Jerusalem Council | Pr Matthew Chang

You're listening to a message to go from at church. We hope this message

will light up your day with me to ask chapter fifty okay, and where

this is taking place. It's after Paul's first missionary trip. Okay. If

you want to learn more about the what happened in Paul's first missionary can uh?

It can go and go on Spotify and check out the earlier messages have

preached about. And so they are altogether three missionary trips that Paul has gone

into, Okay. And he leaves from his base or space church, which

is in Antioch, Okay, on Jerusalem and Antioch north of Jerusalem. And

he went to one round and he came back. He's planted many churches,

he's appointed many elders, many pastors. He was even stoned one time and

then the people thought they were dead, and he came back to life,

you know, for a real reason. And you know now he's back.

And when he came back, he gave a report to the church and people

were were black and in this short break that he had, right, something

interesting happened. Okay. That will have to mature him and mature the church

as well. Okay. And whatever that we learn. There's always a choice,

choice to follow or choice to go on your own way. Now,

he says here in verse chapter fifteen, verse one. It starts off by

saying, and certain men came down from Judea and taught the bad brethren.

When he says taught the brethroom and the brethren meaning the Jerusalem believers, okay,

So Judaea was up north, so people from Judaea came down to Jerusalem

to teach, and saying that unless you are circumcised, according to the custom

of Moses, you cannot be safe. Okay. It's a requirement and the

consequence. Okay, requirement and consequence. Unless you are circumcised, you cannot

be safe. He didn't say that, say you cannot be safe like whoa,

you cannot receive the free gift of God. You cannot be safe.

Such a strong word, okay, And he says they're Therefore, when Paul

and Barnabas had no small dissension, means that they had a great argument with

them and dispute with them. They determine that Paul and Barnabas and certain others

of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

Now, how do I link this to maturity? The first mark of

a mature person is how they choose their battles. Okay, turn to your

neighbors, say how do you choose your battles? Ask them? Okay,

that's the amount of a mature person. How you choose your battles? How

many of you are husbands? Raise your hands? Okay, what is the

secret to long life? Choose your battles? Right and not? Agree on

her husbands agree in not? Yeah, it doesn't mean we lose the battle.

Now, we just choose our batter Life is like that, isn't it?

You want your happy you want to have a peppy marriage. Choose your

battles. It's true or not. I must choose your battles. How many

children do you have? Here? Son? Know? Does I mean?

Like right now? Now? You have your parents? How many? And

you know how many of you know? Like what? It's a good relationship,

A good way to maintain relationship with your parents. Choose your battles.

Don't fight with mommy and daddy over every single thing you find. If everything

are, you're gonna waste all your credits and your resources. Want to know,

seriously, you're gonna waste all your credit. It becomes numb. Ready,

it becomes like a dull voice. Ready, you learn to choose your

battles. There are some battles they're just not worth out fight. Okay,

uh? And some and you can this. You can tell whether a person

is mature or has grown, like looking at how petty they are, by

looking at what they choose to focus on and how they choose to spend their

energy, because it can tell like where whither they are they by choosing,

by looking at what they fight for, you can see what their focus is

on, what they choose to focus on, how they spend their resources,

their time and energy. And just by observing that, you know how much

resources they have for other things in life. You know how they maintain their

relationships, they what is their priority. And you keep fighting the fights that

you're not supposed to fight. Right, you're wasting your life. And just

like that, January is gone. Ready in twenty twenty four, true or

not? Just like that, some of you don't even remember who is twenty

twenty three hours. Are so tired. You're fighting so many battles. But

the question is not just fighting battles, but what are the battles you're fighting.

So first of all, you shouldn't be fighting the best those you shouldn't

be fighting, not because no you're wrong, not because you're right, but

some things you just have to learn to, you know, conserve your resources.

Okay. The second thing is that you should be fighting the battles that

you ought to be fighting. There is a season in time in life when

you know the Bibles talks about, you know, you know that we need

to start changing. Our plows are not shaping, reshaping our plows are into

weapons of war. Meantime, if you're during days of peace, right,

you're a farmer. Your tools are shovels, rakes and stuff like that.

But when the time of war comes, you take all these and you reshape

them into spears and swords. You reshape and you revolve. There's a time

when your horses are plow horses, and there's war time when your plow horses

will become war horses. Yeah, I mean right, And both are different

reasons. They're equipped totally differently and train different and sometimes they can't even be

used. Plow horses can war horses cannot be used. They cannot be used

in the same way there's a time for everything, and a lot of times

God causes people to fight. Nowadays, with a lot of times we're thinking,

hey, you know, Christianity is about just you know, give way,

give give away. No, there are things that you learn to not

there are things that you must fight. And in these cases here we know

that Paul and Barnabas chose to fight. There are things that are worth fighting

for, you know, especially when it comes to the truth and the Word

of God, and not not just minor minor things. You know, and

you're talking whether you should baptize which has up sprinkling or water or should be

fully emergient, I'm not talking about those of fights, you know, You're

not talking about what is at stake here. What is at stake here.

