# John Mark: A Helper In The Ministry

An episode of [Messages by David Antwi](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1069725119), 13 Jul 2025, 47 min.

Audio: https://yetanothersermon.host/_/kc/media/mp3/76130.mp3

John Mark: A Helper In The Ministry Series: Book of Acts Pastor: Awo Antwi Sunday Morning Date: 13th July 2025 Passage: Acts 13:5 ------------------- Explore the often-overlooked yet profoundly vital "ministry of helps" through the biblical journey of John Mark. This sermon unveils how every role, from the prominent to the supporting, is integral to God's grand design, challenging us to embrace our place with divine purpose.

## Transcript

[0:00] Thank you for tuning into this message preached at Karis Church.
[0:04] The word of God is to be lived.
[0:07] ! May you receive direction from this message that will be a lamp to your feet.
[0:11] !
[0:30] It was mainly just pouring our hearts and blessing the Lord.
[0:35] That's why our praise and worship times, for those of us who have the tendency of coming to church late,
[0:40] you don't get the chance to minister to the Lord.
[0:43] No.
[0:44] So I really encourage you that if there isn't any real genuine reason for which you come to church late, try.
[0:50] Okay?
[0:51] Because it's a good time for you to minister to the Lord.
[0:55] Sing His praise.
[0:57] Honor Him.
[0:58] Appreciate Him.
[0:59] Let Him feel good.
[1:00] And so they were ministering to the Lord.
[1:02] And as they were doing it, it was time for God to execute a plan He's always had.
[1:09] You see, God always knew that He was going to separate to Himself for a certain assignment, Barnabas and Saul.
[1:17] So that ministering to the Lord gave room for that instruction to come.
[1:23] As we also pursue God and walk with Him,
[1:26] we need to also be open to what God is saying in moments like that.
[1:31] Because it's not always when God will speak in a way that we expect for Him to speak.
[1:36] But as they fasted and prayed, the Holy Spirit said,
[1:40] Now.
[1:41] So it's not another time.
[1:42] He said, Now the time has come.
[1:44] Separate to me, Barnabas and Saul.
[1:46] For the work for which I have called them.
[1:48] And they fasted and prayed, laid hands.
[1:50] God's even took us through this, laid hands.
[1:52] They sent them away.
[1:54] And so today's emphasis, they went on to preach in Seleucia.
[1:59] They went to Cyprus and Salamis.
[2:01] And they preached the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews.
[2:04] And they also had John as their assistant.
[2:09] John as their helper.
[2:11] That's the emphasis of today's message.
[2:14] John, their assistant.
[2:16] John, the helper.
[2:17] As I said, it's just one phrase in there.
[2:20] And so God, in executing His plan,
[2:23] had separated Barnabas and Saul.
[2:26] And as the instruction was coming,
[2:30] we clearly, John was not being separated with Barnabas and Saul.
[2:36] But in them stepping in their ministry,
[2:39] was also going to introduce somebody else into their own ministry.
[2:44] And it was a ministry of a helper.
[2:47] The ministry of an assistant.
[2:49] The ministry of an attendant.
[2:51] The ministry of a support.
[2:56] And so Barnabas and Saul had received their call
[2:59] onto a very great assignment.
[3:02] Their assignment onto the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles.
[3:06] And they had chosen John to go with them.
[3:11] John is introduced to us in Acts chapter 12.
[3:15] God, when he was taking Acts chapter 12,
[3:18] spoke about John.
[3:20] In Acts chapter 12, verse 12, it says,
[3:22] So when he had considered this,
[3:25] he came to the house of Mary.
[3:27] This is after Peter had been released from prison by the angel.
[3:32] And verse 12, this is Peter.
[3:35] So when Peter had considered this,
[3:37] he came to the house of Mary,
[3:39] the mother of John, whose surname was Mark.
[3:43] Where many were gathered together praying.
[3:46] And as Peter knocked on the door of the gate,
[3:48] a girl called Rhoda came to answer.
[3:51] So this is when we are being introduced to John Mark.
[3:55] John Mark.
[3:56] John, who now is going on into a missionary journey
[4:00] with Barnabas and Saul.
[4:03] And so John, whose mother is Mary,
[4:07] had a big house.
[4:09] It was an indication.
[4:10] In those days, women did not really have their own possession, per se.
[4:16] His father has not been mentioned here,
[4:18] so we don't know.
[4:19] It's likely she's widowed.
[4:21] But John is coming from a large house,
[4:25] signifying some level of comfort and maybe some wealth.
[4:29] But it was a house that people gathered to pray.
[4:32] Christians gathered to pray.
[4:35] And what I took notice about Mary was that
[4:37] this was a very, very sensitive time.
[4:41] Because this is a time James had been killed.
[4:45] Peter has been taken into prison.
[4:47] And they knew that, of course, if their deliverance didn't come,
[4:50] Peter was going to be executed as well.
[4:53] But that did not intimidate Mary.
[4:56] In Mary's home, Christians were gathering to pray.
[4:59] It tells you a woman who had a certain confidence
[5:02] and a certain faith in God.
[5:05] And that they were ready to prepare to take a certain risk
[5:08] for the sake of God's work.
[5:12] And also for the sake of God's people.
[5:15] So probably the house was always a place of prayer.
[5:18] People gathered there.
[5:19] And in the face of persecution,
[5:23] she did not stop the believers from coming to the home
[5:27] to continue to pray.
[5:29] And so this is the environment in which John Mark grew up.
[5:33] Some people believe that he is their rich young ruler
[5:37] who went to speak to Jesus about his state and his salvation.
[5:43] But it is not proven.
[5:45] So it's somewhere in there.
[5:46] People believe that that's him.
[5:48] But John Mark, you can tell that has grown up in an environment
[5:51] where Christianity and the faith, the early church,
[5:55] the gatherings of the early church.
[5:57] So he's a young man around people who were really, really solid,
[6:01] who were participating, who were engaged in the early church.
[6:05] They were praying.
[6:05] They were seeking God's faith.
[6:07] And this is the atmosphere in which John Mark grew up.
[6:11] John Mark became a young man.
[6:13] And Peter knew to go there because he knew either he's welcome
[6:16] or it was a thing he did.
[6:18] He knew that house, either because it is a house of prayer,
[6:22] or it's a place he went regularly, or he went often,
[6:26] or it's a place he knew he would be welcome.
[6:28] And so it's giving a certain idea about the background
[6:33] of this man God is going to call as a helper to these two apostles as they step out.
[6:40] I know that we can learn from this,
[6:43] that for those of us who are parents, parenting children,
[6:46] or even if you're nurturing an idea, nurturing a ministry,
[6:50] nurturing God has given you,
[6:51] the environment in which you're doing this matters.
[6:54] Not every home can produce a John Mark.
[6:57] Not every environment can produce a John Mark.
[7:01] But John Mark had heard people praying.
[7:05] John Mark has seen people praying.
[7:06] Probably has also developed a prayer life.
[7:09] But he's around genuine believers.
[7:13] He's growing up or he's grown up around genuine believers.
[7:17] And somebody had to make the decision.
[7:19] Somebody of authority, being his mother in this instance,
[7:22] had to make the decision to create this environment,
[7:26] open up to this environment,
[7:28] so that one day her son can also step into his ministry.
[7:32] So this is an encouragement for all of us.
[7:34] Let's be mindful where we are nurturing the next generation.
[7:37] Next generation of God's people.
[7:39] Next generation of ministry.
[7:41] Next generation of God's plan.
[7:42] God's idea.
[7:43] Where we nurture it matters.
[7:45] It will determine what comes out of it,
[7:48] what grows out of it.
[7:51] John Mark's first taste of ministry is in Acts chapter 11,
[7:56] verse 29.
[7:58] And so verse 29 tells us that Barnabas and Saul
[8:02] had actually gone to Jerusalem.
[8:04] The church in Antioch had sent them to Jerusalem
[8:07] because of sending relief to their brethren there.
[8:10] And when they were coming back from Jerusalem to Antioch
[8:14] in Acts chapter 12,
[8:15] verse 25,
[8:16] the scripture says that,
[8:18] and Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem
[8:20] when they had fulfilled their ministry.
[8:23] And they also took with them John,
[8:24] whose surname was Mark.
[8:26] So John,
[8:28] Mark's home was in Jerusalem.
[8:30] That home where Peter went to was in Jerusalem.
[8:33] And then when Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the church in Antioch
[8:39] to Jerusalem to send relief,
[8:42] when they were coming back to Antioch,
[8:45] they brought John Mark.
[8:46] So John Mark followed Barnabas and Saul back to Antioch.
[8:51] Antioch has now become,
[8:52] as God said,
[8:53] John was saying last week,
[8:54] had become now the center of the move of God.
