Participants: Scott Moore
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000802
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01:00 Good morning, everybody.
01:01 It's so good to see you all of you here this morning. 01:04 We're gonna start out with "Morning has broken." 01:19 Morning has broken 01:23 Like the first morning. 01:28 Blackbird has spoken 01:32 Like the first bird. 01:36 Praise for the singing 01:41 Praise for the morning 01:45 Praise for the springing 01:49 Fresh from the word 01:54 Sweet the rain's new fall 01:58 Sunlight from heaven 02:03 Like the first dewfall 02:07 On the first grass 02:11 Praise for the sweetness 02:16 Of the wet garden 02:20 Sprung in completeness 02:25 Where his feet pass 02:30 Mine is the sunlight 02:34 Mine is the morning 02:38 Born of the one light 02:43 Eden saw play 02:47 Praise with elation 02:52 Praise every morning 02:56 God's recreation 03:01 Of the new day 03:06 I just love the words in this song. 03:10 Let's open this morning 03:12 with our theme song "Power in the Blood." 03:14 And if I get everybody stand 03:15 and we could wakeup a little bit, some exercise. 03:34 Would you be free from the burden of sin? 03:38 There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood 03:43 Would you o'er evil a victory win? 03:48 There's wonderful pow'r in the blood 03:52 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder working pow'r 03:57 In the blood of the Lamb 04:01 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder working pow'r 04:06 In the precious blood of the Lamb. 04:12 Would you be free from your passion and pride? 04:17 There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood 04:22 Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide? 04:26 There's wonderful pow'r in the blood. 04:31 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder working pow'r 04:35 In the blood of the Lamb 04:40 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder working pow'r 04:45 In the precious blood of the Lamb. 04:51 Would you do service for Jesus your King? 04:56 There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood 05:01 Would you live daily His praises to sing? 05:05 There's wonderful pow'r in the blood 05:10 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder working pow'r 05:14 In the blood of the Lamb 05:19 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder working pow'r 05:24 In the precious blood of the Lamb 05:32 Amen. 05:47 Good morning and happy Sabbath everybody. 05:50 Good morning. 05:51 I am here to welcome you to a beautiful, beautiful day 05:54 and to this wonderful program. 05:59 Our speaker is Scott Moore 06:02 and he is the outreach coordinator for ARISE. 06:05 He is a humble Christian and the servant of the Lord God. 06:09 And he is a sanguine, so listen to him with an open mind. 06:15 Happy Sabbath. Happy Sabbath. 06:18 I am gonna preach to the choir this morning 06:21 because only the choir gets up this early 06:23 on Sabbath morning to be here. 06:25 So it's good to see you all here. 06:29 It's a privilege for us to be here. 06:31 And I think this is the first time 06:32 that my father has ever seen me 06:34 speak outside of his home church. 06:36 No, there is one other time, wasn't it? 06:38 This is my dad right down here. 06:41 Mathew was tortured in a city in Ethiopia. 06:46 John was tied and thrown in a pot of boiling oil in Rome. 06:52 But survived and allegedly died a natural death in Asia. 06:57 Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, 07:01 for he saw himself unworthy 07:03 of being crucified like his Lord. 07:06 James, the superior was decapitated in Jerusalem. 07:09 James, the less was beaten with a mallet 07:12 until he died in Jerusalem. 07:14 Thomas was hacked to death with a lance in India. 07:19 Philip was hanged from a pillar in Perugia, in Asia Minor. 07:23 Bartholomew was cut apart while alive in Armenia or India, 07:29 the traditions differ on that. 07:31 Simon the Zealot was crucified in Persia. 07:34 According to tradition Andrew was crucified in Achaea, 07:39 a very grim picture 07:42 of the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. 07:45 Willing to give their life for the gospel of Jesus. 07:51 Barnabas stoned to death by the Jews in Salamis, 07:54 on the island of Cyprus. 