# What Happens When God Is At Work | David Antwi | Acts 16:1-7

An episode of [Messages by David Antwi](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1069725119), 4 Oct 2025, 36 min.

Audio: https://yetanothersermon.host/_/kc/media/mp3/79399.mp3

What Happens When God Is At Work | David Antwi | Acts 16:1-7 Series: Book of Acts Pastor: David Antwi Date: 5th October 2025 Passage: Acts 16:1-7 ------------------- Witness the surprising turns of the early church's mission as Paul and Silas navigate divine guidance and unexpected detours. This message reveals how God's hand directs every step, from resolving doctrinal disputes to forbidding preaching in specific regions, all to fulfill His ultimate purpose.

## Transcript

[0:00] Thank you for tuning into this message by David Entry.
[0:04] Every true revival is a product of the strong preaching of God's Word.
[0:08] May you receive a word from this message that will spark a revival in you.
[0:14] Acts chapter 16, from verse 1 to 15.
[0:17] Then came he to Debbie and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus,
[0:25] the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess and believed.
[0:30] But his father was a Greek, which was well reported off by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
[0:37] Him will have to go forth with him and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters.
[0:47] For they knew all that his father was a Greek.
[0:51] And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep
[0:57] that were ordained of the apostles and elders which are at Jerusalem.
[1:02] And so were the churches established in the faith and increased in number daily.
[1:09] Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the regions of Galatia
[1:14] and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
[1:18] after they were come to Mysia,
[1:22] they are said to go into Bithynia,
[1:24] but the Spirit suffered them not.
[1:26] And they, passing by Mysia, came down to Troas.
[1:31] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.
[1:35] There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him,
[1:38] saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us.
[1:41] And after he had seen the vision,
[1:43] immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia,
[1:48] assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us
[1:52] for to preach the gospel unto them.
[1:54] Therefore, losing from Troas,
[1:57] we came with a straight course to Samothracea.
[2:02] And the next day to Neapolis.
[2:04] And from thence to Philippi,
[2:06] which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony.
[2:11] And we were in that city abiding certain days.
[2:15] And on the Sabbath, we went out of the city by the riverside
[2:20] where prayer was what to be made.
[2:22] And we sat down and spoke unto the women which resorted thither.
[2:28] And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple,
[2:32] of the city of Titeria, which worshipped God,
[2:36] heard us, whose heart the Lord opened.
[2:39] And she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
[2:43] And when she was baptized in her household,
[2:46] she besought us saying,
[2:48] if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,
[2:52] come into my house and abide there.
[2:54] And she constrained us.
[2:56] Here ends the reading of God's word.
[2:58] Father, we thank you for the privilege to be here together to hear your word.
[3:03] We pray that as your word is taught,
[3:05] we pray that give us understanding and illumination into yourself.
[3:11] Visit us, heal the sick, manifest your power and your glory,
[3:15] and let the name of Jesus be exalted in our hearts and in our midst.
[3:19] In Jesus' mighty name, amen.
[3:23] Hallelujah.
[3:24] Hallelujah.
[3:25] Amen.
[3:26] All right.
[3:26] We thank God for this morning's reading,
[3:29] taking us through chapter 15 of Acts.
[3:32] And we saw in Acts chapter 15 how it's a very interesting chapter.
[3:39] The chapter that was saturated with controversy.
[3:43] It started with controversy and ended with controversy.
[3:45] Two major controversies in the Bible.
[3:48] The first one was controversy around doctrine.
[3:50] And in Acts chapter 15 from verse 1,
[3:52] It raised its ugly head.
[3:54] And a certain man which came down from Judea touched the brethren and said,
[3:58] Except you be circumcised.
[4:00] Let's all say circumcised.
[4:01] Circumcised.
[4:02] After the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.
[4:05] So this, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputes,
[4:10] so a big argument and big disagreement.
[4:14] So they had to go to Jerusalem to meet the apostles and the elders and the church there
[4:19] for them to discuss this matter and bring a closure to it.
[4:23] So as we all know, two of the most respected and valued brethren or brothers from the Jerusalem church,
[4:33] Silas and Judas, were sent with Paul and Barnabas.
[4:37] Silas and Judas, I think the verse 22, 23, 24, 25,
[4:41] It talks about men who have risked their lives for the sake of the gospel.
[4:46] So they were sent with Barnabas and Saul to go there.
[4:50] But interestingly, verse 27, Judas and Silas.
[4:54] Judas was a Greek name, obviously.
[4:58] Do you know what anybody called Judas?
[5:01] If your friend tells you you are Judas, it's bad.
[5:05] It's bad.
[5:06] They've done with you.
[5:07] They are finished with you.
[5:07] So Judas, but it's a Jewish name because one of Jesus' disciples, he used to keep the money.
[5:17] So Judas was a Jewish name, but Silas was not a Jewish name.
[5:20] Silas was a Greek name.
[5:22] And the problem was in the Greek territory with the Jews.
[5:26] So they sent this brother called Judas, who was very Jewish,
[5:31] and Silas was very Greek, but very Christian.
[5:34] And then Judas sent them into the Gentile territory to go and solve a problem created by Jews in the Gentile territories.
[5:43] So when they finished, as we saw last week, they didn't...
[5:47] Judas decided to go back.
[5:49] Judas.
[5:50] But Silas didn't want to go.
[5:53] He decided to stay there, verse 33.
[5:55] However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there,
[5:59] where in Antioch, he just liked what was going on.
[6:03] And Judas, when Silas stayed, and that opened a new chapter of his life and ministry.
[6:08] He didn't know.
[6:09] He didn't plan it.
[6:10] Somebody asked me a question.
[6:12] In those days, the way you were serving God, did you see these days coming?
[6:15] The way your influence has spread everywhere.
[6:18] And you have credible evidence of lives you have changed.
[6:21] And how...
[6:22] He said, first, did you see it coming?
[6:24] Did you expect this to be like this, the way God is also using you?
[6:27] And how does it feel?
[6:29] I said, I can't take credit.
[6:32] It's like someone who likes playing football with their friends,
[6:34] and later on, somebody was going to push your friend,
[6:36] it saved him, and he became the best fellow bowler in the world.
[6:39] How could you say you planned that one?
[6:43] When it comes to ministry, you can plan who you meet, where you are,
[6:47] but you have to be sensitive.
[6:50] Last Wednesday, I did some questions and answers with the church,
[6:52] and they asked, so how do you fulfill your plan, your purpose in God?
[6:57] How do you know it and fulfill it?
[6:59] I said, just be a proper, sound Christian,
[7:02] reading your Bible daily, praying and serving in church.
[7:05] You'll find your purpose.
[7:07] But if you're waiting for God to show you,
[7:08] the only way you learn how to swim is by going to the...
[7:11] You can't learn swimming by correspondence.
[7:15] Online.
[7:16] Online classes.
[7:19] Or you want to learn driving by correspondence.