[8:57] And so it's like a young man following,
[9:00] you know,
[9:00] these mighty apostles who have come.
[9:02] I'm sure you can imagine the ministry reports,
[9:05] the stories that is being told.
[9:07] And he's listening to all of this.
[9:08] And when they are going back,
[9:10] they said,
[9:10] John,
[9:10] okay,
[9:10] we'll take you.
[9:12] And then he follows.
[9:13] But more importantly,
[9:15] the mother allows him to go.
[9:16] What a shock.
[9:18] I think,
[9:19] I'm not sure if it was the mother's plan for him to go and follow these two apostles
[9:24] going into the Gentile world.
[9:27] She didn't know what was going to become of them.
[9:28] But it tells you the kind of woman she is and the kind of face she had.
[9:33] It tells you.
[9:34] Because most often,
[9:35] mothers have big plans for their children,
[9:37] isn't it?
[9:38] Oh, yes.
[9:40] Our plans are elaborate.
[9:41] Elaborate.
[9:42] It's so elaborate.
[9:43] It can actually eclipse God.
[9:48] It can easily eclipse God.
[9:50] God can be speaking.
[9:51] And we will shut our ears.
[9:52] Why?
[9:52] Because we have this amazing plan.
[9:54] That must come to pass.
[9:56] All our praying,
[9:57] all our fasting,
[9:58] all of that.
[9:59] Oh,
[9:59] my child,
[10:00] my child.
[10:01] My child,
[10:02] my child,
[10:02] my child.
[10:02] My child must become this.
[10:03] My child must become that.
[10:05] But we are learning from a woman who was able to release her son.
[10:09] To follow these apostles to go to a foreign land.
[10:15] I'm definitely knowing that they were going to do the work of God.
[10:19] And so,
[10:20] as John Mark had followed Barnabas and Saul,
[10:24] now,
[10:25] they were ministering,
[10:26] and now,
[10:27] the calling has come.
[10:28] And John Mark is now,
[10:30] now has the privilege to serve Barnabas and Saul as a helper,
[10:35] as an assistant,
[10:36] as they go on their first missionary journey.
[10:39] Behold,
[10:40] we are well aware,
[10:41] in chapter 13,
[10:43] of Acts chapter 13,
[10:44] verse 13,
[10:45] it says,
[10:46] Now when Paul and his party had sailed from Paphos,
[10:50] they came to Perga in Pamphylia,
[10:52] and John,
[10:53] departing from them,
[10:54] returned to Jerusalem.
[10:56] So,
[10:56] John,
[10:57] indeed,
[10:57] set out to go with them as their assistant.
[11:02] And,
[11:03] in verse 13,
[11:04] they've come through,
[11:05] they've come to Perga in Pamphylia,
[11:07] and unfortunately,
[11:09] John Mark is saying that,
[11:10] I'm going back to Jerusalem.
[11:12] The scriptures does not tell us why.
[11:15] So,
[11:16] we don't know why.
[11:18] It could be any reason.
[11:20] Maybe he had to go and attend to his mom.
[11:22] We don't know.
[11:23] Maybe the terrain was not favorable.
[11:26] We don't know.
[11:27] Maybe the discomfort
[11:28] of life out there
[11:33] made him feel like,
[11:34] I want to go back to Jerusalem.
[11:37] I must go back to Jerusalem.
[11:40] I have to go back to my mom's food,
[11:43] the comfort of my large home,
[11:45] all of it.
[11:46] How I've grown up is not suitable
[11:48] for this life.
[11:51] And so,
[11:52] John Mark returned to Jerusalem.
[11:54] And I know you will find many messages,
[11:56] including a lot of God's advanced messages,
[11:58] dealing with John Mark
[12:00] for returning to Jerusalem
[12:03] on the missionary journey.
[12:05] I mean,
[12:06] it can happen to many of us.
[12:08] We have found ourselves in places
[12:10] where we have committed to God,
[12:12] made serious vows to God,
[12:15] and told God,
[12:16] I will do this,
[12:16] I will do that,
[12:17] I will do that.
[12:18] And we meant it.
[12:21] We were genuine about it.
[12:23] And then we encounter
[12:25] a perga in pamphylia situation.
[12:29] And we return to Jerusalem,
[12:32] a place of comfort,
[12:34] place where you feel you belong.
[12:37] He went back to his people.
[12:39] He's a Jewish boy,
[12:41] grew up in Jerusalem.
[12:42] He went back to his people.
[12:43] He went back to what he knows
[12:45] it can happen to any of us
[12:48] with all the good intentions we may have.
[12:52] So John Mark departed,
[12:54] abandoned,
[12:56] deserted the mission,
[12:57] the first missionary journey.
[13:00] And so he appears again
[13:02] in Acts chapter 15,
[13:05] when they are now about to undertake
[13:07] their second missionary journey.
[13:10] So John Mark
[13:12] had gone back to Jerusalem.
[13:14] We are not so sure
[13:16] whether he's back in Antioch now,
[13:19] for whatever reason.
[13:21] But the two apostles,
[13:23] Barnabas and Saul,
[13:24] are preparing for their next
[13:25] missionary journey.
[13:27] And so as they prepare
[13:28] for their next missionary journey,
[13:30] Barnabas thinks,
[13:32] why don't we take John Mark?
[13:35] He'd been a helper before.
[13:36] We can bring him along again.
[13:40] So Acts chapter 15,
[13:41] verse 37 says,
[13:42] Now Barnabas was determined
[13:44] to take with them
[13:45] John called Mark.
[13:48] But Paul insisted
[13:49] that they should not take
[13:51] with them
[13:52] the one who had departed.
[13:54] It had become
[13:55] an adjusting for him.
[13:57] It had become a qualifying word for him.
[13:59] So now,
[14:00] because my mind read,
[14:03] Paul was determined
[14:03] not to take John Mark.
[14:05] No.
[14:06] It said,
[14:07] but Paul insisted
[14:08] that they should not take with them
[14:10] the one who had departed.
[14:11] No, his name has changed
[14:13] from John Mark.
[14:14] to the one who had departed.
[14:16] It has become his identity.
[14:18] No,
[14:19] he hadn't proved himself reliable.
[14:21] He's not solid.
[14:22] He's not strong.
[14:23] When the going gets tough,
[14:26] he gives in and he gives up.
[14:28] He walks away from the mission.
[14:30] No,
[14:30] we are not taking him.
[14:32] It said,
[14:33] it wouldn't take the one
[14:35] who had departed
[14:36] from them in Pamphylia.
[14:38] It had not gone
[14:40] with them to the work.
[14:42] Then the contention
[14:43] became so sharp
[14:45] that they departed
[14:46] from one another.
[14:48] And so Barnabas took Mark
[14:49] and sailed to Cyprus.
[14:52] But Paul chose Silas
[14:53] and departed,
[14:55] being commended
[14:56] by the brethren
[14:57] to the grace of God.
[14:58] And he went
[14:59] through Syria
[15:01] and Cilicia,
[15:02] strengthening
[15:03] the churches.
[15:04] So this is unfortunately
[15:06] the departing
[15:07] of the two apostles
[15:09] who had served the Lord
[15:10] on the first missionary journey,
[15:12] on the second missionary journey,
[15:14] on the back of John Mark.
[15:16] Barnabas and Paul
[15:17] went their separate ways.
[15:19] We hear messages
[15:20] and we know usually
[15:21] where the bend would be.
[15:25] But we see the ministry,
[15:27] two ministries,
[15:28] now come to a point
[15:29] of diversion.
[15:31] And there's nothing wrong
[15:32] with each one of them.
[15:34] Barnabas has a ministry
[15:35] of a builder.
[15:36] Barnabas is an encourager.
[15:38] So if somebody
[15:40] is not good enough
[15:41] in a season,
[15:43] Barnabas doesn't have
[15:43] a problem
[15:44] picking that individual
[15:46] and building
[15:46] that individual up.
[15:48] It is a good ministry.
[15:50] Yeah, it is a good ministry.
[15:51] Paul is on the cutting edge.
[15:53] We don't have time
[15:54] to think,
[15:56] to dither,
[15:57] to waste.
[15:58] We don't have it.
[16:00] Things need to be done.
[16:02] A nation needs to be
[16:03] taken for Jesus.
[16:05] A world needs to be conquered.
[16:07] Mountains need to be leveled.
[16:09] Valleys need to be lifted up.
[16:10] We got to go
[16:11] and we got to go now.
[16:12] That is also
[16:14] a good ministry.
[16:16] It's both necessary
[16:18] for the building
[16:19] of the church.
[16:21] We need those
[16:22] who are at the cutting edge
[16:23] and we need those
[16:24] who are the people
[16:25] of the process.
[16:28] We need both.