Paul had just done one missionary Triatunal Okay, which no other church has done

before. The only would you usual them in Antioch. Antioch was planted,

even though by planned by them by God. And from there God said that

set apart from me, Paul and Barnabas for the word that I'm calling them

to. So they were the first missionaries sent out from Antioch. Then when

one round all the way planting all the churches, appointing elders, sharing the

gospel as the Holy Spirit has led them, and they when they come back.

Now, there was some group of men telling them, oh, you

were planting all these churches by this way. Did you tell them they must

be circumcised? See you, man, the enemy is at wor's on.

The enemy is trying to want to undermine the missionary work of Paw. You're

telling me that I need to go back to these people who has received this

with joy and gladness and has seen the miracle and the work of the Holy

Spirit. You're you're asking me to go back to them. Now say,

oh, by the word for God, tell you one very important thing.

You need to be circumcised. Did you realize how big of a deal that

is. It's a big deal and all how some people said white circumcision.

What what is the important circumcision? Suddenly you have a two group and two

class of people. Circums are not a circumcised. They are already circumcised by

by birth. So they are more righteous than me. How so what if

I can't? I know, it's just I'm just a new Christian and difficult

to I don't want to become one. Then all the elders, and some

of the olders are so I don't want to become elder. You undermine and

you this, this, this mental, the very churches that God has planted

all this, So some teachings are very very important and have very deep implications.

You know what I'm saying here. There's so much implication here. So

Paul and Barnabas was very adamant, we must fight and it comes from an

open eye. Okay, some maturity doesn't mean that you never fight. Maturity

means that you see the battlefield as it is very clearly to God's eye,

and you know which one you must fight to win what you need to win.

In this case, it's not just about Hay containing a theological point.

Now, this is talking about putting the whole entire missionary work at Steak.

You know, the whole church that has been planted in uh in Asia Asia

at Steak. You know, it's such an important thing, and because of

the thing, you must fight. What are the things in your life that

you must fight in your life? Sometimes I fight, you know, all

the small things. But there are things in your life you must fight with

your spouse, You must fight with your children, you get mean, right,

but not fighting against them, fighting with them and sometimes against them.

That now, unfortunately, henmantize that you must learn to fight, and there

are times you have to get down on your knees to really, really,

really really pray. And if you're not found to be fighting, you lose.

That's the sad thing. You give me, right, and you undermine

everything that God is trying to do as well. Okay, So it's important

for believers first of all, to be wanting to be mature, to know

the battles they must engage in. Okay, there's a very important thing.

Number one. Now number two I want to talk about is circumcision. Okay,

I don't talk too much about it, but just very briefly. Why

what is it about circumcision? Okay, I have a slight here, but

I'll ask you what is circumcision? Okay, circumcisions of people that it's just

you know, the removal of the foreskin and it's you know, it's a

corbonant, you know, symbol that has been passed down from Abraham then town

to Moses. You know, every young newborn must be circumcised on the eighth

day. Okay, But the issue of circumcision is not about the performing of

the circumcision, but it's all about righteousness. And we say that are men

need food, shelter, water, and righteousness? Okay, you need righteousnes?

Why you need righteousness? Why is righteous so important? At the end

of the day, when you're on your death better, you'll be asking not

whether you've eaten enough food, whether you're drink enough water, whether you have

the best car. You'll ask one question, Am I right with God?

When you go to the police station today? Okay? If you have someone

offended you, not your car. All the things that you will come into

your mind when you go to polication. Wise, there have you your summons?

Because even someone offended you, you didn't pay your summons. You're like,

oh my goodness, I'm not right with the police. I can't make

any claims. You know, in the eyes of the lower you're an offender,

you know, and you haven't clear your debt yet. You know you're

not right. You'll be fearful. Know it removes every authority that you have

in your life. When you know every man and women in this in this

world is looking. You don't realize it, but you're surviving on one thing

and that is righteousness. So there are two forms of righteousness. Righteousness that

comes from God. The other is self righteousness. That's why you think that

when when someone who is not submitted hombored to God, what do you think

most attempt they are doing proving to you their point defending themselves being so self

righteous and self right? It is when when they when does self righteousness is

peeled away and remove when they realize that they are nothing, they are nothing

but righteous. But what I'm underscoring here is that the fact that everyone needs

to breathe and live on righteousness. We need to be right here. Did

you realize that we did have this desperate need like as much as we breathe

in there, we want to be right. That's why people soon people so

one another, we sue one another. Why do you think that Facebook and

everything com mess are so powerful? People want to be right even if they're

not right, they will look for somebody they will make them right, or

someone who knows why it's right. They attach themselves to names, to a

group, to an affiliation, to a religion, to a party. Everybody

wants to be right. That's why Bible says, why seek if it's the

Kingdom of God and his righteousness. What you breathe is not from the world.

