WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:03.000 Lot do. We thank you for your word today. We thank you for 2 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:06.559 the way you help us, so you lead us, the way you speak 3 00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:08.880 to us, the way you guide us. We give you the honor for 4 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:14.960 it in Jesus' name. Everybody said, Amen, Amen, Amen. Good 5 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:18.399 to see all of you this morning. Aren't you proud of that group of 6 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:26.280 students. It was a great year and the great commitment that they made to 7 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.399 be a part of what we were doing. And of course we'd love to 8 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:35.600 see you, and we're hoping to launch year too, so they we'd have 9 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:39.679 a second year and if you want to be a part of first year again, 10 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:43.359 that's Monday nights six thirty to nine, and we have a lot of 11 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:47.119 fun together. I want to dive into the word talking a little bit about 12 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:53.920 your call to the ministry this morning, and we can start out of John 13 00:00:54.520 --> 00:01:00.359 twenty one. Let's dive in there together. John twenty one. This is 14 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:06.239 the call of Peter to ministry. Afterward, Jesus appeared again to his disciples. 15 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:07.760 This is verse one, by the Sea of Galilee. And it happened 16 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:14.959 that Simon Peter who was also Simon Peter and Thomas. I'm sorry, Nathaniel 17 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.920 from Cana and the sons of Zebedee and two witter disciples. They were together 18 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:23.280 and Peter said, I'm going to go fishing, and so Peter takes them 19 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.920 out and goes fishing with him. Early in the morning they come back. 20 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:32.719 They fished all night, they caught no fishies. And early in the morning 21 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:36.959 Jesus is on shore, and the disciples didn't realize it was him. He 22 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:41.000 calls out, friends, have you any fish? They didn't have any fish. 23 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:42.519 They'd fished all night, caught no fishies. So they said no. 24 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:47.599 He said, throw your net on the right side. Some translations say on 25 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:49.760 the other side of the boat, and you'll find some. And when they 26 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:57.719 did, they were unable to bring in the net because of the hall of 27 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:00.760 the fish. And so then the table whom Jesus loved, which is John. 28 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:06.519 He's writing this said to Peter, it is the Lord. And as 29 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:09.199 soon as Simon heard it was the Lord, he throws his coat on his 30 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:12.879 robe and he jumps in the water. He's swimming to shore. The other 31 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:16.719 disciples following the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were 32 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:21.680 not. They were only about one hundred yards away, a football field away. 33 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:24.719 And when they landed they saw a fire of burning cools already there with 34 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:28.400 fish on it and some bread, and Jesus said, bring some of the 35 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:31.120 fish you've caught. And so Simon Peter climbed back in the boat dragged the 36 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:37.039 net ashore full of a large fish, one hundred and fifty three of them. 37 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:39.960 And even so the net was not torn. So this there's stories here. 38 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:46.840 God gave them a giant catch. It was a These were large fish. 39 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:52.919 But even then the net wasn't torn. So what God gives you doesn't 40 00:02:52.960 --> 00:03:00.319 get away. That's good, right. So Jesus said, come and have 41 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:05.280 breakfast. And remember he already had fish. So he already had fish. 42 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:09.240 Where'd he get the fish? Did he have a fishing pole? Jesus knows 43 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:14.919 where to get fish. Jesus knows how to meet your supply, right, 44 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:17.599 and so come and have breakfast. Know the disciples there to ask who you 45 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.800 were, because they knew what the lord. So he gave them bread and 46 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.080 the same with the fish. This is the third time he's appeared to them. 47 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:29.159 And when they finished eating, then he says to Simon Peter, and 48 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:30.520 this is we talked about it last week. If you were here, He 49 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:38.719 reiterates his CaAl to ministry. He reiterates his sanctifying Peter under ministry, and 50 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:44.520 this is a ministry call to all of the eleven as he's setting them apart 51 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:53.280 for ministry. And he says, comparing the fish to his love. So 52 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:59.759 we know Peter had gone back to fishing, and yet there was a call 53 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:04.039 on his life to pursue what God had called him to, and that was 54 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:10.120 away from fishing and to live a set apart life to expand the Gospel of 55 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:17.279 the Kingdom. And so he says contrasting the fish to his love. He 56 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:24.519 says, Peter Simon, son of John, do you love me more than 57 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:29.000 these? More than the fish? And the word in the Greek is do 58 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:33.120 you a gop amy? Do you unconditionally love me? Are you in covenant 59 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:38.360 with me? Are you going to lay down your life for me? And 60 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:44.199 Peter replies, Lord, you know that I folio you. We're close friends, 61 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.439 we're buddies. I really like you a lot. I care about you 62 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:53.160 sincerely. So that's what's happening in the Greek. You don't see it in 63 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.920 your translation, but that's what's happening in the Greek. He's saying, do 64 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.959 you a gop amy? And Peter's saying, Lord, I fileo you, 65 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:05.240 and he says, still, he says to him, feed my lambents. 