#S088 - “Lift Before You Leap” (Part 1) 00:00:02.93\00:00:20.35 Today, friends, we're going to go in our Bibles 00:00:20.38\00:00:22.28 to the Book of Acts Chapter three. 00:00:22.32\00:00:24.45 Last week we were in Acts Chapter 14, 00:00:24.49\00:00:27.72 and we learned about a man who was crippled, who took a leap. 00:00:28.99\00:00:30.96 And this year we're going to look at a 00:00:31.79\00:00:32.83 this week we're going to look at a different man 00:00:32.86\00:00:34.66 who suffers from some impotence in his legs, 00:00:35.60\00:00:38.07 who also finds a leap in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:39.13\00:00:41.57 That's chapter three. 00:00:42.14\00:00:43.37 And we're going to begin together at verse one 00:00:43.41\00:00:45.44 and we're going to read together versus one through ten, 00:00:46.57\00:00:48.81 accept the three verses one through ten. 00:00:49.68\00:00:51.85 The Bible says Now, Peter, and John went up together 00:00:52.98\00:00:57.05 to the temple at the hour of prayer, 00:00:57.92\00:01:00.12 which is the ninth hour, and a certain man 00:01:01.02\00:01:04.39 lame from his mother's womb, was carried 00:01:05.33\00:01:08.30 whom they lay daily at the gate of the temple, 00:01:09.33\00:01:12.13 which is called beautiful, to ask alms from those 00:01:13.20\00:01:16.27 who entered into the temple, who, seeing Peter and John 00:01:16.30\00:01:20.48 about to go into the temple, asked for alms 00:01:21.44\00:01:24.38 and fixing his eyes on him with John. 00:01:25.25\00:01:28.45 Peter said, Look at us. 00:01:28.48\00:01:30.69 So he gave them his attention, 00:01:31.39\00:01:34.42 expecting to receive something from them. 00:01:34.46\00:01:37.46 Then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have. 00:01:38.43\00:01:42.86 But what I do, I give you in the name of Jesus 00:01:43.83\00:01:48.47 Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 00:01:48.50\00:01:52.47 And verse seven says, and he took him 00:01:53.38\00:01:55.71 by the right hand and lifted him up. 00:01:56.58\00:02:00.55 And immediately 00:02:01.35\00:02:03.55 his feet and ankle bones received strength. 00:02:03.59\00:02:07.26 So he leap. 00:02:07.96\00:02:10.16 He stood and walked and entered the temple 00:02:10.19\00:02:15.43 with them, walking and leaping 00:02:15.46\00:02:19.60 and praising God 00:02:20.20\00:02:22.90 and all the people saw him walking and praising God. 00:02:22.94\00:02:26.61 Then they knew that it was He who sat begging 00:02:27.61\00:02:31.38 alms at the beautiful gate of the temple, 00:02:31.41\00:02:33.82 and they were filled with wonder and amazement 00:02:34.85\00:02:36.82 at what happened to him. 00:02:37.39\00:02:38.79 But I want to repeat emphasis, verse number seven. 00:02:38.82\00:02:41.26 And he took him by the right hand 00:02:41.29\00:02:44.33 and lifted him up and immediately 00:02:45.16\00:02:50.17 his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 00:02:50.20\00:02:54.37 Today, friends of mine, I want to talk to you 00:02:55.34\00:02:56.97 under the subject lip lift before you leap. 00:02:57.01\00:03:02.71 Lift before you leap. 00:03:02.74\00:03:05.15 Let us pray together. 00:03:05.18\00:03:06.15 Father, my prayer today 00:03:07.22\00:03:09.75 is that you would blanket our souls with your spirit. 00:03:10.92\00:03:17.19 Lord, we realize that there is a different type 00:03:18.46\00:03:21.76 of leap that you've ordained for us to take today. 00:03:21.80\00:03:24.93 So I'm praying that the same power 00:03:25.77\00:03:28.04 that you gave the apostles to preach the word years ago, 00:03:29.24\00:03:32.47 I pray that you would 00:03:33.04\00:03:34.08 give us the same power to preach your word today. 00:03:34.11\00:03:36.98 And Father, I'm asking that you would do a miracle, 00:03:38.08\00:03:40.28 that the spirit that is present in this room, 00:03:41.32\00:03:43.42 that it would translate through the Internet stream, 00:03:44.55\00:03:47.06 and that there would be a sense of anointing in the kitchen, 00:03:48.26\00:03:51.66 in the living room, in the bedroom, 00:03:51.69\00:03:54.36 just as much as it is in this place. 