Come on now. That was something else right there.
Whoo! Is that the only one you know? Is that
all you got? Is that the only one you got? Huh?
Is that it? I'm going to get you to do another
one. So practice. That makes it easy to preach
right there. Whoo. Well, hallelujah. Amen. Did
I leave my glasses down there? I got a Bible
there, but I don't know what it says. Y 'all
got me tore up, fellas. Hallelujah. So good to
see you in the house of the Lord today. Trusting
that God has richly blessed you this week. Sister
Kathy asked me if I'd give you an update. Several
of you have already asked, but many of you knew,
some may not have, that she had an appointment
at the Pat Summit Clinic on Tuesday. And so we
were up there, and probably one of the most thorough,
I don't know what you call it, it felt like we
was in a carousel. But it was a... Very good
experience. Really have confidence in this doctor.
I know this. We have learned that the steps of
good man are ordered of the Lord. God is sovereign,
and he knows how to get you where you need to
be when you need to be there. The other closed
doors, the memory center in Chattanooga, the
door closed. Hope for Vanderbilt. That door closed,
and so the referral to Knoxville happened in
three days, had the appointment, and I said,
okay, Lord, we could have skipped them other
two if you'd have just told me that's where you
want me to go. And so more testing is what we're
looking at. There's some new blood tests that
are getting some good diagnostic. results from
so one of those they'll be drawing blood for
that tomorrow we go back in April for a PET scan
then we will follow up in May with the doctor
and he gets everything results and it goes through
everything so we'll hopefully by then know exactly
what it is that we're dealing with The term that
we've been given, he said, is like an umbrella.
It's a broad term. And he said, so what we're
wanting to do is pinpoint exactly. I said, well,
I kind of like that. Amen. And then we will go
from there. And when I know something, you'll
know something. Amen. We thank you for walking
with us through this. It's difficult. Amen. But
we feel your prayers. And we know you're praying.
So don't think we don't notice. Because we do.
And we appreciate you so much. And we need your
prayer. Amen. We covet your prayer. We must have
your prayer. We need the Lord's grace daily.
Every day is a brand new day. Amen. And we're
thankful for everyone that the Lord wakes us
up to. Amen. And all that it holds. She needs
more prayer than just, you know, for what's going
on. You have to understand that I am her caregiver.
So she needs even more prayer. Than the average
person dealing with what she's dealing with.
She's got me on top of it. I'd love to say I'm
this passionate, you know. The previous 40 years
has prepared us for this moment. Because she
knows how I am and can be. So she needs prayer.
To have to put up with me sometimes. Patience
has never been that great virtue on my list.
Has it, baby? No. So, we're working on it. Hallelujah.
If you have your Bibles, you can remain seated.
This morning, today, if you're visiting, we've
got any visitors, just shoot a hand up real quick.
Thank you for being here this morning. It's going
to be a little different than kind of normal
because what we're subject today, we're talking
about ministry and mission awareness. If you
took a few moments, if not, take some before
you leave today and just walk around the foyer,
look at all the tables. We're going to leave
that up for a week or so. That's a lot of work
just to take right down. So that you can become
aware. It's ministry awareness. Aware of some
of the things that are going on. None of those
ministries that are represented out there are
just like fine old machines. We're a work in
progress. Amen. We're a work in progress. It's
new every day. It's new all the time. Ministry
evolves with growth. all that good stuff, but
you have to know that ministry is more than two,
three, four people. Ministry in the church is
more than just the pastoral staff, right? Ministry
in the body of Christ is made up of the body
of Christ. Thus the reason Paul would instruct
the Ephesians, you know, to equip the saints.
Anybody know the rest of that verse? Where you
at Bible readers? Equip the saints for The work
of the ministry. Amen. So I want to, however
this comes out today, we're just going to let
it roll and we're going to go with it. But in
2 Corinthians chapter 10, where we want to draw
our emphasis and mainly we'll concentrate on
verse 14 and pull from there. But the thought
this morning is... Advancing beyond limited reach.
