WEBVTT - Takers, Part 2 0:00:00.530 --> 0:00:05.180 We should make every occasion, to make every occasion a 0:00:05.180 --> 0:00:08.719 great occasion, for you can never tell when someone may 0:00:08.750 --> 0:00:11.719 be measuring you for a larger place. 0:00:18.590 --> 0:00:21.860 This is Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford Jr. 0:00:21.890 --> 0:00:25.160 Senior pastor of Christ Bible Church in Chicago. I'm Steve Miller, 0:00:25.160 --> 0:00:27.920 and glad that you're with us today. You know, pastor, 0:00:27.920 --> 0:00:31.640 you bring out a great point. You never know who's watching. 0:00:31.640 --> 0:00:35.750 You never know who may be evaluating us and what 0:00:35.750 --> 0:00:39.590 potential opportunities they may be considering us for. 0:00:39.620 --> 0:00:44.600 I've had it happen several times in in my working life. 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:48.530 I recall that I started working for Duquesne Light, which 0:00:48.560 --> 0:00:52.250 is the equivalent of Commonwealth Edison because I'm from Pittsburgh. 0:00:52.280 --> 0:00:56.870 Shout out to all the Pittsburgh Steelers fans. And you know, 0:00:56.900 --> 0:01:00.290 I was a fairly new believer. And when I went 0:01:00.290 --> 0:01:04.170 to the job, I decided I would represent Jesus Christ. 0:01:04.170 --> 0:01:08.580 So I wasn't a custodian. I was a Christian custodian, 0:01:08.610 --> 0:01:12.720 you know, adjective describing the noun, giving it its character. 0:01:12.720 --> 0:01:15.090 And so I did the very best job that I 0:01:15.090 --> 0:01:20.040 could do. Now, the other custodians wouldn't mop and clean 0:01:20.040 --> 0:01:22.500 and keep the place. I kept it spick and span. 0:01:22.530 --> 0:01:27.060 I used to work for ServiceMaster Corporation, and so I 0:01:27.060 --> 0:01:30.270 did the floors and had them shining, and guys would 0:01:30.270 --> 0:01:34.320 come in and walk their muddy boots over. And generally, 0:01:34.350 --> 0:01:37.080 you know, I was done with the work. I would 0:01:37.080 --> 0:01:41.190 go back and make sure that everything was cleaned up 0:01:41.190 --> 0:01:44.460 after them, and I would shake the mud off of 0:01:44.459 --> 0:01:46.620 their boots and all that kind of stuff. And, and 0:01:46.620 --> 0:01:48.930 they would look and they'd say, what? Who is this guy? 0:01:48.930 --> 0:01:50.910 What is he all about? And then, of course, I 0:01:50.910 --> 0:01:54.480 would exalt Christ. Well, I didn't know it, but the 0:01:54.480 --> 0:01:59.430 boss Bill had been watching me and I got promoted 0:01:59.430 --> 0:02:04.720 early And started working on one of the trucks, you know. 0:02:04.750 --> 0:02:07.750 And so I started cleaning the truck, and I would 0:02:07.750 --> 0:02:09.910 clean everything and straighten it up because I was a 0:02:09.910 --> 0:02:13.810 low man. And then they decided I worked so well, 0:02:13.810 --> 0:02:15.970 they were going to make me a truck driver. Now, 0:02:15.970 --> 0:02:19.720 each of these, my motivation was just to do the 0:02:19.720 --> 0:02:24.970 best for Christ. And but each time I got a 0:02:24.970 --> 0:02:27.760 promotion and a raise. 0:02:28.090 --> 0:02:30.220 It's great how those two things often go together. 0:02:30.250 --> 0:02:31.240 Oh, sometimes. 0:02:31.270 --> 0:02:33.850 Yeah. Well, that's part of what we're going to be 0:02:33.850 --> 0:02:37.360 looking at in today's broadcast. In addition to that, we'll 0:02:37.360 --> 0:02:39.700 be looking at some leadership principles and some of the 0:02:39.700 --> 0:02:43.360 mistakes that leaders may tend to make. So if you 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:46.330 can hope you'll open your Bible and join us as 0:02:46.330 --> 0:02:50.620 we continue a message entitled takers. Here's Pastor Ford. 0:02:51.250 --> 0:02:55.330 Acts 16. Now this is the vision beginning in verse 0:02:55.330 --> 0:02:58.120 five of a man of Macedonia. Now let's just listen 0:02:58.120 --> 0:03:00.610 to this. Uh, no. Verse six. Now, when they had 0:03:00.639 --> 0:03:03.880 gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were 0:03:03.880 --> 0:03:06.820 forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. 