00:03:55.20\00:03:56.83 So, Lord, would you please hide me in the shadows 00:03:57.90\00:03:59.80 of the cross that Jesus alone might be? 00:03:59.83\00:04:02.87 See, that Christ alone might be heard, 00:04:02.90\00:04:06.44 and at the end of our time together, 00:04:07.31\00:04:08.58 let Jesus alone be praised. 00:04:08.61\00:04:10.65 Bless us to this end, we ask in the mighty name of Jesus, 00:04:11.85\00:04:14.12 let those who love God say together, amen. 00:04:14.15\00:04:17.22 And a man 00:04:17.92\00:04:19.09 again, friends of mine, we are talking to you today 00:04:20.22\00:04:22.86 under the subject lift before you leap. 00:04:22.89\00:04:26.06 Now, as I begin today, I want to give you 00:04:27.50\00:04:30.90 a very specific detail about a leap year. 00:04:30.93\00:04:35.27 I want you to know that 00:04:36.27\00:04:38.24 leap years are not insular, 00:04:38.27\00:04:40.88 but leap years are actually communal. 00:04:41.74\00:04:44.38 So that a leap year is not just about how far you go. 00:04:45.51\00:04:50.42 Leap years are about how many people 00:04:51.29\00:04:54.26 you actually bring along with you. 00:04:54.29\00:04:56.86 So that at the foundation of a leap year, 00:04:57.83\00:05:00.93 it's not just about what I want and what I desire. 00:05:01.93\00:05:07.64 A leap year is not just about what I have, 00:05:07.67\00:05:11.81 what I possess, or what I collect. 00:05:12.64\00:05:15.78 A leap year is about how many folk I bless along the way, 00:05:17.01\00:05:21.22 and this is the truth that you should never 00:05:22.22\00:05:25.19 become possessive about a leap year. 00:05:25.22\00:05:28.49 You should never become selfish about a leap year. 00:05:29.52\00:05:33.19 You see a leap year are those who are blessed. 00:05:34.20\00:05:37.07 Don't just take a leap. 00:05:37.10\00:05:39.37 Those who are blessed facilitate a leap. 00:05:39.40\00:05:42.17 Let me say it again 00:05:42.20\00:05:43.47 that those who are blessed don't just take a leap, 00:05:43.51\00:05:46.91 but those who are blessed facilitate a leap 00:05:46.94\00:05:50.31 so that as you are experiencing God's favor and growth, 00:05:51.45\00:05:54.68 make sure you are careful to bless others along the way 00:05:55.88\00:05:59.12 and understand that there is a symbiotic relationship 00:06:00.32\00:06:04.56 between how high you leap 00:06:05.19\00:06:07.93 and how much you lift. 00:06:08.46\00:06:10.47 In fact, Jesus says give and it shall be given unto you. 00:06:11.60\00:06:15.70 Good measure, precious dam, shaken together 00:06:16.71\00:06:19.77 and running over. 00:06:19.81\00:06:21.64 And I want to encourage you to add another tier 00:06:21.68\00:06:25.58 to your faith, because you don't just want faith to receive. 00:06:25.61\00:06:30.02 But some of us need to pray for faith to give. 00:06:31.05\00:06:33.42 You don't just want faith to get a blessing. 00:06:34.42\00:06:37.13 You need to have the faith to be a blessing. 00:06:37.16\00:06:40.16 You don't just want faith for your prayers to be answered. 00:06:41.30\00:06:43.70 You want the faith to be an answer 00:06:44.53\00:06:45.93 to somebody else's prayer. 00:06:45.97\00:06:47.90 And this is the word to somebody today 00:06:47.94\00:06:50.41 that when God starts growing you and when God starts 00:06:51.47\00:06:54.88 elevating you, when God enlarges your territory, 00:06:54.91\00:06:59.45 when God puts you in the overflow, 00:07:00.35\00:07:02.55 be careful not to make the overflow selfish. 00:07:03.55\00:07:07.26 In other words, hear me on this. 00:07:07.29\00:07:09.26 You see, we don't understand the principle of overflow. 00:07:09.29\00:07:12.96 You see, 00:07:13.26\00:07:14.46 I need you to understand that we got put you in the overflow. 00:07:14.46\00:07:17.73 He usually puts you in a community of need. 00:07:18.67\00:07:21.70 And see, the problem is, we think the overflow is about 00:07:22.87\00:07:25.61 me. Just having so much 00:07:25.64\00:07:27.68 that I can't manage all the blessings God gives. 