[7:22] No.
[7:23] The best swimmer started by swimming.
[7:27] Jumped into the water and, you know,
[7:29] started learning how to swim in the water.
[7:32] If God is going to use you mightily,
[7:33] he starts with, just do what you get to do.
[7:37] They've asked you to maybe help to clean the place for service.
[7:41] So I don't know, I'm bigger than that.
[7:43] Me, I'm supposed to be an apostle.
[7:45] You'll be impossible, impossible, impossible.
[7:47] Everybody God has raised and is using strongly
[7:53] always started in a very unassuming, normal way,
[7:57] even Jesus himself.
[7:59] Anything that starts big is very suspicious.
[8:02] Every one of us here started as a fetus.
[8:08] In a woman's womb.
[8:11] And she wasn't even sure she was pregnant
[8:13] until her body started changing.
[8:16] So, it's important to understand,
[8:18] Silas decided to just stay
[8:20] and his heart was,
[8:22] I want to do more.
[8:23] Little did he know he was going to make history.
[8:26] We don't even hear about Judas.
[8:27] Because if we were hearing about Judas,
[8:29] it would have a way of neutralizing
[8:32] the bad Judas a little bit.
[8:35] But we don't hear about him.
[8:36] And it's not going to do with his name.
[8:37] It just had to do with destiny, providence,
[8:40] and his choices.
[8:41] So they said providence.
[8:43] Providence.
[8:43] You will not hear clearly this.
[8:45] Sometimes you may not hear,
[8:46] stop looking for a prophecy
[8:48] to make important decisions.
[8:51] And then let me tell you,
[8:53] never make any significant,
[8:55] significant, sensitive, important,
[8:57] vital decision because of a prophecy.
[9:00] Or based on a prophecy.
[9:03] You don't do that.
[9:04] It's not smart.
[9:05] It's not wise.
[9:07] You know.
[9:07] So, Silas didn't hear God say stay.
[9:11] But he felt, this is right.
[9:12] I want you to stay.
[9:14] And so he stayed.
[9:16] Little did he know it was going to turn into destiny.
[9:17] So, he stayed anyway.
[9:19] But the Bible talks about after a while,
[9:21] Paul said,
[9:22] let's go back to the places we've preached.
[9:24] You know, Paul,
[9:25] I told you the other time that
[9:27] it's not just good to ruin souls,
[9:29] but it's necessary to establish souls.
[9:31] So, Paul had the church,
[9:34] more the church in mind
[9:35] than just preaching and ruining more.
[9:37] He would preach by wanting
[9:39] what is done to be sustained.
[9:41] So, he said, let's go back.
[9:43] Then, Barnabas decided to take
[9:45] John Mark, his cousin.
[9:48] But Paul felt it was not ideal
[9:51] because Paul knew
[9:53] we are now about to hit
[9:54] into the highways
[9:56] of missionary work.
[9:59] The first trip,
[10:00] as soon as we started,
[10:02] John Mark
[10:03] couldn't take it.
[10:05] So, he left.
[10:06] The pressure of ministry.
[10:08] You want to bring him on.
[10:10] He's a good guy.
[10:11] He's solid.
[10:12] But what is ahead,
[10:14] he can't take it.
[10:15] So, Paul said,
[10:16] no, we can't take such a person.
[10:18] But Barnabas was thinking
[10:19] about his family member.
[10:21] He was very,
[10:22] that's his cousin.
[10:24] He's sympathetic
[10:25] to his family member.
[10:26] I need to go with you.
[10:27] But much more,
[10:28] as I thought the other time,
[10:29] I probably don't think
[10:30] it's just because he's family.
[10:32] Because Barnabas
[10:32] will always see good in people.
[10:35] And he felt like
[10:36] even though you messed up,
[10:37] I believe you can do it again.
[10:39] Barnabas is an encourager.
[10:41] So, he brought John Mark.
[10:42] And Paul,
[10:42] so this is what I realized,
[10:44] that Paul was right,
[10:46] Barnabas was right.
[10:47] In what way?
[10:48] The nature of Paul's assignment
[10:50] meant you,
[10:51] at that stage,
[10:52] you can't tolerate some things.
[10:54] You just have to focus
[10:55] and be,
[10:56] it's a revolutionary movement.
[10:59] And turbulence
[11:00] and troubles awaited him.
[11:01] You don't need someone
[11:02] who will run away.
[11:04] And however,
[11:05] Barnabas to his calling
[11:06] is such that
[11:07] you pick people up,
[11:09] raise them to the able
[11:10] to stand on their feet.
[11:11] Paul doesn't have
[11:12] that mission at that time.
[11:14] This is war time.
[11:16] It's not time
[11:16] to be nursing rooms.
[11:19] So, Barnabas,
[11:19] the nature of his ministry
[11:21] meant I can't give up
[11:22] on John Mark.
[11:23] And Paul,
[11:24] the nature of his ministry
[11:25] meant I can't go
[11:26] with John Mark.
[11:27] So, it meant
[11:28] they had to separate.
[11:29] The Bible says
[11:30] the contention
[11:30] became so sharp
[11:31] because Barnabas
[11:33] was determined.
[11:34] Oh,
[11:35] verse 37.
[11:36] Barnabas was determined
[11:37] to take John Mark.
[11:38] And verse 38 says that
[11:40] but Paul insisted.
[11:41] Paul said,
[11:42] I insist.
[11:43] Barnabas said,
[11:43] I'm determined.
[11:44] I insist.
[11:45] I'm determined.
[11:46] So, the controversy
[11:47] became so sharp
[11:48] that they had to go
[11:49] their separate ways.
[11:51] And that was the end
[11:52] of we hearing
[11:53] about Barnabas.
[11:54] But look at what happened.
[11:56] Paul took Silas.
[11:58] Say Silas.
[11:59] You see providence?
[12:00] Paul took
[12:01] because Silas
[12:02] made a choice to stay.
[12:04] He made a choice
[12:05] to stay
[12:05] and Paul knew
[12:06] that such a person
[12:06] can go with me.
[12:08] And so,
[12:08] from that time
[12:09] you hear
[12:09] Paul and Silas.
[12:11] It used to be
[12:12] Paul and Barnabas.
[12:13] Paul and Barnabas.
[12:14] Paul and Silas.
[12:15] Later on,
[12:15] Barnabas went to do
[12:16] such a great work
[12:17] on John Mark
[12:18] that Paul said,
[12:20] bring him to me.
[12:21] He's necessary for me
[12:22] for the ministry.
[12:23] Peter called John Mark,
[12:24] 1 Peter chapter 5,
[12:26] I think verse 13,
[12:27] my son.
[12:28] He called him my son.
[12:29] John Mark was the one
[12:30] who wrote the gospel
[12:31] according to Mark.
[12:33] He's such a very important
[12:34] person in scripture.
[12:35] But at that time
[12:36] he wasn't needed
[12:37] because he would have
[12:38] spoiled the work.
