Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / Making Disciples

Transcript

Making Disciples · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. What it means to make disciples. Making
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disciples. Last week we looked at disciples.
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What it means to be a disciple. This week we'll
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be looking at making disciples. Praise the Lord.
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So we said that from last week, we read Matthew
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chapter 28, which is also our key scriptures
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for today. Matthew 28, from verse 18 to 20. So
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Jesus came and said to them and spoke to them
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saying, All authority has been given to me in
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heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of
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all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
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Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
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them to observe all the things I have commanded
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you. And, Lord, I am with you always, even to
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the end of the age." So we said that everyone
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who believes Everyone who believes in Christ
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should start learning immediately. Everyone who
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believes in Christ should start learning immediately.
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Because this is a command that Christ has given
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to us. There is a place of learning. Learning
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the things that has been, or learning the reality
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that we have, which we looked at in the later
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part of the sermon of that day. Learning the
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reality of who we are. learning this new life
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that we have in God or learning this new life
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that we have in Christ. So everybody who has
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believed, everybody who has believed the gospel,
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there is need to be a learning process because
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we don't want to live a contradiction. We don't
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want to live a life that is not our identity.
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We don't want to live a life that is not our
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identity. We want to live a life that it shows
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that truly we are children of God. Truly something
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has happened to us. Truly we carry the spirit
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of God in the inside of us. So everybody who
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believes should start learning immediately so
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that they don't leave their former life or they
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don't leave a contradiction. We looked at that
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when he says to teach, he's giving an instruction
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or implies an instruction to people. That is,
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he's telling them to teach. us to teach a little
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child to teach a student praise the lord so he
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tells them to teach right you should teach them
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to observe all the things that he has commanded
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them and lo he is with them always even to the
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end of the age and we also looked at the word
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disciple and which we said in reference to someone
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who learned from another praise the lord somebody
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who learns from another Somebody who learns from
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another. We looked at examples of how the disciples
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of John and the disciples of Jesus were learning
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from them. The disciples of John learned from
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him. They learned how to fast. The Pharisees
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as well fasted. We also saw that the disciples
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of Jesus were also learning from him. Part of
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the things they learned from him, apart from
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the way he lived his life and how he moved, was
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also that they learned how to study the scriptures.
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they witnessed him properly explain the scriptures
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how to study the scriptures how to understand
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the scriptures so they saw that they saw how
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jesus explained the scriptures so they learned
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this technique of explanation of the scriptures
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reasonable and so it's in the same learning on
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how to read the scriptures that they were able
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to teach others So they learned and they gave
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it to others. They learned and they continue
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this tradition or they continue in the doctrine
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of how Jesus taught. So they learned how to understand
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the scripture. So they understand how Jesus explained
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the scriptures because they were with Jesus.
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So they were with Jesus and they had all this
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experience. They were his audience. so the way
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he explained the scriptures is how he explained
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the scriptures so jesus giving command to them
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to go and make disciples of all nations because
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he knows that they have learned what it means
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to make disciples because they have learned from
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him they have learned firsthand from him what
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that is like they are qualified students or they
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are qualified people to transfer this knowledge
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to other people praise the lord and so To teach,
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so they were to teach, that is make disciples
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of all nations, because they were disciples themselves.
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They were disciples themselves. So making disciples
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also, we saw that it was an important fact, or
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it was an important factor of the early church.
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The church in Acts, there were people who were
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making disciples. There was increment in them.
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There were more disciples that were coming to
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them. And we also said that our reality in Christ
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is enough. Our reality in Christ is enough. So
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there is no need for conformity. Our reality
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in Christ is enough. That we should let God influence
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our life. We should let God influence our life
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or how we live our life. We should stay true
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to our realities and not be conformed to the
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system or the pattern of the world. or to let
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the enemy deceive us or confuse us in regards
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to how we should live our life. Praise the Lord.
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So today as well, in this same Matthew chapter
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28, we also see that he's telling them to make
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disciples, to make disciples, to make disciples.
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So what does he mean to make disciples? What
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does he mean by telling them they should go and
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make disciples of all nations? He's telling them
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that this is the responsibility as a disciple
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that you have, or this is a responsibility as
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a child of God that you have. This is a responsibility
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that is settled on you as a result of the life
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that you have in God, or as a result of the life
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that you have in Christ. This is your responsibility.
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It's an assignment that you should carry on to
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do. You should make the cycles of organization
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to replicate the same thing that has happened
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to you, to do the same things that have occurred
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in your life, right? That place of training,
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because they were with Jesus for three and a
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half years. They saw the things that he did.
