Thanks for checking out the anchor Faith, Message podcast
from st. Augustine Florida.
Now, enjoy this message. Our senior pastors, Pastor.
Oh, Marcy are and Fort Walton at Champion Life Church.
This is their last night. They're doing a kingdom rise
conference. They launched it on Sunday and
they're finishing it tonight. Most of our, a lot of our
worship team and creative team went with them.
Hallelujah. So they're having a wonderful
time there. So the assignment tonight of
ministering and Hallelujah want to start off just Sharing a
little bit about myself. Amen.
I'm course, Pastor Mike associate pastor here at anchor,
Faith Church started my journey with the Lord in 1997.
Hallelujah. And he is faithful.
And I remember prior to 1997, you know, running the course of
the world. BC before Christ, thank God for
being redeemed, being brought out for him to bring us into
purpose, Destiny and greatness. I remember that.
I lived in Ohio, the great state of Ohio, big ten country, Glory
to God, but I remember, you know, my senior high school
there was actually a man, another senior that a
transferred up named Steve Miller and he was actually from
Florida. His dad was a Quaker State oil
salesman and so he got relocated to Ohio.
And I remember connecting with Steve, he was a, you know, a
jock, you know, athletic like to lift course, we like to party.
So we connected doing unrighteous things, amen.
But he had a, this is a 1993. When I graduated high school
just to date myself, I'm getting older.
Praise the Lord, not that old, but I do turn 48 this year.
I thought, wow, I'm going to be 15 in a couple of years.
Praise the Lord. Keep on getting better with the
grace of God. So anyways, you know, I ran with
him and but there was some point after 1993.
I can't remember the exact date maybe 95 in the 96 that he gave
his life to Christ. And that was weird to me because
he started talking about Jesus, which I was familiar with.
I grew up in a Catholic Church, you know, but I never had a
relationship with the Lord. Never read the Bible.
Never knew him as it's revealed to us through the wonderful
teaching a Ministry. Tanker fake church and the other
Ministries I've been associated with, okay?
But, you know, one thing you never gave up on me.
I know there were others praying during that time, he kept on
calling me finally, just to really get them off my back.
You see? Perseverance Outlast
persecution. So he persevered as well as led
by the spirit of God and just kept on calling me.
I would I had caller ID at that time, this is pre as funny as
pre cell phones. Pagers were cool.
You know, because doctors had them.
But I remember dodging, his phone calls a lot when I see it
come up on caller ID. But finally, I was like this guy
won't relent he's talking to me about at the same time, I was
working for Worthington, steal. My dad was a CPA or a command
for control of her major steel factory up there and so I was
working as a summer Tim and there was another guy named
Brian, they were kind of tag-teaming me, you know.
And I like Brian he was a real CIA, you know, CIA as a
Christian in action. You know, it's an undercover
agent with a purpose and a mission.
And so I remember Brian, you know, talking to me, he knew, I
like to lift weights and everything.
So he start talking about herbs and different stuff that may
help me in that. And all the sudden he started
sneaking some scripture in there.
You know, the Bible talks about different things and so between
Steve and Brian. I'm getting this tag-team,
right? But finally, Steve invites me to
go to conference at the Columbus Convention Center.
There's a minister there that was talking about the divine
revelation to hell. So I literally gave my life to
God because I got the hell. Owl scared out of me.
That's how I came to Christ as like, I don't want to go there,
right? I mean, she talked about things
that she saw experienced and inhale and I was like that is
not a place I want to be. So let me turn to Christ right?
And then I remember Brian. Invited me to Rhema Christian
Center, which if you've been around anchor Faith Church for
some time if not I'll fill you in my first actual Church
experience with was with Rama Christian Center with Apostle
Lafayette. Scales.
Which has obviously he's been here for a couple of our kingdom
rise conferences and so, you know, Brian invited me there.
I was able to connect a long story, short, Steve Miller and
end up passing away. My first year, Bible School from
cancer So thankful. That he didn't give up on me.
So anyways, I was went to church 1997 sitting there, you know,
and going to a Catholic Church versus a charismatic or Word of
Faith. Or what we may label a
Pentecostal church was way different.
This is primarily a black church to.
So you know Catholic Church I'm doing the water name of the
father son, Holy Spirit they have lady greeters.
Are there to pick you up off your feet when you walk in.
And welcome you to church. Praise the Lord.
You know. So you feel loved, you feel
welcomed by member Apostle scales minister in the word and
I remember just trying to take notes, you know, I was like
where's this been my whole life? You know, I couldn't, I couldn't
keep up. I remember one service being
very frustrated, almost disappointed, little bit angry
with my experience, prior with what I'll call religion, not
knowing the truth because really the reality came I was not saved
then I thought just going to church.
You know, got me into heaven, you know, with that was false
reality in a false narrative, you know.
So you know I'm processing a lot of that but I'm bringing all
this up because the church is so important.
And you want to be where God sets you and I believe that God
really set me at Rhema Christian Center for a season.
Then, in 1998, I just knew in my heart that I needed to go.
Get some further, training didn't have a visitation, from
an angel, didn't get a prophetic word, just knew my spirit, that
there was there was more. God was calling me to.
Are right. So, my mom was listening to
Kenneth Copeland lot. And Kenneth Hagin, she used to
get the word of faith magazines. And obviously, they at that
time, they, I think they still advertise this slogan.
Maybe they've changed a little bit, but chain train up,
laborers for the end time Harvest, and I just knew it was
a good Ministry. Solid ministry, didn't know a
ton about them knew, they loved God, knew they live by the
spirit knew that had a great spirit of faith.
And so in 1998, I went there to go to Bible school and thank God
fall on the planet. God is wonderful.
You know, the bible promises a Matthew 6:33.
If you seek first, the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
everything will be added to you. You know?
So I go to Bible School in 1998, you know, that was another eye
opener as you're going through, you know, four hours a day of
training, five days a week and getting the the download of the
word, you know, things that are like you're like wow.
You know, it's like eating filet mignon, every day spiritually,
you know, with a loaded baked potato and some cheesecake for
dessert. Where one those bacon cupcakes?
At Stacy makes. Praise the Lord.
I didn't know bacon, a cupcakes went together, but it's good.
Nice try. But getting that download every
day man it was so rich. You know?
And you know so I was there and obviously I was attending Rhema
Bible Church and going to the college obviously.
Thank God going through that process.
The second year, you know, I really wanted to meet a spouse.
At Rhema. And I almost gave up hope I'm
like halfway through my second year and, you know, I said,
Lord, I had this conversation myself.
I'm going to go back to Columbus, Ohio and just serve
Rhema Christian Center in any capacity.
I could. That was my heart because as
like, this may not happen at Rhema, you know, it'll be great
to find a wife there. You know, because Same Spirit of
Faith same teaching, you know, and you know, the Bible said he
finds a good wife, wife finds a good thing, I'm seeking first,
the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, so that all
things to me. So I got to find a good thing
according to Matthew 6633, right?
So this is your promise God. So after that prayer, they'll lo
and behold, once I think I Get mine heart and more of an
unselfish humble attitude, you know, lo and behold my wonderful
wife and Jazz able to meet her. Thank God, she's stuck with me.
My first conversation with her. I knew that a man paid for
dinner. So, I asked her, I said, hey, do
you want to go out on a date with me?
Actually, we had it, we had to do a date for one of our family
classes at Rhema, it was mandated yet to take somebody of
the opposite sex out. Born a male born a female.
I didn't really good that not to into seals Italian restaurant.
I had a white shirt on didn't spill a lick of spaghetti or
spaghetti sauce on me. It's been a wreck since then but
But I asked her when I asked her I said, hey, you want to go out?
She said, yes, and I said, hey I'm going to wait two weeks, I
don't get paid for another two weeks.
She had faith in me, you know? Women.
A man needs a job in order to be a husband, right?
No job, no Pursuit. But she had faith in me how to
see you, even though I said that to her.
But so obviously, you know, we're there after we graduate in
2000, we're just seeking God and God will lead you, right?
The first we prayed about things, obviously, I asked her
to marry me and met right before commencement of graduation from
Rhema. You know, went through all their
honorable stuff faster. Dad asked her mom got all the
permission or Mom. Want us to wait a year, which
was fine. Right?
Then after we got married. Read with prayed about what God
wants to be, told to take a year, don't do anything.