[12:39] So let someone
[12:39] take care of him
[12:40] and look at
[12:41] what Barnabas could do.
[12:43] So,
[12:43] Bible says that
[12:44] and when Barnabas
[12:45] separated,
[12:46] the brethren
[12:47] prayed.
[12:48] Barnabas went to his hometown.
[12:49] That's where he came from.
[12:50] Cyprus.
[12:51] So he went to Cyprus.
[12:53] But,
[12:54] the brethren
[12:55] prayed for
[12:56] Paul chose Silas
[12:58] and departed
[12:59] being commended
[13:00] by the brethren
[13:01] to the grace of God.
[13:02] Now,
[13:03] another interesting take
[13:04] I want to draw your attention to
[13:06] is Paul was Roman.
[13:09] Barnabas was not Roman.
[13:11] And now they were actually
[13:12] going to go deep
[13:13] into Roman territory.
[13:15] So by providence,
[13:16] it worked.
[13:17] Silas was Roman.
[13:19] So when they were
[13:20] beaten in Acts chapter 15
[13:21] and thrown into prison,
[13:22] he said,
[13:23] Paul said,
[13:23] we being Romans.
[13:26] So,
[13:27] Silas was Roman.
[13:27] and because of
[13:29] political conveniences,
[13:30] sometimes,
[13:32] so Silas being Roman
[13:33] would be easier
[13:34] to travel through
[13:35] the Roman territories
[13:36] without
[13:37] immigration restrictions.
[13:41] Right.
[13:42] So,
[13:42] then they were commended
[13:43] and they were.
[13:43] Now,
[13:44] in chapter 16,
[13:45] we see,
[13:46] so,
[13:46] the two contentions,
[13:48] one was about doctrine
[13:49] which we all think
[13:50] is necessary to sort.
[13:52] But the other one,
[13:53] we think,
[13:54] no,
[13:54] it didn't work well.
[13:54] Because how can Paul
[13:56] and Barnabas
[13:57] go their separate ways?
[13:59] But it was necessary.
[14:00] We ended up having
[14:01] two missionary teams.
[14:03] Two missionary teams.
[14:04] And it wasn't like
[14:05] they never spoke again.
[14:06] They were still brothers.
[14:07] But for the sake
[14:08] of the missions,
[14:09] they were not compatible
[14:10] at that time.
[14:12] So we had two missionary teams.
[14:13] Now,
[14:13] when you come to
[14:14] chapter 16,
[14:15] look at chapter 16.
[14:16] The Bible says that
[14:16] then he came to
[14:17] Debra and Lystra
[14:18] and behold,
[14:19] a certain disciple there
[14:21] named Timothy,
[14:23] the son of a certain
[14:24] Jewish woman
[14:25] who believed
[14:26] that his father
[14:27] was Greek.
[14:28] So,
[14:29] they found Timothy there.
[14:30] Now,
[14:30] it's believed by scholars
[14:31] that because they have
[14:33] already been in Lystra
[14:34] and Debra,
[14:35] right?
[14:36] So they are going back.
[14:37] It's believed that Timothy
[14:38] got converted
[14:39] on the first time
[14:40] they were there.
[14:42] So,
[14:42] because Paul
[14:43] in several,
[14:44] a few places
[14:44] calls Timothy
[14:45] my true son
[14:47] in the Lord.
[14:48] As though he gave birth
[14:49] to him in the Lord.
[14:51] And so that's what
[14:52] it's believed.
[14:53] But they found Timothy
[14:54] who was already a believer
[14:55] at the time they found him.
[14:56] So I believe he believed
[14:57] in the first time.
[14:59] And the brethren
[15:00] spoke very well of him.
[15:02] The Bible says that
[15:02] he was well spoken of
[15:03] by the brethren
[15:04] who were at Lystra,
[15:05] not only Hansity,
[15:06] but Lystra and Iconium.
[15:08] They spoke well
[15:08] about Timothy.
[15:10] And so,
[15:11] Paul felt like
[15:12] this is a guy
[15:13] with good reputation.
[15:14] I want to take him
[15:15] with me
[15:15] for the mission's work.
[15:17] That's nice.
[15:18] Sometimes,
[15:19] the work benefits
[15:20] when the people
[15:21] who we are working with
[15:22] have a certain reputation.
[15:24] So it's good
[15:25] to have a certain reputation
[15:26] as a believer.
[15:28] Reputation matters.
[15:30] Yesterday,
[15:30] I was reading
[15:30] from Ecclesiastes 7,
[15:32] verse 1.
[15:33] He said,
[15:33] a good name
[15:34] is better than riches.
[15:36] Okay,
[15:36] so,
[15:37] yeah,
[15:38] it's better than
[15:39] precious ointment.
[15:39] So,
[15:40] it's important
[15:41] to be interested
[15:42] in your reputation,
[15:43] not how people see you.
[15:45] Some of us
[15:46] are more interested
[15:47] in how people see us
[15:48] than who we actually are.
[15:51] It's important
[15:52] to be more interested
[15:53] in who you actually are
[15:55] and invariably,
[15:56] that is what people
[15:57] really notice you to be.
[15:59] So,
[15:59] Timothy
[15:59] had a good reputation.
[16:01] So,
[16:02] Paul said,
[16:03] I'm going to take you
[16:04] with him,
[16:04] but the verse 3
[16:05] is a very interesting one.
[16:06] He says that
[16:07] Paul wanted to have him
[16:08] go with him
[16:09] and took him
[16:10] and
[16:11] did what?
[16:14] Oh,
[16:14] I can't hear.
[16:14] And took him
[16:15] and
[16:15] circumcised him.
[16:18] Is this not Paul
[16:19] in Galatians 5?
[16:20] Who was saying that
[16:21] circumcision doesn't matter?
[16:24] In Christ.
[16:25] He says circumcision
[16:25] or circumcision,
[16:26] it doesn't matter.
[16:27] Galatians chapter 5,
[16:28] verse 6,
[16:28] therefore,
[16:29] in Christ,
[16:29] neither circumcision
[16:30] or circumcision
[16:31] availed anything,
[16:32] but faith working
[16:33] through love.
[16:34] Before he said that,
[16:34] he said that circumcision
[16:35] doesn't matter.
[16:37] Now,
[16:37] in Acts chapter 15,
[16:39] verse 1,
[16:40] is that not what
[16:41] brought the controversy?
[16:43] It's there.
[16:44] They came down
[16:45] and said,
[16:45] unless you are circumcised,
[16:47] according to the custom
[16:48] of Moses,
[16:49] and Paul entered
[16:50] into sharp disagreement
[16:51] with him.
[16:52] Now,
[16:53] Timothy comes
[16:54] and wants to go with you.
[16:55] Now,
[16:56] he said,
[16:56] you have to be circumcised.
[16:58] Has Paul lost his bearing
[17:00] or he has double standards?
[17:02] What's going on?
