1 00:00:20,820 --> 00:00:27,140 So in Matthew chapter 12, look at verse 43 through 45 with me. 2 00:00:27,140 --> 00:00:30,260 Jesus said this. When an unclean spirit goes out 3 00:00:30,260 --> 00:00:35,180 of a man, he goes through dry places seeking rest and finds 4 00:00:35,180 --> 00:00:37,780 none. Then he says, I will return to 5 00:00:37,780 --> 00:00:40,420 the house from which I came, and when he comes, he finds it 6 00:00:40,460 --> 00:00:45,760 empty, swept, and put an order. Then he goes out and takes with 7 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,640 him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they 8 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,720 enter and dwell there in the last state of the man is worse 9 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,720 than the first state. So shall it be with this wicked 10 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,760 generation. Now what is Jesus saying? 11 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,800 He's saying when I do the miraculous, when we take 12 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,800 authority and we bind things, whether it's anxiety, doubt, 13 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,600 discouragement, that's one step in the process. 14 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:11,600 But you cannot just keep doing the same things and expect not 15 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:17,320 to have true deliverance. You have to fill and renew your 16 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:19,680 mind with truth. If you do not, you could be in a 17 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:21,680 worse state than you were when you came up. 18 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,320 But God doesn't want that for you. 19 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,680 God came to set us free, spirit, soul and body. 20 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,520 And so you need to renew your mind. 21 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,080 You need to feed on the Word of God. 22 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,120 You need to receive the instruction and impartation 23 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,720 that's coming from the pulpit today, Wednesday. 24 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:40,680 You need to receive the instructions coming from your 25 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,240 devotional time. You need to listen to the Holy 26 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,520 Spirit. Don't leave empty, leave filled. 27 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,200 That's the principle. So don't do the same thing. 28 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,880 If you've been watching the news, listen to certain things 29 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,440 that are entertaining or feeding the anxiety. 30 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,640 You need to cut that off and then replace it with truth. 31 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,160 Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you 32 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,600 free. So we don't want to be living by 33 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,320 lies. We want to be living by the Word 34 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,360 of God, which is truth. Amen. 35 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,760 Pastor o'marcy are on vacation. Hallelujah. 36 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,160 They took off after the team rally on Friday, which was a 37 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,720 phenomenal time. I loved if you weren't with us, 38 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,240 seeing Pastor Marcy and my wife race. 39 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,680 That was inspired, maybe not by the Holy Spirit, but it was 40 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,800 inspirational. And then it was really neat 41 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,960 seeing Pastor Marcy have a little cramp in her calf 42 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,280 afterwards. You may not have seen it, but 43 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,480 she was sitting close to where Joe is and I saw we saw her rub 44 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,440 in the calf like Whoo should have stretched a little bit in 45 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,560 some calisthenics before we did the the carpet race. 46 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,360 I like the throwback to the flag football. 47 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,360 We didn't have that event at the first team rally member. 48 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,680 Paper flag football. What's it called? 49 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,120 Paper football. That was great. 50 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,200 Who was that was up the first time. 51 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,200 That was you, Joe. You were crushing it. 52 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:13,120 That was Dominion. Yeah, we know what Joe really 53 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:18,640 did when he went to school, so maybe it's. 54 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,760 Not the best example. But he was killing. 55 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,880 There was some 50 Yarders, you know, it was awesome. 56 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,600 So it was a great time and we're so grateful for what the Lord is 57 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,560 doing through Anchor Faith Church. 58 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,000 Everybody that's connected and partnered. 59 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,520 It was a time to celebrate, have some camaraderie, and just keep 60 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,320 the unity and the oneness and the growth and the vision of 61 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,360 what God wants to do. It takes all of us working 62 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,360 together to accomplish what God has called us to do. 63 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,000 So I'm going to continue on pastoral started a Series A few 64 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,440 a couple weeks ago called the five fold effect. 65 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,440 The five fold effect, and this is specifically talking about 66 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,800 the ministry gifts. So Are you ready to receive the 67 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,880 word of God? Are you going to pull and draw 68 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,440 on the gift of God? You're going to draw on the word 69 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,680 of God because I believe God wants to provide a great 70 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:17,519 spiritual meal for you today. He wants you to go away, fool, 71 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,720 not empty and hungry. So it's up to you to eat. 72 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,040 Sometimes I see football players doing this after they score a 73 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,520 touchdown. Let's keep feeding me. 74 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,480 And that should be our attitude as a body of believers in the 75 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,120 Church of Lord Jesus Christ. Keep feeding me, Lord. 76 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,320 I want more. I'm not satisfied with one V1 77 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,200 touchdown. I know there's more. 78 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,480 He came to give us life and to give it to us more abundantly. 79 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,040 So we thank God for what's going to take place today through His 80 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:46,480 Word and through the Holy Spirit. 81 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,320 I want to give you a quick overview of Ephesians. 82 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:56,920 This is 6 power packed chapters that the apostle Paul wrote to 83 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:01,640 the church. This is one of Paul's four 84 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,320 prison epistles. We have Ephesians, Colossians, 85 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:12,680 Philippians, I want to say filet mignon, but you all know the 86 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,880 real wording of that epistle. Amen. 87 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,560 Just to keep you awake for this meal. 88 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,680 But Ephesian presents the church, which is Jesus body. 89 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,600 Colossians in this prison epistle presents Christ who's 90 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,560 the head of the body. Philippians presents the dynamic 91 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,520 Christian life. I can do all things through 92 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:45,320 Christ who strengthens me. And then Filet Mignon presents 93 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,000 Christian living in action in a Pagan society. 94 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,120 But when we look at the book of Ephesians in the six chapters, 95 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:58,000 the first 3 chapters deal with the plan of salvation. 96 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,680 The next three chapters, chapter 4 through 6, show the practical 97 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,920 application of what the apostle was saying. 98 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:11,760 And it it's the divine plan and the 'cause that God has for his 99 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,560 church. So the practical application, 100 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:22,360 our key text text is going to be Ephesians chapter 4, verses one 101 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,080 through 13. I'm going to read these 13 102 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,560 verses. I want you to follow along with 103 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,280 me and get all that God has for us today. 104 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:34,040 Amen. It says this. 105 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,000 It says, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, I beseech 106 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,240 you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were 107 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:47,280 called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, 108 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:51,120 bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the 109 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,640 unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 110 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:59,000 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called 111 00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:08,640 in one hope of your calling. 1 Lord, 1 faith, 1 Baptism, one 112 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,000 God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and 113 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,040 in you all. But to each one of us grace was 114 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,640 given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 115 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,400 Therefore he says, when he ascended on high, He led 116 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:29,080 captivity captive, and he gave gifts to men. 117 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,400 Now this He ascended. What does it mean? 118 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:37,480 But He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth. 119 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,360 He who descended is also the one who ascended far above the 120 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,800 heavens, that he might fill all things. 121 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:51,000 And He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some 122 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,600 evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of 123 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,080 the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of 124 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,000 the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith 125 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:06,040 and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the 126 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:11,680 measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 127 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,680 So in verse #1 the apostle Paul says, I beseech you. 128 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,040 That means I'm calling you to one side. 129 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:24,960 I'm summon summoning you. Summons means this. 130 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,800 I'm notifying by authority to appear at a specific place. 131 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:34,200 I was summoned about a year and a half ago for my civil 132 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,360 responsibility to be a juror or for jury duty. 133 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,159 It was the first time in almost my, my 49 years on the earth I 134 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:45,520 was ever summoned to that responsibility. 