07:56 Paul decapitated by Nero in Rome. 07:58 Mark was drawn through the streets 08:00 of Alexandria in Egypt until he died. 08:03 Luke was hanged from an Olive tree in Greece. 08:06 And yet sometimes we can't even get the courage 08:10 to tell our neighbor about Jesus. 08:15 What was it that made the ministry of the disciples 08:20 and the early church such a powerful ministry? 08:25 What was it that made the ministry of the early church 08:29 and the disciples such a powerful ministry? 08:32 That's what we will study this morning. Let's pray. 08:39 Gracious Father in heaven, we are here on the Sabbath day. 08:45 You have already blessed this day, 08:47 so we know that You will bless us 08:48 even more now that we study Yours truly,word on this day. 08:54 Lord, we invite Your Spirit to be here 08:56 not because we have the power to do so 08:59 but because you have promised 09:00 that where two or more gathered Your Spirit will be there. 09:05 We thank you for this. 09:08 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 09:12 Those of you that are taking notes this morning 09:14 are going to write down five different points. 09:17 Point number one. 09:19 The disciple's ministry was effective 09:23 because that ministry was more important to them 09:26 than their very own lives. 09:29 The disciple's ministry was an effective ministry 09:31 because their ministry was more important to them 09:33 than their very own lives. 09:35 Let's turn in our Bibles to the Book of Acts. 09:38 Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, 09:39 the fifth book in the New Testament. 09:41 We are going to the 20th Chapter. 09:45 Acts 20, we will begin reading in verse 24. 09:51 Acts 20:24, 09:56 Paul is going to be speaking to us here 09:58 Acts 20:24 and Paul says, 10:02 "But none of these things move me, 10:05 neither count I my life dear unto myself, 10:10 so that I might finish my course with joy, 10:13 and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, 10:16 to testify the gospel of the grace of God." 10:20 Acts 20:24. 10:22 Paul is telling us that his life is secondary 10:26 to taking the gospel of Jesus to the world. 10:31 Where does the gospel fit into your life? 10:39 When you are at Starbucks getting that soy milk steamer. 10:44 Do you share Jesus with a person that asked you, 10:47 Soy milk steamer? What's that? 10:52 There is your opportunity. 10:55 When you are standing at the gas pump 10:57 and you are pumping your gas, 10:58 do you hide and cover behind the pump 11:01 so that you don't even have to look at the person 11:03 on the other side? 11:06 What do you say, hey, 11:08 freezing cold day out here, isn't it? 11:10 You mind if I huddle on this side of the pump 11:11 where use to the wind doesn't hit me. 11:15 Perfect opportunity to share Jesus with somebody. 11:20 The early church was persecuted 11:22 and they didn't change their mind during that persecution. 11:25 They didn't change their stance on the gospel 11:27 and the importance that it took in their lives. 11:30 There were two men in the New Testament Church 11:33 that were known for being men 11:35 that would give their life for Jesus. 11:38 Let's turn now to Acts the 15th Chapter, 11:41 just turn to the left a little bit 11:43 from where you are in the Book of Acts. 11:45 And we are going to look at Acts 15:22. 11:50 Acts 15:22. 11:54 The Bible says, in Acts 15:22, 11:57 "Then pleased it the apostles and elders 12:00 with the whole church, to send chosen men 12:04 of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. 12:08 Namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, 12:12 chief men among the brethren." 12:14 The Bible says that it pleased the apostles 12:17 and the brethren to choose these two men 12:20 so that they could send them as missionaries. 12:23 Why did they choose these two men? 12:26 Let's jump down now to verse 25. 12:28 "It seemed good unto us" Acts 15:25, 12:32 "being assembled with one accord, 12:34 to send chosen men unto you 12:38 with our beloved Barnabas and Paul." 12:40 Men, that have what? 12:42 Hazarded their lives for the name 12:45 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 12:49 These two men were chosen 12:52 because they had hazarded their lives 12:55 for the gospel of Jesus. 12:56 In the mindset of the church leaders, 12:59 they knew that they could send these two men. 13:04 And be very confident that they won't go into cover 13:07 under the scrutiny 13:08 of the persecution of the early church. 