Advancing beyond limited reach. The 10th chapter
of 2 Corinthians begins thusly. Now I, Paul,
myself, beseech you by the meekness and gentleness
of Christ, who in presence am base among you,
but being absent am bold towards you. But I beseech
you that I may not be bold when I am present
with that confidence wherewith I think to be
bold against some which think of us as if we
walked according to the flesh. Paul is correcting
some things, some attitudes and some false teachers
in the church of Corinth. And this letter has
a lot of corrective nature. And he's letting
them know, here is the water's parallel paraphrased
to verse 1 and 2. Now, when I'm there, I'm kindly
soft -spoken. And when I write these letters
to you, I'm really telling you what you need
to do. I'm bold in it. I'm direct in it. But
I do not wish to have to be bold when I'm before
you. And do not mistake my meekness and gentleness,
my Christ -like character, do not mistake that
for weakness when I'm with you. Hello. You do
remember who Saul was. Saul is the unregenerated
character of the Apostle Paul. You know, the
one who stood there and said, Put your coats
right here, boys. I got them. Kill the Christian.
Stone Stephen. You got it. My permission. Right?
So these Corinthians evidently, I don't know
that Paul's reputation had made it all the way
to Corinth just yet. I don't think they actually
knew who they were messing with. And Paul's kindly,
gently trying to correct them. Don't mistake
my gentleness and meekness for weakness, fellas,
because some of y 'all, when I get there, I will
confront. Look at it. But I beseech you that
I may not be bold when I am present with that
confidence, wherewith I think or I intend to
be bold against some. I like old Paul. He said,
when I come before the whole, I'm going to continue
to be meek. But some of y 'all, we're going to
get in a private room, and we're going to have
ourself a conversation. Hello? And a little bit
of old Paul, old Saul, going to rise up. And
he's going to let them know their position. And
he's going to instruct them in the ways of righteousness
and holiness is what he's saying. And he said,
which think of us as if we walk according to
the flesh. He's letting them know, you know,
we're there under restraint of the spirit. We
might be walking in the flesh, but we're not
walking of the flesh. Yes, there's no other way
for me to walk than on my two feet. So flesh,
I'm coming in, but I do not want to come in among
you of the flesh. Are you following me? He said,
I don't want to tilt my sanctification when I
get there, fellas, but some of y 'all are going
to get a piece of my mind. I'm going to let you
know exactly what is going on. He says, for though
we walk in the flesh, we don't war after the
flesh, right? He said, yeah, that's not this
warfare that we're in. And what he's saying is,
I understand that this is spiritual. When I get
in there, I'm going to take care of it spiritually
because you really don't want me to get in the
flesh. Oh, Lord, but there's a temptation there.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but they are mighty through God to the pulling
down of strongholds. When you understand the
whole context of what's going on there, I myself
pull these passages out. I pull them out because
they are very emphatic, aren't they, about the
spiritual warfare that we are up against. But
we don't always understand that the enemy does
exactly the same thing as God does. He uses yielded
vessels. So don't be a vessel. So he's letting
them know what is going on there is spiritual.
We may be walking there in the flesh, but we're
not walking of the flesh because we don't war.
This warfare is not after the flesh. And I know
what I'm dealing with, and I will deal with it
when I get there because we will have under this
wonderful warfare, casting down of imaginations
that exalt themselves against the knowledge of
God, right? And a pulling down of strongholds
to the obedience of Christ. In other words, he
said, You're spreading false teachings. You are
outside the parameters and the bounds of Scripture
and the law of Christ. And when I get there,
some of y 'all are going to get a piece of my
mind, and I'm going to line you up because I
understand what I'm dealing with is a spiritual
conflict, and I know how to deal with that. And
I can pull these things that you're spreading
and this teaching that you're espousing and pouring
out. We're going to take it in captivity by the
Spirit and the law. Christ, amen? And we're going
to bring it under control. He says, for though
we walk, casting down imaginations, he said in
verse 6, and having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience. Oh, I like that. When your
obedience is fulfilled, he said, I'm coming to
take vengeance on your disobedience. We're going
to bring it under alignment. You will get in
order when we get there. Matter of fact, he was
using Those words we and us. But when he begins
chapter 10, he says I. He's not putting it off
on anybody. You know that we, we get sometimes,
we get a little mouse in our pocket. I've asked
people that. They say we. I say, well, who's
we? You got a mouse in your pocket? We, we, we.
Paul said, let there be no misunderstanding.
