1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,480 Be scary. But I know that God is with us. 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,600 So before we go ahead and start, I just want to say start in 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,240 prayer before we do anything. So Father God, we give you 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:10,760 thanks, Lord, for this opportunity that you have 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,000 allowed us to come here today in fellowship with one another. 6 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,440 I thank you for the members and the body of this church. 7 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:16,800 Lord, I thank you for their pastor. 8 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,760 Lord, who is a way, I ask that you just be with him and protect 9 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,290 him and his family, wherever they are and whatever they do. 10 00:00:22,290 --> 00:00:24,690 Lord, I I, I pray for the members of this Church, Lord, 11 00:00:24,690 --> 00:00:27,450 that they may continue to grow. Lord, you know what you have in 12 00:00:27,450 --> 00:00:29,890 store for them, Lord, You know that you have them here for a 13 00:00:29,890 --> 00:00:30,610 reason. Lord. 14 00:00:30,610 --> 00:00:33,130 And I pray over this church, this fellowship, this 15 00:00:33,130 --> 00:00:35,770 congregation, that you continue to help them grow in their 16 00:00:35,770 --> 00:00:38,770 faith, and you guide them, and you direct them in their steps. 17 00:00:38,770 --> 00:00:41,610 Lord, I pray, Lord, over everything that we do here 18 00:00:41,610 --> 00:00:43,370 today. Lord, That the word that you 19 00:00:43,370 --> 00:00:46,450 have for today, Lord, just penetrate not only their minds 20 00:00:46,450 --> 00:00:48,730 but also in their hearts. Lord, use me as a vessel. 21 00:00:48,730 --> 00:00:51,360 Lord, I ask that you just let give me the words that you want 22 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,120 me to say today, no more, no less. 23 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,800 Lord, use me as an instrument for your word. 24 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,440 Lord, I ask you all these things. 25 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,520 In the name of the fallen, Son, in the Holy Spirit we pray. 26 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,840 Amen. So just a little more 27 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,200 introduction of myself. Originally, I am from New York, 28 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,240 from the Bronx. I met my lovely wife when we 29 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,560 were teenagers and we've been married for almost 20 years. 30 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,340 Now we have. She's going on our fourth child, 31 00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:20,260 my oldest daughter there, Leilani Marie, my heavenly 32 00:01:20,260 --> 00:01:23,300 flower. Cara faith, which translated as 33 00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:24,540 pure faith. She's not here today. 34 00:01:24,540 --> 00:01:27,700 She's with my mother. We had Nora Grace, which is 35 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:31,300 light of grace, who by the grace of God was taken home early. 36 00:01:31,620 --> 00:01:36,620 And then we have my next one of Laura, who's also light of hope, 37 00:01:37,020 --> 00:01:40,180 God's light of hope. So we praise God for my 38 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:42,270 children. It's been a blessing to me. 39 00:01:42,470 --> 00:01:45,910 Also, I have my brother Nate, who is one of my best friends 40 00:01:45,910 --> 00:01:50,230 and also a Co laborer with us and his daughter is with us as 41 00:01:50,230 --> 00:01:53,310 well. All right, so I know that Pastor 42 00:01:53,310 --> 00:01:55,790 John, I don't know what you guys call him because I know that he 43 00:01:55,790 --> 00:01:57,430 had makes a big deal about the middle name. 44 00:01:57,670 --> 00:02:01,750 So John Michael Okay. Because I was always told to 45 00:02:01,750 --> 00:02:04,190 call him JM so. Oh, Okay. 46 00:02:04,190 --> 00:02:06,030 So JM or John Michael is fine. Okay. 47 00:02:06,030 --> 00:02:07,710 So that's still the same. All right, cool. 48 00:02:08,970 --> 00:02:12,290 So a funny story when we were in the Academy together, you know, 49 00:02:12,290 --> 00:02:16,450 I got there and I did law enforcement for years and I 50 00:02:16,490 --> 00:02:19,170 decided to transition over to the fire department because my 51 00:02:19,170 --> 00:02:22,810 father's a firefighter and so I figured I'd spend more time off 52 00:02:22,810 --> 00:02:25,930 with my family. So we transitioned and I knew 53 00:02:25,930 --> 00:02:28,330 nobody. And I just remember we were 54 00:02:28,330 --> 00:02:32,410 going to get our uniforms and I was like, I I'm not a very, 55 00:02:33,130 --> 00:02:35,690 despite what you may think, I'm pretty introverted so I'm not a 56 00:02:35,930 --> 00:02:38,460 people person. So I was like, please Lord, 57 00:02:38,460 --> 00:02:41,260 bring me somebody who I can just connect with and just a 58 00:02:41,260 --> 00:02:45,380 Christian. And I just remember he, I walked 59 00:02:45,380 --> 00:02:47,860 into the room and he just announced is anybody else 60 00:02:47,860 --> 00:02:51,460 Christian? And I was like me, me. 61 00:02:51,980 --> 00:02:53,940 And we instantly became friends after that. 62 00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:56,060 So I was thankful. And we've been friends ever 63 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:58,580 since. We've gone through some highs 64 00:02:58,580 --> 00:03:02,220 and lows together as brothers in Christ, and I'm thankful for him 65 00:03:02,220 --> 00:03:03,940 and his family. And he's always been a blessing 66 00:03:03,940 --> 00:03:06,230 to me. We don't always see eyes on 67 00:03:06,230 --> 00:03:09,630 things, but that's the the benefit of being brothers in 68 00:03:09,630 --> 00:03:13,030 Christ. We can, you know, kind of learn 69 00:03:13,030 --> 00:03:14,830 from one another. So I'm thankful for that. 70 00:03:14,870 --> 00:03:16,830 I'm. I'm thankful to seeing what he 71 00:03:16,830 --> 00:03:18,390 has here and what he's come from. 72 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:21,150 You know, it's a blessing. So just know that you had. 73 00:03:21,150 --> 00:03:23,350 You guys are being led by a great man of God and I'm 74 00:03:23,350 --> 00:03:25,510 thankful for him in my life. All right. 75 00:03:25,510 --> 00:03:26,950 That being said, we'll jump right into the word. 76 00:03:27,190 --> 00:03:29,310 So I know that he told me that he was going over the Apostles 77 00:03:29,310 --> 00:03:30,750 Creed with you guys recently, right. 78 00:03:31,110 --> 00:03:34,660 So I thought that was great. You know, I love the Apostles 79 00:03:34,660 --> 00:03:35,980 Creed. I haven't hung up on my wall at 80 00:03:35,980 --> 00:03:37,740 home. And I, you know, just the 81 00:03:37,740 --> 00:03:40,220 foundations of what it means to be a Christian, right, What it 82 00:03:40,220 --> 00:03:42,500 means to be a believer in Christ. 83 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:46,260 So I said, what better way to transition to that into what it 84 00:03:46,260 --> 00:03:47,980 means to be the Church of Christ? 85 00:03:47,980 --> 00:03:51,540 So we go from being the what it is, the foundations of a 86 00:03:51,540 --> 00:03:53,780 believer to what it means to be the church. 87 00:03:54,060 --> 00:03:56,380 Now we know that each and every one of us here make up the 88 00:03:56,380 --> 00:03:57,620 church. It's not the building. 89 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,160 It's not where we meet at. It's us. 90 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,520 We are the church. So what does it look like for us 91 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,040 to be the church? So what better way to do that, 92 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,520 to start right at the beginning. So we're going to jump into Acts 93 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:13,000 chapter 2, verse 37 through 41, and I'm reading for the From the 94 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,640 NET Bible. If you guys want to follow 95 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,200 along, make sure you keep your Bibles open. 96 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,160 I'm going to be giving a lot of verses just in case you want to 97 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,760 follow along. So Acts, chapter 2, verse 37 98 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,060 through 41. And I don't know about you guys, 99 00:04:28,060 --> 00:04:31,940 but I was raised Pentecostal. So when we find it in the verse, 100 00:04:31,940 --> 00:04:36,420 we say Amen, Amen. All right, so we're going to go 101 00:04:36,420 --> 00:04:38,180 ahead. Now when they heard this, they 102 00:04:38,180 --> 00:04:41,060 were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the 103 00:04:41,060 --> 00:04:44,420 apostles, what should we do? Brothers, Peter said to them, 104 00:04:44,740 --> 00:04:46,860 repent. And each one of you be baptized 105 00:04:46,860 --> 00:04:50,060 in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, 106 00:04:50,260 --> 00:04:53,500 and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promises 107 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:56,380 for you and your children, and for all who are far away. 108 00:04:56,500 --> 00:04:59,940 As many as the Lord your God will call to himself with many 109 00:04:59,940 --> 00:05:02,900 other words He testified and exhorted them, saying, save 110 00:05:02,900 --> 00:05:04,740 yourselves from this perverse generation. 111 00:05:04,940 --> 00:05:07,980 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that 112 00:05:07,980 --> 00:05:10,180 day about 3000 people were added. 113 00:05:11,060 --> 00:05:13,660 Amen. I can be a little long winded 114 00:05:13,660 --> 00:05:15,580 sometimes. So if you see my my wife make 115 00:05:15,580 --> 00:05:19,750 emotions just letting me know I'm running long on time, Okay. 116 00:05:19,870 --> 00:05:22,790 So in chapter two we start off with the day of Pentecost right. 117 00:05:23,230 --> 00:05:24,910 And the movement of the Holy Spirit. 118 00:05:25,310 --> 00:05:29,310 So the Holy Spirit comes down and followed by the 1st gospel 119 00:05:29,310 --> 00:05:32,550 preaching preaching post Jesus delivered by Peter. 120 00:05:32,790 --> 00:05:34,310 And what does that message look like? 121 00:05:34,590 --> 00:05:37,070 It looks like Bible verses, right? 122 00:05:37,070 --> 00:05:39,390 He quotes Bible and he points him to Christ. 123 00:05:39,630 --> 00:05:43,390 So the first gospel message is exactly that He's, he's, He's 124 00:05:43,830 --> 00:05:46,830 join them in the Old Testament about the Messiah, and then he 125 00:05:46,830 --> 00:05:48,710 gives them what Jesus did on the cross. 