Five Instructions for Serious Servants of God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Mimi and Mark chapter 6. What a mighty God we serve.

Mark 6 · chapter mention

Mark, 6 together. Today.

Is an exciting session for many reasons.

And one of those reasons is that, as we come to the word of

God, and as you've been with us week after week after week, We

are now entering into a new era with the ministry of Jesus

Christ. We have spent many weeks and

months. exploring and beholding through handful of chapters,

Jesus Christ, preaching healing Delivering rescuing rebuking

with a variety of people before him and with a diversity of

scenarios and situations, but as we come to, what we're going to

read today, for the first time, we are going to witness, and we

are actually going to see the closest Disciples of Jesus

Christ. Being commissioned to multiply

and expand what exclusively belonged to Jesus for so long.

After being sorely rejected in Nazareth, the Lord now is ready

to delegate, his disciples to give him a portion of his power

and to send them out on a short-term Outreach to really

replicate the activity that you. And I have become so familiar

with And they are going to take what Christ was doing.

And reflect it in different parts within the boundaries of

Israel. Now you and I hearing that my

think to ourselves, okay, that's great and that might make up for

a great Bible study, but it's very difficult for that kind of

subject to hold applicable truths, right?

And I would say not, right because all scripture is

breathed out by God and it is profitable, all of it, including

Jesus giving Specific Instructions to his disciples as

they are prepared to head out on Mission.

For the first time in this way. And the only group who really

will not benefit from what is about to be set from this point

on is for those who do not have their life set on seriously

serving God. I'll tell you up front that this

will have no relevance to you. If you are a person who has not

prioritized playing your part in God's Grand drama of redemption

in our world. But if you are a person who has

this Burning Desire, who is orchestrated your life around

everything, serving the purpose of you serving God, then I can

assure you that as we draw from this, well of Truth, it will

enrich Each that Holy ambition, you will feel blessed because

what we're going to read in a moment is actually in some way

directions for us as much as they are, for the disciples.

And these directions are for those who seriously want to

serve God and I want to read it first and I want you to see it

first and then we're going to look at five, five of them five

things that you can apply to your life.

If you have this ambition to say, Lord with my life, I want

to be as effective as possible because these principles will be

applied and can be applied, no matter what you do for the Lord.

No matter where you go for the Lord, no matter what member you

are in his body. All these things are sufficient

and they're good and you will be blessed by them.

I'm sure, again for those who have no concern and have

different desires, this will be a dread to you, but I pray that

even if you are in this place and you are in that place,

something would touch your heart.

You know, we just pray but I really want to pray again and I

really want to pray because I believe in prayer.

And one of the things that a preacher fears is coming on the

pulpit, without the help of the Holy Spirit. some might be able

to depend upon their oratory skills or the charisma, not this

leadership. You know, I was Charles Spurgeon

when he would get up from the front Pew, to the pulpit who

would say to himself. While trembling inside, I

believe in the Holy Spirit, I believe in the Holy Spirit, I

believe in the Holy Spirit, Because he knew that he needed

the Holy Spirit and I want you to just join with me as I ask

God that just anoint this time in a special way.

Lord, we do ask in reverence That you would help us in this

time, lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit

and we believe that the Holy Spirit has been given for the

sake of demonstrating power and that the message heralded would

not be heralded void of that strength and that Grace Lord,

with everything in our hearts, please bless this delivery and

may the reception be equally blessed.

Lord help us see the beauty of Jesus, his wisdom, his glory,

and let it be something that will cause us to worship Lord.

We set aside any confidence in the flesh and we look to you now

in desperation in Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Mark 6.

Verse 7, here's what God's word says.

And he called the twelve and began to send them out, two by

two. And gave them authority over the

unclean spirits. He charged them not to take

nothing for their Journey except a staff, no bread, no bag no

money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on two

tunics and he said to them whenever you enter a house, stay

there until you depart from there.

And if any place will not receive you and they will not

listen to you when you leave shake off the dust that is on

your feet, as a testimony. Testimony against them.

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

And they cast out many demons and Anointed with oil, many who

were sick and healed them. Five directions given by Jesus

Christ for the serious servant of God.

And the first observation that we have to make, is this?

And I'm going to organize it that Servants of God will do

number one, a serious servant of God will value.

And cherish Christian partnership will value and

cherish Christian partnership. We cannot Overlook the fact that

when Jesus sends out the 12, He organizes them in groups.

He did not send them out individually, he pairs them and

he releases them. As six different partners. now,

you would think Lord if you really want to reach more people

and cover more ground, send them out one by one and you can just

do so much more that way. But clearly by Jesus doing this

implies that, there is a foundational philosophy at work

here. If you and I want to be serious

about Kingdom work, and here it is.

Christian service. Must be performed with Christian

company. Christian service must be

performed with Christian company.

This is Christ idea, and that must be our conviction.

Listen carefully, there is no such thing as an effective

servant of God. Who dismisses the regular

companionship and the co laboring efforts of other

believers. And the primary means by which

God has given to Believers in order to know this Advantage is

through the local church, a body of Believers that someone can

connect and serve with that is his means of which you and I can

come as a home base and the from that home base Enjoy the

blessings that come by going to by 2 2 by 2 not just the number

two, but the idea of partnership you know, whenever I meet

somebody who is flimsy with their interaction and conviction

with the local church, it's indicative of many things.