0:03:06.850 --> 0:03:10.060 After they were come to Mysia, they attempted to go 0:03:10.060 --> 0:03:13.000 into Bithynia, but the spirit suffered them not. And they 0:03:13.000 --> 0:03:15.970 passing by Mysia came to Troas. Verse nine. And a 0:03:15.970 --> 0:03:21.130 vision appeared to a vision appeared to a vision appeared 0:03:21.130 --> 0:03:26.380 to Paul. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, 0:03:26.380 --> 0:03:29.140 come over into Macedonia and help us listen to this. 0:03:29.530 --> 0:03:34.930 And after he had seen the after who? He. Who's he? 0:03:35.050 --> 0:03:40.210 Paul had seen the vision. Immediately we. Who's we? The 0:03:40.210 --> 0:03:48.370 rest of them all. Nim. Mama nim. Daddy nim. Now 0:03:48.370 --> 0:03:53.410 get this. They didn't see the vision, but they embraced it. 0:03:54.250 --> 0:03:57.520 They talk about, I don't know. 0:03:57.850 --> 0:04:02.240 He always talking about. He see a vision. I don't 0:04:02.240 --> 0:04:04.520 know if that's the direction we ought to go. I 0:04:04.520 --> 0:04:05.720 ain't feeling that. 0:04:07.100 --> 0:04:12.320 You know, in my study of the word of God. Mm. 0:04:13.670 --> 0:04:15.590 I say it often, but I'll repeat it. You know 0:04:15.590 --> 0:04:19.969 what my problem is? Moses can get the children of 0:04:19.970 --> 0:04:25.279 Israel across the Red sea. Joshua can get the children 0:04:25.550 --> 0:04:29.300 of Israel across the Jordan River. I can't get some 0:04:29.300 --> 0:04:33.770 of y'all to cross 79th Street. That's my problem. Now, 0:04:33.770 --> 0:04:36.110 here's what I want you to see. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. This. This. 0:04:36.110 --> 0:04:42.950 The introduction. Joshua grew up in the ranks. He grew 0:04:42.950 --> 0:04:44.630 up in the ranks. I don't have time to do it. 0:04:44.630 --> 0:04:47.599 I'm not going to take time. But here, here's his story. 0:04:47.630 --> 0:04:50.630 Here's his story. He started off in Egypt as a 0:04:50.630 --> 0:04:55.190 weary slave. Then he became a warrior soldier. Then he 0:04:55.190 --> 0:04:58.070 became a. He's fighting the Amalekites. He's. He's one of 0:04:58.070 --> 0:05:01.200 the leads fighting the Amalekites. Then he became a worker servant. 0:05:01.230 --> 0:05:06.270 He became Moses's right hand man. Then he became a 0:05:06.270 --> 0:05:09.000 witness to the scriptures. He went in, and only him 0:05:09.000 --> 0:05:11.669 and Caleb came back with a good report. Then he 0:05:11.670 --> 0:05:14.489 became a worshiping saint. Where was he stationed? This is 0:05:14.490 --> 0:05:16.860 a good place to be stationed as a soldier, because 0:05:16.860 --> 0:05:18.750 you're a warrior. But you need to know how to worship. 0:05:18.779 --> 0:05:21.150 You know where he was stationed. According to the scripture 0:05:21.150 --> 0:05:23.969 I give you in a moment outside the tent of 0:05:23.970 --> 0:05:30.000 Moses where Moses went to have his personal devotional time, 0:05:30.000 --> 0:05:33.870 his Bible study and prayer. And so he's standing guard. 0:05:33.870 --> 0:05:36.659 He's going to be the next in line. And he's 0:05:36.660 --> 0:05:40.800 hearing how Moses prayed, and he's seeing how Moses is 0:05:40.800 --> 0:05:44.460 writing the Torah, and he hears what Moses is asking 0:05:44.460 --> 0:05:48.690 God to do when it comes to his people. Now, 0:05:48.690 --> 0:05:53.610 in the book of Joshua, he's a wise sage. He's 0:05:53.610 --> 0:06:02.619 a developed leader. He's ready to do the will of God. 0:06:02.740 --> 0:06:05.080 Let me give it to you. This way. Here it is. 0:06:05.470 --> 0:06:10.990 We first see his humiliation. He's a weary slave. And 0:06:10.990 --> 0:06:15.940 then we see his dedication. Then we see his education. 0:06:15.940 --> 0:06:20.680 Then we see his maturation. Then we see his validation. 