Participants: Pr. John Lomacang
Series Code: ASHF
Program Code: ASHF000028
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00:18 Hello Friends and welcome to another
00:20 A Sharper Focus Wednesday night Bible Study here 00:23 in Thompsonville, Illinois, 00:25 at 3ABN Worship Center, we thank you for tuning in tonight 00:28 for joining us 00:29 for our continued study on the "Greatest Commission" 00:31 which everyone, I think, knows about 00:34 if they are Christians 00:35 but we're going to be talking about the expanded 00:37 deeper understanding of what it means to follow Christ 00:40 in the great commission. 00:41 If you would like to follow us in the lesson tonight, 00:43 go to this website, remember, don't put a: www 00:47 put ASF.3abn. org 00:51 and download Lesson 009, The Greatest Commission. 00:56 Lesson 009... go to your internet connection right now 01:00 or if you are one of those technical people 01:02 that have an iPad, it's in a pdf format... 01:04 you can download and follow us 01:06 and we do appreciate you inviting 01:08 your friends and family members to sit down right now 01:11 and join us for a walk through the Word of God. 01:14 God has a message for every one of us, 01:17 can we all say "Amen" to that? 01:18 And we're here tonight, we have our Bibles, 01:21 we have our pens... and... 01:23 but there's something we need 01:25 and someone we need beyond materials, 01:27 we need to ask for the presence of Christ to continue with us, 01:30 let's pray. 01:31 "Heavenly Father, thank you so much for this opportunity, 01:35 the Word of God is opened 01:36 so now we pray that You will open our hearts and our minds 01:39 and close the distance between our understanding 01:42 and our actions 01:43 and may we not just be desirous of gaining knowledge 01:46 but be desirous of joining with You 01:48 in the closing work of gathering souls into the kingdom 01:52 and so, be with us tonight Father, 01:54 make your Word clear, 01:55 may it be understood and may we find, in our hearts, 01:58 a passion growing for those that are lost. 02:02 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. " 02:05 Now, we always like to sing a song, 02:08 it's going to be on our screen, "Victory in Jesus" 02:10 you know, for some reason it's become our Theme Song 02:14 and we may change it later on when our topics change... 02:16 which eventually, that will take place 02:18 but tonight we're going to sing that song, 02:20 you can join along with us, "Victory in Jesus. " 02:22 Music... 02:31 I heard an old, old story, 02:34 how the Savior came from glory 02:38 How He gave His life on Calvary 02:42 to save a wretch like me 02:46 I heard about His groaning, 02:50 of His precious blood's atoning 02:53 Then I repented of my sins 02:58 and won the victory. 03:01 Oh victory in Jesus, 03:05 my Savior forever 03:09 He sought me and bought me 03:12 with His redeeming blood, 03:16 He loved me 'ere I knew Him 03:20 and all my love is due Him 03:24 He plunged me to victory beneath the cleaning flood. 03:31 I heard about a mansion 03:35 He has built for me in glory 03:39 And I heard about the streets of gold 03:43 Beyond the crystal sea 03:46 About the angels singing 03:50 And the old redemption story 03:54 And some sweet day I'll sing up there 03:58 the song of victory. 04:02 Oh victory in Jesus, 04:05 my Savior forever 04:09 He sought me and bought me 04:13 with His redeeming blood 04:17 He loved me 'ere I knew Him 04:20 And all my love is due Him 04:24 He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood, 04:32 He plunged me to victory 04:37 beneath the cleansing flood. 04:42 Amen... 04:43 Well, we're going to continue tonight 04:47 and our topic is: The Greatest Commission 04:50 The Greatest Commission. 04:52 Now, when we began this topic last week, 04:55 we talked about being deployed... 04:57 it is amazing when we talk about deployment, 05:00 we went home that night and on the news 05:02 they were talking about people that were deployed 05:06 that had come back home and they had a big celebration 05:09 in West Frankfort 05:10 for all those soldiers that had been deployed from this area, 05:13 and I turned to my wife and said, "See there honey... " 05:15 it seems like whenever I talk about something, 05:18 I hear about it, maybe that day or the next day 05:20 which says to me, 05:21 the Lord is letting me know in very unique ways 05:23 that He hears what I say 05:25 and... then I was also talking just two days ago 05:28 about how important it is to handle things that are holy 05:33 and I said, "You know how it is in the military, 05:35 whenever someone dies 05:37 and that person has served in the Military 05:39 when they're folding that flag, they hold it with such care 05:43 like we should handle the Word of God 05:45 and they fold that tightly and guess what? 05:48 Today, I was at a Memorial Service 05:50 where they were folding the flag 05:52 and I said to my wife, "Honey, just couple of days ago 05:55 I mentioned that 05:56 and the Lord is showing me another way 05:58 that He hears what I say. " 05:59 Well, tonight, 06:00 we're talking about: The Greatest Commission. 06:02 What's the topic? The what? 06:04 The Greatest Commission. 06:06 You know, the greatest commission 06:07 is not to join the church, 06:09 some people may think 06:11 the greatest commission is to join the church 06:13 the greatest commission is not to join the church 06:16 any more than 06:17 the greatest commission for a Military man 06:19 is to go to Basic Training. 06:21 We're not called to the Military for Basic Training, 06:25 we're called to the Military for service... 06:29 say that word with me, what? 06:30 Service... service... 06:33 not in the Barracks and learning how to dodge bullets 06:37 and how to swim and how to rappel... 06:39 those are basic training maneuvers 06:41 we've got to always be ready to be deployed 06:44 and unfortunately in America the church has 06:46 gone through a tremendous impact, 06:49 you know so much of what happens in America is entertainment. 06:52 You think about the churches now-a-days, 06:54 you hear this word that's talked about quite a bit, 06:56 "Come and experience Jesus" experience... 07:00 and it's more like "experience" 07:02 rather than "Come and work for Jesus" 07:04 "Come and work for the saving of souls... " 07:07 and so what happens... 07:08 you get an arena with 30,000 people 07:10 that are there to experience 07:12 not to work for Jesus... 07:14 you get this mega- giga-churches that have great services... 07:17 wonderful music... great entertainment... 07:19 but can you imagine if the... 07:22 if the American Society caught the vision... 07:25 if the church in America caught the vision... 07:28 of what it means to be deployed for Christ 07:31 so they would understand baptism and joining the church 07:33 all together differently, 07:35 they'll say, "The reason I'm joining the church 07:37 is not to just become a member 07:39 but to become a laborer together with Christ 07:42 to get ready to be deployed in the field, 07:45 to save all those who are still lost... 07:47 who are still prisoners of war... 07:49 the war... the great controversy 07:52 and so, what we have to keep in mind 07:54 is what Jesus kept in mind when He understood 07:56 that He had an obligation 07:58 so tonight we're going to go to Question Number 11, 08:00 we've covered Question Numbers 1 to 10, 08:02 tonight we're going to begin with Question number 11 08:05 because there's an obligation 08:08 that so many Christians don't know about 08:10 and tonight, when we talk about that obligation 08:13 we pray that you will understand, 08:14 "Lord, am I fulfilling my obligation?" 08:17 And here is the answer, 08:18 if you're not working for the saving of someone else, 08:21 you're not fulfilling the obligation 08:23 that Christ has called you to fulfill. 