Good morning, everybody.
00:01:00.88\00:01:01.96
It's so good to see you
all of you here this morning.
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We're gonna start out
with "Morning has broken."
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Morning has broken
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Like the first morning.
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Blackbird has spoken
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Like the first bird.
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Praise for the singing
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Praise for the morning
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Praise for the springing
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Fresh from the word
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Sweet the rain's new fall
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Sunlight from heaven
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Like the first dewfall
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On the first grass
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Praise for the sweetness
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Of the wet garden
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Sprung in completeness
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Where his feet pass
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Mine is the sunlight
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Mine is the morning
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Born of the one light
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Eden saw play
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Praise with elation
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Praise every morning
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God's recreation
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Of the new day
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I just love the
words in this song.
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Let's open this morning
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with our theme song
"Power in the Blood."
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And if I get everybody stand
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and we could wakeup a
little bit, some exercise.
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Would you be free
from the burden of sin?
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There's pow'r in the
blood, pow'r in the blood
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Would you o'er
evil a victory win?
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There's wonderful
pow'r in the blood
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There is pow'r,
pow'r, wonder working pow'r
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In the blood of the Lamb
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There is pow'r,
pow'r, wonder working pow'r
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In the precious
blood of the Lamb.
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Would you be free from
your passion and pride?
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There's pow'r in the
blood, pow'r in the blood
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Come for a
cleansing to Calvary's tide?
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There's wonderful
pow'r in the blood.
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There is pow'r,
pow'r, wonder working pow'r
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In the blood of the Lamb
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There is pow'r,
pow'r, wonder working pow'r
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In the precious
blood of the Lamb.
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Would you do
service for Jesus your King?
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There's pow'r in the
blood, pow'r in the blood
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Would you live
daily His praises to sing?
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There's wonderful
pow'r in the blood
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There is pow'r,
pow'r, wonder working pow'r
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In the blood of the Lamb
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There is pow'r,
pow'r, wonder working pow'r
00:05:19.47\00:05:24.32
In the precious
blood of the Lamb
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Amen.
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Good morning and
happy Sabbath everybody.
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Good morning.
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I am here to welcome you
to a beautiful, beautiful day
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and to this wonderful program.
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Our speaker is Scott Moore
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and he is the
outreach coordinator for ARISE.
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He is a humble Christian
and the servant of the Lord God.
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And he is a sanguine, so
listen to him with an open mind.
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Happy Sabbath. Happy Sabbath.
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I am gonna preach to
the choir this morning
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because only the
choir gets up this early
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on Sabbath morning to be here.
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So it's good to
see you all here.
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It's a privilege
for us to be here.
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And I think this
is the first time
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that my father has ever seen me
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speak outside
of his home church.
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No, there is one
other time, wasn't it?
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This is my dad right down here.
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Mathew was tortured
in a city in Ethiopia.
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John was tied and thrown in
a pot of boiling oil in Rome.
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But survived and allegedly
died a natural death in Asia.
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Peter was crucified
upside down in Rome,
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for he saw himself unworthy
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of being
crucified like his Lord.
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James, the superior was
decapitated in Jerusalem.
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James, the less was
beaten with a mallet
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until he died in Jerusalem.
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Thomas was hacked to
death with a lance in India.
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Philip was hanged from a pillar
in Perugia, in Asia Minor.
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Bartholomew was cut apart
while alive in Armenia or India,
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the traditions differ on that.
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Simon the Zealot
was crucified in Persia.
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According to tradition
Andrew was crucified in Achaea,
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a very grim picture
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of the disciples of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Willing to give their
life for the gospel of Jesus.
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Barnabas stoned to
death by the Jews in Salamis,
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on the island of Cyprus.
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Paul
decapitated by Nero in Rome.
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Mark was drawn
through the streets
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of Alexandria in
Egypt until he died.
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Luke was hanged from
an Olive tree in Greece.
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And yet sometimes we
can't even get the courage
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to tell our
neighbor about Jesus.
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What was it that made
the ministry of the disciples
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and the early church
such a powerful ministry?
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What was it that made the
ministry of the early church
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and the disciples
such a powerful ministry?
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That's what we will
study this morning. Let's pray.
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Gracious Father in heaven,
we are here on the Sabbath day.
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You have already
blessed this day,
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so we know that
You will bless us
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even more now that we study
Yours truly,word on this day.
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Lord, we invite
Your Spirit to be here
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not because we
have the power to do so
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but because you have promised
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that where two or more gathered
Your Spirit will be there.
00:09:00.79\00:09:05.09
We thank you for this.
00:09:05.12\00:09:08.14
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:09:08.17\00:09:12.76
Those of you that are
taking notes this morning
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are going to write
down five different points.
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Point number one.
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The disciple's
ministry was effective
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because that ministry
was more important to them
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than their very own lives.
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The disciple's ministry
was an effective ministry
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because their ministry
was more important to them
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than their very own lives.
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Let's turn in our
Bibles to the Book of Acts.
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Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts,
00:09:38.16\00:09:39.93
the fifth book in
the New Testament.
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We are going to
the 20th Chapter.
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Acts 20, we will
begin reading in verse 24.
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Acts 20:24,
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Paul is going to
be speaking to us here
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Acts 20:24 and Paul says,
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"But none of
these things move me,
00:10:02.57\00:10:05.92
neither count I my
life dear unto myself,
00:10:05.95\00:10:10.23
so that I might
finish my course with joy,
00:10:10.26\00:10:13.87
and the ministry, which I
have received of the Lord Jesus,
00:10:13.90\00:10:16.60
to testify the
gospel of the grace of God."
00:10:16.63\00:10:20.52
Acts 20:24.