135 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:47,720 So I had to go down to the county. 136 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,200 I made the 1st wave. I walked into this big old room. 137 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,080 There's probably about 147 people. 138 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,560 The attorneys have already done all the background checks and 139 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,920 everything they need of. And I made the 1st wave. 140 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,960 I actually had to go to the the courtroom with the judge. 141 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,000 I didn't make it past that to get selected to juror duty, but 142 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,120 I was summonsed. But, you know, if I didn't show 143 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:14,920 up, I'd be in trouble. It was my responsibility. 144 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:19,360 And God is calling on us. He summons us to a specific 145 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:24,120 responsibility within his body. Hallelujah. 146 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,440 So Paul said, I beg you, I beseech you, I summoned you that 147 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,320 you would walk worthy of your vocation. 148 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:36,800 That word walk means to live, to regulate and conduct your life, 149 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,000 to make the due use of every opportunity. 150 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:45,000 Each day is a gift from God. Are you maximizing this day? 151 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,120 Are you honoring God in this day? 152 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:52,160 Are you valuing what Jesus Christ has done for us today? 153 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,560 He said, I beseech you that you would walk worthy this. 154 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:01,600 This life in the Kingdom of God deserves our attention, our 155 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,600 affection, our time, and our work. 156 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:08,800 We should a lot. We should live a life worthy of 157 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,120 what he's done for us. So our affection, our attention, 158 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,760 our interest, our work should honor him. 159 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,440 And there's a vocation that God's called us to. 160 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:21,600 There's a calling. There's a divine plan, purpose 161 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,000 and intention. God never reacts. 162 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,840 He responds. God said I knew you before I 163 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,920 formed you. He told Jeremiah there's a plan 164 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,360 for you. I'm summoning you, Jeremiah, and 165 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,840 I'm asking you Jeremiah, to call to walk worthy of this call this 166 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,880 vocation in the prophetic lane that Jeremiah walked in. 167 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,840 And so we need to take this soberly and seriously. 168 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,840 This is just not for the five fold ministry. 169 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,040 This is for us, the body of Christ say this is for me. 170 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:57,080 This word is for me. I take it it's my responsibility 171 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:03,240 to fulfill it. So we grab a hold of it today. 172 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,680 We take hold of it today. We are excited about the 173 00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:13,840 journey, the plan, and the purpose that God has for us. 174 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,120 He's called us with a holy calling. 175 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,520 He's called us with a heavenly calling. 176 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:24,080 Listen, there's different sectors of society and I always 177 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,200 remember these A, through G arts and entertainments, B for 178 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,440 business, C for congregations, D for direct media, E for 179 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,120 education, F for family, and G for governments. 180 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,600 But we can pretty much summarize anything that takes place in the 181 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,480 world. Those seven things, God's 182 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,720 assigned us to one of those to impact it, to influence, to 183 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,400 ignite it. So you need to ask yourself 184 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,040 today, what sector am I in? I look at Raphael. 185 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,640 He's in the business sector right now. 186 00:11:52,640 --> 00:12:00,480 You still Wells Fargo good. But he's every day he's going in 187 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,080 and guess what? He's bringing light, he's 188 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,920 bringing salt, he's bringing a purpose, he's bringing an 189 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,600 assignment. He's not there by accident. 190 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,880 He's assigned by God and he's graced for it. 191 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,720 Same way we could go around the whole, you know, congregation 192 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:16,880 today and start saying other things. 193 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,960 But the same way God, whatever he's called you to, if you got a 194 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,080 passion for education, guess what? 195 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:26,560 Go out and impact and ignite. Lord knows we need to impact 196 00:12:26,560 --> 00:12:30,120 education, right? Some of the false philosophy and 197 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,400 ideology has taken place today and you're graced for it. 198 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,800 You're anointed for it. Don't say I can't do this, say 199 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,000 no, I can do it. God has placed me. 200 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,400 He's positioned me. I'm going to walk worthy of the 201 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:45,080 vocation. I'm going to do everything that 202 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,880 God, and you know what? God is a rewarder of those that 203 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,280 diligently seek him as your faithful and what he's assigned 204 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:52,000 you to do. Guess what? 205 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:57,840 He's going to open up other responsibilities and lanes for 206 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:02,760 you to step into, but you got to be faithful where you're at in 207 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:04,440 order to get where God wants you to go. 208 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:10,040 I was reminded as I was studying Kennethy Hagin when he was 57 209 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,280 years old. Two of my historical mentors in 210 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,720 the faith, Ed Cole and Kennethy Hagin, didn't personally get to 211 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,960 have a relationship with them personally, but through books 212 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:25,040 and teachings, they have become historical mentors of mine where 213 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,920 I can grab a hold of the truth and assignments that God gave 214 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,040 them. And both of them were prophets 215 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,080 and teachers in the body of Christ. 216 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,520 And I would say obviously there was an Apostolic anointing on 217 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,680 them too because of being able to start works. 218 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,840 But both of them, this is intercept 57 years old. 219 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:51,840 Both God launched them into a new phase of ministry. 220 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,200 Now specifically he told brother Hagin or Kenneth E Hagin this 221 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,600 You're just now stepping into your third phase of ministry. 222 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,040 Not many people get past their first phase of ministry. 223 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:10,040 So when the world at 57 thinks they're slowing down, God 224 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:15,840 refires and assigns them another task. 225 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,200 So 57, Ed Cole's pastoring in California and God says you need 226 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,120 there's a call, you need to step away from the pastorate and I 227 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,040 got a word to men for this generation. 228 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,800 So in 1982, he gets up in California, preaches a sermon, 229 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,320 said this is going to be the most interesting sermon because 230 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,640 I'm immediately resigning from the pastorate after my 231 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:43,120 benediction. So he at 57 leaves the pastorate 232 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,640 which had comfortability right financially and stability and 233 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,760 takes a filing cabinet phone and he's in his garage by faith 234 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:55,280 making phone calls. Brother Hagin Kennethy Hagin at 235 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,880 57 God said you're going to start a Bible school. 236 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,960 And so guess what happened That's we're a product of when I 237 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,200 say we are a product that affects all of us. 238 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:10,520 But pastor on Marcy, my wife and others in this room graduated 239 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,720 from Rhema Bible at that time training center. 240 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,560 Now it's Rhema Bible College. We were impacted and equipped 241 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,560 through that Bible school to do what God's called us to do. 242 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,800 So 57 But my main point is this, if you're faithful with what God 243 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,120 has assigned you to do, it's going to open up the other 244 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:28,720 phases. You don't want to get to the end 245 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,800 of your life and say I didn't walk worthy of the vocation that 246 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,600 God called me to. The five fold ministry can't do 247 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:37,960 it. We're going to talk about it for 248 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:39,440 you. We're going to talk about today. 249 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:43,480 The five Fold ministry is going to help equip you for what God 250 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:47,640 has given you and then it's up for you to be faithful. 251 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,520 And as you're faithful, God is a rewarder. 252 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,080 The gospel is good news. God is a big God. 253 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,480 He's got big plans, He's got big dreams, and we want to do 254 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:01,680 something great, but it's the everyday, mundane, day-to-day 255 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:08,240 faithfulness, love for God that's going to get you from 256 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:09,600 where you're at to where you're going. 257 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,600 To flood is nothing but a bunch of little raindrops all coming 258 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,920 together in your daily life. All those little things you do 259 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,480 do come up to big things for the Kingdom of God. 260 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:27,040 Hallelujah, Hallelujah. So there's a plan and a purpose 261 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,680 for you. I want to I want to 0 in on 262 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:35,040 Ephesians chapter 4, verses 8 through 10. 