WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.240 Well, if you guys would go ahead and be seated, we're gonna jump in the word here. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:12.960 While you're uh making your way back, don't forget we are taking up a uh a missions offering. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:23.199 And for the local missions, it's gonna go to options now, lamp, mailbox club, and um lamp lunch. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:24.320 Lamp lunch. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.000 I knew there was four of them. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:37.520 And um, and so thank you guys for uh being so faithful to to give and to support, and uh we love what God is doing in our own city here. 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:41.920 And uh while we're doing this, if you would turn to Acts chapter 11. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:55.359 And um, today is just one of those days it's like, Lord, I am just so excited what you're doing across the body of Christ and um just in the kingdom of God. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.399 How many of you guys know we serve a king? 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:02.320 How many guys know that king has a kingdom? 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.840 Okay, about five of you said that, okay? 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:09.200 To be a king, you gotta have a kingdom, y'all. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:09.760 Okay? 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:14.959 And in Isaiah, it says that that kingdom will never know decrease. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:18.239 It will always go forward. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:27.120 So no matter what is telling you going around your circumstances or what news source you're listening to, the kingdom of God is going forward. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.439 It is not going backwards. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:34.400 And for the last 7,000 years, it has not gone backwards. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:36.640 It has always gone forward. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:47.040 And as we're talking about the kingdom, the king has specific things that he's building, and one of them is called the church. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.079 Okay, I got one amen out of that. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:50.400 Okay? 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:53.200 The king is building the church. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:02:09.599 And in Matthew chapter 16, it says, the gates of hell will not overcome and prevail against the church, which means that the church will overcome because the king of the church has overcome. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.560 And so he's made us overcomers. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.439 If Christ is for us, who can be against us? 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:16.719 Romans 8 says. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.759 He's made us more than conquerors. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:25.520 And so in this church, there are supposed to be specific things. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.919 So a few weeks ago we talked about the DNA of a church. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:38.719 We talked about what are those things that are the very essence of what the church is and what it's supposed to be. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:51.120 And we're gonna go back to that for this week, and we're gonna be talking about what is the DNA of New Covenant based upon the DNA for the biblical church. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:57.120 And this is important in light of everything that we're doing today that we understand this. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:02.400 So, how many of you guys have ever had the privilege of building a house? 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.560 Okay. 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:10.159 Now, for some of you, when you raised your hand, there was pain in that memory. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.919 For some of you, there was joy. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:24.560 For some, and I would probably say 99.9%, it was not done in the timeline you had intended for it. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.400 Is that right, Don Gibbs? 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:27.280 I'm sorry. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:43.680 Okay, and in that process, there were more decisions than you thought there were, and there were more little things and you probably got tired, and you were like, just get it done. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.520 Was anybody there? 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:54.240 Okay, but I don't think any of you went to an architect and just said, build me something pretty. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:02.479 I want to spend a couple hundred thousand dollars on a home. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:06.719 I don't care what it looks like, you you just build me something pretty. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:10.319 I don't think anybody said that. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:15.280 Nor has God said that about his church. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:27.680 And in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, the Apostle Paul said, God has made me a master builder, meaning an architect. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:39.759 And so God has a blueprint for his church of certain things that it has to contain, of the ways that needs to be built in order to function. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:45.839 Because you build a house according to the function that you want in that house. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:51.279 You don't build a house and then you adjust your function to it. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:58.959 No, you have a vision and a purpose first, and you build according to that vision and purpose. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:11.839 Well, see, the kingdom has a vision and a purpose, and the church is part of that kingdom, and God's building the church with a function and a purpose in mind. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.920 So let's look at Acts chapter 11. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:26.000 So going up to this point, Acts chapter 2, the church was birthed. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:30.000 And in one day, 3,000 souls. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:33.920 They only counted the men at this point, not the women and children. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.560 So let's just say 10,000 people. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:41.120 About a week later, 5,000 more were added. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:47.040 So let's just say 12 to 15,000 more were added. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:52.240 And the church was just exponentially increasing. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.399 You want to call it revival, whatever you want to call it. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.079 It was crazy. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.160 And they started adding structure in the church. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:08.720 But then this thing called persecution began to happen in society. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:16.079 And the church suddenly was forced out of Jerusalem. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:23.680 So every member of the church carried their faith with them wherever they went. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.480 And you can see that in Acts chapter 8. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:28.879 One guy went to Samaria. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.519 He took the gospel message. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:39.279 He was a deacon, and then the biblical deacons are not what we would call deacons in most traditional churches. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:41.519 Deacon just means a servant. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:45.920 They were overseeing the food distribution so people weren't getting left out. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:47.279 Acts chapter 6. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:48.480 You can see that. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:53.920 And one of those deacons who was full of the Holy Spirit went to Samaria and started preaching. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:55.199 You know what he did? 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.600 He started laying hands on people. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.399 The entire city got saved. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.399 Thousands came to the Lord. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:05.519 More were coming because news was spreading. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:20.000 So the church in Jerusalem was like, hey, we want to send some leadership down to make sure we steward this thing, not control it, but steward this thing so that the gospel can continue to go forward. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:25.360 So then persecution begins to hit there and they continue to spread. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:33.519 And they go to this town called Antioch, which is in modern-day Syria, just north of Lebanon. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.839 And this is where we're going to pick up in Acts chapter 11. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:51.920 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen, you can read Acts chapter 7 and see Stephen being martyred. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:08:05.680 And he made their way to Phoenicia, which is modern-day Lebanon, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews alone. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:10.800 So I want you just see what. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:17.920 Remember at this point, Acts chapter 10, was Peter was the first one to take the gospel to the Gentiles. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:20.560 The Jews thought it was just for them. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.279 So they were only going to Jews. 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:25.600 Verse 20. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:38.159 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.600 What was their message? 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:41.279 Jesus is Lord. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.679 That's the gospel message. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:55.200 And it says, and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:01.360 Now I need you to stay with me of what's going on here. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:10.399 Who was it that went and preached? 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.159 Was it the professionals? 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:15.279 It was the saints. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.159 Okay? 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:22.320 This is something we gotta still break in our mentality today in a Western mindset. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:26.080 It is not the pastor's job to do everything. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:29.600 And I say that because I are one. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:43.039 But I say that more for you because your calling and your destiny is to be a priest of the Lord, to minister to him and minister to others. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:50.799 And you do it in your job, you do it in your neighborhoods, you do it wherever you're at, the gas station, Walmart. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:57.759 It has nothing to do with a local place of worship that we call a church. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.240 You were on mission with God. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:09.360 And all they did was preach the gospel, but they didn't withhold it from those that they had preference with. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.679 I need you to hear this. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:18.879 They broke the cultural boundaries of only going to Jews and they started to minister to Greeks. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.320 They started to minister to everyone. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:25.519 In a large number. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:28.799 What the Bible says, large number, you know what that means? 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:31.679 A lot of folks. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.639 You just got a lesson in Greek. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:37.200 Large means a lot. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:40.559 Verse 22. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:46.159 And news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:50.799 So they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:57.440 So just like when Philip went to Samaria, the church sent Peter and John. 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:03.519 Now the church sent Barnabas. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:07.360 And I think it's really interesting. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.919 They're not there for control, they're there to help steward what God's doing. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:16.960 Because how many of you guys know we need everybody to do this? 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:19.360 Not one person can do it by themselves. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.879 And look at what it says. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:41.600 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them with a resolute heart to remain true to the Lord. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.639 So here's something I need you to know. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:48.879 Grace should be visible. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:52.480 What do you mean? 00:11:52.480 --> 00:12:02.240 When we're in obedience, doing what God wants us to do, and I don't care if you're five-year-old or you're 55, every single person is in this. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:14.159 When you are obeying what God tells you to do, and you are speaking what he says to speak, loving who he tells you to love, serving who he tells you to serve, the grace of God will be seen. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:17.120 And it will awaken people. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:18.879 And what is grace? 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:23.279 It is God's enabling power to do what he wants you to do. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:25.679 So we got grace to get saved. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.240 What was that? 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.840 It was enabling us to believe on Jesus and get saved. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:32.240 We got grace for this life. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.039 We have grace for everything. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.120 And grace to become holy. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.960 Grace should always be tied to transformation. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:45.039 Grace isn't permission to do what you want and stay the way you were. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:48.399 Grace is the enabling power to become Jesus. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:13:01.440 But what I loved about this is that grace tore down barriers between ethnicities. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:04.639 Instead of building walls, it built bridges. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:12.240 That church became diverse and it became strong. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:19.120 It wasn't based on preferences, it was based on grace. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:29.039 And then it says concerning Barnabas in verse 24, he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.879 Now read this last part. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:36.879 And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.600 Now let's go back to our Greek lesson. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.240 Okay? 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:44.799 The first one says a large number was brought to the Lord. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:50.720 This one says considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.879 What's that mean in Greek? 