00:10:20.55\00:10:22.54
Paul is telling us
that his life is secondary
00:10:22.57\00:10:26.89
to taking the gospel
of Jesus to the world.
00:10:26.92\00:10:31.86
Where does the
gospel fit into your life?
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When you are at Starbucks
getting that soy milk steamer.
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Do you share Jesus with
a person that asked you,
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Soy milk steamer? What's that?
00:10:47.69\00:10:52.58
There is your opportunity.
00:10:52.61\00:10:55.55
When you are
standing at the gas pump
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and you are pumping your gas,
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do you hide and
cover behind the pump
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so that you don't even
have to look at the person
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on the other side?
00:11:03.89\00:11:06.90
What do you say, hey,
00:11:06.93\00:11:08.19
freezing cold day
out here, isn't it?
00:11:08.22\00:11:10.26
You mind if I huddle
on this side of the pump
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where use to the
wind doesn't hit me.
00:11:11.96\00:11:15.17
Perfect opportunity to
share Jesus with somebody.
00:11:15.20\00:11:20.37
The early church was persecuted
00:11:20.40\00:11:22.17
and they didn't change their
mind during that persecution.
00:11:22.20\00:11:25.38
They didn't change
their stance on the gospel
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and the importance
that it took in their lives.
00:11:27.85\00:11:30.67
There were two men in
the New Testament Church
00:11:30.70\00:11:33.65
that were known for being men
00:11:33.68\00:11:35.88
that would give
their life for Jesus.
00:11:35.91\00:11:38.52
Let's turn now to
Acts the 15th Chapter,
00:11:38.55\00:11:41.83
just turn to the
left a little bit
00:11:41.86\00:11:43.68
from where you are
in the Book of Acts.
00:11:43.71\00:11:45.08
And we are going
to look at Acts 15:22.
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Acts 15:22.
00:11:50.83\00:11:54.19
The Bible says, in Acts 15:22,
00:11:54.22\00:11:57.19
"Then pleased it
the apostles and elders
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with the whole
church, to send chosen men
00:12:00.91\00:12:04.52
of their own company to
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
00:12:04.55\00:12:08.87
Namely, Judas
surnamed Barsabas and Silas,
00:12:08.90\00:12:12.54
chief men among the brethren."
00:12:12.57\00:12:14.76
The Bible says that
it pleased the apostles
00:12:14.79\00:12:17.51
and the brethren to
choose these two men
00:12:17.54\00:12:20.37
so that they could
send them as missionaries.
00:12:20.40\00:12:23.00
Why did they
choose these two men?
00:12:23.03\00:12:26.05
Let's jump down now to verse 25.
00:12:26.08\00:12:28.85
"It seemed good
unto us" Acts 15:25,
00:12:28.88\00:12:32.81
"being
assembled with one accord,
00:12:32.84\00:12:34.39
to send chosen men unto you
00:12:34.42\00:12:38.45
with our beloved
Barnabas and Paul."
00:12:38.48\00:12:40.73
Men, that have what?
00:12:40.76\00:12:42.79
Hazarded their
lives for the name
00:12:42.82\00:12:45.79
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:12:45.82\00:12:49.24
These two men were chosen
00:12:49.27\00:12:52.31
because they had
hazarded their lives
00:12:52.34\00:12:55.20
for the gospel of Jesus.
00:12:55.23\00:12:56.48
In the mindset of
the church leaders,
00:12:56.51\00:12:59.51
they knew that they
could send these two men.
00:12:59.54\00:13:04.06
And be very confident
that they won't go into cover
00:13:04.09\00:13:07.80
under the scrutiny
00:13:07.83\00:13:08.96
of the persecution
of the early church.
00:13:08.99\00:13:13.13
This is the first reason
00:13:13.16\00:13:15.25
that the ministry
of the early church
00:13:15.28\00:13:17.50
in the apostles was magnificent
00:13:17.53\00:13:21.49
because they did
not value their lives
00:13:21.52\00:13:24.02
above sharing the
gospel with other people.
00:13:24.05\00:13:31.19
How often do we
go to a restaurant?
00:13:31.22\00:13:35.98
And we pray with our eyes open,
00:13:36.01\00:13:39.18
in our mind 'cause
surely the Lord Jesus hears us.
00:13:39.21\00:13:43.62
Rather than being the
witness that we need to be.
00:13:43.65\00:13:49.40
"When a crucified man is
behind a crucified message,
00:13:49.43\00:13:55.96
there are always fresh
victories for the crucified,
00:13:55.99\00:14:00.23
risen and glorified Lord."
00:14:00.26\00:14:03.40
Let me read that again.
00:14:03.43\00:14:05.01
That deserved at
least one, amen. Amen.
00:14:05.04\00:14:08.93
Well, let me read it.
00:14:08.96\00:14:10.95
"When a crucified man is
behind a crucified message,
00:14:10.98\00:14:15.39
there are always fresh
victories for the crucified,
00:14:15.42\00:14:19.20
risen and glorified Lord." Amen.
00:14:19.23\00:14:24.94
The Bible says
in Galatians 2:20,
00:14:24.97\00:14:27.26
"I have been
crucified with Christ:
00:14:27.29\00:14:30.39
nevertheless I live."
00:14:30.42\00:14:33.57
Have you been
crucified with Christ?
00:14:33.60\00:14:38.82
Point number one.
00:14:38.85\00:14:39.88
The disciples were effective
00:14:39.91\00:14:41.06
because their ministry
was more important to them
00:14:41.09\00:14:43.78
than their physical wellbeing.
00:14:43.81\00:14:45.93
Point number two, for those
of you who are taking notes.
00:14:45.96\00:14:47.74
The disciples were effective
00:14:47.77\00:14:49.31
because their ministry
was based on divine good news.
