Paul's Missionary Trip (Part 1) | Pr Matthew Chang

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

will light up your day. I'm going to be sharing today on I've been

sharing with churches on the Paul's missionary work. How many of you have heard

Paul's missionary work before? Okay, I see what theoria Edward. Okay,

Paul has gone through three missionaries, three mission trips. It's not the Indonesia

over Gassio or anywhere. Now, why do I want to talk about and

share about post missionary trip? Because in life, the most powerful thing sometimes

we have is a story. You get me right? Stories are very very

powerful and see until now, the things that we remember in history are what

stories you get I mean right, the things that you remember about your love

once award stories, story reasons, what linger in us and being lingered even

even sometimes with the grave as well. Stories are very very powerful. Sometimes

we might not have much to give to our children or parents give to us,

but sometimes it's the stories. So it's very important not just about stories.

Stories become fully realizing its power and its impact when we are able to

see what the story truly tells. You know what I'm saying here? You

can study history but you don't truly see it. You missed it. And

you go through in life as well. Something is developing, but if you

fail to see it, you fail to see the true story and the power

of it. And so that's why sometimes we go through something we're unable to

tell someone you know, with us, our children or people who follow us

as well, because we missed it. And even you yourself, if you

are unable to learn the true meaning or the what is inside the story,

we missed it. We missed out a big part in life. And so

and go through. Is there. I'm gonna take you guys on the road

trip. Okay, talk you guys on the mini journey. I hope that

can come. And on this journey, I hope that we will all look

at the same windows. But I want to ask you what you see,

and I tell you what I see as well. And I'm gonna share with

you what Paul sees. And on this journey, when you see something to

see the things like white, you start to be able to apply what they

go through in your own life, in this church and in these years ahead

as well. That's why I want to go through with amen. So now

I'm gonna start with X Chap the eleven verse nineteen. Okay, I hope

you really have your Bible. Okay, this is a good time. Okay,

if you have your Bible, you'll be fantastic, because I'm going to

go through a fair of it. I told you it's gonna be a journey.

Okay X Chapter eleven, verse nineteen. Now it's sayas here and now,

those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far

as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one but

to Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus Syene, who,

when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenis preaching the Lord

Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and the great

number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to

the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go

as far as Antio. When he came, and he had seen the grace

of God, he was glad and carried and encouraged them that all that,

with purpose of heart, they should continue with the Lord, for he was

a good man, full of the Holy Spirit. And of faith, and

a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tasars

to seek soul, and when he had found it, he brought him to

Antio. So it was there for a whole year that assembled with the church

and taught a great many people, and the disciples were first called Christians in

Antioch. How many of you have studied about antiochy No, did you know

that? You know? You know? For I think for the past few

decades before right, a few preachers from America or came in and they used

to believe that thing that Malaysia and Singapore is the Antioch of Asia. When

we say that Antioch of Asia, what do they mean? Okay, So

this is going to be the first point that I want to cover about as

well. Before Antioch. Okay, Antioch is a church is a place and

the church okay, Uh, there was only one main church and it was

in Jerusalem. They started there, They preached there, they studied there.

They didn't go any further out. Think of it like ex Subank like that.

They just started staying in Subank, started there. Everybody went there,

preached there. Then something happened, persecution happened Okay. Persecution happened because Peter

and James did a great miracle and then people so you don't believe, disciples

were made, Deacons were appointed, and then deacons were killed. You you

know who was the deacon Stephen. Stephen was actually the first deacon, one

of the first few seven appointed, and he was martyred. Young men killed

them. From there, people became afraid. Okay, So I'm going to

show you. It's like that. Can you show the slav the map,

okay, so if you can see it made the bottom there, you see

that mini curve there, there's a Jerusalem there right, okay. So you

started from one church there. Then because of the persecution, people fled up

all the way up to the north scared because you know, uh, to

believe and then to be associated you have literally dragged to prison and you have

been murdered and stuff like that as well. So if you know the story,

saw okay, actually chase them all the way up to the north as

well. There was in the run okay. So while they ran up there

along the way, these people they intermingled with the society, which are mainly

a lot of Greek and Roman people. Some of them stayed with them.

Some of them married with them as well. But when they went up there,

they just didn't went up there to set them. Then brought along with

them the Gospel and they shared by faith to them, and then news came

back to Jerusalem. They said that, hey, there are a bunch of

Christians that were there who are believing. And Jerusalem became alarmed, became worried.

