WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Follow Me Publishing Date: 2017-09-09T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/follow-me/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 Okay, guys. 00:00:03.560 --> 00:00:08.940 Saying this may sound a little exaggerated, but I think I should still say it. 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:18.280 Because I almost never say this, but I think if we grasp or get a hang of what I'm teaching right now, 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:26.420 it might be perhaps one of the most significant teachings in the last year and a half, two years. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:29.120 If we grasp it, 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:32.960 it'll help us as a church and it'll help us as members of the body. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:42.320 Because it's so simple and yet so strategic that if we grasp it, it'll really help. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:49.200 I just thought I'd say that so we are aware that this seems to be a little more important than usual 00:00:49.720 --> 00:00:52.320 and when really everything is important. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:54.320 So, 00:00:57.080 --> 00:01:04.280 WWJD is What Would Jesus Do? So we're not looking at what would Jesus do. We're looking at what is 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:07.560 Jesus doing. 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:12.840 Okay, not what would Jesus do. What is Jesus doing? So what is Jesus doing? 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:20.200 Yeah. 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:22.920 I mean you can't get it wrong. 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:26.120 So what is Jesus doing? 00:01:27.080 --> 00:01:29.080 Many things. 00:01:29.320 --> 00:01:31.320 Helma, you haven't lost your touch. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:35.840 What else? 00:01:36.720 --> 00:01:38.720 Pardon? 00:01:38.720 --> 00:01:41.400 Bringing its people back. You can't get this wrong guys. So, 00:01:42.720 --> 00:01:44.720 Okay, establishing his kingdom. 00:01:45.960 --> 00:01:47.960 Healing. 00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:50.960 Anything else? 00:01:51.440 --> 00:01:53.040 Interceding. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:57.080 Reaching the nations. Yeah, you can't get it wrong. May I suggest that 00:01:58.240 --> 00:02:01.440 it's best to use Jesus's words. He said, 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:08.600 I am building my church. 00:02:10.040 --> 00:02:16.280 Yeah, and so one of the things Jesus is doing is building his church. Matthew 16, 18 says that. It says 00:02:16.880 --> 00:02:19.040 Jesus turns to Peter after Peter has this 00:02:19.760 --> 00:02:23.880 revelation from the Father and he says, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:29.720 prevail against it. So what is Jesus doing? That's one of the things he's really engaged in. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:34.760 Building the church and in Acts chapter 1 verse 2 you see him 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:40.200 after he rises from the dead before he ascends. He talks to the 00:02:40.760 --> 00:02:43.840 apostles about it. He commanded them what he needed to do. 00:02:43.880 --> 00:02:46.880 Acts chapter 1 starts this way that dear Theophilus 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:53.240 and this is Luke writing to this friend of his called Theophilus saying, I wrote about what Jesus did 00:02:53.600 --> 00:02:56.240 when he walked the earth and now I want to tell you that 00:02:56.920 --> 00:02:58.720 since then he's 00:02:58.720 --> 00:03:03.520 commanded the apostles and told them what to do and so Jesus continues to build a church 00:03:05.480 --> 00:03:09.680 by the power of the Holy Spirit through the people that 00:03:10.320 --> 00:03:11.960 are willing to obey. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.000 So he's still building the church. It's one of the things that Jesus is completely 00:03:16.760 --> 00:03:22.600 interested in and if that is the case, I'd suggest that everybody here be completely interested in it too. 00:03:23.040 --> 00:03:25.640 Because this is really what you're here on the earth for. 00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:32.240 This is why I said if he grasped this it'll really help 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:38.720 the church and I don't necessarily confine it to Acts 29. Anyone who grasps this will 00:03:38.720 --> 00:03:45.720 will be located where Jesus wants them located because at the end of the day this is what he's doing. 00:03:46.720 --> 00:03:48.720 He's building his church. 00:03:49.720 --> 00:03:55.720 And so if he's building his church and you're his follower and if he says to you follow me then this is 00:03:56.720 --> 00:03:57.720 this is 00:03:57.720 --> 00:03:59.720 something that you need to follow him in. 00:04:00.720 --> 00:04:03.720 The apostles carried out his mandate through the acts of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:03.720 --> 00:04:06.720 I sometimes think the book should be named the Acts of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:06.720 --> 00:04:13.720 They carried out his mandate throughout the world by the acts of the Holy Spirit and strange we name ourselves Acts 29. 00:04:14.720 --> 00:04:18.720 Surely this is something that we need to do. 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:25.720 This is your primary calling. Your primary calling is never to something. It is to someone. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:32.720 As a Christian your calling is always is never to something first. It's always to someone. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.720 And this someone is building his church. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:43.720 And if he's saying to you follow me and I'll make you fishers of men Matthew 4 19 then his intent was not just fishers of men. 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:47.720 It was fishers of men who would become something. Go therefore and 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:56.720 make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit in baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:58.720 He's already baptizing them into something. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.720 First Corinthians 12 13 says that you're baptized into the body. 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:07.720 And so that's what we look at today. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.720 Jesus is building his church. So how do you define church then? 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.720 Many ways to define it. Today we'll define it this way. 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:17.720 Church of people. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.720 Redeemed by. 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:26.720 Redeemed by. 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:29.720 The finished. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:31.720 Works. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:34.720 By the finished work of Christ. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:37.720 People redeemed by the finished work of Christ. 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:39.720 And after I write it down we'll talk about it. 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:41.720 People redeemed by the finished work of Christ. 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:43.720 Called out of the world. 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:47.720 Called out of the world. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:54.720 Transformed into carriers. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.720 Transformed into. 00:05:57.720 --> 00:05:59.720 I know it's a long definition but 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:03.720 transformed into carriers 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:07.720 of his nature and his spirit. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:12.720 His nature and his spirit. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:17.720 Sent back into the world. 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:21.720 Sent back into the world. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:23.720 By the spirit. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:32.720 Sent back into the world by the spirit. 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:35.720 Why? 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:39.720 To 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:42.720 demonstrate the kingdom. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:44.720 Call people into the kingdom. 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:51.720 Call people into the kingdom. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.720 Call people into the kingdom. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:05.720 Openly. 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:09.720 Making disciples of all nations. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:11.720 Making disciples 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.720 of all nations. 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.720 Next Sunday I might add stuff to this 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:20.720 because it's not easy to define the church. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:23.720 But this kind of would take care of most things. 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:27.720 So when we say Jesus is building the church, what do we mean? 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:30.720 Jesus is building the church. It sounds so vague. Yep. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:33.720 Yep. 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:34.720 So how do you define the church? 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.720 The church is a people redeemed by the finished work of Christ. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:40.720 What do we mean by the finished work of Christ? 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:45.720 His life here on earth, his death, his resurrection, his ascension 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.720 and the coming of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.720 and the formation of this community called the church. