WEBVTT 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:04.799 We are. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:09.119 We are the church of the living God. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:12.880 Just got a group of people meeting over here to listen to a preacher. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:15.759 We are the possession of God. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:23.679 This podcast is the ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:28.640 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit GrandParkway.org. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.479 Good morning, church. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:36.240 My name is Ephraim Lopez. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:50.479 I thank Pastor Neil, the associate pastors, and the church board that gave me the privilege to come before you today and share the word of God. 00:00:51.119 --> 00:01:00.159 I've been a pastor for the past 30 years in the New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts area. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:04.400 And we recently, me and my wife, we retired from the pastorate. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:09.439 And we decided to come to the warm weather, stay away from the cold. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:18.079 I'm glad that my daughter Joseph, which is here with me, she invited us to come and find a place in Texas. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:28.719 And my wife, so she's been she's with me also, my beautiful lady that has been my companion for the past 45 years. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:46.799 And on 1973, 1971, after returning from the uh Vietnam War, I went to Puerto Rico and uh a lady spoke to me about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:54.159 And I thought I knew God, but she made me uh a challenge. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:02.159 She said, uh every everyone will someday will have to be before the throne of God, including you. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:13.439 Regardless, whatever you want to believe, or you want to believe the Bible or the church, whatever, you on your own someday will be in the front of God and He will judge you for your actions. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:17.599 I pay no mind to it, it didn't bother me at all. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:23.439 But when I went home and I went to sleep, those words kept pounding on my head. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.360 Someday I have to face God. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:33.039 And uh I went on my knees and I said, Lord, and I think I was kind of drunk that day. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:34.960 Not sure. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:45.919 And I went on my knees and I said, Lord, if it's true what that crazy lady told me, that someday I will go before you, I would like you to come to my heart. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:03:01.599 And I made a very sincere uh prayer, and uh because my preoccupation was there are so many churches, so many denominations, so many groups, so many religions in the world. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:07.039 Lord, if you really are what the lady told me, please come to my heart. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:08.319 And he came. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:09.360 Came to my heart. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:16.000 One day he came to my heart, and I understood how dirty I looked before the presence of the Lord. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:17.680 I made a commitment. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:28.319 I uh got married with my wife, and we made a promise to go and preach the gospel of the Lord, whatever he'll send me. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:44.719 And he has sent us to Central America, South America, Caribbean, to Europe, to different places, and we enjoy going whatever the Lord has to do, and just tell the people about this wonderful Jesus that we serve. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:56.319 And uh today I would like to invite you to invite you uh to read from the Bible on 1 Timothy chapter 3, uh beginning on verse uh 14. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:03.680 And my message: we are, we are the church of the living God. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:04.240 Amen. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:08.400 We're just not a group of people meeting over here to listen to a preacher. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:17.040 We are the possession of God, we are the children of God, we are the church of the living God. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:17.839 Amen? 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:19.120 Praise God. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:23.600 It it reads, although I hope to come to you soon. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.399 I am writing to you this instruction. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:46.720 So if I'm delayed, if I tarry, you will know how people have to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:52.879 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is created. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:05:07.120 He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated in the spirit, was seen by the angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on the word, and taken up in glory. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:13.680 In other words, the Christian church was born on Pentecost. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:29.040 You know the Jewish uh holiday, they call it Passover, it's 50 days after the seventh week of uh uh of labor, and uh it was commemorating the freedom from Egypt. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:30.480 That's what Passover is. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:41.519 Now, uh Pentecost is it was when the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Jesus as they gathered together in Jerusalem. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.480 This gathering became the first Christian church. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.959 And until that day, because we serve a living God, the church goes on. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:52.399 The church continues. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:06:03.920 And what I want you to uh grab from my message today is that we are the church of the Lord, of the living God, and this church has to go on to the next generation. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:09.199 So we have to preach and we have to live according to what Paul says. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:11.839 See, I'm giving you instructions. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.680 That's what Paul tells Timothy. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:26.879 I'm giving you instructions how you should behave, how you should manner, how you should uh conduct yourself in the church, which is the house of the living God. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:27.519 See? 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:33.360 Um we speak of Pentecost about the uh birth of the church. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:41.040 Pentecost is a vivid illustration uh of the truth that is found through Scripture. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.639 See, the church, what is the truth I'm talking about? 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.959 The church is a community of God's people. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:51.519 We are God's people. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:54.560 The church is a community of God's people. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:07:05.920 We are here to fellowship, to worship, to learn, and also to fulfill the mission of the church, which which will be at the Great Commission. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.600 How can we do that? 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:18.319 Using our God-given gifts to build the church and share the love, justice in Christ with the Word. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:28.079 To be called a church of Christ, we must we must Christ must be the center of our affections. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:37.839 See, Christ has to be living in us so we can uh call ourselves, I am part of the church of the living God. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:38.319 See? 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:50.319 When it says that faith has to be firm as a rock, see, the faith has to be firm as a rock. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:56.319 Your beliefs have to be strong, have to be firm as a rock. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:58.800 Your foundation has to be strong. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:07.279 When uh Jesus asks his disciples, who do the people say I am? 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:08.160 What are the people? 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:10.879 What do they say? 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:16.399 See, and they they respond different different uh answers. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:22.399 Somebody said you're John the Baptist, somebody says you are Elijah, somebody says you're Jeremiah, another prophet. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.079 But he was concerned, not about what the people were saying. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.720 He wanted to know their insight. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:31.360 Who do the people say I am? 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.840 Now, what do you say I am? 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:40.480 That is the foundation, that's the faith, that is the stronghold of our faith. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:42.080 Simon Peter. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:50.480 He says, You are the Christ, the Son of God, or you are the Messiah, or you are the one sent from God. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:54.240 So he said, Blessed are you, Peter, Peter Jonah. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:09:00.080 He said, Because those words that you that you just said now, they didn't come from you. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.879 They didn't come from your mind or from your intellect. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:08.879 They came from the Spirit in heaven, my father, from my father who is in heaven. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:20.240 And he says, And I'll say unto you, Peter, upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of heaven would not prevail against it. 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:34.159 He was not, he was not saying that over that rock, Peter, Peter means uh Petras or Piedra or Rock, but he wasn't saying that he was gonna build his church on a rock. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:46.799 He was saying that the Christian church, the church of a living God, has to be built upon the statement that only Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he's the only salvation. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:52.720 Upon upon this rock, I will I will build my church. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:58.639 Uh the true church recognizes the Son of God. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:04.960 See, you have to recognize Jesus Christ as the only Savior, as the only Son of God. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:24.000 On Colossians 1.15, it says, and I'm using the King James Version for this for this verse, it says, Who Him, Christ, is the Son of God who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:45.039 By him were all things created that are in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, all things were created by him and for him. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.080 See? 00:10:46.399 --> 00:11:00.240 So it is our responsibility that we uh learn to strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and also pass it over to the people around us. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:07.600 People need to know that Jesus Christ is the only uh salvation, is the only source of salvation. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:11.120 You know that you the church goes on. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:15.360 We are here because we are the church of a living God. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:22.480 Someone brought you the gospel, someone told you about the Lord Jesus, and the Lord opened your heart so you can believe. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:28.320 So we can we have to continue saying, uh telling this story to the people. 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:34.799 Uh I'll say this because Peter made a strong declaration. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:39.200 You are you are the Christ, you are the Son of God. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:45.360 And uh Christ says, Upon this truth, I will build my church. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:12:00.159 But 300 years later, there was a uh a guy named uh Arius, the uh previsor of uh Alexandria, that he came with a with a with a belief that Christ was not the Son of God. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:18.399 And since 300 years after Christ, people still following the Arians' uh beliefs that Christ was only a man, just a man, just a prophet, just a good teacher, just somebody sent by God to do some kind of work. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:29.039 But the Bible said, the Bible said that uh he is, he he taught, he told him that he was the son, the only begotten son of God. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:55.919 Um Paul writes to Timothy and he says, although I hope to come and see you soon, I am writing and giving you instructions in case I'm delayed, in case I tarry, so you will know what to do, so you know how to behave, how to manner, in, first of all, he calls the church in the house of God, God household. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:04.159 Then he says, the house of God, which is the truth, which is the church of the living God. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:09.120 See the the the building, the congregation, everything that that was there. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:13.120 See, he was talking about people, but he he's talking about the church. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.799 Paul is talking about the church, but he's not talking about the about the building. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:24.480 Although they were in a building, see, and and the building is called the church, he was talking to ourselves, to our minds, what we are. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:44.480 He says, You need to know how to behave, how to conduct in the house of in the church, which is the house of God, which is the church of the living God, and then he closes saying, the church is the pillar and found and foundation of the truth. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:47.919 Column and pillar of the truth. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:55.360 And uh, according to this statement, the church has been the house of God since the first century. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.320 I am going to the house of God. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:03.679 And uh I I listen to people say, oh my, I just have church today. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:07.200 We are the church, but they just go to the church and and spend good time. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:09.840 I have good time in church today. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.440 See, we are the church. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:20.320 Uh according to what he said, the church of Christ has been the only church of God. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:24.159 We are not talking about, again, about the uh the building. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:30.399 We're talking about a congregation of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:30.960 See? 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:40.399 Those who believe in the spirit, I am, I am in the truth, I am in the faith, I am in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:45.279 Uh right now, the church, the building is a place of worship. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:52.799 And uh you're honoring God by sitting here, you're honoring God, saying, God, here I am, I am present. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:15:07.120 I want to worship you, I want to sing to you, I want, I want that uh it it's written in heaven that I am here, Lord, as you said, that we should congregate together and listen and worship and do what is right. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.399 Uh but you you you guys are not alone. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:19.840 There are millions of people that on Sunday will gather and worship God in different languages and in different uh places. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:45.519 Uh we, the Southern Baptists, I've been I've been serving the Lord in the Southern Baptist for the past 30 years, and there are 47,000 congregations that are meeting today, different different hours of the day, in more than 100 languages to praise God and to do what and to remember what Paul told them: that this is the house of the living God. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:16:03.120 In in the book of Ezekiel, chapter uh 43, verse 7, Ezekiel has a vision where he sees the building, the temple, but he saw the glory of the Lord that came and filled the temple. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:14.320 The glory of the Lord is here, the living Jesus is here, the living God is here because he called this building and this people his church. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.200 Amen. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:22.480 When when when Solomon built the first temple, he himself had a question. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:35.600 He was a very wise man, he was uh a very intelligent people, and he used to write uh beautiful things and Psalms and all kinds of proverbs, but also he had a doubt. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:39.759 I mean, God is so great, God is so big. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:45.600 God is uh the the heavens, even the highest heaven cannot contain him. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:51.120 So he said, Well, would this house that I'm gonna build will contain him? 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:51.919 See? 00:16:52.159 --> 00:17:02.960 I mean, will this is God is so big, so so so greatness, so grandeur, will God really come and dwell with us over here? 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.640 I believe he does. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:18.400 I believe he does because when when when the son of David Solomon was praying, maybe on his mind, when he says, Will will will he will this temple that I built can hold him? 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:29.039 The Lord answers to him and he says, He tells the the son of David, you pray, and I'll be listening. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:35.839 In other words, we pray, and the Lord our God will answer our prayers. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:48.720 It's a big mystery, but you pray for whatever your need is, whatever your necessity is, and I'm sure that somehow the Lord our God will answer your prayer. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:18:00.880 And he tells, he tells uh Solomon, my eyes will be open, and my ears will be attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:01.680 See? 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.720 When you pray, God listens. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:14.720 But when you pray in church, when you come to the temple and present your prayers, I'm not saying they have more power, but this is something that we should do more often. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:20.240 Uh making theology simple. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:27.119 I truly believe that the church is the house of the living God. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.680 I believe that God lives here. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:36.640 I believe that when you prepare this morning to come uh to the church, already God was uh making plans for you. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:41.839 And he was already uh at the door to receive you with a blessing. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:53.359 I truly believe that when when when when Jesus Christ promised to build his church, he used the words for the kingdom and the church, and he put them all together. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:57.519 For him, the kingdom and the church is something that goes together. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:11.839 And when he says, and I also say unto you, Peter, upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of heaven shall not prevail against it. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.599 That's the church we serve. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.039 This is where we are. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:18.559 That's what that's what we what we are doing at this time. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.039 See? 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:35.359 Um I remember when you read on on the the crucifixions of our Lord when he expired, when he died, the veil of the temple tore. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:46.720 So he opened, he opened a path, a way for men with a sinner men to go directly to the holy God. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:55.839 In a church, we need to know that the door, the ears, the doors, everything of our Lord is open to us. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:12.000 We can go directly to the Lord, and especially in the house of the Lord, said and said, Father, here I am, here I am, I want to be, I want to receive your blessing, and I want to be where the saints of the Lord Jesus Christ are. 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:23.519 Now, when the Lord spoke to Peter, and he told him about uh what we are. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:41.039 Using the same words that Paul tells Timothy that the church that that the church or or the word of God is the foundation, the pillar of the church, this statement, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:56.960 The foundation of the church, the foundation of our faith is believing what Jesus Christ tells, what the Bible tells that Jesus Christ is. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:16.400 Consequently, see, consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but we are fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:20.960 And when we talk the household, we're talking we are members of the house of God. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:24.240 And Jesus Himself is the cornerstone. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:32.400 In him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple by the Lord. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:41.279 And in him, you are two being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives on the spirit. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:43.920 What I'm trying to say. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:48.000 The church has the truth. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.880 Because the church believes in the Bible. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:54.319 There's no other way where you can find the truth. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:08.000 You may ask yourself, well, they're talking about the mystery of the cross, the mystery of Calvary, all those things that happen, and sometimes I don't understand. 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:18.799 You may ask yourself, how can my mind and my spirit understand this mysteries of the Bible? 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:24.000 I've been reading the Bible for 45 years and still have to work very hard on it. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.519 Every single day. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:32.400 One, two, three, four, five chapters, but I continuously have to continue reading because it's the word of God. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:43.359 And some parts I don't understand, but I hope that as I read, and as God blesses me and anoint me with the Spirit, I can understand every word of God. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:43.839 See? 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:47.920 And sometimes you say, What should I do? 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.799 I don't understand. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:51.680 Let me give you some advice. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:24:03.839 Call to me, says the Lord, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:10.960 If you need to know God's mysteries, things related to the Lord, go to the Bible, pray to the Lord. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.799 Lord, I need to understand. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:16.960 And He will give you understanding of all this truth. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.440 See? 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.640 These three statements are clear. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:29.440 First of all, the church is not a building, it's a congregation of people together by the grace of God. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.279 We are here for grace. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:37.920 We are here because God chose He chose us to be part of His kingdom. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.400 See? 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:43.680 We are people bonding together by the grace of God. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:57.599 And the church is called the Church of the Living God because He promised that His presence will be whenever or wherever people meet in His name. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:02.480 And the third one, the third one, He it is the church. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:06.640 It is the column and the pillar of the truth. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:10.160 Let me see how can I explain, how can I explain this? 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:14.160 There is a philosophical question. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.359 Where am I? 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.640 Where am I? 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.400 Where am I going? 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.119 See? 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:21.200 Where do I come from? 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:30.240 Well, where I'm going, uh where I where am I, it tells you on the Bible. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:41.519 On one chapter 139 of the Psalms, God tells you where you come from. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:47.599 He, he, he says, He need me in the wound of my mother. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:49.680 Now, where am I going? 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:56.559 Jesus also said, Let not your heart be troubled. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.519 Believe in God, believe that also in me. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:02.640 In my father's house, there are many mansions. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:05.279 If I were not so, I wouldn't have told you. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:16.319 I am going to prepare a place for you, and I will come and receive you unto myself, so where I am, you also could be. 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.480 I know where I'm going. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:30.559 In my my Spanish Bible, on verse uh 48, 14, it says, This wonderful God of ours will guide you far more beyond death. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:39.680 In the English version says, For this God of is our God forever and ever, and he will guide even us to the end. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.880 Hey? 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:46.640 Now, God created men so men could seek him. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:52.720 The people has the power of God to understand God. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:55.519 Because you you were given his spirit. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:27:04.079 Every human being has a spirit that God put in him, and through that spirit man can seek God. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.000 But they just they decide not to. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.599 So they go other ways. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.079 See? 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:27.839 Now, uh, when when the when the church of the living God understands why you're here, why God called you, then you worry about ministry and you worry about preaching the word, and you go out and tell the people all these beautiful things. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:28.400 See? 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:39.440 It says in the Bible, on uh 1 Corinthians chapter 2, 7 and 8, that the mystery of the church, what we are, why we're here, why do we exist? 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:42.000 Why did God make his church? 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:44.319 And why does he lead on his church? 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:57.839 That mystery was hidden from the wise people of that time, from the rulers of the world, from the rulers, because if they would have known that, they would never crucify the Lord of glory. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:15.359 If the people who knew that the church was bound to heaven, if the demons and Satan and all those uh things that we would not like to talk about it, if they would know the purpose of the church, they would have never crucified the Lord of glory. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.000 See? 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:29.359 And at the church also, God gave us pastors to guide us, to lead us, to correct us, to discipline us, and until that day when our time is up. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.720 So you got a pastor. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.680 Listen to him. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:35.039 You got pastors in the church, and they're here to help you out. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:39.119 They're here to clarify your doubts, to help you in whatever you need. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:49.519 I remember a couple of weeks back, pastor was praying for a lady, and Pastor Neil and he told the lady, uh, I want to be your pastor. 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.960 Let me be your pastor. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:53.279 Come to the church and let me be your pastor. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.400 You know what I heard? 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.880 I heard, you're not alone. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:08.079 You are entering the battlefield, and I will be with you, I'll be your backup, I'll take care of you six, I'll be there with you to fight this battle along with you. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.799 So let's almost finishing. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:14.799 Let me review what 1 Peter says, chapter 9. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:18.079 It says, You are chosen people. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:22.720 You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:25.519 You are God's special possessions. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.440 There's a reason for that. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.079 See? 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:32.640 Again, you are chosen people, royal priesthood. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:37.359 Holy nation, God's special possession. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:40.559 There is a powerful reason for that. 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:51.279 For you to declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:55.599 So He called you, and God is happy that you're here. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:59.440 But there is a commandment for those who are called. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:15.200 Go preach the word wherever you can to your family, to your friends, to your neighbor, to anybody in the work, people who come to you, at least, that maybe at least weekly you tell somebody about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:17.279 We were invited yesterday. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:21.039 Uh somebody says, Go pray for my family down in Houston. 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:24.160 So we drove to Houston to pray for a family. 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:26.079 When we got there, they were having a party. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:31.920 They're having coronas and they're having uh a 70, a 70-pound pig. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:34.400 They were roasting it on a they were Cubans. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:38.000 They were roasting it on uh on the backyard. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:43.440 And uh we went to pray and said, ooh, this situation is kind of weird. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:45.599 They don't want to hear, they don't want to hear us. 00:30:45.839 --> 00:31:10.640 No, got open away, some suddenly they were called inside, left the bears aside, came into the house, we talked to them, we preached about Jesus, we invite them to receive the Lord Jesus, and there were about 15, 20 people there, and more than 10 of them were crying as we speak the word of God. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:18.160 You talk, you preach, the Holy Spirit does his part, and you fulfill the word of God. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.799 And I want to finish with this. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:24.079 What is the importance of the church? 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.519 Listen to this. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:45.279 You preach now, you worship God, you do whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to, but the Bible says that the believers of the true church today, the believers of the church of the living God will be the one standing in the throne of the Lamb. 00:31:46.240 --> 00:32:03.759 John says, after this, I look, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing there before the throne and before the Lamb. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:11.279 They were wearing white robes and they were holding pearl branches in their hands. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.559 That's our future. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.599 That's where we're going. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.599 That's the purpose of the church. 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.240 Amen? 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.960 So keep that in mind. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.440 I would like you to stand for one minute. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:33.519 And just to remind you, God called you to his church. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:36.000 This is the church of the living God. 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:42.640 Whatever there are two or three together in the name of Jesus, there is the Holy Spirit of the Lord. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.680 He's here. 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.880 He knows you. 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:52.240 He knows your needs, he knows your necessities, he knows your worries, he knows your emotions, he knows everything about you. 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:59.200 Take time to relax and think I am in the house of the Lord. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:06.480 Father, we thank you as we gather together as one to worship you. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:13.119 I ask you to bless everyone that came today to the house of the Lord. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:22.480 We present ourselves to you, asking for wisdom and blessings for today and throughout this week. 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:31.200 Let your word speak to us during this week and guide us to your Holy Spirit. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.119 In Jesus Christ we ask. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.079 Amen. 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:46.480 Would you join with me as we sing a song of response? 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:49.519 This is an old hymn called The Church's One Foundation. 00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:53.519 Let's raise our voices together and sing this in response to God's words. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:34:04.079 The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord. 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:36.960 Jesus creation by spirit and the word from heaven he came and taught her to be holy bright with his own blood he bought her and for her life he does. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.480 Amen. 00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:39.679 You can be seated. 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:44.480 Before our service concludes today, there's a few things we want you to be aware of. 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:50.000 Uh the first being that if today's the day you worship through offering, uh, there's boxes by the doors. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.199 That's where you would do that. 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:57.440 Uh also, if this if you're new, there is a card on the chair back in front of you that you could fill out and drop one of those boxes as well. 00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:59.440 Uh that way we can know you are here. 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:03.599 Uh just by a show of hands, how many men are registered for the men's weekend? 00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:06.400 Okay, I think we can do better than that. 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:13.280 So, men, after this service, I would love if you're not registered, head to the lobby, uh, sign up because today is the deadline. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:16.320 Uh, and so you'll hear that in a little bit, but we think it's worth repeating. 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:25.440 Uh, but because we think this one weekend uh out of the year is worth setting aside uh your time, uh, and because you'll you'll definitely spiritually benefit from it. 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:28.159 Uh but let's look to the screens and we'll see our announcements this week. 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:40.320 Here's a look at what's happening at Grand Parkway Baptist Church. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:45.280 The student fall retreat is November 8th through 10th at Piney Woods Encampment. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:49.440 Registration is open online for students in grades 7 through 12. 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:56.400 The price goes up on October 16th, so head to Grandparkway.org/slash students to save your spot. 00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:58.800 Men's weekend starts on Friday. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:03.360 The deadline to register is today, which you can do in the lobby or online. 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:05.679 We'll see you on Friday at 7 p.m. 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:07.199 in the warehouse. 00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:13.119 If you're new, be sure and check out our website at grandparkway.org. 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:17.440 If you're on social media, you can find us there too. 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:28.639 If you would like someone to pray with you or you have a question about anything you've heard today, some of our pastors and elders will be available at the front of the stage after our service. 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:52.159 God knows what you need. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:37:06.159 He knows if you have difficulty with the finances, if you have health issues, some emotional issues, anything that you may need from the Lord. 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:11.440 The Bible said that he listens to the prayer in his house of worship. 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:14.159 He's here listening to you. 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:16.880 He need he knows what you need. 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:27.280 At this time, think for one minute and tell the Lord what you need, and he'll bless you during this week. 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:30.000 Father, thank you for this day. 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:31.920 Thank you for this people. 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:46.159 Thank you for all those who came to the house of the Lord, to the house of the living God, expecting to receive a blessing or just here because they want to worship you. 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:50.239 Father, we ask you that you can see the desires of the heart. 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:52.400 In Christ we pray and we ask. 00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:53.280 Amen.