00:07:28.74\00:07:31.01 But there is a reason that God puts you in a community of need, 00:07:32.25\00:07:35.18 so that when God causes your cup to run over, 00:07:36.12\00:07:38.42 when God puts you in the overflow, 00:07:39.25\00:07:41.09 the reason He puts you where there is a need is 00:07:42.06\00:07:44.16 so that the extra shouldn't hit the gram. 00:07:44.19\00:07:46.93 The extra is not supposed to spoil, 00:07:47.76\00:07:49.93 the extra is not supposed to go bad. 00:07:50.80\00:07:52.83 But God puts you in a community of need 00:07:53.74\00:07:55.74 so that the extra blesses somebody else. 00:07:56.67\00:07:58.97 The extra is supposed to help somebody else. 00:08:00.04\00:08:02.21 The extra is supposed to lift somebody else. 00:08:03.21\00:08:05.78 And the word to somebody today is Don't let your leap year 00:08:05.81\00:08:09.92 be selfish. 00:08:09.95\00:08:11.35 It is not about the individual, but God wants to use you 00:08:11.39\00:08:16.06 to bless the whole community if that makes sense. 00:08:17.13\00:08:19.29 And he's a man out there today. 00:08:19.33\00:08:21.80 And so today, friends, I want invite you to go back 00:08:21.83\00:08:23.93 with me in your Bible to the Book of Acts Chapter three. 00:08:23.97\00:08:27.07 And I want us to look together 00:08:27.77\00:08:28.77 at verse number one as we unpack God's word today. 00:08:28.80\00:08:32.14 Accept the three in verse one, 00:08:32.84\00:08:34.71 the Bible says, Now, Peter and John went up to the temple, 00:08:34.74\00:08:38.75 went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 00:08:38.78\00:08:43.69 which is the Bible, says the ninth. 00:08:44.55\00:08:47.22 Our now friends today, I need you to know 00:08:47.26\00:08:50.33 that our text is powerful and filled with truth. 00:08:50.36\00:08:54.76 But the first thing it teaches is that truly 00:08:54.83\00:08:58.63 spiritual people are never spiritually satisfied. 00:08:58.67\00:09:03.17 Let me say it again that spiritual people 00:09:04.14\00:09:06.64 are never spiritually satisfied. 00:09:07.34\00:09:10.08 Now, here, friends, the Bible says that we find Peter and John 00:09:11.31\00:09:15.68 going up to the temple during the hour of prayer. 00:09:16.75\00:09:20.19 Now, the reason that is powerful is that they are fresh off 00:09:21.36\00:09:25.86 of the experience of Pentecost and notice 00:09:25.89\00:09:29.60 that their first post Pentecost activity is to go 00:09:29.63\00:09:34.24 the next day into the House of God for prayer. 00:09:34.27\00:09:38.14 See, this is powerful, for they have just 00:09:39.07\00:09:41.81 received the refresh of the Lord. 00:09:41.84\00:09:44.75 In fact, the marks from the cloven tongues of fire 00:09:45.78\00:09:49.45 are still settled upon their head, and notice 00:09:50.49\00:09:53.25 that after they receive the Holy Ghost, 00:09:53.29\00:09:56.29 there is no sense that we are straight. 00:09:57.23\00:09:59.16 There is no sense that we are good. 00:10:00.03\00:10:01.86 That because we received a lot 00:10:02.56\00:10:04.23 yesterday, that we don't need some more today. 00:10:04.27\00:10:07.94 So they go right into the House of God 00:10:08.84\00:10:11.01 after they've 00:10:11.44\00:10:12.54 received the Holy Ghost and it shows something powerful 00:10:12.57\00:10:15.94 because they realize that yesterday's anointing 00:10:16.98\00:10:19.85 is not sufficient for today. 00:10:20.52\00:10:23.35 And I want to say to somebody this morning that it doesn't 00:10:23.39\00:10:26.55 matter how powerfully God moved on yesterday, 00:10:26.59\00:10:30.83 we still need a fresh anointing for today. 00:10:31.79\00:10:35.43 It doesn't matter how much God answered prayers on Wednesday. 00:10:36.70\00:10:40.10 I need God to answer a prayer this Sabbath. 00:10:41.10\00:10:43.77 God move powerfully in the service last week, 00:10:44.81\00:10:47.41 but there is no carry over to this week. 00:10:48.34\00:10:50.88 And the same thing we learned from the miracle of the manna 00:10:52.15\00:10:54.58 is that every day I need a new portion, 00:10:55.52\00:10:58.15 every day I need a new supply. 