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:55.720 So the church is a people redeemed by the finished work of Christ. 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.720 Guys, these are definitions that we should learn 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:00.720 so that if anyone prods you in the middle of the night 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:03.720 it may not come out exactly like this, but you'll know it. 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:07.720 And it's only learned through repetition, eh? 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:10.720 So you'll have to go home and go over it again and again 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:13.720 till it becomes your words but it brings out the same truth. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:18.720 If anything you can add stuff to it later, but this covers a lot of it. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.720 A people redeemed by the finished work of Christ 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:24.720 called out of the world. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:27.720 Called out of the world. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:29.720 Ecclesia. 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:32.720 Called out of the world and then what happens? 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:37.720 You're transformed into carriers of his nature and glory 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.720 and that's where the discipleship part comes in. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:41.720 Where you're called out of the world, why? 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:46.720 So that you don't stay conformed to the world, but you're changed, you're transformed. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.720 To be what? 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.720 To be vessels that carry his nature. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:56.720 And vessels that carry his spirit. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:00.720 The Bible talks about it, don't you know that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit? 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:01.720 Holy Spirit. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.720 And then once that happens or while that is happening, 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:07.720 you're sent back into the world. 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:09.720 You're called out only to be sent back. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.720 Sent back into the world. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:15.720 Why is being, why are you being sent back into the world? 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:19.720 So that you can demonstrate the kingdom. 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:25.720 As in you can demonstrate what the rule of God looks like in your marriage, 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.720 in your home, in your workplace, in your life. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:29.720 What does it look like? 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:33.720 What does the rule of God look like? 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:35.720 We're supposed to demonstrate it. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:40.720 And once we can authenticate his rule in our lives through demonstration 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.720 or while we're doing that, we also call people into the kingdom. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.720 This is what Jesus did. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.720 Why did he come down to the earth? 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:50.720 He began to demonstrate who his father is and then he began to proclaim, 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.720 Hey, the kingdom of God is here. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:54.720 Come in, come in, come in. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:57.720 So we call them too. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:03.720 And we do this openly, not secretly. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.720 Secretly never works, man. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.720 Secretly is a way to stay out of this. 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:10.720 Openly. 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:12.720 But wisely. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.720 But openly. 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:20.720 And in the end, you make disciples of all nations because it's not confined to any cross section of society 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.720 or any ethnicity. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:23.720 It's making disciples of all nations. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:26.720 This is the church and Jesus is building his church. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:33.720 And if you are a follower and if that is who you are, then you have no choice. 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:41.720 I have no choice but to follow him in this particular enterprise that he's so absolutely engaged in. 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:44.720 Any questions? 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.720 Any questions? 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.720 Any thoughts? 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:01.720 The definition or big mandate? 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:02.720 Yeah. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.720 But once you break it down into little pieces, you see that he does most of the work. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.720 I will build my church. 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:12.720 Brilliant, eh? 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:14.720 Not I need you to build my church. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.720 I will build my church. 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:23.720 But because I'm your father, I'll take you along with me so that you can paint the fence too while I'm painting most of it. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:25.720 And you can take the credit after that. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:26.720 I will build my church. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.720 This is your reason for existence. 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.720 It doesn't matter what you're doing. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:36.720 It doesn't matter that you may be jobless. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.720 It doesn't matter that you might have a job. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.720 It doesn't matter that you're retired. 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:44.720 It doesn't matter that you are a pastor, which is the same as being retired. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:50.720 At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you're doing. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.720 This is the reason for your existence. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.720 Please understand, it is the only reason you exist. 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:04.720 To join your master in what he is building. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.720 Because this can apply to any area, right? 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.720 This is not for pastors or churches. 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.720 No questions? 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.720 Any disagreements? 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.720 Cool. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.720 So how is the Lord Jesus building his church? 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:27.720 How is the Lord Jesus building his church? 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:29.720 How is he going about it? 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.720 Through us. 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:40.720 If you turn to Acts chapter 2, we'll eventually end up reading from 42 to 47. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.720 But let's take 46 and 47 first. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.720 Acts chapter 2, 46 and 47. 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:47.720 How is the Lord Jesus building his church? 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:52.720 Guys, anytime you want to build anything here on earth, look at the blueprint. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.720 Look at the blueprint. 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:56.720 I don't understand why we don't go to the blueprint. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:00.720 We go to experts who have written books because their church was successful. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.720 By usually North American standards. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.720 Don't understand that. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.720 Go to the blueprint. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.720 It's very obvious there how it was built. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.720 So go to the blueprint. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.720 Go to the blueprint. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:18.720 Acts chapter 2, verse 46 and 47. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:21.720 It says that they continued to meet in the temple daily. 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.720 They broke bread in homes. 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.720 They ate together with glad hearts. 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.720 And the Lord added to their numbers. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.720 Let's pull out three simple things from that. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:36.720 One, Jesus is building his church daily. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:44.720 Not just on Sundays. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.720 Not just on Sundays. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.720 Building his church daily. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.720 Not just on Sundays. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.720 Sela. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:57.720 Because one of the questions you have to ask yourself is, are you a part of a church building? 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:01.720 Are you a part of a church or are you building, are you a part of building the church? 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:03.720 Are you a part of a church building? 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:05.720 Are you a part of building the church? 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:07.720 Are you a part of a church building? 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:09.720 Meaning you've been coming for 40, 50 years. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:10.720 You even know your spot. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.720 You could go there if you were blind. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.720 Are you part of a church building? 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.720 Are you part of a church? 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:22.720 Part of a church is, you can't get to your place blind. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.720 You have to see. 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.720 You're part of a church. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.720 You take part in sufficient activities. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.720 Or are you part of building the church? 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:32.720 Are you part of building the church? 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:34.720 And we'll talk about that. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.720 Not today. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.720 Over the next few weeks. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:42.720 But how does Jesus go about building his church? 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:44.720 One, he builds his church daily. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.720 Not just on Sundays. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:54.720 Guys, please don't think that turning up here on Sundays constitutes some kind of Christian living. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.720 It doesn't. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.720 It doesn't. 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:07.720 It has never been that way. 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:11.720 And so why pretend that it is? 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.720 That's not Christian living. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:18.720 That's just turning up on Sundays. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:34.720 Two, he is building his church in homes and not always in public or sacred places. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.720 Spaces. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:39.720 Not always in public or sacred spaces. 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.720 Not in public or sacred spaces. 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.720 We have church buildings like this building. 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.720 This is where we gather. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:52.720 This is a public place, a sacred space, if you want to call it a sacred space. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.720 And so whenever we think church, we think of something like this. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:05.720 And yet throughout the New Testament, it was common practice to gather in homes. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:09.720 It doesn't matter whether you were the church in Rome or the church in Ephesus. 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:13.720 People gathered in homes. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:18.720 Because Christianity had to be practiced during the week too. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.720 Not just on Sundays. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.720 So let me put it this way so that it really hits home a little harder. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:29.720 If you're only turning up on Sundays at Acts 29 and not doing anything else during the week, 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:38.720 engaged in any way, connected in any way, drawing in any way from the body, 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:42.720 then may I say to you that that brand of Christianity is not really Christianity. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.720 It's not. 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.720 Never was. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:50.720 Never will be. 00:16:57.720 --> 00:17:00.720 Third, he's building his church numerically. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:04.720 He's building his church numerically. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.720 Building his church numerically. 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:11.720 As in, he adds the numbers. 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.720 He adds the numbers. 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:15.720 He adds the numbers. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.720 He adds the numbers. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:27.720 The number of books and programs you have that tell you how to grow your church. 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.720 It's just ridiculous, man. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:35.720 In the Bible, it was always, always God who added numbers. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:44.720 Man's efforts are efforts of flesh and they'll result in multiple people with poor, weak leadership. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.720 You cannot build a house till you craft the pillars. 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.720 You cannot build a house till you craft pillars. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.720 Crafting pillars takes years. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.720 Years. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:10.720 Wisdom has hewn her pillars, Proverbs 16, I'm not too sure. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.720 God adds numerically. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.720 You know, acts when Iran would not be able to handle a hundred new people? 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.720 We wouldn't be able to handle it. 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:28.720 If we had a hundred people, we wouldn't be able to handle it. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.720 Suddenly a hundred extra people came. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.720 Because you're not ready for it. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.720 Oh, we can seed them. 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:43.720 Questions, comments? 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.720 Anything you want to add? 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.720 Yep. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.720 Yeah. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.720 I'm talking about Acts 29 at present. 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.720 Yeah. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.720 No, I understand what you're saying. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:15.720 I would say that twelve were hewn by Christ himself and had the ability to do it. 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:17.720 And it took him three and a half years. 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:22.720 At best, Jesus, who was highly talented, could handle about twelve families and twelve people. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.720 I don't know why we think that we as pastors can handle more than twelve families at a time. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:33.720 It takes time to invest in people, man. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:38.720 This is why I'm desperate that some of us really step up at Acts 29. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.720 You have all the potential to be a leader. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.720 If you can only say, all right, put it on me. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:49.720 Because the more the leaders, the more the number of people we can handle. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:57.720 So, yeah, when I read three thousand added the first day, five thousand a week later, I'm thinking, gosh, man, how did they do it? 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:02.720 And one of the things they did is break up into little households where you would meet. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.720 And most of the households are pretty small. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:08.720 In those days, a two-bedroom apartment was not exactly a two-bedroom apartment. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.720 And they were very small. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.720 And they were very small. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.720 And they were very small. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.720 And they were very small. 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:19.720 In those days, a two-bedroom apartment was not exactly a two-bedroom apartment. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:25.720 And so they would gather in little households. 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.720 Years later in Rome, it was the same thing. 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.720 Go to Rome, go to First Corinthians, Chapter 16. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.720 It talks about gathering in this household, gathering in that household. 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:38.720 And these were homes and which five to seven families would gather. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:42.720 That was capacity in an environment that wasn't necessarily friendly. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:45.720 In Ephesus, it was different. Ephesus was the hub. 