The last four
months I have been learning
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what it means to be
continually devoted.
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You see, just four months ago,
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my wife and I welcomed
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a brand new baby boy
into the world. Amen.
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That's right, I'm a dad.
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His name is Gavin, he's
a delightful little fellow.
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Wide-eyed and
sometimes wide-eyed
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when we wish he was sleeping,
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but you know, how kids are.
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And we've been learning
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what it means to be
continually devoted.
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Everyday he needs
his diaper changed,
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he has to be fed,
he has to be walked
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and spend time
with and almost 24X7
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it seems
entertained and played with.
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And even though
sometimes we may get tired
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or may wanna sleeping
on a particular morning
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we're continually devoted.
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Unceasingly focused on
caring for that little boy.
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And it's the same way for us
as part of the family of God.
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When we joined God's
family we're invited to be
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continually devoted
to the life of being
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a member of the family of God.
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In Acts Chapter 2 verse 42,
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the Bible records for
us, Luke records for us,
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the activities of the
early Christian church
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just after the Day of Pentecost.
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It says, "They
were continually devoted
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to the apostles
teaching and to fellowship.
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To the breaking of
bread and to prayer."
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Now I've invited
three friends to join me
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on the platform this morning.
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And we're going to dig
deep into Acts Chapter 2,
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beginning in verse 42
going through verse 47.
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And we're going to
study this morning,
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what does that mean to
be continually devoted?
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And what are the activities,
what are the ministries,
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where the forecast
is, that God calls for us
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to focus on is His church.
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After all, when the
Holy Spirit is poured out,
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what do we going to be
doing? Good morning, Elizabeth.
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Good morning,
Daryl, and Natasha,
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thanks for joining
me here for the study.
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We're looking in, of
course in Acts Chapter 2,
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beginning in verse 42.
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And those, those,
those four activities
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that the early
Christian churches focused on.
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And I guess really
the context of that is,
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this has happened just
after the Day of Pentecost.
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Three thousand have
been added to the church,
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120 before the Day of Pentecost,
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and 3,000 after
the Day of Pentecost.
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And so this is
taking place in the context
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of this is what
the church is doing
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to disciple new
believers to incorporate them
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into the body of Christ.
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And of course,
this is just after
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the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
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So this is what a spirit
filled church looks like.
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So, why this focus on
the apostles' teaching?
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What is the apostles' teaching?
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Let's all turn to Acts
Chapter 4 verses 10 and 12.
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And the Bible reads in verse
10, "Be it known unto you all,
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and to the people of Israel,
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by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
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whom you crucified, whom
God raised from the dead,
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even by him doth this
man stand before you whole.
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This is the
stone which was set at
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naught of you-- of you builders,
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which is become
the head of the corner.
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Neither is there any
salvation in any other,
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for there is none other name
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under heaven given among men,
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whereby we must be saved."
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And so truly the
apostles' doctrine is,
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it's focused on Christ.
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So it's Christ centered,
it's what Christ has done,
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it's what Christ is
doing, and what Christ will do.
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It's, it talks all
about what Christ did on earth
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in coming and being
the spotless Son of God,
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the Lamb of God paid
for, who paid for our sins.
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What He is doing in heaven
as our heavenly intercessor?
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And what He's gonna
do when He comes back
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to save us from our sins?
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So are you saying
that the apostles' doctrine
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is the
everlasting gospel in a sense?
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Yes, yes.
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And it's, Jesus is the very
focal plan of that doctrine.
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Now why were the- Why was this,
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this need for focused
on the apostles' doctrine,
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after all hadn't they
just received the Holy Spirit.
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When we receive the Holy Spirit,
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aren't we supposed to
have a direct line to God
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and He just
speaks directly to us,
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and we just allow Him to
lead us where He is leading us?
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I mean, why this focus
on doctrine on teaching?
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John Chapter 7 verse 16,
goes over that a little bit.
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So John Chapter 7--
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Verse 16. Verse 16.
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And the Bible reads,
"Jesus answered them and said,
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'My doctrine is not Mine,
but Him that who sent Me.'"
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So we see here, apostle
means, one who is sent, correct?
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So Jesus was sent by God
and Jesus sent the apostles.
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So there is like a direct like.
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The apostles were
sent by Jesus who,
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and Jesus was sent by God.
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And the Holy
Spirit comes in as when,
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when Jesus went up to heaven,
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He promised the Holy
Spirit to the disciples
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and as a result to us as well.
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And everything
that we've learned,
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the Holy Spirit will
bring things into remembrance.
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And so though the
apostles had Jesus
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at the time and He was,
His very life was the doctrine.
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His very
teachings, His very being.
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Though we may not see
Jesus as I see you, Sean,
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the apostle-- We
have the Holy Spirit
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to inspire us
and to really give us
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an understanding of who
Jesus is through the Bible.
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So it sounds
like biblically then.
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The Holy Spirit
being given and filling us
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as spirit filled
church would be even anymore
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Bible study focus
church, rather than
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a less Bible study
focus church. Exactly.
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In the way that
I understand it is,
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see you're reading a poem,
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for example, and
you read the poem
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and you kind of
drive your own meanings
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and you wish you had
the author of the poem
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to give you what he
meant or what she meant
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when she wrote the poem.
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And the same with the
Holy Spirit, we read it--
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we may read the Bible and we
may drawn our own conclusions,
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but if we draw, if we
pray for the Holy Spirit
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and ask for His
wisdom and His enlightenment,
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He Himself will
give us an understanding
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of what He intended when
He inspired the Bible writers
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to write what they wrote.
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And that's the--
that's truly the power
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and the beauty
of the Holy Spirit.
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The apostles'
doctrine was focused on Christ
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and the Holy Spirit will give us
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that understanding of who
Christ is and dwell in us.
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And the apostles heard
Jesus speak the doctrine, right?
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And the Holy Spirit will
give us, and will give us
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the ability to have
Christ to live in us
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and to fulfill those doctrines.
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So that we may live like
Christ and He may restrain us.
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And the Bible says, "The
love of God constraineth us."
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And we find that in
John Chapter 14 verse 15,
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a direct
application that we can draw...
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And this is such
a beautiful verse.
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"If you love Me, keep
My commandments." Right?
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So our ability to keep
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the Commandments of
God is Christ centered.
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We--often times we
remove the commandments,
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the Law of God from Christ.
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And Christ is making a direct
connection between the two.
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"If you love Me, " Christ
says, "Keep My commandments."
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And the Holy
Spirit will constrain us
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as it reads in
Second Corinthians
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Chapter 5 verses 14 through 15.
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He will dwell in us,
so that the word of God
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and the life of Christ
will be manifested in our lives
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through His word and
through the Holy Spirit.
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So it sounds like what
scripture is teaching us
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that the apostles' doctrines
really not the apostles'
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doctrine after
all. No, not at all.
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It's really the
teaching of Jesus.
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And Jesus said, "That He
spoke as His Father told."
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So really we have
the teachings of heaven.
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Now, you
connected that with this,
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this with the gospel. Right.
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That the, the
apostles' teaching in Acts 4
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is the Gospel of
Jesus, the message of Jesus.
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So, are doctrines or
teachings salvational issues?
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Everything is salvational,
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'cause Jesus, His
very ministry on earth,
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and what He is doing in
heaven is salvific, right?
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So everything that we should do,
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it should be centered on Christ
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and Christ's entire
ministry was to save, right?
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And He, He taught, so that
we may understand salvation.
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We may
understand the love of God
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that was
designed-- our salvation
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that was designed from,
from the Garden of Eden really.
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And that that reminds me of
Second John verses 9 and 10.
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Second John verses 9 and 10.
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"Anyone who goes too far
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and does not abide in
the teaching of Christ,
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does not have God, the one
who abides in the teaching,
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he has both the
Father and the Son.
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If anyone comes to you and
does not bring this teaching,
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do not receive
him into your house,
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and do not give him a greeting.
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For the one who
gives him a greeting
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participates in his evil deeds."
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So what scripture
is telling us then
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and what you shared with us is
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that doctrine and
teachings are salvational.
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It matters what we believe.
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It matter that we accurately
understand God's word.
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Because if we don't
have the right teaching,
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and this is a Gnosticism
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where we know the some
special knowledge that,
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that makes us superior
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and able to enter
into the divine realm,
00:09:02.75\00:09:05.56
but this is just a reality
that God communicates with us,
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He communicates
with us in scripture
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and He wants us to
believe what scripture says,
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rather than erroneous
false teachings. Yeah.
00:09:13.04\00:09:15.56
And Jesus says, "He came
to fulfill the law." Right?
00:09:15.57\00:09:17.86
So His very, His very
existence on earth was designed,
00:09:17.87\00:09:21.38
so that all that was
written in the Old Testament,
00:09:21.39\00:09:23.36
He was a fulfillment of that.
00:09:23.37\00:09:25.15
And it will continues to be so.
00:09:25.16\00:09:27.90
So the apostle's
teaching is something
00:09:27.91\00:09:30.31
that the early
church was devoted to,
00:09:30.32\00:09:32.96
continually devoted to,
unceasingly devoted to. Right.
00:09:32.97\00:09:36.83
How were they devoted
to that apostle's teaching
00:09:36.84\00:09:39.97
and how can we emulate
that in our lives today?
00:09:39.98\00:09:42.67
They were devoted to it
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because everything they taught
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the way they lived was,
they had Christ in mind.
00:09:45.52\00:09:48.59
And there is a
quote by Ellen White
00:09:48.60\00:09:50.19
in Acts of the
Apostles, page 28 that reads,
00:09:50.20\00:09:53.27
"The disciples
were to carry their work
00:09:53.28\00:09:54.83
forward in Christ's name.
00:09:54.84\00:09:56.29
Their very word and act was
to fasten attention on His name,
00:09:56.30\00:09:59.26
as possessing the vital power
00:09:59.27\00:10:01.50
by which sinners may be saved.
00:10:01.51\00:10:03.46
Their faith was to
center in Him who was--
00:10:03.47\00:10:05.45
who is the source
of mercy and power.
00:10:05.46\00:10:08.18
In His name they were to present
00:10:08.19\00:10:09.61
their petitions to the Father,
00:10:09.62\00:10:11.11
and they would
receive an answer.
00:10:11.12\00:10:12.75
The disciples were to
speak with the same simplicity
00:10:12.76\00:10:15.69
which Christ had spoken.
00:10:15.70\00:10:18.04
They were to
impress upon their hearers
00:10:18.05\00:10:19.62
the lessons He had taught them.
00:10:19.63\00:10:21.18
So everything that
they did was Christ centered
00:10:21.19\00:10:23.79
and that's really
the take home message
00:10:23.80\00:10:26.10
from the apostles' doctrines is.
00:10:26.11\00:10:27.68
We are to live
our lives with Christ
00:10:27.69\00:10:29.53
as the center point and
He will fulfill the promises
00:10:29.54\00:10:33.54
and the prophecies in our lives
00:10:33.55\00:10:35.81
as we see seek Him constantly
00:10:35.82\00:10:38.45
and seeks to fulfill His
word through the Holy Spirit.
00:10:38.46\00:10:42.52
So the apostles'
teaching is vital. Right.