0:06:20.770 --> 0:06:23.589 Now we see his administration. You see the. You see 0:06:23.589 --> 0:06:25.750 what happened. You see. You see the order that it 0:06:25.750 --> 0:06:33.580 went in. And so in Exodus 1714, turn there with me. 0:06:33.610 --> 0:06:36.250 What's going on here? Exodus chapter 17. Listen to this. 0:06:36.279 --> 0:06:40.870 Listen to it. This blew me away. Hey, elder. Dixon. Hey. Hey, 0:06:40.870 --> 0:06:43.300 brother Richie. Brother Betts. All y'all elders in here. Are 0:06:43.300 --> 0:06:46.690 you preaching teachers? This is a sermon by itself. Listen 0:06:46.690 --> 0:06:49.870 to this. And the Lord said unto Moses, write this 0:06:49.870 --> 0:06:53.020 for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in 0:06:53.020 --> 0:06:56.650 the ears of the congregation. Is that what it says? 0:06:57.400 --> 0:07:02.120 I was. Look right. There had been no writing, nothing 0:07:02.120 --> 0:07:04.640 was written. Everything was oral tradition. So he says, listen, 0:07:04.640 --> 0:07:07.039 I want to start writing stuff down so people can 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:09.469 read it. So write it in a book and rehearse 0:07:09.470 --> 0:07:13.250 it in Joshua's ear. Do you know what just happened? God, 0:07:13.280 --> 0:07:17.360 that's the first time Joshua's name is mentioned in Exodus. 0:07:17.390 --> 0:07:24.230 He's saying, here's your successor. Write it down for everybody else. 0:07:24.260 --> 0:07:30.260 Rehearse it to him. Man, he's chosen. Now what do 0:07:30.260 --> 0:07:32.780 it does? Rehearse. Write the book. And when you rehearse, 0:07:32.810 --> 0:07:36.530 tell him I'm going to wipe out the Amalekites. Oh, 0:07:36.560 --> 0:07:39.320 wait a minute. What was he, a slave and a soldier. 0:07:39.320 --> 0:07:41.090 And what's a soldier need to know? I can win 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:43.100 the victory. So you let him know. I don't want 0:07:43.130 --> 0:07:45.200 him to be timid. I don't want him to be afraid. 0:07:45.200 --> 0:07:47.270 I want him to know he can possess his possession, 0:07:47.270 --> 0:07:50.690 its inheritance, his inheritance. And I want him to understand 0:07:50.930 --> 0:07:53.570 that the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous. 0:07:53.600 --> 0:07:56.480 I want him to understand that you go out there 0:07:56.480 --> 0:07:59.630 and fight this battle. They got swords, they got shields, 0:07:59.630 --> 0:08:05.370 you got farming tools. But they don't have me. You 0:08:05.370 --> 0:08:11.670 got me. What are you afraid of? I'm bigger than anything. 0:08:11.670 --> 0:08:17.160 And everybody that's bigger than you. Man, this. This guy 0:08:17.190 --> 0:08:21.239 goes out and he does a number because he got 0:08:21.240 --> 0:08:24.960 a promise and he's a taker. Now get this. If 0:08:24.960 --> 0:08:27.930 he couldn't take the malachites, how can he take the 0:08:27.930 --> 0:08:31.830 Jebusites and the Hivites and the girgashites and the lights 0:08:31.830 --> 0:08:35.130 and the mosquito bites and the termites. How are you 0:08:35.130 --> 0:08:38.429 going to take all the ites if you can't take 0:08:38.460 --> 0:08:42.809 the Amalekites? Huh? I'm what I'm talking about. In a minute. 0:08:42.840 --> 0:08:48.720 Here it is. Here's the principle. We should make every occasion. 0:08:48.809 --> 0:08:53.640 To make every occasion a great occasion. For you can 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:57.060 never tell when someone may be measuring you for a 0:08:57.059 --> 0:09:00.569 larger place. Let me say it again. We should make 0:09:00.570 --> 0:09:05.910 every occasion, to make every occasion a great occasion, for 0:09:05.910 --> 0:09:08.490 you never can tell when someone may be measuring you 0:09:08.490 --> 0:09:11.010 for a larger place. Okay, now let me just go 0:09:11.010 --> 0:09:13.980 on record as saying I do not agree with everything Mr. 0:09:13.980 --> 0:09:18.180 Barack Obama does. Now, I'll say that readily. And in 0:09:18.179 --> 0:09:20.939 another sermon, I'll tell you what I don't agree with, 0:09:20.940 --> 0:09:23.640 but for right now, I will respect him, I give him. Now, 0:09:23.640 --> 0:09:24.990 let me tell you something. Let me tell you something. 