WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Set Apart Publishing Date: 2018-01-21T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/set-apart/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 Talk about, you know, sometimes I think to myself, 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:07.720 I wish I could come back and preach something else 00:00:07.720 --> 00:00:11.760 that's not the same thing that I keep preaching again and again. 00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:13.040 It's not that I'm preaching the same thing, 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:18.040 it's the same topic, but I just feel bound by the Lord 00:00:18.040 --> 00:00:20.120 to keep going down this track. 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:23.000 So we go back to the whole idea of what is the church 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:24.160 supposed to do and meant to do, 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:26.920 and part of this will help us pray later on. 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:28.600 And trust me, it won't take an hour to pray, 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:29.860 it'll be much shorter. 00:00:29.860 --> 00:00:32.380 So you'll get home much sooner than you thought. 00:00:32.380 --> 00:00:37.380 So, first thing is guys, here is another way to phrase 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:42.300 what God wants you and me for. 00:00:42.300 --> 00:00:43.800 I love this phrase. 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:50.740 We have been set apart by Christ. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:56.300 This is so easy to remember. 00:00:56.300 --> 00:00:59.420 It is so simple, so beautiful, 00:00:59.660 --> 00:01:01.660 I don't think any of us will forget this. 00:01:01.660 --> 00:01:05.500 We have been set apart by Christ to assist him 00:01:09.380 --> 00:01:10.740 in setting others apart. 00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:18.740 That is it basically, guys. 00:01:18.740 --> 00:01:22.400 We have been set apart by Christ to assist him 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:24.220 in setting others apart. 00:01:24.220 --> 00:01:27.580 This is the sum of what the church is supposed to do, 00:01:27.580 --> 00:01:29.300 what you and I are supposed to do. 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:33.180 And we have been set apart by Christ in many different ways 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:36.340 based on our functions, the phases of life that we are in. 00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:38.700 But at the end of the day, this is it. 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:42.420 I have been set apart by Christ to assist him 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:44.260 in setting others apart. 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:46.660 This is the whole idea of being a coworker. 00:01:46.660 --> 00:01:49.460 This is the whole idea of the function of the church. 00:01:49.460 --> 00:01:52.260 Such a simple sentence, such a simple sentence. 00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:55.580 I have been set apart, we have been set apart by Christ 00:01:55.580 --> 00:01:58.540 now to assist him in setting others apart. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:00.700 Calling them aside for him. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:02.540 Any questions on that? 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:05.140 This is so easy to remember that, 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:07.980 and it's so beautiful somehow, 00:02:07.980 --> 00:02:10.460 that this is what Christ is doing. 00:02:10.460 --> 00:02:13.580 Come, help me, assist me in setting others apart. 00:02:13.580 --> 00:02:14.780 Just as you were set apart. 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:17.140 I mean, look at how your life has been changed, hey? 00:02:17.140 --> 00:02:19.060 Through a very difficult week for some of you. 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:22.220 Some of you had small accidents, some of you fell, 00:02:22.220 --> 00:02:24.340 some of you had sicknesses and diseases, 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:26.100 some of you had other situations. 00:02:26.140 --> 00:02:28.940 Through all that, what would you do if Christ wasn't there? 00:02:30.140 --> 00:02:33.820 I just can't imagine how I would manage simple crisis. 00:02:33.820 --> 00:02:35.980 I don't know how the world manages. 00:02:35.980 --> 00:02:38.020 Where do they go, man? 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:39.260 Where is hope? 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:45.860 And so this is what we are after. 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:48.460 Any questions or any comments on that before we go on? 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:49.300 No? 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:53.140 Do you think it's as simple and beautiful 00:02:53.140 --> 00:02:54.900 as I'm making it out to be, 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:57.540 or do you think I'm overdoing it? 00:02:57.540 --> 00:02:58.380 Yep. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:02.620 Yeah. 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:05.540 Which is why I kind of liked it, 00:03:05.540 --> 00:03:08.940 because I could so easily remember this. 00:03:08.940 --> 00:03:11.740 Because other ones are pretty complex, 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:13.140 you really have to memorize them. 00:03:13.140 --> 00:03:14.300 This you can't do, 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:16.020 but I think it's a good thing. 00:03:16.260 --> 00:03:18.100 Complex, you really have to memorize them. 00:03:18.100 --> 00:03:19.900 This you can actually think through. 00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:24.260 So this is what we are aiming after in this church, 00:03:24.260 --> 00:03:26.740 both for you as an individual and for me 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:28.140 and for us as a body. 00:03:28.140 --> 00:03:30.700 So all of us that are at different phases 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:34.420 or have different functions in doing this, 00:03:34.420 --> 00:03:37.060 but the intent is the same. 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:41.140 So we may have different functions and different phases 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:45.500 that we are in, but the purpose is the same. 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:48.700 Purpose is the same. 00:03:48.700 --> 00:03:49.740 And what's the purpose? 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:50.580 This. 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:54.820 We have been set apart by Christ 00:03:54.820 --> 00:03:56.820 to assist him in setting others apart. 00:03:56.820 --> 00:03:58.820 And when a church fails to do this, 00:03:58.820 --> 00:04:01.500 or when a church sidelines it or sidesteps it, 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:03.700 or when I as an individual or a pastor sideline 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:06.380 or sidestep it, then really we're not fulfilling 00:04:06.380 --> 00:04:07.300 the function of a church, 00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:09.260 and the church becomes a monstrosity, 00:04:09.260 --> 00:04:11.420 because it's not engaging in the one thing 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:13.420 that the church is supposed to engage in. 00:04:16.900 --> 00:04:19.740 And it should excite us a little, 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:22.420 because this is Christ's call on our life as a church, right? 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:24.220 This is Christ's call on Christians. 00:04:26.460 --> 00:04:30.140 So, how do we do this? 00:04:30.140 --> 00:04:32.740 This is where those big words come in, 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:34.460 which Diana was talking about. 00:04:34.460 --> 00:04:35.420 We proclaim. 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:38.540 We penetrate. 00:04:40.380 --> 00:04:42.300 We progress. 00:04:43.300 --> 00:04:44.380 We proclaim. 00:04:44.380 --> 00:04:48.100 It is impossible to set people aside. 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:52.900 It is impossible to help Christ set others aside 00:04:52.900 --> 00:04:55.100 without proclaiming what Christ proclaimed. 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:56.740 It is not possible. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:05:00.220 And the church in the West has learned how to avoid it, 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:02.660 but it is impossible to do it without proclaiming. 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:05.740 And so, find ways to proclaim Christ. 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:08.580 Find ways to proclaim Christ. 00:05:08.580 --> 00:05:09.420 Penetrate. 