When I get there, I'm begging you. I'm entreating
you. I'm requiring of you. Would you please get
in order? Because I know that some of you think
because when I'm there, I am meek and I am Christ's
life that I do not have a backbone. But I'm telling
you right now, Paul is declaring, I have one
and I'm going to reveal it to some of y 'all
when I get there. And then he goes on to tell
why. It's about the ministry. It's about the
mission that he's been sent out on. It's the
mission and the ministry of God through the proclaiming
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He says, let's
skip on down. Verse 10, for the letters say they
are weighty and powerful, but his boldly presence
is weak and his speech is contentable. He said,
I know what y 'all are saying. I've already heard
what you've said about me. You say in your...
Four letters that when I'm there, I'm meek, and
when I'm away, I feel like I'm some bad dude.
Well, I'm letting you know dude's rolling in,
and you're going to see it for yourself. I'm
coming under the authority and the anointing
of Jesus Christ, and I will set his house in
order. It's what Paul is letting them know. I'm
coming. You just go ahead and get ready. I will
be there. And he says, let such and one think
this. He said, and you just tell them. He said,
let such a one think this. That such as we are
in word by letters when we are absent, such will
we be also indeed when I get there. You think
that I'm bold when I have written to you. You
have asked for it and I am coming. Because you
are not going to destroy the work of Christ.
For though we walk in the flesh, we don't war
after the flesh. And the weapons of our warfare,
they are... not carnal, but they are mighty through
God to the pulling down of strongholds and taking
into captivity thoughts and casting down imaginations
that exalt themselves against the knowledge of
God. He said, I'm coming to take names and forgive
me. I'm coming to take names and kick devil butt.
That's why I'm coming. I am on my way. Okay,
you've made fun of me long enough, me not there
to defend myself. Now, I am on my way. And you
think that I was bold in my letters. I'm coming
now. You done made me mad. I'm on my way. The
devil has risen up. Hello, remember last week
about ignorance? We talked about going beyond
the limits of ignorance. He said, lest the devil
should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant
of his devices. And that's what he's telling
them. I know the devil's behind this, and I'm
coming to take care of the spirit that's driving
this. I'm trying to get, I'm just, this word
text, I'm trying to get to here. I've told myself
I'm not preaching another hour and ten minutes
this week, but I don't know now. They fooled
around and worshipped us right in, so it's not
my fault. Verse 12, for we dare not make ourselves
of the number or compare ourselves with some
that commend themselves. He said, we're not like
those false teachers that are there lifting themselves
up in their pride, talking about what they're
doing, talking about what they've done and all
of this. That's not who we are. That's not where
our boast is. If you look up the word boast,
Paul mentions it over and over and over and over
and over. It's a repetitive thing. We don't boast
in ourselves. We don't boast and commend the
world. that we've done. He said it's all God's
work, right? But they measuring themselves by
themselves and comparing themselves among themselves
are not wise. They said the only parameter they've
got to measure by is themselves. And so if you
measure yourself against yourself, sure, you're
going to feel good about yourself. Hello? You're
going to feel good about the work if all you're
doing is measuring your success by your success.
Right? But when you begin to compare it to others
who are doing the same thing, how successful
are you being? He said, they don't even know
what they're doing. They don't even know how
to measure success. They're measuring against
themselves. We're looking at now, verse, where
are we at, 13? But we will not boast of things
without our measure. We will not boast of what
the Lord is doing without something whereby to
measure it by. But according to the measure of
the rule which God hath distributed to us, a
measure to reach, here we go, I'm trying to get
to our text so I can preach this message, to
reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves
beyond our measure as though we reach not unto
you. For we are come as far as to you in preaching
the gospel of Christ. James and Fawcett and Brown,
the commentary, they write this and kindly paraphrase
this verse. We are not stretching ourselves beyond
our measure as we should be if we did not reach
unto you. But we do. For as far as even to you
have we come in preaching the gospel. Paul has
said this, we ought to be doing more to go beyond
you than we are the ones who came to you under
the unction and the direction of the Holy Spirit.
And that is all that we are measuring by. We
are measuring by the previous work of the glorification
of Christ through the declaration of the gospel
and the kingdom being preached. I don't know
what they're measuring. I don't know what the
false teachers are doing and what they are saying,
but you know, yes, we probably should be doing
more. Yes, we should try to stretch beyond where
you are and where we have come and go further
with the gospel. But we have come as far as you.
In other words, he's saying, where have they
been? Where are they going? What have they done?
Where are their trophies? Where are their measuring
lines? Paul could sit down and talk about Philippi.
He could sit down and talk about Thessalonica.