[17:03] Is he now imposing Judaism?
[17:06] Now,
[17:06] when it comes to the Jews,
[17:08] what distinguished them
[17:09] from all other people
[17:10] was circumcision.
[17:12] Number two,
[17:13] keeping of the Sabbath.
[17:14] Number three,
[17:16] the certain dietary requirements.
[17:18] So,
[17:19] if you're a Jew,
[17:19] you can eat some things.
[17:20] You remember Acts chapter 10,
[17:21] verse 13,
[17:22] 14,
[17:22] Peter said,
[17:23] I cannot eat this.
[17:24] If you're a Jew,
[17:25] it's by covenant.
[17:26] Now,
[17:26] that was the covenant
[17:27] between God and the Jews,
[17:29] not God and Christians.
[17:30] So,
[17:32] it was God's covenant
[17:34] with the Jews.
[17:36] Keep the circumcision,
[17:38] the Sabbath day,
[17:39] and the dietary requirements.
[17:42] So,
[17:42] you remember,
[17:43] last week,
[17:43] Pastor Ho mentioned it.
[17:44] After they solved
[17:46] the controversy,
[17:47] they said,
[17:48] let's write a letter to them
[17:49] and ask them,
[17:50] verse 29,
[17:51] four things.
[17:52] They should abstain
[17:53] from strangled animals,
[17:54] from blood,
[17:55] from fornication,
[17:56] and from food offered
[17:57] to idols.
[17:58] Now,
[17:59] two of those requirements
[18:01] were religious
[18:02] or ceremonial requirements.
[18:05] Okay.
[18:05] They were not moral requirements.
[18:08] So,
[18:08] blood
[18:09] and strangled animals,
[18:11] it was ceremonial requirements
[18:14] according to Leviticus chapter 11.
[18:16] So,
[18:16] if you're a Jew,
[18:17] you are not permitted
[18:17] to eat meat with blood inside it.
[18:21] So,
[18:21] if you strangle the animal,
[18:22] the blood stays in it.
[18:24] Because from
[18:25] the time God
[18:27] chose the Jews
[18:28] or he formed the Jews,
[18:30] he kept blood sacred
[18:32] because there's going to come
[18:34] blood.
[18:35] If they trivialize blood,
[18:38] they will end up
[18:39] trivializing
[18:40] the blood of Christ
[18:41] that redeems.
[18:42] So,
[18:42] God has always,
[18:43] Bible said that,
[18:44] he was slain
[18:45] from the foundation
[18:46] of the earth
[18:46] according to
[18:47] 1 Peter chapter 1
[18:49] verse 20.
[18:49] So,
[18:50] Christ's blood
[18:50] was so precious,
[18:52] God made blood
[18:53] very precious.
[18:54] And that was what
[18:55] they were using
[18:56] for atonement.
[18:57] Hebrews chapter 9
[18:57] verse 21,
[18:58] without the shedding
[18:59] of blood,
[19:00] there is no remission
[19:01] of sins.
[19:02] So,
[19:02] blood,
[19:03] according to Leviticus
[19:03] chapter 11
[19:04] verse 17,
[19:05] the life of a thing
[19:06] is in the blood.
[19:08] So,
[19:08] if you drain,
[19:09] before medical science
[19:10] became advanced,
[19:11] they didn't know
[19:12] life was in the blood.
[19:13] So,
[19:14] once upon a time,
[19:14] I think Abraham Lincoln,
[19:15] I forgot,
[19:16] one of the American presidents
[19:17] was sick
[19:18] and they found
[19:18] it was in the blood.
[19:19] So,
[19:19] they decided
[19:20] to drain all his blood
[19:21] to put new one inside.
[19:23] Little did they know
[19:24] that when you drain
[19:24] the blood,
[19:25] you have drained the life.
[19:26] Because according
[19:27] to Leviticus,
[19:28] he said,
[19:28] the life is in the blood.
[19:30] So,
[19:30] if you eat the blood,
[19:32] okay,
[19:33] Leviticus 17,
[19:33] for the life of a flesh,
[19:35] what is it?
[19:36] So,
[19:37] if you eat the blood,
[19:38] those of you
[19:38] who have been drinking blood,
[19:39] vampire,
[19:40] if you,
[19:40] if,
[19:41] if you eat the blood,
[19:45] you have eaten life.
[19:46] But guess what?
[19:47] Now,
[19:48] in Christ,
[19:49] all those dietary requirements
[19:51] don't apply.
[19:52] So,
[19:53] feel free
[19:53] and eat
[19:54] your blood.
[19:56] They don't apply anymore.
[19:58] Hello?
[20:00] Now,
[20:01] so,
[20:01] watch this.
[20:02] Every Jew
[20:03] has his identity
[20:05] very much buried
[20:06] in these things.
[20:07] So,
[20:07] if for the sake
[20:08] of the fraternity,
[20:10] why don't we consider
[20:12] the sensitivity
[20:13] of this other person?
[20:15] I know
[20:15] you like something
[20:17] and it's not a sin,
[20:18] but to somebody,
[20:20] it affects their conscience.
[20:21] So,
[20:22] you don't do it
[20:23] when they are there.
[20:25] So,
[20:25] he says that
[20:26] to maintain
[20:26] the fellowship
[20:27] which is made up
[20:28] of Jews
[20:28] and Gentiles,
[20:30] let's ask them
[20:31] to abstain
[20:32] from food
[20:32] offered to idols
[20:34] and blood.
[20:35] and then let's
[20:36] also take it
[20:37] further
[20:37] by talking
[20:38] about moral
[20:39] restrictions,
[20:40] fornication
[20:41] and idolatry
[20:43] or food
[20:44] offered to idols.
[20:45] Those ones
[20:46] were common
[20:47] to the Gentiles
[20:48] and at least
[20:49] Gentiles
[20:50] who are Christians
[20:51] must be very firm
[20:52] on this
[20:53] that you can't
[20:54] be a Christian
[20:54] and engage
[20:55] in some of these things.
[20:56] So,
[20:56] that's why
[20:57] they gave
[20:57] those restrictions
[20:58] and when this
[20:59] information
[21:00] was passed
[21:01] to the churches,
[21:02] Bible says
[21:02] the churches
[21:03] became more established
[21:04] because there was
[21:05] no more contention.
[21:06] However,
[21:07] Paul introduced
[21:08] circumcision
[21:09] to his
[21:10] protege,
[21:12] to his dear
[21:12] son Timothy.
[21:14] Why?
[21:15] The why
[21:15] is in the text.
[21:17] It's there.
[21:19] It's not hidden.
[21:20] It wasn't
[21:21] theological
[21:21] reasons.
[21:23] It was
[21:24] ethnic reasons.
[21:25] It was
[21:26] for convenience
[21:28] so that
[21:28] he doesn't
[21:29] become offensive
[21:30] to the people
[21:31] he's going to.