126 00:05:48,990 --> 00:05:50,510 And so that's what the gospel looks like. 127 00:05:50,710 --> 00:05:52,630 You know, sometimes we can overcomplicate those things, 128 00:05:52,630 --> 00:05:54,110 right? And we can make it a little more 129 00:05:54,110 --> 00:05:56,950 complicated than it needs to be. But what we need to remember is 130 00:05:56,950 --> 00:05:59,590 what we're pointing to Christ through the word of God. 131 00:05:59,830 --> 00:06:01,470 Simple. And the Holy Spirit will give 132 00:06:01,470 --> 00:06:02,670 you the words that you need to say. 133 00:06:04,910 --> 00:06:08,230 And it says, after hearing the message delivered by Peter, the 134 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:10,750 Declaration scriptures tell us that they were distressed. 135 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:14,340 So Peter advises them to repent and calls for a public 136 00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:17,580 declaration of the fundamental change in them, which is what 137 00:06:17,580 --> 00:06:21,780 the baptism, right. So we know that initially the 138 00:06:21,780 --> 00:06:24,100 message reaches them. They recognize and they're 139 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:26,860 distressed because why? They realize that they are not 140 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:29,620 where they need to be. So the gospel reaches them. 141 00:06:29,740 --> 00:06:31,860 It penetrates them straight to their hearts. 142 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:35,340 And they say something needs to be changed in me, something I 143 00:06:35,340 --> 00:06:38,340 recognize I'm missing something, right. 144 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,520 Early on the Christians were unashamed to profess their faith 145 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,080 in their Jesus regardless of the circumstances. 146 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,040 So they just what what happens after they they understand. 147 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,160 He calls them to repentance and then they go on baptized, which 148 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,560 is a public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ. 149 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,720 And that's been the the same way for over 2000 years, right? 150 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,360 It's still the same thing we do today. 151 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,280 But early on they were unashamed of who they were. 152 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:06,360 As Christians. We know that early on they met 153 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,040 in there was a lot of oppression towards Christians and where 154 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,600 they met. Sometimes in caverns, right? 155 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,920 Sometimes in mortuaries, sometimes in places that you 156 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,480 wouldn't want to be, which I imagine wasn't a great feeling, 157 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,040 right? You know, having to meet in a in 158 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,680 a somewhere where people were being buried, I imagine that 159 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,560 wasn't a great feeling for them, but they still met because what 160 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,360 they loved the Lord and they wanted to, they wanted to 161 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,640 congregate and fellowship. Nowadays we have to drag people 162 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,640 in the churches, right? We have to tell them they 163 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,100 profess to be Christians. But you asked them the last time 164 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:40,020 they went to a service and they tell you, I don't, I don't do 165 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:43,300 the whole church thing. Now I tell you this, there's no 166 00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:46,260 example of fellowship or Christianity in the New 167 00:07:46,260 --> 00:07:48,020 Testament apart from the fellowship. 168 00:07:48,060 --> 00:07:50,780 There's no example of that. We see that in all the letters. 169 00:07:51,020 --> 00:07:54,140 We see that when he's writing Galatians, Colossians, all these 170 00:07:54,140 --> 00:07:57,020 letters are are written to churches, gatherings, 171 00:07:57,020 --> 00:08:00,180 fellowships of the church. So there's no example of that. 172 00:08:00,580 --> 00:08:02,940 But they met regardless of the circumstances that they were 173 00:08:02,940 --> 00:08:05,670 going through, whether it be oppression, whether it be at the 174 00:08:05,670 --> 00:08:08,550 cost of their very own lives. They still met together. 175 00:08:08,910 --> 00:08:10,230 Why? Because it was. 176 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:12,990 It's necessary. It's necessary to grow in your 177 00:08:12,990 --> 00:08:14,990 faith. It's necessary to grow in who 178 00:08:14,990 --> 00:08:17,830 you are as a Christian, to have like minded brothers and sisters 179 00:08:17,830 --> 00:08:20,070 with you. And that's why Jesus carried 180 00:08:20,070 --> 00:08:22,070 disciples with him when he sent them out. 181 00:08:22,070 --> 00:08:24,750 He sent them out two by two. He didn't send them out alone 182 00:08:24,870 --> 00:08:27,990 because he understood that fellowship is necessary. 183 00:08:28,150 --> 00:08:31,590 At the core foundation of who we are as Christians is fellowship. 184 00:08:33,950 --> 00:08:36,990 He tells him to flee from this perverse generation, to be set 185 00:08:36,990 --> 00:08:39,549 apart from the surrounding cultures, right. 186 00:08:39,950 --> 00:08:43,150 So we should look different. Us as Christians should look 187 00:08:43,150 --> 00:08:45,550 different at the core fundamental fund foundation of 188 00:08:45,550 --> 00:08:47,710 who we are. We are different from the world. 189 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:50,150 Why? Because we have something that 190 00:08:50,150 --> 00:08:51,910 they don't have. And what is that? 191 00:08:52,030 --> 00:08:54,030 Christ, right? And what's what does Christ 192 00:08:54,030 --> 00:08:54,510 give? Us? 193 00:08:55,230 --> 00:08:58,510 Gives us joy and gives us peace. So that separates us from the 194 00:08:58,710 --> 00:09:00,350 from the world around us that we see. 195 00:09:00,850 --> 00:09:04,130 And that's why we fellowship. Because when we go out into the 196 00:09:04,130 --> 00:09:06,850 world, when we go to our jobs, when we go to our schools, we're 197 00:09:06,850 --> 00:09:09,610 around people who are not like minded and we need to be around 198 00:09:09,610 --> 00:09:12,610 people who bring us back into the fold and remind us of who we 199 00:09:12,610 --> 00:09:14,770 are. I'm thankful that you know I get 200 00:09:14,770 --> 00:09:16,930 to work with Christian brothers at at my job. 201 00:09:16,930 --> 00:09:19,370 I'm fortunate enough and I'm fortunate enough that I have one 202 00:09:19,370 --> 00:09:22,010 of my best friends and A and a a guy who actually attends a 203 00:09:22,010 --> 00:09:25,580 church with me to remind me sometimes and say hey man we 204 00:09:25,580 --> 00:09:27,740 shouldn't be doing that we shouldn't be talking like that. 205 00:09:27,980 --> 00:09:31,260 Hey man maybe we should have did this instead and and and I it's 206 00:09:31,820 --> 00:09:34,460 I'm thankful because sometimes you know we're human beings 207 00:09:34,460 --> 00:09:36,260 right. We struggle in our walk we 208 00:09:36,260 --> 00:09:38,860 struggle in our faith and sometimes we stumble a little 209 00:09:38,860 --> 00:09:43,460 and we need somebody to grab us by the collar and say hey I need 210 00:09:43,460 --> 00:09:46,220 you back on track the same way he's done. 211 00:09:46,300 --> 00:09:49,140 I've done it for him you know I've seen and other brothers 212 00:09:49,140 --> 00:09:51,780 that we go to that we work with that are Christians. 213 00:09:51,780 --> 00:09:54,660 Hey man, you know, I don't know that you should be doing that. 214 00:09:54,980 --> 00:09:57,300 Maybe you you handled that guy a little more rough than should 215 00:09:57,300 --> 00:09:58,900 have been. Maybe we need a more, a little 216 00:09:58,900 --> 00:10:03,220 more grace, a little more peace. But thankfully we have these 217 00:10:03,220 --> 00:10:06,540 this opportunity that you guys can meet together, fellowship 218 00:10:06,540 --> 00:10:10,620 with one another, strengthen one another, create bonds of love 219 00:10:10,620 --> 00:10:13,180 with one another that are tighter than family, right. 220 00:10:13,260 --> 00:10:16,260 Jesus said, who is my mother? Who are my brothers, right. 221 00:10:16,260 --> 00:10:18,420 When he's talking about his actual family? 222 00:10:18,420 --> 00:10:20,980 And then he points to his disciples to say, this is my 223 00:10:20,980 --> 00:10:23,050 family. Why not? 224 00:10:23,050 --> 00:10:24,330 Because they were actually his blood. 225 00:10:24,370 --> 00:10:26,530 Something deeper than than that was going on. 226 00:10:26,810 --> 00:10:29,530 We have something coursing through us as Christians that's 227 00:10:29,530 --> 00:10:31,450 deeper than actual physical blood. 228 00:10:31,450 --> 00:10:32,890 And what is that? The blood of Christ. 229 00:10:33,290 --> 00:10:37,130 And we're thankful for that. So at the onset of who the early 230 00:10:37,130 --> 00:10:40,730 churches are, a group of Holy Spirit sealed, set apart, 231 00:10:40,730 --> 00:10:43,210 professing people. That's who we are. 232 00:10:43,890 --> 00:10:45,770 That's who we are at the core foundation. 233 00:10:45,890 --> 00:10:47,210 All right. So now we're going to jump into 234 00:10:47,210 --> 00:10:49,940 some. That's just the foundation. 235 00:10:49,940 --> 00:10:52,500 We're going to get into a little more of what it means to be a 236 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:54,020 Christian Church. So we're going to give some 237 00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:56,580 examples, different scriptures. Hopefully I can get through all 238 00:10:56,580 --> 00:11:00,300 of this, but maybe not. Acts chapter two, we continue on 239 00:11:00,300 --> 00:11:04,140 verse 42 to 47 says they were devoting themselves to the 240 00:11:04,140 --> 00:11:06,100 apostles teaching and to fellowship. 241 00:11:06,580 --> 00:11:07,860 Now what does that look like for us? 242 00:11:07,860 --> 00:11:11,020 Modern day, devoting ourselves to the apostles teaching. 243 00:11:11,220 --> 00:11:14,340 How can we do that? We don't have the apostles with 244 00:11:14,340 --> 00:11:16,020 us, right? And not with us. 245 00:11:16,060 --> 00:11:18,140 Back then they had the apostles in the flesh. 