You know, you get out of Bible School, you kind of ready to go
and we found a verse in the Old Testament said, in the first
year and the Jewish custom, they took a year off, the parents
actually paid for it. Wouldn't that be nice today?
Hallelujah, for the merge because you know, there's a
merge Hallelujah and a marriage covenant.
Right. Okay.
So anyways, we took that year off, but as we're praying things
out, we obviously would graduate pastoral Marcy in 2000, they had
came to Florida because they had in their heart.
Let's do something for God. God brought them all the way
back to Oklahoma to be youth pastors for Pastor David E, my
Word of Life Church. So we were able to stay
connected with them actually went and did one that they're
young adults Ministries. I remember that we fellowship
with them. They finally launched the vision
for us an anchor. Church in 2004.
After they got Pastor David hee, hee, hee - blessing.
See when when God calls, you somewhere the senior pastor, be
able to bless it. You don't be like, Nicodemus in
the middle of night and leave. So Pastor David E my after
Pastor showed him, the vision totem was on his heart.
Gave the blessing. You know, obviously moved to
Florida and I moved to Florida. Why am I bringing this all up?
Because it's a good testimony, but I want to launch out there
from Ephesians chapter 4. The fusions chapter 4.
I say that because I've only been in three churches Right?
And the last 20. What is that three years?
24 years and the local body church has made a huge
difference. Matter of fact, it's God
ordained. And you are missing out.
If you're not where God puts you And set you.
Okay, before we launch out in Ephesians, chapter 4, you know,
God is the master architect, God is the master builder, the
master designer and God has a plan and purpose, the Old
Testament. He and, and First Corinthians
chapter 10 talks about the Old Testament Saints, they were
reality, their real-life stories that happen, but he said they're
written for the admonition admonition of us.
Right. And so, we look at the Old
Testament. We see that in Exodus.
There was a nation in bondage, right?
But then God said, I'm going to take that Nation out of bondage,
right? So we see the deliverer Moses
raised up. Exodus 1 through 19, there's 40
chapters in The Book of Exodus. Exodus 1 through 19 S really
historical and content about the 10 plagues and how God used
Moses to go before Pharaoh for their release of his people.
But then it and from Exodus 22, Exodus 40 God in his
Architecture ability in his master blueprint says, I'm
bringing you out. Now, say he didn't say, I'm
bring you into heaven, I'm bringing you out of a place of
bondage to bring you into a promised land.
And if you've been with anchor, Faith Church for any period of
time, you understand that salvation, let me say lordship
is just not about when we get to heaven, it impacts us now and
there's a stories in the Old Testament where there was a
pilgrimage there was a journey. There was a purpose for these
Old Testament Saints even though they're in Covenant relate for
the God he said I have a plan for you in the ER Earth and I'll
be with you in your journey and this is how I want you to live
it out. So Exodus 20 through, 40 said,
listen Moses, I don't want your opinion, I don't want your
advice. Here's the blueprint and he says
you've been living in a world where there's no morality,
there's no worship everything you've experienced.
Is not how I want you to live or live for me and you know, BC I
had a life BC, it's amazing. I thank God for Washington are
classical Christian school because they do memorization by
song. Inseong stick with you, you
know, I heard AC/DC song not too long ago at the gym.
It's amazing. How you can just re-quote, that
that's something I listen to BBC.
I was a mess PC. My son, Jacob.
I remember kind of arguing with him when he's in high school.
You take on the characteristics of any music.
You listen to no dad. No.
Well when I was listening to rap music I wasn't wearing cowboy
boots and a cowboy hat. Run DMC.
That was my time right when I got into rock music, right.
I wasn't wearing rap stuff some trying to settle my arguing with
him. You know.
You take on the characteristics of what you permit.
The atmosphere you permit is what's the result of it, right?
So anyways, God said you've experienced a lot BC, but I'm
going to set up on this Earth how you were to live for me.
So next it is 20 right off the bat.
He gives a 10 commandments. He lays down a new moral law.
Exodus 21 through 23 talks about a civil law.
This is how you're going to interact with one another.
What happens? If a sheep gets taken, what
happens? If there's a kidnapping, but
then exit is 25 to 40. He spends the most time on the
ceremonial law. This is how you're going to
worship me. We don't come to God on our own
accord and say this, the Bible in the New Testament to bring it
through the crosses, those that worship Him must worship me in
spirit, and in truth. So God, sets the standard for
the culture. Of how he wants us to live for
him and there is a journey on the earth.
The great thing about Exodus that we can bring into tonight
is just like you had a plan for Moses and he there was Twelve
Tribes and God such an organizer.
If your life is a mess, he'll make it a message but he takes
disorder and brings order. He takes chaos and brings
Clarity. The Bible says, in Psalm says,
word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Right? So he starts getting everything
in order you've been living in Egypt, under pharaohs rule.
What he eats. What he says, what they listen
to how they talk. Now I'm bringing you out and God
always brings you out. He said I'm but I'm going to
bring you in God just never brings you out of Egypt to leave
you in the wilderness. God brought them out to bring
them into Canaan land which is a land of more than enough God
called it a sweet life. It's going to be flowing with
milk and honey and God's got a milk and honey life for us.
John 10:10 says, I came to give you life and to give it to you
more. Gently, he came to give us more
life. Right.
But he said you got to do it by my way, by my rules, by my laws.
And so he gets the 12 tribes, right?
And now the 12 tribes. He said, I want three on the
north three on the south, three on the East three on the west,
God puts his design for what we call the Tabernacle of Moses
which had an outer Court, holy place in the holies of holies
and you know the tribes didn't get to decide where they Lord, I
want to be on these side. No God said I'm setting you
where I want you and within those Twelve Tribes you realize
there was responsibilities within each tribe to perform one
of those tribes of tribe of Levi.
And, you know, the Levites didn't work.
Their responsibility was to take care of the Tabernacle tonight,
I'm going to talk to you about Ministry gifts.
What is a Ministry if I just wanted to find that real quick,
a Ministry gift is somebody that God has set in the body.
That is not working a secular job, but a sacred job.
I'm going to give you some scriptures.
Go with me to 1st Corinthians 9. God.
Sorry I'm this is later in my notes, but they should be able
to get their first Corinthians chapter 9. now, you know, when I
grew up in religion I knew nothing about Ministry gifts,
but thank God for Revelation and Truth.
Amen. So, First Corinthians chapter 9,
I'm going to bring the scripture up again later, but it says, am
I not an apostle? This is the Apostle Paul
talking, am I not an apostle, which an apostle is one of the
ministry gifts. There's five Ministry gifts,
which I'll get back to Ephesians 4 shortly.
But Paul said, am I not an apostle?
Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ,
Our Lord, are you not my work in the Lord?
If I'm not Apostle to others yet doubtless, I am to you for.
You are the Seal of my apostleship in the Lord, my
defense to those who examine me as this.
So people are saying, is Paul really an apostle.
He said, do we not have a right to eat and drink?
Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife as Duo as
do? The other Apostles also.
Like sea fish stores, only Barnabas and I who have no right
to refrain from working. Whoever goes to war at his own
expense, who plants a Vineyard and does not eat of its fruit.
So Paul's making a case. He's saying, listen, if I plant
a Vineyard, can I not even if it's fruit?
Right? Or who tends A Flock is, do not
drink of the milk. Now he's going to reference,
this is an Old Testament, scripture verse 9, do I not say
these things as a mere man. This first date or do not does
not the law, say the same also. So he's referring back to Allah
Moses. Verse 9 says, for as it is
written in the law of Moses, you shalt not muzzle.
The ox while Treads out. The grain is God is Ock as his
oxen. All God is concerned about.
He is referenced in the fivefold, ministry in that verse
He saying those that preach the gospel live by the gospel.
Go with me to Galatians chapter 6.
Hallelujah. We're lie.
When I was reading this day. Thank God for Revelation
knowledge because even though I've been walking with God since
1997, we I'm still growing Pastor.
Earle has this statement that all of us should make I'm going
to be better five years from today than I am.
Now, Hill says, I'm gonna be a better Pastor in five years from
now than I am today, you should make that.
I'm going to be a better wife, a better mother, a better a
better, father, write a better business person, whatever it is,
you should make that same confession, right life and death
is where, in the power of our tongue.
This is the year of raining, resonance where we are to speak
into Claire's not. Oh, things are getting worse.
No, I'm growing. Why did I bring all that up?
