Praise God. My name is Rowland Nwosu. 00:00:29.82\00:00:32.67 The pastor of the South Lake City 00:00:32.68\00:00:33.99 Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:00:34.00\00:00:36.32 South Lake City in the State of Utah. 00:00:36.33\00:00:39.80 I want to explore with you today 00:00:39.81\00:00:41.80 what is the church, who is the church 00:00:41.81\00:00:43.66 and why did God called it church. 00:00:43.67\00:00:46.12 And how can the church accomplish 00:00:46.13\00:00:48.08 God given mission in a world that rejects her. 00:00:48.09\00:00:52.47 Let us pray. 00:00:52.48\00:00:53.75 Father, thank you for calling us. 00:00:53.76\00:00:55.65 Thank you for calling this church 00:00:55.66\00:00:57.25 out from the world to be Your light. 00:00:57.26\00:01:01.95 Bless this message today and bless all who were here. 00:01:01.96\00:01:06.91 And may we be blessed and refreshed 00:01:06.92\00:01:10.98 in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen. 00:01:10.99\00:01:14.87 We call it the church in English language. 00:01:17.31\00:01:21.29 The Hebrews call it Kahal, 00:01:21.30\00:01:23.35 which means a congregation and assembly. 00:01:23.36\00:01:26.60 The Greece call it Ekklesia 00:01:26.61\00:01:29.48 meaning a church, they called out. 00:01:29.49\00:01:33.31 So in the Old Testament, a church was constituted 00:01:33.32\00:01:39.99 a member of the God- a member of the household 00:01:40.00\00:01:44.70 and His household. 00:01:44.71\00:01:48.04 So we have Adam and the rest of the patriarchs 00:01:48.05\00:01:51.93 constituting the church in the Old Testament. 00:01:51.94\00:01:53.86 As in fact as the matter of fact 00:01:53.87\00:01:56.16 the apostle Luke calls the Hebrew-- 00:01:56.17\00:01:58.78 the Hebrews that were saved, 00:01:58.79\00:02:00.98 that were deliver from bondage in Egypt 00:02:00.99\00:02:03.84 He calls them the church in the wilderness. 00:02:03.85\00:02:07.44 And-the Apostle Peter 00:02:07.45\00:02:09.91 in the book First Peter Chapter two verse nine 00:02:09.92\00:02:13.75 calls us a special people. 00:02:13.76\00:02:16.26 He says "But you are a chosen generation, 00:02:16.27\00:02:21.00 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 00:02:21.01\00:02:24.21 His own special people, that you may proclaim 00:02:24.22\00:02:27.61 the praises of Him who called you 00:02:27.62\00:02:30.25 out of darkness into his marvelous light;" 00:02:30.26\00:02:34.73 You see the church is not, is not the building, 00:02:34.74\00:02:38.34 it is not the clergy, but it is the members. 00:02:38.35\00:02:42.22 It is not the building but the people. 00:02:42.23\00:02:44.01 It is not determine by creed, 00:02:44.02\00:02:46.07 but it is determine by lifestyle and relationship 00:02:46.08\00:02:49.85 to the one who has called us out. 00:02:49.86\00:02:53.29 There are common characteristics 00:02:53.30\00:02:54.85 regarding the members of the church. 00:02:54.86\00:02:58.70 They are called, they are called out 00:02:58.71\00:03:02.14 and they are called out for a special purpose 00:03:02.15\00:03:06.59 and that purpose is the purpose 00:03:06.60\00:03:08.24 for which Christ has established His church. 00:03:08.25\00:03:11.99 So what is the church? 00:03:12.00\00:03:14.39 The church is a community of the saints of God, 00:03:14.40\00:03:17.82 saints made perfect through 00:03:17.83\00:03:19.64 the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 00:03:19.65\00:03:21.70 The church is also a hospital for sinners, 00:03:21.71\00:03:26.03 not sinners, not terminal sinners, 00:03:26.04\00:03:28.14 but it is not a hospital or asylum for sinners 00:03:28.15\00:03:33.62 who neither see their need to repent 00:03:33.63\00:03:37.97 or who do not see their need to be healed, 00:03:37.98\00:03:40.80 but it is a community of saints healed and saved 00:03:40.81\00:03:44.34 by the grace of Jesus Christ they'll save you. 00:03:44.35\00:03:47.20 You see it is the church is not a holy court, 00:03:47.21\00:03:50.41 it's not a holy-it's not a court of holy life, 00:03:50.42\00:03:54.20 it is also a facility of recovering and healing saints 00:03:54.21\00:04:00.81 who depend on the graces 00:04:00.82\00:04:04.24 and the mercies of their Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:04.25\00:04:08.81 It is a facility of recovering sinners 00:04:08.82\00:04:10.82 who actively are seeking daily 00:04:10.83\00:04:14.13 nearly new world of their spiritual powers 00:04:14.14\00:04:17.34 through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:17.35\00:04:20.89 There is a difference though 00:04:20.90\00:04:22.03 between the world and the church. 