13:13 This is the first reason 13:15 that the ministry of the early church 13:17 in the apostles was magnificent 13:21 because they did not value their lives 13:24 above sharing the gospel with other people. 13:31 How often do we go to a restaurant? 13:36 And we pray with our eyes open, 13:39 in our mind 'cause surely the Lord Jesus hears us. 13:43 Rather than being the witness that we need to be. 13:49 "When a crucified man is behind a crucified message, 13:55 there are always fresh victories for the crucified, 14:00 risen and glorified Lord." 14:03 Let me read that again. 14:05 That deserved at least one, amen. Amen. 14:08 Well, let me read it. 14:10 "When a crucified man is behind a crucified message, 14:15 there are always fresh victories for the crucified, 14:19 risen and glorified Lord." Amen. 14:24 The Bible says in Galatians 2:20, 14:27 "I have been crucified with Christ: 14:30 nevertheless I live." 14:33 Have you been crucified with Christ? 14:38 Point number one. 14:39 The disciples were effective 14:41 because their ministry was more important to them 14:43 than their physical wellbeing. 14:45 Point number two, for those of you who are taking notes. 14:47 The disciples were effective 14:49 because their ministry was based on divine good news. 14:53 What was their ministry based on? 14:55 Divine good news. Divine good news. 14:56 Let's turn in our Bibles to the-- 14:58 you're in Acts turn to the left again we're going to Acts 3. 15:02 Acts 3, we will begin reading in verse 15. 15:12 Let's begin in verse 12. 15:13 Acts 3:12, the Bible says 15:15 "And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, 15:19 Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? 15:22 Or why look ye so earnestly on us, 15:25 as though by our own power or holiness 15:29 we had made this man walk? 15:31 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, 15:33 and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, 15:35 hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up, 15:40 and denied him in the presence of Pilate, 15:43 while he was determined to let him go." 15:45 Verse 14, "But you denied the Holy One 15:47 and the Just, and desired 15:48 a murderer to be granted unto you" 15:51 and verse 15, "And killed the Prince of life, 15:53 whom God hath raised from the dead; 15:55 whereof we are--" what? "We are witnesses." 16:02 When he is speaking here, he says look, 16:04 we know exactly what you did to Jesus 16:07 because we, what? 16:08 We saw it, we didn't just hear about it, we saw it. 16:11 We were witnesses that you crucified Jesus 16:14 but what were they also witnesses of? 16:18 The resurrection. 16:20 The apostle's ministry was magnificent 16:22 because it was based on divine good news. 16:24 They had experienced walking with Jesus, 16:27 they had experienced talking with Jesus, 16:30 they had experienced Jesus. 16:34 They had seen Him die. 16:37 They had seen Him lying in a tomb 16:40 and then they had run to the tomb 16:43 early on Sunday morning. 16:45 And Jesus was gone. 16:48 Praise God, Jesus was not in the tomb. 16:57 The leading truths that the apostles 16:59 preached with the life, with death 17:02 and the resurrection of Jesus. 17:04 You remember on the day of Pentecost, 17:06 Peter is preaching in Acts 2. 17:09 And while Peter is preaching, 17:11 if you ever look through that sermon that he is preaching, 17:13 he is quoting Old Testament reference after Old Testament 17:16 reference after Old Testament reference 17:18 and the Spirit of God is poured out. 17:21 Now listen to this. 17:23 The Spirit's power is never manifested. 17:26 The Spirit's power is what? 17:28 Never manifested, unless the word 17:31 he inspired is preached. 17:36 The power of the Holy Spirit is never manifested 17:40 unless the word the he inspired is preached. 17:44 If you and I think that we can get up front 17:46 and just do grins and giggle thing to get people's attention 17:50 so that they will understand the gospel message, 17:52 we've got it wrong. 17:56 If we want to see people converted 17:57 and we want to see people give their life to Jesus, 17:59 it must be based on the divine good news 18:03 that we find in the Bible. 