00:10:42.53\00:10:45.63
A spirit filled,
a spirit led church
00:10:45.64\00:10:47.48
will devote themselves the
study of scripture. Exactly.
00:10:47.49\00:10:50.13
Because they wanna
accurately understand
00:10:50.14\00:10:51.91
God's revelation of themselves.
00:10:51.92\00:10:53.89
Most clearly seen of
course in Jesus. Right.
00:10:53.90\00:10:56.19
And then related to the apostles
00:10:56.20\00:10:57.53
that He shared down with us.
00:10:57.54\00:10:59.56
That reminds me
of Second Peter 1
00:10:59.57\00:11:02.06
where we have the
clear revelation that,
00:11:02.07\00:11:06.51
holy men spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit.
00:11:06.52\00:11:10.44
So the apostles teaching
00:11:10.45\00:11:12.14
and being
filled the Holy Spirit.
00:11:12.15\00:11:13.69
We really should become
to the same place. Exactly.
00:11:13.70\00:11:16.74
A spirit filled church is
not gonna teach false doctrine.
00:11:16.75\00:11:19.08
No, it's not. So
what's that mean?
00:11:19.09\00:11:21.60
If a church is
teaching contrary scriptures
00:11:21.61\00:11:23.69
that mean they're not
filled with the Spirit.
00:11:23.70\00:11:25.74
It means they are not
surrendering themselves
00:11:25.75\00:11:27.59
to the movement
of the Holy Spirit.
00:11:27.60\00:11:29.16
So virtually surrendered
and asking for the wisdom
00:11:29.17\00:11:32.00
and the direction
of the Holy Spirit.
00:11:32.01\00:11:33.58
He won't lead us right, right
00:11:33.59\00:11:35.23
because the same Holy Spirit
00:11:35.24\00:11:37.43
that was there when
the apostles were teaching
00:11:37.44\00:11:39.30
and the same Holy
Spirit that inspired scripture
00:11:39.31\00:11:42.37
is the same Holy
Spirit that will inspire us
00:11:42.38\00:11:44.45
to really understand
00:11:44.46\00:11:45.79
and devote
ourselves to scripture.
00:11:45.80\00:11:48.52
Now, it's says
here that they will
00:11:48.53\00:11:50.53
continually devoting themselves
00:11:50.54\00:11:52.06
to the apostles teaching.
00:11:52.07\00:11:53.70
It sounds like this
isn't just the apostles
00:11:53.71\00:11:56.86
sitting in a back room
and doing acts of Jesus
00:11:56.87\00:11:59.41
and then pulling down the
commentaries from the shelf.
00:11:59.42\00:12:01.76
I guess they didn't
have commentaries, did they.
00:12:01.77\00:12:02.86
Well, they had
the Old Testament --
00:12:02.87\00:12:03.86
They were Old Testament
commentaries from our base.
00:12:04.85\00:12:07.25
But that this was the
entire church involved in it.
00:12:07.26\00:12:11.48
So I remember hearing
a gentleman preach once
00:12:11.49\00:12:15.03
and he said that
he focuses on praying
00:12:15.04\00:12:18.18
and his wife is the one
who does the Bible study,
00:12:18.19\00:12:20.92
so he prays and she studies.
00:12:20.93\00:12:22.93
Yeah, that's a very
literal understanding
00:12:22.94\00:12:25.23
of two shall become one.
00:12:25.24\00:12:29.03
So we can't kind of divide
up our spiritual activities.
00:12:29.04\00:12:31.85
No we can't. And say I'm
going to do the Bible study,
00:12:31.86\00:12:35.29
my wife will do the praying
00:12:35.30\00:12:36.37
and my little boy
will do the witnessing.
00:12:36.38\00:12:38.12
No-- And he has the
voice for at four months.
00:12:38.13\00:12:40.89
He has the voice
for I guarantee you.
00:12:40.90\00:12:43.10
He can wake people up
in the middle of the night.
00:12:43.11\00:12:45.70
So is something that all
of us need to be focused on.
00:12:45.71\00:12:49.12
Definitely, definitely.
00:12:49.13\00:12:50.42
I don't have to be a
biblical scholar do I.
00:12:50.43\00:12:52.97
No, not at all.
00:12:52.98\00:12:54.06
To be devoted to
the study of scripture.
00:12:54.07\00:12:55.69
No and that's the joy and
the beauty of the Holy Spirit.
00:12:55.70\00:12:58.94
He has promised
us understanding,
00:12:58.95\00:13:00.80
despite our
educational knowledge,
00:13:00.81\00:13:03.28
the apostles were unlearned men.
00:13:03.29\00:13:05.80
Some of the
apostles were unlearned men
00:13:05.81\00:13:07.40
and yet the Holy Spirit was
able to do phenomenal things
00:13:07.41\00:13:10.41
with their ministry
and with their lives
00:13:10.42\00:13:12.12
as a result of their surrender
entirely to the Holy Spirit
00:13:12.13\00:13:15.24
unto the example
that Jesus Christ had set.
00:13:15.25\00:13:18.31
So only the Holy Spirit is the
fulfillment of Christ promise
00:13:18.32\00:13:21.07
of guiding us into
all truth. Exactly.
00:13:21.08\00:13:23.58
And so the Holy Spirit
wouldn't replace scripture.
00:13:23.59\00:13:26.47
Spirit filled life doesn't mean
we need less of scripture. No.
00:13:26.48\00:13:29.48
It simply means
00:13:29.49\00:13:30.48
we're going to understand
scripture more fully. Exactly.
00:13:30.49\00:13:32.54
This gonna be applied and lived
on our lives more completely.
00:13:32.55\00:13:35.27
And they work in
harmony, right, the Holy Spirit,
00:13:35.28\00:13:38.02
the example of Jesus
and the leadership of God.
00:13:38.03\00:13:41.21
So we have the church,
a spirit filled church,
00:13:41.22\00:13:42.97
a spirit led
church that is focused.
00:13:42.98\00:13:46.29
They're
continually devoting themselves
00:13:46.30\00:13:48.61
to the apostles teaching
and those second two components,
00:13:48.62\00:13:52.40
to fellowship,
the breaking of bread,
00:13:52.41\00:13:54.58
those seem to go together Daryl
00:13:54.59\00:13:56.29
and what is this fellowship
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.60
that they're
devoting themselves too.
00:13:58.61\00:14:01.23
Thank you Sean, I think
the Christian really relevant.
00:14:01.24\00:14:03.55
I think let's turn to
Acts Chapter 2 verse 42,
00:14:03.56\00:14:05.51
let's go back to our
passage just to have a look
00:14:05.52\00:14:07.61
a little bit more about
what the two elements were?
00:14:07.62\00:14:11.65
I think in Act Chapter 2
there is a combination of things
00:14:11.66\00:14:14.47
which make the church
very effective in soul winning.
00:14:14.48\00:14:17.96
And I think there
are lots of principles
00:14:17.97\00:14:19.19
we can learn from and
the particular question
00:14:19.20\00:14:21.35
about fellowship is
extremely important.
00:14:21.36\00:14:24.88
In verse 42 it says,
00:14:24.89\00:14:26.33
"They continued stedfastly
in the apostles' doctrine
00:14:26.34\00:14:28.65
and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread."
00:14:28.66\00:14:31.58
I notice I like this
the sandwich principle
00:14:31.59\00:14:33.50
because there is sandwich
in which we need to look
00:14:33.51\00:14:36.46
at this concept of fellowship.
00:14:36.47\00:14:38.72
You see the Greek word
for fellowship is Koinonia.
00:14:38.73\00:14:41.46
And Koinonia sometimes
when you think about fellowship,
00:14:41.47\00:14:43.68
you think about
hanging out with people.
00:14:43.69\00:14:45.94
We think about
fellowship as saying
00:14:45.95\00:14:48.16
hello to someone
after church potluck
00:14:48.17\00:14:49.99
and not seeing
them until next week.
00:14:50.00\00:14:52.07
But I think in the
Bible in the early church
00:14:52.08\00:14:54.35
fellowship is a
lot more than that.
00:14:54.36\00:14:56.66
If you turn with me to Second
Corinthians Chapter 8 verse 23
00:14:56.67\00:15:00.39
we say that Paul
describes his fellow workers
00:15:00.40\00:15:04.12
as more than just team members.
00:15:04.13\00:15:07.16
In fact in Second
Corinthians Chapter 8:23
00:15:07.17\00:15:09.89
it gives us a clue as to what
00:15:09.90\00:15:12.11
fellowship meant
to the early church.
00:15:12.12\00:15:16.75
The Bible says "If
anyone inquires about Titus,"
00:15:16.76\00:15:19.74
now I assume Titus
is a Paul's friend.
00:15:19.75\00:15:22.05
He is my partner and
fellow worker concerning you.
00:15:22.06\00:15:26.67
You see sometimes
in the Adventist Church
00:15:26.68\00:15:28.58
and I'm guilty of
this, sometimes as well,
00:15:28.59\00:15:30.66
we have very good
at working in teams.
00:15:30.67\00:15:34.36
We are very good
at working with people
00:15:34.37\00:15:35.89
in church as
colleagues, but we're perhaps
00:15:35.90\00:15:38.82
not so good at making
friends with our church members.
00:15:38.83\00:15:43.41
I know in the early
apostles Titus was not only
00:15:43.42\00:15:46.96
Paul's worker and
fellow missionary,
00:15:46.97\00:15:48.93
he was Paul's friend as well.
00:15:48.94\00:15:51.33
He was Paul's friend.
00:15:51.34\00:15:52.50
I think this is again
seen, if you wanna turn with me
00:15:52.51\00:15:55.08
to another Bible verse, Second
Corinthian Chapter 1 verse 7
00:15:55.09\00:15:57.84
we see the same the
concept of fellowship.
00:15:57.85\00:16:00.58
What does fellowship mean?
00:16:00.59\00:16:01.62
Your friend,
you're a team member,
00:16:01.63\00:16:03.92
you're a worker but I
think that's more than that.
00:16:03.93\00:16:07.87
2 Corinthians Chapter
1 verse 7 the bible says
00:16:07.88\00:16:14.50
and our hope
for you is stedfast,
00:16:14.51\00:16:16.69
because we know that as you
are partakers of the sufferings,
00:16:16.70\00:16:20.06
so all so you will part
take of the consolation.
00:16:20.07\00:16:23.05
Now the word partaker comes
in the same Greek route word
00:16:23.06\00:16:26.70
and it's almost
is a fellowship means
00:16:26.71\00:16:29.47
that the disciples were united.
00:16:29.48\00:16:32.57
There're united
in mission in purpose
00:16:32.58\00:16:34.81
but they're not
only to spread the gospel
00:16:34.82\00:16:37.48
but they were to
encourage and support
00:16:37.51\00:16:39.54
each other's friends.
00:16:39.55\00:16:41.34
Now, It sounds like
this is so what have been
00:16:41.35\00:16:43.98
undoing of the
rupturing of human relationships
00:16:43.99\00:16:47.54
in Genesis Chapter 3.
00:16:47.55\00:16:49.34
Where we have this closeness,
this fellowship of Adam, Eve
00:16:49.35\00:16:54.15
and their maker ruptured by
of course sin and rebellion.
