WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:02.319 Good morning, church. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:04.080 You look great today. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:06.719 You sound wonderful as well. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:10.320 As we turn our attention to the word this morning. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:17.519 Before we read the scripture today, I feel like I need to open with a confession. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.480 How many guys know confession is good for the soul? 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:24.960 For those of you that don't know, confession is good for the soul. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:38.079 Sometime back, the Lord convicted me by how I talked about other drivers on the road. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:41.840 Anybody remember that? 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.079 Vanessa, I know you remember that. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:48.960 That was something real specific that you needed to get a hold of for your life. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:01:01.359 Thursday evening, we drove to Nashville to be with mom and dad for a couple of days before school starts and everything begins. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:06.879 And I just have to confess, I lost my religion on the road a number of times. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:16.079 Anyone know what I'm talking about this morning? 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:20.879 I mean, people just have lost their ever-loving mind. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:22.959 They don't know how to drive. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:29.280 And for the love of God, get out of the left lane. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:38.079 The left lane is meant for passing people. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:39.840 It's not your lane. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:46.640 And when you go to get in the left lane and pass somebody, get on it so you can get around them. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:50.799 Am I preaching yet to anybody this morning? 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:57.359 People, I'm telling you, I'm over and over stupid idiot, can't drive. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:04.000 And Meg's over in the passenger seat eating popcorn, watching me, laughing at me. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:05.920 I'm like, oh Jesus, forgive me. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:11.520 I know these are your sheep, and I know that these are your children, and I shouldn't talk about them, but you made them. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:13.840 It's your fault they can't drive. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:22.080 So I just I need to confess this morning that I spoke of ill of some of God's children. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:23.680 Will you forgive me? 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:27.439 Forgive me for how I spoke about some of these drivers. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:29.680 Does that resonate with anybody else's heart? 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.680 Thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.879 Just need to get that off my chest this morning. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:38.319 This one guy. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.759 We're in Gar Gardendale going north. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:56.639 And he's, he's, I don't know what he's doing, but he's all over the road, changing lanes, and then he's speeding up and slowing down, and I look at Meg, I said, I got to get around him. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:09.840 And so I get up by him, and he's got a lighter and a cigarette in his hand, and he's trying to light this cigarette so that, and I'm I yell at him, like that cig and get out of the way. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.520 I'm just about to lose. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.319 Sorry, I'm sorry. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.560 Y'all forgive me this morning. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:20.080 Anybody relate to me. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:27.759 The mercies of God are new every morning, and I need them when I'm on the road with you idiots. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:31.360 Jesus help us, amen. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:35.520 I just now let's get to the work. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:37.759 Will you stand with me where you are? 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:40.479 Turn with me to Acts chapter 13. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:43.599 Acts chapter 13. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:50.800 We for several weeks have been in a series on mission, and I'm gonna I'm gonna bring that to a conclusion today. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:56.319 In Acts chapter 1, verse 8, Jesus said, You will be my what? 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.319 Let's try that one more time. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.199 You will be my witnesses. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.639 Everybody say witnesses. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:07.599 You'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judean Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.120 We've looked at our Jerusalem. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.479 Pastor Noah preached about our Samaria last week. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.319 Didn't he do a phenomenal job? 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:15.759 What a great word. 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:22.399 That there's a there's a region, there's a place we gotta go through to reach it for Jesus. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:26.240 Today I want to talk about the ends of the earth. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.480 Acts chapter 13 and verse 1. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:44.879 It says now in the church at Antioch, there were prophets and and teachers, Barnabas and Simon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manion, who had been brought up with Herod the Tetriarch and Saul. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:51.680 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, I want you to get that this morning. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:57.920 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:04.639 The Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.360 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:22.399 The two of them sent on their way, carried on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Cilicia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:29.040 And when they arrived at Salmos, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:34.480 John was with them as their helper. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:46.000 Church, this is God's word, and the title of my message this morning is simply this From here, from here to everywhere. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.000 From here to everywhere. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.439 Say that after me this morning. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:52.240 From here to everywhere. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:56.160 Turn to your neighbor and say, from here to everywhere. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.319 Turn to the other neighbor and say, from here to everywhere. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:05.600 Turn around the person behind you and say, from here to everywhere. 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:09.040 Father, we thank you this morning for your word. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:12.079 Your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light into our path. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.000 It shows us the way to go and how to arrive there safely. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:30.000 I pray, Lord, this morning we would hear and respond to your call to take your word from here to everywhere. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.680 May we not just be hearers of your word, but doers of it. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:34.720 In Jesus' mighty name. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:36.480 And everybody said, Amen. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:37.680 You may be seated. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:39.360 Thank you, Caleb. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:50.160 On September 5th, 1977. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.000 Anybody in the house remember 1977? 00:06:55.120 --> 00:07:00.000 A few few few folks in the house remember 1977. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.680 1977 was a phenomenal year. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:05.759 It was the year that my wife was born. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:06.480 Praise God. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:07.519 Hallelujah. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:09.360 Thank you, Jesus. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:13.920 September 5th, 1977. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:20.000 NASA did something that they had never done before. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:28.879 They launched a spacecraft about the size of an automobile from Cape Canaveral, Florida. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.720 They had just one mission. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:41.759 They wanted this spacecraft to fly by Jupiter and Saturn and just take some pictures. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:52.959 What happened beyond that blew everybody's mind that had participated in the project. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:08:01.600 Forty-nine years later, that spacecraft is still traveling through space. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:09.279 It currently is 16 billion miles from Earth. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:17.519 It is the only thing that is man-made that has entered interstellar space. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:25.920 Nothing that man has ever done has reached this far out into the universe. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:40.320 It's so far from Earth that its radio signal takes a full day at the speed of light to reach Earth. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:44.320 That's 186,000 miles an hour. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:53.919 A full day at 186,000 miles an hour does it take its radio signal to reach Earth. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:58.879 Mind-boggling what this spacecraft is doing. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:06.399 Why it matters to us this morning is what they attach to the side of it. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:12.480 As they were preparing this spacecraft and not necessarily sure all that it would do. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:18.879 They were pretty sure that it would get to Jupiter and Saturn, but they they weren't sure if it would keep going beyond that. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:24.960 They sure did not imagine that it would be 16 billion miles from Earth 49 years later. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:33.919 But with the hopes of maybe it going past Jupiter and Saturn, they attached a golden record to it. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.039 Like one of the vinyls. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.600 Anybody remember vinyl records? 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:44.960 If you remember 1977, you probably remember vinyl records. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:10:00.480 They recorded music from a multitude of cultures across the earth and loaded it onto this record. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:12.000 55 different people in 55 different languages recorded a greeting on this record. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:29.519 They did all of this for the hope of one day it might reach someone somewhere with a message from Earth. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:45.759 Church, this is not the first time that someone has gone to great lengths and great personal cost to send a message with a hope of it reaching someone somewhere. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:11:06.960 Two thousand years ago, God, at great personal cost and sacrifice to himself, sent his one and only son to earth with the hope of reaching someone somewhere. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:19.120 Antioch, two thousand years ago, is worshiping and they're praying and and and they're ministering unto the Lord. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:26.879 And all of a sudden the Holy Spirit shows up and speaks a word of direction, a word of instruction. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:48.159 And so this church gathers around Barnabas and Paul, lays their hands upon them, prays for them, anoints them, and sends them out with the message of the gospel with the hope it might reach someone somewhere. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:53.039 Turn to your neighbor and say, Someone, somewhere. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:58.639 That is the challenge before us today. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:19.759 The challenge before us today as the people of God is that will we be like so many that have gone before us and take the message of God from here to everywhere with the hope that it might reach someone somewhere? 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.879 That is the challenge. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:29.360 Will we be the people of God who consume our faith? 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:35.679 Or will we be the people of God who contribute to its forward progression? 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:43.360 Will we be people who take salvation as a gift for ourselves and forget our neighbor? 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:51.600 Or will we understand that the gift of salvation, though it is for us, we benefit with it. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.440 It isn't just for us, it's for everyone around us. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:12.639 That we have been called and commissioned by God to take the message of the gospel from here to everywhere, so that all may benefit. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:20.000 Three ways, show you three ways that mission always moves. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:31.759 From beginning to end of scripture, the Bible shows us three ways that mission moves, that the gospel advances from where it is to everywhere. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:36.559 And we see this here in Acts chapter 13. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:40.159 The three ways that mission always moves. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:45.679 It always moves through communion, through commission, and through community. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.480 It always moves through these three mediums. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.720 It always moves through communion. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:52.320 Everybody say communion. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.519 Commission. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.519 Community. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:03.120 The mission of God always flows through these three mediums. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.120 Let's talk about these for a moment this morning. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:07.279 Number one, communion. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:14.480 The mission of God always flows from encounter, not ambition. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:22.639 We need to understand that if we are going to be a part of the mission of God in the earth, and we're not just going to be takers, we're going to be givers. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.120 We're not just going to be consumers, we're going to be contributors. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:36.879 That we're going to understand that what God does in us is never just for us, but for the world around us, we have to understand that it first begins with communion with God. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.679 Look at verse 2 for just a moment. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:15:02.799 The Bible says that while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.399 Now I want you to notice the setting here. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:08.559 I want you to notice the activity here. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:13.279 I want you to notice the context in which the Holy Spirit speaks. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:17.759 The Bible says they were worshiping the Lord and fasting. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.120 What does that mean? 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:22.480 It means this is a prayer room, not a boardroom. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:30.000 This isn't a strategic committee that's trying to figure something out. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:41.759 No, this is the men and women of God setting their hearts on things above and saying, God, we love you, we want you, we want to represent you. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:45.600 And it's in that context that all of a sudden the Holy Spirit speaks. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:59.679 And the Spirit says, Set apart from me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:05.200 See, the Spirit of God speaks in that context and gives direction. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:15.840 I find it interesting that it is an encounter with God that releases the instruction of the Spirit of God that points us to toward the work of God. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.360 I want you to get this this morning. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:24.559 If you're wrestling with the direction that you have for your life, quit trying to figure it out and just start worshiping. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:37.039 Far too often, I think, we try to get a pen and pad and we rationalize our way around a problem or a direction. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:41.440 Maybe what we need is less strategizing and more prayer. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:50.159 Maybe what we need is to set aside our agenda and just minister in worship unto the Lord. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:55.840 And as we minister unto the Lord, all of a sudden the Spirit speaks and gives direction. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:05.839 See, we need more encounters with the presence of God if we really want the direction of God for our life. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.480 We want, God, we pray, God, I want your will. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.359 I want your will. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.400 I want your will. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:16.079 And what you need to understand is God wants you to walk in his will, but he wants you to be fruitful in it. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:20.240 And in order to be fruitful in it, you've got to stay connected to the vine. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:28.000 Jesus says, I am the vine, and he who stays connected to me will bear much fruit. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:32.480 And so it's not about more strategy, it's about more connection. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:34.480 I need an encounter with God. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:41.920 All throughout scripture, we find that it's encounter with God that launched the men and women of faith into the destiny of God. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:48.640 Moses encountered God in a burning bush and was launched into ministry. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:57.519 Jacob wrestled with God in the middle of the night, and all of a sudden his name got changed and he got launched into the destiny of God for his life. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:05.839 Gideon's just going about his daily business, and all of a sudden he is visited by God and launched, and the disciples are launched into ministry. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:12.960 Isaiah saw the Lord, and out of seeing the Lord, this encounter, he says, Here am I, send me. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:17.759 Listen, church, we don't necessarily need more knowledge, we need more encounter. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:28.480 As a matter of fact, we probably are stuffed with knowledge. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:34.079 We got more knowledge than we can actually live already. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:44.880 Maybe what we need is an encounter with the glory of God that launches us into the destiny of God for our lives. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.160 The Bible is clear. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:55.440 This is our greatest need if we're going to live on mission. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:02.000 I need to be connected to Jesus. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:13.279 And as I'm connected to Jesus, direction and instruction flow and release me towards his destiny for our lives. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:16.799 I want to correct something in our Christian language. 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:24.480 When we talk about mission, we use language similar to this. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.680 I'm going to take the gospel there. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:32.160 I'm going to go there and plant a church. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:34.640 I'm going to go there and start a small group. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.839 I'm going to go there. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.759 I'm going to bring the kingdom of God there. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:43.200 Let me qualify, clarify something for you. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:47.119 We don't ever bring God where He's not already there. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:53.200 We are not initiators of the kingdom. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.359 We're joiners of the kingdom. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:20:01.680 What our job is, is to see what God's doing and join into his activity. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:05.599 That's why strategy will get us in trouble sometimes. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:13.279 We'll strategize about what we think would be a good idea, and then we work ourselves up to fulfill that idea. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:16.960 But if God's not in it, it don't matter if it's a good idea. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:24.160 Because sometimes God will lead you to involve yourself into something that on the rational side, it doesn't add up. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.599 It doesn't R O I. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:27.119 It doesn't work out. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:30.480 But where God is, that's all that matters. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:36.880 We don't bring God where He's not. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.319 No, I I want to see. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.440 What did Jesus say? 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:46.160 Jesus said, I only say what I hear the Father saying, and I only do what I see the Father doing. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:56.079 Maybe, maybe if we have an encounter with God like that, then our activity and our words will just join up to what he's already doing. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.319 That's what's happening here in Antioch. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:07.839 They're worshiping the Lord, they're fasting and praying, and all of a sudden there's a there's a release of instruction, a release of direction. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:12.960 A destiny is made reality in a couple of guys' lives. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:22.640 This reminds me of a story of a really a people that I read about a few years ago. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:32.960 There's a group of people from Saxony, Germany that lived about 300 years ago. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:40.640 That are some of the most important modern-day Christians that you've probably never heard about. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:49.519 It was a group of Christian refugees from all over the place called the Moravians. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:52.319 Have anybody ever heard of a group called the Moravians? 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.759 A few, few of you are here. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:59.279 I highly, highly encourage you, if you want to just do a study, just Google the Moravians. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:21:59.839 Do a study. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.039 Study into who they are. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.559 Let me tease you with a little bit of their story this morning. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:12.079 As I said, they were a group of Christian refugees in Saxony, and they were looking for a place that they could call home. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:18.960 They were outcasts looking for a place where they could worship God free. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:27.839 There's about 300 of them, and they gathered together in this little place in Germany called Hernhut. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:34.160 And immediately as they gathered, they started out great. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.599 And by great I mean not. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:37.680 This was a group that was divided. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:41.599 There was division, there was bickering, there was infighting from the get-go. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:44.640 It looked nothing like the people of God. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:51.519 And then in 1727, the summer of 1727, a few of them gathered together and said, you know what? 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:55.279 Enough of this division and divisiveness. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:57.839 Let's just start praying together. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:05.119 So a group of them started praying, and all of a sudden, the presence of the Lord started showing up in their prayer gatherings. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:12.319 And in August of 1727, they described their Pentecost experience. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:20.400 Then all of a sudden, in a prayer session, the glory of God showed up and it just absolutely wrecked them. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:31.359 Their testimony is that people that were a part of their community that were 20 miles away experienced the same thing as those that were in their prayer gathering. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:42.720 All of the sudden, the glory of God showed up in their lives, and their hearts began to change, their attitude began to change, the love for one another began to change. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.079 And where there was division, now there was unity. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:48.640 Where there was anger, there was love. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.720 Everything, can I tell you the glory of God changes everything in your life? 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:06.960 A couple weeks after this event, 24 couples covenanted together to pray around the clock 24 hours a day. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:10.160 Two couples every hour, 24 hours a day. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.839 And so they started praying. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:16.319 That prayer meeting started in 1727. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:24.400 Lasted 24-7, 365 days a year for a hundred years. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:57.440 Within six months of this event in August of 1727, there was this movement, this word from some of the leadership that, hey, we can't keep this to ourselves. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:59.599 We've got to go share it. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:08.319 And so 12 couples volunteered to take the gospel as missionaries to Southeast Asia. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:17.759 And over the next decades, 300 missionaries were launched out of a group of 300 people. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:27.039 All began through an encounter with the glory of God. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:31.119 Can I tell you, the glory of God isn't for us to consume? 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:35.440 The glory of God isn't just so that we have goosebumps. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:44.799 The glory of God, an encounter with the presence of the Lord, is to launch us into the purpose of God for our lives. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:51.359 It is to release his destiny in us, to fulfill his will in the earth. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:26:03.119 And we see this in Scripture from beginning to end, this pattern where encounter launches people into the destiny of God for their lives. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:08.240 Here's the second thing that we see in Acts chapter 13 is commission. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:14.720 What we see here is the spirit sets apart, but the church sins. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:20.160 The spirit sets apart, but the church, this is the flow of mission. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.039 Verse 3. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.640 So they, who is they? 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.799 They is not just Saul and Barnus. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.400 They is the church. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:29.920 So the church hears the word set apart. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.519 Barnabas and Saul set apart. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.880 The church hears the word. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:46.960 The spirit sets apart, and then the church gathers around them and acknowledges the call that has come upon their lives and that lays their hands upon them and then sends them out. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:52.079 The church is supposed to be a sending agent in the earth. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:27:02.480 Can I tell you the greatest testimony of a healthy church is not how many people come, but by how many people are sent. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:12.480 How many people are sent out of that church into the city, the region, and the world. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:21.759 We, church, are called to be men and women of faith who go into all the earth to make disciples. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:25.599 And this is what we see happening here in Antioch. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.119 They pray. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.000 There's something really interesting. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:46.559 Do you know that in this story nobody is left out of the equation? 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:53.119 Here's the point some go, but all sinned. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:59.359 That means every person has a part to play in the mission of God in the earth. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:02.640 Some are Saul and Barnabas and they're called to go. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:13.440 But we are all called to be men and women of faith who send others for the advancement of the kingdom of God in this community and around the world. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:17.519 We all send from here to everywhere. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:23.680 You have a part to play in the Great Commission. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:27.359 Number three, we see community. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:39.119 See, the men, Barnabas and Saul, are sent by the church, but they're also carried by the Spirit into the world. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:41.920 The Bible says that they are carried. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:48.240 The two of them are sent, are carried on the way by the Holy Spirit. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.519 And they go to these cities. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:29:00.559 And these cities, they represent real people and real places that need to hear the gospel of Jesus. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:41.599 And he gathered some men and women around him, and he said, I will go down into the mine of India to reach those people for Jesus, to the extent that you back home will hold the rope for me. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:47.599 See, you know what we do when we send men and women out of this church to go reach the world? 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.200 We're holding the rope. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:56.720 You know, people can only go as far out as we're willing to hold the rope. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:10.880 As far as they can go is as far and as long as we're willing to hold the rope so that they can do what God has called them to do. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:18.480 That means not everyone in this room will move overseas, but every single one of us can hold the rope. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:32.799 Every single one of us can hold the rope for somebody else that's been called and commissioned and anointed by God to take the gospel across the street, across the city, and across the ocean. 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:43.200 So the question that I want to ask us today is this What kind of church, what kind of church do we want to be? 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.119 What would it look like? 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:58.640 What would it look like for our church to be an Antioch church where sending isn't something that's a special occasion, but it's a normal outcome of our worship? 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:09.839 What would it look like for us as a church to fast and to pray and to release people to go fulfill the word of God over their lives? 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:13.119 What would it look like for us to do that? 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:20.880 Well, for 2,000 years, church, that's what the church of Jesus Christ has been doing. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:29.039 And let me show you what that fruit has produced. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:57.680 Do you know that for 2,000 years, the Church of Jesus Christ has been growing consistently and substantially because there's men and women of faith down through history, just like you, churches just like this, has said we'll hold the rope so that from here the gospel can go everywhere. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:32:05.839 Today, there are 2.7 billion Christians on the planet, church. 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.799 How does that happen? 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:16.720 It happens because of men and women just like you, churches just like this that said, we'll be in Antioch. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:25.519 We will fast, we will pray, we will hear the direction of the Lord, and we will release the men and women of faith to go where God's called them to go. 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:28.799 Just some incredible information for you this morning. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:35.759 Do you know that today the majority of Christians live in Africa, Latin America, and Asia? 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:41.200 In 1900, there were about 9 million Christians in Africa. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:45.039 Today, 700 million. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:50.160 9 to 700. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:51.920 How does that happen? 00:32:52.079 --> 00:33:01.359 It happens when churches and men and women of faith encounter the presence of the Lord and say, God, here we are, send us. 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:08.079 We'll hold the rope for men and women of faith to do what God has placed upon their life to do. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:15.359 In 1970, there were 12.6 million Pentecostal believers in Latin America. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:21.599 In 1970, church, 50 years ago, in 1970, 12.6 million. 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:24.799 Today, 180 million. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.839 How does that happen? 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:35.920 It happens when men and women of faith like you, churches like us, say we will hold the rope. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.039 We will go. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:40.000 We won't be consumers, we'll be contributors. 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:44.640 We understand that salvation isn't just for me, it's for the world. 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:47.119 For God so loved the world. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.359 So they go. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:34:03.759 Another amazing piece of information about the church today is that much of the growth that the church has experienced is spirit-filled Pentecostal believers. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.799 Think about this. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:10.800 In 1900, there were only a handful of Pentecostal believers on the earth. 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:17.920 Today, more than 600 million believers are Pentecostal in their persuasion. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.440 Church, that's us. 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:21.599 That's who we that's who we are. 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:26.800 The church is growing everywhere around the globe. 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:44.480 Some of the fastest growing places are in Iran and China and Sub-Saharan Africa, in places where it's illegal to be a believer, in places where it can cost you your family, your job, and even your life to be a believer. 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:51.519 Can I tell you it doesn't matter what a government does, nothing can stop the advancement of the kingdom of God? 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:54.719 How? 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.679 And why? 00:34:55.920 --> 00:35:07.119 Because of believers just like you and just like me, churches just like this who receive the call of Christ, we will live on mission. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:13.119 I thank God for my salvation, but if I keep it to myself, how selfish can I be? 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:29.840 The church is growing, and even among the hardest of mission fields, Europe has become increasingly anti-Christian over the last many decades. 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:34.079 But can I tell you, a light is flickering? 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:41.039 A light is growing in some of the hardest places in Britain and in France. 00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:55.119 There's a movement, in particular, of young people that are waking up to the gospel message of Jesus and turning to faith in record numbers. 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:56.320 Just a couple of stats. 00:35:56.480 --> 00:36:01.519 In Britain, church attendance has quadrupled in the last eight years. 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.760 Quadrupled. 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:07.039 How many of you guys would like your retirement account? 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:14.960 Quadrupled in eight years. 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:17.840 To God be the glory, church. 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:24.159 We're not, and listen, we're not, yeah, a retirement account quadrupling, that you got to be careful how you say that. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:25.280 That's a tongue twister. 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.400 We'd be great. 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:28.400 But I tell you what would be greater? 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:30.960 Souls. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:35.440 Men and women coming to the salvation knowledge of Jesus. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:42.400 In France, in just the last two years, baptisms have doubled. 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:44.719 Baptisms have dubbed. 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:56.960 In one of the most secular nations in the Western world, Gen Z, church, Gen Z and one of the most secular nations of the world are walking into the waters of baptism. 00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:59.840 Come on, church. 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:01.679 That's what this is about. 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:08.079 In our own fellowship, I mentioned that we're Pentecostal. 00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:10.239 We're a part of the assemblies of God. 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:14.159 Let me tell you what we're a part of specifically as a church. 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:24.320 In the assemblies of God, there are over 2,500 global workers serving in 153 countries and regions around the world. 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:26.159 Church, we're a part of that. 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:31.760 Over 450,000 churches worldwide. 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:33.679 And listen to this, this is amazing. 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:42.719 Do you know that just in our fellowship alone, a new believer is added to the family of faith every 15 seconds? 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:53.280 Do you know that by the time this service is over, just in our fellowship, 360 people are added to the faith? 00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:58.800 A new church is planted every 62 minutes. 00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:07.519 By the time this service is over, another church somewhere in the world has been planted as a testimony to Jesus. 00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:14.719 2,000 years ago, Jesus said, I'm gonna build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:17.039 And that's exactly what he's been doing. 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:20.880 And we are here today as a testimony of that reality. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:29.519 I want you to see this because if you look on the news, you'll think everything's going to hell in a handbasket. 00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:35.280 But I'm here to tell you today that Jesus Christ said he would build his church. 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:39.440 And we're witnesses of that this morning. 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:45.360 As exciting as that is, can I tell you, there's still work to do. 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:48.159 There's so much work. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:50.239 The mission is not finished. 00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:51.119 Listen to this. 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:59.920 3.6 billion people on the planet still live among unreached people groups. 00:39:00.320 --> 00:39:02.719 What does that mean, Pastor, when you say unreached? 00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:09.280 I mean they have little to no access at all to the gospel. 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:24.159 How different would your life be if you didn't have access to the gospel? 00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.039 How different? 00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:36.239 How different would your life be if you never had a Bible? 00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:41.280 How different would your life be if you didn't have a church that you could go to? 00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:52.480 How different would your life be if you had no family around you that know the faith that can share it with you? 00:39:54.639 --> 00:40:00.159 Today, 3.6 billion people on the planet are just like that. 00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:06.239 Limited to no access to the gospel. 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:16.719 7,000 are considered unreached people groups in the world today. 00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:30.239 Twenty, five hundred of them still have no known, sustained church planning effort among them. 00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:34.079 What would you do? 00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:37.280 What would your life look like today? 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:45.679 If somebody hadn't told you about Jesus, given you a Bible, taken you to church? 00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:48.320 How different would it be? 00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:54.159