00:04:22.04\00:04:24.48 While the world does not know Christ, 00:04:24.49\00:04:28.00 the members of the church know Him and follow Him. 00:04:28.01\00:04:34.82 And they are seeking to follow the footsteps 00:04:34.83\00:04:38.35 and the example that Jesus has let. 00:04:38.36\00:04:41.28 What is the church? 00:04:41.29\00:04:42.28 The church is God's reservoir of His graces. 00:04:42.29\00:04:47.86 The reposit, all right, 00:04:47.87\00:04:49.24 the storehouse of the graces of God. 00:04:49.25\00:04:52.43 It is a storage for the riches of the grace of Christ. 00:04:52.44\00:04:56.14 A church is a theatre, the auditorium of God's grace 00:04:56.15\00:05:00.46 where grace of God is revealed and demonstrated 00:05:00.47\00:05:03.67 through and among His people. 00:05:03.68\00:05:05.55 You see we as a church members of the church 00:05:05.56\00:05:08.66 are channels-- or ages 00:05:08.67\00:05:10.97 through which God dispenses His graces to the world. 00:05:10.98\00:05:16.58 We ought to reveal the gracious powers of God, 00:05:16.59\00:05:20.90 the powers that transform hearts of people. 00:05:20.91\00:05:24.20 We are therefore God's hands and feet, 00:05:24.21\00:05:26.72 we are instruments in His hands, 00:05:26.73\00:05:28.68 we are His functional instrument. 00:05:28.69\00:05:30.81 You see people have the right 00:05:30.82\00:05:32.93 to come into a church to come among God's people 00:05:32.94\00:05:36.89 and find God active in and among them. 00:05:36.90\00:05:40.52 They have their right to come to church 00:05:40.53\00:05:42.11 and expect to hear and expect to see 00:05:42.12\00:05:44.40 and expect to feel and experience the grace of God. 00:05:44.41\00:05:47.06 You see God's grace ought to be active 00:05:47.07\00:05:50.03 in the church through us, through you and through me. 00:05:50.04\00:05:53.64 What is the church? 00:05:53.65\00:05:54.90 A divine council tells us 00:05:54.91\00:05:56.33 that the church is God's appointed agency 00:05:56.34\00:06:00.61 for the salvation of humanity. 00:06:00.62\00:06:02.95 It was organized for service 00:06:02.96\00:06:05.87 and its mission is to carry 00:06:05.88\00:06:07.63 the gospel of Jesus Christ around world. 00:06:07.64\00:06:10.51 His ministry is to invade the kingdom of evil 00:06:10.52\00:06:14.16 here on this earth through the powers 00:06:14.17\00:06:16.11 of that Jesus Christ has given to her. 00:06:16.12\00:06:19.79 Why is the church called out? 00:06:19.80\00:06:22.97 The Bible says that Jesus brought the church, 00:06:22.98\00:06:28.10 the members of the church with His own precious blood. 00:06:28.11\00:06:32.54 Why did He go through so much to bring forth His church 00:06:32.55\00:06:36.13 and establish it through human history. 00:06:36.14\00:06:38.99 God called Adam from the dirt's, 00:06:39.00\00:06:41.61 from the dirt of the ground to serve Him 00:06:41.62\00:06:44.39 as His creator and to teach his children 00:06:44.40\00:06:46.98 the ways of God. 00:06:46.99\00:06:47.98 God called Noah, Noah from the, 00:06:47.99\00:06:50.65 from the evil and depress society of this day 00:06:50.66\00:06:53.79 to become the preacher of righteousness to His people. 00:06:53.80\00:06:57.22 Yes God called Abraham out of his evil 00:06:57.23\00:07:00.58 and deprave society, is adulterous moon worshiping, 00:07:00.59\00:07:06.11 child sacrificing society to a land 00:07:06.12\00:07:09.20 flowing with milk and honey. 