He could sit down and tell them about Thyatira
before he ever got Pamphylia. He could tell them
about all the locations before he ever arrived
at Corinth. That's my measuring line, driven
by the anointing, driven by the power of the
Holy Ghost. That's what brought us here. Well,
hallelujah. Now for the introduction. At the
simplest definition, the word reach can be defined
meaning to stretch forward towards something
or to arrive at a destination or contact someone.
How many say, well, I can't reach them? That's
sniff -holler lingo. If you don't understand
that, it ain't lingo. How many of you understood
that statement? Good. I'm doing better than I
thought. In other words, that means I cannot
reach them by phone or whatever. We just call
it reach them. I ain't been able to reach them.
I have not been able to make contact with whomever
it is you're requiring or desiring a conversation
with. We have not been able to reach them. But
to stretch means to go until you do. To reach
means to continue moving forward until you do.
It means to endeavor. It means to stretch toward
something. And stretch just simply means to go
beyond the limit of your reach. It means to put
out more effort. Right? How many of you stood
on a tiptoe to reach, to stretch, to get a hold
of whatever was just out of your reach? How many
of us would do anything possible to get to whatever
it is that we're wanting to have? have in our
touch and in our grasp. We'll find a stool. Amen.
We'll get a ladder if we can't reach it. We'll
find a chair. We'll get something. We'll get
a box. We'll get a hold of something that enables
us to get within the grasp of what we are reaching
for. Can I tell you that's what we have to do
as a body of Christ? Because when we begin to
think about ministry, ministry is about serving
others and demonstrating God's love and his compassion
and his care. It comes from the Greek word, diakonia,
neo, which means to serve. When we talk about
ministry, every table out there is about serving.
It's not about limelight. It's not about attention.
It's not about focus. It's about service to the
body of Christ. Amen? It's about serving each
other. It's about serving one another. It's about
helping meeting each other's needs and the requirements
that we have that our faith grows. Amen. There's
too many superstars out there. There's too many
televangelists out there. There's too many who
want to relish in the limelight. But there's
only one that can be pointed toward, and that
is Christ and Christ alone. Every ministry points
to the glorification of the divinity of Jesus
Christ. We serve others to point them toward
Christ. That is the sole purpose of ministry.
It is to make disciples so that we may serve
others. The term missions refers to the church's
organized efforts to spread the gospel of Christ
by sharing our Christian faith, by making disciples.
and serving others in need, both locally and
globally. And that is our mission's endeavor
here at Hopewell Church of God. We have one gospel
we want to preach to every man to all points
of this world. To lift them up and to point them
toward Jesus Christ. Whether it's through building
lighthouses where the gospel will be declared.
Or whether it's going on our own and others going
to spread the good news. The point is that the
mission is about spreading the Christian faith.
The faith that we have in Christ who is the son
of the living God. The crucified one but yet
the resurrected one. The one now. the right hand
of the Father. That's what the mission is. And
you cannot separate mission from ministry because
they are connected ever together because mission
is about serving. And if ministry is about serving,
then missions is serving to the heart of God
and the pleasing of Jesus Christ to the edification
of lost humanity in a dying world. Missions becomes
our ministry at whatever level. Locally, ministry,
it's how we teach each other. It's how we come
together in the instruction of the Word of God.
We minister the Word of God. And to be a disciple,
a disciple is one to be disciplined in the faith.
What faith? Well, for us, it's the faith of Jesus
Christ. There are disciples of other faiths,
right? Muhammad has disciples. Buddha has disciples.
Hare Krishna has disciples. It's those who have
bought into the doctrine that is being proclaimed.
What is being ministered to them? They become
disciples. They become disciplined in that teaching.
That's why they would sit on the mountainside.
At Jesus' feet. And be discipled. The Sermon
on the Mount. The Beatitudes. Every parable that
flowed from his lips. Our instruction in the
discipline of serving him. And so when we become
disciples, there's a lot of folks who want to
be Christians but not disciples. It's okay to
know about it, but a disciple has discipline
in the practice of the teaching. They practice
the doctrine that is being declared to them.
That's why at Antioch they were first known as
Christians. Why? Because they were acting Christ
-like. What does that mean? They were discipled
in the behavior and the character and the teaching
and the doctrine of Jesus Christ. And lo and
behold, they begin to live that out. They lived
as little Christs. Isn't that a novel idea? Just
for a point of quandary, if. If, when we stand
before a just and holy God, and the criteria
to get in is that we act, behave like his son,
that'd give one a point to ponder about their
everyday life. Am I a church attender or am I
a disciple? Of Jesus Christ. That we work the
ministry and that we fulfill the ministry of
Christ to a lost and dying world. And that is
why Paul is so upset with these troublemakers
and rebel rousers at Corinth trying to bring
and diminish his role as an apostle. By diminishing
his role as an apostle, they diminish his message
of the gospel. Are you beginning to see this?
