WEBVTT 00:00:02.950 --> 00:00:04.559 Well today we have a special treat. 00:00:04.700 --> 00:00:18.039 So this weekend we had a prophetic conference, an extraordinary God for extraordinary times, and it was really powerful, uh, really thankful for all of the messages that were brought very impactful. 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:23.550 Um, and so rich gal is, it was one of the speakers that came down. 00:00:23.550 --> 00:00:28.309 So it was Clem Ferris, Steve fatto, rich gal, Chuck and Chuck porta, and a guy named big country. 00:00:29.070 --> 00:00:31.789 I don't Dave, I think his name is Dave Hughes. 00:00:32.750 --> 00:00:33.070 Uh, yeah. 00:00:33.250 --> 00:00:36.390 So, uh, anyway, it's too much to explain right now. 00:00:37.270 --> 00:00:42.859 so, but, um, rich and I, I, I met rich about 25 years ago. 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:48.380 Um, we were a little younger at that time, although we're still, wouldn't you say we're still very young. 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:54.539 I mean, I, I feel like that we're, we're still in the, the prime of our lives is what we're believing for right. 00:00:55.109 --> 00:00:57.570 50 is the new 40 is what I've heard. 00:00:57.750 --> 00:01:14.609 So, uh, but rich, uh, has been mildly used of God and his family has been used, uh, throughout time in China, Taiwan, Japan, um, and, uh, rich, when I met him was a part of a church in Minnesota that Jim McCraken, I don't know if some of you may remember Jim McCracken. 00:01:14.629 --> 00:01:22.400 So Jim, the Kraken, so Jim McCraken and Chuck porta and, and rich were serving together at this church city on a city, on a hill, right. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:23.120 Or city hill. 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:28.280 And, uh, and then rich became the, the lead pastor of that. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:34.269 And then out of that church, they planted a church in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. 00:01:34.569 --> 00:01:37.469 And he said, it's just now warming up there. 00:01:38.290 --> 00:01:45.430 And I said, wow, I, we may need to take a trip because it's been, have, have you noticed this year, it's been warm. 00:01:45.739 --> 00:01:47.109 It's been almost hot. 00:01:47.969 --> 00:01:49.230 So, uh, but we give God. 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:50.549 It's good. 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:51.189 It's all good. 00:01:51.191 --> 00:01:51.469 Right. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:02:02.420 So, um, I, when we were praying about cuz normally we would have Clem come because he's connected to our church, but we really felt as an elder team that rich needed to come and speak to us this morning. 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:07.739 Um, he's written some books and the Lord used him over time to help plant churches. 00:02:07.810 --> 00:02:09.139 He's planted churches himself. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:19.650 And we just really believe that the, the principle of multiplication is a biblical principle concerning uh, God's people and how he wants to work in his kingdom. 00:02:20.270 --> 00:02:24.689 And so we want to, without any further ado, we wanna welcome rich, go to speak to us this morning. 00:02:24.750 --> 00:02:26.650 Can you please give him a hand and welcome him? 00:02:30.370 --> 00:02:38.000 Thank you so much, Tyler, for that introduction, it's been great to be in Knoxville and to be at the conference here. 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:42.400 It was a, a coming together of, of three different churches. 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:46.319 And so, uh, if you weren't part of the conference, no worries. 00:02:46.870 --> 00:02:49.110 It's great to just be with God's people. 00:02:49.530 --> 00:02:54.949 You know, one of the exciting things when you travel around the world is to see how there's a kindred spirit, wherever you go. 00:02:55.430 --> 00:02:55.430 Yeah. 00:02:55.530 --> 00:03:01.840 And it doesn't matter what tribe, what nation, what people, what ethnicity, the spirit of Christ just brings us together. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:09.960 And so I can be in the deep south, I can be, uh, in Asia, I can be in Europe and, and Jesus is there and it's so precious. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:13.560 Uh, there's no other organization in the world that has that blessing. 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:22.870 We come together and, and the Lord is the focus, you know, as we sang about this morning, just, um, just maybe a couple quick additional comments. 00:03:22.870 --> 00:03:23.110 Yeah. 00:03:23.590 --> 00:03:27.949 Uh, I've been pastoring for 30 years and my wife and I, we just passed a really important milestone. 00:03:28.289 --> 00:03:31.949 Two weeks ago, we turned our church over, uh, to a new senior pastor. 00:03:32.689 --> 00:03:35.469 And so we are now embarking on church planting. 00:03:36.069 --> 00:03:37.939 We're very, very excited about that. 