WEBVTT 00:00:01.680 --> 00:00:05.599 Welcome to NECF. We're thrilled you're here. 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:09.339 Make sure to stay with us till the end, where 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:12.179 we'll share some great resources to deepen your 00:00:12.179 --> 00:00:16.160 faith. Now, let's dive into this week's sermon. 00:00:18.980 --> 00:00:22.219 Before in the name of Jesus. So as I started 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:24.679 off with the teaching on Sunday, I will continue. 00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:28.179 And I say that we should understand that this 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:30.920 teaching is instructive. This teaching is such 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:34.439 that you cannot listen to it and not find something 00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:36.759 that needs to change. You cannot listen to it 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:39.359 and not find something that you need to either 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:42.359 stop doing or something that you should continue 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:45.259 to do or something that you should start doing, 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:48.259 something that you start doing. So when we examine 00:00:48.259 --> 00:00:52.140 through the lens of the teaching, through God's 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:54.520 word, we'll see that we have to come to a point. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:56.859 And that is how we make progress. If we don't 00:00:56.859 --> 00:00:59.250 look at what needs to stop. Look at what needs 00:00:59.250 --> 00:01:01.469 to continue. Look at what needs to start. We 00:01:01.469 --> 00:01:03.890 will not see progress. Things will continue to 00:01:03.890 --> 00:01:07.450 go as has always been. We only see change when 00:01:07.450 --> 00:01:11.409 things change. And for us, we are believing God 00:01:11.409 --> 00:01:14.709 that this word and we were seeing God do something 00:01:14.709 --> 00:01:16.909 in our lives and through our lives by the power 00:01:16.909 --> 00:01:18.810 of his word in this season in the name of Jesus. 00:01:18.989 --> 00:01:21.150 So I don't want you to be distracted because 00:01:21.150 --> 00:01:24.519 what can happen is that everyone is off. Nobody, 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:26.819 I'm not seeing anybody. I'm not seeing, I think 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:28.379 the only person I'm seeing now is our brother 00:01:28.379 --> 00:01:30.799 Takunda. I'm not seeing anybody else other than 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:33.400 our brother Takunda. And I don't want us to be 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.980 just to zone out and miss out on the opportunity 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:40.060 to learn. We say training means that it's uncomfortable, 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:43.760 but we take a posture to learn. It might not 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.140 be the best, but we don't learn in pleasure. 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:48.459 We learn under a certain amount of pressure. 00:01:48.989 --> 00:01:51.209 that will help us to be able to see the things 00:01:51.209 --> 00:01:53.489 that we are believing God to see in this season. 00:01:53.569 --> 00:01:56.780 Praise God. So we said that we want to learn 00:01:56.780 --> 00:01:59.480 as a child. We want to learn as a child. We want 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:03.799 to serve as disciples. And we'll see examples 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:06.599 in this evening from how Jesus Christ served. 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:08.479 We're going to see an example because remember 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:11.599 we said as disciples, our model is Christ. As 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:13.699 disciples, we're not modeling the instructions 00:02:13.699 --> 00:02:16.599 that we're teaching is that of Christ. The person 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:19.159 we're modeling is Christ. Yes, we'll model individuals. 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:22.300 We'll see. as our pastors, how our pastors are 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:24.659 leading, and we model ourselves after them, but 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.840 we know that the ultimate model is Christ. I'll 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:32.240 read a key scripture from Matthew. Matthew 28, 00:02:32.379 --> 00:02:33.639 I think I've already talked about why he was 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:37.840 leading us in prayer, had taken us to this scripture. 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:40.259 We started from 16, but I want us to just focus 00:02:40.259 --> 00:02:45.139 on the key scripture in Matthew 28, 18 to 20. 00:02:45.139 --> 00:02:48.840 It says, And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:51.780 All authority has been given to me in heaven 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:54.759 and on earth. It is good, therefore, and make 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:58.419 disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the 00:02:58.419 --> 00:03:01.180 name of the Father and of the Son and of the 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:04.120 Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:06.819 that I've commanded you. And lo, I am with you 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:10.819 always, even to the end of the age. Amen. And 00:03:10.819 --> 00:03:14.620 as I said, I'll repeat myself again. Go there 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:19.080 is a verb. The make there is also a verb. Make 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:20.740 disciples is also a verb. There's two verbs. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:24.280 One is a passive verb, but the imperative or 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:27.219 the active verb there is the make disciples. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.129 Make disciples of all nations. Christ, at his 00:03:31.129 --> 00:03:34.629 death, as in resurrection, is giving his disciples 00:03:34.629 --> 00:03:37.909 instruction. Note that in verse 17, we saw that 00:03:37.909 --> 00:03:41.150 some doubted. Praise God. Some doubted. There 00:03:41.150 --> 00:03:43.490 were some of them that doubted. Some believed. 00:03:43.729 --> 00:03:46.250 Some doubted. And I'm very sure that amongst, 00:03:46.509 --> 00:03:48.830 they say they worshipped him, but some doubted. 00:03:49.310 --> 00:03:51.789 The ones that worshipped him believed. The ones 00:03:51.789 --> 00:03:53.770 that there was a bit of doubt here and there. 00:03:53.830 --> 00:03:56.250 I want to believe that everyone on this platform 00:03:56.250 --> 00:04:00.080 believes. Everyone on this platform is a believer. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:03.879 Everyone on this platform knows they have... 00:04:04.090 --> 00:04:06.210 come into a relationship with Christ and is in 00:04:06.210 --> 00:04:08.370 union with him, meaning that this instruction 00:04:08.370 --> 00:04:11.330 is still relevant, is very relevant to each and 00:04:11.330 --> 00:04:13.789 every one of us. This instruction is very important 00:04:13.789 --> 00:04:16.730 and demands our attention and it demands a certain 00:04:16.730 --> 00:04:18.870 work and a certain practice. And I said, and 00:04:18.870 --> 00:04:22.430 in training, there is a practice. It's a process. 00:04:22.490 --> 00:04:25.870 It requires your commitment. It requires a reasonable 00:04:25.870 --> 00:04:29.129 amount of effort because nobody makes any change 00:04:29.129 --> 00:04:31.850 without a reasonable amount of effort. If you 00:04:31.850 --> 00:04:33.889 want to change your clothes, have to make an 00:04:33.889 --> 00:04:37.149 effort to take the buttons off and put on another 00:04:37.149 --> 00:04:39.730 clothes you need to do anything you want to do 00:04:39.730 --> 00:04:42.610 every change we want to see happens as a result 00:04:42.610 --> 00:04:45.009 of certain actions certain steps being taken 00:04:45.009 --> 00:04:47.290 and when he says make disciples we say the word 00:04:47.290 --> 00:04:50.069 there is matter too i'll spell it again m -a 00:04:50.069 --> 00:04:57.519 -t -h -e -t -e -u -o and we said It's written 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:01.620 there as making disciples or you see it as teaching. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:05.459 And it implies to cause people to learn. It also 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:07.860 implies to cause people to learn. And we define 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:10.379 what discipleship is. We say discipleship is 00:05:10.379 --> 00:05:13.500 a process of training. A process of training 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:19.339 as a student or an intern or an apprentice by 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:22.850 a disciple, a pastor or a shepherd. And we say 00:05:22.850 --> 00:05:25.810 that it is very, very, and note that the person 00:05:25.810 --> 00:05:27.829 is more matured in the sense that this person 00:05:27.829 --> 00:05:30.310 is here and the individual that has been trained 00:05:30.310 --> 00:05:33.490 this year. We want to understand that discipleship 00:05:33.490 --> 00:05:37.009 happens as a result of someone being, someone 00:05:37.009 --> 00:05:41.569 that is matured training someone that is not. 00:05:41.790 --> 00:05:43.970 Meaning that the person that is training has 00:05:43.970 --> 00:05:47.529 to be at a level different from the person that 00:05:47.529 --> 00:05:49.779 is being trained. And that is very important 00:05:49.779 --> 00:05:52.220 because in our group, we'll be in a position 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:54.899 where we can train others. And the end goal is 00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:57.480 that every one of us here are being trained for 00:05:57.480 --> 00:06:00.040 us to disciple others. It's not for the discipling 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:04.410 to always happen where you are the one. always 00:06:04.410 --> 00:06:06.569 receiving. You have to come to a stage where 00:06:06.569 --> 00:06:09.410 you will be the one at the position to train. 00:06:09.529 --> 00:06:11.750 And every one of us is a disciple. We will always 00:06:11.750 --> 00:06:13.970 be disciples. We are disciples to God's Word. 00:06:14.149 --> 00:06:16.410 And as I said earlier, that there was something 00:06:16.410 --> 00:06:20.089 that was seen in the life of which our brother 00:06:20.089 --> 00:06:22.550 read. He was doing the course of the prayer. 00:06:22.709 --> 00:06:27.910 In Acts 4, verse 13, where they saw Peter and 00:06:27.910 --> 00:06:30.709 John. These two individuals were disciples. These 00:06:30.709 --> 00:06:32.769 two individuals were disciples. And they perceived 00:06:32.769 --> 00:06:35.149 that these men were uneducated men. They were 00:06:35.149 --> 00:06:37.550 uneducated and they were untrained. Note that 00:06:37.550 --> 00:06:39.430 there is the educational system that they had 00:06:39.430 --> 00:06:42.629 where the people would come and be trained. They 00:06:42.629 --> 00:06:44.949 would have their own establishment. And these 00:06:44.949 --> 00:06:48.019 people had not been there. Because the schools 00:06:48.019 --> 00:06:51.579 were not many. Nowadays, we have a lot of universities 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:53.920 where people go and they are trained. And when 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:55.699 you finish, they will give you a certificate 00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:58.920 that you have been through that particular system. 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:03.699 Now people, you go to Bible school, you are being 00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:05.300 trained and you come and you have a certificate 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:09.040 to show that you have been schooled or you have 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.180 been trained. But these people never had any 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:14.079 of those. So it means that we can't... come to 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.800 a point where we have an interaction consistently. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:18.740 And that is basically what we're doing in our 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:21.100 church, where we're training people to be grounded 00:07:21.100 --> 00:07:23.079 in God's word, where people will look at you 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:26.319 and know that this person is trained. This person 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.959 is trained with God's word. This person is trained 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:32.560 and this person is able to speak boldly. This 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.120 person is able to communicate the truth of God's 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:38.259 word boldly, clearly, and effectively. And that 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:40.980 is very key because if you are not discipled, 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:44.290 you cannot disciple. There has to be something 00:07:44.290 --> 00:07:46.930 that people will see and will be drawn. There 00:07:46.930 --> 00:07:48.649 are things that people will see and know that 00:07:48.649 --> 00:07:51.050 this person is. And that was what made them to 00:07:51.050 --> 00:07:54.509 Marvin. And it's my prayer that we as God's children 00:07:54.509 --> 00:07:57.230 and in the Church of NACF will grow to a place 00:07:57.230 --> 00:08:00.449 where people will see, not just in words, because 00:08:00.449 --> 00:08:04.790 we can say things, we can be very eloquent in 00:08:04.790 --> 00:08:07.069 our speech, but they will see it in our practice. 00:08:07.769 --> 00:08:09.829 They will see it in the way we comfort ourselves. 00:08:10.310 --> 00:08:14.310 They will see it in the way we behave. They will 00:08:14.310 --> 00:08:16.829 see it in the way we do things. Because it is 00:08:16.829 --> 00:08:18.769 not just the things they knew that they saw. 00:08:18.810 --> 00:08:21.930 It was the way they acted, the boldness that 00:08:21.930 --> 00:08:24.689 they saw. That was one thing that clearly communicated 00:08:24.689 --> 00:08:27.029 this. And I believe that we're going to be learning. 00:08:27.149 --> 00:08:28.730 We're going to be training. We're going to be... 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:30.860 going in this season where we're going to be 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:32.539 learning a lot and we're going to be trained 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:35.080 a lot and it's to the end that is beyond just 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:37.480 being in our heads. It's going to go into our 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.379 practice and it's in the practice that we see 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:41.700 results because manifesting the kingdom of God 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:45.480 is practice. It's not knowledge. Manifesting 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.440 the kingdom of God is not what you do from words. 00:08:51.419 --> 00:08:54.220 You can see your manifested kingdom of God, but 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:57.080 it's practice that makes the manifestation a 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:00.059 reality that we can see. Praise God. And very 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:03.299 quickly, I had stopped. I think we had gone through 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:07.320 how it should be. We say the first point is a 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:11.480 disciple is teachable. A disciple is teachable. 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:13.500 And I asked us to write it in capital letters, 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:17.000 and I asked us to be able to... to see and see 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.460 ourselves and ask ourselves to open our mouths 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:21.580 and say, I am teachable. And you are teachable 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:23.860 too, because if you have not been taught, you 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:27.059 cannot teach. And we say that the attitude of 00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:28.860 a child is what we want to pay attention to. 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:31.139 And Jesus Christ points the disciples to the 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:33.799 way a child behaves, the attitude and posture 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:35.919 of a child. A child is dependent, a child is 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:38.759 trusting, a child is eager to learn. A child 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:41.860 is eager to learn. If at any point in time you 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:44.279 call yourself a disciple and you don't have it, 00:09:44.509 --> 00:09:47.509 passion, a desire, eagerness to learn, and you 00:09:47.509 --> 00:09:50.330 don't even trust the tool by which you are able 00:09:50.330 --> 00:09:52.330 to learn, which is God's Word, and you're not 00:09:52.330 --> 00:09:57.629 even dependent on God and dependent on the system 00:09:57.629 --> 00:10:00.590 that God has placed around you for your learning, 00:10:00.750 --> 00:10:03.370 you will have a problem. You will not learn. 00:10:03.570 --> 00:10:06.470 You will not grow. Because learning is important 00:10:06.470 --> 00:10:11.320 for growth. What makes an adult, what makes, 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.200 what differentiates a child from an adult? Even 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:17.539 when an adult behaves like a child, we call them 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:20.840 a child. It's not age. When an adult behaves 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:23.019 like a child, they are referred to, in fact, 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:24.820 they will say this person is acting like a child, 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.259 meaning that there's a way a child acts that 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:29.620 an adult shouldn't act. I told us that it can 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:31.879 be positive, it can be negative. Meaning there 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:33.960 are certain positive attributes of a child that 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:36.299 ensures for their growth and evenness, believers. 00:10:37.590 --> 00:10:40.049 grown, matured physically, there are certain 00:10:40.049 --> 00:10:44.070 attributes and attitudes that we see that ensures, 00:10:44.409 --> 00:10:47.230 that accounts for a person's consistent growth. 00:10:47.470 --> 00:10:50.250 You see, you don't outgrow being a child in the 00:10:50.250 --> 00:10:52.269 kingdom of God. Yes, in the kingdom, you can 00:10:52.269 --> 00:10:54.529 get to a point where you're grown, you're a matured 00:10:54.529 --> 00:10:56.590 man, people can see beards and all of that, and 00:10:56.590 --> 00:10:58.409 they know that this person is grown, or they 00:10:58.409 --> 00:11:00.330 can see a woman, and you say this person is grown, 00:11:00.450 --> 00:11:02.389 and then you say he's now ready to move to this 00:11:02.389 --> 00:11:05.899 next level. But in our work, And in discipleship, 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:09.399 there is nothing like that. You are discipled, 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.139 you are discipling others. You are discipled, 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:12.700 you are discipling others. That is the cycle. 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:17.740 And we see an example in the life of the prophet 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:20.620 Samuel. When he was given to Eli, when he was 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:25.860 under Eli, we see that he submitted to the authority. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:29.600 He learned. He learned. He learned. He didn't 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.450 just... He didn't just take things or did things 00:11:32.450 --> 00:11:34.370 on his own volition. He didn't just wake up on 00:11:34.370 --> 00:11:36.690 Monday and decide to do things by himself. He 00:11:36.690 --> 00:11:39.309 learned. So we're going to go down to, we're 00:11:39.309 --> 00:11:41.570 going to go down to the points. I think we'll 00:11:41.570 --> 00:11:44.610 continue. I think before we even proceed, I want 00:11:44.610 --> 00:11:47.289 to point us to the fact that even Jesus Christ 00:11:47.289 --> 00:11:49.750 himself, at a certain point in time, I want us 00:11:49.750 --> 00:11:54.769 to go to Luke. Luke 2. Luke 2. Because the person 00:11:54.769 --> 00:11:57.769 that is instructing us also did likewise. In 00:11:57.769 --> 00:12:02.049 a sense, also did likewise. He went and he stayed 00:12:02.049 --> 00:12:06.269 around to look to. I want us to read from 41 00:12:06.269 --> 00:12:10.289 to 47. I want us to read from 41 to 47. I'll 00:12:10.289 --> 00:12:12.389 read from the New Living Translation. It says, 00:12:12.549 --> 00:12:15.330 Every year, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem 00:12:15.330 --> 00:12:19.570 for the Passover festival. When Jesus was 12 00:12:19.570 --> 00:12:22.210 years old, pay attention to his age. When Jesus 00:12:22.210 --> 00:12:24.590 was 12 years old, they attended the festival 00:12:24.590 --> 00:12:28.679 as usual. After the celebration was over, they 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:34.519 started home to Nazareth. But Jesus stayed behind 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:39.779 in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:43.740 first because they assumed he was among the other 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:48.100 travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:51.220 they started looking for him amongst their relatives 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:55.789 and friends. When they couldn't find him, they 00:12:55.789 --> 00:12:58.649 went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 00:12:59.549 --> 00:13:01.789 46 now, which is what I want to pay attention. 00:13:02.009 --> 00:13:06.730 That is Luke 2 verse 46. Three days later, they 00:13:06.730 --> 00:13:10.629 finally discovered him in the temple, sitting 00:13:10.629 --> 00:13:14.090 amongst religious teachers, listening to them 00:13:14.090 --> 00:13:18.570 and asking questions. Listening to them and asking 00:13:18.570 --> 00:13:22.409 questions. He says, all who heard him were amazed 00:13:22.409 --> 00:13:26.399 at his understanding. And his answers. All who 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.980 heard him are amazed at his answers. All who 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:31.039 heard him are amazed at his answers. And I want 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:35.320 you to see something. In verse 46, it says, three 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:39.179 days later. You know, if a child is missing and 00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:43.000 you find a child three days later, the child 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:46.039 will be crying. where's my daddy, where's my 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:48.360 mommy, where's, or you'll be, there's a sense 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.039 of, but it shows you something very important 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:54.039 that this person was eager. The person was not 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:57.139 found on the street crying. We see the fact that 00:13:57.139 --> 00:14:02.440 Christ, I'm using it, a typical child, but it 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:05.200 shows you the heart of the person of Christ at 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:10.080 when he was even 12. He was there, not just talking, 00:14:10.179 --> 00:14:13.409 he was listening to them. He was listening to 00:14:13.409 --> 00:14:15.929 them. He was listening to them and was asking 00:14:15.929 --> 00:14:19.029 questions. He was listening to them and was asking 00:14:19.029 --> 00:14:21.690 questions. He was listening to them and was asking 00:14:21.690 --> 00:14:24.129 questions. You know, sometimes we can feel, because 00:14:24.129 --> 00:14:27.470 we talked about this with regard to pride, where 00:14:27.470 --> 00:14:31.889 you feel your age or your status or what you 00:14:31.889 --> 00:14:34.149 have achieved, what you have not achieved, the 00:14:34.149 --> 00:14:37.470 money. We have disciples that were wealthy, but 00:14:37.470 --> 00:14:40.759 were still disciples. We have examples in the 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.179 Bible of disciples of worldly. We have Joseph 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:46.759 of Arimathea was referred to as a disciple. He 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:49.059 was worldly, but he was still a disciple. We 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:52.100 have individuals in Scripture that were, in fact, 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:55.159 the scribes too, the scribes too were referred 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:57.000 to. There are certain individuals, even one of 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:00.019 some disciples, a couple of disciples were scribes, 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:03.080 they were still. disciples, meaning that there's 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:06.980 a teaching that you have to submit to the teaching 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:09.919 regardless of whatever status you have. Christ 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.440 himself came and was amongst these individuals. 