0:09:24.990 --> 0:09:28.230 Here's what happened. In 2004, he was elected to the 0:09:28.260 --> 0:09:32.070 US Senate for the state of Illinois. Uh, one of 0:09:32.070 --> 0:09:36.839 only two US senators. You know, every state gets two, right? Okay. 0:09:37.679 --> 0:09:42.000 And so he won. He was so excited. And it 0:09:42.000 --> 0:09:46.709 was a profound victory. It was overwhelming. Now remember where 0:09:46.710 --> 0:09:52.200 he started on 71st Street in one of our members building? 0:09:53.429 --> 0:09:57.270 I remember when he came and visited me and told 0:09:57.270 --> 0:09:59.400 me who he was and what he was trying to do. 0:10:00.910 --> 0:10:05.589 In 2004, a few months after he was elected in July, 0:10:05.679 --> 0:10:10.540 the Democratic National Convention went on and he was the 0:10:10.540 --> 0:10:18.400 keynote speaker, and he made a big splash. They went wild. Now, 0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:20.170 if you listen to what he said, he said, I 0:10:20.170 --> 0:10:22.809 wanted them to know that the, the, the newest senator 0:10:22.809 --> 0:10:26.140 and almost the youngest senator in the Senate wasn't no 0:10:26.140 --> 0:10:29.710 pushover that I was ready. And so I made this 0:10:29.710 --> 0:10:35.319 a great occasion. But he didn't know it. He thought 0:10:35.320 --> 0:10:39.730 he was making a great occasion as a senator. Those 0:10:39.730 --> 0:10:45.579 people at that National Democratic convention said, uh, that man 0:10:45.610 --> 0:10:49.600 could be the president. He could be the first African-American 0:10:49.600 --> 0:10:54.790 president of the United States of America. And that's what 0:10:54.790 --> 0:10:57.400 he became. You want to know why? Because he took 0:10:57.400 --> 0:11:03.110 every occasion to make every occasion a great occasion, just 0:11:03.110 --> 0:11:07.700 in case somebody was looking to give him a larger place. 0:11:07.700 --> 0:11:12.920 I'll never forget it. Editor Gordon was interviewing Denzel, aren't you? 0:11:12.950 --> 0:11:15.559 Aren't you glad? When? When you can know people by 0:11:15.559 --> 0:11:25.130 just one name? Denzel. Nobody says Denzel. Who? Beyonce. Beyonce who? Man. Usher. 0:11:25.160 --> 0:11:30.410 You know pink. You know, it's like. Like one name. Jesus. 0:11:32.870 --> 0:11:40.730 Nobody ever says Jesus. Who? And so here it is. 0:11:40.730 --> 0:11:44.719 Here it is now. And Ed Gordon said, uh, Denzel, 0:11:44.750 --> 0:11:48.590 tell us which was your greatest movie. And Denzel was 0:11:48.590 --> 0:11:50.900 getting ready to say. And anybody ever watch Ed Gordon? 0:11:50.900 --> 0:11:53.060 I watch him all the time. He always interrupts them 0:11:53.059 --> 0:11:55.309 before they get a chance to answer. He like some 0:11:55.309 --> 0:11:59.060 of y'all. Um, can you answer this question for me? Well, 0:11:59.059 --> 0:12:01.560 I and I think now. Well, why are you asking 0:12:01.559 --> 0:12:05.670 me when you already know? Anyway, so he says, I 0:12:05.670 --> 0:12:09.179 bet you it was a glory because that's where you 0:12:09.179 --> 0:12:14.250 won your Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He said, oh, 0:12:14.250 --> 0:12:16.290 wait a minute. No, no, I bet you it's training 0:12:16.290 --> 0:12:20.819 day because that's where you won the Oscar for Best Actor. No, no, 0:12:20.850 --> 0:12:23.400 I bet you I know what it is. It's Malcolm X. 0:12:23.429 --> 0:12:25.590 He said, okay, what is it? I've taken my guesses. 