[21:33] So,
[21:33] he says that
[21:33] he had him
[21:34] circumcised
[21:35] because of
[21:36] the Jews
[21:37] who were
[21:38] in that region.
[21:39] They were very
[21:40] sensitive about that
[21:41] because they all
[21:42] knew that
[21:43] this guy
[21:44] is not circumcised
[21:45] because when
[21:46] a Jewish boy
[21:47] is born,
[21:48] they go through
[21:49] the circumcision
[21:49] and everybody
[21:50] in the territory
[21:51] knew it.
[21:52] And so,
[21:52] everybody knew
[21:53] that this guy,
[21:54] his father
[21:54] was not Jewish.
[21:56] His father
[21:56] was Greek.
[21:57] So,
[21:57] his father
[21:58] didn't let
[21:58] his boy
[21:58] go through
[21:59] that.
[21:59] However,
[22:00] his mom
[22:01] was a Jewish,
[22:02] a Jewish woman
[22:03] who also
[22:05] eventually believed.
[22:06] And so,
[22:07] Timothy,
[22:08] for some reason,
[22:09] was brought up
[22:09] in a very
[22:10] godly environment,
[22:12] quite godly
[22:13] because in
[22:14] 2 Timothy
[22:15] chapter 1
[22:16] verse 5,
[22:17] Paul tells
[22:18] Timothy,
[22:19] the faith
[22:19] that I see
[22:20] in you,
[22:21] which was
[22:21] first in
[22:22] your grandmother
[22:23] Lois
[22:23] and your
[22:24] mother Eunice.
[22:26] In 2 Timothy
[22:27] chapter 3
[22:28] verse 15,
[22:29] you have
[22:29] known the
[22:29] word of
[22:30] God
[22:30] that from
[22:31] childhood,
[22:32] this is
[22:33] Timothy,
[22:33] Paul wrote
[22:33] to Timothy
[22:34] that,
[22:35] Timothy,
[22:35] from your
[22:36] childhood,
[22:36] you have
[22:36] known the
[22:37] scriptures.
[22:38] So,
[22:38] that tells
[22:39] you,
[22:39] he grew up
[22:40] around a
[22:41] very healthy
[22:42] scriptural
[22:42] environment
[22:43] until he
[22:44] became born
[22:44] again.
[22:45] You see
[22:45] how all
[22:46] those things
[22:46] accounted
[22:47] for his
[22:47] future?
[22:48] It makes
[22:49] a big
[22:49] difference.
[22:50] So,
[22:51] Timothy
[22:51] had a
[22:51] very
[22:52] decent
[22:52] background
[22:52] and Paul
[22:53] took him
[22:54] that,
[22:54] I want
[22:54] to travel
[22:55] with you
[22:55] and said,
[22:56] you need
[22:56] to be
[22:57] circumcised
[22:57] because the
[22:58] Jews are
[22:58] sensitive
[22:59] about this
[22:59] matter and
[23:00] they all
[23:01] knew that
[23:01] you are
[23:02] not
[23:02] circumcised.
[23:03] Now,
[23:03] when you
[23:03] are going
[23:04] to reach
[23:04] out to
[23:04] them,
[23:05] we're
[23:05] going to
[23:05] have a
[23:05] problem.
[23:06] So,
[23:06] let's
[23:06] sort it
[23:07] out.
[23:07] However,
[23:09] Titus
[23:09] was not
[23:10] circumcised.
[23:11] God,
[23:12] what did
[23:12] circumcise
[23:13] him?
[23:14] Chapter 2
[23:15] verse 3,
[23:16] it says that
[23:16] Paul said,
[23:17] yet,
[23:18] not even
[23:19] Titus,
[23:19] who was
[23:19] with me,
[23:20] being a
[23:21] Greek,
[23:22] was compelled
[23:22] to be
[23:24] circumcised.
[23:25] So,
[23:25] it wasn't
[23:26] something Paul
[23:26] was going
[23:27] around getting
[23:27] circumcised.
[23:28] But because
[23:29] of the
[23:30] Jews,
[23:30] how sensitive
[23:31] it was for
[23:32] the Jews,
[23:33] Paul said
[23:34] it to be
[23:34] strategic,
[23:36] it to be
[23:37] advisable,
[23:38] it's just
[23:38] shrewd.
[23:39] To the Jews,
[23:40] I became a
[23:41] Jew,
[23:41] like a Jew.
[23:42] To the Greeks,
[23:43] I became like a
[23:44] Greek,
[23:44] so I might
[23:45] win some.
[23:46] Paul didn't
[23:47] ask Timothy
[23:48] to be
[23:49] circumcised,
[23:50] so he
[23:50] will be
[23:50] saved.
[23:51] He asked
[23:51] Timothy to
[23:52] be circumcised,
[23:53] so he
[23:53] can save
[23:53] many.
[23:55] So,
[23:55] Timothy,
[23:56] for the
[23:56] salvation
[23:56] and the
[23:57] sake of
[23:57] others,
[23:58] had to
[23:58] undergo
[23:59] this
[23:59] harsh
[24:00] reality,
[24:02] and he
[24:02] suffered for
[24:02] a few
[24:02] days.
[24:03] It doesn't
[24:03] take long.
[24:04] Try it.
[24:05] It doesn't
[24:05] take long.
[24:09] And he
[24:09] was circumcised.
[24:10] And then
[24:11] verse 4 says
[24:11] that,
[24:12] and as they
[24:13] went through
[24:13] the cities,
[24:14] they delivered
[24:14] the information
[24:15] from the
[24:16] elders of
[24:17] Jerusalem,
[24:18] and the
[24:18] churches were
[24:19] strengthened.
[24:19] Let's go to
[24:20] verse 5 quickly.
[24:21] So the
[24:21] churches were
[24:22] strengthened in
[24:23] faith.
[24:24] Information,
[24:25] healthy
[24:25] information has
[24:26] a way.
[24:27] Biblical,
[24:28] sound
[24:28] doctrine,
[24:29] doctrinal
[24:29] position has
[24:30] a way of
[24:31] strengthening the
[24:31] church.
[24:32] And so that's
[24:33] why church
[24:33] leadership should
[24:34] not shy away
[24:35] from tackling
[24:35] doctrinal issues
[24:36] soundly to
[24:38] strengthen
[24:38] believers.
[24:39] Verse 6 says
[24:39] that,
[24:40] and when they
[24:40] have gone
[24:41] through Phrygia
[24:41] and the
[24:42] regions of,
[24:42] this is
[24:43] interesting,
[24:43] and the
[24:44] regions of
[24:44] Galatia,
[24:45] they were
[24:46] forbidden by
[24:47] the Holy
[24:47] Spirit to
[24:47] preach the
[24:48] word in
[24:48] Asia.
[24:49] Now,
[24:49] those times,
[24:50] when you say
[24:50] Asia,
[24:51] you don't
[24:51] mean,
[24:51] it's not
[24:52] talking about
[24:52] China and
[24:53] Japan.