18:05 What you win someone with, is what you win someone to. 18:11 Take note of that. 18:12 What you win someone with is what you win someone to. 18:16 You win someone with a clown ministry, 18:18 where are they gonna go when that ministry is gone? 18:24 You win someone with a rock concert 18:26 with Christian in front of it, 18:29 where they are gonna go when the music is gone? 18:32 We are working with a young man up in Michigan right now. 18:34 We just held the series of evangelistic meetings. 18:37 He was an associate pastor, 18:39 a youth pastor at an Assemblies of God Church. 18:42 He is fine giving up his gift of tongues 18:45 because he sees it's not biblical. 18:47 He's fine giving up worshipping on Sunday 18:49 because he sees that it's not biblical. 18:52 And he even sees from the scripture 18:54 that Christian rock is not biblical. 18:59 But he is struggling with it. 19:04 We may have to struggle inside with some of these issues. 19:09 But the ministry of the apostles was magnificent and incredible 19:14 because they based it on the living Word of God. 19:23 You know, I used to think that, 19:24 that I had to preach out of the Old King James Version 19:28 because I don't think I had enough material to, 19:31 you know, fill out all the time 19:33 that they give you when you have a sermon. 19:34 And I thought if I use the Old King James, 19:37 then I'll have to explain the it's and the with's 19:39 and the thereof's and all of that. 19:41 And it would take up more time but let me tell you. 19:43 Now I don't take even time to explain that 19:48 because I don't have time, 19:49 I want you to understand Jesus. 19:54 Two points so far. What was point number one? 19:57 This is your quiz. That's right. 20:03 The ministry of the disciples was effective 20:05 because it was more important to them than their own lives. 20:08 What was the second one? 20:14 Because their ministry was based on divine good news 20:16 and then we read where the-- 20:18 the author there in Acts says that-- 20:21 they actually witnessed what happened to Jesus. 20:25 But what about those of us that didn't witnessed it? 20:29 Where does our hope come in? Amen. 20:36 Let's go to the New Testament book of 2 Peter. 20:39 Now you guys are mumbling out there when you are answering me 20:41 but even though it's been videotaped, 20:42 you don't have to mumble, you can just yell it out. 20:44 2 Peter 1:16. 20:50 2 Peter 1:16. 20:56 Peter is writing here in 2 Peter 1 beginning in verse 16 21:00 and he says this. 21:02 2 Peter 1:16, he says 21:05 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, 21:10 when we made known unto you the power 21:12 and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21:15 but were" what? "Eyewitnesses of his majesty." 21:19 Peter says to us, listen, you can believe me 21:23 because I saw it with my very own eyes 21:26 but he continues on. 21:27 "For he received from God the Father honor and glory, 21:32 when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, 21:35 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 21:38 And the voice which came from heaven 21:40 which we heard when we were with him in the holy mount." 21:43 He's talking about the mount of transfiguration. 21:46 He saw Jesus transformed into His glory. 21:51 He hears God the Father say, 21:52 this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. 21:56 How many of you were there? 21:59 So how is it in that our ministry can become 22:01 just as powerful as their ministry? 22:04 Let's continue reading. 22:05 Verse 19 says "We have also a," what? 22:10 "More sure word of prophecy. More sure than what? 22:16 Than an eye witness, that's absolutely right. 22:18 Right back up there in verse 16. 22:20 But we were eye witnesses of His majesty. 22:23 Don't glory too much brother. The Lord will humble you. 22:26 Verse 19 says "We have also a more sure word of prophecy," 22:31 more sure than an eye witness. 22:33 How is it that your ministry and my ministry is as powerful 22:37 and as effective as the apostle's ministry? 22:42 It's because of prophecy. 22:45 Because we can experience 22:47 the very same things that they experienced. 22:52 We can experience a daily walk with Jesus Christ. Why? 22:56 Because prophecy tells us that God's word is true. 22:59 Prophecy tells us where we are 23:01 in the timeline of earth's history. 23:03 And my friends, if we were studying Daniel 2 right now, 23:06 I would tell you that we are in the toe jam of the image. 