00:16:54.16\00:16:57.50
Now here we have
spirit filled church,
00:16:57.51\00:16:59.34
where thousands
are coming to Christ
00:16:59.35\00:17:01.56
and they're being
brought back into that unity,
00:17:01.57\00:17:03.35
that fellowship that closeness
00:17:03.36\00:17:05.20
with each other and their Maker.
00:17:05.21\00:17:06.79
You mentioned the
sandwich principle
00:17:06.80\00:17:09.11
and I'm kind of
looking at that verse 42,
00:17:09.12\00:17:11.83
when we have that fellowship
00:17:11.84\00:17:12.91
right in the middle
of teaching and prayer.
00:17:12.92\00:17:17.99
Absolutely and I
think that this means
00:17:18.00\00:17:19.88
that fellowship is not so
much something that we do,
00:17:19.89\00:17:22.46
or something we attempt to
do, but it's a way of living.
00:17:22.47\00:17:25.34
It's our lifestyle.
00:17:25.35\00:17:26.54
The way we
interact with our friends,
00:17:26.55\00:17:28.17
they way we interact
with our team members,
00:17:28.18\00:17:30.01
in way we
interact with the church,
00:17:30.02\00:17:32.11
but also the way the
apostles interacted with people
00:17:32.12\00:17:35.53
who were nonbelievers.
00:17:35.54\00:17:36.95
I think that's even more.
00:17:36.96\00:17:38.65
You noticed in
Acts Chapter 2 verse 42
00:17:38.66\00:17:40.78
if you read all the
way down to 47 it says,
00:17:40.79\00:17:43.33
that many were
added to the church daily.
00:17:43.34\00:17:46.12
So this fellowship,
this breaking of bread
00:17:46.13\00:17:49.80
applies to not
only church members
00:17:49.81\00:17:52.15
but also impacts the
way that the apostles
00:17:52.16\00:17:55.48
dealt with
nonbelievers in their community.
00:17:55.49\00:17:58.19
So this question
fellowship is coming together.
00:17:58.20\00:18:01.35
And I'm really
struck, you mentioned
00:18:01.36\00:18:02.99
reading down through verse 42.
00:18:03.00\00:18:04.59
I'm really struck by how
tangible this fellowship is?
00:18:04.60\00:18:09.63
Is he describes his activities
that they involved in.
00:18:09.64\00:18:12.69
They're selling their
property to support each other.
00:18:12.70\00:18:15.74
They're continued
with one, one in the temple
00:18:15.75\00:18:18.37
breaking bread
from house to house,
00:18:18.38\00:18:19.90
eating together,
praising God together,
00:18:19.91\00:18:22.17
interacting
with others together.
00:18:22.18\00:18:24.32
It seems like this
fellowship principle
00:18:24.33\00:18:26.43
impacts every
facet of our lives.
00:18:26.44\00:18:30.16
Absolutely, it's so
much still a lifestyle,
00:18:30.17\00:18:32.78
but in every aspect
these apostles are united,
00:18:32.79\00:18:36.66
in the same
mission in the same goals
00:18:36.67\00:18:38.78
with the same excitement.
00:18:38.79\00:18:40.10
And it's almost
like you can say-
00:18:40.11\00:18:41.29
they can co-each
other up anytime.
00:18:41.30\00:18:42.93
Hey, how you going?
00:18:42.96\00:18:44.17
You know, what you're up to?
00:18:44.18\00:18:45.86
Should we catch up,
should we encourage,
00:18:45.87\00:18:48.00
you want to spend
sometime praying together.
00:18:48.04\00:18:49.87
It's almost-- it's a
sense of edification,
00:18:49.88\00:18:52.31
its sense of encouragements
of way of supporting each other.
00:18:52.32\00:18:55.79
It's a way that
they live their lives
00:18:55.80\00:18:57.65
in the early church and God
really blessed the early church.
00:18:57.66\00:19:02.95
Now, if this fellowship
is truly gonna be biblical,
00:19:02.96\00:19:05.48
because I mean we can have
00:19:05.49\00:19:06.50
lots of kind of
fellowship, right.
00:19:06.51\00:19:08.31
There is gonna be a New
Year's Eve party tonight,
00:19:08.32\00:19:10.12
right across the street from us.
00:19:10.13\00:19:11.90
This gonna be
little bit loud probably
00:19:11.91\00:19:13.87
and I imagine there
is some fellowshipping
00:19:13.90\00:19:15.52
is going take place out there.
00:19:15.55\00:19:18.31
Is that different
within the kind of fellowship
00:19:18.32\00:19:21.05
we're talking and there
can be a lot of unbelievers,
00:19:21.06\00:19:22.75
is that fellowship.
00:19:22.76\00:19:25.33
Oh, it's interesting you
know, in Ellen White's writing
00:19:25.34\00:19:27.54
she does mention
that meetings of believers
00:19:27.55\00:19:30.23
or meetings of
small group meeting
00:19:30.24\00:19:31.63
that we have should be
00:19:31.64\00:19:32.80
both spiritual and
social at the same time.
00:19:32.81\00:19:36.02
Too often I think,
there is a not a balance
00:19:36.03\00:19:37.92
found between
those two acceptance.
00:19:37.93\00:19:39.69
Sometimes when
we're fellowshipping
00:19:39.70\00:19:41.09
we try and be holy or spiritual,
00:19:41.10\00:19:43.28
but we miss out on
the social component.
00:19:43.29\00:19:46.03
Other times we also find that,
00:19:46.04\00:19:48.38
you know, when we get together,
00:19:48.39\00:19:50.09
we just wanna have fun.
00:19:50.10\00:19:51.61
And sometime we forget about
00:19:51.62\00:19:53.78
that we are reflecting God's
character in everything we do.
00:19:53.79\00:19:57.50
And so I think a balance between
00:19:57.51\00:19:58.93
the two is vitally
important and you see
00:19:58.94\00:20:01.34
all throughout the book of Acts.
00:20:01.35\00:20:03.62
I'm sure that disciples
and the earlier apostles
00:20:03.63\00:20:06.33
in the early church enjoyed
the time they had together.
00:20:06.34\00:20:08.67
They had holistic joy
and enjoyment together,
00:20:08.68\00:20:12.44
but yet at the same time
they were spiritually focused.
00:20:12.45\00:20:16.09
It makes me think
of First John Chapter 1
00:20:16.10\00:20:21.02
and First John Chapter
1 is introduced with this,
00:20:21.03\00:20:24.91
this concept of
us having fellowship,
00:20:24.92\00:20:29.09
of us being one, of us
interacting with each other
00:20:29.10\00:20:33.18
as God's believers
and also as, pardon me,
00:20:33.19\00:20:39.29
also as individuals who are
fellowshipping with the Lord.
00:20:39.30\00:20:43.66
And I'm struck
that is we read this,
00:20:43.67\00:20:46.38
I'm just reading
a couple of verses,
00:20:46.39\00:20:47.64
if you don't mind.
00:20:47.65\00:20:48.98
"That this is the
elder to the chosen lady
00:20:48.99\00:20:50.62
and her children,
whom I love in truth,
00:20:50.63\00:20:51.96
and not only I, but
also all who know the truth,
00:20:51.97\00:20:54.30
for the sake of the
truth which abides in us
00:20:54.31\00:20:56.26
and will be with us forever.
00:20:56.27\00:20:57.37
Grace, mercy and
peace will be with us,
00:20:57.38\00:20:59.92
from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ,
00:20:59.93\00:21:01.60
the Son of the
Father, in truth and love.
00:21:01.61\00:21:05.77
So this unity, this
truth, this fellowship
00:21:05.78\00:21:08.91
that brings us together
has to be saturated with truth.
00:21:08.92\00:21:14.60
Absolutely and in
fact, you know, I show you
00:21:14.61\00:21:16.51
if you turn one book backward
to First John Chapter 1,
00:21:16.52\00:21:20.66
it's almost
interesting when we look
00:21:20.67\00:21:22.34
at the epistles of John here.
00:21:22.35\00:21:24.51
First John Chapter 1 compliments
00:21:24.52\00:21:26.42
what you've just read
in Second John Chapter 1.
00:21:26.43\00:21:29.63
First John Chapter 1
verse 6 and 7 describes
00:21:29.64\00:21:32.34
the fellowship that
we've with someone else
00:21:32.35\00:21:35.30
and this is almost the model
00:21:35.31\00:21:36.84
that we can have
is a early church.
00:21:36.85\00:21:38.31
Verse 6 says "If we say
00:21:38.32\00:21:39.67
that we have fellowship with him
00:21:39.68\00:21:41.15
and walk in darkness we lie
00:21:41.16\00:21:42.83
and do not practice the truth.
00:21:42.84\00:21:44.74
But if we walk in the
light as he is in the light,
00:21:44.75\00:21:47.17
we've fellowship with another
and the blood of Jesus Christ,
00:21:47.18\00:21:51.23
His Son
cleanses us from all sin.
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.61
You know, beings we're
having fellowship here.
00:21:53.62\00:21:55.75
I can be honest, that's actually
00:21:55.76\00:21:56.80
the verse I was I looking for
00:21:56.81\00:21:58.31
and I was looking
there in First John.
00:21:58.32\00:21:59.72
I thought it was First John,
00:21:59.73\00:22:00.87
or Second John I was looking at.
00:22:00.88\00:22:02.08
Thank you Daryl, I'm
really glad you brought them,
00:22:02.09\00:22:03.55
I am glad nobody else knows
00:22:03.56\00:22:04.87
that I missed that
just the four of us.
00:22:04.88\00:22:06.86
That is good.
00:22:06.87\00:22:08.27
So -- so we have this fellowship
00:22:08.28\00:22:10.59
and this is
truth base fellowship.
00:22:10.60\00:22:12.53
So while there may be
a New Year's Eve party
00:22:12.54\00:22:15.44
going on outside that may not be
00:22:15.45\00:22:18.00
biblical
fellowship then you're saying.
00:22:18.01\00:22:20.19
I'm not sure what they done
00:22:20.20\00:22:21.22
on the New Year's
parties here in America,
00:22:21.23\00:22:23.01
I'm from Australia so
but the New Year's parties
00:22:23.02\00:22:25.34
they have, they're kind
of are slightly different.
00:22:25.35\00:22:27.22
I think that you know
00:22:27.23\00:22:28.69
the apostles in
the early fellowship
00:22:28.70\00:22:31.06
everything they did
was focused on Jesus.
00:22:31.07\00:22:34.13
And the model for
their fellowship development
00:22:34.14\00:22:35.92
was their
fellowship and interaction
00:22:35.93\00:22:38.17
and the integration of Jesus
00:22:38.18\00:22:40.64
and the Holy Spirit
into their own lives.
00:22:40.65\00:22:42.58
And this is what we
hear about this week
00:22:42.59\00:22:43.99
and feel me a earnest plead,
00:22:44.00\00:22:45.46
because when the
Holy Spirit fills us
00:22:45.47\00:22:47.37
the fellowship that
we have with our friends,
00:22:47.38\00:22:49.28
with your
family, with our workers,
00:22:49.29\00:22:50.65
with our church members
with the people around us
00:22:50.66\00:22:53.38
becomes
naturally focus on Jesus.
00:22:53.39\00:22:56.43
And I suppose then the
fellowship focused on Jesus
00:22:56.44\00:22:59.09
will be
sacrificial giving fellowship.