[24:54] Those days,
[24:55] in the Roman
[24:55] world,
[24:57] minor Asia was
[24:58] modern day
[24:59] Turkey.
[25:00] So it was
[25:00] those territories.
[25:02] And isn't it
[25:02] interesting that
[25:03] they were
[25:04] forbidden by
[25:05] the Holy
[25:06] Spirit to
[25:07] preach?
[25:08] Preaching.
[25:09] Preaching?
[25:10] Now, one
[25:11] of the
[25:11] major key
[25:12] cities in
[25:13] Asia,
[25:14] Asia minor,
[25:16] is Ephesus.
[25:17] And eventually,
[25:18] Paul really
[25:18] did a big
[25:19] job in
[25:19] Ephesus.
[25:20] So it
[25:20] wasn't like
[25:21] don't go to
[25:21] Ephesus.
[25:22] But God
[25:23] had a
[25:23] program.
[25:24] And we
[25:24] have to
[25:25] cooperate with
[25:26] God and be
[25:27] more sensitive
[25:27] about what
[25:28] God wants.
[25:29] Trust in the
[25:30] Lord.
[25:30] Proverbs
[25:30] chapter 3,
[25:31] verse 5 and
[25:32] verse 6.
[25:32] It says that,
[25:33] trust in the
[25:33] Lord with all
[25:34] your heart and
[25:35] lean not on your
[25:36] own understanding,
[25:37] but in all your
[25:38] ways acknowledge
[25:39] him and he
[25:40] shall direct
[25:41] your path.
[25:43] Let's
[25:43] cooperate with
[25:43] the Holy
[25:44] Spirit.
[25:44] If the
[25:45] Spirit dwells
[25:46] in you,
[25:46] it's as many
[25:47] as are led
[25:47] by the
[25:48] Spirit of
[25:49] Christ.
[25:50] Romans
[25:50] chapter 8,
[25:51] verse 14.
[25:52] So the
[25:52] Spirit of
[25:53] Christ leads
[25:53] us.
[25:54] They were
[25:55] forbidden,
[25:56] not because
[25:57] God didn't
[25:57] want them to
[25:58] preach the
[25:58] word, but
[25:59] it wasn't
[26:00] time.
[26:00] Watch this,
[26:01] this is very
[26:01] important.
[26:02] God has
[26:02] his own
[26:03] eternal
[26:03] agenda.
[26:05] With God,
[26:06] nothing happens
[26:06] by accident.
[26:07] Verse 7 says,
[26:08] look at verse 7,
[26:09] it's very
[26:09] interesting.
[26:10] And after
[26:10] they came to
[26:12] Mysia, they
[26:13] tried to go
[26:14] into Bithynia,
[26:15] but their
[26:16] spirit did
[26:17] not permit
[26:17] them.
[26:18] Give us
[26:19] English
[26:19] standard
[26:19] version and
[26:20] New
[26:21] American
[26:21] standard
[26:21] version.
[26:22] There's
[26:22] something that
[26:23] King James
[26:23] misses.
[26:24] Shall we
[26:24] read from
[26:25] the bat?
[26:26] Both.
[26:27] Let's go.
[26:32] King James,
[26:33] how does
[26:33] King James
[26:33] put it?
[26:35] But the...
[26:37] he just
[26:38] uses spirit.
[26:40] New
[26:40] American
[26:40] standard
[26:41] version.
[26:41] He uses
[26:42] spirit of
[26:43] Jesus.
[26:43] The reason
[26:44] why sometimes
[26:45] I take
[26:45] us to
[26:45] New
[26:45] American
[26:46] standard
[26:46] version,
[26:46] English
[26:46] standard
[26:47] version,
[26:47] they're
[26:47] very close
[26:48] to the
[26:48] original.
[26:49] Okay,
[26:50] one day I
[26:50] have to
[26:51] take my
[26:52] time and
[26:52] teach about
[26:53] the
[26:53] versions.
[26:55] But he
[26:56] used the
[26:56] word,
[26:56] the spirit
[26:57] of Jesus.
[26:59] The first
[26:59] time the
[27:00] Holy Spirit
[27:00] was presented
[27:00] in the
[27:01] scriptures was
[27:01] the spirit
[27:02] of God.
[27:03] Genesis
[27:04] chapter 1
[27:04] verse 2.
[27:04] He was
[27:05] known as
[27:05] the spirit
[27:06] of God.
[27:07] Then,
[27:08] when it
[27:10] came to
[27:10] creation,
[27:11] when it
[27:11] came to
[27:11] his
[27:11] relationship
[27:12] with
[27:12] people,
[27:13] the word
[27:13] Yahweh
[27:14] is used
[27:15] in the
[27:16] context of
[27:17] God in
[27:18] relationship
[27:18] with people,
[27:20] human beings.
[27:20] So Yahweh,
[27:22] God.
[27:22] So when
[27:22] Moses said,
[27:23] when I go,
[27:24] who should I
[27:24] say?
[27:24] Tell them
[27:26] that I am
[27:26] Yahweh,
[27:27] I am.
[27:28] Okay,
[27:29] so when
[27:29] it's sometimes
[27:30] translated Jehovah
[27:31] or the
[27:32] Lord.
[27:33] So when
[27:34] you read
[27:34] Judges,
[27:34] chapter 3
[27:35] verse 10,
[27:35] Judges chapter
[27:36] 6,
[27:36] verse 19,
[27:37] you see the
[27:39] spirit of
[27:40] the Lord,
[27:41] which is
[27:42] not necessarily
[27:42] the spirit.
[27:43] You see the
[27:44] Lord there is
[27:45] capitalized.
[27:46] That's Jehovah
[27:47] in some
[27:47] translations.
[27:48] They'll put
[27:48] Jehovah,
[27:49] other places
[27:49] is Yahweh.
[27:50] That's God
[27:51] in relation
[27:51] with his
[27:52] people.
[27:52] All right,
[27:53] what am I
[27:53] trying to
[27:53] imply?
[27:54] In other
[27:54] parts of
[27:55] the scripture,
[27:55] sometimes you
[27:56] see the
[27:56] spirit of
[27:56] God.
[27:58] In much
[27:58] of the
[27:59] Old
[27:59] Testament,
[27:59] you see
[27:59] the spirit
[28:00] of the
[28:00] Lord in
[28:01] relation
[28:02] with his
[28:02] people.
[28:02] But it
[28:04] wasn't a
[28:04] common phrase
[28:05] to see in
[28:06] the Old
[28:06] Testament,
[28:07] the Holy
[28:08] Spirit.
[28:09] The closest
[28:09] it ever
[28:10] came to
[28:10] the term,
[28:12] the Holy
[28:12] Spirit is
[28:13] not an
[28:14] Old
[28:14] Testament
[28:14] word.
[28:15] But it's
[28:15] there in
[28:16] Psalms,
[28:16] Psalm 51,
[28:17] take not the
[28:18] Holy Spirit
[28:18] from me,
[28:19] and it's in
[28:19] Isaiah.
