WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Come on now. That was something else right there. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:16.579 Whoo! Is that the only one you know? Is that 00:00:16.579 --> 00:00:20.260 all you got? Is that the only one you got? Huh? 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:28.579 Is that it? I'm going to get you to do another 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:35.539 one. So practice. That makes it easy to preach 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:50.840 right there. Whoo. Well, hallelujah. Amen. Did 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:56.200 I leave my glasses down there? I got a Bible 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:01.679 there, but I don't know what it says. Y 'all 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:12.040 got me tore up, fellas. Hallelujah. So good to 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:18.079 see you in the house of the Lord today. Trusting 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:30.239 that God has richly blessed you this week. Sister 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:33.420 Kathy asked me if I'd give you an update. Several 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:36.859 of you have already asked, but many of you knew, 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:39.519 some may not have, that she had an appointment 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:46.019 at the Pat Summit Clinic on Tuesday. And so we 00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:49.560 were up there, and probably one of the most thorough, 00:01:49.739 --> 00:01:54.340 I don't know what you call it, it felt like we 00:01:54.340 --> 00:02:00.359 was in a carousel. But it was a... Very good 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:07.659 experience. Really have confidence in this doctor. 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:10.639 I know this. We have learned that the steps of 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:13.879 good man are ordered of the Lord. God is sovereign, 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:15.659 and he knows how to get you where you need to 00:02:15.659 --> 00:02:20.120 be when you need to be there. The other closed 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:23.879 doors, the memory center in Chattanooga, the 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:29.300 door closed. Hope for Vanderbilt. That door closed, 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:34.860 and so the referral to Knoxville happened in 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:36.840 three days, had the appointment, and I said, 00:02:36.860 --> 00:02:39.639 okay, Lord, we could have skipped them other 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:41.060 two if you'd have just told me that's where you 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:48.840 want me to go. And so more testing is what we're 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:54.159 looking at. There's some new blood tests that 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:58.000 are getting some good diagnostic. results from 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.080 so one of those they'll be drawing blood for 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:04.759 that tomorrow we go back in April for a PET scan 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:09.580 then we will follow up in May with the doctor 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:13.319 and he gets everything results and it goes through 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:17.719 everything so we'll hopefully by then know exactly 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:24.599 what it is that we're dealing with The term that 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:26.259 we've been given, he said, is like an umbrella. 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:29.280 It's a broad term. And he said, so what we're 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.060 wanting to do is pinpoint exactly. I said, well, 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:36.939 I kind of like that. Amen. And then we will go 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:40.180 from there. And when I know something, you'll 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:46.659 know something. Amen. We thank you for walking 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:55.810 with us through this. It's difficult. Amen. But 00:03:55.810 --> 00:03:59.169 we feel your prayers. And we know you're praying. 00:04:01.449 --> 00:04:08.270 So don't think we don't notice. Because we do. 00:04:08.409 --> 00:04:13.909 And we appreciate you so much. And we need your 00:04:13.909 --> 00:04:18.209 prayer. Amen. We covet your prayer. We must have 00:04:18.209 --> 00:04:20.930 your prayer. We need the Lord's grace daily. 00:04:21.829 --> 00:04:25.389 Every day is a brand new day. Amen. And we're 00:04:25.389 --> 00:04:27.709 thankful for everyone that the Lord wakes us 00:04:27.709 --> 00:04:33.189 up to. Amen. And all that it holds. She needs 00:04:33.189 --> 00:04:37.050 more prayer than just, you know, for what's going 00:04:37.050 --> 00:04:41.310 on. You have to understand that I am her caregiver. 00:04:43.850 --> 00:04:51.449 So she needs even more prayer. Than the average 00:04:51.449 --> 00:04:53.810 person dealing with what she's dealing with. 00:04:55.689 --> 00:04:58.569 She's got me on top of it. I'd love to say I'm 00:04:58.569 --> 00:05:08.009 this passionate, you know. The previous 40 years 00:05:08.009 --> 00:05:12.529 has prepared us for this moment. Because she 00:05:12.529 --> 00:05:18.290 knows how I am and can be. So she needs prayer. 00:05:21.069 --> 00:05:26.930 To have to put up with me sometimes. Patience 00:05:26.930 --> 00:05:29.970 has never been that great virtue on my list. 00:05:33.589 --> 00:05:44.889 Has it, baby? No. So, we're working on it. Hallelujah. 00:05:44.949 --> 00:05:46.629 If you have your Bibles, you can remain seated. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:50.339 This morning, today, if you're visiting, we've 00:05:50.339 --> 00:05:52.079 got any visitors, just shoot a hand up real quick. 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:56.540 Thank you for being here this morning. It's going 00:05:56.540 --> 00:05:58.180 to be a little different than kind of normal 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:01.339 because what we're subject today, we're talking 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:07.220 about ministry and mission awareness. If you 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:09.779 took a few moments, if not, take some before 00:06:09.779 --> 00:06:11.839 you leave today and just walk around the foyer, 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.660 look at all the tables. We're going to leave 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:15.899 that up for a week or so. That's a lot of work 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:18.939 just to take right down. So that you can become 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:24.740 aware. It's ministry awareness. Aware of some 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:27.680 of the things that are going on. None of those 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.139 ministries that are represented out there are 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:34.120 just like fine old machines. We're a work in 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:37.480 progress. Amen. We're a work in progress. It's 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:42.180 new every day. It's new all the time. Ministry 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:46.579 evolves with growth. all that good stuff, but 00:06:46.579 --> 00:06:49.740 you have to know that ministry is more than two, 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:53.060 three, four people. Ministry in the church is 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:56.720 more than just the pastoral staff, right? Ministry 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.319 in the body of Christ is made up of the body 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:03.319 of Christ. Thus the reason Paul would instruct 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:06.459 the Ephesians, you know, to equip the saints. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:10.639 Anybody know the rest of that verse? Where you 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:16.160 at Bible readers? Equip the saints for The work 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:20.920 of the ministry. Amen. So I want to, however 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:23.560 this comes out today, we're just going to let 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:27.860 it roll and we're going to go with it. But in 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:31.079 2 Corinthians chapter 10, where we want to draw 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:34.620 our emphasis and mainly we'll concentrate on 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:39.259 verse 14 and pull from there. But the thought 00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:43.560 this morning is... Advancing beyond limited reach. 