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:41.580 Uh, originally I was ministering out of Minneapolis. 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:47.500 We have four kids, they're all adult children now 30, 28, 25 and 23. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.620 And so we're empty nesters and free to go as the holy spirit moves us. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:55.050 And we are really, really grateful for that. 00:03:56.150 --> 00:04:02.530 So as, um, pastor mentioned here, he just asked me to focus my thoughts on the ministry of multiplication. 00:04:03.509 --> 00:04:10.370 And I wanna come at it from a, a little bit different angle, maybe a sort of like navigate the plane from 30,000 feet down to 5,000 feet. 00:04:10.371 --> 00:04:16.040 And I wanna offer up this phrase to this morning, which is practical is powerful. 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:21.278 The ministry of multiplication practical is power and powerful. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:27.600 And we're gonna look at two, relatively unknown people in the Bible, but they are so dynamic. 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:32.910 And I think as we look into their story this morning, hopefully it'll be encouraging to us. 00:04:33.290 --> 00:04:43.870 And those two people are Tabitha and archist Tabitha and archist maybe you don't even know their names, but hopefully after the message today, you'll be better acquainted. 00:04:44.329 --> 00:04:52.100 So I wanna jump into acts chapter nine and read, uh, this section of scripture, which introduces Tabitha to us. 00:04:52.838 --> 00:05:02.699 So in verse 36, it says in Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:09.449 At that time, however, she became sick and died and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. 00:05:09.870 --> 00:05:10.689 So we're not talking. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:11.170 Okay. 00:05:11.470 --> 00:05:12.490 It just instantly happened. 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:14.050 She's already been dead for a while. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:23.120 They're sort of going through the funeral preparations since, uh, Lydia was near Joppa, uh, Lida, pardon me? 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:28.069 The disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him come to us without delay. 00:05:28.930 --> 00:05:31.310 So the great apostle Peter was in the area. 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:37.110 Tabitha had died and they're like, oh man, we gotta go grab the great apostle. 00:05:37.689 --> 00:05:42.069 So Peter got up after the appeal, came to him, went to them, verse 39 on his arrival. 00:05:42.071 --> 00:05:43.389 They took him to the upper room. 00:05:43.730 --> 00:05:52.290 All the widows stood around him weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Tabitha had made while she was still with them. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:58.120 Then Peter sent them out of the room, knelt down, prayed, turning toward her body, said, Tabitha, get up. 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:01.000 She opened her eyes and seen Peter. 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:04.360 She sat up, Peter took her by the hand, helped her up. 00:06:04.430 --> 00:06:08.199 Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive. 00:06:08.269 --> 00:06:08.920 What a moment? 00:06:09.009 --> 00:06:09.360 Right? 00:06:09.790 --> 00:06:12.560 Just this precious woman that was in the church. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:17.350 And all of a sudden the prayer was prayed and she was resurrected from the dead. 00:06:17.778 --> 00:06:22.870 This became known all over Joppa and many people believed in the Lord. 00:06:23.569 --> 00:06:30.389 So God, we just bow our heads before you, as we come to the word of God, we thank you that the holy spirit is the one that quickens life to us. 00:06:30.889 --> 00:06:34.259 You take the word of God and you make it real. 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:38.500 And you penetrate our hearts and we ask, holy spirit, you would do that this morning. 00:06:38.838 --> 00:06:39.939 We give this time to you. 00:06:39.940 --> 00:06:41.899 We give you praise in Jesus' name. 00:06:42.370 --> 00:06:42.660 Amen. 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:47.660 So as I mentioned, I'm gonna focus on this woman called Tabitha. 00:06:47.661 --> 00:06:51.300 But my starting point is with a man by the name of Archus. 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:53.889 So you might be asking who is Archus. 00:06:54.329 --> 00:06:55.889 I didn't even know that he was in the Bible. 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:21.050 Well, in FA Leman chapter one, Paul states this writing to his friend, Paul, a prisoner of Christ, Jesus and Timothy brother to FA Leman our beloved fellow worker to AIA our sister to archist there he is our fellow soldier and to the church that meets at your house, we can back it up there. 