Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / The Will of God for Believers pt 3

Transcript

The Will of God for Believers pt 3 · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

0:01
Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
0:06
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
0:09
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
0:13
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
0:17
right in. Now I want to encourage you that when
0:23
you come to church, whenever you come to church,
0:34
Be a participant of what is happening in church.
0:40
Don't just be a spectator, but be what? Be a
0:46
participant. Participate. If we say we are praying,
0:51
ensure that you are praying. If we are singing,
0:54
ensure you are singing. If we are dancing, ensure
0:58
that you are dancing. Hallelujah. It's unfortunate
1:07
that even those that were leading us in worship,
1:09
some of them stand so uninterested in what is
1:14
happening here. So worship team, please, if anybody
1:21
is not interested in participating in what is
1:23
happening here, there's no need for the person
1:25
to climb up here. Alright? Because if we stand
1:29
here, we are singing, we are dancing. And you
1:33
that are supposed to lead us is not dancing.
1:35
We encourage you to go and sit. Whatever we do
1:43
here is very, very important. There's no part
1:47
of this service that is a joke. All right? When
1:52
we are coming here, let's maintain the discipline.
1:55
You see, the reason why many of us, we keep on
1:57
coming to church. and will not see any effect
2:00
in your life is because of the mindset you carry
2:03
to come to this place. So casual, so uninterested.
2:17
The mindset you came into this place with determines
2:20
what you will learn and how your life will be
2:22
impacted. So coming to church, I want to encourage
2:29
you to be prepared. You have your phones all
2:33
through the week. You have your phones after
2:38
the church service. There is no amount of money.
2:44
If you are doing business or anything that you
2:46
lose in the course of this service. If you put
2:51
your phone on fly mode or silent. There is no
2:56
any emergency. It will require your attention.
3:02
You're not working with the fire service, are
3:04
you? Neither are you working with the ambulance.
3:10
So please, I want you to be encouraged that when
3:12
you come to church, it's an important moment.
3:16
It's an important moment for your life to be
3:19
blessed. It's an important moment for you to...
3:22
To hear God speak to you. Sometimes in the course
3:25
of the service, God will be speaking to you.
3:26
Not necessarily during the sermon, sometimes.
3:32
So please, I want us to change our attitude so
3:34
that every opportunity we have, the cell meetings,
3:38
in the midweek services, on the Sunday services,
3:42
they will benefit, will enjoy the best of what
3:45
God is doing in their house. Hallelujah. Colossians
3:52
chapter 1, verse 9. Colossians chapter 1, verse
4:04
9. For this reason, we also, since the day we
4:16
heard it, do not cease to pray for you. and to
4:21
ask that you may be filled with the knowledge
4:25
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
4:31
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing
4:39
him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing
4:45
in the knowledge of God. strengthened with all
4:51
might according to his glorious power, for all
4:58
patience and longsuffering with joy, giving thanks
5:03
to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers
5:07
of the inheritance of the saints in light. He
5:14
has delivered us from the power of darkness and
5:18
conveyed us Into the kingdom of his love. Of
5:24
his son in love. In whom we have redemption.
5:27
Through his blood. The forgiveness of our sins.
5:31
Hallelujah. And also 1st Peter chapter 2 verse
5:37
9. 1st Peter chapter 2. Verse 9 and verse 10.
5:47
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
5:52
a holy nation, his own special people, that you
5:58
may proclaim the praises of him who called you
6:02
out of darkness into his marvelous light. Who
6:08
once were not a people, but are now the people
6:12
of God. Who had not obtained mercy, but now have
6:18
obtained mercy. Hallelujah. Once upon a time,
6:24
we were dead in our trespasses. Once upon a time,
6:30
we were under the dominion of sin. Once upon
6:33
a time, we were under captivity. And we see God
6:38
deliver us from that through what Jesus Christ
6:40
has done on the cross of Calvary. We see Jesus
6:45
dying on the cross for us. And by our faith in
6:51
what he has done, we receive life. Hallelujah.
6:56
We receive life and we are eternally safe. And
7:00
we say that we have a heritage, we have an inheritance.