The righteousness you breathing is from God. This what sustains to you,

but your son drawing from the wrong source. Every Man looks for and breaths

on righteousness. You know, I'm saying what I'm saying now, It's the

truth. Everybody's looking for righteousness. That's why religion starts. Okay and so,

and the circumcision has nothing to do with performing anything. It's all about

righteousness. Who is right with God? Do you need to be circumcised to

be right with God? But circumcision is a birth right, you know.

So it means that if I'm a Jew and I'm born, and i was

circumcised on the eighth day, so I'm right with God because I have the

birth right. Is that true? H? Is that true? Circumcsion?

Is that what God meant when he gave this sign to Abraham? Now,

let me ask you a question. When was Abraham, If this is really

about righteousness, when was Abraham made righteous? He was made righteous before the

circumcision, isn't it? Was it before after circumcission, before the circumcision.

Let's look at the scripture here Romans chapter two, verse twenty five to verse

twenty nine. I don't know whether he did. I put that scripture up.

Romans Chapter two, verse twenty five to verse twenty nine. Okay,

I'm reading here from verse twenty five. The two for circumcision is indeed profitable

if you keep the law. But if you are a breaker of the law,

your circumcision has become uncircumcisioned. It means that if you break the law,

your summision is nothing enough. You're just a sinner, You're just a

break of the law. Hey. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the

righteous requirement of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted. Air circumcision

means that even the person do not break the law, but he obeysic really

doesn't he doesn't it make you him more righteous than you because you observe the

law. You are law by things he isn't. It's like you're a Malaysian,

but you don't keep the law. Doesn't make it Malaysian. A foreigner

comes to Malaysia and obeys all the law, he makes it more Malaysian.

You know, just a That doesn't mean that you eat or making Malaysian.

You know you can't mean right. You could be a rascal and then drive

on the LDP and then not everybody down you I mean right. It doesn't

make a Malaysian. You can't mean right. But this person he comes and

obeys, respects the culture and everything. It makes it more Malaysian than all

of us. Ye mean, I'm not saying all of that life, but

there is what is essence, what it is talking about here and will not

in personally itself and will not the physically uncircumcised if you fulfill the law.

Judge, you who even written called and circumcision are a transgress of the law.

For he is not a Jew who is one outworthy. You are not

a Jew because of your outward Nor is circumcision that which is outward in the

flesh. If you are not a Jew based on the outward. Circumcision is

not based on what is done on the outside. But he is a Jew

who is one inwardy, you're a Jew based on what you're inside, and

you are truly circumcised based on what is happening inside. Say, circumcision is

that of the heart in the spirit, and not in the latter whose praise

is not from man and from God. What does it mean? Now?

What does circumcise circumission actually symbolize. Circumcision is about removing of the foreskin,

but it also represents the all has gone and the new has come. Okay.

Circumcision is about the all has gone and the new has come. Okay,

So the removal some of you, do you realize what it means that

the oil has gone and the new has Contex's actually what it means, okay.

And so that the all represents the flesh and the new represents the spirit.

So for the spirit to come, the flesh must be done away.

Now, all of us here, are we circumcised? Yes? No?

No? Are we circumcised? There's a trick question, isn't it. You're

like, oh, no, it's a trick question. Are we circumcised?

Some of you like looking in your pants and not look in your pants?

Okay? And for the ladies who won't apply, Am I circumcised? Are

we circumcised? Yes? Or no? Oh? You're like, faster,

We are circumcised in the heart. But who did the circumcision? Who did

the circumcision the holy spirit? There must be a person who does a submission

normally is the Father and then the priests. But in the spirit, it

is the Holy Spirit that performs the circumcisition of our hearts. The Holy Spirit,

the same spirit that was working in Jesus, the same spirit working in

us to remove you get me right. In our conversion, when we used

to follow in the flesh, where we chase after the world, we look

at the world where we're disconnected from the Father. In the moment of conversion,

the Spirit comes and removes our flesh. And now because the fleshes has

been removed, the spirit Man becomes alive through Christ and comes out. And

because your spirit comes out, you become aware that God whoa you are everywhere.

When you're conversion, it's a supernatural process. It's like God, you

are everywhere. I realize you are surrounded by God's goodness, you know,

like the testimony came out like Wow, I realized when I call it,

God is everywhere because you're connected to God, because the spirit Man is alive.

