WEBVTT - How to Have an Effective Ministry, Part 2 0:00:00.240 --> 0:00:02.600 And the very people that you try to minister to 0:00:02.840 --> 0:00:05.480 often are the people that hurt you the most. But 0:00:05.480 --> 0:00:08.559 you gotta man up. You got to woman up, and 0:00:08.560 --> 0:00:11.640 you got to say that there's no opposition, even from 0:00:11.640 --> 0:00:14.400 the ones that I'm trying to minister to, that will 0:00:14.400 --> 0:00:18.000 make me stop doing what God has called me to do. 0:00:25.000 --> 0:00:28.200 You're listening to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford, 0:00:28.200 --> 0:00:31.040 junior senior pastor of the Christ Bible Church in Chicago. 0:00:31.080 --> 0:00:33.199 I'm Steve Hillard. Glad you're with us. As today we 0:00:33.240 --> 0:00:37.360 continue a message how to have an effective ministry. And pastor, 0:00:37.360 --> 0:00:40.360 any time that you are in any sort of leadership 0:00:40.360 --> 0:00:44.120 role and you're doing ministry, you're going to face criticism. 0:00:44.120 --> 0:00:47.120 People are going to be coming at you because they 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:49.639 don't like something that you did. And as you said 0:00:49.760 --> 0:00:51.680 very often, you're just going to have to learn to 0:00:51.720 --> 0:00:55.120 man up or woman up through that. For the person 0:00:55.120 --> 0:00:57.279 who's not encountered much of that yet, they don't have 0:00:57.280 --> 0:01:00.520 real thick skin yet. Um, what what maybe helped you 0:01:00.520 --> 0:01:03.680 early in your ministry days to when you encountered that opposition. 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:07.959 You have to know the value of opposition. Paul said 0:01:07.959 --> 0:01:12.200 in first Corinthians 16 he said, and a great effectual 0:01:12.200 --> 0:01:17.280 door has been opened for me, and there are many adversaries. 0:01:17.800 --> 0:01:20.360 Here's what Paul was saying. Man, look at this great 0:01:20.360 --> 0:01:24.399 door of opportunity, and look at this equal opportunity, because 0:01:24.400 --> 0:01:28.200 he uses not but he uses an, which is a 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:32.520 conjunction that shows continuity. What Paul is saying is that 0:01:32.520 --> 0:01:37.600 the opportunity has equal opposition. Sure. So we you know, 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:40.400 here's what I tell our people all the time. Sometimes 0:01:40.400 --> 0:01:45.039 you have to realize that there hateration can be used 0:01:45.040 --> 0:01:50.200 by God for your elevation. Look, we said it. It's trite, 0:01:50.200 --> 0:01:54.400 but true. New level, new devil. I changed it, Steve 0:01:54.440 --> 0:01:55.640 did it. Yeah. I said. 0:01:55.680 --> 0:01:55.960 What's it. 0:01:55.960 --> 0:02:00.840 Now? New level. Stronger devils. True. Oh, yeah. I think 0:02:00.960 --> 0:02:04.360 it's a truism, man. And so it's part and parcel 0:02:04.360 --> 0:02:07.560 of it. If you're not ready for the opposition, you're 0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:10.480 not ready for the opportunity. And so just pray to 0:02:10.480 --> 0:02:14.120 God eases you into it like a tub of hot water, 0:02:14.120 --> 0:02:16.680 you know, put your toe in. But generally you get 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:20.720 thrown in like, wow, I'm overwhelmed. This is too hot. 0:02:21.440 --> 0:02:23.600 But you hang in there, baby. God will cool it 0:02:23.600 --> 0:02:24.120 off for you. 0:02:24.160 --> 0:02:26.119 He'll cool off and that's where you're going to see 0:02:26.160 --> 0:02:28.040 him step in and do something pretty cool. 0:02:28.040 --> 0:02:28.640 That's right. 