08:25 Now, last week, before we turned to this text 08:28 and before we have the question, 08:29 we noticed that there was a word that was repeated 08:31 over and over... last week... 08:33 can we all say that word together? 08:35 What was that word? 08:36 Let's say it together... 08:38 "Sent... sent... " 08:40 the Father sent Jesus... 08:43 when the fullness of time had come, 08:44 God sent forth His Son... He sent Him... 08:47 and this obligation of being sent 08:50 was often repeated by Jesus. 08:52 Now, let's look to Question Number 11. 08:54 Question number 11... 08:59 and the question is... 09:03 "To Whom did Jesus say He was obligated?" 09:07 John chapter 9 verse 4, let's turn there together... 09:11 John chapter 9 verse 4... 09:12 some of you guys are fast, 09:14 you already turned there... I like that... 09:15 We see where we're headed, 09:17 for those of you who don't have the Bible, 09:18 or may not be near one, 09:20 we have the answers that will appear on our screen. 09:22 To whom did Jesus say He was obligated and for what reason? 09:26 Here's the answer... 09:27 He says, "I must work the works of Him who... " did what? 09:31 "sent me while it is day; 09:35 the night is coming when no one can work. " 09:39 So, His obligation was... He says... 09:41 "I got to work for the One who sent me 09:43 because the time is coming... the hour is coming... 09:45 the night is coming... where you can't work... " 09:47 Now, you think about that 09:48 and this isn't in the context of gathering in the harvest, 09:51 the harvest during the times of the Bible... 09:54 they didn't have those big old Combines 09:57 with headlights on them, 09:59 that they could drive through the field at night 10:01 and could care less, 10:02 you know, those combines that have lights in four directions 10:04 and you hear this massive engine 10:06 and you don't see anything but just these lights... 10:08 like they're... like some kind of spaceship in the field, 10:10 they didn't have that in those days, 10:13 they had good old donkeys and horses 10:15 and a lot of times, the harvesting was done by hand. 10:18 Can you imagine trying to harvest by hand at night? 10:21 They couldn't do it, 10:22 the night had come and they couldn't work 10:24 and so the Lord said, 10:25 "Not only am I obligated to the One who sent me, 10:27 but I've got to work while it is day... 10:30 I've got to work while it is day 10:31 because the night's coming... " 10:33 and the reason why this is so vitally important... 10:36 when the night comes, it's going to be harder to work 10:38 because in the night it's harder to see... 10:41 in the night, it's harder to see 10:44 and Isaiah says to us that very soon 10:46 darkness is going to cover the inhabitants 10:49 and gross darkness is going to cover the people. 10:51 Now, are we getting close to that... yes or no? 10:54 We're living in a world where 10:56 darkness is being manufactured in the form of light. 11:00 Did you get what I'm saying? 11:02 So instead of proclaiming the gospel, 11:05 it's being replaced with things that do not amount to salvation 11:08 entertainment... 11:10 so darkness is being replaced with things that seem appealing 11:12 but the obligation to why we are being called 11:16 and why we are being sent is forgotten. 11:18 The obligation... and if you put the answer there, 11:21 "To whom did Jesus say He was obligated?" 11:22 Who did you put? 11:24 Audience: Him who sent me. 11:26 Right, "Him who sent me... " 11:28 or, He was obligated to His Father. 11:30 We also learned last week, 11:32 as a matter of fact, I'm not going to run ahead of myself, 11:35 because... if... 11:37 if Jesus is obligated to His Father who sent Him, 11:41 we know that in the commission 11:43 we are told to... "Go therefore, and do... " what? 11:47 "make disciples of... " how many nations? 11:49 "All nations... " 11:50 so, we're... we're invited to come... 11:52 but we're also commissioned to go 11:54 and make disciples of all nations... 11:56 now, one of reasons why my favorite Bible verse 11:59 is Romans chapter 13, verses 11 to 14, 12:01 it says, "And knowing the time, 12:03 that now it is high time to awake... " 12:07 see that word... "awake out of sleep: 12:10 for now is our salvation 12:12 nearer than when we first believed. " 12:14 The night is far spent... 12:16 in other words, the world is dark enough... 12:18 that's why the people of God operating in a dark environment 12:23 we've got to put on the armour of light... 12:26 so now, let's... let's look at this, 12:27 I got to show you this in the context of how the gospel began, 12:30 when you look at Ephesians... 12:33 sorry, when you look at the church of Ephesus, 12:35 in Revelation... 12:36 when the Church of Ephesus began... 12:38 it began at the brightest point in the church's history. 12:42 As a matter of fact, 12:43 the Bible talks about this White Horse... going forth... 12:45 conquering and to conquer... 12:47 but you have to ask yourself, 12:49 "At what point are we in the history of the church?" 12:51 We're at the last church... 12:53 so, let me ask you the question, 12:56 "If it's going to get dark, 12:57 would you say that we're existing 12:59 in the darkest part of church history?" 13:01 Yes or no? 13:03 We're existing at a time where Revelation says, 13:07 "The church is in such a condition 13:09 that they believe that they are rich 13:11 and increased with goods and have need of nothing... " 13:14 but they don't even know and understand their condition 13:16 and so when we see prosperity abounding all over the world, 13:19 and churches look like they are successful, 13:20 the Lord is, in essence, saying, "The real condition is... 13:23 I'm on the outside asking them to let me in. " 13:26 And if Christ comes in and we join with Him, 13:29 He comes in not to join us on the inside... 13:32 but to get us on the outside... 13:34 in the field where the work really is. 13:36 There's a song I sing, 13:38 "My house is full... but my field is empty... " 13:41 and when you follow that theme, 13:43 you clearly begin to see that we have to... 13:46 not settle for being in the church 13:48 but we've got to settle for being in the field. 13:53 I know guys that play basketball... 13:55 and you know, what they don't like 13:57 is to be on a team... 13:58 and not get a chance to play. 13:59 Pause... 14:01 I've seen football games and basketball games 14:04 where professional players... 14:06 here it is, they're in the NBA Finals... 14:07 National Basketball Association... 14:10 just in case you're in a foreign country 14:11 and don't understand what that acronym is... 14:13 and they want to play so badly, 14:15 but the coach... "Uh huh, not you... you go in the game. " 14:18 And although they win the championship, 14:20 they're never satisfied because they said, 14:22 "I didn't even get to play for two minutes... " 14:23 they get a trophy... 14:25 but that's not the case in the Christian world... 14:28 go with me to Revelation, that's not the case... 14:31 the Lord doesn't call us and put us on the bench... 14:33 Revelation chapter 22, look at what He says, 14:38 Revelation chapter 22 and we're going to look together 14:41 at verse... verse 12... this is not in the syllabus 14:45 but it fits right here. 14:46 All right... 14:48 the Lord doesn't call us and put us on the bench... 14:52 or... shall we say... "the pew... " 14:54 all right... 14:56 "And, behold, I am coming quickly; 15:00 and my reward is with me, to give to everyone 15:05 according to his work... according to his work. " 15:11 Going back to the scenario of the basketball or the sport, 15:14 only those who play in the game are going to get a trophy... 15:16 those who sit on the field or sit on the bench 15:19 are not going to get a trophy. 