00:07:21.110 --> 00:07:22.170 I'm not gonna sh yeah. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.930 Archist was someone that loved the Lord. 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.899 He was motivated to make his life count for Jesus. 00:07:29.459 --> 00:07:33.050 And this verse tells us that he was involved in church planting. 00:07:33.430 --> 00:07:37.009 He was involved in a church planting scenario with FileMan and AIA. 00:07:37.230 --> 00:07:46.170 And you can't be involved in a greater ministry of multiplication than church planting churches are God's organizational servant in the earth. 00:07:46.629 --> 00:07:47.050 Church. 00:07:47.050 --> 00:07:54.220 Planting is God's viral method for multiplying his glory and bringing transformation in the earth. 00:07:54.221 --> 00:08:01.259 Whether it's in the smallest of villages or the biggest of mega cities, the church is the apple of God's eye. 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:11.290 Did you know this morning that you are the apple of God's eye and archist was involved in this startup situation, helping the house church get off the ground. 00:08:11.589 --> 00:08:12.529 He was faithful. 00:08:13.029 --> 00:08:17.730 And Paul referred to him as a fellow soldier, not just a soldier, but a fellow soldier. 00:08:18.310 --> 00:08:20.649 And we know what a kind of soldier Paul was. 00:08:21.230 --> 00:08:22.050 He was vigorous. 00:08:22.069 --> 00:08:22.970 He was determined. 00:08:22.971 --> 00:08:23.689 He was tough. 00:08:24.230 --> 00:08:29.120 You read about all the things that he went through in terms of being beaten persecuted. 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:34.639 And Paul says arch Capus is that kind of soldier. 00:08:34.750 --> 00:08:36.360 He's a fellow soldier with me. 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:39.799 So we're not talking about sort of a low grade believer. 00:08:39.801 --> 00:08:45.730 We're talking about someone who stout someone who's strong and committed rugged doesn't complain. 00:08:46.029 --> 00:08:48.678 Cuz that word soldier is a very powerful descriptor. 00:08:49.250 --> 00:08:49.960 Takes orders. 00:08:50.149 --> 00:08:53.200 Well is dependable, responsible and trustworthy. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:58.480 So we have this little nugget, this little bio of Archus and who he is. 00:09:00.058 --> 00:09:03.480 But somewhere along the way, archist lost his zeal. 00:09:04.870 --> 00:09:06.049 He lost his fervor. 00:09:06.051 --> 00:09:15.360 He lost his zip to the point that he was just a pew sitter, inactive taking in messages, but not doing anything anymore. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:17.799 He wasn't fruitful or serving. 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:25.529 Maybe not unlike many of us in our churches where we've lost our passion in these days. 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:36.409 So in Colosians four 17, we read Paul says to Archus take heed to the ministry which you received in the Lord that you may fulfill it. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:39.558 So Paul had interacted with Archus. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:42.000 He was in the house church that FileMan had started. 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:46.039 He saw the zeal, but somehow it just ebbed away. 00:09:47.029 --> 00:09:51.529 And so he writes to the Colosian church, but he has this little verse at the end. 00:09:51.909 --> 00:10:03.629 Hey, remind Archus to take heed to the ministry and the calling that God has given to him in these last days, we cannot afford to be arches. 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:06.879 We can't afford to be on the sidelines. 00:10:07.058 --> 00:10:08.960 We need every worker on deck. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:10.519 The days are dark. 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:12.000 We need to be active. 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.950 The church needs to rise up. 00:10:14.169 --> 00:10:15.710 We need to be the city on a hill. 00:10:15.889 --> 00:10:17.710 We need to be the salt of the earth. 00:10:18.090 --> 00:10:22.830 We can't be sitting in the pews and letting our calling in ministry waste away. 00:10:23.808 --> 00:10:27.470 We need to take heed to the ministry that God has given to us. 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:31.360 Are you an archist this morning? 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:34.210 Do you feel like that? 00:10:34.211 --> 00:10:35.210 You've let go of the rope. 00:10:35.720 --> 00:11:00.678 Have you let go of your call and service, have the can of worm and locus been eating at you that you've been learning about in the book of Joel can of worm of bitterness or unforgiveness or anger or jealousy or regret the enemy comes in and he just eats away at you, takes away your vitality, SAPs your energy and SAPs your vision. 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:01.919 And you just feel passive. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:05.320 Now you feel like the energy has been drained out of you. 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:10.399 You're out of commission and you're not helping in the ministry of multiplication. 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:14.320 Every church has their arches. 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:21.320 And part of what the spirit is doing in this hour is reawakening and reactivating the arches. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:21.840 Amen. 00:11:22.570 --> 00:11:24.399 Every single one of us has a call. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:27.600 God created you before the foundation of the earth. 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:30.080 We read Genesis and our breath is taken away. 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:32.470 The trees and the mountains and the birds. 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:36.820 And it says that Adam was created on the sixth day. 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:39.500 But actually the Bible says you were created. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:42.659 You were in the heart of God before the foundations of the earth. 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:45.299 He created all of this for you and me. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:49.419 He created you with purpose and with a calling. 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:55.960 And so these, this word that comes to Archus from Paul is so timely. 00:11:58.370 --> 00:12:01.308 We have to take heat to the ministry that God has given us. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.460 And this is where Tabitha comes in. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:13.139 If she were to have a heart to heart talk with Archus, she would have some keen wisdom for him on how to get going again. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:17.769 Because the last thing we want to do is bury our talents and waste our calling. 00:12:18.110 --> 00:12:21.409 And here is what Tabitha would say to Archus. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:24.889 Practical is powerful. 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:30.370 Sometimes the most powerful way to be spiritual is to be practical. 00:12:33.070 --> 00:12:36.990 When we read this passage in acts chapter nine, it's easy to focus on Peter. 00:12:37.570 --> 00:12:38.308 Yes, right? 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:55.659 Typically, if we wanna focus on just the power of God and the glory of God, and we wanna elevate Peter and James and John and Elijah and John, the Baptist, that's the ministry you want, let's have an altar call and the holy Spirit's gonna fill all of you with signs, wonders and miracles. 00:12:56.558 --> 00:12:57.700 Of course, that's exciting. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:01.340 And God is gonna give you some of you that kind of anointing. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:13.860 That's the kind of ministry of multiplication that I'd like to have, but that's not the person that I wanna focus on in this story. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:18.820 Put the spotlight on Tabitha and not on Peter. 00:13:20.428 --> 00:13:36.279 She's the Herald that I wanna zero in on few years back when my kids were still young, God sent a Tabitha to my wife and I, and she was my mother-in-law I've always admired my mother-in-law. 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:44.639 She was an honest, hardworking person, good to a word, gone through a lot of difficulties in her life. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:46.320 And she never complained. 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:55.389 And so as we started to grow our family and she would come from Canada, I was living in, we were living in Minneapolis at that time. 00:13:55.409 --> 00:14:03.629 And she would come from Vancouver and live with us for months at a time and help us with the babysitting and, you know, just keeping the chaos down. 00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:06.669 And she would teach our little babies to smile. 00:14:07.889 --> 00:14:11.379 And my wife had a, um, a condition of eczema. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:19.740 And so she could not put her hands in the dishwasher and the dish water, um, very often cuz it would just inflame and, and exacerbate her conditions. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:23.740 So I always did the dishes, but when my mother-in-law came, she just chewed me outta the kitchen. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.700 She goes, I'm doing the dishes all the time. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.850 It's like, wow, what a blessing. 00:14:28.929 --> 00:14:30.250 I actually enjoy doing the dishes. 00:14:30.409 --> 00:14:34.929 It, it kind of is a time for me to decompress and it's kind of a bit mindless, but I enjoy it. 00:14:35.190 --> 00:14:37.850 But here she came, she says, Nope, I'm doing the dishes. 