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:51.720 And you would have these different churches that would gather in small groups, not large groups. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.720 Sorry? 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.720 First Corinthians 16. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:03.720 Paul is writing to the different households, say hi to this household that meets in this person's house and so on. 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:08.720 We have a tendency to think, oh, that's a first century model. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.720 It doesn't have to work right. 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:11.720 Now, at the end of the day, remember this. 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:21.720 It is impossible for anybody to handle with any degree of personal relationship more than five to seven families. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.720 It's impossible. 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:28.720 This is a church of maybe 60 or 70 people on a good day. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.720 I can't handle 70. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.720 Nobody can. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:37.720 And therefore, during the week to be able to connect vitally with the church is critical. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:45.720 Any other questions? 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.720 So he would build a church numerically. 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.720 Those that were being saved. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.720 That's what the Bible says. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.720 So what is our role in it? 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.720 Our role. 00:21:57.720 --> 00:22:04.720 Hey, guys, just because I'm just because his message is not exactly sounding friendly doesn't mean you can't ask questions. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.720 What if I'm wrong? 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:08.720 So feel free to ask questions. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:14.720 Oh, I didn't mean you, then I meant everybody else. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:27.720 We had a funeral at Emmanuel Baptist yesterday and someone I knew from 20 years ago asked me, is Diana giving you trouble? 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.720 I said, yes. 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.720 So nothing has changed. 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.720 Moving on. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:34.720 What is our role? 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.720 What is our role? 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.720 What is our role? 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:56.720 I'm going to ask you after I'm done to come up and I'll ask three or four of you to come up and explain this thing again to us so that it's repeated twice to you. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.720 So you don't know who I'm going to pick on. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:04.720 One will be a guest who's here for the second time. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:07.720 No, I'm just kidding. 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:11.720 It'll be but I'll ask you to come up and explain it. 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.720 Is that OK? 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:15.720 We learn through repetition, right? 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:20.720 Even what is our role? 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:25.720 What is our role? 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:33.720 What is our role in joining Jesus in his enterprise of building the church? 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:35.720 Acts 2, verse 42 and 43. 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:38.720 Acts 2, verse 42 and 43. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:48.720 It says, and they continued in the Apostles doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayer. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.720 Let me turn to that. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:53.720 Acts 2, verse 42 and 43. 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:57.720 Acts 2, verse 42 and 43. 00:23:57.720 --> 00:24:02.720 They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:06.720 Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the Apostles. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:12.720 All the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as they had need. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:17.720 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:22.720 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:25.720 And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved. 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:32.720 So we're just going to look at 42, where it says they devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:35.720 So what is our role? 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:38.720 Our role is to be a part of the church. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:41.720 So what is our role? 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:50.720 Our role is to do exactly what they did. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:25:06.720 Apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:13.720 Let's just look at it quickly and then move on. 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.720 We are supposed to continue in this too. 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:17.720 Always go back to the blueprint. 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:19.720 So what do we mean by Apostles teaching? 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:27.720 Today it would mean common set of teaching, common set of teachings, a common set of teachings. 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.720 We've got these house churches going, right? 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:35.720 In Vancouver, in Langley, in Richmond. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:43.720 One day these house churches will be Acts 30, Acts 31, Acts 32 or whatever you want to call it. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:47.720 But the idea of these house churches is that we go and learn during the week. 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:57.720 You have about 40 minutes here which won't be sufficient for Christian living. 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:03.720 There is a need to go beyond just a day a week. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:06.720 And during summer even that is missing. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:10.720 It's impossible to sustain our lives like that guys. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:18.720 And as a leader, there is a responsibility to say it again and again and again. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.720 My responsibility is very simple. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:27.720 Discipleship, to bring you into sonship and then send sons out to build the church. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.720 That's my responsibility. 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:37.720 Discipling, raising sons, sending sons out to plant churches and sons is a gender-free term. 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:42.720 Discipling, raising sons, sending sons to build the church. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.720 That's exactly what Jesus did. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:52.720 Disciple them, raise them up as sons, send them out to build the church. 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:59.720 And if you resist it or are lazy, then there's nothing anybody can do. 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:02.720 But if you embrace it, think of this guys. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:06.720 This is exactly the reason you were born. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:15.720 You were born, you exist for one reason alone, to join Jesus Christ in building what he is building. 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:17.720 There is no other reason for your existence. 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:19.720 Everything is an add-on. 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:30.720 Matthew 6.33, seek first his rule and reign and all other things shall be added unto you. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:35.720 And we don't have to wait for retirement before this happens. 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:38.720 I love it that we don't have any other choice. 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:41.720 I love it that we don't have any other choice. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:47.720 I love it that we are facing such a hard thing today. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:57.720 That it's in our face and we can either reject it, dilute it, but we can't walk away from it neutral. 00:27:57.720 --> 00:28:01.720 All we can do is say, we'll do it now or we'll do it later. 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:12.720 But we can't move away from here today without facing the fact that this is a reason for your existence. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:14.720 Yep. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:25.720 Discipline is transforming a person's thinking so that it aligns with the ways of God. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:32.720 Raising sons is when you pour your life. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:41.720 A pastor can teach members, a father can pour his life into his sons to the point where they become everything that they are supposed to. 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:44.720 As God had initially ordained it. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:50.720 One a teacher can do, the other only a father's heart can do. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:54.720 Churches have teachers, apostles, pastors, prophets, evangelists. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:57.720 Churches have very few fathers. 00:28:57.720 --> 00:29:01.720 Which is why Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 4 that you have tons of guardians. 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:04.720 You've got thousands of guardians but very few fathers. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:09.720 Fathers raise sons, teachers raise students and disciples. 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:17.720 You've got to do both. You've got to teach so that you have disciples who are fully informed of how God thinks and how God acts. 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:21.720 So that we can think like God and act like God here on earth. 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:28.720 But fathers raise sons where they begin to walk exactly as they are supposed to. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:31.720 Not like you but in their frequency. 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:35.720 The way the heavenly father wanted it. 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:39.720 Ah! 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:42.720 Fascinating that Paul rarely uses the word disciple. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:46.720 He always uses the word son, children. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.720 Let me send you my son Timothy. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:51.720 My son Titus. 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:55.720 Pouring out his life eh? 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:59.720 Teachings are easy to pour out man. Just get a CD. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:14.720 So apostles teaching is a common set of teachings that which is what is happening in the house churches that we have. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:19.720 And I deliberately call them house churches. They're not Bible studies. They're not house groups. They're house churches. 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:24.720 They will walk independent in a little while. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:28.720 Enter it. You'll find life happening. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:33.720 A Sunday will not sustain you. Even though you've got a brilliant preacher standing here. 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:36.720 Secondly, fellowship. 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:40.720 Fellowship is one anothering. One anothering. 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:42.720 One anothering. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:45.720 Fellowship is one anothering. What do you mean by one anothering? 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:56.720 You'll find that the Bible is full of love one another, honor one another, esteem one another, accept one another, serve one another, show compassion to one another, spur one another to good works. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.720 That is the essence of fellowshiping. 00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:04.720 Fellowshiping is not summer barbecues and coffee and cake. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:07.720 Fellowshiping is not canoeing as a young adult group. 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:12.720 That's great. I'm glad Derek paid for it and Rachel organized it. 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:16.720 But it's far more than that. 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.720 Fellowshiping is one anothering. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:24.720 And this is why it is critical that we have occasion to do this more than a Sunday. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:29.720 Hey, we're out of here about 20 minutes after the service. 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:37.720 If you're single, if you're married, you leave in five minutes. 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:42.720 One anothering cannot happen if you're not a body 24-7. 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:48.720 Sunday does not afford you that precious privilege. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:57.720 I don't have the references, but it talks about love one another, honor one another. 00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:02.720 I mean, it is possible to honor one another and love one another over the phone. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:07.720 But I think real life flesh is better. 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:16.720 Love one another, honor one another, esteem one another, accept one another, serve one another, show passion and kindness to one another, 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:19.720 forgive one another, spur each other to good work. 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:27.720 This is what happens in the context of a family. 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:30.720 Hey, this is what you're called to. Please understand. 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:37.720 The reason I said this is important is because if Acts 29 is not about this, 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:41.720 then Acts 29 is spinning its wheels and shouldn't continue. 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:44.720 We did well for 12 years. Let's not continue. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:49.720 Because it's either this or there's no point. 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:59.720 This is the only reason for our existence, guys. 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:09.720 I mean, what would be the point of serving the king if you're not following him and doing what he is presently doing? 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:16.720 In the olden days, he'd lop your head off. But thank God he doesn't do that nowadays. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:22.720 No, he was always very kind and benevolent. I'm talking about the other kings. 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:28.720 Third, breaking a bread. So how does breaking a bread fit in this? 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:31.720 Breaking a bread, it's a peculiar people. 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:35.720 I mean, that's such an archaic word. So let's think of weird people. 00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:40.720 No, that doesn't sound right either. 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:43.720 It's a people that are different. It's like a counterculture. 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:48.720 But I'll use the word peculiar now because it's said so in 1 Peter 2. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:34:02.720 A peculiar people proclaiming the grace of a crucified and risen king. 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:08.720 That's what breaking a bread does say. And they do it openly, publicly. 00:34:08.720 --> 00:34:18.720 The breaking of bread, why was it thrown into these four legs of church growth or whatever you want to call it? 00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:22.720 Why was it involved? Why was it included? Because we break bread once a month. 00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:27.720 And yet that was such an essential part of the early church. 00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:30.720 And they would meet in homes and they would break bread, not once, twice. 00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:35.720 They do it almost every night in their dinner parties or they used to call it love feasts. 00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:37.720 And it was very normal. And what were they doing? 00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:41.720 They were declaring that they were a distinct people. 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:44.720 And it reminded them of the days when in the Passover, 00:34:44.720 --> 00:34:47.720 God made a distinction between the people of Israel and the people of Egypt, 00:34:47.720 --> 00:34:50.720 where in Goshen there was light while Egypt was dark. 00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:54.720 A distinct people, a peculiar people doing what? Proclaiming. 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:57.720 The breaking of bread is always a proclamation. To whom? 00:34:57.720 --> 00:35:00.720 To the devil and the demons that watch. 00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:03.720 To the people around who are watching. 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:05.720 To the people sitting around the table. 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:09.720 And what are we proclaiming? We are proclaiming the grace. The grace. 00:35:09.720 --> 00:35:14.720 What is this? Mana. Grace. Bread. Eat. Grace. 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:19.720 Jesus Christ dying on a cross, giving grace, unlimited grace, saying, 00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:22.720 Hey, all of me for you. 00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:25.720 That's what we are proclaiming every time we break bread. 00:35:25.720 --> 00:35:30.720 Which is why I so enjoy it when every time I go to one of your house churches, 00:35:30.720 --> 00:35:32.720 you're breaking bread. 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:36.720 I love it. 00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:41.720 Oh, to miss out on stuff like this and settle for a miserable Sunday. 00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:47.720 For a glorious Sunday, sorry. 00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:49.720 Glorious Sunday, I meant that. 00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:59.720 What I meant is it's so miserable to settle for just one such occasion. 00:35:59.720 --> 00:36:01.720 Build a church guys. This is what Jesus is about. 00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:08.720 This is what you don't have a choice, though you have a choice. 00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:11.720 Proclaiming the grace of a crucified and risen King. 00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:18.720 It was difficult in those days to not partake or in the feasts that were dedicated to Caesar and Roman Gods. 00:36:18.720 --> 00:36:21.720 Because they had the same principle. Come and eat. 