The picture begins to unfold just a little bit.
And no wonder Paul becomes so upset. I'll take
care of you when I get there. Because it's an
affront to the gospel. It's not an affront to
Paul. It's an affront to the furtherance of the
gospel. When we quit. When we get over our offenses,
when people don't accept us, do you not understand
it's not you they are rejecting? If you are being
a minister of Jesus Christ, they are rejecting
the message of the glorious gospel, the love,
the compassion, the care of Jesus Christ. It's
not you they are rejecting. So rise up, be more
bold, and proclaim the name of Christ. Ministry,
how it couples with mission. Mission is both
locally and globally. It's how we act out the
ministry. We act out, we live out, we perform
the work of the ministry through the mission.
Christ is the greatest example of missionary.
He came from a great place. Did he not? He came
from heaven, submitted himself to flesh and become
a man to declare the ministry. With his mission
thesis statement of his ministry in Luke 4, 18.
For the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. And he
has anointed me to preach the gospel. And let
me tell you who I'm going to minister to. I'm
going to minister to the blind. I'm going to
minister to the deaf, to the lame. You won't
believe this if I tell you now, but I'll go ahead.
I'm going to minister to the dead, and they're
going to live. I've come for the bruised. I've
come for the brokenhearted. I've come for the
imprisoned. That is my mission, and it is my
ministry. Hallelujah. And that's the mandate
that we've been given. When he declares in Matthew
28, go ye into all the world and preach. Make
disciples. Baptize them. In the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Ghost. And teach them
to be disciples. The difference between, I read
a great illustration, it made a lot of sense
to me. The difference between mission and ministry.
Ministry happens a lot within the local confines
of the local church. We minister to each other.
Sometimes we may do projects. We may go help
one another. Some of you are very good at this,
and I don't even know half of what goes on. You
show up to help one another out. That's ministry.
You know, when it turns to mission, when the
neighbor to that brother or sister that you're
ministering to, who is lost, has a need, and
you cross the property line, And you minister
to them in their need and tell them that Jesus
loves them. It's just turned to missions. Well,
how does that make sense? Because you begin to
minister outside the confines of the brotherhood.
You have actually done a good deed toward one
who is outside the covenant relationship with
God. And in so doing, you have sown the seed.
of compassion, of care. Are you hearing me? Of
redemption. When you step outside, it's ministry
when we do for each other. But it's mission when
we do it for those who's not part of the family
of God. It is a mission. That's the reason you
can do it locally. That's the reason we can do
it statewide or nationwide. But then when we
go to places that we'll never go, however, in
Nambia or wherever that place is at, wherever
we go there, that is mission. Amen. We're sending
the good deed. We're sending the good work forward.
That becomes mission. mission and the glorious
light because there are those there who do not
know and the ministry's just turned in to mission.
So what we do as we are going that go into all
the world it literally means as you go into the
world. We look for places to minister but as
we are ministering we ought to be mindful. of
the mission. And seize every opportunity to turn
the ministry into fulfilling the mission. Everything
we do, every event, everything that happens on
this property is ministry. It's ministry. Every
crappie we fry. Every Boston butt that gets smoked.
Every stick of bologna that gets devoured. We
do so through ministry. But when there's leftover
and it's loaded up and took down to the homeless
shelters, it's transformed into mission. Where
did this come from? Well, that church over on
Eureka, Hopewell Church of God sent it all in
here for y 'all to eat. Ministry just turned
into mission. But the difference is when we become
to do it intentionally. When the mission becomes
the ministry. Why? Because we become such. dedicated,
devoted disciples of Jesus Christ, that we love
him so much that really we don't have to show
that much care for each other because we are
cared for. We watch for needs. We look for needs.
We listen with a discerning ear to the Spirit
and let the Holy Spirit direct us. How many of
you have had that happen? Just show of hands.
Say, hey, you need to do this for so -and -so.
Right? And you're thinking, well, what do they
think if I do that? See, that's the devil right
there. His main objective is to abort the ministry
and the mission. Trying to talk you out, trying
to talk us out of doing ministry and mission.