15:20 Now, let me ask you the question, 15:22 let's go back to that scenario, 15:24 if the coach says to all the players, 15:27 "You only get a trophy 15:30 if you play in the game... " 15:32 how many players would want to play in the game? 15:35 How many? Every single one of them. 15:37 What God is saying to the Church 15:40 is... "I'm only going to give a reward 15:42 according as your work has been. " 15:45 How many of us should be involved in the work of Christ? 15:48 How many of us? Audience: All... 15:50 And, you know, let me put this very clear... 15:51 not everyone is a... 15:53 not everyone is effective in giving Bible Studies... 15:55 not everybody is good at knocking on doors, 15:57 not everyone is good at preaching sermons... 16:00 not everyone is doing 16:01 what somebody else could do comfortably, 16:03 but everyone... while we all can't do all things 16:06 all of us can do something. 16:08 Audience: Amen. Right? 16:09 If you could only do this... you can pass out a tract... 16:13 if your feet can walk, you can hang a door hanger... 16:15 you don't have to preach a sermon... but you know what? 16:18 A tract could preach the sermon you can't preach... 16:20 a door hanger could extend an invitation 16:24 that you make mistakes trying to verbalize... 16:26 "Would you like to come to our church 16:28 on Wednesday night at 7 to 8 o'clock 16:30 and be a part of our live audience?" 16:32 A door hanger could do that... 16:33 you don't even have to look people in the face, 16:35 so, while we all can't do a lot of things, 16:38 every one of us can do something 16:41 and the Lord has not called us to be inactive in His work. 16:45 Go with me now to Question Number 12... 16:48 okay... Question Number 12... 16:50 here it is... 17:00 there's something parallel to His life... 17:02 what is that parallel? 17:03 "What did Jesus draw between our lives and His?" 17:05 John 17 verse 18... 17:08 Some of you students have gone ahead... and that's good, 17:10 I like that... I see some pages well filled out 17:12 and by-the-way if you've just joined, 17:16 go to ASF.3abn. org and download Lesson 009. 17:19 All right, John 17 and verse 18 is where we have the answer. 17:23 This is amazing... now this is the... 17:26 this is the commission going down the line. 17:28 This is the orders from the General... to the Captain... 17:32 from the Captain to the Sergeant... 17:34 from the Sergeant to the Privates... 17:36 all right... the Captain sent the General, 17:40 I mean, the General sent the Captain, 17:43 now, the Captain commissions the Sergeant 17:46 and the Sergeant... the Pastor... 17:48 commissions... Audience: The PFC... 17:50 The PFC... Private First Class... exactly. 17:53 Everybody's got a position, 17:54 we've all got to extend this commission... 17:56 here's now... from the Captain... 17:59 to the General and the PFCs... 18:02 sorry... from the Captain to the Sergeant and the PFCs... 18:05 you can tell, I wasn't in the military... 18:07 it sounds horrible here what I'm trying to say but here we go... 18:10 John 17 verse 18... let's read this together... 18:22 Get this... the greatest commission 18:25 is not coming into the church, 18:27 I think we ought to change the sign 18:29 on the front of our entrance. 18:31 At least at each Sanctuary door 18:33 we should have a sign on the inside 18:35 and one on the outside. 18:37 As we walk into the Sanctuary, there should be a sign that says 18:40 "Enter to learn... " 18:42 as we're going out: "Exit to serve. " 18:45 What do you think about that? 18:48 it should be wonderful... huh... 18:50 Audience: Sounds good. 18:51 We ought to do it... as they're walking in the Sanctuary, 18:53 there should be a sign, "Enter to learn... " 18:55 and when they're leaving... "Exit to serve. " 18:57 Right... enter... missionaries enter... 19:01 Enter: Missionary training... 19:04 Exit: to missionary field. 19:06 Audience: Right... 19:08 It's a training ground, 19:10 it is not the "end all... " that "end all" 19:11 you don't take your car to the gas station and fill up and say, 19:14 "Huh... I'm just going to drive it home. " 19:16 Oh... and unfortunately so much that frustrates America 19:21 as we've got so much media, 19:23 you know that if you just watched Christian television, 19:25 you don't have to ever leave your house 19:27 because there are so many Christian channels 19:29 you can sit there and be perfectly fed. 19:31 Pause... 19:32 I was going to say something that I shouldn't say 19:35 so I'm not going to say it. 19:36 Laughter. 19:38 Audience: Well go ahead. 19:41 You know, the Bible says, 19:44 "Be not overcharged with surfeiting 19:47 and drunkenness and the cares of this life... " 19:50 and I looked at that word, "Surfeiting" 19:51 it's "overeating" 19:53 churches in America are guilty of overeating... 19:57 not physical food... but spiritual food. 19:59 We are so fed that we can't move. 20:02 Pause... 20:05 And we grade our Services based on how good the sermon is 20:09 not how good our service is. 20:11 And that's the sad reality of life. 20:14 "Who's preaching this Sabbath?" that's not the issue... 20:17 if we just got a tape recorder, 20:19 it's not about the sermon message, 20:21 it's about the service message. 20:23 Serving from Sunday to Friday... 20:25 you come to church on Sabbath still. 20:28 The reason why people come empty 20:30 is because there's nothing happening spiritually 20:32 as far as winning other people... 20:34 from Sunday to Friday. 20:36 So the answer is, to Question Number 12, 20:39 "What parallel did Jesus draw between our lives and His?" 20:42 What is it? 20:43 Sent into the world... sent into the world. 20:48 His Father sent Him into the world... 20:50 He sends us into the world. 20:53 Sent into the world. 20:55 All right. 20:57 Now, Number 13 is a bonus, because you all know that 21:00 all right... but I'm going to put that in there anyhow. 21:03 Number 13 is a bonus, 21:04 we have to understand this 21:06 still in the context of what we were just talking about 21:08 and by-the-way when you read the Bible, 21:09 you'll discover that it's not an easy field... 21:11 there in Luke 10 and verse 3 the Lord says, 21:14 "I send you forth as lambs among wolves. " 21:17 That's one of the reasons 21:19 why people often are afraid to go out into the world 21:20 because there are a lot of wolves out there 21:22 am I right? 21:23 And sometimes the wolves are in sheep's clothing. 21:26 Church members attacking church members... 21:30 the wolves are not supposed to be in the church... 21:33 the wolves are supposed to be in the world. 21:36 I believe there will be less wolves in the church 21:38 if there are more church members in the world. 21:41 Pastor, is that okay? 21:44 Pastor in audience: I'll buy that. 21:45 See, less in-fighting... 21:47 if we're out there fighting against the enemy, 21:49 we don't have time to fight against each other. 21:52 If you're on the battlefield, there would not be... 21:54 you know, 21:56 what's happening over there in Afghanistan right now... 21:58 where they're... what we're... 21:59 soldiers being killed by soldiers that they're training 22:02 because they're not out there fighting the enemy. 22:04 There would be less bullets for each other 22:06 if we're using the sword of God... 22:08 the sword of God's Word on the enemy, 22:10 and... okay, friendly fire... that's very much so... 22:14 and... to some degree it's not even friendly 22:16 because the devil makes... sometimes... 22:18 He makes us think that we are enemies of each other. 22:21 Number 13... 22:25 "What is the mission that Jesus sent us to accomplish?" 22:28 It's Matthew 28 verse 19 and verse 20. 22:32 He says it this way... and I know you know it... 22:34 so I'm going to go ahead and read it right away, 22:36 let's read this together, this is the great commission, 22:39 okay, here it is... 22:40 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... " 22:44 that's the first thing... 