Because you're growing if you're through growing your through
It's what you count after, you know, everything that matters.
Right, there's humility, right? We should all be pliable and
teachable and continue to learn. So, I saw something in Galatians
today, that really don't, I don't have my notes but this is
really a role of a pastor verse. Go to Galatians chapter 6 and
then I'm going to tie it in with First Corinthians 9 because I
want to have at least two or three Witnesses from scripture
that of fivefold, Minister makes their living from the gospel.
All right. So I'm going to tie this
together a little bit, the role of a past or though too because
there's a Reconciliation that's happened in this verse it says
brother and of a man has overtaken in a truss pass.
What's a trespass? God, we have a sign on our
property, you know? No trespassing.
Which means there are, there's a boundary you're not supposed to
go past that point, right? If you do guess what you
violated? That law for that command and it
can cost you, right? Some people got dogs, some
people got guns. So don't trust pass.
How much more with God though if we trust past what he said, you
know, God's way is the best way. He said you know, don't commit
adultery. Guess what?
If you go past that line, guess what that would do?
That's destruction. Why does God draw lines?
For our protection because there's a purpose and there's a
Destiny said, if you go past that you're going to get off
course, it could cost you your life, right?
So he says Brethren if a man be overtaken in a trespass, you who
are spiritual restore, such a one in the spirit of gentleness
considering yourself. Lest you also be tempted, carry
one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
If anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he
deceives himself. But let each one examine his own
work and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone.
Not another each one should carry his own load, and then
verse 6 says, it's are really saw this today in the light.
This is a general principle but I saw the anointing upon a
pastor to do these verses. Verse.
And you know, when when it comes to hermeneutics or Bible
interpretation, any text out of context, becomes a pretext You
could take any verse in the Bible and twist it, distort it
to try to fit anything you want to.
There's a verse in the Bible that said Judas hung himself.
There's another verse in the Bible says, go and do likewise,
but they're not in context with one another Stream Point, but So
taking that together verse 6 says, let him who is taught the
word. Are you being taught the word
tonight? What's that nuts?
Once a share, And all good things with him.
Who teaches. What's that talking about?
There's giving we're going to have tithe and offering later.
You that are taught the word you can share with those that are
teaching you, right. How do I know?
It says do not be deceived, God is Not mocked for whatever
manso's that, will he read? So, there's a general principle.
So in reaping, what he's talking about.
You know, giving right there. Okay?
For He Who sews his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption,
but he was suspect will of the spirit reap everlasting life.
Let us not grow. Weary in well-doing for in due
season, we shall reap. You know, God's awesome.
Whatever you sow, you're going to reap.
If you give your tithe, he said, open up the windows of heaven
and pour you out a blessing. It's not just for the ministry
to go on, it's for the personal benefit of your life to God.
So awesome in his planning that it enriches the vision and
expands the vision, but it also blesses your personal life.
Let me This, I remember listening to brother Hagin.
Kenneth E Hagin, who founded the Bible school?
Now Kenneth his son Kenneth W. Hagin runs it.
But I remember listen about tithing often and there was a
time he was ministering, they were staying at the pastor's
house in the parsonage, the pastor left.
He said we didn't have anything to eat.
Like you're, you know, you feel like your stomach's from your
backbone and he's thinking. Surely is this pastor is going
to take care of me and he's going to complain.
Lord, you told me to do this, we're like broke barely getting
to the meetings. His wife saying you know where
is God's faith when they see. You know, it's a said just stick
with me. And God is faithful to his word
and he said, overtime. Now God took care of them during
that lean time. But then they got to the point
where she had like seven mink coats decades down the road.
But you know what? Money never had him.
He had money but it never had him, right?
So let's go to Philippians chapter 4, let's get a third
witness on this real quick and then we'll go back to Ephesians
and talk about Ministry gifts. Philippians chapter 4.
Once Again, taking everything in context, everybody's hurt
Philippians 4:13. Can you quote it with me?
It's great. We're having choir tryouts.
That was great Unity, let's all say it again.
I'm just kidding with you. Philippians 4:13, the eye.
So what's the Apostle Paul talking about that verse?
Let's back up to verse 10 and c and put it in context, right?
He says this started verse 10, but I rejoiced in the Lord
greatly that. Now at last your care for me,
has flourished again that though you surely did care but you
lacked opportunity. How do they care where they
sending them cards, and email text messages?
Obviously they didn't have phones back then but what were
they? Well how did they express their
care for him? Right he said not that it's re
speak in regard to need If I have learned, this isn't a book
experience, this is actually walking out the word of God and
just like Kenneth E. Hagin said you stick with me.
God's going to take care of us. We're going to be faithful.
We're going to tithe. We're going to give offerings.
We're going to do the will of God and any born-again believer
child of God. If they just do that, God is
going to accelerate you in life. now, when I say do the word, the
word talks about where there's lack, there's or whether slack,
there's lack in Proverbs, So you want to tie the you want to give
your offering as God leads you, but you want to be a blessing
when you go to work, because if you're have slack at work, guess
what? There's going to be lack?
Maybe another form of employment.
So these things work. There's a there's keys to the
kingdom. You think about Joseph?
What did he do? He brought us solution to a dire
need? Okay, but Paul said, back to
flipping said, I've learned just like brother Hagin said we're
going to learn that God is faithful.
I've learned how to be content, whether I got to meet code or
not, I've learned how to be content, right?
In whatever state I am. I know how to be abased.
I know how to be abound everywhere.
In all things I've learned how to both to be full and had a
hunger, both too bad, how to suffer need.
Then our verse I can do all things through Christ.
Who strengthens me really in context, this is about finances
read on. You have done, you have done.
Well, that you shared in my distress.
What did they share? You Philippians know that in the
beginning of the Gospel. When I departed from Macedonia,
no, church share with me, concerning giving and receiving.
But you only pause the same one that we're First Corinthians. 9,
don't trust, don't muzzle. The ox that treadeth out.
The corn. He was he was a five-fold
minister who made his living by the gospel.
Now he didn't mind working a secular job to get, there was a
time. When there was an offering is
coming in, he had to do tent meeting tent making In a side
job just to support himself and a True Heart of a 5-4 ministers.
Going to do whatever it takes. There was a season in this
ministry, where we're pretty lean and Pastor looked at the
whole staff. He said, I can't pay you all.
Y'all can go do whatever you do, make to make it to make it work.
And guess what? We piece together, jobs.
I'm not saying that to bolster to brag but I mean we were we
were working where we could. I remember doing side cleaning
jobs but still coming into the office.
To get the ministry done now, guess what?
We're going to do. Whatever it takes, I'll go back
to that if I have to Right. But you the the body of Christ.
Mitch true. Misses out on the rich blessing.
And you know where your money is your treasure, or where your
treasure, is there, your heart is.
There was just an event. We went to several weeks ago, my
wife and I did, and they were expecting a certain turnout and
had a lot less, but the event was for free.
And I thought what Ed Cole and talked about during this event
back when they were doing meetings for the Christian means
Network. At one time.
He didn't charge anything for his events either and God dealt
with them. He said people will commit when
there's money involved. His heart was rise.
Like I just want to get this word out, but the command he
found out that more people showed up when they made a
financial. Because you guess what?
Where your money is there? Your heart is hallelujah.
So he said, you are the only one to share with me concerning.
Give her seam free, even if that's an Ikea, you sent me Aid
once. And again, not that I seek the
gift. This is the heart of a true
Ministry gift. Not that I seek the gift.
I mean you've even heard it said if you don't want to give don't
give nobody's forcing you to. Matter of fact I don't want you,
here's the real connection with you.
Make when you give give cheerfully, I'd say if you can't
give cheerfully, don't give until you can give cheerfully
I'm of every smile when they do their time and offer night and
if you don't want to give this smile, anyways, me mad at you.
He said, not that, I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that
abounds to your account. Indeed, I have all about them,
full have received from epaphroditus, the things you
sent a now. Listen, this is a sweet smelling
fragrance, think about that when you put that in the bucket
tonight, that's just not giving Max a sweet-smelling exchange of
faith. To God.
Holiness. Right.
And verse 19, we know this, everybody wants to quote this
verse put in their fridge, right?
And my God shall supply. All of my needs.
God Wants. You supplying all my needs?
Are you doing the verses prior? We just want about conditions,
right? You can say men are owe me.
okay, if he's in chapter 4, Verses 7 through 14.