263 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,680 We've already read this as we opened up, but I want to look at 264 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,680 this and summarize it. He said, Wherefore he saith, 265 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,800 when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and he gave 266 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,320 gifts unto men. Now that he that ascended, what 267 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,600 is? But that he also descended first 268 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,640 in the lower parts of the earth. He that descended is the same 269 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:00,840 also that ascended up far above all the heavens, that he might 270 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,520 fill all things. What is this verse talking 271 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,240 about? This verse is talking about 272 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:13,000 before Jesus death, burial and resurrection. 273 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:19,520 The Old Testament Saints went to paradise which is Abraham's 274 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,839 bosom. It was a temporary holding 275 00:17:22,839 --> 00:17:27,319 place. The way to the most holy place 276 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:32,480 was not yet available because Jesus blood had not been put on 277 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,200 the mercy seat. Romans 4 talks about the 278 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,240 righteous dead those of in the Old Testament that didn't have 279 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:45,320 the right like we do today. Immediately in that time by 280 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,960 faith they believe God. They were walking out God's 281 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,560 plan, but guess what they only had the the high priest that 282 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,400 went once a year. Every year they had to be 283 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,800 reminded I'm falling short. Every year they had to be atoned 284 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,000 for with the blood of bulls and goats. 285 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,800 Every year the high priest had to go in the holies, the holies 286 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:10,120 what's what is this first saying but Jesus Christ, the great high 287 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:17,280 priest in his plan of redemption, he who knew no sin 288 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,440 became sin for us. He's saying when I paid that 289 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,200 price in Acts chapter 1, it said this same Jesus that you saw a 290 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,640 sin into the heavens is going to come in like manner. 291 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,440 And what did he do when he went to the heavens? 292 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,880 He said my blood just as a Tabernacle was set up in the Old 293 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,680 Testament and only the high priest can go in the holies, the 294 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,760 holies once a year and put the blood on the mercy seat which 295 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,000 atone for them just for a year. Jesus said I am the great high 296 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:53,800 priest, I'm going once and for all into the heavenly pace and 297 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,920 put my blood on that mercy seat. That blood says paid for. 298 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,800 That blood says justified. That blood says not guilty. 299 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,640 That blood says redeemed first. Peter 118 says for you are not 300 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,080 redeemed with corruptible things, but with the 301 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,640 incorruptible things. The precious blood of Jesus. 302 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,840 When the devil tries to remind you of your past, you remind him 303 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,800 of your future. And you say the blood, the 304 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,360 blood, the blood, the blood, the blood. 305 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:28,240 In 1997 I said the blood not on my own works or my own own 306 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:34,160 merit, but what Jesus Christ the King of kings did for us. 307 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,840 He said I'm putting the blood on it and and listen, the records 308 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:46,480 been expunged in the Supreme Court of Heaven. 309 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,000 There's not a record. He said in Psalms 103 I'm going 310 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,320 to remove your transgressions as far as the East is from the 311 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,800 West. When you repent and receive your 312 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,880 renewed. I said when you repent and you 313 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,360 receive your renewed, you're not an ex anything. 314 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,720 I'm not an ex alcoholic, I'm not an ex convict. 315 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,720 I'm a brand new creation because of the blood. 316 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,680 He led captivity captive. Listen to what Hebrews says. 317 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,360 This is so powerful. I want you to get this. 318 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,760 We could just stop and praise the Lord and have a running 319 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:26,320 spell right now, but I have an assignment. 320 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:31,080 Hallelujah. I feel like running. 321 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:35,760 I'm pretty stoic. I saw myself kind of doing the 322 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:37,960 Raphael. Shout out by Cito. 323 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,000 Come on. Stop. 324 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:48,120 Stop. I think the anointing's just 325 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:53,680 permeating up here. Raphael, you. 326 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,120 Don't want to miss a Sunday? See Raphael had a word by the 327 00:20:56,120 --> 00:21:01,920 Holy Spirit last Sunday about Job and it was stop. 328 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,040 He can only go so far. I'm glad we didn't miss church. 329 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:10,120 My wife and I back in 2007 when we had two miscarriages and 330 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:13,320 there was a prophetic word that came from Pastor Earl and said 331 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,000 you'll be with child this time next year. 332 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:19,720 Gave us faith and hope. And This is why you don't want 333 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:21,280 to miss the spiritual gem people. 334 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,840 You know what I mean by that? In the Natural on January 1st. 335 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:39,920 People have lofty goals and they will sign up for buy outfits 336 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,680 buy. Proper food, but they don't 337 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:51,240 throw the Junior Mints away. And a week and a week from now, 338 00:21:51,240 --> 00:22:00,040 Haagen Dazs is calling Digiorno Pizza with stuffed crust cheese. 339 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,320 Is calling. No, it's not. 340 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:08,880 Hallelujah, David. That's right, Jay. 341 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:13,800 And he knows better. And then 5:30 that alarm comes 342 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,320 off in a week after that, all the snooze button sounds good. 343 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,360 God has lofty goals for us. But does a snooze button sound 344 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:25,680 good on a Wednesday night or a Sunday morning service? 345 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:34,480 Right, if you want to increase faithfulness and consistency is 346 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,160 the key. Listen, I'm, I'm not saying this 347 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,600 anybody could do this since I was born again and I I 348 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:42,720 experienced the redemption. I'm getting the Hebrews in a 349 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,880 second of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1997. 350 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:51,480 I think I've probably missed 5 or maybe 7 church services since 351 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,600 my journey with the Lord began in 1997. 352 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,920 And it's only 'cause we, we were out of town, even sometimes 353 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:01,840 we're out of town. I remember Angie and I early in 354 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,600 our marriage, we went, we were in Texas 'cause we lived in 355 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,760 Oklahoma at that time and we were in Texas just, I think we 356 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,840 went to Six Flags, which really traumatized my wife. 357 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,160 She blacked out on this big ride and she hasn't rode roller 358 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,000 coasters since. But it was fun during that time 359 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,400 for me. But yeah, it was too big hard, 360 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:24,080 the shockwave. Yeah, it shocked her. 361 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:29,960 She said everything. Everything went black, but thank 362 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:31,200 God now we're living in the light. 363 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,240 But even then we went to the Potter's House, TD Jake's 364 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,600 church, right 'cause that's what we do. 365 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,600 I'm a believer and I'm not going to forsake the assembling 366 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:47,080 together and a word can come or every service, a teaching can 367 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,040 come, every service we're praising God. 368 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,480 You don't want to miss God's spiritual fitness plan for your 369 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,400 life. We keep each other accountable, 370 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,640 we keep each other growing to fulfill all that God's called us 371 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,800 to do so Hebrews chapter 2 verses 10 through 15 says this 372 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,320 back to redemption. He ascended is the first that 373 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,480 also. Descended and he those that were 374 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,440 in Abraham's bosom, he said, you're freed. 375 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,440 Abraham's bosom was a temporary holding place until Jesus blood 376 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,680 could go on the mercy seat. So let's see what Hebrews 377 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,800 chapter 2 verses 10 through 15 says, for it was fitting for him 378 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,960 Jesus. For whom are all things, and by 379 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:27,400 whom are all things? And bringing many sons to glory, 380 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,840 to make the captain of their salvation perfect through 381 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,800 sufferings. For both he who sanctifies and 382 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,200 those who are being sanctified are all of one. 383 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,800 For which reason Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren, 384 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,400 saying, I will declare your name to my brother, and in the midst 385 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,880 of the assembly I will sing praise to you, and again I will 386 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,520 put my trust. And again here I am for the 387 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,080 children that God has given me. And so much then, as a children 388 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:56,040 have partaken of the flesh and blood, He Himself likewise 389 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,680 shared in the same that. Through death, Jesus might 390 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,560 destroy him who had the power of death. 391 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,040 That is the devil and release those who fear of death were of 392 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,240 all their lifetime subject to bondage. 393 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,000 So that's what Ephesians chapter 4 eight through 10 is talking 394 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,680 about. He released death. 