23:10 Jesus is coming soon. Amen. 23:13 And sometimes we get so wrapped up 23:15 in the trivial things of this world like, 23:17 "oh, should I listen to this 23:19 or oh, shouldn't I listen to that. 23:20 Or oh, should I go out to eat today 23:22 or oh, should I not go out to eat today, 23:23 or oh, should I where this shirt, 23:25 is this skirt too small, is this shirt, 23:27 does this show off my muscles enough," 23:29 we got to get pass all of that stuff and find Jesus. Amen. 23:33 A lot of people tell me that there are things in the Bible 23:35 that are gray, I don't believe it. It's gray. 23:41 People say things in the Bible are gray. 23:42 You know, it's neither black, it's neither white, it's gray. 23:45 It's a hazy topic in the Bible. 23:47 You know what that means? 23:49 That people aren't studying the Bible. 23:51 That's what that means. 23:52 They are not spending time with the word of God. 23:58 Who was the word of God made flesh? 24:00 Jesus. They are not spending time with Jesus. 24:04 Number three, point number three. 24:06 The disciples were effective because they were men of prayer. 24:10 They were effective because they were what? 24:12 Men of prayer. Men of prayer. 24:14 It was in January of this year 24:16 that all the pastors in the Michigan Conference 24:18 went to Camp Fasola, that's the big youth camp up there. 24:21 And we had a man named Eldoret Sara, 24:24 he's from South Africa. 24:25 He came over and he began to tell us 24:27 about the ministry of a young pastor in his division. 24:31 He said that they took this young pastor 24:34 who was known to be a man of prayer. 24:36 And they put him in the worst district that they have. 24:41 This district has over a hundred thousand people in it. 24:47 And there were 273 Adventist members, 273. 24:53 And this man began to pray. 24:55 Now mind you this man worked 24:57 to try to answer his own prayers. 24:59 Which is what we have to do as well. 25:01 If we want God to answer we work until it's-- 25:05 till we can't do it anymore and then God takes over. 25:07 Don't expect God to answer your prayer if you pray, 25:10 Lord, please get me off this couch 25:11 and get me a job and you just sit on the couch all day. 25:14 It's never gonna happen. 25:16 But this young pastor begins to pray. 25:18 He begins to pray in his ministry 25:20 that he will get half of the population 25:24 in his district in four years. 25:27 He wants 50,000 people in four years 25:30 by year number three. 25:34 He had 21,000 members in his district. 25:40 After this I was inspired to pray. 25:44 I called up an elder of a church, 25:46 we have lots of churches there in the Detroit metro area. 25:49 And I called up an elder of another church, 25:51 I said elder, I need you to pray with me 25:53 because I want my ministry 25:55 to just be what the Lord wanted to be. 25:57 So every morning at 7'0 clock we pray, every morning. 26:01 He calls me. 26:02 I call him every morning at 7'o clock, 26:04 unless I am on a trip and then he knows it 26:06 I am up too late and sleep too late to call at that time, 26:09 but when I am at home. 26:12 We began to pray that the Lord would help 26:14 the finances of arise. 26:18 And a man donated $42,000 to arise. 26:24 We began to pray that a lady named Antoinette 26:26 would give her heart to Jesus 26:28 so much so that she would become 26:29 a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. 26:31 Two weeks ago she signed the chartered member paper 26:34 as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. 26:37 We begin to pray that a lady named Anne 26:40 would come to church and bring her children to church 26:43 and actually commit her life to Jesus 26:45 and Anne is coming to church. 26:47 We began to pray that another man named-- 26:51 Oh, come on, Lord, don't let me forgot his name. 26:53 His name is Gene. 26:55 That Gene would give his heart 26:57 and his life to Jesus. 26:58 Gene was an associate pastor of an apostolic church. 27:02 He was in the shower one morning 27:03 and he was washing his hair 27:04 and he said that he prayed Lord, 27:06 you've got to show me the truth. 27:10 You've got to show me the truth. 27:12 That day a flier arrived in his mail 27:14 to come to an evangelistic meeting. 27:17 Two weeks ago, Gene signed his name 27:19 to be part of the charter membership 27:22 of the newest church in the state of Michigan. 