Now my question is why were they scared? Why were their alarm and

worried in Jerusalem? Why were they alarmed? Because how do how do they

know what they know, what they learn is true? How do they know

what their learn is true? Is this the same Jesus that talked about you

get me right? What if it's a cult? And if they use our

name? They said that, oh we heard this from Peter, but we

never associated with them. And if they killed someone and they do something wrong,

and they do something to the Roman, they're going to affect us,

you know, because they're using our name, isn't it They're attributing them to

them as well. And they must understand there's no internet. There's no Bible

as well, no Internet, no Bible. The only thing they have are

people. The only thing they have are people, and so what did Jerusalem

do? And most importantly are they will alarmed? Because before that they were

only preaching the Jews. So suddenly they're hearing all these Greek and wrong people

are believing. So they were concern. So what did Jerusalem do? They

sent Barnabas, They send one guy they actually can trust. Okay, to

verify, Hey, we need to did they send an auditor to go there?

They send a man full of faith. Whenever you want to send someone

to check something right, don't just send someone with skill, send someone full

of faith. Requirement to send anyone to plan something, to do something must

what is what faith? Not anything else? Because without faithor what they see

is very different. You must have faith. Must be a great encourage you

because I imagine you sent the wrong person. There is gone ready, the

first the first plantage, the first church outside of Jerusale has gone ready.

They send the right person. Must be full of faith. It's a very

important wisdom we have to learn. Ready, Gay must always send someone.

You want to appoint someone, do someone look and their their lives? Is

that person full of faith? When the persons look at something, is it

really got this? That will the person believe. If the person is very

skeptical no matter what God does on earth, and the person wouldn't believe as

well, how can't work with that? You must be full of faith.

So when when Barnabas went there and what he saw, he saw that,

Wow, it is actually the Lord doing gay people were speaking in time in

and you know, the gospel that they actually believed, even without bibles,

even without the apostles, were true and accurate. So it can only be

gone. Church GPT wasn't there, No email was there, no Bible was

there. It can only be gone. So when after that, then when

they planted the first church out of Jerusalem, the first church gain and it's

called the Church of Antioch outside Jerusalem, and it became a very important church.

She the church that eventually the first plant church that became even more how

to say more resourceful. I won't say more important, I would say more

resourceful. They actually became results because they sent more missionaries. They actually sent

more money than Jerusalem. The actually sent money to Jerusalem. They were so

rich until there was they were so rich and generous they were able to help

that all the believers in Jerusalem in the time of a drop as well.

But then Barnabas had a problem. He's a Jew. He can't speak Greek,

he can't speak uh Rome, Roman, Latin, okay, And there

were a lot of other people who are familiar there as well. And he's

not a Roman citizen, so he can't move and move out. If anything

happens to him, nothing will have not nothing will happen. Okay. But

being a Roman citizen is a very important thing, you know why? Being

a Roman citizen is like being the most at that time, is like the

most powerful thing you can have a do. When I was in Italy,

when I was saying, going through the coliseum, right, he's the archaeologist

are telling me being you know what Roman is about in that country as a

country? What what what the message they want to say to every Roman at

that time? Or that you must be proud to become a Roman. Why

because no one in this world can compare to you like a Roman Rome.

You experience the best food, the best luxury, the best art, the

best religion, the best you know, that's why they have the Colosseum.

The Colosseum was not just about fighting. The Colosseum was like a show,

like a theater. That's why when you look at the colossum right now,

they have all this in the main center. There's all this underground passage because

they used it to bring up all the different the animals, the gladiators and

stuff like that. They were tending. The Roman people say, see,

all the people in the world were never able to see these animals, but

we brought all the way from Egypt, from Asia. You are a Roman.

Be proud to be a Roman. To be a Roman. So be

a Roman. It's so expensive to obtain. Some people have to use their

lifetime saving just to acquire to be a Roman. And you are in your

Roman right. Every year, even if you do not work, you get

to have twelve gunny sects of graining. Did you know that? So you

have It's basically, if you're Aroma, you are taken care of. You

have you have a place to stay, you food to eat, you have

living water to drink from. Okay, there's a lot I can tell you.

They're living water, and that means you don't drink from the river.

You drink from very clear water coming from the spring and from the rain.

You keet to drink from living water. So it's a very very prestigious thing

to become a Roman. But Barnabas was not a Roman. He couldn't get

all these privileges. But then he remembered one guy, one guy, one

guy who was put to the shelf, one guy who'd all the disciples even

in Jerusale, Jerusalem. Don't want to use who was that guy? Paul?

Nobody wanted to use Paul and saw, okay the time why because he

was an ex murderer. He was a terrorist in their eyes, you know,

literally, you know, he was a He was a murderer and a

terrorist in their eyes. He said, you may have believed Jesus, but

I'm still scared of you. So what did they do? Okay, Paul,

you know I think, okay, we believe in you. But can

you go back to your hometown in Tarsas, Okay and go to the map

there? Sorry, the second map, Yeah, to see tasars then is

just on the northwest of Antio, you know, can you see Antioch?