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:24.720 You're part of this guild of merchants. Come and eat. 00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:28.720 And as you eat, you're declaring the lordship of Caesar and you're saying, 00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:30.720 We owe our allegiance to Caesar. 00:36:30.720 --> 00:36:34.720 And then they begin to desist that and they had their own meal where they would say, 00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:38.720 No, no, no, no, we don't eat at the table of demons at the table of the Lord. 00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:43.720 First Corinthians, Paul talks about it. 00:36:43.720 --> 00:36:45.720 Practice this publicly. 00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:47.720 Honestly, don't have to be a pastor to do this. 00:36:47.720 --> 00:36:51.720 Don't need a degree to do this. 00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:54.720 When you meet in restaurants, practice breaking a bone. 00:36:54.720 --> 00:37:01.720 Declare the benefits of the death and resurrection of your risen King. 00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:06.720 It must be done openly. These walls shield us and keep us so insulated from... 00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:08.720 We can hear everything outside. 00:37:08.720 --> 00:37:11.720 Yeah, true. 00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.720 And the last one is prayers. 00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:15.720 And what kind of prayers? 00:37:15.720 --> 00:37:22.720 Prayers that would establish his kingdom and his will on earth as it is in heaven. 00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:25.720 That's the kind of prayers they prayed. 00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:27.720 Acts chapter 4, verse 28 to 30. 00:37:27.720 --> 00:37:33.720 They just were reprimanded by the leaders and they come together and they begin to pray. 00:37:33.720 --> 00:37:38.720 They begin to pray and they say, Oh God, stretch out your hand. 00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:46.720 And grant us the boldness and stretch out your hand to do science miracles and wonders. 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:49.720 And the place shook because of the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:37:49.720 --> 00:37:50.720 So what prayers are we talking about? 00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:57.720 We're talking about prayers that establish the will of God and the kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. 00:37:57.720 --> 00:38:00.720 That kind of prayer, man. 00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:02.720 This is what we're being invited into. 00:38:02.720 --> 00:38:03.720 This is what we're being invited into. 00:38:03.720 --> 00:38:06.720 Everybody here is being invited into this life. 00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:15.720 Questions? Comments? 00:38:15.720 --> 00:38:20.720 Do you pray in the household? 00:38:20.720 --> 00:38:23.720 We do in the household, I believe. 00:38:23.720 --> 00:38:26.720 From what I know. 00:38:26.720 --> 00:38:28.720 No, it can't be whatever. 00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:29.720 It's either or. 00:38:29.720 --> 00:38:33.720 So either we are and if we are not, let me know and we should reinstitute it. 00:38:33.720 --> 00:38:40.720 I fully agree that if it is missing, it should be reinstituted because once we have the house churches, then the prayer started happening there. 00:38:40.720 --> 00:38:44.720 So and I sometimes hear reports that of answered prayer. 00:38:44.720 --> 00:38:47.720 But if it's not happening, yeah, then you have a valid point. 00:38:47.720 --> 00:38:50.720 We should have it happen again. 00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:51.720 I agree. 00:38:51.720 --> 00:38:58.720 Then I'm going to. 00:38:58.720 --> 00:39:03.720 OK, I'll I'll I'll make sure that I make a note of it and ask the leaders about it. 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:08.720 Go ahead, Dan. 00:39:08.720 --> 00:39:13.720 No, but it's just talking about how we used to meet once every two weeks and pray here. 00:39:13.720 --> 00:39:14.720 We don't do that anymore. 00:39:14.720 --> 00:39:19.720 So I was assuming it's happening in the house, but I'll check and even in a lot of trouble. 00:39:29.720 --> 00:39:35.720 So guys, be rooted and planted in teaching, teaching, get worship, can never replace teaching. 00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:38.720 See, how can you? 00:39:38.720 --> 00:39:41.720 Here's the thing. 00:39:41.720 --> 00:39:48.720 If you don't teach the truth, you don't know the truth about God and therefore the God you worship ain't the real God. 00:39:48.720 --> 00:39:54.720 The more you teach the truth about God, the more you're in awe and the more you will worship. 00:39:54.720 --> 00:40:02.720 Worship should never replace teaching. 00:40:03.720 --> 00:40:11.720 It's absurd to replace teaching with worship. 00:40:11.720 --> 00:40:16.720 The more I know about something, the more I'm in awe of it. 00:40:16.720 --> 00:40:19.720 So be rooted and planted. 00:40:19.720 --> 00:40:20.720 What is our role? 00:40:20.720 --> 00:40:23.720 The first thing is to be rooted and planted in teaching. 00:40:23.720 --> 00:40:27.720 And like I said, 40 minutes of brilliant teaching on a Sunday won't do it. 00:40:27.720 --> 00:40:29.720 Be rooted and planted in teaching. 00:40:29.720 --> 00:40:36.720 Grow so that we are no longer children carried about by every wind of doctrine. 00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:40.720 Ephesians 4.14 says that. 00:40:43.720 --> 00:40:46.720 So we are no longer children. 00:40:46.720 --> 00:40:56.720 May your week be filled with vital connections to God through the body and the spirit. 00:41:00.720 --> 00:41:02.720 So Jacob, what about work? 00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:06.720 What about the fact that I work till six and seven and come back late and don't have time for that? 00:41:06.720 --> 00:41:09.720 Yeah, there'll be days when you can do nothing but go to bed. 00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:15.720 But then there are days where you make the effort to do what is necessary. 00:41:15.720 --> 00:41:17.720 Oh, that doesn't work in today's world. 00:41:17.720 --> 00:41:24.720 Trust me, it was worse in the first century. 00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:25.720 But Jacob, you're a pastor. 00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:26.720 You have no idea. 00:41:26.720 --> 00:41:29.720 I used to work a regular job till I got this cushy job. 00:41:29.720 --> 00:41:36.720 And I used to love doing what I do at present, only I didn't get paid for it. 00:41:36.720 --> 00:41:39.720 Now, for some strange reason, you pay me. 00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:41.720 And God bless you for it. 00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:43.720 Just keep doing it. 00:41:43.720 --> 00:41:50.720 But the point is, guys, this should become such a magnificent obsession. 00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:53.720 Consumes. 00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:58.720 But I'm aware, I love the fact that Heidi goes meet with people. 00:41:58.720 --> 00:42:01.720 She does an empty number of things that I haven't asked her to do. 00:42:01.720 --> 00:42:02.720 She's a nurse. 00:42:02.720 --> 00:42:03.720 She works crazy schedules. 00:42:03.720 --> 00:42:04.720 Why does she still do it? 00:42:04.720 --> 00:42:06.720 Because she's getting paid. 00:42:06.720 --> 00:42:12.720 Unless she's taking from the bank account I don't know of her being paid. 00:42:15.720 --> 00:42:16.720 She isn't, right? 00:42:16.720 --> 00:42:18.720 Well, she's not. 00:42:18.720 --> 00:42:19.720 She's not. 00:42:19.720 --> 00:42:21.720 She's not partially doing the work. 00:42:21.720 --> 00:42:22.720 Okay. 00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:23.720 Ah, so we're safe now. 00:42:23.720 --> 00:42:24.720 Alrighty. 00:42:24.720 --> 00:42:29.720 So, but I can think of a few others, man, here. 00:42:29.720 --> 00:42:33.720 I can name people, but... 00:42:33.720 --> 00:42:35.720 The next one. 00:42:35.720 --> 00:42:41.720 So first is get rooted, get planted in teaching. 00:42:45.720 --> 00:42:47.720 Two. 00:42:52.720 --> 00:42:54.720 Manage your life. 00:42:54.720 --> 00:42:56.720 Manage your life and family. 00:42:56.720 --> 00:43:00.720 Manage your life and family. 00:43:02.720 --> 00:43:05.720 For Paul this was really important. 00:43:05.720 --> 00:43:07.720 For God this was really important. 00:43:07.720 --> 00:43:10.720 That hey, before you aspire for leadership, 00:43:10.720 --> 00:43:15.720 before you go and talk to people about how wonderful God is, 00:43:15.720 --> 00:43:17.720 get your family in order. 00:43:17.720 --> 00:43:20.720 Manage your life and your family. 00:43:20.720 --> 00:43:22.720 Manage your life and your family. 00:43:22.720 --> 00:43:24.720 And then open your homes. 00:43:24.720 --> 00:43:25.720 Open your homes. 00:43:25.720 --> 00:43:29.720 And by open your homes I'm not just saying open your homes for, 00:43:29.720 --> 00:43:31.720 as a place where you can host or be hospitable, 00:43:31.720 --> 00:43:35.720 but open your homes as in become more transparent. 00:43:35.720 --> 00:43:37.720 Become more transparent. 00:43:37.720 --> 00:43:39.720 Open your homes. 00:43:39.720 --> 00:43:41.720 And then mature into leadership. 00:43:41.720 --> 00:43:44.720 This is mature into leadership. 00:43:44.720 --> 00:43:46.720 Who is this required of? 00:43:46.720 --> 00:43:47.720 All of you. 00:43:47.720 --> 00:43:48.720 Why? 00:43:48.720 --> 00:43:51.720 Because there are a hundred coming next year. 00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:59.720 Who will lead them? 00:43:59.720 --> 00:44:01.720 Not me. 00:44:04.720 --> 00:44:06.720 That's above my pay grade. 00:44:09.720 --> 00:44:11.720 Manage your life and family. 00:44:11.720 --> 00:44:13.720 As in if you're a single person, manage your life well. 00:44:13.720 --> 00:44:15.720 Let them see your good life. 00:44:15.720 --> 00:44:17.720 And by good life I don't mean rich life. 00:44:17.720 --> 00:44:20.720 I mean regardless of whether you have a million or two dollars, 00:44:20.720 --> 00:44:22.720 let them see your good life. 00:44:22.720 --> 00:44:25.720 Let them see your good works and glorify that. 00:44:25.720 --> 00:44:28.720 Father, manage your life and your family. 00:44:28.720 --> 00:44:30.720 If you have a family, 00:44:30.720 --> 00:44:34.720 Paul talks about it in 1 Timothy 3.14. 00:44:34.720 --> 00:44:36.720 He talks about taking care of your family. 