00:22:59.10\00:23:01.85
Where we're
looking at how we can bless
00:23:01.86\00:23:04.94
and benefits others
rather than just looking for.
00:23:04.95\00:23:08.53
Well, you know,
those kind of people
00:23:08.54\00:23:11.25
who call you all the time
00:23:11.26\00:23:13.39
and you're not
one of those people
00:23:13.40\00:23:14.86
are you like any
hour of the day. I'm not.
00:23:14.87\00:23:17.57
I'm a pastor and when I
first started pastoring,
00:23:17.58\00:23:22.35
I had dean member
of one of my churches
00:23:22.36\00:23:24.59
who would call me at
all hours of the day,
00:23:24.60\00:23:28.30
just because he woke up
in the middle of the night
00:23:28.31\00:23:29.74
want to talk to somebody.
00:23:29.75\00:23:30.74
He call us past at 2
o'clock in the morning
00:23:30.75\00:23:32.64
and I wasn't married
yet, so it worked out okay.
00:23:32.65\00:23:35.75
But actually got to the point
00:23:35.76\00:23:37.08
and don't tell my church members
00:23:37.09\00:23:38.83
where I turn my
phone on silent at night
00:23:38.84\00:23:41.40
just because of that.
00:23:41.41\00:23:43.73
Is that the kind of fellowship
we're talking about where,
00:23:43.74\00:23:47.53
well, I guess I'm
being convicted right now.
00:23:47.54\00:23:49.94
Self sacrificing
giving fellowship,
00:23:49.95\00:23:52.16
he wasn't having
that kind of fellowship,
00:23:52.17\00:23:53.77
but I should have been giving
00:23:53.78\00:23:54.80
that kind of
fellowship to him, right.
00:23:54.81\00:23:56.57
Oh, I guess so, I don't' know.
00:23:56.58\00:23:59.10
I've never been a pastor
so I can't comment on that.
00:23:59.11\00:24:02.91
You know sometime, it's
interesting and sometimes
00:24:02.92\00:24:05.75
it's difficulty
to get the balance
00:24:05.76\00:24:07.19
between are we
stretching yourself
00:24:07.20\00:24:09.23
and wanting to give of yourself
00:24:09.24\00:24:10.94
self sacrificially to
support others as well.
00:24:10.95\00:24:14.10
But I think if you
noticed the disciples,
00:24:14.11\00:24:17.00
example going
back to Acts Chapter 2
00:24:17.01\00:24:19.12
this was their life.
00:24:19.13\00:24:20.99
This was their life.
00:24:21.00\00:24:22.26
And sometimes when we look at it
00:24:22.27\00:24:24.38
as something that we
have to drag ourselves to do,
00:24:24.39\00:24:28.07
it becomes a chore
and it's almost like
00:24:28.08\00:24:29.59
oh, man you know
some same person at church
00:24:29.60\00:24:32.31
has called me again to
bring fruit for potluck,
00:24:32.32\00:24:34.27
its like three weeks in
the row, I can't do that.
00:24:34.28\00:24:37.78
But when you look
at from the angle,
00:24:37.79\00:24:39.33
when you look at from there,
00:24:39.34\00:24:40.34
through the glasses of
00:24:40.35\00:24:42.15
well, I'm supporting
my fellow church members.
00:24:42.16\00:24:44.85
And we're doing this together
to encourage each other,
00:24:44.86\00:24:47.40
and to encourage
our church family.
00:24:47.41\00:24:49.07
It becomes so much
more of a positive approach.
00:24:49.08\00:24:52.07
You know, I'm struck by
00:24:52.08\00:24:53.38
the radicalness
of the fellowship.
00:24:53.39\00:24:55.95
Just turn Acts Chapter 2
00:24:55.96\00:24:57.73
they were
selling their belongings
00:24:57.74\00:25:01.02
so that they can share with all.
00:25:01.03\00:25:04.66
I have a few
belongings back home
00:25:04.67\00:25:07.47
and you know that
guy who would call me
00:25:07.48\00:25:10.37
at 2 o' clock in the morning,
00:25:10.38\00:25:11.91
you know, I'm not
sure If I will be willing
00:25:11.92\00:25:13.16
to sell my MacBook to you know,
00:25:13.17\00:25:16.47
feed him or, you know,
00:25:16.48\00:25:18.72
send them to somewhere where
00:25:18.73\00:25:19.99
they don't have cell phones,
00:25:20.00\00:25:21.08
you know no
phones we can't call me
00:25:21.09\00:25:22.43
and I don't know
if, if, you know--
00:25:22.44\00:25:25.53
is that we'll be
calling to do is to sell things
00:25:25.54\00:25:29.34
just give and
give, and give, and give.
00:25:29.35\00:25:32.22
No, I thinks that's what I call
00:25:32.23\00:25:34.11
a symptom of the
underlying principle
00:25:34.12\00:25:36.40
you know in the
few that I worked in,
00:25:36.41\00:25:38.36
in medicine,
symptoms are an example
00:25:38.37\00:25:41.74
are display of the
underlying principle.
00:25:41.75\00:25:44.65
I think if you have
look at Acts Chapter 10
00:25:44.66\00:25:47.22
the principle is
illustrated here,
00:25:47.23\00:25:48.80
I want to
quickly just have a look
00:25:48.81\00:25:49.99
at the story in Acts 10 of
why the apostles were so excited
00:25:50.00\00:25:53.91
about selling their possession
and giving all for Jesus.
00:25:53.92\00:25:59.83
You must read Acts 10
before where it's telling
00:25:59.84\00:26:02.87
the story of
Cornelius and remember
00:26:02.88\00:26:05.09
Cornelius was a nonbeliever.
00:26:05.10\00:26:07.18
So here we're
focusing on fellowship
00:26:07.19\00:26:08.96
between
believers and nonbelievers.
00:26:08.97\00:26:11.31
And Peter was quote by always
00:26:11.32\00:26:14.13
given a vision
and then someone came
00:26:14.14\00:26:16.82
to ask Peter to leave his house
00:26:16.83\00:26:20.46
or place where
you are staying to go
00:26:20.47\00:26:22.46
to Cornelius house
and share with them
00:26:22.47\00:26:24.10
about the gospel.
00:26:24.11\00:26:26.28
I want you to
notice when Peter returns.
00:26:26.29\00:26:29.01
Sorry, in Acts
Chapter 10 verse 48,
00:26:29.02\00:26:30.89
he says he
commanded them to be baptized
00:26:30.90\00:26:32.42
after it finished
sharing in the name of the Lord.
00:26:32.43\00:26:35.27
Then they asked
him to stay a few days.
00:26:35.28\00:26:37.94
Now I imagine here
the Cornelius' family
00:26:37.95\00:26:40.78
would have
fellowshipped with Peter.
00:26:40.79\00:26:42.75
And when you stay at
someone's house for few days,
00:26:42.76\00:26:44.44
you don't just stay in
your room and pray and sleep.
00:26:44.45\00:26:46.73
I'm sure you go out
and have food together
00:26:46.74\00:26:48.94
and may be you go for a
bush walk or hike together.
00:26:48.95\00:26:52.78
I'm--just what is a bush walk?
00:26:52.79\00:26:57.19
Bush walk is the
Australian term for hike.
00:26:57.20\00:26:59.91
Oh, okay, okay.
00:26:59.92\00:27:02.16
Or they play ball together
that's what you guys call here
00:27:02.17\00:27:05.90
or something and you know
they got fishing together,
00:27:05.91\00:27:08.98
how knows, Peter
could have taught
00:27:08.99\00:27:10.27
Cornelius how to fishing.
00:27:10.28\00:27:11.39
Cornelius could have told Peter
00:27:11.40\00:27:12.48
how to march properly down
the street being a general.
00:27:12.49\00:27:15.31
And so here in Acts Chapter 11
00:27:15.32\00:27:17.52
when Peter returns
back to the other disciples
00:27:17.53\00:27:22.01
notice what
they said in verse 2.
00:27:22.02\00:27:23.56
When Peter was
come up to Jerusalem,
00:27:23.57\00:27:25.12
those of the circumcision
contended with him saying,
00:27:25.13\00:27:27.87
"You went in to
uncircumcised men"
00:27:27.88\00:27:30.10
and what "and ate with them."
00:27:30.11\00:27:32.96
So Peter had done exactly
00:27:32.97\00:27:34.28
what Acts Chapter 2
verse 42 to 47 was telling.
00:27:34.29\00:27:37.46
He was breaking bread
with these unbelievers.
00:27:37.47\00:27:41.51
You know, I want to compliment
00:27:41.52\00:27:42.58
that with a quote
from the pen of inspiration
00:27:42.59\00:27:46.08
in Gospel Workers page 193.
00:27:46.09\00:27:50.00
Ellen White writes that
"Your success will not depend
00:27:50.01\00:27:52.59
so much upon your
knowledge and accomplishments,
00:27:52.60\00:27:55.14
as upon your ability to
find your way to the heart.
00:27:55.15\00:27:59.16
By becoming social and
coming close to the people,
00:27:59.17\00:28:02.25
you may turn the current
of their thoughts more readily
00:28:02.26\00:28:05.75
than by the
most able discourse."
00:28:05.76\00:28:08.33
You know sometimes its Adventist
00:28:08.37\00:28:12.17
we get the order slightly wrong.
00:28:12.18\00:28:14.96
We are encouraged
and I was so excited,
00:28:14.97\00:28:16.99
yes I was helping to flag people
00:28:17.00\00:28:18.70
to load the
buses I was so excited,
00:28:18.71\00:28:20.07
there were so many
people who were excited
00:28:20.08\00:28:22.04
to go and give outreach
and that's always exciting.
00:28:22.05\00:28:24.43
We are excited about
sharing our faith to people
00:28:24.44\00:28:26.33
that we meet, the family,
even friends that we have.
00:28:26.34\00:28:28.95
But too often we
try and share our faith
00:28:28.96\00:28:31.64
without trying
to befriend someone.
00:28:31.65\00:28:33.83
You know, I have a
principle that I try and live by
00:28:33.84\00:28:36.65
and I believe it's biblically
00:28:36.66\00:28:38.83
in Spirit of Prophecy
page that someone in order
00:28:38.84\00:28:41.78
for someone to come and
want to stay in the church
00:28:41.79\00:28:44.99
they need to
belong first then believe
00:28:45.00\00:28:48.72
and then they behave.
00:28:48.75\00:28:50.35
They belong because
they feel comfortable
00:28:50.36\00:28:52.07
in a circle of community.
00:28:52.08\00:28:53.42
They feel comfortable
in a friendship group.
00:28:53.43\00:28:55.46
They feel
comfortable fellowshipping
00:28:55.47\00:28:57.08
with us who are
Seventh-day Adventist
00:28:57.09\00:28:59.76
and then for them it's easy
00:28:59.77\00:29:01.79
once they belong in
fellowship to listen
00:29:01.80\00:29:04.84
to the teaching and doctrines
00:29:04.85\00:29:06.46
that Elizabeth was
sharing about this morning
00:29:06.47\00:29:08.06
and also as Natasha will
share about intensive prayer,
00:29:08.07\00:29:11.77
often we return it upside down.