Okay, Jerusalem? Downstairs you go up to see your north to Antier and

Jazz and the north northwest. There in the middle is Tarsus. There is

where Paul was residing. A guy who is familiar with Greek Roman Lantin and

the Romans, a Roman citizen, and he is a master in Jewish religion.

He is actually he is in Jerusalem. A Paul is like a superstar.

He's like, I don't know, now, this is howell you know

that type of superstar level. You know, really, you know, when

he comes to town, people like, wah, he was the golden boy.

You have not you you don't because why It's like, ohoh well,

religion, because you must understand Jerusalem and Israel. It's all about religion.

You got made all about religion. Their biggest building, the most powerful person,

it's all from religion. And you get me right. So Paul was

the golden boy. He studied under the best teacher. He was a golden

boy. But now this guy is being shelved up in terrest tasks because the

Jews don't want him. The Christians in Jerusalem don't want him. You get

me right. He was like called shelving there. But then when Barnabus went

to Antio, he said, wow, God has planted the first church,

but I'm doing the work alone. Then he remembered and he brought this guy

who was the perfect candidate to minister to Entier, all this is a coincidence.

So now when I take you on this journey, right, you see

all these things happening, persecution, planting of the church, and then now

another person jumps into the car as well. Do you think this is a

coincidence. It's not a coincidence, isn't it. See God is working and

working and working. Okay, Now this is not even the beginning of my

preaching. I want to see how far can go with here? Everybody,

Okay, so far paying attention? Okay, I hope you guys are paying

attention. Okay, Now turn with me to X chapter thirteen. I'm gonna

skip ahead a bit at chapter thirteen to verse one, okay, probably cover

halfa okay, verse of one. He says that now in the church there

was at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers Barnabas. Okay, the

first who came there, Simeon, who was called Niger Lucius or Sireen Munion,

had been true, had been brought up with Herod the Tetra and Saul

okay as the minister to the Lord and faster the Holy Spirit said now to

me bar numbers and soul for the work to which I have called them.

Then having faster and pray and lay hands on them, they send them away

and I'll stop there for a while. Normally, sometimes you go when you

drive right, you see something, Oh okay, just another start, another

sign. If you go through this three versus are you're probably be like,

okay, it's just information. But I can tell you these tree versus are

very very powerful. Like I said, what do you see? And then

tell you what I see? Okay. Now, Antioch is just a very

young church. Now I told you that Jerusalem was very alarmed about Antioch being

set up, so they send barnumbers there. But Antioch is not the only

church that's going to come up, isn't it. They're going to be manyy

more churches. And what is the concern with all these churches. It's like

say it's false teachers. All the different ones are going to teach and influence

as well. And you must understand very important here. Printing is very limited.

One of the greatest inventions in human history. People some people say it's

electricity. The other camp will say it's printing. I would agree that printing

is probably the most powerful invention that that has affected humanity. Why printing.

You must understand that books are so difficult to come by if you normally you

take a Bible, or say, for example, they want to copy the

Bible, okay, without printing, it takes anywhere from one year to three

years to prepare one book. Average people cannot get all cannot afford the Bible

one. Normally it's owned by the church or born by the government of extremely

wealthy people or a class. So when they say books were taken away from

them, you're taught you're almost telling them you're taking away their life. You

know, you get me right. It's very very expensive one. Even in

during the Roman times, I think there are types of constantine right books for

very few. You can count up to fifty Bibles in the Roman city on

the fifty on Neino. If you burn two, you were really affecting people.

And I saw some of the Bibles that actually they over I know why.

It's all because everything is handwritten and checked and very fine. That's why

it's very hard, even harder than an hour to actually insert force things into

the scripture rhy now because it's check and check are over two to three years

one if anyone inserted anything falls to. It's very obvious. One. You

cannot simply hey, another name and another story up to it, because cannot

the process is too stringent. Because it's only one copy is made, It's

very hard to to really put nonsense one. You know. That is why

you know when Paul went to prison for a while, right, it was

the best thing that could ever happen to him. Why because you cannot replicate

Paul many Pauls you get mean, right, But when you sit down,

you're starting at home and you have to write. All that God has given

to you can be shared to all the churches. So Paul's Paul's greatest legacy

was not his mission work, you know, was all what's his letters that

we all have right now? That was one of his greatest contributions to Christianity.

Now, why do I talk about this printing? Right? Like I

said, there's no Bible. So in the time when there is no Bible

and then churches are being set up, somebody will call Sunday. John will

come on Sunday, another Andrew will come on. You don't know who this

guy is, and they start to bring a prophecy to the church, start

to teach something, say hey, you're gonna get married to this person and

you're gonna have a child and stuff like that. How does the church verify

that this person came from God? How does the church verifine what this person

preach is the world of God? How do you know? Let me ask

you a question. How without a Bible? You're like, start, how

it is a correct questions? Then, now all of you don't have a

Bible right now the Bible copy and I come and preach it. How do

you know that I am preaching the world God. I don't have a Bible.

