Reverend Dr. Albert Agbi
Meaningful impact, changing lives.
Reverend Dr. Albert Agbi
THE WORK OF A CHURCH LEADER EPISODE 2
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You are about to listen to a sermon from Reverend Dr. Albert Adi. Now the word of God.
SPEAKER_01Looking at the work of ministry. And last week we we read from the book of Ephesians, Ephesians chapter 4. And we said that Jesus Christ gave the pastors, the apostles, the prophets, you know, the evangelists for what? Equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. Hallelujah. So my job as your pastor is not to show up on Sundays encouraging you and blessing you. No. It is supposed to equip you. It's supposed to give you tools to work. And any church you go to which doesn't prepare you to work the works of ministry has failed. No prophet is supposed to just be prophesying to you your whole life. They are supposed to prepare you because the works of ministry are done by the saints, are done by the church members, not the pastors. We have now turned the order backward. So you are expecting us to work when Ephesians actually says that we are supposed to prepare you or equip you for the works of ministry and then the edifying of the body of Christ. The edifying means the building of the body of Christ. Hallelujah. And today we are continuing with that. On that same tangent, today we are looking at your works. Hallelujah. The work of ministry and your works. And from the scripture reading, we realize that Jesus Christ wrote letters to seven churches. And out of the things he said to those seven churches, there was one running team out of all of them. Revelation chapter 2 to 3. You know, 2 verse 2 says that I know your works. Your labor, your patience. That's to the church of Ephesus. To the church of Smenna, he says, I know your works. That's 2 verse 9. And your poverty. To the church in Pegamos 13, verse 13, 213, I know your works. Triteria 19, I know your works. Sadis 3 verse 1. I know your works. That you have a name, that you are alive, but you are dead. Philadelphia, I know your works. Laodicea, I know your works. So to all the churches, Jesus Christ was expecting works. His major focus when he came to the church was works. We are saved by grace, but Jesus Christ came looking for works. As an individual. As you've come to church this morning, Jesus Christ's interest is your works. So in the book of Philippians chapter 2, verse 13, you see, the Bible says that for it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure. So the Holy Spirit is working a work in every believer. First for you to will and then to do. So if you are not doing anything, you are resisting the work of the Holy Spirit. There is an in-working in you. And when we talk about your works, your works are the visible expressions of the invisible work of grace inside you. So if there is grace at work inside you, there will be visible works in your life. A hallelujah. So what is the definition of works? Works would equate to the outward actions and deeds that reflect your inner faith and obedience to God. So if you actually are operating by faith and you are actually living in obedience to God, there is an outward action or deeds that reflects that inner faith. So biblically works would include number one, actions, which are the things you do. This morning someone came to read the scripture. You realize that it was a blessing just hearing them read. Someone came to sing, someone came to usher. People are, you know, doing video coverage. People are playing the keyboard. People have come to set up, people are ushering. They are your actions. Number two, works are your conduct, which is how you live. So actions is what you do, conduct is how you live, the way you live your life, your daily actions, your choices, your words, your interactions, your conduct also includes, you know, works. So when we talk about works, it also includes your conduct, the way you live, the way you speak, the way you interact, the way you live with your roommates. Then number three, your works also include your service, how you serve, which is ministry and helping others, how you help others. When Jesus Christ was talking about the good Samaritan, he was talking about a priest who saw that same man who was attacked by thieves and left because he was late for church. He did not help. Your works include your service or how you help people. Number four, your works include your obedience, which is responding to God's word. When you hear the word of God, the Bible says that blessed is he, the doers of the word, not the hearers only. So when you hear the word of God preach, your actions after hearing the word is your works. Please, I hope you are getting it. What you decide to do after hearing this sermon would constitute your works. And finally, your motives. A hallelujah. Your motives is your hearts, the hearts behind the actions. Because not everyone who is serving is serving with a clean heart. Not everyone smiling with you likes you. Because there are many times that people can start speaking Christianness. Oh, hallelujah! Praise God by your hearts. And in heaven, there is a voice louder than your physical voice, which is your motives. And that's why many people's prayer can't be answered. Because you are praying and asking very nice things by your hearts. Your motives are wrong. You pray and miss because your your motives are in the wrong places. And your motives also constitute your works. Because someone may be preaching, but he says that day, many will say we preach in your name. We prophesied in your name. We raised the sick in your name. We did all these wonderful things, and I say, I know you not. Ye workers of iniquity. They were workers of iniquity because behind the prophecy they prophesied. Behind the raising of the dead was an evil heart and sin. I pray for us that our motives will be genuine. The people you interact with, what they get is good. You see, sometimes when you get a good person, it's a blessing. When you have a good person you are married to, or you are in a relationship with or you are friends with, you are blessed. A person whose motives are clean. A person when they say I'll be there for you, they will be there for you. It's such a great thing. And I pray for everyone that motives will be pure. Your motives will be pure in the name of Jesus. So let's continue. You claim you cannot claim a living faith without visible works. So if you claim you are a believer, you are a believer in Christ, your works will speak for you. And I pray that when we come into your life, just as Jesus Christ came talking about the works of the church, your works will speak for you in the name of Jesus. So the third major point for today is that your works will be tested. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 13, it says that each one's work will become clear. For the day will declare it and it will be revealed by fire. If we pass your certificate through fire, it will burn. If we pass your clothes through fire, it will burn. If the only things you are giving your best efforts to are the things of this world, they will burn. Because the Bible says that every work you've done will be tested by fire. The only thing that stays the test of time or that stays through the fire is the souls of men. And the investments we've made in their souls. So when you minister to souls, what happens is that those works never die because souls never die. They are the only things that live will the things we are working for when they are tested in fire. That the Bible said that they would reveal it because they will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test each one's work of what sort it is. So there are many works throughout your day, throughout this week. You will be doing many things. But the Bible says that fire will test the things you are doing to see whether they will stand, what sort of work that it is. Fire will test your works. Tysons will not pass through fire. Money would not last. If you like, go and pass money through fire. It will bend. Fame will not will not last. Only what is done for Christ will remain. In the grand scheme of things, it is the things that we did for him that will survive. And I pray for you that from today, you will prioritize the things that are done for Jesus and his church. You will prioritize them in your life. Oh, hallelujah. Number four, the only investment that lasts forever. Wow. One of my favorite scriptures now is Revelation 14, verse 13. Revelations 14, verse 13. It says that then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, right, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes. Says the spirit. This is not just an individual or someone just, this is not Pastor Albert. It says, Says the spirit. They rest from their labors and their works follow them. Listen, on the day you die, your certificates will not follow you. Your car will not follow you. You go to Kolebu right now. The people who are on their deathbed, when they finally close their eyes and their mouth and they transition to the other end, they don't even go with their bedsheets. They don't go with their boxer shots. And you know, the reason why the spirit says that it is a blessing for those who die in the Lord is that they are the only ones who go to the other side with something. And Bible says that what they go to the other side with is their works. Bible says they rest from their labors and their works follow them. Every other person, nothing follows you. You can die in a mansion in Islagon or Epport Hills. That mansion will not go with you. You can have trees in your house and a golf course in your house. You cannot hug one of those trees and go to the other end with it. He says that they rest from their labors. Look at how he describes the other things. He describes all our pursuits as labels. And he says that we rest from them. One day we are going to rest from medical work, surgical work, accounting work. We are going to rest from whatever we do, from nursing work. But the Bible says our works will follow us. The question this morning now, where are your works? Your works are the things that you did for Christ and his church. And it says that that day, you know, this scripture they normally write it on tombstones. And it's usually a sermon that is preached at funerals. But I pray for you that in your youth, wisdom will dawn upon you. That at the end of the day, it is the things you did this morning that will matter. The medical school that you learned for, the airs that you prepared for, you know, overnight. And you are there, you are learning. Listen, I got my MBCHB in 2015, 11 years ago. I don't live my life looking at that certificate. And the day I die, that certificate is not going with me. It is my works. It is the things I did in the edified church, the sermons I preached, the people I visited, the people I prayed for, the people I gave a kind word to. They rest from their labors. One day you will rest from your labors. All of us, 100 years from now, will not be here. You add 100 years to your age, you'll not be here. Even 100 is too much. 50 years. Many people will not be here. And on that day that you are leaving this earth, you are not going with your iPhone. You are not going with your husband. You are not going with your wife. Bible says you rest from your labors. But for a believer, your works follow you. Where are your works? Those who serve in church, those who sing, those you can read the scripture. You can empty. You can invite someone. Bible says that those are rather the things that follow you. And those of you who make you look like God is a border. The church is a border. In the grand scheme of things, that is what follows you. And this morning there is a man or woman on the world taking his last breath. I've met rich men die on the world. I've seen important people in the ICU take their last breath. And Bible says that physically they may transition, but spiritually they are wax. Follow them. And I pray that you spend your youth not investing in things that don't follow you. Some of you I want to build my marriage. You know, my relationship needs attention. I have to spend more time with my beloved. You know, all these midweek services and church services, they are important. I'm telling you, the day you live, it is your works that