And one of the things that it's synced signals that is that this

person is not serious about serving God.

This person is clearly not serious about serving God.

And you might say, well, no, because there are some people

who really made great efforts to serve God, who are not

consistent with their fellowship and accountability with other

believers. And I would say that might be

true. But no matter who, that person

is how gifted they are, how intelligent they are, that

person's labor will be limited. It will be limited.

The Holy Spirit tells us in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Two Is

Better Than One. Two Is Better Than One.

And when he says that statement through Solomon's writings, he

follows that statement with the Glorious advantages that come.

When a person trust in God's wisdom that doing anything solo

is, always lesser than doing it. With the way God intended you to

do things, including how you serve him.

And so, I want you to turn there.

Quickly, Ecclesiastes. Chapter 4.

Ecclesiastes 4 · chapter mention

And I want you to see how Two Is Better Than One.

The serious servant of God will cherish and value, Christian

partnership. Cliches 4:9.

Two are better than one. And here's the first reason,

because they have a good reward for their toil.

The first thing that partnership promises is greater fruit in

your labor, greater fruit in your labor.

And I think for those who are members of this church, that one

of the strongest examples of that is understanding how the

mechanics operate here. It is absolutely impossible for

the things that are occurring here to function without the

participation of every single one of you.

Everybody knows that including the Declaration of God's word.

So many things need to happen in the background for this to

happen more than once a week but more than the obvious

practicality of Helping Hands being present, when you choose

to be a part of a body of Believers, you not only have

access to that, you have access to wisdom and support And

Council and encouragement and so many other things resources and

creativity that will only sharpen you in what you do for

God, and who God called you to be as a man or a woman of God.

And so as iron sharpens iron, right?

When we come into this place consistently and we meet with

one, another consistently, there is a polishing that occurs that

cannot be known if you do this solo.

And I can expand on these things so much more, but I want to just

go from one to the next. Look at the second thing.

The holy spirit says in verse 10, for if they fall one, will

lift up his fellow but woe to him.

Who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.

Here's the second gift that partnership assures us that when

and if we do fall, we will be helped. now, the way this

argument is made is brilliant, because it shows that the only

way you and I can expect Swift assistance from other people who

have Christ like convictions is that if you fall in their

presence, If you tumble in close proximity because it's possible

to be alone and fall and there are some people unfortunately

who deliberately distance themselves from other believers

for whatever reason that are unjustifiable.

And such people have no right to expect Brothers, our sisters

coming to their aid. If they do fall, because they

made the decision long ago to be distant, this blessing is only

secured when you have a firm conviction, that you will stay

close to the fold. And what a secure thing.

It is to know that what I inherit when I go to buy two,

when I lock arms with other Saints, is that when I am

overcome in any way, emotionally physically, physically, I praise

God, for the moments, where people here throughout the past

few months, I've had surgeries or different things, and they

were able to come here with Believers and Believers are able

to help them in practical ways. This is what a speaking of

physically, emotionally spiritually.

When you have this two-by-two mentality, you will know this

blessing. I mean, I know we're in

Ecclesiastes but just come with me quickly to acts and put your

hand there and Ecclesiastes for, but go to the other side of your

Bible and acts for. I want you to see something.

So wonderful. So precious to me.

In Acts 4. the church was being introduced to persecution very

early on in there is in its Inception and here we see That

Peter and John were before the council they were arrested and

they were warned, they were warned by the religious Elite,

not to go out and to preach in this name anymore.

So after being arrested, look what they do.

In verse 23 of chapter 4, when they were released, they went to

their friends. They went to their friends and

reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

Isn't it incredible? These Mighty Apostles after

being in a very hostile environment.

New as a reflex, we must go to the Brethren and we must share

what had happened to us. We must open our hearts and

declared the threats that are looming over us and the dangers

that await us, Apostles did this my friend, do you have friends?

Do you have a group of believers?

That you can come to when there is war against you.

When there are trials that are overcoming you and to spill your

soul and say this is what's happening in my life.

Well I think I'm okay. Oh really you're better than the

apostles you're stronger than Peter and John obviously.

No. They came to their friends and

they open their hearts and I want you to see what their

friends did and verse 24. And when they heard it, they

lifted their voices together to God.

Peter and John come in. This is what the Pharisees are

saying, this is what the Sanhedrin are planning were in

trouble. And here's what true friends do.

Here's what to buy, two promises.

All right. All right, let's pray, let's

pray. Let's seek God.

And they lifted their voices to God and the Holy Spirit came and

shook that place. And they were emboldened.

They were emboldened to continue to speak the word of God.

Do you have that believer? Do you have?

This is this true in your life? We come back to Ecclesiastes and

we see a third blessing that partnership opens up for us and

Ecclesiastes 411 again, if to lie together, they keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone? Here's the third blessing that

partnership offers it promises comfort and Company. when you

have the presence of other like-minded, Christ, filled

people, it keeps us from emotional mental and spiritual

hypothermia. It's very difficult for you to

feel your Zeal crystallizing or being overcome by the chill of

discouragement. When you are constantly around

those whose hearts are alive in Christ, when you have the active

presence of people in your life, you will know warmth a warmth

that will cause your heart to be softened.