[28:20] When you look
[28:20] at the context
[28:21] very carefully,
[28:22] it's not the
[28:22] Holy Spirit,
[28:23] it's the
[28:23] spirit of
[28:23] holiness.
[28:24] holiness.
[28:25] So in
[28:26] Isaiah,
[28:27] it talks
[28:27] about it's
[28:28] the spirit
[28:28] of holiness.
[28:30] In Psalm,
[28:31] it's the spirit
[28:31] of holiness.
[28:33] The first
[28:33] time the
[28:33] word Holy
[28:34] Spirit was
[28:34] used was
[28:35] in context
[28:36] with the
[28:37] arrival of
[28:38] Jesus Christ
[28:38] as a human
[28:39] being.
[28:40] So in
[28:40] Matthew
[28:40] chapter 1
[28:41] verse 18,
[28:44] the Bible
[28:44] says she
[28:45] was found
[28:45] to be with
[28:46] child by
[28:47] the Holy
[28:48] Spirit.
[28:49] In Luke
[28:50] chapter 1
[28:51] verse 35,
[28:52] you remember
[28:52] Mary verse
[28:53] 34,
[28:54] how shall
[28:54] these things
[28:55] be?
[28:55] He said
[28:55] the Holy
[28:56] Spirit shall
[28:56] come upon
[28:57] you so
[28:58] that what
[28:58] will come
[28:59] out of
[28:59] you will
[28:59] be called
[29:00] the Son
[29:00] of God.
[29:01] It had
[29:01] everything to
[29:02] do with
[29:03] the coming
[29:03] of Jesus
[29:07] Christ for
[29:08] the fulfillment
[29:09] of God's
[29:10] purpose for
[29:10] humanity.
[29:12] In these
[29:12] last days.
[29:13] That's why
[29:14] he said
[29:14] I'll pour
[29:14] my spirit
[29:16] upon all
[29:17] flesh.
[29:17] He was
[29:17] talking about
[29:18] the coming
[29:18] of the Holy
[29:19] Spirit.
[29:19] So when
[29:21] they were
[29:21] going to
[29:22] preach in
[29:22] Asia,
[29:23] the Bible
[29:23] says the
[29:23] Holy
[29:24] Spirit
[29:24] forbid them.
[29:25] The same
[29:25] spirit.
[29:26] But they
[29:27] tried to
[29:27] go to
[29:29] Bethania and
[29:30] the Spirit
[29:31] of Jesus.
[29:32] Now, that's
[29:33] the first time
[29:34] it was used
[29:34] the Spirit
[29:35] of Jesus.
[29:36] In Romans
[29:36] chapter 8
[29:37] verse 9,
[29:37] you see the
[29:38] Spirit of
[29:38] Christ.
[29:39] So sometimes
[29:40] you see the
[29:40] Spirit of
[29:40] Jesus.
[29:41] In
[29:41] Philippians
[29:42] chapter 1
[29:42] verse 19,
[29:43] the Spirit
[29:44] of Jesus
[29:44] Christ.
[29:45] Philippians
[29:46] 1.19.
[29:46] For I
[29:47] know that
[29:48] this will
[29:48] turn out
[29:48] for my
[29:49] deliverance
[29:49] through your
[29:50] prayers and
[29:50] the supply
[29:51] of the
[29:51] Spirit of
[29:52] Jesus Christ.
[29:53] It's the
[29:53] same Spirit
[29:54] but it's
[29:55] pointing us
[29:55] to something.
[29:56] Anytime you
[29:57] see the
[29:57] Spirit of
[29:58] Jesus Christ,
[29:59] the Spirit
[29:59] of Christ,
[30:00] the Spirit
[30:00] of Jesus,
[30:01] it's pointing
[30:02] more to
[30:03] Jesus'
[30:03] human
[30:04] incarnation,
[30:05] human life,
[30:06] human living,
[30:07] his death,
[30:08] his burial,
[30:09] resurrection,
[30:10] and ascension.
[30:11] These things are
[30:12] so important and
[30:13] that is what
[30:13] make us the
[30:14] church.
[30:14] without Jesus'
[30:17] human living on
[30:18] earth,
[30:18] we couldn't
[30:19] have the
[30:19] church.
[30:20] Without his
[30:20] incarnation,
[30:22] being a man,
[30:23] we couldn't
[30:23] have had the
[30:24] church.
[30:24] Without his
[30:24] death,
[30:25] we couldn't
[30:25] have had
[30:25] the church.
[30:26] Without his
[30:27] resurrection,
[30:28] he had to
[30:31] even ascend
[30:32] before the
[30:32] church can
[30:33] come into
[30:33] existence.
[30:34] And so
[30:34] Jesus Christ,
[30:36] who is the
[30:36] builder of
[30:37] the church,
[30:38] who is the
[30:38] governor of
[30:39] the church,
[30:39] he told
[30:40] them,
[30:41] don't preach
[30:41] in Bithynia.
[30:43] Don't go to
[30:44] Bithynia.
[30:45] No,
[30:45] I'm not
[30:46] permitting you
[30:46] why.
[30:47] I am the
[30:47] one in
[30:48] charge of
[30:49] whatever,
[30:49] how the
[30:50] church stands
[30:50] out.
[30:51] It's not
[30:51] just your
[30:52] goodwill,
[30:52] but it's
[30:53] my purpose
[30:54] and my
[30:54] plan and
[30:55] my agenda
[30:55] from
[30:56] eternity.
[30:57] Listen,
[30:58] no church
[30:59] does well
[31:00] outside the
[31:01] program of
[31:01] God.
[31:02] And the
[31:03] same way,
[31:04] you won't
[31:04] do well as
[31:05] a believer
[31:05] outside of
[31:06] the spirit.
[31:07] And then the
[31:08] spirit enforces
[31:09] the plan and
[31:10] the agenda and
[31:11] the purpose of
[31:12] God in your
[31:13] life.
[31:13] in
[31:13] Ephesians
[31:14] chapter 2
[31:15] verse 10,
[31:16] he said,
[31:17] for we are
[31:17] his workmanship
[31:19] created in
[31:20] Christ Jesus
[31:21] unto good
[31:22] works.
[31:23] He just
[31:24] didn't save
[31:24] us,
[31:25] he saved
[31:26] us to
[31:26] use us.
[31:29] Good works
[31:29] is not part of
[31:30] what saves us,
[31:32] but we are
[31:32] saved for good
[31:33] works.
[31:34] So in the
[31:34] verse 9,
[31:35] it says that
[31:36] not of works,
[31:37] Paul spoke
[31:38] about works in
[31:39] a very
[31:39] condemnatory
[31:40] manner,
[31:41] not of works,
[31:42] but the
[31:42] next verse,
[31:43] it speaks
[31:43] about good
[31:44] works in a
[31:45] very commendative
[31:46] way.
