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This Week’s Lessons
While your pastor was commissioned to express his distaste for his congregation’s lack of commitment, the lessons were not about him; the lessons were 100% about YOU!

Warning
We are under unprecedented attack in our church. If you don't see it, you're either passively ignoring it or actively part of the problem. Wake up.

Beware
ANY person who's trying to take you away from the love of God is an ENEMY of God!

“proving to be examples”
If your pastor is righteously indignant about the things he is seeing in his congregation, maybe, just maybe those in his congregation ought to ponder his “example”.

Eph 4:11-12
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.

“Be of sober spirit”
Do not live carelessly. Your enemies are looking for you to let your guard down. A perfect example is with physical intoxication (aka “dissipation” - Eph 5:18), but that’s hardly the extent of it!

Listen Up!
Do not make the mistake of thinking that the call to good conduct/behavior is some form of religion/legalism. The Bible speaks volumes of such things - take heed! (Eph 2:10)

Take It Personally
If it’s coming from this pulpit, and your ears are hearing it, it was meant for YOU (as opposed to all those other people you’ve been pointing your finger at)!

God Is Impartial
If God is impartial, then we ought to be, if we indeed fear Him. This means no partiality towards family, friends, loved ones. This means NOT becoming intoxicated with/because of such people.

Warning
We are under unprecedented attack in our church. If you don't see it, you're either passively ignoring it or actively part of the problem. Wake up.

2Co 10:5 [Amplified]
We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.

What the Apostles Lacked
- Understanding (e.g.,Mt 16:15-23; Lk 18:31-34; Ac 1:1-9)
- Humility (e.g., Mt 20:20ff; Mk 9:33-35)
- Faith (e.g., Mt 16:5-11)
- Commitment (e.g., Lk 5:11; 22:31ff)
- Power (e.g. Mt 17: 16-17; Jn 20:22-23; Ac 1:8)

Faith Is Power
The reason the apostles didn’t have the power to cure the man’s son was they lacked faith. Jesus had already given them the ability to cast out demons (Mt 10:8) a year prior.

Faith Is Power
Some of us lack the power to overcome much smaller obstacles in our lives (e.g. casting out demons); and it’s not because God’s power is insufficient somehow (He is omnipotent). The reason is simple:  we lack faith the same way the Apostles did.

What Do We Lack?
Faith, in general, but also in the power of the Word of God.