[16:29] If not,
[16:30] we'll lose
[16:30] many John Marks.
[16:33] But we can't see
[16:34] on the back
[16:34] of a John Mark,
[16:36] we will not move.
[16:38] And so the ministry
[16:39] of Barnabas
[16:40] is so crucial
[16:41] in the church,
[16:43] in the body.
[16:45] They are there
[16:45] to make sure
[16:46] that when somebody
[16:47] is falling,
[16:48] they are lifted up.
[16:50] They are not
[16:51] teared apart,
[16:52] they are not condemned,
[16:54] but they are restored
[16:55] and helped
[16:57] to get back
[16:57] onto their assignments.
[17:01] Because of Barnabas'
[17:03] ministry,
[17:04] John Mark
[17:04] was able to continue
[17:06] in his ministry
[17:07] as a helper.
[17:09] We see that later on.
[17:11] But the ministries differ
[17:12] and the graces differ.
[17:14] Let's all stand strong
[17:15] in what God
[17:16] has called us to do
[17:16] because each one of us
[17:18] is helping
[17:19] to make it happen,
[17:20] helping the kingdom
[17:21] to be built
[17:22] and the body
[17:23] to be raised.
[17:25] So Barnabas
[17:27] now is right
[17:29] in the center
[17:30] of John Mark's life
[17:31] and John Mark's ministry.
[17:32] Of course,
[17:33] Paul and Silas
[17:34] have moved on
[17:35] to other things
[17:35] and we read
[17:36] many, many adventures
[17:37] of their ministry work
[17:39] as they continue
[17:40] in the book of Acts.
[17:42] But Barnabas
[17:42] is not going to be prominent
[17:43] in the book of Acts anymore.
[17:45] But behind the scenes,
[17:46] he's working.
[17:47] He's working on something
[17:48] very important
[17:49] in raising people,
[17:51] encouraging people,
[17:52] nurturing people,
[17:53] discipling people,
[17:54] and helping John Mark
[17:56] to mature
[17:57] because we will see
[17:58] John Mark surface
[17:59] again later on.
[18:01] Matured man,
[18:02] ready to continue
[18:04] in his ministry.
[18:06] So the work of Barnabas
[18:07] was crucial
[18:08] to help John Mark
[18:10] to continue
[18:10] in the ministry
[18:11] of a helper.
[18:13] John Mark
[18:13] is known to be
[18:14] a cousin
[18:14] of Barnabas
[18:16] in Colossians 4,
[18:18] verse 10.
[18:19] And so one may say
[18:20] that he couldn't
[18:21] just watch
[18:22] his young cousin
[18:22] just fall apart
[18:24] because he had
[18:25] made a mistake.
[18:27] But I believe more so
[18:28] that because Barnabas
[18:30] himself was a Levite
[18:31] and they knew
[18:32] how to serve,
[18:34] Levites were servants
[18:35] in the house
[18:36] of the Lord.
[18:36] I'm not sure
[18:37] why Mark
[18:38] is not labeled
[18:39] as a Levite,
[18:40] being a cousin
[18:41] of Barnabas.
[18:43] But then,
[18:43] they are used
[18:44] to having people
[18:45] come around
[18:46] and they serve
[18:47] people.
[18:48] They serve the saints.
[18:49] You can imagine
[18:50] as a young man
[18:51] when people come
[18:51] and pray in your house,
[18:52] do this,
[18:54] fetch this,
[18:55] go and do that.
[18:56] It can easily happen.
[18:57] So John Mark
[18:58] already from his upbringing
[19:00] had been used
[19:01] to serving the saints,
[19:03] being around the saints
[19:04] and helping out
[19:05] with the saints.
[19:06] And Barnabas knew this,
[19:08] must have known that.
[19:09] This man
[19:10] has a ministry.
[19:11] He's good at helping.
[19:12] We can't let him go.
[19:14] And so,
[19:15] he was helped
[19:16] greatly.
[19:16] Barnabas was,
[19:17] God used Barnabas
[19:18] to help John Mark
[19:19] continue in his ministry.
[19:23] John Mark
[19:23] later on
[19:25] becomes a blessing
[19:25] to the apostle Paul.
[19:28] And the beauty of it
[19:29] is that some people
[19:30] will say,
[19:30] I'm sure there are
[19:31] some people,
[19:32] very contentious people
[19:32] say,
[19:33] today you need him.
[19:35] Today,
[19:36] now that somebody
[19:37] has done the work,
[19:38] cleaned him up,
[19:39] established him,
[19:41] encouraged him,
[19:42] built him up.
[19:43] Now you say
[19:43] he's useful for you.
[19:45] But anyway,
[19:46] the point I'm making
[19:47] is the graces
[19:48] are different
[19:49] and the callings
[19:51] are different
[19:51] and they all matter
[19:53] in the kingdom.
[19:54] If Paul had not
[19:55] continued,
[19:55] you have Acts chapter 16,
[19:57] when you are in
[19:58] times of difficulty,
[19:59] you know that you
[20:00] can pray and praise
[20:01] and the chains
[20:02] will fall off.
[20:03] You wouldn't have
[20:03] those testimonies.
[20:05] There are so many
[20:05] things they had to
[20:06] continue to go
[20:07] and do.
[20:08] But John Mark's
[20:10] help that he got
[20:12] from Barnabas
[20:12] was also a unique
[20:13] ministry.
[20:14] So we look at
[20:14] 2 Timothy chapter 4,
[20:17] verse 9.
[20:19] It said,
[20:19] Be diligent to come
[20:20] to me quickly,
[20:23] for Demas has forsaken me,
[20:25] having loved this
[20:26] present world,
[20:27] and has departed
[20:28] for Thessalonica.
[20:32] Gratians for Galatia,
[20:35] Titus for Dalmatia,
[20:37] only look is with me.
[20:39] Get Mark and bring him
[20:42] with you,
[20:44] for he is useful to me
[20:47] for the ministry.
[20:50] Praise the Lord.
[20:53] They said,
[20:54] Get Mark and bring him
[20:58] to me.
[20:59] Why?
[21:01] For he is useful to me
[21:04] for ministry.
[21:06] And this is the beauty
[21:09] of it.
[21:10] Paul's humility
[21:11] to recognize that,
[21:15] yes, I remember
[21:16] what happened.
[21:18] But this man
[21:19] is useful.
[21:22] So at that point,
[21:23] I'm not focusing on
[21:24] what I will,
[21:26] what people will think
[21:27] and all of that.
[21:27] Most of us can be caught
[21:28] up in so many things,
[21:29] unnecessary things,
[21:31] that what we can't
[21:32] focus on what matters,
[21:34] what's important
[21:34] in a given time.
[21:36] But that wasn't
[21:37] Paul's attitude.
[21:38] He said,
[21:39] Bring Mark.
[21:40] I know what he can do.
[21:42] I know the ministry
[21:43] he has.
[21:44] Maybe I have heard
[21:45] that he has grown
[21:46] and developed very well.
[21:47] So he will be very needful
[21:49] because he wasn't
[21:50] thinking about himself.
[21:52] He was thinking about
[21:52] the continuity
[21:53] of the ministry.
[21:55] So if you're thinking
[21:56] about yourself,
[21:56] you might think,
[21:57] what will people say?
[21:58] But no,
[21:59] that wasn't Paul's focus.
[22:00] His focus was rather,
[22:01] he's useful,
[22:02] not for my personal gain,
[22:03] but for the ministry.
[22:04] Because of that,
[22:06] let bygones be bygones,
[22:08] let Mark come.
[22:08] And we also learn
[22:09] from Mark's humility
[22:11] to continue serving
[22:12] in spite of what
[22:14] happened before.
[22:15] I am sure
[22:16] after a while
[22:17] he would have respected
[22:18] what Paul did.
[22:20] He would have appreciated
[22:21] what Paul did.
[22:22] Because after he hears
[22:24] the many things
[22:25] God had used Paul to do,
[22:27] he knew that
[22:28] it was right
[22:29] for Paul to move on.
[22:31] And for him to receive
[22:32] the nurturing
[22:33] and the discipleship
[22:34] he needed
[22:35] in order for him
[22:36] to be useful
[22:37] later on.
[22:38] There are times
[22:39] we force ourselves
[22:40] into situations
[22:40] that we are not
[22:41] prepared for.
[22:43] And sometimes
[22:44] even you have leaders
[22:45] who love you so much
[22:46] that they want to
[22:47] drag you along.
[22:48] They want to make
[22:48] something out of you.
[22:49] They see the potential,
[22:51] but they haven't allowed
[22:52] you to go through
[22:52] the process.
[22:54] All of it matters.
[22:55] All of it matters.
[22:56] All of it matters.
[22:59] And so we see
[22:59] the mutual respects
[23:00] they both had
[23:02] for each other.