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.399 It means a lot more. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.600 Not just a lot, it means a lot more. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:01.120 So here's the point. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.720 I want you to see. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:16.080 The blueprint or the pattern that God has for us is that we network with others to steward the move of God. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:21.519 It is not about us, it's about the kingdom of God expanding. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:23.679 We are a part of the kingdom. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:26.480 The kingdom of God is not centered on us. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:30.240 The church is a part of the kingdom. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:42.080 And our job is to do whatever it takes to partner with whoever God brings us to go and expand the kingdom of God. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:47.840 Remember, the kingdom will not know failure. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:52.159 It will not know decrease. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.720 It will always expand. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:57.039 Why do we need to know that? 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:59.200 What is God doing here? 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:02.000 Why are we expanding? 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.799 Because you guys are sharing your faith. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.440 You guys are partnering with the Lord. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:14.320 We're trying to obey Him as best we can, but we need one another. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:16.559 But guess what? 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.080 I don't care if everybody comes to New Covenant. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:24.000 I want them to go somewhere because there's a kingdom here. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.000 And if it's here, great. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.159 We're going to steward them and help them grow. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.639 We're going to develop them and establish them. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.879 But they got to go somewhere. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:36.240 Because the kingdom is bigger than just the church. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:40.159 So let's go forward. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.639 Pick up in verse 26 with me. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:49.840 It's kind of an interesting verse right here in the middle of this. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:53.759 And it just shows what the Holy Spirit's doing. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:59.360 So remember, a large number, a considerable number. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:03.120 Let's just say thousands were getting saved. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:12.159 And then it says, and Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:23.759 Now remember Acts chapter 9, Saul, who was the leader of the persecution of the church, who was driving people into jail, killing them. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:32.639 He was wreaking havoc on the church, had a drastic encounter with the Lord on the Damascus road. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:38.000 Now he became a servant of Jesus, gave his life and said, I believe you, Lord. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.000 Whatever you want me to do, I'll do. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.360 And people were a little leery of it. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:47.759 That dude that used to persecute us, you really want to bring him around? 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.279 And this is what was going on. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:59.759 And Barnabas said, I'm going to go seek Paul in Tarsus, and I'm going to bring him back here. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:03.440 He had to have been led by the Holy Spirit to do it. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:09.039 But here's what is exciting to me. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:14.240 There was something at Antioch that Paul would supply. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:19.839 And there was something that was missing until his gift was there. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:25.279 So, church, going to church is not about your preference. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.559 Well, I like that worship leader. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:32.559 Well, I like that pastor, or I don't like that pastor. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:35.680 It is not about your preference. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:43.119 It is about you saying, Lord, use me to build and do what you want me to do. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.359 Where do you want me to go? 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:51.279 And you stay for that season that the Lord tells you to stay and you serve. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:55.599 And you don't move until He gives you another word. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:59.599 If the pastor makes you mad, that's not an excuse to leave. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:03.119 Remember, I are one. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:07.920 It's just a matter of time. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.640 It's not if, it's just a matter of when. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:17.200 Going to church and being part of a local assembly is obedience. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:23.680 And there's something that assembly needs that you have for God to assign you to it. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:31.359 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 18 says, God assigns the parts of the body where he wants them. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:35.599 That means there's something in you that is needed. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:41.039 And when the Lord says go, we hold people like this. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.799 We don't control anybody. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.640 We hold them with open arms. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:48.240 We just want obedience for what God tells you to do. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.359 This is what the church is built on. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:55.200 So he left for Tarsus to go look for Saul. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:59.119 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:11.359 Now listen, and for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers of people. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:15.599 What did Paul and Barnabas do? 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:20.000 They were faithful to steward the harvest God brought. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:31.920 The thousands that got saved, they taught for a year, met with men, with women, with families, in houses, in larger groups. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:36.079 They poured the foundation of the faith in them. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:44.000 And then it uses an amazing word here at the end of this chapter or this verse. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:51.359 And the disciples, okay, now need to understand, he's not talking about the 12. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:57.039 The 12 were all spread all over the world at this point. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:06.720 He's saying, all those who believed in Jesus and were following him, and a disciple simply means a learner. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:17.279 Someone who says, I'm going to follow you, Jesus, to learn not just about you, but to learn who you are so I can be just like you. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.599 That's a disciple. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:25.519 It says the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:28.720 Who called them Christians? 