And you know what the number one reason he gives?
You can't afford it. That's the reason he talks
so many people out of being faithful tithers
and givers in their local body. You can't afford
to do that. I have learned that I can't afford
not to. I'll do that whether I do anything else
or not. I remember back in the really, really
lean days. We'd cash the old check. Put the Lord's
money up here, then everybody else went like
this. One for you, one for you, one for you,
one for you, one for you. Then I'd start back
over, put them from the highest down to the least.
Another one for you, another one for you, and
you're out of luck. Put it in an envelope and
send it. But this stack up here, it was always
correct. And a little bit more if I could. Because
I understand why all this got took care of. It's
because of that. And when you take care of the
ministry and God's mission, he will take care
of you. Every church, I've never seen a church,
no matter its size, large or small or anywhere
in between, that was committed to missions ever
not have what they needed. I've never seen it.
I'm talking about a small church of 25, 30, 40
people that struggle sometimes or would struggle
just to make the ends meet. But the pastor had
a heart to lead his people. The pastor had a
heart to lead his people and teach them and disciple
them in the importance of the overall mission.
It's not about us. We've got a house of worship.
It may not be all that we want it to be, but
we're cool and we're warm. We're dry. And we
can worship without fear of reparation from any
governmental force. But there are others over.
And I have learned a long time ago, it's not
the amount that matters. Are you hearing me?
It's not the amount that matters. I'm telling
you right now, the seed that we sowed to the
state of Illinois when I first got here was small.
We had to make it in three or four payments.
And it's just a couple thousand dollars that
the overseer asked the state council if we could
help him give to his ministers. to do something
for the ministers of his state. And sitting around
that table, the Holy Ghost gripped my heart and
squeezed it like a sponge until water ran out
of my eyes at the table. And I said, Bishop,
Hopewell Church of God will take care of that.
And in the back of my mind, the devil said, how
are you going to do that? You don't even know
if you're going to get paid next week. And to
that I responded, it does not matter. There were
two weeks before that I didn't get paid, so it
didn't matter then, and it will not matter now
because of the work and the heart of God. Respond
to the moving and the wooing of the spirit. And
you begin to sow. God will take care of it all.
Why? Because he'll touch your heart. He'll touch
your hearts as he has in the past. And continues
to do so now. And he'll bring things about. That's
the reason I pray over you for inheritance and
things like that. When those tragic things do
happen, the Lord can still honor in those moments.
And we just have to be reminded to honor him.
Not be so overwhelmed with the grief that our
heart is still pliable. And through some of those
gifts like that, before I knew it, before I knew
it, We're debt free. And do you think we're going
to stop sowing into ministry and missions now?
No. No, no, no, no. Wouldn't it be wonderful
if we sowed $100 ,000 into the mission field
this year? Oh, my Lord. Our goal was 50, but
I think we can do more than that. I really think.
If I had 99 other people to commit it with me.
By the end of this year, to give 1 ,000 to missions,
we'd do it. We'll need 99 more. There's one,
there's two, 98 more. We can get it. We're going
to put a list up. And the Lord may bless you
enough, 1 ,000 isn't enough. You know I don't
talk a lot about finances, about receiving it.
It's always about blessing you, right? And that's
my philosophy. Always has been. If God blesses
you, you'll bless the Lord because you understand
the principle. But I honestly think we can do
that. We can do this. And it was not my plan
to ask for that until about 36 seconds ago. But
it's like, well, you're talking the talk. Are
you ready to walk it? Let's walk it. Let's walk
over. Well, where are we going to spend it to?
Well, there's plenty of need out there. All we've
got to do is just pinpoint it. We've got two
great accesses to world missions, and I'm sure
if word gets out on 25th and Keith that Hopewell's
wanting to give 100, we'll have them standing
in line. Amen. Why? Because the need is great.
The mission is great. It exceeds. I know somebody's
scratching their head. Did he say 100 ,000? Yes,
that's what he said. It can be done. Some of
you got a 5 ,000. Some of you got 10 that you
can give. If you got it next week, we'll take
it. If you don't, we'll take it a little bit
alone. Take 1 ,000 here, 1 ,000 there. 500 here,
500 there, right? You pray and see what God asks
you to do. And here's, if we don't get the 100,
whatever we get is going to be more than we have.
