12+1 Core Values: Ownership-Promoting | Eld Terence Atkinson

You're listening to a message to go from axt church.

We hope this message will light up your tea.

So today we're gonna be talking about ownership, promoting ownership,

promoting the guys. I'm going to try and be as

loving to you as possible. I'll try to be as

loving to you as I can, But I also want

to be honest with you because the idea is to

see you all in heaven. Yeah. And in order for

us to make it to God's house, we have to

make it His way, not our way. There is no

such thing as the song my way where God is concerned,

unless it's referring to Jesus. Okay, so let's see what

the Word of God has to say now. In X

two forty two, it says, and they continue steadfastly in

the apostles, doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,

and in prayers, ownership promoting Who is the day that

the law that the scripture is talking about is talking

about the church at that time, that fledgling organization, that

very new group of people that had come together with

the faith in Jesus Christ. And it says what it says,

they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine. Do you know

what that means? Continued steadfastly. It means this they followed closely, Guys,

do we follow closely? That? The word, the word of

God that is preached to us every Sunday. And here

some of us say, ah, I've heard that before. Don't

you have anything new to say? Did you learn it

the first time? If you learn it the first time,

don't need to be repeated. But the fact is repetition

takes place. Why because we don't get it the first time?

And this is just the way it is, because we

don't have God right in front of us that will

smack us if we do wrong. If God is standing

right in front of us when we do wrong and

we get smacked, we will take the trouble not to

do wrong. But because we don't see God, we assume

he's not around. You see, And that's the problem of

life with us. What we don't see don't hurt us.

Right wrong, they paid attention. So how many of us

fall asleep on Sunday? You were, It's okay, your baby.

The rest of us, when you fall asleep, it's not

a pretty side. He's a pretty side if he falls asleep. Yeah,

the thing is paid attention to God's word, paid attention

to what was being thought. And you know what. Scriptions

also explains this as they were consistent, meaning that this

happened every time they met, they paid attention, they followed closely.

It wasn't sometimes and sometimes on, sometimes off. They followed closely.

They were consistent with So unlike the church today, because

what happens we lack consistency. You know what is consistency.

This is my church. When some band from overseas comes

down and is worshiping in some other church, if I

got to miss it, I got to miss it. You

know why? Because I am consistent. My devotion to God

doesn't depend on the latest happening that is happening around

the place. You see, what I'm sharing with you is

also what I've lived for forty seven years in the Lord,

and I can tell you as I approach the end

of my life, just relaxed, not so soon, but you know,

I'm on the other side of the hill now, Okay,

on the other side of the hill. I become more

knowledgeable of the fact that the consistency that I've showed

throughout my years has helped me tremendously. If you ask

you so, why you don't seem to be making any headway.

Could be because you're putting in forward gear and then

in reverse gear and putting in forward gain reverse gear,

and you're still stuck in the same place. Then the

other thing was what were they consistent with? They were

consistent with what the word? They were consistent with the

Word of God? Are we consistent with the Word of

God or not? The Word of God says, hmm, drink,

but don't get drunk. Have any of us? Don't put

up your hands. Have any of us become drunk? Don't

put up your hands. Yeah, in the Holy spiriten is

one thing in any other kind of spirit, right not?

Scripture says, don't let funny language come out of your mouth.

I'm guilty. When the guy passes me, I call him monkey.

What's wrong with this monkey? Then I have to say, sorry, Lord, why?

Because whatever it is, it's still not nice to call

a human being an animal? Right or not? They are

still made after the image of God. You get what

I'm saying. Consistent with the word? And what did we

just do? What do we just do? Yes, we did

worship breaking of bread Ah communion, communion, Hey guys, why

do we do communion? Why do we do it together?

Why don't we just do it at home and then

come to church, say five minutes? Why not? Why is

it so important? There is a power in doing things together.

And lastly, in prayer, in prayer. You know, every one

of us thinks that pre service prayers in option. If

we didn't think it was an option, every one of

us would be here. But that's not often the case

because service starts it ten thirty, right does it? You

mean to say God only walks through the door at

ten thirty. Trust me is here before the first person

shows up? Why is it? Why is it so important? Well,

you see the early church they were consistent in prayer. Well,

let's not talk about pre service prayer. What about prayer

service twice a month? Do we awaire ourselves to that time?

