March 9, 2025 • 25 mins
Pastor Ken explores the foundational elements of spiritual growth, emphasizing that bearing fruit in our faith requires more than just hearing the gospel—it demands transformation through application and service to others.
• Biblical growth comes through shifting focus from self to God
• Christians cannot grow in isolation but need community
• Our spiritual gifts are given to serve others, not ourselves
• Service to other believers is ultimately service to God
• Showing mercy and love must be done with genuine cheerfulness
• Seeking personal vengeance is unnecessary—justice belongs to God
• Knowledge of God must be followed by action to receive more knowledge
• Christian growth follows a cycle: knowledge → action → more knowledge
• Believers must stay rooted in faith to continue growing
• No sin is too great that God won't welcome us back when we repent
If you were blessed by today's message, please visit heedtheword.org for a free copy of this teaching and to access our podcast subscription link.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor
and teacher, Ken Davis.
Pastor Ken is the senior pastorof Calvary Chapel, Southwest
Metro, located in Burleson,Texas.
Please join us as we study ourseries entitled the Foundations
of Faith.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
But there's one that is equally as important as all
of these that we just read about.
That I want you to recognize.
All of these that we just readabout, that I want you to
recognize.
In order for that plant to grow, it's got to stay rooted in the
garden.
If I take that plant and Ipluck it out of the garden and I
(00:38):
throw it on the trash heap andI disregard it and I devalue it
and I no longer care for it,it's not going to grow, it's not
going to bear fruit.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Even if you're not handy, you know that when it's
time to build a house, thefoundation must be the first
thing that's addressed, and itmust be done right the first
time.
Our relationship with God is nodifferent.
We must have a firm foundationin the word of God that's rooted
in a deep and lasting faith inJesus.
That's why Pastor Ken chose toshare with you our series
(01:06):
entitled the Foundations of theFaith.
Hearing the gospel is one thing, but bearing fruit based upon
the hearing of the gospel isanother.
A true hearing of the good newsthat God, the Father, has
offered mankind causes a changein the heart of the believer and
that as that heart is changed,the life follows and good works
are evident.
Don't forget to stay with usafter today's message to hear
(01:29):
more information about Heed theWord, specifically how you can
get a free copy of this teaching.
But for now, please open yourBibles to the book of Romans,
chapter 12, verse 2, as we joinPastor Ken with the conclusion
of our message entitled Not If,but when, and Several Other
Important Things.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
So what I'm saying, christian, is this If you want
to grow in grace, don't resistthe work of God in your life,
but give yourself over to thework of God in your life, by
putting yourself in a placewhere God can speak to you and
where his spirit can lead you,and that is in prayer and in his
word.
Do not be conformed to thisworld, but be transformed by the
(02:08):
renewing of your mind that youmay prove what is the good and
acceptable and perfect will ofGod.
For I say, through the gracegiven to me, to everyone who is
among you, not to think ofhimself more highly than he
ought to think, but to thinksoberly, as God has dealt to
each one a measure of faith.
It's not about you.
It's not about you.
(02:46):
It's not about you.
If your focus is on you, thenyou're worshiping yourself.
Your focus needs to be on God,not on what you can't do, but on
what he has done and what hewants to do through you for
others.
(03:11):
You see, a lot of people havethis attitude about God and
about church and about servingGod.
That says you know what?
I don't have to go to church.
I love God, I worship God, Iwatch.
You know the sermons on TV.
You know what?
I think it's great that thereare sermons available on TV and
I think it's great that peoplewatch them, but when that's all
they do, they are robbing Godand they are robbing you.
(03:36):
We need to come together asbelievers in Jesus to worship
him together, not just so thatwe can be ministered to, but so
that we can minister to others,or rather, so that we can allow
God to minister to othersthrough us.
What does Paul say here inverse five?
So we, being many, are one bodyin Christ and individually
(04:00):
members of one another.
Having then gifts differingaccording to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them.
If prophecy, let us prophesy inproportion to our faith or
ministry.
That is service.
Let us use it in our serving orin our ministering.
(04:21):
He who teaches in teaching, hewho exhorts in exhortation, he
who gives with liberality, hewho leads with diligence, he who
shows mercy with cheerfulnessoh, that's a big one.
You ever know there are peopleout there who want to show mercy
, but they're not happy about it.
Yeah, I forgive you.
I guess I have to, you know.
No, he who shows mercy withcheerfulness, let love be
(04:47):
without hypocrisy.
Don't love me to my face andhate me behind my back.
If you're going to love, let itbe without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil, cling towhat is good.
Be kindly affectionate to oneanother with brotherly love.
You know that word, brotherlylove.
(05:08):
When it talks about brotherlylove, it's not talking about
loving somebody like they're abrother.
It's talking about loving thembecause they're a brother.
You see, if we are all childrenof God, then what does that
make us to one another Brothersand sisters?
We are literally brothers andsisters in Christ and we should
love each other as though wewere, because we are Verse 11,
(05:34):
not lagging in diligence.
Do you know that as we servetogether, we have to be diligent
about how we serve?
We need to take ourresponsibilities seriously?
We have to be diligent abouthow we serve.
We need to take ourresponsibilities seriously.
We shouldn't serve haphazardlyor carelessly.