It's even the spirit must come right to be connected with God and your

sense. And now because you see a new reality, all that you desire

is no longer off. The flesh is all that you longed for is in

the spiritual That is what true circumcision is. Okay, It's the circumcision of

the heart. And Moses taught that to the people. Say, circumcision is

not outwardly. Circumcision is supposed to be inwarthy you can circumcise, but you

break the law. You're going after the things of the flesh. You're not

new, You're still the old version. You cat mean right, You're still

following the old ways. If you're truly circumcised outwardly and equally, you will

live in the spiritual realm. You will live and desire after God and his

whatever there is His place for you and ask you to go for in the

spirit you get mean that you will desire His world, You will desire His

commandments. This is the thing. That's what circumsion, circumcision actually really means.

Now, okay, So then what is the when we talk about the

circumcision, right, know, what is the purpose of the signature for the

juice? If that's the case, okay, if that is about, what

does it mean anything for the Jews? Why did you know John the Baptist

chose to be circumcised. Why did Jesus chose to be circumcised? Why did?

Why did Paul? What was circumcised as well? Does there any benefit?

It's not wrong. It's like, you know, circumcision is like baptism.

It's like you go into a wedding. Okay, when you come to

a wedding. Right, when you go to a wedding, you observe the

couple going up and when they come up to the stage of what did they

do? Exchange your vows? And what else do they do? Exchange rings?

Does the wing the ring made them married? Were they in love before

or after the wedding ring? Was it only when your wed the ring?

Oh? I love you right now? Does it work that way? No,

you were already in love before, you already committed to being in love

to be married. Really, you get mean right? Doesn't mean when I

shovel and take off my ring, I'm no longer a husband anymore. I

identify as a single bachelor right now in my forties. It doesn't work that

way. You don't get me right. It doesn't worry. It's in the

you know a part. You know what I mean? Right? If I

lose my wedding, I tell my wife I sorry I did lose my reading

room. Before I said was calling a what I was playing basketball saying no,

you take it a yeah, yeah, yeah. But the wedding ring

is a symbol. You're gonna man, it's a symbol. There's power,

there's power in symbols, Okay, but it can never replace what it actually

really means. You get me right. Baptism is also a symbolism as well.

That's why we encourage people to go to baptisms, but not circumcision.

It's not requirement in next schege. Okay, you don't need it for to

become a believer, you don't need it to become a partner or a leader,

to do anything. You know, you want to bless your hope,

do you need to be circumcised? No, Okay, it doesn't work that

way. Okay, but it's a symbol. So they observe it to the

extent it is useful only as a symbol. But now these people took it

to the next level and said that it is a right, not just a

symbol. It's my right right now. That makes me righteous. If you

are not circumcised, you are not righteous. You're not righteous. You can't

be safe. So to become a Christian. You must be a Jew vers

yeah'm me right, So you're you can't if you're a gentle You must become

a Jew before we become before we become a Christian. Is this is this

what God paid for? Is this what the gospel is really really all about?

And so Paul and Barnabas is why they thought about this. They're contented

with this because it has everything to do about salvation and about the mission work.

There's a hand as well. Okay, everybody, okay, so far

all right. So I was teaching this in XPG. When I come to

a circumstansier. Some of the kids were looking. You cannot understand. They

cannot apply. But I know that some some parts it can be a bit

dry. But the Bible is the Bible, and some parts can be a

bit but it's still very important now Verse three. So, being sent on

their way by the Church, they passed through Phoenicia Samaria describing the conversions of

the Gentiles. So Paul bannambashere they are Antiong, which is on the north

part. Okay, So they decide to bring this to their to the apostles

and the eldest. So they traveled down south all the way to Jerusalem.

And on the way south they will pass by Phoenicia Samaria, and as they

passed by, they describe the conversion to the Gentiles. Okay, they will

God, gentles there and see what they happened, and they cause great joy

to all the brethren. Okay, so what do you see there? God

is working, always working, And even though you have your face trials and

resistance. Right, if you're on the right, God is working faithful to

bring testimony and reinforcement to his work. If you're teaching twenty people, God

will God, God, God will, God is a word to supplement it,

to reinforce it. And you can see that people there are great joy

that then there was. There was cause from the people who heard it.

And in verse four it says that when they had come to Jerusalem, they

were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported

all things they had got that God had done with them. Okay, they

will received well. But in everything that they you know that we do to

advance the godspel the enemy is also a word. But some of the sect

of the Pharisees who believe rose up, saying it is necessary to circumcise them

and to command them to keep the law of the Moses. Okay, so

some of the Pharisees who actually converted, okay, to become Christians, they

themselves also decided to say that, hey, it's necessary for them to circumcize

them. They want to add another burden for people. Okay. Now I

want to mention here first of all, Okay, this part when we talk

about this whole entire chapter, right, it's a very important process that we

have to learn, is that there is all in God's kingdom. Okay.