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:52.339 Advancing beyond limited reach. The 10th chapter 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:56.240 of 2 Corinthians begins thusly. Now I, Paul, 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:58.959 myself, beseech you by the meekness and gentleness 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:04.680 of Christ, who in presence am base among you, 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:09.410 but being absent am bold towards you. But I beseech 00:08:09.410 --> 00:08:12.069 you that I may not be bold when I am present 00:08:12.069 --> 00:08:15.769 with that confidence wherewith I think to be 00:08:15.769 --> 00:08:20.649 bold against some which think of us as if we 00:08:20.649 --> 00:08:25.660 walked according to the flesh. Paul is correcting 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:28.680 some things, some attitudes and some false teachers 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:32.940 in the church of Corinth. And this letter has 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:35.899 a lot of corrective nature. And he's letting 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:40.659 them know, here is the water's parallel paraphrased 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:44.159 to verse 1 and 2. Now, when I'm there, I'm kindly 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.240 soft -spoken. And when I write these letters 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:50.580 to you, I'm really telling you what you need 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:53.809 to do. I'm bold in it. I'm direct in it. But 00:08:53.809 --> 00:08:59.409 I do not wish to have to be bold when I'm before 00:08:59.409 --> 00:09:04.929 you. And do not mistake my meekness and gentleness, 00:09:04.990 --> 00:09:09.129 my Christ -like character, do not mistake that 00:09:09.129 --> 00:09:15.330 for weakness when I'm with you. Hello. You do 00:09:15.330 --> 00:09:22.220 remember who Saul was. Saul is the unregenerated 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:25.840 character of the Apostle Paul. You know, the 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:27.360 one who stood there and said, Put your coats 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.000 right here, boys. I got them. Kill the Christian. 00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:34.460 Stone Stephen. You got it. My permission. Right? 00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:38.679 So these Corinthians evidently, I don't know 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.480 that Paul's reputation had made it all the way 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:44.679 to Corinth just yet. I don't think they actually 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:49.490 knew who they were messing with. And Paul's kindly, 00:09:49.590 --> 00:09:53.309 gently trying to correct them. Don't mistake 00:09:53.309 --> 00:09:56.750 my gentleness and meekness for weakness, fellas, 00:09:56.789 --> 00:10:01.529 because some of y 'all, when I get there, I will 00:10:01.529 --> 00:10:06.070 confront. Look at it. But I beseech you that 00:10:06.070 --> 00:10:09.269 I may not be bold when I am present with that 00:10:09.269 --> 00:10:14.590 confidence, wherewith I think or I intend to 00:10:14.590 --> 00:10:21.740 be bold against some. I like old Paul. He said, 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:24.840 when I come before the whole, I'm going to continue 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:27.840 to be meek. But some of y 'all, we're going to 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:31.419 get in a private room, and we're going to have 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:36.320 ourself a conversation. Hello? And a little bit 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:39.899 of old Paul, old Saul, going to rise up. And 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:43.549 he's going to let them know their position. And 00:10:43.549 --> 00:10:46.429 he's going to instruct them in the ways of righteousness 00:10:46.429 --> 00:10:51.330 and holiness is what he's saying. And he said, 00:10:51.470 --> 00:10:55.409 which think of us as if we walk according to 00:10:55.409 --> 00:10:58.149 the flesh. He's letting them know, you know, 00:10:58.149 --> 00:11:01.690 we're there under restraint of the spirit. We 00:11:01.690 --> 00:11:03.830 might be walking in the flesh, but we're not 00:11:03.830 --> 00:11:06.690 walking of the flesh. Yes, there's no other way 00:11:06.690 --> 00:11:09.809 for me to walk than on my two feet. So flesh, 00:11:09.909 --> 00:11:13.129 I'm coming in, but I do not want to come in among 00:11:13.129 --> 00:11:16.669 you of the flesh. Are you following me? He said, 00:11:16.809 --> 00:11:20.129 I don't want to tilt my sanctification when I 00:11:20.129 --> 00:11:21.990 get there, fellas, but some of y 'all are going 00:11:21.990 --> 00:11:25.009 to get a piece of my mind. I'm going to let you 00:11:25.009 --> 00:11:27.769 know exactly what is going on. He says, for though 00:11:27.769 --> 00:11:30.190 we walk in the flesh, we don't war after the 00:11:30.190 --> 00:11:33.570 flesh, right? He said, yeah, that's not this 00:11:33.570 --> 00:11:35.629 warfare that we're in. And what he's saying is, 00:11:35.690 --> 00:11:39.759 I understand that this is spiritual. When I get 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.740 in there, I'm going to take care of it spiritually 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:46.080 because you really don't want me to get in the 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:50.980 flesh. Oh, Lord, but there's a temptation there. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.379 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:56.580 but they are mighty through God to the pulling 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:59.279 down of strongholds. When you understand the 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:02.000 whole context of what's going on there, I myself 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.500 pull these passages out. I pull them out because 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:08.620 they are very emphatic, aren't they, about the 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:11.179 spiritual warfare that we are up against. But 00:12:11.179 --> 00:12:14.639 we don't always understand that the enemy does 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:19.919 exactly the same thing as God does. He uses yielded 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:30.779 vessels. So don't be a vessel. So he's letting 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:34.000 them know what is going on there is spiritual. 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:38.080 We may be walking there in the flesh, but we're 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.419 not walking of the flesh because we don't war. 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:44.220 This warfare is not after the flesh. And I know 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:46.720 what I'm dealing with, and I will deal with it 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.080 when I get there because we will have under this 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.340 wonderful warfare, casting down of imaginations 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:56.860 that exalt themselves against the knowledge of 00:12:56.860 --> 00:13:00.740 God, right? And a pulling down of strongholds 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:03.879 to the obedience of Christ. In other words, he 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:07.230 said, You're spreading false teachings. You are 00:13:07.230 --> 00:13:10.090 outside the parameters and the bounds of Scripture 00:13:10.090 --> 00:13:13.029 and the law of Christ. And when I get there, 00:13:13.149 --> 00:13:14.950 some of y 'all are going to get a piece of my 00:13:14.950 --> 00:13:17.269 mind, and I'm going to line you up because I 00:13:17.269 --> 00:13:19.769 understand what I'm dealing with is a spiritual 00:13:19.769 --> 00:13:22.830 conflict, and I know how to deal with that. And 00:13:22.830 --> 00:13:25.529 I can pull these things that you're spreading 00:13:25.529 --> 00:13:29.049 and this teaching that you're espousing and pouring 00:13:29.049 --> 00:13:32.129 out. We're going to take it in captivity by the 00:13:32.129 --> 00:13:34.580 Spirit and the law. Christ, amen? And we're going 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:36.519 to bring it under control. He says, for though 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:39.940 we walk, casting down imaginations, he said in 00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:43.299 verse 6, and having in a readiness to revenge 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:48.399 all disobedience. Oh, I like that. When your 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.480 obedience is fulfilled, he said, I'm coming to 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.940 take vengeance on your disobedience. We're going 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:57.419 to bring it under alignment. You will get in 00:13:57.419 --> 00:14:02.120 order when we get there. Matter of fact, he was 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:06.039 using Those words we and us. But when he begins 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:11.480 chapter 10, he says I. He's not putting it off 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.620 on anybody. You know that we, we get sometimes, 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:15.159 we get a little mouse in our pocket. I've asked 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:17.139 people that. They say we. I say, well, who's 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:19.539 we? You got a mouse in your pocket? We, we, we. 