We should be diligent in ourservice, fervent in spirit,
(05:55):
serving the Lord.
You know, I highlighted that inmy Bible because I wanted to
remind myself this when I teachyou the word of God, or when
David leads you in worship withthe worship team, or when
Valerie and the others greet youin the back, or when our
teachers take your children andinstruct them in the ways of the
(06:16):
Lord, or when someone comes toyour home or to the hospital and
visits you when you're sick.
When we serve one another,we're not serving one another,
we're serving God, we're servingGod.
And when we love one another,we're not just loving one
another, we're loving God.
(06:37):
That's why the Bible says howcan you say you love God but
hate your brother?
Can't Not?
Lagging in diligence, fervent inspirit, serving the Lord,
rejoicing in hope, patient intribulation, continuing
steadfastly in prayer,distributing to the needs of the
saints, given to hospitality?
(06:58):
Bless those who persecute you.
Bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoiceand weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward oneanother.
Do not set your mind on highthings, but associate with the
humble.
Do not be wise in your ownopinion.
Repay no one evil for evil, buthave regard for good things in
(07:19):
the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much asdepends on you, live peaceably
with all men.
Can I tell you that ifChristians would obey that, I
don't think we'd ever haveanother church split, would we?
We'd never see that because ourdesire is to live peaceably.
If someone said I disagree withthe way they're doing something
, then what would they do?
They'd just leave and go findsome place where they did agree
with the way they were doingsomething.
(07:40):
Not cause division, if it ispossible.
As much as depends on you.
Live peaceably with all menBeloved.
Do not avenge yourselves, butrather give place to wrath.
For it is written vengeance ismine, I will repay, says the
Lord.
Therefore, if your enemy ishungry, feed him.
If he's thirsty, give him adrink, for in so doing, you will
(08:03):
heap coals of fire in his head.
Do not be overcome with evil,but overcome evil with good.
As a Christian, if we want togrow in Christ, we need to be
willing to love our enemies.
We need to be willing to nottake vengeance ourself, but
allow the Lord to defend us.
You know, sometimes, asChristians, we read that verse
(08:24):
vengeance is mine, saith theLord, I will repay.
Yeah, I'm going to get themright.
We want God to like squishpeople, like bugs.
The fact of the matter is, godsays that he takes no pleasure
in the destruction of the wicked, but that he wills that all men
would come to repentance.
Why do you think he hasn't comeback yet he's being patient,
he's waiting, he's giving usmore time to share the gospel so
that more people could be saved.
Can I tell you, we serve acompassionate God, a God who
(08:47):
loves us, a God who cares for usdeeply and who wants our best.
It's the kind of God we serve,and he doesn't want to take
vengeance.
But rest assured that if norepentance comes in the life of
a person, then there's nothingleft for them but vengeance and
for wrath, and so we don't needto repay them.
(09:11):
Let me give you an example.
Let's say someone does somethingwrong to me and they've sinned
against me, and they are not aChristian.
My tendency might be to want totake vengeance on that person,
to get even with them in someway right, but God's desire is
for them ultimately to repentand to be born again.
So let's say that they dorepent and are born again.
(09:34):
Then what are they?
They're my brother or my sister, and that having happened, I
would have just taken vengeanceon someone who is my brother and
sister.
Do I want to do that?
No, I don't want to do that.
You don't want to takevengeance?
Oh sure, you might want to, youknow, maybe kick him in the
shin, but you wouldn't want tokill him or anything, right?
You don't want to takevengeance on someone who is your
(09:54):
brother or your sister.
Well, let's say that persondoesn't become a Christian.
Well, do I want vengeance onthem then?
Do I want to take vengeance onthem then?
Well, guess what?
If they don't become aChristian, if they don't turn to
the Lord, then what is going tohappen to them?
They're going to spend aneternity in hell, and you know
what.
That's bad enough.
I don't wish that on my worstenemy.
So if they're already going tosuffer that kind of vengeance,
(10:24):
then who am I to extractadditional vengeance from them?
It's not my place.
God's going to take care ofthat.
Either they will repent and ourfellowship will be restored, or
they won't turn to God, and youknow what they're going to have
to face the music on thateventually.
Either way, I don't need to addanything to that.
I don't need to take vengeanceon that person.
If we read through these verseshere in Romans, chapter 12, we
(10:46):
see really what it is to die toourselves.
You know what it really allcomes down to, guys?
It comes down to this LovingGod enough to put other people
before yourself.
That's what it comes down toJust loving God enough to put
other people before yourself.
That's what it comes down toJust loving God enough to put
(11:06):
other people before yourself,recognizing the fact that God
has given you, as a Christian, aspiritual gift and that you are
responsible to use that giftfor his glory by serving your
brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you are a Christian, if youare a Christian and you have
never done anything to serveanother person, it's time to
(11:29):
begin today.
It's time to begin servingsomeone else.
It doesn't have to be a bigthing, it can be very small.
You could be praying forsomeone, you could be sending a
card in the mail and lettingthem know that you were thinking
about them and that you careabout them and that God loves
them.
It can be anything that takesyour focus off of you and puts
it on another person in Christ.
(11:50):
It's time to start doing that,because when you do that, you'll
begin to bear fruit and you'llbegin to grow.