follow you. You rest from your labors. Look at the things we give our time to. My children, they don't follow you. Pray for us. That wisdom will dawn upon you. I'm telling you, they rest from their labors. They rest. But the keyboard we played, the speakers we carried, the sermons we preached, the flyers we shared, the sermons we shared, the scriptures we discussed, they follow us. And that is why we don't see them as waste of our time. Let me tell you, this church service you've come to, you've not wasted your time. No, you have to approach God and His church in a different way from now. I'm telling you, my car that's back outside will not go. It will not go on that day. It will not go with me to be back outside. Once I transition to it to glory, and he says that the only thing that follows you is your works. The only thing, and I pray that you build up good works. You avail yourself to work for God and his church. And you see that the priority of Jesus was your works. I know your works. He didn't even say, I know your beloved. In the grand scheme of things, Jesus is not too comfortable, he's not too interested in your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your wife. He says, I know your works. When he was writing to the church, Jesus, you know, when he wanted to talk to the church, he didn't talk about all the things that we now give our attention to. He says, I know your works. I know your works. And I pray that this week, that's this sermon will ring in your heart. Where are my works? Some of you have spent 28 years of your life investing in things that don't transition with you. But you've been given an opportunity to do something that will actually cross over with you. To do something for the name of Jesus and his church. Because when Jesus wrote, his interest was in the works of the church. I know your works. To the church in Sardis, I know your works. To the church in Tigeria, I know your works. To the church in Laodicea, to the church in Konebu. Where are your works? A few years ago, I heard from a man of God. He changed me. You are celebrating birthdays and cutting cakes with no works. Every birthday you celebrate is a year closer to the day you transition from this earth. Birthdays should be times when you ponder upon your life and ask yourself hard questions. Where are my works? And I tell you something, it's not only the dry leaves that fall. Go under any tree. You see green leaves on the floor and you see dry ones. And for those of you who are even in health, you should know this more. That young people transition, doctors transition, nurses transition, professors of medicine. There's a day coming that no medical intervention will help you. On that day, the only thing that will count is the works, the investments you have made in the souls of men. And I tell you, as your pastor, I'll stand before God and I'll give accounts. Did you tell them? This morning you heard it. Yeah, you cannot stand before God and say, Oh, I didn't know. You you had it. That there are things that you can do that will stand in eternity. And I prayed that your works will be many. Your works, the things that you did in the church. Bible says that there are people who ministered to the saints. There are people who just pray the prayer. There are people who just empty. There are little things that go a long way. Hallelujah. From your facial expressions, you don't like my sermon. Let me go from this. Even on the day you transition, your body doesn't go with you. The body that we are now baffling, we are smearing, pomade, you know, all forms of cologne and and and fragrances and given chi and whatever. It doesn't go with you. Your tall self. You are a giant. Say tall, dark, and handsome. It doesn't go with you. You are spending time buying clothes, skincare routine. You apply eight things on your skin to take care of it. That skin, that body will not go. He said the skin is skinning. The hair is herring. Wow. It says that you rest from your labors. And the only thing that will matter on the day that you transition is the works. The only thing. So today don't complain when you do something for the name of God. Don't complain. It is wisdom to remember thy creator in the days of your youth. Before the evil days come when you say, I have no pleasure in them. The works of ministry are for the saints, are for the church members. And there is nothing too little that can be done. That doesn't go a long way. Hallelujah. Your works follow you. Tell your neighbor, remind your neighbor, your works will follow. Your works would follow. So where are your works? Ask your other neighbor. Where are your works? Where are your works? You rest from your labors, but your works follow you. Tell your neighbor your certificate will not follow you. The department of medicine will not follow you. The department of surgery. The doctor name won't follow you. Your clothes won't follow you. Your family name and all the other colleagues that come with how you are fresh. What a beauty. Wow. That day it doesn't follow you. Or someone, the pride of peer, like Ferdinand, you have a lot of pead. Yes, it doesn't follow you. Your works follow you. And I pray that this Revelations 14, verse 13, will ring in your heart every day of your life. God is not against you pursuing other things, but remember, don't pursue them at the mercy of your works. Don't pursue other things. Give your life Monday to Friday. And you wake up, it's the bread of sorrow at dawn and group studies here and there and lectures here and there. We thank God for them. But when it is time to do some things for God, don't now start giving excuses. Your works will follow you. I can end my sermon there. I've preached. Have I preached? The only thing that follows you is your works. That's the only thing. So don't let anything stop your works. Don't let anything block your service. Don't let comfort. Don't let relationships. Don't let business. Don't let career. Career. My career. Wow. My career. Don't let even offense block your works. Because one day it will not be. See that people who you are offended, it's not worth it. It's not worth your anger. It's not worth the contention. Don't