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:14.899 They were amused when he was listening to them. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:19.700 So we should be reminded of the fact that the 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:23.200 instruction given to us is an instruction that 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:25.919 Christ himself, even when he was very young, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:29.649 followed. So you cannot get to a point where 00:15:29.649 --> 00:15:31.669 you feel like, oh, I have known it all. When 00:15:31.669 --> 00:15:34.169 teaching is going on, I don't need to take notes. 00:15:34.330 --> 00:15:37.529 It's the scriptures that we know them. No matter 00:15:37.529 --> 00:15:39.570 how well you are familiar with the scripture, 00:15:39.830 --> 00:15:43.470 being teachable is very important because every 00:15:43.470 --> 00:15:46.090 one of us still needs to learn. Every one of 00:15:46.090 --> 00:15:48.149 us still needs to grow. Every one of us still. 00:15:48.230 --> 00:15:50.129 We don't want to come to, I think one time we 00:15:50.129 --> 00:15:52.429 were in the cell. I think the funny thing is 00:15:52.429 --> 00:15:54.610 that when you're in the cell and then it's, okay, 00:15:54.669 --> 00:15:56.509 it's when the pastor is preaching, then you are 00:15:56.509 --> 00:16:00.840 taking notes. If the pastor says, okay, the leader 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.659 or somebody should teach or the person is making 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.600 a statement, you'll be selecting who to write 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:09.080 and who not to write. That's very dangerous for 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.720 someone who wants to grow. You are in a setting 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.860 where something is being taught or someone is 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:16.379 giving the response, but you want to ensure that 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:21.600 you are teaching. Choosing, okay, this person, 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:25.100 I don't know. They're coming up. Not today. They 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:28.240 come up now. That's when I'll now hear what they 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:31.059 have to say. Or now, where I am. They are not 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:34.299 near me. That's very dangerous. If you have that 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:36.440 in your heart, if you have that behind, if you 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:39.419 have that as the motivation for your learning, 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.700 it means that you will lose out on the opportunity 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:44.759 to grow. Every opportunity is an opportunity 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:48.519 where we come around God's word to... to grow. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.460 And it's very important that we see that. So 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:54.500 I want to take us to now the things that we see 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:56.139 in a disciple. And remember, we said we're all 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:59.340 talking about attributes of a disciple. And we 00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:02.059 said there's the things that a disciple, that 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:04.940 we see in disciples as the work of a disciple. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.920 There are certain attitudes and attributes that 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:09.019 we see in the work of a disciple. The servanthood 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:11.960 of a disciple. The servanthood of a disciple. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:14.400 There are certain things you will see in a disciple 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:17.450 that you, that will That makes you know that 00:17:17.450 --> 00:17:20.970 this person is someone that is keen on growth, 00:17:21.049 --> 00:17:24.069 that is keen on the work that God has called 00:17:24.069 --> 00:17:27.069 them into. And one of it is service. A disciple 00:17:27.069 --> 00:17:31.930 serves. A disciple serves. A disciple serves. 00:17:32.190 --> 00:17:35.730 A disciple serves. And we'll see in John 13, 00:17:35.890 --> 00:17:40.089 because this service is modeled by Christ himself. 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.779 Note that the things that we're doing is the 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.960 things that are modeled by the one who has called 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:49.599 us. We see in John, let's open to John 13. We 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.960 look at this from John 13 and also we look at 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:55.180 it from Mark 10. So let's just go to John 13. 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.579 I think I want to read this again. Let's just 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:59.720 read it from here. Let's go to John 13 verse 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:03.279 14. John 13 verse 14 and 15. And note that the 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:07.079 background is Jesus washing his disciples' feet. 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:12.640 John 13 verse 14 and 15. I, your Lord and teacher, 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:16.740 have washed your feet. You ought to wash each 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:21.019 other's feet. In 15, he says, And I have given 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:26.299 you an example to follow, as I have done to you. 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:29.940 Do this as I have done to you. Do this as I have 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:32.420 done to you. And I say the background is Jesus 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:34.160 washing the disciples' feet. And those of us 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:37.440 that are following who had read the book of the 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.299 book that we had read through as a church, the 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:43.210 communion table, In fact, even if you're reading 00:18:43.210 --> 00:18:46.150 the one that we're looking at, every disciple 00:18:46.150 --> 00:18:47.849 and minister, you'll see something very key. 00:18:48.170 --> 00:18:51.809 You'll see that the role of a disciple, you can't 00:18:51.809 --> 00:18:54.710 divorce service from the role of a disciple. 00:18:55.089 --> 00:18:58.769 And Jesus Christ here is exemplifying that. Not 00:18:58.769 --> 00:19:00.349 that the symbol, what he was doing when he was 00:19:00.349 --> 00:19:03.349 cleaning them, we said in the last reading and 00:19:03.349 --> 00:19:06.049 the book we read last, there's the teaching of 00:19:06.049 --> 00:19:08.609 salvation, which is being cleansed, washing them, 00:19:08.710 --> 00:19:11.190 that's sanctification. There's a teaching in 00:19:11.190 --> 00:19:13.869 that. Note that what the ultimate teaching, the 00:19:13.869 --> 00:19:15.990 practical teaching you're seeing there is service. 00:19:16.109 --> 00:19:18.529 And he says, as I've done to you, do to others. 00:19:18.650 --> 00:19:21.369 May that you have to serve. You have to serve. 00:19:21.569 --> 00:19:24.970 As a disciple, you can't be a disciple and you're 00:19:24.970 --> 00:19:27.970 doing not. Remember I said, now this discipleship, 00:19:27.970 --> 00:19:31.650 the pro is practical. It's very practical. You 00:19:31.650 --> 00:19:35.089 can't just say stuff and not do. We don't, we 00:19:35.089 --> 00:19:38.730 encourage you to. want to serve, to desire to 00:19:38.730 --> 00:19:41.029 serve, even if you don't have the required skill, 00:19:41.250 --> 00:19:44.509 but the commitment you have, it will enable you 00:19:44.509 --> 00:19:46.789 to go out of your way to do, and following the 00:19:46.789 --> 00:19:50.109 simple basic instruction ensures that you grow. 00:19:50.809 --> 00:19:53.950 So Jesus Christ sets an example, and this example, 00:19:54.029 --> 00:19:56.549 he was showing it to the disciples that he had 00:19:56.549 --> 00:20:01.170 at then, but it's also for us to emulate, to 00:20:01.170 --> 00:20:03.740 emulate these things. We are to emulate these 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:06.259 things because it's very important that we do 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:09.359 so. We do so. I want us to go to Mark and see 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:13.519 again. Mark and see Mark 10. I want us to go 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:19.180 to Mark 10. Mark 10 verse 43. Mark 10 verse 43. 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:24.700 It reads, it says, But among you it will be different. 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:29.259 Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:33.619 your servant. Mark 10 verse 43. But among you 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:36.160 it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:40.180 among you must be your servant. And whoever wants 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:43.339 to be first among you must be a slave of everyone 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:47.880 else. 45 now says, For the Son of Man came not 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:52.200 to serve, but to serve others, and to give his 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:55.880 life as a ransom for many. But to serve others 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.990 and to give his life as a ransom for many. And 00:20:58.990 --> 00:21:02.329 note that we are saying that service here is 00:21:02.329 --> 00:21:05.690 what Christ himself had done for us. He came 00:21:05.690 --> 00:21:09.890 to serve. And we are to do likewise. The instruction 00:21:09.890 --> 00:21:12.809 is for us to serve. It says anyone, and note 00:21:12.809 --> 00:21:16.910 that greatness in the kingdom is equal to service. 00:21:17.470 --> 00:21:19.710 Greatness in the kingdom is equal to service. 00:21:19.890 --> 00:21:22.630 It says both among you. And note that he was 00:21:22.630 --> 00:21:25.929 comparing, if you read the earlier verses. In 00:21:25.929 --> 00:21:28.529 verse 42, if you read the earlier verses, 41 00:21:28.529 --> 00:21:31.890 down to 41, 41 is where it starts. It says, when 00:21:31.890 --> 00:21:34.829 10 other disciples heard about what James and 00:21:34.829 --> 00:21:36.789 John, you know that it was a whole interaction 00:21:36.789 --> 00:21:39.930 between James and John. You know, the thing that 00:21:39.930 --> 00:21:41.329 James and John had done. They were indignant. 