395 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:14,760 We don't have to be afraid of dying. 396 00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:20,920 Let me say it again Saints, you as a born again believer do not 397 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:26,640 have to be afraid of death. The Bible says O death, where is 398 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:27,600 your? Sting. 399 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:35,640 Jesus took the sting. You know, I think it's a bee, 400 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:36,880 right? And you can correct me that if 401 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,520 it stings you one time, it's not the only time it can affect you, 402 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,240 right? Well, that's what Jesus said. 403 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:46,600 I took the sting. That bee bit me. 404 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:48,040 So if it lands on your arm, guess what? 405 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:56,240 It has No. Power to, you know, hurt you or 406 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:57,760 cause anything to swell or whatever. 407 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:03,040 It has no power, 'cause He took the sting of death for us, so he 408 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:04,760 liberated us. He paid for us. 409 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,320 Matthew chapter 26 verse 28 says this. 410 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,280 Jesus said, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is 411 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:16,240 shed for the many, for the remission of sins. 412 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:19,560 So in this great plan of redemption in Ephesians chapter 413 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,960 4, Jesus went to the lower parts of the earth. 414 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,360 He told the devil, it's paid for, it's bought. 415 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,680 I'm taking my perfect blood, my innocent blood, my holy blood. 416 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,400 I'm going to send up and put it at the right hand of the Father 417 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,840 on the mercy seat. And whoever calls on the name of 418 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:37,840 Jesus as Lord will be saved, delivered, redeemed. 419 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:42,400 That means I'm, I'm free from the bondage of slavery. 420 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,400 I'm free from the bondage of torment. 421 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:48,600 I'm free to serve Christ, Hallelujah. 422 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:53,000 But not only did he take something, Jesus left something. 423 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:57,680 And This is why Pastoral always said there's more to God's plan 424 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:02,600 than just making Jesus. Lord, listen, if all of God's 425 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:09,360 plan was just to get born again, just come the altar and it'd be 426 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:12,160 best just to go ahead and keel over and be with Him. 427 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,880 I mean, if that's all there was. And that's phenomenal, 'cause He 428 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,120 did make the way. But what he's saying in 429 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:23,520 Ephesians 4 is not only that I provide salvation. 430 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,680 I've also took something, but I also left something. 431 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,880 And what He's saying, there's a purpose for you in the earth is 432 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,600 what He's saying. There's a journey for you in the 433 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,120 earth is what He's saying. So in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 434 00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:41,200 #7 He says, but to each one of us, grace was given according to 435 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,400 the measure of Christ's gift. So in the body of Christ, when 436 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,080 you come to him, he's saying there's a measure of a gift in 437 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:51,440 every born again believer. Say there's a gift in me. 438 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,880 Say there's a gift in me. And Father, I want to release 439 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,480 all that you've deposited. Do you mean that church? 440 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:09,000 So to each one of us, grace was giving this gift of God. 441 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,920 Now grace. Thank God for grace. 442 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,040 Grace is not the ability to fulfill. 443 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:19,880 The lust of the flesh. You can't violate God's word and 444 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:24,360 get away with it. Grace is not divine permission 445 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,880 to do what's wrong. It's divine power to do what's 446 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:32,200 right. Listen, we're going to get in 447 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,640 the five fold ministry. We're we're ramping up to it. 448 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,520 The planes taking off, we're going to get to cruising 449 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,520 altitude soon. You'll be able to open up your 450 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:41,760 trays and put your Mac out and take notes. 451 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:50,440 Amen. But grace is not a dead 452 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,760 theological concept. Grace is a living reality. 453 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,200 And with the five fold ministry, there is the authentic and the 454 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:03,480 genuine, but there's also false. And I'm telling you right now, 455 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,000 church some this. Grace message could become a 456 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:10,440 disgrace. And there are some false 457 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:15,880 teachers, false pastors that'll say grace is greasy, which means 458 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:21,520 you could do anything you want and it's not a real 5 fold 459 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:23,200 ministry is going to lead you in the truth. 460 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,720 And a grace is a divine empowerment to do what's right. 461 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:28,840 Grace. Grace is a divine empowerment to 462 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:35,360 be holy unto God. Grace is God's operational 463 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:41,840 power. Grace is like electricity. 464 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:49,600 Now electricity if if we were pre electric days and I went to 465 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:53,080 David's house I didn't see Reese's peanut butter cups. 466 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,280 I'm I'm telling on David he likes Reese's Peanut Butter 467 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,720 Cups. Although he's making a change 468 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:00,400 for the better. He's repented. 469 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:03,320 Hallelujah. And if I didn't know anything 470 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,440 about electricity, I went to David's house and he turned the 471 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:11,320 ceiling fan on. I'd be like, wow, that was 472 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:12,680 awesome. If the room was dark and he 473 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,760 flipped a switch, I would see the lights come on, right? 474 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:22,880 If I went to his refrigerator, the source of life, and I opened 475 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:24,640 it up, I would feel cool here, right? 476 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:28,400 So if I didn't know anything about electricity, I would think 477 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:31,400 man. Grace cools, grace turns on the 478 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,560 lights, grace brings into motion. 479 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:39,760 But grace, God's grace in different vessels or children of 480 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:44,200 His, produces different results. But it's the grace of God that 481 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:45,800 fuels your gift. You don't want to go in the 482 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,920 flesh, you want to go in the Spirit. 483 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:51,920 I can do all things through Christ. 484 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,520 I admonish you, church, when you're doing your assignment for 485 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,880 God, remember it's through his grace, Paul said. 486 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,640 I am what I am by the grace of God. 487 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:05,000 So he said he left something to each one of us. 488 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,280 Grace was given according to the measure of God's gift. 489 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,200 Listen, there's a measure in every born again believer. 490 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,320 I need you to get this. Some of you have good self 491 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,080 esteem. Some of you have low self 492 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,880 esteem. Some of you have no self esteem. 493 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:21,360 But I'm telling you, you need God's self esteem today. 494 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,120 There's a reason why you're breathing today. 495 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,320 There's AY for you and the earth and you want to hook up with the 496 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:31,200 grace of God. It's not by work, it's not by 497 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,120 your own effort, but it's by the Spirit, says the Lord. 498 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,080 So you want to kick into that anointing. 499 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:39,920 What you can't do by yourself, God through the anointing can do 500 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:43,840 through you, but you need to be devoted and consecrated to what 501 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,880 He's called you to do. There's a gift, just like in the 502 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:49,120 parable of the talents in Matthew 25, it said he gave to 503 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:55,480 1/5 to 1/2 into 11. And So what are you doing with 504 00:31:55,480 --> 00:32:00,320 the talent that God's given you? Are you investing it? 505 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:04,000 God loves to see increase in fruitfulness in your life. 506 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,440 To the five, guess what? Five more came through the grace 507 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,520 of God. To the two, two more came by the 508 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:12,640 grace of God. God was well pleased with both 509 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,360 of them. To the one, the one hid it. 510 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:20,800 Don't hide your gift. Don't hide your gift. 511 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:27,400 That gift has been bestowed. It's an endowment from God to do 512 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:30,800 what He's called you to do. Now how? 513 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,320 How does the fivefold effect play into this? 514 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:38,360 Let's see. The fivefold effect is the 515 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:44,000 apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, and the 516 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,600 teacher. Now when it comes to 517 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,440 hermeneutics or Bible interpretation, there's things 518 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,280 what we call parallel passages. So I want you to take notes on 519 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,760 these. In Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11 520 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:01,160 through 12 and into 13 is one parallel passage, but Romans 521 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,440 chapter 12 also goes along with that. 522 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:06,400 And then we also have another parallel passage in First 523 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:11,360 Corinthians 12. All of these, the apostle Paul's 524 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,680 talking about assignments and roles and the plan of God for 525 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:18,200 each individual believer. Now only in Ephesians 4 does it 526 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:21,360 highlight well, first Corinthians 12 talks about it to 527 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,640 the fivefold ministry. What is the fivefold ministry? 