00:07:09.21\00:07:10.70 Yes God called the children of Israel 00:07:10.71\00:07:13.24 from the house of bondage, 00:07:13.25\00:07:14.92 so that they may serve Him in the wilderness-- 00:07:14.93\00:07:16.76 so that they may, they maybe elite 00:07:16.77\00:07:19.54 so they might be elite of God to all the Gentiles. 00:07:19.55\00:07:23.93 God called them out from the bondage of sin into 00:07:23.94\00:07:29.85 the marvelous light of being God's light to all nations. 00:07:29.86\00:07:35.77 You see in order to accomplish the responsibility 00:07:35.78\00:07:38.76 God has given us the church. 00:07:38.77\00:07:44.22 Like the Hebrews of the old God placed them 00:07:44.23\00:07:49.10 at the center of the world's civilization 00:07:49.11\00:07:51.61 between the great continents of Europe and Africa and Asia. 00:07:51.62\00:07:56.97 God called them to be the truly all nations' church. 00:07:56.98\00:08:01.01 To create the largest church on earth, 00:08:01.02\00:08:03.70 a truly all nations start a church 00:08:03.71\00:08:05.98 where the representation of all nations of the world 00:08:05.99\00:08:09.10 who come and worship God without fear. 00:08:09.11\00:08:12.92 A church where all nations will come 00:08:12.93\00:08:15.08 and learn of the mercies and of the true God, His attributes. 00:08:15.09\00:08:19.60 His grace and then return back to their homes 00:08:19.61\00:08:25.15 and show how loving and merciful God's love is. 00:08:25.16\00:08:31.35 That was God's purpose for the Old Testament church, 00:08:31.36\00:08:34.09 but Israel failed. 00:08:34.10\00:08:36.91 They failed in their God giving message, 00:08:36.92\00:08:39.44 they failed in their God giving mission. 00:08:39.45\00:08:41.84 They not only rejected the mission 00:08:41.85\00:08:43.55 but they rejected the giver of that mission. 00:08:43.56\00:08:48.10 Jesus came and He was rejected 00:08:48.11\00:08:52.63 but Jesus has established a New Testament church. 00:08:52.64\00:08:56.57 To continue a mission that was given 00:08:56.58\00:08:58.62 to the Old Testament church. 00:08:58.63\00:09:02.18 Why did God called the New Testament church? 00:09:02.19\00:09:05.57 Jesus made it clear, I am the way, 00:09:05.58\00:09:13.00 I am the truth, I am the life, 00:09:13.01\00:09:15.84 I came that they may have life 00:09:15.85\00:09:17.80 and have it more abundantly Jesus said. 00:09:17.81\00:09:20.36 For His son of man came to seek and save the lost. 00:09:20.37\00:09:25.19 In Mathew Chapter 28 verses 18 through 20 00:09:25.20\00:09:29.98 Jesus said that "And Jesus came 00:09:29.99\00:09:33.61 and spoke to them, saying, 00:09:33.62\00:09:35.73 'All authority has been given to me 00:09:35.74\00:09:38.33 in heaven and on earth. 00:09:38.34\00:09:39.97 God therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 00:09:39.98\00:09:44.71 baptizing them in the name of the father 00:09:44.72\00:09:46.89 and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:09:46.90\00:09:50.17 teaching them to observe all things 00:09:50.18\00:09:52.52 that I have commanded you, and lo, 00:09:52.53\00:09:54.95 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 00:09:54.96\00:10:01.45 Jesus said I will build my church, 00:10:01.46\00:10:04.99 I will build this church 00:10:05.00\00:10:06.37 and the gates of hell will not rebel against it. 00:10:06.38\00:10:10.36 God established His church for a purpose of soul winning. 00:10:10.37\00:10:14.00 The souls of those who are in the church 00:10:14.01\00:10:16.30 and the soul of those who are outside the church. 00:10:16.31\00:10:18.91 Therefore when a church is no longer 00:10:18.92\00:10:21.31 interested in the salvation of souls, 00:10:21.32\00:10:23.75 when a church is no longer-- when a church no longer 00:10:23.76\00:10:26.63 considers the salvation of souls as his primarily job, 00:10:26.64\00:10:31.33 that church is no longer wanted to exist. 