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:22.799 Paul said, let there be no misunderstanding. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:27.759 When I get there, I'm begging you. I'm entreating 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:31.259 you. I'm requiring of you. Would you please get 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:34.620 in order? Because I know that some of you think 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:38.379 because when I'm there, I am meek and I am Christ's 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:41.059 life that I do not have a backbone. But I'm telling 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:44.000 you right now, Paul is declaring, I have one 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.759 and I'm going to reveal it to some of y 'all 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:49.299 when I get there. And then he goes on to tell 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:52.539 why. It's about the ministry. It's about the 00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:55.860 mission that he's been sent out on. It's the 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:59.440 mission and the ministry of God through the proclaiming 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:03.799 of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He says, let's 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:06.799 skip on down. Verse 10, for the letters say they 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:10.379 are weighty and powerful, but his boldly presence 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:13.740 is weak and his speech is contentable. He said, 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:16.559 I know what y 'all are saying. I've already heard 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:19.279 what you've said about me. You say in your... 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.639 Four letters that when I'm there, I'm meek, and 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.559 when I'm away, I feel like I'm some bad dude. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.639 Well, I'm letting you know dude's rolling in, 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:29.559 and you're going to see it for yourself. I'm 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:32.620 coming under the authority and the anointing 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:36.340 of Jesus Christ, and I will set his house in 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:38.919 order. It's what Paul is letting them know. I'm 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:41.879 coming. You just go ahead and get ready. I will 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:45.960 be there. And he says, let such and one think 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:49.980 this. He said, and you just tell them. He said, 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:55.720 let such a one think this. That such as we are 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:59.840 in word by letters when we are absent, such will 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:05.100 we be also indeed when I get there. You think 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:08.860 that I'm bold when I have written to you. You 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:12.200 have asked for it and I am coming. Because you 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:15.840 are not going to destroy the work of Christ. 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:18.940 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't war 00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:21.899 after the flesh. And the weapons of our warfare, 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.259 they are... not carnal, but they are mighty through 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:29.840 God to the pulling down of strongholds and taking 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:33.179 into captivity thoughts and casting down imaginations 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:36.779 that exalt themselves against the knowledge of 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:40.120 God. He said, I'm coming to take names and forgive 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:43.639 me. I'm coming to take names and kick devil butt. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:58.730 That's why I'm coming. I am on my way. Okay, 00:16:58.830 --> 00:17:01.649 you've made fun of me long enough, me not there 00:17:01.649 --> 00:17:06.069 to defend myself. Now, I am on my way. And you 00:17:06.069 --> 00:17:10.730 think that I was bold in my letters. I'm coming 00:17:10.730 --> 00:17:15.940 now. You done made me mad. I'm on my way. The 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:19.339 devil has risen up. Hello, remember last week 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:22.319 about ignorance? We talked about going beyond 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:25.039 the limits of ignorance. He said, lest the devil 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:29.039 should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:31.920 of his devices. And that's what he's telling 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:35.039 them. I know the devil's behind this, and I'm 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.980 coming to take care of the spirit that's driving 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:41.900 this. I'm trying to get, I'm just, this word 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:47.220 text, I'm trying to get to here. I've told myself 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:49.119 I'm not preaching another hour and ten minutes 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.480 this week, but I don't know now. They fooled 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:55.859 around and worshipped us right in, so it's not 00:17:55.859 --> 00:18:00.029 my fault. Verse 12, for we dare not make ourselves 00:18:00.029 --> 00:18:03.369 of the number or compare ourselves with some 00:18:03.369 --> 00:18:06.170 that commend themselves. He said, we're not like 00:18:06.170 --> 00:18:08.690 those false teachers that are there lifting themselves 00:18:08.690 --> 00:18:11.109 up in their pride, talking about what they're 00:18:11.109 --> 00:18:13.430 doing, talking about what they've done and all 00:18:13.430 --> 00:18:16.109 of this. That's not who we are. That's not where 00:18:16.109 --> 00:18:19.710 our boast is. If you look up the word boast, 00:18:19.789 --> 00:18:21.750 Paul mentions it over and over and over and over 00:18:21.750 --> 00:18:24.089 and over. It's a repetitive thing. We don't boast 00:18:24.089 --> 00:18:26.910 in ourselves. We don't boast and commend the 00:18:26.910 --> 00:18:29.890 world. that we've done. He said it's all God's 00:18:29.890 --> 00:18:33.730 work, right? But they measuring themselves by 00:18:33.730 --> 00:18:38.349 themselves and comparing themselves among themselves 00:18:38.349 --> 00:18:42.009 are not wise. They said the only parameter they've 00:18:42.009 --> 00:18:45.630 got to measure by is themselves. And so if you 00:18:45.630 --> 00:18:48.069 measure yourself against yourself, sure, you're 00:18:48.069 --> 00:18:52.079 going to feel good about yourself. Hello? You're 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.019 going to feel good about the work if all you're 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:57.119 doing is measuring your success by your success. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:01.859 Right? But when you begin to compare it to others 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:04.339 who are doing the same thing, how successful 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:07.720 are you being? He said, they don't even know 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:10.819 what they're doing. They don't even know how 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:14.019 to measure success. They're measuring against 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:17.359 themselves. We're looking at now, verse, where 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:20.559 are we at, 13? But we will not boast of things 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:24.940 without our measure. We will not boast of what 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:27.720 the Lord is doing without something whereby to 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:31.660 measure it by. But according to the measure of 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:35.680 the rule which God hath distributed to us, a 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:38.339 measure to reach, here we go, I'm trying to get 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:40.660 to our text so I can preach this message, to 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:46.720 reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:51.660 beyond our measure as though we reach not unto 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:57.160 you. For we are come as far