528 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,560 Turn turn with me real quick to 1st Corinthians Chapter 9. 529 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:32,520 First Corinthians Chapter 9, the fivefold ministries are those 530 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:38,520 that are called, ordained and set in the body to do ministry 531 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:43,560 full time. Why does a pastor or apostle, a 532 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,800 prophet, make his living? Because doing this? 533 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:53,120 Because God said so. Are you with me? 534 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:56,680 So let's see what First Corinthians 9 says when the 535 00:33:56,680 --> 00:34:03,120 apostle Paul talks about this because this was his vocation. 536 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,840 Just as all of us have an assignment, the five full 537 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,320 ministry is set apart by God, much like the Levitical 538 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:13,120 priesthood in the Old Testament. We had 12 tribes, 11 then went 539 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:16,360 out to war and to fight. But one tribe, the Levites, were 540 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:18,960 called to handle the sanctuary and the things of God. 541 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:21,880 And guess what? The other tribes went out and 542 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:24,880 they went, I'll call into the marketplace and did their 543 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,679 assignment, exercise their gift, and they were able to bring pro 544 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:30,639 vision for the vision. Are you with me? 545 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,239 When you got in the marketplace and your gift and your grace, 546 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:36,520 you should go out and conquer and rule and exercise that gift 547 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:38,080 and be fruitful. And then you're able to bring 548 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:41,840 provision into the vision, 'cause God had a vision for the 549 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:46,159 Tabernacle in the Old Testament and it was provided by the other 550 00:34:46,159 --> 00:34:48,400 11 tribes. So look at First Corinthians 9. 551 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,679 We'll start in verse #1 it says, am I not an apostle? 552 00:34:52,679 --> 00:34:57,720 My eyes are changing as I age. Hallelujah. 553 00:34:57,720 --> 00:34:59,440 So I got to take my glasses off to read. 554 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:02,720 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? 555 00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:04,280 Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? 556 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:10,840 Are you not my work in the Lord? If I'm not an apostle to others 557 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:13,280 yet doubtless I am to you, for you are the seal of my 558 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:16,720 apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine 559 00:35:16,720 --> 00:35:19,680 me is this Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 560 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,600 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife? 561 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,720 Is also the other apostles the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 562 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:29,280 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from 563 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:32,160 working? Whoever goes toward his own 564 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:35,720 expense, who plants a vineyard, does not eat of the fruit, or 565 00:35:35,720 --> 00:35:38,760 who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk or the flock? 566 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:42,160 Do I say these things as a mere man, or does not the law say 567 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,680 them also? For it has written the law of 568 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:46,320 Moses. You shall not muzzle an ox. 569 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:50,640 What treads out the grain? Is it an oxen God is concerned 570 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:52,600 about, or does He say it all together? 571 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:56,400 For our sakes. For our sakes, no doubt this is 572 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:58,360 written, that he who plough should plough and hope, and he 573 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,160 who threshes and hope should be partakers of the hope. 574 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:04,600 If we have sown to you spiritual things for you, is it a great 575 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:06,480 thing if we reap material things? 576 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:10,800 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even 577 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,000 more? Nevertheless, we have not used 578 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,360 this right, but endure all things, lest we hinder the 579 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,680 gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who 580 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:22,360 minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and 581 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:24,760 those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the 582 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:27,320 Lord? Even the Lord has commanded 583 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:32,000 this, that those who preach the gospel should live from the 584 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,960 gospel. So the five fold ministry is 585 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:38,080 appointed part of the body of Christ, but they're set aside, 586 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:41,800 just like in Acts chapter 6. They were set aside to study the 587 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:45,200 Word and to pray so that they could bring the Word of God to 588 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:46,800 the body. And we're going to see this 589 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,720 build in Ephesians 4 'cause there's a reason He put them. 590 00:36:49,720 --> 00:36:53,800 It's to equip the Saints. Amen. 591 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,440 So these five fold ministry, the apostle, prophet, evangelist, 592 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:02,320 pastor and teacher, they balance and complement one another. 593 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:04,800 It's like my 5 fingers on my hands. 594 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:09,760 They all work together. The prophet inspires the 595 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:13,600 teacher. The teacher studies the prophet 596 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:17,720 studies the prophet. The evangelist reminds us 597 00:37:17,720 --> 00:37:20,240 there's a lost and dying world that needs the gospel. 598 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:25,280 The pastor helps oversee and care for the flock, and the 599 00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:29,120 apostle challenges us to increase and take on new 600 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:32,320 conquest for the Kingdom of God. I'll say it again. 601 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:36,120 The prophet inspires the teacher, The teacher studies the 602 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:38,360 prophet. The evangelist reminds us 603 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,840 there's a lost and dying world. The pastor helps oversee the 604 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:47,520 flock and care for their soul, and the the apostle helps launch 605 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:51,160 us into new increases in fruitfulness and conquest for 606 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:55,680 the Kingdom of God. The reason that God gave them, 607 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:57,240 it's because he cares for his church. 608 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:04,240 These are 5 ministries and listen, this is fresh from the 609 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:07,720 exalted Christ when it says He ascended above everything else. 610 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,440 One of the first things that he says is he gave some. 611 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:14,960 So it's God's love, gifts to his church. 612 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:18,680 Hallelujah. Because God cares about you. 613 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:22,160 God wants to see you grow. God wants to see you cultivated. 614 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:24,480 God wants to see you equipped. God wants to see you 615 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:28,000 flourishing. Why do we assemble together with 616 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:30,400 the fivefold ministry? Because God wants to equip you. 617 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:37,200 Look at look at Ephesians chapter 4 verse #12 it says that 618 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:40,600 they were given for the equipping of the Saints for the 619 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:44,720 work of ministry, that the the body of Christ will be edified. 620 00:38:45,200 --> 00:38:47,600 Now these gifts weren't giving given. 621 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:52,600 It's not reading like this that the fivefold ministry would 622 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:54,720 equip the Saints, that the fivefold ministry would do the 623 00:38:54,720 --> 00:38:57,440 work of the minute the the ministry and the fivefold 624 00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:58,880 ministry would edify the body of Christ. 625 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:01,240 It's not saying the fivefold ministry does all that. 626 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:06,200 The fivefold ministry does the first one and in turn the body 627 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:10,360 does the next two. I'll say it again, the the 628 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,960 fivefold ministry does the first part of verse 12. 629 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,600 The next two parts are the responsibility of his children. 630 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:25,120 So the five fold ministry does what it equips the Saints. 631 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:27,640 This is why I liken this as spiritual gym. 632 00:39:27,640 --> 00:39:30,400 You're coming to get equipped, you're coming to get challenged, 633 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:32,640 you're coming to get stretched, you're coming to get some 634 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:36,480 resistance. Do you know that no strength is 635 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:40,400 built without some resistance? That's why it's called strength 636 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,280 training or progressive overload. 637 00:39:44,320 --> 00:39:47,280 These five fold ministries may challenge your thinking, may 638 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:51,120 challenge your flesh, but they're there. 639 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:53,760 The King James Version says to perfect you. 640 00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:57,040 The word perfection in the Greek does not mean without ever 641 00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:58,600 blowing it. It means mature. 642 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:04,800 So grow up. Turn to your neighbor and say 643 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:07,280 grow up. Turn the one on the other side, 644 00:40:07,280 --> 00:40:08,800 which is some of the walls. Say grow up. 645 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:16,160 God wants you to grow up. God doesn't want you in diapers 646 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:25,680 after 15 years of serving him. Hallelujah. 647 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:30,040 Now listen, when you're a baby, you're going to make messes. 648 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:31,880 Some things are going to be stinky. 649 00:40:33,240 --> 00:40:35,640 But God knows Angie would have never married me if I was still 650 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:38,040 wearing a diaper. And do you realize there's 651 00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:39,920 people still sucking on pacifiers? 652 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:46,600 Come on. In our modern society, not in 653 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:50,200 the Kingdom. God wants you to grow up. 654 00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:51,720 Why? Because only when you're grown 655 00:40:51,720 --> 00:40:58,080 can you reproduce. You can't reproduce when you're 656 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:03,160 3 years old. And God's greatest assignment is 657 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:06,800 for us to reproduce, he said. Be fruitful and multiply. 