22:46 "baptizing them in the name of the Father 22:48 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 22:51 teaching them to observe all things 22:54 that I have commanded you; 22:56 and lo, I am with you... " what? 22:58 "always, even to the end of the age. " 23:02 And the church said, "Amen. " 23:04 That's the key, 23:05 He is saying, "I'm with you always... " 23:07 but notice what He didn't say, 23:08 He didn't say, "Go make church members of all nations... " 23:10 He said, "Go make disciples... " 23:13 Now, when the Bible speaks in the book of Acts chapter 5, 23:16 "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" 23:19 those who are added to the church, 23:21 were immediately added to the field... 23:24 that's why the gospel went to the world so quickly 23:27 in a short period of 34 years, 23:30 because the church is being filled quickly 23:32 because the world was being worked... 23:34 the fields were being worked... 23:36 1,000s were being converted in a day 23:39 and we're blessed here at 3ABN 23:41 to have the satellite going 24 hours a day 23:43 but even here we need more people on the field 23:45 even here we need more people in the community. 23:48 It's not about just receiving 23:49 but it's about going out there 23:52 and joining Christ in the world. 23:54 There's something else that you get 23:56 when you join Christ in this missionary field. 23:59 So what is the mission that Jesus sent us to accomplish? 24:01 "Make disciples of all nations. " 24:03 That's the answer to Number 13... 24:05 make disciples of all nations... 24:07 not just baptizing... 24:09 baptizing is just a factor in the phase of it 24:11 but make disciples of all nations. 24:13 Right... and the disciple... 24:16 a part of the word "disciple" is the word: discipline... 24:18 so there are those who don't have a discipline... 24:22 have you been in the military? 24:23 If you have a job that requires specifics... 24:26 you understand "discipline. " 24:28 All right, Number 14... here we go... 24:36 "What reason did Jesus give 24:39 for calling His disciples to service?" 24:43 We're turning to John chapter 20 and verse 21... 24:49 John chapter 20 and verse 21... 24:51 This one fits right into the very next text very well... 24:54 We got to understand... 24:56 you know when you go to somebody's house, 24:57 if somebody says, "Hey, I'd like you to come over" 25:00 what do you usually ask? 25:02 Huh... 25:04 huh 25:06 ah ha ha... he says, "What time?" 25:08 I usually ask, "What for?" Laughter... 25:10 I ask, "What for?" 25:12 "Having dinner... " 25:13 you know, because I could show up 25:15 and they could give me a paint brush 25:16 and I'd say, "I didn't know you want me to paint... " 25:18 you know... 25:19 I want to know why I'm going... 25:20 if they said, "Come on over to paint... " 25:22 I'd go ready to paint... 25:23 but if I know I'm going to go over to have dinner, 25:25 I'd be dressed differently, am I right? 25:26 You see what I'm saying? 25:28 so your first question should be in the sequence of events, 25:30 "What for?" 25:31 not "What time...?" 25:32 huh ha... or... you know... 25:35 or some people ask, "What should I bring?" 25:37 Because you know that the context of the conversation 25:40 of the question is, about lunch... 25:42 "Why don't you come over Sabbath afternoon... " 25:44 we usually ask, "Should I bring something?" 25:46 But if somebody says, 25:47 "Why don't you come over Sunday around 2 o'clock?" 25:49 "For what?" 25:50 "Well, I'm having a Leaf-Raking Party... " 25:53 then you know, the question is not... 25:55 "What time?" 25:57 because you probably don't want to be there 26:00 but it's amazing... the Lord... the Lord... 26:03 has... has extended to His disciples a specific invitation 26:07 and this text reveals it wonderfully. 26:10 Here it is, John 20 and verse 21. 26:12 "Jesus said to them again... " 26:15 What did He say to them? 26:17 "Peace to you!" 26:19 When you read that it says, 26:20 "Don't be upset... " 26:22 that's what it's in essence saying, 26:23 "Don't be concerned as the Father has sent me, 26:26 I also do... " what? "send you... " 26:29 the reason why He says, "Peace to you... " 26:31 it's a salutation... 26:32 that is often extended... 26:34 but the other aspect of that is, 26:35 "Be not afraid... be not concerned... 26:39 don't be concerned about those to whom you go... " 26:42 because, you know what? 26:44 It was not an easy field for the disciples to work. 26:46 The apostles were told, 26:48 if they go to somebody and they're not received... 26:50 that they should shake off the dust 26:52 and just keep on going. 26:54 Right... if a person is trying to sell vacuums 26:56 and that's the way he's going to make his money, 26:59 does he... does he get discouraged 27:01 if somebody doesn't answer the door, what does he do? 27:03 What does he do? 27:04 Go to the next door... 27:06 what about somebody selling books for commission 27:08 what do they do? Go to the next door... 27:10 because somebody's going to open the door. 27:12 The Lord is, in essence, saying to His disciples, 27:14 "The Father sent me and now I'm going to send you. " 27:17 Now, let's read one of the most 27:20 missed Bible verses in the Bible, 27:23 so if you answer Question Number 14, 27:26 "What reason did Jesus give 27:28 for calling His disciples to service?" 27:30 He said, "The Father called me to service 27:32 I'm calling you to service 27:34 let's do this together... " 27:35 "The Father called me... I'm calling you. " 27:39 "The Father sent me... I'm sending you. " 27:42 All right... now, Number 15... 27:45 I'm going to try to cover as much as I can tonight, 27:47 we're doing pretty good... we've got 30 minutes... 27:49 I'm moving at a good pace. 27:51 All right, we've got 29 questions, 27:54 and I don't think we'll cover them all tonight, 27:56 but let's go to Question Number 15 28:00 and here it is... 28:07 You know, sometimes we think 28:10 that the Lord calls us to wait for Him to come... 28:12 and you know what? 28:14 One of the reasons why... 28:17 this is a strange thought 28:20 but I want you to understand the context of it, 28:22 I heard a very good friend of mine... 28:24 a preacher... has a very large church... 28:27 and he said, as he travels around the world 28:30 he's painfully aware 28:32 that there are certain places in the world, 28:34 still to this day... 28:35 that have not heard the name of Jesus. 28:38 They call it the 6... 80... Corridor... 28:41 or the 60... 40... window... or something like that... 28:46 most of... most of the Asian countries... 28:50 the Middle Eastern countries where Christianity is outlawed 28:53 or not even allowed... 28:55 I had a chance to... about a few months ago 28:58 we had a conversation... as Moses... 29:01 Moses Primo's son... had come home from Asia 29:05 and there was an Asian man working in the field 29:09 where Jesus was not even talked about 29:11 and there was a lady who came to him 29:13 that had worshipped many, many other different gods... 29:15 didn't understand about the message of Christ, 29:18 she came to know about Christ, brought her friend with her 29:22 and we... thank God for Skype... 29:25 and we Skyped him... he was talking to us from... 29:27 from our tomorrow... 29:28 he spoke to us from his yesterday... 29:31 here in the foyer... and he said, 29:33 he was waiting... he said, "It's going to be about a year 29:36 before I even get a person close to being converted. " 29:39 Well, Moses Primo Junior had just left a few weeks before 29:42 and just a few weeks later, 29:43 he called this young man on Skype 29:45 and he said, "Do you know that the women that came 29:47 a couple of weeks ago, are getting ready for baptism" 29:49 can you say, "Amen... " Audience: Amen. 29:51 Now, the reason I tell you that story is because 29:53 he thought it was going to be about a year 29:55 before these people... who had worshipped many other... 