246 00:11:18,140 --> 00:11:20,340 That's right. But what we have today is the 247 00:11:20,340 --> 00:11:22,780 word of God. So we're devoting ourselves to 248 00:11:22,780 --> 00:11:25,580 what? The word of God and to 249 00:11:25,980 --> 00:11:29,340 fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 250 00:11:29,620 --> 00:11:33,340 So at at the foundation of who we are is the scriptures. 251 00:11:33,660 --> 00:11:37,220 Fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, Reverend Rancho, all 252 00:11:37,220 --> 00:11:40,260 came over everyone and many wonders and miraculous signs 253 00:11:40,630 --> 00:11:43,830 came about by the apostles, all who believe we're together and 254 00:11:43,830 --> 00:11:47,790 held everything in common. I want to make make an emphasis 255 00:11:48,070 --> 00:11:50,830 on held everything in common and you're going to see why as we go 256 00:11:50,830 --> 00:11:53,150 along. Held everything in common, which 257 00:11:53,150 --> 00:11:56,990 is what they were like, Minded of the same mind, of the same 258 00:11:56,990 --> 00:12:00,710 spirit, of the same goals. Just keep that in mind as we go 259 00:12:00,710 --> 00:12:03,420 along. And they began selling their 260 00:12:03,420 --> 00:12:06,420 property and possession possessions and distributing the 261 00:12:06,420 --> 00:12:08,660 proceeds to everyone, as anyone had me. 262 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:13,260 Now I once had a my brotherinlaw who say to me there's no, 263 00:12:13,620 --> 00:12:17,500 there's no talking about tithing in the New Testament. 264 00:12:17,620 --> 00:12:19,180 There's none. There's nothing that says 265 00:12:19,180 --> 00:12:21,380 anything about tithing. And he's right. 266 00:12:21,540 --> 00:12:23,300 There is nothing in the New Testament that talks about 267 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:25,540 tithing, right. That's an Old Testament covenant 268 00:12:25,540 --> 00:12:31,120 thing with the Israel people. However, the first example we 269 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,200 see of giving in the New Testament of the organized 270 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:37,600 church is them doing what? Selling everything And giving it 271 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,000 for the needs of others. So the example that we give we 272 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,200 get from Jesus and the church is what sell everything and give to 273 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,400 others. Now, don't, don't, don't go out 274 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:47,920 there. And like, I had a brother tell 275 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,560 me one time in a Bible study, he says gave me the same question. 276 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:53,520 I explained this to me. He says, well, I've got two cars 277 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,520 at home. Do I need to sell one of them? 278 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,800 I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa. You know, like what? 279 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,240 What? What they're trying to tell us 280 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:00,680 is it's a matter of the heart, right? 281 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,600 It's a matter of the need. So whatever God to Christ and 282 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,000 the Holy Spirit is convicting you of, that's what you should 283 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,800 be doing, right? So maybe that might be sell 284 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,480 everything and give. Maybe it might be like the lady 285 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,440 who gave her two cents, whatever she had and she put it in the 286 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:15,160 coffer. Right. 287 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:17,680 Maybe that's the example that God has given to you. 288 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:21,040 It may depend on your situation. But what it's telling us is 289 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,080 whatever the Holy Spirit is convicting you of giving that 290 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:25,680 you, that's what you should be doing. 291 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,590 Now that being said, some people are probably like, I'll stick 292 00:13:29,590 --> 00:13:34,110 with the 10%, I'm good, right? You know, like I'm OK, 10% it 293 00:13:34,110 --> 00:13:35,990 is. And you know, whatever Christ 294 00:13:35,990 --> 00:13:38,070 convicts you, whatever the Holy Spirit convicts you up, that's 295 00:13:38,070 --> 00:13:41,270 what you should be doing, right? And if you have an issue with 296 00:13:41,270 --> 00:13:43,710 that, then you really need to go into prayer. 297 00:13:43,710 --> 00:13:46,830 You really need to go into your alone time and ask Christ why 298 00:13:46,830 --> 00:13:49,870 you have an issue with giving, especially for the fellowship of 299 00:13:49,870 --> 00:13:54,110 others and our like minded brothers and sisters, all who 300 00:13:54,110 --> 00:13:56,510 believed were together. I'm sorry, yeah, all who 301 00:13:56,550 --> 00:13:58,470 believed were together and held everything in common. 302 00:13:58,630 --> 00:14:00,710 And they began selling their property and possessions and 303 00:14:00,710 --> 00:14:04,070 distributing to the proceeds everyone as anyone had need. 304 00:14:04,150 --> 00:14:07,310 Every day they continued to gather together by common 305 00:14:07,310 --> 00:14:10,550 consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to 306 00:14:10,550 --> 00:14:13,470 house, sharing their fruit, their food with glad and humble 307 00:14:13,470 --> 00:14:16,710 hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. 308 00:14:16,910 --> 00:14:18,990 And the Lord was adding to their number every day. 309 00:14:19,870 --> 00:14:23,110 Those who were being saved eating. 310 00:14:23,350 --> 00:14:25,710 I mean food. I mean, us as Christians, we 311 00:14:25,710 --> 00:14:28,710 don't really have to, like, do we really need to elaborate on 312 00:14:28,710 --> 00:14:31,590 that? Jesus ate with his disciples. 313 00:14:31,910 --> 00:14:34,110 We love to eat. We love to. 314 00:14:34,310 --> 00:14:37,270 We love potlucks down here. It's what we do. 315 00:14:38,590 --> 00:14:41,830 Praise God for Potlucks, right. You know, there's something 316 00:14:41,830 --> 00:14:44,390 about there's something about sitting down at in a meal with 317 00:14:44,390 --> 00:14:47,510 someone where you can just people tend to let down their 318 00:14:47,510 --> 00:14:49,590 guard, you know, when they're shoving food in their face. 319 00:14:50,250 --> 00:14:52,530 So you can really connect with people as, you know, they're 320 00:14:52,570 --> 00:14:56,410 eating and and, you know, you establish bonds and fellowship, 321 00:14:56,410 --> 00:14:58,170 especially if, you know, they make something. 322 00:14:58,730 --> 00:15:01,410 You know, one of the guys in our church makes some ribs and, you 323 00:15:01,410 --> 00:15:02,890 know, everybody's like, oh, did you bring the ribs? 324 00:15:02,890 --> 00:15:04,530 You know, now you got to talk to the guy because you like the 325 00:15:04,530 --> 00:15:07,650 ribs and you want the recipe. So it forces you to have some 326 00:15:07,650 --> 00:15:09,090 type of bond with that person. Right. 327 00:15:09,090 --> 00:15:10,730 So, you know, thank God for that. 328 00:15:11,090 --> 00:15:13,890 So chapter 2 finishes with a couple key takeaways to keep in 329 00:15:13,890 --> 00:15:16,250 mind. 1. Devotion to the apostles 330 00:15:16,250 --> 00:15:18,370 teaching, which is what? Scripture. 331 00:15:18,730 --> 00:15:20,310 Right. Solo Scriptura. 332 00:15:20,310 --> 00:15:23,030 The Core Foundation of us as Protestants 2. 333 00:15:23,030 --> 00:15:28,390 Fellowship, Breaking of Bread 3. Selfless selflessness for your 334 00:15:28,390 --> 00:15:31,590 fellow Christian And again, that's lost on the church at 335 00:15:31,590 --> 00:15:34,430 times selflessness for our fellow Christians. 336 00:15:34,430 --> 00:15:37,470 Often times, especially in a Western culture, Will tells you, 337 00:15:37,470 --> 00:15:39,150 which tells you you're a superhero. 338 00:15:39,310 --> 00:15:40,630 You're the greatest to ever do it. 339 00:15:40,630 --> 00:15:42,310 You're the smartest, You're the fastest. 340 00:15:42,510 --> 00:15:45,730 Here's an award for showing up every day, just doing your 341 00:15:45,730 --> 00:15:47,090 regular job. Here's an award. 342 00:15:47,330 --> 00:15:50,450 You know, we often tend to see ourselves in light of that, but 343 00:15:50,450 --> 00:15:52,010 that's not what the Scripture tells us. 344 00:15:52,210 --> 00:15:54,490 The Scripture tells us to what? To be selfless. 345 00:15:54,690 --> 00:15:56,970 Like Christ was selfless, right? He was selfless for us. 346 00:15:57,210 --> 00:16:00,050 He died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, and he took away 347 00:16:00,050 --> 00:16:02,730 our sins. He didn't have to, but he did. 348 00:16:03,170 --> 00:16:06,370 And and that's the approach we should have for our especially 349 00:16:06,610 --> 00:16:09,010 for our brothers in Christ. That's that same approach that 350 00:16:09,010 --> 00:16:11,810 we should have is selflessness for our fellow fellow brothers, 351 00:16:11,930 --> 00:16:15,690 for humility and gladness. Now we all know those people who 352 00:16:15,690 --> 00:16:19,050 claim to be Christian and they walk around looking like sour 353 00:16:19,050 --> 00:16:21,570 past kids. You know, you're like, how does 354 00:16:21,570 --> 00:16:23,330 this person have the love of Christ in them? 355 00:16:24,210 --> 00:16:26,090 And they walk around so upset all the time. 356 00:16:26,490 --> 00:16:28,970 Like I know I can probably name like 5 people off the top of my 357 00:16:28,970 --> 00:16:33,010 head that are like that and I wonder to myself like what's 358 00:16:33,010 --> 00:16:35,170 going on, that they don't have the joy of Christ in them. 359 00:16:35,530 --> 00:16:37,570 But you know what? I what we can do is continue to 360 00:16:37,570 --> 00:16:40,050 pray for those people and help them along the way. 361 00:16:40,050 --> 00:16:43,410 Sometimes our example for those people can help them change who 362 00:16:43,410 --> 00:16:46,170 they are. You know, I had a coworker at 363 00:16:46,170 --> 00:16:47,810 work. We were talking about something 364 00:16:47,810 --> 00:16:51,770 about the guys were talking about things that they wish 365 00:16:52,050 --> 00:16:54,210 changed of other people in the in the in the group. 366 00:16:54,570 --> 00:16:57,450 And the one coworker said, oh, I'll tell you what bothers me 367 00:16:57,450 --> 00:16:58,890 about you. And I was like, all right. 368 00:16:58,930 --> 00:17:01,330 And she says I feel like I can't cuss around you. 369 00:17:01,850 --> 00:17:04,010 And I was like, well, I've never said you can't do that. 370 00:17:04,010 --> 00:17:05,530 I've never said anything about that. 371 00:17:05,810 --> 00:17:08,450 And she's like, well, no, I know that you guys are Christians. 