That will give you hope for tomorrow that will assure you

that you are loved and cared for That cannot be realized if you

are sporadic. That cannot be realized.

If this is not a discipline that cannot be realized unless you

are consistent. And this is what we were

promised. If you look at the early

churches practice, constant Fellowship was was the thing.

When you study the book of Acts and you see how people went out

to minister and to different parts of their Known World,

there was partnership, there was constant visiting homes and

local churches. It was just that was the nothing

was done individually. At least as a standard.

And so you have to understand something that there is warmth

there is warmth. And you know what happens in the

most simplest of ways. Can I tell you how it happens to

me? I can walk through those doors.

Come into this place on a Wednesday or Friday night and

just the presence of believers. It's enough to awaken my faith

and to bless me is that not true?

Is that not true? Thank you for agreeing with me.

Isn't it true that you just the sight of you in this place here

at walk to now 2:00 on on a Sunday.

It just rejuvenates. Me it blesses me.

And then add on top of that when you sing and out on top of that

when this place fills up with the voices of Fellowship.

Oh, You can't get that on Instagram.

You'll never get it. Because warmth comes from close

proximity. Thinking that you can warm

yourself on a fire on a screen that you project from your

phone. No matter how realistic it is,

we'll never be able to deliver the same way that when you come

and you put locks together in light that thing of flame.

Same goes with church, watch on the screen, all you want, it can

be real, it can be HD. And now with this goggles, that

you'll be able to put on and be an avatar and show up to service

God help us There's a fourth blessing.

You think I'm done? Look at verse 12 of Ecclesiastes

for, and though, a man might Prevail against one who is alone

to will withstand him. A three-fold cord, is not

quickly broken. Here's the final, but not

limited to this blessing, mention pertaining to

partnership. There is a greater resistance

and warfare You know, I know criminals out there in our city

are becoming more and more bold and Reckless, but I think some

of them still have sense that if they were to choose the option

between attacking a crowd or attacking somebody who's walking

alone in the night, they're going to go with the ladder and

we think about spiritual warfare.

The scriptures prescribes the principles to tell us that it's

up to us how we experience Warfare.

And one of the ways in which you can ensure greater strength is

when you do this thing with fellow soldiers, Your mind is

less vulnerable, your emotions are less accessible when you are

constantly surrounded by eyes and hands and hearts who will go

to war with you when they know that you are out in the field.

and when you are in a trench and bullets are whizzing by your

head, who's in your Foxhole, the serious servant of God will

value and cherish Christian partnership, but we come back to

Mark and we realize Point number two, instruction number two.

Principle number two. Found in verse 8, He charged

them not to take nothing. For their Journey, except a

staff, no bread, no bag no money in their ballots, but to wear

sandals and not put on two tunics.

The serious servant of God. We'll learn how to continually

depend on God. Undoubtedly, this particular

charges unique to the disciples in this instance because of the

uniqueness of the mission and the brevity of the mission there

is, there was no time to prepare.

There is no time to make provisions and extra Provisions.

But that doesn't mean that there is not a Timeless.

Truth tucked in here for us. Why would Jesus specifically

order them not to look back and not to reach anywhere to add

anything to their inventory? But to Simply, Wow out

immediately. The answer is simple because

they were to learn absolute confidence in God to provide for

them as they committed to serving his son.

They would learn absolute confidence in God, as they have

absolutely determined to serve the Glorious, Son of God.

And that is what the Lord wants to teach him as you prioritize.

My kingdom, I'm going to show you how I'm going to provide for

you along the way. Now, listen, when you make it

your ambition, to live for the glory of God, especially for

those who are in full-time Ministry, that endeavor can be,

very daunting for many reasons. And the main obvious General

reason, is that serving God will entail for you.

To wait on God and to look to God day by day, there are

certain seasons in serving God where you will be pressed.

And this is not just for the full-time preacher.

As for any servant of God, you will be pressed and tempted to

turn your attention, your resources, your time away from

God, and on something else for the sake of self-preservation.

And in those moments where you are worried about the

necessities of life, even here's my charge to you based on this

principle and 100 different promises.

God will honor you. As you honor him, God will honor

you as you honor him and it is quite amazing how he finds a way

to not just keep you afloat, but cover every need that you have.

And if you don't think that, this is what Jesus means, then

turn quickly to Luke 22 and look at verse 35.

This is at the end of Jesus ministry, and he's giving final

instructions and preparation for his departure.

And when he looks at his disciples after hinting, and

clearly preparing them for this transition in their own lives.

Look what he says in Luke 22, 35.

And he said to them when I send you out with no money bag or

knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?

They said, nothing. Nothing.

And then he goes on to tell him. Well now I'm telling you to

actually equip yourself, write the following verse gives him

new sets of instructions, which which informs us that his

initial set of instructions is not just permanent Universal,

rule that you and I as Christians need a pledge

ourselves to self-induce suffering or lack, Right.