00:14:49.34\00:14:53.36
What was their
ministry based on?
00:14:53.39\00:14:55.04
Divine good
news. Divine good news.
00:14:55.07\00:14:56.70
Let's turn in
our Bibles to the--
00:14:56.73\00:14:58.35
you're in Acts turn to the left
again we're going to Acts 3.
00:14:58.38\00:15:02.19
Acts 3, we will
begin reading in verse 15.
00:15:02.22\00:15:07.40
Let's begin in verse 12.
00:15:12.16\00:15:13.70
Acts 3:12, the Bible says
00:15:13.73\00:15:15.95
"And when Peter saw it,
he answered unto the people,
00:15:15.98\00:15:19.16
Ye men of Israel,
why marvel ye at this?
00:15:19.19\00:15:22.82
Or why look ye
so earnestly on us,
00:15:22.85\00:15:25.61
as though by our
own power or holiness
00:15:25.64\00:15:29.19
we had made this man walk?
00:15:29.22\00:15:31.79
The God of
Abraham, and of Isaac,
00:15:31.82\00:15:33.61
and of Jacob, the
God of our fathers,
00:15:33.64\00:15:35.63
hath glorified his Son
Jesus, whom you delivered up,
00:15:35.66\00:15:40.66
and denied him in
the presence of Pilate,
00:15:40.69\00:15:43.28
while he was
determined to let him go."
00:15:43.31\00:15:45.20
Verse 14, "But you
denied the Holy One
00:15:45.23\00:15:47.65
and the Just, and desired
00:15:47.68\00:15:48.86
a murderer to be
granted unto you"
00:15:48.89\00:15:51.13
and verse 15, "And
killed the Prince of life,
00:15:51.16\00:15:53.76
whom God hath
raised from the dead;
00:15:53.79\00:15:55.73
whereof we are--"
what? "We are witnesses."
00:15:55.76\00:16:02.39
When he is
speaking here, he says look,
00:16:02.42\00:16:04.42
we know exactly
what you did to Jesus
00:16:04.45\00:16:07.04
because we, what?
00:16:07.07\00:16:08.80
We saw it, we didn't
just hear about it, we saw it.
00:16:08.83\00:16:11.86
We were witnesses
that you crucified Jesus
00:16:11.89\00:16:14.77
but what were
they also witnesses of?
00:16:14.80\00:16:18.34
The resurrection.
00:16:18.37\00:16:20.51
The apostle's
ministry was magnificent
00:16:20.54\00:16:22.49
because it was
based on divine good news.
00:16:22.52\00:16:24.86
They had
experienced walking with Jesus,
00:16:24.89\00:16:27.81
they had
experienced talking with Jesus,
00:16:27.84\00:16:30.57
they had experienced Jesus.
00:16:30.60\00:16:34.74
They had seen Him die.
00:16:34.77\00:16:37.87
They had seen
Him lying in a tomb
00:16:37.90\00:16:40.27
and then they
had run to the tomb
00:16:40.30\00:16:43.24
early on Sunday morning.
00:16:43.27\00:16:45.85
And Jesus was gone.
00:16:45.88\00:16:48.52
Praise God, Jesus
was not in the tomb.
00:16:48.55\00:16:52.59
The leading
truths that the apostles
00:16:57.30\00:16:59.85
preached with
the life, with death
00:16:59.88\00:17:02.26
and the resurrection of Jesus.
00:17:02.29\00:17:04.90
You remember on
the day of Pentecost,
00:17:04.93\00:17:06.60
Peter is preaching in Acts 2.
00:17:06.63\00:17:09.46
And while Peter is preaching,
00:17:09.49\00:17:11.09
if you ever look through that
sermon that he is preaching,
00:17:11.12\00:17:13.55
he is quoting Old Testament
reference after Old Testament
00:17:13.58\00:17:16.39
reference after
Old Testament reference
00:17:16.42\00:17:18.68
and the Spirit of
God is poured out.
00:17:18.71\00:17:21.81
Now listen to this.
00:17:21.84\00:17:23.09
The Spirit's power
is never manifested.
00:17:23.12\00:17:26.84
The Spirit's power is what?
00:17:26.87\00:17:28.82
Never
manifested, unless the word
00:17:28.85\00:17:31.62
he inspired is preached.
00:17:31.65\00:17:36.90
The power of the Holy
Spirit is never manifested
00:17:36.93\00:17:40.24
unless the word the
he inspired is preached.
00:17:40.27\00:17:44.67
If you and I think
that we can get up front
00:17:44.70\00:17:46.85
and just do grins and giggle
thing to get people's attention
00:17:46.88\00:17:50.35
so that they will
understand the gospel message,
00:17:50.38\00:17:52.45
we've got it wrong.
00:17:52.48\00:17:56.12
If we want to
see people converted
00:17:56.15\00:17:57.82
and we want to see
people give their life to Jesus,
00:17:57.85\00:17:59.86
it must be based on
the divine good news
00:17:59.89\00:18:03.06
that we find in the Bible.
00:18:03.09\00:18:05.70
What you win someone with,
is what you win someone to.
00:18:05.73\00:18:11.49
Take note of that.
00:18:11.52\00:18:12.94
What you win someone with
is what you win someone to.
00:18:12.97\00:18:15.97
You win someone
with a clown ministry,
00:18:16.00\00:18:18.41
where are they gonna go
when that ministry is gone?
00:18:18.44\00:18:24.01
You win someone
with a rock concert
00:18:24.04\00:18:26.20
with Christian in front of it,
00:18:26.23\00:18:29.01
where they are gonna
go when the music is gone?
00:18:29.04\00:18:32.57
We are working with a young
man up in Michigan right now.