66 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:13.240 You know, even the Word declares over us freely you've received, now freely 67 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:18.759 give. You know the scripture freely you've received, Now freely give. And 68 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:23.759 this is you know, this is we can see some things happening here. 69 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:29.959 Even though the Lord recognizes his love for him is not at the level of 70 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:39.120 the Lord's love for Peter, he still declares something really powerful over him, 71 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:46.279 something meaningful. It's actually it's actually being called into the most powerful, wonderful, 72 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:51.000 glorious thing on the planet. Is to know that God has called you 73 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:58.480 to some form of ministry. God has called you to represent Jesus. God 74 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.639 has called you to manifests the glory of God in the earth. God has 75 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.399 actually set you apart in your generation. It's not a bad thing. It's 76 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:15.680 the most glorious thing. Yeah, maybe we shun it. Maybe we think 77 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.759 it's terrible, Maybe we think it's hard, Maybe we think it's miserable. 78 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:23.360 Maybe we think it's a heavy calling. Maybe we think it's something we don't 79 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:29.160 want, not realizing that it's the most glorious thing ever. It's the most 80 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:33.360 glorious thing ever to be set apart under God for ministry. And so even 81 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:40.040 though Peter's heart wasn't perfected, remember just yesterday he was denying the Lord three 82 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:46.399 times. So even though Peter's heart wasn't perfected in love, God foresees that 83 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:54.199 the love that he has for him is going to release ministry through him to 84 00:06:54.199 --> 00:07:02.560 touch others. And certainly Peter touched thousand and of course wrote part of our 85 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:09.439 scripture, part of what we see as scripture, part of what we have 86 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:14.279 in our Bible was written by Peter, but it is used to touch and 87 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:21.839 raise up and minister and birth and plant churches and impact the entire world for 88 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:27.240 the Kingdom of God. He says it again, Simon, son of John, 89 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:30.759 do you love me? And you know he's saying, do you love 90 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:33.360 me more than these? And he says, Lord, you know that I 91 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:36.600 love you, And Jesus says, take care of my sheep. So first 92 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:42.439 it's feed my sheep, and then it's take care of my sheep. The 93 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.959 third time he said, and again he says the second time it's agape and 94 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:56.399 falleo again, and then the third time the Lord lowers his question. He 95 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:03.600 lowers his question, recognizing Peter's love is brotherly, but knowing that that's enough 96 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:09.879 at this moment. That's enough at this moment. So he says, Peter 97 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:18.120 Simon, son of John, do you flao me? And Peter was hurt 98 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:22.199 because Jesus asked him the third time do you love me? And he says, 99 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:26.920 Lord, you know all things, you know, I flayo you, 100 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:35.840 and Jesus says, feed my sheep, Feed my sheep. It's a stirring, 101 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.279 right, it's a stirring and so many of us have felt that stirring. 102 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:46.240 And it could be it could be that's how a ministry call started with 103 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:50.200 you. It could have been you noting a need, or you praying about 104 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:54.360 something, or you in a worship service or in a conference or setting under 105 00:08:54.440 --> 00:09:00.360 the teaching of the Word, or or just observing someone struggling and the Spirit 106 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:05.720 could have spoken to you. Because the ministry call you are. You're literally 107 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:11.159 vulnerable to the ministry call. The moment you give your life to the Lord, 108 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:16.720 he's not running around looking for you know, just certain people that have 109 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:22.519 just this certain dimension about them and they just have this certain passion or this 110 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:28.080 certain love for him, or certain ones that pray four hours a day, 111 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.159 and it's truly known that they have this great agape for God. And so 112 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:37.480 he's going to come and call them the ministry. The moment you come to 113 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:48.159 Jesus, he's calling you the ministry. He's calling you the ministry. And 114 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:52.759 we see this in scripture, right, First Speed four to ten says that 115 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:58.440 each of us receive each of us receive gifts. Each of us receive gifts, 116 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:05.519 