as to you in preaching 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:00.240 the gospel of Christ. James and Fawcett and Brown, 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:04.160 the commentary, they write this and kindly paraphrase 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:07.640 this verse. We are not stretching ourselves beyond 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:12.460 our measure as we should be if we did not reach 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:17.369 unto you. But we do. For as far as even to you 00:20:17.369 --> 00:20:21.109 have we come in preaching the gospel. Paul has 00:20:21.109 --> 00:20:24.329 said this, we ought to be doing more to go beyond 00:20:24.329 --> 00:20:28.150 you than we are the ones who came to you under 00:20:28.150 --> 00:20:31.190 the unction and the direction of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:31.390 --> 00:20:34.609 And that is all that we are measuring by. We 00:20:34.609 --> 00:20:38.210 are measuring by the previous work of the glorification 00:20:38.210 --> 00:20:41.049 of Christ through the declaration of the gospel 00:20:41.049 --> 00:20:43.809 and the kingdom being preached. I don't know 00:20:43.809 --> 00:20:46.390 what they're measuring. I don't know what the 00:20:46.390 --> 00:20:48.990 false teachers are doing and what they are saying, 00:20:49.150 --> 00:20:52.109 but you know, yes, we probably should be doing 00:20:52.109 --> 00:20:55.049 more. Yes, we should try to stretch beyond where 00:20:55.049 --> 00:20:57.829 you are and where we have come and go further 00:20:57.829 --> 00:21:02.029 with the gospel. But we have come as far as you. 00:21:02.309 --> 00:21:04.369 In other words, he's saying, where have they 00:21:04.369 --> 00:21:07.450 been? Where are they going? What have they done? 00:21:07.670 --> 00:21:10.390 Where are their trophies? Where are their measuring 00:21:10.390 --> 00:21:13.250 lines? Paul could sit down and talk about Philippi. 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:15.799 He could sit down and talk about Thessalonica. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:18.140 He could sit down and tell them about Thyatira 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:21.740 before he ever got Pamphylia. He could tell them 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:24.539 about all the locations before he ever arrived 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:27.039 at Corinth. That's my measuring line, driven 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:30.339 by the anointing, driven by the power of the 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:34.619 Holy Ghost. That's what brought us here. Well, 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:44.150 hallelujah. Now for the introduction. At the 00:21:44.150 --> 00:21:48.589 simplest definition, the word reach can be defined 00:21:48.589 --> 00:21:53.569 meaning to stretch forward towards something 00:21:53.569 --> 00:21:59.609 or to arrive at a destination or contact someone. 00:22:00.750 --> 00:22:03.390 How many say, well, I can't reach them? That's 00:22:03.390 --> 00:22:10.130 sniff -holler lingo. If you don't understand 00:22:10.130 --> 00:22:12.710 that, it ain't lingo. How many of you understood 00:22:12.710 --> 00:22:16.170 that statement? Good. I'm doing better than I 00:22:16.170 --> 00:22:20.230 thought. In other words, that means I cannot 00:22:20.230 --> 00:22:24.509 reach them by phone or whatever. We just call 00:22:24.509 --> 00:22:28.089 it reach them. I ain't been able to reach them. 00:22:30.329 --> 00:22:33.890 I have not been able to make contact with whomever 00:22:33.890 --> 00:22:36.769 it is you're requiring or desiring a conversation 00:22:36.769 --> 00:22:40.400 with. We have not been able to reach them. But 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:43.970 to stretch means to go until you do. To reach 00:22:43.970 --> 00:22:47.670 means to continue moving forward until you do. 00:22:47.829 --> 00:22:51.890 It means to endeavor. It means to stretch toward 00:22:51.890 --> 00:22:55.950 something. And stretch just simply means to go 00:22:55.950 --> 00:22:58.869 beyond the limit of your reach. It means to put 00:22:58.869 --> 00:23:01.410 out more effort. Right? How many of you stood 00:23:01.410 --> 00:23:05.210 on a tiptoe to reach, to stretch, to get a hold 00:23:05.210 --> 00:23:08.009 of whatever was just out of your reach? How many 00:23:08.009 --> 00:23:11.049 of us would do anything possible to get to whatever 00:23:11.049 --> 00:23:14.049 it is that we're wanting to have? have in our 00:23:14.049 --> 00:23:17.130 touch and in our grasp. We'll find a stool. Amen. 00:23:17.230 --> 00:23:19.490 We'll get a ladder if we can't reach it. We'll 00:23:19.490 --> 00:23:21.470 find a chair. We'll get something. We'll get 00:23:21.470 --> 00:23:24.089 a box. We'll get a hold of something that enables 00:23:24.089 --> 00:23:27.630 us to get within the grasp of what we are reaching 00:23:27.630 --> 00:23:30.210 for. Can I tell you that's what we have to do 00:23:30.210 --> 00:23:33.170 as a body of Christ? Because when we begin to 00:23:33.170 --> 00:23:36.309 think about ministry, ministry is about serving 00:23:36.309 --> 00:23:39.569 others and demonstrating God's love and his compassion 00:23:39.569 --> 00:23:43.890 and his care. It comes from the Greek word, diakonia, 00:23:44.069 --> 00:23:47.450 neo, which means to serve. When we talk about 00:23:47.450 --> 00:23:51.049 ministry, every table out there is about serving. 00:23:51.269 --> 00:23:53.809 It's not about limelight. It's not about attention. 00:23:54.089 --> 00:23:57.789 It's not about focus. It's about service to the 00:23:57.789 --> 00:24:01.170 body of Christ. Amen? It's about serving each 00:24:01.170 --> 00:24:04.269 other. It's about serving one another. It's about 00:24:04.269 --> 00:24:07.930 helping meeting each other's needs and the requirements 00:24:07.930 --> 00:24:12.960 that we have that our faith grows. Amen. There's 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:15.599 too many superstars out there. There's too many 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:17.980 televangelists out there. There's too many who 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:20.799 want to relish in the limelight. But there's 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:24.119 only one that can be pointed toward, and that 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:27.519 is Christ and Christ alone. Every ministry points 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:31.319 to the glorification of the divinity of Jesus 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:35.079 Christ. We serve others to point them toward 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:41.980 Christ. That is the sole purpose of ministry. 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:50.339 It is to make disciples so that we may serve 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:56.880 others. The term missions refers to the church's 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:01.119 organized efforts to spread the gospel of Christ 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:06.539 by sharing our Christian faith, by making disciples. 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:12.480 and serving others in need, both locally and 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:16.160 globally. And that is our mission's endeavor 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.849 here at Hopewell Church of God. We have one gospel 00:25:19.849 --> 00:25:22.410 we want to preach to every man to all points 00:25:22.410 --> 00:25:25.230 of this world. To lift them up and to point them 00:25:25.230 --> 00:25:27.950 toward Jesus Christ. Whether it's through building 00:25:27.950 --> 00:25:30.430 lighthouses where the gospel will be declared. 00:25:30.750 --> 00:25:33.690 Or whether it's going on our own and others going 00:25:33.690 --> 00:25:36.549 to spread the good news. The point is that the 00:25:36.549 --> 00:25:39.609 mission is about spreading the Christian faith. 00:25:39.750 --> 00:25:42.730 The faith that we have in Christ who is the son 00:25:42.730 --> 00:25:45.450 of the living God. The crucified one but yet 00:25:45.450 --> 00:25:48.569 the resurrected one. The one now. the right hand 00:25:48.569 --> 00:25:52.089 of the Father. That's what the mission is. And 00:25:52.089 --> 00:25:55.609 you cannot separate mission from ministry because 00:25:55.609 --> 00:25:59.210 they are connected ever together because mission 00:25:59.210 --> 00:26:02.250 is about serving. And if ministry is about serving, 00:26:02.329 --> 00:26:05.190 then missions is serving to the heart of God 00:26:05.190 --> 00:26:08.849 and the pleasing of Jesus Christ to the edification 00:26:08.849 --> 00:26:16.299 of lost humanity in a dying world. Missions becomes 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:25.440 our ministry at whatever level. Locally, ministry, 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:32.500 it's how we teach each other. It's how we come 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:37.160 together in the instruction of the Word of God. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:45.509 We minister the Word of God. And to be a disciple, 00:26:45.710 --> 00:26:50.710 a disciple is one to be disciplined in the faith. 00:26:52.569 --> 00:26:55.710 What faith? Well, for us, it's the faith of Jesus 00:26:55.710 --> 00:27:02.170 Christ. There are disciples of other faiths, 00:27:02.170 --> 00:27:12.150 right? Muhammad has disciples. Buddha has disciples. 