There's context here. This was a teaching moment and

this is what he wanted to teach them when I sent you out and

deliberately told you not to accompany yourself with any

other Advantage. Practically speaking did you

lack nothing? And here's what I want to tell

you, your confession will be the same if you serve God long

enough, Serve him long enough and be willing at any moment for

him to send you where he would want to send your keep you where

he would want to keep you and you will have this glad

confession when you look back lord, I lacked nothing.

Absolutely nothing. I'm telling you, when you serve

God, there will be many. Who will discourage you, you can

make more money. You're more gifted.

You can go into this Avenue, you can go into this kind of field.

But I have to tell you. There is no greater Adventure

than serving the lord Jesus. It's an adventure, it is not

stale. It is not predictable.

It is not routine. You can make it that way.

But oh, when you daily say, Lord, just let me let me be used

by you. What a joy it is to see how he

authors your life, what a joy it is when he brings like-minded

people with you, what a joy, it is when he provides a work for

you. Do you know how I know that he

will give you a work if you're desperate to serve him because

he told us that the laborers are few the Harvest is great.

It's right. The laborers are few.

And so we see here that there was a call to trust and as we

are about to look here, one of the means, if not the main means

by, which God does come through is through people is through

other people directly and indirectly.

Look here at verse 10 and he said to them wherever you enter

a house, stay there until you depart from there whenever you

enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.

This may seem like a strange command but it is a beautiful

hint at the humility and the careful wisdom of the master.

And it brings us to our third point, the serious servant of

God. Will value and cherish Christian

partnership. The serious servant of God will

learn how to live dependently on God.

Three, the serious servant of God will pursue contentment.

Will pursue contentment. Here's a lord, essentially

saying, the following whatever lodging Providence, leads you

to, as you go out and serve me and my name, Ensure yourself

that you will remain there and refused to seek another place.

No matter how much more appealing or luxurious other

options, Maybe this may seem like a petty thing but it's very

important as a principle because it holds two purposes one for

the messenger and two for the message that such Behavior would

convey. And when we think about the

first Purpose By staying still, you know what would happen for

the disciples, they would learn contentment and not get caught

up in the pursuit of things that would ultimately distract them

from their main focus which was to preach the word of God. you

know, naturally when these guys would have the authority of

Christ on them, casting out devils and Healing The Sick,

they would attract people and they might even attract host and

invitations to something that is more Prosperous.

Something that is more honorable somebody that is more beneficial

materially speaking and what the Lord is saying.

No, wherever you go, wherever Providence leads, you park there

and stay there and don't get caught up looking for the next

best thing wherever you go learn to be content and learn to

focus. Your efforts on Ministry Above

All Else. And though this is specific

again zoom out, understand the principle serving God.

Without contentment being satisfied with your lot, as

god-ordained is an extremely difficult and disorienting

thing. You rob yourself of joy.

You you cut your Effectiveness and so many pieces and so many

limitations and there are other problems that come with that.

The Lord wanted these people his disciples to be single-minded

single died, focused. And listen, contentment is not

her natural disposition you and I know that.

That is why Paul says, I can do all things through him.

Who strengthens me? Do you know what that means in

context? It's not, it's not meaning that

you can bench a certain amount of weight Or that you can, you

know, make a certain amount of money in your business.

God will help you. He will bless you in all things.

But the context, there is Paul, just finished saying I have

learned the secret of being and facing plenty and hunger,

abundance and need. I can do all things through him.

Who strengthens me. Because of my inner restlessness

to continually covet and to organize my life, to be driven

by comfort and pleasure. It requires the power of Jesus,

in me to be satisfied in all seasons.

To actually tangibly feel a bleed be content.

And that is really a secret to effective service to God.

Because even the most faithful of God's servants can be driven

off course, when they allow discontentment to take the

driver's seat. And to determine their decisions

and their planning and what they do with their time, be careful.

If you were easily distracted by toys, Or by experiences.

If you are ultimately motivated by upgrades and all these

trivial things, I have to tell you boldly, you will be of

little use for God's work. You will not be cut out for the

maximum potential of God's work. It is not to say that we can

enjoy things, that is not what Jesus is trying to convey.

It's a more about distraction than anything else and you, and

I cannot profess a desperation for God to use us in any way

that he would want to use this. If we're not ready to go, where

you want us to go or stay, where you want us to stay, or give up

what he would want us to give up.

And sometimes Jesus will tell you to travel light and

sometimes like in Luke 22, he'll say, be wise and prepared and

save up. And be careful how you go about

this. It's all about, being sensitive

to his holy spirit. But pursue contentment, but

there's something else to this command.

In verse 10. This charge communicates

something. About the manner in which the

servant of God must conduct himself.

Think about it this way. Imagine going to somebody's

home. You enter into a village, you

greet it, right? Matthew 10 says you greet them

and you stay there, if they are worthy and if they are worthy,

you remain there until you depart from that town, what

would it look like if after being invited and hosted by

somebody who is worthy to get up and leave when you get an

invitation to go elsewhere? It's offensive.