00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:10.260 Why penetrate? 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:13.740 Guys, most churches go only to the same places 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:16.380 that have been visited by hundreds of other churches. 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:19.460 I saw a map in India, 00:05:19.460 --> 00:05:22.180 which showed the places that have been approached 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:23.020 by the gospel, 00:05:23.020 --> 00:05:25.100 and the big cities have been approached by the gospel 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:29.500 for 200 years now, so often, that it's saturated. 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:32.060 But the rest of India, about 70% of India, 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:35.740 70% of 1.2 billion. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:38.140 That's what? 00:05:40.620 --> 00:05:42.300 Of 1.2 billion. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:44.900 You're a banker. 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:47.420 Sorry? 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:49.500 840 million. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:51.740 Out of the 840 million, about 600 million 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:53.220 still haven't heard. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:55.700 Because most of the proclamation, 00:05:55.700 --> 00:05:58.900 most of the proclamation does not penetrate places 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:00.260 where it hasn't been heard. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:05.380 So, these three words are not too difficult. 00:06:05.380 --> 00:06:07.020 I'm trying to memorize these words myself 00:06:07.020 --> 00:06:09.980 so that I don't forget that one, Jacob, 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:11.500 it's not enough to teach in a church, 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:12.500 it's important to proclaim 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:14.420 and use every opportunity to proclaim. 00:06:15.260 --> 00:06:17.780 Two, that you must penetrate places 00:06:17.780 --> 00:06:20.420 that the gospel has not gone into 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:22.700 or is not welcome in. 00:06:24.140 --> 00:06:26.540 Because if you only preach where it is welcome, 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:28.580 then it's already been there before. 00:06:31.020 --> 00:06:33.340 And third, it must progress. 00:06:33.340 --> 00:06:35.660 It is not enough to say it now that you've said it, 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:37.740 what are you doing about the seed that you have? 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:39.420 Soon, one must water it. 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:41.580 Why is this important, guys? 00:06:41.580 --> 00:06:44.100 Because this is really what Seek First is about. 00:06:45.900 --> 00:06:47.380 This is what Seek First is about. 00:06:47.380 --> 00:06:49.540 Seek First, His Kingdom. 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:51.940 This is what the Kingdom is about. 00:06:51.940 --> 00:06:54.220 Really, I'm not exaggerating, I'm not adding, 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:57.140 I'm not trying to make two and two equal to five. 00:06:57.140 --> 00:07:00.020 I'm just telling you that this, at the end of the week, 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:03.020 Kingdom is the rule and reign of Christ. 00:07:03.020 --> 00:07:04.060 The rule and reign of Christ, 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:05.660 if it has to be sought first, 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:07.740 these are, this is what it is. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:09.460 It's impossible to avoid this. 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:11.060 And everyone must be involved in it. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:11.900 Everyone must be involved in it. 00:07:11.900 --> 00:07:14.340 And we'll talk about the different ways of involvement. 00:07:14.340 --> 00:07:17.020 Any questions, any thoughts, any disagreements? 00:07:17.020 --> 00:07:19.420 Come on, guys, any thoughts on this? 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:21.180 This is the essence of who you are. 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:22.020 Do you agree? 00:07:23.580 --> 00:07:26.540 Oh, it should be the essence of who you are. 00:07:26.540 --> 00:07:27.940 The different ways of proclaiming, 00:07:27.940 --> 00:07:29.340 we'll leave that aside for now, 00:07:29.340 --> 00:07:30.380 but this is who you are. 00:07:30.380 --> 00:07:32.060 If this is not your first definition, 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:34.180 then everything else is just gravy. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:41.700 I have been set apart by Christ 00:07:41.700 --> 00:07:44.100 to assist him in setting others apart. 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:45.940 Different functions and phases exist, 00:07:45.940 --> 00:07:47.420 but the purpose is the same. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:50.500 I can only do it by proclaiming what Christ is proclaiming. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:53.700 Hey, Christ penetrated your life, guys. 00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:54.860 Some of us were from Mongolia, 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:56.900 some from Pakistan, some from India, 00:07:56.900 --> 00:08:00.300 places that the gospel may have gone initially 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:02.300 in the first century, but after that, what happened? 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:03.140 Dried up. 00:08:03.140 --> 00:08:05.540 But Christ kept sending people into nations 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:08.340 that were blocked, that were walled, 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:11.340 so that the light of the gospel may pierce the darkness, 00:08:11.340 --> 00:08:14.140 and you and me and our children and our children's children, 00:08:14.140 --> 00:08:16.540 think of how, because of the penetration of the gospel, 00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:18.940 through someone, it did come through someone. 00:08:18.940 --> 00:08:20.020 You are the result of it. 00:08:20.020 --> 00:08:21.340 How can I hold back now, 00:08:21.340 --> 00:08:23.900 so that someone else's children and children's children 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:25.820 also bear what I have borne? 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:35.060 This is the essence of who we are, guys. 00:08:35.060 --> 00:08:37.820 For far too long, for far too long, 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:40.060 when I say we, I'm not necessarily talking about Acts 20, 00:08:40.060 --> 00:08:43.140 and for far too long, we've been about so many other things, 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:44.940 as churches. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:47.620 It pains my heart when I go around the world 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:50.220 and see how off-kilter it has been. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:53.300 These are simple truths. 00:08:53.300 --> 00:08:54.140 Thoughts. 00:08:56.140 --> 00:08:57.140 Thoughts, guys. 00:09:03.420 --> 00:09:04.860 Go ahead, guys, any thoughts? 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:08.660 Okay. 00:09:10.660 --> 00:09:11.500 Sure. 00:09:21.900 --> 00:09:26.900 I have been, as an old man, following the royal family. 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:30.060 I kind of enjoy Prince Harry, 00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:33.980 and William and Kate and all that stuff. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.140 I don't know why, but I just kind of do. 00:09:36.140 --> 00:09:40.140 But it illustrates, for us, the kingdom. 00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:46.940 Right now, in the last few years, 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:50.340 Kate has become, who was a commoner, has become royalty, 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:53.740 and we've got Meg and Marko, who's going to become royalty. 00:09:55.420 --> 00:09:58.380 And you know, they have to learn how to fit into the kingdom. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:03.900 And the kingdom has traditions and things they follow, 00:10:04.020 --> 00:10:06.700 traditions and things they follow and learn. 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:10.980 Well, we're part of a kingdom, too, and we're all royalty. 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.500 You get adopted into the family, 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:16.620 and you become part of the kingdom. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:18.420 You're called a king and a priest. 00:10:19.420 --> 00:10:22.580 And the kingdom is supposed to have traditions and ideas 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:23.900 and things we learn and follow, 00:10:23.900 --> 00:10:26.140 and we meet in church here to do all that. 00:10:27.300 --> 00:10:29.260 So I think everything Jacob is saying 00:10:29.260 --> 00:10:30.940 fits into that whole idea. 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:32.660 And if you look at the royal family 00:10:32.660 --> 00:10:36.300 and the learning that a person who is part of the family 00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:40.700 has to go through, that speaks to us about our learning. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:46.580 There's traditions, there's ideas, there's things to do. 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:50.380 If you happen to be called by the queen, 00:10:50.380 --> 00:10:54.340 like one of her children, like Kate or Harry or whatever, 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:58.780 to be involved in things, they go out, 00:10:58.780 --> 00:11:03.780 they start new ideas, they promote things, they create. 00:11:05.260 --> 00:11:10.260 And I think, I was thinking about it just last night, 00:11:10.260 --> 00:11:14.780 and it kind of pictures to me us. 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:19.460 If you look at the way the royal family functions, 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:21.700 we're a part of the royal family. 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:25.180 We've been adopted, and we've gotta be learning 00:11:25.180 --> 00:11:30.180 the methods and the things that are part of it. 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:32.100 I give traditions. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:33.700 Thank you, Wayne, makes sense. 00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:39.940 Guys, so then, like Wayne is saying, 00:11:40.660 --> 00:11:42.860 I serve at the pleasure of the king. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:45.500 However he wants to use me to set others apart, 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:47.340 I'm gonna assist him. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:51.260 Do not look at your job, do not look at your work, 00:11:51.260 --> 00:11:53.380 do not look at your family, do not look at any of these 00:11:53.380 --> 00:11:54.820 things as the primary thing. 00:11:54.820 --> 00:11:56.460 This is first. 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:58.980 Your job and work and everything else is an avenue 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:02.460 that God has provided for you to function this way. 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:06.940 That is why we have jobs, that is why we have homes, 00:12:06.940 --> 00:12:09.180 that is why we have social circles, 00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:11.540 that's why we have cities that we live in. 00:12:13.140 --> 00:12:15.100 They live in Langley, some of you live in Richmond, 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:16.460 some in Vancouver, why? 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:19.380 Because these are areas where the king has appointed us 00:12:19.380 --> 00:12:21.820 to carry out a simple purpose, that listen, 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:24.300 I set you apart so that you can assist me 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.780 in setting others apart. 00:12:25.780 --> 00:12:27.700 When this becomes front and central, 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.460 when this becomes front and central, 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:31.860 you are living the purpose that you were meant to live on 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.580 here in the earth. 00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:36.060 Nothing else is important, everything else is 00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:38.340 far, far secondary, it's nowhere close. 00:12:39.660 --> 00:12:41.540 When one thinks like this, one does not have to give up 00:12:41.540 --> 00:12:43.220 one's job, when one thinks like this, 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.820 one functions well in one's job. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.140 The land blesses you, the job blesses you, 00:12:48.140 --> 00:12:51.340 and persecution may come, because now a stance 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:54.460 is being taken, because as long as we proclaim 00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:57.340 and nothing else, we'll be fine. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:59.940 But the moment you penetrate into places that you 00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:02.620 may be resistant, that's when the problem begins. 00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:09.700 It's odd that for all these years we haven't 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:11.140 thought like this, so when I say this, 00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:13.660 it's not like, this is, yeah, of course, 00:13:13.660 --> 00:13:15.220 this is the way it is, it's not the way it is, 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:17.140 it's not the way I've been thinking, 00:13:17.140 --> 00:13:18.620 and it's certainly not the way you've been thinking 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:20.260 from what I've seen and heard. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:24.180 And if I'm wrong, then I'm glad to be wrong. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:26.540 Any thoughts? 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.420 Anyone else? 00:13:31.420 --> 00:13:32.860 Okay. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:36.220 So then, what are the different ways that we can 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:38.860 work towards this, different phases of functions? 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:40.420 One of the first ones mentioned in the Bible 00:13:40.420 --> 00:13:45.020 is the ministers of the gospel, ministers of the gospel. 00:13:45.020 --> 00:13:47.540 These are different phases and functions 00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:48.980 that all of us can be involved in, 00:13:49.020 --> 00:13:51.580 it's not permanent, it's not that if I'm doing this now, 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:53.580 I can't do another, maybe there'll be a time 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:55.900 that comes when you'll shift from one to the other. 00:13:55.900 --> 00:13:59.020 Ministers of the gospel were guys like Paul, 00:13:59.020 --> 00:14:04.020 guys like Timothy, guys who had decided that 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:06.780 they had such a distinct call on their lives 00:14:06.780 --> 00:14:11.020 to be ones who go minister the gospel 00:14:11.020 --> 00:14:12.740 in different parts of the world as the Spirit of God 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:15.900 opens doors and to teach the teachings of Christ 00:14:15.900 --> 00:14:20.380 to establish and multiply churches. 00:14:20.380 --> 00:14:22.500 So ministers of the gospel, Paul is an example, 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:25.700 Timothy is an example, Barnabas is an example. 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:28.940 And so what Paul would do then is he would identify 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:32.060 people who had the ability to be ministers of the gospel 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:34.340 and he would take them on trips with him. 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.180 Why? 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:38.620 So that the apprentice could become a master builder. 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:41.820 So that the apprentice could become a master builder. 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:44.100 This was Paul's reason for taking people with him, 00:14:44.140 --> 00:14:45.420 saying, hey, come. 00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:48.340 And on the journey in the mission field, 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:52.780 Timothy, who had a Greek dad and a Jewish mom, 00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:55.940 now gets to learn the ways of Paul. 00:14:57.980 --> 00:15:01.700 And so if you think that that is something that you fit in, 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:04.180 if that is either something you've known for years 00:15:04.180 --> 00:15:05.780 and it's awaiting you or it's something 00:15:05.780 --> 00:15:07.260 you're supposed to function in now 00:15:07.260 --> 00:15:09.580 because that's a phase of life you've entered, 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:13.700 begin to ponder on that, begin to wrestle with God on that 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:17.460 before you even volunteer for it, wrestle with God in it, 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:19.740 saying, oh God, I've always sensed this. 