and that we're to use those gifts to build up one another. We 117 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:11.080 were to use those gifts to serve one another. First Peter. That's First 118 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:18.480 Peter. First Corinthians. First Corinthians twelve, twenty eight through thirty one. 119 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:22.279 There's a whole list of gifts here, like it's a giant list. It's 120 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:28.799 longer than the gift list in Ephesians four. Where Ephesians four we have the 121 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:37.159 apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelists. This is a longer list. 122 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:45.039 This includes ministries of helps. This includes ministries of administration as well as 123 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:50.960 apostle, prophet, pastor, leader, et cetera. Right, and then 124 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:56.120 we got Romans chapter twelve. Romans chapter twelve, right after he tells us 125 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:03.080 to renew our mind right. He starts in verse three saying that each one 126 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:07.679 of us receives a gift and we receive the faith to operate in that gift. 127 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:16.519 And then he goes on the list seven motivational gifts that are ministered through 128 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:22.559 the members of the Body of Christ. Up Here in verse twenty eight, 129 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.159 he says that God sets us in the body where he wants us to be. 130 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:33.919 God is the one who chooses where he wants us to be. Set 131 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:46.399 in the body might be better that way, instead of sitting, God sets 132 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:52.000 us in the body where he wants us to be. And that every single 133 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:58.559 gifted one is important, every single minister is important, every single ministry is 134 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:05.039 important. And one of the things that we've been we've been sharing and discovering 135 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:20.799 is that your financial provision. God has directly connected your financial provision to your 136 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:28.000 loving what he's called you to, because as you love him, you also 137 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:35.559 love what he's called you to. You can't love him and not love what 138 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:41.159 he's called you to, even if your love is falleo. To love him 139 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:45.679 is to love what he's called you to, and God has to God has 140 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:54.759 connected every Christian's financial well being to them giving attention to what he's called them 141 00:12:54.759 --> 00:13:03.120 to, every single believer, every single So even you know Matthew six, 142 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:09.240 everybody say, Matthew six, you know it really well, Matthew six thirty 143 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:16.799 one. I don't want to quote it wrong. So I snapped a picture 144 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:22.240 of it. I don't think we have it back there, Okay, can 145 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:31.519 I look well? Okay? Hah Lulujah. Isn't God good? So do 146 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:37.080 not worry saying what shall I eat, what shall I drink? What in 147 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:43.240 the world am I gonna wear? But the pagans run after all those things. 148 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:50.720 The pagans run after all those things. In other words, the young 149 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.559 believers, those that don't have a father, they esteem those things as the 150 00:13:54.600 --> 00:14:01.279 supreme thing they should be running after. But You're heavenly fought knows you need 151 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:07.279 them. Gabriel can give me a little bit more. Your heavenly father knows 152 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:13.279 you need them. So seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, his Kingdom 153 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:24.559 of Heaven on earth. The kingdom is always the Kingdom of Heaven and the 154 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:28.360 Kingdom of God. And it's always It's not like seeking the Kingdom of heaven 155 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:35.039 above, it's seeking the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Seek first, the 156 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:41.440 establishing of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, in my family, in my 157 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:46.440 business, in my relationships, in my church. How do we know it's 158 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:52.240 not seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God ethereally in the 159 00:14:52.320 --> 00:15:00.000 heavens. Because Jesus said, so, Jesus said, when you pray from 160 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:03.519 no, this is the truth. Pray this way, thy kingdom come, 161 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:13.080 Thy will be done on earth. It's always been done in heaven. His 162 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:20.720 will's always been done in heaven. We're not seeking his will in heaven. 163 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.879 We're seeking that his will in heaven would come on earth. This is what 164 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:31.519 it is to have a heart after the kingdom. It's the Kingdom of Heaven 165 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:41.639 on earth. Then all these things will be given to you as well. 166 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:48.159 So here's what we know. When we elevate our ministry and we make from 167 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:52.840 you can't you only got twenty four hours in a day. Can't You can't 168 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:58.200 elevate your economics, and you can't elevate your pursuit of clothing and housing and 169 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:07.159 elevate your suit of stuff to the extreme and then have time for ministry, 170 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:11.440 have time to fulfill your ministry. You can't do it. You're going to 171 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:17.840 have to de elevate. You're going to have to de elevate your pursuit of 172 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:29.600 stuff. You have to de elevate your pursuit of wealth and stuff and provision 173 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:34.000 and clothing and whatever that is. You've got to de elevate it so that 174 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:41.200 God can make up the difference for you. Because when you de elevate your 175 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:45.759 pursuit of this and you escalate, and you raise up, and you elevate 176 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:51.360 the call of God on you for ministry, then God makes up the difference. 