00:10:58.85\00:11:01.49 Because yesterday days anointing is not sufficient for today. 00:11:02.69\00:11:07.46 And the reason friends, we need to be daily replenished 00:11:08.56\00:11:12.23 by God is that every day life takes something from you. 00:11:12.27\00:11:17.04 Everyday life withdraws something from you. 00:11:18.04\00:11:21.04 Every day you make a deposit is it into someone or something? 00:11:22.24\00:11:25.78 And because life is always taking, 00:11:26.61\00:11:29.08 my soul is always needing. 00:11:29.72\00:11:31.89 And so I need to be daily replenished. 00:11:32.79\00:11:35.02 I need to be daily refilled. 00:11:35.69\00:11:38.03 I need God to add to what life took away on yesterday day. 00:11:39.19\00:11:43.63 And the thing that I like about the apostles 00:11:44.63\00:11:47.10 is that they don't settle with progress. 00:11:48.04\00:11:50.51 They build on progress. 00:11:51.07\00:11:53.41 Let me say it again, 00:11:53.44\00:11:54.64 that the apostles, they don't settle with their progress. 00:11:54.68\00:11:58.15 They build on their progress. 00:11:58.85\00:12:01.02 And I need to preach to somebody who feels like 00:12:01.98\00:12:05.39 they have spiritually gotten to the right level. 00:12:05.42\00:12:09.29 You see, I need somebody to understand 00:12:10.19\00:12:12.39 the reason that some of us have not had a leap year 00:12:13.50\00:12:17.47 is we got too impressed with our progress. 00:12:18.37\00:12:21.37 In other words, there is some that got so impressed 00:12:22.50\00:12:25.57 with their progress that they stopped progressing. 00:12:25.61\00:12:28.91 You got so impressed with your prayer life 00:12:29.88\00:12:32.48 that you stopped praying like you used to pray. 00:12:33.52\00:12:35.45 You got so impressed by what you know 00:12:36.32\00:12:39.02 that you don't need Bible study in Sabbath school no more. 00:12:40.19\00:12:43.12 You've got so impressed by how many offices that you held 00:12:43.16\00:12:47.13 that you don't need to be in service for the Lord. 00:12:48.20\00:12:50.30 But I need you to know there is a danger 00:12:51.23\00:12:52.93 and getting impressed with your progress. 00:12:53.90\00:12:55.74 Because sometimes the celebration of progress 00:12:56.77\00:12:59.27 is actually the formula for complacency. 00:13:00.21\00:13:03.41 In other words, hear me on this church, 00:13:03.45\00:13:05.68 because sometimes celebrating past progress 00:13:06.68\00:13:09.75 is the formula for present paralysis. 00:13:10.62\00:13:13.59 The reason that some of us are paralyzed today 00:13:13.62\00:13:17.16 is because we've been so busy looking at our progress 00:13:18.33\00:13:20.73 from yesterday and see, this is why 00:13:20.76\00:13:23.77 we are given these admonitions about the apostles and Jesus. 00:13:25.03\00:13:27.54 It is why you should never 00:13:28.17\00:13:29.17 become high minded because of your spiritual fruit, 00:13:29.20\00:13:32.34 because the Bible says Let him that stands take. He 00:13:32.37\00:13:36.68 left, he falls. 00:13:37.75\00:13:39.41 In fact, Jesus said it this way. 00:13:39.45\00:13:41.42 You better pray that you enter 00:13:41.45\00:13:43.02 not into temptation, because the Spirit is willing. 00:13:43.05\00:13:47.09 But guess what? 00:13:47.52\00:13:48.06 The flesh is still weak. 00:13:48.09\00:13:50.09 And the truth is, it doesn't matter 00:13:50.13\00:13:52.16 how well I experience God in times past. 00:13:52.19\00:13:55.90 The truth is, I need an experience with God 00:13:56.90\00:14:00.40 that is current. 00:14:00.84\00:14:02.00 I need an experience with God that is fresh. 00:14:02.04\00:14:05.41 I need an experience with God that is right now 00:14:06.47\00:14:10.01 as the old him says, I need the Lord. 00:14:10.88\00:14:14.38 I need Thee every hour. 00:14:14.42\00:14:17.62 I need the bless me now, my Savior 00:14:17.65\00:14:21.82 as my soul comes to thee. 00:14:22.46\00:14:24.56 And I just want to say to somebody today 00:14:25.49\00:14:27.40 that if you are truly walking in Christ, 00:14:28.30\00:14:30.73 I want somebody to know that there is no plateau in Christ, 00:14:31.97\00:14:35.37 that if you're still on this earth, you had made it yet. 00:14:36.57\00:14:40.34 If God hadn't translated you, 00:14:41.04\00:14:43.28 there is still growth that needs to take place. 