658 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:12,320 This life just isn't about us. This life is about getting the 659 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:17,240 truth out to see others advance. We do not have the spirit of 660 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:20,840 Saul that got jealous of King David when they heard that King 661 00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:25,200 David one is 10s of thousands. We get excited when we see 662 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,760 others going out and doing great works and great things for the 663 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,320 Kingdom of God. Go get more than what I ever got 664 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:34,200 is the cry of the fivefold ministry. 665 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:36,960 Go out and impact and ignite an influence. 666 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:41,720 So God wants us to grow up. So when you come on a Sunday, 667 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:44,160 when you come on a Wednesday, when you're listening to pastor 668 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:48,960 or on YouTube or Pastor Marcy, it's equipping you, it's 669 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:53,800 supplying you, it's filling you. Don't let your spiritual tank be 670 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,480 on. EE does not mean we'll make it. 671 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,320 E will get you left on the stuck side of the road. 672 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:04,720 Josh Clay got me stuck on the side of the road. 673 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:09,040 We were on our way to the funeral. 674 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:12,200 Where's he at? Yeah, he's probably hiding for 675 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:16,160 sure right now. We were on our way to the 676 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:18,920 funeral. It was, I think it was July. 677 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:20,400 June. If he was in here, he could tell 678 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,480 me. But he's hiding and it's on E 679 00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:28,280 He's driving. All of a sudden, it starts 680 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:32,680 sputtering. All of a sudden, we're off to 681 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:36,400 the side of the road. And so we ran out of gas. 682 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:40,360 So we're like thumbing on the side of the highway sweating, 683 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:44,120 and this car pulls up. The guy's got a, if I remember, 684 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:47,280 I got a Bible on his dash. You open the door, though, and 685 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:48,920 it's just a big puff of cigarette smoke. 686 00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:55,400 So, but we had to get in the car with him, go to the gas station 687 00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:59,680 and get fuel, obviously, and get back to and thank God we made it 688 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:01,360 to the funeral on time and fill up the car. 689 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:03,480 But what am I saying is don't get stuck on the side of the 690 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:07,000 road 'cause you missed a Sunday or you missed your devotional 691 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,160 reading or you know, you should have been there on a Wednesday 692 00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:11,120 night. You didn't come because the five 693 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:12,680 fold ministries give them to equip the Saints. 694 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:14,280 You're going to get filled up when you come. 695 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:16,440 And guess what? This world has a way of 696 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:18,800 draining. This world has a way of pulling 697 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:20,520 out. This world doesn't give, it 698 00:43:20,520 --> 00:43:23,760 takes. And so we need each other. 699 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:27,080 This is your spiritual filling station. 700 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,800 Not only do this does the five fold ministry help fill and but 701 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:33,000 it also and bring a supply, but it also puts you in the right 702 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:39,160 fit, helps you get in the right place. 703 00:43:39,160 --> 00:43:42,680 It's really like a medical term. If you were at, if you 704 00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:44,400 dislocated something, guess what? 705 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:46,520 You need to relocate it for it to function. 706 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:51,800 And I'll never forget 'cause I, I was a Michigan fan until I 707 00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:55,840 repented. There was a guy named Charles 708 00:43:55,840 --> 00:43:57,080 Woodson. Anybody ever heard of him? 709 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:01,880 Of course you did back there. You're the only person in the 710 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:03,080 whole building that's ever heard of him. 711 00:44:05,480 --> 00:44:10,280 But he he he came into Michigan as a running back and pretty 712 00:44:10,280 --> 00:44:12,640 good. But after the coaches watched 713 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:17,120 him, they said, you know what? I think his real, real talent 714 00:44:17,120 --> 00:44:18,800 lies on the defensive side of the ball. 715 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:22,760 So for the first couple years he kind of stumbled through this 716 00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:26,560 transition because a coach saw something in him that was a 717 00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:30,000 better fit. Did you know he went on as a 718 00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:32,160 defensive player, which is highly unlikely to win the 719 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:35,200 Heisman Trophy. If he tried to stay in the 720 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:39,240 running back position, he would have never fulfilled his maximum 721 00:44:39,240 --> 00:44:41,640 potential. But the coach, I'll say this, 722 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:45,000 the five fold ministry may see something in you that says 723 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:48,080 you've been doing good at this, but really your assignments 724 00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:52,360 right there. If you want to be a Heisman 725 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:57,760 Trophy believer, son or daughter of the king, let the five fold 726 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:00,400 ministry help pull some things out of you and position you in 727 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:02,960 the right place. Amen. 728 00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:07,000 So the the five fold ministry helps equip the Saints. 729 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:09,200 Why? For the work of the ministry. 730 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:13,800 That's your responsibility. Saints, what has God called you 731 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:15,440 to do? I go to Luke 1913. 732 00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:19,320 It says occupy till I come. God said you come to church. 733 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:20,920 Why? To get filled up so you could do 734 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:22,640 your business. It's your employment. 735 00:45:22,840 --> 00:45:25,600 It's a thing that occupies everything that you do. 736 00:45:25,720 --> 00:45:28,520 When you come, you get filled up, you get fitted, you get in 737 00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:31,000 the right place, you get fed, and then you're going to go out. 738 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:32,680 You're going to do what God calls you to do. 739 00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:35,920 Occupy means this, and I want you to know this. 740 00:45:35,920 --> 00:45:38,120 I want to resound in you. I want you to be alive in you 741 00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:40,560 this week. By the grace of God, occupy 742 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:46,200 means to work until everything feels the impact of your 743 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:51,440 presence. So I, I know I'm doing a lot of 744 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:53,200 football analogies, but I'm a sports guy. 745 00:45:53,680 --> 00:45:56,240 Sometimes I would love just to do what Notre Dame does. 746 00:45:57,800 --> 00:46:01,000 And before when they leave the locker room, they have a sign 747 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:03,360 that goes down the steps. I believe if LG was in here, he 748 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:04,840 could tell us, 'cause he played for them. 749 00:46:05,480 --> 00:46:07,560 And it says play like a champion today. 750 00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:13,600 And I feel like when we leave this sanctuary, you're full, 751 00:46:13,720 --> 00:46:17,040 you're fueled, you're fit. I feel like we all need to tap a 752 00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:19,840 sign that says play like a champion today. 753 00:46:21,120 --> 00:46:23,480 Because now I'm getting ready to go out into the world, my 754 00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:29,640 marriage, Walmart, the mission field, and I'm going to play 755 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:31,960 like a son or daughter of the king today. 756 00:46:32,480 --> 00:46:34,560 You don't know what's about to hit you. 757 00:46:34,640 --> 00:46:37,600 You don't know the greatness, the anointing, the light, the 758 00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:39,400 salt. You don't know the prayer of 759 00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:44,000 faith is coming. I saw a person in the gym 760 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:47,600 yesterday, they're worshipping somewhere else but having 761 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:50,280 sciatic nerve pains. And I said, let's agree on 762 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:54,440 Matthew 18. You want to be healed. 763 00:46:55,520 --> 00:46:58,360 God wants you to be healed. I want you to be healed. 764 00:46:58,680 --> 00:47:06,760 So right in the gym, I said we're agreeing on this, we're 765 00:47:06,760 --> 00:47:10,560 binding this up 'cause I'm playing like a champion today. 766 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:16,320 Every interruption is not a distraction. 767 00:47:18,040 --> 00:47:20,000 It could be a divine opportunity. 768 00:47:20,960 --> 00:47:23,080 Come on, you know you're in Walmart and you see that one 769 00:47:23,080 --> 00:47:28,960 person likes to talk a lot. You go down to go down their 770 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:30,040 aisle. You'll see them so you try to 771 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:35,320 escape before they see you, but God may be saying today is the 772 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:38,440 day of salvation. You need to go pray for them. 773 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:42,440 So the five fold ministry was given for the equipment that 774 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:45,920 Saints wise so we could go out and do the work of the ministry 775 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:49,120 and what's the ultimate end is that the body of Christ will be 776 00:47:49,120 --> 00:47:52,080 built up. It will promote growth. 777 00:47:52,080 --> 00:47:54,520 We could, we should see this House. 778 00:47:54,520 --> 00:47:59,040 Full. We should see this house full. 779 00:47:59,880 --> 00:48:02,040 We should see this House. Full. 780 00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:06,440 We should see this house full and I'll say this by how you 781 00:48:06,440 --> 00:48:11,760 live and by what you say. We should see this house full by 782 00:48:11,760 --> 00:48:20,080 what you live and what you say. The five fold ministry. 783 00:48:20,560 --> 00:48:27,640 I'm stuck in this building. That's not a bad thing, but all 784 00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:31,280 the other believers are out in the marketplace. 785 00:48:31,560 --> 00:48:33,360 Guess where the lost people are at? 786 00:48:35,840 --> 00:48:39,400 Right up your alley. Some people are like, I want to 787 00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:41,080 go work for the church. God's saying I want you to go 788 00:48:41,080 --> 00:48:45,720 work in the world. Why? 789 00:48:45,720 --> 00:48:47,840 Because there's a lost and dying world. 790 00:48:48,280 --> 00:48:50,760 Look at it as it being ACIA agent. 791 00:48:53,240 --> 00:48:54,600 This isn't the Central Intelligence. 792 00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:58,040 This is a Christian in action. You're undercover. 793 00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:01,720 You should be going to work thinking is today the day Lord? 794 00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:04,560 What does the Holy Ghost have for some? 795 00:49:04,560 --> 00:49:08,160 I got to just be quiet. He said you're light. 