7:06
We are partakers of the inheritance of those
7:10
who are safe. And the inheritance we have comes
7:15
with responsibility. And the responsibility we
7:21
have is what we've been talking about, the responsibility
7:25
of proclaiming the gospel. So every believer
7:31
is assigned to proclaim the gospel. Every believer
7:38
has the tax. of preaching the gospel. And we
7:45
saw previously that God plans to fill the earth
7:49
with the knowledge of his will. It is a desire
7:55
of God that all the earth know him. It is a desire
7:59
that all men should be saved. It is God's desire
8:03
that the salvation message be preached to every
8:06
man on earth. But this work of saving men is
8:16
done by God but through men. Hallelujah. For
8:21
you as an individual, how you received the gospel
8:24
was through men preaching to you. How you became
8:28
a Christian or how you became a believer is through
8:31
men preaching the gospel to you. How the message
8:36
was preserved right from the time of Jesus Christ
8:39
till now is through the activities of men, through
8:44
the responsibility of men. To be saved means
8:49
to be chosen and given a life of purpose. And
8:57
our purpose is a purpose of priesthood, to proclaim,
9:01
to preach the gospel. And we said earlier on
9:07
that God's will for his people rather for God's
9:11
will for his kingdom of priests on earth is to
9:14
ensure that the gospel is preached. Now we've
9:20
emphasized in scriptures over and over and over
9:23
again. Let's turn to Acts chapter 8. We start
9:26
from Acts chapter 8. Acts chapter 8 verse 26.
9:43
God's plan on earth is to be carried out by men.
9:48
Hallelujah. You and I are participants in what
9:55
God is doing on earth. Acts 8, verse 26. I want
10:00
us to go back to that story we saw on Wednesday.
10:08
Acts 8. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
10:21
saying, Arise and go towards south, a long road
10:27
which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This
10:31
is desert. So he arose and went, and behold,
10:36
a man of Ethiopia. A eunuch of great authority
10:45
under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who
10:48
had charge of all her treasury and had come to
10:52
Jerusalem to worship, was returning and sitting
10:57
in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
11:01
And when the spirit said, then the spirit rather
11:04
said to Philip, go near and overtake his chariot,
11:08
this chariot. So Philip ran to him and heard
11:11
him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, Do you
11:15
understand what you are reading? And he said,
11:19
How can I understand? How can I? Unless someone
11:24
guides me. And he asked Philip to come up and
11:29
sit with him. The place in the scripture which
11:32
he read was this. He was led as a sheep to the
11:36
slaughter. And as a lamb before his shearer is
11:40
silent, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation,
11:45
his justice was taken away. And who will declare
11:53
his generation? For his life is taken from the
11:58
earth. So the Enoch answered Philip and said,
12:02
I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this?
12:07
of himself or someone, some other man. Then Philip
12:14
opened his mouth and beginning at this scripture,
12:18
preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down
12:22
the road, they came to some water and the Enoch
12:24
said, see, here is water. What hinders me from
12:29
being baptized? Then Philip said, if you believe
12:33
in all your heart, you may. And he answered and
12:38
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
12:43
of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand
12:46
still and both Philip and Enoch went down into
12:49
the water and he baptized him. Hallelujah. And
12:55
I want us to take note in a text right from the
12:58
verse 26 that the angel spoke to Philip. that
13:05
Philip received the instruction from an angel.
13:10
And we're trying to establish that angels have
13:14
not been delegated with the responsibility of
13:18
preaching the gospel. Because if angels have
13:21
the privilege that we share as men to preach
13:27
the gospel, then there wouldn't be need for men.
13:30
The angel wouldn't ask Philip to go to the Ethiopian
13:32
Enoch. He would have gone there himself to preach
13:36
the gospel. But we see that the angel of the
13:39
Lord spoke to Philip saying, Arise and go to
13:43
the south along the road down from Jerusalem
13:48
to Gaza. And we see Philip moving in obedience.
13:54
And we also see the place where the Spirit also
13:56
speaks to Philip. In verse 29, the Spirit of
14:01
God spoke to Philip. Then the Spirit said to
14:06
Philip, go near and overtake his chariot. The
14:11
angel was speaking. The Spirit of God was speaking.
14:17
And we see Philip as a party to what God is doing.
14:23
Hallelujah. Why didn't the Spirit speak to the
14:26
man? Why didn't the Spirit give him interpretation
14:28
of what he was reading? Why didn't the Spirit
14:30
of God... minister from where he was reading
14:34
to him. We are part of what God is doing on earth.
14:42
Hallelujah. The believer is essential to what
14:47
God is doing on earth. Pastor was telling us
14:51
before that God uses men for our salvation and
14:56
the devil also uses men. Hallelujah. God uses
15:03
men and the devil also is interested in men as
15:08
well. So we see the angelic being participating.
15:12
We see the Holy Spirit participating and we see
15:14
Philip participating. Everyone has his role.
15:18
The role that we've been given is to preach.