00:14:44.35\00:14:46.75 There is still more that needs to be learned. 00:14:47.78\00:14:50.09 There is a level deeper in Christ that you can experience, 00:14:51.25\00:14:54.69 because the thing about spiritual people 00:14:55.56\00:14:57.59 is that spiritual people never get spiritually satisfied. 00:14:58.73\00:15:02.60 Okay, let me say it this way. 00:15:02.63\00:15:04.70 I need somebody to know that there is a interesting 00:15:04.73\00:15:06.84 correlation between spiritual growth and spiritual hunger. 00:15:06.87\00:15:11.04 And in other words, some of you all realize that 00:15:12.11\00:15:13.48 I have a 13 year old son and I have a ten year old son, 00:15:13.51\00:15:17.28 and God has blessed me with some big boys 00:15:18.21\00:15:19.91 and see the one challenge with having big growing boys 00:15:21.08\00:15:23.75 is that they are always wanting something to eat. 00:15:24.79\00:15:27.96 And this the crazy thing about it, Pastor Fail 00:15:28.92\00:15:31.36 that there will be times where we will sit down 00:15:32.33\00:15:34.00 and eat a substantial meal 00:15:34.63\00:15:36.80 and a half hour later 00:15:37.37\00:15:40.07 they will be requesting a snack 00:15:40.77\00:15:43.37 as if they did not just eat 30 minutes ago 00:15:44.34\00:15:47.51 and see when they're always hungry. 00:15:48.38\00:15:50.41 It's how my wife and I know they are in a growth spurt. 00:15:51.61\00:15:55.02 In other words, 00:15:55.45\00:15:56.58 a growth spurt is something that demands more to eat. 00:15:56.62\00:16:01.02 But there is an interesting 00:16:01.06\00:16:02.42 reciprocity that takes place because the more they eat, 00:16:02.46\00:16:06.66 guess what? The more they grow. 00:16:07.36\00:16:09.06 But the more they grow, guess what? 00:16:09.86\00:16:11.77 The hungrier they get 00:16:11.80\00:16:13.64 and the hungrier they get, the more they eat. 00:16:13.67\00:16:17.14 But the more they eat, guess what? 00:16:17.97\00:16:19.44 The more they grow. 00:16:19.47\00:16:20.91 And the more they grow, guess what? 00:16:20.94\00:16:23.04 The hungrier they get. 00:16:23.08\00:16:24.81 And so the evidence that they're growing 00:16:24.85\00:16:27.68 is that their hunger can't be satisfied. 00:16:28.62\00:16:31.19 The proof that they're growing 00:16:31.22\00:16:33.05 is that they're always wanting more. 00:16:33.09\00:16:35.52 The truth that they're growing is that they're always times. 00:16:36.79\00:16:39.79 And what I'm saying to somebody today is that 00:16:40.80\00:16:42.90 if you're in a spiritual growth spurt, 00:16:42.93\00:16:45.70 then you have spiritual hunger. 00:16:46.50\00:16:48.60 Because the more you eat, guess what? 00:16:49.50\00:16:52.07 The more you grow. 00:16:52.11\00:16:53.91 And then the more you grow, guess what? 00:16:53.94\00:16:56.34 The hungrier you are 00:16:56.38\00:16:58.08 and the hungrier you are, the more of the words you get. 00:16:58.11\00:17:01.82 And the more I eat, guess what? 00:17:02.52\00:17:04.22 The more I grow. 00:17:04.25\00:17:05.65 And the more I grow. 00:17:05.69\00:17:07.36 Guess what? 00:17:07.39\00:17:08.02 The hungrier I get If Jesus 00:17:08.06\00:17:11.49 and I need somebody to know that if you're 00:17:12.46\00:17:14.76 in a spiritual growth spurt, then the more you're going 00:17:14.83\00:17:20.14 to want more of Jesus Christ in your life today. 00:17:20.17\00:17:23.51 Friends 00:17:23.54\00:17:24.47 and so friends of mine, 00:17:25.04\00:17:26.24 I need you to know that this text is very powerful for us, 00:17:26.27\00:17:28.64 because the second thing this teaches us 00:17:29.51\00:17:32.48 is that certain parts are compromised, 00:17:33.38\00:17:37.82 are certain parts of the body suffer 00:17:38.62\00:17:40.49 when other parts of the body don't work? 00:17:41.42\00:17:43.43 Let me say it again that certain parts of the body suffer 00:17:44.56\00:17:47.23 when some parts of the body don't work. 00:17:48.13\00:17:50.80 Now, again, the Bible says we find a man 00:17:51.73\00:17:54.47 that is crippled in his feet 00:17:55.14\00:17:57.67 from the time that he was born. 00:17:58.37\00:18:00.78 Now, sometimes with this we would make the assumption 00:18:01.91\00:18:05.65 that the man is actually straight 00:18:06.45\00:18:09.12 from his head down to his ankle bones. 