796 00:49:08,160 --> 00:49:09,960 Light doesn't make a sound, but it could be seen. 797 00:49:12,680 --> 00:49:15,480 And you just come in shining every day, and eventually they 798 00:49:15,480 --> 00:49:17,880 say something's different about you. 799 00:49:19,720 --> 00:49:21,840 I like what Devin Hicks says, 'cause he worked at Carlisle's, 800 00:49:21,840 --> 00:49:24,240 now a different name. He still works there, but he 801 00:49:24,240 --> 00:49:28,560 can't solicit the gospel. You know that. 802 00:49:28,720 --> 00:49:32,280 But if somebody asks me, it's on like Donkey Kong. 803 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:36,320 And so they say something's different about you. 804 00:49:36,320 --> 00:49:37,560 Well, what's different? He said, well, it's the 805 00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:39,400 philosophy and the philosopher I follow. 806 00:49:39,640 --> 00:49:42,120 Well, who's the philosopher? Well, let me tell you about 807 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:43,880 Jesus. Oh, they just set him right up. 808 00:49:45,080 --> 00:49:49,200 Just set him right up, but he's light and then becomes salt. 809 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:51,760 Salt doesn't work unless it makes contact. 810 00:49:51,760 --> 00:49:55,160 If you never open your voice in that moment, there's no contact. 811 00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:58,080 Lack of contact, lack of influence. 812 00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:02,920 And Jesus has called us to grow, so how you live better line up 813 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:05,840 with what you say. Are you with me? 814 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:10,040 Don't be a hypocrite. Don't play a different role. 815 00:50:10,920 --> 00:50:14,120 I think the greatest testimony at first is the change in your 816 00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:17,200 life. I know in 1997 I started 817 00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:19,400 changing when I gave my life forward. 818 00:50:19,400 --> 00:50:20,760 I quit doing things that I was doing. 819 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:24,360 I cut off associations that were bad because bad company corrupts 820 00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:29,000 good character. But as my credibility grew, so 821 00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:32,520 did the call and it gave me a voice in the people's life. 822 00:50:33,960 --> 00:50:38,240 Hallelujah. So the five Fold ministry, we're 823 00:50:39,360 --> 00:50:46,320 going to look at the teacher today and these ministry gifts 824 00:50:47,920 --> 00:50:51,000 help with steady growth within the church for powerful witness 825 00:50:51,000 --> 00:50:54,000 without. These ministry gifts help for 826 00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:57,120 steady growth within the church for powerful witness without. 827 00:50:57,480 --> 00:51:02,280 The teaching ministry is a well defined and anointed office in 828 00:51:02,280 --> 00:51:07,080 the fivefold ministry. The teaching ministry is a well 829 00:51:07,080 --> 00:51:10,000 defined and anointed office in the fivefold ministry. 830 00:51:10,920 --> 00:51:14,120 Donald G said this about it. He said experience has proved 831 00:51:14,640 --> 00:51:17,960 this ministry of teaching has sometimes been sadly undervalued 832 00:51:18,880 --> 00:51:21,120 to the serious detriment of the work of God. 833 00:51:21,920 --> 00:51:26,360 The stirring campaigns conducted by gods, by apostles and 834 00:51:26,360 --> 00:51:30,280 evangelists with their oppressive array of converts, 835 00:51:30,720 --> 00:51:34,920 the popular mind makes people feel that something really is 836 00:51:34,920 --> 00:51:37,080 happening with these two ministry gifts. 837 00:51:37,600 --> 00:51:41,680 The same is true of those beautifully beautiful ministers 838 00:51:41,680 --> 00:51:43,960 where the sick are healed and demons are cast out. 839 00:51:45,640 --> 00:51:48,640 But let it not presume that in the ministry gift of the 840 00:51:48,640 --> 00:51:53,240 teacher, however, there will be no converts made or sick sick 841 00:51:53,240 --> 00:51:55,760 once healed. Blessed be God. 842 00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:59,800 The reverse is true, for God loves to honor His own word in 843 00:51:59,800 --> 00:52:03,640 whatever form it is preached. So not only does God use the 844 00:52:03,640 --> 00:52:07,240 evangelist and the apostle, but He uses the Teacher. 845 00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:13,640 And in teaching you can get healed, and in teaching you can 846 00:52:13,640 --> 00:52:16,480 get saved. And in teaching miracles can 847 00:52:16,480 --> 00:52:20,400 occur. So we don't want to limit or 848 00:52:20,400 --> 00:52:24,520 hinder what God has put in store for His church with the five 849 00:52:24,520 --> 00:52:27,560 fold ministry. Some churches are in danger of 850 00:52:27,560 --> 00:52:33,520 stagnation through the lack of the the evangelistic zeal. 851 00:52:33,880 --> 00:52:37,080 It's equally true that some others are in the same peril, 852 00:52:39,120 --> 00:52:42,160 and perhaps in a deeper sense to the lack of teaching and soul 853 00:52:42,160 --> 00:52:44,640 food. We need teachers that are going 854 00:52:44,640 --> 00:52:49,320 to bring us the engrafted Word of God that's able to save our 855 00:52:49,600 --> 00:52:54,560 soul. The man or woman is not a 856 00:52:54,560 --> 00:52:57,560 teacher merely by virtue of natural ability. 857 00:53:03,040 --> 00:53:06,760 But shining above all else, there's a conspicuous gift of 858 00:53:06,760 --> 00:53:11,080 God in the teacher. It's just not college education 859 00:53:11,080 --> 00:53:14,600 and natural gifts. This is a supernatural ministry. 860 00:53:15,040 --> 00:53:17,720 Granted, some people teach in the church, in Sunday school or 861 00:53:17,720 --> 00:53:19,960 Bible school, and that's right and that's good and should. 862 00:53:20,160 --> 00:53:23,400 But the teacher in the five fold ministry is anointed as a 863 00:53:23,400 --> 00:53:29,680 specific gift and office by the supernatural power of God to 864 00:53:29,680 --> 00:53:34,400 help equip the Saints. So for such ministry be 865 00:53:34,400 --> 00:53:38,040 accomplished, we got to rely on the real power of God and just 866 00:53:38,040 --> 00:53:43,040 not natural gifts. In this office, the teacher's 867 00:53:43,040 --> 00:53:46,640 dependence will utterly be on the anointing of the Spirit, and 868 00:53:46,640 --> 00:53:48,880 the teacher's appeal will be made through the logical 869 00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:51,440 faculties and operate through the logical and reasoning 870 00:53:51,440 --> 00:53:54,960 faculties of their own understanding, enlightened by 871 00:53:54,960 --> 00:54:02,800 the Holy Spirit. The teaching ministry is not dry 872 00:54:02,840 --> 00:54:07,640 and it doesn't cause division. A false teacher will be dry, 873 00:54:07,640 --> 00:54:11,160 leaning on just their own ability and cause division. 874 00:54:11,720 --> 00:54:14,760 They could get stuck in one line of thought on the natural side, 875 00:54:14,760 --> 00:54:18,720 but a the office of a teacher is always going to be refreshing 876 00:54:18,720 --> 00:54:21,520 and reviving. It's going to bring water. 877 00:54:21,880 --> 00:54:27,440 One of the teachers primary fruit and results is to be able 878 00:54:27,440 --> 00:54:30,360 to water and feed the flock of God. 879 00:54:31,960 --> 00:54:34,960 It'll refresh you. I know sometimes when I'm on my 880 00:54:34,960 --> 00:54:39,480 computer I'll get this little circle and nothing's working 881 00:54:39,480 --> 00:54:42,160 right. Anybody ever had that happen 882 00:54:42,720 --> 00:54:45,600 'cause it's stuck and some believers are stuck and what do 883 00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:47,920 you have to do? You have to refresh it to 884 00:54:47,920 --> 00:54:50,560 actually open up what's available. 885 00:54:50,960 --> 00:54:54,720 And the teacher, true teacher gift, anointed by the Holy 886 00:54:54,720 --> 00:54:57,160 Spirit, will bring refreshing to the body of Christ. 887 00:54:57,400 --> 00:55:00,000 If you're stuck spiritually, it's going to help get you 888 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:02,560 unstuck. It's going to help get you 889 00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:05,040 reset. It's going to help get you 890 00:55:05,040 --> 00:55:08,360 restarted. And you should leave when the 891 00:55:08,360 --> 00:55:12,040 Office of the teachers in action and in function. 892 00:55:12,040 --> 00:55:16,600 You should leave revived mean that if anything was dead or 893 00:55:16,600 --> 00:55:19,960 dry, you should feel empowered to go out and do what God's 894 00:55:19,960 --> 00:55:25,280 called you to do. So the primary application and 895 00:55:25,280 --> 00:55:31,920 fruitfulness of the teachers to water the flock, the ground. 896 00:55:32,240 --> 00:55:35,800 Apollos was a teacher in the body of Christ. 897 00:55:36,040 --> 00:55:37,720 We can go over to 1st Corinthians chapter 3. 898 00:55:37,720 --> 00:55:39,720 Let's read this and see what Apollos did. 899 00:55:42,280 --> 00:55:46,520 In First Corinthians chapter 3, starting #5 verse #5 says who 900 00:55:46,520 --> 00:55:51,360 then is Paul and who is Apollos? But ministers through who you 901 00:55:51,360 --> 00:55:56,320 believed as the Lord gave to each one I planted, Apollos 902 00:55:56,320 --> 00:55:59,320 watered, but God gave the increase. 903 00:56:00,120 --> 00:56:04,120 So the apostle Paul talking about Apollos who was ordained, 904 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:07,520 talking about apostle who was ordained, a teacher said Paul 905 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:10,800 said, I planted, but guess what Apollos watered. 906 00:56:11,520 --> 00:56:14,840 So you should expect from a teacher that's called that 907 00:56:14,840 --> 00:56:19,880 office man, I'm going to get water today, put some water on 908 00:56:20,280 --> 00:56:25,360 my seed, Amen, 'cause you know, if the seed never gets watered, 909 00:56:26,120 --> 00:56:30,440 it's never going to grow. Listen, I met with Seth on 910 00:56:30,440 --> 00:56:33,880 Friday and we'll call Seth. He's a, he's, he's a, has a 911 00:56:33,880 --> 00:56:35,760 horticultural gift. Can I say that? 912 00:56:36,240 --> 00:56:38,320 Is that the fancy way of saying, you know how to do landscaping? 913 00:56:40,800 --> 00:56:44,320 And I have this cedar tree in our backyard and it's the most 914 00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:48,720 frustrating thing, 'cause it just you, you're laughing, 915 00:56:49,080 --> 00:56:51,440 'cause you go over there and, and it's especially during the 916 00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:53,560 summer, we get in a pool and you get your feet in it. 917 00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:56,480 It gets dirt everywhere. And I was talking to Seth and 918 00:56:56,480 --> 00:56:58,200 'cause people perish for lack of knowledge. 919 00:56:58,720 --> 00:57:02,800 And I said, man, I went and bought 100 and about $60 worth 920 00:57:02,800 --> 00:57:07,520 of Bermuda seed and threw it down, 'cause all it is is dirt 921 00:57:07,520 --> 00:57:09,120 around the cedar tree. It's in shade. 922 00:57:09,400 --> 00:57:13,520 And my dogs, my dogs like to go out there and run. 923 00:57:13,520 --> 00:57:17,480 Seth said you have just a bad combination, shade, sand and 924 00:57:17,480 --> 00:57:22,320 dogs. And he said you need to water it 925 00:57:22,320 --> 00:57:23,800 every day. It's so sandy. 926 00:57:24,120 --> 00:57:26,720 If you don't water it every day, it's never going to grow. 927 00:57:27,760 --> 00:57:30,800 And so guess what? I wasn't watering it every day. 928 00:57:31,080 --> 00:57:41,200 I wasted 160 dollars full of potential and purpose and lush 929 00:57:41,800 --> 00:57:50,640 green grass. I could see it not just 'cause I 930 00:57:50,640 --> 00:57:55,360 had the vision, but because I went to Home Depot and they had 931 00:57:55,360 --> 00:57:59,360 a pamphlet that I was drooling over. 932 00:58:00,360 --> 00:58:02,360 And we're going to paint our deck and there's all kind of 933 00:58:02,360 --> 00:58:05,600 great colors, our pool deck. But in their pamphlet, when they 934 00:58:05,600 --> 00:58:08,160 show the colors of deck, there was green grass. 935 00:58:09,760 --> 00:58:14,040 And I said, Lord, I see it. But it's never going to grow if 936 00:58:14,040 --> 00:58:19,160 you don't water it. And if you miss the teacher's 937 00:58:19,160 --> 00:58:21,560 office, you could have the seat on the inside of you. 938 00:58:22,720 --> 00:58:28,520 You could be sitting in church and miss the seed and you're 939 00:58:28,520 --> 00:58:34,640 wondering why I'm Sandy and not bringing forth anything because 940 00:58:34,640 --> 00:58:40,040 I don't honor the gift and we need to honor each equal. 941 00:58:40,040 --> 00:58:42,480 When you honor the gift, you're really not honoring the person. 942 00:58:42,480 --> 00:58:47,800 You're honoring God because God set the gift in the body for 943 00:58:48,320 --> 00:58:53,320 you. And so you should pray for the 944 00:58:53,320 --> 00:58:56,120 gift. You should come drawing on the 945 00:58:56,120 --> 00:58:58,200 gift. Do you realize when it comes to 946 00:58:58,200 --> 00:59:01,040 the gift, it's never going to get unwrapped if you don't pull 947 00:59:01,160 --> 00:59:04,120 on it. You need to be like Christmas 948 00:59:04,120 --> 00:59:07,280 time on Sundays and Wednesdays and look at us like a box with a 949 00:59:07,280 --> 00:59:11,400 ribbon and just start tearing it apart and say I can't see what 950 00:59:11,400 --> 00:59:14,040 God's I can't wait to see what God's got in there today. 951 00:59:15,200 --> 00:59:18,160 And guess what the gift isn't for the five fold mystery gift 952 00:59:18,160 --> 00:59:24,480 is to unwrapped to give to you. What do you need from God? 953 00:59:25,480 --> 00:59:27,760 You may be saying, Lord, I need the newest PlayStation. 954 00:59:29,120 --> 00:59:33,480 Well, unwrap the gift and pull it out right. 955 00:59:33,840 --> 00:59:38,880 So you need to come expecting. I'm going to close with this 956 00:59:38,880 --> 00:59:40,960 thought on the teacher. I want to go to Proverbs chapter 957 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:46,480 24. Hallelujah. 