It's rude. And more than that, if you stay

in that Community long enough and you have this habit of

bouncing one place to the next. And dismissing people's

hospitality and their care for you.

You risk, muddying. Your testimony and planting in

people's minds that you might have different motives.

You might be doing this for something else.

And so Jesus, here is brilliant. Jesus Lord, we love you.

This is amazing because the Lord here, cares about social

etiquette, He actually cares about how you interact with

people in different context. How you enter into a place?

How you exit a place? All these little intricacies are

important to the Holy Spirit especially for the person who

cares about their testimony for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The true servant of God does not limit their witness to the depth

of their Doctrine. Or their theology.

No people who care about their witness are also disciplined and

educated and how to interact with people.

They are not unnecessarily offensive.

They are not people who are just powerful orders.

Know, they actually they think about how they communicate what

to say, what not to say. And sometimes you meet some

people who are extremely insightful, spiritually, they

seem to have a colossal intellect but they stink with

pride. And they have a sense of

superiority. And what happens with all that

knowledge, what happens with all that Vigor, what happens with

all that, amazing ability to present something, it just

dissipates. So, the true servant of God will

avoid the appearance of evil. They will they will ensure that

their steps are led by God's wisdom has provided here.

And I challenge you to read the Bible and to look deeper into

see that God does. In fact care about what I'm

seeing. What I'm saying he does So there

is a pursuit of contentment, if you want God to take you far, if

you want God to keep you long, then there needs to be this

settled learning. Lord and all things.

Help me believe that I have a beautiful inheritance and helped

me more than that to trust that there's nothing that will

satisfy me more than doing the will of the father.

You will go far for God's kingdom.

If that is something that you apply, but it's not just

contentment. Nor is it just conduct that the

Christian will exercise, if they are serious servant of God?

No, Jesus instructions here. Require the disciples to apply

something else look here in verse 11.

And if any place will not receive you and they will not

listen to you, when you leave shake off the dust that is on

your feet, as a testimony against them.

The serious servant of God, will not just pursue contentment and

all places at all times, they will also apply and exercise

discernment. Discernment.

This is what Jesus is saying, when you come to a place, you

need to be able to identify who is receptive.

And you need to be able to identify who is not receptive.

And this kind of awareness would determine many things.

It would determine whom they would serve, where they would

stay. And when it was time to move on,

they were to expect rejection, right?

We learned last week that they witnessed with their own eyes,

Jesus is Hometown, kick him out. And Jesus.

He was preparing them that you too will know, resistance, you

too. Will know obstacles.

You will know opposition be prepared for that and by

informing them about that in advance.

They needed to be trained about how not to throw their Pearls

Before Swine. And the Lord listened, he

amplifies this principle in Matthew chapter 10.

Matthew 10 · chapter mention

When he says the following in verse 11 and 12 and whatever

town, or Village you enter Matthew 10, 11, find out who is

worthy in it and stay there until you depart, as you enter

the house greet it? And if the house is worthy, let

your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let

your peace return to you. So they're discernment had to be

Beyond just Their audience. Their discernment.

Also need to be applied about their Association and Jesus

says, you need to be able to develop A screening.

So that when you come into a place, you can determine who is

worthy to host you and who is not worthy to host you.

Now, what does that mean, worthy?

Like, if they give enough of an honorarium if they have social

status, absolutely not the worthiness here.

That Jesus teaching on is simply this receptivity, Receptivity to

the message of the Gospel receptivity, to the truth that

you want to declare receptivity to you.

As a representative of Jesus Christ, you need to be able to

see. Is this person a person of peace

and if they are a person of Peace then stay there and more

than that are they worthy in terms of Integrity?

What is their life? Like because you being in their

home can again send a message to others by your simple

association with them. Do you agree with their life?

Do you agree with what? What they do.

Do you agree with how they conduct themselves?

You needed all to say, you need to be able to discern people.

And this again, reinforces that true servant of God.

Servants of God are selective and discriminating.

I know discrimination is a bad word but if you understand his

definition is simply to decipher discriminating.

Yes, we're supposed to be very careful with our associations

unless we put ourselves in compromising situations or

positions that will weaken our witness.

Now listen it's much easier to know. it's much easier to know

when to move on when you deal with a non-believer who is

either cursing you or saying all these derogatory things to you

or simply just walk away from me that doesn't require much right

but there are people who still tempted to and I've seen it with

my own eyes just continue to Hound on people that want

nothing to do with the gospel, and they had a endangering

themselves in one way or another.

All that to say that our call to discernment is beyond our

Evangelistic efforts are called to discernment is even within

the household of God. Because as much as this is about

going out there, you know this very well, people will come in

here. They will come in here and when

they come in here we have to be equally careful.

To be able to determine who is worthy and who is not worthy.

Everybody is worthy. No, I'm not saying it like that.

who will be receptive and who in fact might be a danger You might

not believe this, you might think that is Harsh.

Because there are some people who even in Christian circles

and I believe they're saying this from a pure heart

innocently, even out of a place of love and care.

Brother, we can't give up on him brother.

We can't give up on her and yes that's true.

There is a there is a persistence in our love and

service. But that is not totally true.

Because the same holy spirit that tells us to love and serve

and reach out and, to be patient as the same.