0:12:25.590 --> 0:12:29.609 What is it? And Denzel said, none of them. He said, 0:12:29.610 --> 0:12:32.220 wait a minute. None of them. Is there one we 0:12:32.220 --> 0:12:34.770 don't know about that. You look as something that maybe 0:12:34.800 --> 0:12:40.350 catapulted you into stardom. No. Will, tell us what's your 0:12:40.350 --> 0:12:43.710 best movie? And it wrecked me when I heard it. 0:12:43.710 --> 0:12:47.700 Denzel Washington looked in the camera and said, my best 0:12:47.700 --> 0:12:51.870 movie is my next one, and gave that grin. You 0:12:51.870 --> 0:12:55.439 know that grin? Gave that grin. My next one. Hey, 0:12:55.470 --> 0:12:57.420 you don't get it. You don't get it, do you? 0:12:57.450 --> 0:12:59.220 You don't see what I'm trying to do? Why did 0:12:59.220 --> 0:13:02.110 you talk about the Amalekites? Because that boy had to 0:13:02.110 --> 0:13:04.660 be tested. And you gotta be tested if you're going 0:13:04.690 --> 0:13:06.579 to be a soldier. And if God's going to give 0:13:06.580 --> 0:13:09.010 you a larger place, you gotta be faithful in a 0:13:09.010 --> 0:13:12.250 smaller place before he gives you a larger place. And 0:13:12.250 --> 0:13:15.100 so what happens if you can't beat the Amalekites? What 0:13:15.100 --> 0:13:16.390 are you going to do with the other ice? Now 0:13:16.390 --> 0:13:18.790 get this. Here's what the scriptures say in the book 0:13:18.790 --> 0:13:22.300 of Luke. He that is faithful in little is faithful 0:13:22.300 --> 0:13:23.679 and much. Now here's how I would have wrote this. 0:13:23.679 --> 0:13:24.880 This let me tell you how I wrote it. I 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:26.620 would have wrote it this way. He that is faithful 0:13:26.620 --> 0:13:29.110 and little shall be. But here's what God is saying 0:13:29.380 --> 0:13:31.959 if I can't trust you with a dollar, I know 0:13:31.960 --> 0:13:34.510 I can't trust you with ten. If I can't trust 0:13:34.510 --> 0:13:36.220 you with a girlfriend, I know I can't trust you 0:13:36.220 --> 0:13:38.860 with a wife. If I can't trust you to clean 0:13:38.860 --> 0:13:42.640 the apartment, why should I give you a house? You 0:13:42.640 --> 0:13:45.040 want a business? You ain't even faithful on the job. 0:13:47.410 --> 0:13:50.740 This is treasure truth with Pastor Ford. Really a helpful 0:13:50.740 --> 0:13:53.290 look at what God has entrusted into our care. And 0:13:53.290 --> 0:13:55.510 how are we managing that? Well, we're going to get 0:13:55.510 --> 0:13:58.270 back to this message called takers in just a moment. 0:13:58.300 --> 0:14:01.429 I want to let you know that Treasured Truth is 0:14:01.429 --> 0:14:04.790 a listener supported program, and that's exactly what it sounds like. 0:14:04.820 --> 0:14:07.670 Those who listen to Pastor Ford's Bible teaching, who are 0:14:07.670 --> 0:14:10.010 growing in their walk with Christ because of that, and 0:14:10.010 --> 0:14:12.679 who appreciate it and want to stand financially with it. 0:14:12.710 --> 0:14:16.220 That's how this whole thing works. So if you are benefiting, 0:14:16.220 --> 0:14:18.800 we'd love to hear about that. But also, I'd ask 0:14:18.800 --> 0:14:21.140 you to give a financial gift so we can continue 0:14:21.140 --> 0:14:23.990 to pay for production costs and airtime and everything else 0:14:23.990 --> 0:14:26.390 that it takes to make this ministry run. You can 0:14:26.390 --> 0:14:28.760 give a gift online by coming to Treasure Truth Radio 0:14:28.940 --> 0:14:31.970 org and clicking on the donate button. Again, that's at 0:14:31.970 --> 0:14:36.680 Treasure Truth radio.org. Well, we are in Joshua chapter one. 0:14:36.680 --> 0:14:39.470 As we get back to our message entitled takers. Here 0:14:39.470 --> 0:14:40.700 is Pastor Ford. 0:14:41.210 --> 0:14:44.960 I had some more statistics, but I didn't even say em. 0:14:45.080 --> 0:14:52.520 You know that that retail theft, $43 billion. The number 0:14:52.520 --> 0:14:58.910 one theft in retail is employees. Anyway, let me leave 0:14:58.910 --> 0:15:01.490 it alone. Let me leave it at all. Yeah, because 0:15:01.610 --> 0:15:04.820 it's 18 billion for the movie industry. Want to know why? 0:15:04.850 --> 0:15:10.070 Bootleg DVDs. Takers. Anyway, so what's going on here? So? 0:15:10.070 --> 0:15:13.010 So here it is. Why should I let you lead 0:15:13.010 --> 0:15:16.010 a ministry? And you don't even have come to church? 