Let me tell you what took place? Because the believers

had this ownership, These believers had this focus. Because they

had this focus, this happened verse forty three. Then came

fear upon every soul. Why because many wonders and signs

were done through the apostles. If you want to see

signs and wonders. You have to have a high ready

for it. I mean, you can't come on a prier

meeting on a Tuesday. Do you expect to see the

did come to write to life? I mean, let's get

with the program. Let's stop honestly here. If you want

to see amazing things happen, we have to be focused

on doing something that the Lord wants, irrespective of how

we feel. Can I tell you and can I speak

to this honestly? My father is in the hospital right now,

and he is for all purposes, fighting for his life.

And I'm here on a Sunday? Does it make me

a big deal? Is it? Am I trying to be

all extra special? No? See you? And I got to

understand that only means we do what we have to

do in good times and in not so good times.

So I told Pastor Sandra, I said, whatever happens to

my dad, even if he were to pass away yesterday

or today, I will still come and do what I

have to do. And the Lord was faithful. You know why,

because he gave me a word for you. And because

he gave me a word for you, I cannot keep

it to myself because my father is ill. Oh, That's

such a terrible thing, isn't it. But let me tell

you on the good side. On Monday, he gave his

life to Jesus. So now so now with his own lips,

Jesus coming to my heart and be my Lord and savior.

Forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

And now I'll see you in heaven. So do I

need to fear anymore? No, because God has taken care

of it. Guys, when my father goes to be with

the Lord, you will not see me crying. Know what

you will see, And that doesn't mean I didn't love

my father, okay, but you will see somebody who will

be wanting to party. Seriously, if you left, if it's

left up to me, it will be a party fleeing guitars,

drum rolls. Why if I really believe he's gone to

be with Jesus, Hey, I'm going to see him again,

how can I be sad? I want to tell you

there's a scripture it's into Timothy one twelve that gives

me strength, and this is what it says. For this reason,

I also suffer these things, suffer what things? Well? You know,

father not well in hospital, those kinds of things. Nevertheless,

for this, nevertheless, I am not ashamed. Nevertheless, I'm not

ashamed to tell you I'm here in spite some missing.

What kind of a son is this? It's okay because

why for I know whom I have believed and am

persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've

committed to him until that day. Hey, you know what,

my father will be okay, and at least until I

finish this message, because I know Jesus, He knows Jesus,

We know Jesus. I think that sounds like a song coming.

The last time I shed in X PJ and I

said a song came, a song actually came, and I

wrote a whole song. Song is ready already, you know

he is ready. It's a very interesting song. This is

another one. I know Jesus, You know Jesus, We know Jesus. Okay,

now it says here the fear came upon every soul. Why,

you know it's in one sense it is, yeah, fear.

Don't mess with these guys. You know, it's good for

us to have a healthy dose of fear where God

is concerned, all right, because God is God and we

are not You mess with God. I mean, if God

decides to let if he had hair, one drop of

hair to fall on you, it will be crushed. Don't

mess with God and bye bye by you know. In

same light, don't mess with his servants. Guys, you're putting

coals of fire on your head. Always honor God's servant,

whatever happens. Forty seven years I've been following this and

I'm okay, I'm good. Let's move on. Now. All who believed,

and this is where we're coming together about ownership. Now,

all who believed were together and had all things in common.

You know, I always thought that as I grew up

as a Christian, this man that these people sold everything

that they had, because if you go further in the scripture,

that oh, they had no possessions. Everything everybody owned. This

is what I thought until I took the trouble to

learn the word, understand what it said, and then its

meaning came alive. Take note of what ownership to us means.

It means this word together refers to the time they

spent together as much as it is referred to the place. Okay,

number one, do not forsake the gathering of the saints.

That's what scripture says. So what are we doing now?