00:10:31.34\00:10:35.29 It becomes something else, it become some agents, 00:10:35.32\00:10:37.60 agency for a propagation of something else. 00:10:37.61\00:10:40.41 So but the question then is? 00:10:40.42\00:10:41.90 How can the church that is called out 00:10:41.91\00:10:44.85 by God be faithful to God 00:10:44.86\00:10:48.27 and fulfill her mission and the purpose for her call. 00:10:48.28\00:10:53.33 I just want to suggest to you four general components 00:10:53.34\00:10:56.76 of the churches ministry here on earth. 00:10:56.77\00:11:00.15 If any church must accomplish 00:11:00.16\00:11:04.44 her divine responsibility and remain faithful to God, 00:11:04.45\00:11:08.25 at least four major components, 00:11:08.26\00:11:09.88 components ought to be present. 00:11:09.89\00:11:12.11 In Acts Chapter 2 verses 42 through 47 00:11:12.12\00:11:16.40 we see an example of such components 00:11:16.41\00:11:19.95 in action in the early church. 00:11:19.96\00:11:23.67 The disciples, it says and they- 00:11:23.68\00:11:27.70 "Disciples continued steadfastly in their apostles' 00:11:27.71\00:11:32.76 doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, 00:11:32.77\00:11:36.78 and in prayers. 00:11:36.79\00:11:38.29 Then fear came upon every soul, 00:11:38.30\00:11:41.11 and many wonders and signs were done 00:11:41.12\00:11:44.13 through the apostles. 00:11:44.14\00:11:47.07 Now all who believed were together, 00:11:47.08\00:11:50.77 and had all things in common, 00:11:50.78\00:11:52.69 and sold their possessions and goods, 00:11:52.70\00:11:54.92 and divided them among all, 00:11:54.93\00:11:56.97 as anyone had need. 00:11:56.98\00:11:58.55 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, 00:11:58.56\00:12:01.81 and breaking bread from house to house, 00:12:01.82\00:12:03.71 they ate their food with gladness 00:12:03.72\00:12:07.32 and simplicity of heart, praising God 00:12:07.33\00:12:09.91 and having favor with all the people. 00:12:09.92\00:12:12.05 And the Lord added to the church daily 00:12:12.06\00:12:13.94 those who were to be saved." 00:12:13.95\00:12:18.40 So the first component we see here is 00:12:18.41\00:12:21.16 the component of nurture. 00:12:21.17\00:12:22.81 A church ought to nurture. 00:12:22.82\00:12:24.19 In verse 42 we see that, that the apostles, 00:12:24.20\00:12:27.41 the disciples devoted themselves the apostles' teaching, 00:12:27.42\00:12:30.78 they studied, they learned it word of God together. 00:12:30.79\00:12:33.68 They taught the word of God. 00:12:33.69\00:12:35.34 Studying of the scripture is primary for an existence, 00:12:35.35\00:12:38.71 for the existence of the church. 00:12:38.72\00:12:41.60 Members of God's church ought to study together. 00:12:41.61\00:12:45.41 They got to exalt and encourage one another. 00:12:45.42\00:12:48.62 They support each other, building each other up, 00:12:48.63\00:12:51.95 keeping the back doors close and keeping 00:12:51.96\00:12:54.36 the front doors of the church open. 00:12:54.37\00:12:57.35 The Christian church ought to be a place, 00:12:57.36\00:12:59.77 it ought to be a place 00:12:59.78\00:13:00.83 where the weaker brother and the weaker sister 00:13:00.84\00:13:04.09 can trust the spiritually stronger brother 00:13:04.10\00:13:06.91 or spiritually stronger sister to pull them up 00:13:06.92\00:13:09.98 in the Lord and not to tear them down. 00:13:09.99\00:13:12.41 The church ought to be a place where-- 00:13:12.42\00:13:14.85 besides the usual potlucks and lunch putties, 00:13:14.86\00:13:19.19 the Christian church ought to be 00:13:19.20\00:13:20.50 a loving and caring community 00:13:20.51\00:13:22.69 where everyone can come and feel accepted 00:13:22.70\00:13:26.15 and saved and comfortable, where no one can come 00:13:26.16\00:13:29.01 and share--where everyone can come and share with 00:13:29.02\00:13:32.03 one another their burdens without hearing it 00:13:32.04\00:13:35.59 repeated by somebody else. 00:13:35.60\00:13:37.60 Yes the church of God ought to be a loving place. 00:13:37.61\00:13:42.19 A second component that I'd like to share with you 00:13:42.20\00:13:43.98 is the component of worship. 