00:27:13.450 --> 00:27:19.210 Hare Krishna has disciples. It's those who have 00:27:19.210 --> 00:27:23.089 bought into the doctrine that is being proclaimed. 00:27:27.450 --> 00:27:33.450 What is being ministered to them? They become 00:27:33.450 --> 00:27:38.150 disciples. They become disciplined in that teaching. 00:27:39.809 --> 00:27:42.390 That's why they would sit on the mountainside. 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:49.619 At Jesus' feet. And be discipled. The Sermon 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:54.420 on the Mount. The Beatitudes. Every parable that 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:58.400 flowed from his lips. Our instruction in the 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:05.119 discipline of serving him. And so when we become 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:07.500 disciples, there's a lot of folks who want to 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:18.170 be Christians but not disciples. It's okay to 00:28:18.170 --> 00:28:22.029 know about it, but a disciple has discipline 00:28:22.029 --> 00:28:27.349 in the practice of the teaching. They practice 00:28:27.349 --> 00:28:30.150 the doctrine that is being declared to them. 00:28:31.529 --> 00:28:36.869 That's why at Antioch they were first known as 00:28:36.869 --> 00:28:42.150 Christians. Why? Because they were acting Christ 00:28:42.150 --> 00:28:47.450 -like. What does that mean? They were discipled 00:28:47.450 --> 00:28:51.369 in the behavior and the character and the teaching 00:28:51.369 --> 00:28:57.049 and the doctrine of Jesus Christ. And lo and 00:28:57.049 --> 00:29:01.890 behold, they begin to live that out. They lived 00:29:01.890 --> 00:29:11.589 as little Christs. Isn't that a novel idea? Just 00:29:11.589 --> 00:29:17.470 for a point of quandary, if. If, when we stand 00:29:17.470 --> 00:29:23.630 before a just and holy God, and the criteria 00:29:23.630 --> 00:29:28.150 to get in is that we act, behave like his son, 00:29:28.990 --> 00:29:35.450 that'd give one a point to ponder about their 00:29:35.450 --> 00:29:42.730 everyday life. Am I a church attender or am I 00:29:42.730 --> 00:29:48.839 a disciple? Of Jesus Christ. That we work the 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:51.880 ministry and that we fulfill the ministry of 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:55.880 Christ to a lost and dying world. And that is 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:59.420 why Paul is so upset with these troublemakers 00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:02.539 and rebel rousers at Corinth trying to bring 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:06.859 and diminish his role as an apostle. By diminishing 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:10.559 his role as an apostle, they diminish his message 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:13.819 of the gospel. Are you beginning to see this? 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:17.880 The picture begins to unfold just a little bit. 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:21.079 And no wonder Paul becomes so upset. I'll take 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:24.759 care of you when I get there. Because it's an 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:27.539 affront to the gospel. It's not an affront to 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:30.799 Paul. It's an affront to the furtherance of the 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:36.099 gospel. When we quit. When we get over our offenses, 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:39.640 when people don't accept us, do you not understand 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:42.980 it's not you they are rejecting? If you are being 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:46.119 a minister of Jesus Christ, they are rejecting 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:49.559 the message of the glorious gospel, the love, 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:52.740 the compassion, the care of Jesus Christ. It's 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:56.140 not you they are rejecting. So rise up, be more 00:30:56.140 --> 00:31:05.359 bold, and proclaim the name of Christ. Ministry, 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:09.619 how it couples with mission. Mission is both 00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:13.339 locally and globally. It's how we act out the 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:17.500 ministry. We act out, we live out, we perform 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:21.000 the work of the ministry through the mission. 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:24.900 Christ is the greatest example of missionary. 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:35.740 He came from a great place. Did he not? He came 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:45.579 from heaven, submitted himself to flesh and become 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:56.220 a man to declare the ministry. With his mission 00:31:56.220 --> 00:32:00.380 thesis statement of his ministry in Luke 4, 18. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.710 For the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. And he 00:32:05.710 --> 00:32:11.829 has anointed me to preach the gospel. And let 00:32:11.829 --> 00:32:15.549 me tell you who I'm going to minister to. I'm 00:32:15.549 --> 00:32:18.269 going to minister to the blind. I'm going to 00:32:18.269 --> 00:32:21.710 minister to the deaf, to the lame. You won't 00:32:21.710 --> 00:32:24.289 believe this if I tell you now, but I'll go ahead. 00:32:24.369 --> 00:32:27.170 I'm going to minister to the dead, and they're 00:32:27.170 --> 00:32:30.630 going to live. I've come for the bruised. I've 00:32:30.630 --> 00:32:33.430 come for the brokenhearted. I've come for the 00:32:33.430 --> 00:32:37.509 imprisoned. That is my mission, and it is my 00:32:37.509 --> 00:32:40.450 ministry. Hallelujah. And that's the mandate 00:32:40.450 --> 00:32:42.589 that we've been given. When he declares in Matthew 00:32:42.589 --> 00:32:49.349 28, go ye into all the world and preach. Make 00:32:49.349 --> 00:32:55.910 disciples. Baptize them. In the name of the Father 00:32:55.910 --> 00:32:59.069 and the Son and the Holy Ghost. And teach them 00:32:59.069 --> 00:33:06.769 to be disciples. The difference between, I read 00:33:06.769 --> 00:33:08.170 a great illustration, it made a lot of sense 00:33:08.170 --> 00:33:13.170 to me. The difference between mission and ministry. 00:33:14.849 --> 00:33:19.210 Ministry happens a lot within the local confines 00:33:19.210 --> 00:33:22.069 of the local church. We minister to each other. 00:33:23.849 --> 00:33:28.930 Sometimes we may do projects. We may go help 00:33:28.930 --> 00:33:30.910 one another. Some of you are very good at this, 00:33:30.910 --> 00:33:33.369 and I don't even know half of what goes on. You 00:33:33.369 --> 00:33:36.890 show up to help one another out. That's ministry. 00:33:38.410 --> 00:33:42.349 You know, when it turns to mission, when the 00:33:42.349 --> 00:33:44.630 neighbor to that brother or sister that you're 00:33:44.630 --> 00:33:48.329 ministering to, who is lost, has a need, and 00:33:48.329 --> 00:33:51.700 you cross the property line, And you minister 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:55.279 to them in their need and tell them that Jesus 00:33:55.279 --> 00:34:00.779 loves them. It's just turned to missions. Well, 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:03.920 how does that make sense? Because you begin to 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:08.119 minister outside the confines of the brotherhood. 00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:12.260 You have actually done a good deed toward one 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:15.559 who is outside the covenant relationship with 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:19.380 God. And in so doing, you have sown the seed. 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:24.019 of compassion, of care. Are you hearing me? Of 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:27.199 redemption. When you step outside, it's ministry 00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:30.239 when we do for each other. But it's mission when 00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:32.800 we do it for those who's not part of the family 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:34.880 of God. It is a mission. That's the reason you 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:37.139 can do it locally. That's the reason we can do 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:40.440 it statewide or nationwide. But then when we 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:43.500 go to places that we'll never go, however, in 00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:45.760 Nambia or wherever that place is at, wherever 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:49.079 we go there, that is mission. Amen. We're sending 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:51.219 the good deed. We're sending the good work forward. 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:53.400 That becomes mission. mission and the glorious 00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:56.460 light because there are those there who do not 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:59.880 know and the ministry's just turned in to mission. 