[23:03] John Mark respecting
[23:04] the decision
[23:05] that Paul had to make
[23:06] and knowing that
[23:08] he would respond
[23:09] whenever he gets
[23:10] the opportunity
[23:11] to serve with Paul again.
[23:14] And Paul also recognizing
[23:15] the growth
[23:16] that John Mark
[23:17] had gone through
[23:18] and having the humility
[23:20] to call upon him
[23:21] to come serve
[23:24] with him
[23:25] in the ministry.
[23:26] In the process of that
[23:29] we also see John Mark
[23:30] being a great blessing
[23:31] to Peter.
[23:33] I believe the relationship
[23:34] had been formed
[23:35] at home already
[23:37] when back in Jerusalem
[23:38] and Peter now in Rome
[23:41] John Mark
[23:42] had become his companion
[23:44] and his helper.
[23:47] And in that process
[23:48] of being a helper
[23:49] John Mark
[23:51] had the privilege
[23:52] of receiving
[23:54] the first hand account
[23:56] of the life
[23:57] and the ministry
[23:57] of Jesus
[23:58] as he served
[23:59] with
[24:00] Peter
[24:02] in Rome.
[24:03] And this was actually
[24:04] the dying
[24:05] the last days
[24:06] of the life
[24:07] of the apostle Peter.
[24:09] In the same way
[24:09] when
[24:10] Paul was asking
[24:12] for John Mark
[24:13] to be brought to him
[24:14] that letter
[24:16] in 2 Timothy
[24:16] was one of the last letters
[24:18] Paul was going to write
[24:19] because
[24:20] he was in his last days
[24:22] and what a privilege
[24:23] the ministry
[24:24] of a helper
[24:24] to be with such
[24:26] great apostles
[24:26] in their last days
[24:28] both in Rome
[24:29] helping them
[24:30] prepare
[24:31] for their last moments
[24:32] in ministry
[24:33] and being called
[24:34] on to the Lord.
[24:35] So just a helper
[24:36] had the privilege
[24:38] of writing
[24:39] the book of Mark
[24:40] and Peter
[24:41] referred to John Mark
[24:42] in 1 Peter 5
[24:44] verse 13
[24:45] as my son.
[24:48] My son
[24:49] they had journeyed
[24:50] together
[24:50] for many years
[24:52] and he's in
[24:53] his last
[24:55] few
[24:56] days
[24:57] months
[24:58] weeks
[24:58] months
[24:59] and John Mark
[25:01] the ministry
[25:02] of the helper
[25:02] is still serving
[25:04] and helping
[25:05] these great apostles.
[25:07] 1 Corinthians
[25:08] chapter 12
[25:09] verse 12
[25:11] to 14
[25:11] the scripture says
[25:13] for us the body
[25:14] is one
[25:15] and has many members
[25:16] but all the members
[25:18] of that one body
[25:19] being many
[25:20] are one body
[25:21] so also is Christ
[25:23] for by one spirit
[25:25] we were all baptized
[25:27] into one body
[25:28] whether Jews
[25:29] or Greeks
[25:30] whether slaves
[25:31] or free
[25:31] and have all been made
[25:33] to drink
[25:34] into one spirit
[25:35] for in fact
[25:36] the body
[25:37] is not
[25:38] one member
[25:39] but many.
[25:41] we're jumping
[25:42] on to verse
[25:42] 27 and 28
[25:45] 1 Corinthians
[25:46] chapter 12
[25:47] verse 27
[25:48] says
[25:48] now
[25:50] you are
[25:51] the body
[25:51] of Christ
[25:52] the members
[25:53] individually
[25:54] and God
[25:55] has appointed
[25:56] these
[25:56] in the church
[25:58] first apostles
[25:59] second prophet
[26:01] third teachers
[26:02] after which
[26:03] miracles
[26:04] then gifts
[26:05] of healings
[26:05] helps
[26:06] administration
[26:07] varieties
[26:08] of tongues
[26:09] then it goes
[26:10] to all apostles
[26:11] are all prophets
[26:12] are all teachers
[26:13] are all miracle workers
[26:14] certainly no
[26:15] so the bible
[26:17] tells us
[26:17] as we read
[26:18] earlier on
[26:18] in 1 Corinthians
[26:19] chapter 12
[26:20] verse 12 and 13
[26:21] that the body
[26:22] is made up
[26:23] of different members
[26:24] different members
[26:26] and each member
[26:28] has its role
[26:28] that he plays
[26:29] and then it goes
[26:31] on to talk about
[26:32] how now
[26:33] that reflects
[26:33] in the body
[26:34] of Christ
[26:34] which is the church
[26:36] it says
[26:36] some have been
[26:36] called as apostles
[26:37] some have been
[26:38] called as prophets
[26:39] some are teachers
[26:40] some are miracle workers
[26:43] some have gifts
[26:44] of healing
[26:44] and then some also
[26:46] are in the ministry
[26:47] of helps
[26:48] so it's actually
[26:51] a ministry
[26:52] lined and mentioned
[26:55] alongside
[26:56] apostles
[26:57] prophets
[26:58] teachers
[26:59] miracle workers
[27:01] healing ministries
[27:03] helps ministry
[27:05] is also right there
[27:07] in scripture
[27:07] so god
[27:09] needed
[27:10] the
[27:11] pauls
[27:13] and the
[27:13] barnabas
[27:14] god also
[27:15] needed
[27:16] the john
[27:17] marks
[27:17] a
[27:18] martyrs
[27:19] to god
[27:20] psalm 121
[27:21] and the bible
[27:22] talks about
[27:23] i lift up my
[27:24] heart
[27:24] it says
[27:24] for when it's
[27:25] coming at my
[27:25] help
[27:26] my help
[27:26] comes from
[27:27] the lord
[27:28] who made
[27:29] the heavens
[27:29] and the
[27:30] the lord
[27:31] himself
[27:32] is a help
[27:32] to us
[27:33] so it's no
[27:34] main ministry
[27:35] to have the
[27:36] ministry
[27:37] of helps
[27:37] it can easily
[27:39] look like this
[27:40] bit is important
[27:41] that the person
[27:42] who does it
[27:42] no the issue
[27:43] of the word
[27:43] of god
[27:44] is very
[27:44] important
[27:45] it's very
[27:45] paramount
[27:46] to every
[27:46] christian
[27:47] fellowship
[27:47] but the bible
[27:48] says that
[27:49] the body
[27:49] is made up
[27:50] of many
[27:51] members
[27:51] and every
[27:52] member
[27:53] matters
[27:54] every ministry
[27:55] matters
[27:56] that is why
[27:57] god doesn't
[27:57] separate the
[27:58] mentioning of
[27:59] the ministry
[27:59] of helps
[28:00] from the
[28:01] mention of
[28:01] the ministry
[28:01] of the
[28:02] apostles
[28:02] the prophets
[28:03] and the
[28:03] teachers
[28:04] it matters
[28:06] to god
[28:06] god places
[28:08] value on
[28:09] the ministry
[28:09] of help
[28:10] when god
[28:11] created adam
[28:11] in genesis
[28:12] chapter 2
[28:13] verse 18
[28:13] god says
[28:14] it is not
[28:15] good for man
[28:15] to be alone
[28:16] i'll therefore
[28:16] make him
[28:17] a helper
[28:19] comparable
[28:20] to him
[28:20] a helper
[28:21] the helps
[28:22] ministry
[28:23] shows up
[28:23] very early
[28:25] on
[28:25] in creation
[28:26] and so god
[28:28] made a helper
[28:29] in the form
[28:29] of a
[28:30] wife
[28:30] hallelujah
[28:32] and so
[28:33] when somebody
[28:34] says will
[28:34] you marry
[28:35] me
[28:35] and you
[28:35] say yes
[28:35] and you
[28:36] are jumping
[28:36] you're only
[28:37] stepping into
[28:38] the helps
[28:39] ministry
[28:40] hallelujah
[28:41] yes
[28:41] it's a
[28:43] help
[28:43] ministry
[28:44] and i always
[28:45] tell people
[28:45] you don't
[28:46] know what
[28:46] will be
[28:47] required of
[28:47] you
[28:48] so you
[28:49] have to
[28:49] take
[28:49] everything
[28:50] because you