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There was a place of training. So they were under
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training. They were under... to touch you. Praise
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the Lord. So he's telling them that they should
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go as well and disciple other people. Teaching
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them. And he said he should command, like teaching
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them to observe the things I commanded you. And
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lo, I'm with you always to the end of the age.
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Praise the Lord. So in this teaching, as we said,
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we said it's a place to instruct. It is training.
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To make disciples is to train. Praise the Lord.
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is to instruct is to a let someone learn from
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we say a disciple is somebody who a disciple
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is somebody who learned from another right so
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you make disciples you don't look for disciples
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praise the lord so the instruction of jesus is
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to make disciples and not look for disciples
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so for example you you know there are several
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instances where people maybe start a church And
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then instead of training or looking for people
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that are not going to church, they will go and
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get people that are going to church because they
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want to fill their auditorium or they want to
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ensure that their church is full or they want
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to attract people from other places. That's not
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the mind of God. That's not the way God wants
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us to do it. He wants to make disciples. The
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same way that people... the same way that the
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disciples came and from beginning they knew nothing,
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they just followed God and over time there was
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a place of training, there was a place of maturity,
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there's a place of growth and there's a place
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where they have come to a place where they resume
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leadership positions and that's why they are
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known as apostles. So they have come to a place
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of responsibility, it's the same way we should
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also go about making disciples. He said, do not
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go to look for people who are already in church,
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right? Or people who are already established
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in a church. Go and look for people who are not
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in any church, who have no knowledge of the things
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of God, who has no understanding of the things
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of God. Praise the Lord. So it is a place to
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make, making disciple is not, is not a, is an
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instruction to labor. It's an instruction to
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labor in the lives of people. It's an instruction
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to pay a price in the life of people. That is,
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teaching them the things concerning Jesus, teaching
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them the things concerning the life that they
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have. Praise the Lord. So, the same way that,
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as I explained, the disciples were somewhere
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else. There was a particular time before they
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met Jesus, there was a state of... of mind they
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have or a state of belief or their level of growth
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but as a result of their work with jesus as a
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result of the many teachings that jesus was teaching
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them because primarily they were they were the
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audience of jesus right they were with him everywhere
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he went so they learned from him they received
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training from him they received instruction from
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him he said i've given you all authority they
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should go and preach the word they will go go
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and get me this they'll go and get him go and
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do this go and preach the word or go on and heal
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the sick they will go right teachings concerning
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their lives we saw that there were people who
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have been influenced who have been taught is
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the same price or is the same price that we have
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to pay praise the lord is the same price we have
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to pay because so at some point we were somewhere
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praise the lord at some point we were somewhere
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where we had no understanding of these things
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We have no understanding of what it means to
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know God to the level which we know God now.
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A good example is that there was a time in my
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life that I was not praying in tongues. And I
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don't know how to fake things. Until I received
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training or I received a teaching consigning
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it, I was not going to do it. Until I understood
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it or scripturally it is explained to me. There
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was no way I was going to do it. Praise the Lord.
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And somebody asked me, how did you pray for?
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I mean, we used to do all night meeting. I don't
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know how I was praying, but I was there. Praise
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the Lord. And I was sure my prayer was answered.
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I was very sure of those. So, but in those areas
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of praying in tongues, there was a need for teaching.
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There was a need for explanation via the scriptures.
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If I didn't see it, I was not going to pray.
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Praise the Lord. And by the grace of God, I saw
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it in the word of the Lord. It was not forcefully.
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It was not just say it, right? It was a proper
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explanation of the things that I have in God.
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And it's something that is freely given. And
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I came to the knowledge of it to be able to begin
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to manifest in it. Praise the Lord. So it's the
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same way that the person who taught it was gracious
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enough. He didn't say, come on, you should know
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this by now. Or this or that, right? It took
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their time to explain. Praise the Lord. So the
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same grace that you received in the place where
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you had no knowledge, you had no understanding,
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you were immature, the same way that somebody
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was gracious to you, or your teacher was gracious
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to you to teach you, to instruct you, to guide
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you, gradually and gradually, and you came to
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this point where you are, and you're continuing
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learning, is the same way we should also go about
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making disciples. Praise the Lord. To give grace,
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to be patient, right? To explain, to give time
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to explain. Praise the Lord. So the disciples
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of Jesus were with him always, all the time,
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or most of the time, they were with him. So they
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learned from him, right? He was gracious to them.