15:22
Hallelujah. As we speak, the Spirit of God goes
15:25
a long way in convicting the heart of men. Now
15:29
you don't have the role of convicting men of
15:31
sin. You must understand where your responsibility
15:35
is and the parameter of your responsibility as
15:39
a believer. As you preach, as you preach, and
15:44
you allow the Spirit of God to do the work of
15:47
conviction and convincing men about the truth
15:50
concerning Jesus Christ. So we see how God works
15:58
through men in the spirit of the gospel. Also
16:02
the statement of the Ethiopian in verse 31. He
16:08
said, how can I understand unless someone guides
16:11
me? And he asked Philip to come up and sit with
16:18
him. The understanding of scripture comes by
16:22
explanation of men. Which means that for you
16:28
to understand scripture, you must be taught by
16:30
men. Hallelujah. There's no special revelation
16:39
that you can ever get in scriptures that have
16:43
not been revealed to men. There's no new information
16:52
that God is sharing that only you is a custodian
16:57
of. For you to come to the accurate knowledge
17:01
of scripture and to know the will of God, there's
17:04
a place of men that must expose you to the truth
17:09
of God's word. So this further emphasizes the
17:15
need for men in the work of ministry. We don't
17:17
learn on our own, but through the ministry of
17:20
men. So God's will is to bring about salvation
17:25
to men. But this can only happen through the
17:29
activities of men. And we saw another example
17:34
in Acts chapter 10. Let's go to Acts chapter
17:36
10 and see the other example we saw on Wednesday.
17:40
Acts chapter 10 verse 1. We see similar pattern.
17:47
There was a man in Caesarea called Cornelius,
17:52
a centurion of what was called the Italian regiment.
17:56
a devout man who feared God with all his household,
18:02
who gave alms generously to the people and prayed
18:06
to God always. About the ninth hour of the day,
18:10
he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming
18:15
in and saying to him, Cornelius. And when he
18:19
observed him, he was afraid and said, What is
18:22
this? What is it, Lord? So he said to him, Your
18:26
prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial
18:30
before God. Now send men to Joppa and send for
18:38
Simon, whose name is Peter. He is lodged with
18:41
Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He
18:46
will tell you what you must do. And when the
18:50
angels who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius
18:53
called two of his household. household servants,
18:56
and a devout soldier from among those who waited
18:59
on him continually. So when he had explained
19:03
all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
19:06
Let's jump to verse 34. From verse 34. Then Peter,
19:14
when he had come, they brought Peter. Then Peter
19:16
opened his mouth and said, In truth, I perceive
19:20
that God shows no partiality. but in every nation
19:26
whoever fears him and works righteousness is
19:29
accepted by him. The word which God sent to the
19:33
children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus
19:36
Christ, he is Lord of all. That word you know,
19:42
which was proclaimed through all Judea and began
19:47
from Galilee after the baptism which John preached.
19:52
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with Holy
19:56
Spirit and with power who went about doing good
20:01
and healing all who were oppressed by the devil
20:04
for God was with him. And we are witnesses of
20:10
all things which he did both in the land of the
20:16
Jews and in Jerusalem whom they killed by hanging
20:21
on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day
20:27
and showed him openly, not to all people, but
20:32
to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us
20:38
who ate and drank with him after he arose from
20:42
the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the
20:47
people. and to testify that it is he who was
20:53
ordained by God to be the judge of the living
20:55
and the dead. And to him all the prophets witness
21:00
that through his name whoever believes in him
21:04
will receive remissions of sins. Hallelujah.
21:08
So we see also another situation in which the
21:15
angel of God that involve man in the establishment
21:24
of God's work, especially in this family. And
21:26
when we go down, we'll see how the Spirit of
21:29
God fell upon them, how, you know, they became
21:31
born again, and how they received the Spirit
21:35
of God, and they began to speak in tongues. So
21:38
this text is another example in which we see
21:40
God walking through a man to bring about the
21:43
knowledge of salvation to men. God has to send
21:49
an angel to communicate God's plan through Peter
21:55
so that the gospel will be proclaimed. So we
22:00
can conclude that we are born again and we have
22:04
received an inheritance and this heritage comes
22:07
with responsibility. This inheritance we receive
22:12
comes with the responsibility of proclaiming
22:15
Christ. So who are men? Who are the men who God
22:21
uses to proclaim his work? Who are the men that
22:25
God uses in proclaiming his work? Believers.
22:28
Hallelujah. Believers. You and I that are born
22:33
again are candidates. We are candidates for God's
22:39
work. We are what? We are candidates for God's
22:44
work on the earth. I intentionally say candidates.
22:48
Because it's not every man that is born again
22:50
that we see doing the work of God. In fact, it's
22:54
not every man that is born again that God can
22:56
even trust with his work. Amen? It's not every
23:03
man that God can trust with his work. God will
23:08
trust a man that is faithful. God will trust
23:13
a man that has shown. In fact, some people in
23:15
this church, we cannot even trust them with people.
23:19
Talk more of God. The moment we give you one
23:24
or two people to be under you, we are rest assured
23:27
that there will be problem. So God will effectively
23:38
carry out his work through men that have been
23:42
equipped for the work of ministry. Hallelujah.