[28:50] don't know
[28:51] what
[28:51] need will
[28:53] arise
[28:53] for which
[28:54] the man
[28:54] will need
[28:55] help
[28:55] so wife
[28:56] is a
[28:57] nice
[28:57] title
[28:57] but it's
[28:58] actually
[28:58] a ministry
[28:59] of helps
[29:01] and whatever
[29:02] the need
[29:03] is
[29:03] you're supposed
[29:05] to help
[29:05] in that
[29:05] i said when
[29:07] it arises
[29:08] you only need
[29:09] help when
[29:10] there's a
[29:10] need
[29:10] yeah
[29:12] if there's
[29:12] no need
[29:13] there's no
[29:13] need for
[29:14] a helps
[29:14] ministry
[29:14] so for
[29:16] those of
[29:17] us who
[29:17] in these
[29:17] modern terms
[29:18] we've been
[29:18] told that
[29:19] you are
[29:19] the queen
[29:20] of his
[29:20] life
[29:21] and
[29:21] it's
[29:22] all nice
[29:23] titles
[29:24] but fundamentally
[29:25] you are
[29:26] going to
[29:27] help
[29:27] some of
[29:30] us have
[29:30] watched a
[29:31] movie called
[29:31] help
[29:32] isn't it
[29:33] back it's
[29:34] a movie
[29:35] about slavery
[29:36] how the
[29:37] helps
[29:37] were treated
[29:38] we're not
[29:39] saying why
[29:39] it should
[29:40] be treated
[29:40] like that
[29:40] but just
[29:41] have cement
[29:41] it in
[29:42] your
[29:42] hearts
[29:43] that you
[29:44] are going
[29:44] to help
[29:45] if you
[29:45] want to
[29:46] be a
[29:46] wife
[29:46] then you
[29:47] are
[29:47] a helper
[29:47] you are
[29:49] help
[29:49] comparable
[29:50] to him
[29:50] so if
[29:51] his
[29:51] needs
[29:52] are
[29:52] high
[29:52] then
[29:53] you
[29:53] have
[29:53] high
[29:55] help
[29:56] to
[29:56] deliver
[29:58] because the
[29:58] bible say
[29:59] a help
[29:59] comparable
[30:00] to him
[30:01] so some
[30:02] men need
[30:02] this level
[30:03] of help
[30:03] some men
[30:04] need that
[30:04] level of
[30:05] help
[30:05] whatever
[30:06] level of
[30:07] help
[30:07] they need
[30:08] you are
[30:09] a help
[30:09] comparable
[30:10] to him
[30:11] yeah
[30:13] it is a
[30:15] ministry
[30:16] yeah this is
[30:19] the bit we
[30:19] don't talk
[30:20] about in
[30:20] this day
[30:20] and age
[30:21] isn't it
[30:21] yeah we
[30:22] talk about
[30:23] kneeling
[30:23] down to
[30:24] oh I
[30:25] can't
[30:25] believe
[30:26] he has
[30:27] proposed
[30:27] all of
[30:29] that
[30:29] all is
[30:31] all you
[30:31] know
[30:31] just
[30:32] attraction
[30:33] is to
[30:35] help you
[30:36] to enter
[30:36] the ministry
[30:37] but as
[30:39] soon as
[30:39] you receive
[30:40] the ring
[30:41] and say
[30:42] I do
[30:42] you have
[30:44] entered
[30:45] the ministry
[30:46] of help
[30:47] yeah I
[30:50] always say
[30:50] if you don't
[30:50] like the
[30:51] rules
[30:51] don't join
[30:52] the institution
[30:52] and so
[30:55] if you
[30:55] want to
[30:56] be a
[30:56] wife
[30:56] you are
[30:58] joining
[31:00] the
[31:01] helps
[31:01] ministry
[31:02] but it
[31:03] matters to
[31:04] God
[31:04] God could
[31:05] have chosen
[31:05] any other
[31:06] word to
[31:07] describe the
[31:08] role of
[31:08] a wife
[31:09] the role
[31:10] of the
[31:10] woman he
[31:11] was bringing
[31:11] into the
[31:12] life of
[31:12] a man
[31:12] but God
[31:13] understood
[31:14] and he
[31:14] knew that
[31:15] he's starting
[31:15] something
[31:16] completely
[31:16] new
[31:16] and that
[31:18] yes the
[31:19] principal
[31:19] being Adam
[31:20] had been
[31:21] given his
[31:21] assignments
[31:22] but God
[31:23] knew that
[31:24] without the
[31:24] help
[31:25] comparable
[31:26] to him
[31:26] that assignments
[31:27] would not be
[31:28] accomplished
[31:28] and so when
[31:31] God calls a
[31:32] man
[31:32] when God
[31:32] calls a
[31:33] woman
[31:33] when God
[31:34] gives an
[31:34] assignment
[31:34] when God
[31:35] gives a
[31:35] vision
[31:36] he will
[31:36] call a
[31:37] principal
[31:37] but he
[31:37] will also
[31:38] call the
[31:38] help
[31:39] it matters
[31:41] to God
[31:41] God himself
[31:42] is a help
[31:43] when God
[31:43] established the
[31:44] church
[31:44] and as
[31:45] Jesus was
[31:45] speaking to
[31:46] his disciples
[31:48] and talking
[31:48] to them
[31:49] about what
[31:50] was to
[31:50] happen to
[31:51] him and
[31:52] how they
[31:52] were going
[31:52] to transition
[31:53] from being
[31:54] his disciples
[31:55] into the
[31:55] formulation of
[31:56] the church
[31:56] which is his
[31:57] body
[31:57] in John
[31:58] chapter 14
[31:59] verse 23
[32:00] to 26
[32:00] he talks
[32:01] about the
[32:02] Holy Spirit
[32:03] being a
[32:03] help
[32:04] so God
[32:05] establishes
[32:06] the church
[32:06] and then
[32:07] gives help
[32:08] after God
[32:11] forms man
[32:12] the first
[32:13] Adam
[32:13] the last
[32:15] Adam
[32:15] comes
[32:16] fulfills
[32:17] the mission
[32:17] in birthing
[32:18] the church
[32:19] and again
[32:20] same way
[32:21] God gives
[32:22] help
[32:23] just as
[32:24] God gave
[32:24] Adam
[32:25] Eve
[32:26] God gave
[32:27] the church
[32:27] the Holy
[32:28] Spirit
[32:28] God does
[32:31] not give
[32:31] assignments
[32:32] without
[32:32] giving
[32:33] help
[32:34] and so
[32:34] the helps
[32:35] ministry
[32:35] is so
[32:36] necessary
[32:37] for the
[32:37] fulfillment
[32:38] of God's
[32:38] agenda
[32:39] Moses
[32:39] when Moses
[32:40] was called
[32:40] said I
[32:41] cannot speak
[32:41] immediately
[32:42] God gave
[32:44] him
[32:44] Aaron
[32:45] he said
[32:46] go
[32:46] your brother
[32:47] Aaron will
[32:47] go with
[32:48] you
[32:48] but as
[32:49] the ministry
[32:49] was established
[32:50] we see
[32:51] Joshua
[32:51] become the
[32:53] help
[32:53] for Moses
[32:54] great
[32:55] prophets
[32:55] huge
[32:56] assignments
[32:57] but he
[32:58] needed
[32:58] an Aaron
[32:59] he needed
[33:00] Joshua
[33:01] Elijah
[33:02] the great
[33:03] prophet
[33:03] needed
[33:04] an Elisha
[33:05] Elisha was
[33:05] described
[33:06] as the
[33:07] man who
[33:07] poured
[33:08] water
[33:08] on the
[33:09] hands
[33:09] of Elijah
[33:10] in 2nd
[33:11] Kings
[33:11] chapter 3
[33:12] verse 11
[33:13] Paul had
[33:16] many many
[33:16] helps
[33:17] one of the
[33:17] chapters I
[33:18] love reading
[33:18] is Romans
[33:19] chapter 16
[33:20] it tells us
[33:21] there's so many
[33:22] people going
[33:23] Paul was
[33:23] working with
[33:24] this person
[33:25] is there
[33:25] that person
[33:26] is there
[33:26] but those
[33:27] chapters
[33:27] tell us
[33:29] that in
[33:30] spite of
[33:30] how greatly
[33:31] God uses
[33:32] men
[33:32] he does
[33:34] not only
[33:34] use one
[33:36] person
[33:37] at the
[33:37] front
[33:38] but in
[33:38] that one
[33:39] person
[33:39] making
[33:39] preaching
[33:40] delivering
[33:41] God's
[33:41] assignment
[33:42] executing
[33:43] the
[33:43] vision
[33:43] of
[33:43] God
[33:43] will
[33:44] be
[33:44] many
[33:45] many
[33:45] many
[33:45] helps
[33:45] coming
[33:46] together
[33:47] to make
[33:48] that