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He explained time again and again, right? He
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was also saying, oh, you should know this by
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now. How is it that you are not able? Even if
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he makes statements. of maybe they're not understanding
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he still goes on to explain praise the lord he
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doesn't just brush them off and then move forward
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so it's the same way that we should go about
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making disciples so the same patient that we
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had is the same thing we should because we have
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seen our maturity is a result of training praise
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the lord our maturity did not just come because
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maybe you know we're just moving on our own it
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was as a result of training it was as a result
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of receiving instruction okay praise the lord
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so you make disciples and you train them right
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that is the root of church growth so how a child
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grows or how the church he become all that god
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wanted to become is by training and by teaching
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praise the lord It is from a place of training
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and by teaching. So you make disciples, you train
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them. This is how the church grows. Praise the
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Lord. So you preach the word to somebody and
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the person believes there's a place of training.
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In NECF, we have put some infrastructures around
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the training to ensure that people come to a
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place of maturity. So there's a place of training
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in that we know that the church will grow. That's
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how you know that the church is growing, not
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numerically. It's not by the numbers of people
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in church. Maybe we had 100 people in church.
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On average, we're having this. This is not how
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the definition of church grows, right? According
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to the will of God. That is not what he wants.
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He wants people to grow, people that are trained,
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people that can train others, people that have
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been trained, people that have been taught so
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that they can teach others. Praise the Lord.
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So that they can teach others. And so this is
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not just beginning. We didn't just see making
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disciples. It didn't start from Matthew 28. But
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we also see it in Exodus. Praise the Lord. We
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also see this practice in Exodus. So Exodus chapter
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18. Exodus chapter 18. Exodus chapter 18, verse
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13. And so it was on the next day that Moses
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sat to judge the people. And the people stood
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before Moses from morning until evening. So when
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Moses' father -in -law saw all that he did for
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the people, he said, What is it that you're doing
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for the people? Why do you sit alone and all
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the people stand? before you morning till evening.
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And Moses said to his father -in -law, because
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the people come to me to inquire of God, when
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they have difficulties, they come to me. I judge
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between one and another and I make known the
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statutes of God and his law. So Moses' father
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-in -law said to him, this thing that you are
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doing is not good. But you and these people who
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are with you. will surely weary yourself out.
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For this thing is too much for you, and you are
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not able to perform it by yourself. Listen to
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my voice. I will give you counsel, and God will
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be with you. Stand before God for the people,
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so that you may bring the difficulties to God.
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Then you shall teach them the statutes. and the
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law and show them the way in which they must
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walk and the work they must do moreover you should
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you shall elect you shall select from all the
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people able men such as fear god men of truth
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hating righteousness such place such over them
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to be rulers over thousands rulers of hundreds
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and rulers of fifties and rulers of times and
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let them judge the people at all times then it
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will be that every great matter they shall bring
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to you and every small matter they shall judge
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they shall themselves judge so it will be easier
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for you that you would bear the burden that they
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will bear the body with you if you do these things
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god so command you then you shall be able to
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endure and all the people will be able to go
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to their place in peace and then he said moses
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heeded to the voice of his father -in -law and
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did all that he has said praise the lord so we
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see here that moses was doing something for the
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people of god and what he was doing is that he
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was he was the judge that was judging every matter
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he was doing many things for them praise the
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lord so he was doing he was Leading them. He
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was doing many great things for them. And his
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father -in -law was just observing what he was
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doing. Praise the Lord. He was observing the
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things that Moses was doing. So the people came
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to him to judge all matters. And he was there
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from morning to night. And he was alone. Just
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by himself. And he was doing this thing. And
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he told him that you be wary. And you and these
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people be wary of yourself. Because it is too
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much for you to do. Praise the Lord. In as much
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as you are receiving the... You are receiving
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the counsel or these difficult matters. You're
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explaining the will of God and the statutes of
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God, or you are receiving the counsel of God
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concerning their life. So you're judging what
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is going on between their life. It is going to
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be too much for you. This is not ideal. It's
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not supposed to be so. It is not supposed to
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be happening this way. So he was doing many things
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for these people, right? Morning till night.
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They were very dependent on him. They were very
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dependent on him. Without him, they were not
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going to do anything, right? They were very dependent
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on him, praise the Lord. And so we see here that
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he's pointing to him that this is not a great
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way to go about it. This is not a great way to
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go about your leadership, praise the Lord, because
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he sits alone. So he tells him that you're supposed
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to raise men. You're supposed to raise men, right?
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You're supposed to raise men. You're supposed
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to train men so that they are able to handle
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some of this responsibility. You're supposed
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to train people so that they are able to handle
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some of this responsibility. If there are big
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matters, they will bring it to you. If there
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are small matters, they will deal with that themselves.