0:15:16.550 --> 0:15:21.830 David didn't know that watching his daddy's sheep was preparation 0:15:21.830 --> 0:15:28.340 for watching God's sheep. Now listen, here's what it says. 0:15:28.430 --> 0:15:34.970 Exodus 1710. So Joshua did as Moses said. Caveat follow 0:15:34.970 --> 0:15:37.880 him as he followed Christ. That's what he was doing. 0:15:37.880 --> 0:15:40.790 Here's the principle if you don't know how to lead, 0:15:40.790 --> 0:15:43.370 finish it. You heard me say it a lot. You're 0:15:43.370 --> 0:15:46.640 not fit to follow. That's right. Joshua learned how to 0:15:46.670 --> 0:15:50.479 lead under Moses, and he was ready. I showed you 0:15:50.510 --> 0:15:52.729 his process that he went through. I'm not going to 0:15:52.730 --> 0:15:55.280 go over it again. But here's the kicker. Here's the 0:15:55.280 --> 0:15:58.790 flip side. Elders, deacons, listen to me. Don't get mad. 0:15:58.820 --> 0:16:03.330 Listen to me. The flip side is this. Let me 0:16:03.330 --> 0:16:05.700 put it in the words of a counseling session I 0:16:05.700 --> 0:16:09.660 had here. It is there in the counseling session. And 0:16:09.660 --> 0:16:12.390 they're they're angry. I remember when they got married, I 0:16:12.390 --> 0:16:15.150 put two chairs out. They they practically sat in one, 0:16:15.150 --> 0:16:18.180 pulled them together. Now, after three years, I put two 0:16:18.210 --> 0:16:22.560 chairs down and they pull them apart. And so, uh, 0:16:23.070 --> 0:16:27.600 I say, what's the issue? She won't follow. I said, well, 0:16:27.600 --> 0:16:30.030 you know, the Bible says that you're the leader. You're 0:16:30.060 --> 0:16:32.400 the head you ought to follow. You ought to follow, sister. 0:16:32.400 --> 0:16:35.700 Why don't you follow it? She looked at him, not me, 0:16:36.180 --> 0:16:44.370 and said, I'm not following because he's not going anywhere. 0:16:44.700 --> 0:16:50.190 You can't follow a parked car. Now, let me just 0:16:50.190 --> 0:16:53.730 say something. Let me just say something, even if that 0:16:53.730 --> 0:16:58.200 is true. She did the right thing in the wrong way. 0:16:58.200 --> 0:17:00.340 And let me just tell some of you ladies who 0:17:00.340 --> 0:17:04.480 want to try to get your husband to counseling. The 0:17:04.480 --> 0:17:08.199 reason why a lot of men don't want to come 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:11.859 to counseling is because of what just happened. That is, 0:17:11.859 --> 0:17:16.570 they feel that you are going to castrate them in 0:17:16.570 --> 0:17:21.310 front of another man that you think has what you 0:17:21.310 --> 0:17:26.170 want them to have, that you think they don't. Did 0:17:26.170 --> 0:17:31.030 you hear me? That's why you can't get them. Because 0:17:31.030 --> 0:17:31.630 you came home. 0:17:31.660 --> 0:17:34.660 Talking about your pastor for do this for each other. 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:39.550 You don't call me no. You know, I heard him 0:17:39.550 --> 0:17:40.750 say he did this or that. 0:17:40.780 --> 0:17:43.090 First of all, you don't know if he's really doing 0:17:43.090 --> 0:17:48.340 all that. Second of all, I ain't Pastor Ford. Third 0:17:48.340 --> 0:17:54.489 of all, you ain't Sister Ford. Amen. But there was 0:17:54.490 --> 0:17:57.370 a point well taken. I'm not going to call her name, 0:17:57.369 --> 0:18:00.020 even though she gave me permission because she may not remember. 0:18:00.020 --> 0:18:02.960 She gave me permission because with 15 years ago. But 0:18:02.960 --> 0:18:05.629 when the sisters came up to me 15 years ago, 0:18:05.630 --> 0:18:08.419 she said, Pastor Ford, I don't mean any harm to 0:18:08.450 --> 0:18:10.910 you or your elders, but you know what you need 0:18:10.940 --> 0:18:12.260 to do. I said, what do I need to do? 0:18:12.290 --> 0:18:14.000 I almost called her name and called her name. I 0:18:14.000 --> 0:18:17.870 ain't even looking at her right now. She said, take 0:18:17.869 --> 0:18:23.930 your elders to the elders store and get a refund. 