Turn to Colossians, chapter one.
I'm going to indulge just alittle bit here.
Just a little bit because youknow, when we think about
growing in Christ, it's allrelated, isn't it?
Paul, an apostle of JesusChrist by the will of God, and
(12:12):
Timothy, our brother, to thesaints and faithful brethren in
Christ who are in Colossae.
Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
You know, I love the fact thatthis is from Paul and Timothy.
You know this is one of theletters of Paul, but you know he
includes Timothy in the title,doesn't he?
Right there, in the beginning,he says hey, paul and Timothy,
(12:35):
hey, we're writing this togetherto you guys.
You know, timothy was likePaul's son in the faith, wasn't
he?
And yet now Paul is listing himhere as though he were an equal
, a co-laborer with him.
You know, that's the way it'sto be in our relationships with
believers, as we grow in Christ,we should seek to invest in the
(12:56):
lives of other Christians, tobring aside that Timothy in our
life and say hey, timothy, look,this is how you serve God.
Let me not just tell you.
But why don't you do it with mefor a while, timothy?
And then Timothy begins to learnand he begins to grow as a
Christian and, before you knowit, man Timothy's serving right
alongside and you say hey, youknow, this letter is not just
(13:17):
from Paul, it is from Paul andTimothy.
You know it's from both of us,paul and Timothy, to the saints
and faithful brethren in Christwho are in Colossae.
Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
We give thanks to the God andFather of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(13:39):
praying always for you.
Since we heard of you, since weheard of your faith in Christ
Jesus and of your love for allthe saints, because of the hope
which is laid up for you inheaven, of which you heard
before in the word of truth, ofthe gospel, which has come to
you, as it has also in all theworld, and is bringing forth
(13:59):
fruit, as it is also among yousince the day you heard and knew
the grace of God and truth.
You know Paul is writing hereand he's saying look.
(14:20):
You know, from the day I heardabout what's happening in your
life, I've been praying for you.
You know, because I've heardthat you've heard the gospel and
that it's bearing fruit in yourlife, just as it's bearing
fruit throughout the entireworld.
You know Paul is bearingtestimony to the fact that the
gospel bears fruit.
Is it bearing fruit in yourlife today If the gospel is not
(14:46):
bearing fruit in your life today.
The fault lies not in thegospel Do you understand what
I'm saying?
But in your response to it.
Are you believing it?
Are you receiving it?
Are you acting on it?
Are you ordering your lifeaccording, believing it?
Are you receiving it?
(15:06):
Are you acting on it?
Are you ordering your lifeaccording to it?
Are you obeying it?
Because if you do, you're goingto bear fruit.
The gospel bears fruit.
God's word will not return tohim void, but it will always
accomplish the purposes forwhich he sent it.
Paul speaks of Epaphras here,who has brought news of the
Colossian church to him, as he'sthere in prison, and in prison
(15:27):
is this one of the prisonepistles?
I'm off topic, and so Epaphrashas brought word to Paul here
and Paul is saying hey, you knowwhat?
Epaphras is a faithful man, heloves you, he's brought news of
you to me and he's the one whobrought news to you of the
gospel.
Epaphras is very likely someonethat Paul met, probably in
(15:51):
Ephesus, and who went out anddid this work in Colossae and
the surrounding area.
We believe, from what we findhere, that Paul probably never
was in Colossae, but he'swritten this letter to them to
encourage them, and in versenine is really where I want to
focus on this he says for thisreason, we also, since the day
we heard of it, do not cease topray for you.
Now, as we read Paul's prayerfor the Colossians here, I want
(16:17):
you to understand that this isalso his prayer for us, because
he refers to those who have notseen his face.
I also want you to know that,as a believer in Christ,
particularly as a new believer,this is my prayer for you.
It's my prayer for myself.
For this reason, we also, sincethe day we heard of it, do not
cease to pray for you and to askthat you may be filled with the
(16:40):
knowledge of his will in allwisdom and spiritual
understanding.
So what is the first thing Paulprays for these believers in
Colossae?
That they be filled with theknowledge of his will in all
wisdom and spiritualunderstanding.
Not that they have enough foodto eat, not that they be healthy
, not that they have enough foodto eat, not that they be
(17:00):
healthy, not that they have nicechariots to drive, but that
they be filled with theknowledge of God.
That was more important.
What was the next thing that heprayed for them?
Verse 10 that you may walkworthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing to him, being fruitfulin every good work and
increasing in the knowledge ofGod.
(17:22):
So, first, that they would havethe knowledge of God and be
filled with it, but then thatthat knowledge would translate
to actions on their part andthat they would put to work the
knowledge of God that they havereceived in their lives.
And then what was the result ofhaving put that to work in
their fruitfulness?
It was more knowledge.
(17:45):
So what does that mean?
We learn something about God.
We act on what we've learned.
We then learn more about God.
What happens if we leave outthat middle part?
If we receive knowledge of Godbut we fail to act on that
knowledge?
Will God give us any moreknowledge of him?
(18:05):
Why?
Why would he give us somethingthat we are not going to use?
Knowledge followed by action,followed by more knowledge, he
says.
I'll read it again.