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And then verse 17, he said to him that, he said,
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so his father -in -law said, the thing that you
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are doing is not good. Praise the Lord. So he's
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not saying to him that the things that you're
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doing is not good. That is what he says he's
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doing. He said, I make known the statutes of
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God and his laws. That's not what he's saying
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is not good. Praise the Lord. By teaching them
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the word or by teaching them the statutes of
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God is good. But the fact that he's doing it
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alone is not good. Praise the Lord. This thing
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that you're doing is not good. He's not talking
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about his teaching. He's not talking about the
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laws. He's not talking about what Moses is judging.
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He's just saying that the way he's going about
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it, that he's doing it alone, from morning to
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night, him alone. Everybody will come to him.
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That practice is not good. Praise the Lord. That
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practice is not good. Because he's doing it alone.
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He's standing alone. Right. Because he was alone
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in this thing. Right. So because he does not
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have people like him. So there is nobody else
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like Moses. Right. Because there is no training.
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There's nobody who has been trained to be like
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Moses. So the things he's doing is not good because
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there's nobody like Moses who can judge outside
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from him. Praise the Lord. So he needs to train
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people like him so that they are able. To also
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instruct or they are able to give the people
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counsel or to give the people the will of God
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consigning different situations and different
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circumstances that surrounds them. So he said
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he should make people like you, right? Like I
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said, do not look for somebody else. He's saying
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to them that he should make more people like
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him. He should make more people like him. Don't
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look for... Maybe establish people. So in your
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ministry work. Is to make people like you. Because
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you have received. You have been trained. So
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you can train other people. Praise the Lord.
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So people like him. Making people like him. Or
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people like you. So that they are able to spread
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the word. They are able to make disciples as
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well. They are able to spread the word. They
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are able to make disciples. So that you are not
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doing it alone. Praise the Lord. The intention
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is not for you to carry the body alone, but that
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other people as well are trained so that they're
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able to train and share the word. And so we also
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see that in the examples of Jesus, he primarily,
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as we know, he trained and gave instruction to
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the 12. The 12 did not just go and they were
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just teaching. What I mean teaching is maybe
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they're just preaching to people and they repent
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and they move on. They spend time to teach people
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so that those people are able to also teach other
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people. Praise the Lord. So they spend time to
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teach people and to train them. They spend time,
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we see Paul, we see Peter, they spend their time
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in a particular place to train people. They are
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reasoning with them, discussing with them, teaching
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them doctrines and teaching them the will of
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God so that these people are equipped enough
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to be able to teach other people. Praise the
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Lord. so that the world is able to spread more.
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So they didn't go about saying, okay, maybe they
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talk now as they have it, to say, okay, which
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other people do we have that maybe are like us,
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that, you know, let's go and associate with them.
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Praise the Lord. So we saw even that as a result
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of their, when they became too much in one place,
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persecution arrived so that they would Go to
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different places and do the work they are supposed
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to do. Praise the Lord. Because they have gathered
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themselves in one place and they stayed in one
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place. But if you want them to go to different
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places and make disciples. So to make people
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like you. So that is the job of the discipler.
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To make people like him. So that they are able
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to do the same thing. Praise the Lord. Because
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you cannot be in Cyprus and be in Nigeria. That's
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why as a church, we have the training center,
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we have friends somewhere, and then the plan
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for you is not, let me just find a way that I'm
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going to have fellowship, which is important,
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but also that the things that you have learned,
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the thing that the trainers are taking them to
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train you is the same thing you should pass on
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to other people. Praise the Lord. So that those
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people are able to still pass on the same things
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to all that. Verse 18 of that Exodus now said,
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he said, but you and these people who are with
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you will surely weary yourself out for the things
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is too much for you and you're not able to perform
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it by yourself. Praise the Lord. So you're not
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able to be everywhere at the same time. You're
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not able to do it. You're going to weary yourself.
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Right? You're going to probably start up a church.
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Start a ministry that if you are no longer there,
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nothing will happen. Praise the Lord. So there
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needs to be a training. There needs to be a training
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and a discipleship that should keep going. Worry
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yourself and the people that are with you. So
26:19
a person that has a... He made the disciples,
26:27
people that were with him, so that they would
26:30
be like him. We saw that in Acts chapter 11,
26:36
verse 26, where they were first called Christian.
26:39
And the observation is that these people were
26:41
behaving like the Christ. Praise the Lord. So
26:45
he made people like him so that they are able
26:48
to spread the word. They have the same mannerism
26:50
of how they understood. Like I said, when the
26:52
first part of his preaching. that the disciples
26:56
understood the way Jesus explained the scriptures.