[33:48] happen
[33:48] in Acts
[33:48] chapter 6
[33:49] when the
[33:50] church was
[33:50] growing
[33:50] and the
[33:52] apostles
[33:52] from chapter
[33:53] 1 all the
[33:54] way
[33:54] chapter 2
[33:55] the church
[33:55] has been
[33:55] established
[33:56] started
[33:57] and all
[33:57] of that
[33:58] they get
[33:58] to a
[33:58] point
[33:58] where they
[33:59] say
[33:59] they
[33:59] can't
[33:59] do
[33:59] this
[33:59] not
[34:00] because
[34:00] they
[34:00] didn't
[34:01] place
[34:01] priority
[34:01] on the
[34:02] seven
[34:02] of
[34:03] tables
[34:03] but they
[34:04] literally
[34:04] just
[34:04] could
[34:04] do
[34:05] it
[34:05] alone
[34:05] the
[34:06] twelve
[34:06] apostles
[34:06] could
[34:07] not
[34:07] serve
[34:08] the
[34:08] church
[34:08] attend
[34:09] to
[34:09] the
[34:09] church
[34:09] raise
[34:10] the
[34:10] church
[34:10] preach
[34:11] and do
[34:12] all that
[34:12] was
[34:12] necessary
[34:13] in establishing
[34:14] the work
[34:14] of God
[34:15] and caring
[34:15] for the
[34:16] body of
[34:16] Christ
[34:16] so they
[34:17] had to
[34:17] ask for
[34:18] help
[34:18] and they
[34:19] were called
[34:20] deacons
[34:21] there
[34:23] will be
[34:23] many
[34:23] names
[34:24] that
[34:24] will
[34:24] be
[34:24] used
[34:24] departmental
[34:25] members
[34:25] whatever
[34:26] volunteers
[34:27] church
[34:27] workers
[34:27] all these
[34:28] things
[34:28] but it's
[34:29] all the
[34:29] ministry
[34:30] of
[34:30] helps
[34:31] that we
[34:31] are
[34:31] all
[34:31] stepping
[34:32] into
[34:32] God
[34:33] uses
[34:33] all
[34:33] kinds
[34:33] of
[34:33] people
[34:34] the
[34:34] process
[34:35] matters
[34:36] the
[34:37] links
[34:37] matter
[34:38] if I'm
[34:39] today
[34:39] I'm
[34:39] saying
[34:39] I'm
[34:39] going
[34:40] to
[34:40] cook
[34:40] some
[34:40] food
[34:41] we
[34:42] just
[34:42] used
[34:42] to
[34:42] go
[34:42] into
[34:43] the
[34:43] supermarket
[34:43] to
[34:44] pick
[34:44] all
[34:44] your
[34:44] ingredients
[34:45] but what
[34:46] we
[34:46] don't
[34:46] understand
[34:46] is
[34:47] as
[34:47] you
[34:47] pick
[34:48] your
[34:48] ingredients
[34:48] is
[34:49] somebody's
[34:49] life's
[34:50] work
[34:50] that
[34:50] tomatoes
[34:51] farmer
[34:52] has been
[34:52] farming
[34:53] his land
[34:53] for however
[34:54] long
[34:55] had to
[34:56] make sure
[34:56] his produce
[34:57] is good
[34:57] enough
[34:58] to be
[34:58] brought
[34:58] to
[34:59] so that
[34:59] tomato
[35:00] you just
[35:00] pick
[35:01] like that
[35:01] and put
[35:01] in your
[35:01] basket
[35:02] is probably
[35:03] a six
[35:04] month's
[35:04] journey
[35:04] for you
[35:05] to get
[35:06] your
[35:06] tomatoes
[35:06] but for
[35:07] you
[35:07] as far
[35:07] as you're
[35:08] concerned
[35:08] I need
[35:09] to quickly
[35:09] get there
[35:10] and pick
[35:10] it up
[35:10] and the
[35:11] same way
[35:12] if you're
[35:12] not the
[35:12] cook
[35:13] all you
[35:14] see is
[35:14] the food
[35:14] is ready
[35:15] to be
[35:16] dished out
[35:16] isn't it
[35:17] but then
[35:18] you may
[35:18] not
[35:18] appreciate
[35:19] even though
[35:20] that person
[35:20] had to go
[35:21] to the
[35:21] supermarket
[35:22] and has
[35:22] completely
[35:22] forgotten
[35:23] about the
[35:23] farmer
[35:23] and the
[35:24] transportation
[35:24] people
[35:25] and the
[35:25] logistics
[35:25] people
[35:26] they just
[35:27] went to
[35:27] the shop
[35:27] they too
[35:28] had a
[35:28] process
[35:29] of having
[35:29] to go
[35:30] pick
[35:30] the
[35:30] ingredients
[35:31] put
[35:31] things
[35:31] together
[35:32] in order
[35:32] for it
[35:33] to become
[35:33] a meal
[35:34] that you're
[35:34] enjoying
[35:34] and you
[35:35] probably
[35:35] will finish
[35:36] it in
[35:36] about
[35:36] five
[35:37] minutes
[35:38] six
[35:38] minutes
[35:39] just
[35:39] finish
[35:40] it
[35:40] like
[35:40] that
[35:41] however
[35:42] it
[35:43] takes
[35:43] process
[35:43] so
[35:45] the
[35:45] farmer's
[35:46] perspective
[35:46] his
[35:47] process
[35:47] is
[35:48] probably
[35:48] six
[35:49] months
[35:49] in the
[35:51] cook's
[35:51] perspective
[35:52] their
[35:53] process
[35:53] may be
[35:53] an hour
[35:54] in the
[35:55] eater's
[35:56] perspective
[35:57] five
[35:58] minutes
[36:01] and you
[36:02] might even
[36:02] pass
[36:03] comments
[36:03] that today
[36:04] the salt
[36:04] was a
[36:04] bit too
[36:05] much
[36:05] I've
[36:08] told you
[36:09] add
[36:10] more
[36:10] meat
[36:11] to the
[36:11] I don't
[36:12] understand
[36:13] why you
[36:13] are
[36:13] but
[36:14] everybody
[36:14] is
[36:15] playing
[36:15] their
[36:15] role
[36:16] so
[36:17] that
[36:17] plate
[36:17] of
[36:18] food
[36:19] will
[36:21] be
[36:21] a
[36:21] blessing
[36:21] to
[36:22] somebody
[36:22] so
[36:23] sometimes
[36:24] those
[36:25] who
[36:25] are
[36:25] standing
[36:25] here
[36:26] are
[36:27] just
[36:27] the
[36:27] ones
[36:27] who
[36:28] are
[36:28] dishing
[36:28] the
[36:28] food
[36:28] to
[36:30] you
[36:31] and all
[36:32] you see
[36:32] is
[36:32] oh
[36:33] what a
[36:33] nice
[36:33] meal
[36:33] I'm
[36:35] eating
[36:35] a
[36:35] sanctifying
[36:36] moment
[36:37] I've
[36:37] had
[36:38] of one
[36:39] hour
[36:39] or 50
[36:40] minutes
[36:41] of an
[36:41] hour
[36:41] 10
[36:42] minutes
[36:42] but the
[36:43] journey
[36:44] of everything
[36:45] being put
[36:46] together
[36:46] for you
[36:47] to sit
[36:47] down
[36:47] and receive
[36:47] the word
[36:48] has costed
[36:49] many
[36:50] many
[36:50] many
[36:50] people
[36:51] the ministry
[36:52] of health
[36:52] has been
[36:53] going on
[36:53] for hours
[36:54] for days
[36:55] before we
[36:56] get to this
[36:57] point
[36:57] each one
[36:59] of it
[36:59] matters
[37:00] and it
[37:00] matters
[37:01] to God
[37:01] it matters
[37:03] to God
[37:03] and so
[37:04] within
[37:05] the church
[37:06] setting
[37:06] or just
[37:07] the way
[37:08] human beings
[37:08] operate
[37:09] and just
[37:09] our
[37:09] psychology
[37:10] it's very
[37:11] easy to
[37:12] put value
[37:12] on this
[37:14] point
[37:14] and we
[37:16] place value
[37:16] here
[37:17] not because
[37:18] somebody gets
[37:19] to speak
[37:20] for how
[37:21] long
[37:21] but it's
[37:22] because of
[37:22] what is
[37:22] being done
[37:23] it's because
[37:24] of the
[37:24] issuing
[37:24] of the
[37:25] word of
[37:25] God
[37:25] had it
[37:26] not been
[37:26] for that
[37:26] it won't
[37:27] be the
[37:27] most
[37:27] valuable
[37:27] thing
[37:28] because
[37:29] every
[37:30] chain
[37:30] matters
[37:31] and until
[37:32] every
[37:32] chain
[37:32] is in
[37:32] place
[37:33] this is
[37:34] going to
[37:34] be very
[37:34] hard to
[37:35] happen
[37:35] but what
[37:36] am I
[37:36] saying
[37:37] this
[37:37] everything
[37:38] is built
[37:38] on something
[37:39] and if
[37:40] you look
[37:40] at it
[37:40] the
[37:41] ministry