0:18:24.830 --> 0:18:29.780 That's what she said. That's what she said. Why did 0:18:29.780 --> 0:18:40.340 she feel that way? Because you can't follow a parked car. Amen. Amen. 0:18:40.609 --> 0:18:43.460 And so when you look at what's going on here, 0:18:43.609 --> 0:18:47.210 I want to tell you something. I need every elder 0:18:47.210 --> 0:18:50.480 I send on an email. I need every elder not 0:18:50.480 --> 0:18:53.570 just to read The Turnaround Church by Doctor Perry. I 0:18:53.570 --> 0:18:58.310 need them to read the top ten Mistakes Leaders make 0:18:58.310 --> 0:19:00.990 by hand. stencil. Don't worry about it. I'll send it 0:19:00.990 --> 0:19:02.820 to you. I just want to give them to you 0:19:02.820 --> 0:19:05.369 right now. Here they are. Now, I read this book 0:19:05.400 --> 0:19:08.370 as a student at Moody. I read it again as 0:19:08.369 --> 0:19:11.940 a graduate student at Trinity, but I'm reading it now 0:19:11.940 --> 0:19:15.929 again as pastor of Christ Bible Church here. Here's the 0:19:15.930 --> 0:19:19.500 ten in a nutshell. Here's the ten top mistakes leaders make. 0:19:19.500 --> 0:19:23.760 Here it is number one top down attitude. You're large 0:19:23.760 --> 0:19:26.490 and in charge. Big baller shot caller, number one stunner 0:19:26.490 --> 0:19:29.670 player player from the Himalaya. And nobody can tell you anything. 0:19:30.900 --> 0:19:36.419 Number two, putting paperwork before people work that this is 0:19:36.420 --> 0:19:42.060 all about fellowship. We are organism before we're organization. Number three, 0:19:42.090 --> 0:19:47.790 the absence of affirmation. Paul in Romans 16 told those 0:19:47.790 --> 0:19:50.850 people and get those names. Why? Because he wanted everybody 0:19:50.850 --> 0:19:53.970 to know I'm not in this by myself. Some of 0:19:53.970 --> 0:19:57.540 you who are ministering, they're not looking for money, but 0:19:57.540 --> 0:20:01.030 they are waiting to hear somebody say thank you. I 0:20:01.030 --> 0:20:06.220 appreciate you. You're doing a job well done. Here's our tendency. 0:20:06.250 --> 0:20:09.100 And let me speak for myself. Here's my tendency. The 0:20:09.100 --> 0:20:12.070 folk who are peripheral. That's where you give your time to. 0:20:12.100 --> 0:20:14.860 And attention to. But the folk who are there, you know, 0:20:14.859 --> 0:20:17.889 are going to stay there. You ignore them. When the 0:20:17.890 --> 0:20:21.129 Bible says the periphery of folk, you shouldn't put any 0:20:21.160 --> 0:20:26.950 time or treasure on them. That's what it says, teach. 0:20:27.220 --> 0:20:31.359 It says. It says, fine. Faithful. Available. Teacher. Second Timothy 0:20:31.390 --> 0:20:34.690 222 and the things which thou hast both heard and 0:20:34.690 --> 0:20:37.510 seen in me do and the same commit thou to 0:20:37.510 --> 0:20:41.830 faithful people, who shall be able to teach others also. 0:20:41.859 --> 0:20:44.169 There it is. There it is. That's called discipleship. For 0:20:44.170 --> 0:20:46.390 those of you who may not know, here it is. 0:20:46.390 --> 0:20:47.859 Here it is. Let me just drop them real quick. 0:20:47.859 --> 0:20:51.910 Number four. Uh, mistake. Leaders make no room for mavericks. 