Also, how do you know because I'm more convincing because I wear a

jacket? How do you know I'm preaching the world God? How what did

Jesus? What did God leave with us in this time when Jesus has died

and now we don't have anything to really you know, refer to how can

we measure every person that comes to the church? What did God give to

us? Did God give us leave us empty? What did God give us

Holy spirit? More specifically parcels? God gave us apostles? Why do you

think Jesus raised the twelve disciples? Okay, God gave us apostles. The

parcels. Whatever they taught were considered scripture with authority and aparcels. There was

a very stringent requirement to become apostle. You must have received the gospel directly

from Jesus. You have experienced him, and not just you verify other apostles

must verify you as well. That's why the twelve Disciples can verify themselves.

But when Paul came into the picture, say who are you? You didn't

work with us with Jesus. But Paul said, I did experience Jesus apostleship.

It is true even though I was not with you guys. And I

can prove that to you, Okay, I can prove that to you because

when I received this gospel, I didn't meet with anyone I was. He

actually literally a poem. I don't know time. He literally went to the

desert for three years, he didn't speak to anyone. After three years he

went to j Jerusalem and he met with Peter. Said, Peter, I'm

just gonna sit here. I'm gonna tell you everything, and then you audiit

me whether I experienced Jesus personally or not. You get me right. It's

like I enrolled for a university for three years. But I didn't go to

the university. I didn't attend a single class. I went to one cafe,

one star back there. I didn't download any lecture note and I'm gonna

study and on that final day, I'm gonna take the exam. It was

like, but don't do that. But this is what Paul did. He

did literally do that, and I'm gonna see at the exam and then you're

going I'm gonna answer it, and then you're gonna test me. And then

t he plus with fine colors, you know, and people were amazed,

like it's true. This guy who was a terrorist truly an apostle of Jesus,

a disciple of Jesus. He's like, only is so is supernatural.

So what God has given to us is apostle. So they must have met

Jesus, received the Gospel, the messes of Jesus personally. The second thing

they must do was one science and wonders, because you know why, I

apostles must preach in truth but also in power. There was one of the

most important things that must accompany apostles. So when James and Peter went to

the Beautiful Gay, he didn't just say, oh, I'll give a long

lecture. He said, silver and gold, I have none, but in

the name of Jesus, rise up, he rolls up. See here in

the temple, all the preachers, all the priests were teaching her, and

that guy has been there since young and none of them could do what Peter

did. So it was not just his word, but it was the power

that accompantated. Said whose name did you preach under? Remember I told you,

guys becore, whose name did you preach? Onder? Let it be

known to you it is the name of Jesus whom you crucified. That is

the work of the apostles. So not only he was preaching the truth,

his power was greater than every other preacher and priests in the world. So

that is where the apostles wherever they went to, when they went to the

church, it came like, whoa, this guy is going to preach and

teach, and he's going to show power as well. Because the power that

comes out is what is God bearing witness that this is my messenger always,

So it's powerful and saying so Jesus. When he came out, he didn't

just say I am the Messiah. Jesus came and he demonstrated always telling and

showing two hands, telling and showing, telling and showing. The apostles like

that, telling and show, and even Jesus said, greater power, greater

miracles, you will perform on my behalf. You get men right. Jesus

even told them you are my sheep. I've kept them. You will do

even greater things. And that is why the apostles, you know, were

so important at that time. All their writings were so important. Now this

is where I want to ask you a question now, and Tioch just planted,

isn't it? Very young church? Praise the Lord. We just have

the new church there. God gave them Barnabas the Aparcel. God gave them

Paul, a great apostle as well. They're not Bible. So they absorbed

the teaching and the faith from Paul. And then when you read this chapter,

they went and pray, what did the Holy Spirit ask them to do?

Set apart for me, Paul and Barnabas for the words which I called

them to do. We are a church not even recognized earlier by Jerusalem.

Thank you for sending them to us, But now you want us to send

them away? I told you everything they need to know to grow on was

based on Paul. And because the pause, isn't it now? God has

asked them to send away the thing that they relied on. God, let

ask them to give away. Now you understand why it's so different? Is

in it? You're like, oh, they were just a bunch of people

praying, but you have no idea why it's going inside their hearts. You

know, they were sending the people that they cared and depended most about.

It's like, hey, mom and Dad is finally bad, but now we

have to send them away for a long time. And based on that timer,

wherever they're going on, it's a very high chance they die. I

want to know you know what I'm saying here, It's like, wow,

sending mom and dad. That's why when we send people to anyway, when

you want to plan a new church, a new home, or anything.