177 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.600 God makes up the difference. Now, He's tried to say this in 178 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:00.480 a thousand different ways. In Isaiah fifty eight eight, he says, this 179 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:07.960 is the fast that I've chosen. I've chosen a fast for the righteous. 180 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:15.119 It's not just a fast of omitting food for the sake of omitting food. 181 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:21.720 It's not just a fast for omitting drink. The fast that I've chosen is 182 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:27.400 that when you suffer, the suffering that pleases me is a suffering that turns 183 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:34.559 your attention from you and your stuff and your needs and your focus on it, 184 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:41.000 and you turn your attention to others who have a need. And if 185 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.200 you'll break your bread for the hungry, and if you'll share your clothing with 186 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.880 the naked, And if you'll open your house to the needy, and if 187 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:53.000 you'll care for others. Where's the verse? You got it, Devin? 188 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:56.319 Throw it up there. Let's read it. Let's see if I'm true? 189 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:59.960 Is this not the kind of fast that I've chosen to listen to? Change 190 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:03.480 of injustice? Unto the untie the cords of the yoke, Set the oppress 191 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:07.960 free, and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with 192 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:14.960 the hungry, to prepare it, provide the poor wonder with shelter when you 193 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:18.039 see that they get to clothe them, And then not turn away from your 194 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:26.240 own flesh and blood. Then your light will break forth like the dawn, 195 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:30.839 and your healing will quickly appear. Then your righteousness will go before you, 196 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:37.839 and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Can you water 197 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:45.720 me heath that waters shall be watered? Proverbs eleven, twenty four and twenty 198 00:18:45.759 --> 00:19:00.200 five. The Word of God is literally filled with these. Scripture Isaiah sixty, 199 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:03.839 horizon, shine, for your light has come, for the glory of 200 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.640 the Lord has risen upon you. Gross darkness will cover the earth, but 201 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:14.279 the Lord will shine on you. Then strangers will come and care for your 202 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:19.400 flocks. Then the nations will bring riches to you. The Word of God 203 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:26.480 is full of this stuff, encouraging you to fulfill your ministry. That when 204 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:36.200 you fulfill your ministry, God will take care of you. Now, most 205 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:41.799 of us are not called to vocational ministry as Peter and the eleven were. 206 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:47.920 Most of us aren't. But the most common ministry calling in the Body of 207 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.160 Christ and across the Body of Christ is the shepherding ministry, the pastoral ministry. 208 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:57.759 This is the most common. The pastoral ministry is a very common ministry, 209 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:04.640 and I I believe that the pastoral ministry is as it was with Moses. 210 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:12.920 It is a calling on those to lead, pastor shepherd and care for 211 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:21.119 even as small as ten people. So I think that even in our congregation 212 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:26.119 we have roughly six to seven hundred people that call this their church, we 213 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:37.319 could have seventy pastors here seventy pastors. Now, some of us are already 214 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:42.200 engaged in pastoral work because we care for trail life, and we care for 215 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:47.160 you know, some aspect that we're leading a connect group, and so we 216 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:52.960 probably have several that are fulfilling and not even realizing that they're fulfilling a pastoral 217 00:20:53.000 --> 00:21:00.079 aspect. But a pastoral aspect in its smallest dimension, is caring for ten 218 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:04.319 people. It's not like, well, I'm a pastor at heart. I 219 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:07.400 got this thing. You know, I've saw three people in the four year 220 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.200 last week and one of them look thirsty. I went and got I'm a 221 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.960 drink and I'm doing this thing. I'm really caring for I'm really caring for 222 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:23.759 folk. No, it's actually having ten people that, as Peter was called 223 00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:30.240 to that you actually feed them, You actually care for them, you actually 224 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:36.839 strengthen them, you actually edify them. You Actually it's feeding and caring. 