00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:08.420 So what we do as we are going that go into all 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:12.400 the world it literally means as you go into the 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:17.619 world. We look for places to minister but as 00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:21.409 we are ministering we ought to be mindful. of 00:35:21.409 --> 00:35:29.789 the mission. And seize every opportunity to turn 00:35:29.789 --> 00:35:36.889 the ministry into fulfilling the mission. Everything 00:35:36.889 --> 00:35:41.969 we do, every event, everything that happens on 00:35:41.969 --> 00:35:48.429 this property is ministry. It's ministry. Every 00:35:48.429 --> 00:35:53.869 crappie we fry. Every Boston butt that gets smoked. 00:35:56.210 --> 00:36:00.869 Every stick of bologna that gets devoured. We 00:36:00.869 --> 00:36:09.289 do so through ministry. But when there's leftover 00:36:09.289 --> 00:36:13.989 and it's loaded up and took down to the homeless 00:36:13.989 --> 00:36:18.329 shelters, it's transformed into mission. Where 00:36:18.329 --> 00:36:20.650 did this come from? Well, that church over on 00:36:20.650 --> 00:36:22.690 Eureka, Hopewell Church of God sent it all in 00:36:22.690 --> 00:36:28.670 here for y 'all to eat. Ministry just turned 00:36:28.670 --> 00:36:32.309 into mission. But the difference is when we become 00:36:32.309 --> 00:36:36.610 to do it intentionally. When the mission becomes 00:36:36.610 --> 00:36:46.059 the ministry. Why? Because we become such. dedicated, 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:50.420 devoted disciples of Jesus Christ, that we love 00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:53.920 him so much that really we don't have to show 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:56.099 that much care for each other because we are 00:36:56.099 --> 00:37:02.500 cared for. We watch for needs. We look for needs. 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:05.159 We listen with a discerning ear to the Spirit 00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:08.780 and let the Holy Spirit direct us. How many of 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:10.639 you have had that happen? Just show of hands. 00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.960 Say, hey, you need to do this for so -and -so. 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:17.460 Right? And you're thinking, well, what do they 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:19.320 think if I do that? See, that's the devil right 00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:23.280 there. His main objective is to abort the ministry 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:26.500 and the mission. Trying to talk you out, trying 00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:29.719 to talk us out of doing ministry and mission. 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:37.079 And you know what the number one reason he gives? 00:37:38.619 --> 00:37:43.440 You can't afford it. That's the reason he talks 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:45.960 so many people out of being faithful tithers 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:49.340 and givers in their local body. You can't afford 00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:53.380 to do that. I have learned that I can't afford 00:37:53.380 --> 00:38:01.079 not to. I'll do that whether I do anything else 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:04.059 or not. I remember back in the really, really 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:10.340 lean days. We'd cash the old check. Put the Lord's 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:12.360 money up here, then everybody else went like 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:14.960 this. One for you, one for you, one for you, 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:17.420 one for you, one for you. Then I'd start back 00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:19.420 over, put them from the highest down to the least. 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:21.440 Another one for you, another one for you, and 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:25.539 you're out of luck. Put it in an envelope and 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:31.619 send it. But this stack up here, it was always 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:36.480 correct. And a little bit more if I could. Because 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:39.809 I understand why all this got took care of. It's 00:38:39.809 --> 00:38:44.170 because of that. And when you take care of the 00:38:44.170 --> 00:38:49.969 ministry and God's mission, he will take care 00:38:49.969 --> 00:38:53.929 of you. Every church, I've never seen a church, 00:38:54.030 --> 00:38:58.050 no matter its size, large or small or anywhere 00:38:58.050 --> 00:39:05.250 in between, that was committed to missions ever 00:39:05.250 --> 00:39:09.780 not have what they needed. I've never seen it. 00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:11.940 I'm talking about a small church of 25, 30, 40 00:39:11.940 --> 00:39:14.739 people that struggle sometimes or would struggle 00:39:14.739 --> 00:39:18.119 just to make the ends meet. But the pastor had 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:21.960 a heart to lead his people. The pastor had a 00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:25.780 heart to lead his people and teach them and disciple 00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:28.139 them in the importance of the overall mission. 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:31.079 It's not about us. We've got a house of worship. 00:39:31.260 --> 00:39:34.039 It may not be all that we want it to be, but 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:38.170 we're cool and we're warm. We're dry. And we 00:39:38.170 --> 00:39:40.750 can worship without fear of reparation from any 00:39:40.750 --> 00:39:43.369 governmental force. But there are others over. 00:39:43.570 --> 00:39:46.010 And I have learned a long time ago, it's not 00:39:46.010 --> 00:39:49.369 the amount that matters. Are you hearing me? 00:39:49.510 --> 00:39:51.889 It's not the amount that matters. I'm telling 00:39:51.889 --> 00:39:54.130 you right now, the seed that we sowed to the 00:39:54.130 --> 00:39:56.829 state of Illinois when I first got here was small. 00:39:56.869 --> 00:39:58.769 We had to make it in three or four payments. 00:39:58.929 --> 00:40:01.289 And it's just a couple thousand dollars that 00:40:01.289 --> 00:40:04.110 the overseer asked the state council if we could 00:40:04.110 --> 00:40:07.750 help him give to his ministers. to do something 00:40:07.750 --> 00:40:10.190 for the ministers of his state. And sitting around 00:40:10.190 --> 00:40:12.710 that table, the Holy Ghost gripped my heart and 00:40:12.710 --> 00:40:15.389 squeezed it like a sponge until water ran out 00:40:15.389 --> 00:40:18.250 of my eyes at the table. And I said, Bishop, 00:40:18.449 --> 00:40:20.449 Hopewell Church of God will take care of that. 00:40:20.690 --> 00:40:22.550 And in the back of my mind, the devil said, how 00:40:22.550 --> 00:40:24.050 are you going to do that? You don't even know 00:40:24.050 --> 00:40:25.809 if you're going to get paid next week. And to 00:40:25.809 --> 00:40:27.989 that I responded, it does not matter. There were 00:40:27.989 --> 00:40:30.170 two weeks before that I didn't get paid, so it 00:40:30.170 --> 00:40:32.429 didn't matter then, and it will not matter now 00:40:32.429 --> 00:40:36.949 because of the work and the heart of God. Respond 00:40:36.949 --> 00:40:39.750 to the moving and the wooing of the spirit. And 00:40:39.750 --> 00:40:46.650 you begin to sow. God will take care of it all. 00:40:47.750 --> 00:40:52.170 Why? Because he'll touch your heart. He'll touch 00:40:52.170 --> 00:40:56.250 your hearts as he has in the past. And continues 00:40:56.250 --> 00:41:03.699 to do so now. And he'll bring things about. That's 00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:06.300 the reason I pray over you for inheritance and 00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:09.019 things like that. When those tragic things do 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:12.260 happen, the Lord can still honor in those moments. 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:17.800 And we just have to be reminded to honor him. 00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:23.320 Not be so overwhelmed with the grief that our 00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:26.780 heart is still pliable. And through some of those 00:41:26.780 --> 00:41:31.099 gifts like that, before I knew it, before I knew 00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:36.619 it, We're debt free. And do you think we're going 00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:39.480 to stop sowing into ministry and missions now? 00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:45.019 No. No, no, no, no. Wouldn't it be wonderful 00:41:45.019 --> 00:41:49.280 if we sowed $100 ,000 into the mission field 00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:53.500 this year? Oh, my Lord. Our goal was 50, but 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:56.199 I think we can do more than that. I really think. 