God is a god of order. It's not a god of chaos. You

look at creation, look at planet Earth itself, from the northern hemmersphere to

the southern hemisphere. There is order. There are seasons, there are times.

The moon also rotates in a certain way. The universe, you know,

in all its orbits and the union, everything is order. Without order,

universe cannot exist. Okay, without order, they cannot exist nothing.

But God is a god of order. And when it comes to order doesn't

mean that everybody is equal to There are things. They are first, they

are second, and they are third. Even in the god Head, there

is an order as well, you know the father designer host there is an

order as well, and everything there is order, right, but it's not

everything is fluid, you know, it's it must be like water like Bruce

Lee say, you know, flow like water, be like water. Nonsense,

okay, but you know there is all the Why do I talk about

this because the second point about maturity is that when you resolve a conflict,

you must follow the orders set by God. There is a proper way to

resolve conflict in your family with other brethrens, and in the church, and

in countries as well. There is a proper way to resolve and order.

It is very important because you see her. And when you go to work

in any company, or you go to apply a visa in any country,

right, the more that you understand how the administration and governance a country and

the company works, the better chances you you are to get an approval,

true or not? When you go to a company, are you simply don't

follow the hr you think you will get approval? You want to something,

claim I you don't apply to You don't something you claim properly want? You

just say you're not getting approve it. Oh you want to go to Australia.

Ah, you want to apply twelve hour twelve hours before you depart.

Good luck you be sent back already you get I mean right, good luck.

The more that you understand how they operate, the more you will likely

get an approved the same way in the Kingdom of God. The more did

you understand how God's administration works, because God is a god of order,

the more likely you are to get and approval by him. Does that make

sense? Does that makes sense or not? What is approval his righteousness?

To be approved by God? To be right before God means to be approved

by God. I approve what you do. God is always a god or

that you don't circumvent on Oh, I know, because I got connection.

No, that's no such things work. Okay. God is a god on

an order. Okay, Now what does it mean? Let's read Matthew chapter

eighteen, verse fifteen to verse seventeen. Okay, how about resolving conflict Matthew

eighteen, verse fifteen to verse seventeen. Yeah, I did put there.

Moreover, if your brother sins against you, this is about resolving conflict.

And if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between

you and him alone. So what's the first recourse? Personal recourse? Deal

with him personally? First, sit down with your brother, talk to him.

You know your parents, you know, your friend or someone offended you

one on one? Nowadays? Do we do that? Know this? What

do we do? Don't offended me? I go to passa Steve and someone,

Hey, this person like that? Wanna I don't know. I really

love God. I know I want to submit to go but you know,

but I can't help. But you know see how we use God to justify

all gossip one yea we justify we? Hey, is the person who did

you? You know the person your offending? Why don't share it? Offended

me? I should be talking to you all all right? I really don't

like the way you look at me. You know you're missing from me.

And then you know the way you treat my son you kick him in the

belly there you know that? Then go to you no excuse, do anything

more to teach your leaders? Want now? Then I go to I want

to hey, you know Sharon, how she go into like this one before?

I was speaking of what to her? You know why we do that?

Because we are building up this case. You know in our hearts you

know we're having this this this what do you call it or what do they

call it? Roke? Uh? The judicious system, you know, you

know it's a rope call, you know all that, you know this trying

to go around finding validation, finding justification and righteousters so that you are propped

up, you feel right. Before we will talk with the person, there's

the way of the world, and then we go on Facebook. We type

first before we tell a person. I one person who was so offended with

me when I went to supermarket right because I was busy and I was brushing

and I saw one one person I don't want to mention who And I was

like, Ahi, you know, I didn't have the chance to go down.

And sometimes I don't always put on the pastorial head when I apologize,

like, okay, this is true. If I'm just a normal person,

Okay, I wish I could be like, oh, come, I don't

pray for you. I wish I would do that, you know, Okay,

I'm weak, Okay, I just that time was rushing and my mom

wasn't telling the other person wrote a comment to my wife and not to me,

you know. I then say that, hey, I noticed that this

pastor man always when he meet me, he will run away and he want

to talk to me. I think this is very I'm becoming of a pastor.