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:21.860 Maybe the time in my life has come for it. 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:24.420 Oh God, I have the beginning of the sense. 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:26.900 Maybe I should talk to you about it more. 00:15:26.900 --> 00:15:29.980 Where you know that the calling on your life 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:33.620 is so distinct in terms of I want you to spend 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:36.060 the rest of your life ministering the gospel 00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:37.780 and the teachings of Christ to establish 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:38.980 and multiply churches. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:41.420 That may or may not be some of our call. 00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:43.660 That's definitely what I'm called to. 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:48.340 It's not that I haven't worked a regular job. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:51.500 I did it for a while, till 1997 or 98. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.540 Okay, next one. 00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:57.020 The next one is... 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.940 Coworkers, coworkers. 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:06.020 This is a... 00:16:06.260 --> 00:16:07.100 Coworkers. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:11.980 This is a really amazing category of people. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:14.900 And as I was going through these categories, 00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:17.540 I was thinking of some of you for each of them, 00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:19.380 which obviously I won't talk about right now. 00:16:19.380 --> 00:16:23.180 Coworkers, coworkers are guys like Aquila and Priscilla. 00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:25.540 Coworkers are guys like Aquila and Priscilla. 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.020 Aquila and Priscilla. 00:16:30.020 --> 00:16:35.020 These people have the ability to start businesses 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:43.940 and start households for a while in a city, 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:47.100 and they'll run it well, and then two or three years later, 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:50.060 when the household and the business is produced enough, 00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:52.420 they'll shut it down and move to the next city. 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:56.500 So you had Aquila and Priscilla start something in Rome, 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:59.020 and then when they finished Rome, they went to Ephesus, 00:16:59.020 --> 00:17:00.700 and they'll raise up people. 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:05.540 They have the DNA that is required to find an Apollos. 00:17:05.540 --> 00:17:08.500 An Apollos is someone who seemed to have a lot of knowledge, 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:11.740 but it wasn't complete, so they would come alongside Apollos. 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:16.060 The ability to start businesses in some cities and nations 00:17:16.060 --> 00:17:18.100 where it would be impossible for someone to enter. 00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:21.020 But you have this ability to go in there, start something, 00:17:21.020 --> 00:17:23.900 build up a household, raise people, 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:26.100 and your intent is not to become a pastor there. 00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:28.740 Your intent is not that I have to now call this church 00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:30.020 by a name. 00:17:30.020 --> 00:17:34.380 You're just raising it up so that you identify an Apollos, 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:36.940 or you identify someone, and you set them in place, 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.500 and then you decide that three years, 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.860 this business is running well, 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:42.100 I'm moving on to the next one. 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:45.140 So you run a business both in terms of financial 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:47.180 and in terms of the father's business. 00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:53.020 I was thinking of a couple of you in this church 00:17:53.020 --> 00:17:56.100 who actually have the ability to do this. 00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:58.300 We'll talk to you about it later. 00:17:58.300 --> 00:18:01.060 But many of us in this church are in such a phase 00:18:01.060 --> 00:18:04.980 of our life where this is just so ideal for some of us. 00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:10.140 Thank you for your tremendous excitement. 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:12.740 Trust me, today if an ambulance came in, 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:15.740 looking for someone dead, they would have a problem. 00:18:18.540 --> 00:18:21.700 Hey, you gotta respond a little more, guys. 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:23.500 You gotta respond a little more. 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:25.580 You're gonna be in trouble. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.460 True, but at least let it show on your face 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:32.540 that your wheels are turning. 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:36.780 Because I'm searching, I'm going around the room 00:18:36.780 --> 00:18:39.540 searching for one face to bounce things off 00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:40.940 and not finding anybody. 00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:45.580 So maybe it's a 17 hour flight. 00:18:45.580 --> 00:18:47.380 I wouldn't mind some encouragement. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.060 Thank you. 00:18:51.540 --> 00:18:52.460 Thank you. 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.980 Pardon? 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:55.060 Okay. 00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:57.980 So thanks, that was a response enough. 00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:01.980 Now you can go back and be normal. 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:06.220 Hey guys, this is the same problem. 00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:08.300 This is the same problem everywhere. 00:19:08.300 --> 00:19:10.220 So it's not specific to us. 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:12.340 I definitely don't want rara, 00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:15.900 but in Chennai, 800 people, 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:17.780 my God, they wouldn't move a muscle. 00:19:19.260 --> 00:19:21.460 So when 800 people don't move a muscle, 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:23.980 that's a massive non-moving muscle. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:27.180 And so then Chad would make them say stuff like, 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:29.740 say, say, and everybody will say, say. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:34.060 And so after a while, 00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:36.500 he has to make them say things to keep them awake. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:41.060 So finally, even by the time you go to the 14th repeat, 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:43.100 people aren't even repeating. 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:46.540 So then he'll make them do actions. 00:19:46.540 --> 00:19:48.340 Don't worry, I won't go there today. 00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:54.340 He made them do actions for proclamation, 00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:58.860 penetration, progression. 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:04.060 He had to do stuff like this to keep them going. 00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:07.660 So we won't go there today, unless you want to try it. 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.780 Oh no, thank you. 00:20:10.780 --> 00:20:13.360 We'll stay awake and prong them. 