[31:47] It said,
[31:47] it's of good
[31:48] works.
[31:48] We have
[31:48] been created
[31:49] unto good
[31:50] works.
[31:51] When was it
[31:52] planned?
[31:52] Which God
[31:53] purpose that we
[31:53] should walk in
[31:54] before you were
[31:55] born, before the
[31:56] foundation of the
[31:57] earth?
[31:57] This is where I'm
[31:58] going.
[31:58] You've been
[31:59] called to do
[31:59] something.
[32:01] Before you even
[32:02] got born again,
[32:03] God has appointed
[32:04] you for something.
[32:05] And that's what
[32:05] determines your
[32:06] life's plan.
[32:08] I was preaching,
[32:09] I was saying to
[32:09] some people
[32:10] recently, that
[32:11] one of the
[32:12] greatest preachers
[32:14] in United Kingdom
[32:15] history, George
[32:17] Whitefield, he
[32:18] said, a man or
[32:20] a person is
[32:21] immortalized until
[32:24] his work on
[32:24] earth is done.
[32:26] In other words,
[32:27] you can't die
[32:28] until your
[32:30] assignment on
[32:31] earth.
[32:31] Anytime you
[32:32] sleep and wake
[32:33] up, it means
[32:34] that not because
[32:35] either than that,
[32:36] as soon as you
[32:36] got born again,
[32:37] God would have
[32:37] whisked you to
[32:38] heaven.
[32:38] But it keeps
[32:40] us alive because
[32:41] there's a church
[32:43] to keep, a God
[32:45] to glorify, a
[32:46] never-dying soul
[32:47] to save and fit
[32:49] it for the
[32:50] skies.
[32:50] There's an
[32:51] assignment over
[32:52] your life, and
[32:53] the more you are
[32:53] growing, if you
[32:54] don't wake up to
[32:55] it, you are
[32:55] wasting.
[32:56] A time comes
[32:57] where, watch
[32:58] this, watch
[32:59] this, God is
[33:01] an expert in
[33:02] recycling.
[33:03] So, it
[33:06] doesn't matter
[33:06] what is left
[33:07] in your life.
[33:09] You pastor, you
[33:09] don't know what
[33:09] you're talking
[33:09] about.
[33:10] I've messed up
[33:10] too much, I've
[33:11] gone on in my
[33:12] life.
[33:12] It doesn't
[33:13] matter.
[33:13] He can do
[33:14] much with that
[33:15] little that is
[33:15] left because he
[33:17] can recycle it.
[33:18] That's why you
[33:18] are alive.
[33:19] But the more you
[33:20] stay away from the
[33:21] purpose of God, the
[33:23] more you are
[33:24] wasting.
[33:25] Because a time is
[33:25] coming where your
[33:27] academic credentials is
[33:28] not what will
[33:29] matter.
[33:29] Where the sky
[33:30] crepes you have
[33:31] built is not what
[33:31] matter.
[33:32] The songs you
[33:33] have sung is not
[33:33] what will matter.
[33:35] Even buildings or
[33:36] church buildings you
[33:37] have built is not
[33:37] what will matter.
[33:38] But what you have
[33:38] done for God is
[33:40] what will matter.
[33:41] The time is
[33:42] coming.
[33:42] Paul said that I
[33:43] fought a good
[33:44] fight.
[33:45] I've finished my
[33:46] race and I've
[33:47] kept the faith.
[33:48] Verse 8, 2 Timothy
[33:50] chapter 4,
[33:51] therefore there is
[33:52] laid for me a
[33:53] crown of
[33:55] righteousness which
[33:56] the Lord will give
[33:58] to me.
[33:58] When?
[33:59] On that day.
[34:00] I've always been
[34:01] saying there was
[34:01] saying there were
[34:02] only two days on
[34:03] Paul's calendar.
[34:05] Today and that
[34:06] day.
[34:07] Only two days on
[34:08] Paul's calendar.
[34:09] Today and that
[34:10] day.
[34:11] You have to live
[34:12] today in light of
[34:13] that day.
[34:14] Because there is a
[34:15] day coming when God
[34:16] will ask you, have
[34:17] you done what I
[34:18] asked you to do?
[34:19] He keeps you alive
[34:21] because he is up to
[34:22] something.
[34:23] He all things work
[34:24] together for good to
[34:26] those who love the
[34:28] Lord and are called
[34:29] according to his
[34:30] purpose.
[34:31] When his purpose is
[34:32] in place, it doesn't
[34:33] matter what has
[34:34] happened in the past.
[34:35] All things begin to
[34:36] work together.
[34:37] God can fix things.
[34:39] God can use your
[34:40] past.
[34:40] He actually wants to
[34:41] use your past so he
[34:42] can take the glory.
[34:44] He didn't call you to
[34:45] save you alone.
[34:46] He called you to use
[34:47] you after he has
[34:48] saved you.
[34:50] That's why he remains
[34:50] the boss.
[34:51] So that if we can
[34:52] submit to his spirit,
[34:53] the spirit of the
[34:54] Lord Jesus Christ, and
[34:55] always ask him to lead
[34:56] you.
[34:57] Have your way.
[34:58] Paul, they heard
[34:59] him.
[34:59] He said don't, and
[35:00] they complied.
[35:01] Later on, Paul went
[35:02] to preach in Ephesus,
[35:03] so the problem was
[35:04] not Ephesus.
[35:05] The problem was the
[35:06] purpose of God, the
[35:07] agenda of God.
[35:08] What is the purpose
[35:09] of God for your life?
[35:10] Pastor, how do I
[35:11] find it?
[35:12] Just do the little you
[35:13] can.
[35:13] Any opportunity you
[35:14] can, you get to
[35:16] serve God, to work
[35:17] with him, use it.
[35:19] That is his purpose.
[35:20] That's the only way
[35:21] you discover the
[35:21] purpose of God.
[35:22] And I submit to you,
[35:23] brothers and sisters,
[35:24] Jesus has a plan for
[35:26] your life.
[35:27] He has a purpose for
[35:28] your life.
[35:28] As long as you
[35:29] live, there's still a
[35:31] lot that God can do
[35:32] with your life.
[35:32] Did you receive
[35:33] something?
[35:35] Come on, let's give
[35:36] Jesus praise.
[35:37] Hallelujah!
[35:38] Hallelujah!
[35:39] Hallelujah!
[35:39] Thank you for listening
[35:43] to this message by
[35:44] David Entry.
[35:45] We pray you have been
[35:46] revived towards God.
[35:47] You can connect with
[35:48] David Entry on all
[35:49] relevant social media
[35:51] platforms, including
[35:52] Instagram and LinkedIn.
[35:54] You can also hear more
[35:55] messages from David
[35:56] Entry on all relevant
[35:57] streaming platforms and
[35:58] the Carish Church app.
[36:00] Don't forget to like and
[36:01] share the message.
[36:02] Be blessed.
[36:03] God bless you.

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.