29:59 many other idols and different gods, 30:01 he says, "There's no way 30:03 that I'm going to break down this wall 30:04 as quickly as I think I could or as I'd like to... " 30:07 but this is what we have to keep in mind... 30:09 the God who calls us is working while He calls us. 30:13 He's working on those hearts 30:15 so there are people that are just waiting 30:17 for somebody to come 30:20 and add that last piece to the puzzle 30:22 to the understanding of what salvation really is. 30:25 If we add the piece... they'll say, 30:26 "Okay, that's all I need to know 30:28 now I know exactly which direction to move in. " 30:31 So, when we read this text now, Question Number 15, 30:33 "How does Paul the apostle 30:35 describe the reason for salvation?" 30:36 Let's go to Ephesians 2 and verse 10... 30:38 Ephesians 2 and verse 10 30:41 because verse 8 and 9 are very powerful and very popular, 30:45 verse 8 and 9 says, 30:46 "For by grace are we saved through faith... " 30:48 and that not of ourselves... 30:50 it is the gift of God... not of works... " 30:51 we often stop there and say, 30:53 "See, I don't have to work to be saved. " 30:55 No... but when you're saved, you have to work. 30:58 Come on say that... 31:00 "When you're saved, you have to work... " 31:02 you don't work to be saved... 31:04 you are saved to work. 31:06 Pause... 31:07 We got to get that... 31:09 "For we are His workmanship, 31:14 created in Christ Jesus... " for what? 31:18 "good works, which God prepared beforehand 31:22 that we should walk in them. " 31:24 You ever get a job and when you get the job, 31:26 you ask for the job description? 31:29 By-the-way, jobs are not handed out 31:30 unless there's a job to fulfill. 31:32 When you go to put in an application, 31:35 one of the questions you ask is, "Do you have any jobs?" 31:38 And when the answer is, "yes... " 31:40 "in what area?" 31:42 and then you put your application down 31:43 to be considered for the position, 31:44 well, you know what? 31:46 The wonderful thing about the church is... 31:48 there is a job for everybody who applies... 31:51 can you say, "Amen" to that? 31:52 Not a single person is going to come into the church 31:55 and God says, "You know what? 31:56 If you had come a month earlier 31:58 I could have used you to save somebody's soul. " 32:01 The beautiful thing about the Christian Church is: 32:04 No matter how late or how early you get in there, 32:07 there's a job for everybody. " 32:09 There's not a single church on this earth 32:12 that doesn't have a job for someone to do. 32:15 There's not a single part of the world 32:17 where the Lord can't send us to do a work... 32:21 in some venue... somewhere... 32:22 so the church has a job... 32:24 and what this text is, in essence, saying is, 32:26 before God even called us, He had a work for us to do. 32:30 Our good friend, David Butler, his wife is right here... 32:35 she's been solo for... how long has it been? 32:38 About a month now, her husband is down at LIFE... 32:41 down there in Florida... 32:43 and when we spoke to him, it wasn't too long ago, 32:46 it wasn't too long ago 32:48 that he came out of the gangs and the streets 32:49 in a life that's completely opposite 32:52 to the one that God is preparing him for right now 32:54 and his heart cry is, "I can't believe 32:58 that God could use somebody like me. " 33:02 Well, you know what friends? 33:03 God can use anybody... can you say, "Amen" to that? 33:07 Every one of us is disqualified, that's why Paul says, 33:10 "Christ in you... except you be disqualified... 33:13 except you be reprobate... " 33:15 So, it's not about what we are capable of 33:18 but it's what God is capable of doing through us... 33:23 He works through us... and according to Ephesians 33:27 I believe it's chapter 3 verse 20, 33:30 "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly 33:36 above all that we can ask or think, 33:39 according to the power that is at work in us. " 33:43 So, there's a power working inside that... 33:47 that fixes us up... that cleans us up... 33:50 that straightens us up... and that fills us up 33:54 and does through us something that we never thought possible 33:56 and the reason why God does it 33:58 is because the work that He sends us forth to do, 34:00 was ready before He even called us 34:04 so, now what He does... He knows what He wants us to do 34:07 so He gets us ready for the work 34:09 that He already had in mind... 34:10 He doesn't hire us and say, 34:12 "Now, let me see, what could I do with you?" 34:14 "What kind of skills do you have?" 34:16 No... that's why it's ridiculous, 34:18 sometimes we take this "Spiritual Gift Test" 34:20 to see what kind of gift we have... 34:21 I had never heard of a disciple taking a "Spiritual Gifts Test " 34:24 I heard of praying... "Lord, use me... " 34:27 I heard them responding to the call of God... fishermen... 34:31 Jesus said, "Well, I don't want to jump ahead of myself... " 34:34 all you got to do is respond to the call of God... 34:36 you don't have to take a test... 34:38 those are good for some things... 34:40 but for the most part... for the most part... 34:43 you just have to be willing... 34:45 you have to be... what? Willing... 34:47 sometimes you come to a job site and a house is being built 34:50 and your neighbor's house is the house that's being built 34:52 and you go to your neighbor, "Can I help you do anything?" 34:55 "Well, what can you do?" 34:56 "Anything... teach me how to hammer... 34:59 teach me how to saw... 35:01 I'm willing to do anything. " 35:02 That's how we have to be... come to Christ and say, 35:05 "Lord, I'm willing... " or sometimes, we have to pray... 35:07 "Lord, make me willing to be willing... " 35:10 because He has a work for every one of us. 35:12 So, here's the answer to Number 15, 35:14 "How does the Apostle describe the reason for salvation?" 35:17 The reason for salvation is one single word... 35:20 starts with the letter "W" ends with the letter "K" 35:23 what's the work? 35:25 Audience: Gospel... 35:27 Ah... He creates us for what? 35:29 "Work... " we don't work to be saved, 35:31 we are saved to work, 35:34 let's get that, right... 35:36 that's the answer... we are saved to work... 35:40 we don't work to be saved. 35:42 all right... Number 16... 35:45 moving right along... 35:46 Number 16... all right... 35:52 here's the question... 35:55 This is an eye-opener... 35:58 this is an eye-opener. 36:01 Number 16... 36:04 all right... 36:06 and we are turning together 36:08 to John chapter 6 verse 28 and verse 29. 36:15 Okay... 36:18 pause... 36:20 this is a revolutionary text, 36:22 when I read this... in preparation for this... 36:25 you know... you read the Bible through... 36:27 but sometimes you don't get it 36:28 until you go back again 36:30 and read a text that you didn't get before, 36:32 but when you begin to address a specific topic 36:34 like, when you go to Home Depot 36:36 you pass the Tools Section many times before... 36:39 but all of a sudden, when you get a project... 36:41 now, that tool stands out, 36:42 "Oh, that's the kind of Router I need... " 36:45 "Hey, that's the kind of power saw I need. " 36:48 You've seen it before, but now you have a project, 36:50 all of a sudden it jumps out, 36:52 well, this is how this text fits. 36:53 All right, here... here it is... 36:55 John chapter 6, verse 28 and 29 36:57 speaking of the question, 36:58 "Besides sharing the gospel, 37:00 what does the Bible describe as work?" 37:02 Here it is... "Then they said to Him... " 37:04 look at this... 37:05 they asked Jesus, "What shall we do, 37:08 that we may work the works of God?" 37:11 That's a good question isn't it... right? 37:12 That's a willing heart. 37:14 "What shall we do that we may work the works of God?" 37:16 Look at what Jesus says, 37:17 "Jesus answered and said to them... " 37:19 this is powerful... 