00:14:39.149 --> 00:14:40.570 And uh, I have a sweet tooth. 00:14:41.529 --> 00:14:45.730 Uh, I grew up in, in Minnesota where the Scandin evenings made just great pastries. 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:49.799 The Danish pastry fame is real. 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:53.240 And uh, so I love my pies. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:15:05.960 I love my cakes and I, and I would have this cookie jar and my wife would never refill it because she'd say rich, I don't want you to get fat but every morning when I got up, my mother-in-law would've refilled that cookie jar. 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:10.429 It's like, oh my gosh, an angel has come into our home. 00:15:10.990 --> 00:15:20.870 I would go on a fast, it'd be bread and water and I'd, I'd get to the kitchen. 00:15:21.370 --> 00:15:26.830 And my mother-in-law would've sliced thick slices of fresh baked bread for me. 00:15:28.470 --> 00:15:31.179 I go, man, this is amazing. 00:15:31.710 --> 00:15:35.059 Everywhere we turned, we were reminded of her presence. 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.299 We were reminded of her good deeds. 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:42.279 And when it came time for her to go back to, to Canada, we all cried. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:49.350 I cried and, and, and balded like a baby because my Tabitha was going home. 00:15:51.009 --> 00:15:52.590 Her presence was so powerful. 00:15:54.509 --> 00:15:56.370 And why is practical? 00:15:56.429 --> 00:15:57.129 So powerful? 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:00.049 Well Lydia's life tells us why. 00:16:00.570 --> 00:16:02.210 And I wanna draw out a few points here. 00:16:02.950 --> 00:16:05.600 The first is that practical is endearing. 00:16:07.009 --> 00:16:08.629 It says that the widows were weeping. 00:16:09.070 --> 00:16:14.269 I knew how the widows felt of all the charity that I experienced from my mother-in-law. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.549 These widows experienced that same charity. 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:20.149 There's nothing like a deed which meets a need. 00:16:20.929 --> 00:16:25.340 Now there are deeds that we do that bless people, but they don't necessarily meet a need. 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:31.179 But when you reach out and you meet a need, it truly blesses in a deep way. 00:16:32.870 --> 00:16:38.960 When I was in graduate school, I was living with my roommate and I was praying one morning. 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:42.519 And the Lord said, I want you to make your roommate's lunch every day. 00:16:44.110 --> 00:16:47.259 I thought, what guys don't do that for guys. 00:16:47.260 --> 00:16:48.899 That's just not macho, right? 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:52.179 I'm not gonna make a sandwich and pack. 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:54.019 'em a bag lunch every single day. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.100 That's just weird. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.500 But it was so clear to me that I was to do that. 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:03.730 So every single day he would go off to work. 00:17:03.850 --> 00:17:06.289 I would go off to my classes and he he'd go out the door. 00:17:06.290 --> 00:17:07.329 I hand him a sack lunch. 00:17:07.690 --> 00:17:08.490 I go, here's your lunch. 00:17:08.549 --> 00:17:09.529 The first day that happened. 00:17:09.530 --> 00:17:10.210 He goes, what is this? 00:17:10.690 --> 00:17:11.529 I go, it's your lunch. 00:17:11.549 --> 00:17:13.089 He goes, what? 00:17:13.890 --> 00:17:15.970 I said, God told me, I'm supposed to make you your lunch. 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.890 Every single day. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.880 I did it for a whole year. 00:17:20.569 --> 00:17:25.108 There were a couple days in which he had left the house without picking up his lunch. 00:17:25.130 --> 00:17:28.670 And the God said, drive his lunch to his work and give it to him. 00:17:29.108 --> 00:17:34.269 it was character developments learning about servanthood. 00:17:34.710 --> 00:17:51.240 I, I didn't know all that God was doing, but I knew that I had to be faithful to that fast forward finished my graduate years, got my first job moved into this, um, family that was at the church that I was going to. 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:57.279 And on my first day of going to work, as I was going out the door, the mother house handed me a brown bag. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.079 And I said, what is this? 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:58.839 Wow. 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.000 She said, it's your lunch? 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.799 I said, what? 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:05.000 She says, we have five boys in this house. 