00:18:09.95\00:18:13.12 The assumption would be that he is in good health 00:18:14.22\00:18:16.83 from his head, but that infirmity deformity 00:18:17.79\00:18:21.30 would not show up until you got to his feet. 00:18:22.30\00:18:24.67 But I need you to understand something about this 00:18:25.73\00:18:28.24 man's journey, because even though he is 00:18:28.27\00:18:31.57 carried daily to the temple, 00:18:31.61\00:18:34.48 a good portion of his life experience 00:18:35.34\00:18:38.75 is actually spent on the ground. 00:18:39.45\00:18:41.62 In other words, this man spends a lot of time clay laying, 00:18:42.78\00:18:46.82 and because his feet don't work, 00:18:47.52\00:18:50.46 he has to overcompensate by putting a lot of part 00:18:51.46\00:18:56.46 pressure on other parts of his body. 00:18:56.50\00:18:59.80 In other words, if you solve this man, guess what? 00:19:00.97\00:19:04.14 His hands would be filled with calluses and sores 00:19:04.17\00:19:09.51 because parts of his body don't work, 00:19:10.41\00:19:13.18 that his elbows and his joints would be filled 00:19:14.22\00:19:17.75 with inflammation simply because of the parts of the body 00:19:17.79\00:19:21.79 aren't working. Y'all still not here yet? 00:19:22.76\00:19:24.19 In other words, 00:19:24.23\00:19:25.33 this man would have bedsores and lesions on his legs 00:19:25.36\00:19:29.90 because certain parts of the body are not working. 00:19:31.00\00:19:34.17 In other words, there are certain parts 00:19:35.04\00:19:37.37 that are on the verge of burning out 00:19:38.24\00:19:40.91 because other parts of the body are not working. 00:19:41.91\00:19:44.91 And it's an interesting thing because that when he eats, 00:19:46.11\00:19:49.28 all the parts are get nutrients from the meal, 00:19:50.25\00:19:53.42 but every part doesn't give to the body. 00:19:54.36\00:19:57.29 In other words, when he sleeps, certain parts of the body rest, 00:19:58.56\00:20:01.80 but they don't give energy to the body. 00:20:02.70\00:20:04.97 In other words, 00:20:05.40\00:20:06.53 whatever the body receives, the entire body gives it, 00:20:06.57\00:20:10.77 but only certain parts of the body contribute and see. 00:20:11.87\00:20:15.31 This is an allegory to what Paul says 00:20:16.21\00:20:18.95 to the Corinthian church, for he says Christ is the head, 00:20:18.98\00:20:23.28 but we are the body 00:20:24.29\00:20:26.65 and there are certain parts of the body that are struggling 00:20:27.86\00:20:32.33 because other parts of the body don't work. 00:20:33.26\00:20:35.83 Okay. 00:20:35.86\00:20:37.00 So if you hadn't got it yet, I'm rebuking all of those 00:20:37.03\00:20:41.57 who come to church and watch 00:20:41.60\00:20:45.14 church and view church. 00:20:45.71\00:20:48.51 But you don't work in church. 00:20:49.21\00:20:51.61 And the problem is that the 20% 00:20:52.31\00:20:55.82 that work, the 20% 00:20:56.32\00:20:59.15 that serve, the 20% 00:20:59.69\00:21:02.36 that give are on the verge of burning out 00:21:02.39\00:21:07.03 because we've got too much dead weight in the church. 00:21:08.10\00:21:12.20 We've got parts of the body that receive from the body. 00:21:13.40\00:21:17.94 But guess what? 00:21:18.37\00:21:19.01 They don't give to the body 00:21:19.04\00:21:21.01 that they are blessed by the body, 00:21:21.84\00:21:24.05 but they don't contribute to the body 00:21:24.95\00:21:26.98 they receive from the body, 00:21:27.65\00:21:29.72 but they make no offering to the body 00:21:30.62\00:21:32.92 and see the reason that you can't get a good head, 00:21:33.96\00:21:37.26 Deacon, is because the other deacons won't serve. 