We are gathering together? Yet some people will not be

in church on a Sunday. But maybe because they got

some the cathalon, some lawn, some running, some swimming. I

don't know. I cannot understand that. If you take trouble

to go to service at a different time to make

sure you do not miss your time with the Lord,

I'm okay with that. But if you don't show up

on a Sunday because of these races, I have a

problem with that. You know, my children they learned tekondo,

you know, you know when they stopped learning tekno, you

know what bell? They were white? Do you know why

they were white? Because they had the grading on a Sunday?

God first, always, God first. When my daughter grew up,

she defended her classmate against the Iranian boyfriend or Middle

Eastern boyfriend who was beating her up. She came to

the friend's aid. She pushed that guy away, and she

stood in between that guy and has it. Don't touch her.

This is my daughter who did not complete all the

different belts, you know, but you know what, she got

strength from the Lord to do the right thing. The

guy threatened her then I made an entrance. He threatened

her no more. The other thing is they held all things.

I always thought that it meant possessions, but actually, you

know what it refers to. It refers to this. When

one was joyful, all were joyful. They were having care

and concern for each other. There was empathy that felt

it when someone was going through something difficult. They were

counting on one another. They helped one another. This is

what it meant by they held all things together. So

how many of us after service, knowing our brother or

sister in this congregation is hurting, just go home. You

can't do that. That's not the life God has meant

for you. You are meant to be better because growing

up means you own it. Growing up means you own it. Uh,

this are not gonna ask? Okay, no, no, I okay,

don't put up your hands. How many of you are

not going for the missions conference? Huh? Ex church conference? Okay?

How many of you got SIAMP? You can give me

a percentage in the judge forty percent. So sixty percent

of the people here have not signed up. Is it

compulsory for you to sign up? No? But you have

a God who's looking at us taking ownership. What do

you think ownership means? Does it mean only when things

are working well and swell? I mean if we take

everything as Oh, it's not compulsory. Can I ask you

a question, Why do you think it's compulsory for God

to take you to His house in heaven? Do you

think it's compulsory? Let me tell you what one scripture says. Guys,

I tell you this one we all love. Okay, you

gotta know my it's not to hit anybody, but because

this is what the Lord. Remember, I told you the

Lord had a word and he kept talking to me

about it. And in Matthew seven. I'll turn to that

now I've actually marked it out. I think it's Matthew seven.

That's right. Um Ah says this. Not everyone, this is

reading from verse twenty one. Not everyone who says to

be Lord Lord shall enter the Kingdom of heaven. But

he who does the will of my Father in heaven.

The first point. Now, let me tell you that how

is God to be enthusiastic about our things? Are? If

we are not enthusiastic about his we think, ah, it's

it's it's it's not compulsory, it's optional. Hey, guys, it's

your church event. God has put it upon the hearts

of the leadership of the church to hold this so

that we can be better in our service to the Lord.

So when we reject something like this, we're not rejecting

some ordinary planner. We are rejecting the plan that God

is put in the hearts of the leadership for you

and for me. And so we tell go, we're not

going to show up Saturday. Are you one? Old Saturday?

What a horrible thing. Let me just tell you this.

Let me hear what scripture says after that, and it

says many will come to me in that day saying,

Lord Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast

out demons in your name, and done many wonders in

your name. This is very fearful to me because this

is talking about believers. He's talking about you and I.

He's talking about us who are supposed to love Jesus

and the things of God. And the next scripture I

cannot get out of my head. And then I will

declare to them, I never knew you depart from me,

you who practice lawlessness. Guys, when I was praying for

the message, I was taking my walks very early in

the morning today. You gotta understand the tone of this word. Depart,

you know, is not putting depart from me. Get out,

that's what it means. Get out. I didn't know you,

I don't know you. Get out? You know why? Because

God is very protective of his house. Do you think

He's gonna let any tom dey can hurry in? Or

is he going to let into his heaven? It's not

my heaven, it's his heaven. Is he gonna let into

his heaven only those who really love him and his things?

You know, every time there is an opportunity like this,

you know what it is. It is an opportunity to

show the Lord. Not all of us can go for

missions all the time. Not all of us can go

here and go there. Some of us may be afraid

to worship, to witness about Jesus. We try in our

own way. But these are incidents, or these are things

that occur to at least show God, God, I'm interested

about your things, and we just pass it up like that.