let offense. If I had looked at offense, I would never be a pastor again. Because people have offended me. Hey, people have said things about me. Sometimes the people you show the most love to, your actions are misunderstood. But one day it will not matter. The offense will not matter. It is my works that will matter. Don't let anything stand in the way of your works. Hey, hallelujah. And Paul writing to his son Timothy, you know, the book of Timothy and Titus and are books that every young person must read. And he says in 2 Timothy chapter 4, verse 5, he says that be watchful in all things, endure afflictions. Then he says that do the work of an evangelist. The work, work. He didn't say you should be an evangelist. You see, all of us, I may, I may not be a professional driver, but I do the work of a driver. There is no day I don't drive people. But I'm not a driver. Now we men here who cook, you are not a chef, but you do the work of a chef, which means that you do something that chefs do. And Paul, in writing to his son, says that be watchful. If you are not watchful, many things will distract you, young people. In your youth, the distractions are a lot. Everything looks important, but I tell you, in 10, 15, 20 years, some things that look like they were important and no longer important. Do you remember when you're in primary school and you misplaced someone's textbook? It looked like the whole world was coming to an end. It looked like you never survive. But look back. Look back at it. When you misplace one of your shoes and it felt like you would like nothing will happen again. I'm telling you that things that look so important. They look so urgent but in the grand scheme of things they are not much. And he told Timothy that be watchful in all things. Endure afflictions. Do the work of an evangelist. Everyone here can do the work of an evangelist. And he says that you may not be called to the office of the evangelist but you are called to do the work of the evangelist which is to talk to people. How many people talk to people here? What do evangelists do? Evangelists talk to people invite people share the gospel bring souls to church. That's what evangelists do. Just that we talk to people but God doesn't come up. His church doesn't come up we talk about Barcelona. We talk about the World Cup. We talk about Vincent company and what he's doing at Bayern i don't like I just want to tell you I'm me too I know things. You know sometimes when we talk it's like maybe this boy doesn't watch football his life is my life is not boring. I watch movies too. Just that when we talk to our friends some things are important. The world policy you are talking about the Strait of Humuz. You are talking about Iran war you are talking about the geopolitical implications of closing the straits we also know things just that other things come up in my conversations we are not ignorant of the geopolitical implications of Abrony DC no say my own to me and we know we know that I follow closely just that in my co yesterday I was I went to review a patient and as I was talking having a conversation with my resident I realized that we're talking medicine you know then the heart has failed the ejection fraction I said ah how come we've been talking for the past three hours and God hasn't come up I said do you go to church how come it has never come up you know we talk I say which hospital do you come from so I come from or do my polyclinic how come we are talking about this thing but I'm not a callable staff they say oh I want to do the math how come we are talking about what you want to do dermatology and I want to do psychiatry and we've never asked whether you've been to church we've never asked whether you know the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is it that the work of an evangelist is so difficult for you that work is just make God come up in your conversations because it's the things that are important to people that come up in their conversations do you know that the things that are important to you that's what comes up frequently and Paul in writing to Timothy said that you can do the work of an evangelist you can tell someone that let's go to church was the worship time not a blessing what was was was the Bible study not a blessing was the word that was read not a blessing is this sermon not a blessing why is it that it doesn't come up this week tell someone you would one day rest from your labors and your works will follow you one of the things I used to start conversation with friends that oh what did you learn from church yesterday realize that many people go to church they never hear sermons and they are not trying to remember so me we they preach from Revelation 14 verse 13 that one day our certificates won't go with us. They deal with that it won't go our cars won't go with us our wives and sons and daughters won't go with us. It's our works it's our works discuss with someone tell someone your morning devotion talk about all other things but let God also show up oh you didn't say amen to that stop being silenced stop being afraid of people one of the things that I thank God for is that God has brought me around great people and you realize one thing when you come around great people is that they are people that's it they are people stop being afraid some of you be more afraid that people are perishing that being afraid of what someone will think about you. Be more afraid of where they are going look at the woman at the well she never went through any work of ministry conference nothing she just met Jesus and Bible says she went to the town and said come and see a man come and see a man Bible said he brought all the men that's what she did come and see a man who told me everything about me souls matter a hallelujah let me go to my next point quickly let me go to my next point quickly in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 Jesus says something he says that I will build my church say you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against this you know Jesus Christ is doing two important things now one is building his church Jesus Christ is not building malls he's not building