225 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:41.359 It's serving, it's ministering to ten. Now why do I say that? 226 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:48.160 Because of Exodus chapter Exodus chapter eighteen. Right, this is what this is 227 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:52.519 what Moses needed, and this is the wisdom that God brought Moses. You 228 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:56.480 remember it. So Exodus chapter eighteen, we might have it. Can we 229 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:59.839 go to it? If we've got it, we can go to it. 230 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.920 Moses father in law replied to Moses, what you're doing is not good. 231 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:07.759 You and these people who come to you are only going to wear yourselves out. 232 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:11.680 The work is too heavy for you. You can't handle it alone. 233 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:14.839 Listen to me and I'll give you advice, and may God be with you. 234 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:18.359 You must be the people's representative before God. This is what a leader 235 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.720 does. This is what a shepherd does. And Moses was, as it 236 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:26.480 were, the chief shepherd over the people of Israel. There were two million 237 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:33.839 of them. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes 238 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:42.880 to him. Teach them His decrees and instructions. Teach them, teach them 239 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:48.279 His decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and 240 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:53.359 how they are to behave. This is what a shepherd does. This is 241 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:57.799 what a leader does. This is what I called out one does. And 242 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:03.559 select apable men from all the people, men who fear God, trustworthy men 243 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:07.319 who hate disown His game, and appoint them of officials. Over thousands, 244 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:23.799 hundreds, fifties and tens. Everybody say thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 245 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:33.559 This is interesting. The shepherding call is over tens, fifties, hundreds 246 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:41.960 and thousands. Now what happened is what happens is when we hear in our 247 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:48.799 spirit men the calling of God upon us, like Peter did because of American 248 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:56.880 Christianity. Because of Western Christianity, we conclude, Oh, I'm called to 249 00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:03.880 thousands, or maybe I'm called to hundreds. Therefore, I need to sell 250 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:08.240 my fishing business, I need to get rid of my nets. I need 251 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:14.119 to let the boat in the pole go right. Whatever it is, because 252 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:22.440 I'm called. Since I'm called, it must be a vocational calling. That's 253 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:33.559 the conclusion in the American Western Church. And so what happens is we may 254 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:40.440 have lots of reactions that we may rebel, we may be afraid, we 255 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:45.079 may not really embrace it. We may run away, we may be angry, 256 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:48.720 we may be frustrated. We don't see it as the coolest thing on 257 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:55.039 the planet. We see it as what I just got a four year degree 258 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:57.880 in college. I got to do what I was going to do, computer 259 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:03.799 sciences, going to do engineering, I was going to do. I'm going 260 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:12.160 to be an elementary teacher. So instead of embracing it, we may turn 261 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:18.559 away from it because we think it's one of these things, not realizing that 262 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:27.039 there's seventy of us in this congregation who are called to pastoral ministry called as 263 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:37.480 shepherds. Now the word pastor, the word pastor. Let's go to First 264 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:40.839 Peter, chapter five. The word pastor in the Greek is the word poyman, 265 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:45.799 and the word poyman in the Greek is the word shepherd. So pastor 266 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:52.880 is shepherd. Jesus is the chief shepherd of the flock. A shepherd feeds 267 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:56.880 the sheep, guards the sheep, cares for the sheep, leads the sheep. 268 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:03.200 A shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep. A shepherd is 269 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:11.440 thinking about the sheep. Now, this is what Jesus is. So pastor 270 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:17.359 is not a bad calling. The office of prophet, that's great, The 271 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:22.119 office of evangelist that's super, the office of apostle that's amazing. Are you 272 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:27.039 with me? But the office of pastor that's a pretty good thing. And 273 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:32.880 that office could be You could have that calling on you and you're only called 274 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:37.960 to serve ten the rest of your life. Your calling is to serve ten. 275 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:41.480 And that's not a bad thing. That's not a dishonoring thing. That's 276 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:45.440 a glorious, glorious thing. And if you elevate your calling, then God 277 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:52.640 will elevate you. But if you shirk your calling and you don't want to 278 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:56.680 embrace your calling, or you're confused about your calling, thinking, I don't 279 00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:00.640 want to embrace this, because if I embrace this, I got to sell 280 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:04.160 out everything. I got to leave my business behind every I can't do that. 281 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:10.720 My wife had killed me, the children would cut my legs off. 282 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:15.759 I mean, this is not gonna happen, right, So you're frustrated. 