're doing, this
work that you're called to do, is
199
00:18:21.109 --> 00:18:25.549
done for him. It's similar,
actually, to the way that Paul talks
200
00:18:25.589 --> 00:18:29.940
to all of us as Christians in
Romans Thirteen about submission to our government.
201
00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:37.339
He says that God has placed leaders
and rulers over US and by his will,
202
00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:41.220
and they are called, they are
called to lead and to serve in
203
00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:44.450
this way, and we are to
submit to them. We are to pray
204
00:18:44.569 --> 00:18:48.369
for them. And Paul doesn't just
mean good Christian leaders, he means even
205
00:18:48.410 --> 00:18:53.690
the despots, even the really bad
ones. He writes these things remarkably,
206
00:18:53.730 --> 00:18:59.480
even when Nero was emperor. Play
pray for those, he says. Pray
207
00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:04.440
for those who are in authority over
you submit to them. Now there are,
208
00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:07.759
of course, good qualifications we have
to place on this, because Paul
209
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:12.950
prices a qualification on it. The
service is to Christ. So if our
210
00:19:14.150 --> 00:19:18.190
government or our earthly masters, are
husbands or our parents, or if anyone
211
00:19:18.230 --> 00:19:22.710
who has some authority over us,
commands us to do something that is against
212
00:19:22.710 --> 00:19:29.339
the will of the Lord, we
say no, because we never hopefully,
213
00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:36.619
we never look Jesus in the eye
and say no. That's not what Christians
214
00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:41.329
do. Christians always say yes to
the Lord because his will is always good,
215
00:19:41.369 --> 00:19:48.089
always perfect, always right. Likewise, just as we are free to
216
00:19:48.250 --> 00:19:56.039
disobey our earthly Masters when Christ's will
supersedes that of our earthly masters, we
217
00:19:56.119 --> 00:20:00.200
are also called not to fear them
more than Christ. We are not to
218
00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:04.240
serve those here on earth and serve
those who are above us, as if
219
00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:10.630
they were God themselves, as if
everything that we might do in pleasing to
220
00:20:10.670 --> 00:20:15.509
them is even more important than than
the will of the Lord. But it
221
00:20:15.630 --> 00:20:21.230
also means that we are given from
freedom and permission and that we are operating
222
00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:25.380
in God's will, even when we're
doing things that we'd rather not be doing,
223
00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:30.619
things that seem silly or foolish or
a waste of time. We submit
224
00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:37.450
to them, not because they're wise
or they're not a waste of time,
225
00:20:37.289 --> 00:20:41.130
but we submit to them because we
submit to the Lord, because of the
226
00:20:41.289 --> 00:20:47.450
ways in which he has structured are
the institutions in this world and and and
227
00:20:48.410 --> 00:20:52.680
the various callings in which into which
we have been called. He says that
228
00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:59.720
we are to obey from a sincere
heart, as to the Lord and not
229
00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:03.240
to man. No, you of
course know the difference between obedience with a
230
00:21:03.309 --> 00:21:08.549
sincere heart and not obedience with a
sincere heart. Perhaps you have been or
231
00:21:08.910 --> 00:21:18.390
tried to work with people that are
pretending to work, looking busy, never
232
00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:23.900
really actually doing things or perhaps even
worse, directly stealing, directly causing problems.
233
00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:29.380
It's a big a big challenge,
and it's can be very frustrating.