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:22.360 Okay, so yeah, like Diana was saying, 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:26.700 you have to examine it in your head, 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:29.820 but go like, hmm, and stuff like that. 00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:31.860 So I know there is something happening. 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:40.020 Yeah, oh, like Mary, you're pondering it in your heart. 00:20:40.020 --> 00:20:41.780 Okay, great. 00:20:41.780 --> 00:20:44.180 And you guys are full of nice, excuse me. 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:48.940 This is true. 00:20:49.780 --> 00:20:51.900 Messengers, then there are messengers. 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:55.900 I'm just picking up words from the Bible, 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:58.820 sorry, the da suddenly came up by mistake. 00:20:58.820 --> 00:21:03.340 Messengers, messengers are guys like epiphros, it is, 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:09.940 who had the ability to assist and help carry 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:14.940 the message faithfully, assist and help carry 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:19.660 the message faithfully. 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.900 What does that mean? 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:25.580 Where you can be sent to any place in the world 00:21:25.580 --> 00:21:27.140 with a message from this church, 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:29.300 and by message I don't mean a telegram, 00:21:29.300 --> 00:21:31.700 but with a teaching from this church, 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:34.820 and you will go there, carry it faithfully, 00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:39.660 deposit it faithfully so that it produces results. 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:42.660 This was the kind of guy epiphros it was. 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:46.420 So in the first case it was guys like Paul and Timothy 00:21:47.820 --> 00:21:51.220 and Barnabas, second case was guys like Quillen and Priscilla 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:53.660 and I really believe there are people like that here. 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:56.140 The third one was messengers to assist 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:58.100 and help carry the message faithfully. 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:05.980 Which, EPA, PHRO, DITUS. 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.660 How do you play? 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:19.660 That would be a cool trick to play on your kid, huh? 00:22:27.060 --> 00:22:32.060 Yeah, so is that who you are where you begin to, 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:36.500 like some of you were saying, ponder like Mary in your heart, 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:39.420 am I to step up now and say, 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:41.500 okay, begin to send me to different places 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.900 because there are certain teachings 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:44.380 that have been taught here, 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:46.740 and not teachings of Jacob, 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:49.140 but teachings of Christ that you recognize, 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:52.700 that you have so understood, so practiced, 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:55.140 so lived out, so fruitful, 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:58.380 that you want now to be sent to places 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:00.380 where these teachings can be deposited. 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:05.380 Where your life bears the teaching out. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:07.580 What a cool thing that'll be. 00:23:07.580 --> 00:23:11.140 These are the ways that Christ who set us apart 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:14.300 seeks to be assisted in setting others apart. 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:19.740 So instead of waiting for a tap on your shoulder 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:21.500 and suddenly coming into the realization 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:24.300 that, ah, so this is what Jacob may want me to do 00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:25.700 or someone else may want me to do, 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.300 you've been pondering on it for so long 00:23:27.300 --> 00:23:28.900 that when you get the tap on your shoulder, 00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:33.220 you're thinking, boy, finally, that's how you think. 00:23:35.780 --> 00:23:38.260 Because you've been thinking about it. 00:23:38.260 --> 00:23:40.420 The more we think about it with God and wrestle with him, 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:42.180 the quicker the tap on the shoulder comes. 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.340 Because there's nobody on earth, 00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:45.020 nobody on earth who can prevent you 00:23:45.020 --> 00:23:46.700 from functioning in what God is calling you to. 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.700 Nobody. 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:49.500 No pastor, no nothing, 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.940 regardless of whether the pastor likes you 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.940 or doesn't like you, he cannot stop you 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:55.220 from coming into the fruition of who you are. 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.540 Your advantage, even if I dislike you, 00:24:02.540 --> 00:24:04.260 maybe that I'm more obedient, 00:24:04.260 --> 00:24:07.420 so even if you don't like you, I'll still send you. 00:24:11.260 --> 00:24:13.460 The things that get your attention. 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.940 Fourth one. 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:21.100 Benefactors. 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.500 Benefactors. 00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:28.540 Oh man, I had some really bad crab soup 00:24:28.540 --> 00:24:30.140 the day before yesterday night. 00:24:31.540 --> 00:24:33.420 Oh, it was terrible. 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.980 Did you eat it? 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:38.020 It tasted good when I was eating it. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:43.180 And then for the next 15, the context, 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:44.620 just to keep you guys awake. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:48.140 And then the next 15 hours was so miserable 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.660 and I could feel crab. 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.820 Pardon? 00:24:56.540 --> 00:25:00.220 And then at some point, just when I was getting over it, 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:02.100 the guy next to me ordered seafood. 00:25:04.260 --> 00:25:05.100 Oh. 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:07.140 Benefactors. 00:25:10.020 --> 00:25:11.140 No. 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:13.380 Benefactors aid financially. 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:17.780 Benefactors aid financially 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:25.140 by providing the funds required 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:29.500 for trips for new areas. 00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:32.900 They create pathways. 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:36.420 They create financial pathways by creating financial. 00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:44.100 And creating financial pathways. 00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:46.340 They also help. 00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:50.700 They also help to open borders. 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:54.060 So for instance, there was a guy called Erastus. 00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:57.980 Erastus was the chief, like what's a, 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:02.380 not the mayor, the chief planning officer of a city. 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:04.860 Erastus was a guy who was a chief planning officer 00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.700 of a city. 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.700 So he would create for Paul, 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:10.260 he would create pathways into cities 00:26:10.260 --> 00:26:13.340 because he was a guy who was very high up. 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:16.340 Then there was another amazing lady called Phoebe. 