Oh No, very inconvenient for me to attend, and we

think God will close his eyes. You ask you, you

ask yourselver. This is this is how the Lord put

it to me. If you have a family event going on,

you have a family event going on, and your children

don't even show up, how do you think that would

make you feel? You all are young, you all don't

know older ones. How do you feel feel better or not?

Because they got children and they try and whole events

and they struggle sometimes call the children don't answer the phone,

right or not? Because the truth here, I come my

own thing going on. Hey, let's not let God say

he's got his own thing going on and you're not included.

That scripture is saying that. Now, guys, I have to

tell you this because in in in having a shared ownership,

you and I got to realize we have to wake up.

God is not governed like how we govern things. He

is God and we are not. Guys. Every time we

get an opportunity to show the Lord that he means

something to us, let's take it. You you think it's

it's it's easy to shadow word, guys. I was just

telling Elder, I was just telling Pastor Stephen. So I

attended the wedding last week, right was last week. I

was half dead on the way back. Seriously, because for

some reason that Saturday, I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep,

so we went for the wedding, which was really early

in the morning. Because you know, you have to care

means you gotta leave early. You gotta park somewhere and

then walk somewhere. And you know I don't not care,

so I have to really go early. So I can,

you know, take the wrong turns, which I did, even

in my wayser, I'm walking to the place right instead

of walking to the right, I'm walking away. So okay,

I got to turn back. Ell. The neighbor is saying,

you pleaser, don't make any mistake walking. My legs already tired. Okay,

and I walked the other way. Eventually I got there.

On the way back, we went to sleep around six

o'clock that day. In the evening, I was so exhausted

I could barely drive home. She had to struggle to

keep me awake. She was. It was just one of

those days. That's just one of those days. What do

you think God would have felt about elder Meible myself?

It is old guys, not bad. They tried, so I'll

bless them. At our age, we cannot run like these guys. No, seriously,

I've struggled bending down also to pick something up takes

me a little bit of time. Okay, But whatever we

can do, when we can do it, let's do it. Because,

after all, who are we doing it for. We're doing

it for God. Guys. I need you to see that

ownership moves beyond just our comfort. Guys, is that the

only thing we do? If it's comfortable to us, then

only we do it. Hey, let's let's have some discomfort

in our life if it means glory eyeing the Lord.

Three for three year, I have shared with three old

people and they come to the Lord. And I have

told the churches. You've got an old father, uncle aunt

that has not come to the Lord. Call me. I

will come and shay them. You know how many calls

have gone until today? None? Zero zeros said, that's the

wrong one. Either you guys are doing a great job

sharing with them, or you don't think it's important enough.

All people are, and I qualify all people are. You

have to make sure they know. Jesus, you have to.

There isn't even a chance you delay. You got to

make sure they know. Then you say, but I shared

with my dad one hundred and one times. Let me

tell you. Even scripture says a prophet is never welcoming

their own house. Get somebody else to do it. That

common sense, right, Get somebody else to do it. If

you're not successful, get somebody else to talk, because your

father knows you too well. This guy talking, I can't

take it seriously. Somebody else talk. Hey, y okay, okay.

But fortunately for my dad, because they have had forty

seven years to observe us. And with my dad, I

speak honestly and straight. So ever since I was a boy.

You know, he asked me a question and just tell

him like it is. So there is that rapport. So

it took forty seven years. But it's okay. I don't care.

He's going to be with the Lord. And this is

where I confused it a little. Okay, And they sold

This is verse forty five, And I thought, wow, the

early church sold everything. Look what scripture says, and listened

to it carefully, and sold their possessions and goods and

divided them among all as anyone had need. The word

is as as. The word all is not there. The

scripture didn't say they sold all their possessions. The word

as is that you know what it means. It means

that the people loved each other in the church so

much that if somebody had a need and there was

no no finance, they would take some of their possessions

and sell it so that they could get the money

to help. They didn't sell everything as people had need.