00:13:43.99\00:13:45.82 The Bible tells us that they worshiped a devoted step 00:13:45.83\00:13:50.23 fast single minded fidelity to God. 00:13:50.24\00:13:54.83 In the early church worship was not 00:13:54.84\00:13:56.83 a half-hearted marriage. 00:13:56.84\00:13:59.24 It was not a 11 to 12 service. 00:13:59.25\00:14:03.28 You see it was not a one hour service. 00:14:03.29\00:14:04.92 Christians met even in their private homes for worship. 00:14:04.93\00:14:08.21 Is your home open for your fellow Christian to worshipping? 00:14:12.52\00:14:18.04 But we're told that at some point 00:14:19.99\00:14:24.60 the Christian church had churches, house churches, 00:14:28.04\00:14:34.55 the church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila. 00:14:34.56\00:14:38.74 The church in the house of Christians in current. 00:14:38.75\00:14:44.70 But in spite of its simplicity and joy 00:14:44.71\00:14:51.44 in the service in the early church. 00:14:51.45\00:14:55.05 The length of service in those days were as long 00:14:55.06\00:14:58.01 I still remember reading Paul preaching almost all night long 00:14:58.02\00:15:04.36 when Eutychus fell through the window and died. 00:15:04.37\00:15:10.26 But thank God, he was resurrected. 00:15:10.27\00:15:11.82 But then let me address the third component 00:15:11.83\00:15:16.51 because the issue of worship is one that is important. 00:15:16.52\00:15:21.69 The third component in the ministry 00:15:26.38\00:15:28.68 of the church is fellowship. 00:15:28.69\00:15:32.74 This is very primary and very important. 00:15:32.75\00:15:37.14 In the early church there were in fact 00:15:37.15\00:15:40.26 it was a mixed group, they were filthy rich, 00:15:40.27\00:15:43.95 moderately rich, and extremely poor people. 00:15:43.96\00:15:49.45 They worship together. 00:15:49.46\00:15:50.77 The Bible says, they have all things in common. 00:15:50.78\00:15:54.00 They were slaves free people men and women 00:15:54.01\00:15:58.62 young and the very old, 00:15:58.63\00:16:00.20 but one thing that they had in common 00:16:00.21\00:16:02.69 they all loves Jesus, they all believed in Jesus Christ. 00:16:02.70\00:16:06.38 And you know what? 00:16:06.39\00:16:07.47 Jesus makes the difference 00:16:07.48\00:16:09.44 in the personal relation and socializations. 00:16:09.45\00:16:14.00 The Bible says that all the believers were together 00:16:14.01\00:16:17.49 and had everything in common, 00:16:17.50\00:16:19.21 selling their possessions and goods. 00:16:19.22\00:16:21.02 They gave to anyone as they had need. 00:16:21.03\00:16:24.49 The last component is evangelism. 00:16:26.90\00:16:29.96 The early knew that if they were 00:16:29.97\00:16:32.50 to be faithful to their Lord 00:16:32.51\00:16:34.06 they must reach out to other through evangelism, 00:16:34.07\00:16:37.58 through missions and sharing their lives 00:16:37.59\00:16:39.68 and possessions with those in need. 00:16:39.69\00:16:42.00 You see they knew what they believe, 00:16:42.01\00:16:43.89 they knew what Jesus had done for them personally. 00:16:43.90\00:16:46.35 They had the earth to share. 00:16:46.36\00:16:48.39 They had the willingness to share. 00:16:48.40\00:16:49.97 They had the desire to share. 00:16:49.98\00:16:53.31 They knew that they must bring 00:16:53.32\00:16:55.03 other people to Christ to bring back the children of God 00:16:55.04\00:17:00.10 who are lost in the world to increase the kingdom of God. 00:17:00.11\00:17:04.66 You see the result of this kind of ministry 00:17:04.67\00:17:06.72 in the early church was spiritual growth 00:17:06.73\00:17:09.24 for the members of the church. 00:17:09.25\00:17:10.61 Miracles were a lot where, 00:17:10.62\00:17:12.01 where miracles and science were preformed 00:17:12.02\00:17:15.45 in the church because the people were faithful. 00:17:15.46\00:17:18.96 They sacrificed, they endured, they loved one another, 00:17:18.97\00:17:24.30 they encouraged one another, they exalted one another, 00:17:24.31\00:17:27.89 love, support and encouragement for one another increased 00:17:27.90\00:17:32.18 and the Lord added to their ministry. 