27:27 The apostle's ministry was effective 27:29 because they were people of prayer. 27:32 Turn in your Bibles to Luke 24:53. 27:37 Luke 24:53, 27:38 that's to the left from where we were. 27:42 Mathew, Mark, Luke, the last chapter 27:46 and the very last verse. 27:52 The very last thing that Luke says 27:54 when he is writing to Theophilus. 27:58 Luke 24:53, when he is describing 28:01 the ministry of the disciples after Jesus has ascended up, 28:06 He says about them they were continually 28:09 in the temple praising and blessing God, amen. 28:14 What were they doing? Praising God. 28:17 They were praising God. They were praying. 28:21 They were petitioning the God of heaven. 28:26 If we studied it out, we would see that they were 28:27 petitioning the God of heaven for the outpouring 28:30 of the promise of the Holy Spirit. 28:33 Ten days after Jesus ascends to heaven, 28:40 the spirit of God has poured out on the day of Pentecost. 28:44 Turn with me to Acts chapter 1, 28:46 that's two books to the right from where we are Acts 1:14. 28:51 Acts 1:14. 29:00 Acts 1:14, the disciples are up there in this upper room, 29:05 Acts 1:14 says 29:07 "These all continued with one accord 29:10 in prayer and supplication, 29:12 with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, 29:14 and with his brethren." 29:16 What did the disciples do after Jesus went back to heaven? 29:20 They prayed. They prayed. 29:23 If we want our ministry to be as powerful 29:25 and as effective as their ministry what will we do? 29:28 Pray. Pray. 29:32 That--Bible tells us in Acts 6:3-4, 29:34 we don't have time to read it. 29:36 That they were-- they had to choose deacons 29:39 to take care of the church 29:40 so that the disciples could spend their time 29:43 studying the word of God and praying. 29:48 How many of you would like to hold your breathe? 29:50 You like to hold your breathe? 29:52 I bet you could hold your breathe 29:53 longer than anyone in here, can you? 29:55 You know, I don't care how much time we have, 29:56 what I am gonna do is I am gonna time in. All right. 29:59 So those of you at home that are watching this, 30:00 you just hold your breath too. 30:03 Is everybody on the same page, we're gonna do what? 30:05 Hold our breathe. Hold our breathe. 30:07 Okay, I'm gonna count to three, 30:08 if you want a hyperventilate whatever. 30:10 One, two, three. 30:29 You have 15 seconds. 30:44 30 seconds. 30:48 You still hold your breath, hold your hand up 30:49 who are holding the breath. Praise the Lord. 31:04 50 seconds. 31:17 Any chance people holding their breath? 31:21 Fewer, but still a few. 31:25 A minute and 10 seconds. 31:35 It's always neat when you do this 31:36 and see some people turn blue. 31:49 Minute and 34 seconds. 31:51 How many do we have now? 31:57 One. 32:04 Everybody wants to know who it is? 32:13 And he said he is a trumpet player. 32:15 Two minutes. 32:18 Two minutes, anybody else still holding your breathe. 32:23 I want you to listen to this. 32:27 The longest anyone in this room 32:28 could hold their breathe was, how long? 32:30 Two minutes. Two minutes. 32:33 This come from gospel workers page 254. 32:36 "Prayer is the breath of the soul." 32:44 "Prayer is the breath of the soul." 32:49 It is the secret of spiritual power. 32:54 Neglect the exercise of prayer 32:56 or engage in prayer spasmodically 32:58 now and then as seems convenient, 33:02 and you lose your hold on God. 33:09 Two minutes and we had to take a breath. 33:13 Yet prayer is the breath of the soul. 33:17 That doesn't mean that he can go longer 33:19 than the rest of us without praying. Amen. 33:24 The apostle's ministry was magnificent and incredible 33:27 because they were men of prayer. 33:30 Point number four. 33:33 The disciple's ministry was magnificent 33:35 because they expected Jesus 33:38 to fulfill His promise to return. 33:41 They expected Jesus to fulfill His promise to return. 33:49 Turn with me to John chapter 14, 33:51 one book to the left, John chapter 14. 33:57 You've probably learned this in Sabbath school. 34:01 John 14:1-2-3. 34:04 Jesus says, the words are in red, 34:06 "Let not your heart be," what? "Troubled. 34:09 Ye believe in God, believe also in me. 34:13 In my Father's house are many mansions. 