23:49
The kind of men that God can commit the salvation
23:53
of souls to are men that have been equipped with
23:57
a tax of calendar responsibility. Through our
24:01
scriptures, we go through scriptures and we see
24:03
all the men that God has used. There is not just
24:08
man that is just unserious that God commit the
24:13
work of ministry to. It is believers who have
24:19
been equipped for the work of ministry. Salvation
24:23
is essential and a basic necessity. But much
24:28
more important is a training of the believer.
24:31
That's where I'm targeted at. Beyond just being
24:35
born again, the training of the believer is essential
24:39
to being effective in the work of ministry. It
24:44
is quite crucial for success in the work of ministry.
24:49
And the examples we just mentioned earlier on,
24:51
let's look at the example of Philip, the great
24:54
evangelist. We saw the great and the mighty work
24:56
he did. We saw how he was able to be used by
24:59
God to bring about salvation to the Ethiopian.
25:04
But who was Philip in the first place? Who was
25:08
Philip? Let's go back to that text we read in
25:12
Acts 8, verse 1. Let's see what Philip, the great
25:27
evangelist, says. Now Saul was consenting to
25:31
his death. At that time, a great persecution
25:35
arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem,
25:38
and they were all scattered throughout the region
25:40
of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And
25:44
devout men carried Stephen to his burial and
25:47
made a great lamentation over him. As for Saul,
25:50
he made havoc of the church. entering every house
25:55
and dragging of men and women, committing them
25:57
to prison. Therefore those who were scattered
26:01
went everywhere preaching the word. And Philip,
26:06
then Philip went down to the city of Samaria
26:11
and preached Christ to them. And they multitude
26:15
with one accord hearing the things spoken by
26:19
Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles he did.
26:23
For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice
26:27
came out of many who were possessed. And many
26:32
who were paralyzed, lame were healed. And there
26:36
was great joy in the city. One man, there was
26:39
great joy in the city. But there was a certain
26:41
man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery
26:45
in a city and astonished the people of Samaria
26:49
claiming that he was someone great. to whom they
26:54
all gave heed from least to the greatest, saying,
26:57
This man is the great power of God. And they
27:02
heeded him, because he had astonished them with
27:06
sorceries for a long time. But when Peter appeared,
27:10
but when they believed Philip, as he preached
27:17
the things concerning the kingdom, of God and
27:22
the name of Jesus Christ. Both men and women
27:26
were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed.
27:31
And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip
27:38
and was amazed seeing the miracles and the signs
27:42
which were done by Philip. And on and on we see
27:46
how the Spirit of God picked him and then his
27:48
encounter with what? With the Ethiopian Enoch.
27:52
This is a man that has been committed with the
27:56
work of ministry. But then who was he? Who was
28:03
he first? Philip was not Philip the Great. He
28:08
started somewhere. Hallelujah. Learning under
28:11
the apostles in chapter 6. Let's go to chapter
28:13
6 of Acts. And see where he was coming from.
28:16
Acts chapter 6 from verse 1. Now in those days
28:24
when the number of disciples were multiplying,
28:26
there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by
28:31
the Hellenists because their widows were neglected
28:34
in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned
28:40
the multitude of the disciples and said, It is
28:43
not desirable that we should leave the Word of
28:45
God and serve tables. Not that serving tables
28:51
is bad or is inferior, but there's a huge responsibility
28:55
in doing the Word. Therefore, brethren, seek
28:59
out from among you seven men of good reputation,
29:02
full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may
29:07
appoint over this business. But we will give
29:10
ourselves continually to prayer and what? And
29:14
to the ministry of the word. And the same pleased
29:18
the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen,
29:21
a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And
29:26
also who? This same Philip that we saw was doing
29:32
the work of ministry, was casting out devils,
29:36
was healing the sick. was performing all the
29:40
miracles and the wonderful signs that he did
29:43
in the city, changing the course of the destinies
29:48
of men by the preaching of the gospel. But he
29:55
was a man that was, you know, was discipled and
29:59
raised by the apostles. Essentially, he was trained
30:04
by the teachings of the apostles. He was a man
30:09
that, you know, was raised and equipped for the
30:14
works and the exploits that we see him did in
30:17
the subsequent chapters. What about Peter himself?
30:20
Jesus called the other apostles and trained them
30:23
for the work of ministry. In Mark chapter 3,
30:26
from verse 13 to 15. Give me Mark chapter 3,
30:29
verse 13 to 15. Mark chapter 3, verse 13 to 15.
30:38
he himself wanted, and they came to him. And
30:42
he appointed twelve that they might be with him
30:45
and that he might send them out to preach. And
30:50
we'll see that from there, Jesus spent several,
30:53
almost three and a half years with them, teaching
30:56
them, discipling them, raising them, and equipping
31:00
them for the work of ministry. Even at his resurrection,
31:05
he spent quality time with them, discipling them
31:07
and teaching them about what he has accomplished
31:11
in his death, his burial and his resurrection.