For this reason we also, sincethe day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you and to askthat you may be filled with the
(18:28):
knowledge, knowledge, his willin all wisdom and spiritual
understanding, that you may walkworthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing him, being fruitful inevery good work, good work and
increasing in the knowledge ofGod, strengthen with all might,
according to his glorious power.
(18:48):
Are you weak?
You can be strengthened.
According to whose power?
According to his power,according to his glorious power
for all patience andlong-suffering with joy.
And what's the result of allthis growing and learning?
It is that we would give thanks,giving thanks to the Father,
(19:10):
who has qualified us to bepartakers of the inheritance of
the saints in the light, to bepartakers of the inheritance of
the saints in the light.
He has delivered us from thepower of darkness you know
that's past tense, isn't it?
He has delivered us from thepower of darkness and conveyed
(19:30):
us into the kingdom of the sonof his love, in whom we have
redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of his love, in
whom we have redemption throughhis blood, the forgiveness of
sins.
He is the image of theinvisible God, the firstborn
over all creation, for by himall things were created that are
in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether
(19:54):
thrones or dominions orprincipalities or powers.
All things were created throughhim and for him, and he is
before all things and in him allthings consist, and he is the
head of the body, the church,who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that inall things he may have
preeminence, for it pleased theFather, that in him all the
(20:17):
fullness should dwell, and byhim, to reconcile all things to
himself.
By him, whether things on earthor things in heaven, having
made peace through the blood ofhis cross and you who were once
alienated and enemies in yourmind by wicked works, yet now he
(20:38):
has reconciled in the body ofhis flesh, through death, to
present you holy and blamelessand a brough reproach in his
sight, if indeed you continue inthe faith, grounded and
steadfast, and are not movedaway from the hope of the gospel
which you heard, which waspreached to every creature under
heaven, of which I, paul,became a minister.
(21:00):
I'm going to end with thosewords today, and I want you to
understand this, of all thethings that we talked about
being born again and our needfor it, because of the fact that
God is holy and we aren't, ofthe fact that, when we are born
again, we've received a newnature, a new name, that we have
the assurance of our salvationand that we're to walk, yielded
(21:20):
before the Lord.
Of all of the other things thatwe talked about regarding the
word of God, regarding the factthat we are to receive that
implanted word which is able tosave our souls, the fact that we
are to desire it as a babydesires milk.
About the fact that it's not ifwe pray but when we pray, not
if we do charitable deeds orgive but when we give.
(21:44):
About the fact that it's not ifwe deny ourselves but when we
deny ourselves, that we're notto do those things before men
for their approval, but beforeGod, for his approval and his
alone, and that he will rewardus.
All the things that we'vetalked about, from there up to
even the point of where we'retalking about dying to ourselves
, about offering ourselves asliving sacrifices to the Lord,
(22:04):
holy and acceptable, and takingpart in the fellowship of the
saints and ministering to otherbelievers, even as God has
gifted us to enable us to do so.
All of these things, they'reall very important us to enable
us to do so.
All of these things, they'reall very important.
They are all very importantbecause those are the way we
(22:24):
grow.
But there's one that is equallyas important as all of these
that we just read about, that Iwant you to recognize In order
for that plant to grow, it's gotto stay rooted in the garden.
If I take that plant and Ipluck it out of the garden and I
throw it on the trash heap andI disregard it and I devalue it
(22:46):
and I no longer care for it,it's not going to grow.
And it's not going to grow.
It's not going to bear fruit.
What did we just read thatwould tie into that thought?
I want you to look at it onemore time with me, if indeed you
continue in the faith, groundedand steadfast, and are not
(23:10):
moved away from the hope of thegospel which you heard, which
was preached to every creatureunder heaven, of which I, paul,
became a minister.
Guys, christians can sin andthey can be forgiven.
We're going to, as we gothrough this life, we're going
to fall in mud puddles.
If you will, don't stay in themud puddle.
(23:31):
Get up and keep walking afterGod.
Continue in the faith, don'tgive up.
Don't ever give up.
Don't ever think that you'vesinned so bad that God won't
receive you back.
Don't ever think that you'vewasted so many years that God
(23:51):
can't make fruitful the yearsthat remain.
Don't ever give up, because hewon't give up on you.
Continue in the faith SteadfastRooted, and you won't be moved
Because nothing can take youaway from him.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Well, that's all the time we have for today.
You've been listening to Heedthe Word, the radio ministry of
Calvary Chapel, southwest Metro,located in Burleson, texas.
As you likely gathered, pastorKen Davis is currently sharing
our series entitled theFoundations of the Faith is
currently sharing our seriesentitled the Foundations of the
(24:32):
Faith.
Pastor Ken will be coveringmany topics about how we can be
founded in the fundamentaltruths of the Word of God.
If you were with us at thebeginning of today's broadcast,
you know we mentioned that we'dbe giving additional information
about Heed the Word and how toget a free copy of this message.
For more information about Heedthe Word, log on to
heedthewordorg.
That's heedthewordorg.
(24:53):
At the website, you'll findeverything you need our contact
information, podcastsubscription link and a link to
our online order form, whichwill allow you to place an order
for a CD of today's message inits unedited form.