372 00:17:08,900 --> 00:17:11,700 And it it would bother me if I knew that you were upset at me, 373 00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:14,020 Kirsten. And I was like, oh, well, praise 374 00:17:14,020 --> 00:17:17,180 God, praise God. That's that's actually a good 375 00:17:17,180 --> 00:17:19,220 one. But you know your, your example 376 00:17:19,220 --> 00:17:21,500 of who you are is sometimes can win these people over. 377 00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:24,020 You know, luckily for us, you know she's been attending a 378 00:17:24,020 --> 00:17:27,420 church that she hasn't been she has been years that she's hasn't 379 00:17:27,420 --> 00:17:28,700 been to a church. But she started attending a 380 00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:32,180 church not because of anything I said to her or Nate said to her 381 00:17:32,180 --> 00:17:34,100 or any of the other Christian guys in our group said to her 382 00:17:34,340 --> 00:17:38,160 just from our example, you know, just us loving Christ, loving on 383 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:39,880 each other. I think that pushed her towards, 384 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,440 you know what, I need to get back in the church. 385 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,680 I need to get my family back in the church and praise God. 386 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:48,200 We give all the glory and honor to God for that #5, praising God 387 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,000 and having goodwill towards all people. 388 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,440 And so that's that's self-explanatory, right? 389 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,680 You know, at the foundation of who we are, we are selfless 390 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,600 people and that includes the people of the world. 391 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:01,920 All right, So we're going to jump into First Corinthians 392 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,870 chapter one, verse 9 through 13. Now we're going to remember what 393 00:18:05,870 --> 00:18:07,510 I said. They held everything in common, 394 00:18:07,510 --> 00:18:09,510 right there was likeminded people. 395 00:18:09,830 --> 00:18:12,510 So we're going to jump forward just a few years, right into the 396 00:18:12,510 --> 00:18:15,630 Corinthian to church and Corinth and Paul's letter to the 397 00:18:15,630 --> 00:18:18,430 Corinthian people. And just we're going to see a 398 00:18:18,430 --> 00:18:21,350 staunch difference. So in Acts, we see this happy, 399 00:18:21,510 --> 00:18:24,430 loving, giving, selfless church, right? 400 00:18:24,750 --> 00:18:26,990 And just a few years later, this is what we get in First 401 00:18:26,990 --> 00:18:29,350 Corinthians. So First Corinthians chapter 402 00:18:29,550 --> 00:18:32,710 one, verse 9 through 13, says God is faithful. 403 00:18:32,710 --> 00:18:35,740 By whom you were called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus 404 00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:38,740 Christ our Lord. I urge you, brothers and 405 00:18:38,740 --> 00:18:41,300 sisters, by the name of the Lord our Lord Jesus Christ. 406 00:18:41,300 --> 00:18:43,940 So stop right there for a second. 407 00:18:44,380 --> 00:18:47,580 Paul is emphasizing what? That they are saved into Christ, 408 00:18:47,580 --> 00:18:49,740 right? So he's putting an emphasis on 409 00:18:49,740 --> 00:18:54,060 Christ, right? And why he's reminding them back 410 00:18:54,060 --> 00:18:56,460 into He's trying to remind them back into what they got saved 411 00:18:56,460 --> 00:19:04,350 under to agree together to end your divisions and to be united 412 00:19:04,350 --> 00:19:07,990 by the same mind and purpose. So within a few years we see 413 00:19:07,990 --> 00:19:11,910 that what the current church is what already divided, already 414 00:19:11,910 --> 00:19:17,790 becoming divided within a few years for members of Chloe's 415 00:19:17,790 --> 00:19:20,350 household have made it clear to me but my brothers and sisters, 416 00:19:20,590 --> 00:19:22,830 that there are quarrels among you now. 417 00:19:22,830 --> 00:19:28,140 I mean this to teach to each of you is saying now I mean this 418 00:19:28,140 --> 00:19:31,900 that each of you is saying I am with Paul or I am with Apollo's 419 00:19:32,060 --> 00:19:34,540 or I am with Cephas or I am with Christ. 420 00:19:34,780 --> 00:19:38,260 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, 421 00:19:38,420 --> 00:19:40,820 was he? Or were you in fact baptized in 422 00:19:40,820 --> 00:19:43,460 the name of Paul? So early on we see what 423 00:19:43,460 --> 00:19:46,260 divisions within the church, right? 424 00:19:46,260 --> 00:19:48,700 Were they holding all everything in common where they have like 425 00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:49,700 mind? No. 426 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:51,700 Quickly we see that they become divided. 427 00:19:52,260 --> 00:19:55,780 And I implore you church, you guys are at the at the 428 00:19:55,780 --> 00:19:59,260 foundation. Just be reminded of of what 429 00:19:59,260 --> 00:20:02,060 crisis called us to. I employ you guys like Paul 430 00:20:02,060 --> 00:20:03,700 employed the the, the people of Korean. 431 00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:07,500 Be reminded of what we're here doing, why we're here and what 432 00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:09,940 he's called us to do. Let us be like minded. 433 00:20:10,060 --> 00:20:14,260 Let us not be divided because division causes what strife. 434 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:18,380 And then all of a sudden you've got sections of I'm with this 435 00:20:18,380 --> 00:20:21,420 guy, I'm with that guy, I'm with this guy, I'm with that guy. 436 00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:24,180 And then what happens is we become divided within the 437 00:20:24,180 --> 00:20:26,250 fellowship. And early on, we see that. 438 00:20:26,250 --> 00:20:28,450 And there's a reason why it happens early on, You know why? 439 00:20:28,690 --> 00:20:31,490 Because of human nature. And what they did was they took 440 00:20:31,490 --> 00:20:34,290 their eyes and their sight off of Christ and they started to 441 00:20:34,290 --> 00:20:36,330 put it on what? On themselves. 442 00:20:36,490 --> 00:20:38,810 And they started to try to figure out what they knew. 443 00:20:39,010 --> 00:20:41,250 Who's the better teacher? Well, you know what? 444 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:43,170 I like Peter better. Or Sephus. 445 00:20:43,210 --> 00:20:45,330 You know his other name, Sephus. I like Sephus. 446 00:20:45,850 --> 00:20:48,610 I like the way he talks. You know Paul, when he comes, 447 00:20:48,850 --> 00:20:50,050 there's something about the way he talks. 448 00:20:50,050 --> 00:20:51,690 I just don't enjoy. He doesn't have that. 449 00:20:51,690 --> 00:20:56,030 Same oomphs that that this other preacher has, right? 450 00:20:56,550 --> 00:20:58,390 I like this other preacher that I've been listening to on 451 00:20:58,390 --> 00:20:59,950 YouTube. He doesn't have that same oomph 452 00:21:00,510 --> 00:21:03,710 that JM has. I like I like JM though, because 453 00:21:03,710 --> 00:21:05,630 I like how he does it. I don't like how this person 454 00:21:05,630 --> 00:21:07,070 does this. I don't like when the other 455 00:21:07,070 --> 00:21:08,750 brother gets up and and does the Bible. 456 00:21:09,110 --> 00:21:11,110 We have to be very careful. Now there's a difference 457 00:21:11,110 --> 00:21:16,550 between, you know, critiquing or you know, saying something oh, 458 00:21:16,630 --> 00:21:19,590 you know, JM, you actually said something that wasn't correct. 459 00:21:19,670 --> 00:21:21,520 And here's hey. And I'm sure he would be like, 460 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,720 oh, yeah, thank you, brother. Just like I've been guilty of 461 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,400 that. I've been guilty of saying 462 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,880 things that, you know, offend people, not on purpose. 463 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,680 But you know what happens? I'm a human being. 464 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,720 And somebody said, hey, you know, that offended me. 465 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,240 And I said, oh, I want to make a public acknowledgement that I 466 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,560 made a mistake. And I'm sorry, I didn't mean to 467 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:38,760 offend. And I take it back. 468 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:40,600 There's nothing wrong with that, you know? 469 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,080 But there's a difference between that and saying, you know what, 470 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,640 this guy's with me. This guy's with me. 471 00:21:49,010 --> 00:21:50,890 We stick together. And that happens a lot of times 472 00:21:50,890 --> 00:21:52,930 in churches. I know because I've been, I've 473 00:21:52,930 --> 00:21:55,330 also been at the, the, the foundation of a church. 474 00:21:55,330 --> 00:21:58,490 You know, when my father moved down here from New York more 475 00:21:58,490 --> 00:22:01,250 than 20 years, almost 20 years ago, he started a Spanish 476 00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:05,250 speaking church in Hampton, VA And we were it. 477 00:22:05,650 --> 00:22:07,410 We were all he had. We don't know anybody here. 478 00:22:07,410 --> 00:22:09,930 We have no family here. So we were all he had. 479 00:22:09,930 --> 00:22:13,210 So I was we were at the core, the foundation of the church and 480 00:22:13,210 --> 00:22:17,290 he built it up and God built it up and he he he was doing well. 481 00:22:17,610 --> 00:22:19,700 And then there was a bit of a divide. 482 00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:22,140 And I saw that happen real time. So I know that these things 483 00:22:22,140 --> 00:22:24,180 happen. So I just want to make that 484 00:22:24,660 --> 00:22:27,780 plant that in your minds and your hearts, reminding of what 485 00:22:27,780 --> 00:22:31,020 the word says about being divisive and what at the core of 486 00:22:31,020 --> 00:22:33,420 who we are as as Christians, right? 487 00:22:33,420 --> 00:22:36,740 So in the fellowship, we see the Acts church, right, which is 488 00:22:36,740 --> 00:22:38,380 what we should try to emulate, right? 489 00:22:38,660 --> 00:22:40,300 That's what we should try to be like. 490 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:42,460 And then we see the current church, right? 491 00:22:42,780 --> 00:22:45,060 And we see what they were like, and that's what we should try 492 00:22:45,060 --> 00:22:47,380 strive not to be like. And that's what we should always 493 00:22:47,380 --> 00:22:50,410 keep in mind. Paul and his letter to the 494 00:22:50,410 --> 00:22:53,050 Church of Carmen reminds the church that we are to be in 495 00:22:53,050 --> 00:22:55,130 fellowship with Christ and with one another. 