00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.720 Manage your life and family. 00:44:37.720 --> 00:44:38.720 Open your homes. 00:44:38.720 --> 00:44:39.720 Open your homes. 00:44:39.720 --> 00:44:41.720 Open your homes. 00:44:41.720 --> 00:44:44.720 Let people be able to come and see how you live. 00:44:44.720 --> 00:44:46.720 I know I've told you about this, 00:44:46.720 --> 00:44:49.720 but it's worth repeating just for the sake of the CD. 00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:52.720 There's this guy sitting here who came and said to me, 00:44:52.720 --> 00:44:55.720 he asked his wife, his wife for some strange reason said yes. 00:44:55.720 --> 00:44:58.720 And so he turns up at my house at 9 o'clock. 00:44:58.720 --> 00:45:00.720 And doesn't leave till 11 p.m. 00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:01.720 Open your homes. 00:45:01.720 --> 00:45:03.720 It was a little excessive. 00:45:05.720 --> 00:45:08.720 But then Sheldon does do weird things. 00:45:08.720 --> 00:45:12.720 So open your homes and mature into leadership. 00:45:12.720 --> 00:45:14.720 Mature into leadership. 00:45:14.720 --> 00:45:16.720 As I look around, man, 00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:20.720 look at Betty, look at Renny, look at Aaron, look at Matt, look at Rachel. 00:45:20.720 --> 00:45:21.720 I go down this church. 00:45:21.720 --> 00:45:28.720 It is so full of people who I know without a shadow of a doubt have the ability to lead. 00:45:28.720 --> 00:45:33.720 Not based on my preference for you or my prejudice towards you. 00:45:33.720 --> 00:45:36.720 Based on what I know the Spirit of God shows about you. 00:45:36.720 --> 00:45:40.720 You just look at the prophetic words spoken over you for the last two years 00:45:40.720 --> 00:45:42.720 and you'll see the richness that dwells in you, 00:45:42.720 --> 00:45:46.720 the substance that dwells in you that is waiting to be drawn out 00:45:46.720 --> 00:45:48.720 so that another hundred can come. 00:45:55.720 --> 00:45:57.720 Mature into leadership. 00:45:58.720 --> 00:46:00.720 Any questions on that one? 00:46:02.720 --> 00:46:05.720 Diana, your time has come to step into a larger role. 00:46:05.720 --> 00:46:07.720 To step into a larger role. 00:46:07.720 --> 00:46:09.720 With your questions and all your flaws. 00:46:09.720 --> 00:46:10.720 Your time has come. 00:46:10.720 --> 00:46:12.720 And that wasn't God, that was just me. 00:46:13.720 --> 00:46:16.720 But it is time for you to step into a larger role. 00:46:16.720 --> 00:46:17.720 You've been found faithful. 00:46:17.720 --> 00:46:19.720 You've been found consistent. 00:46:19.720 --> 00:46:22.720 And God is saying, alright, I'm expanding your boundaries now. 00:46:22.720 --> 00:46:23.720 So get ready. 00:46:24.720 --> 00:46:25.720 Get ready. 00:46:25.720 --> 00:46:28.720 Because it's time for you to start leading from the front, 00:46:28.720 --> 00:46:31.720 not being the one who supports from the side. 00:46:31.720 --> 00:46:32.720 Because you've been consistent. 00:46:32.720 --> 00:46:33.720 And your time has come. 00:46:33.720 --> 00:46:35.720 And God's saying, well done, daughter. 00:46:35.720 --> 00:46:37.720 Time for you to now step up. 00:46:38.720 --> 00:46:39.720 Amazing, eh? 00:46:39.720 --> 00:46:42.720 Doesn't matter how old you are or how young you are. 00:46:42.720 --> 00:46:46.720 God finds you faithful, he begins to expand your boundaries. 00:46:46.720 --> 00:46:49.720 And when you open your homes, guys, something else happens. 00:46:49.720 --> 00:46:51.720 God blesses your home. 00:46:51.720 --> 00:46:54.720 Obeyed Edom, 2 Samuel 6 verse 11. 00:46:54.720 --> 00:46:57.720 He allowed the ark to come into his house. 00:46:57.720 --> 00:47:01.720 And for three months that guy began to draw out of heaven. 00:47:01.720 --> 00:47:03.720 It blessed his home. 00:47:03.720 --> 00:47:06.720 And when I say blessed his home, I don't mean money. 00:47:06.720 --> 00:47:07.720 I don't mean bread. 00:47:07.720 --> 00:47:08.720 I don't mean meat. 00:47:08.720 --> 00:47:11.720 I mean it blessed everything and everyone in his home. 00:47:11.720 --> 00:47:13.720 Open your homes to what God wants to do. 00:47:13.720 --> 00:47:16.720 Because God is building churches through homes. 00:47:16.720 --> 00:47:19.720 God is building churches through homes. 00:47:19.720 --> 00:47:20.720 He's always done it. 00:47:20.720 --> 00:47:21.720 He'll continue to do it. 00:47:21.720 --> 00:47:25.720 In every country where Christianity is difficult to practice publicly, 00:47:25.720 --> 00:47:28.720 it is God is building churches through homes. 00:47:28.720 --> 00:47:32.720 It is us who have the convenience and the lazy luxury 00:47:32.720 --> 00:47:35.720 of spending two hours on a Sunday and calling that church. 00:47:35.720 --> 00:47:38.720 Let there be an end to that in our lives. 00:47:38.720 --> 00:47:40.720 It's not right. 00:47:40.720 --> 00:47:45.720 We serve a king who demands more and must be given more. 00:47:49.720 --> 00:47:52.720 And your home will be blessed when you begin to open it. 00:47:52.720 --> 00:47:55.720 I mean, I think of Anne and Kamal. 00:47:55.720 --> 00:47:59.720 Years ago, six, seven years ago, Kamal and Anne opened their home. 00:47:59.720 --> 00:48:03.720 It was the first place we would meet during the week. 00:48:03.720 --> 00:48:07.720 One by one by one, Anne's family started getting saved. 00:48:08.720 --> 00:48:12.720 Sons, daughters, then had children, grandchildren. 00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:14.720 Even her dog was healed. 00:48:14.720 --> 00:48:15.720 You know that. 00:48:15.720 --> 00:48:17.720 You know how the tumor disappeared. 00:48:17.720 --> 00:48:19.720 You don't know that? 00:48:20.720 --> 00:48:21.720 Oh shucks. 00:48:21.720 --> 00:48:23.720 So Kumbha had a tumor. 00:48:23.720 --> 00:48:27.720 So they took him in and they did a biopsy and they found that Kumbha had a tumor. 00:48:27.720 --> 00:48:29.720 So they needed to operate on the tumor. 00:48:29.720 --> 00:48:32.720 I didn't know dogs can go through a cat scan, but I believe they can. 00:48:32.720 --> 00:48:34.720 So they found the tumor. 00:48:34.720 --> 00:48:41.720 And so the next after a week, Anne decided to take the dog in for the surgery or whatever. 00:48:42.720 --> 00:48:48.720 And so they take the dog in and the doctor and we had prayed for the dog saying, Oh God, 00:48:49.720 --> 00:48:53.720 I can understand how you feel about cats, but surely you can have mercy on dogs. 00:48:53.720 --> 00:48:56.720 And so took the dog in. 00:48:57.720 --> 00:48:58.720 Took. 00:48:58.720 --> 00:49:00.720 Bless the Lord anyhow. 00:49:00.720 --> 00:49:05.720 So took the dog in and the strange thing is the doctors start feeling for the tumor 00:49:05.720 --> 00:49:09.720 and they can't find the spot where the wound of the biopsy was. 00:49:10.720 --> 00:49:15.720 And so they check him again and the tumor has disappeared, man. 00:49:15.720 --> 00:49:16.720 Praise God. 00:49:16.720 --> 00:49:22.720 And Anne has this huge dog in her arms and she's running around the doctor's office saying, 00:49:22.720 --> 00:49:23.720 My dog is healed. 00:49:23.720 --> 00:49:24.720 My dog is healed. 00:49:24.720 --> 00:49:26.720 And people are thinking she needs help now. 00:49:27.720 --> 00:49:28.720 This actually happened. 00:49:28.720 --> 00:49:29.720 This actually happened. 00:49:29.720 --> 00:49:30.720 You can ask her. 00:49:31.720 --> 00:49:38.720 It's surprising how you, when you open up your house to the enterprise that God is presently 00:49:38.720 --> 00:49:40.720 involved in, how we begin to bless your house. 00:49:49.720 --> 00:49:50.720 Moving on. 00:49:53.720 --> 00:49:54.720 It's called mercy. 00:49:54.720 --> 00:49:59.720 Guys in the Bible, you had so many people who did this. 00:49:59.720 --> 00:50:01.720 Aquila and Priscilla were brilliant at this. 00:50:01.720 --> 00:50:03.720 I mean, they were in Rome. 00:50:03.720 --> 00:50:04.720 They opened their house in Rome. 00:50:04.720 --> 00:50:06.720 They were in Corinth. 00:50:06.720 --> 00:50:07.720 They opened their house in Corinth. 00:50:07.720 --> 00:50:08.720 They were in Ephesus for a while. 00:50:08.720 --> 00:50:10.720 They opened their house in Ephesus. 00:50:10.720 --> 00:50:16.720 There was this lady called Nympha in Colossus in Colossians 4, verse 15 or 16. 00:50:16.720 --> 00:50:20.720 They talk about her where Paul writes to the church that meets at her home. 00:50:20.720 --> 00:50:23.720 There was a guy called Philemon who opened his home. 00:50:23.720 --> 00:50:29.720 There was a guy called Jason who opened his home in Tessalonica and it caused him problems. 00:50:29.720 --> 00:50:35.720 They came and dragged him out because he was harboring the people of God and they beat him up. 00:50:38.720 --> 00:50:41.720 You won't get beaten up if you call me and a few people to your house. 00:50:42.720 --> 00:50:43.720 It's a good deal. 00:50:46.720 --> 00:50:47.720 But open your homes. 00:50:47.720 --> 00:50:50.720 And when you open your homes, you have to become a little more transparent. 00:50:53.720 --> 00:50:54.720 Third thing. 00:50:57.720 --> 00:50:59.720 Identify your unique role in the body. 00:50:59.720 --> 00:51:01.720 Identify your unique role in the body. 00:51:01.720 --> 00:51:06.720 Identify your unique role in the body. 00:51:06.720 --> 00:51:15.720 Guys, you have talents, gifts and the ability to do things. 00:51:15.720 --> 00:51:32.720 Guys, you have talents, gifts, as in spiritual gifts, graces, as in the equipping grace that Christ appoints in the church, 00:51:32.720 --> 00:51:34.720 apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, evangelist. 00:51:34.720 --> 00:51:36.720 You have calling. 00:51:36.720 --> 00:51:38.720 You have vocation. 00:51:38.720 --> 00:51:44.720 You have vision that is basically God's dream for you. 00:51:44.720 --> 00:51:45.720 You have these things. 00:51:45.720 --> 00:51:56.720 And when you came into this church a year from now, when you go into some other church, regardless, identify your unique role because this church is poor. 00:51:56.720 --> 00:52:05.720 But if you don't identify, discover, explore, present and build us up with your unique role, 00:52:05.720 --> 00:52:11.720 You don't hijack the church and center it around your role. 00:52:11.720 --> 00:52:15.720 But you come and say, this is what I know I was born to do. 00:52:15.720 --> 00:52:17.720 Use me, use me, use me, use me, exploit me. 00:52:21.720 --> 00:52:24.720 And if you do that, you'll never be volunteered for anything. 00:52:24.720 --> 00:52:30.720 Most churches volunteer people for things that they're not good at because we nobody knows their rules. 00:52:30.720 --> 00:52:36.720 So you find really angry old men and women teaching Sunday school. 