958 00:59:47,880 --> 00:59:50,280 Before we get there, I'm going to, I'm going to read Psalms 959 00:59:50,280 --> 00:59:59,200 119105. Psalms 1119105 says His word is 960 00:59:59,200 --> 01:00:02,200 a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 961 01:00:03,000 --> 01:00:06,880 One thing the teacher office will do is bring clarity to the 962 01:00:06,880 --> 01:00:09,440 word of God. Some things that may have not 963 01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:11,520 been clear when the anointing's on a teacher, it's going to 964 01:00:11,520 --> 01:00:13,360 bring clarity. Why not just for the teacher, 965 01:00:13,360 --> 01:00:14,840 but it's going to help your pathway. 966 01:00:15,680 --> 01:00:17,600 It's going to help your journey with God. 967 01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:21,160 I, I know when I first got born again, everything was like a 968 01:00:21,160 --> 01:00:23,360 puzzle to me. But with the teacher office, 969 01:00:23,360 --> 01:00:24,760 guess what? They start putting the pieces of 970 01:00:24,760 --> 01:00:28,040 the puzzle together and they're able to say, OK, this goes 971 01:00:28,040 --> 01:00:31,520 there, this goes there and all of a sudden you have clarity. 972 01:00:32,240 --> 01:00:37,840 So in Proverbs chapter 24, verses 3 and 4, it says this. 973 01:00:37,840 --> 01:00:41,720 Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it's 974 01:00:41,720 --> 01:00:45,880 established by knowledge. The rooms are filled with all 975 01:00:45,880 --> 01:00:51,200 precious and pleasant riches. The teacher will bring wisdom, 976 01:00:52,080 --> 01:00:54,120 understanding and knowledge for you. 977 01:00:55,720 --> 01:00:59,360 Look, wisdom will help build your house. 978 01:01:01,480 --> 01:01:05,280 By understanding, it will establish your house and listen. 979 01:01:05,280 --> 01:01:09,800 By knowledge, your house will be filled with all precious things. 980 01:01:10,120 --> 01:01:12,320 You want to build a real life for God. 981 01:01:12,920 --> 01:01:18,440 You need wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to really be in 982 01:01:18,440 --> 01:01:21,440 the fullness of what God has for you. 983 01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:24,360 Now, you may have operated in some wisdom, you may have 984 01:01:24,360 --> 01:01:27,360 operated in some knowledge, but if you don't have understanding, 985 01:01:27,360 --> 01:01:29,720 you're missing the fullness of what God has for you. 986 01:01:29,960 --> 01:01:33,120 And so the teacher and watering and instruction and impartation 987 01:01:33,320 --> 01:01:37,160 will help communicate the wisdom which is the applying of truth. 988 01:01:37,160 --> 01:01:40,360 It'll help communicate the knowledge which is the acquiring 989 01:01:40,360 --> 01:01:43,200 of truth, and it'll help with understanding which is the 990 01:01:43,200 --> 01:01:47,960 proper interpretation of truth and just with this one thought 991 01:01:47,960 --> 01:01:51,920 of understanding. Understanding means this that 992 01:01:51,920 --> 01:01:56,280 you know it so well that you can, that you can comprehend it 993 01:01:56,280 --> 01:01:59,160 so well that you can repeat results at will. 994 01:02:00,800 --> 01:02:03,400 The teacher will bring understanding so that you know 995 01:02:03,400 --> 01:02:08,920 it so well and you comprehend it so well that you can repeat 996 01:02:08,920 --> 01:02:13,280 results at will. And that's why you want to draw 997 01:02:13,280 --> 01:02:15,440 all on that gift to the teacher, 'cause you're like, Lord, I need 998 01:02:15,440 --> 01:02:18,320 understanding, I need knowledge, I need wisdom, I need 999 01:02:18,320 --> 01:02:21,840 understanding so well and I can comprehend some well that I 1000 01:02:21,840 --> 01:02:27,520 could repeat results at will. Why do you want to be able to 1001 01:02:27,520 --> 01:02:29,640 repeat results at will, 'cause God wants your life to be 1002 01:02:29,640 --> 01:02:33,880 fruitful. Listen, there's survival mode 1003 01:02:34,560 --> 01:02:37,480 where the enemy has control. There's success where you've 1004 01:02:37,480 --> 01:02:40,200 been delivered, but there's also significance. 1005 01:02:40,720 --> 01:02:42,360 Were you poor in the life of others? 1006 01:02:42,360 --> 01:02:45,800 And I believe significance is living at the highest level of 1007 01:02:45,800 --> 01:02:49,160 where God wants us to be. It's not enough for you just to 1008 01:02:49,160 --> 01:02:52,080 be successful in your household. The teacher will help you be 1009 01:02:52,080 --> 01:02:54,560 successful. So you could be significant to 1010 01:02:54,560 --> 01:02:58,000 others and you're not going to have that with understanding. 1011 01:02:58,480 --> 01:03:01,040 Last night I cooked chicken fried steak. 1012 01:03:02,360 --> 01:03:05,600 Now, man, it is good for but bad for my blood work. 1013 01:03:10,400 --> 01:03:14,760 But in understanding I found this recipe for southern. 1014 01:03:16,720 --> 01:03:25,160 Now I'm from Ohio, but I'm in Florida, so I'm Southern and my 1015 01:03:25,160 --> 01:03:30,520 mother-in-law, she cooks a a mean chicken fried steak and she 1016 01:03:30,520 --> 01:03:34,360 has understanding. Yeah, I thought about probably 1017 01:03:34,360 --> 01:03:36,200 about eight months ago, I started this journey where 1018 01:03:36,400 --> 01:03:39,560 occasionally, cause I have understanding, I realized if I 1019 01:03:39,560 --> 01:03:44,000 did this everyday, it would not be well for my arteries. 1020 01:03:44,720 --> 01:03:48,760 But about 8 months ago, I found a recipe for Southern fried 1021 01:03:49,120 --> 01:03:53,360 chicken fried steak. And so last night I was like, 1022 01:03:53,800 --> 01:04:01,040 I've got understanding. I could repeat results at will. 1023 01:04:01,840 --> 01:04:04,000 I got understanding so much. I don't even have to look at the 1024 01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:07,560 ingredients now. I know it takes a teaspoon of 1025 01:04:07,920 --> 01:04:10,480 baking soda, 2 teaspoons of baking powder. 1026 01:04:10,840 --> 01:04:16,520 I know it takes 2 teaspoons of glove garlic cloves. 1027 01:04:17,680 --> 01:04:21,040 I know it takes 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk. 1028 01:04:22,080 --> 01:04:27,400 I know it takes a tablespoon of hot sauce, 1 egg. 1029 01:04:29,280 --> 01:04:30,640 This is a really good recipe, y'all? 1030 01:04:33,880 --> 01:04:36,080 I know 'cause I got understanding when I first did 1031 01:04:36,080 --> 01:04:37,480 it. I one of the greatest things I 1032 01:04:37,480 --> 01:04:40,000 like about chicken fried steak, and this is great 'cause we're 1033 01:04:40,000 --> 01:04:43,560 almost done and I know you're probably getting hungry. 1034 01:04:43,640 --> 01:04:44,920 There's been some food analogies. 1035 01:04:45,440 --> 01:04:49,560 I like the bread on it. So early on, when I wasn't 1036 01:04:49,560 --> 01:04:53,920 taught real well, I tried to load it up a flour and it would 1037 01:04:53,920 --> 01:04:57,880 fall off and I'd have the steak without the bread. 1038 01:04:59,720 --> 01:05:05,280 Through understanding I realized just coat it, dip it, coat it 1039 01:05:05,280 --> 01:05:07,520 again, lightly, throw it in the pan. 1040 01:05:08,440 --> 01:05:11,040 What really hit me last night though is I found the perfect 1041 01:05:11,040 --> 01:05:17,920 temperature to cook it at. It took me 8 months on my stove 1042 01:05:19,160 --> 01:05:22,280 to figure out with the lid on how to get that thing just 1043 01:05:22,720 --> 01:05:26,600 right. And God wants your life to be 1044 01:05:26,600 --> 01:05:31,680 like a good piece of chicken fried steak where people could 1045 01:05:31,680 --> 01:05:36,400 feed on it. Hey, man, so turn to your 1046 01:05:36,400 --> 01:05:38,200 neighbor and say be chicken fried steak today. 1047 01:05:45,050 --> 01:05:46,930 You, you staying righteous down there. 1048 01:05:48,130 --> 01:05:50,210 She's not OK. Well, give her some 1049 01:05:50,210 --> 01:05:52,570 understanding. Have her repent. 1050 01:05:53,370 --> 01:05:55,490 The altar is open. I don't even know what she. 1051 01:05:55,490 --> 01:05:56,530 I don't want to know what you said. 1052 01:05:58,290 --> 01:06:01,890 You're married, so it's good. It could be righteous. 1053 01:06:04,360 --> 01:06:06,920 One other example, understanding the teacher bring understanding 1054 01:06:07,120 --> 01:06:11,880 in in my marriage covenant with my wife because of Ed Cole who 1055 01:06:11,880 --> 01:06:17,200 was a prophet and a teacher. You realize that he didn't work 1056 01:06:17,200 --> 01:06:20,160 a secular job. He was called into that office 1057 01:06:20,160 --> 01:06:22,680 and anointed for that office by the Spirit of God and 1058 01:06:22,680 --> 01:06:25,240 commissioned when most people are slowing down. 1059 01:06:25,240 --> 01:06:26,760 Think about retirement. God says you're going to go 1060 01:06:26,760 --> 01:06:29,400 minister really was an Apostolic word to the men of this 1061 01:06:29,400 --> 01:06:35,960 generation, declaring a standard for manhood and through when I 1062 01:06:35,960 --> 01:06:39,720 started eating on his meals through the teaching ministry, 1063 01:06:39,720 --> 01:06:44,080 the anointed office, It brought what wisdom as a man of God. 1064 01:06:44,480 --> 01:06:46,600 It brought knowledge as a man of God. 1065 01:06:46,600 --> 01:06:49,440 You realize that Hosea says people perish because of a lack 1066 01:06:49,440 --> 01:06:52,280 of knowledge. When I was growing up, you know, 1067 01:06:52,280 --> 01:06:59,120 Arnold Schwarzenegger was kind of my role model BC right, 1068 01:07:00,000 --> 01:07:04,760 pumping iron. But guess what? 1069 01:07:05,000 --> 01:07:06,920 He's not a model. Have have you read about his 1070 01:07:06,920 --> 01:07:10,880 marriage and the dysfunction not to put him down? 1071 01:07:10,880 --> 01:07:12,760 Thank God. We should pray for workers and 1072 01:07:12,760 --> 01:07:17,280 laborers will be sent across his path 'cause he needs Jesus. 1073 01:07:18,000 --> 01:07:22,520 But even though he looked great physically, soul, soul wise, 1074 01:07:22,520 --> 01:07:25,920 marital wise, life wise, it's breaking down. 1075 01:07:26,880 --> 01:07:29,680 But when I got around Ed Cole, I started realizing I got a 1076 01:07:29,680 --> 01:07:34,240 knowledge base for how a man is to operate and function 1077 01:07:35,080 --> 01:07:37,480 according to the Word of God. And when you follow the Word of 1078 01:07:37,480 --> 01:07:41,800 God, whether you're a lady or a man, if you're married, just do 1079 01:07:41,800 --> 01:07:46,080 the Word. Just do the word. 1080 01:07:46,200 --> 01:07:51,000 If you're single and you want to be married, just do the Word. 1081 01:07:51,400 --> 01:07:54,160 Preparation is evidence you believe something's coming. 1082 01:07:55,560 --> 01:07:58,600 If you believe a spouse is coming, get prepared. 1083 01:08:01,840 --> 01:08:04,760 In a nursery, there's a sign that said the best time to plant 1084 01:08:04,760 --> 01:08:10,200 an oak tree was 25 years ago, but the hope is it says the 1085 01:08:10,200 --> 01:08:12,520 second best time to plant it is today. 1086 01:08:14,240 --> 01:08:15,920 So what's the word? If you believe something's 1087 01:08:15,920 --> 01:08:18,120 coming, preparation is the evidence you believe it's 1088 01:08:18,120 --> 01:08:22,200 coming. But if you are married, we do 1089 01:08:22,200 --> 01:08:24,680 marital counseling. And when people come into the 1090 01:08:24,680 --> 01:08:27,479 office for marriage counseling, guess what we don't get? 1091 01:08:27,560 --> 01:08:30,520 We don't start dissecting the list of everything that the 1092 01:08:30,520 --> 01:08:34,920 other person's doing wrong. We try to stay in our roles. 1093 01:08:34,920 --> 01:08:38,960 What can you do as a man and what can you do as a woman? 1094 01:08:39,439 --> 01:08:41,399 Because really, it doesn't matter if your spouse's head is 1095 01:08:41,399 --> 01:08:46,279 doing 360 degree circles and steam's coming out and and 1096 01:08:46,279 --> 01:08:48,399 they're, you know, they look like and act like the devil. 1097 01:08:52,200 --> 01:08:54,560 You could get frustrated about that, but a teacher's going to 1098 01:08:54,560 --> 01:08:58,439 give you wisdom under, you know, the Bible talks about what to do 1099 01:08:58,439 --> 01:09:02,120 if a spouse is an unbeliever or acting like an unbeliever. 1100 01:09:02,600 --> 01:09:04,520 It talks about ways to win them over. 1101 01:09:05,640 --> 01:09:07,920 It doesn't say get on social media and blast them and tell 1102 01:09:07,920 --> 01:09:10,880 how miserable they are and call all your friends and dump and 1103 01:09:10,880 --> 01:09:12,000 complain. God doesn't. 1104 01:09:12,200 --> 01:09:17,520 God doesn't inhabit complaining or Mormon. 1105 01:09:17,520 --> 01:09:22,479 God inhabits praise. There's a word for you. 1106 01:09:22,479 --> 01:09:28,680 Maybe you need to praise your spouse instead of criticizing. 1107 01:09:31,240 --> 01:09:34,640 You can say Amen or oh me, but nevertheless it is truth. 1108 01:09:39,200 --> 01:09:41,960 Well, you never do this. We tell people stay away from 1109 01:09:41,960 --> 01:09:44,040 extremes. That's not true. 1110 01:09:44,040 --> 01:09:47,880 You're just in an emotional fit, throwing a tantrum like a baby 1111 01:09:48,040 --> 01:09:54,480 'cause you didn't get your way. Grow up, respond to God, don't 1112 01:09:54,480 --> 01:09:58,200 react to the situation. But with that cold being a 1113 01:09:58,200 --> 01:10:00,120 teacher, guess what? He gave me wisdom, He gave me 1114 01:10:00,120 --> 01:10:02,000 knowledge, but He gave me understanding. 1115 01:10:02,000 --> 01:10:04,560 And that understanding is just not from me. 1116 01:10:04,560 --> 01:10:10,720 Now I know the principles, I comprehend the Word of God 1117 01:10:10,720 --> 01:10:15,960 because of the teaching ministry and I'm able to repeat results 1118 01:10:16,280 --> 01:10:19,000 at will. Marriage could be the closest 1119 01:10:19,000 --> 01:10:22,480 thing to heaven or hell you'll have on the planet. 1120 01:10:23,880 --> 01:10:25,880 Now God's will is that you'd have heaven on earth. 1121 01:10:26,280 --> 01:10:28,840 I understand the Word of God through the teaching ministry so 1122 01:10:28,840 --> 01:10:32,960 well that I could repeat heaven every day in my house. 1123 01:10:35,320 --> 01:10:43,200 Guess what you can understand so well that you daily could have 1124 01:10:43,200 --> 01:10:45,280 heaven on earth, not hell on earth. 1125 01:10:46,760 --> 01:10:49,160 So the choice is yours.