496 00:22:55,450 --> 00:22:58,250 He pleads with the church and come in to not be divided. 497 00:22:58,330 --> 00:23:02,850 A stark contrast from Acts where they held everything in common 498 00:23:02,850 --> 00:23:05,850 like minded. Within a short time the churches 499 00:23:05,850 --> 00:23:08,810 have begun to forget what they were built on, the fellowship 500 00:23:08,810 --> 00:23:11,690 that Christ has called us to. In Christ and within the Church, 501 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:15,210 let us not let us not so be so easily swayed into thoughts of 502 00:23:15,210 --> 00:23:18,980 division, and instead to be reminded to be selfless, as 503 00:23:19,060 --> 00:23:21,300 Jesus was selfless when he died on the cross. 504 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:24,060 For our sins let us strive to keep everything in common with 505 00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:26,860 one another. Ephesians, chapter 4, verse one 506 00:23:26,860 --> 00:23:29,700 through 7. I therefore the prisoner for the 507 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:33,260 Lord urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you 508 00:23:33,260 --> 00:23:37,020 have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with 509 00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:42,060 patience bearing with one another in love, making every 510 00:23:42,060 --> 00:23:46,650 effort to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, 511 00:23:46,850 --> 00:23:49,130 which is a stark contrast from what we see in First the 512 00:23:49,130 --> 00:23:49,930 Corinthians. Right? 513 00:23:50,170 --> 00:23:53,090 So Paul is also writing to the church and of Ephesus, and he 514 00:23:53,090 --> 00:23:55,450 tells them what? Keep in mind that you're 515 00:23:55,450 --> 00:23:57,010 together. Join together in what? 516 00:23:57,130 --> 00:24:00,530 In love, right? And love bears all things 517 00:24:00,850 --> 00:24:03,970 bearing with one another, making every effort to keep what the 518 00:24:03,970 --> 00:24:07,450 unity which is in the Spirit. Christ didn't call us to 519 00:24:07,450 --> 00:24:10,210 division, He didn't call us to divide. 520 00:24:10,490 --> 00:24:13,430 He call us to be one. And yes, there are a ton of 521 00:24:13,430 --> 00:24:15,870 denominations. And yes, there's a ton of 522 00:24:15,870 --> 00:24:18,470 different ways of preaching. Yes, there's a ton of different 523 00:24:18,470 --> 00:24:20,670 ways of worship. But we're all centered around 524 00:24:20,670 --> 00:24:24,550 what one Christ, right. And that's why you see something 525 00:24:24,550 --> 00:24:27,830 like the Apostles Creed, right, which is given to us passed down 526 00:24:27,830 --> 00:24:30,910 from the early Church Fathers, which is essential to us as 527 00:24:30,910 --> 00:24:31,670 Christians. Right. 528 00:24:31,670 --> 00:24:34,310 We can look on there and say if you believe in this, this, this, 529 00:24:34,310 --> 00:24:37,250 this, this, this, which is all biblical right, we can hold in 530 00:24:37,250 --> 00:24:38,770 common that we are brothers in the faith. 531 00:24:39,250 --> 00:24:41,010 If at any point they start saying, well, I don't like that 532 00:24:41,010 --> 00:24:42,890 part, I take that out, I take that. 533 00:24:43,090 --> 00:24:45,210 Then you have to start the question and say, oh, maybe 534 00:24:45,210 --> 00:24:47,090 there's something, something off here. 535 00:24:47,370 --> 00:24:52,010 But remember we are called to live together in, in because in 536 00:24:52,050 --> 00:24:57,530 in unity, in Christ Jesus, where do I leave off? 537 00:24:58,370 --> 00:25:02,780 There is one body and one spirit, just as you two were 538 00:25:02,780 --> 00:25:07,340 called to the one hope of your calling, 1 Lord, one faith, one 539 00:25:07,380 --> 00:25:12,660 baptism, one God, and Father of all who is over all and through 540 00:25:12,660 --> 00:25:16,740 all and in all but each But to each one of us grace was given 541 00:25:16,740 --> 00:25:19,220 according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 542 00:25:19,380 --> 00:25:22,300 So what is he comparing the the, the, the love that we should 543 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:25,630 have the grace from one of us to the grace that Christ gives us. 544 00:25:25,830 --> 00:25:27,630 Now think about that. Now think about that in your 545 00:25:27,630 --> 00:25:30,950 mind, the grace that God has called you to, knowing who you 546 00:25:30,950 --> 00:25:32,910 were in our church. They call it the BC days, which 547 00:25:32,910 --> 00:25:34,390 is the Before Christ days, right? 548 00:25:34,630 --> 00:25:36,470 Who you were in your BC days, right. 549 00:25:36,830 --> 00:25:40,690 And you think about how you were lost, how you were separated, 550 00:25:40,930 --> 00:25:44,610 how much strife you had, how much anxiety you may have had, 551 00:25:44,810 --> 00:25:47,450 how much sadness you may have had in your life. 552 00:25:47,810 --> 00:25:50,170 And then where you are through His grace, because you did 553 00:25:50,170 --> 00:25:53,010 nothing to deserve it, right? The grace that poured into you 554 00:25:53,210 --> 00:25:55,810 when you when you receive Christ, right when you received 555 00:25:56,010 --> 00:25:59,370 who He is, His salvation, you remember that grace that He 556 00:25:59,370 --> 00:26:01,650 poured into you. That's the same amount of grace 557 00:26:01,650 --> 00:26:03,810 that you should be pouring into your brothers and sisters. 558 00:26:04,900 --> 00:26:07,660 So when when a person offends you, when a person does 559 00:26:07,660 --> 00:26:09,900 something to you, are you quick to forgive them? 560 00:26:10,660 --> 00:26:13,420 I'll be honest, I'm not. Sometimes I'll be honest, I'm 561 00:26:13,420 --> 00:26:14,740 not. But that's what makes me 562 00:26:14,740 --> 00:26:16,380 fallible. That's what makes me a human 563 00:26:16,380 --> 00:26:17,700 being. And you know what I need to do 564 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:21,060 in those times? Lean on the Holy Spirit and pray 565 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:24,780 for God's direction and how. How I can be more graceful to my 566 00:26:24,780 --> 00:26:28,340 brothers and sisters, how I can lean on him in order to to learn 567 00:26:28,340 --> 00:26:31,260 what that grace looks like. And often times it's hard. 568 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,120 It's hard, especially when somebody's done something to 569 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:37,160 you, especially a brother in Christ, especially when it's a 570 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:39,720 brother in Christ. When you have that, you feel 571 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,160 like that betrayal, right? But we have to remember they're 572 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:43,920 not infallible. They're human beings. 573 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,240 They make mistakes. And it's our position to give 574 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,760 grace and forgiveness as Christ gave us grace and forgiveness. 575 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,160 Because imagine if you were going through life and Jesus 576 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:56,200 said no, you don't deserve that grace because you did XY&Z and 577 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,940 you offended me when you didn't show up that Sunday or that 578 00:26:59,940 --> 00:27:01,740 Wednesday night or that Friday night. 579 00:27:02,180 --> 00:27:06,620 Imagine that we forget sometimes how how good is His grace is in 580 00:27:06,620 --> 00:27:10,140 our lives, how good He is to us, and we need to be reminded daily 581 00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:13,820 that His grace on us is sufficient and therefore we 582 00:27:13,820 --> 00:27:15,700 should be pouring that grace into our fellow brothers and 583 00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:19,220 sisters. Philippians chapter 2 verses one 584 00:27:19,220 --> 00:27:21,620 through 8. Therefore, if there is any 585 00:27:21,620 --> 00:27:25,290 encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any 586 00:27:25,290 --> 00:27:29,250 fellowship in the Spirit, any affection of mercy, complete my 587 00:27:29,250 --> 00:27:33,210 joy and be of the same mind. See how that theme just keeps 588 00:27:33,210 --> 00:27:36,490 popping up right? And held everything in common of 589 00:27:36,490 --> 00:27:40,490 the same mind. By having the same love, being 590 00:27:40,490 --> 00:27:43,010 united in spirit, and having one purpose. 591 00:27:43,250 --> 00:27:47,170 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each 592 00:27:47,170 --> 00:27:50,490 of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as 593 00:27:50,490 --> 00:27:53,660 more important than yourself. How often is that happening, 594 00:27:53,660 --> 00:27:56,180 brothers and sisters? How often are we treating others 595 00:27:56,220 --> 00:27:59,740 more important than ourselves? And if we're not, we have to 596 00:27:59,740 --> 00:28:01,620 take a step back and say, you know what? 597 00:28:01,620 --> 00:28:04,380 What do I need to do in order to do that? 598 00:28:04,540 --> 00:28:06,700 And you know what? Sometimes we just don't know. 599 00:28:06,900 --> 00:28:09,060 We don't know, and we have to pray. 600 00:28:09,060 --> 00:28:11,980 And we have to pray and say, you know what, I don't know what 601 00:28:11,980 --> 00:28:14,020 this looks like. I don't know how to go forward 602 00:28:14,020 --> 00:28:15,660 in this. I'm going to lean on the Holy 603 00:28:15,660 --> 00:28:18,660 Spirit and say, Holy Spirit, guide me and let me know what I 604 00:28:18,660 --> 00:28:23,030 need to do in order to do that. Each of you should be concerned 605 00:28:23,030 --> 00:28:25,670 not only about your own interests, but about the 606 00:28:25,670 --> 00:28:28,510 interests of others as well. You should have the same 607 00:28:28,510 --> 00:28:32,110 attitude toward one another that Jesus Christ had. 608 00:28:32,950 --> 00:28:35,510 Again, he's mentioning the same thing again. 609 00:28:36,430 --> 00:28:40,950 Who, though he existed in the form of a God, did form of God, 610 00:28:40,950 --> 00:28:44,150 Excuse me, I apologize, Did not regard equality with God as 611 00:28:44,150 --> 00:28:48,110 something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the 612 00:28:48,110 --> 00:28:52,250 form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in 613 00:28:52,250 --> 00:28:54,690 human nature. He humbled himself by becoming 614 00:28:54,730 --> 00:28:58,250 obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 615 00:28:58,490 --> 00:29:01,930 So earlier on, Paul compares what the fellowship that we 616 00:29:01,930 --> 00:29:06,090 should have to what the the grace that God pours upon us now 617 00:29:06,090 --> 00:29:09,010 he calls us to what? The sacrifice? 