It says but unto every every one of us now this is Paul writing
to the Ephesian church and I want you to really get this.
Are you a born-again spirit filled blood-bought believer?
Are you a born again? Blood bot.
Spirit filled believer. I got several people I say
again. Are you born again?
Redeemed confess Jesus is Lord believer.
So this is for you. Because what Paul is writing on
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the church at Ephesus
is for us at anchor Faith Church today.
God was able to see in time and only been bless the church at
Ephesus, but know that this would be delivered tonight.
So, every one of us, just not the fivefold ministry to
everyone of us is given Grace. To the measure of the gift of
Christ, there's Grace for your gift.
People think a Grace is just saving grace, that's only one
side of Grace. Let me talk to you about what
Grace? Let me tell you what Grace is
not Grace is not ability to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Paul wrote right into the room and said, should I should I sin
to try to make grace abound? He said no, may it never be.
Grace is not sin now and ask for forgiveness later.
Grace is not disgrace, which disgrace is not a god-honoring
life. I'll put it this way.
Grace is not greasy. I could say lasciviousness
lasciviousness talks about in Proverbs means, anything goes,
you know, in the world today which were not.
We're in the world but guess what we've been born again?
We're not. We don't operate to the kingdom
World System. We operate.
It took according to the kingdom of God, and in the world, guess
what they're doing? Or trying to make anything go.
And that's greasy. And that's outside, the
boundaries, the parameter the standard, the culture that God
has said And that is not Grace. Grace is not Divine permission
to do. What is wrong?
Grace is divine power to do. What is right?
Grace is God's activity. In your life, Grace is God's
operational power in your life and he said to each one of us
Grace is given according to the gift, you got to realize,
there's a gift in you. You can't give yourself as a
gift if you don't see yourself as a gift and I'm telling you by
the Holy Ghost. Right now some of you got to
work on your identity. We've all of us have been
through tough times or may have come out of tough situations but
it is no excuse for you. Not to take.
Take personal responsibility and get in the word.
That is not God's responsibility.
Romans 12 says, verse 1 and 2 says, now listen to the Old
Testament and that we have the outer core, the holy place of
holies of holies they live. It literally the first thing
they had to do was a sacrifice team to get to the holy place to
get in the holies of holies. But Paul references, God's
Master blueprint and Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2.
He said you present your body a Living Sacrifice He said don't
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. So spiritually, God's done
things for you, but we know we are a three-part being
spiritually. I couldn't redeem myself.
I couldn't save myself. I couldn't deliver myself.
I couldn't make myself a new creation, but Jesus Christ, the
King of Kings, and the Lord of lords, the Holy One without
blemish, without blame, that was innocent.
He died to Pardon us to expunge the record of sin.
In to cut off the work of the enemy, the curse of him in my
life, right? And Jesus spiritually, redeem
me. The Bible says, if anyone in cry
be in Christ, he is a new creation.
What's that talking about? It's not talking about my body.
Nothing changed. If I was bald before, I got born
again, I'm bald after I got born again.
Right? That's not talking about, if
you're a new creation, even guess what?
Your soul. That's another part of your
being your mind, your own emotions.
After I got born again, guess what, my soul wasn't just
transform. My my thinking just didn't
automatically change. I just didn't get up and have
the whole Bible memorized the next day and just, you know,
floating through her life on a flower Betty's is thinking, this
is great. You know, the Bible gives us a
reality check. He says there's going to be
fiery darts. It says there's going to be
arguments and reasoning is God loves us so much that he warned
the church about the work of the enemy.
He said, I've taken care of it. Spiritually this Authority back
in your life. You don't have to operate like
that, but your part to play in it is to make sure you you lay
down your bodies, a Living Sacrifice and you renew your
mind. And there's Grace to do that.
That Divine empowerment. I like this definition of Grace
and if you have I'm going to give you a tool reference
tonight. Blue Letter Bible there's many
different great software's out there.
Listen it's so easy today. When I went to Bible school and
we used to do this or Kingdom Institute, we gave you a 10,000
page book. Called the Strong's, exhaustive
Concordance. I don't know if it's 10,000
pages, but I mean, if it fell from the Second Story, hitting
the head, your own conscience and you'd have to flip through
that thing to find the Strong's number.
Some of the older Saint sir. No, today at the click of a
button, there's no excuse. The Bible, says you study to
show yourself approved to God. Thank God for software like Blue
Letter Bible. I could just click and get the
reference to the Greek or the Hebrew.
The New Testament was written in Greek.
The Old Testament is written in Hebrew and, you know, there's a
richness to those languages. You can still get a lot out of
the word of God with not going there.
But as you grow, you want to go there.
Like you don't know what love is because we say we love pizza.
I love my dog. I love my wife.
But in the Greek, you get the richness of four different
meanings of love. So, some of the things in Rich
or walk and your knowledge with God, right?
So anyways, if you go to the Blue Letter Bible, whatever
software you could look up in Ephesians chapter 4, you can
click on this Grace, right? And the reason I'm telling you
this because I'm going to read you the definition quick, so
you're not going to be able to write it down, because I'm not
going to repeat it a bunch, okay?
But you can find, this is what I'm saying.
You go find it. I like this.
This is literally, the Greek. Grace is the is of the merciful
kindness by which God exerting his holy influence, upon Souls.
Yes Grace is his holy influence upon this mine.
This will that listen, it turns them to Christ.
Keeps them in Christ, strengthens them in Christ
increases them in their faith. Knowledge affection and Kindles
them to exercise, Christian virtues, that's Grace.
Romans 5:17 says this. For If by one man's offense
death reigned by the one. What's this referencing?
When Adam transgressed the Commandment of God?
You know, God had a plan for Adam on the earth.
He said, this is the parameters. This is the boundary don't cross
it. Right?
And so when he crossed it, guess what death passed on to all
mankind. But Renown this verse, we see
the latter half it talking about Jesus.
He said much more that they which have received the
abundance of Grace. The abundance know, God just
didn't say grace. He said the abundance of Grace,
there's a gift Grace in your life.
He's and he said, it's the abundance.
I like he said, receive When I talked about some of you need to
work on your identity, seen yourself as a gift.
Some of y'all have a hard time receiving.
That's not God's fault. He wants to pour it out.
Receive means to lay hold of to possess to seize man.
I want all that you have for me. God I'm not a loser.
I'm not a nobody. I don't have wrong walls up.
I am a sponge to receive. I have the right boundaries in
place, but I got the right reception in place to.
I'm tuned in to what the holy ghost in the word of God is
saying and I receive if you don't receive that from God, you
can go through 40 Years of wandering in the wilderness.
And you know what? There's a lot of Believers in
the wilderness but to God want them to stay in the wilderness?
No, he said, I'm bringing out Egypt to bring you into a more
than enough life. Don't be Wilderness.
Wandering, barely getting along. Saints.
Go into the promised land he said, but you got to receive it.
I can't receive it for you. If you're married, your spouse
can't do it for you. Best friends, can't do it for
you. There's a kink in your hose.
Meaning on God's side, he's got the channel wide open.
And there's a kink going to the key.
Let the flow come to see. See yourself as God sees you.
Jesus told the woman at the, well, if you would have known
the gift of God, You would have get Living Water.
You've been looking for satisfaction.
You've been with five men? The man you with now the 61 that
you found on Mingle.com. It's not working either.
But now you the seventh man, which is the number of
perfection. Now you found the real name and
you're not going to have a, you're never going to have the
right man to you find the real man.
In the real man, you always be satisfied.
And know how to treat the right man.
If the right man, get funny, you still got the real man. to get
the funniness in the weirdness of Hallelujah.
Just in parentheses as a side note.
No I'm not going to go there. So listen to this, the abundance
of Grace. And the gift of righteousness.
He said, Romans, this is a great verse.
Let's stick with you, let absorb it man, think about it,
meditated speak at confess it over the the hours after this
service ended Amaro into the week in man, this is this is New
Testament reality for a more than enough life.
He said he's giving you a bunny said receive the it now just
what? Grace of the abundance, which
means a surplus It literally means super abundance.
God's overstocked. He's got more than enough.
We live in a society where we have to renew our mind, we
things are going to run out, we got to get more fuel, we gotta
go get more groceries, but God does in a kingdom where he has
enough and runs out. He's an endless supply of
energy, we can draw from him in his life from now and through
eternity he's like the Energizer Bunny.