This is important for us because in having this ownership

to your fellowship, you and I, we have a responsibility

towards the need of somebody else. I have my own children,

now I have the bought about this one because they're

part of your fellowship. They part of your Christian brotherhood.

You know, I was in a school, this is about

ten years ago, and one of the children, one of

the one of the kids, one of the kids. The

parents got into financial difficulty and the boy, the boy

was going to have to stop schooling. Is a private school, right,

it's going to have to stop schooling. You know what

his classmates did. They got together and they saved money

and they put their friend through the remaining some terms

to make him complete school with them. That is ownership.

That is ownership, and this is the kind of ownership

God is expecting of us. So continuing daily with one

according the temple and breaking bread from house to house.

They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.

You know what this means. They moved away from self focus.

That's what this means. They moved away from self focus

to the needs of others. How many of us live

for ourselves? Oh ten minutes? Wow? Okay, thank you so much. Hey,

I got the I got the oomph Okay, all right,

I'm gonna I'm gonna run now, okay, all right, So

they move away from self focus to the needs of others.

God doesn't want us to keep thinking about ourselves. Guys,

it's a horrible way to live if the only person

you're thinking about is yourself. It's a horrible way wait

to live. You know why, because don't expect people to

be around you when you need them, which means that

you have to be able to handle everything that comes

your way without help. You go and ask somebody from pray,

why should that person pray with you? Have you prayed

for them? Have you prayed for someone in need? Why

should somebody pray for you when you're in need? Think

of others. Move away from self thinking. God knows how

to look after you when you are looking after somebody.

God knows how to look after you. This is what

I tell everybody, say, don't worry about how much a

time you spend for the Lord, because God will take

care of your own things. Seeking first the Kingdom of

God and all these things will be what ad dirt?

He doesn't say, seeking first the Kingdom of God asks,

and then we will give accordingly. The a Scripture say

that no automatically things are a dirt. They simplify their

desires a could benefit. How do you like that simplified

their desires so others could benefit. I read about some

people who sold their fancy cars to help other people.

How old is that? You know what? One day they'll

get a fancy car or better stay when you go

to heaven. They don't need cast like a fly your

fly there, but for I need a car. Hey, you

got things to look forward to in the Lord besides

just yours and my desires. Okay, So praising God and

having favor with all people and the Lord, and you

see why did the Lord add the Lord added to

the church daily those who were being saved. Why because

they were praising God, they were having God favored with people.

They were not thinking about themselves. They were thinking about others.

They were focused on the word, and they took ownership.

Guess what happened? The church grew. Now the church is

a community, not a crowd. The early church was marked

by togetherness. No one had lacked because no one lived

only for themselves. A common faith, a common lord, a

common aim. The church is a community, not a crowd.

Because why community means no boundary lines things. It's not

my responsibility. Everything belongs and belongs means contributing. I don't

know why everybody laughs, maybe because that was funny. Okay, anyway,

so you know what, commune taking ownership. And look, extra's

got a lot of activities to try and help the

community around us. Why because we're here, right? Is it

some other community you and an xbo is t'm a somebody

else's respond when he knows yours? Why you are part

of the community here? Hey, look, we are owners. We

are not renters. Okay. Or home is not a hotel.

How many of you have heard your parents say, hey,

this is my house. Don't treat it like a hotel.

Have you heard not? Because no ownership, come in, take

the shoes through one here throw the other day you

find a shit hanging on the fan. Come on, come on,

just keep your little area need? Is what taking ownership? Guys?

You keep your room clean. Your parents keep the dining

room and the living room and the staircase clean. Okay,

what ownership? Right? But they take the trouble to keep

them clean. And what are you doing hanging underway in

the window? Come on, guys, Tenants move in and out.

Owners take responsibility. In a hotel, you don't unpack? How

many of you when you go to hotel? Everything in

your bag you take out and you hang colord, don't

have why because you're in a hotel. You only take

out what you need tomorrow. I'm using the ship that

when I put up. Okay, so when it is no

longer longer comfortable, hotel is not treating you well.

What you do?