0:20:51.910 --> 0:20:55.090 I said it on Wednesday. Sometimes we see new people 0:20:55.090 --> 0:20:59.350 as an intrusion when God sent them as an infusion. Now. 0:20:59.350 --> 0:21:01.359 Not all because some people come from other places where 0:21:01.359 --> 0:21:04.570 they got all kind of mess and they bring that 0:21:04.570 --> 0:21:07.780 mess in here. And when I hear that mess, I 0:21:07.780 --> 0:21:12.970 deal with that mess because it's mess. And we don't 0:21:12.970 --> 0:21:18.280 want to be about mess. Amen. Amen. Number five. Dictatorship 0:21:18.280 --> 0:21:21.280 and decision making. That is you. It's always got to 0:21:21.280 --> 0:21:23.739 be your way or the highway. And when we were 0:21:23.740 --> 0:21:25.420 here with Doctor Perry, I'm going to let you in 0:21:25.420 --> 0:21:27.940 on on the elder business, even though I ain't supposed to. 0:21:28.300 --> 0:21:31.330 I said to them, okay, you know, somebody say, okay, 0:21:31.330 --> 0:21:33.670 he's a dictator. Okay, then. And I and I asked 0:21:33.670 --> 0:21:37.540 them corporately and individually, somebody tell me some something that 0:21:37.540 --> 0:21:41.410 I did that violated your authority as an elder or 0:21:41.440 --> 0:21:44.350 a pastor or a bishop in this church and didn't 0:21:44.350 --> 0:21:46.870 repent of it. Whenever, whenever I did it. And so 0:21:46.869 --> 0:21:49.660 I picked on campus, pastor, I said, Pastor Avery, in 0:21:49.660 --> 0:21:51.790 front of all the elders and deacons. I said, what 0:21:51.790 --> 0:21:54.700 do they call me over at CBC three? Senior pastor, 0:21:54.700 --> 0:21:56.800 I said, what did they call you at CBC three? 0:21:56.830 --> 0:22:00.260 Campus pastor, I said, has there been anything where we 0:22:00.260 --> 0:22:03.140 have disagreed since we've been there, or a little over 0:22:03.140 --> 0:22:06.410 a year at CBC three? He said. Yeah, I said 0:22:06.410 --> 0:22:10.280 about eight things now. Of those eight things that weren't biblical, 0:22:10.280 --> 0:22:14.270 no book, chapter verse. How many times did I overrule you? 0:22:14.300 --> 0:22:18.170 He said none. I said, I never said I like 0:22:18.200 --> 0:22:21.379 my way better with doing it. Not one time. And 0:22:21.380 --> 0:22:24.139 there ain't no elder in here that can say I 0:22:24.140 --> 0:22:27.500 ever did it. Because we have elder role. And that's 0:22:27.500 --> 0:22:32.119 what I abide by, because that's our system. We're not 0:22:32.119 --> 0:22:37.190 like the other churches where the pastor is responsible for everything. 0:22:37.250 --> 0:22:40.909 We have elder rule, and I, for one, respect the 0:22:40.910 --> 0:22:43.220 God given policy. 0:22:45.980 --> 0:22:49.100 You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford. A message 0:22:49.100 --> 0:22:53.450 entitled takers and a little insightful look at the way 0:22:53.450 --> 0:22:56.330 that Pastor Ford's church runs. By the way, if you 0:22:56.330 --> 0:22:59.090 ever want to visit Christ Bible Church of Chicago, you 0:22:59.109 --> 0:23:00.970 can find out more information about that when you come 0:23:00.970 --> 0:23:04.629 to our website. It's Treasure Truth radio.org. Look for the 0:23:04.630 --> 0:23:07.510 link that says about. You'll find out more about Pastor 0:23:07.510 --> 0:23:10.540 Ford and about the church where he serves as senior pastor. 0:23:10.570 --> 0:23:12.070 And if you just want to find out more about 0:23:12.070 --> 0:23:15.550 this program, look for the Stay Connected bar. There's a 0:23:15.580 --> 0:23:17.980 lot of really useful and helpful links right there, like 0:23:18.010 --> 0:23:20.320 to our Facebook page or Twitter feed, and also a 0:23:20.320 --> 0:23:23.500 link that will allow you to download the Moody Radio app. 0:23:23.530 --> 0:23:25.959 The app is free, and it makes it possible for 0:23:25.960 --> 0:23:28.359 you to listen to this Bible teaching and other programs 0:23:28.359 --> 0:23:30.670 produced by Moody Radio on the go. You know, whenever 0:23:30.670 --> 0:23:33.100 it fits your schedule, we'll link you to the app 0:23:33.100 --> 0:23:36.760 and a lot more when you come to Treasure Truth radio.org. 0:23:36.760 --> 0:23:39.850 And again, click on the Stay Connected bar. Well, thanks 0:23:39.850 --> 0:23:41.350 for listening today. Hope you'll make it a point to 0:23:41.380 --> 0:23:43.450 tune in next time. Thanks also to our producer, Amy 0:23:43.480 --> 0:23:46.659 Rios for Pastor Ford. I'm Steve Hiller. Treasure truth is 0:23:46.660 --> 0:23:50.619 a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.