Since all of our materials arefree of charge, supplies are
limited, so log on toheedthewordorg and place your
(25:15):
order today.
As we close today, we want toencourage you to not only be a
listener of Heed the Word, butto truly apply what you're
learning.
Take the Word of God and beginapplying it to your life every
day.
Well, that's all the time thatwe have for this edition of Heed
the Word with Pastor Ken Davis.
Place a marker in your Biblesand join us next time as Pastor
(25:37):
Ken continues with our seriesentitled the Foundations of the
Faith.
Thank you.
You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor
and teacher, Ken Davis.
Pastor Ken is the senior pastorof Calvary Chapel, Southwest
Metro, located in Burleson,Texas.
Please join us as we study ourseries entitled the Foundations
of Faith.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
But there's one that is equally as important as all
of these that we just read about.
That I want you to recognize.
All of these that we just readabout, that I want you to
recognize.
In order for that plant to grow, it's got to stay rooted in the
garden.
If I take that plant and Ipluck it out of the garden and I
(00:38):
throw it on the trash heap andI disregard it and I devalue it
and I no longer care for it,it's not going to grow, it's not
going to bear fruit.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Even if you're not handy, you know that when it's
time to build a house, thefoundation must be the first
thing that's addressed, and itmust be done right the first
time.
Our relationship with God is nodifferent.
We must have a firm foundationin the word of God that's rooted
in a deep and lasting faith inJesus.
That's why Pastor Ken chose toshare with you our series
(01:06):
entitled the Foundations of theFaith.
Hearing the gospel is one thing, but bearing fruit based upon
the hearing of the gospel isanother.
A true hearing of the good newsthat God, the Father, has
offered mankind causes a changein the heart of the believer and
that as that heart is changed,the life follows and good works
are evident.
Don't forget to stay with usafter today's message to hear
(01:29):
more information about Heed theWord, specifically how you can
get a free copy of this teaching.
But for now, please open yourBibles to the book of Romans,
chapter 12, verse 2, as we joinPastor Ken with the conclusion
of our message entitled Not If,but when, and Several Other
Important Things.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
So what I'm saying, christian, is this If you want
to grow in grace, don't resistthe work of God in your life,
but give yourself over to thework of God in your life, by
putting yourself in a placewhere God can speak to you and
where his spirit can lead you,and that is in prayer and in his
word.
Do not be conformed to thisworld, but be transformed by the
(02:08):
renewing of your mind that youmay prove what is the good and
acceptable and perfect will ofGod.
For I say, through the gracegiven to me, to everyone who is
among you, not to think ofhimself more highly than he
ought to think, but to thinksoberly, as God has dealt to
each one a measure of faith.
It's not about you.
It's not about you.
(02:46):
It's not about you.
If your focus is on you, thenyou're worshiping yourself.
Your focus needs to be on God,not on what you can't do, but on
what he has done and what hewants to do through you for
others.
(03:11):
You see, a lot of people havethis attitude about God and
about church and about servingGod.
That says you know what?
I don't have to go to church.
I love God, I worship God, Iwatch.
You know the sermons on TV.
You know what?
I think it's great that thereare sermons available on TV and
I think it's great that peoplewatch them, but when that's all
they do, they are robbing Godand they are robbing you.
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We need to come together asbelievers in Jesus to worship
him together, not just so thatwe can be ministered to, but so
that we can minister to others,or rather, so that we can allow
God to minister to othersthrough us.
What does Paul say here inverse five?
So we, being many, are one bodyin Christ and individually
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members of one another.
Having then gifts differingaccording to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them.
If prophecy, let us prophesy inproportion to our faith or
ministry.
That is service.
Let us use it in our serving orin our ministering.
(04:21):
He who teaches in teaching, hewho exhorts in exhortation, he
who gives with liberality, hewho leads with diligence, he who
shows mercy with cheerfulnessoh, that's a big one.
You ever know there are peopleout there who want to show mercy
, but they're not happy about it.
Yeah, I forgive you.
I guess I have to, you know.
No, he who shows mercy withcheerfulness, let love be
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without hypocrisy.
Don't love me to my face andhate me behind my back.
If you're going to love, let itbe without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil, cling towhat is good.
Be kindly affectionate to oneanother with brotherly love.
You know that word, brotherlylove.
(05:08):
When it talks about brotherlylove, it's not talking about
loving somebody like they're abrother.
It's talking about loving thembecause they're a brother.
You see, if we are all childrenof God, then what does that
make us to one another Brothersand sisters?
We are literally brothers andsisters in Christ and we should
love each other as though wewere, because we are Verse 11,
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not lagging in diligence.
Do you know that as we servetogether, we have to be diligent
about how we serve?
We need to take ourresponsibilities seriously?
We have to be diligent abouthow we serve.
We need to take ourresponsibilities seriously.
We shouldn't serve haphazardlyor carelessly.
We should be diligent in ourservice, fervent in spirit,
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serving the Lord.
You know, I highlighted that inmy Bible because I wanted to
remind myself this when I teachyou the word of God, or when
David leads you in worship withthe worship team, or when
Valerie and the others greet youin the back, or when our
teachers take your children andinstruct them in the ways of the
(06:16):
Lord, or when someone comes toyour home or to the hospital and
visits you when you're sick.