Holy Spirit, who says that there are sometimes where enough is

enough and you need to move on. Let me prove that to you Titus

Titus 3 · chapter mention

Chapter 3. And Titus Chapter 3 Verse 10.

Titus 3:10

Look at these simple instructions, one of many Paul

says, as for a person who stirs up the vision after warning him

once, and then twice have nothing more to do with him.

We're not talking about the world here, we're talking about

the church. We're not talking about the

streets, were talking about the assembly.

Have nothing more to do with them knowing that such a person

is Warped and sinful he is self-condemned.

You know what, that teaches me that I by the grace of God in

his word and through his holy spirit need to be Discerning it

of to look at a person and to evaluate their life.

Long enough to determine this person is so warped and so

sinful to the degree that they are no longer worthy to pursue

at this time, I know that might sound shocking but it is true

because here the danger is by tolerating such a person by

ignoring such a person. You put the rest of the

congregation at risk of being hurt by such a person. and so

again not just the preacher but the church as a whole must be

able to understand what is being said here because if we're not

careful, Our limited time are limited efforts are limited

energy. Can, in fact be wasted by

somebody or some people who have no issue devouring all that you

are with no intention to change. So he says have nothing more to

do with this person. Have nothing more to do with

this person. This is a call to scripture

saturated and holy spirit. Prompted wisdom to know when to

shake the dust, off your feet and to leave people in God's

hands. Leave people in God's hands at

the give ourselves to those who are worthy.

To those who will receive to, those who are more open.

And I've seen in many ways where people.

Don't know how to just stop and Trust in the sovereignty of God

because they think that they can actually do something to change

somebody. You can't, you can't and the

discernment part is, when do you stop and when do you move on

that? Will make for an effective

servant of God? And we come to the last point.

The last point is pretty It's pretty obvious.

But before we get there, depending on your translation

you might have seen something in verse 11 that I didn't read.

In verse 11, you'll find this more in the King James or the

new King James, it's added assuredly, I say to you, it will

be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment

than for that City whose who has that in their translation.

It's a manuscript difference. But when you go to Matthew,

you'll see that this very same truth, is added in the account

that Matthew gives about the same instructions that Jesus

gives to his disciples. So it's not completely omitted,

but I think it's worth pausing. I think about that.

Sodom. And Gomorrah is an example

throughout the Bible. Of an example of judgment that

will come upon evil and perversion.

I mean think about the Judgment that Sodom and Gomorrah received

and yet Jesus can say that for the person or the town or the

city that is exposed to the truth that is powerfully

presented and yet rejects it. Their judgment will be more

severe than that of Sodom and gomorrah's.

How can that be? It just goes to show what great

of a crime. It is to hear the gospel and to

witness the power of the gospel and to still decline it in the

eyes of God. This is a severe violation.

And in this specific dispensation, you had the

Apostle who that unusual authority over demons and

unusual authority over sickness which made this penalty.

Even more profound But he's an even says that at the final day

of judgement, there will be degrees of punishment in the

same way that there will be degrees of reward for the

Believers. It will be more tolerable for

Sodom and Gomorrah. I don't think people understand

just how serious the transaction of truth is.

We look at a vessel of clay and we see probably his weaknesses

is stumbling of words, whatever the case may be, but understand

that the gospel is the most precious thing.

And it cost the blood of Jesus Christ and to be able to hear

that, and then to turn your back on that.

Oh, God says, Sodom and Gomorrah their judgment.

Will be tolerable more than that person's judgment.

The servant of God will exercise discernment will know that they

are limited in many ways. And that people have different

heart, postures and conditions. So they know where to go, where

to stay who to deal with and when not to.

But lastly they will remain. They will remain

compassionately, truthful and verse 12.

Jesus says, Or is told of what happened to the disciples after

Jesus said. So they went out and Proclaim

that people should repent, and they cast out many demons and

Anointed with oil, many who were sick and healed them.

So, after all these practical instructions, Jesus now says go

and they go and the priority of their mission was a message.

The priority of their mission was a message.

Right, the disciples were not to get caught up in community

service. They were not to get overly

involved with alleviating suffering or to providing

practical material needs. Now, there's no doubt.

They were to be practical. They were, they were casting out

demons, they were Healing The Sick, they were actually

administrating help in that way. But never at the expense of

eliminating, the presentation of the truth.

That Rings. True Redemption.

And I think that's important for many Ministries today.

Who have much more emphasis on practicality than the profession

of faith that we have. We have to be very careful.

They went out with a message and everything that they did was to

point to that message. And the message of hope, the

message of saving, the message of redemption and salvation was

a word that you don't hear a lot today.

Repent. Repentance change the way you

think about God, change the way you think about Sin, change the

way you think about eternity change the way you think about

life. Change the way you think about.

In fact, just give everything up and come to God's word and say I

agree with this. That's repentance that's

repentance. So, the disciples didn't just go

into town and tell people about the love of Jesus.

No, they went into town to, they told him about this Jesus.

And yes about his unusual. Kindness mercy and Grace.