31:16
Hallelujah. Now I want us to see another example.
31:19
Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter
31:29
20. We'll see another example here. Acts chapter
31:38
20 from verse 17. From Meletus he sent to Ephesus.
31:46
This is Paul. He sent to Ephesus and called for
31:49
the elders of the church. And when they had come
31:52
to him, he said to them, You know from the first
31:57
day that I came to Asia in what manner I always
32:01
live among you. serving the law with all humility,
32:05
with many tears and trials, which happened to
32:08
me by the plotting of the Jews. How I kept back
32:12
nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to
32:15
you and taught you publicly and from house to
32:21
house, testifying to the Jews and also to the
32:26
Greeks' repentance. towards God and faith towards
32:31
our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound
32:40
in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things
32:43
that will happen to me there, except that the
32:46
Holy Spirit testify in every city, saying that
32:49
chains and tribulations await me. But none of
32:53
these things move me, nor do I count my life
32:56
dear to myself. so that I may finish my race
33:00
with joy and the ministry which I received from
33:05
the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the
33:09
grace of God. And indeed now I know that you
33:13
all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom
33:16
of God will see my face no more. Therefore, I
33:22
testify to you this day that I am innocent of
33:25
the blood of all men. For I have not shown to
33:30
declare to you the whole counsel of God. I have
33:34
not shown to declare to you the whole counsel
33:36
of God. Therefore, take heed to yourselves and
33:41
to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit
33:45
has made you overseers. So these men are overseers.
33:49
They are leaders of the church in Ephesus. is
33:55
enumerating to them his label in their lives.
33:58
How he labeled over them, how he invested into
34:02
their lives, how he was able to disciple and
34:05
raise them. the church of God which he purchased
34:25
with his own blood. For I know this, that after
34:29
my departure, savage wolves will come in among
34:33
you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves
34:37
men will rise up, speaking perverse things to
34:40
draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore
34:45
watch and remember that for three years... I
34:50
did not cease to wound everyone night and day
34:55
with tears. Hallelujah. And we'll see further
34:59
his admonition to these elders. These are elders.
35:02
These are leaders of the church. These are faithful
35:05
men that have the faithful responsibility of
35:10
upholding God's work, preaching the gospel, and
35:15
ministering unto the saints. But before they
35:20
became elders, who were they? Paul mentioned
35:23
in verse 31 that he has for three years labored
35:26
in training them. We can see this in chapter
35:31
19, previous chapter, chapter 19, especially
35:33
from verse 1. Chapter 19 from verse 1. And it
35:41
happened while Apollos was at Corinth that Paul,
35:45
having passed through... the upper regions, came
35:48
to Ephesus and finding some disciples, he said
35:53
to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when
35:55
you believed? So they said to him, We have not
35:58
so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.
36:03
Which means that if you've not heard about the
36:05
Holy Spirit, then you're not born again. We have
36:10
not so much heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.
36:12
Verse 3. And he said to them, Into what then
36:15
were you baptized? So they said to him, into
36:18
John's baptism. Then Paul said, John indeed baptized
36:23
with the baptism of repentance, saying to the
36:26
people that they should believe on him who will
36:30
come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Then
36:34
when they heard this, they were baptized in the
36:38
name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid
36:41
hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.
36:45
And they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now
36:48
the men, they were about twelve in all. And he
36:53
went into the synagogues and spoke boldly for
36:55
three months, reasoning and persuading concerning
37:02
the things of the kingdom of God. Verse 9. But
37:06
when some were hardened and did not believe,
37:09
but spoke evil of the way before the multitude,
37:12
he departed from them and withdraw the disciples,
37:17
reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. He
37:22
withdrew with the disciples the tithe that he
37:25
made. The Bible says he was reasoning with them
37:28
daily in the school of Tyrannus. Verse 10, and
37:33
in this, continue for two years so that all who
37:37
dwell in Asia heard the word of God. Jesus, both
37:42
the Jews and the Greeks. Hallelujah. We see how
37:50
he labored in their lives. They didn't become
37:53
elders overnight. They were not counted faithful
37:58
overnight. They were not given the responsibility
38:02
over the church overnight. They were not given
38:06
the destiny of men overnight, but they were men.
38:10
They were labeled upon, were trained with disciples.
38:13
And we see the place of responsibility given
38:18
to them. So today, the church is God's training
38:22
ground for men who will do the work of ministry.