When we serve one another,we're not serving one another,
we're serving God, we're servingGod.
And when we love one another,we're not just loving one
another, we're loving God.
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That's why the Bible says howcan you say you love God but
hate your brother?
Can't Not?
Lagging in diligence, fervent inspirit, serving the Lord,
rejoicing in hope, patient intribulation, continuing
steadfastly in prayer,distributing to the needs of the
saints, given to hospitality?
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Bless those who persecute you.
Bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoiceand weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward oneanother.
Do not set your mind on highthings, but associate with the
humble.
Do not be wise in your ownopinion.
Repay no one evil for evil, buthave regard for good things in
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the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much asdepends on you, live peaceably
with all men.
Can I tell you that ifChristians would obey that, I
don't think we'd ever haveanother church split, would we?
We'd never see that because ourdesire is to live peaceably.
If someone said I disagree withthe way they're doing something
, then what would they do?
They'd just leave and go findsome place where they did agree
with the way they were doingsomething.
(07:40):
Not cause division, if it ispossible.
As much as depends on you.
Live peaceably with all menBeloved.
Do not avenge yourselves, butrather give place to wrath.
For it is written vengeance ismine, I will repay, says the
Lord.
Therefore, if your enemy ishungry, feed him.
If he's thirsty, give him adrink, for in so doing, you will
(08:03):
heap coals of fire in his head.
Do not be overcome with evil,but overcome evil with good.
As a Christian, if we want togrow in Christ, we need to be
willing to love our enemies.
We need to be willing to nottake vengeance ourself, but
allow the Lord to defend us.
You know, sometimes, asChristians, we read that verse
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vengeance is mine, saith theLord, I will repay.
Yeah, I'm going to get themright.
We want God to like squishpeople, like bugs.
The fact of the matter is, godsays that he takes no pleasure
in the destruction of the wicked, but that he wills that all men
would come to repentance.
Why do you think he hasn't comeback yet he's being patient,
he's waiting, he's giving usmore time to share the gospel so
that more people could be saved.
Can I tell you, we serve acompassionate God, a God who
(08:47):
loves us, a God who cares for usdeeply and who wants our best.
It's the kind of God we serve,and he doesn't want to take
vengeance.
But rest assured that if norepentance comes in the life of
a person, then there's nothingleft for them but vengeance and
for wrath, and so we don't needto repay them.
(09:11):
Let me give you an example.
Let's say someone does somethingwrong to me and they've sinned
against me, and they are not aChristian.
My tendency might be to want totake vengeance on that person,
to get even with them in someway right, but God's desire is
for them ultimately to repentand to be born again.
So let's say that they dorepent and are born again.
(09:34):
Then what are they?
They're my brother or my sister, and that having happened, I
would have just taken vengeanceon someone who is my brother and
sister.
Do I want to do that?
No, I don't want to do that.
You don't want to takevengeance?
Oh sure, you might want to, youknow, maybe kick him in the
shin, but you wouldn't want tokill him or anything, right?
You don't want to takevengeance on someone who is your
(09:54):
brother or your sister.
Well, let's say that persondoesn't become a Christian.
Well, do I want vengeance onthem then?
Do I want to take vengeance onthem then?
Well, guess what?
If they don't become aChristian, if they don't turn to
the Lord, then what is going tohappen to them?
They're going to spend aneternity in hell, and you know
what.
That's bad enough.
I don't wish that on my worstenemy.
So if they're already going tosuffer that kind of vengeance,
(10:24):
then who am I to extractadditional vengeance from them?
It's not my place.
God's going to take care ofthat.
Either they will repent and ourfellowship will be restored, or
they won't turn to God, and youknow what they're going to have
to face the music on thateventually.
Either way, I don't need to addanything to that.
I don't need to take vengeanceon that person.
If we read through these verseshere in Romans, chapter 12, we
(10:46):
see really what it is to die toourselves.
You know what it really allcomes down to, guys?
It comes down to this LovingGod enough to put other people
before yourself.
That's what it comes down toJust loving God enough to put
other people before yourself.
That's what it comes down toJust loving God enough to put
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other people before yourself,recognizing the fact that God
has given you, as a Christian, aspiritual gift and that you are
responsible to use that giftfor his glory by serving your
brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you are a Christian, if youare a Christian and you have
never done anything to serveanother person, it's time to
(11:29):
begin today.
It's time to begin servingsomeone else.
It doesn't have to be a bigthing, it can be very small.
You could be praying forsomeone, you could be sending a
card in the mail and lettingthem know that you were thinking
about them and that you careabout them and that God loves
them.
It can be anything that takesyour focus off of you and puts
it on another person in Christ.
(11:50):
It's time to start doing that,because when you do that, you'll
begin to bear fruit and you'llbegin to grow.
Turn to Colossians, chapter one.
I'm going to indulge just alittle bit here.
Just a little bit because youknow, when we think about
growing in Christ, it's allrelated, isn't it?
Paul, an apostle of JesusChrist by the will of God, and
(12:12):
Timothy, our brother, to thesaints and faithful brethren in
Christ who are in Colossae.
Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
You know, I love the fact thatthis is from Paul and Timothy.