00:29:11.78\00:29:13.70
We try and share with
them without wanted to befriend
00:29:13.71\00:29:16.43
and I think that
fellowship and breaking of bread
00:29:16.44\00:29:19.01
in the early
disciples what Peter did,
00:29:19.02\00:29:21.20
what Paul did, what
all the disciples did
00:29:21.21\00:29:23.93
was not only share their faith
but also befriend them first.
00:29:23.94\00:29:28.18
So this fellowship is not
necessarily church membership.
00:29:28.19\00:29:32.59
Absolutely not.
00:29:32.60\00:29:34.02
So we are
befriending and fellowshipping
00:29:34.03\00:29:36.98
and spending time with
not just our church family,
00:29:36.99\00:29:40.70
but with our human
family as a whole. Absolutely.
00:29:40.71\00:29:46.02
You know, we're talking
about this whole fellowship,
00:29:46.03\00:29:48.41
apostles teaching, we're gonna
talk about prayer in a minute
00:29:48.42\00:29:51.41
and as I look
through this description
00:29:51.42\00:29:55.45
of the spirit filled church
just after the Day of Pentecost.
00:29:55.46\00:30:00.32
Where's the public
evangelistic series?
00:30:00.33\00:30:03.44
Are they still
preaching? Absolutely.
00:30:03.45\00:30:06.46
Are they, are they still--
00:30:06.47\00:30:08.73
so this fellowship isn't we
placing public proclamation?
00:30:08.74\00:30:12.81
Absolutely not, in fact,
you just touching the point,
00:30:12.82\00:30:15.30
I just want to raise in,
it summarize in this quote,
00:30:15.31\00:30:18.72
our needs to reach
00:30:18.73\00:30:19.73
because when I read it
last night while preparing,
00:30:19.74\00:30:21.80
I was so moved by it.
00:30:21.81\00:30:23.78
The Spirit of
Prophecy Volume 3, Page 275,
00:30:23.79\00:30:27.25
this is talking about
the Acts Chapter 2 example
00:30:27.26\00:30:30.04
and this is describing
what happen at the end
00:30:30.05\00:30:32.03
and Ellen White
quotes that passage
00:30:32.04\00:30:33.59
and then she says,
"There were men at the feast,
00:30:33.60\00:30:37.01
they're eating, that
they're breaking of bread,
00:30:37.02\00:30:38.63
they're fellowshipping
from every quarter of the world,
00:30:38.64\00:30:42.38
and the truths
received by them were carried
00:30:42.39\00:30:45.21
to their various
homes and published
00:30:45.22\00:30:47.95
among their
people, among their people,
00:30:47.96\00:30:49.34
winning souls to Christ.
00:30:49.35\00:30:52.63
Yes, they were
preaching public evangelism,
00:30:52.64\00:30:54.33
Peter preach a powerful
sermon in Acts Chapter 2,
00:30:54.34\00:30:56.55
yes, they were
sharing, yes, they were teaching
00:30:56.56\00:30:58.68
but the things
that they could share
00:30:58.69\00:31:00.52
while they were fellowshipping
00:31:00.53\00:31:02.07
would just as powerful
to win souls for Jesus.
00:31:02.08\00:31:04.70
So, I guess in the sense
00:31:04.71\00:31:05.88
they were following
the example of Christ,
00:31:05.89\00:31:07.84
you know that famous
quote, of Ministry of Healing,
00:31:07.85\00:31:09.63
Christ's method alone
will give true success,
00:31:09.64\00:31:12.20
He mingled with men as
one who desire their good,
00:31:12.21\00:31:15.09
ministered to their
needs, won their confidence.
00:31:15.10\00:31:18.04
Then He bade them, "Follow Me."
00:31:18.05\00:31:20.89
Absolutely. And I think if every
member of our church worldwide
00:31:20.90\00:31:24.61
would do that
today, can you imagine
00:31:24.62\00:31:27.44
the number of souls
that we can win for Christ?
00:31:27.45\00:31:30.43
So fellowship is
evangelistic. Absolutely.
00:31:30.44\00:31:32.70
Fellowship, focus on
the apostles' doctrine,
00:31:32.71\00:31:35.78
focus on prayer
results in verse 47
00:31:35.79\00:31:38.97
of the Lord continually
adding to the charge.
00:31:38.98\00:31:42.90
So we have, focus on doctrine,
00:31:42.91\00:31:44.46
focus on teaching
because that reveals to us
00:31:44.47\00:31:47.12
that's what we find in accurate
reliable identification of
00:31:47.13\00:31:51.86
who God is, His
character, His love for us,
00:31:51.87\00:31:53.83
His willing, His
plan for our lives.
00:31:53.84\00:31:55.59
But that leads us to fellowship,
00:31:55.60\00:31:56.75
this apostles
teaching takes place
00:31:56.76\00:31:58.73
in the context of fellowship,
spending time with believers.
00:31:58.74\00:32:01.24
We're not isolated,
no man is an island.
00:32:01.25\00:32:04.38
But there's
prayer as well, I guess
00:32:04.39\00:32:06.76
we need to have a balance.
00:32:06.77\00:32:08.11
We don't just get
together and study.
00:32:08.12\00:32:10.25
We just don't get
together in fellowship.
00:32:10.26\00:32:12.31
We also spend time in prayer.
00:32:12.32\00:32:15.67
And Natasha, why, why
was prayer so important
00:32:15.68\00:32:20.07
in the life of the
spirit filled church,
00:32:20.08\00:32:22.02
after all they'd already gotten
00:32:22.03\00:32:23.87
what they prayed
for, the Holy Spirit.
00:32:23.88\00:32:26.17
They had, they had, you know,
00:32:26.18\00:32:27.32
Sean, as I look at the
beginning chapters in Acts,
00:32:27.33\00:32:31.76
there is like,
there's hardly even a chapter
00:32:31.77\00:32:33.88
where prayer is not mentioned.
00:32:33.89\00:32:35.71
It was like the very backdrop,
00:32:35.72\00:32:37.64
the very foundation out of which
00:32:37.65\00:32:39.01
the church even operated.
00:32:39.02\00:32:40.96
You know, back
before like you mentioned
00:32:40.97\00:32:42.91
the Holy Spirit was poured
out, there's only 120 of them.
00:32:42.92\00:32:45.87
But actually prayer,
if you look at the Bible,
00:32:45.88\00:32:48.09
we come to Acts Chapter 1,
prayer was like their primary,
00:32:48.10\00:32:52.18
their primary
activity than study of the word
00:32:52.19\00:32:54.98
before the Holy
Spirit was poured out.
00:32:54.99\00:32:56.87
And then once the
Holy Spirit was poured out
00:32:56.88\00:32:59.79
then you see prayer all infused
00:32:59.80\00:33:02.96
throughout every
single thing they do.
00:33:02.97\00:33:06.30
You know, I look one example
00:33:06.31\00:33:10.88
that I was looking
at as I was studying
00:33:10.89\00:33:12.99
Acts was right
there at the beginning
00:33:13.00\00:33:15.40
when they would
be having to choose
00:33:15.41\00:33:16.67
another apostle to join
00:33:16.68\00:33:18.03
in with the group
there, they prayed.
00:33:18.04\00:33:21.60
Bible specifically
says, they stopped and prayed
00:33:21.61\00:33:24.38
before they choose
who the church leaders,
00:33:24.39\00:33:27.40
what, were gonna be.
00:33:27.41\00:33:28.97
And as I think about
our lives as young people
00:33:28.98\00:33:31.85
as we're
participating in the church
00:33:31.86\00:33:33.53
that we long to
see the Holy Spirit,
00:33:33.54\00:33:35.54
you know, in and
everything like that.
00:33:35.55\00:33:39.04
How often, just recently
00:33:39.05\00:33:41.03
our church had the same pastor
00:33:41.04\00:33:43.48
for like eight years
which is pretty long to have,
00:33:43.49\00:33:47.05
you know, pastor in one church.
00:33:47.06\00:33:48.94
And he was an
incredibly godly man.
00:33:48.95\00:33:51.97
And then to our great distress
00:33:51.98\00:33:54.18
he was being transferred away
00:33:54.19\00:33:56.11
and we were gonna
had to get a new pastor.
00:33:56.12\00:33:59.16
And, you know,
church was a little bit,
00:33:59.17\00:34:01.30
you know, unsettled state there
00:34:01.31\00:34:02.85
when we didn't have a
pastor and everything,
00:34:02.86\00:34:05.19
during that
time it's easy for us
00:34:05.20\00:34:07.27
as young people to be like,
00:34:07.28\00:34:08.32
oh, boy, you
know, our last pastor,
00:34:08.33\00:34:11.54
he was so wonderful, you know,
00:34:11.55\00:34:13.37
I can't believe
we're loosing him.
00:34:13.38\00:34:14.98
Well in reality our
job if you follow the Bible
00:34:14.99\00:34:20.02
it's to get on our knees even
00:34:20.03\00:34:21.87
we as young
people we don't think
00:34:21.88\00:34:23.07
we can do that much about it
00:34:23.08\00:34:24.12
but God is one
that can do about it
00:34:24.13\00:34:26.05
and prayers what
connects us to Him.
00:34:26.06\00:34:28.09
And prayer at the intersession
00:34:28.10\00:34:29.82
can accomplish
everything in the world.
00:34:29.83\00:34:31.18
And, I'm thankful to say,
00:34:31.19\00:34:32.20
we did get another
very wonderful pastor
00:34:32.21\00:34:35.04
in our church after much prayer,
00:34:35.05\00:34:36.35
God was, God was very good.
00:34:36.36\00:34:39.24
And then as you look
into as you continue study
00:34:39.25\00:34:42.13
through Acts, you see
prayer in medical ministry,
00:34:42.14\00:34:44.54
Peter, when he was
going to heal Dorcas,
00:34:44.55\00:34:47.32
he knelt down and pray.
00:34:47.33\00:34:48.39
The Bible says
specifically, before he went
00:34:48.40\00:34:50.15
and actually told her to arise.
00:34:50.16\00:34:52.24
Or when Peter and John
went and healed the man
00:34:52.25\00:34:55.54
by the beautiful
gate in the temple,
00:34:55.55\00:34:57.23
they were on their way to pray.
00:34:57.24\00:34:59.00
Prayer was all in Israel
00:34:59.01\00:35:00.17
and we're not doing healings,
00:35:00.18\00:35:02.02
obviously at this point
00:35:02.03\00:35:03.15
but we are called to reach
out through medical missionary
00:35:03.16\00:35:06.89
even if we
aren't medical personal,
00:35:06.90\00:35:08.57
we are call to visit the sick,
00:35:08.58\00:35:09.84
we are called to
reach out to the hurting
00:35:09.85\00:35:12.19
and prayer is the
very backdrop of that.
00:35:12.20\00:35:14.79
So God still works
miracles through prayer. Amen.
00:35:14.80\00:35:17.68
As we fall to
our knees and pray.
00:35:17.69\00:35:19.70
And I think it's
interesting of the ten times
00:35:19.71\00:35:21.23
in the New
Testament where God's people
00:35:21.24\00:35:23.26
are described has
being devoted to something.
00:35:23.27\00:35:25.89
I think like six of those times
it's in reference to prayer.