38:27
For us to do the will of God, the church is where
38:34
we are trained. And later on, we see in his epistles
38:41
to this same church, In Ephesians chapter 4 verse
38:46
1, Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1, when Paul was
38:50
writing an epistle to this same church, from
38:55
verse 1, let's read verse 1 to 13. It says, with
39:14
long -suffering, bearing with one another in
39:17
love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit
39:22
in the bond of peace. There is one body and one
39:27
Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of
39:30
your calling. One Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
39:34
One God and Father of all, who is above all and
39:37
through all in you. All. But to each one of us,
39:42
grace was given according to the measure of Christ's
39:45
gift. Therefore, he says, when he ascended on
39:48
high, he let captivity captive and gave gifts
39:52
to men. And what are these gifts? Now this, he
39:55
ascended, what does it mean that he also first
39:59
descended into the lower parts of the earth?
40:02
Verse 10. He who descended is also the one who
40:05
ascended far above all the heavens, that he might
40:09
fill all things. And he himself gave some to
40:13
be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
40:18
some pastors and teachers, for the equipping
40:21
of the saints, for the work of ministry, for
40:26
the divine of the body of Christ, till we all
40:29
come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
40:33
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure
40:37
of the statue of the fullness of Christ. that
40:40
we should no longer be children tossed to and
40:43
fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine
40:46
by a trickery of men, the chronic craftiness
40:50
of deceitful plotting. But speaking the truth
40:55
in love may grow up in all things into him who
41:00
is a head, even Christ. Hallelujah. So in the
41:03
resurrection of Jesus Christ, the church was
41:07
established. And we see that, At the establishment
41:10
of the church, Jesus gave gifts. In verse 11,
41:14
we see the apostles. We see the prophets. We
41:17
see the evangelists. We see the pastoral teachers.
41:20
Are the gifts to men. God gave these gifts to
41:25
men. In verse 12, we see the function of these
41:29
gifts. The equipping of the saints for the work
41:34
of ministry. The equipping of the saints for
41:38
the work of ministry. Every saint has the work
41:42
of ministry. Every believer is called into ministry.
41:46
The call of God upon your life is a call into
41:50
ministry. The call of salvation is a call of
41:53
ministry. And then we see the gift of men unto
41:59
men for the equipping of the saints for this
42:02
work of ministry. The God of Christ's gift to
42:12
the church is a knowledge of the Son of God in
42:15
verse 14. Give me verse 14. That we will grow
42:19
up in knowledge. That we should no longer be
42:21
children tossed to and fro and carried about
42:24
every wind of doctrine by the trickling of men.
42:27
This is verse 14, verse 13. Yes. Yes. Till we
42:34
all come to the unity of faith. And of the knowledge,
42:38
this unity of faith is actually knowledge of
42:41
the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure
42:44
of the statue of the fullness of Christ. And
42:48
this is done through the teaching that we receive
42:51
in church, through the admonition, through the
42:54
guidance, through the instruction, through the
42:56
rebuke and the edification we receive in church.
42:59
This is a vision of the church, raising disciples
43:03
for the transformation of the world through the
43:05
gospel. And this is what we as NEC have committed
43:09
to doing. Hallelujah. So what we want to see
43:14
happen is that God's divine project on earth,
43:17
God's plan of saving men come to pass. And you
43:23
and I are partakers of this work. And through
43:26
the instrument of the church, we are trained
43:29
and equipped for this work. We are trained and
43:33
equipped for this work. And even as we prepare
43:35
ourselves for this coming cataclysm, it is our
43:41
responsibility to avail ourselves. Hallelujah.
43:45
It is our responsibility to do what? To avail
43:49
ourselves, to make ourselves available for God
43:53
to equip us so that we will be able to know His
43:57
will. Not only that we are going to know His
44:00
will, we will know His work. And that you and
44:03
I will be able to carry his work effectively.
44:07
What should be our response to God's plan for
44:10
equipping us? What should be our response for
44:13
his plan to prepare us? For his plan for our
44:19
equipping? First and foremost is to be available.
44:25
Hallelujah. Is to be what? Is to be available.
44:29
Whenever you skip church, Whenever you skip every
44:33
meeting organized by the church, you are absconding
44:36
yourself from the responsibility of God. There's
44:41
no how you will be effective in the plan of God
44:45
when you're not part of the training of the people
44:49
of God. It is impossible for you to not just,
44:53
not just to shut up. Some of us shut up casually.
44:59
Know that every meeting is an opportunity for
45:03
God to encounter you with his word. It's an opportunity
45:06
for God to equip you with knowledge. For an opportunity
45:10
for you to know God. What he has done. What he
45:14
has achieved. It's an opportunity for you to
45:17
be perfected in that knowledge. So that you can
45:22
be an effective minister of the word. The meetings
45:28
we organize here in church is not for entertainment.
45:32
The meeting we organize is not because we want
45:34
to socialize. There are different ways we can
45:37
socialize. We can socialize in the restaurant.
45:43
We can choose to socialize at the beach. Anywhere.
45:48
But church is a place where God commits the truth.