234
00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:33.410
This is not what we are called
to do when we serve those who are
235
00:21:33.490 --> 00:21:40.329
over us. The Lord's Apostle says
that when we serve, we serve freely
236
00:21:41.289 --> 00:21:45.609
and from a sincere heart, seeking
the good of those who are over a
237
00:21:45.809 --> 00:21:52.160
seeking to do what is right and
what is wise. Now, this,
238
00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:59.000
of course, applies to us in
different ways because, I said, none
239
00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:03.390
of us are slaves, thankfully,
it's an institution that we no longer have,
240
00:22:03.910 --> 00:22:10.670
praise God, and none of us
are masters. And we are all,
241
00:22:10.869 --> 00:22:14.990
however, to authority in some do
way or another. I mentioned the
242
00:22:15.069 --> 00:22:22.500
government. We've talked about other relationships
in the home. My my friend and
243
00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:26.779
professor who I've quoted various times,
maybe even every time, I'm not sure,
244
00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:33.569
Steve Baugh and his wonderful commentary on
this. He He. He makes
245
00:22:33.569 --> 00:22:38.650
an application actually to those in the
military and says that if anyone is perhaps
246
00:22:38.690 --> 00:22:42.650
closest to that of a bond slave, it is those who offer service in
247
00:22:42.730 --> 00:22:51.680
this way, because there is the
service is extended to every area of life.
248
00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:59.390
It is often a long period of
time and great harm and consequences can
249
00:22:59.470 --> 00:23:06.470
come to a person for not a
following in order. No matter where what
250
00:23:06.630 --> 00:23:10.950
situation, we might find ourselves in. We certainly do all find ourselves,
251
00:23:11.029 --> 00:23:15.220
in some place or another, in
a situation where we are called to obey.
252
00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:19.099
None of us are free not to
do whatever we want, whenever we
253
00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:25.220
want, all the time. How
will we obey those who are over us?
254
00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:29.170
How will we give them honor?
We give them honor as we give
255
00:23:29.170 --> 00:23:34.250
our Lord honor. We give them
respect. We seek to do good.
256
00:23:37.009 --> 00:23:40.769
Now, as I've said before,
in other in the other commands Paul gives,
257
00:23:40.809 --> 00:23:42.880
this does not mean that all of
a sudden every question is answered.
258
00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.559
What do you do, for example, if you are hearing this and you
259
00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:57.549
are a a slave to the passions
of a man, I'll put it that
260
00:23:57.630 --> 00:24:03.509
way. Does it mean to obey
your earthly master in a context like that?
261
00:24:04.710 --> 00:24:10.420
Very difficult. What do you do
when you are called to obey and
262
00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:15.859
your master is a fool? In
every turn, in every command, he's
263
00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:21.779
squandering away his money, squandering away
the things that are meant to protect you
264
00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:26.650
or your children? What do you
do in a situation where you have an
265
00:24:26.690 --> 00:24:33.250
opportunity to gain your freedom and your
master doesn't want you to? I'm not
266
00:24:33.289 --> 00:24:36.529
going to answer all of us or
any of those. My point, though,
267
00:24:36.690 --> 00:24:41.359
is to say that Paul doesn't give
us, as before, explicit directions
268
00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:45.599
for every situation. What does he
call us to do? He calls us
269
00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:51.240
to think about ourselves and our lives
and our various callings in light of our
270
00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:55.750
calling to Christ. He wants us
to think about our obedience, not merely
271
00:24:55.990 --> 00:24:59.549
is going through the motions, but
is something that is carried out in him
272
00:24:59.589 --> 00:25:03.430
and in faith, and he wants
us to think carefully about these situations,
273
00:25:04.150 --> 00:25:08.980
following these commands and seeing how they
might apply in the content text of scripture,
274
00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:15.180
in the context of our other on
particular things in life. How do
275
00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:22.410
these apply? How do we discern
the Lord's will? These will be questions
276
00:25:22.650 --> 00:25:26.569
that we have to ask, and
I will encourage you to answer them in
277
00:25:26.730 --> 00:25:30.289
the same way that you serve the
Lord, with trust in him, with
278
00:25:30.450 --> 00:25:36.880
a sincere heart. Faith in the
Lord, Jesus Christ is not merely going
279
00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:41.079
through the motions. It's not merely
doing this thing or that thing or checking
280
00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:45.000
all the boxes or and that's true
even when seeking his will, when trying
281
00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:51.630
to figure out the difficulties and trying
to discern particularly challenging circumstances. What do
282
00:25:51.750 --> 00:25:57.029
we do? We trust him,
we really trust him, as we read
283
00:25:57.069 --> 00:26:00.950
in Psalm Five, he is a
shield over us. He protects us by
284
00:26:00.990 --> 00:26:06.700
his love and His grace. We
go to him for that. When we
285
00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:11.059
are struggling in our earthly circumstances,
when we're struggling with our earthly masters,
286
00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:17.220
are our earthly callings, or these
difficult and varied situations we find ourselves in,
287
00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:23.210
challenging relationship problems within the home,
what do we do? Before all
288
00:26:23.289 --> 00:26:27.289
else, we go to the Lord
and Faith and trust him to take care
289
00:26:27.369 --> 00:26:33.440
of us. If we seek to
do our own will and our own way,
290
00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:38.160
it will always end in disaster.
