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This is Pastor Daniel Stevenson. I'm director of the Southside Life Station and pastor of New Heights Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo.

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And you're receiving this message because you opted in to be encouraged.

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In Acts 15 40 it says that Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

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Till they were commissioned, the church marked them out as chosen and sent them on their journey.

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The story continues to be about Paul and traces God's ongoing mission work in and to the church.

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But Paul and Silas will go through some real trials and real difficulties.

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Silas has indeed linked himself to Paul, a man about whom it was said,

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I will show him what kind of struggles he must go through for the kingdom of God.

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The bottom line is they set out to do the Lord's work. They went together by two.

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They were dispatched by the church.

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There's a lot of people out there who want to talk about God. They want to talk about the things of God.

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They want to encourage you to do things their way or whatever.

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But if they're not backed by a real true church, I would be extremely hesitant.

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Everybody can be a philosopher, armchair, quarterbacks or a dime a dozen.

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But those truly living for the Lord, living within the crucible of the church,

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submitting to accountability, giving, serving, walking out the tenets of the faith in a godly church life.

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Those folks are endorsed by more than just their own ideas or even your best understanding of who they are.

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They are endorsed by a group of people, hopefully the people of God who are listening to the Lord and deciding what's right.

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Embrace the church, embrace the people of the church, the people sent by the church.

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Find a good gospel preaching, gospel teaching church.

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People are living for the Lord and jump right in and live with them.

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Be encouraged today in Jesus name. Amen.