Oh okay, I was likerying. Then after that, you know,

then eventually then I said, oh, then I asked the person you are

you offended? I said, if an offender, I apologize that. You

know, I'm I made mistakes. I apogiste if you feel offended, but

that was never my intention. But will reappreciate if you just tell you directly

to me so that you don't have to carry so much that you I mean,

right, But people sometimes I don't know why they don't want to tell

you that directly, and when they do do it work so hard and it's

so painful, you know, send you like that, you know, like,

okay, you know I'm becoming of a pastor that I know that,

you know, but it's very But I'm just saying that, please don't use

these to words to not just me, to anyone around you. So it's

very painful. Where it's your brother, your sister, you're saying things like

that, it's going to be very painful. You get mean, don't do

these out things, you know, ask and find out first. Okay,

But that's the first thing. Go and tell him your fault between you and

him alone. Okay. And if he hears you, you have gained your

brother, so smart okay, you know. But if he will not hear,

take you take with you one or two more that by the mouth of

two of three witnesses, every word may be established. Okay. So if

that person is not so, if I talk to Sharon and Sharon is like,

no, I didn't do anything wrong. Your son deserves it, I

kick him, like so just joking, that's not true, okay, So

you know, so I will bring him to you know, whoever to a

treat witnesses like someone who is seeing who knows and stuff like that. Let's

properly resolve this, okay. But if it's not working anymore, then why

do we do it? There's a proper order, you know. And if

he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. You know that

the church it's called to edgudicate conflicts. Man, do you know that?

Did you know that? Why why I to church? Notre metal everybody?

It's true, we don't want of course, we always say that if you

can resolve it resolve it personally, okay, and not bring some brothers and

sisters resolve it. We trany to get involved in. But if there is

really really no recourt and it's very important, the church should be able to

come in to step in to adjudicate it, okay, because they have the

word of God and the spirit of God best witness as well. You know

what I mean. Right, That's why in the Bible you don't have just

profit, you have judges. Did you know that the church must be able

to judge because the church eventually, you know, when Christ comes better,

we're supposed to rule with God and all. How can you rule if you

do not know how to judge? So that Hey, Christians are not supposed

to judge. No, we are not to judge when we expect in our

eyes. But we are called to judge so that we can discern what is

right and wrong. You get what I'm saying. You know, it's very

important to do that. You're not to judge to separate people. You need

to judge so that the word of God is properly applied so that people can

be restored. You understand now, judgment is important. See even when Jesus

came like he talks about the judgement. Most of the time he talks about

those are ship and those are good. That's not judgment. What is that

He talks about? Those are ship and those are goals. Simple as that.

Okay. So it's important to to understand the property. And if he

refuses to hear, tell to the church. And if he refused us in

all our firls, the church counsel comes and talks about that person, we

need to hear. I did not see against past, the past past the

man. I know. I think that kicking Nathan and all other kids needs

to be kicked as well. I see a must kick not kidding you know.

Then if it is, let him be to you like a heathen and

a text collector that everybody despises. Excommunicated. Oh is that judgment? Yeah?

But it's proper order, isn't it. There's always a proper resolution and

restoration that comes with it. But if the person refuses, even to the

very end, the community and the church cannot help the person in all,

then that past that what they cannot stay like that, you know, they

must be excommunicated. When talk about the teaching about Jesus said, I am

the true isn't it. What does the truth? I mean just to say

that there are every branch in me and that does not bare fruit. The

Father will take out and then it will wither and you'll be burned. He

realizes that God examines God ways. God examines and God ways, and there

will be a separation one we like it or not. That's the truth.

Okay, it doesn't mean like love, live happier, but everybody get along.

You know, Countrary always go back to the word of God. So

when you read this right, you realize that there is an order, there

is a governance that goes about it in everything that we do. And when

we look in the Book of X right, what does Paul do when he

realizes that there is a complaint? What you do? Did he go and

immediately, Hey, I don't think I need to go to the elders.

I don't need to go to the apostles. I'm going to resolve it.

The Antioch Church will become a splinter cell and split up from Jerusalem. It's

very possible because of what one person thing that he is more righteous than others.

He could have done that. I don't think I need apostle. Pause

counselor I'm Paul, Hi, I planted more churches than him. I can

have gone done. You know what I mean? Right? But Paul,

being full of the spirit, understands he himself is a man under submission.

So maturity begs the question are you a man a woman under submission? Okay,

again I said maturity begs the question are you a man and a woman

under submission? Ladies, if you're looking for a man in your life,

ask this question, are you a man under submission? Do you fear anything?

You fear God, you fear the church counsel? If not, who

is really over you? You're marrying a man who is really have no laws

over human and all, a man uncontrolled. That's some way of a temper.

Who's going to have a recourse for you. Yeah, he's going to

be abusive. How begs the question? Who are you submitted to? It

is a mark of a maturity. Again, it's a very very important thing.