He just keeps going, he doesn't sleep, nor Slumbers we can.
Pull, are you doing stuff through his strength through
your own ability? Right?
The abundance, the super Buster Surplus, I want to give you this
root word of Grace. I've already given you, you
know, when you do Blue Letter Bible, to give you the word,
which is Karis where we get the word Charisma from, but then if
you click on the what we call etymology the root word, I want
to tell you what that means. The definition means to be,
well, and I really want to do this tonight, but there was
enough practice in milady's, it means to thrive.
Now we're not doing it this Mother's Day, but if you were
with us last mother today, They sang a song on Thrive, not I
Will Survive, but I will Thrive Wilderness wonders are surviving
Canaan and Canaan land livers are thriving.
What does thrive mean? It means to grow vigorously to
flourish and to prosper, right? So in Egypt, you didn't have
enough and the Wilderness you have just enough and Canaan
land, you have more than enough. And in Egypt, you were a
survivor in the wilderness, your success but in Canaan land your
of significance a significant life just as an impact me
because really the word rain when you look this up and says
it means to flow over into others.
Are you living? So well in Christ That people
recognize the grace upon you. That's where God wants you to
get to church in your purpose and your assignment, your
living. So.
Well in him, your marriage is just not heaven on Earth at home
because, you know, marriage could be the closest thing to
Heaven or Hell you'll have on the Earth but that heaven pours
over it into the lies of others. That's when you're living a
significant more than enough, it's just not about me.
It's about us living. So, well, in the grace of God,
there's Grace to be a man. There's Grace to be a woman.
There's Grace to be a father. There's Grace To Be A Mother.
There's Grace to serve in the local church.
There's Grace to open a business if that's what God's called you
to do. There's Grace to be an educator
if that's what God's called you to do, right?
There's Grace to be in politics If that's called you that
there's Grace to work at a fast food restaurant.
Wherever God, assigns you. That's where you need to be.
Well, they don't pay enough. God will pay you.
Your job is not your work, your work is your purpose.
And I guarantee if you go and your tithe and you're working
hard, you're going to go from flipping burgers and putting the
fries in the oil, right? To assistant manager to manager.
You can't keep a God man down. When I say man, I'm talking
about Mankind. We just rise to the top even
Joseph, when it seems like a demotion became a promotion.
Hallelujah. A dear friend of mine from
Raymond real quick story, Brian. He actually came here years ago
to do, just the epitome of Service to the local body
Church. This guy worked for a company
for four years, and years decades, that help Christian
Ministries, do advertising, you know, Outreach and marketing.
It was like a, an intermediate service, right?
Where they would really talk to his company and they would help
with things right. During that whole time, he met,
his wife Evelyn, went to a Rhema back in like 1982 from.
I think it was Philadelphia. Yeah, because he's a Steelers
fan, Don, he's a Steelers fan. I got your attention.
Big Steelers fan, but he just served.
And, you know what? Even though they graduated, they
went to Bible School, guess what?
God told him stick with Rhema? Serve.
So he just became an usher. He's working this job, you know
they're just being faithful at the local body Church sitting
under a five fold Ministry. Which is equipping them will get
there for the work of service for the edifying of the body of
Christ will get there. And man, just Thrive and being
faithful, you know, faithfulness is the key to anything.
Consistency. Steadfastness Right?
If you're faithful God, God rewards.
The faithful and their faithful. Hey, they needed to help going
to the Cancer Ward for to get the gospel out there.
So they join that. He's ushering.
They started teaching some after a while.
They start teaching, Sunday school, they called School of
the school of the Bible, right? School of the Bible.
I think Iran has basically Sunday school.
So as our faithful, you know, Pastor Kenneth and Lynette just
started giving him this and that and, you know, he, I think he
worked for a mica Tech which was the name of company for 15, 20
years. During that time, guess what?
Micah Tech had a cutback. And he was right, going up their
ranks and Micah Tech and all sudden they get a cut back.
He loses money and a title. Now this is a real man of God,
with real issues because the he told me this story said, you
know, I went home and kind of flopped on the bed and cried
kind of complain to God. Like, what is going on?
I'm being faithful serving two faithful.
This company also and I got a reduction in Pay I lost in
title. Well, you know, wasn't long
after that that I like this because who likes to hang out a
resume or going through an interview process, Pastor
Lynette, Hagin personally reaches out to and say, hey, Do
you want us to oversee the whole Rhema book distribution?
Now, see if you don't handle things, right?
And you start to complaining and grumbling and say God, it looks
like things are going backwards instead of forward.
Now he had to get his heart right on that, get as minor new
get set on the word and it wasn't easy but it was right?
And he stuck to the plan and purpose of God in all of a
sudden, he still to this day man.
I eat when I used to call for a now we get to do it all in line.
You know, online is you get less?
People interaction. I used to call him, just talk to
him, you know, hey we need to order more.
Why tons? Now we do our own.
Why tongues book I'm going to just call him for some reason.
But, you know, I remember calling him and, you know, and
he was the only one at one time frame had to scale back a little
bit, even though he's over the whole thing, he's running the
whole thing by himself. Now, he's got some help, you
know? But man, that's, that's God, he
had to process the hurt, the pain.
The disappointment of losing a title losing money with that,
but still stayed the course. That's thriving.
That's a life of significance. That's not Wilderness wandering.
That's Canaan. Land living.
All right, so Grace means to thrive means to grow vigorously
to flourish at a Prosper. Hallelujah.
Let me ask you this real quick and then we're going to jump in
the fivefold ministry. Can people see the grace?
Of God on you and Acts chapter 11 verse number 23, the word
says this, who, when he came and had seen the grace of God.
So he was he looking at people and he saw the grace of God.
They were glad they exhorted them all with purpose of heart.
They they cleaved unto the Lord so you can literally see the
grace of God on somebody. When you see somebody walk
through a situation, like, Bryan and they don't don't falter.
They don't get off course, they don't get offended.
More people, quit because of offense in anything else.
Luke 17 says, whoa, Jesus warns us.
This is red letter in the Bible woe unto offense because they
are going to come But don't let it take you out.
He could have got offended. He could have quit but he stand.
That was the grace of God and trust me, he's having
conversations God. You said God, I know, I know
there's more. I know there's purpose.
I know I'm in your plan. Hallelujah there are no
insignificant members in the body of Christ.
So, I want to get to these Ministry gifts.
Let's go back to Ephesians chapter 4.
There was Grace in Jesus life. There was Grace in The Apostle.
Paul's life, matter of fact in 1st Corinthians 15:10.
Paul said, I am what I am by the grace of God, then he made a
statement, he said, I labored more abundantly in that Grace
than they all. Some people think why am I
growing? Are you laboring in the grace?
Are you working it out? Remember, one of the definitions
of Grace is to exercise. The virtues of it.
You know, if he a bit of the gym for a while.
And you do some resistance training, guess what?
You're going to be a little bit sore, there's a new member of
CrossFit talking right now. You just did a 6-mile run this
week, right? Hallelujah.
But you know, exercise is good for you.
You know, it's the same thing. There's natural.
Paul talked about natural pinch principles, but gave spiritual
implications of what's really going on.
He talked about those that run a race.
Everybody runs to win. They talk about Appling in your
body. The same way that an athlete is
on a strict diet of strict, plan to win how much more we that are
going for Christ, should be on a strict diet in a strict plan.
Meaning I'm not talking about the physical gym, meaning the
spiritual gym, Let me put it this way cuz this is a modern
phenomenon. Everybody wants a coach today.
And anybody can call themself a coach today because we have this
thing called social media. Listen, there's cats and animals
that get ordained. So, you put in coach in front of
your name. Does not impress me.
I want somebody who's been through walking through and
coming through with the word of God.
Even even Paul talked about proving yourself, don't put a
novice in Ministry. And First, Timothy 3 said lest
being lifted up with pride. He's going to fall.
You know in God's plan of Education, you're going to walk
through some things. God doesn't tempt you but he
will prove you or test you. And you're supposed to end.
Test. James, 1, count, it all joy.
Ha ha. Ha ha.
Give me another rep Lord, let me
run that extra mile. Lord, this is fun.
My military people say, can I say this embrace the suck?
It's great more capacity. But Pastor said, you're not
limited by what your experience but it's in your capacity.
So when you run another spiritual Mi, guess what you?