[37:41] of
[37:41] health
[37:42] is
[37:42] is
[37:43] wider
[37:43] is
[37:44] greater
[37:44] is
[37:45] more
[37:46] than
[37:47] the
[37:48] ministry
[37:49] of the
[37:50] apostle
[37:50] or it
[37:51] requires
[37:52] more
[37:52] people
[37:52] it
[37:53] requires
[37:53] more
[37:54] hands
[37:54] it
[37:55] requires
[37:55] more
[37:56] time
[37:57] in
[37:57] serving
[37:58] in the
[37:59] ministry
[37:59] of
[38:00] health
[38:00] and I
[38:01] am so
[38:01] confident
[38:02] that God
[38:03] does not
[38:03] overlook
[38:03] it
[38:04] every
[38:04] now and
[38:04] then you
[38:05] hear his
[38:05] eminence
[38:05] the
[38:06] bishop say
[38:06] when we
[38:06] get to
[38:07] heaven
[38:07] it
[38:07] will
[38:07] be
[38:07] very
[38:07] interesting
[38:08] because
[38:09] what we
[38:10] think
[38:10] mattered
[38:11] to God
[38:12] we
[38:12] not
[38:12] necessarily
[38:13] where we
[38:13] think
[38:14] the
[38:14] sacrifices
[38:14] were
[38:15] we
[38:15] not
[38:15] necessarily
[38:16] have
[38:16] been
[38:16] where God
[38:17] saw
[38:17] the
[38:18] sacrifices
[38:18] being
[38:20] born
[38:22] and the
[38:22] prices
[38:23] being
[38:23] paid
[38:23] but all
[38:25] of it
[38:26] matters
[38:26] to God
[38:26] God
[38:27] uses both
[38:27] the stars
[38:28] and uses
[38:29] the candles
[38:29] the stars
[38:31] have a fixed
[38:32] time
[38:32] they are
[38:33] high up
[38:33] and they
[38:34] shine
[38:34] bright
[38:34] but it's
[38:36] only in
[38:36] the night
[38:36] so they
[38:38] have their
[38:39] time
[38:39] they come
[38:39] and they
[38:40] shine
[38:40] the candle
[38:42] can be used
[38:42] at any
[38:43] time
[38:43] but it's
[38:44] not
[38:44] significant
[38:44] it's
[38:45] impact
[38:46] it's
[38:46] not
[38:46] worldwide
[38:47] the stars
[38:48] right up in
[38:49] the sky
[38:49] they shine
[38:50] the stars
[38:50] that shine
[38:51] here is the
[38:52] same stars
[38:52] that is
[38:53] shining
[38:53] for the rest
[38:54] of the world
[38:55] but the
[38:56] candle
[38:56] may not
[38:57] but it
[38:58] still serve
[38:58] a purpose
[38:59] it's immediate
[39:00] it's accessible
[39:01] it can move
[39:02] around
[39:03] it's
[39:04] it's more
[39:05] can be used
[39:06] more frequently
[39:07] but it may
[39:08] burn quickly
[39:08] the stars
[39:10] may stay
[39:10] on longer
[39:10] the candle
[39:11] may burn
[39:12] quickly
[39:12] but God
[39:13] needs both
[39:14] the candle
[39:14] and the stars
[39:15] he uses
[39:17] both of them
[39:17] he uses
[39:19] both of them
[39:20] they both
[39:23] bring the
[39:23] lights
[39:24] to mankind
[39:26] and to
[39:27] humanity
[39:27] to be honest
[39:30] the ministry
[39:30] of health
[39:31] can be
[39:31] challenging
[39:32] if you
[39:33] don't
[39:33] align
[39:34] yourself
[39:34] and understand
[39:35] why you
[39:36] do it
[39:36] yes
[39:38] and that's
[39:40] why God
[39:40] also says
[39:41] that those
[39:41] who teach
[39:42] the word
[39:43] will be judged
[39:43] more harshly
[39:44] because
[39:46] that is
[39:47] on the back
[39:48] of many
[39:48] people's
[39:49] labors
[39:50] and sacrifices
[39:51] and service
[39:53] and so God
[39:54] places
[39:54] a higher
[39:56] expectation
[39:57] on those
[39:58] who stand
[39:59] to
[40:00] also work
[40:02] on the
[40:02] back
[40:03] of the
[40:04] helpers
[40:05] and so
[40:06] God
[40:07] does
[40:08] definitely
[40:09] does not
[40:10] forget
[40:11] our labor
[40:11] of love
[40:12] and that
[40:13] we're always
[40:13] expecting
[40:14] that we do
[40:14] it for him
[40:14] and we will
[40:15] serve him
[40:16] until
[40:17] the day
[40:19] he calls
[40:19] us home
[40:19] or he
[40:20] returns
[40:21] but the work
[40:21] of the ministry
[40:22] of helps
[40:23] is so crucial
[40:24] for the building
[40:25] of the body
[40:25] is so crucial
[40:26] for the
[40:27] establishment
[40:28] of the church
[40:28] for our
[40:29] Lord and
[40:29] Savior Jesus
[40:30] Christ
[40:30] Paul had
[40:32] many other
[40:32] helpers
[40:33] we hear of
[40:34] Onesimus
[40:34] who was a
[40:35] slave
[40:35] who had
[40:37] run away
[40:37] and
[40:38] had now
[40:39] become a
[40:40] great help
[40:40] to him
[40:40] in Rome
[40:41] and that
[40:43] he had
[40:43] sent him
[40:43] back to
[40:44] his master
[40:44] Philemon
[40:45] and we have
[40:46] the book
[40:46] of Philemon
[40:46] explaining why
[40:48] he said
[40:49] Onesimus
[40:49] is useful
[40:50] for me
[40:52] just as
[40:52] John Mark
[40:53] was useful
[40:53] for him
[40:54] in the
[40:55] ministry
[40:55] and so
[40:57] those of us
[40:57] who have
[40:58] the ministry
[40:59] of helps
[41:00] we have to
[41:01] be
[41:01] we have to
[41:03] have the
[41:03] desire
[41:04] to be useful
[41:05] for the
[41:06] ministry gifts
[41:07] in any shape
[41:08] or form
[41:08] whatever you
[41:09] do
[41:09] sometimes
[41:10] you get
[41:10] so pressed
[41:11] that for a
[41:12] moment
[41:12] you say
[41:12] it doesn't
[41:13] matter
[41:13] but it
[41:14] matters
[41:14] it doesn't
[41:15] matter
[41:15] we are
[41:16] tired
[41:16] you cannot
[41:17] be tired
[41:17] it's your
[41:18] ministry
[41:18] yeah it's
[41:19] your ministry
[41:19] so those
[41:21] if those
[41:22] who have
[41:22] to
[41:23] who are
[41:23] gifts of
[41:25] Christ
[41:26] to the
[41:26] body
[41:26] the apostles
[41:27] the evangelists
[41:28] the prophets
[41:29] the teachers
[41:30] if they take
[41:31] their callings
[41:31] ministry
[41:32] we also
[41:33] in the
[41:33] health
[41:33] ministry
[41:34] must take
[41:34] our callings
[41:35] very seriously
[41:35] oh yes
[41:37] because that's
[41:38] the ministry
[41:38] we have
[41:39] John Mark
[41:40] didn't now
[41:41] you know
[41:42] grow to
[41:43] become something
[41:43] else
[41:44] he is with
[41:45] them right
[41:45] to the end
[41:46] as a
[41:47] helper
[41:47] so some
[41:48] of us
[41:49] we think
[41:49] that from
[41:50] usher
[41:50] to head
[41:50] usher
[41:51] then I'll
[41:51] become
[41:52] a pastor
[41:52] it's no
[41:53] automatic
[41:53] like that
[41:54] it's no
[41:56] automatic
[41:56] if the
[41:57] call is
[41:57] not there
[41:57] it's not
[41:58] there
[41:58] some of
[42:00] us may
[42:00] become
[42:00] but not
[42:01] all of
[42:02] us
[42:02] some of
[42:03] us will
[42:03] be faithful
[42:04] usher
[42:04] all the
[42:04] days of
[42:05] our lives
[42:05] but in
[42:06] all of
[42:06] it is
[42:06] ministry
[42:07] of
[42:07] helps
[42:07] but served
[42:08] in God
[42:09] in that
[42:10] way
[42:10] it's a
[42:11] beautiful
[42:12] ministry
[42:12] when we
[42:14] about to
[42:15] start a
[42:15] church
[42:15] by God's
[42:16] grace
[42:16] for most
[42:17] of us
[42:17] who hear
[42:18] it on
[42:18] the stage
[42:19] when it's
[42:19] being announced
[42:20] that's
[42:21] oh
[42:21] yeah
[42:22] we have
[42:22] a church
[42:23] in
[42:23] this
[42:24] location
[42:25] and we're
[42:25] all very
[42:25] excited