medical schools he's not building hotels all those all these things are important. Jesus Christ is not building tourist attractions Jesus Christ is not building real estate is that not what people say real estate you want to buy land develop properties Jesus Christ is not building homes for people he says I will build my church and he's not a fool sometimes when people invest in church it looks like they are fools like couldn't you have built a factory Jesus Christ is not building factories although people need jobs Jesus Christ is not opening more you know clearance for nurses so that they can work at Navongo polyclinic no although it's important you know he has prioritized what is the most important and he's doing that and he says the most important out of the many things I can do in this earth is to build my church. He's not even building marriages we thank God for marriages and it's an institution from God but he says I will build my church and the wisest people are the people who join in that venture I'm telling you when Jesus Christ is building his church you are building your relationship when Jesus Christ is building this church you are building your career we thank God for careers and we have you know it would have pain me if I didn't have a career because then you people watch me and say it's because this guy is useless. It would have pain me if I was not intelligent. Do you get me because you'd have said oh you know these guys most pastors will say they didn't do well in school you know so then the only thing they could do is ministry. I we beg to differ that's why God will call that's why God will call people like Pastor Bryce will call me we are intelligent you are not better than us no to be honest with you something you look at us with disdain and like these guys maybe that they are not serious with life. Yeah if you like let's go let's have I met Quenwa yesterday and I licked her you get what I'm saying I took her he said he said oh pastor this is this is pure I said no this medicine I took her to hypertensive heart disease and I licked her i so I drowned her at the deep do you get what I'm saying that we we we are not ignorant people do you got what I'm saying we are not it's that we have chosen to do what Jesus christ said he's doing now which is building the church and all our actions are contributing to it our gifts our talents are not just giving to other things we are building the church say amen yeah we are not ignorance we can see anywhere what are you aspiring to be I'm there for for the doctors and whatever you are aspiring wherever the meetings you are aspiring to see that we are there but we are building the church with Jesus Christ yes because we've realized that at the end of the day this is the most important I will build my church because one day our hospitals won't matter yeah the the the places we work the banks won't matter it is the source of men who will we believe the word of God when he says that a soul is precious to God a soul is precious and we are not saying that stop everything you are doing. I've not stopped everything I'm doing I'll be at work tomorrow even this afternoon I'll be at work hallelujah I'll be at work but I'm saying that whatever I can contribute to building the church my money has gone in my talent my ideas has gone in my efforts have gone in my youth has gone in and your youth can go in I told you there are many things you can do where is the third camera today it's not being recorded I can give my camera so that sermons can be recorded and be shown there it's part of the some of you are in church because you saw a video of edified church and it's because someone has contributed to that hallelujah I would build my church Jesus Christ is not building businesses he's not building empires he's not building personal brands he is building his church the wisest decision of your life is to join him do the most important thing in the grand scheme of things and the second one is that Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 it says that therefore he is also able to save to the outermost those who come to God through him since he lives to make intercession jesus christ is praying another work you can do is the work of prayer pray for the saints pray for evangelists pray for the servants of God pray for the church oh you are praying that you want to marry this year God I want to marry where is he coming God bring someone my way let our paths cross in the name of Jesus I decree and I declare I decree and I declare I decree and I declare all the witches against my life fire thunder thunder hey Jesus Christ is not praying against witches he lives to make intercession for them for them just the people the flock the the people stop all this I declare I decree we thank God we'll do it sometime but your whole prayer life is I declare and I decree I declare and I decree backfire backfire backfire backfire when are you going to intercede for the souls hallelujah join jesus in his in in his work of intercession in heaven now you can find Jesus doing one thing and now one thing is that he's praying for you the reason why we would not we will not fail is the one praying for us. Some of you take pride that my mother's prayers my mother hey how about those of us who don't have mothers that we there we are not parts tell us the truth hey hallelujah are we not parts we thank God for parents' prayers and mother's prayers and father's prayers but if you don't have if your mother can't pray doesn't mean you don't have a chance listen jesus is praying for you tell someone you succeed because Jesus is praying for you no matter what you are going through today bible says he lives forever to make intercession for them he is praying for me he is rooting for me I cannot fail at this because Jesus is praying for me a hallelujah number five or six he says that your works will be rewarded second Corinthians 5 verse 10 says that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ or what we call the bima judgment bima is a Greek word for an exalted platform. It's like what a court does in a judge does in court it says up there and rewards are given for our works