00:35:25.90\00:35:29.40
We have that before
the Day of Pentecost
00:35:29.41\00:35:31.91
as they're in
approved in Acts 1.
00:35:31.92\00:35:33.73
But we have it
here in Acts Chapter 2
00:35:33.74\00:35:34.97
as a description of
what they're devoted
00:35:34.98\00:35:37.02
to as a early
church, that spirit filled.
00:35:37.03\00:35:40.07
And then, of
course, we get to Acts 6
00:35:40.08\00:35:42.10
where there was this
little bit of concern about the,
00:35:42.11\00:35:46.30
I guess, you know, we read
Acts Chapter 2 verses 42 to 47
00:35:46.31\00:35:49.14
we get this idea
there's a Utopian Community.
00:35:49.15\00:35:51.43
Yeah. Everything
is working perfectly.
00:35:51.44\00:35:53.33
Yeah, you get to Acts 6
00:35:53.34\00:35:54.33
and you find out
or some people feel
00:35:54.34\00:35:55.51
they're getting left out.
00:35:55.52\00:35:57.10
But the disciples, the apostles,
00:35:57.11\00:35:59.58
what were their
response when they were asked
00:35:59.59\00:36:01.42
to care for some
of these other needs.
00:36:01.43\00:36:03.59
Right, well, they
comes up distress,
00:36:03.60\00:36:05.65
you know, because it's
like the Greeks are saying,
00:36:05.68\00:36:08.18
Greeks are complaining of
some discrimination issues,
00:36:08.19\00:36:10.80
they're saying, you know,
the Jewish widows are getting,
00:36:10.81\00:36:13.97
you know, helped in
this daily ministration
00:36:13.98\00:36:15.59
where everyone was
being helped by everybody else
00:36:15.60\00:36:17.84
as we read in Acts Chapter 2.
00:36:17.85\00:36:19.70
But the Grecian
widows were not getting
00:36:19.71\00:36:21.47
that enough and
they were complaining
00:36:21.48\00:36:23.08
that there was an issue
of discrimination there.
00:36:23.09\00:36:25.83
And there were
some tensions over it
00:36:25.84\00:36:28.23
the Bible
indicates and the apostles
00:36:28.24\00:36:31.26
make a very interesting comment.
00:36:31.27\00:36:33.54
They make the comment
00:36:33.55\00:36:34.60
that it would not
be appropriate for them
00:36:34.61\00:36:38.02
to neglect prayer and
the ministry of the word
00:36:38.03\00:36:44.65
even for something
like church administration
00:36:44.66\00:36:47.86
or ministering to
the poor and the widows
00:36:47.87\00:36:49.67
which are biblical
commands, which they recognize
00:36:49.68\00:36:52.77
to be needful and necessary.
00:36:52.78\00:36:54.78
But they said, flat
out that it would be
00:36:54.79\00:36:58.06
inappropriate for
them to neglect prayer
00:36:58.07\00:37:00.50
and the ministry
of the word for this.
00:37:00.51\00:37:02.87
Now it doesn't
mean they ignore it,
00:37:02.88\00:37:04.04
they took care of
it, they did care of it
00:37:04.05\00:37:06.39
and they arrange
for things to happen,
00:37:06.40\00:37:07.77
so that that
would be handled fairly.
00:37:07.78\00:37:11.18
But they had this recognition
of the importance of prayer
00:37:11.19\00:37:15.82
and the importance
of the word of God.
00:37:15.83\00:37:18.45
Now are you
telling us then that,
00:37:18.46\00:37:20.41
well, scripture
telling us, right,
00:37:20.42\00:37:21.74
because we don't
really care of what we think?
00:37:21.75\00:37:24.53
Well I can't care
what I think but anyway.
00:37:24.54\00:37:27.47
But, is the
Bible telling us then
00:37:27.48\00:37:29.50
that only certain people
should be devoted to prayer,
00:37:29.51\00:37:32.59
I mean, after all it was just
the apostle devoted to prayer
00:37:32.60\00:37:34.34
and some of the
less important of us
00:37:34.35\00:37:36.14
would take care of,
you know, like issues like
00:37:36.15\00:37:37.66
discrimination and feeding
people and things like that.
00:37:37.67\00:37:41.90
No, indeed, in fact, Paul
later on in the New Testament
00:37:41.91\00:37:45.67
comments that we are all to pray
00:37:45.68\00:37:47.76
without ceasing it's
not just like a suggestion,
00:37:47.77\00:37:49.61
it's actually command
to pray without ceasing.
00:37:49.62\00:37:53.41
Peter talks about prayer also.
00:37:53.42\00:37:55.38
John talks about prayer,
approaching God in prayer.
00:37:55.39\00:37:58.62
Not just
something for the apostles,
00:37:58.63\00:38:00.28
not just
something for the pastor,
00:38:00.29\00:38:01.31
the elder, the
conference president,
00:38:01.32\00:38:03.60
the general
conference president,
00:38:03.61\00:38:05.35
you know, it wasn't
just something for them,
00:38:05.36\00:38:08.15
it was something
for everyone to continue
00:38:08.16\00:38:10.45
in continually to
devote themselves to it.
00:38:10.46\00:38:14.98
So we have a
spirit filled church
00:38:14.99\00:38:18.62
that prays even though
their prayer has been answered.
00:38:18.63\00:38:22.56
You know, I wonder if sometimes
00:38:22.57\00:38:23.80
we come to a
conference like this,
00:38:23.81\00:38:25.08
Natasha and our theme
itself is fill me out,
00:38:25.09\00:38:29.08
honestly it's a prayer itself.
00:38:29.09\00:38:31.01
And we've been
praying that all week long,
00:38:31.02\00:38:33.11
we continue to pray that all
through today and then tomorrow
00:38:33.12\00:38:35.92
until noon we depart.
00:38:35.93\00:38:38.81
But it seems like what happen
00:38:38.82\00:38:40.32
with the other
Christian church was,
00:38:40.33\00:38:42.02
it was not just an
intense focus on prayer
00:38:42.03\00:38:44.60
then they went home
and forgot about it,
00:38:44.61\00:38:46.81
but it was an ongoing
part of the Christian life.
00:38:46.82\00:38:50.55
How do we
actually make that happen?
00:38:50.56\00:38:53.78
How do we make sure
00:38:53.79\00:38:55.64
that we are
continually devoted to prayer
00:38:55.65\00:38:58.91
not just when I'm
surrounded by 5000 people
00:38:58.92\00:39:01.10
who are encouraging me to pray?
00:39:01.11\00:39:03.54
You know, I think
it has a lot to do
00:39:03.55\00:39:06.42
with incorporating
into our daily lives,
00:39:06.43\00:39:09.54
our daily schedule as we
look into the Book of Acts
00:39:09.55\00:39:12.19
we see Peter and
John, who were like
00:39:12.20\00:39:16.20
we could quite easily say,
00:39:16.21\00:39:17.46
the most
prominent of the apostles.
00:39:17.47\00:39:20.69
You know, Paul came
along little bit later,
00:39:20.70\00:39:22.24
he was also very prominent
00:39:22.25\00:39:23.27
but in the early church right
00:39:23.28\00:39:25.45
then before Paul
came on the scene.
00:39:25.46\00:39:27.61
Peter and John were
like the primary figures
00:39:27.62\00:39:31.50
and we see them
going to the temple
00:39:31.51\00:39:33.94
to pray rather than
dealing with all this
00:39:33.95\00:39:36.95
and that and the other,
00:39:36.96\00:39:37.95
you know, we need to
organize, let's preach a sermon,
00:39:37.96\00:39:40.29
let's... And I think so
often we get caught up in the,
00:39:40.30\00:39:43.51
the details of our day,
of our school, of our work
00:39:43.52\00:39:48.22
or if we are
apart of a ministry,
00:39:48.23\00:39:50.29
the details of the ministry
00:39:50.30\00:39:52.06
and all those things are good,
00:39:52.07\00:39:53.22
and all those
things are necessary.
00:39:53.23\00:39:54.59
But we see even
Peter and John making time
00:39:54.60\00:39:57.96
even in their
incredibly busy schedules
00:39:57.97\00:39:59.95
as the most prominent leaders
00:39:59.96\00:40:01.41
of this new church taking aside,
00:40:01.42\00:40:04.74
active actual
time to pray to God.
00:40:04.75\00:40:07.84
So if, if you, if me, if all
of us are devoted to something.
00:40:07.85\00:40:13.71
We'll going to be
intentional about it.
00:40:13.72\00:40:16.65
We'll going to be
intentional about making sure
00:40:16.66\00:40:19.50
it is a active vibrant
part of our lives. Amen.
00:40:19.51\00:40:23.54
And you know, we were, Natasha,
00:40:23.55\00:40:26.24
you mentioned the
reality that we individual
00:40:26.25\00:40:29.70
can make this
apart of our lives.
00:40:29.71\00:40:31.66
But you know
some of us may go home
00:40:31.67\00:40:33.61
to a church that
isn't devoted to prayer,
00:40:33.62\00:40:38.06
isn't devoted to
the apostles teaching.
00:40:38.07\00:40:40.14
And wouldn't know
what fellowship was
00:40:40.15\00:40:42.12
if they came up and
bit them on the nose.
00:40:42.13\00:40:44.54
So can I really, if I
go home, and by the way,
00:40:44.55\00:40:49.70
I told you I'm a pastor
00:40:49.71\00:40:51.04
that I am not
describing my church by the way.
00:40:51.05\00:40:53.85
You know, not
describing my churches
00:40:53.86\00:40:55.22
but, you know, if we do
go to a church like that
00:40:55.23\00:40:58.21
or family like that,
that spiritual fervor,
00:40:58.22\00:41:03.03
Bible study prayer is
not part of family life.
00:41:03.04\00:41:06.32
Can I do something about it
00:41:06.33\00:41:07.54
or am I just stuck having
00:41:07.55\00:41:09.51
my own individual
existence in that context?
00:41:09.52\00:41:13.24
And Daryl, I think
you probably would,
00:41:13.25\00:41:15.06
could address us on that.
00:41:15.07\00:41:16.60
This reality of
when we feel isolated
00:41:16.61\00:41:20.05
when we want to
devote like the early church
00:41:20.06\00:41:22.13
did ourselves to
prayer, to fellowship
00:41:22.14\00:41:24.62
and Bible study but we
feel like we're all alone.
00:41:24.63\00:41:29.52
Yeah, that's the
difficult one in the country
00:41:29.53\00:41:31.08
like where I you come from,
there are lot of church members
00:41:31.09\00:41:33.94
and also young people
who are not in a place
00:41:33.95\00:41:37.60
or are really isolated
00:41:37.61\00:41:39.63
because Australia is
a fairly big country,
00:41:39.64\00:41:41.41
we have 20 million people across
00:41:41.42\00:41:43.74
the vast land mass
with only 55,000 Adventists.
00:41:43.75\00:41:47.57
And sometimes when we
are stuck in the situation
00:41:47.58\00:41:49.32
and we don't know what to do,
00:41:49.33\00:41:51.67
and we are
disappointed and discouraged
00:41:51.68\00:41:54.25
and we feel all
alone or always go to back,
00:41:54.26\00:41:59.15
always go to back to that
initial start of the matter.