00:17:32.19\00:17:34.67 The Lord added to their numbers daily 00:17:34.68\00:17:37.52 those who have been saved. 00:17:37.53\00:17:40.70 What about us today? What about us? 00:17:40.71\00:17:47.00 Can those things happen today in our own time? 00:17:47.01\00:17:51.98 Let me say it to you that I do believe 00:17:52.02\00:17:53.73 that these things are possible today 00:17:53.74\00:17:55.35 and they're happening even around the world. 00:17:55.36\00:17:58.20 We have-there are great resources 00:17:58.21\00:18:00.05 available to us today. 00:18:00.06\00:18:02.47 You see in order to accomplish our mission today 00:18:02.48\00:18:05.90 God has lavished upon us great gifts. 00:18:05.91\00:18:10.77 God has giving gifts to the church 00:18:10.78\00:18:13.31 to help her accomplish her ministry. 00:18:13.32\00:18:16.15 God has given to each one of us graces 00:18:16.16\00:18:19.68 according to His riches and glory. 00:18:19.69\00:18:23.27 To each one of us 00:18:23.28\00:18:24.32 grace has been given us Christ apportioned it. 00:18:24.33\00:18:27.23 That is why it says when He ascended on high, 00:18:27.24\00:18:31.81 He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men. 00:18:31.82\00:18:37.50 Each believer listening today has a gift. 00:18:37.51\00:18:42.29 If you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, 00:18:42.30\00:18:44.93 you've been called out, 00:18:44.94\00:18:46.59 you've been given a gift to share 00:18:46.60\00:18:48.65 to use for the building up of a kingdom of God. 00:18:48.66\00:18:54.41 What is your gift? 00:18:54.42\00:18:56.23 And what are you doing with your gift? 00:18:56.24\00:18:58.55 Are you using your gift to buildup God's church, 00:18:58.56\00:19:03.76 to give God the glory? 00:19:03.77\00:19:07.98 You see the church 00:19:07.99\00:19:12.56 is God's repository of grace. 00:19:12.57\00:19:17.33 The church is a community filled with various kinds of gifts, 00:19:18.12\00:19:22.55 endowments and gifts that God has given us 00:19:22.56\00:19:27.01 to empower us to do His work. 00:19:27.02\00:19:29.99 You see the church is a community 00:19:30.00\00:19:32.32 in which members find their happiness 00:19:32.33\00:19:35.80 in the service of others. 00:19:35.81\00:19:40.33 As members of Christ body having one gift, 00:19:41.16\00:19:46.28 each one represents a body part, 00:19:46.29\00:19:50.57 one person maybe the eye, 00:19:50.58\00:19:52.16 the other person might be the ear, 00:19:52.17\00:19:53.80 some other person might be the legs, 00:19:53.81\00:19:55.49 some other person might be the hands, 00:19:55.50\00:19:57.48 but each gift, each body part is important. 00:19:57.49\00:20:01.16 No one is small, important than the other, 00:20:01.17\00:20:03.97 none no one is less important than the other. 00:20:03.98\00:20:06.20 All are needed in the hands of God 00:20:06.21\00:20:08.84 to fulfill the ministry for which God has called us. 00:20:08.85\00:20:12.03 You see success and faithfulness in God's side 00:20:12.04\00:20:14.97 is doing the best with the gifts 00:20:14.98\00:20:17.32 He has given to us. 00:20:17.33\00:20:20.48 We have this misconception about what success is. 00:20:20.49\00:20:25.51 God does not require success from us. 00:20:25.52\00:20:28.74 He requires us to be faithful to Him. 00:20:28.75\00:20:31.35 then He will provide the success. 00:20:31.36\00:20:34.22 You see we cannot be all Apostles, 00:20:34.23\00:20:37.56 we cannot all be Prophets and Prophetesses. 00:20:37.57\00:20:40.03 We cannot all be teachers, 00:20:40.04\00:20:41.92 we cannot all be miracle workers, or teachers, 00:20:41.93\00:20:45.17 or doctors and nurses, or worker of health and healing. 00:20:45.18\00:20:50.20 We cannot even all speak all in tongues at the same time, 00:20:50.21\00:20:54.43 or we hear at the same time. 00:20:54.44\00:20:57.63 The Corinthian Christians were more interested in statues 00:20:57.64\00:21:00.90 than the gifts God gave them. 00:21:00.91\00:21:02.67 And Paul warned them and he recommend 00:21:02.68\00:21:05.01 and Paul recommended in more excellent way. 00:21:05.02\00:21:07.37 And he said listen all His gifts you have, 00:21:07.38\00:21:09.39 all His gift you might have them and express them, 00:21:09.40\00:21:11.71 but if you do not have love is nonsense. 