00:21:37.29\00:21:40.53 And the reason you can't find a Sabbath school 00:21:40.56\00:21:43.37 teacher is that one teacher is going to have 00:21:44.30\00:21:45.70 to serve every week. 00:21:45.73\00:21:47.27 And the reason you can't by media folks, 00:21:47.30\00:21:50.21 is they don't have to be on duty all the time. 00:21:51.17\00:21:53.27 And guess what? 00:21:53.71\00:21:54.71 Those small parts are suffering 00:21:54.74\00:21:57.75 because you got of the parts of the body that don't work, 00:21:58.95\00:22:02.22 I know you want to 00:22:02.72\00:22:03.79 switch the channel and change it is okay with me, 00:22:03.82\00:22:07.39 but I'm going to stand right here and preach the word 00:22:08.52\00:22:11.39 of the living God. 00:22:11.43\00:22:12.99 Because when we talk about what's wrong with the church, 00:22:13.03\00:22:17.30 what's wrong is not the music. 00:22:18.00\00:22:20.34 It ain't the way these little kids dress. 00:22:21.20\00:22:23.27 It ain't that church. 00:22:23.84\00:22:24.84 Don't sound like it used to sound. 00:22:24.87\00:22:27.01 The problem is that we've got parts of the body 00:22:27.98\00:22:31.28 that are not working. 00:22:32.28\00:22:34.15 I can't hear me today. 00:22:34.18\00:22:35.78 And it's crazy because in the church of today, 00:22:35.82\00:22:38.85 everybody's got a lot to say, but not everybody's 00:22:39.95\00:22:43.63 got a lot of service availability. 00:22:43.66\00:22:46.29 Everybody's got an opinion, 00:22:46.33\00:22:48.63 but not everybody has a church obligation. 00:22:49.60\00:22:52.27 And I'm just going to be honest with you, Church, 00:22:53.30\00:22:54.57 that when you come 00:22:55.07\00:22:56.17 with a bunch of opinions but you ain't serving, I'm going 00:22:56.20\00:22:59.47 not politely and let it go in one ear and out the next 00:22:59.51\00:23:03.65 because I need some folks 00:23:04.28\00:23:05.75 that are willing to come along side in the digital space 00:23:05.78\00:23:09.62 or in the physical space and not put it on a few people. 00:23:10.75\00:23:14.22 But we need the help body to go to where 00:23:15.16\00:23:17.39 I see friends of mine. 00:23:18.76\00:23:19.69 This is epic because there are some of us. 00:23:19.73\00:23:21.50 It's a strange thing. 00:23:21.53\00:23:23.00 There are some folks I've met that don't go to church. 00:23:23.03\00:23:26.13 They don't attend church, they don't give to church, 00:23:27.27\00:23:31.01 but they keep their name on the church roll 00:23:31.91\00:23:34.34 so that when they die, they can have a church funeral. 00:23:35.44\00:23:38.18 But I need you to know, it doesn't matter 00:23:39.08\00:23:40.75 who's facilitating you when you go into the hall, 00:23:41.82\00:23:44.49 what matters is that you serve the one that's able 00:23:45.59\00:23:48.62 to bring you out of the grave. 00:23:48.66\00:23:51.56 And what I'm saying is that if we don't get to be like 00:23:52.73\00:23:55.36 the old school church, we got to be a working church. 00:23:55.40\00:23:59.23 See, there are some of us that when we talk about old 00:24:00.47\00:24:02.37 school church, 00:24:02.40\00:24:03.44 all we talking about 00:24:03.47\00:24:04.61 is long skirts and hymns from the start of the service 00:24:04.64\00:24:07.88 to the end. 00:24:07.91\00:24:09.08 But what made old school church great is that it was a warm 00:24:09.11\00:24:12.91 blooded church where you didn't get credit for attending. 00:24:12.95\00:24:16.52 You only got credit for serving. 00:24:17.22\00:24:18.95 And I'm praying for a revival of primitive 00:24:19.92\00:24:22.26 godliness wherever everybody's a minister. 00:24:22.29\00:24:25.53 Guess what? I'm the pastor. 00:24:26.19\00:24:27.76 But guess what? 00:24:27.76\00:24:28.63 All our ministers up the Lord Jesus Christ 00:24:28.66\00:24:33.10 and see, see, I need you know, man, 00:24:34.27\00:24:35.97 this thing is burdening me today 00:24:36.00\00:24:38.24 because I praise God for the faithful 00:24:39.11\00:24:40.74 and the breath of life 00:24:41.31\00:24:41.84 and Oakwood community 00:24:41.88\00:24:43.31 are those who are in your church community. 