27:02
So they explained it the same way that he explained
27:06
it. Praise the Lord. So people are able to see
27:09
similarities that, oh, these people must be Christians.
27:12
They are like Jesus, or they are like Christ,
27:16
or they are little Christ of Exodus chapter 18,
27:21
verse 19. He said, Listen to my voice and I will
27:28
give you counsel and God will be with you. Stand
27:30
before God for the people so that you may bring
27:36
the difficulties to God. So he said, let me teach
27:40
you. We see that Jethro, a man who is coming
27:44
from a foreign place, is coming to give Moses
27:47
an instruction. And this instruction is divine.
27:51
Praise the Lord. So we see a man who, Moses was
27:57
the man who was before God. He was the same God
27:59
he used to face. But we see a man who comes from
28:01
a different land. He was not even part of their
28:03
group. But he came from a saint place and he's
28:05
giving them a counsel. And this counsel is the
28:08
will of God consigning Moses and consigning the
28:11
children of Israel. It's the same will that we
28:14
see also in Matthew chapter 18, 28. So we see
28:21
a man who comes and he's giving Moses instruction.
28:24
And this instruction came from a man who came
28:27
from a far country, right? So we see the wisdom
28:30
of God manifesting itself in this man. And Moses
28:34
heeded his voice, right? And this counsel has
28:38
been something that has come from one, has continued
28:41
for generations and generations. Praise the Lord.
28:45
In that same verse, in verse 20, he said, And
28:49
you shall teach them the statutes of the Lord
28:51
and show them the way in which they must walk
28:56
and the work they must do. Praise the Lord. He
28:59
says, and you shall teach them. So this word
29:01
teach here is slightly different from the usual,
29:05
we know, the usual word for teach, right? In
29:13
the Hebrew word for teach, right? So this word
29:17
for teach is the word zaha, right? It's the word
29:21
zaha. It's not just the usual one we know, maybe,
29:26
okay, it might imply teach, it might imply instruction,
29:28
right? But this one, the word zaha, it means
29:34
to be liked. It means to be liked. And it has
29:41
many things to eat as well. It means also to
29:44
be, to educate, right? It means to warn. It also
29:49
means to show examples, to show example, right?
29:55
To show the way to do it. Praise the Lord. So
30:00
it's not just, it's to be light, to educate,
30:04
to warn, to show the way to do it. So the person
30:09
who is making disciples is showing the disciples
30:11
how to do it. Praise the Lord. So it's a, What
30:16
do you say? It's not theory. Praise the Lord.
30:22
There's practicality to it. Praise the Lord.
30:25
So the disciples learn practically what it means
30:28
to preach the gospel, what it means to explain
30:31
the gospel, because they are seeing it practically.
30:33
Praise the Lord. What it means to heal the sick,
30:36
what it means to manifest the gift of the Spirit,
30:39
what it means to prophesy, what it means to...
30:43
So the disciple is able... to see it. So that
30:49
is the word here we see for teach, right? So
30:52
it's to educate, to warn, to show a way to do
30:56
it. That is to be an example, to be liked. Praise
30:59
the Lord. It's the same word that we see in 2
31:01
Kings 6, verse 10. There it is used as warning,
31:08
right? We also see it in 2 Chronicles 19, verse
31:14
10. It's also used as warning there. So it's
31:18
the words Zahar, to teach, to show by example.
31:23
So in raising leaders, you don't just teach them,
31:26
but you show them, right, how to teach and also
31:29
how to be a leader. Praise the Lord. So in making
31:33
disciples, you're not just teaching them. You're
31:37
not just teaching them this, teaching them the
31:39
word, teaching them doctrine, but you're also
31:42
showing them how to teach. so how do you teach
31:45
the word of god right how do you explain these
31:48
scriptures you're showing them how to be leaders
31:50
praise the lord you're showing them how to lead
31:55
other people how to be leaders of church or how
31:58
to be a pastor right or how to be a minister
32:01
or how to be a leader of a group so practically
32:06
they learn some of these things okay so that's
32:10
what he says in verse 20. Instead, you teach
32:13
them the statutes and the law of God and show
32:15
them the ways in which they must walk in. So
32:20
you're showing them practically, okay, this is
32:22
what you should do. This is what you should do.