00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:00.960 If I had 99 other people to commit it with me. 00:42:02.109 --> 00:42:04.110 By the end of this year, to give 1 ,000 to missions, 00:42:04.250 --> 00:42:12.630 we'd do it. We'll need 99 more. There's one, 00:42:12.730 --> 00:42:15.590 there's two, 98 more. We can get it. We're going 00:42:15.590 --> 00:42:17.929 to put a list up. And the Lord may bless you 00:42:17.929 --> 00:42:23.929 enough, 1 ,000 isn't enough. You know I don't 00:42:23.929 --> 00:42:26.210 talk a lot about finances, about receiving it. 00:42:26.269 --> 00:42:29.449 It's always about blessing you, right? And that's 00:42:29.449 --> 00:42:33.139 my philosophy. Always has been. If God blesses 00:42:33.139 --> 00:42:35.659 you, you'll bless the Lord because you understand 00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:38.739 the principle. But I honestly think we can do 00:42:38.739 --> 00:42:43.519 that. We can do this. And it was not my plan 00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:52.159 to ask for that until about 36 seconds ago. But 00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:54.980 it's like, well, you're talking the talk. Are 00:42:54.980 --> 00:42:58.119 you ready to walk it? Let's walk it. Let's walk 00:42:58.119 --> 00:42:59.400 over. Well, where are we going to spend it to? 00:42:59.460 --> 00:43:01.780 Well, there's plenty of need out there. All we've 00:43:01.780 --> 00:43:04.139 got to do is just pinpoint it. We've got two 00:43:04.139 --> 00:43:06.699 great accesses to world missions, and I'm sure 00:43:06.699 --> 00:43:10.320 if word gets out on 25th and Keith that Hopewell's 00:43:10.320 --> 00:43:12.000 wanting to give 100, we'll have them standing 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:19.000 in line. Amen. Why? Because the need is great. 00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:24.179 The mission is great. It exceeds. I know somebody's 00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:26.460 scratching their head. Did he say 100 ,000? Yes, 00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:39.960 that's what he said. It can be done. Some of 00:43:39.960 --> 00:43:42.320 you got a 5 ,000. Some of you got 10 that you 00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:45.960 can give. If you got it next week, we'll take 00:43:45.960 --> 00:43:47.219 it. If you don't, we'll take it a little bit 00:43:47.219 --> 00:43:53.340 alone. Take 1 ,000 here, 1 ,000 there. 500 here, 00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:59.079 500 there, right? You pray and see what God asks 00:43:59.079 --> 00:44:08.960 you to do. And here's, if we don't get the 100, 00:44:09.139 --> 00:44:10.840 whatever we get is going to be more than we have. 00:44:13.260 --> 00:44:15.219 I read a statement one time that said, aim for 00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:17.400 the moon. If you land in the stars, you're still 00:44:17.400 --> 00:44:28.250 higher than you were. You either drink milk or 00:44:28.250 --> 00:44:36.369 buttermilk. That reach stretches. You have to 00:44:36.369 --> 00:44:37.769 stretch it. See, that's what I'm talking about, 00:44:37.809 --> 00:44:44.769 stretching. That's a stretch. You say, well, 00:44:44.789 --> 00:44:46.809 you said it awful easy. I may have said it easy, 00:44:46.889 --> 00:44:52.309 but in my mind, I know it's a stretch. But I 00:44:52.309 --> 00:44:53.969 do know if we're faithful to God, he'll be faithful 00:44:53.969 --> 00:44:58.360 to us. He'll be faithful to you. That's the reason 00:44:58.360 --> 00:45:01.960 I say pray. Some of you, the Lord's probably 00:45:01.960 --> 00:45:05.280 just a question. Don't raise your hand if you 00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:08.099 don't want to. In that last five minutes, has 00:45:08.099 --> 00:45:09.599 the Lord dropped a number in somebody's heart? 00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:12.340 Anybody? He just spoke just real quick. Yeah. 00:45:13.480 --> 00:45:18.039 That's the way he works. Now, how many of you 00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:20.420 that didn't raise your hand are still arguing 00:45:20.420 --> 00:45:24.559 with the number? Be honest. You're in the Lord's 00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:30.909 house. To see the kingdom, the work of the ministry. 00:45:33.469 --> 00:45:36.469 To fulfill the mission until the Lord Jesus comes. 00:45:38.070 --> 00:45:46.750 That's our desire. So we reach up. We reach up 00:45:46.750 --> 00:45:51.309 through worship. Like we did this morning, engaged 00:45:51.309 --> 00:45:55.829 in worship. The time will come, but the time 00:45:55.829 --> 00:45:59.969 now is, according to John. When the Father is 00:45:59.969 --> 00:46:02.769 seeking such to worship Him, and He's seeking 00:46:02.769 --> 00:46:05.269 those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth, 00:46:05.469 --> 00:46:14.130 we reach up. For some, it's a greater length 00:46:14.130 --> 00:46:18.610 to stretch to show outward displays of worship. 00:46:18.869 --> 00:46:24.510 It is a stretch. How many times do you struggle 00:46:24.510 --> 00:46:27.719 with those outward things? In worship, in a corporate 00:46:27.719 --> 00:46:30.119 setting. You do good at home, but somehow or 00:46:30.119 --> 00:46:32.900 another you get a little shy when you get around 00:46:32.900 --> 00:46:38.760 a bunch of other folk. Stretch yourself. We reach 00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:41.219 in through service. We serve each other. We serve 00:46:41.219 --> 00:46:45.559 one another. We stretch. We listen through a 00:46:45.559 --> 00:46:50.340 discerning ear. Lord, how can I help my brothers 00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:53.900 and sisters? Lay somebody on my heart. Lord, 00:46:53.940 --> 00:46:57.710 how can I engage in the mission? The mission 00:46:57.710 --> 00:47:02.130 of ministry. How can I reach outside? Who? How? 00:47:03.170 --> 00:47:06.630 You'd be amazed what a number one Chick -fil 00:47:06.630 --> 00:47:08.570 -A meal will do for somebody who don't have one. 00:47:11.110 --> 00:47:15.090 When you do it in the name of Christ. Right? 00:47:17.190 --> 00:47:19.309 When you hand it to them and say, hey, Jesus 00:47:19.309 --> 00:47:22.389 loves you. Or you ask them, say, have you had 00:47:22.389 --> 00:47:26.019 lunch today? No. Hey, Jesus loves you. Let me 00:47:26.019 --> 00:47:32.360 buy you lunch. What do you want? You just stepped 00:47:32.360 --> 00:47:36.239 into the mission. It went from ministry to mission 00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:40.579 just like that. There are people all around us. 00:47:42.400 --> 00:47:48.579 Right? We reach in through service. Up through 00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:55.750 worship. Out through deed. We reach out through 00:47:55.750 --> 00:48:04.070 deeds. Things we do. Things we do. How we engage 00:48:04.070 --> 00:48:08.090 each other. How we engage those in whom the Lord 00:48:08.090 --> 00:48:14.130 puts around us. Amen. Stand with me this morning. 00:48:15.670 --> 00:48:18.210 Brother Mills, you make your way down. He's going 00:48:18.210 --> 00:48:21.070 to close us out with a... a missions prayer, 00:48:21.210 --> 00:48:22.829 and there'll be a copy of it out. I hope you're 00:48:22.829 --> 00:48:26.550 praying those daily prayers. I got so wound up 00:48:26.550 --> 00:48:29.929 last week in where I was going and what I was 00:48:29.929 --> 00:48:33.389 going to be preaching that I failed to have Brother 00:48:33.389 --> 00:48:37.449 Milton Carter close us out with his prayer, so 00:48:37.449 --> 00:48:40.849 we've got him back on the schedule. He'll be 00:48:40.849 --> 00:48:44.250 praying that prayer over us and a prayer that 00:48:44.250 --> 00:48:46.849 you can engage. Take these prayers and keep them. 00:48:46.929 --> 00:48:48.409 When you don't know anything else to pray, take 00:48:48.409 --> 00:48:51.389 one of these out. And pray this prayer. Pray 00:48:51.389 --> 00:48:54.030 the prayers. And also, I failed to mention it 00:48:54.030 --> 00:48:56.409 was good to have Sister Sandra back in the house 00:48:56.409 --> 00:49:04.889 last week. Amen. I apologized and repented to 00:49:04.889 --> 00:49:09.250 her this morning for that oversight. We did miss 00:49:09.250 --> 00:49:12.610 her in the weeks that she was out and in recovery. 00:49:13.570 --> 00:49:17.750 And so I repented. And I had to repent to Brother 00:49:17.750 --> 00:49:23.159 Milton. Forgetting him. That's the reason Pastor 00:49:23.159 --> 00:49:25.260 Brian does so much of the announcements and all 00:49:25.260 --> 00:49:28.079 that stuff. Because when I hit that seat right 00:49:28.079 --> 00:49:33.440 there, my mind's on one thing. And nothing else 00:49:33.440 --> 00:49:35.840 is as important as that. But it's all important. 00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:41.119 But my mind is wrapped around what thus saith 00:49:41.119 --> 00:49:44.599 the Lord today. What's he saying to us today? 00:49:46.139 --> 00:49:51.070 You know, a church grows. As the people engage 00:49:51.070 --> 00:49:55.710 the ministry of the mission. That's how the church 00:49:55.710 --> 00:50:04.050 grows. That's how it grows. When you tell people, 00:50:04.190 --> 00:50:12.090 hey, the Lord's at work at our church. If you 00:50:12.090 --> 00:50:14.289 don't have a place, come on down here, Sister 00:50:14.289 --> 00:50:20.090 Courtney. You did well. You heard me, Tom. We're 00:50:20.090 --> 00:50:24.869 going to pray for Sister Becca, who's in the 00:50:24.869 --> 00:50:27.550 hospital with double pneumonia now, both lungs. 