45:56
concerning what he has done unto men. So first
46:00
and foremost, our response is availability. We
46:03
have to make ourselves available and submit to
46:08
God's plan for our equipping so that we can be
46:11
prepared for God's work, so that we can be equipped
46:14
and furnished for every good work. And as we
46:20
are available, we pay attention to what God is
46:23
doing. As we make ourselves available, we don't
46:26
just show up so that we tick all the boxes. No.
46:31
We are here with an intention in our hearts.
46:35
We are here with an expectation. We are here
46:39
with an expectation that at the end of this period,
46:42
we will see this result in our lives. And the
46:45
result we will see in our lives is good works.
46:50
Hallelujah. So that... The priesthood responsibility
46:54
will be effectively done by men that have been
46:58
called into that priesthood. When the children
47:03
of Israel rejected the gospel and God decided
47:09
to establish a priesthood through the lineage
47:13
of Aaron, you remember what happened to his sons?
47:19
What happened to them? There was a codified,
47:23
there was an arrangement, there was a curriculum,
47:27
I would say curriculum, of how every single activity
47:31
in the tabernacle should be carried out. Alright?
47:40
Moses has instructed them. Moses has taught them,
47:44
this is how you do this, this is how you do that.
47:47
But I want to speculate. That when Moses was
47:51
doing that training, some of them were sleeping.
47:56
I may even speculate that when he was doing that
47:59
training, they were not taking notes. Because
48:00
if you look at how plenty that instruction is,
48:03
you need high level of attention and what? And
48:07
carefulness to do specifically, exactly the instruction
48:12
that was given. First show to do the assignment,
48:16
they offer strange fire. And they died. Hallelujah.
48:26
Now, it's not God's plan for you to die, right?
48:31
But listen, for you to be qualified, for you
48:35
to be trusted with lives, it's essential that
48:38
you avail yourself and submit to God's way of
48:41
building men. And you're not just here because
48:45
you want to take a box of beans in a gathering.
48:48
You want to belong because you're a Christian.
48:51
You just want to come because it's a social gathering
48:53
where you see faces. You know, you see some sisters
48:57
and some brothers. Or you want to show there's
49:04
a new cloth you bought in the course of the week.
49:10
No. It's an opportunity for God to teach us His
49:15
worth. And it is main. He doesn't mean to correct
49:19
us. In the church of God, there's correction.
49:21
In the church of God, there's direction. In the
49:24
church of God, there is change of mindset by
49:30
the word of God. Transformation of the mind by
49:34
the word of God. And what should be our response?
49:38
We make ourselves available and we submit. Hebrews
49:41
chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24. Hebrews
49:49
10 verse 24 says, And let us consider one another
49:54
in order to stay up love and good works. See,
49:57
if you are not around, how can we stay up love?
50:02
How can we see good works from your life? How
50:10
can we stay up good works in your life? Look
50:14
at the next verse, verse 25. Not forsaking what?
50:17
The assembling of yourself together. Because
50:20
it is in the assembling of yourself together
50:22
that we see this stir up in our hearts. Not forsaking
50:31
the assembling of ourselves together as it is
50:33
the manner of some. Which means that in this
50:36
church there are some that we are absconding
50:37
from midweek services. There are some that we
50:40
are absconding from team meetings. Alright? They
50:46
will abscond from midweek services. They say
50:49
cathartismos, they will not show up. But they
50:57
are the chosen generation. They are the priesthood.
51:02
Oh, my identity in Christ. You don't know anything
51:05
yet. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
51:11
together as it is the manner of some. but what
51:14
exalting one another and so much more as you
51:18
see the day approaching. We make ourselves available
51:22
and we submit ourselves to God's plan for our
51:26
equipping. Hebrews 13 verse 16 13 verse 16 Do
51:42
not forget To do good and to share for which
51:46
such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those
51:51
who rule over you and be submissive. For they
51:55
watch over me that's him. Okay. For they watch
52:03
out for your souls as those who must give account.
52:07
Let them do so with what? With joy and not with
52:10
grief. That will be unprofitable for you. In
52:17
a sense that your life will not yield any result.
52:20
That is unprofitability. You will not be perfected
52:24
for good works. That is unprofitability. You
52:27
will not be equipped for every good work. That
52:29
is unprofitability. When you don't submit, first
52:34
of all, let me tell you, the first place to submit
52:37
under authority is to believe. That is the first
52:40
step, believe. Believe the word. Mix the word
52:47
with faith. Don't be rebellious as those in the
52:51
wilderness. Believe the word that you've been
52:55
taught. Commit yourself to the word that you've
52:58
been taught. What should be our response? To
53:03
be thoroughly equipped and made perfect in the
53:05
knowledge of the Son of God, we must continue
53:08
in what? In what we are learning. We must continue
53:12
in what we learn and what we are learning. 2
53:16
Timothy 3, verse 10. 2 Timothy 3, verse 10. It
53:28
says, but you have carefully followed my doctrine.