32:24
So the disciple knows, right? So in making disciples,
32:29
you let them know the do's and the don'ts. Praise
32:33
the Lord. When you see this, this should be,
32:36
what do you say, a red flag for you. when you
32:39
see this you know that so practically you are
32:42
able to show them what to do praise the lord
32:45
so that you don't you don't have people that
32:49
are around you and you have said many things
32:51
and then you find out that they have started
32:54
making a lot of mistakes because nobody has told
32:56
them what you should do praise the lord or maybe
32:59
you assume that maybe somebody has told them
33:01
before or where they are coming from they have
33:03
received these instructions before So you practically
33:07
show them what to do. You show them the things
33:12
they should do. So that means that your teaching
33:18
ministry should not just be informative, right?
33:22
But it should also be transformative. So it means
33:27
that the people's lives are also changing. You're
33:30
not just giving information, right? It's not
33:32
just informative, but it's transforming as well.
33:38
In verse 20 again, that you show them the way
33:40
they must walk. Right? Show them the ministry
33:44
things. What does it mean to pray? Right? Why
33:50
do we pray for a long time? Why do we pray like
33:53
this? What does it mean to fast? What is fasting?
33:57
What does it mean to manifest the things of the
34:00
Spirit? Right? What does prophecy mean? So it's
34:07
to show them, we see them. Instead of teach them
34:10
and show them the way they must walk. And the
34:12
walk they must do. So there is an instruction
34:15
in their own walk. Okay, this is what you should
34:17
do. Do this walk or do that. So in making disciples,
34:22
there is a place of instruction. This is the
34:24
way it should be, right? But this is the things
34:27
you must also do. Praise the Lord. Verse 21,
34:32
that's it, of Exodus chapter 18. Moreover, you
34:37
should select from all the people, able men,
34:43
such as fear God, men of truth, hating, covetousness,
34:49
place such over. They should do the things that
34:52
they should do. And now they are able to then
34:56
lead, able to go and make disciples. It's the
35:00
same thing that we see here. So after these people,
35:03
after generally, so he's saying to them that
35:06
when you come, he's saying to Moses, the instruction
35:09
to Moses is that he should teach the people,
35:13
right? He should teach the people. And then as
35:16
he's teaching, in the process of teaching the
35:18
people, then you select men. Praise the Lord.
35:22
So there's a place of training, there's a place
35:24
of teaching, then there's selection to responsibility.
35:29
Praise the Lord. And it's not the other way around.
35:31
So a good example is that you have planted a
35:35
church or you have a church or you have a building
35:39
that you want to be holding your church service.
35:42
And then you're looking for people that should
35:45
be leaders in your church or to be handling one
35:49
responsibility or the other. It's not to go and
35:52
give them the responsibility. It's to first teach
35:54
them. It's to first instruct them. It's to first
35:59
teach them. It's to first instruct them. It's
36:02
first to train them, right? Train them. And in
36:05
the process of training, you are then able to
36:08
now select men. And select men that... The selection
36:15
of men, he says, in verse 21, he says, he said,
36:21
such as fear God, like men of truth, hating covetousness.
36:28
So these people that he's selecting is people
36:31
that have gotten a hold of what he's doing. Praise
36:35
the Lord. So the selection is people that have
36:40
gotten a hold of what is happening. They have
36:44
gotten a hold of the training. Praise the Lord.
36:49
But the first thing, like I said, is teaching.
36:58
So you do not start a church looking for pastors.
37:03
You don't start a church looking for pastors.
37:06
You raise men to start churches. Praise the Lord.
37:12
You do not start a church looking for pastors,
37:16
right? You raise men to start churches. Praise
37:23
the Lord. Your goal of... Preaching and teaching
37:26
is not that they will remain with you forever.
37:29
That they will stay, they will finish, they will
37:31
continue. No. It's that the world has to spread.
37:36
The kingdom has to spread. So you don't start
37:41
a church and looking for pastors, but you raise
37:44
men. You disciple men so that they are able to
37:48
start churches. Praise the Lord. You disciple
37:52
men so that they are able to start churches.
37:54
So who are the people that you are training in
37:58
your church? Who are the people that you're training
38:02
in your church? So when training is not happening,
38:06
different people get invited to come and teach
38:09
the church many things. So when there's no training,
38:14
we need a pastor to come. to get invited either
38:24
from US, from Nigeria. That would be the need
38:28
of the church. Or we'll get a music minister
38:32
to come in, to fly into the island and sing.
38:36
And then maybe we'll get somebody to talk about
38:38
finances and so many things like that. Praise
38:41
the Lord. Because training is not done. Because
38:45
when training is done, people will come to that
38:48
place of responsibility. Praise the Lord. When
38:52
training is done, people will come to the place
38:55
of responsibility. So invitations becomes the
38:58
order of the day because training is not there.