00:18:32.60\00:18:34.96
We just held the series
of evangelistic meetings.
00:18:34.99\00:18:37.59
He was an associate pastor,
00:18:37.62\00:18:39.30
a youth pastor at an
Assemblies of God Church.
00:18:39.33\00:18:42.80
He is fine giving
up his gift of tongues
00:18:42.83\00:18:45.68
because he sees
it's not biblical.
00:18:45.71\00:18:47.43
He's fine giving up
worshipping on Sunday
00:18:47.46\00:18:49.86
because he sees
that it's not biblical.
00:18:49.89\00:18:52.46
And he even sees
from the scripture
00:18:52.49\00:18:54.80
that Christian
rock is not biblical.
00:18:54.83\00:18:59.70
But he is struggling with it.
00:18:59.73\00:19:04.94
We may have to struggle inside
with some of these issues.
00:19:04.97\00:19:09.60
But the ministry of the apostles
was magnificent and incredible
00:19:09.63\00:19:14.14
because they based it
on the living Word of God.
00:19:14.17\00:19:19.06
You know, I used to think that,
00:19:23.04\00:19:24.46
that I had to preach out
of the Old King James Version
00:19:24.49\00:19:28.50
because I don't think
I had enough material to,
00:19:28.53\00:19:31.96
you know, fill out all the time
00:19:31.99\00:19:33.50
that they give you
when you have a sermon.
00:19:33.53\00:19:34.94
And I thought if I
use the Old King James,
00:19:34.97\00:19:37.07
then I'll have to
explain the it's and the with's
00:19:37.10\00:19:39.22
and the
thereof's and all of that.
00:19:39.25\00:19:41.39
And it would take up
more time but let me tell you.
00:19:41.42\00:19:43.48
Now I don't take
even time to explain that
00:19:43.51\00:19:48.12
because I don't have time,
00:19:48.15\00:19:49.22
I want you to understand Jesus.
00:19:49.25\00:19:54.42
Two points so far.
What was point number one?
00:19:54.45\00:19:57.22
This is your quiz. That's right.
00:19:57.25\00:20:03.57
The ministry of the
disciples was effective
00:20:03.60\00:20:05.73
because it was more important
to them than their own lives.
00:20:05.76\00:20:08.14
What was the second one?
00:20:08.17\00:20:09.20
Because their ministry
was based on divine good news
00:20:14.00\00:20:16.17
and then we read where the--
00:20:16.20\00:20:18.06
the author there
in Acts says that--
00:20:18.09\00:20:21.67
they actually witnessed
what happened to Jesus.
00:20:21.70\00:20:25.66
But what about those of
us that didn't witnessed it?
00:20:25.69\00:20:29.31
Where does our
hope come in? Amen.
00:20:29.34\00:20:36.71
Let's go to the New
Testament book of 2 Peter.
00:20:36.74\00:20:39.30
Now you guys are mumbling out
there when you are answering me
00:20:39.33\00:20:41.23
but even though
it's been videotaped,
00:20:41.26\00:20:42.62
you don't have to mumble,
you can just yell it out.
00:20:42.65\00:20:44.86
2 Peter 1:16.
00:20:44.89\00:20:50.24
2 Peter 1:16.
00:20:50.27\00:20:56.12
Peter is writing here in 2
Peter 1 beginning in verse 16
00:20:56.15\00:21:00.75
and he says this.
00:21:00.78\00:21:02.89
2 Peter 1:16, he says
00:21:02.92\00:21:05.22
"For we have not followed
cunningly devised fables,
00:21:05.25\00:21:10.70
when we made
known unto you the power
00:21:10.73\00:21:12.83
and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:21:12.86\00:21:15.28
but were" what?
"Eyewitnesses of his majesty."
00:21:15.31\00:21:19.12
Peter says to us,
listen, you can believe me
00:21:19.15\00:21:23.28
because I saw it
with my very own eyes
00:21:23.31\00:21:26.46
but he continues on.
00:21:26.49\00:21:27.94
"For he received from God
the Father honor and glory,
00:21:27.97\00:21:32.20
when there came such a voice
to him from the excellent glory,
00:21:32.23\00:21:35.45
This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
00:21:35.48\00:21:38.86
And the voice
which came from heaven
00:21:38.89\00:21:40.75
which we heard when we were
with him in the holy mount."
00:21:40.78\00:21:43.80
He's talking about the
mount of transfiguration.
00:21:43.83\00:21:46.05
He saw Jesus
transformed into His glory.
00:21:46.08\00:21:50.98
He hears God the Father say,
00:21:51.01\00:21:52.92
this is my beloved Son
in whom I am well pleased.
00:21:52.95\00:21:56.28
How many of you were there?
00:21:56.31\00:21:59.79
So how is it in that
our ministry can become
00:21:59.82\00:22:01.75
just as powerful
as their ministry?
00:22:01.78\00:22:04.46
Let's continue reading.
00:22:04.49\00:22:05.87
Verse 19 says "We
have also a," what?
00:22:05.90\00:22:10.23
"More sure word of
prophecy. More sure than what?
00:22:10.26\00:22:16.96
Than an eye witness,
that's absolutely right.
00:22:16.99\00:22:18.78
Right back up there in verse 16.
00:22:18.81\00:22:20.76
But we were eye
witnesses of His majesty.
00:22:20.79\00:22:23.27
Don't glory too much brother.
The Lord will humble you.
00:22:23.30\00:22:26.14
Verse 19 says "We have also
a more sure word of prophecy,"
00:22:26.17\00:22:31.62
more sure than an eye witness.
00:22:31.65\00:22:33.72
How is it that your ministry
and my ministry is as powerful
00:22:33.75\00:22:37.79
and as effective as
the apostle's ministry?