53:31
This is Paul speaking to Timothy. A young minister.
53:37
But you have carefully followed my doctrine.
53:40
My manner of life, my purpose, my faith, my long
53:45
-suffering, love and perseverance, persecutions
53:48
and afflictions which happened to me at Antioch,
53:51
at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured,
53:55
and out of them all the Lord deliver me. Yes,
54:00
and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus
54:05
will what? Will suffer persecution. But evil
54:09
men and impostors will grow worse and worse,
54:13
deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue
54:19
in the things which you have learned and been
54:24
assured of, knowing from whom you have learned
54:28
them, and that from a child you have known the
54:34
Holy Scripture. which are able to make you wise
54:37
for salvation through faith, which is in Christ
54:40
Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration
54:44
of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
54:48
for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
54:52
That the man of God may be completely thoroughly
54:55
equipped for every good work. That the man will
54:59
be what? Will be thoroughly equipped, will be
55:02
prepared, will make perfect. For the work of
55:05
ministry, for this to happen, you must continue.
55:12
Your intention, every single moment you are taught,
55:15
is that you continue in that thing that you've
55:18
been taught. James 1 verse 22 will talk about,
55:21
you know, looking into the perfect law of liberty
55:23
and continuing it. This is a man that will prosper.
55:30
This is a man that will see you succeeding. Verse
55:34
22. We see the prosperity of God's work in your
55:39
hand when you continue in what you learn. Be
55:43
doers of the word and not hearers only. Deceiving
55:47
yourselves. Whenever you are taught, look at
55:50
how do I apply this? How does this word address
55:57
me? As you continue learning the word, you preach
56:06
the word. Hallelujah. Our response is that we
56:10
learn, we make ourselves available, we submit,
56:15
we continue to learn, we keep learning, and we
56:20
what? We preach. 2 Timothy 4 verse 15. We what?
56:24
We preach. We preach the word. Hallelujah. So
56:31
with this admonition this morning, I just want
56:35
you to just commit yourself that this season
56:38
that we are looking forward to spending time
56:40
in God's Word, we are looking forward to spending
56:43
time, you know, in the believers' meeting. Listen,
56:49
this is an admonition for us. Today is just to
56:54
admonish us, to encourage us, to make us see
56:57
the importance of what we are doing in church.
57:01
It's for us to see the importance of what God
57:03
is doing in church. Don't take the opportunity
57:08
for granted. Have expectation of seeing God shape
57:14
your life by the teaching of God's word. Have
57:17
an expectation of seeing your mind transformed
57:20
by the word of God. Have an expectation of seeing
57:23
God work through you to be a blessing to others.
57:27
Have an expectation of seeing God... multiplying
57:29
the work of ministry in your hand. Have an expectation
57:33
of receiving specific instruction concerning
57:36
the work of God in your life. Why? Because you
57:42
are a participant in what God is doing on earth.
57:47
If there is anything we will not get tired of
57:49
telling you in this church, is that you are a
57:53
participant in what God is doing. You are saved
57:57
for a purpose. You are a minister of the gospel.
58:00
And this is your training ground. And we'll continue
58:04
to work tirelessly to ensure that we see this
58:06
manifest in your life. Speak to God. Close your
58:11
eyes and speak to God. Ask God to help you to
58:19
be committed. That you're not only a hearer of
58:27
the word, but that you are submissive, you are
58:29
available, you are submissive to the world. That
58:34
you participate in what God is doing, that you're
58:36
not just a bystander. You only watch and see
58:39
people do. But you take your rightful place as
58:42
a son. That you take your rightful place as a
58:45
son that has inheritance in the Father. And this
58:49
inheritance comes with this honorable responsibility
58:53
we have. So speak to God, speak to God. Please,
59:02
make sure you are praying. Participate and pray
59:05
for yourself. That with this encouragement we
59:07
receive today, that we have this perspective
59:11
right, that we have this orientation right, that
59:16
we have this understanding right. Thank you,
59:23
Heavenly Father, that you are preparing us in
59:25
this season. As we walk through this season of...
59:28
the Believers Conference, that we see your great
59:32
work established in our lives. As a church, we
59:35
will never remain the same. As individuals, we
59:39
will never remain the same. Thank you, Lord,
59:42
for pointing to us that you do your work through
59:44
us and that for us to stand qualified to do your
59:50
work, you train us. And in this season, we are
59:53
submissive to your training and to your work
59:56
for our lives. We appreciate you being here today.
1:00:02
We hope you carry this word with you throughout
1:00:05
your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
1:00:08
for additional insights. Stay connected with
1:00:10
us through our website or follow us on social
1:00:13
media. If you are encouraged, share this message
1:00:17
with someone you care about. Until next time,
1:00:20
stay blessed.