You know this is one of theletters of Paul, but you know he
includes Timothy in the title,doesn't he?
Right there, in the beginning,he says hey, paul and Timothy,
(12:35):
hey, we're writing this togetherto you guys.
You know, timothy was likePaul's son in the faith, wasn't
he?
And yet now Paul is listing himhere as though he were an equal
, a co-laborer with him.
You know, that's the way it'sto be in our relationships with
believers, as we grow in Christ,we should seek to invest in the
(12:56):
lives of other Christians, tobring aside that Timothy in our
life and say hey, timothy, look,this is how you serve God.
Let me not just tell you.
But why don't you do it with mefor a while, timothy?
And then Timothy begins to learnand he begins to grow as a
Christian and, before you knowit, man Timothy's serving right
alongside and you say hey, youknow, this letter is not just
(13:17):
from Paul, it is from Paul andTimothy.
You know it's from both of us,paul and Timothy, to the saints
and faithful brethren in Christwho are in Colossae.
Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
We give thanks to the God andFather of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(13:39):
praying always for you.
Since we heard of you, since weheard of your faith in Christ
Jesus and of your love for allthe saints, because of the hope
which is laid up for you inheaven, of which you heard
before in the word of truth, ofthe gospel, which has come to
you, as it has also in all theworld, and is bringing forth
(13:59):
fruit, as it is also among yousince the day you heard and knew
the grace of God and truth.
You know Paul is writing hereand he's saying look.
(14:20):
You know, from the day I heardabout what's happening in your
life, I've been praying for you.
You know, because I've heardthat you've heard the gospel and
that it's bearing fruit in yourlife, just as it's bearing
fruit throughout the entireworld.
You know Paul is bearingtestimony to the fact that the
gospel bears fruit.
Is it bearing fruit in yourlife today If the gospel is not
(14:46):
bearing fruit in your life today.
The fault lies not in thegospel Do you understand what
I'm saying?
But in your response to it.
Are you believing it?
Are you receiving it?
Are you acting on it?
Are you ordering your lifeaccording, believing it?
Are you receiving it?
(15:06):
Are you acting on it?
Are you ordering your lifeaccording to it?
Are you obeying it?
Because if you do, you're goingto bear fruit.
The gospel bears fruit.
God's word will not return tohim void, but it will always
accomplish the purposes forwhich he sent it.
Paul speaks of Epaphras here,who has brought news of the
Colossian church to him, as he'sthere in prison, and in prison
(15:27):
is this one of the prisonepistles?
I'm off topic, and so Epaphrashas brought word to Paul here
and Paul is saying hey, you knowwhat?
Epaphras is a faithful man, heloves you, he's brought news of
you to me and he's the one whobrought news to you of the
gospel.
Epaphras is very likely someonethat Paul met, probably in
(15:51):
Ephesus, and who went out anddid this work in Colossae and
the surrounding area.
We believe, from what we findhere, that Paul probably never
was in Colossae, but he'swritten this letter to them to
encourage them, and in versenine is really where I want to
focus on this he says for thisreason, we also, since the day
we heard of it, do not cease topray for you.
Now, as we read Paul's prayerfor the Colossians here, I want
(16:17):
you to understand that this isalso his prayer for us, because
he refers to those who have notseen his face.
I also want you to know that,as a believer in Christ,
particularly as a new believer,this is my prayer for you.
It's my prayer for myself.
For this reason, we also, sincethe day we heard of it, do not
cease to pray for you and to askthat you may be filled with the
(16:40):
knowledge of his will in allwisdom and spiritual
understanding.
So what is the first thing Paulprays for these believers in
Colossae?
That they be filled with theknowledge of his will in all
wisdom and spiritualunderstanding.
Not that they have enough foodto eat, not that they be healthy
, not that they have enough foodto eat, not that they be
(17:00):
healthy, not that they have nicechariots to drive, but that
they be filled with theknowledge of God.
That was more important.
What was the next thing that heprayed for them?
Verse 10 that you may walkworthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing to him, being fruitfulin every good work and
increasing in the knowledge ofGod.
(17:22):
So, first, that they would havethe knowledge of God and be
filled with it, but then thatthat knowledge would translate
to actions on their part andthat they would put to work the
knowledge of God that they havereceived in their lives.
And then what was the result ofhaving put that to work in
their fruitfulness?
It was more knowledge.
(17:45):
So what does that mean?
We learn something about God.
We act on what we've learned.
We then learn more about God.
What happens if we leave outthat middle part?
If we receive knowledge of Godbut we fail to act on that
knowledge?
Will God give us any moreknowledge of him?
(18:05):
Why?
Why would he give us somethingthat we are not going to use?
Knowledge followed by action,followed by more knowledge, he
says.
I'll read it again.
For this reason we also, sincethe day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you and to askthat you may be filled with the
(18:28):
knowledge, knowledge, his willin all wisdom and spiritual
understanding, that you may walkworthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing him, being fruitful inevery good work, good work and
increasing in the knowledge ofGod, strengthen with all might,
according to his glorious power.
(18:48):
Are you weak?
You can be strengthened.
According to whose power?
According to his power,according to his glorious power
for all patience andlong-suffering with joy.
And what's the result of allthis growing and learning?