283 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.279 How in the world do I fulfill this? What do I do with this? 284 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:22.720 First Peter Chapter five, to the elders among you, elders, Oh, 285 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:26.640 he calls them elders, now elders. To the elders among you, 286 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:30.400 I a peal as a fellow elder. Oh, Peter, I thought he 287 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:36.680 was called as a shepherd of the flock. I thought he was an apostle. 288 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:41.079 John twenty one. We just read that he's called the shepherd the flock. 289 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:47.279 You're going to see. What they were doing is they were calling elders 290 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:52.480 shepherds, and so some of these churches would have had a whole bunch of 291 00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:03.759 elders shepherds. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder 292 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:07.480 and the witness of Christ sufferings who also will share in the glory to be 293 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:14.960 revealed, be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over 294 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:18.160 them, not because you must, but because you're willing, and not because 295 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:21.319 you're getting paid, by the way, as God wants you to be, 296 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:26.920 not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those 297 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:33.039 intrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief 298 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:41.720 Shepherd, that's ployman, you mean Jesus is just a lowly pastor, well 299 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:47.079 yeah, but he's also the chief prophet, the chief apostle. It's okay, 300 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:49.400 don't get hung up on this. I just want you to see when 301 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:52.160 the Chief Shepherd appears, you'll receive the crown of glory that will never fade 302 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:57.079 away. There's a crown of glory for you, and it's not just for 303 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:03.400 It's not just for these guys. The crown of Glory is not just for 304 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:10.720 the TBN guys that are on a pulpits on a platform somewhere. The crown 305 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:14.160 of Glory is not just for the day Star guide. It's not just for 306 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:18.599 the guy in Texas but twenty thousand, hello, somebody. The crown of 307 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:26.200 glory is for those who receive a download from the Holy Spirit and then they 308 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:33.119 lean into that and it may be a calling to ten, a calling to 309 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:42.480 ten. This flock right now needs seventy pastors, seventy people who are called, 310 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:49.599 who recognize the calling on their lines, who will devalue a little bit 311 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:56.599 their pursuit over here in this realm, so that God can make up the 312 00:29:56.640 --> 00:30:03.960 difference by blessing them and giving them increase, so that there's no lack in 313 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:10.720 their lives whatsoever, so that their well being is just as cared for as 314 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:17.200 the guy over here with no calling whatsoever. Not that you can't find that 315 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.839 in the believer circle, but you could find it out here in the world 316 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:25.319 circle. Who's pouring his whole life, the young believer, the pagan's pouring 317 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:30.880 his whole life and the stuff. And the believer he's serving God, he's 318 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:36.880 following the Holy Spirit, and he's pouring his life into ministry and caring for 319 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:40.720 others. And then the Lord just shows up and says, hey, just 320 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:56.839 throw your net over there. But it calms by embracing this calling, even 321 00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:02.440 at this lower numeric level. And this is for ladies as well as men. 322 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:07.839 This is for ladies as well as men. God gave young each show 323 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:14.720 this revelation in soul Korea, and he began to loose the women. He 324 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:18.960 began to loose the women to lead the women. He began to loose the 325 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:25.160 women to care for the women. He began to lose women pastors and women 326 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:30.960 shepherds to call, to care, to feed, to nourish the women. 327 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:41.359 And the church exploded. The church exploded because the same anoyting works in upon 328 00:31:41.799 --> 00:32:07.440 and through the ladies of the house. Say with me this morning, when 329 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:15.920 you're in a really powerful holy Spirit time, holy spirit's moving like Craig recognized 330 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:25.480 it this morning. Then there's downloads in the spirit room that take place, 331 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:31.079 and like you're getting stuff in the spirit. And that's many times where these 332 00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:38.960 callings come and are made really true to the heart. But then we exit 333 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:47.599 those doors back into the pressure of life, bookkeeping, accounting, bills, 334 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:58.640 construction, flat tires, worn out cars, taxes are due, sprinklers don't 335 00:32:58.680 --> 00:33:07.880 work, child in peril. We exit those doors back into the pressures of 336 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:15.519 life. And it's easy to suppress what the Lord said when we were in 337 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:22.359 that chamber of intimacy and we felt him write something on our heart. But 338 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:29.440 those things are the most precious things. Those words over you are the most 339 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:35.960 precious things. And the callings in the ministry, like first Timothy three says 340 00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:47.759 that to be called into the responsibility of leadership, it's a noble thing. 