00:18:05.069 --> 00:18:07.960 What is it to make another lunch here? 00:18:08.029 --> 00:18:08.589 It is for you. 00:18:09.349 --> 00:18:09.349 Wow. 00:18:09.970 --> 00:18:11.069 You so kindness. 00:18:11.809 --> 00:18:12.750 You reap kindness. 00:18:13.150 --> 00:18:13.150 Yeah. 00:18:13.670 --> 00:18:15.910 I wasn't looking to have bag lunches made for me. 00:18:16.108 --> 00:18:19.470 I was just trying to be obedient to God, but here it happened. 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:21.069 Came around full circle. 00:18:22.329 --> 00:18:23.150 God, you're amazing. 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:26.618 Practical is endearing. 00:18:27.930 --> 00:18:30.618 Practical is also powerful because it's concrete. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:39.259 The Bible says that Tabitha made tunics and garments like tangible stuff that you can hold. 00:18:40.450 --> 00:18:40.670 Yes. 00:18:40.671 --> 00:18:41.868 We love to receive prayer. 00:18:42.210 --> 00:18:42.430 Yes. 00:18:42.431 --> 00:18:47.140 We love to send out emails and, and get the little Prairie emoji back that someone's praying for us. 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:58.059 but practical is concrete and there was tunics and garments that were made and not everyone can relate to spiritual things, but everyone can relate to concrete things. 00:18:59.049 --> 00:19:04.890 Part of the reason why the multitudes in Israel followed after Jesus was because he was so concrete. 00:19:05.349 --> 00:19:08.569 He multiplied the bread for 5,000 men. 00:19:09.289 --> 00:19:09.289 Yeah. 00:19:09.529 --> 00:19:13.049 Commentators say that actually it was over 10,000 people that were there. 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.450 They were hungry. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.690 They were under the hot Israeli son. 00:19:18.490 --> 00:19:20.009 It was time to have lunch. 00:19:20.589 --> 00:19:23.358 And the apostles did not do their administrative job. 00:19:24.509 --> 00:19:26.079 They didn't order in the food trucks. 00:19:26.150 --> 00:19:27.559 They didn't prep any meals. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.599 So Jesus, okay. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.680 I gotta make lunch for them. 00:19:33.990 --> 00:19:39.160 Multiplies the bread, endless fed every single one of them. 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:41.519 The Bible says they ain't until they were filled. 00:19:42.710 --> 00:19:44.009 That's such a kingdom value. 00:19:44.170 --> 00:19:46.329 I always tell my staff never run out of food. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:46.769 Ever. 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:50.690 Jesus was always make us, make sure that we are filled. 00:19:52.029 --> 00:19:53.450 And here is the object lesson. 00:19:54.210 --> 00:20:05.618 If you didn't notice this little detail, it says when they fed the 5,000, there were 12 extra baskets left over every single apostle got to hold. 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.460 One of those extra baskets. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.140 That's my care. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.460 That's my love. 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:12.099 That's my provision. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:14.500 The kingdom is that practical. 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.299 Wow. 00:20:16.608 --> 00:20:26.670 What an object lesson God gave to them, had a missionary friend in Japan and Japan is very prone to earthquakes. 00:20:27.849 --> 00:20:39.380 And um, as part of just his outreach to some of the families in the neighborhood, he bought some locks for the cabinets so that when the house would shake, they wouldn't open and the dishes wouldn't fall out. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:43.618 So he bought these locks that you could just clip on to the cabinets. 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:45.220 The kids would not get hurt. 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.618 Wasn't a big deal. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:55.980 But the lady said every time an earthquake came and the cabinet doors stayed shut, we thought of you, just a simple little thing. 00:20:57.940 --> 00:21:03.029 Practical is concrete practical, also communicates thoughtfulness and care. 00:21:05.710 --> 00:21:11.358 It says that Tabitha ministered to those who were especially in need the widows. 00:21:11.789 --> 00:21:16.480 There's two groups in the Bible that God particularly looks out for orphans and widows. 00:21:17.269 --> 00:21:18.720 They're the most vulnerable. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.430 They don't have their normal covering. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:23.750 There's a sense where they're disconnected. 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.910 They don't belong. 00:21:25.049 --> 00:21:26.230 The family is not there. 00:21:26.650 --> 00:21:30.019 And God is a special heart for the orphans and widows. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:33.180 And Tabitha captured that heart from the Lord. 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:39.819 And she went and she provided clothing for them, kni him with her own hands. 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:52.789 One of the last things that Jesus did on the cross as he was hanging there on the cross and his mother was there and the disciple was there. 00:21:53.410 --> 00:22:03.670 He said to the apostle John, this will be your new mother, woman, behold, your son, John behold, your mother, John 19. 00:22:04.210 --> 00:22:12.519 He transferred the custodianship of his mom to the apostle John that must have melted his mother's heart. 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:21.849 While back my wife had purchased some new furniture and she was thinking about how to lay it out in the living room. 00:22:22.589 --> 00:22:24.250 And I don't know what got into my daughter. 00:22:24.349 --> 00:22:25.250 She didn't wait for me. 00:22:25.509 --> 00:22:32.799 She started moving the furniture for her mom so that she could put it in the right space, in the right place. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.630 There was this new rug and, and she just did that. 00:22:36.631 --> 00:22:48.559 And it just so touched my wife's heart three years ago, just before COVID I was flying into Taiwan for a ministry time and I had a kidney stone attack. 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:52.910 I got off the plane and I was in bad shape. 00:22:54.049 --> 00:22:55.789 In fact, my kidneys were already failing. 00:22:56.670 --> 00:23:02.549 Um, the doctor said, really, we should be having you on dialysis, but I, I really felt a peace from God to just go. 00:23:03.450 --> 00:23:13.980 So I went, unfortunately, when I came off the plane, I experienced this attack and the church that I was going to was a large church. 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:20.900 And the chief surgeon of the, one of the most famous hospitals in Taiwan was going to that church. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.940 So they said, no worries. 00:23:22.941 --> 00:23:24.299 We'll get you into this hospital. 00:23:25.049 --> 00:23:27.730 This surgeon is renowned throughout the country. 00:23:28.230 --> 00:23:31.250 He has so much, I mean, this had like 2000 doctors under him. 00:23:32.390 --> 00:23:34.890 And they said, when he looks at water, it freezes. 00:23:35.329 --> 00:23:37.608 I mean, that that's how much authority he has. 00:23:38.289 --> 00:23:41.049 so he actually took care of me. 00:23:41.750 --> 00:23:43.930 And I literally got the V I P treatment. 00:23:44.608 --> 00:23:48.319 I got into the hospital at 10:00 AM in the morning by 6:00 PM. 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:56.599 I was in the, or, and they were removing my kidney stones, full test of blood ultrasound, everything. 00:23:56.858 --> 00:23:59.358 And they had a, a big group with all the specialists. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:06.108 And they got me into the operating room, took out my kidney stones and it was all taken care of. 00:24:06.470 --> 00:24:09.549 I actually was able to preach in the conference in 36 hours after that. 00:24:11.250 --> 00:24:31.299 But here's the thing that touched me as I was recovering in my room, the chief of surgery came in and brought me slippers toothbrush, a washcloth wash, a wash cloth, and a cup of Starbucks for me, the way they minimize cost in Taiwan, medical cost is they don't give you all the extra stuff. 00:24:31.300 --> 00:24:34.380 Your family brings it instead of being charged by the hospital. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:38.460 And of course, I didn't have any family, cuz I was just there for this ministry trip. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:44.368 And in the midst of his busyness, he went and bought all this stuff for me and gave it to me. 00:24:44.490 --> 00:24:46.450 I go, I can't believe you did this. 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:56.200 So touched that such a powerful busy man would take time out of his schedule to do that. 00:24:57.670 --> 00:25:06.868 Practical communicates that thoughtfulness and care practical also creates advocates in verse 38. 00:25:07.730 --> 00:25:15.210 As we read, it says that Tabitha's friends sent these two men to Peter in treating them. 00:25:16.630 --> 00:25:19.250 How many of you want friends and advocates in your life? 00:25:22.730 --> 00:25:24.200 A lot of times we feel lonely. 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:28.480 We just sit there and we're hoping for someone to come to us and reach out to us. 00:25:29.618 --> 00:25:46.720 And yeah, that's, that's part of community is to be reached out to, but sometimes we need to take the initiative to lay a foundation of friendship and fellowship in our life to start serving and multiplying and giving yourself away so that you are building your own community. 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:51.910 Vancouver is one of the loneliest cities in north America where we planted our church. 