00:21:41.869 --> 00:21:43.990 42 now says, Jesus called the others and said 00:21:43.990 --> 00:21:46.170 to them, you know that the rulers in this world 00:21:46.170 --> 00:21:49.809 lorded over their people and officials flaunted 00:21:49.809 --> 00:21:52.269 the authority over those under them. He said, 00:21:52.369 --> 00:21:54.650 but among you, it should be different. Among 00:21:54.650 --> 00:21:58.509 you, it shouldn't be the same. Where you want 00:21:58.509 --> 00:22:01.470 to pursue service, not position. You want to 00:22:01.470 --> 00:22:04.349 pursue service. It's service to God's people 00:22:04.349 --> 00:22:07.049 that is more important than anything else. Because 00:22:07.049 --> 00:22:09.890 in the world, a person is great when they have 00:22:09.890 --> 00:22:12.789 a position where people will hail them, or hail 00:22:12.789 --> 00:22:15.089 the chairman, or hail the person that is in charge, 00:22:15.150 --> 00:22:19.130 or hail the boss. But note that they can attain 00:22:19.130 --> 00:22:21.170 those positions, but they don't do anything. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:24.799 We are in a world where people just say, okay, 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:27.079 there's a title, but the work that the title 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:29.500 comes with, they don't pursue it. Know that when 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:33.799 you say, well, I think we're listing the roles 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:36.359 and responsibilities of a pastor. You know, somebody 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:38.279 in Isaiah is not easy. You know, when you know 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.819 the roles and responsibilities, you are less 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:44.220 likely to desire the position if your heart is 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.759 not really in on it. You know, somebody will 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.579 say, you say, I'm the pastor. You come. And then 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:51.420 there's some people who used to think, this is 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:53.519 the way we see it in the world, where somebody 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:55.640 comes and they're in a position, they have a 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:58.440 private car, they have a driver, they have all 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:01.180 of those things. And then you come and you're 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:05.039 like, I want to, I might go, I want to be. But 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:07.720 when they tell you, okay, aside from what you 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:10.000 can see, there's the other responsibility that 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.759 is this, this, and this, and this, you see the 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.200 person will change their mind very instantly 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:16.569 because... Service is not what everybody desires. 00:23:16.829 --> 00:23:19.829 Most people will prefer to just be on the background 00:23:19.829 --> 00:23:22.349 and then, or in fact, we prefer to be served, 00:23:22.390 --> 00:23:25.990 not serve others. But we see Christ sets an example 00:23:25.990 --> 00:23:28.670 for us in the fact that he came to serve and 00:23:28.670 --> 00:23:32.190 he calls us to do likewise. He calls us to serve. 00:23:32.289 --> 00:23:36.390 So we must desire to serve. Every disciple... 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:38.559 must desire to serve. So when we are saying, 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:40.779 serve, serve, serve, and I'm very sure if you 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:43.799 look at the platform now, we are like 58, 58 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:47.019 of us. You want to ensure and check yourself. 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:51.500 Anytime you're struggling with the idea of serving 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:54.559 others, check again. Anytime you're struggling 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.039 with the idea of serving others, check yourself 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:00.400 again. Because in the heart of a disciple, there 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.779 always has to, you know, some people say, I'm 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:07.339 not a people person. I don't like people. You 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:09.920 are not your own. It's not what you like anymore. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.960 It's what God instructs you to do that is more 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:19.839 important than what you like. If everyone had 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:22.799 a choice to do what they want to do, there would 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.279 be chaos because everyone would be doing the 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:26.940 things they want. But because we are under God, 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:29.299 He is the one that is in charge. He instructs 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:31.650 us. He says, look. Greatness in the kingdom is 00:24:31.650 --> 00:24:33.509 equal to service. If you want to be great in 00:24:33.509 --> 00:24:35.569 the kingdom, you want to pursue service over 00:24:35.569 --> 00:24:39.470 anything else. And that is it. Full stop. No 00:24:39.470 --> 00:24:42.750 buts. Say buts. You know buts. You know where 00:24:42.750 --> 00:24:45.789 I come from. You know buts. There's no buts. 00:24:45.789 --> 00:24:47.410 There's no excuses. We'll get to the part where 00:24:47.410 --> 00:24:50.130 we discuss excuses. And know that another key 00:24:50.130 --> 00:24:53.589 thing is a disciple gives. This is the second 00:24:53.589 --> 00:24:57.430 point. A disciple gives. A disciple is not just 00:24:57.430 --> 00:24:59.529 someone who receives and receives and receives 00:24:59.529 --> 00:25:01.369 and receives because you are being trained, you 00:25:01.369 --> 00:25:02.690 are receiving training, you are receiving training, 00:25:02.730 --> 00:25:04.750 you are receiving training. A disciple gives. 00:25:04.890 --> 00:25:06.369 We'll get to the part where a disciple is giving 00:25:06.369 --> 00:25:08.130 what they have received, but we'll talk about 00:25:08.130 --> 00:25:11.730 the practicality of giving because a disciple 00:25:11.730 --> 00:25:14.130 is committed to the work. So a person that is 00:25:14.130 --> 00:25:16.410 committed to a work, a person will be willing 00:25:16.410 --> 00:25:19.859 to give to see that the work moves forward. The 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:21.880 person we're willing to give to see that the 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.920 work moves forward. And when we talk, I think 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:26.960 in the Church of Renice here, we say this and 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:29.700 say this with every sense of humility in the 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:35.519 sense that we as a church don't place so much 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:39.700 priority on, oh, give this, give... But not that. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:44.559 It is important that we know that it is a responsibility 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:49.039 that we have as members. to ensure that the place 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:52.039 where you are located, the local church, is thriving. 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:55.579 The local church is thriving. You know, one beautiful 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:58.940 thing about the church is when we call for needs, 00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.940 it's when we say, okay, there's a need, we call 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:03.619 out, we put it out and say, okay, the church 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:06.059 needs this, that, but not that. It shouldn't 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:09.660 be that we should be in a habit and attitude 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:11.640 to be able to look for the needs in the church. 00:26:13.520 --> 00:26:16.220 We, if we're part of a church, and you see that 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.819 the church needs this, and you should not even 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:20.619 be, it doesn't have to be something you want 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.220 to be loud about. Even though the church needs 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:25.079 this, you can go and find a way. Even though 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:28.359 nowadays people can give for very strange reasons. 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:30.160 Because, you know, I've seen people that will 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:34.440 come and say, okay, I want to, in my little time 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:36.299 here, you will see the person will come. The 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:37.900 person doesn't want to serve, but they want to 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:41.569 give. There's something about their giving, replacing 00:26:41.569 --> 00:26:44.430 their acts. I say, if you have a heart for this, 00:26:44.509 --> 00:26:47.750 join this. I say, no, no, no, no, Pastor, no. 00:26:47.970 --> 00:26:55.109 No, I just want to. It's an agreement I have 00:26:55.109 --> 00:26:57.289 with God. It's leading my heart to just want 00:26:57.289 --> 00:27:01.450 to. I say, ah, if you really want to, you want 00:27:01.450 --> 00:27:05.990 to see how what you are giving impacts the people 00:27:05.990 --> 00:27:08.680 that you are. You say you have a heart form. 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:12.039 And it means that people can prioritize wanting 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:14.200 to give to... People do it. They will say, okay, 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:17.539 I give so that people that have this will go 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:21.559 for us. They will go for us. That is very wrong. 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:25.460 And we'll see how the disciples made this thing 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:28.500 practical in Acts 4. I think he read a bit of 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:30.759 it in Acts 2. I just want us to look at Acts 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:34.319 4. How these people did not just talk. They were 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:36.980 very practical in their needs. And these people 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:39.740 were people that were in the church. Acts 4, 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:44.740 I want us to read from 35 to 37. 35 to 37. Acts 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:48.099 4, 35 to 37. And I'll read from the New King 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:51.559 James. It says, 34 to 30, I think, yeah, I said 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:56.299 35. 35 to 37. It says, And they laid them at 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.720 the apostles' feet. And they laid them at the 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:01.039 apostles' feet. And they distributed to each 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:07.099 as... as anyone had need. They disputed to each 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:11.099 as anyone had need. Then he says, and Joseph, 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:14.440 who was also called Barnabas by the apostle, 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:19.980 which is translated son of encouragement, a Levite 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:22.599 of the country of Cyprus. Praise God, Cyprus. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:27.640 The country of Cyprus. 