00:41:59.16\00:42:04.46
How can the Holy
Spirit changed me,
00:42:04.47\00:42:07.17
how can the Holy
Spirit changed me my heart,
00:42:07.18\00:42:10.18
through my heart
so that I can then
00:42:10.19\00:42:12.69
reach out to the
people around me.
00:42:12.70\00:42:14.48
And here whether that's
starting your prayer life,
00:42:14.49\00:42:17.79
whether that's
thinking of one name
00:42:17.80\00:42:19.75
that we can share with or
fellowship with that week,
00:42:19.76\00:42:22.50
whether it's doing a Bible study
00:42:22.51\00:42:24.03
or preparing a Bible study
00:42:24.04\00:42:25.03
that we can share
with someone else.
00:42:25.04\00:42:27.02
It comes back to the filling
of our heart by Holy Spirit
00:42:27.03\00:42:30.87
before we can reach
the people around us
00:42:30.88\00:42:33.68
in our church, our
family, our community.
00:42:33.69\00:42:37.18
So as you mentioned,
it starts individually,
00:42:37.19\00:42:40.40
feel me our earnest plea,
God's call me to my needs first,
00:42:40.41\00:42:45.23
to be pleading with
him that He would fill
00:42:45.24\00:42:47.30
and transform my life.
00:42:47.31\00:42:49.43
And then I can be
part of something bigger
00:42:49.44\00:42:52.03
that He is doing in my church.
00:42:52.04\00:42:54.95
So in a way practical
sense then what you are saying
00:42:54.96\00:42:57.61
then is I can go back
to my church or way I am
00:42:57.62\00:43:00.94
and I don't have to
wait for someone else
00:43:00.95\00:43:02.44
to initiate
Christian fellowship.
00:43:02.45\00:43:04.71
I don't have to wait
for someone else to initiate
00:43:04.72\00:43:06.63
a prayer ministry of my church.
00:43:06.64\00:43:08.36
I don't have to
wait for someone else
00:43:08.37\00:43:09.71
to initiate bible
study in my church.
00:43:09.72\00:43:12.93
I can take that step
as God is leading me.
00:43:12.94\00:43:15.72
I can reach out
and invite someone else
00:43:15.73\00:43:17.50
to study the Bible with me.
00:43:17.51\00:43:18.88
I can go up to
Elizabeth and say lets pray.
00:43:18.89\00:43:21.67
I don't have to sit in a corner
00:43:21.68\00:43:23.77
and just wait for someone
else to take the initiative.
00:43:23.78\00:43:26.38
And this is so
applicable for those of us
00:43:26.39\00:43:29.23
who are at public universities.
00:43:29.24\00:43:30.63
I for myself, I'm at a
very secular university
00:43:30.64\00:43:33.39
and when I was,
when I first got there
00:43:33.40\00:43:35.26
it seemed very
dry, no there is--
00:43:35.27\00:43:38.03
at least during the week,
there is no Bible studies.
00:43:38.04\00:43:40.18
I think it was very hard to have
00:43:40.19\00:43:41.37
spiritual
conversations with people,
00:43:41.38\00:43:42.97
but if you go with it
in a very intentional like
00:43:42.98\00:43:46.35
I am gonna, I wanna
create this atmosphere,
00:43:46.36\00:43:48.53
I wanna create
by the grace of God
00:43:48.54\00:43:51.22
and by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit
00:43:51.23\00:43:54.17
to have this community,
then God will surround you
00:43:54.18\00:43:57.15
with people who are
interested in the same things
00:43:57.16\00:43:59.18
and who may not have expressed
00:43:59.19\00:44:01.47
that without you
expressing it initially,
00:44:01.48\00:44:03.21
but God will work on their heart
00:44:03.22\00:44:04.52
and He is there before you
00:44:04.53\00:44:05.72
and He will
target the heart strings.
00:44:05.73\00:44:08.65
The Holy Spirit will target
the heart strings of people
00:44:08.66\00:44:10.70
and create that community,
00:44:10.71\00:44:12.35
so there are definitely people
00:44:12.36\00:44:14.00
who are searching
just as we are searching.
00:44:14.01\00:44:16.35
I wonder, as we're
concluding in a few minutes,
00:44:16.36\00:44:18.13
I wonder if we can
fleck for a few minutes
00:44:18.14\00:44:19.99
on the reality that all
of this life of the church
00:44:20.00\00:44:26.61
and I guess take back to what
00:44:26.62\00:44:27.96
we discussed
Elizabeth at the beginning.
00:44:27.97\00:44:30.05
This whole life of
the church was based on
00:44:30.06\00:44:32.25
what the scripture teach us.
00:44:32.26\00:44:34.87
That's what mentioned
first, the apostle's doctrine.
00:44:34.88\00:44:38.89
Sometimes people say
00:44:38.90\00:44:41.53
we don't need to
worry about doctrine.
00:44:41.54\00:44:43.73
We don't need to
worry about teachings.
00:44:43.74\00:44:45.31
We just focus on
Jesus, we love each other,
00:44:45.32\00:44:47.98
we will hold hands sing Kumbaya
and then Jesus will come.
00:44:47.99\00:44:53.56
And I may be, as I don't
hold hands with people anyway,
00:44:53.57\00:44:55.95
so that doesn't work for me
00:44:55.96\00:44:57.74
but I guess that isn't
seem to be what's happening here
00:44:57.75\00:45:02.51
and I guess that's not
what we are gonna be doing,
00:45:02.52\00:45:04.09
is spirit filled people.
00:45:04.10\00:45:05.64
No not at all.
00:45:05.65\00:45:06.66
I mean, if the, like I
said the apostles doctrine
00:45:06.67\00:45:10.45
is focused on Christ, so
we always have to center it
00:45:10.46\00:45:13.84
on Christ and if we
lose sight of who Christ is,
00:45:13.85\00:45:16.45
we can get people have
gone into plenty of trouble
00:45:16.46\00:45:20.40
because they lose
sight of the heart
00:45:20.41\00:45:22.62
and the focus of
why fellowship exists.
00:45:22.63\00:45:25.79
Who the center of
our fellowship is?
00:45:25.80\00:45:27.47
Who and why prayer exists?
00:45:27.48\00:45:30.67
And who's the
center of our prayers?
00:45:30.68\00:45:32.53
And who intercedes on our behalf
00:45:32.54\00:45:34.71
to make our prayers
acceptable in the side of God?
00:45:34.72\00:45:36.84
So really when we
lose sight of Christ,
00:45:36.85\00:45:39.17
we kind of negate
the potential of what
00:45:39.18\00:45:43.38
can be unleashed otherwise
and we invite a lot of--
00:45:43.39\00:45:47.83
we invite a lot
of room for trouble
00:45:47.84\00:45:49.67
and for self gain and
for self gratification
00:45:49.68\00:45:53.23
and for self we exemplify
ourselves rather than Christ
00:45:53.24\00:45:58.07
and we are imperfect,
00:45:58.08\00:45:59.51
therefore we are gonna
have imperfect fellowship
00:45:59.52\00:46:01.50
or imperfect prayer
and imperfect relations.
00:46:01.51\00:46:05.80
But scripture kind
of keeps us on track
00:46:05.81\00:46:08.18
in imperfect world
with imperfect people
00:46:08.19\00:46:10.67
who are being
transformed only by the power
00:46:10.68\00:46:13.20
of the Holy Spirit
being empowered to be
00:46:13.21\00:46:17.12
likewise I appreciated what
00:46:17.13\00:46:18.13
Pastor Divecha has been
sharing with us in the evening.
00:46:18.14\00:46:21.13
I remember he
mentioned that temptation
00:46:21.14\00:46:24.23
is a wind falling
is an if in descend.
00:46:24.24\00:46:30.02
I suspect that's gonna be
00:46:30.03\00:46:31.31
more and more experience as
we are filled with the spirit
00:46:31.32\00:46:36.35
as we are focused on
scripture as we are allowing
00:46:36.36\00:46:38.96
that to drive the
life in the mission,
00:46:38.97\00:46:41.93
in the ministry of our church.
00:46:41.94\00:46:44.60
I wonder if we can make
this very intensely practical.
00:46:44.61\00:46:47.91
And I wonder if each
one of you could come up
00:46:47.92\00:46:50.48
with two very
practical suggestions,
00:46:50.49\00:46:54.61
principles that all of us
could take home with ourselves
00:46:54.62\00:46:58.24
and apply as we
are struggling to have
00:46:58.25\00:47:02.88
the spirit filled existence.
00:47:02.89\00:47:05.97
You know, what are
two practical suggestions
00:47:05.98\00:47:08.46
for being devoted to scripture?
00:47:08.47\00:47:10.37
What are two
practical suggestions for being
00:47:10.38\00:47:12.53
devoted to fellowship?
00:47:12.54\00:47:13.59
What are two
practical suggestions
00:47:13.60\00:47:15.10
for being devoted to prayer?
00:47:15.11\00:47:18.67
And I guess its not
only fare but Elizabeth,
00:47:18.68\00:47:20.30
we'll start with you,
00:47:20.31\00:47:21.38
they will get to
think about it more.
00:47:21.39\00:47:22.94
But you don't get much time.
00:47:22.95\00:47:25.83
To be devoted to scripture,
I think it would be great
00:47:25.84\00:47:28.43
if we spend time
memorizing scriptures,
00:47:28.44\00:47:31.26
so we can have it on
our heart like David says
00:47:31.27\00:47:33.42
"To light to be a path on to us
00:47:33.43\00:47:35.34
so we can
constantly meditate on it.
00:47:35.35\00:47:37.85
And secondly to
spend intentional time
00:47:37.86\00:47:40.99
during the day in the
evening and in the morning
00:47:41.00\00:47:44.65
in the word and really
meditating on and spending time
00:47:44.66\00:47:48.01
reflecting on it
and asking the Lord
00:47:48.02\00:47:49.76
to give us a
message for the day,
00:47:49.77\00:47:53.23
so that we can really
be prepared for what's
00:47:53.24\00:47:56.01
to come and give us a message
00:47:56.02\00:47:57.48
that someone else may need
00:47:57.49\00:47:58.91
and to truly enter and infuse
the word in our conversation,
00:47:58.92\00:48:03.15
so that its no just something
00:48:03.16\00:48:04.25
that we do in
the morning and night
00:48:04.26\00:48:06.10
or not something we
memorize just by ourselves,
00:48:06.11\00:48:08.16
but something that
we make real intangible
00:48:08.17\00:48:10.76
in our conversations
and in our interactions.
00:48:10.77\00:48:14.80
So memorize scripture.
00:48:14.81\00:48:18.86
I guess that's
pretty devoted, isn't that?
00:48:18.87\00:48:20.40
Yeah. Focus on
memorizing scripture.
00:48:20.41\00:48:22.56
So Daryl, how can I be focused
00:48:22.57\00:48:24.24
on fellowship in a
very practical way.