37:21 "This is the work of God, 37:23 that you believe in Him whom He sent. " 37:30 "This is the work... " 37:32 it begins with what? 37:34 Believing in whom? 37:36 In Jesus... the work begins by believing in Jesus, 37:41 "You want to work? Start here... 37:43 believe in the One who sent me. " 37:45 Believe in the One whom God sent. 37:47 That's why, Jesus said to the Jews, 37:49 "You believe in God... believe also in me... " 37:52 The reason why they would not work for Jesus, 37:55 they believed in God... 37:56 but they didn't believe in Christ 37:58 so they could not join Him. 38:00 Now, here's the key... here's the key, 38:01 if you believe in Christ 38:03 and you know that Christ walked the earth, 38:04 even atheists... believe in Jesus... 38:07 Pause... 38:09 I've got to get my sermon Sabbath... 38:12 it's about James... the second half... 38:14 I'm not going to tell the whole world what my title is, 38:17 but my title is... "The Faith of Demons... " 38:18 Laughter... 38:20 this is a powerful text... 38:22 because in order to do the work 38:25 that God sent His disciples to accomplish... 38:28 they had to begin by believing in Jesus, 38:32 He says, "You want to work? 38:34 Begin by believing... " 38:35 huh... yeah... 38:39 and you know why He said that? 38:40 Because He is saying to them, 38:42 "You want to know what the work is? 38:43 Let's start with 'Believe... '" 38:44 if you could get to the place to believe in me, 38:47 then you'll realize the next step is, 38:49 "All things are possible to him that believes... " 38:53 can you do it? I'm not sure... 38:55 Well, whom are you working with... me... 38:57 Okay now, can you do it? 38:58 Well, the question is, "Can I do it?" 39:01 and "Is there anything impossible for God?" 39:03 there's nothing hard for God... 39:05 so, if you know that Jesus is the Creator of the world, 39:08 let me ask you, 39:09 "How many of you would long for the opportunity 39:14 to work with One who never, ever failed? 39:18 Audience: Raises hands... 39:20 If you say, "Hey, let's go out and... 39:21 let's go out and... 39:23 let's go out and canvas this neighborhood... " 39:24 whom are we going with? 39:26 "You go with Jesus... I'll go with Paul... 39:28 all right, here... you go with Paul... 39:30 I'll go with Jesus. " 39:32 I'd go with Jesus any day, what about you? 39:34 So, what do you have to keep in mind... 39:36 now, the reason I'm saying it 39:38 with such compassion and passion here is 39:41 that when we read Matthew 28:19 and 20, 39:44 the verse that we have read a million times, 39:46 we are working with Jesus, He says, "Lo, I am with you... " 39:49 How often? "Always... " 39:51 so even though you don't see Him... 39:53 He says, "I'll never leave you and I'll never forsake you... " 39:56 so when you're knocking on the door, 39:58 when you're passing out a tract... 39:59 when you're trying to give Bible Studies, 40:02 there's an unseen guest that's always there 40:05 and He's tapping on your shoulder 40:07 He's talking in your ear... 40:09 I've had Bible Studies and my wife can tell you 40:11 sometimes people put me on the spot and ask me a Bible question 40:14 and I lose my appetite for food... 40:16 the next three hours, I'm talking about the Bible. 40:18 I understand what Jesus meant when He says, 40:20 "My food... my meat is to do the will of my Father. " 40:22 When I get to talking about the Bible, 40:24 food doesn't matter... 40:26 after Sabbath Communion Service... 40:28 I was out there another hour and a half talking Bible... 40:31 and when I came in... all the food was gone. 40:32 Laughter... 40:34 But I felt full... 40:36 "Ah... that was a good Bible Study... " 40:38 and I had already been here since 9 o'clock... 40:40 taught Sabbath School... did Communion Service... 40:42 since 8 o'clock... 40:45 see... from 8 o'clock... 40:46 I'm out there now... 1:30... still talking to somebody 40:49 getting here by 2:30... quarter to 3:00... 40:51 no food left... but I'm full. 40:52 That's the beauty of spending time with Jesus. 40:55 You don't get hungry... but, you got a hunger for Jesus 41:02 not to get hungry for other things. 41:05 If you're hungry for righteousness you'll be filled 41:08 but if you're hungry for everything else, 41:10 you're going to be hungry. 41:11 I was listening to news the other day 41:13 and this favorite actor... 41:15 this famous actor in the United States... 41:17 he's a world-wide name, Arnold Schwarzenegger... 41:19 and they asked, 41:21 "Arnold, what is the secret to your success? 41:24 I mean, after all these years" and they mentioned his age... 41:26 he said, "I'm 60 something... " 41:28 he said, "but my life has just begun... " 41:29 and they said, "Arnold, what is the secret to your success?" 41:34 and he said this, "You got to stay hungry... " 41:37 didn't Jesus say the same thing? 41:40 If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, 41:45 you will be... what? You will be... 41:47 you got to stay hungry... 41:48 Jesus is not just hungry for spiritual food 41:51 but, you know what? He was hungry for souls... 41:54 He was hungry for souls... 41:56 He says... "My... my meat... " food... 41:59 "is to do the will of the Father that sent me. " 42:02 That's what I'm hungry for... 42:03 even on the cross... "It is done... " wow! 42:08 Didn't mean to preach... 42:09 was I preaching? Didn't mean to preach. 42:11 Pause... 42:12 Here's the answer... 42:14 So... so the answer to Number 16 is, 42:16 "Besides sharing the gospel 42:17 what does the Bible describe as work?" 42:19 The first work is, believing in Jesus... 42:21 the first work is believing in Jesus... 42:22 I want to make that clear 42:24 because a lot of times people think the first work is 42:26 trying to figure out what the work is. 42:27 No, the first work is believing in Jesus... 42:30 I'm always... I'm always somehow... 42:32 kind of put out by people that ask, 42:34 "You know what... I'm trying to figure out 42:36 what the will of God is for my life. " 42:37 That's a question like, 42:40 "Did you get an e-mail today from God... 42:42 did He tell you what the will is?" 42:43 Well, in the Bible when you read the will of God, 42:46 one of the things he says, "This is the will of God... " 42:48 one of the things is, "Be thankful in all things... 42:50 that we rejoice all the time. " 42:52 But if you simply follow Jesus, 42:54 can you imagine, He calls James and John 42:56 the sons of Zebedee... two fishermen... 42:58 he says, "Follow me... " and they said, 43:00 "Lord, we will follow you but what do you want us to do?" 43:03 Pause... 43:04 The Bible says, "How long did it take them?" 43:07 Immediately... 43:09 immediately... 43:10 and then the work was very clear 43:12 because they believed in the One who extended the invitation. 43:15 Number 17... is that where we are? 43:17 Okay, Number 17... 43:23 "What does the Bible cite as evidence 43:26 that we believe in Jesus?" 43:28 John 14 and verse 12, John 14 verse 12... 43:33 oh, this is wonderful, right now there's a message... 43:35 right now there's a work going on around the world 43:38 and I praise the Lord that here at 3ABN, 43:40 we are involved in that work. 43:42 There are people in the mission field in Africa and in Asia 43:44 and in South America and in Europe, 43:46 there are missionaries that are at Maranatha 43:49 and building churches in Africa... 43:50 there's a whole lot of work going on around the world, 43:53 and people are in Asia and Asian Aid... 43:56 people are building schools in Bangladesh 43:59 and in South America, 44:00 there's a work going on all over the world, 44:02 NAPS... exactly... 44:05 National Association for the Prevention of Starvation... 44:08 there are people working... 44:09 this is a working church 44:10 but still we need more people in the field. 44:12 Look at this beautiful text, 44:15 "What does the Bible cite as evidence 44:17 that we believe in Jesus?" 44:18 John chapter 14 verse 12, here it is on the screen... 