37. having land sold it 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:30.200 and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:33.000 feet. So what you will notice is that there's 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:35.900 this use of the apostles' feet. They laid it 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.720 at the apostles' feet. They laid it at the apostles' 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:40.519 feet. They laid it at the apostles' feet. And 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:44.420 we'll see, you'll see there's a lot of use of 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:48.400 the word feet. I want to explain to us that something 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:50.599 very interesting. If you look at 35, I think 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:53.000 in your translation, you'll see that it says, 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:57.700 and laid them at the apostles' feet, and then 00:28:57.700 --> 00:29:00.940 you see a semicolon, right? You see a semicolon 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:04.099 there, and it says, and they distributed. They 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:08.000 is who? The apostles, right? And the apostles 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.900 now distributed to each one as they need. Each 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:16.559 one as they need. Note that the use of apostles' 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:19.259 feet there communicates the fact that, remember, 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:21.220 if we're using, I think we'll get to that part, 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:24.390 I think we'll get to that part shortly. Where 00:29:24.390 --> 00:29:27.230 when something is laid at the feet of someone, 00:29:27.390 --> 00:29:30.210 when something is laid at the feet of someone, 00:29:30.390 --> 00:29:32.789 it communicates that this person is in charge. 00:29:32.829 --> 00:29:34.750 It communicates the authority of that individual. 00:29:35.490 --> 00:29:38.990 Because the person has that laid, not they laid 00:29:38.990 --> 00:29:42.130 themselves. The person laid what they had at 00:29:42.130 --> 00:29:45.809 the feet of the apostles. And then the apostles 00:29:45.809 --> 00:29:48.910 now were saddled with the responsibility of distributing 00:29:48.910 --> 00:29:52.230 to meet the needs of people. Meaning that the 00:29:52.230 --> 00:29:55.950 apostles... are the ones in charge. People brought 00:29:55.950 --> 00:29:59.250 what they had. They will sell what they want 00:29:59.250 --> 00:30:03.789 to have the monies to give for the work that 00:30:03.789 --> 00:30:06.130 was happening. And note something. It's important 00:30:06.130 --> 00:30:08.369 that we know that the individuals have to have 00:30:08.369 --> 00:30:11.450 prioritized the work that the apostles were doing 00:30:11.450 --> 00:30:14.329 to be able to say, I will sell my land, I will 00:30:14.329 --> 00:30:16.410 sell what I have and bring the money for this 00:30:16.410 --> 00:30:18.430 to happen. They prioritize the work, prioritize 00:30:18.430 --> 00:30:22.119 the people most importantly. The people... that 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:24.779 needed the people that were in need. And as I 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:27.019 said, I will repeat myself again, know that the 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:30.420 use of feet will see that. I want you to see 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:33.440 it with regards to training. See it with regards 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.960 to training. See it with regards to training. 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.940 I want you to see in Acts, even though in the 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:43.519 Acts 4, I think it's Acts, the same Acts, we'll 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:46.220 see this in the individual question, but let's 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:49.619 go to Acts 22. We'll see the same use of feet 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:52.849 there. In Acts 22, this is not the Apostles' 00:30:52.849 --> 00:30:56.609 Feet now. In Acts 22, verse 3. Acts 22, verse 00:30:56.609 --> 00:31:01.470 3. Acts 22, verse 3. It reads, it says, I am 00:31:01.470 --> 00:31:04.170 a Jew. That is Apostles' Feet. It says, I am 00:31:04.170 --> 00:31:09.990 a Jew. I am indeed a Jew born in Tarsus of Caesarea, 00:31:10.190 --> 00:31:15.750 brought up in the city, brought up in this city 00:31:15.750 --> 00:31:20.700 at the feet of Gamaliel. at the feet of Gamaliel, 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:25.299 taught according to the strictness of our father's 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:29.519 law, and I was zealous towards God as you all 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:33.160 are today. As you all are today. Know that it 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:36.980 uses the feet of the apostle, the feet of Gamaliel 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:39.420 now, in this case, feet of Gamaliel to communicate 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:42.279 the fact that he learned from him. Gamaliel is 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:46.500 the authority. He is the student. Gamaliel is 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:49.119 the authority. He is the student. And you'll 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:53.539 see something in Acts 5. You'll see something 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:57.299 in Acts 5. Acts 5, the ending part, that is 33, 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:00.740 downwards. You'll see that Gamaliel, that is 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:04.579 in 34, to be specific, Acts 5, 34. You'll see 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:10.480 that then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:15.140 called Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:18.750 respect by all the people. and commanded them 00:32:18.750 --> 00:32:22.049 to put the apostles aside for a little while. 00:32:22.250 --> 00:32:27.230 This is the individual that Apostle Paul, being 00:32:27.230 --> 00:32:29.630 trained by, is someone that was held in high, 00:32:29.710 --> 00:32:32.630 is a Pharisee, a teacher of the law that is held. 00:32:32.710 --> 00:32:38.549 So he had trained Apostle Paul in the law. He 00:32:38.549 --> 00:32:41.430 has trained him in the law. And this is the person 00:32:41.430 --> 00:32:43.390 he learned to know that the use of the feet means 00:32:43.390 --> 00:32:47.529 that he's an authority in the law. In that, him 00:32:47.529 --> 00:32:50.069 being an authority, he's in a place to train 00:32:50.069 --> 00:32:53.230 the Apostle Paul. And I want us to see another 00:32:53.230 --> 00:32:56.329 place where it still is used for Jesus. It's 00:32:56.329 --> 00:32:59.990 used also with regards to Jesus. In Luke 10. 00:33:00.190 --> 00:33:02.710 I want us to go to Luke 10, 39. The situation 00:33:02.710 --> 00:33:07.230 between Mary and Martha. Luke 10, 39. Luke 10, 00:33:07.369 --> 00:33:12.509 39. Luke 10, 39. And it says, And she had a sister 00:33:12.509 --> 00:33:18.019 called Mary. who also sat at Jesus' feet and 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:21.339 heard his word. Who sat at Jesus' feet and heard 00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:24.640 his word. Not that she sat at his feet and heard 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:27.440 his word doesn't mean that she dwells at his 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:32.359 feet. She just is a position of a student and 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:34.759 then the teacher. If you want to learn something, 00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:37.319 the teacher is here, the student is here. It's 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:39.519 just a function of, you know that you are learning. 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:41.920 In fact, when kids come around, even in the house, 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.680 sometimes they say, okay, you sit down, let me 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:45.720 tell you a story. The person is at the higher 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:47.500 level, you are at the lower level. It means that 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:49.259 this person, you are learning from the person. 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:51.180 You can't be on that ground level and you're 00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:53.779 arguing with the, you know, that's why the pulpit 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:58.559 is higher than the, you keep it at the, that's 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.779 why the pulpit has to be, pulpit, it has to be 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:03.500 up and then the other people are down. Because 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:06.160 you, aside that, it communicates the fact that 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:09.480 you are, You are listening to what is being taught. 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:12.840 The person is here. You are up, depending on 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:15.519 where exactly it is. I know that it's a thing 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:17.360 where you can see, but it's a function of the 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:19.719 individual. They trust you as an authority to 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:22.219 be able to deliver. That's why they will come 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:24.900 to you to learn. Praise God. It's a function. 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:29.639 It's as much as symbolic. It communicates much 00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:32.460 more than just the physical. And it means that 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:35.789 if the person... is at that level, you have the 00:34:35.789 --> 00:34:37.769 responsibility to know that in the case of Martha, 00:34:37.869 --> 00:34:40.250 they were hosting him. They were giving to the 00:34:40.250 --> 00:34:43.750 master. In fact, I think it's in Luke 8, where 00:34:43.750 --> 00:34:45.449 you see that there are women too that were given 00:34:45.449 --> 00:34:48.710 to the work of ministry. These women were aiding 00:34:48.710 --> 00:34:51.469 the work that was being done. They were contributing 00:34:51.469 --> 00:34:54.550 to Jesus Christ and also to his disciples. So 00:34:54.550 --> 00:34:58.170 people gave. These people gave. They gave. And 00:34:58.170 --> 00:35:01.659 giving is a lifestyle of a disciple. Giving is 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:04.059 the lifestyle of a disciple. It's not just receiving. 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:07.320 The disciple should have a lifestyle. The lifestyle 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:11.360 of a disciple is that of giving. A disciple doesn't 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:17.559 need to be pruded, cajoled. They will have to 00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:20.260 use persuasive words. They will have to encourage 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:22.420 you, say, you know, you have to see that we need 00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:24.739 this. And then you'll now be motivated to say, 00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:27.099 okay, because I have seen, because the pastor 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:30.000 had explained and had to drum it down, then we'll 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:32.880 now... because the pastor had to drum it down. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:36.219 Note that, yes, if you are not used to giving, 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:38.699 you have to be trained to understand that giving 00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:41.719 is a responsibility. It should be a lifestyle. 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.840 It should be something. It is what is demanded 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:46.659 of us. And you don't have to have a lot to give. 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:50.139 You don't have to have a lot to give. I will 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:52.980 show us in Acts 10 verses 28 how the disciples, 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:56.380 each of them according to their ability, according 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:59.960 to what they had. They determined. They determined. 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.900 According to what they had, they determined. 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:04.619 I want us to see it in Acts 10. Acts 11, sorry. 