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:34.559 They weren't calling themselves Christians. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:36.799 Scripture doesn't say that. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:41.920 The world was saying, you remind me of Jesus. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:49.920 The disciples weren't calling themselves Christians. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:56.240 Probably because they knew, Lord, every day I'm trying to be more Christ-like. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:59.119 And I'm not there yet, but God, I'm going. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:04.240 But the world looking at them because remember, grace can be seen? 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:06.960 Man, I see Jesus on you. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.920 When I look at you, I see Jesus. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:14.000 Church, would the world call us Christians? 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:24.079 Because they see Jesus, or would they call us Christians because of the things that we know we're we are known for being against instead of what we're being for? 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:34.720 What's the point? 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:46.640 Number two, the pattern, the blueprint of Antioch was for all believers to be formed into Jesus' image. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:22:04.480 Colossians chapter 2, verses 6 and 7 says that I'm being established, built up, abounding in Christ, which means there's a process you have to go through that you can't do yourself. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:15.119 You have to have somebody else walking with you, or a group of other people walking with you to call things out, to walk beside you. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:17.359 Hey, you're interpreting that wrong. 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.960 That is not what Jesus would do. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.880 Or, hey, you're doing a great job. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:22.480 Keep going, keep going. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:24.000 God's doing this thing. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.720 It's encouragement, it's correction, it's life together. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.880 That's what the church is supposed to be. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:36.720 You cannot be established just on your own. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.640 You will get into error. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:44.880 Because there's things you can't see that God wants to do. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:48.799 When they called him a Christian, it wasn't a compliment. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:59.440 They were publicly mocking them because to the minds of the Greeks, Jesus was a radical who was so weak that he got captured and crucified. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:02.880 It wasn't a compliment. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:06.720 But to us, he's the power of God to salvation. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:10.240 He's the risen king who conquered death, hell, and the grave. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.799 To us, he's everything. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.720 All right, take your breath. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.400 We're getting there, okay? 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:21.440 Look at verse 27. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:28.480 Now at the same time, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:36.799 So within the church network, there were trusted people who held the office of a prophet. 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:40.559 And that means they were tested, they were tried. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:48.720 That means that they had authority by the leaders of the church as a whole, and they were held in regard. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:52.799 We still need prophetic voices today. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.680 There are still offices today. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:00.079 But it says they came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.880 Why? 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:07.200 If you go to 1 Corinthians chapter 12, you don't have to turn there, but this is for your reference. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:16.160 After Paul talks about spiritual gifts, then he spends 20 verses on what the body looks like and how we're to operate as the body. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:26.880 Then he goes in verse 27 and he says, first in the church are apostles, then teachers, prophets. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:28.319 Okay? 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:33.920 Gifts of healing, gifts of miracles, gifts of administrations. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.559 Okay? 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:36.240 It's not a hierarchy. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.480 Don't misunderstand the word first. 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:42.559 It's an order of building a house. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:48.720 The blueprint is in the heart, in the mind of the apostle, the builder. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:52.319 The apostle Paul saying, I'm a master builder. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:58.960 The prophetic voice comes in and gives direction of what to hit when and what's critical. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:03.279 The teacher builds the structure for growth and life. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:10.079 The Holy Spirit fills the house with his power and with his miracles and with his presence. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:15.440 And then we begin to administrate so that all of us can live together and go. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:17.920 It's the process of building a house. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:32.960 And so Paul, as the apostle, came in, Barnabas, prophets came in, all these gifts were beginning to align because they were building the house at Antioch. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:39.119 And then it says this one of them named Abigus. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:44.720 Sorry. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.680 This one. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.319 Okay. 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:55.839 One of them named Abigus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:26:00.000 And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.640 Now, let's be real. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:11.519 Half the church would label him a false prophet. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.880 I don't believe that. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:14.480 God wouldn't be negative. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:22.000 Let's be honest. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:24.160 How would we handle this? 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:33.599 Lord, you sent somebody from another city to come to our city and to prophesy that this was coming. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:40.720 How many of you guys know the Lord says in Isaiah that He will tell us before He does what He does? 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.960 So why? 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:45.759 So we can prepare and align with it. 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:49.759 And look at verse 29. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:27:06.640 And in proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:10.400 So what'd they do? 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:12.480 They took up an offering. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:16.079 Today we're taking up the local missions offering. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.559 Why? 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.160 For our city. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.720 Because is there a famine going on? 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:23.599 Well, there's a famine of the word of God in people's lives. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:36.400 There's many things going on that we give what we have in order to take care of people so that they can do what God wants them to do. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:38.799 So what's the point? 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:51.039 The pattern of God's house, the early church that we're supposed to build after, the blueprint, is that we accrue in order to bless others. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:53.279 It is not just for us. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:28:02.640 And so I want to give you a picture, like I like to do occasionally, is just throw up for you guys to be able to see some of our numbers. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.200 Okay. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:12.000 So you can see what our the tithe for this year up to the end of August. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.200 This is the tithe. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.799 You can see the expenses. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:21.359 You can see the margin, which we just call it the freedom that we have being in the black. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:27.599 Okay, we try to run our finances here as a church in a way to honor God and steward. 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:29.920 But I need you to hear it. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:34.079 There is no financial security in an apostolic work. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:36.559 God is our security. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:38.960 When he tells us to give, we give. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.720 Even when it doesn't make sense. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:44.720 Our bank account is not the extent of our faith. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:48.799 Now, I'm gonna meddle here a little bit. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:56.640 Whatever the number is that gets you to quit trusting God, that's all he can trust you with. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:02.079 There's a friend of mine that tells me that and reminds me of that. 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:06.240 I don't want any number to hold us back. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:11.839 But I want you to be able to see over here this thing called mission. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:16.960 So far, this is what we've given this year outside of us. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:19.920 Y'all see that. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.720 Okay? 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:23.039 Is there anything special about it? 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:26.000 No, it just means we're not being tight-fisted. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:30.799 And it means I want to see more digits in that number. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:36.240 Because just like what they did here, as they had means, they gave. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:39.680 As a church, what we have means, we give. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:43.920 So at this point, I want to ask the Israel team to come down. 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:53.519 Tomorrow morning, 23 of us are leaving to go serve in southern Israel, about 30 miles from Gaza. 00:29:53.519 --> 00:30:06.319 And how stinking awesome was it? 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:12.160 A week before we go, they sign a ceasefire during the Feast of Tabernacles. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:15.039 Y'all, God's doing something. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:30.960 And all of these people up here, including myself and my family, have given God our yes to go and to serve. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.720 And we're going to be gone for 10 days. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:34.799 We'll be back the evening of the 22nd. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.480 We leave tomorrow morning. 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:39.119 And I just need y'all to pray for us. 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:50.400 So if you guys would stand, I want to ask elders, former elders, anybody who wants to come around this group to come and to pray for and with us. 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:54.240 Pastor Matt, we're or Josh, who is leading now. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:57.279 Thank you. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:03.519 Church, stretch out your hands. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:06.240 If you want to come lay hands on people, you can. 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:31.519 You're faithful. 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:34.160 God, and we humbly come. 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:45.839 We humbly ask that you guide and direct the steps of every person here, that they would be right where they need to be, right in front of the right people at the right time, God, and you would grace them with the words. 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:49.920 You're not going to grace them to go and not grace them with the anointing while they're there. 00:31:49.920 --> 00:32:02.319 And so, Lord, we just pray for the anointing upon every heart and every mouth and every hand that whoever they touch and whoever they speak to would be straight from the Lord to them, Lord. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:07.119 And so just put them in the right place at the right time in Jesus' name. 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:09.039 I had this scripture here. 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:15.279 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead. 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:19.440 I love how the Lord is going to really preface this thing and show you how powerful He is. 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:40.720 May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:48.480 Lord, it's all for your glory, and you've equipped every person here through the power of the blood of Jesus. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.440 Amen. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:42.000 The baskets have been taken back. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.759 So they're at the back wall now. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.359 The little boxes or baskets. 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:49.440 Alright, if y'all would be seated, we got one more thing we need to do here. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:53.519 And we're going to continue on here. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:34:01.039 Alright. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:05.519 Go to Acts chapter 13. 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:09.039 Flip one page over from chapter 11. 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.800 The end of it. 00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:25.199 So they took up an offering and they sent it through Paul and Barnabas in the end of chapter 12, verse 25, says that as Paul and Barnabas completed their mission, they returned to Antioch. 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:42.960 And just as you guys have invested in that Israel team, we're going to come back having fulfilled that mission, literally going to Jerusalem like what they did, and we're going to be able to come back and share with you the things God has done. 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:50.079 And so on that note, it's something that I just I want to thank you guys for trusting us. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:55.679 It's a weighty thing to be sent out from a group to go minister behalf of others. 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:57.760 And thank you for investing in us. 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.440 Thank you for trusting us. 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:02.719 It's an honor and it should never be taken for granted. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:05.440 So chapter 13, verse 1. 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:12.239 Now there were at Antioch in the church that was there, prophets and teachers. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:15.199 Remember, go back to 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:24.480