39:01
Because the man of God cannot trust his people
39:04
to be able to do those things that he has invited
39:07
people because there's a lack of training. They
39:10
have not grown. They have not become all that
39:13
or come to a place of maturity. Praise the Lord.
39:19
So Jethro told him to train men, right? He should
39:25
train men and then select them for leadership.
39:29
So in the process of training, in the process
39:32
of training, leadership selection is being done,
39:35
not the other way around. So when leaders are
39:41
not trained, the church cannot grow. When is
39:45
there a place of training? When is there a place
39:47
of discipleship? The church cannot grow. When
39:52
there is no place of training, the church cannot
39:55
grow. You train them, teach them, and in doing
40:02
that, you will now look around. Who are the men
40:05
that are fearing God? Who are the men that are
40:08
of truth? Who are the men that have understood
40:10
this training they were doing? Who are the men
40:12
that are without covetousness? Which are the
40:15
men that are qualified? feed for these goals
40:18
and responsibilities, not the other way around.
40:21
Not first, who feeds this thing? Maybe we say,
40:24
okay, we're looking for ushering leader. So let's
40:29
look for somebody with a serious face, a tall,
40:31
maybe brother or sister, you know, that is a
40:35
bit skinny, likes to wear corporates, right?
40:39
And then we'll select you based on that. Afterwards,
40:43
we'll ask, okay, come and start training. Praise
40:46
the Lord. So your evaluation of people being
40:49
brought into leadership is not by looks or is
40:55
not by physical qualities, but rather training
40:59
first comes and then selection is done. How was
41:06
then Joshua chosen? We also see Joshua here.
41:13
How was he chosen? What made Moses choose Joshua?
41:18
God made Moses choose Joshua. Exodus chapter
41:22
17. Exodus chapter 17, verse 9. Verse 9 says,
41:31
Moses said to Joshua, choose us some men and
41:37
go out and fight the Amalek. Tomorrow I will
41:40
stand on top of the hill with the rod of God
41:43
in my hand. Praise the Lord. Exodus chapter 24
41:49
verse 13. Exodus chapter 24 verse 19. 19 says,
41:56
So Moses, Exodus chapter 24 verse 13. So Moses
42:03
rose with all, with his assistant Joshua, and
42:07
Moses went up to the mountain of God. Praise
42:11
the Lord. So we see here that Joshua, He was
42:16
always with Moses. He was always with Moses all
42:20
the time. He was there serving Moses. He was
42:22
a servant of Moses. He puts it as a sister. He
42:26
was a servant of Moses. So he was serving Moses.