618 00:29:09,210 --> 00:29:11,290 And he's saying the sacrifice that you should be having for 619 00:29:11,290 --> 00:29:14,770 your brothers and sisters should be the same sacrifice that Jesus 620 00:29:14,770 --> 00:29:16,530 Christ did on the cross of Calvary for us. 621 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,880 And when you put it in that light, when you say to yourself, 622 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:25,280 man, you're talking about the the biggest moment in all of 623 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,320 history, the day that Jesus Christ out on the cross of 624 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,080 Calvary from mine and your sense, right? 625 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:34,520 When you look at it in light of that, it seems pretty small and 626 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,280 pretty simple. When you say, hey, can you drive 627 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,240 an extra mile to go pick up your brother so that he can go to 628 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:43,320 church, You know, it seems pretty small when you when you 629 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:45,160 have to. Hey man, you know, I'm kind of 630 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,160 hungry, you know, Can you stop by, man, I'm tired of this guy 631 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,680 always asking me for food. I'm tired of this guy always 632 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,400 begging me for it. Seems pretty simple when you put 633 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,760 it in light of that, When you put it in light of God's 634 00:29:55,760 --> 00:30:00,960 sacrifice for us on the cross of Calvary, how selfless are we as 635 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:03,600 a church, as a body for one another. 636 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:07,080 Because Jesus was so selfless that he came down, took the form 637 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:10,620 of a man, and he died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, 638 00:30:10,820 --> 00:30:12,100 right? So that one day we can be 639 00:30:12,100 --> 00:30:15,220 redeemed, right? And knowing in the future that 640 00:30:15,220 --> 00:30:17,460 you were going to exist, that he was going to form you in your 641 00:30:17,460 --> 00:30:21,340 mother's womb before you even existed, He knew in all eternity 642 00:30:21,460 --> 00:30:23,700 that he was going to need each and everyone of you right here. 643 00:30:23,780 --> 00:30:26,820 That you were his children, that you were His children, and that 644 00:30:26,820 --> 00:30:28,860 he knew that you were going to be here. 645 00:30:28,900 --> 00:30:31,020 And he wanted to save you because he wanted you to bring 646 00:30:31,020 --> 00:30:32,700 you into the fold, into the family. 647 00:30:33,070 --> 00:30:35,150 And he wanted you there on the day of redemption, when when 648 00:30:35,150 --> 00:30:37,470 there's nothing but the new heavens and the new earth, He 649 00:30:37,470 --> 00:30:39,910 wanted you there. And he died on the cross of 650 00:30:39,910 --> 00:30:44,830 Calvary for you. And yet we complain about doing 651 00:30:44,830 --> 00:30:46,350 stuff for our brothers and our sisters. 652 00:30:46,910 --> 00:30:50,150 You know, in light of that, it seems pretty minute, right? 653 00:30:51,070 --> 00:30:54,910 Just something to keep in mind. Paul and his letter to Philip. 654 00:30:54,910 --> 00:30:57,910 I compared Jesus sacrificial death on the cross with the same 655 00:30:57,910 --> 00:31:00,670 level of selflessness we should have for our fellow brothers in 656 00:31:00,670 --> 00:31:02,070 Christ. Something to keep in mind, 657 00:31:02,740 --> 00:31:04,660 Colossians chapter one, verse 3 through 8. 658 00:31:05,140 --> 00:31:08,660 We always give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 659 00:31:08,660 --> 00:31:11,180 when we pray for you. Since we heard about your faith 660 00:31:11,180 --> 00:31:13,460 in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the 661 00:31:13,460 --> 00:31:15,900 Saints. Your faith and love have arisen 662 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:18,740 from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard 663 00:31:18,740 --> 00:31:20,260 about in the message of the truth. 664 00:31:20,580 --> 00:31:23,500 The gospel that has come to you justice in the entire in the 665 00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:26,340 entire world. This gospel is bearing fruit and 666 00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:28,420 growing. So it also been bearing fruit 667 00:31:28,420 --> 00:31:31,830 and growing among you from the first day you heard it and 668 00:31:31,830 --> 00:31:33,430 understood the grace of God and truth. 669 00:31:33,670 --> 00:31:36,910 You learned the gospel from Epiphrase our dear fellow slave, 670 00:31:37,190 --> 00:31:41,270 a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, who also told us of 671 00:31:41,270 --> 00:31:43,990 your love in the Spirit. So from the beginning, again, 672 00:31:43,990 --> 00:31:46,590 we've seen the same concepts being repeated, right? 673 00:31:46,710 --> 00:31:49,030 So now he's writing to the church and Ephesus, and he's 674 00:31:49,030 --> 00:31:50,510 repeating the same things, right? 675 00:31:50,710 --> 00:31:53,270 So we see what he's saying to the church in Corinth, and we 676 00:31:53,270 --> 00:31:55,470 see what you're saying to the church and Phillip Pie and 677 00:31:55,470 --> 00:31:58,590 Ephesus and Collosions. He's repeating the same things. 678 00:31:58,590 --> 00:32:01,550 But what we should hold all things in what in common, Be 679 00:32:01,550 --> 00:32:04,950 likeminded, be selfless, reminded of God's love for us, 680 00:32:04,950 --> 00:32:08,150 reminded of God's truth in us, at the core foundation of who we 681 00:32:08,150 --> 00:32:11,150 are, not only as Christians but as the body of Christ. 682 00:32:12,070 --> 00:32:15,270 And again, if you're struggling with those things, you're not 683 00:32:15,270 --> 00:32:17,670 the first. And we what we have to do is 684 00:32:17,670 --> 00:32:21,890 just take it in prayer and say, Holy Spirit, help me, help me to 685 00:32:21,890 --> 00:32:25,370 be a better loving brother, help me to be a better church member. 686 00:32:25,370 --> 00:32:28,530 Help me to be a better disciple. Help me in these things. 687 00:32:28,690 --> 00:32:31,890 And be reminded that constantly, because you know what happens, 688 00:32:31,930 --> 00:32:36,490 what starts happening is you see those divisions and when you see 689 00:32:36,930 --> 00:32:40,650 the church start to die, unfortunately, you know it's a 690 00:32:40,650 --> 00:32:43,450 slow thing. It's not, it's not over. 691 00:32:44,410 --> 00:32:46,810 It doesn't happen overnight. It's usually a slow progression 692 00:32:46,810 --> 00:32:49,830 thing, right? So I had once read a book I I I 693 00:32:49,830 --> 00:32:52,310 forgot who was five. But it shows, I think it was the 694 00:32:52,310 --> 00:32:54,710 11 signs of a dying church, right? 695 00:32:55,310 --> 00:32:59,430 And this guy went and he went back to his home church after 696 00:32:59,430 --> 00:33:01,030 years and years and years of being away. 697 00:33:01,230 --> 00:33:03,070 And it wasn't the same as when he had left it. 698 00:33:03,470 --> 00:33:05,110 And he realized that something was wrong. 699 00:33:05,110 --> 00:33:08,670 And within a year the church closed and he went around and 700 00:33:08,670 --> 00:33:11,350 he, he went to all these. He put it in his mind, I'm going 701 00:33:11,350 --> 00:33:13,190 to go around to all these smaller churches that are 702 00:33:13,510 --> 00:33:14,710 closing. I'm going to see what the good 703 00:33:14,710 --> 00:33:16,870 churches are doing and what the other churches are doing wrong. 704 00:33:17,370 --> 00:33:21,050 And he came up with 11 steps right and and that you see of a 705 00:33:21,050 --> 00:33:23,610 of a dying church. It's very progressive like not 706 00:33:23,610 --> 00:33:27,170 being reflective of the community, not doing things for 707 00:33:27,170 --> 00:33:31,850 the community, forgetting the core foundations different a 708 00:33:32,050 --> 00:33:35,730 bunch of different things. And I remember looking at a 709 00:33:35,730 --> 00:33:39,410 church and I was like man, we've got like eight or nine of these 710 00:33:39,410 --> 00:33:42,650 things going on in this church. And I bought books for the 711 00:33:42,650 --> 00:33:44,850 people in the church at the time and I was like look we got we 712 00:33:44,850 --> 00:33:46,890 got to read this. We got to look at this and we 713 00:33:46,890 --> 00:33:50,050 got to really look at this from an an outsider's perspective and 714 00:33:50,050 --> 00:33:51,850 see what we're what we're what we're lacking. 715 00:33:52,370 --> 00:33:57,330 And I think it's by Tim Raines. And the person was like, no, 716 00:33:57,330 --> 00:33:59,410 it's fine. You know, it's we're good. 717 00:33:59,850 --> 00:34:02,010 We're good. You know, and I was like okay. 718 00:34:02,050 --> 00:34:04,290 And you know, unfortunately things started to happen. 719 00:34:04,290 --> 00:34:06,730 And you know, the church isn't where it used to be, you know, 720 00:34:07,370 --> 00:34:10,130 as as far as that goes. But that's why we have to be 721 00:34:10,130 --> 00:34:12,750 reminded that this is not our church. 722 00:34:12,830 --> 00:34:15,750 This is Christchurch, right? And we have to do the things 723 00:34:15,750 --> 00:34:18,310 that Christ has called us to. And sometimes that happens. 724 00:34:18,310 --> 00:34:19,750 You know, we get into this mode of my church. 725 00:34:19,870 --> 00:34:20,870 We do. No, we don't do this. 726 00:34:21,070 --> 00:34:22,150 We don't do that. This is my church. 727 00:34:22,150 --> 00:34:23,949 We're going to do this this way, my way. 728 00:34:24,110 --> 00:34:27,750 And we have to be reminded that it's not my church, your church. 729 00:34:27,750 --> 00:34:29,909 This is Christchurch. This is the fellowship that 730 00:34:30,190 --> 00:34:31,870 Christ has called us to together. 731 00:34:34,989 --> 00:34:38,949 All right, First to Peter, Chapter 5, verse five through 732 00:34:38,949 --> 00:34:42,449 11. In the same way you who are 733 00:34:42,449 --> 00:34:46,170 younger be subject to the elders, I'll pause there for a 734 00:34:46,170 --> 00:34:49,330 second. In the same way you who are 735 00:34:49,330 --> 00:34:50,929 younger be subject to the elders. 736 00:34:51,330 --> 00:34:55,170 And that just doesn't mean kids or teenage people, you know, 737 00:34:55,210 --> 00:34:57,810 Doesn't mean even older people, those of you that may be younger 738 00:34:57,810 --> 00:35:01,930 in the faith, right? You might be 55 and just a new 739 00:35:01,930 --> 00:35:04,330 convert, right? You're still young in the faith, 740 00:35:04,330 --> 00:35:06,370 right? You need to be subject to those 741 00:35:06,370 --> 00:35:09,450 of you that have been around this, gone around a few times, 742 00:35:09,450 --> 00:35:11,540 right. Because I can tell you, you 743 00:35:11,540 --> 00:35:13,420 know, I've been in in church my whole life. 744 00:35:13,660 --> 00:35:16,660 You know, at 20 years old, I wasn't the same Christian that I 745 00:35:16,660 --> 00:35:19,100 am today. And I'm thankful those people 746 00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:21,940 around me that grabbed me and said, hey, you need to tighten 747 00:35:21,940 --> 00:35:23,780 up. You know, I'm thankful for God's 748 00:35:23,780 --> 00:35:27,780 mercy on me that he, he, he straightened my path, right. 