Just increase your respiratory system to go further with God to
have a life of Greater significance.
So Ephesians chapter 4. Let's read this whole thing in
context and we're going to back up.
So he says this in verse number 7, Ephesians 4, he says, but
each one of us Grace was given each one of us according to the
measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, he says, when he
Jesus is talking about Jesus, ascended on high, he led
captivity captive, and he gave gifts to men.
So there's a thing called the Old Testament saints that were
held in Abraham's bosom. That second verse, it says he
led captivity captive actually released those that were
basically in a holding place at the Redemptive work of Christ
and he's taking them to have about the same time.
Not only take somebody left something he said he gave gifts
to men. Now this he which is talk about
Jesus ascended. What does it mean that he also
first decent and lower parts of the Earth, right?
Hugh dicen is the once my one is capitalized reference in Jesus.
Who ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all
things. Now, listen verse 11 says he,
which is capitalized. Jesus gave some no students.
They gave all he didn't call everybody in the Old Testament
to the levitical priesthood, right?
We have 12 different tribes. He gave some and this is the
fivefold ministry. Those that make their living
from the gospel. He gave some Apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists some pastors, and some teachers, why
did he give them? There's a purpose for
everything. God does in his plan.
He's the master architect he gave them why for the equipping
of the Saints. Comma for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Till we all come to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge
of the Son of God to a perfect man to the measure the stature
of the fullness of Christ. Verse 14, that we should no
longer be children, say grow up, say, grow up.
Look at your neighbor. Say, I want to grow up that we
should no longer be children. Listen tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of Doctrine.
There's a lot of doctrine that floats to the body of Christ.
Part of the fivefold ministry is to guard against wrong Doctrine.
If you can rightly divide the word, you can also wrongly
divide the word. And there is Doctrine out there
a long time ago. Back in the 80s, people were
saying the higher you get in prayer.
The, the, the better God will be able to hear your request but
they are let us say, like, you need you on top of building,
some people written planes. I learned this at bible stomach,
I'd rather hear a donkey braying midnight into 10 Barn.
Which is a loud screeching noise to listen to that bunk for that
junk, right? Your?
God doesn't God can listen to you on your knees while you're
walking while you're in the plane.
It's a matter of Faith. It's a matter of your heart.
It's a matter of lining up with his will not on how physically
High you are right but that's that's a wrong Doctrine. there
was a discipleship movement back, and I think the early 80s,
And guess what, it started off, right?
But you realize if I'm Lisa leave from Florida to go to
California and playing. I'm off just a few degrees by
the time, I'm to get to my intended destination, I'm way
off. And so part of the fivefold,
ministry is to guess what. Keep you on track.
When their words, I'm kind of jumping all over the place here.
And I got it's 8:40. Well, I'm yeah.
Praise the Lord. Glory to God it's gonna be more
like a buffet then a shotgun approach.
I mean an accurate rifle approach, right?
Then a shotgun where it's come come be spread all over.
One of the reasons they gave out for mystery for the equipping,
the Saints, one of the words for equipping is so you stay in your
place. Hebrews talks about being
dislocated like a bones out of place and you know, when you're
when you're dislocate your not functioning as you should and so
what's any good doctor? And we got the great physician
do, let me get that back in place.
And when you're, if you're out of place, guess what?
It hurts. The body.
Now, God has faithfulness was be Supply.
Somebody else to fulfill. Maybe what you're not
fulfilling. But the gifts and callings of
God are without repentance. What's he waiting for you?
Do is just repent. Repentance is a pivotal point
between reconciliation and Rebellion.
If you don't repent, it'll lead to Rebellion which leads to
ruin. I gave you John 10:10.
It says, the thief comes to steal kill and destroy.
I didn't give you the first part of that verse, but God came to
give you life and to give it part of repentance has to stay
on the plan of God, you just don't repent one time.
But if you do repent from your heart, at least two
reconciliation which leads to Restoration, I talked about
Galatians 6, you that are spiritual restore, such a one
one, the roles of a pastor and I've sat with Pastor own just
absorbed in some counseling meetings because I'm like how is
he going to answer that? And the anointing kicks in and
I'm just like, okay, give me some impartation but without I
want some of that buddy. I see him restore people in a
spirit of meekness. Hallelujah.
So part of that, equipping is a put you in the right place.
Didn't pass her or just do a whole series a couple years ago
on the equipping. We just don't need information.
We need equipped. You all could go back and
probably reference that online. Great, great manufacturers,
wasn't a series, it was like, a couple years.
It was equipping 2.0. I believe the second year.
So, whoo, you got a lot of homework to do glory, to God.
okay, so Fusions for so he says that we're not taught tossed to
and fro with every wind of Doctrine, by the trickery
trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting. Everything that God does he the
devil tries to pervert. He does this in marriage, right?
He's even trying to pervert how God ordained marriage right now,
right? But I'm bringing us, guess what?
If there's a there's an apostle, guess what?
The devil tries to do, give a false Apostle, if there's a real
Prophet guess what? The devil tries to give a false
prophet. If there's a real Pastor, what
does it ever do? Try to plant a false pastor.
Are you with me? Okay, so coach Remember I talked
about online, why people say their coaches and you know a
real Pastor is going to have walk through things or still
walking with God. Guess what Pastor has been
passed from since 2004? And you just keeps on getting
better. He has grown.
You weren't, you know, when we say there were perfect.
Everybody thinks without excuse or without fault blameless.
That is not what the Greek rendered in the definition means
it means maturing A mature person takes responsibility for
their actions. And really it's respond to the
ability that Grace in you and say God, I'm timing.
David said it this way. King David, this is so great.
He didn't blame others, he said, in Psalms 26, to God.
Examined me. Try my reins re ins like a horse
rains, my motivation, where am I going examine me?
That's a true heart of a disciple of Christ.
Is to have to be multiple and pliable.
You cannot mould dry clay. But the water of the word, if
you stay, humble and meek will God will shape you and mold you
into the perfect Masterpiece of what he's got destined for you,
while you're on the Earth. Hallelujah.
A coach though I was thinking about Coach because I really
wanted to coach is like a passion of mine growing up, you
know, I really love football, the strategy, the teamwork, the
lift in the offseason, the in season.
I thought, man, I want to coach. So recently, I thought Lord, I
love studying word. Studying the word, I said, what
a coach come from, what's that concept?
Lord, you know, so I did some research and really coach came
from Stagecoach. The stagecoaches weren't common.
They were people of royalty. That were able to get in a
stagecoach to transport them, from one destination to the
next. And so really, I look at the 54
minute Ministry of spiritual coaches, you're a person of
royalty born again that same. You need the fivefold ministry
because they are your spiritual coach.
And they're going to transport you from where you are now to
where I want you to be. You're on a journey and a
Destiny, and you need these Ministry gifts in your life.
There are well-balanced Ministry gifts.
Amen. So, let's run through these, we
need different types of gifts to grow, and you'll see that in the
fivefold ministry gifts, you need inspiration, and
impartation from all these gifts, to grow Christ himself
gave the gifts. And these gifts are for this
steady growth Within These Walls for powerful witness.
Without these Wolves. Why do I come to church?
Is LG here tonight? Man, I'm trying to honor him.
Oh, he's probably serving he played for Notre Dame.
They're not big 10 because they missed it.
The Big Ten, try to invite them to into the conference but
they're too prideful. I pray for humility over them.
You know, pride comes before the fall.
They may lose that contract with CBS anyways.
At Notre Dame, they have the sinuses play Like A Champion day
when they come out of the locker room, everybody touches that
sign all the team and I'm a sports guy, right?
So this is this is the body of Christ or the team of Christ in
here tonight and this is steady growth within what happens
within the walls of a football complex or sports program.
There's the coach challenging you stretching, you give me one
more rep are do you have the plays memorize?
How's your grades? I saw you miss study hall, all
your out your girlfriend at 11 a.m.
Right. That's what a coach does.
A bad coach go out with her till 1 a.m. just mess up the whole
team. Go get intoxicated the night
before the game, do whatever you want.
Is that a good coach be about all yourself.
The fake Trinity, me myself and I we're just care about just
your stats and just you making it to the NFL.
Forget about the rest of them, they're losers.
You're the best, that's a bad coach, right?