00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:17.660 Phoebe was a benefactor. 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.780 She was a patron. 00:26:18.780 --> 00:26:22.820 She would go ahead and prepare things for Paul 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:24.420 so that he could enter into cities. 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:27.500 Romans 16, she's applauded by Paul 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:29.780 in the first two verses saying, 00:26:29.780 --> 00:26:31.380 here is a lady who's a patron. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:35.100 And so these were people either of good, 00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:40.100 who had means or knew how to create a financial pathway 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:46.260 and help open borders, open doors, open access to places. 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:52.860 This is something that some of you have had prophetic words 00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.700 based on this. 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:57.500 I mean, anytime I've met anyone of importance, 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:59.260 it's not because I went knocking on their door 00:26:59.260 --> 00:27:00.740 and they opened it. 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:05.020 It was because someone who had access opened the door. 00:27:05.020 --> 00:27:06.620 They were the ones who did this. 00:27:11.020 --> 00:27:13.460 There are at least two people like this at Acts 29 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:15.460 based on prophetic words that have been spoken 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:17.980 over you in the past and based on words, 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:21.620 based on what you will do in the future, at least two. 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:27.020 Any questions on the benefactor bit? 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.260 Okay. 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.340 Next one. 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:45.740 Is mature ministers, five mature ministers. 00:27:50.260 --> 00:27:53.780 As in guys who have learned how to do things 00:27:53.780 --> 00:27:58.300 learned how to take their skills and gifts and graces 00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:06.340 and now can use it to minister to people, 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:15.220 often locally or sometimes outside. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:18.700 But you're believers who are matured in the use of, 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:20.540 okay, I have this gift of healing. 00:28:20.540 --> 00:28:21.900 I have this gift of faith. 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:23.620 I've nurtured it over a period of time. 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:26.540 I've looked for every opportunity to step up. 00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:27.860 I've grown in faith. 00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:29.580 I've learned the word. 00:28:29.580 --> 00:28:30.780 I have a knowledge of the word. 00:28:30.780 --> 00:28:32.340 And now that I have all this, 00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:34.220 I've come to a place of mature ministry 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:37.860 where I can be trusted in a local body or in a city 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:40.340 to go out and minister and cast out demons, 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:44.140 heal the sick, cleanse the leper, and even raise the dead. 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:48.860 Guys, all these things are in the Bible, 00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.300 but I'll tell you what my desire is 00:28:50.300 --> 00:28:51.660 that in this small church, 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:54.100 that this church be packed with people like this. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.940 In this small church, 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:01.740 that this church be packed with people like this. 00:29:06.060 --> 00:29:09.700 Because there's no dearth of teaching in this church. 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:13.340 We can never complain that we're not taught in this church. 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:16.660 And now there's even opportunity for ministry 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:18.460 over the last one and a half years. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:25.820 So you become an influence locally and in the local body 00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:27.820 because the Spirit of God, 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:30.100 you've learned how to operate in the Spirit of God. 00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:31.500 Healings happen. 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.020 People recover. 00:29:33.020 --> 00:29:34.700 You pray and you see things. 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:36.740 There's a word of knowledge, 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.300 word of wisdom operating from you. 00:29:38.300 --> 00:29:39.700 People are just blown away 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.340 that here are simple people 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:45.620 who God uses to change lives locally and in the local body, 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:47.100 locally and in the local body. 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:50.660 Guys, if nothing else, guys, Christ is looking for this. 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:54.380 Christ is looking for this. 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:56.100 I don't want to be a little drummer boy 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:57.860 with my little drumstick standing in front of him 00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:59.700 saying this is all I have to give. 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:01.140 That's good for Christmas. 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:05.940 Parampampampam won't cut it in heaven. 00:30:06.060 --> 00:30:07.780 Parampampampam won't cut it in heaven. 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:22.740 Here's another category. 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:25.460 Mature elders and leaders. 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:30.500 Mature elders and leaders. 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:33.220 Is that actually different? 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:35.740 If you have the completely new investigation, 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:42.340 In a sense, because mature elders and leaders are people who know how to run their families well. 00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:45.420 Their families are places that are run well. 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:49.820 Their homes, if you go into their homes, you'll find that it's a godly home. 00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:53.740 And they have this ability now to be leaders. 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:57.820 Because at the end of the day, if you don't have a mature Christ-reflecting leader, 00:30:57.820 --> 00:31:01.820 you cannot have a mature Christ-reflecting church. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:05.260 If you don't have a mature Christ-reflecting leader, 00:31:05.260 --> 00:31:10.460 you cannot have a mature Christ-reflecting church. 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:15.100 So if my life doesn't keep increasing in Christ-reflecting characteristics, 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:18.380 then this church will suffer. 00:31:21.020 --> 00:31:24.380 And a maturity isn't a hallmark of my continuous growth, 00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:27.420 then this church will suffer. 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:33.100 And the same applies to you, whether you're a household leader or 00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:37.180 leading a small group of kids downstairs, it's the same principle. 00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:41.980 It's always trickled down. It's never grassroots in the kingdom. 00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:48.620 There's no grassroots movement in the kingdom. 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:53.980 It's a kingdom, not a democracy. 00:31:53.980 --> 00:32:00.540 That's why congregational ways of governing in a church are actually contrary to the Bible. 