But when we seek the will of
291
00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:42.279
the Lord, not just obedience to
the will of the Lord, but the
292
00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:48.190
will of the Lord as it comes
to us for faith, for going to
293
00:26:48.230 --> 00:26:52.390
him for all things, for trusting
for the forgiveness of our sins, for
294
00:26:52.829 --> 00:26:57.549
trusting him for the all the struggles
and failings that we have, he promises
295
00:26:57.630 --> 00:27:02.660
to take care of us. We
serve the Lord, in other words,
296
00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:07.579
because we are in the Lord.
We serve him as his servants, because
297
00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:11.700
he is our master, and he
is our master because he's given himself to
298
00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:15.930
us. In that way, he's
given his very life over to us.
299
00:27:18.609 --> 00:27:25.569
We'll finish by reminding you that when
the Apostle Paul talks about Jesus in Philippians,
300
00:27:26.769 --> 00:27:33.480
he talks about him becoming a slave, about descending so low that he
301
00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:40.680
took on all obedience. He became
a slave to righteousness so that he might
302
00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:45.509
give us his righteousness. How terrible
a thing would it have been if Jesus
303
00:27:45.589 --> 00:27:49.990
had been a people pleaser? Have
you ever thought about that? What would
304
00:27:49.990 --> 00:27:55.430
have happened if Jesus would have come
in the Pharisees said Hey, why are
305
00:27:55.470 --> 00:27:57.859
you doing this? And Jesus,
I'm so sorry about that. I yeah,
306
00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.500
I'll see if, what if I
can adjust things a little bit,
307
00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:06.700
do things a little differently for you? have be terrible because the Pharis,
308
00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:08.259
he's, didn't want the things of
God, they didn't want the things of
309
00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:15.650
the of the father. What about
if Jesus had been pushed around by his
310
00:28:15.170 --> 00:28:18.210
disciples? James and John, we
want to sit on your right hand and
311
00:28:18.289 --> 00:28:22.329
we want to sit on your left
hand. Or Peter, Jesus as go
312
00:28:22.450 --> 00:28:26.769
to the Cross and Peter says man
never be and what if Jesus had said,
313
00:28:26.809 --> 00:28:30.759
you know, that's a good point. That sounds bad. I probably
314
00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:34.400
shouldn't? Yeah, yeah, okay. Or what if Jesus just looked busy
315
00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:40.480
about doing good works but never actually
did anything? Never actually raised anyone from
316
00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:44.430
the dead, never actually forgave any
one of their sins, never actually healed
317
00:28:44.509 --> 00:28:48.069
their bodies, their sight, their
souls? What if Jesus was just a
318
00:28:48.230 --> 00:28:56.779
show in his service to the world
and to the Lord? We'd all be
319
00:28:56.940 --> 00:29:00.700
lost if Jesus was that kind of
servant, we would all be dead in
320
00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:07.900
our trespasses and sins. But of
course he wasn't. Jesus obeyed in this
321
00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:11.769
way so that he could change us, so that he could change our hearts,
322
00:29:11.849 --> 00:29:15.809
so that we would no longer be
slaves of ourselves, but so we
323
00:29:15.930 --> 00:29:21.849
could be owned by him, protected
by him, governed by him, taking
324
00:29:21.930 --> 00:29:26.039
care of by him. And we
do that first and foremost by believing in
325
00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:33.400
him, by trusting in him.
Let's pray and ask God to help us
326
00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:33.759
to do that.