They never take things for granted. One okay, never take things for granted.

Okay. And I want to focus on this part here to show if

you way, maybe we can go to that slide there that for earlier next

one maybe God ah, yes, here okay, So what did we learn

from there? First of all, anti were a generous church, even though

they were young, just a toddler. Okay, they were very generous.

It's generous to give money to Jerusalem. In the earlier book, you know,

there was a famine that happened in Jerusalem. So they just planted only

but yet they have hardly any connection with Jerusalem. But yet they were so

generous. Wow, our brethren South, there were in the South in Jusalem.

We're going through a very difficult time. Why were they going to a

difficult time in family? Because a lot of the believers in Jerusalem were priests,

and the priests were getting paid by the temple. The moment they became

a Christian, they lost their jobs and they depended on their families to support

them and also on the Church to feed them. And the moment famine came,

the church got hid hard. You know what I'm saying. So,

Lord, you're feeling not just the church, you're feeding the families, you

know. So the Antioch saw that, and then they decided to collect money

and they sent money down through what said, through maybank to you. Okay,

they couldn't. How did they send money. They send money through Paul

and Barnabas whom they trusted as well. So Paul was not just a missionary,

he was the money carrier as well. Literally it was the money carrier.

You know, this is this is not the first time he would basically

collecting offering. He's like image, you know, you collect an offeringer,

I want you to take a no car and just walk up to suba.

See how you survive. Paul was doing that. There's a lot of money,

you know, not just one you know, for one day. It

is for families, you know, to survive. And you know, it's

quite amazing, you know. And then later times they were he will collect

not just from one place, from many other churches as well, collect money,

come down all the way to give to entail, to give to the

Jerusalem people. So it's quite amazing the generosity you know, to to to

do that. And they have a lot of faith in him as well.

So they were very generous church. Second, there were very obedient and submitted

church. Although they had Paul and Barnabas and although they had little connection,

you know, not as you know it can say like some people say,

it is an accidental church. There was no business plan. Hey let's plant

you know, you know, a church and no business plan. It was

like, oh, there's a church that need to go and audit them first.

Okay, they're legit. It's like accident. But even in that manner,

it was the same spirit that came upon the church. And they're submitted

to Jerusalem as well, and a lot of things. How did they submitted

to Jerusalem? Okay? A lot of things. You know, you can

be decided by the church in Antio, but there are major teaching things that

they cannot be decided by Antio because it doesn't just affect them, it affects

everyone as well, the believers. So when that happened, they actually send

Paul and Bandabas down to Jerusalem to be there delegate to discuss and debate this

matter. And one of the key issues they debated was what do you need

to be a Jew before you become a Christian? Okay, so last time

the Jews was saying, we are a Jew and then we are a Christian.

Now you have gent house. Okay, I want to be a Christian.

But what they need to be first? Do I go through this way

or whatever? Do I need to pay a troll? Do I need to

become a Jew first before I become a Christian. So Paul and Baba say,

you don't need to Why do you need to become a Jew? Why

do you need to be circumcised? Why do you need to you know,

follow all these commandments to become a Christian? You get me right. It's

like you still have to pay troll to use when there's another open road ready,

you know. So there was one of the main issues they actually had

to debate, and they didn't decide on their own. Imagine if Antio decided

this on their own without Jerusalem's approval. How you have two spliturechres you know,

true or not. You have a bunch of Christians who say that,

oh you must be a Jew, and a bunch of Christians if you don't

there they will fight intern of fighting. Ready. So unity and submission is

so important because it doesn't just involve you, It involves everyone. You understand

I'm saying. So when you disagree, you must understand. I say.

You must see things in the bigger picture. There's a big ramification in everything

that they do. Okay, So there is one thing. The third thing

they were sending church and at that time, like I said, no Bible,

God sent to amazing apostles to them and when they pray. You know,

you think that when you pray hard, when you're fast long enough,

and God will give you things. You know, said God, you pray

high and God ask you to send out things. It's true? Is it

you think that God, we don't have a lot already? Can you give

us more? God said, no, give how many you wanted? Skate

right now? Isn't it you think that God, I know you. I

need these, I need a job promotion, I need this. And God

saying, oh, pray give what because I said you are rich? Really

not only you are rich, I will provide you. See the fact that

they actually have to send them out is really they have to exercise a lot

what faith? Faith in what? Then God? As God has given us

poem and barnabas, we must believe that God will give even in their absence,

true or not as much God has given. See sometimes in churches I've

seen not just no, not just in not in the things that we see.

Now this many churches are going to okay if they have to. If

a pastor is not around, then they say, hey, this church is

not good. If this pasta don't have a good preaching, not good.