But that, that would change you. And this is what they preach and

this is what they did, and that part should bless us, you know,

why? Because despite being warned by

Jesus, right before this, that you will come against hostility,

you will come against resistance.

They still, they still dug their heels and they said we're still

going to obey you. And we're still going to preach

this message. How much more today?

How much more today regardless of what the seculars are saying

that, you know, we're living in a post Christian world And what

people need, what people really need is messages on

self-healing. Inner healing.

And self-esteem. Because there is now this this

wave of propagating mental health and Trauma.

And I'm not saying that those things are not true to some

degree, but it's come to the point where salvation is

apparently reflecting on your past and confronting things that

had happened and to acknowledge it.

And to realize that you were a victim in one way or another,

that's not the gospel. That's not the gospel.

This is what they preached repent.

No matter what happened to you, no matter what you did, you need

to repent and you need to come to Jesus Christ.

Will forgive you. Once you realize is that your

repentance is genuine and true, and these men were not

intimidated. Obviously, they could not, that

could not even think about the threats or whatever was coming

about their way. And we shouldn't be concerned

about the trends in the threats that they hold.

Anyway, our message is not bound to a certain time.

It's not limited to this culture.

It's not any point open to be adjusted for any reason. the

serious servant of God will hold firm to that for the time is

coming when men will not endure sound teaching They will not

endure it, but they will accumulate for themselves

teachers right to satisfy their itching ears.

What a way of phrasing that they will not endure sound teaching,

meaning, perhaps, at one point, they could have tolerated it.

But now, at this point, there are no longer able to tolerate

it. This is to offencive it's too.

It's too controversial enough and maybe even for some this is

getting boring. The Bible boring to you.

Can you endure it? They cannot endure sound

teaching and so they accumulate for themselves teachers to

scratch their itching ears. And what's our motivation?

The same motivation as these disciples.

Whatever is before me, whatever is happening around me.

I'm going to just do what Jesus called me to do.

If he said go and preach repentance, I'm going to preach

repentance. That's it.

It's very simple to serve God. We have made it complicated.

And here's the conclusion that we can make notice verse 13.

And they cast out many demons and Anointed with oil, many who

were sick and healed. But you got to connect that with

verse 7. Again, and he called the twelve

and began to send them out, two by two, and gave them Authority.

Gave them Authority on the short-term Mission, they needed

a special dose of authority to fulfill this particular part in

Christ plan and when it came to the Great Commission he says

don't you dare go out until the gift of the father has bestowed

upon you. Wait upon the holy spirit which

tells me that any point in Ministry.

I and you are continually in need of God's grace, to

strengthen us to equip us to do what he needs to do in us before

we even do anything for him, Authority power, a touch from

God. Not just human Ingenuity, not

just my own efforts, but something that God grants from

his own hand. And that tells me with all the

things that I just heard and all the things Beyond those five

directions, I will know a help from God, I will know some kind

of Grace that will lift me up and take me where I can't go in

my own flesh. And so what a way to cap off all

of this, we need the authority of God, we need his help.

We need something beyond the natural and this is something

that he is willing to provide my friend this afternoon.

Are you a serious servant of God?

I hope you are. If not I hope you'll be inspired

to be because there's no other way to live our dear brother and

Pastor just mentioned that he has come to give us life and

life abundantly. And if you are a Sears servant

of God, you will cherish and value Christian partnership.

You will you will understand that there is a contentment to

be learned and understood. You also realize that there's a

discernment to be applied. You also know that there is a

Timeless truth that must be compassionately conveyed.

And finally, you also realize that there is something to be

known in the place of Reliance on God, In All Seasons at all

times. This is my message to you may,

God help us follow him and honor him, especially in these final

days. Let's pray.

And worship team. I know you have songs ready, but

if we can sing at some point that classic, I have decided to

follow Jesus. No turning back after a message

like this and even hearing those statistics early on, I think,

It's worth declaring to God. Again I will follow you, no

turning back so keep that in mind as we prepare to sing in a

moment, but our hearts are bowed.

In the presence of God Almighty who has reminded us of our

mission and purpose on Earth and it was given us all that.

We need to be effective though. We do, pray in this place that

you would renew that ambition and that you would help us

indeed, wherever we are to apply the things that we heard.

Lord, we ask for a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit.

Fresh touch from the Holy Spirit.

Lord, we do not dare think that this ministry will go anywhere

apart from his help. We will be succumb to so much

mess. Fears doubts.

Fleshly conflict. Unless your word.

Is embedded in our hearts, and your power is energized.

In our being Lord help us. Help us value this community.

Help us care about who we are in every place that we find

ourselves in not just in this church.

But when we go to the restaurant for lunch, and we deal with

waiters and waitresses, when we go and see her extended family,

when we go to work, Lord, help us.

Help us really know who to find that is worthy and went to move

on. When we need to move on, Lord,

determine our every step and let it be effortless.

Let it be a Grace because your yoke is indeed easy.

Your burden is indeed light. And so Lord, if there is any

sense in which somebody feels overwhelmed by these

instructions, Lord, let them know that your powers behind

every command, ready to be dispensed and provided.

And so we rejoice in you and we want to honor.

You may you be blessed. Lord.

May you be blessed by our response.

