This is Pastor Daniel Stevenson. I'm director of the Southside Life Station and pastor of New Heights Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo.
And you're receiving this message because you opted in to be encouraged.
In Acts 15 40 it says that Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
Till they were commissioned, the church marked them out as chosen and sent them on their journey.
The story continues to be about Paul and traces God's ongoing mission work in and to the church.
But Paul and Silas will go through some real trials and real difficulties.
Silas has indeed linked himself to Paul, a man about whom it was said,
I will show him what kind of struggles he must go through for the kingdom of God.
The bottom line is they set out to do the Lord's work. They went together by two.
They were dispatched by the church.
There's a lot of people out there who want to talk about God. They want to talk about the things of God.
They want to encourage you to do things their way or whatever.
But if they're not backed by a real true church, I would be extremely hesitant.
Everybody can be a philosopher, armchair, quarterbacks or a dime a dozen.
But those truly living for the Lord, living within the crucible of the church,
submitting to accountability, giving, serving, walking out the tenets of the faith in a godly church life.
Those folks are endorsed by more than just their own ideas or even your best understanding of who they are.
They are endorsed by a group of people, hopefully the people of God who are listening to the Lord and deciding what's right.
Embrace the church, embrace the people of the church, the people sent by the church.
Find a good gospel preaching, gospel teaching church.
People are living for the Lord and jump right in and live with them.
Be encouraged today in Jesus name. Amen.