341 00:33:50.680 --> 00:34:00.640 It's like a super noble thing. But we get outside of this building and 342 00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:07.679 we forget about that noble thing, or we let the cares of this life 343 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:15.800 put it down and silence it, or we let the contention of our spouse 344 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:21.039 or our family, or our own financial needs, we let it dictate, 345 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:27.920 and then we don't give it the place. And if we don't give it 346 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:37.360 place, then God's grace never does really show up. And if God's grace 347 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:42.000 never really shows up, then we look back at the decisions we made, 348 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:45.159 and we think, oh, I made the right decision. We could have 349 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:47.800 never afforded to do that. I could have never put more time into that. 350 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:51.159 I couldn't have had a small group. I couldn't have had this. 351 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:53.960 I couldn't have had that. I couldn't have ministered to more people because we 352 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:58.400 didn't have the well being to do it. We didn't have the wherewithal, 353 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:00.920 We didn't have the resource to do it. You didn't have the resource because 354 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:07.719 you never devalued your toil over stuff, so the resource never showed up. 355 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:14.800 The resource doesn't show up. First, the word shows up. And then 356 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:21.000 you embrace the word. And as you embrace the word and come into obedience 357 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:25.800 to the word and devalue your pursuit of what the pagans are pursuing, then 358 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:32.440 the grace shows up. That's when the grace shows up. And now all 359 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:43.239 at once, this is more than this would have been. And this is 360 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:45.360 the calling on Israel. From the very beginning, he's like, don't you 361 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:49.039 know, if you'll just pay attention to me, I want to make you 362 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:55.960 the head and not the tail, the head only and never never, the 363 00:35:57.039 --> 00:36:02.440 tail above only and beneath. Don't you know that you're going to lend to 364 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:12.800 the nations and never borrow, and never borrow. But we're so drawn to 365 00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:16.000 keep toiling. We're so drawn to keep toiling and keep toiling, and keep 366 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:29.760 toiling, so the grace never fully shows up. Hands up, heads about 367 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:32.719 everywhere across the room. Today, Holy Spirit, we just welcome you to 368 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:40.239 help us, and we welcome you to root over us. You're watching online 369 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:45.519 as well. God's ministering to our hearts. He's called us and set us 370 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:52.920 apart, some as shepherds, some as shepherds, but all in the ministry. 371 00:36:54.400 --> 00:37:01.320 All in the ministry in some capacity or another, In some way or 372 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:08.719 another, we are body member builders. We are edifiers and strengtheners. We 373 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:15.840 are teachers and leaders, We are helpers. And we run to this, 374 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:19.599 we don't run from it. From this moment on, say it with me, 375 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:22.880 Say it over your own heart, Say it to Father. I run 376 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:28.159 to the ministry, not from it. I run to your calling over my 377 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:34.639 life, not from it. From this moment on, I renounce disdaining what 378 00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:39.960 you've called me to. I renounce disdaining your call on my life. I 379 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:45.480 run to it and not from it. I run to it and not from 380 00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:51.239 it. As much as I understand what you've called me to and what you've 381 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:53.960 already shown me. Right now, I run to that which I know, 382 00:37:54.679 --> 00:38:01.440 and I rekindle the words spoken over me in the intimate place. And no 383 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:07.920 more will I shun it, hate it, run from it, disbelieve, 384 00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:10.679 doubt it, rebel against it. No more will I fight it. No 385 00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:15.000 more will I kick against it. No more? Will I not pay attention 386 00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:22.400 to it. No more will I elevate the needs that are natural? No 387 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:25.440 more, no more, no more, no more will I let those get 388 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:32.760 elevated. No more, no more, Father, use me, use me 389 00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:39.840 in a powerful way. Use me in a powerful way, even if it's 390 00:38:39.880 --> 00:38:45.840 in helps, even if it's just with ten. I submit myself to you 391 00:38:49.559 --> 00:38:54.760 in Jesus' name, and everybody said, prayer. Team to the front real 392 00:38:54.880 --> 00:39:00.519 quick. As we close. We want to give you one more opportunity before 393 00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:04.199 we leave. And as we're leaving today in worship, if there's something in 394 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:12.119 your life that needs to be set aside, left at the cross, left 395 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:15.840 here at the church, come and be prayed for. If you're here giving 396 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:20.079 your life back to the Lord, come and receive an assurance of salvation. 397 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:24.159 If you're here this morning and this word was for you, this word was 398 00:39:24.199 --> 00:39:29.199 for you, come and seal it in prayer. Come and seal it in 399 00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:34.239 prayer, and let the Holy Spirit minister to you more fully before you leave 400 00:39:34.280 --> 00:39:37.280 the room today in Jesus' name, God bless your church.