749 00:35:28,380 --> 00:35:30,500 But it's only because I have people around me that poured 750 00:35:30,500 --> 00:35:33,580 into me, and it's only because I have people that, you know, 751 00:35:33,580 --> 00:35:36,620 elder people that I listen to and I valued them. 752 00:35:37,020 --> 00:35:39,380 And it wasn't always, hey, you need to stop doing this because 753 00:35:39,380 --> 00:35:42,330 I said, you know, it was Hey man, let me Hey, man, you think 754 00:35:42,330 --> 00:35:44,170 you're going to hey, I think you should read this book. 755 00:35:44,370 --> 00:35:46,930 Hey, I think you should listen to this preaching and I think 756 00:35:46,930 --> 00:35:50,970 you should, whatever it looks like, just be mindful that God 757 00:35:50,970 --> 00:35:53,250 has placed the elders of this church here for a reason, right. 758 00:35:53,610 --> 00:35:56,410 This particular church especially and those of you that 759 00:35:56,410 --> 00:35:59,570 are younger in the faith or young in general, you need to 760 00:35:59,570 --> 00:36:01,570 lean on those elders and say, you know what? 761 00:36:01,570 --> 00:36:03,450 I'm having a hard time with this or this or that. 762 00:36:03,570 --> 00:36:07,650 What can I do? Often times some people when 763 00:36:07,650 --> 00:36:10,690 they, you know, you get some really Holy Spirit field 764 00:36:10,690 --> 00:36:13,890 charismatic people, especially young people and they, you know, 765 00:36:13,890 --> 00:36:16,210 they're on fire for the Lord, they're on fire for Christ. 766 00:36:16,690 --> 00:36:18,930 But sometimes when that fire starts to dim down, you start to 767 00:36:18,930 --> 00:36:21,850 see sometimes a crash and burn. So that's incumbent on the 768 00:36:21,850 --> 00:36:25,010 elders, right, to grab them, take a hold of them and say let 769 00:36:25,010 --> 00:36:28,130 me help you out, brother, let me guide you in this, let me help 770 00:36:28,130 --> 00:36:31,450 you through this. And all of you clothe yourselves 771 00:36:31,450 --> 00:36:34,850 with humility toward one another, because God opposes the 772 00:36:34,850 --> 00:36:38,870 proud, but gives grace to the humble and will exalt you in due 773 00:36:38,870 --> 00:36:42,830 time if you humble yourselves under His mighty hand by casting 774 00:36:42,870 --> 00:36:46,910 all your cares on him because he cares for you, Be sober and 775 00:36:46,910 --> 00:36:49,190 alert. Your enemy of the devil, like a 776 00:36:49,190 --> 00:36:52,110 roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. 777 00:36:53,070 --> 00:36:56,580 Let's not give him a reason. Resist him strong in your faith, 778 00:36:56,580 --> 00:36:59,140 because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout 779 00:36:59,140 --> 00:37:01,540 the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. 780 00:37:01,940 --> 00:37:05,060 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all 781 00:37:05,060 --> 00:37:07,900 grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will 782 00:37:07,900 --> 00:37:11,060 himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 783 00:37:11,380 --> 00:37:13,300 To him belongs the power forever. 784 00:37:13,580 --> 00:37:16,300 Amen. And so at the core of of of of 785 00:37:16,420 --> 00:37:17,940 what we do here. Nothing. 786 00:37:17,940 --> 00:37:19,340 There's nothing new under the sun. 787 00:37:19,340 --> 00:37:21,900 Right from the beginning we saw the divide of the church. 788 00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:24,840 Right at the establishment of the Church, you have the Acts 789 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:27,840 church, and within a few years you have churches like Current. 790 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:32,120 Within a few 100 years of that, you see an even greater divide 791 00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:35,720 with the churches, with the reason for the Apostles Creed, 792 00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:38,000 right. We have to establish guidelines 793 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:41,640 because we have Aryans, we have Gnostics, and we have all these 794 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:45,320 different heretical people that are coming in and trying to 795 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:48,000 steal people from. So here we go, We're going to 796 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,000 have this in order, and if you align with this, we're good. 797 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:51,960 That had to happen. Think about that. 798 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:53,480 That's early on in Christian faith. 799 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:55,600 You think things going to be different now. 800 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:57,320 You think human beings have changed. 801 00:37:57,800 --> 00:37:59,600 No, human beings have not changed. 802 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:02,000 Thank God we have, you know, the word of God. 803 00:38:02,240 --> 00:38:05,640 We have early church fathers who have established things and they 804 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:07,000 fought against heresies. Right. 805 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:11,120 Unfortunately for us, you know, again in the Western culture, 806 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:13,360 we're taught to be the 11th commandment. 807 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:14,840 You know what the 11th commandment is? 808 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:18,440 No. Thou shall be nice, right? 809 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:20,120 That's what. That's what we teaching in the 810 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:21,840 Western world now. Thou shall be nice. 811 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,560 So we don't want to offend anyone, and that includes being 812 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:26,560 what? Taking back the truth and 813 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:30,200 putting a muzzle on the truth. And unfortunately what that does 814 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:34,320 is cause things like heresies to pop back up that have been out 815 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:37,600 of the church for a long time. Stuff like Jehovah Witnesses, 816 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:39,720 that was it. That's an ancient heresy. 817 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:42,720 It's just with a new name on it. And you know, early in the 818 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:45,360 church you had men of God that stood up and said, you're out, 819 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:48,970 you're out. But unfortunately for us, we 820 00:38:48,970 --> 00:38:51,770 live in a Western culture where again, we practice the 11th 821 00:38:51,770 --> 00:38:54,210 commandment. Thou shall be nice, So we don't 822 00:38:54,210 --> 00:38:57,290 want to offend people, so we walk on egg shells and we don't 823 00:38:57,290 --> 00:39:00,490 want to tell them the truth. But we need men of God within 824 00:39:00,490 --> 00:39:01,690 the church, within the fellowship. 825 00:39:01,690 --> 00:39:04,770 We need women who are going to stand firm and encourage their 826 00:39:04,770 --> 00:39:07,890 husbands and their sons and their and their brothers to go 827 00:39:07,890 --> 00:39:10,450 forward and preach the true gospel of Christ. 828 00:39:10,850 --> 00:39:13,970 We need, we need men who stand firm and and and and raise their 829 00:39:13,970 --> 00:39:18,030 children and say the only truth, the only truth can be found in 830 00:39:18,030 --> 00:39:20,150 the word of God. I don't care what the schools 831 00:39:20,150 --> 00:39:22,590 tell you. I don't care what the TV tells 832 00:39:22,590 --> 00:39:24,110 you. I don't care what the Internet 833 00:39:24,110 --> 00:39:26,030 tells you. The truth is right here. 834 00:39:26,110 --> 00:39:27,550 And you know why? We know that's true. 835 00:39:27,790 --> 00:39:29,390 You know why we know that's true, brothers and sisters, 836 00:39:29,470 --> 00:39:30,830 because it's stood the test of time. 837 00:39:31,990 --> 00:39:35,310 You don't think that if they could have destroyed the the, 838 00:39:35,310 --> 00:39:36,830 the word of God, they would have. 839 00:39:37,230 --> 00:39:39,470 You don't think that they would have found some kind of evidence 840 00:39:39,470 --> 00:39:41,390 against the word of God. You don't think they they would 841 00:39:41,390 --> 00:39:43,230 have by now. But they can't. 842 00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:46,300 They're still arguing. They're still arguing and trying 843 00:39:46,300 --> 00:39:48,500 to give us now. Now it's aliens, you know. 844 00:39:49,260 --> 00:39:51,020 Now. Now they're saying the aliens 845 00:39:51,020 --> 00:39:52,820 are the ones who did it, right? It's convenient. 846 00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:55,540 It's convenient. A few years ago there was no 847 00:39:55,540 --> 00:39:57,140 such thing as aliens. But now there's aliens. 848 00:39:57,780 --> 00:39:59,260 And so we have. But you know what? 849 00:39:59,260 --> 00:40:01,460 There's a reason why they're doing all this, right? 850 00:40:01,820 --> 00:40:04,140 And so, you know, all the other arguments are falling apart. 851 00:40:04,140 --> 00:40:06,320 So. Let's give you something new to 852 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:09,200 worry about. So let us keep in mind that we, 853 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:13,000 at the foundation of who we are as Christians, are what our 854 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:15,920 blood bought, sanctified in the name of Jesus. 855 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:19,280 He died on the cross of Calvary for our sins so that we may be 856 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:22,160 saved for the day of redemption. If you repent of your sins and 857 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:23,760 you turn to Christ, you will be saved. 858 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:25,960 You will be sealed for the day of redemption. 859 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:28,710 Praise God for that. Because there's no greater joy. 860 00:40:28,710 --> 00:40:31,710 There's no greater gift that anyone can give you. 861 00:40:31,950 --> 00:40:35,030 No greater thing that anyone, not your mother, your wife, your 862 00:40:35,030 --> 00:40:36,750 sisters, your brothers, your father. 