00:50:29.329 --> 00:50:32.829 And needs a touch from the Lord, needs a healing 00:50:32.829 --> 00:50:37.769 from the Lord. Anybody else? If you need a healing 00:50:37.769 --> 00:50:39.329 today, you need the Lord to touch your body, 00:50:39.429 --> 00:50:41.070 just come and join us down there. We're going 00:50:41.070 --> 00:50:43.789 to pray and ask the Lord to do a great work. 00:50:43.969 --> 00:50:53.010 Baby, come on down here. We need one. The Lord 00:50:53.010 --> 00:50:56.570 is able. If I didn't believe he's able, we would 00:50:56.570 --> 00:51:00.510 not take time for this. And if he's not able 00:51:00.510 --> 00:51:09.670 to do this, then what about the rest? If I believe 00:51:09.670 --> 00:51:12.530 he can cleanse me of my sin, forgive me of my 00:51:12.530 --> 00:51:16.690 sin, this ain't nothing to that. This is just 00:51:16.690 --> 00:51:20.570 healing what he's already created, right? He's 00:51:20.570 --> 00:51:23.289 able. Stretch your hand this way. If you have 00:51:23.289 --> 00:51:25.010 an unspoken request, lift your other hand toward 00:51:25.010 --> 00:51:26.849 heaven, and we're going to pray over your needs 00:51:26.849 --> 00:51:29.409 as well. Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus 00:51:29.409 --> 00:51:35.710 today, we pray, we ask for a healing touch this 00:51:35.710 --> 00:51:39.590 morning. Lord, touch our sister this morning. 00:51:39.650 --> 00:51:42.130 You know exactly where she's at, what room she's 00:51:42.130 --> 00:51:44.869 in, and you know what's going on in her body. 00:51:45.750 --> 00:51:49.030 Lord, she's fought sickness long enough, long 00:51:49.030 --> 00:51:52.219 enough. So, Father, we pray right now that you 00:51:52.219 --> 00:51:55.519 heal that pneumonia. You dry it up. Lord, you 00:51:55.519 --> 00:51:58.380 strengthen the vessel. You strengthen her body. 00:51:58.460 --> 00:52:01.460 Add your grace. Add your strength. Lord, we pray 00:52:01.460 --> 00:52:03.400 you touch for the Sean and the family, Lord. 00:52:03.840 --> 00:52:06.539 Strengthen them as they pray. Lord, as we look 00:52:06.539 --> 00:52:09.519 for answers to come from glory. Strengthen today 00:52:09.519 --> 00:52:12.559 and heal. We know it's by your stripes that we 00:52:12.559 --> 00:52:14.840 receive healing. And you took them all in your 00:52:14.840 --> 00:52:17.659 body. And, Lord, we accept that today. And, Lord, 00:52:17.699 --> 00:52:19.960 our faith is in you and the work of Calvary. 00:52:21.119 --> 00:52:24.659 Do a healing work today, Father. Do a healing 00:52:24.659 --> 00:52:26.679 work this morning, Father, in the name of Jesus. 00:52:27.480 --> 00:52:31.059 Lord, we just pray for divine healing. We pray 00:52:31.059 --> 00:52:33.460 for continued divine healing today, Father, in 00:52:33.460 --> 00:52:37.210 the name of Jesus. Lord, take authority over 00:52:37.210 --> 00:52:41.010 sickness and disease today. By your stripes, 00:52:41.090 --> 00:52:47.929 again we declare healing. Healing in Jesus' name. 00:52:48.010 --> 00:52:50.269 Father, touch Sister Barbara today. Touch Sister 00:52:50.269 --> 00:52:52.489 Dean this morning. Lord, they need healing. They 00:52:52.489 --> 00:52:54.449 have family that need healing. They need a touch. 00:52:54.530 --> 00:52:56.690 Touch Brother Gary today, Lord. He needs a touch 00:52:56.690 --> 00:52:58.929 in his shoulder this morning. Touch and heal 00:52:58.929 --> 00:53:00.750 this morning, Father God, in the name of Jesus. 00:53:01.190 --> 00:53:04.280 Do a mighty work, Lord. Do a mighty work today, 00:53:04.400 --> 00:53:07.280 Father God, in the name of Jesus. Do your healing 00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:10.059 work today, Father. Do your healing work today, 00:53:10.199 --> 00:53:24.099 Father. Father, in the name of Jesus, take authority. 00:53:25.440 --> 00:53:28.500 Lord, you said you'd take down every tongue that 00:53:28.500 --> 00:53:30.739 rises up against us. You said no weapon formed 00:53:30.739 --> 00:53:33.440 against us will prosper. And every tongue that 00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:35.559 rises up against us, you would cast it down. 00:53:35.800 --> 00:53:39.059 So take authority over this today, Lord. Add 00:53:39.059 --> 00:53:41.780 a boldness to your child of faith this morning, 00:53:41.940 --> 00:53:45.000 Lord. Strengthen today. Lord, we take authority 00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:48.400 over the voices of the enemy. And we know that 00:53:48.400 --> 00:53:50.420 greater are you that's in us than he that is 00:53:50.420 --> 00:53:54.300 in this world. So, Father God, do a healing work 00:53:54.300 --> 00:53:57.800 today, a delivering work, Lord, for you are our 00:53:57.800 --> 00:54:00.519 deliverer. You said you'd prepare a table before 00:54:00.519 --> 00:54:03.179 us and a presence. of our enemies. Hallelujah. 00:54:03.920 --> 00:54:08.360 Let God arise and our enemies be scattered in 00:54:08.360 --> 00:54:15.320 Jesus' holy name. Hallelujah. Supply. Reach out 00:54:15.320 --> 00:54:30.300 and touch the Lord as he. Father, in the name 00:54:30.300 --> 00:54:35.699 of Jesus, Lord. I pray a healing today, healing 00:54:35.699 --> 00:54:37.860 in body. Lord, touch this cough this morning. 00:54:37.900 --> 00:54:40.539 Touch winter today. Lord, she stands believing, 00:54:40.639 --> 00:54:43.639 knowing that you're able. Lord, you said we all 00:54:43.639 --> 00:54:47.500 should have childlike faith and to come and stand. 00:54:48.500 --> 00:54:51.980 So, Lord, you touch her today in the name of 00:54:51.980 --> 00:55:16.119 Jesus. Father, we pray for Brother David's mom 00:55:16.119 --> 00:55:18.739 this morning. Lord, you know what the diagnosis 00:55:18.739 --> 00:55:22.260 has been given. But we know that you are the 00:55:22.260 --> 00:55:26.139 great physician. You are healer. So, Father, 00:55:26.199 --> 00:55:29.619 we just bring her before you today. We lift her 00:55:29.619 --> 00:55:35.139 up to you today. We believe. We believe. We trust 00:55:35.139 --> 00:55:38.579 you, Lord. Lord, reach down and touch and heal 00:55:38.579 --> 00:55:42.329 the liver today. Do a work, Lord. Do a great 00:55:42.329 --> 00:55:44.730 and mighty work, God, that your name be glorified, 00:55:45.030 --> 00:55:48.789 that you be praised. Do a healing work, Father, 00:55:48.889 --> 00:55:53.250 in the name of Jesus. Lord, we thank you for 00:55:53.250 --> 00:55:58.289 hearing us as we pray. In Jesus' name. Hallelujah. 00:55:58.449 --> 00:56:01.329 Brother David, come on. Brother David's going 00:56:01.329 --> 00:56:04.369 to pray this prayer over us. Thank you for being 00:56:04.369 --> 00:56:05.849 here this morning. When he's finished, you'll 00:56:05.849 --> 00:56:08.170 be dismissed. There should be a copy of this 00:56:08.170 --> 00:56:11.030 out in the foyer on the table. Take it, take 00:56:11.030 --> 00:56:16.150 one of the others, and pray daily. Praise the 00:56:16.150 --> 00:56:21.110 Lord. When you pick up this paper, would you 00:56:21.110 --> 00:56:25.130 just write on it the name of the country of Niger, 00:56:25.489 --> 00:56:30.670 N -I -G -E -R, and the countries of Namibia, 00:56:30.690 --> 00:56:34.949 N -A -M -I -B -I -A. Those are the two places 00:56:34.949 --> 00:56:38.500 that we're looking for to raise this money. and 00:56:38.500 --> 00:56:44.139 to build these churches. Let us pray. I come 00:56:44.139 --> 00:56:47.960 before you, Father, in the name of Jesus, our 00:56:47.960 --> 00:56:52.119 Lord and Savior. Thank you for this privilege. 00:56:53.440 --> 00:56:57.280 In our quest for intimate worship and personal 00:56:57.280 --> 00:57:01.699 spiritual growth, let us not forget Jesus' last 00:57:01.699 --> 00:57:06.719 instructions to his church. Go into all the world. 00:57:07.880 --> 00:57:11.059 We know that it is important to win those closest 00:57:11.059 --> 00:57:15.000 to us, but we must never forget those around 00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:18.960 the world that may never have a chance to hear 00:57:18.960 --> 00:57:24.619 the wonderful good news that Jesus saves. First 00:57:24.619 --> 00:57:27.980 of all, Lord, what is our part as a corporate 00:57:27.980 --> 00:57:31.079 body, the Hopewell Church of God, in the Great 00:57:31.079 --> 00:57:35.130 Commission? Lead our pastor in the vision that 00:57:35.130 --> 00:57:37.869 you have for us in the fulfillment of reaching 00:57:37.869 --> 00:57:41.690 the world for you. As he reveals the vision, 00:57:41.909 --> 00:57:46.429 let each of us catch that vision in our hearts 00:57:46.429 --> 00:57:50.130 and let it become an integral part of our lives. 00:57:51.309 --> 00:57:54.949 Second of all, Lord, lead each one of us to the 00:57:54.949 --> 00:57:59.219 place that we have in this commission. We are 00:57:59.219 --> 00:58:03.139 aware that all of us cannot do the going, but 00:58:03.139 --> 00:58:07.280 what is our part? Are we to pray for those that 00:58:07.280 --> 00:58:11.159 are sent? Are we to encourage with words and 00:58:11.159 --> 00:58:16.500 deeds? Are we to support with our finances? Or 00:58:16.500 --> 00:58:20.480 is it obvious that we are to be involved to some 00:58:20.480 --> 00:58:26.079 degree in all of these? Next, Lord. May we be 00:58:26.079 --> 00:58:29.280 sensitive to the fact that you may call one or 00:58:29.280 --> 00:58:33.139 more of us to do the going. Help us to get to 00:58:33.139 --> 00:58:36.460 that place of willingness to heed the speaking 00:58:36.460 --> 00:58:41.059 of the Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to being 00:58:41.059 --> 00:58:43.820 ever vigilant to keep the world in our conscience 00:58:43.820 --> 00:58:48.079 and in our prayers as we strive to fulfill your 00:58:48.079 --> 00:58:53.159 command, realizing that it is not a suggestion. 00:58:54.079 --> 00:58:58.780 but a command. We ask these things in the name 00:58:58.780 --> 00:59:02.699 of Jesus. And the church said, amen.