00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:09.519 Acts 11, 29. Acts 11, 29. Acts 11, 29. You know, 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:12.780 sometimes you say, ah, sir, I don't have... You 00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:17.260 want to... The giving is a function. It's a discipline 00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:19.739 you're acquiring when you give, even when you 00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:21.659 don't have. Because if you can give when you 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:23.320 don't have, when you do have, you're not struggling. 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:26.420 You know, some of us will say, ah, sir, you know... 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:29.500 The money is not, even if it's, and we don't 00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:32.159 want to despise, whatever it is that you have, 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:35.079 you want to train yourself to be able to do it 00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:37.460 regardless, to be able to do it regardless. So 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:42.139 in Acts 11, 29, we see that, then the apostles, 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:44.539 according to their ability, determined to send 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:48.260 relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. The 00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:50.420 brethren dwelling in Judea. So they were willing 00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:53.800 to give for the, and by the way, understand that. 00:36:54.750 --> 00:36:57.630 Meeting the needs, they saw that the brethren 00:36:57.630 --> 00:37:00.510 in Judea had a need, and then they contributed. 00:37:00.690 --> 00:37:04.050 They determined to send some form of relief to 00:37:04.050 --> 00:37:06.750 them. Meaning that there's the giving that happens 00:37:06.750 --> 00:37:09.929 with them. We saw that in Acts 4, where they 00:37:09.929 --> 00:37:11.909 give to meet the needs of the people that are 00:37:11.909 --> 00:37:14.769 around them. And there's also the giving to meet 00:37:14.769 --> 00:37:17.849 the needs of people that are out. Okay, we see 00:37:17.849 --> 00:37:20.230 that these people have something that they contribute 00:37:20.230 --> 00:37:23.739 to meet the need. So it means that you give according 00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:26.780 to your ability. You don't give beyond. You give 00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:28.940 according to your ability and you know your ability. 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:31.699 You know your ability and you give according 00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:34.619 to that. And I want us to see also the Philippian 00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:38.420 church in their generosity to Paul in Philippians 00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:41.219 4. I want us to go to Philippians 4. Philippians 00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:44.559 4 verse 10. I want us to read that 4 verse 10 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:47.940 to 18. I want us to see it in context. Philippians. 00:37:49.610 --> 00:37:53.710 Philippians 4, verse 10 to 18. So it says, But 00:37:53.710 --> 00:37:58.090 I rejoice in the Lord greatly, knowing that at 00:37:58.090 --> 00:38:04.610 last your care for me has flourished again, though 00:38:04.610 --> 00:38:11.690 you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 00:38:12.010 --> 00:38:14.570 You surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 00:38:15.150 --> 00:38:19.820 Not that I seek... in regard to need, for I have 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:23.699 learned in whatever state I am to be content. 00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:28.760 He says, I know how to be abased and I know how 00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:33.500 to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:37.079 learned both to be full and to be hungry, both 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:41.539 to abound and to suffer need. 13 now says, I 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:44.500 can do all things through Christ who strengthens 00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:47.110 me. Note that when you used to read this verse, 00:38:47.190 --> 00:38:48.789 you say, I can do all things, you can say means, 00:38:48.909 --> 00:38:50.869 I can do this, you can say means, you can quote 00:38:50.869 --> 00:38:52.909 it and quote it, but note that the context is 00:38:52.909 --> 00:38:55.750 in the verse 12, where it says, I know how to 00:38:55.750 --> 00:38:59.610 be obeyed and I know how to abound. Wherever 00:38:59.610 --> 00:39:03.130 and in all things I have learned, because it 00:39:03.130 --> 00:39:04.610 says, wherever and in all things I have learned 00:39:04.610 --> 00:39:08.110 to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and 00:39:08.110 --> 00:39:11.110 to suffer need. So he says he can do all things 00:39:11.110 --> 00:39:13.349 to Christ. I mean that he can do the all things. 00:39:13.389 --> 00:39:15.690 There is not everything and everything. The all 00:39:15.690 --> 00:39:20.150 things there is that he knows how to, when hunger 00:39:20.150 --> 00:39:24.369 is in the land and when he has enough. In all 00:39:24.369 --> 00:39:26.570 of those things, he is strengthened of the Lord. 00:39:26.909 --> 00:39:30.829 Nevertheless, you have done well that you share 00:39:30.829 --> 00:39:34.869 in my distress. 15. Now he says, now you Philippians 00:39:34.869 --> 00:39:39.110 know also that it. that in the beginning of the 00:39:39.110 --> 00:39:42.010 gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church 00:39:42.010 --> 00:39:45.630 shared with me concerning giving and receiving, 00:39:45.809 --> 00:39:54.429 but you only. 16, it says, for even in Thessalonica, 00:39:54.510 --> 00:40:00.230 you sent aid and a gain for my necessities. Again 00:40:00.230 --> 00:40:02.449 and again for my needs. Once and again for my 00:40:02.449 --> 00:40:06.210 necessities. 17 now. It says, note that I seek 00:40:06.210 --> 00:40:10.110 the gifts. I seek the gifts, but I seek the fruits 00:40:10.110 --> 00:40:13.630 that abound to your account. 18 now. Indeed, 00:40:13.750 --> 00:40:18.710 I have all and abound. I am full, having everything 00:40:18.710 --> 00:40:26.269 from Epaphroditus. The things which were sent 00:40:26.269 --> 00:40:29.519 from you. a sweet -smelling aroma and acceptable 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:33.159 sacrifice, well -pleasing to God. So, not that 00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:35.840 he had received the things that were sent from 00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:41.119 them through Epaphroditus, and he's appreciating 00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:47.400 this church, the church in Philippi, for their 00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:49.809 generous gifts. is appreciating the church for 00:40:49.809 --> 00:40:52.090 their generous gift. Note that it's important 00:40:52.090 --> 00:40:54.190 that we understand that there's a giving that 00:40:54.190 --> 00:40:56.389 you give to the persons in need and there's a 00:40:56.389 --> 00:40:58.710 structure for it. When you're giving in the church, 00:40:58.789 --> 00:41:00.949 there's a structure. You don't just come and 00:41:00.949 --> 00:41:03.590 do it without... the structure that the leadership 00:41:03.590 --> 00:41:05.650 has set in place. You don't just go around and 00:41:05.650 --> 00:41:07.570 be doing whatever it is you want to do. Yes, 00:41:07.610 --> 00:41:09.210 you are giving, but if you're in the church, 00:41:09.269 --> 00:41:11.250 you want to respect the fact that there's a structure 00:41:11.250 --> 00:41:13.489 around it, then speak to the persons in charge. 00:41:13.570 --> 00:41:16.630 You don't just act like you're your own boss 00:41:16.630 --> 00:41:19.949 or act like you want to be very careful with 00:41:19.949 --> 00:41:22.449 that. And then once you're doing it, there's 00:41:22.449 --> 00:41:24.809 a collective system where the church is able 00:41:24.809 --> 00:41:27.489 to give for the needs and there's opportunity 00:41:27.489 --> 00:41:29.510 for all of that to be done so that it's done 00:41:29.510 --> 00:41:32.519 in order. is done in order. So this church, note 00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:35.539 that he's writing, he's appreciating, writing, 00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:38.519 appreciating the church for all supply of his 00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:40.480 needs through a certain individual. The church 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:44.000 contributed to that individual and it came to 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:46.760 him. And note that in our giving, because in 00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:49.820 the same Acts, you have an incident that happened 00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:52.300 when individuals said they were going to give 00:41:52.300 --> 00:41:55.389 something and they lied. In Acts 5, verse 1 to 00:41:55.389 --> 00:41:58.889 11, where they say they are promised they're 00:41:58.889 --> 00:42:01.070 going to give and they lie. Most of the times 00:42:01.070 --> 00:42:05.070 we focus on who killed them, what exactly it 00:42:05.070 --> 00:42:08.130 is. But you want to understand that a disciple 00:42:08.130 --> 00:42:13.309 should be a person of integrity. A disciple shouldn't 00:42:13.309 --> 00:42:17.039 lie. A disciple... shouldn't be given to lie. 00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:20.380 If you want to lie, if you don't, you can't, 00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:22.860 you shouldn't. You shouldn't lie. And in fact, 00:42:22.920 --> 00:42:25.579 they in their own case, it was not on their neck 00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:28.059 for them to sell the land and give everything. 00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:32.800 But the question was, how much did you sell the 00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:34.260 land? Because you promised to sell and give. 00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:37.739 And they lied. So you want to focus on the error 00:42:37.739 --> 00:42:40.340 of their actions. The error of their actions 00:42:40.340 --> 00:42:43.860 was the fact that they lied. So in your giving, 00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:45.820 you want to be honest in your giving. And know 00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:48.159 that we said that your giving is according to 00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:50.239 your ability. If you don't have the ability to 00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:52.960 give, there's nobody that is micromanaging or 00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:55.199 wanting you to give beyond your capacity. So 00:42:55.199 --> 00:42:58.039 you want to be honest. The disciples should be 00:42:58.039 --> 00:43:01.760 honest in their giving. That's why when we tell 00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:03.619 you, we know that you have the capability to 00:43:03.619 --> 00:43:07.059 do so. And then you also know your capability. 00:43:07.260 --> 00:43:10.340 So you want to be able to do it within your means. 00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:13.539 You want to do it within. Your means. Know that 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:16.659 you don't want to be manipulative. We are not 00:43:16.659 --> 00:43:19.400 manipulating you to give. You want to truly give 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:22.539 under authority. You want to do your giving under 00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:25.900 authority. Then we go to the other part where 00:43:25.900 --> 00:43:30.119 a disciple rejects entitlement. A disciple rejects 00:43:30.119 --> 00:43:33.539 entitlement. We are in a world where people are 00:43:33.539 --> 00:43:39.300 entitled. They feel like, you know... The church 00:43:39.300 --> 00:43:46.000 owes them. This sense of entitlement. Let's go 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:50.840 to 1 Samuel 2. Let's go to 1 Samuel 2. 1 Samuel 00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:54.860 2. I want to see the situation with the sons 00:43:54.860 --> 00:43:58.179 of Eli. 1 Samuel 2. I want us to read from verse 00:43:58.179 --> 00:44:02.340 12 to 17. 