00:22:37.82\00:22:42.30
It's because of prophecy.
00:22:42.33\00:22:45.15
Because we can experience
00:22:45.18\00:22:47.02
the very same things
that they experienced.
00:22:47.05\00:22:52.53
We can experience a daily
walk with Jesus Christ. Why?
00:22:52.56\00:22:56.77
Because prophecy tells
us that God's word is true.
00:22:56.80\00:22:59.67
Prophecy tells us where we are
00:22:59.70\00:23:01.20
in the timeline
of earth's history.
00:23:01.23\00:23:03.80
And my friends, if we were
studying Daniel 2 right now,
00:23:03.83\00:23:06.31
I would tell you that we
are in the toe jam of the image.
00:23:06.34\00:23:10.03
Jesus is coming soon. Amen.
00:23:10.06\00:23:13.53
And sometimes we
get so wrapped up
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.44
in the trivial
things of this world like,
00:23:15.47\00:23:17.65
"oh, should I listen to this
00:23:17.68\00:23:19.01
or oh, shouldn't
I listen to that.
00:23:19.04\00:23:20.37
Or oh, should I
go out to eat today
00:23:20.40\00:23:22.05
or oh, should I not
go out to eat today,
00:23:22.08\00:23:23.64
or oh, should I
where this shirt,
00:23:23.67\00:23:25.59
is this skirt too
small, is this shirt,
00:23:25.62\00:23:27.73
does this show off
my muscles enough,"
00:23:27.76\00:23:29.36
we got to get pass all of
that stuff and find Jesus. Amen.
00:23:29.39\00:23:33.77
A lot of people tell me that
there are things in the Bible
00:23:33.80\00:23:35.91
that are gray, I
don't believe it. It's gray.
00:23:35.94\00:23:41.17
People say things
in the Bible are gray.
00:23:41.20\00:23:42.92
You know, it's neither black,
it's neither white, it's gray.
00:23:42.95\00:23:45.08
It's a hazy topic in the Bible.
00:23:45.11\00:23:47.89
You know what that means?
00:23:47.92\00:23:49.61
That people aren't
studying the Bible.
00:23:49.64\00:23:51.77
That's what that means.
00:23:51.80\00:23:52.83
They are not spending
time with the word of God.
00:23:52.86\00:23:58.26
Who was the word
of God made flesh?
00:23:58.29\00:24:00.88
Jesus. They are not
spending time with Jesus.
00:24:00.91\00:24:04.48
Number three,
point number three.
00:24:04.51\00:24:06.12
The disciples were effective
because they were men of prayer.
00:24:06.15\00:24:10.66
They were effective
because they were what?
00:24:10.69\00:24:12.29
Men of prayer. Men of prayer.
00:24:12.32\00:24:14.06
It was in January of this year
00:24:14.09\00:24:16.63
that all the pastors
in the Michigan Conference
00:24:16.66\00:24:18.57
went to Camp Fasola, that's
the big youth camp up there.
00:24:18.60\00:24:21.67
And we had a man
named Eldoret Sara,
00:24:21.70\00:24:24.04
he's from South Africa.
00:24:24.07\00:24:25.14
He came over and
he began to tell us
00:24:25.17\00:24:27.36
about the ministry of a
young pastor in his division.
00:24:27.39\00:24:31.93
He said that they
took this young pastor
00:24:31.96\00:24:34.43
who was known to
be a man of prayer.
00:24:34.46\00:24:36.95
And they put him in the
worst district that they have.
00:24:36.98\00:24:41.62
This district has over a
hundred thousand people in it.
00:24:41.65\00:24:47.49
And there were 273
Adventist members, 273.
00:24:47.52\00:24:53.77
And this man began to pray.
00:24:53.80\00:24:55.86
Now mind you this man worked
00:24:55.89\00:24:57.80
to try to
answer his own prayers.
00:24:57.83\00:24:59.90
Which is what we
have to do as well.
00:24:59.93\00:25:01.83
If we want God to
answer we work until it's--
00:25:01.86\00:25:05.14
till we can't do it
anymore and then God takes over.
00:25:05.17\00:25:07.95
Don't expect God to
answer your prayer if you pray,
00:25:07.98\00:25:10.45
Lord, please get
me off this couch
00:25:10.48\00:25:11.73
and get me a job and you
just sit on the couch all day.
00:25:11.76\00:25:14.50
It's never gonna happen.
00:25:14.53\00:25:16.42
But this young
pastor begins to pray.
00:25:16.45\00:25:18.82
He begins to
pray in his ministry
00:25:18.85\00:25:20.81
that he will get
half of the population
00:25:20.84\00:25:24.71
in his district in four years.
00:25:24.74\00:25:27.90
He wants 50,000
people in four years
00:25:27.93\00:25:30.69
by year number three.
00:25:30.72\00:25:34.32
He had 21,000
members in his district.
00:25:34.35\00:25:40.68
After this I was
inspired to pray.
00:25:40.71\00:25:44.60
I called up an
elder of a church,
00:25:44.63\00:25:46.05
we have lots of churches
there in the Detroit metro area.
00:25:46.08\00:25:49.52
And I called up an
elder of another church,
00:25:49.55\00:25:51.57
I said elder, I
need you to pray with me
00:25:51.60\00:25:53.69
because I want my ministry
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.28
to just be what
the Lord wanted to be.
00:25:55.31\00:25:57.49
So every morning at 7'0
clock we pray, every morning.
00:25:57.52\00:26:01.08
He calls me.