Okay, let me really finish quickly finish it. Now the Jerusalem comes

up, I'm gonna summarize it because because I'm gonna go through other buses now

when it comes to the Jurian Jerusalem, council. Right, So Paul says,

I know I've talked to you. You don't want to resolve it,

okay, And I brought some witnesses. You don't want to resolve it.

I'm going to bring it to the church. Now when we see it come

to the juris Jerasalm comes up, we see that Heaven rules. How does

Heaven rule in this situation? First of all, we can see that along

the way and that people were rejoicing with this gospel. But then Peter comes

up and gives his testimony. Hey, Peter is telling that, Hey,

we shouldn't be adding burden to these people. When I preach the gospel to

the household of Cornelius and to the people outside of Jerusalem, they receive it.

But more important than they receive it, the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Heaven rules. See Heaven, I always told you teach. You tell

you guys, like the Book of X the preaching of the Word, and

what if it's the truth? They're missing signs and wonders, the preaching of

the world and the signs and wonders. You get me, right, Because

when you teach the world, when you preach the Word in boldness, and

in confidence God himself bad witness. You don't need any other winness, God

himself bad witness, but God with best witness manifest one now with signs and

wonders one. And Peter comes along to the first thing. He said,

you know, there is an order, He said, I give my testimony,

and my testimony is backed by scripture and by the witness of God through

the Holy Spirit. Okay, the witness of God is always the Holy Spirit.

Then pauland Barnabas give their testimony as well. In verse twelve, he

says, then all the multitude kept silent and listen to Barnabas and Paul declaring

how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the gentiles. Okay,

so first case Peter, second case pauland Barnabas. Then there's a third

one. Who was it James the brother of Jesus, the leader of the

church in Jerusalem at that time. It's not Peter, he's actually James.

Peter was the early first one, first leader of the church in Jerusalem.

But then after that he had to exit because he was prosecutor, and James

the brother of Jesus took over. And you know, what's the nickname of

James, the brother of Jesus, James the Just. It was always called

them. He was always called the person who is always being able to be

very wise and very wise to judge as well. And James said this,

Well, what did he do? He say that in verse thirteen, and

James answered, saying, men and brethren, listen to me. Simon has

declared how God at the first visit the Gentiles to take out of them a

people of his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree,

just as it is written, after this, I will return and rebuild the

tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will set it up. Now this is apart so that the rest

of mankind he didn't say, the Jews, he didn't say the Israel like

the rest of mankind, may seek the Lord. What does it mean?

So God's desire in rebuilding anything was so that everyone may seek the Lord.

Everyone, even all the gentiles who are called by my name, say the

Lord who does all these things Verse eighteen known to God from eternity are all

his works. Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble those from among

the gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to

abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immority, from things strangled,

and from blood. For Moses had true out many generations those who appreciate him

in every city, being read in the synagogue every Sabbath. So what does

it mean? So we see, like I said, the three cases from

Peter, from Paul and Barnabas, and then James comes along and gives his

own testimony, the testimony from Scripture. Ah. So when you resolve complete

it is always the case one the testimony and the science and wonders from one

witness and other witness. But the Scripture eventually must bear witness to what is

happening as well. So when you have a tree foulk witness coming to it,

you can make a decision. And that is why when this tree fault

witness comes about about already. Right, If a man still refuses to forgive

or to be reconciled or accept the judgment, are they are excommunicated? Makes

sense or not? Because you will not take the judgment of God, you

will not take the witness of the scripture of God. How If the scripture

and the God's want, science and wonders cannot make you righteous, who will

make you righteous? You're going to be on your own righteousness. Then you

are on your own. You know, you get me right. The scripture

and the science and want cannot back you up. You know, now one

can back it. You are on your own. That's why it might do.

They must be excommunicated. You get mean right, This person is like

a there is untamed and wow, nobody there's not submitted one. So here,

Paul, by his submission right has allowed God to rule through the counsel.

One man's submission allows God rule through and everything is set in order in

place. Imagine if Paul did not do that. So, your submission has

a big part in player of how is God gonna set up his rule and

reign and his kingdom in every place, in the office, in the church,

in your homes, in your family as well. You know what I'm

saying here. Now, that is why Jesus always say that you must be

submitted. Even Jesus himself is submitted to the authority. Paul himself is submitted

to the authority. Nowadays, we don't do that anymore. Isn't it.

We say no, we gotta cut out our splinter grid, and then we

huddle together, we have our own theology and we become self righteous. Actually,

you don't have a problem with the church. You actually have a problem

with God because you don't really have that faith to believe that God rules,

reign and sup reigns suprema even through the chaos of the world. That's why

I say I cannot take it came in right. Everything. There must be

order, even if there's someone that you don't like who is helping at the

leadership. If you don't like the policer, okay, if you don't like

the policer, do you stop paying the summonses? I'm not talking the new

Noma Dad. If you you speak ready, so many times you're part wrongly

for the past two three years, are okay? It's something. One day

you don't like the police, you stop paying the summonss. I can tell

you you stop paying the master. You may you may be upset with some

of the policer. The judge will still rule you and you owe them.