00:21:11.72\00:21:15.28 That's a more excellent way 00:21:15.29\00:21:17.39 to exercise our spiritual gifts 00:21:17.40\00:21:19.71 and that is through love a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:19.72\00:21:23.03 You see when the Holy Spirit is in us 00:21:23.04\00:21:25.43 when we receive the Holy Spirit 00:21:25.44\00:21:27.49 after having accepted Jesus as our personal Savior 00:21:27.50\00:21:30.41 that Holy Spirit in us becomes the power 00:21:30.42\00:21:33.31 that energizes us to work to do the work of God 00:21:33.32\00:21:38.30 and accomplish the purpose for which 00:21:38.31\00:21:40.33 God has given us His gifts. 00:21:40.34\00:21:43.18 Paul went on to explain what love means 00:21:43.19\00:21:45.78 in First Corinthians Chapter 13 00:21:45.79\00:21:48.63 but that you already know love is the greatest. 00:21:48.64\00:21:55.55 Through the Holy Spirit we express 00:21:57.61\00:22:03.98 each of our gifts with and through and in love. 00:22:03.99\00:22:10.04 Dear Christian friends, 00:22:12.45\00:22:14.42 the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. 00:22:14.43\00:22:19.72 The foundation of the churches ministry 00:22:19.73\00:22:21.87 is character not professional skill or experience, 00:22:21.88\00:22:26.68 not how long you have been in the church. 00:22:26.69\00:22:31.09 The nature of the churches ministry 00:22:31.10\00:22:32.90 is service not being served, 00:22:32.91\00:22:36.61 not what the church can do for me 00:22:36.62\00:22:38.58 or not what I can get out of the church. 00:22:38.59\00:22:41.25 You see the motive of the ministry of the church 00:22:41.26\00:22:44.37 is love to God and love to man, 00:22:44.38\00:22:47.46 service to God and service to man not money, 00:22:47.47\00:22:50.82 not power, not man, not woman, 00:22:50.83\00:22:53.69 not anything other but the love to God and man 00:22:53.70\00:22:58.53 that is the motive of ministry in the church. 00:22:58.54\00:23:03.07 The measure of churches ministry on earth is 00:23:03.08\00:23:07.09 faithfulness and sacrifice, not success or profit. 00:23:07.10\00:23:10.92 The authority of the churches ministry is 00:23:13.49\00:23:15.76 submission to the will of God, not pulling ranks 00:23:15.77\00:23:18.73 among ourselves or with others in the household of God. 00:23:18.74\00:23:23.78 Yes not nepotism, not racism and-- 00:23:23.79\00:23:30.03 and he who knows Jesus, 00:23:30.04\00:23:36.65 he who is a child of God within the household 00:23:36.66\00:23:40.12 of the church accepts one another, 00:23:40.13\00:23:44.37 accepts each other as one as brother, as sister. 00:23:44.38\00:23:50.15 You see the purpose of our ministry 00:23:50.16\00:23:51.83 in the church is to glorify God, 00:23:51.84\00:23:53.58 not to glorify ourselves. 00:23:53.59\00:23:55.78 The tools of our ministry in the church, 00:23:55.79\00:23:59.13 our prayer, Bible study, trust in the Lord. 00:23:59.14\00:24:02.95 Dear friends, it is not the tool of the churches ministry 00:24:05.53\00:24:10.68 is not marketing handbooks, is not ingratiating manner. 00:24:10.69\00:24:16.56 The privilege of our ministry in the church is growth 00:24:16.57\00:24:18.83 which maybe-- which maybe depth or inward growth 00:24:18.84\00:24:25.86 rather than in numbers. 00:24:25.87\00:24:27.42 The power of ministry in the church 00:24:27.43\00:24:30.28 is the Holy Spirit not programs, not activities 00:24:30.29\00:24:34.74 and certainly not the pastor or the Bishop 00:24:34.75\00:24:38.19 or the leaders of the church, 00:24:38.20\00:24:40.31 but it is the power of the ministry 00:24:40.32\00:24:42.52 in the church is the Holy Spirit. 00:24:42.53\00:24:44.71 The model of ministry in the church 00:24:46.00\00:24:48.49 certainly is Jesus Christ, the foundation, the founder, 00:24:48.50\00:24:52.17 or the author and the finisher of our faith. 