Now as we sing together with one voice in Jesus name, we pray.

Amen. Let's stand church.

I have this too far. I decided to follow Jesus.

No, not yet. I sincerely ask this, I'm not

trying to be corny. I'm not trying to feed off of

what was just song to play on your emotions but I'm sincerely

asking you as soberly as possible in this place.

Have you really decided to follow Jesus?

Sincerely genuinely. Can you recall a time where you

made a choice? I want to follow Jesus.

Now, you might be about person who says, I don't remember the

time where I made a decision. Well, that's fine.

Are you now following Jesus? That's more important than

anything else. But for the person who is not

concerned, the person who may not even thought about that

question and how it applies to their life.

Listen, everything is at stake with that question.

Being answered in one way or the other.

Have you made a Conscience decision to say, this Jesus who

came into this world, 2,000 years ago and who died on the

cross was, not an empty performance, was not something

that held no purpose or significance to me.

I now realize that he died for me that he was buried and rose

again for me and that he beckons, and he calls me to

himself. And now, I will decide to follow

Jesus. This is how you follow.

You heard what was just preach you repent.

You make a decision today that you will now.

Realize he is Lord. He is savior, this is sin.

What I have been doing, how I've been living, I turned from that

and I turned to God and I want to follow him and I want to live

for him and I want to enjoy him and I want to see him and be

with him for all of eternity. I'm telling you today, make that

decision to follow Jesus. I'm calling you today because

tomorrow is not promised And you don't know, if you'll have

another chance to receive this invitation.

I'm telling you this today, because the days in which we are

living have been predicted by the prophets and the Apostles of

old we are in the final seconds of human history.

I don't know the date and nobody has a right to give a date, but

I have been instructed in you have as well to look at the

signs of the times. And when you understand that

these signs line up with the truths of the Bible, to lift

your head up because your Redemption is nigh, but that

Redemption is only for those who are redeemed.

You cannot look up with confidence and expect Christ to

come back in your favor. If anything you have every

reason to be terrified. Because he is a righteous judge

and he has been good to this world for thousands of years in

this time of Grace, this window of opportunity for the worst and

the most filthy of Sinners to come and to be washed and to

have everything that was held against him, be eradicated by

one moment of confession that time is dwindling down and when

it comes to a finality the mission of Christ will be

changed and the change will be this you will be judged for

rejecting my grace. And so I call you today to flee

from the Wrath to come. I call you today to understand

that you have any mortal part of who you are, you will live for

eternity and you will either live in the presence of God's

pleasure or you will be under God's Wrath Without End.

And the way in which you can transfer one status to the next

is upon one thing and that is you acknowledging Christ as Lord

and you acknowledging that, if you come before him now and

repent and believe on his name that you will be closed.

In his righteousness, you will be forgiven of everything, the

Unspeakable things, the private things, the perverse things will

in one moment be dealt with and you will be justified in the

sight of God. And so today is the day of

salvation, listen, hear me clearly.

This is not the time to play Church in America.

Our nation is crumbling. Souls are being sealed in their

faith of Disobedience and Rebellion with the culture in

The Narrative of our time. And so even if you are in this

place and you are a minister or you're planning to be a minister

here, my heart from a fellow brother be bold, be Unapologetic

Chic this Authority from heaven and let God clothes you with

power so that when you go out into this world you will not be

able to easily ignored men and women.

See, this is a man who has met with something or someone apart

from this life and yes, we have met with someone who has created

life and creating This world and created you and created me.

His name is Jesus and he wants to save you.

He wants to deliver you. I pray to God that you are

unable to come into this place week after week and not even be

slightly convicted. May God have mercy on your soul.

If that is the case we want to do everything that we can to

make sure that in these. I just was so stirred by those

statistics, that's why I'm keeping you here longer than I

usually do. It's just the times that we're

living in are unbelievable and then we can still find it in

ourselves to to minimize our church services to fast as

possible. TED Talks, it's just not going

to work. It's not going to cut it for

this generation. We do need a Revival and that

Revival has to come first from the preacher, who has been

baptized with power from on high.

And a knows, the word of God who loves the word of God, and loves

the people that he sees week after week and loves the

visitor. Who comes in and loves the

neighbor, and loves the persons who was on the streets, it's out

of my system. Give your life to Christ.

Give your life to Jesus Christ. Stop playing the fool with God.

He cares for you and he wants you, and he has a purpose for

you, but more than anything else, it's for God himself.

He wants you in his bosom forever and ever Lord, I pray

with all of my heart and my with my brothers and sisters who have

been a menning, everything that was said, Lord pour out your

Holy Spirit, pour out your Holy Spirit, not just here, but in

every church, every Pulpit Lord in this crisis.

Our oh God. We pray that you would raise up

profits that you would raise up men and women who would take the

call of God. Seriously, and who would take

the partnership of the ministry? Seriously and say, oh God, I

will do what I need to do to play the 2 by 2 and to serve my

brother. And to be encouraged by my

brother for the sake of the greater, cause help us.

Lord, help us what we looked, and we thank you for this

glorious time in this place in Jesus name, we pray.

Amen, and amen. Be blessed.

See you