00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:10.140 So mature leaders and elders who can... 00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:15.020 And these guys, the last two, the mature believers and the mature... 00:32:15.020 --> 00:32:16.540 Are these lights necessary? 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:22.540 Just checking, because... 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:30.540 Let's try it without the lights. 00:32:30.540 --> 00:32:32.540 Still glowing? 00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:38.620 Anything to keep us on our toes? 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.900 Is the glow still there? 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:49.420 All the good people can see the glow. 00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:52.780 Mike, good man. 00:32:58.780 --> 00:33:04.780 Guys, so between the mature ministers and mature elders, you have now the ability to 00:33:06.540 --> 00:33:10.460 deconstruct strongholds that people have, deconstruct strongholds. 00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:15.660 When people come to you, it's not just that they get healed, you'll actually go and figure out, 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:18.220 why is it that you're going through this sickness again and again? 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:23.580 You help deconstruct strongholds, you bring wholeness, you know how to counter the attacks 00:33:23.580 --> 00:33:30.140 of the enemy. Mature leaders and elders admonish the unruly. There are three things that elders 00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:39.260 and leaders are supposed to do. Admonish the unruly, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak. 00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:45.340 The Bible talks about that. If you're an elder, your job is, or if you're a leader or an elder, 00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:51.580 admonish the unruly. Because every church, I pray, I'm so blessed and fortunate that we don't have 00:33:51.580 --> 00:33:58.940 unruly people here. The worst we get is dawn and that's about it. So, hardly any unruly people. 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:06.860 So, admonish the unruly. How blessed we are, huh? How blessed we are, guys. I mean, stand in my shoes 00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:14.140 and you suddenly realize what an easy job I have. Most churches struggle with unruly people. 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:19.820 But we don't. This is the work of Christ in you. 00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:29.340 So blessed, so difficult for other pastors, guys. You have no idea. I'm not afraid to say this 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:31.340 because the Lord will keep it that way, huh? 00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:41.180 Elders are supposed to admonish the unruly, encourage the faint-hearted and strengthen the weak. 00:34:41.180 --> 00:34:46.940 So, these two categories, some of us must aspire for. These are things supposed to be aspired for. 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:54.860 The Bible says, aspire for gifts. The Bible says, aspire for positions of eldership. But prove 00:34:54.860 --> 00:35:00.700 yourself as being good for that kind of leading and eldership positions. The Bible says, aspire for 00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:07.900 grace. So, reach out for these things because this kingdom is a kingdom of rewards and promotions. 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:11.900 Please understand that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of rewards and promotions. 00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:18.540 This kingdom always promotes, this kingdom always rewards. And both promotion and reward is based 00:35:18.540 --> 00:35:27.820 on one simple thing, faithfulness. That's all it's based on. Can you show yourself faithful with the 00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:34.700 little that I have given you and I will keep promoting you and keep rewarding you? What a cool kingdom. 00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:48.620 The last one. 00:35:52.620 --> 00:35:59.580 Short-term teams. Short-term teams. Any of the above categories 00:36:00.540 --> 00:36:10.060 can aspire for this. Short-term teams where you make it a point as long as you know it is God who's 00:36:10.060 --> 00:36:17.740 asking you to, and you keep asking, Father, is there a short-term team that I can travel with to a place 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:24.380 of your calling? Not necessarily to India or to Mongolia, but when the time is right, can I go with 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:32.460 a short-term team? Because what's a great thing about short-term teams? They have the ability to 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:39.820 go somewhere and deposit like Messengers mentioned earlier. And that aside, you get opportunities 00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:47.420 to excel in compassion. One of the things that happens with short-term teams is the opportunity 00:36:48.060 --> 00:36:55.740 to excel in compassion, besides depositing the teachings that you have, the opportunity to excel 00:36:55.740 --> 00:37:01.820 in compassion, and you get a taste of mission. You get a taste of mission. You get a taste of mission. 00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:08.060 And whenever someone goes on a short-term team mission, the leader always benefits. So let's 00:37:08.060 --> 00:37:15.500 assume that Heidi and Jillian and Jane are going to Nandigama in Feb. They will go there and deposit 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:21.100 what they've learned here. Are they the best preachers, the best ministers in this church? No. 00:37:21.100 --> 00:37:26.380 But will they find out what it is to be on a mission? Yes. Will they be stretched? Yes. Will 00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:30.620 they deposit what they've learned here? Yes. Will they have opportunity to show compassion? 00:37:30.620 --> 00:37:35.580 Yes. And in the process, when they come back, they will be changed people, and we will benefit 00:37:35.580 --> 00:37:41.820 as a church. The leaders benefit and they get processed. The great thing about Acts 29 is that 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:46.860 from its very foundation, without even knowing it, this church has always had one simple word 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:52.460 attached, two simple words attached to it, sent and nations. These words are tied together in the 00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:59.420 very core of this church. It is impossible to escape that. No one made it happen. It's just natural. 00:38:01.260 --> 00:38:06.380 So think about these categories, because all of us fit in these. 00:38:06.700 --> 00:38:10.540 But Jacob, if all of us do this, then who will be ministered to? The fields are 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:17.100 white and ready for harvest. They may not come into Pilgrim Baptist where we meet, but 00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:19.980 it doesn't mean that there aren't people out there. 00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:29.340 So think along the lines early this year as, okay, so Father, which of these should I begin to wrestle 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:35.900 with you on? Because I so want to assist you, O Christ, who set me apart, now to assist you in 00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:42.300 setting others apart. This is the only reason I live, O God. See, I'm convinced at Acts 29 that we 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:48.140 believe that. That that doesn't need to be drummed again and again. That we live for one reason alone, 00:38:48.140 --> 00:38:53.500 to assist Christ in setting others apart. This we know now. We're not here for prosperity. We're 00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:57.740 not here for blessing. We're not here to excel in the gifts. We're not here to be a blessing. We're 00:38:57.740 --> 00:39:02.060 not here to excel in the gifts. We're not even here for, oh, Holy Spirit, fall. The Spirit of God 00:39:02.060 --> 00:39:09.820 falls when the people of God engage in the activity of the Spirit of God. Before Acts 2 had to happen, 00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:14.300 people gathered together in Acts 1 and then Acts 2 happened because they were gathered together to 00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:19.580 follow what Christ said in Matthew 28, which was, go and make disciples of all nations. 