44:21 "Most assuredly, I say to you, 44:24 he who believes in Me... " 44:27 don't rush... because what we just read before 44:30 was... "the work is to believe... " 44:32 get what happens after you believe... 44:34 "he who believes in Me, 44:36 the works that I do he will do also; 44:40 and greater works than these he will do, 44:44 because I go to My Father. " 44:45 Isn't that... "Amen... " Audience: "Amen. " 44:47 Now get that... the text before was... 44:48 "This is the work that you believe 44:50 ah, now that you believe, 44:52 you're going to do greater works than I'm doing. " 44:54 Now, I don't know if that makes you rejoice or not 44:56 but I will be... 44:57 I would be amazed to even be said 44:59 that I am doing greater works than Jesus. 45:02 Pause... 45:04 That blows me away when He says, "You see what I'm doing, 45:07 you're going to be doing greater things than this... " 45:09 pause... 45:11 "because I'm... I'm out of here... " 45:12 in other words, "I'm leaving... " 45:13 and when the Lord empowered His church, 45:15 the reason why He said, "they'll do greater works" 45:18 is because there are more of them, 45:20 now, we talk about the 7 to 10 million 45:22 or 20 million we have in our... 45:23 how many do we have in our church? 45:24 20 million... 45:26 if... if... if just four million were always on the streets... 45:32 if 1/5th of them were always on the streets 45:36 can you imagine... how... how much the church will grow? 45:40 If half of them... oh Lord... the world would be evangelized 45:45 almost in a matter of months. 45:47 So, the church has to catch a vision, 45:51 we cannot just finish the work by remote control, 45:54 it's a good thing to have... television is a beautiful thing 45:57 but it should begin there... it should not end there... 45:59 all right... 46:01 He says, "If you believe... greater works than these" 46:03 so here is the question... 46:04 "What does the Bible cite as evidence 46:06 that we believe in Jesus?" 46:07 What does the Bible cite? 46:08 Pause... 46:10 Ah... what does the Bible cite 46:14 as evidence that we believe in Jesus? 46:16 Our works... 46:19 our works... 46:21 if you believe... you'll be working 46:25 you cannot... 46:27 this is from here to Sabbath... 46:30 you cannot believe and not work. 46:32 It's just not possible... 46:34 You can't say, "I'm a believer... " 46:36 and you don't work... 46:37 really? 46:38 "So, you believe in Jesus and what did Jesus do?" 46:41 "And He came to work for the salvation of men... " 46:44 "And you believe in Jesus... " "Yeah... " 46:45 "Do you work for Him?" 46:47 "Well, now I'm waiting for Him to come back... " 46:48 "Well, you know what's going to happen when He comes back? 46:51 He's going to ask you for an account of what you did 46:52 and then you're going to get a reward according to what you did 46:55 and if you're not doing anything you're not getting a reward. " 46:57 Isn't that simple? 46:58 Isn't that how we get paid? 47:00 We get paid for the work we do 47:02 but if you don't do the work are you going to get paid? 47:04 He's coming back and my reward is with me 47:06 I'm giving out paychecks when I come back 47:08 according as your work shall be 47:12 and that's what He's in essence saying, 47:14 "I'm going to go to my father... 47:15 I'm turning it over to you, 47:17 I got it started and you're going to cover the earth 47:19 with the glory that I've given to you 47:21 and the work is going to be greater than the work I did 47:24 when I was here. " 47:25 Look at this quotation... under Question Number 18... 47:28 and I'll give the questions and I'll read the quotation... 47:35 one of my favorite books: Christ's Object Lessons 47:38 a lot of the parables are listed there... 47:42 "Each is to work in co-operation with Christ 47:46 for the salvation of... " what? 47:49 "souls... 47:50 Not more surely is the place prepared for us 47:53 in the heavenly mansions than is the special place 47:58 designated on earth where we are to work for God. " 48:03 Did you get what that's saying? 48:04 The Lord is preparing a place for us in heaven 48:06 but before we get to that place He's prepared, 48:09 He's prepared a place for us to work down here. " 48:11 We're going to rest there... 48:13 we're going to do what down here? 48:14 Work down here... 48:16 He says, "I've got a place up there for you... 48:18 but before we get to that place, 48:20 I got a place for you down here. " 48:22 Isn't that right? 48:24 That's why no pastors... 48:26 my brother, pastor... he's retired... 48:28 but he can't retire... 48:29 because you can't retire if you believe in Jesus... 48:32 see, they can get "re-tired... " 48:34 they put more tires on and keep going... 48:37 see... that's the beauty of it... 48:39 you may not be in "official work" 48:42 but there's no such thing as, 48:43 "breathing the breath of God and not still working for Jesus" 48:46 It's just... you got to... you got to do that 48:49 because that's what we're called to do... 48:50 "If I've given you energy, if I wake you up in the morning, 48:53 do something to advance the cause of God... " 48:55 praise God for that... 48:57 oooh... I'm excited about today's study 48:59 but don't mind me... 49:01 okay, we're on at Number 19... this is beautiful... 49:05 we're covering quite a bit today... 49:06 yeah... and I'm doing "House Calls" all week long... 49:09 oh, I'll tell you, we did a powerful topic today, 49:12 I won't mention much about right now to take your time, 49:14 but let's go to Number 19... 49:16 I'll mention it afterwards as we're closing... 49:17 all right... Question Number 19... 49:24 "What was the prayer that Jesus shared with His disciples?" 49:28 Matthew 9 verse 37 and 38... 49:32 Matthew 9 verse 37 and 38, 49:35 we got past the "sent" part, 49:38 we now know that you cannot be called of God 49:40 and not be working for God... 49:42 it's just an oxymoron... 49:43 a football player does not get a uniform and is sent home, 49:46 it's just not possible... 49:47 even when he's sick... he's on the bench... 49:50 unless his legs are broken or he can't even think 49:53 but if he's in... 49:55 I've seen basketball players and their arms are in casts 49:58 where are they sitting? On the bench 50:00 because they're paid to be on active duty... 50:03 they could do some... 50:05 even if they're there... and they can't play in a way... 50:06 you know what I see in the game? 50:08 They're encouraging the other team players, 50:09 "Shoot the ball... " and... can't do anything... 50:12 they can't play... but they're there encouraging the players. 50:15 That's why it's so vitally important 50:17 not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together... 50:20 encourage one another while it is yet day. 50:22 Here it is... Matthew 9 verses 37 and 38 is the answer 50:26 here it is... 50:27 and by-the-way, the question once again is, 50:29 "What was the prayer that Jesus shared with His disciples?" 50:32 "Then He said to His disciples, 50:36 'The harvest truly is... '" what? 50:38 'plentiful... 50:40 but the laborers are... '" what? 50:42 'few... Therefore... '" here's the prayer... 50:45 "pray... the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers... " where? 50:52 "into the harvest. " 50:53 When you pray at night, 50:55 this ought to be a prayer that we commit to ourselves 50:57 and by-the-way, let me make this clear... 50:59 don't pray this prayer 51:00 unless you are willing to be one of those 51:02 that is sent out into the harvest... 51:03 We could say, "Lord... send out 51:05 Brother So-and-So and Sister So-and-So 51:07 but I need to be home... 51:08 so... that... my... 51:10 you know, I don't like... I don't like cold weather. 51:12 Uh huh... I'm not... I don't know how to do this 51:15 so send out Brother So-and-So 51:17 who's been a Bible Worker for 15 years 51:19 but don't send me out. " 51:20 You know, you'll say, "Lord, I'm willing to go... " 51:22 that's how our story is... 51:23 my wife and I wanted to be in the ministry in 1987 51:26 but we said, "Lord, we're not going to California... 