Hey, you know, you know, you know we've multiplied ready, you

know the churches they are outside when they try to multiply. Hey, this

this pasta don't don't come, and it's not like our old pastor, we

stopped coming. Ready. If this like that, are then the book of

X stop here ready Anti? So we were and ex chapter the teen verse

birstreet finish ready and they send Paul and Barnabas away and the Church of Anti

your close down. No, it's true, you get. I mean,

you know what I'm saying here. But but if you read this particular,

what did they say before that? They mentioned other people, Simeon, Lucius,

Menane, all these people who were just raised up at that time.

So if they leave, who has to teach? They have to teach?

Who will pastor they will have the pastor? So the early church? What

was they're calling raised disciples, not raise money or raised building disciples. God

will continue to challenge the church to send to give your best and will raise

from your house. Well, I want to I think this is a very

important thing and all that churches don't see nowadays because they see only their lack.

When I read this, I'm like, wow, God, this has

always been in the Bible. You know, this has always been your template

and know always been God's template. The first church was planted like that.

You know it's not business model, big money. No, hey, let's

go do a survey. How many people will come to our church at what

time? Is it eleven better? Ten better? Nine better? Should be

teaching bilingual and meling world. No such survey one and all or a band

we will have best people, you know. No, if we do a

frame, should we play this music? Play this music? No such thing?

One and all? When you when you hear this temple? How is

this? What? What does God really really want? Faith? Well?

The church believe? Do you need to know the entire Bible to have faith?

They don't even have a Bible in all. They don't even have a

Bible, you know, they don't even have a legit teacher. But yeah,

the Holy Spirit bad witness. So it's all about the heart. Do

they have three years training in the Bible college or whatever apps? You know?

I'm leading also there and you can only do doesn't mean that you redondan

nollar, of course, but you are'm saying what I'm saying here. God

always looking at our hearts. They have so little, but yet they achieved

one of the greatest mission works at that time when people can be killed everywhere

they walk. Yeah, me right. It was so difficult, but yet

God, but they were. They gave the most in most difficult times.

People give the most true when they have so little. Okay, and he

says that you know what inverse Street said, Then having faster and prayed and

laid hands on them, they send them away. He said, even if

you are so good you go. You cannot stay here. You must go

and do that work. You say, it's amazing, not just the apostles

having faith, but the Church having so much faith and purity of heart.

Your heart must be pure one, you know, see, giving tests your

heart because you know why you have to be pure to give it all away,

isn't it. It's like, do you like to receive christ presence for

someone who's not truly pure it? You know, you know people, the

person give to you, it's like, hey, you know the person gives

just nice to tune because this is the Christmas allowance. You know, twenty

ring gets you spend twenty ring get to to money. It's not because that

I really care about you, But because you know our duty. Do you

give to your children just because you know? No, you give because you

actually care. So giving actually examines your heart and forces you to cleanse your

heart on you know, to really give. It exposes you to yourself and

to the people around you. That's why people hate giving. Isn't it expose

you? It's not that it's expensive, you know, it just tells you

who you really are. Do you like that you are the type of person

the toup giver? Don't like? Give our pure heart, give our pure

heart, give out a generous heart. And this church stood that test.

They gave out of a generous heart. We go no one. We give

because Holy Spirit says so, and people will step back. People will rise

to the occasion to lead the church as well. Amen. How much time

do I have left? I feel like I should close here already. Maybe

I should close here And she had got at a part. How's just going?

But I think that this is where I want to leave you guys,

because towards the end of the year, right, I really believe how Pastor

can say that twenty twenty four we are entering a seven year prophetic time.

I don't have a scripture to back me. But my god feeling I qualify

this. Okay, I'm not saying this scripture, but my god feeling tells

me we have seven years to really do what we can. By twenty thirty,

my god feeling tells me something big is going to happen to the world,

like what COVID has done. Seven years, seven years of plenty seven

years of famine we have and this is why a lot of us are going

through very difficult times towards this year end menth Some of us have lost family

members, some of our experienced losses in jobs, finances. By beliterally,

twenty four for some of us will be a breakthrough year. By that breakthrough

will also test us. Are we're harboring for ourselves or are we storing the

house storehouse for God? You get me right? Are you storing for?

Are you going to be giving? Are you going to be doing that work?