00:48:24.25\00:48:26.65
Yeah, I think we can
do two practical things
00:48:26.66\00:48:28.25
Sean, I think, why not think,
00:48:28.26\00:48:31.00
let's each of us
think of two names
00:48:31.01\00:48:33.33
that when we leave
his place and go back
00:48:33.34\00:48:35.68
this week two church members
00:48:35.69\00:48:38.70
that you can
intentionally make an effort
00:48:38.71\00:48:40.69
to fellowship with this week
00:48:40.70\00:48:42.03
whether its giving him
a call not just to ask him
00:48:42.04\00:48:44.24
to do something
but to spend time
00:48:44.25\00:48:45.79
and listening to
them encouraging them,
00:48:45.80\00:48:47.44
praying with
them or may be going
00:48:47.45\00:48:50.86
to a Friday night prayer meeting
00:48:50.87\00:48:52.53
or Wednesday
night prayer meeting
00:48:52.54\00:48:53.89
together with these two people
00:48:53.90\00:48:55.55
just to support each other.
00:48:55.56\00:48:57.49
And on the other hand,
think of two nonbelievers
00:48:57.50\00:49:00.41
who we can intentionally
fellowship with this week.
00:49:00.42\00:49:03.24
Whatever it's going for
an outing or inviting them
00:49:03.25\00:49:06.52
over to your house for dinner.
00:49:06.53\00:49:08.78
Let's think of four
names, two church members,
00:49:08.79\00:49:11.80
and two who are
not yet believers
00:49:11.81\00:49:14.17
that we can
intentionally fellowship
00:49:14.18\00:49:15.57
when we leave
this place this week.
00:49:15.58\00:49:18.77
So Elizabeth, he
said memorize scripture.
00:49:18.78\00:49:20.68
I have another one.
00:49:20.69\00:49:21.68
Oh, you have
another one, oh, okay.
00:49:21.69\00:49:23.24
We can I know from me I have--
00:49:23.25\00:49:26.22
like on my iPod I
had the Bible on my iPod,
00:49:26.23\00:49:28.21
so as I am walking,
listening to the word
00:49:28.22\00:49:30.23
on my iPod you know,
00:49:30.24\00:49:31.23
if you listen
something long enough,
00:49:31.24\00:49:32.49
it become music to your ears
00:49:32.50\00:49:33.92
so really just
using the word in that way
00:49:33.93\00:49:37.24
even as we are
walking and stuff.
00:49:37.25\00:49:38.94
So your
suggestions are saturating
00:49:38.95\00:49:40.80
your mind with
God's word. Exactly.
00:49:40.81\00:49:42.50
Saturated mind with God's word.
00:49:42.51\00:49:45.21
Prayerfully thinking of two
individuals in God's church.
00:49:45.22\00:49:48.90
This next week are we
trying to in fellowship with
00:49:48.91\00:49:51.74
and two who are
not yet believers.
00:49:51.75\00:49:54.45
And then Natasha
what are two suggestions
00:49:54.46\00:49:56.10
for how we can be
devoted to prayer.
00:49:56.11\00:49:59.77
Well first one
that comes to my mind
00:49:59.78\00:50:01.93
is to actually make an
appointment in our day,
00:50:01.94\00:50:06.07
time to spend with God
00:50:06.08\00:50:07.51
and you know what
like inevitably Sean,
00:50:07.52\00:50:10.34
because the devil
is so dedicated to us
00:50:10.35\00:50:11.81
not spending time praying,
00:50:11.82\00:50:13.23
the cell phone will be ringing,
00:50:13.24\00:50:14.65
someone is going to
be knocking at the door,
00:50:14.66\00:50:16.23
you know, my dog
will be stick his stomach
00:50:16.24\00:50:17.98
and throwing up,
something is gonna happen
00:50:17.99\00:50:20.42
at that point to keep me
from spending time with God.
00:50:20.43\00:50:23.54
But if we make that
concrete appointment
00:50:23.55\00:50:25.95
and we keep it as we
would keep an appointment
00:50:25.96\00:50:27.93
with our senator
because isn't God
00:50:27.94\00:50:33.14
so much greater
than our senator?
00:50:33.15\00:50:34.50
Do you have
appointments with your senator?
00:50:34.51\00:50:39.97
No. I think
that's great, you know,
00:50:39.98\00:50:41.55
be involved in our
countries and that's wonderful,
00:50:41.56\00:50:44.73
I just thought maybe
there's a story behind that.
00:50:44.74\00:50:47.02
That's just the
person that came into my mind
00:50:47.03\00:50:49.37
but you know, but
seriously keeping that seriously
00:50:49.38\00:50:53.27
isn't God so much more
great, so much more omnipotent,
00:50:53.28\00:50:55.73
has so much more
under his control
00:50:55.74\00:50:59.07
weighing in the balance
00:50:59.08\00:51:00.14
to respond to his
word than our senator?
00:51:00.15\00:51:03.79
I mean if you made
00:51:03.80\00:51:04.85
an appointment
with your Senator,
00:51:04.86\00:51:05.87
that you should keep
it, but you know what,
00:51:05.88\00:51:08.04
how much more
should we keep an point
00:51:08.05\00:51:09.45
when we make it with God.
00:51:09.46\00:51:10.72
Even though the
devil will send everything
00:51:10.73\00:51:12.08
he possibly can to keep us.
00:51:12.09\00:51:13.51
So the first suggestion
make an actual appointment
00:51:13.52\00:51:16.91
in the day ahead of time,
00:51:16.92\00:51:18.26
a time to spend with God
00:51:18.27\00:51:19.35
and don't let
anything get in the way,
00:51:19.36\00:51:21.32
that's been one of
the biggest blessings
00:51:21.33\00:51:22.44
in my own personal life.
00:51:22.45\00:51:23.48
And my second suggestion
is actually find a person
00:51:23.49\00:51:28.40
to pray with also
together joining together
00:51:28.41\00:51:31.65
where Christ said
where two or three gather
00:51:31.66\00:51:33.07
in my name there I
am in the midst of them,
00:51:33.08\00:51:35.24
I still live in
home so you while ago
00:51:35.25\00:51:38.88
I would go to my mom every night
00:51:38.89\00:51:40.18
and she would pray
with me before I went to bed
00:51:40.19\00:51:42.05
or our family we
meet at you know,
00:51:42.06\00:51:43.99
at 7'o clock in the morning
and 7'o clock in the evening
00:51:44.00\00:51:46.65
or friend or someone,
find someone to pray with
00:51:46.66\00:51:49.57
so that is
continually a part of your life.
00:51:49.58\00:51:53.07
You just mentioned
seven in the morning,
00:51:53.08\00:51:54.59
seven in the
evening that's more seven,
00:51:54.60\00:51:56.17
seven, seven, seven
days in the week right
00:51:56.18\00:51:57.42
that's one of the initiatives
00:51:57.43\00:51:59.28
of the revival
information communities
00:51:59.29\00:52:01.12
to co-adjust to
have an appointment
00:52:01.13\00:52:03.57
with God in prayer.
00:52:03.58\00:52:04.77
So I have got a
review these in my mind
00:52:04.78\00:52:06.45
to make sure I know them
and the more I review them,
00:52:06.46\00:52:08.91
the more you will remember them.
00:52:08.92\00:52:09.97
You are gonna write these
down on these great ideas,
00:52:09.98\00:52:11.86
you write those
down, yeah, they are good.
00:52:11.87\00:52:14.26
So I am going to
memorize scripture everyday
00:52:14.27\00:52:17.61
and then saturating
my mind with scripture
00:52:17.62\00:52:19.69
when I am walking, or running,
00:52:19.70\00:52:20.91
or whatever driving in the car,
00:52:20.92\00:52:23.12
popping the CD and
listen to the Bible.
00:52:23.13\00:52:25.84
So two suggestions.
And then Daryl you said,
00:52:25.85\00:52:30.17
that I should preferably
consider two church members,
00:52:30.18\00:52:34.45
two believers and this
next week reach out to them
00:52:34.46\00:52:38.29
and find an opportunity
to fellowship with them.
00:52:38.30\00:52:40.67
And then secondly,
00:52:40.68\00:52:42.35
that I am gonna
think of two nonbelievers
00:52:42.36\00:52:44.70
and I am gonna to
be very intentional
00:52:44.71\00:52:46.04
about reaching out
to them this next week
00:52:46.05\00:52:47.77
and having an opportunity
to fellowship with them.
00:52:47.78\00:52:50.60
And then thirdly, for prayer,
00:52:50.61\00:52:53.62
Natasha you
mentioned make an appointment
00:52:53.63\00:52:55.56
with God and keep it,
00:52:55.57\00:52:58.46
an appointment
with God and keep it.
00:52:58.47\00:53:03.47
Someone who is not
too good with that.
00:53:03.48\00:53:06.94
I am not a very
organized person.
00:53:06.95\00:53:10.91
When I was in
academy, I had a little saying
00:53:10.92\00:53:14.59
that "Procrastination
breeds creativity"
00:53:14.60\00:53:20.04
because I sometimes,
you know, push things back,
00:53:20.05\00:53:25.59
that's deadly in
a Christian's life,
00:53:25.60\00:53:27.80
isn't it? It is.
00:53:27.81\00:53:29.68
Pushing back our time with God
00:53:29.69\00:53:31.41
saying I will sleep in
little extra this morning,
00:53:31.42\00:53:33.93
skip my devotions
or haven't tonight,
00:53:33.94\00:53:37.42
I am not gonna spend
time praying right now,
00:53:37.43\00:53:39.56
I'll do it later but making
an appointment and keeping it.
00:53:39.57\00:53:43.35
And then secondly, is to pray
regularly with someone else.
00:53:43.36\00:53:47.95
Yeah. Not just myself.
00:53:47.96\00:53:49.75
And I think it will be
good for us in just a minute,
00:53:49.76\00:53:52.15
to actually
spend some time praying
00:53:52.16\00:53:54.92
that God would compel us
00:53:54.93\00:53:59.63
to a dot this kind
of life for ourselves
00:53:59.64\00:54:05.64
and for our church
and I am gonna invite
00:54:05.65\00:54:08.94
everyone where you are.
00:54:08.95\00:54:10.41
If you would just turn
to the person next to you,
00:54:10.42\00:54:12.89
just turn to the
person next to you,
00:54:12.90\00:54:14.08
just in twos and
let's spend a few minutes,
00:54:14.09\00:54:17.90
let's spend some time praying
00:54:17.91\00:54:20.89
that God will help us remember
00:54:20.90\00:54:24.52
when we go home that
we're taking a new approach
00:54:24.53\00:54:28.44
to Ellen's personal life
and the life of the church.
00:54:28.45\00:54:31.90
We are gonna have an Acts
00:54:31.91\00:54:33.25
approach to
Christian experience,
00:54:33.26\00:54:36.56
the Christian
life, first of all.
00:54:36.57\00:54:38.08
And secondly that
God would compel us,
00:54:38.09\00:54:42.34
not just remind
us, but compel us,
00:54:42.35\00:54:46.65
not give us any rest
until we step forward
00:54:46.66\00:54:50.56
in faith to follow His leading
00:54:50.57\00:54:53.13
and implementing the life
of a spirit filled church.
00:54:53.14\00:54:56.58
Can you do that
together with us this morning?
00:54:56.59\00:54:58.20
Those two items
that God would help us
00:54:58.21\00:55:00.40
remember when we go home.
00:55:00.41\00:55:02.33
Six wonderful
suggestions, remember
00:55:02.34\00:55:04.44
and secondly that
he would compel us,
00:55:04.45\00:55:06.83
let's do that right now.
00:55:06.84\00:55:08.87