00:52:36.720 --> 00:52:42.720 And Jonah always gets swallowed up by the whale and they never tell the kids that Jonah then pukes them out. 00:52:42.720 --> 00:52:45.720 And if they do, the puking is really horrible. 00:52:45.720 --> 00:52:54.720 The point being, guys, identify your unique role in the body, your talents, gifts, your graces, your vocation, your what is this? 00:52:54.720 --> 00:52:57.720 Calling and vision. Identify it. 00:52:57.720 --> 00:53:04.720 And once you identify it and guys, go listen to the teaching from two weeks ago on vision. 00:53:04.720 --> 00:53:07.720 That is such good teaching. 00:53:07.720 --> 00:53:14.720 I mean that very genuinely. 00:53:14.720 --> 00:53:17.720 This is for us. 00:53:17.720 --> 00:53:22.720 All your talents, your gifts, your vocation, your what is this? 00:53:22.720 --> 00:53:26.720 All your talents, your gifts were meant not meant for you. 00:53:26.720 --> 00:53:27.720 They were meant for us. 00:53:27.720 --> 00:53:29.720 They were meant for us. 00:53:29.720 --> 00:53:31.720 Paul puts it brilliantly in Ephesians three. 00:53:31.720 --> 00:53:36.720 He says, I've been given stewardship of the revelation of God. 00:53:36.720 --> 00:53:38.720 I know mysteries. 00:53:38.720 --> 00:53:40.720 I've been made who I am. 00:53:40.720 --> 00:53:42.720 And he talks about how wonderful he is. 00:53:42.720 --> 00:53:45.720 And then he says, I've been made wonderful for you. 00:53:45.720 --> 00:53:46.720 Your talents are for us. 00:53:46.720 --> 00:53:48.720 Your gifts are for us. 00:53:48.720 --> 00:53:50.720 Any questions? 00:53:50.720 --> 00:53:52.720 We'll explore each of these in detail. 00:53:52.720 --> 00:53:56.720 But please, this is what this church should do. 00:53:56.720 --> 00:54:07.720 If this church doesn't do this, I pray God that he removes me and takes me somewhere and the church disappears. 00:54:07.720 --> 00:54:09.720 Because we should have a reason for it. 00:54:09.720 --> 00:54:14.720 And if we don't have a reason for existence, then why should we continue? 00:54:14.720 --> 00:54:20.720 Because a church when it gets to 10 or 12 years of its life can settle. 00:54:20.720 --> 00:54:22.720 Can settle. 00:54:22.720 --> 00:54:29.720 Don't let that happen to us. 00:54:29.720 --> 00:54:30.720 Last two points. 00:54:30.720 --> 00:54:34.720 Next, reflect Christ in your life. 00:54:35.720 --> 00:54:36.720 Last two points. 00:54:36.720 --> 00:54:39.720 Next, reflect Christ. 00:54:39.720 --> 00:54:41.720 Reflect Christ. 00:54:41.720 --> 00:54:44.720 Reflect Christ. 00:54:44.720 --> 00:54:48.720 Reflect Christ. 00:54:48.720 --> 00:54:51.720 To the watching world. 00:54:51.720 --> 00:54:55.720 Reflect Christ to the watching world. 00:54:55.720 --> 00:55:00.720 Hey, you know how it's pointless individuals reflecting Christ. 00:55:00.720 --> 00:55:02.720 One individual reflects Christ. 00:55:02.720 --> 00:55:04.720 The cameras are focused on him. 00:55:04.720 --> 00:55:06.720 It's only a matter of time before he falls. 00:55:06.720 --> 00:55:08.720 And then it's all over the news. 00:55:08.720 --> 00:55:11.720 Reflect Christ as a people. 00:55:11.720 --> 00:55:13.720 This thing can work. 00:55:13.720 --> 00:55:15.720 Where you got what? 00:55:15.720 --> 00:55:16.720 50, 60 people here. 00:55:16.720 --> 00:55:22.720 All of them, because they subscribe to common teachings that begins to turn into a reality. 00:55:22.720 --> 00:55:23.720 All of them aren't bricks. 00:55:23.720 --> 00:55:24.720 They are stones. 00:55:24.720 --> 00:55:28.720 But they seem to have a way of behaving, a way of responding, a way of acting in faith. 00:55:28.720 --> 00:55:33.720 That is so countercultural that the world knows that, oh, these guys must be from there. 00:55:33.720 --> 00:55:35.720 I mean, just think of this. 00:55:35.720 --> 00:55:39.720 If all of us wore yellow for the rest of the week. 00:55:39.720 --> 00:55:42.720 Starting tomorrow, everybody wears yellow. 00:55:42.720 --> 00:55:45.720 And then we're going to be able to see the world. 00:55:45.720 --> 00:55:48.720 And then we're going to be able to see the world. 00:55:49.720 --> 00:55:52.720 Starting tomorrow, everybody wears yellow. 00:55:52.720 --> 00:55:55.720 And you have a small Axe 29 on your back. 00:55:55.720 --> 00:56:00.720 And so for the next week you wear yellow, the week after you wear yellow, the week after you wear yellow. 00:56:00.720 --> 00:56:07.720 In three weeks, I guarantee you, people will know that these guys belong to this cult called Axe 29. 00:56:09.720 --> 00:56:17.720 So if clothes can do that, then why not forget the clothes and begin to behave a certain way? 00:56:17.720 --> 00:56:22.720 Where people immediately identify you as, ah shucks, they come from this. 00:56:22.720 --> 00:56:25.720 That's what happens with hockey fans. 00:56:25.720 --> 00:56:27.720 Rabid. 00:56:29.720 --> 00:56:31.720 A common set of teachings does this. 00:56:31.720 --> 00:56:34.720 Two hours in the church will not do it, will not do it. 00:56:34.720 --> 00:56:39.720 Please, dismiss from your heads this two-hour thing unless you're pregnant. 00:56:42.720 --> 00:56:45.720 That is about 58 of us. 00:56:47.720 --> 00:56:52.720 Reflect Christ. 00:56:52.720 --> 00:56:54.720 And how do you reflect him? 00:56:54.720 --> 00:56:59.720 In good works, in good works, in good lives, and in good homes. 00:56:59.720 --> 00:57:02.720 Good works, good lives, good homes. 00:57:02.720 --> 00:57:09.720 Every time Paul would emphasize this, every letter would close with how to build a good home. 00:57:09.720 --> 00:57:12.720 Doesn't matter whether you're a slave or a freeman. 00:57:12.720 --> 00:57:15.720 How do you build a good home? How does order work? 00:57:15.720 --> 00:57:20.720 Every letter is about, hey, build a good home because people look at your home. 00:57:20.720 --> 00:57:21.720 Build good lives. 00:57:21.720 --> 00:57:27.720 Learn how to live as a slave, as an employer, as one who circumcises, one who's not circumcised. 00:57:27.720 --> 00:57:29.720 Scythian, barbarian, Greek, Jew. 00:57:29.720 --> 00:57:33.720 Live a life that people look at and say, wow, this man is different. 00:57:33.720 --> 00:57:36.720 His principles are different. His integrity is different. 00:57:36.720 --> 00:57:37.720 Good lives. 00:57:37.720 --> 00:57:40.720 I've heard your stories. Some of your stories are brilliant. 00:57:40.720 --> 00:57:44.720 You work in places and you come and tell stories here at Axe 29 and we've heard it. 00:57:44.720 --> 00:57:46.720 To continue this and good works. 00:57:47.720 --> 00:57:55.720 Guys, I guarantee you, based on 1 Corinthians 9, you indulge in good works and you will abound. 00:57:56.720 --> 00:57:58.720 Abound. Why? 00:57:58.720 --> 00:58:07.720 Because it says that God will give you the grace and all sufficiency in all things to abound at all times. 00:58:07.720 --> 00:58:11.720 That you may indulge in good works. 00:58:11.720 --> 00:58:15.720 God loves it when his people begin to engage in good works. 00:58:15.720 --> 00:58:17.720 We've talked about that in the past. 00:58:17.720 --> 00:58:19.720 It's CD 432. 00:58:19.720 --> 00:58:22.720 So it might be on the website. 00:58:22.720 --> 00:58:27.720 And the last point, reflect Christ to the watching world. 00:58:27.720 --> 00:58:29.720 Reflect Christ to the watching world. 00:58:29.720 --> 00:58:31.720 Reflect Christ to the watching world. 00:58:31.720 --> 00:58:34.720 I don't know whether you still do this, but I remember telling us this some time ago. 00:58:34.720 --> 00:58:37.720 Carry $10, $20 in your pocket every week. 00:58:37.720 --> 00:58:39.720 Find someone to give it away to. 00:58:39.720 --> 00:58:41.720 I was in Dubai last week. 00:58:41.720 --> 00:58:45.720 This waiter came to serve, pulled out $20 and gave it to him. 00:58:45.720 --> 00:58:50.720 It became such an issue because now his name was Cameron. 00:58:50.720 --> 00:58:52.720 He is from Cameroon. 00:58:52.720 --> 00:58:55.720 And he found out he was a believer. 00:58:55.720 --> 00:58:56.720 His brother is a pastor. 00:58:56.720 --> 00:58:58.720 Gave him the money, someone saw it. 00:58:58.720 --> 00:58:59.720 They went to report it. 00:58:59.720 --> 00:59:01.720 So now the manager and the manager's manager came. 00:59:01.720 --> 00:59:03.720 Now we have an audience. 00:59:03.720 --> 00:59:07.720 And so now with the audience there, we got a better opportunity to tell them about what we do, 00:59:08.720 --> 00:59:10.720 why we do and why we gave the money and all this stuff. 00:59:10.720 --> 00:59:11.720 All got solved. 00:59:11.720 --> 00:59:14.720 Guys, carry stuff in your pocket to give away. 00:59:14.720 --> 00:59:16.720 Make friends with Mammon. 00:59:16.720 --> 00:59:20.720 Make friends using Mammon. 00:59:20.720 --> 00:59:22.720 Make friends using Mammon. 00:59:22.720 --> 00:59:23.720 Carry money in your pocket. 00:59:23.720 --> 00:59:28.720 Make friends using Mammon. 00:59:28.720 --> 00:59:31.720 Counterculture. 00:59:31.720 --> 00:59:33.720 Last point. 00:59:40.720 --> 00:59:42.720 Go and proclaim. 00:59:42.720 --> 00:59:46.720 Go and proclaim. 00:59:46.720 --> 00:59:48.720 Go and proclaim. 00:59:48.720 --> 00:59:53.720 Because once you have good lives, good homes and good works, 00:59:53.720 --> 00:59:59.720 the good news that comes from your mouth is authentic. 00:59:59.720 --> 01:00:02.720 Go and proclaim the good news. 01:00:02.720 --> 01:00:04.720 Because it's authenticated by your life. 01:00:04.720 --> 01:00:07.720 Make disciples of all nations. 01:00:07.720 --> 01:00:10.720 Baptizing them. 01:00:10.720 --> 01:00:13.720 Bringing them into the body in the full circle now. 01:00:13.720 --> 01:00:17.720 You join Jesus because he's building the church. 01:00:17.720 --> 01:00:19.720 You become who he wants you to be. 01:00:19.720 --> 01:00:20.720 You go out now. 01:00:20.720 --> 01:00:28.720 Which is why I said earlier, what's my desire, passion, intent at Acts 29? 01:00:28.720 --> 01:00:30.720 Father, help me to disciple. 01:00:30.720 --> 01:00:31.720 That's the easy part. 01:00:31.720 --> 01:00:33.720 Help me to raise sons. 01:00:33.720 --> 01:00:34.720 That's the hard part. 01:00:34.720 --> 01:00:40.720 And then help me to send sons to join you in building the church. 01:00:40.720 --> 01:00:46.720 And that's the hard part for you. 01:00:46.720 --> 01:00:47.720 Questions? 01:00:47.720 --> 01:00:50.720 Because I'm going to ask two guys to come up and explain the whole thing. 01:00:50.720 --> 01:00:51.720 Questions? 01:00:51.720 --> 01:00:55.720 Because we still have ten minutes. 01:00:56.720 --> 01:00:59.720 Questions, thoughts, challenges? 01:01:08.720 --> 01:01:19.720 1 Corinthians 9 or 2 Corinthians 9, 6 to 8. 01:01:19.720 --> 01:01:20.720 Or 1 Corinthians 9, 6 to 8. 01:01:20.720 --> 01:01:22.720 One of those. 01:01:25.720 --> 01:01:28.720 Any questions, guys? 01:01:28.720 --> 01:01:31.720 Okay, so I'll ask questions then.