42:29
Praise the Lord. He was always with Moses. And
42:33
then when Moses was about to die, then Joshua
42:38
was selected. So there's no training that is
42:41
done in absentia. In this kingdom, if you want
42:48
to grow, there's no training that is done in
42:50
Ascension. You're somewhere. You're attending
42:53
it online. What you did is that you were watching
42:59
it. You were watching the program. You did not
43:05
receive any training. You were just watching
43:06
it. Praise the Lord. So there's no training that
43:09
is done in Ascension. Joshua moved with Moses
43:14
everywhere he was going. Exodus chapter 33. It
43:23
was with Moses everywhere he was going. Exodus
43:25
chapter 33, verse 11. So the Lord spoke to Moses
43:31
face to face as he speaks, as a man speaks to
43:34
his friend, and he returned to the camp, but
43:38
his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man,
43:41
did not depart from the tabernacle. Praise the
43:44
Lord. And then, Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter
43:53
1. Acts chapter 1 verse 21. Acts chapter 1 verse
44:02
21. Let's start with 20. Speaking of Judas Iscariot.
44:14
So for it is written on the book of Psalm. Let
44:17
his dwelling place be desolate and let no one
44:20
live in it. Let another take his office. Therefore,
44:25
of the men who have accompanied us all the time,
44:28
that the Lord Jesus Christ went in and out among
44:31
us, beginning from the baptism of John to that
44:35
day when he was taken off from us. One of these
44:40
must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
44:46
And they proposed two, Joseph called Barnabas,
44:50
who was so named Justice, and Matthias. And they
45:02
prayed and said, You, O Lord, who have known
45:06
the heart of all, show which of these two have
45:11
you chosen to take part in the ministry and the
45:13
apostleship. from which Judas by transgression
45:16
fell, that he might go to his place. And they
45:22
cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and
45:25
he was numbered with eleven apostles. Praise
45:30
the Lord. So we also saw here, we also saw in
45:33
Exodus, that Joshua and both Matthias and these
45:37
people have been with them. They have been in
45:41
the training, they have been in that place. Praise
45:44
the Lord. They have received what they have received
45:46
with them. So they have been together. He was
45:50
with him all the time. He did not know that he
45:54
would succeed Moses. So his moving around with
45:58
Moses was not a succession plan. That was not
46:01
it. He did not know any of those things. All
46:06
he was doing, he was serving the Lord from his
46:08
heart. All Matthias was doing was also serving
46:12
the Lord from his heart. They were not doing
46:14
it because they were going to succeed anyone,
46:19
but because they were serving the Lord. And that's
46:23
how they succeeded both Judas and Moses. So what
46:32
is your plan to teach the world? What is your
46:36
plan to teach the world? What is your plan to
46:39
make disciples? What is your plan to teach the
46:44
world? Do you plan to teach the world or consign
46:50
yourself with other matters happening around
46:52
the body of Christ? Or other things that are
46:56
happening around? 1 Peter 4, verse 14. He said,
47:04
Give your reproach for the name of Christ. Blessed
47:07
are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests
47:11
on you. On their part, he's blasphemed. On your
47:15
part, he's glorified. But let none of you suffer
47:18
as a murderer, as a thief, as an evildoer, as
47:23
a busybody in others' matters. If anyone suffers
47:28
as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. But let
47:34
him glorify God in this matter. Praise the Lord.
47:39
So he's saying, to them that if they are suffering,
47:42
let our suffering be because they are doing the
47:45
work of the Lord. Not because they were talking
47:48
about other things, or because they were murderers,
47:51
or because they are doing evil. Praise the Lord.
47:54
So we also see an interesting word here called
47:56
busybody. I don't know how to call the Greek
47:59
word. It's very long. But it means to belong
48:06
to another matter. Or you are overseeing somebody
48:10
else's work. You're doing somebody else's work.
48:13
You're concerning yourself with other matters,
48:15
with other people. If you are suffering because
48:19
of it, that is not the will of God. That's not
48:23
what should be happening to you. But you should
48:27
concentrate rather on making disciples to suffer
48:33
as a Christian. If you are suffering, For we
48:37
are seeing other people's work. It is not the
48:40
will of God. So do not concern yourself about
48:45
other people's work. Do not concern yourself
48:48
about other people's ministry. Do not concern
48:51
yourself about other people's pastors or posts.
48:55
But rather, concentrate on the work that is in
48:58
front of you. Concentrate on the work of making
49:02
disciples that is right in front of you, that
49:05
is given to you. Let others be doing what others
49:08
are doing. Praise the Lord. Whether they are
49:11
teaching correctly or not teaching correctly,
49:13
it is not your work to correct the body of Christ.
49:16
It is your work to make disciples. Praise the
49:20
Lord. It is your work to make disciples. It is
49:26
your work to make disciples. If you have 20 people
49:29
in your church, they cannot grow without training.
49:35
Your church will remain 20 if there is no place
49:38
of training. Because when that training comes,
49:42
there will be more discipleship and people, the
49:44
church will grow. 1 Peter 5, verse 1 to 2. So
49:54
the elders who are among you are exalted. I who
50:01
am a fellow elder and a witness of the suffering
50:03
of Christ and a partaker of the glory, I will
50:06
be revealed. He says, shepherd the flock which
50:08
is among you, serving as overseer, not by compulsion,
50:12
but willingly. Not for dishonest gain, but eagerly.
50:18
Not as being Lord over those who are entrusted
50:23
to you, but be an example to the flock. Praise
50:27
the Lord. So he's saying to mind your business,
50:31
the things that are in front of you, right? To
50:35
be, to disciple, to shepherd the flock among
50:38
you. Do not concern yourself about what is going
50:41
on somewhere else, but to disciple men, to continue
50:46
to preach the word, to mind your work. So your
50:50
job is to focus on the flock, right? And those
50:54
who you are raising. Your job is to focus on
50:59
the flock and those you're raising. If you stop
51:04
looking at other matters or other people and
51:06
begin to look into your flock, you discover that
51:08
there's only a lot that is happening. Praise
51:10
the Lord. If you begin to look internally, you
51:13
find out that many things are happening around
51:16
you that needs more of your attention. Praise
51:21
the Lord. There are many, many things that are
51:23
happening around you. that need more of your
51:25
attention there's a lot of work to be done around
51:28
you there's a work there's a lot of work of discipleship
51:32
that should be done around you that you should
51:35
focus your mind on it rather than focusing on
51:38
what other people are doing praise the lord so
51:43
the lord has called us to make disciples to make
51:48
disciples and that's how the church will grow
51:51
praise the lord So I pray that you will bless
51:55
by this word in Jesus' name.