A real coach is trying, trying to focus on the team and
development and accountability and criminal chemistry and
Oneness and unity. How much more these are all
principles in the kingdom of God, that God and glory to God,
he's the one that set them. The world uses them, but God is
the one that came up with him. Now, the world uses it apart
from him. But God set these principles in
the Earth, right? So steady growth within they
say, play like it. So what's that?
Play Like A Champion, they prepared all week to go out for
three hours on a Saturday. They prepared all offseason for
three hours of Glory. Listen, preparation time is not
wasted time, you serve them with the kids is not wasted time, you
are pouring into their lives. You being a greeter just like, I
went to Rhema, man. I'm not saying go hug people.
We haven't initiated that yet. But their greeters are trained a
hug and pick you up off their feet.
So greeters, do not do that. You know, handshake is good and
smile, don't be a greedy like welcome to church.
Have some passion, you're born again, right?
Listen and come to church on Wednesday and Sunday.
I was thinking back over the decades, you know, there's only
been evil, Errata town, we go to church.
There's been probably five times six times in 24 years of serving
God that we just didn't have the ability to get to a church on a
Sunday. I remember when I I didn't even
know what I was really called to do see there's a general purpose
and there's a specific purpose. I just knew I need to be a
church in 1997. Nobody told me, nobody had to
prod me, remind me. I was excited.
I had wrong cannoli on a cassette in my in my Honda Civic
two-door. Five-speed Remember they used to
eat the tapes and you have to roll your, hope it didn't bus,
you have to roll them back up with a pencil, your finger, some
of you got it easy today because I don't eat that, that's my
favorite one. It's real good.
When you get the nice cars and it was fast forward to stop at
the next song. Instead of you trying to guess,
Hallelujah. But I remember going to church
on a Wednesday being a hard maybe day at words and steal.
Whatever. And just excited to be at
church. I'm still excited to come to
church because this is where you're getting a meal.
A spiritual refreshing. Your wasn't people like Precious
Faith. The Bible says, I was glad not
sad when they said let's go to the house of the Lord.
Why? Cuz God, so loves you put
Ministry gifts in the church. So you'd have steady growth
within. So you could be a powerful
witness without go, change the world, be an agent of change.
A person of transformation you go to your job as man.
Your yeast working into that do truth life.
So, you're looking for a word? God, do I need to say something?
Just keep praying, just keep praying.
Oh, they don't even know what's about to come.
Great, Deliverance up in this carnal, place if Tim Tebow.
Yeah, Chris go, no Gators. 0h, where Jesse I, oh, there you go.
My dating brother. He's from Dayton, Ohio.
Now, you got me all messed up. I forgot was going Chris Now,
you got me really messed up, Miss Diane.
Tim Tebow which I heard can go in the Florida locker room when
he's a freshman and here's a bunch of carnal words and foul
language and just live Christ before them see his character.
And I pray, this is a real story.
I heard by the time he was a senior he had eradicated most of
the language, one man, and four years.
Changes 115, scholarship players to shut their mouths.
Not that they weren't talking but you been around somebody
before. This is gracing you.
What do you do? I'm a pastor.
I'll send their Lanes with their language.
Cleans up. Sometimes, we don't have to say
much, that's foul language, brother.
Sometimes we get say, you know what, you should really talk
like that, you need to be led those instances wrote though,
right? Hallelujah.
Oh, say Okay. So the ministry gifts.
First, I'm going to go over the Apostle.
Now, there's different. What we call parallel passages
in the Bible, you can find gifts and general.
And First Corinthians, 12, Paul does a great job.
Just outline the body of Christ in general.
Everybody has a part to play. Everybody has Grace in a gift of
Grace for that gift, every born-again believer.
Okay. First Corinthians 12 really
talks about that but verse 28, really starts to highlight the
fivefold ministry. So, If I fall Ministries part of
the body of Christ, just like in the Old Testament, guess what?
All the tribes are part of the nation of Israel, but there was
individual tribes all doing their assignment but they all
represent it guess what? There's a universal church still
today, the family of God, but we're in a local body right now
and there's many gifts that God set in this local body, bring
your supply to the local body, right?
So first, first Corinthians 12, 28 says, God has set some in the
church first apostles, secondarily prophets thirdly
teachers after that miracles. Yes of healings.
Helps government's diversities of tongues Ephesians 4:11, which
already read. He said he gave some Apostles.
So the ministry gift which heads the list is Apostle.
However, that does not mean that this is the most among the most
important Ministry gift just because it's listed first and
First Corinthians 12 and other references, they don't list
Apostle first, it's just how Paul wrote to the Corinthians
church. I say that because for every
real Apostle there's a false Apostle.
So I got to give you a balanced teaching because Some Apostles
will come come in and saying, you got to tie to me, I tell you
how to run the ministry. I tell you about the
discipleship movement, which I kind of got sidetracked in the
early 80s, guess what? It started off good.
But it dwindled off doctrinally where you can even buy a car
without them telling you, what color the car was that's
hogwash. Now, I'm a look at you.
And say to God, really tell you to buy this car as a pastor.
I'm looking at your budget. You make twelve hundred dollars
a month and you're going to go do a seven hundred dollar car
payment. Have you thought this through?
I may say that to you. And if you said God really told
me. Go for it.
We'll find out three months. I may be repeating or you may be
sleeping in your car because you can't afford your rent, but one
of us is right, one of us is wrong.
And I Rejoice with you because you heard God, because the real
pastor wants to see people grow and actually respond to the Holy
Ghost. I'd love to say I miss that
situation. Of a sudden you got a promotion
and now you make a 3500 month, I'll be like wow, they got it.
They did hear the Holy Ghost. Amen.
So the Apostle, real Apostle does not dominate the local
church. A fake Apostle will try to try
to throw away their title as about this about coaches, just
because you put a label on an empty can doesn't mean the
continent labels in the can you can call yourself whatever you
want? Doesn't mean that you actually
call it at office. You're not called a five fold
Ministry, because your wife calls, you, your husband calls,
you, your aunt calls you. Write your call because God
called you, all right? Soda pop.
So I'm going to run through these pretty quick and just
really give you a shotgun approach because it's already a
55. So quickly and Apostle is one.
Who gets people solidly established in the word and a
real Apostle solid solidly, get people established in the word.
Number two, a real Apostle will establish churches solidly in
the word. So the established people and
churches solidly in the word to stand in the office of an
apostle, one must have a deep personal encounter with the Lord
and an ongoing spiritually. Strong relationship with him and
his word, the Apostle Paul had such a relationship, you know,
in Galatians is said that the gospel was revealed not by man
but by the Lord Jesus Christ, that's a pretty strong
relationship when you get a revelation.
But that's when the signs of an apostle they have a deep walk
with God, not that we can't have a deep walk with God and we
should be intimate with him, but there's something connecting him
with God. That assignment.
Write a distinguishing characteristic of an apostle is
to establish. Church is So we can see this
with Pastor. Oh, he started off Pastor and
anchor Faith Church. But guess what?
Now, we have. Anchor Faith.
Church Valdosta. We have anchor for a church.
Managua. We have anchor fake Church.
India, we're gonna have anchor, Faith Church, Chicago.
And there's others as he outlined in the vision in
January that are coming. So that's the that's an
Apostolic anointing. If you call yourself Apostle and
you have an established a church, your false, you're just
calling yourself that the fruit will show out.
An apostle can also be a missionary who is really called
to the mission field. Some went somewhere said don't
be a person that just went be sent.
So if you're sent why because they're going to go and they're
going to establish works and in foreign territory.
Another characteristic is the ability to provide adequate
spiritual leadership and have we not seen that from Pastor or a
pastor, Marcy? The real definition of apostle
is one cent a commission. One, a special a special
messenger and one sent forthwith orders when I was getting ready
for this. I thought you know, Pastor were
Earl, got the word, we can calm Apostle Earl on the kingdom of
God, that was a special message that he got back in 2009 and
released at and living that in our body right now, right?
Let me move on to the prophet. I'm kind of highlighting these
real quick just to show you quickly.
A prophet a prophet is also called a full-time Ministry just
because a Layman prophesize does not mean that they're a profit
First Corinthians 12 Paul encouraged the whole church to
prophesy but just because you prophesied doesn't mean you
stand in the office of a prophet.
A real Prophet simply is going to be able to teach and preach
the word. Okay.
A real prophet in First Corinthians 12, there's nine
gifts of the Spirit, I'm going pretty quick.