00:25:52.858 --> 00:25:55.509 It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 00:25:55.509 --> 00:25:57.349 If some of you have been there, you know what I'm talking about? 00:25:57.660 --> 00:26:05.940 Pacific ocean, the mountains world class mountains, the 2010 Olympics was in Vancouver because of world class skiing. 00:26:06.430 --> 00:26:08.420 We've got the Pacific ocean right there. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:14.819 In fact, you look out our church, our river that's we can see from our church building goes straight into the Pacific ocean. 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:21.730 I mean, it's crazy beautiful, but it's one of the most lonely disconnected places in Canada. 00:26:23.509 --> 00:26:24.490 And what's the cure. 00:26:24.868 --> 00:26:29.890 Get out there and serve, multiply yourself, give yourself away, start your own community. 00:26:30.230 --> 00:26:32.730 Do it by serving just one and two and three. 00:26:32.910 --> 00:26:35.009 And then watch the people in your circle grow. 00:26:35.829 --> 00:26:37.009 You will have advocates. 00:26:37.010 --> 00:26:38.799 You will have people that will have your back. 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.920 And this is what happened to Lydia. 00:26:40.921 --> 00:26:45.240 When she died, verse 30, eight and 30, it says they Interceed for her. 00:26:45.670 --> 00:26:48.640 They got the attention of the busy apostle Peter. 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.789 They were not to be denied. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:56.740 And of course Lydia was resurrected in, in verse 40. 00:26:57.450 --> 00:26:58.380 It's so powerful. 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:12.299 It said where sea here that the effect of Tabitha's Tabitha's love was so powerful that Peter King had this massive testimony in verse 42, many believed in the Lord. 00:27:13.849 --> 00:27:16.099 Just think she started out just knitting stuff. 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:21.700 And it ends with multitude of people getting saved is that multiplication or what? 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.930 She wasn't an evangelist. 00:27:24.390 --> 00:27:31.690 She didn't have the gift of healing, but somehow in the economy of God, in the chain of God, it all led to this harvest. 00:27:32.950 --> 00:27:33.970 We do our part. 00:27:34.069 --> 00:27:37.009 We walk in our calling, we get off our Duffs. 00:27:37.309 --> 00:27:39.210 We say I'm not gonna be an Archus anymore. 00:27:39.690 --> 00:27:41.200 I know there's a call on my life. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:53.519 I need to get out of my own passivity and I need to be reactivated by the holy spirit by golly, I'm gonna take up Tabitha's advice start practically. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:59.940 And then we see in verse 39, that practical is the evidence of active faith. 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:04.210 You know, we talk about information overload. 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:09.680 The world's knowledge is doubling every week. 00:28:11.130 --> 00:28:11.868 That's crazy. 00:28:12.730 --> 00:28:19.509 The prophet Daniel prophesy that in the last days, men will travel to and fro and knowledge will increase. 00:28:20.910 --> 00:28:22.519 We have so much knowledge. 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.559 We are putting man on the moon. 00:28:26.230 --> 00:28:30.789 We have medical technologies vaccines. 00:28:32.230 --> 00:28:33.900 Don't think of it in a negative sense right now. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:43.809 But I tell people the creation of vaccines is a similar human achievement, like putting man on the moon. 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:44.940 Yeah. 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:48.099 And here's why, how do you discover something? 00:28:48.101 --> 00:28:51.779 That's invisible viruses and bacteria are invisible. 00:28:53.329 --> 00:28:55.190 How do you study something that's invisible? 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:01.529 And then once you actually discover something that's invisible, how do you know that it creates an illness in you? 00:29:03.069 --> 00:29:07.329 And when you find out that it creates an illness in you, how do you come up with a cure for that? 00:29:09.269 --> 00:29:10.730 That's the invisible realm. 00:29:11.589 --> 00:29:18.470 And somehow God has given us the power of discovery and ingenuity to go into that world. 00:29:19.130 --> 00:29:20.630 And we have the world of medicine. 00:29:21.450 --> 00:29:22.980 We have the world of vaccines. 00:29:23.769 --> 00:29:27.220 That is a common grace that God has given to humanity. 00:29:30.490 --> 00:29:31.579 It's powerful stuff. 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:48.400 When we talk about this evidence of faith and there's this overload of information that's coming to us, there's also an overload of spiritual information. 00:29:48.401 --> 00:29:49.319