1 Samuel 2, verse 12 to 17. It says, 00:44:02.420 --> 00:44:06.440 Now Eli's sons were corrupt. Did you not know 00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:12.519 the Lord? And the priest's customs with the people 00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:16.159 was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the 00:44:16.159 --> 00:44:23.579 priest's servants would come with a three -pronged 00:44:23.579 --> 00:44:27.639 flesh hook, something like a fork, they would 00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:30.460 come with it, in his hand while the meat was 00:44:30.460 --> 00:44:34.340 boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan. 00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:38.260 or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. Not that that's 00:44:38.260 --> 00:44:40.159 the word, that's the same, it's just the same 00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:42.239 pot, the same, the meaning for the same thing, 00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:45.380 like a pot. And the priest will take for himself 00:44:45.380 --> 00:44:48.739 all that the fish hook, all that the flesh hook, 00:44:48.820 --> 00:44:54.739 sorry, brought up. So then, so they did in Shiloh 00:44:54.739 --> 00:45:00.199 to all the Israelites who were there. 15. Also, 00:45:00.460 --> 00:45:03.949 before they burned the fat, The priest's servants 00:45:03.949 --> 00:45:07.289 will come and say to the man who sacrificed, 00:45:07.730 --> 00:45:11.769 Give me meat for roasting to the priest, or he 00:45:11.769 --> 00:45:16.889 will not take a boiled meat from you, but raw. 00:45:17.210 --> 00:45:21.750 16 now it says, And if the men said to him, They 00:45:21.750 --> 00:45:25.510 should really burn the fat first, then you will 00:45:25.510 --> 00:45:29.750 take as much as your heart desires. He would 00:45:29.750 --> 00:45:35.610 then answer him, No. But we must give it to me 00:45:35.610 --> 00:45:39.269 now. You see, but you must give it to me now. 00:45:39.409 --> 00:45:42.949 And if not, I will take it by force. I will take 00:45:42.949 --> 00:45:47.869 it by force. 17. Therefore, the sin of the young 00:45:47.869 --> 00:45:53.130 men was very great before God for men above the 00:45:53.130 --> 00:45:55.789 offering of the Lord. So, know that these individuals, 00:45:56.070 --> 00:45:59.590 there was a system already there where you come 00:45:59.590 --> 00:46:03.929 in and then you... You don't come and insist 00:46:03.929 --> 00:46:06.909 on your own. Don't come and because my father 00:46:06.909 --> 00:46:10.670 is the person in charge, then I'm entitled to 00:46:10.670 --> 00:46:14.309 all that it is or I'm entitled because there's 00:46:14.309 --> 00:46:17.489 some form of stake. Know that these men, first 00:46:17.489 --> 00:46:19.329 and foremost, don't have any regard as we saw 00:46:19.329 --> 00:46:21.889 from the start. They were corrupt. They didn't 00:46:21.889 --> 00:46:23.849 have any regard for God. They didn't have any 00:46:23.849 --> 00:46:26.250 regard for the things of God. As disciples, we 00:46:26.250 --> 00:46:28.769 have great regard for God and we have great regard 00:46:28.769 --> 00:46:31.719 for the things of God. We don't do otherwise. 00:46:32.099 --> 00:46:34.840 We don't do otherwise. And it's very interesting 00:46:34.840 --> 00:46:37.239 that if you look at the structure of the house, 00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:39.760 the sons were doing what they were doing in rebellion. 00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:44.059 And you can see Samuel, the young Samuel, who 00:46:44.059 --> 00:46:47.159 later became Prophet Samuel, submitted to the 00:46:47.159 --> 00:46:49.719 authority and the things of the sons were in 00:46:49.719 --> 00:46:54.239 rebellion. So in a setup, you want to be the 00:46:54.239 --> 00:46:56.920 one who is submitted to authority and submitted 00:46:56.920 --> 00:46:58.659 to the authority of God's word and submitted 00:46:58.659 --> 00:47:01.340 to the leadership. You want to be the one that 00:47:01.340 --> 00:47:02.880 submitted to the authority of God's word. And 00:47:02.880 --> 00:47:06.679 also, which is very key to point out here, is 00:47:06.679 --> 00:47:11.139 the fact that in Eli's case, Eli had a failure. 00:47:11.360 --> 00:47:17.199 He had failed to, he allowed sin, the sin of 00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:20.659 his sons to thrive. That's why we give instruction. 00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:23.760 That's why we correct. You can be in the church 00:47:23.760 --> 00:47:26.820 where there's a leadership and then you are floundering 00:47:26.820 --> 00:47:29.429 and then you expect us to watch you. do the things 00:47:29.429 --> 00:47:31.170 that you want to do or your heart desires. We 00:47:31.170 --> 00:47:34.789 said, wherever you, any system where anybody 00:47:34.789 --> 00:47:37.590 just does whatever they like, nobody grows, nobody 00:47:37.590 --> 00:47:39.409 learns, nobody, there's nothing. Everybody just 00:47:39.409 --> 00:47:41.730 chooses however it is they want to. Because in 00:47:41.730 --> 00:47:44.590 his house, the man tolerated that happening. 00:47:44.869 --> 00:47:48.949 And we see that even in our own church setting, 00:47:49.130 --> 00:47:53.449 we do well to avoid a situation where anything 00:47:53.449 --> 00:47:56.610 that is erroneous will thrive. Scripture says 00:47:56.610 --> 00:47:58.650 that a little leaven leavens the lump. So wherever 00:47:58.650 --> 00:48:01.090 it leavens the lump, wherever it is that you 00:48:01.090 --> 00:48:05.210 allow anything to thrive, it will destroy the 00:48:05.210 --> 00:48:07.530 house. People will just come and think that that's 00:48:07.530 --> 00:48:11.230 a culture. That's the norm. That's what we do 00:48:11.230 --> 00:48:13.590 here. That's basically what is obtainable. That's 00:48:13.590 --> 00:48:16.730 what is allowed here. In 1 Corinthians, okay, 00:48:16.809 --> 00:48:19.110 let's just read it. I just quoted it not long 00:48:19.110 --> 00:48:23.570 ago. Let's just read 1 Corinthians 5 verse. Okay, 00:48:23.909 --> 00:48:25.789 while we're in Samuel, let's just look at Samuel 00:48:25.789 --> 00:48:28.969 3 .13. Samuel 3 .13, where it says, For I have 00:48:28.969 --> 00:48:32.429 told him that I will judge the house forever 00:48:32.429 --> 00:48:35.210 for the integrity which it knows, because his 00:48:35.210 --> 00:48:38.630 sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain 00:48:38.630 --> 00:48:41.389 them. I want you to see that he did not restrain 00:48:41.389 --> 00:48:44.289 Samuel. Sorry, I took us to... Listen, well, 00:48:44.349 --> 00:48:47.710 in 1 Samuel 3 .13, we see that the Eli, Prophet 00:48:47.710 --> 00:48:51.429 Eli, did not restrain his sons, meaning that... 00:48:51.579 --> 00:48:54.800 He had the responsibility to restrain them. That's 00:48:54.800 --> 00:48:56.980 in 1 Samuel 3, verse 13. It says, For I have 00:48:56.980 --> 00:48:59.579 told you that I will destroy the house of iniquity, 00:48:59.599 --> 00:49:02.559 because his sons made themselves vile, and he 00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:05.400 did not restrain them. He did not restrain them. 00:49:05.480 --> 00:49:10.059 In 1 Corinthians 5, verse 6. 1 Corinthians 5, 00:49:10.119 --> 00:49:14.019 verse 6. We'll go to 1 Corinthians 5, verse 6. 00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:21.730 1 Corinthians 5, verse 6. But your glorying is 00:49:21.730 --> 00:49:27.110 not good. Let's speak in context. Your glorying 00:49:27.110 --> 00:49:33.610 is not good, but do you not know that a little 00:49:33.610 --> 00:49:36.469 leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore, purge 00:49:36.469 --> 00:49:40.190 out the old leaven and the new lump. In this 00:49:40.190 --> 00:49:42.309 Christ is the Passover. Note that the focus of 00:49:42.309 --> 00:49:45.869 this passage is the fact that Christ is the Passover. 00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:51.460 For in this Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed 00:49:51.460 --> 00:49:54.260 for us. But the point is this, that once you 00:49:54.260 --> 00:49:57.059 take out, that you don't want to allow room for 00:49:57.059 --> 00:49:59.880 anything, because in the whole passage, we see 00:49:59.880 --> 00:50:02.559 Apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth, 00:50:02.739 --> 00:50:06.599 saying that, encouraging and admonishing them 00:50:06.599 --> 00:50:09.079 to flee all manner of immorality, because immorality 00:50:09.079 --> 00:50:12.800 defiles the church. He's warning and instructing 00:50:12.800 --> 00:50:16.719 that this is not allowed here. This is not allowed 00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:20.690 here. It is not allowed here that this will leaven 00:50:20.690 --> 00:50:23.409 the whole. When they say a little leaven, it's 00:50:23.409 --> 00:50:26.190 yeast. And you put yeast into something, there 00:50:26.190 --> 00:50:29.269 will be fermentation. And if you notice that 00:50:29.269 --> 00:50:32.349 the children of Israel had a thing, because it's 00:50:32.349 --> 00:50:36.929 symbolic, they didn't eat. The bread that they 00:50:36.929 --> 00:50:39.030 ate was not the one that had yeast in it. It 00:50:39.030 --> 00:50:41.630 was not the fermented one that went through the 00:50:41.630 --> 00:50:44.070 process of fermentation because yeast in it was 00:50:44.070 --> 00:50:46.329 almost like adding something that shouldn't be 00:50:46.329 --> 00:50:50.019 in it. to part of it, praise God. And this is 00:50:50.019 --> 00:50:51.980 an instruction here where you want to ensure 00:50:51.980 --> 00:50:55.239 that you address, you restrain any form of error. 00:50:55.380 --> 00:50:58.420 You say, no, this is not obtainable here. And 00:50:58.420 --> 00:51:00.559 that is how people grow. Some people don't even 00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:02.400 know what is obtainable or what is not obtainable 00:51:02.400 --> 00:51:05.179 until they are instructed. And when they are 00:51:05.179 --> 00:51:09.940 instructed, a responsible disciple will take 00:51:09.940 --> 00:51:13.280 heed of the instruction and go from there. So 00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:15.880 we also will see that a... Disciple forsakes 00:51:15.880 --> 00:51:19.559 all. A disciple forsakes all. A disciple forsakes 00:51:19.559 --> 00:51:22.559 all. It is the responsibility of a disciple to 00:51:22.559 --> 00:51:26.780 prioritize God, prioritize the teaching. And 00:51:26.780 --> 00:51:29.280 we see this in Luke. I want us to go to Luke 00:51:29.280 --> 00:51:34.039 14, 26. I think I've seen previous teachings, 00:51:34.139 --> 00:51:38.980 okay? Luke 14. I just want us to read 26. Luke 00:51:38.980 --> 00:51:44.949 14, 26. If anyone comes to me, and does not hate 00:51:44.949 --> 00:51:50.469 his father and mother, his wife and children, 00:51:50.570 --> 00:51:53.030 brothers and sisters, yes, his own life also. 00:51:53.190 --> 00:51:55.429 He cannot be my disciple. And you'll be thinking 00:51:55.429 --> 00:51:59.170 to yourself, what has been said here? I don't 00:51:59.170 --> 00:52:02.130 really understand how that will work. And let 00:52:02.130 --> 00:52:05.449 me jump to 33. It says, So likewise, whoever 00:52:05.449 --> 00:52:09.960 does not forsake all that he has, cannot be my 00:52:09.960 --> 00:52:12.420 disciple. See, whoever doesn't forsake all that 00:52:12.420 --> 00:52:14.579 he has can be my disciple. And we say that the 00:52:14.579 --> 00:52:20.340 word there, to not, and does not hate, means 00:52:20.340 --> 00:52:23.780 that, the hate there means to love less. Meaning 00:52:23.780 --> 00:52:29.360 that you prioritize or you love more this one 00:52:29.360 --> 00:52:31.300 person over this. So you love less. The hate 00:52:31.300 --> 00:52:34.619 there communicates to love less. So it says that 00:52:34.619 --> 00:52:37.480 you want to prioritize him over anything else. 00:52:37.900 --> 00:52:41.280 We read the 26 and then the last bit. I would 00:52:41.280 --> 00:52:44.139 love you to read 26 down to 33, but I just read 00:52:44.139 --> 00:52:45.980 the first and the last. But what it's pointing 00:52:45.980 --> 00:52:50.000 to is the fact that your priority has to be Him 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:52.460 over anything else. Your priority has to be Him 00:52:52.460 --> 00:52:54.000 over anything else. And by the special grace 00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:56.340 of God, we're helped by God to be able to prioritize 00:52:56.340 --> 00:52:59.699 Him over anything else and not make excuses, 00:52:59.840 --> 00:53:03.599 which is the next point in the forsaken all. 00:53:04.139 --> 00:53:07.639 When you choose to pursue other things, you will 00:53:07.639 --> 00:53:10.559 always have excuses. When you choose to pursue 00:53:10.559 --> 00:53:12.559 other things, you will always have excuses. And 00:53:12.559 --> 00:53:14.820 I want to say this, at this point, I really want 00:53:14.820 --> 00:53:17.179 us to pay attention for this point. When you 00:53:17.179 --> 00:53:19.820 forsake, as a disciple, forsake your key responsibility, 00:53:20.019 --> 00:53:22.360 what you are giving root for is excuses. You 00:53:22.360 --> 00:53:24.960 will have to say, oh, but this, oh, but that. 00:53:25.599 --> 00:53:29.809 You know, when a person is full of excuses, You 00:53:29.809 --> 00:53:32.130 already right there have a disciple that is not 00:53:32.130 --> 00:53:34.449 committed to growth, that is not committed to 00:53:34.449 --> 00:53:36.289 the Word, that is not committed to the things 00:53:36.289 --> 00:53:39.769 that he's called to do. And we see Jesus Christ 00:53:39.769 --> 00:53:42.670 spelling this out to a certain group of people 00:53:42.670 --> 00:53:45.050 when they were designed to follow. And then they 00:53:45.050 --> 00:53:48.030 said, oh, that's in Luke 9. Since we're in Luke, 00:53:48.130 --> 00:53:50.590 let's just go to Luke 9. I want you to see very 00:53:50.590 --> 00:53:52.789 quickly. We'll read all the excuses that was 00:53:52.789 --> 00:53:56.610 given. One first said, ah, hey, um, ah, well. 00:53:57.079 --> 00:53:59.179 I'm going to follow you. He now says, foxes have, 00:53:59.300 --> 00:54:03.400 let's look 9 .59. Look 9, let's start from 57. 