I read a statement one time that said, aim for
the moon. If you land in the stars, you're still
higher than you were. You either drink milk or
buttermilk. That reach stretches. You have to
stretch it. See, that's what I'm talking about,
stretching. That's a stretch. You say, well,
you said it awful easy. I may have said it easy,
but in my mind, I know it's a stretch. But I
do know if we're faithful to God, he'll be faithful
to us. He'll be faithful to you. That's the reason
I say pray. Some of you, the Lord's probably
just a question. Don't raise your hand if you
don't want to. In that last five minutes, has
the Lord dropped a number in somebody's heart?
Anybody? He just spoke just real quick. Yeah.
That's the way he works. Now, how many of you
that didn't raise your hand are still arguing
with the number? Be honest. You're in the Lord's
house. To see the kingdom, the work of the ministry.
To fulfill the mission until the Lord Jesus comes.
That's our desire. So we reach up. We reach up
through worship. Like we did this morning, engaged
in worship. The time will come, but the time
now is, according to John. When the Father is
seeking such to worship Him, and He's seeking
those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth,
we reach up. For some, it's a greater length
to stretch to show outward displays of worship.
It is a stretch. How many times do you struggle
with those outward things? In worship, in a corporate
setting. You do good at home, but somehow or
another you get a little shy when you get around
a bunch of other folk. Stretch yourself. We reach
in through service. We serve each other. We serve
one another. We stretch. We listen through a
discerning ear. Lord, how can I help my brothers
and sisters? Lay somebody on my heart. Lord,
how can I engage in the mission? The mission
of ministry. How can I reach outside? Who? How?
You'd be amazed what a number one Chick -fil
-A meal will do for somebody who don't have one.
When you do it in the name of Christ. Right?
When you hand it to them and say, hey, Jesus
loves you. Or you ask them, say, have you had
lunch today? No. Hey, Jesus loves you. Let me
buy you lunch. What do you want? You just stepped
into the mission. It went from ministry to mission
just like that. There are people all around us.
Right? We reach in through service. Up through
worship. Out through deed. We reach out through
deeds. Things we do. Things we do. How we engage
each other. How we engage those in whom the Lord
puts around us. Amen. Stand with me this morning.
Brother Mills, you make your way down. He's going
to close us out with a... a missions prayer,
and there'll be a copy of it out. I hope you're
praying those daily prayers. I got so wound up
last week in where I was going and what I was
going to be preaching that I failed to have Brother
Milton Carter close us out with his prayer, so
we've got him back on the schedule. He'll be
praying that prayer over us and a prayer that
you can engage. Take these prayers and keep them.
When you don't know anything else to pray, take
one of these out. And pray this prayer. Pray
the prayers. And also, I failed to mention it
was good to have Sister Sandra back in the house
last week. Amen. I apologized and repented to
her this morning for that oversight. We did miss
her in the weeks that she was out and in recovery.
And so I repented. And I had to repent to Brother
Milton. Forgetting him. That's the reason Pastor
Brian does so much of the announcements and all
that stuff. Because when I hit that seat right
there, my mind's on one thing. And nothing else
is as important as that. But it's all important.
But my mind is wrapped around what thus saith
the Lord today. What's he saying to us today?
You know, a church grows. As the people engage
the ministry of the mission. That's how the church
grows. That's how it grows. When you tell people,
hey, the Lord's at work at our church. If you
don't have a place, come on down here, Sister
Courtney. You did well. You heard me, Tom. We're
going to pray for Sister Becca, who's in the
hospital with double pneumonia now, both lungs.
And needs a touch from the Lord, needs a healing
from the Lord. Anybody else? If you need a healing
today, you need the Lord to touch your body,
just come and join us down there. We're going
to pray and ask the Lord to do a great work.
Baby, come on down here. We need one. The Lord
is able. If I didn't believe he's able, we would
not take time for this. And if he's not able
to do this, then what about the rest? If I believe
he can cleanse me of my sin, forgive me of my
sin, this ain't nothing to that. This is just
healing what he's already created, right? He's
able. Stretch your hand this way. If you have
an unspoken request, lift your other hand toward
heaven, and we're going to pray over your needs
as well. Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus
today, we pray, we ask for a healing touch this
morning. Lord, touch our sister this morning.
You know exactly where she's at, what room she's
in, and you know what's going on in her body.
Lord, she's fought sickness long enough, long
enough. So, Father, we pray right now that you
heal that pneumonia. You dry it up. Lord, you
strengthen the vessel. You strengthen her body.