By twenty thirty, I can tell you it's the world is going to

do some nonsense. The world is going to through some troll some nonsense that

everybody is going to be so unprepared for nobody prepared for COVID. But you

don't need to have COVID to prepare to throw the world into chaos. Okay,

you don't need COVID. The world just need to change the temperature by

two degrees and everybody will have shortage your food. You see. Yeah,

when you have, when you have, when you have, when you have

diseaser you ca it is still debating or you want to take it or not,

don't take it on. But when you have food shortage and your children

are hungry, you will not even hesitate to take it. You know what

I'm saying. Yeah, I want telling you there's another level of urgency there

world. That's why are in Book of Revelations. It's not talking about whether

it's an injection or it's about what whether you can buy and sell for your

daily food. It's no longer it's no longer about you, you know,

and it will become the type of persecution that comes about seven years. That's

my gud feeling. I don't want to scare you guys or anything, but

seven years of plenty. Prepare yourself. Don't get into too much depth or

anything. Hey serious, there's my god feeling. Seven years. Don't simply

buy the things that you don't need. Save up, save up, for

yourself or your family and for the loved ones. Don't get into that by

being house don't Your plenty is not yes, so plenty. It's not for

you to spend on these things. Right, the world will continue to have

better things you want to buy tesla la buy or whatever your ee fauna.

You know, no Bible says prudency is what is needed in difficult times.

You know what I'm saying. No Bible saying prudency is what is needed in

difficult times. Joseph was the most prudent man. What was he saving?

Like every for every tree, he's saved one and he put in the side

of prudencey, what does prudent mean? Prudence doesn't mean that you gam syup,

you know the exact work. For Prudent means to be able to see

the good in everything. Oh did you know that it's not not. Prudent

means you are able to see the good or the important in everything. Means

when you look like, oh I actually have season or good? Do I

see something? Or do I see something really important and good? Something bad

happened in my life as well? It might to be able to be prudent

without coming to judgment. You get me right. Prudency is about what you

see and you are able to extract. And you're like, this is the

lesson. I must be careful and you take you safe, you safe,

you see you come see or not. Even in the time of Joseph when

there was a big you know when when when the dream was interpreted, Oh,

seven years of twenty seven years of famine, what should we do?

Everybody start panicking, you know, But Joseph have the prudence to say,

no, we control all the weed and we save it up. So he

converted a bad famine into a time of salvation and said, now to seven

years we must get. But the next seven years that we we have,

we must be generous to give safe so that you can give amen like the

church as well. We get Paul and Barnabas. But when the Holy Spirit

comes, we must send you know, when you send means you also have

to rise up. How many of us are willing to rise up to serve?

And I would be ready to become a home leader. Ay, my

son, my god on did this? You know? Learn under this leadership?

And we all do the same same thing, same thing. Thing.

No, you don't understand. It's all coming under the same submission. Even

Poe and Babas come under submission. Who are you greater than that? Even

the church is there so called accidental church in human eyes, to God is

not you know, you might think that it is unecessary, But to God

is necessary. You know. God. God put things that you don't see

to see whether you have faith and to submit or not even when you don't

sometimes to understand. But when you do, when you do things out of

obediness and out of the fullness of faith and purity of heart, God blesses

you. You're not saying what I'm saying here now, even when you have

lost so much, When you are full of faith, when you are pure

or heart, God is please. God says before. Without faith, it

is impossible to please God, isn't it? Without faith, it is impossible

to please God. So step step up because you never know. I might

be away. All the leaders might be away, Passa might be away,

Home, leaders might be away. We told down the church. Do we

close down the homes? Do we close down the fellowship? No? It

must continue. The chapter cannot end. You get what I'm saying. You

know that this chapter cannot end. There's too much at stake. You know,

you get me right, too much at stake, just because people lack

faith and say, don't get Everyone else can give, but not me.

Why involve me? You can continue to talk like that, to say like

that, and that will be the legacy. Don't wait for God to point

their finger. You are chosen. Make yourself chosen. The fact that you

actually think about should aiah? It's you imagine if the whole world thing just

about should I and their responder, we have no property ready? You know

it's because people keep saying that God has not spoken to me, and they

wait and wait and wait and wait. We have all poverty. You get

me right. That's the problem. People still waiting for the will of God.

That's why we're all the problems are is the lack of fail waiting for

someone or this. I know, I'm still waiting and waiting because you're waiting,

You're not You're not waiting. A lot of people say that they're praying

and waiting. No, you're not waiting. What are you really doing?

You're bargaining with God? True or not. You go to one shop,

Hey, how much is this T shirt? Twenty five r gait? How

much you can drop twenty then the fellow want to offer you. Okay,

let me go and work for us. Talk to my wife. You're not

talking to your wife, you're just checking on other shops. Well, can

you got fifteenner? Then you compare again how much or tendering? Git can?

Why you delay? You're scared to commit that money. You're bargaining with

God. That's the truth, very very harsh, but it's true, isn't

it. We're bargaining. You bargain because you're scared. You're scared you lose

something. You bargain. So people come out with all sorts of excus but

I can't. I'm not here. But you see, we are not going

to spend God, it's not gonna spend the time to debate with you.