34:16 If it were not so, I would have told you." 34:19 And then Jesus says 34:20 "I go to prepare a place for," who? You. 34:23 Oh, somebody say me. Let's do that again. 34:27 I go to prepare a place for-- 34:28 Me. Me. 34:29 Jesus is preparing a place for you. 34:31 The disciples believed it. 34:35 They actually believed it. 34:40 Verse 3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, 34:43 I will come again, and receive you unto myself 34:46 that where I am, there you may be also." 34:50 The disciple's ministry was magnificent 34:52 because they actually believed Jesus was coming back. 34:58 Can you believe that? Yeah. 35:03 I think if we actually believed it, 35:07 our lives will look a lot different 35:09 than they look right now. 35:14 You know, there is that, that country music singer 35:17 Tim McGraw singing that song about-- 35:22 about his life, his friend's life 35:24 and his experience with skydiving, 35:27 deep sea, something and rode a bull named Fu Manchu. 35:35 But then he said, because he knew 35:36 that he was dying he loved deeper. 35:40 He spoke sweeter and he spent time in the good book. 35:48 If we actually believe Jesus was coming soon, 35:52 our lives will look completely different 35:55 from what they look right now. 35:57 Regardless of how holy we think we are, 36:00 our lives would be completely different. 36:05 Turn with me to the New Testament Book of First John. 36:10 First John chapter 3. 36:13 First John, if you get to revelation, 36:15 you've obviously gone just ahead too far, 36:18 backup two books. 36:21 First John 3:1-2-3. 36:27 And the good book reads like this. 36:30 "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us 36:35 that we should be called the," what? 36:38 "The sons of God. 36:39 The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 36:41 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 36:44 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. 36:47 But we know that, when He shall appear, 36:51 we shall be like Him. For we shall see Him as He is." 36:56 Verse 3, "And every man that hath this hope in him 37:01 purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 37:06 The disciples took Jesus words to the very extreme way 37:10 that they could ever be taken 37:12 and they said Jesus is coming back. 37:15 They didn't scoff at it. They lived it. 37:18 They didn't pretend that it was way in the future, 37:21 they believed it. 37:23 The Bible says that at the end of time scoffers will come. 37:30 We are in the end of time. 37:35 Are you a scoffer? 37:41 The Bible says that the apostles lives will purified by the hope 37:45 that Jesus was going to return. 37:49 I believe it's in Titus chapter 2 37:50 where it talks about the blessed hope 37:53 of our Lord Jesus Christ and His return. 37:57 Just like the faithful martyrs of old, 38:03 your name can be forever written in the heavenly kingdom. 38:09 Your ministry on this earth can be effective 38:12 because number one, what was our first point? 38:18 That your life is secondary to the sharing of the Gospel, 38:23 become a fool for Jesus. 38:27 Step outside of your comfort zone for Jesus. 38:29 My understanding is tomorrow what time is it-- 38:31 what time is that gonna happen, 38:33 brother, the outreach tomorrow. 38:35 11'0 clock. 11'0 clock. 38:37 Where are they meeting? We don't know. 38:40 Collegedale-- Collegedale, 38:44 they're gonna make that announcement, aren't they? 38:46 Yes. Okay. 38:48 Get out of your comfort zone. 38:52 The disciple's ministry was effective 38:54 because their ministry was more important to them 38:56 than their physical life. 38:58 Their ministry was effective 39:00 because they were on their knees. 39:03 Their ministry was effective 39:04 because they believed that Jesus Christ was coming back. 39:09 And their ministry was effective 39:10 because it was based on divine good news. 39:15 What is your ministry based on? 39:20 The Bible says that the name of the apostles 39:22 in Revelation 21:14, that their names will be written 39:26 in the foundation of New Jerusalem. 39:31 Will your name be written 39:35 in the lamb's book of life? 39:40 When the devil sees you walking down the street, 39:43 does he tremble because he knows 39:45 that you are about to share Jesus with someone else? 39:51 Or does he put his arm around you 39:54 and walk down the street with you? |
Revised 2014-12-17