They're going to operate and what we call out of the nine
gifts, you breaking up in the three gifts of nine, they're
going to flow in the, what we call the power, the power gifts.
Which is the working of Miracle. I'm sorry.
The not that praise the Lord. That's those are Revelation
gifts. I'm getting all going.
They are I got all my notes. Just look at my notes Word of
Wisdom. There we go.
Word of knowledge and Discerning of spirits.
So real profits going to flow in two or three of these frequently
or some of that prophesizes going to kind of be in and out
of them. And they're not full-time
Ministry, a real Prophet or called to the ministry.
Gift of profits going to be in full-time Ministry.
The word of wisdom is Supernatural Revelation by the
spirit of God, concerning the Divine Purpose, in the mind of
will of God real quick and Word of Wisdom talks about future
events. A word of knowledge is really
getting the facts in the mind of God, that talks about present or
past events. And Discerning of spirits, means
you actually see in the realm of the spirit and you can discern
Spirits, good or bad. You could discern evil spirits
or actually Angels. Right.
So a prophet speaks by divine inspiration and immediate
Revelation not something, he thought of, but something given
at the spur of the moment by sudden inspiration.
So we see this with Pastor Marcy and corporate prayer, guess what
I was thinking about this years ago, she called out a boat and
foreign territory some was going on.
I'm trying to the whole story and the newscast hit a few days
later. That's a Word of Wisdom of
prophetic utterance given during our corporate prayer.
Luckily she called out, I think it was drugs that were going to
be busted. She called this corporate prayer
on 9:30 is a fun time because what you're seeing prophetic
utterance by Pastor, Marcy happening during a corporate
prayer. I would not be in the lobby,
drinking your latte. I'd be in soaking it all in
because there is prophetic under, there's many, many
examples of her flowing in that gift.
Not only she a pastor but she has a prophetic utterance with
her too. All right, an evangelist.
An evangelist, there's only one, evangelist mentioned in the New
Testament, Philip in Acts 20 18, but a really Vangelis.
Once again, if somebody's in full-time Ministry, they bring
the good news or the message of the Good Tidings.
They bring the message of Redeeming Grace, the
supernatural equipment of an evangelist, includes miracles in
the gifts of healings. So I was talking about the gifts
of the Spirit In First Corinthians 12.
Well, they're going to flow in the Miracles and the healings It
becomes a supernatural advertisement of the power of
God to get people into the kingdom of God.
Guess what? If somebody that was sick, got
healed or had something that was broken, get repaired.
And they hear the gospel with that Supernatural Miracle.
They're going to be more likely to say, man, I'm giving my life
to God. Now, first current in Ephesians
4, it talks about the and the office of the Evangelist.
If you go to First Corinthians, 12, verse 28, you notice that
evangelist isn't listed there. But it what is listed as gifts
of Miracles and healings which is referring to the office of
the Evangelist. The pastor is probably the most
widely recognized office in the Christian Ministry today, the
Greek word for pastor literally means Shepherd shepherds are
necessary for a maturing and equipping of the Saints.
God Set this off in the in the church as Believers in there as
the early church began together, together and local churches and
oversee them. Every local church think about.
If you're giving your life to Christ the Evangelist, they need
to get connected to a local church because we just don't
want to birth a baby and leave them unattended.
So the role of the pastor's probably one the most necessary
and needed offices because think about all the local churches
throughout the world. Right?
So we need good pastors not false pastors that are anointed
and called by God to help equip us without the ministry.
Gift of pastors. All other Ministry gifts are
really in vain, Because even though the Apostle can establish
churches, guess what? Paul had to set Timothy in a
local church because they needed oversight, nurturing and Care.
A real Pastor is going to say that's a wolf in sheep's
clothing. Don't go out with them.
I remember one of the Rainbow Christian Center man, somebody
gave me a book on diet and about don't eat, you know, it's under
the law and I know Pastor scales heard me because I was talking
and it was after church and he probably saw the book.
Somebody had one of his congregation members hint to me.
So I'm like, I'm not going to eat pork again, it's a dirty
animal. So the next service I kind of
get rebuked publicly, but privately.
He said did you know that I think he was talking also to
person gave me a book that you know when Christ redeemed us it
says it's not that that goes into the belly that defiles us
that which comes out. And Jesus said this in the
gospel there by declared all foods clean what they didn't
have in the Old Testament and why God was so adamant was in
order for them to be healthy, they didn't have the name of
Jesus sanctify, their food. Now I'm going to say about, does
that mean you can go out and live off of Twinkies?
And eat pork all the time, you're going to be a pork if you
eat pork what you sow, you shall read.
So I think balance is the key to life.
Can I can't eat bacon. Yeah but even in this, it gets
the point. That is it going to offend
somebody? I ain't going it in front of
you? I do enjoy my baking at the
house. Then bacon cupcakes, Miss Stacy,
praise the lord, it's organic non-GMO.
So pastors are usually equipped with the word of wisdom, and the
word of knowledge and tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
Man, I gotta say it's about give me five minutes.
Okay? We're conditioned along
preaching. I know we got school tomorrow
and everything, but there's going to be great to get up in
the morning. Hallelujah.
In the Old Testament and the New Testament there are similarities
between the profits, but I want to say this real quick on a
balance side, profits, preach and teach the word prophets,
have visions and Revelations. But, you know, John the Baptist
was one of the greatest prophets in the bible and he never told
anybody a prophecy. He literally preached, the
kingdom of God, repentance and made a way for the Messiah.
So true Prophet can teach Can they give words?
Yeah, but here's my, here's my concern.
As a lot of people run to profits forwards and somebody's
in fanaticism. And excess is always trying to
give a word and the New Testament, what they didn't have
in the Old Testament was they didn't have the spirit of the
Living. God, on the inside of him.
Romans 8:14 says, as many as are led by the spirit.
These are the sons of God. So the Old Testament prophets
gave guidance it. Guess what the New Covenant
prophets took and can still give a word of knowledge of word of
wisdom and should if they're true Prophet.
But it's only going to go. To confirm what you have in your
spirit. Cuz we're to be led by the
spirit not by prophets. So true Prophet can give you a
challenging word but you know, it's right.
But a false prophets going to try to give you a word to get
you off, okay? A true.
Pastor is going to recognize false prophets.
It's I just I got four Bandit they get the tub seconds on this
to I can literally say I'm keep my word it's not 07:03.
This is like a wad workout right here right?
Amrap as many words as I can get in three minutes and 45 seconds
I'm going to be on the leaderboard today.
No. I've just been introducing the
cross since its October. I'm it was a whole new world
going in there IMA my mom. Amrap eat you know what?
Todd Seriously, my wife is like, what are they talking about?
I don't know, praise the Lord. Thank God for coach and from
Rack City who helps us out? Oh my goodness.
I'm not doing very well in Breaking any records.
Now, A shepherd's going to guard.
Obviously a teacher this is not a Sunday school teacher, the
early church and have Sunday school teachers.
This isn't something you can just teach with natural Billy.
This is everybody in the body. Should be able as you grow to
teach the word. But the office of a teacher that
the minister gifted teacher actually is in full-time
Ministry. And has an endowment endowment
from God, a Divine teaching ability, It's Supernatural.
Okay, this ministry, gift is great at watering the word Paul
first. In chapter 3 said, Paul or
Apollo's which was a teacher full-time teacher can look this
up, it said some soda, but he watered that word and watering
relieved, you revived and refreshed just like watering a
plant leaves, you reviver and fresh at a spirit anointed
teacher and that gift is going to really bring break down the
word in a great instruction and water it.
And you're really going to get watered and refreshed for your
journey with a with the Lord. So I got 1 minute 10 seconds.
So for the equipping of the saints, that means he's going to
eat. Going to equip, he's going to
supply everything. You have need of, he's going to
fill you up and furnace, you for your journey for the work of the
ministry. Listen, there's Ministry inside
these walls. We have a vision partnership
coming up this Saturday for people that are going to get
connected with the vision. And guess what, as they come to
church, are going to be equipped for that as you continue to
come. You'll continue to grow why.
So, you can also be powerful Witnesses without at your job,
and your home at Walmart, in Public's, Weiss of the body.
Of Christ is being edified that word edify means.
This to build up or an architect, just the same way
that God masterfully put together the Tabernacle in the
Old Testament, Peter says, he's building to unto us a spiritual
house today, you're part of that spiritual merits.
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