Debate with you. You want it or not? Don't bargain you have faith

or not? You get me right. I know this bargaining because my children

do all the time. In me. It's just that now we see it

from doubts on it in a different way. You get me right. We're

still bargaining because you don't want because it's like, oh, what if I

lose it? You know, what if I commit too much? My time.

You're bargain. They're all laugh But it's true, isn't it. Bargain

we bargain with, not just in church, with bargain with our in our

marketplace, with our bosses, with our family. We bargain with bargain.

That's the truth. When we bargain, our means I don't trust. I'm

scared. That's the truth. Instead of bargaining, just tell God, go

I'm scared. That's all. At least you go straight to your heart problem.

Then God can deal with it. You get me right, I'm scared.

Just say God, help me with my unbelief. Don't bug it and

pretend that you have full of faith. Don't pretend that you are really praying

and seeking the will of God. I'm not saying all of you. I'm

not putting all of you in the same basketler, But I've heard it many

enough of times, and people tell me, hey, let me pray about

it. They never go back to me until I ask you, Oh,

yeah, I think about you, you know, yeah, yeah, I

remember you talk about yeah. But I'm very hard now. It's very busy

for me. You hear what I mean? Right, Hey, you're not

answering to me. You know, I may get disappointed by it doesn't matter.

I move on in my life. I have to continue. But the

one who ultimately answer is to the Lord. You know why God does it

to you? You asked from God. God said, oh I didn't hear

your messages or six it under. Oh you actually pray to me their heart?

Oh yeah, yeah, maybe it'll be busy that I know. If

God does it to you, you get fully upset. But you do that

God all the time. But God loves us all. There's an urgency people,

Okay, there's an urgency. Don't answer. Don't just respond because everything

is perfectly aligned. Ask yourself. It's your heart pure and do you have

fullness of faith? Okay, that's how your life grows. That is how

the church grows. That is how the Kingdom of God expands. Fullness of

faith and purity of heart. That's why I thank you all for those of

you who's serving. You are opening your house, whom you serve, You

connect with people, you do whatever you People don't see it. I don't

see anyone don't see it. It doesn't matter because you see, it's not

about being seen in now. At the end of the days, the virtue

that comes out of your life. It's all about that virtue that comes out

of your life. On what you do when you serve that? What is

the virtue in your heart? You believe you're full of faith? End you

you know that you do because not because you are sein. You do because

you know it is right. You know you do because it is kind.

You can, I mean right, believe in not just a responsibility. You

believe in what you touch as well. And does some ster so serve?

No, I know sometimes we serve. We don't might not get appreciated,

It's true, but that's the cross that we bet Jesus served. And people

carry the cross. You say, oh, carry the cross? You know

that when Jesus kised the cross, are you're still it's nothing? You know,

carry across heavy one thing, But when you carry across are you're being

spit at and thrown at one? No, you get me right when you

carry you think that when you carry across, people appreciate you carrying across.

No, when you carry across the world will mock you. When you carry

across, you will be alone, You'll be spit at, you'll be at

people's thing. You are self righteous in everything you do. Why I know,

because there's the journey of Jesus, but yet he still carried it.

Well, I'm telling you is that sometimes serving it's not about having the expectation

of a reward on this world. Jesus saying, now, if you serve

our, I don't expect a reward from this world. If you do,

you already got your reward, true or not. Don't expect that at all.

I'm not saying that we don't appreciate people, that it's not there.

I'm just saying if the church appreciates and sees great, but that's like zero

point five percent of what you really will experience. Because if you expect the

fullness hundred percent from this church, for any church, you're gonna get disappointed.

You'd be like, hey, I carry my cross, people speak,

maybe people laughing. Even my own family members and friends are doing that.

They dissociate with me. How is it that when I carry my cross it's

so difficult and so lonely Because that is what Jesus went through, and when

you went through it, it shouldn't take you away from God. It should

take you closer to God. God. As I carry my cross, as

I walk this past. Now I know you even deeper, even closer.

I know what you I know that you know my loss. I know you

know my pain. I know you know my emptiness. Jesus hugs you,

and you know that's hard. It is hard, you know what I'm saying.

That's why when you're walk with Jesus long enough, and you experience this

cross long enough, when you come to your last day, it's like,

hey, this is like routine. Man. You go to your into your

you diere with just a smile. You know why. Jesus has always been

with me and he will be with me to the very end, to the

next line. It's just this time I will close my eyes. Yeah,

I mean for a long time I've opened my eyes, but you are still

with me, Jesus. This time I'm going to close my eyes and I

know who will be holding my hand. Amen. We hope you've been blessed

by this message. For more information on our church, please visit as Church

do O RG. 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