Add your grace. Add your strength. Lord, we pray
you touch for the Sean and the family, Lord.
Strengthen them as they pray. Lord, as we look
for answers to come from glory. Strengthen today
and heal. We know it's by your stripes that we
receive healing. And you took them all in your
body. And, Lord, we accept that today. And, Lord,
our faith is in you and the work of Calvary.
Do a healing work today, Father. Do a healing
work this morning, Father, in the name of Jesus.
Lord, we just pray for divine healing. We pray
for continued divine healing today, Father, in
the name of Jesus. Lord, take authority over
sickness and disease today. By your stripes,
again we declare healing. Healing in Jesus' name.
Father, touch Sister Barbara today. Touch Sister
Dean this morning. Lord, they need healing. They
have family that need healing. They need a touch.
Touch Brother Gary today, Lord. He needs a touch
in his shoulder this morning. Touch and heal
this morning, Father God, in the name of Jesus.
Do a mighty work, Lord. Do a mighty work today,
Father God, in the name of Jesus. Do your healing
work today, Father. Do your healing work today,
Father. Father, in the name of Jesus, take authority.
Lord, you said you'd take down every tongue that
rises up against us. You said no weapon formed
against us will prosper. And every tongue that
rises up against us, you would cast it down.
So take authority over this today, Lord. Add
a boldness to your child of faith this morning,
Lord. Strengthen today. Lord, we take authority
over the voices of the enemy. And we know that
greater are you that's in us than he that is
in this world. So, Father God, do a healing work
today, a delivering work, Lord, for you are our
deliverer. You said you'd prepare a table before
us and a presence. of our enemies. Hallelujah.
Let God arise and our enemies be scattered in
Jesus' holy name. Hallelujah. Supply. Reach out
and touch the Lord as he. Father, in the name
of Jesus, Lord. I pray a healing today, healing
in body. Lord, touch this cough this morning.
Touch winter today. Lord, she stands believing,
knowing that you're able. Lord, you said we all
should have childlike faith and to come and stand.
So, Lord, you touch her today in the name of
Jesus. Father, we pray for Brother David's mom
this morning. Lord, you know what the diagnosis
has been given. But we know that you are the
great physician. You are healer. So, Father,
we just bring her before you today. We lift her
up to you today. We believe. We believe. We trust
you, Lord. Lord, reach down and touch and heal
the liver today. Do a work, Lord. Do a great
and mighty work, God, that your name be glorified,
that you be praised. Do a healing work, Father,
in the name of Jesus. Lord, we thank you for
hearing us as we pray. In Jesus' name. Hallelujah.
Brother David, come on. Brother David's going
to pray this prayer over us. Thank you for being
here this morning. When he's finished, you'll
be dismissed. There should be a copy of this
out in the foyer on the table. Take it, take
one of the others, and pray daily. Praise the
Lord. When you pick up this paper, would you
just write on it the name of the country of Niger,
N -I -G -E -R, and the countries of Namibia,
N -A -M -I -B -I -A. Those are the two places
that we're looking for to raise this money. and
to build these churches. Let us pray. I come
before you, Father, in the name of Jesus, our
Lord and Savior. Thank you for this privilege.
In our quest for intimate worship and personal
spiritual growth, let us not forget Jesus' last
instructions to his church. Go into all the world.
We know that it is important to win those closest
to us, but we must never forget those around
the world that may never have a chance to hear
the wonderful good news that Jesus saves. First
of all, Lord, what is our part as a corporate
body, the Hopewell Church of God, in the Great
Commission? Lead our pastor in the vision that
you have for us in the fulfillment of reaching
the world for you. As he reveals the vision,
let each of us catch that vision in our hearts
and let it become an integral part of our lives.
Second of all, Lord, lead each one of us to the
place that we have in this commission. We are
aware that all of us cannot do the going, but
what is our part? Are we to pray for those that
are sent? Are we to encourage with words and
deeds? Are we to support with our finances? Or
is it obvious that we are to be involved to some
degree in all of these? Next, Lord. May we be
sensitive to the fact that you may call one or
more of us to do the going. Help us to get to
that place of willingness to heed the speaking
of the Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to being
ever vigilant to keep the world in our conscience
and in our prayers as we strive to fulfill your
command, realizing that it is not a suggestion.
but a command. We ask these things in the name
of Jesus. And the church said, amen.