we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done the things done where are the things that you are doing next Sunday you can be the one reading the scriptures go to a coast here ask is there something I can do maybe you say first scripture reading is from wherever you don't know who that scripture will encourage us who's you don't know the effects the effects of the one day I think last two weeks a pastor called me and said there was a lady you spoke to few years ago she wanted to commit suicide and you spoke to her today she's a lawyer in Canada and she said I should tell you thank you you may never know what if I never heard this testimony listen the little acts bible says that no one who has given a cup of cold water a cup of cold water go to the next scripture and whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple as surely I say to you shall by no means lose this reward. Even those who bring me water in church yeah it says Jesus Christ was saying that this is how far the rewards for your works it says that no one who has given a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple would by any means. So you can imagine the big ones the big ones are God is not unjust to forget your labors in that you have ministered to the saints and you continue to minister we are not fools and I pray you know in this life I've seen the rewards of serving God. The rewards haven't come from your offerings no no no someone said someone saw me and said you look so good looks like the offerings are a lot now and all someone just came and gave me 52 kaftans this area I have about 50 he said every Sunday wear one the person is not a member of this church is not my member he said God has laid it on mine. 52 so you'll be seen more if those who are offended you'll be seen more I've not paid for it I'm seeing I've seen rewards how much can this church pay me and the guy will supply me since I got married it's been this year is he how many years I've forgotten the number of years 2022. So four years October 5th four years I've every Sunday new one I cannot tell you all because you know I say I want to serve God and I realize that God lives it as a mystery. I'm telling you many people don't serve God so like it's not attractive it looks like shameful it looks like oh we are busy those are the guys who are not busy but at the end of the day you realize that that's why God has left it that way so that those who truly love him will serve him. The motivation for the work is not the rewards it's love for him but in the in the in the act of serving him there are many rewards that we get oh hallelujah no one who has given a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple would by any means lose their reward no one who has given an offering no one who has given their time no one who has given their energy to do something in the name of God would by any means lose their reward a hallelujah the big question this morning is that what are your works know what are your plans some of you have had plans one day we'll serve God one day we'll do this your plan no what are your works know what are your wishes one I wish I could preach I wish I could do this I wish I could do that no that's not the point the point is that what are your works what are you actually doing for God join the work of the church building commit to serving give your time give your energy give your life invest in souls only one life only what is done for Christ will stay oh hallelujah live in such a way that when Jesus says I know your works you will not be ashamed because for some people your works are shameful things hallelujah Bible says denouncing the hidden things of shame when Jesus Christ said Pastor Bright I know your works because when Jesus Christ wrote to the churches the things he saw he didn't say only good things say that you have a name that you are alive but you are dead some of you say you are lukewarm you have a you are lukewarm I pray that our works will not be disgraceful things I know your works your patience I know the things that you have done for me and there people pretending to do things for God who are not doing them. And Jesus Christ says I don't want to I know in the grand scheme of things remember revelations chapter 14 verse 13 please put that scripture there even as I draw to a close revelations 14 verse 13 the next time you go to a funeral let this scripture ring in your mind and in not even a funeral when you leave church today let's all go then I heard a voice let's read it together then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me write blessed are the dead who die in the Lord it's a blessing to die because that's the only the only place where your works follow you the other people the works follow you know the rich people there was a guy who was in our village rich man died now the building that used to be very new and very what is now an old building I remember when my dad built his first house in the village we had to we have to collapse that building when he died and build another one because that house when we when we're little and we used to go to the village was a big house it was so shiny was so nice. Oh my God look like a hat you look like a madhouse because what is trendy today will not trend in 10 years even cars you realize that a new one has come every year new one has come says that listen yes says the spirit that they rest from their labors and their works follow them remember anything you would do for God today would follow you one day it is never wasted it is never wasted there are things you do for people and they forget and they don't appreciate you they don't say thank you some of you have even done things for me I may not have said thank you for them but Jesus Christ is not unjust to forget your labors he says that you would one day rest from your labors but your works will follow you so make sure that in your youth there will be works tell your neighbor in your youth let there be works make sure you are bound abound abound in the work of the ministry abound always abounding abounding means an increase in the work of the Lord knowing that our labors are not in vain our labors are not in vain