You grab and you go? Can you do that? Have

your house? Not so easy? Right? M hmm. Sons and

daughters take ownership of their home efficient forces. Every part

does its share, And that is why we use the

language of partners, partners, not members. Members. You don't like,

you score them. This is how you give me my food?

Do you know I am a special member here? I

have heard people go through that, don't we are as

a partner. Something goes wrong, Yo, we must do it right.

We must get it right because it's only ship. It's

part of what you're doing. So everybody, every part, is

contributing to overall growth. Guys, it leads to overall growth.

How many of us would give up business to a

son or a daughter who can't be bothered. You will

only take your successful business and pass it on to

your child if that child shows responsibility. Ownership must be promoted,

not assumed. This means that we must constantly tell people.

We cannot assume people don't do something because we don't

tell them. Oh, they must know. They ought to know. Well, today,

you know, I'm sorry I've told you. So none of

us here today this morning. I have excused because I've

told you. But if you were not here today, then

maybe you got some excuse because you didn't know. Right.

But now I'm here to tell you have to take ownership.

Ownership is not an option. Ownership is the responsibility of maturity.

Is the responsibility of maturity. Okay. Competence is built through involvement,

So how do we get better at doing what we're doing?

Get involved? So you don't know how to do it

something that's all right, you know. I didn't know how

to play the drums, never played the drums before. At

the age of twenty five, I didn't have a drummer

in church. Pastor looks at me and said, you are

the drummer. So for twenty five years I played the drums.

I was the best beat keeper. No metroom came close

to keeping rhythm like I could. That's all I could do,

keep good rhythm. But you see, because I was given

the opportunity, I learned. Okay, in serving and preaching, teaching

and worship. You think this just happens. Hey, none of

us are superstars. Again, you should have heard my first message.

Helen maybe said I didn't understand what he was saying.

They said, yeah, that's true. I also didn't we learn.

We learn we are chieve more together than we can alone.

Would you believe that it's true? Everyone is a partner,

not a member. Hey, we do not outsource church life.

Church life is not outsourced or stand on the sidelines.

We take ownership responsibility together make the church great. Who

is the church? We are the church, We are the people.

You'll remember that song? Huh Okay? So everybody has a

part to play. Everybody has a part to play. This

is the ex church that we want to see. Guys,

I'm sorry if I was very harsh, but better I

say it, you hear it, and you have an opportunity

to change, rather than I try and make everything so

nice and sweet and smiley, and one day the Lord

will look at me because I will enter the door.

Then you will look at me and say, you see

that person didn't enter the door because you didn't tell.

You think we escape, yeah, do you think we escape?

We don't because we have to answer to the Lord

for our missteps. That is why every night I say, Lord,

please forgive me for all my sins, for the sins

I didn't know what sins, but in your eyes were

sins for the things that I should have done but

did not do. For the things I shouldn't have done

but did, Please forgive me, and Jesus name. I try

and cover everything so that when I entered that door,

the Lord will not turn back, because there will come

that time. When that portion comes, it be washed by

the blood the movie when the movie is playing, washed

by the blood, wash by the blood wash by the blood.

Then everybody be thinking what happened doesn't matter, is washed

by the blood. So I hope so any more minutes left,

no ministry team can come up. Guys, I hope you

you caught my heart. Yeah, when you do you like

driving a car? Do you feel comfortable driving a car

that you do not own? You may like it for

a while, but after a while do you think you

you you like it? But how many of you feel

so wonderful when you get your car? You got your

name there and you're driving in it's your car? Why ownership?

Can we feel that way about our own church ownership?

I've preached before in a messager. God is not interested

in people who treat his church like a restaurant or

the word here is good, or that preaches there. I

gotta go that way that Sunday and you hop from

church to church because you want to get fed. You

know what you've made God your cook. God is not

your cook, He's your lord and master. What are you

supposed to do? Serve him? That's what God wants. God

wants people who serve him, not use him for a

free meal. And if that's the message you got today,

you caught my heart, And I pray that this will

carry you forward in Jesus' name. Amen.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit as church org. We

are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that

this week is going to be a good week.

I hit for you.

God bless