00:26:01.11\00:26:02.14
I call him every
morning at 7'o clock,
00:26:02.17\00:26:04.42
unless I am on a
trip and then he knows it
00:26:04.45\00:26:06.43
I am up too late and sleep
too late to call at that time,
00:26:06.46\00:26:09.32
but when I am at home.
00:26:09.35\00:26:12.08
We began to pray
that the Lord would help
00:26:12.11\00:26:14.57
the finances of arise.
00:26:14.60\00:26:18.86
And a man
donated $42,000 to arise.
00:26:18.89\00:26:23.98
We began to pray that
a lady named Antoinette
00:26:24.01\00:26:26.78
would give her heart to Jesus
00:26:26.81\00:26:28.38
so much so that she would become
00:26:28.41\00:26:29.70
a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian.
00:26:29.73\00:26:31.73
Two weeks ago she signed
the chartered member paper
00:26:31.76\00:26:34.84
as a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian.
00:26:34.87\00:26:37.23
We begin to pray
that a lady named Anne
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.13
would come to church and
bring her children to church
00:26:40.16\00:26:43.25
and actually
commit her life to Jesus
00:26:43.28\00:26:45.45
and Anne is coming to church.
00:26:45.48\00:26:47.92
We began to pray
that another man named--
00:26:47.95\00:26:50.98
Oh, come on, Lord,
don't let me forgot his name.
00:26:51.01\00:26:53.67
His name is Gene.
00:26:53.70\00:26:55.84
That Gene would give his heart
00:26:55.87\00:26:57.16
and his life to Jesus.
00:26:57.19\00:26:58.22
Gene was an associate
pastor of an apostolic church.
00:26:58.25\00:27:02.18
He was in the shower one morning
00:27:02.21\00:27:03.46
and he was washing his hair
00:27:03.49\00:27:04.92
and he said that he prayed Lord,
00:27:04.95\00:27:06.67
you've got to show me the truth.
00:27:06.70\00:27:10.42
You've got to show me the truth.
00:27:10.45\00:27:12.37
That day a flier
arrived in his mail
00:27:12.40\00:27:14.87
to come to an
evangelistic meeting.
00:27:14.90\00:27:17.47
Two weeks ago,
Gene signed his name
00:27:17.50\00:27:19.57
to be part of the
charter membership
00:27:19.60\00:27:22.15
of the newest church
in the state of Michigan.
00:27:22.18\00:27:27.49
The apostle's
ministry was effective
00:27:27.52\00:27:29.52
because they
were people of prayer.
00:27:29.55\00:27:32.62
Turn in your
Bibles to Luke 24:53.
00:27:32.65\00:27:37.06
Luke 24:53,
00:27:37.09\00:27:38.96
that's to the left
from where we were.
00:27:38.99\00:27:42.89
Mathew, Mark,
Luke, the last chapter
00:27:42.92\00:27:46.72
and the very last verse.
00:27:46.75\00:27:52.06
The very last
thing that Luke says
00:27:52.09\00:27:54.60
when he is
writing to Theophilus.
00:27:54.63\00:27:58.12
Luke 24:53,
when he is describing
00:27:58.15\00:28:01.44
the ministry of the disciples
after Jesus has ascended up,
00:28:01.47\00:28:06.34
He says about them
they were continually
00:28:06.37\00:28:09.30
in the temple praising
and blessing God, amen.
00:28:09.33\00:28:14.06
What were they
doing? Praising God.
00:28:14.09\00:28:16.98
They were praising
God. They were praying.
00:28:17.01\00:28:21.34
They were
petitioning the God of heaven.
00:28:21.37\00:28:26.07
If we studied it out,
we would see that they were
00:28:26.10\00:28:27.89
petitioning the God of
heaven for the outpouring
00:28:27.92\00:28:30.41
of the promise
of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:30.44\00:28:33.68
Ten days after
Jesus ascends to heaven,
00:28:33.71\00:28:40.26
the spirit of God has poured
out on the day of Pentecost.
00:28:40.29\00:28:44.28
Turn with me to Acts chapter 1,
00:28:44.31\00:28:46.25
that's two books to the right
from where we are Acts 1:14.
00:28:46.28\00:28:51.52
Acts 1:14.
00:28:51.55\00:28:55.71
Acts 1:14, the disciples
are up there in this upper room,
00:29:00.80\00:29:05.48
Acts 1:14 says
00:29:05.51\00:29:07.28
"These all
continued with one accord
00:29:07.31\00:29:10.11
in prayer and supplication,
00:29:10.14\00:29:12.14
with the women, and
Mary the mother of Jesus,
00:29:12.17\00:29:14.89
and with his brethren."
00:29:14.92\00:29:16.10
What did the disciples do
after Jesus went back to heaven?
00:29:16.13\00:29:20.41
They prayed. They prayed.
00:29:20.44\00:29:23.05
If we want our
ministry to be as powerful
00:29:23.08\00:29:25.45
and as effective as
their ministry what will we do?
00:29:25.48\00:29:28.19
Pray. Pray.
00:29:28.22\00:29:32.07
That--Bible
tells us in Acts 6:3-4,
00:29:32.10\00:29:34.91
we don't have time to read it.
00:29:34.94\00:29:36.76
That they were--
they had to choose deacons
00:29:36.79\00:29:39.30
to take care of the church
00:29:39.33\00:29:40.74
so that the disciples
could spend their time
00:29:40.77\00:29:43.12
studying the word
of God and praying.
00:29:43.15\00:29:48.54
How many of you would
like to hold your breathe?
00:29:48.57\00:29:50.70
You like to hold your breathe?
00:29:50.73\00:29:52.34
I bet you could
hold your breathe
00:29:52.37\00:29:53.40
longer than
anyone in here, can you?
00:29:53.43\00:29:55.35
You know, I don't
care how much time we have,
00:29:55.38\00:29:56.41
what I am gonna do is I
am gonna time in. All right.