It is that we would give thanks,giving thanks to the Father,
(19:10):
who has qualified us to bepartakers of the inheritance of
the saints in the light, to bepartakers of the inheritance of
the saints in the light.
He has delivered us from thepower of darkness you know
that's past tense, isn't it?
He has delivered us from thepower of darkness and conveyed
(19:30):
us into the kingdom of the sonof his love, in whom we have
redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of his love, in
whom we have redemption throughhis blood, the forgiveness of
sins.
He is the image of theinvisible God, the firstborn
over all creation, for by himall things were created that are
in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether
(19:54):
thrones or dominions orprincipalities or powers.
All things were created throughhim and for him, and he is
before all things and in him allthings consist, and he is the
head of the body, the church,who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that inall things he may have
preeminence, for it pleased theFather, that in him all the
(20:17):
fullness should dwell, and byhim, to reconcile all things to
himself.
By him, whether things on earthor things in heaven, having
made peace through the blood ofhis cross and you who were once
alienated and enemies in yourmind by wicked works, yet now he
(20:38):
has reconciled in the body ofhis flesh, through death, to
present you holy and blamelessand a brough reproach in his
sight, if indeed you continue inthe faith, grounded and
steadfast, and are not movedaway from the hope of the gospel
which you heard, which waspreached to every creature under
heaven, of which I, paul,became a minister.
(21:00):
I'm going to end with thosewords today, and I want you to
understand this, of all thethings that we talked about
being born again and our needfor it, because of the fact that
God is holy and we aren't, ofthe fact that, when we are born
again, we've received a newnature, a new name, that we have
the assurance of our salvationand that we're to walk, yielded
(21:20):
before the Lord.
Of all of the other things thatwe talked about regarding the
word of God, regarding the factthat we are to receive that
implanted word which is able tosave our souls, the fact that we
are to desire it as a babydesires milk.
About the fact that it's not ifwe pray but when we pray, not
if we do charitable deeds orgive but when we give.
(21:44):
About the fact that it's not ifwe deny ourselves but when we
deny ourselves, that we're notto do those things before men
for their approval, but beforeGod, for his approval and his
alone, and that he will rewardus.
All the things that we'vetalked about, from there up to
even the point of where we'retalking about dying to ourselves
, about offering ourselves asliving sacrifices to the Lord,
(22:04):
holy and acceptable, and takingpart in the fellowship of the
saints and ministering to otherbelievers, even as God has
gifted us to enable us to do so.
All of these things, they'reall very important us to enable
us to do so.
All of these things, they'reall very important.
They are all very importantbecause those are the way we
(22:24):
grow.
But there's one that is equallyas important as all of these
that we just read about, that Iwant you to recognize In order
for that plant to grow, it's gotto stay rooted in the garden.
If I take that plant and Ipluck it out of the garden and I
throw it on the trash heap andI disregard it and I devalue it
(22:46):
and I no longer care for it,it's not going to grow.
And it's not going to grow.
It's not going to bear fruit.
What did we just read thatwould tie into that thought?
I want you to look at it onemore time with me, if indeed you
continue in the faith, groundedand steadfast, and are not
(23:10):
moved away from the hope of thegospel which you heard, which
was preached to every creatureunder heaven, of which I, paul,
became a minister.
Guys, christians can sin andthey can be forgiven.
We're going to, as we gothrough this life, we're going
to fall in mud puddles.
If you will, don't stay in themud puddle.
(23:31):
Get up and keep walking afterGod.
Continue in the faith, don'tgive up.
Don't ever give up.
Don't ever think that you'vesinned so bad that God won't
receive you back.
Don't ever think that you'vewasted so many years that God
(23:51):
can't make fruitful the yearsthat remain.
Don't ever give up, because hewon't give up on you.
Continue in the faith SteadfastRooted, and you won't be moved
Because nothing can take youaway from him.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Well, that's all the time we have for today.
You've been listening to Heedthe Word, the radio ministry of
Calvary Chapel, southwest Metro,located in Burleson, texas.
As you likely gathered, pastorKen Davis is currently sharing
our series entitled theFoundations of the Faith is
currently sharing our seriesentitled the Foundations of the
(24:32):
Faith.
Pastor Ken will be coveringmany topics about how we can be
founded in the fundamentaltruths of the Word of God.
If you were with us at thebeginning of today's broadcast,
you know we mentioned that we'dbe giving additional information
about Heed the Word and how toget a free copy of this message.
For more information about Heedthe Word, log on to
heedthewordorg.
That's heedthewordorg.
(24:53):
At the website, you'll findeverything you need our contact
information, podcastsubscription link and a link to
our online order form, whichwill allow you to place an order
for a CD of today's message inits unedited form.
Since all of our materials arefree of charge, supplies are
limited, so log on toheedthewordorg and place your
(25:15):
order today.
As we close today, we want toencourage you to not only be a
listener of Heed the Word, butto truly apply what you're
learning.
Take the Word of God and beginapplying it to your life every
day.
Well, that's all the time thatwe have for this edition of Heed
the Word with Pastor Ken Davis.
Place a marker in your Biblesand join us next time as Pastor
(25:37):
Ken continues with our seriesentitled the Foundations of the
Faith.
Thank you.
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