51:29 you send us wherever you want... but not California... 51:32 not going there... " 51:34 and we stuck in Florida... 51:36 it was not until... right, Honey... 51:38 it's in our book, "Abandoned But Not Alone" 51:40 Pacific Press... advertisement... 51:42 it was not until we said, 51:45 "Lord, we will go anywhere including California... " 51:49 that the phone call came. 51:50 You can't limit God... you got to say, 51:53 "Lord, I'm willing to go wherever I want to go" 51:54 and Brother Dave, right now, is saying, 51:56 "I don't know where God's going to send us 51:57 but wherever He sends us, I'm willing to go. " Amen... 51:59 That's the sign of a converted heart... 52:01 I will go wherever you send me... 52:03 and He's new in the faith... just about a year 52:06 or a little more than that 52:08 or just about... October will be a year... 52:10 baptized a year ago... 52:11 transformed life... family and the church school 52:14 and wife is serving... Godly wife... 52:16 you got to be willing, 52:17 "Wherever you want me to go Lord, I'm going... " 52:20 and that's why our prayer ought to pray, 52:22 ought to be, "Lord, we pray that the Lord of the harvest 52:25 sends laborers into His harvest... " 52:27 and more specifically, 52:28 we've got to pray that the Lord will send us. 52:30 Now, you may not be able to go... physically... 52:33 you may not be able to walk the streets... 52:34 not everybody is able to do that 52:36 but some people can make the phone calls... 52:38 you make the Bible Study contacts... you get their names 52:40 and somebody could be back there at the phone calls... 52:43 that cannot go outside... maybe it's because it's dark 52:46 or they don't drive they could say, 52:48 "Okay, I'll be willing to make the phone calls 52:49 and set up the appointments 52:51 for those that can go and give the Bible Studies. " 52:53 Everybody can do something, amen. 52:55 We got to put this church together like a business. 52:58 We can't handle it like a service... 53:01 we got to put together like a business... 53:03 the business of the Lord, 53:04 all right, everybody's got to be employed in some capacity. 53:07 So, what's the answer here, we've got to pray. 53:10 Pray... send out laborers... 53:12 pray... send out laborers. 53:14 All right now, this one... 53:16 Number 20 is an eye-opener 53:19 because it destroys the places of neutrality. 53:22 It destroys the idea that there is such thing 53:25 as a neutral Christian. 53:26 There is no such thing as a neutral Christian 53:28 any more than you can drive a car in neutral. 53:30 Right... 53:32 you're not driving a car in neutral... 53:35 somebody is pulling you or pushing you... 53:37 that's right... 53:38 if you're in neutral... you're going downhill... 53:40 huh... 53:42 Audience: If you're pulled down in California... 53:43 That's right... 53:45 if your car is in neutral, 53:46 you didn't get any gas mileage, you're in trouble. 53:49 As a matter-of-fact, you can be in neutral 53:52 and you're engine is not even on 53:53 so, you don't have to be neutral to have a good engine. 53:57 Anyway, let's stop taking that to the nth degree here 54:00 but here is the question... Number 20... 54:06 "Into what two categories does the Bible divide everyone?" 54:10 and in specifics... I mean 54:12 everybody who is breathing on this planet right now, 54:15 is in one of these two categories 54:17 and the Christian should never be in the wrong category. 54:20 Here it is, Matthew 12 and verse 30, 54:23 Matthew 12 and verse 30... 54:26 let's read this together... 54:28 come on, let's use some power on this, are you ready? 54:30 Here we go... 54:32 "He who is not with Me is against Me, 54:35 and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. " 54:39 Have you ever seen people trying to rake leaves on a windy day? 54:43 It's the worst thing to do... 54:45 now, I used that illustration for a very important point, 54:50 that's why the angels are holding back the winds 54:54 because Satan wants to use these winds of strife 54:58 to blow away all those 55:01 who are possible candidates for salvation 55:03 so, the Lord knowing that you cannot gather leaves 55:05 on a windy day... 55:07 neither can you work effectively for souls 55:10 while the world is melting apart 55:12 in turmoil and destruction before us, 55:15 so, He's holding back the winds so that we have the time now 55:19 to gather with Christ... 55:20 and... and... you know, all you got to do is scatter abroad... 55:23 does not help those who are gathering... 55:25 right... if somebody opens up a.. you know, their billfold... 55:31 by accident... billfold is an old word... 55:33 their wallet... and they got a lot of ones... 55:35 and the wind starts blowing, 55:37 you got to gather with them 55:39 and if you don't gather with them, 55:41 they'll say, "You didn't even help me, you just stood there" 55:43 right... 55:44 "all the... my money's flying everywhere... 55:46 what do you do... you're just standing there. " 55:47 You don't have to ask questions... 55:49 there are certain things you don't need questions 55:51 to be asked for, you just got to step in and help 55:54 but the Lord is, in essence, saying to the church, 55:57 "If you're not gathering with me you're scattering abroad... " 55:59 you cannot be... there's no third category... 56:02 indifference has to be replaced with commitment, 56:05 there is no such thing as a neutral Christian... why? 56:09 Because Christianity destroys neutrality 56:11 or neutrality destroys Christianity. 56:14 There's no such thing as a neutral Christian. 56:17 Years ago, I heard this really ridiculous statement 56:19 some of you heard of Jackie Gleason... 56:20 it's old... it's old... 56:22 you know, Norton and Jackie Gleason 56:23 had a conversation one day and Norton said... 56:25 Jackie Gleason says... he was taking the Driving Test 56:27 and he says, "Norton, what's the yellow line for?" 56:29 He wanted to make sure and pass that... 56:31 He said, "The Yellow Line... now that's simple... 56:32 that's for the motorcycles. " 56:34 Laughter... 56:36 there's no such thing... 56:38 you don't drive on the yellow line... 56:39 it is either to separate you 56:40 going in one direction or the other... 56:43 there's no... 56:44 there are no yellow lines in the Christian life, right? 56:46 nobody stands on the yellow line, 56:48 you're either gathering with Christ 56:50 or you're scattering abroad. 56:52 That's why this topic is so vitally important... 56:55 the greatest commission... 56:56 and let's end on this one, 56:57 let's end on this one... 56:59 Number 21... "What designated purpose 57:01 does Jesus have for His followers... " 57:04 "What designated purpose does Jesus have for His followers?" 57:08 Matthew 4 and verse 19 is our final text. 57:11 "Then He said to them... " 57:13 are you ready to read this together with me... 57:15 "Follow me and I will make you... " what? 57:18 "Fishers of men... " 57:19 Brethren, the greatest commission 57:22 is to join Jesus in becoming fishers of men... 57:25 don't concern yourself with cleaning the fish... 57:28 dedicate yourself to catching the fish... 57:31 dedicate yourself to winning souls for Christ... 57:35 there's no greater commission 57:36 than to know that the kingdom will be furnished with souls 57:40 because of the diligent work that you've joined Christ in... 57:43 there'll be no greater joy 57:44 than to turn around in heaven and see 57:46 your neighbors and friends there 57:47 because you responded to the call of God 57:49 and the commission of God on your life 57:51 and so, as we talk about this greatest commission... 57:54 understand... the call is on your life... 57:56 and when you respond to the call, 57:58 whatever is not clear will come into a sharper focus, 58:02 God bless you, let us pray. |
Revised 2018-02-07