863 00:40:37,150 --> 00:40:39,270 No one else can give you what Christ can give you. 864 00:40:39,510 --> 00:40:42,350 That's peace and joy. You know, a lot of people talk 865 00:40:42,350 --> 00:40:45,230 about having happiness in their life, but happiness comes with 866 00:40:45,230 --> 00:40:47,390 happenstance. It means depending on your 867 00:40:47,390 --> 00:40:50,830 circumstance, right? But joy comes from the Lord. 868 00:40:51,090 --> 00:40:53,130 Only joy comes from the Lord. I don't want to be happy. 869 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:55,490 I want to be joyful, because that comes from the Lord. 870 00:40:55,610 --> 00:40:57,170 And you can only find that in the Lord. 871 00:40:57,410 --> 00:41:00,210 Even when you're distressed, you find joy in the Lord. 872 00:41:00,530 --> 00:41:03,530 And I praise God because we have fellowships and we have 873 00:41:03,530 --> 00:41:07,010 believers that still hold true to the word of God and and 874 00:41:07,010 --> 00:41:09,410 nothing will come and will destroy the church, the true 875 00:41:09,410 --> 00:41:12,250 church, right, The Church of God, the the, the saved people 876 00:41:12,250 --> 00:41:14,290 that we are. And I thank God for my brothers 877 00:41:14,290 --> 00:41:16,930 and sisters in Christ that we have people that are still 878 00:41:16,930 --> 00:41:20,370 standing up for the Word. I encourage you once again be 879 00:41:20,370 --> 00:41:23,770 reminded of what it means to be in fellowship with one another. 880 00:41:24,570 --> 00:41:27,410 And what does that look like? That looks like reminding that 881 00:41:27,410 --> 00:41:30,290 the same grace that God has poured on you is the same grace 882 00:41:30,290 --> 00:41:32,170 that you should be pouring on fellow believers. 883 00:41:32,450 --> 00:41:34,250 We should stand out in the world. 884 00:41:34,290 --> 00:41:37,370 We should be a beacon of light. A light You don't put something 885 00:41:37,370 --> 00:41:38,610 over. A lamp stand, right? 886 00:41:39,090 --> 00:41:41,770 You don't cover a lamp state. You let it shine for the world 887 00:41:41,770 --> 00:41:44,530 to see. We should be gracious to one 888 00:41:44,530 --> 00:41:47,130 another, joyful with another, one another, one another, 889 00:41:47,290 --> 00:41:51,090 selfless with one another. And the same way that Christ was 890 00:41:51,090 --> 00:41:53,690 selfless with us. And I pray and I continue to 891 00:41:53,690 --> 00:41:57,930 pray for you guys that the Lord continues to add on to to your 892 00:41:58,010 --> 00:42:00,970 to your congregation, to your fellowship, the people that need 893 00:42:00,970 --> 00:42:02,850 to be here, that God is going to call. 894 00:42:03,090 --> 00:42:06,210 And I pray that each and every one of you here pour into those 895 00:42:06,210 --> 00:42:10,240 people and pour into them the same amount of grace and love 896 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:12,600 and mercy that Christ poured into each and every one of you. 897 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:14,680 That's here today. And I pray for this church. 898 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:18,560 And in fact, I did pretty good. So I'm going to go ahead and 899 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:22,080 close up and in prayer. So if you guys just want to bow 900 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:23,600 your heads, I'll just pray over the church. 901 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:27,160 And the message today, Father God, we give you thanks, Lord, 902 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:28,440 for your grace and for your mercy. 903 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:31,400 Lord, we thank you for dying on the cross of Calvary for the 904 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:34,280 remissions of our sins. Lord, I pray right now, Lord, 905 00:42:34,280 --> 00:42:37,320 that if there's any among us that truly doesn't have you in 906 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:40,400 their hearts, Lord, I pray that you just call them Lord. 907 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:43,240 If we have elect amongst us, Lord, that haven't given 908 00:42:43,240 --> 00:42:45,160 themselves over, I haven't heard your calling yet. 909 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:47,880 I ask that this be the moment that you penetrate their heart, 910 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:50,320 Lord, that they seek to you for repentance. 911 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:52,400 Lord, that they repent of their ways and give their heart to 912 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:53,760 you. Lord, open their hearts for 913 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:56,360 Christ, or that you may come in and change their lives. 914 00:42:56,360 --> 00:42:58,480 Lord, we pray over this congregation. 915 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,040 Lord, this fellowship of believers, Lord, that are 916 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:03,960 gathered here today just like the early church were gathered 917 00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:06,280 in anywhere they could. Lord, I ask that you just 918 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:08,560 continue to bless them and strengthen them. 919 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:10,800 Lord, continue to help them going forward. 920 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:12,920 Lord and all the things that you have for them. 921 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:16,880 Lord, I ask that you just bless them and and just continue to 922 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:19,800 add on those that may be coming to the church. 923 00:43:19,840 --> 00:43:23,790 Lord, that you that you continue to draw those people to this 924 00:43:23,790 --> 00:43:25,150 church. I pray over their pastors. 925 00:43:25,150 --> 00:43:29,030 Lord, that you continue to bless him, Lord, strengthen him, guide 926 00:43:29,030 --> 00:43:30,790 him. Let your footsteps be his 927 00:43:30,790 --> 00:43:32,830 footsteps. Lord, bless his family. 928 00:43:32,830 --> 00:43:36,270 Lord, I know how hard it could be for a pastoral family as I 929 00:43:36,430 --> 00:43:38,910 I'm the son of a pastor. Lord, that these you just 930 00:43:38,910 --> 00:43:41,210 encourages his sons and his wife. 931 00:43:41,490 --> 00:43:43,410 Strengthen the Lord as they go forward. 932 00:43:43,410 --> 00:43:47,170 Lord and this Time Lord, that you just be with them, Protect 933 00:43:47,170 --> 00:43:50,370 them, guide them, strengthen them, lead them. 934 00:43:50,370 --> 00:43:53,290 Lord, let your Holy Spirit be first in their hearts, Lord, and 935 00:43:53,290 --> 00:43:54,170 just help them. Lord. 936 00:43:54,330 --> 00:43:58,250 I pray over anyone here, Lord, who struggles with with grace 937 00:43:58,530 --> 00:44:01,490 and and that you just continue to remind them that your grace 938 00:44:01,490 --> 00:44:03,930 is sufficient, Lord, and that you have poor grace into them, 939 00:44:03,970 --> 00:44:07,330 so they may pour into others. Lord, I I know Lord that you 940 00:44:07,330 --> 00:44:09,290 have great things for this congregation and for this 941 00:44:09,290 --> 00:44:12,250 fellowship. Lord, I know that you have Bible 942 00:44:12,250 --> 00:44:14,530 centered people here, Lord, because I know what type of man 943 00:44:14,890 --> 00:44:17,570 JM is, Lord, and I ask that you just continue to bless this 944 00:44:17,570 --> 00:44:19,770 fellowship. Lord, we ask that you bless each 945 00:44:19,770 --> 00:44:23,980 and every one of these peoples, the homes and and their their 946 00:44:23,980 --> 00:44:25,900 families. Lord, that you just guide them 947 00:44:26,100 --> 00:44:27,860 and help them Lord and all that they do. 948 00:44:27,860 --> 00:44:29,820 Lord, let them be Christ centered people. 949 00:44:29,820 --> 00:44:33,020 Lord, let let you be at the center of their minds and in 950 00:44:33,020 --> 00:44:34,460 their hearts as they continue to grow. 951 00:44:34,460 --> 00:44:38,020 Lord, I pray over my family as well, Lord, that you have 952 00:44:38,020 --> 00:44:40,340 encouraged us, Lord, with this fellowship. 953 00:44:40,340 --> 00:44:44,060 Lord, to see what it looks like to have a gathering of people 954 00:44:44,060 --> 00:44:47,020 that truly love the Lord and just truly give themselves over 955 00:44:47,260 --> 00:44:49,820 to your desires and your ways, no matter what the cause. 956 00:44:49,900 --> 00:44:53,220 Lord, I pray, Lord, for strong men of God in this church, Lord, 957 00:44:53,420 --> 00:44:55,700 that they may lead your congregation and the men that 958 00:44:55,700 --> 00:44:57,980 come in here. I pray for strong women, Lord, 959 00:44:57,980 --> 00:45:00,820 that could be the support of their husbands, Lord, and the 960 00:45:00,980 --> 00:45:03,500 and the leaders of their families, Lord, that they may be 961 00:45:03,500 --> 00:45:05,180 guided by you and in the word of God. 962 00:45:05,180 --> 00:45:08,100 Lord, reminding that we need to keep Christ centered in all 963 00:45:08,100 --> 00:45:10,660 everything that we do. Lord, I ask you all this. 964 00:45:10,660 --> 00:45:12,980 In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, we pray. 965 00:45:13,640 --> 00:45:25,280 Amen and Amen. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 966 00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:28,520 I've got to do tides and. Offering so the baskets here, 967 00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:30,880 We'll leave it here for a little while while we've straightened 968 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:35,000 up the chairs and stuff like that, so feel free to also an 969 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:37,640 announcement. Real quick, we are doing a 970 00:45:37,880 --> 00:45:41,920 baptism service. September 3rd, it's going to be. 971 00:45:42,870 --> 00:45:44,790 Where JM lives, we're going to have some more details together. 972 00:45:44,790 --> 00:45:47,150 Burn in the river there. Where we've done it before, 973 00:45:48,750 --> 00:45:50,150 we'll have more details on that in the. 974 00:45:50,230 --> 00:45:54,870 Coming weeks. Hey, Don Incubator. 975 00:45:55,070 --> 00:45:57,390 Is that next incubator the 21st of August? 976 00:45:58,190 --> 00:46:05,790 At 6:30 Susan Balls coming. So I know that. 977 00:46:05,790 --> 00:46:09,630 Thank you ma'am. We know that there are some 978 00:46:09,630 --> 00:46:11,590 announcements in the the Facebook. 979 00:46:12,250 --> 00:46:15,170 To talk about who she is and what she can do and that kind of 980 00:46:15,170 --> 00:46:18,410 stuff. So yeah, I mean, it's going to 981 00:46:18,410 --> 00:46:26,050 be an exciting time. I think Susan Ball is coming. 982 00:46:27,170 --> 00:46:28,490 Yep. For the business incubator. 983 00:46:29,130 --> 00:46:36,730 No the 21st the 21st. So and and she also she also has 984 00:46:36,970 --> 00:46:37,010 a.