00:29:56.44\00:29:59.01
So those of you at
home that are watching this,
00:29:59.04\00:30:00.92
you just hold your breath too.
00:30:00.95\00:30:03.27
Is everybody on the same
page, we're gonna do what?
00:30:03.30\00:30:05.36
Hold our
breathe. Hold our breathe.
00:30:05.39\00:30:07.20
Okay, I'm gonna count to three,
00:30:07.23\00:30:08.26
if you want a
hyperventilate whatever.
00:30:08.29\00:30:10.62
One, two, three.
00:30:10.65\00:30:13.98
You have 15 seconds.
00:30:29.61\00:30:31.13
30 seconds.
00:30:44.73\00:30:48.39
You still hold your
breath, hold your hand up
00:30:48.42\00:30:49.62
who are holding the
breath. Praise the Lord.
00:30:49.65\00:30:52.24
50 seconds.
00:31:04.71\00:31:05.78
Any chance people
holding their breath?
00:31:17.93\00:31:21.10
Fewer, but still a few.
00:31:21.13\00:31:25.42
A minute and 10 seconds.
00:31:25.45\00:31:26.90
It's always
neat when you do this
00:31:35.48\00:31:36.68
and see some people turn blue.
00:31:36.71\00:31:38.09
Minute and 34 seconds.
00:31:49.34\00:31:51.78
How many do we have now?
00:31:51.81\00:31:57.01
One.
00:31:57.04\00:31:58.08
Everybody wants
to know who it is?
00:32:04.90\00:32:06.51
And he said he
is a trumpet player.
00:32:13.04\00:32:15.30
Two minutes.
00:32:15.33\00:32:18.41
Two minutes, anybody else
still holding your breathe.
00:32:18.44\00:32:20.29
I want you to listen to this.
00:32:23.62\00:32:27.10
The longest anyone in this room
00:32:27.13\00:32:28.75
could hold their
breathe was, how long?
00:32:28.78\00:32:30.15
Two minutes. Two minutes.
00:32:30.18\00:32:33.28
This come from
gospel workers page 254.
00:32:33.31\00:32:36.81
"Prayer is the
breath of the soul."
00:32:36.84\00:32:40.54
"Prayer is the
breath of the soul."
00:32:44.32\00:32:49.44
It is the secret
of spiritual power.
00:32:49.47\00:32:54.74
Neglect the exercise of prayer
00:32:54.77\00:32:56.72
or engage in
prayer spasmodically
00:32:56.75\00:32:58.91
now and then as
seems convenient,
00:32:58.94\00:33:02.42
and you lose your hold on God.
00:33:02.45\00:33:09.19
Two minutes and we
had to take a breath.
00:33:09.22\00:33:13.37
Yet prayer is the
breath of the soul.
00:33:13.40\00:33:17.79
That doesn't mean
that he can go longer
00:33:17.82\00:33:19.36
than the rest of us
without praying. Amen.
00:33:19.39\00:33:24.72
The apostle's ministry
was magnificent and incredible
00:33:24.75\00:33:27.27
because they were men of prayer.
00:33:27.30\00:33:30.76
Point number four.
00:33:30.79\00:33:33.11
The disciple's
ministry was magnificent
00:33:33.14\00:33:35.66
because they expected Jesus
00:33:35.69\00:33:38.19
to fulfill His
promise to return.
00:33:38.22\00:33:41.24
They expected Jesus to
fulfill His promise to return.
00:33:41.27\00:33:49.15
Turn with me to John chapter 14,
00:33:49.18\00:33:51.95
one book to the
left, John chapter 14.
00:33:51.98\00:33:57.91
You've probably
learned this in Sabbath school.
00:33:57.94\00:34:01.27
John 14:1-2-3.
00:34:01.30\00:34:04.30
Jesus says, the
words are in red,
00:34:04.33\00:34:06.36
"Let not your heart
be," what? "Troubled.
00:34:06.39\00:34:09.50
Ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
00:34:09.53\00:34:13.18
In my Father's
house are many mansions.
00:34:13.21\00:34:16.43
If it were not so, I
would have told you."
00:34:16.46\00:34:19.32
And then Jesus says
00:34:19.35\00:34:20.38
"I go to prepare a
place for," who? You.
00:34:20.41\00:34:23.67
Oh, somebody say
me. Let's do that again.
00:34:23.70\00:34:27.15
I go to prepare a place for--
00:34:27.18\00:34:28.72
Me. Me.
00:34:28.75\00:34:29.83
Jesus is
preparing a place for you.
00:34:29.86\00:34:31.45
The disciples believed it.
00:34:31.48\00:34:35.12
They actually believed it.
00:34:35.15\00:34:40.21
Verse 3, "And if I go
and prepare a place for you,
00:34:40.24\00:34:43.24
I will come again, and
receive you unto myself
00:34:43.27\00:34:46.50
that where I am,
there you may be also."
00:34:46.53\00:34:50.27
The disciple's
ministry was magnificent
00:34:50.30\00:34:52.78
because they actually
believed Jesus was coming back.
00:34:52.81\00:34:58.45
Can you believe that? Yeah.
00:34:58.48\00:35:03.52
I think if we
actually believed it,
00:35:03.55\00:35:07.36
our lives will
look a lot different
00:35:07.39\00:35:09.80
than they look right now.
00:35:09.83\00:35:14.95
You know, there is that,
that country music singer
00:35:14.98\00:35:17.71
Tim McGraw
singing that song about--
00:35:17.74\00:35:22.76
about his life,
his friend's life
00:35:22.79\00:35:24.72
and his
experience with skydiving,
00:35:24.75\00:35:27.48
deep sea, something and
rode a bull named Fu Manchu.