You know, because there is proper there is that there's a proper governance.

There must happen. One there's proper order. One. It's very important for

the church and you and I as well. So when you understand it that

everything has ordered, your family will experience order. You want God's blessing for

your life. You want to hear the word of God. You want God's

protection and blessing. You must understand how His kingdom works. Like you must

come under summation, make sense or not. And God has around you in

your family, God said, we can have we can have a student.

Now, ah, come to do all the cf come and worship, Come

for prayer on my knees. But they go home and they do not even

come. Undersimation of their parents doesn't work. One and know, yeah,

right, you can serve in church and do that, but you call to

the office, you are late, and you don't follow the open. It

doesn't work. One and on. God has set order in the marketplace,

in your house, in the gych, everywhere. He has said it.

Okay, so there is not like circular non secular, and like they want

to know, God said an order. God can use everything. So this

is a very important secret and important skill that you must learn and accept so

that it changes your mind, so that in your workplace that you start to

like, Okay, I need to be you need to be a good steward.

You know, I really need to show up. I really need to

do well. I cannot lie and do something and all, God there's an

order. When I do that, God's blessing will come. Sometimes people,

you realize the funniest thing for you to be blessed is to do is to

do right in your own house. So sometimes the most important thing for you

is to do right in your workplace. You know. But a lot of

people are poor. They come to church, we don't know how you do

performing well. But then sometimes you know, I get get I get messages

from people, Hey, this person, I say that, this person is

a leader, is a leader when they come to work ten ten taka and

they only perform one on me, they misrepresent and now we're not responsible that.

How how do you can you reconcile that? And then you still expect

God to bless you. Oh no, it's very very painful, but it's

truth, you all, It's very true. You really desire God's blessing,

You really desire God's kingdom to rule in your life. You have to get

everything older and you're right. Lastly, as I closest part, right,

did you know who is you know that? You know they says that you

know there is a gift of administration? Do you know that there's a gift

of administration? We always a gift of heley give a prophecy. You know

that's a gift of administration or call it governance? Did you know that?

Who who is known to have the gift of administration and governance in the Bible?

Joseph? But I thought Joseph become famous because he interpret dream Yeah,

he interpreted the dream. But what else was he doing during the seven years

interpreting dreams? Yeah? Man, you see, prophecy is good, revelation

is good. But prophecy without revelation, and now prophecy and revelation without administration

does not move anything. Ah, you get me right. That is why

you have judges. You don't just profits, and profits also judge one at

all. Don't just tell things. They also judge wanting all. That's why

you're judging prophecy and revelation without amnis. Administration moves nothing. It doesn't shift

anything. God is in the business of shifting and terror forming the world.

You can't mean right all? I was like yeah, y have a relation.

But there's not administration in your life a church, not like we go

to a party's you know, election, I say, oh, we will

do this, we will reform the economy. But with the proper administration,

it doesn't shift anything, makes sense or not, It doesn't shift anything.

So we don't. We're here. He just promises, envision. You must

be good in administrating. Learn how the administration work. God, show me

the way. How what what is loose? Lord? What have not I

obeyed? What is in depth? Lord? Some of you? Some of

us? Here? Are you are in depth? You know you have someone

so called someons? Okay in your life that is backlogging. You don't show

up, God, say, God wants to meet you. Where are you

in your quiet time? God space? Your people important? Have you prayed

for them? When you pray your prayer when you're sleeping like that? And

oh before I sleep, before I cross my eyes. Oh yeah, I

want to pray for Andrew. Yeah maybe he got cancel. Uh oh yes,

Now and then when you met the person I've been praying for you four

weeks. Ready, we've all been there. Okay, they don't say it

long laugh, Okay, we've all been there. Okay. Don't say okay,

you're like, yeah, we all been there. But if you're serious

about it, get on your knees. Don't just simply send an email you

think you apply for visa already. Go to their website, take down their

phone, feel it, submit, check on them. You get me right,

This is simple. Pull himself down there as well. You must understand

how so you do that. You need to know the world God as well.

But you need to get on your knees and pray. And when you

then, just by closing this gap, just by Joseph having this skilled administration,

an entire nation is changed. When you close the gap and administration you

get appointed to the role like a Joseph because I'm not looking at someone who

can tell me what has happened. I'm looking for someone who can make difference.

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

on our church, please visit Exchurch dot org. We are also active on

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week, a hit for you. God bless