00:24:43.35\00:24:45.55 But Chris, I shudder to think when I look at 00:24:46.55\00:24:49.28 what the church does with only 30% working, 00:24:49.32\00:24:54.59 I shudder to think how many people could we reach 00:24:55.66\00:24:59.53 if the body was working? 00:25:00.16\00:25:02.26 How much could the Godfather of the Gospel go? 00:25:03.30\00:25:05.67 If all the body was working, how many children could we save? 00:25:06.87\00:25:11.01 If all the body was working, 00:25:11.67\00:25:13.84 how much further would we be prophetically 00:25:14.81\00:25:17.81 if oh, the body was working? 00:25:18.48\00:25:21.02 Thank you for joining us for The Breath of Life 00:25:22.15\00:25:24.95 Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Airs. 00:25:26.05\00:25:28.99 Now, we hope and pray that you have been blessed 00:25:30.06\00:25:32.79 by this powerful message. 00:25:33.43\00:25:35.20 Join us next week 00:25:36.20\00:25:38.13 for part two of the message Lift 00:25:38.17\00:25:42.17 before you leave 00:25:43.04\00:25:46.11 you don't want to miss 00:25:46.14\00:25:48.11 what's good family. 00:25:48.64\00:25:50.15 Joe 228 says that in the last days 00:25:50.18\00:25:53.21 I'm going to pour out my spirit on all of this. 00:25:53.25\00:25:55.68 Your sons and daughters will prophesy, 00:25:56.52\00:25:58.62 your young men will dream dreams, 00:25:59.42\00:26:01.09 and your old men are going to see visits. 00:26:01.12\00:26:03.43 I want you to know family that we are living 00:26:04.43\00:26:06.39 in the age of visions and dreams. 00:26:06.43\00:26:09.23 That's why I would invite you to our second annual Breath 00:26:10.47\00:26:13.10 of Life Vision and Dreamers conference last year. 00:26:13.13\00:26:16.97 Hundreds of you came from all over the country 00:26:18.01\00:26:20.04 and we had a great time of instruction and inspiration. 00:26:21.18\00:26:23.68 But this year we're going to do it even bigger. 00:26:24.75\00:26:26.88 Make sure you save the date for November the seventh 00:26:28.02\00:26:30.29 through the ninth 00:26:30.79\00:26:31.75 for this year's Vision and Dreamers conference. 00:26:31.79\00:26:33.92 We're going to be blessed 00:26:34.56\00:26:35.66 by the awesome ministry of the hip hop preacher. Dr. 00:26:35.69\00:26:38.89 Eric Thomas is going to be here. 00:26:38.93\00:26:40.96 We're going to hear from the leading leadership 00:26:40.96\00:26:43.67 voice of our generation, author John Maxwell. 00:26:43.70\00:26:47.57 Then we're going to also be blessed by the ministry 00:26:48.67\00:26:50.41 of Entrepreneurship and visionary Tabitha Brown, 00:26:51.47\00:26:54.04 and I'll be here to assist along the way. 00:26:54.98\00:26:57.15 If you're an entrepreneur or content creator, a speaker 00:26:58.35\00:27:01.62 and author, I need you to know that this conference is for you. 00:27:02.85\00:27:06.09 It's going to be the biggest conference to ever hit. 00:27:07.22\00:27:09.29 The city of Huntsville, 00:27:09.32\00:27:10.73 and it's going to be one of 00:27:10.76\00:27:11.73 the most impactful occurrences of your life. 00:27:11.76\00:27:14.36 So if you want to register, 00:27:15.00\00:27:16.10 I want to encourage you to do it right now. 00:27:16.13\00:27:18.60 Get the early bird special. 00:27:19.27\00:27:21.34 You can register to come in and be in person, 00:27:22.37\00:27:24.54 or you can register to attend the event online. 00:27:25.61\00:27:27.88 But there's a limited 00:27:28.44\00:27:29.44 amount of space for those in-person attendees. 00:27:29.48\00:27:33.08 So go right now to our website and register 00:27:34.08\00:27:36.15 at www.BreathofLife.TV It is going to be in amidst 00:27:37.25\00:27:41.52 time of instruction, food, fellowship, 00:27:41.56\00:27:45.09 networking, and your visions and dreams will be empowered 00:27:46.29\00:27:49.40 to be moved from just a concept to a truth and reality. 00:27:50.53\00:27:53.74 God bless. 00:27:54.10\00:27:54.94 I look forward to seeing you there. 00:27:54.97\00:28:10.15 And less 12 00:28:10.19\00:28:11.35 days is less than 12 00:28:12.59\00:28:16.69