00:35:27.51\00:35:35.14
But then he
said, because he knew
00:35:35.17\00:35:36.71
that he was
dying he loved deeper.
00:35:36.74\00:35:40.11
He spoke sweeter and he
spent time in the good book.
00:35:40.14\00:35:44.20
If we actually
believe Jesus was coming soon,
00:35:48.97\00:35:52.62
our lives will look
completely different
00:35:52.65\00:35:55.30
from what they look right now.
00:35:55.33\00:35:57.28
Regardless of how
holy we think we are,
00:35:57.31\00:36:00.11
our lives would be
completely different.
00:36:00.14\00:36:05.94
Turn with me to the New
Testament Book of First John.
00:36:05.97\00:36:10.25
First John chapter 3.
00:36:10.28\00:36:13.64
First John, if
you get to revelation,
00:36:13.67\00:36:15.38
you've obviously
gone just ahead too far,
00:36:15.41\00:36:18.21
backup two books.
00:36:18.24\00:36:21.28
First John 3:1-2-3.
00:36:21.31\00:36:27.29
And the good
book reads like this.
00:36:27.32\00:36:30.83
"Behold what manner of love
the Father hath bestowed upon us
00:36:30.86\00:36:35.52
that we should be
called the," what?
00:36:35.55\00:36:37.99
"The sons of God.
00:36:38.02\00:36:39.45
The world knoweth us
not, because it knew Him not.
00:36:39.48\00:36:41.86
Beloved, now are
we the sons of God,
00:36:41.89\00:36:44.84
and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be.
00:36:44.87\00:36:47.42
But we know that,
when He shall appear,
00:36:47.45\00:36:51.19
we shall be like Him. For
we shall see Him as He is."
00:36:51.22\00:36:56.73
Verse 3, "And every man
that hath this hope in him
00:36:56.76\00:37:01.25
purifieth himself,
even as He is pure."
00:37:01.28\00:37:06.18
The disciples took Jesus
words to the very extreme way
00:37:06.21\00:37:10.79
that they could ever be taken
00:37:10.82\00:37:12.42
and they said
Jesus is coming back.
00:37:12.45\00:37:15.66
They didn't scoff
at it. They lived it.
00:37:15.69\00:37:18.35
They didn't pretend that
it was way in the future,
00:37:18.38\00:37:21.03
they believed it.
00:37:21.06\00:37:23.63
The Bible says that at the
end of time scoffers will come.
00:37:23.66\00:37:26.64
We are in the end of time.
00:37:30.87\00:37:35.09
Are you a scoffer?
00:37:35.12\00:37:37.93
The Bible says that the apostles
lives will purified by the hope
00:37:41.49\00:37:45.66
that Jesus was going to return.
00:37:45.69\00:37:49.21
I believe it's
in Titus chapter 2
00:37:49.24\00:37:50.80
where it talks
about the blessed hope
00:37:50.83\00:37:53.15
of our Lord Jesus
Christ and His return.
00:37:53.18\00:37:57.57
Just like the
faithful martyrs of old,
00:37:57.60\00:38:00.38
your name can be forever
written in the heavenly kingdom.
00:38:03.64\00:38:09.10
Your ministry on this
earth can be effective
00:38:09.13\00:38:12.09
because number one,
what was our first point?
00:38:12.12\00:38:14.44
That your life is secondary
to the sharing of the Gospel,
00:38:18.86\00:38:23.87
become a fool for Jesus.
00:38:23.90\00:38:27.09
Step outside of your
comfort zone for Jesus.
00:38:27.12\00:38:29.71
My understanding is
tomorrow what time is it--
00:38:29.74\00:38:31.87
what time is that gonna happen,
00:38:31.90\00:38:33.35
brother, the outreach tomorrow.
00:38:33.38\00:38:35.86
11'0 clock. 11'0 clock.
00:38:35.89\00:38:37.74
Where are they
meeting? We don't know.
00:38:37.77\00:38:40.21
Collegedale-- Collegedale,
00:38:40.24\00:38:44.89
they're gonna make that
announcement, aren't they?
00:38:44.92\00:38:46.39
Yes. Okay.
00:38:46.42\00:38:48.55
Get out of your comfort zone.
00:38:48.58\00:38:52.11
The disciple's
ministry was effective
00:38:52.14\00:38:54.26
because their ministry
was more important to them
00:38:54.29\00:38:56.66
than their physical life.
00:38:56.69\00:38:58.49
Their ministry was effective
00:38:58.52\00:39:00.01
because they
were on their knees.
00:39:00.04\00:39:03.25
Their ministry was effective
00:39:03.28\00:39:04.62
because they believed that
Jesus Christ was coming back.
00:39:04.65\00:39:09.32
And their ministry was effective
00:39:09.35\00:39:10.66
because it was
based on divine good news.
00:39:10.69\00:39:15.08
What is your ministry based on?
00:39:15.11\00:39:16.60
The Bible says that
the name of the apostles
00:39:20.20\00:39:22.66
in Revelation 21:14, that
their names will be written
00:39:22.69\00:39:26.81
in the
foundation of New Jerusalem.
00:39:26.84\00:39:28.76
Will your name be written
00:39:31.88\00:39:35.18
in the lamb's book of life?
00:39:35.21\00:39:40.72
When the devil sees you
walking down the street,
00:39:40.75\00:39:43.31
does he tremble because he knows
00:39:43.34\00:39:45.01
that you are about to
share Jesus with someone else?
00:39:45.04\00:39:51.23
Or does he put
his arm around you
00:39:51.26\00:39:54.24
and walk down
the street with you?
00:39:54.27\00:39:56.86