00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:27.340 Spirit of God doesn't need any coaxing or any waiting upon to fall when a people desire to 00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:37.740 do exactly what he wants. You fall into one of these categories, guys. This is the ministry of the 00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:51.260 saints. Out of these guys, come, I don't know, out of all these, you have a people in a local church called 00:39:51.260 --> 00:40:01.740 people, equipers, equipers, drawn out of all these, drawn out of the ministers of the gospel, 00:40:01.740 --> 00:40:06.860 drawn out of co-workers, drawn out of messengers, drawn out of benefactors. You have these people 00:40:06.860 --> 00:40:13.660 called equipers. What is their job? They come alongside and equip you. And what do they equip you in? 00:40:21.900 --> 00:40:26.860 Three things. 00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:34.940 Teachings of Christ. 00:40:39.100 --> 00:40:44.060 Sorry, first the gospel, gospel and teachings of Christ. You can put that together. Gospel and 00:40:44.060 --> 00:40:45.180 the teachings of Christ. 00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:53.660 Gospels and the teachings of Christ. 00:40:57.420 --> 00:41:05.740 That's one thing you're equipped in. Second, good works, as in how do you take your job, 00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:08.860 your talents, your life work, 00:41:11.580 --> 00:41:16.060 your skills, your place in life, 00:41:18.700 --> 00:41:26.460 how do you take all this and cause your works to so shine that let your good works shine, 00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:31.340 let your light so shine before men that they shall see your good works and glorify Christ. 00:41:31.900 --> 00:41:35.180 And then the third one, raising 00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:48.380 inter, raising leaders in every generation. This is what equipers do. And out of all those 00:41:48.380 --> 00:41:53.660 categories on the back of the board, there are people who God has given them the grace to do this. 00:41:54.220 --> 00:41:58.300 And if you fall into one of those categories, begin to ponder with God, father, 00:41:59.260 --> 00:42:04.940 do I have the grace of a prophet, a pioneer or an apostle, a teacher, an evangelist or a prophet, 00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:11.100 and if that is a grace in me or God, I come to wrestle with you. I come to wrestle with you, 00:42:11.100 --> 00:42:15.340 not like Jacob wrestled, but wrestle with God in terms of how to think this through. 00:42:17.740 --> 00:42:24.140 Because equipers equip you in the gospels and the teachings of Christ. Equipers 00:42:24.780 --> 00:42:30.940 equip you in good works as in how do you take your job, your talent, your life, work, your skills, 00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:35.740 your present phase in life, how do you take all that and make it shine wherever you are. 00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:44.860 And the third one is raising leaders in every generation. Guys, the joy I had of spending a day 00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:53.660 and a half with the young adults at that place in Chilliwack was phenomenal. It was so good to see 00:42:54.620 --> 00:43:00.620 Pastor Jim, who's from Richmond Pentecostal and who has maybe 500 or 600 people in that church 00:43:00.620 --> 00:43:07.260 was saying, Jacob, it's a rarity to have these many financially and spiritually mobile young adults. 00:43:07.260 --> 00:43:13.420 It's a gift. We've been given strange gifts for a church that hardly can cut 70 on a super good day. 00:43:14.940 --> 00:43:15.660 It's very odd. 00:43:24.940 --> 00:43:26.620 Any questions before I close? 00:43:34.620 --> 00:43:37.660 Yes, they can help us become those seven things too. Yeah. 00:43:42.060 --> 00:43:45.580 No, I think at this present stage, what I want us to look at is, 00:43:46.540 --> 00:43:54.940 of these categories, where, oh God, do I fit? That's where I want us to look at. Father, 00:43:56.140 --> 00:44:01.980 sorry, of these things, where do I fit? Where do I fit in all these things so that I can begin 00:44:01.980 --> 00:44:05.660 to ponder on them so that you can tap me on my shoulder because the tap is coming. 00:44:05.660 --> 00:44:16.700 Go ahead. Yeah. Yeah, you can be just one thing for a while and then you can be two things. Then 00:44:16.700 --> 00:44:24.540 you can be three things. Yeah. I mean, I always use the example of Barnabas, who was just a devout 00:44:24.540 --> 00:44:32.460 believer from Cyprus. He was a Levite whose name was Joses. And then he goes and gets Saul from 00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:38.620 Tarsus when nobody else wanted to touch Saul because Saul was a murderer of Christians. And 00:44:38.620 --> 00:44:43.580 so he goes and gets Saul from Tarsus. And therein now he begins to be called Barnabas because he's 00:44:43.580 --> 00:44:48.540 now the son of encouragement. He also sells all his land and comes and places it at the feet of 00:44:48.540 --> 00:44:53.980 the disciples. So he's a bit of a benefactor there where he sells everything and places it for 00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:59.100 mission. How lovely are the feet of them that bring good news. And then he's counted among the 00:44:59.100 --> 00:45:04.940 teachers and the prophets in the church of Antioch in Acts chapter 13. And then finally, 00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:11.500 in Acts chapter 13, verse four or five, the Holy Spirit says, set apart for me, Barnabas and Saul, 00:45:11.500 --> 00:45:17.180 and they are sent off as apostles. So you see a man moving in a matter of maybe just a couple 00:45:17.180 --> 00:45:26.860 of years or three years, he moves through such a large spectrum. Must have been a very faithful man. 00:45:29.500 --> 00:45:34.860 And so sometimes when someone prophesies something on you which seems impossible now, 00:45:35.580 --> 00:45:37.740 it is true. It does seem impossible now, 00:45:41.260 --> 00:45:44.860 but it is for the future and that future awaits. 00:45:49.260 --> 00:45:51.980 So any other questions? 00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:58.380 We might even be able to pray here. 00:46:05.340 --> 00:46:09.740 Show yourself faithful guys. Show yourself faithful in these things and exert your, 00:46:09.740 --> 00:46:13.900 I mean, at the end of the day, what is all this saying that your heart must be involved because 00:46:13.900 --> 00:46:18.380 that's where spiritual formation takes place. Your head must be involved because you've got to learn 00:46:19.020 --> 00:46:23.020 the teachings of Christ and your hands must be involved because it's with your hands that you 00:46:23.020 --> 00:46:30.300 minister. Heart, head, hands, all three. Read, read a lot guys. The head must be involved. We 00:46:30.300 --> 00:46:34.700 must process truths. That's why big words like proclamation, penetration and progression. 00:46:36.060 --> 00:46:44.300 Proclamation, penetration, progression. He could do it like a moonwalk. When I do it, 00:46:44.380 --> 00:46:53.020 feels like I'm stepping on stuff. But big words like that sound big and are difficult to remember 00:46:53.020 --> 00:46:57.740 because we don't necessarily go home and process it, right? For me, the biggest word to process 00:46:57.740 --> 00:47:01.580 that is not the proclamation. I understand that. The progression, I understand the penetration part 00:47:01.580 --> 00:47:08.620 where go into places where this is not heard and accepted. That is the hard part. That's the part 00:47:08.700 --> 00:47:10.380 the church avoids. 00:47:14.460 --> 00:47:18.540 And so the head is involved, the heart is involved because that's where Jesus Christ is formed. 00:47:19.260 --> 00:47:23.180 Christ is formed in our hearts and then the hands are involved in our ministry. 00:47:28.140 --> 00:47:32.060 And at the end of the day guys, when you leave the earth, having done all this, 00:47:32.060 --> 00:47:37.340 you should have nothing left. The very nature of the apostolic and I'm not saying apostles, 00:47:37.340 --> 00:47:41.580 I'm talking about the nature of the apostolic. As in a church that is apostolic is a church that 00:47:41.580 --> 00:47:47.260 has been set apart to assist Christ by him sending us out to set others apart. 00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:52.140 We have nothing left because we poured everything out. 00:47:56.860 --> 00:48:02.300 I mean, what do you think Mark and Rhonda want to do? At the end of their years, they want to pour 00:48:02.300 --> 00:48:06.700 everything out into their children. They don't want to take an inheritance or keep an inheritance 00:48:06.700 --> 00:48:12.620 for themselves. How do you, I mean, so where are you pouring it out? It goes as an inheritance 00:48:12.620 --> 00:48:16.700 into somebody else. When I leave the earth, I want to be so spent that there is nothing left. 00:48:18.540 --> 00:48:23.580 Then you can say like Paul that you have been poured out like a libation, like a offering. You've 00:48:23.580 --> 00:48:29.900 been poured out. There's nothing left. Leave the earth empty and you will get such rewards in heaven 00:48:29.900 --> 00:48:35.420 because this is a reward oriented religion and you will not thrill at the reward. You will thrill at 00:48:35.420 --> 00:48:36.380 the reward giver.