[42:26] we clap
[42:26] and all
[42:27] that
[42:27] but most
[42:28] of the
[42:28] time
[42:28] before that
[42:29] announcement
[42:29] has been
[42:30] probably a
[42:31] year and
[42:31] a half
[42:31] of somebody
[42:33] going on
[42:34] ground
[42:34] doing
[42:35] evangelism
[42:36] day in
[42:38] day out
[42:39] week in
[42:39] week out
[42:40] being
[42:40] consistent
[42:40] following
[42:41] up
[42:41] visiting
[42:42] teaching
[42:43] raising
[42:43] disciples
[42:44] until we
[42:45] get to
[42:45] a certain
[42:45] number
[42:46] then we
[42:46] say
[42:46] we are
[42:47] establishing
[42:47] a church
[42:48] it's a
[42:50] long process
[42:51] very long
[42:52] process
[42:52] and that's
[42:53] where we
[42:53] all have
[42:54] to find
[42:54] pleasure
[42:54] in serving
[42:55] God
[42:55] wherever he
[42:56] has placed
[42:57] us
[42:57] that we
[42:59] don't get
[42:59] tired of
[43:00] the process
[43:00] the process
[43:02] is the
[43:02] ministry
[43:03] we are not
[43:05] doing it so
[43:05] that we can
[43:06] get somewhere
[43:06] and then now
[43:07] say we are
[43:07] graduating
[43:08] the process
[43:09] is the
[43:09] ministry
[43:09] some of
[43:10] us it
[43:10] will be
[43:11] the same
[43:11] until Christ
[43:12] calls us
[43:13] the process
[43:13] is the
[43:14] ministry
[43:14] and so
[43:15] let's not
[43:15] feel that
[43:17] we have to
[43:17] quickly move
[43:18] away
[43:18] finish this
[43:19] take this
[43:20] ball quickly
[43:20] so that we
[43:21] can become
[43:21] this
[43:22] the becoming
[43:24] is the
[43:24] process
[43:25] serving the
[43:27] Lord
[43:28] wherever we
[43:29] are
[43:29] whatever he
[43:30] has given
[43:30] to us
[43:31] we are
[43:32] faithful
[43:32] in serving
[43:33] him
[43:33] faithful
[43:35] and enjoying
[43:36] the process
[43:37] loving the
[43:38] Lord
[43:38] loving his
[43:39] people
[43:40] serving them
[43:41] with joy
[43:42] and with
[43:43] gladness
[43:43] whatever
[43:44] God
[43:45] calls us
[43:45] next
[43:45] is up
[43:46] to him
[43:47] but if
[43:48] we find
[43:49] ourselves
[43:49] in the
[43:50] ministry
[43:50] of helps
[43:51] like John
[43:52] Mark
[43:53] then we
[43:54] have to
[43:54] do it
[43:55] with all
[43:55] our hearts
[43:56] in his
[43:57] ministry
[43:58] he had
[43:58] the privilege
[43:59] to now
[44:00] write a
[44:00] quarter
[44:00] of the
[44:01] gospels
[44:01] it wasn't
[44:03] part of
[44:04] his
[44:05] call
[44:05] at the
[44:06] beginning
[44:06] when they
[44:07] said just
[44:08] follow us
[44:08] as an
[44:09] attendant
[44:10] as a
[44:10] helper
[44:11] as we
[44:12] are going
[44:12] out for
[44:12] missionary
[44:13] journey
[44:13] oh yes
[44:14] he had
[44:14] his bumps
[44:14] we all
[44:15] know what
[44:15] happened
[44:16] in
[44:16] pamphylia
[44:16] but out
[44:17] of that
[44:18] he grew
[44:18] he developed
[44:19] he matured
[44:20] and when he
[44:22] spent his
[44:22] time as a
[44:23] helper to
[44:23] Peter
[44:24] he started
[44:25] hearing
[44:25] Peter talking
[44:26] about
[44:27] how
[44:28] Jesus did
[44:29] life
[44:29] and ministry
[44:30] had the
[44:31] privilege
[44:32] of writing
[44:33] it down
[44:33] and interestingly
[44:34] he didn't
[44:34] write it for
[44:35] a Jewish
[44:35] audience
[44:36] like Matthew
[44:37] he wrote
[44:38] the gospel
[44:39] of Mark
[44:40] for a
[44:41] Greek
[44:41] audience
[44:41] the very
[44:42] people
[44:42] he had
[44:42] run away
[44:43] from
[44:43] before
[44:44] now he
[44:45] had
[44:45] matured
[44:46] that he
[44:46] was able
[44:47] he was
[44:48] now being
[44:48] used
[44:49] for the
[44:49] very
[44:50] audience
[44:50] he had
[44:51] run away
[44:51] from
[44:52] before
[44:52] and so
[44:55] enjoy the
[44:56] journey
[44:56] it may
[44:57] have its
[44:57] challenges
[44:58] but enjoy
[44:59] the journey
[45:00] serve the
[45:00] Lord with
[45:01] gladness
[45:01] serve the
[45:03] Lord joyfully
[45:03] wherever you
[45:05] find yourself
[45:06] you may
[45:09] think that
[45:09] I'm not
[45:12] being recognized
[45:12] I'm not
[45:14] being appreciated
[45:15] I'm not
[45:17] being seen
[45:18] what else
[45:21] do we
[45:21] think
[45:21] it's too
[45:23] much
[45:23] I'm tired
[45:25] I don't
[45:27] like this
[45:28] I've had
[45:29] enough
[45:30] these are
[45:30] all things
[45:31] that can
[45:31] come to
[45:32] mind
[45:32] yes
[45:33] these are
[45:34] all things
[45:34] that can
[45:34] come to
[45:35] mind
[45:35] you have
[45:36] found
[45:36] yourself
[45:37] in moments
[45:37] like that
[45:38] but it's
[45:40] also a
[45:40] moment to
[45:41] reflect
[45:42] and be
[45:43] grateful to
[45:44] God for
[45:44] the privilege
[45:45] of serving
[45:46] him
[45:46] and understand
[45:47] that we
[45:49] serve him
[45:50] and not
[45:51] any
[45:51] individual
[45:52] per se
[45:52] and so
[45:53] by God's
[45:54] grace
[45:55] today
[45:55] we have
[45:56] looked at
[45:57] the ministry
[45:57] of John
[45:58] Mark
[45:58] who was a
[45:59] helper
[45:59] we have
[46:01] seen that
[46:01] when God
[46:02] gives an
[46:02] assignment
[46:02] he also
[46:04] calls
[46:04] help us
[46:05] to join
[46:07] the visionary
[46:08] and
[46:09] every one of
[46:11] us who
[46:11] would have a
[46:11] ministry
[46:12] whether a
[46:13] visionary
[46:13] or a
[46:15] helper
[46:15] God places
[46:16] value
[46:16] on both
[46:17] ends
[46:18] of his
[46:19] call
[46:19] that for
[46:20] the Holy
[46:20] Spirit
[46:21] to be
[46:21] identified
[46:22] as a
[46:24] helper
[46:25] for the
[46:25] church
[46:26] tells you
[46:26] how much
[46:27] value
[46:27] God places
[46:28] on the
[46:29] ministry
[46:29] of helps
[46:30] Moses
[46:31] had his
[46:32] help
[46:32] Elijah
[46:33] had his
[46:33] help
[46:33] Paul
[46:34] the apostle
[46:34] had his
[46:35] help
[46:35] Peter
[46:36] had his
[46:36] help
[46:36] and wherever
[46:37] God is
[46:38] calling us
[46:38] yes we may
[46:39] stand as a
[46:40] help to
[46:40] somebody
[46:41] but I
[46:41] pray
[46:42] that the
[46:42] helpers
[46:43] you need
[46:43] for your
[46:44] destiny
[46:44] God will
[46:45] also grant
[46:45] you them
[46:46] and they
[46:46] will also
[46:47] be faithful
[46:47] to what
[46:48] God has
[46:49] given you
[46:49] to accomplish
[46:50] in Jesus
[46:51] name
[46:52] amen
[46:52] thank you for
[46:55] listening to
[46:56] this message
[46:56] why not
[46:57] visit your
[46:57] local
[46:58] carous
[46:58] church
[46:58] or follow
[46:59] us on
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[47:02] including
[47:02] Instagram
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[47:04] you can also
[47:05] hear more
[47:05] messages on
[47:06] all relevant
[47:07] streaming
[47:07] platforms
[47:08] and the
[47:08] carous
[47:09] church
[47:09] app
[47:09] don't
[47:10] forget
[47:10] to like
[47:11] and share
[47:12] the message
[47:12] be blessed

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