00:54:03.500 --> 00:54:09.139 Look 9 .57. Look 9 .57. It says, now it happened 00:54:09.139 --> 00:54:15.199 as they journeyed on the road that someone said 00:54:15.199 --> 00:54:17.719 to him, Lord, I will follow you anywhere you 00:54:17.719 --> 00:54:19.800 go. And Jesus said to him, foxes have holes, 00:54:19.880 --> 00:54:23.039 birds have nests, birds of the air have nests, 00:54:23.039 --> 00:54:26.420 but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head. 00:54:26.699 --> 00:54:29.940 Meaning that the ease is like, look, if you're 00:54:29.940 --> 00:54:32.059 going to come with me on this journey, you will 00:54:32.059 --> 00:54:34.219 not always have where to lay your head. It might 00:54:34.219 --> 00:54:36.739 not be comfortable. It might not be the best. 00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:39.980 You will not always have anything you want, the 00:54:39.980 --> 00:54:42.480 comfort of a bed, a pillow, a house. Things will 00:54:42.480 --> 00:54:45.400 be difficult. Meaning that this thing of discipleship, 00:54:45.420 --> 00:54:47.559 the process will be tough. The process will be 00:54:47.559 --> 00:54:50.440 tough. And then it says in verse 59, it says, 00:54:50.639 --> 00:54:53.079 And then he said to the other, follow me. But 00:54:53.079 --> 00:54:57.340 he said, Lord, let me go and bury my father. 00:54:58.139 --> 00:55:00.980 Let me go and bury my father. And look at his 00:55:00.980 --> 00:55:03.719 response to it. He said to him, let the dead 00:55:03.719 --> 00:55:08.179 bury their own dead. But you go and preach the 00:55:08.179 --> 00:55:10.840 kingdom of God. See what he says in the instruction, 00:55:10.980 --> 00:55:15.059 which is our duty. He says, our duty and responsibility 00:55:15.059 --> 00:55:17.059 is to go and preach the kingdom of God, to go 00:55:17.059 --> 00:55:18.679 and preach. And there's no excuses for that. 00:55:18.739 --> 00:55:21.489 We don't have any excuse for that. He says, let 00:55:21.489 --> 00:55:23.869 me go and bury... See, we're not saying that 00:55:23.869 --> 00:55:26.949 you should not do the irresponsible, but the 00:55:26.949 --> 00:55:32.010 priority for a disciple is go and preach the 00:55:32.010 --> 00:55:33.650 kingdom of God. That is the instruction he gave 00:55:33.650 --> 00:55:36.010 in Matthew 8. Go and make disciples, go and preach, 00:55:36.130 --> 00:55:37.750 go and do all of that because in doing that, 00:55:37.789 --> 00:55:39.869 we're going to be teaching. We're going to be 00:55:39.869 --> 00:55:42.809 teaching. And then in 61, he now says, and another 00:55:42.809 --> 00:55:45.610 said, Lord, I will follow you, but let me first 00:55:45.610 --> 00:55:51.260 go and bid them farewell. who are at my house, 00:55:51.400 --> 00:55:53.739 and bid them farewell who are at my house. But 00:55:53.739 --> 00:55:57.159 Jesus said to him, No one having put his hand 00:55:57.159 --> 00:56:00.920 on the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom 00:56:00.920 --> 00:56:04.280 of God, is fit for the kingdom of God. Not that 00:56:04.280 --> 00:56:07.059 there is no excuses. Every one of them had an 00:56:07.059 --> 00:56:10.519 excuse, but the priority for the master is to 00:56:10.519 --> 00:56:13.519 preach the kingdom of God. And we see this even 00:56:13.519 --> 00:56:16.739 in the Old Testament. We see Elisha. Elisha. 00:56:17.119 --> 00:56:21.679 Elisha was... Elijah calls him to follow him. 00:56:21.920 --> 00:56:25.780 And Elisha's response was a wholehearted surrender. 00:56:26.500 --> 00:56:30.320 He even goes as far as breaking the calf, killing 00:56:30.320 --> 00:56:33.099 the cow because he was a farmer. He did all of 00:56:33.099 --> 00:56:35.340 that in 1 Kings. We see this in 1 Kings 19 verses 00:56:35.340 --> 00:56:39.039 19 to 21. He goes ahead and does that and follows 00:56:39.039 --> 00:56:41.960 him. And we see him being discipled by Elijah. 00:56:43.050 --> 00:56:46.150 And we see where he goes. We see the effectiveness 00:56:46.150 --> 00:56:49.170 of the discipleship, the effectiveness of being 00:56:49.170 --> 00:56:51.469 trained under him, the commitment. We see where 00:56:51.469 --> 00:56:55.730 he went. And I use the example of even David 00:56:55.730 --> 00:56:58.489 and his men. See how they grew. See all the things. 00:56:58.570 --> 00:57:02.130 So we want to always, because we can claim to 00:57:02.130 --> 00:57:05.949 follow people because of, we can claim that we 00:57:05.949 --> 00:57:08.550 are not able to follow because of our career. 00:57:08.920 --> 00:57:10.500 because of our family, because of our comfort. 00:57:10.639 --> 00:57:13.559 But all of those things are not, we don't do 00:57:13.559 --> 00:57:16.460 that. We don't, we prioritize being disciples 00:57:16.460 --> 00:57:18.619 over anything else. Praise God. We prioritize 00:57:18.619 --> 00:57:20.239 being disciples over everything. We don't prioritize 00:57:20.239 --> 00:57:22.119 discipleship over career. We don't prioritize, 00:57:22.239 --> 00:57:24.960 but we do all of those things with respect, under 00:57:24.960 --> 00:57:28.599 that respect. And know that a disciple also stays 00:57:28.599 --> 00:57:32.760 connected. A disciple stays connected too. the 00:57:32.760 --> 00:57:35.320 local church a disciple stays connected to the 00:57:35.320 --> 00:57:38.320 teaching of god's word we saw that the the the 00:57:38.320 --> 00:57:41.900 the people that were converted continue steadfastly 00:57:41.900 --> 00:57:44.280 in the apostles doctrine in fellowship and in 00:57:44.280 --> 00:57:46.400 breaking of bread and in prayers they stayed 00:57:46.400 --> 00:57:49.880 connected and i want us to really very much and 00:57:49.880 --> 00:57:53.070 this is we see this in acts the acts 2 42 to 00:57:53.070 --> 00:57:56.670 47. We see also in Hebrews. I want us to write 00:57:56.670 --> 00:57:58.610 down the scriptures. We see also in Hebrews 10, 00:57:58.710 --> 00:58:01.650 25. All of these things, we don't neglect the 00:58:01.650 --> 00:58:03.409 Garden of God. We stay connected to the Garden 00:58:03.409 --> 00:58:05.710 of God because that is how we grew. That's how 00:58:05.710 --> 00:58:09.090 we grew. And I want to very much put this out 00:58:09.090 --> 00:58:11.590 there that when you come and then you are a disciple 00:58:11.590 --> 00:58:16.010 on social media. Social media follower, social 00:58:16.010 --> 00:58:18.929 media disciple is not truly a disciple because 00:58:18.929 --> 00:58:21.130 he's in a commitment to local church. I said 00:58:21.130 --> 00:58:22.610 this on Sunday and I'm saying it again. If you're 00:58:22.610 --> 00:58:26.769 committed to local church, you truly grow. Because 00:58:26.769 --> 00:58:28.949 true disciples are committed to a local church 00:58:28.949 --> 00:58:32.150 and it's in local church that people, they grow, 00:58:32.289 --> 00:58:35.630 they serve, and they are effective. They grow, 00:58:35.690 --> 00:58:37.550 they serve, and they're effective. And lastly, 00:58:37.750 --> 00:58:41.469 a disciple multiplies. A disciple multiplies. 00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:44.960 A disciple multiplies. Our brother, when he was 00:58:44.960 --> 00:58:48.360 leading us in prayer, took us to Acts 6. Acts 00:58:48.360 --> 00:58:51.820 6. We see in Acts 7 that there was multiplication. 00:58:52.320 --> 00:58:55.440 The word spread and disciples multiplied. The 00:58:55.440 --> 00:58:57.380 word of God spread and disciples multiplied. 00:58:57.659 --> 00:58:59.980 And going back to the scripture that we read, 00:59:00.019 --> 00:59:02.599 it says, go and make disciples, teaching them 00:59:02.599 --> 00:59:04.599 to observe all the things I've commanded you. 00:59:05.440 --> 00:59:08.300 If there is no multiplication, there is a problem 00:59:08.300 --> 00:59:10.619 somewhere. It means that either we're not doing 00:59:10.619 --> 00:59:12.400 what exactly Jesus was saying, or we're just 00:59:12.400 --> 00:59:14.920 saying things we're not doing there. It means 00:59:14.920 --> 00:59:17.019 that there is a need for us to come to that place 00:59:17.019 --> 00:59:20.039 where the word is spreading, and I believe, God, 00:59:20.320 --> 00:59:23.159 that we're seeing it. tremendous amount of multiplication 00:59:23.159 --> 00:59:25.199 in the Church of NDCF. We are seeing multiplication 00:59:25.199 --> 00:59:28.699 in people's passion and desire to preach the 00:59:28.699 --> 00:59:30.760 gospel. We are seeing multiplication in people's 00:59:30.760 --> 00:59:34.380 desire to break away from everything that is 00:59:34.380 --> 00:59:36.599 holding them back from speaking, everything that 00:59:36.599 --> 00:59:38.440 is holding them back from learning, everything 00:59:38.440 --> 00:59:40.460 that is holding them back from serving, everything 00:59:40.460 --> 00:59:42.199 that is holding them back from prioritizing the 00:59:42.199 --> 00:59:44.460 kingdom of God. And it's my prayer and it's my 00:59:44.460 --> 00:59:47.599 heart desire that we are challenged. We are greatly 00:59:47.599 --> 00:59:50.360 challenged to understand that discipleship is 00:59:50.360 --> 00:59:53.639 not automatic. Discipleship happens by intentionally 00:59:53.639 --> 00:59:56.659 submitting to the place where God has placed 00:59:56.659 --> 01:00:00.059 you in. Discipleship happens by when you intentionally, 01:00:00.239 --> 01:00:02.980 it's intentional. It's a desire that you have 01:00:02.980 --> 01:00:05.920 that if I must grow, I must submit to the authority. 01:00:05.960 --> 01:00:07.880 I must submit to what God is doing in the church. 01:00:08.079 --> 01:00:10.820 And I want us to just take this time to just 01:00:10.820 --> 01:00:13.159 pray. I would want us to affirm the words I have 01:00:13.159 --> 01:00:15.219 encouraged us to affirm on Sunday, which is, 01:00:15.260 --> 01:00:18.500 I am teachable. Say it in your room, I am teachable. 01:00:18.559 --> 01:00:20.739 Shout it in your room, I am teachable. I stay 01:00:20.739 --> 01:00:25.010 teachable. I stay teachable. without pride in 01:00:25.010 --> 01:00:27.090 my heart. I stay teachable without pride in my 01:00:27.090 --> 01:00:29.949 heart. I lead others by serving. I lead others 01:00:29.949 --> 01:00:33.730 by serving and I serve diligently. I submit to 01:00:33.730 --> 01:00:36.489 authority. I am not rebellious. I don't frustrate 01:00:36.489 --> 01:00:39.869 the efforts of the pastors and the leaders. I 01:00:39.869 --> 01:00:42.769 prioritize discipleship. I prioritize the activity 01:00:42.769 --> 01:00:46.130 of the kingdom over everything else. I am a disciple 01:00:46.130 --> 01:00:48.570 that disciples others. I want you to say these 01:00:48.570 --> 01:00:50.369 things. I want you to pray these things and we 01:00:50.369 --> 01:00:52.929 are enabled. We are helped of God to be able 01:00:52.929 --> 01:00:54.889 to... manifest the kingdom, by the help of God 01:00:54.889 --> 01:00:56.610 to continue to manifest the kingdom, by the help 01:00:56.610 --> 01:00:58.869 of God to do the things that is required for 01:00:58.869 --> 01:01:01.949 us to see the change in our lives and in the 01:01:01.949 --> 01:01:05.730 lives of others in the name of Jesus. Amen and 01:01:05.730 --> 01:01:11.849 Amen. We're thankful you joined us today. Don't 01:01:11.849 --> 01:01:14.389 forget to subscribe so you're always connected 01:01:14.389 --> 01:01:18.030 to our latest sermons. You can also explore more 01:01:18.030 --> 01:01:21.289 about NECF on our website or follow us online. 01:01:22.139 --> 01:01:24.739 We look forward to having you with us next time. 01:01:25.199 --> 01:01:26.000 God bless.