00:24:52.18\00:24:54.79 Our primary purpose in all we do in church as, 00:24:54.80\00:24:58.49 as a church is to glorify God. 00:24:58.50\00:25:00.07 For God is the one who created 00:25:00.08\00:25:02.47 the heavens and stretched them out, 00:25:02.48\00:25:05.89 it was He who spread out the earth and its off spring. 00:25:05.90\00:25:10.00 It was He who gives breath to the people on it 00:25:10.01\00:25:13.74 and the spirit to those who walk in it. 00:25:13.75\00:25:17.59 Yes the Christian church was founded 00:25:17.60\00:25:20.45 on Jesus Christ, the solid rock. 00:25:20.46\00:25:23.71 All the human associations, clubs and organizations 00:25:23.72\00:25:27.12 were founded on sinking, shifting, slippery sound, 00:25:27.13\00:25:31.69 they cannot provide us with any ultimate security 00:25:31.70\00:25:36.70 We cannot trust them either 00:25:36.71\00:25:39.73 but Jesus is the one that we can trust. 00:25:39.74\00:25:43.37 All strong empires and kingdoms have failed 00:25:43.38\00:25:47.86 because they are founded on strong men, 00:25:47.87\00:25:50.73 but Christ builds His church, 00:25:50.74\00:25:53.43 He chooses weak men and women 00:25:53.44\00:25:55.97 to build His church and uses their weakness 00:25:55.98\00:25:58.75 to be their strength and He discovers 00:25:58.76\00:26:01.93 and who He discovers in Him the potent power 00:26:01.94\00:26:06.19 beyond that of humans. 00:26:06.20\00:26:07.90 In the weakness of the members of Christ church, 00:26:10.07\00:26:12.29 Christ makes their powerlessness their strength 00:26:12.30\00:26:15.40 and their weakness He makes them eternally strong in Him. 00:26:15.41\00:26:19.20 To this group the God had brings His gift of eternal presence 00:26:19.21\00:26:24.12 and the powers of evil 00:26:24.13\00:26:25.49 and death will never prevail against it. 00:26:25.50\00:26:28.79 All corrotion-- and corruption of the years 00:26:28.80\00:26:33.21 will never prevail against this church. 00:26:33.22\00:26:36.13 Dear friends, the devil may inflicts you and your family 00:26:36.14\00:26:39.48 with pain, sickness and disease, 00:26:39.49\00:26:41.16 but he cannot touch your spirit 00:26:41.17\00:26:43.12 because you are the church of the living God. 00:26:43.13\00:26:46.52 Cities may tumble and crumble 00:26:46.53\00:26:48.57 but the center of God the New Jerusalem 00:26:48.58\00:26:51.52 for which the church ways will come and remain forever. 00:26:51.53\00:26:55.44 Amish may vanquish and vanish 00:26:55.45\00:26:57.91 but the soldiers of Christ, 00:26:57.92\00:26:59.52 you and me will remain victorious. 00:26:59.53\00:27:01.74 Kingdom may topple and rumble, 00:27:01.75\00:27:03.37 but a kingdom of God believed by the church 00:27:03.38\00:27:05.74 and preached by the church of which 00:27:05.75\00:27:07.55 the churches impart will remain and last forever. 00:27:07.56\00:27:10.86 Ideologies church may continue 00:27:10.87\00:27:13.40 to rise and fade into oblivion, 00:27:13.41\00:27:15.58 but the truth of God faithfully preached 00:27:15.59\00:27:17.88 by the church will remain wars, 00:27:17.89\00:27:20.76 threat of wars and fears of wars sinking to excursion, 00:27:20.77\00:27:24.85 disillusionment but the peace of Christ 00:27:24.86\00:27:27.15 promise by our Master and preached 00:27:27.16\00:27:29.49 by the church will no, no end. 00:27:29.50\00:27:31.81 The church of Christ will never, never die. 00:27:31.82\00:27:34.75 Yes Jesus Himself is the solid rock on which I stand. 00:27:34.76\00:27:39.84 The church of Christ will never, never die. 00:27:39.85\00:27:42.62 Thank God for a sure foundation 00:27:42.63\00:27:44.33 we have in Jesus Christ. 00:27:44.34\00:27:46.24 Yes friends, you are a member of the church, 00:27:46.25\00:27:49.36 you are the church of God. 00:27:49.37\00:27:51.38 You are a member of the living church of God. 00:27:51.39\00:27:55.16 Be you strong, be you faithful and He that shall come, 00:27:55.17\00:27:58.68 shall come and not tarry, behold I come quickly. 00:27:58.69\00:28:02.38