0:02:28.639 --> 0:02:31.320 Well, we are in acts chapter 20, so join us 0:02:31.320 --> 0:02:34.400 there as we continue a message entitled How to Have 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:37.040 an Effective Ministry. Here's Pastor Ford. 0:02:37.760 --> 0:02:42.519 Now motivation tells us why we serve. Manner tells us how. 0:02:42.560 --> 0:02:47.519 Listen to what Paul says with all humility of mind, 0:02:49.080 --> 0:02:57.560 with all humility of mind and many tears. Here's what 0:02:57.560 --> 0:03:05.190 he's saying. Here's how I serve. realizing it was a privilege. Man, 0:03:05.190 --> 0:03:09.150 that sure brings everything together. When we understand to serve 0:03:09.190 --> 0:03:13.630 God is a privilege that God would use someone like me. 0:03:13.870 --> 0:03:19.150 What an awesome God. So with all humility of mine, 0:03:19.150 --> 0:03:21.350 I heard a story of a young man getting ready 0:03:21.350 --> 0:03:25.630 to do his trial sermon. And he he just, uh, 0:03:25.750 --> 0:03:29.590 was was like, fired up. And he was going to 0:03:29.590 --> 0:03:32.390 get them straight. He had studied this message and he 0:03:32.389 --> 0:03:34.430 was going to get them straight. So when it came 0:03:34.470 --> 0:03:37.910 time to preach, he mounted up to the pulpit. He 0:03:37.910 --> 0:03:42.390 stormed up. Tum tum tum tum tum tum. He looked 0:03:42.390 --> 0:03:45.150 at him and glared at him. He's getting ready to preach. 0:03:45.470 --> 0:03:50.430 And then he forgot his message and he forgot his notes, 0:03:50.710 --> 0:03:55.390 and he walked down with his head down. He walked down. 0:03:56.230 --> 0:03:58.590 And when he was on his way down, one of 0:03:58.590 --> 0:04:02.350 the teenagers, one of the senior Saints met him and 0:04:02.350 --> 0:04:06.190 this is what she said. She said, young man, if 0:04:06.230 --> 0:04:10.350 you would have went up like you came down, then 0:04:10.350 --> 0:04:14.270 you would have came down like you went up. Now 0:04:14.270 --> 0:04:17.710 you think about that. That's powerful. If you would have 0:04:17.710 --> 0:04:22.630 had humility that you had going down, coming up, then 0:04:22.630 --> 0:04:26.669 you could have stepped down in boldness that God had 0:04:26.670 --> 0:04:32.110 used you. And, uh. Wow, that's a powerful truth. You know, 0:04:32.150 --> 0:04:35.070 too many of us are arrogant, but but let me 0:04:35.070 --> 0:04:38.670 just tell you. Uh, you know, God doesn't need us. 0:04:39.310 --> 0:04:41.550 He said I have 7000 that haven't bowed the knee 0:04:41.589 --> 0:04:45.909 to Baal. And we need to understand. It's a privilege. Man, 0:04:45.910 --> 0:04:47.990 I you know, I subscribe to the voice of the 0:04:47.990 --> 0:04:51.750 Martyrs and Open Door Ministries. Uh, there are other ministries, 0:04:51.750 --> 0:04:54.670 but those are the two that I felt led, uh, 0:04:54.670 --> 0:04:57.990 to follow and to support, and I do. And let 0:04:57.990 --> 0:05:01.229 me tell you, and I, when I read almost every 0:05:01.270 --> 0:05:05.310 day about the Christians who are being martyred in other 0:05:05.310 --> 0:05:09.469 countries just because they're believers. Uh, the things that we 0:05:09.470 --> 0:05:13.630 take for granted, uh, where they count it a privilege 0:05:13.630 --> 0:05:18.390 to come to church and worship, uh, without being threatened, without, uh, 0:05:18.430 --> 0:05:22.910 being shot and all those kind of things. Man, we 0:05:22.910 --> 0:05:26.550 just don't know what a privilege we have. And so 0:05:26.550 --> 0:05:30.390 Paul says, yes. Listen, listen. You need presence. You need 0:05:30.390 --> 0:05:32.910 to be with them. You need participation. You need to 0:05:32.910 --> 0:05:36.029 be a worker. Here's the third ingredient that Paul says. 0:05:36.190 --> 0:05:39.670 Paul says that you need and I need if we're 0:05:39.670 --> 0:05:44.390 going to have effective ministry proclamation, be a witness. So presence, 0:05:44.430 --> 0:05:48.989 be with them. Participation. Be a worker. Proclamation. Be a witness. 0:05:48.990 --> 0:05:52.150 Listen to this in in in verse 20. And how 0:05:52.150 --> 0:05:54.990 I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but 0:05:55.029 --> 0:05:57.750 have showed you and have taught you publicly, and from 0:05:57.750 --> 0:06:01.030 house to house, testifying both to Jews and also to 0:06:01.070 --> 0:06:04.630 the Greeks. Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord 0:06:04.630 --> 0:06:07.230 Jesus Christ. He says, man, you know, I shared the 0:06:07.230 --> 0:06:10.870 good news and that's that's it. That's all we have 0:06:10.910 --> 0:06:14.789 is the gospel. You know what I heard a preacher said? 0:06:14.790 --> 0:06:16.870 If I knew who he was, I'd tell you, because 0:06:16.870 --> 0:06:19.830 I know the ladies would want to get him. He said, 0:06:20.870 --> 0:06:26.510 if you tell a woman something, it goes in both 0:06:26.510 --> 0:06:29.950 her ears and out of her mouth. Uh, but if 0:06:29.990 --> 0:06:34.190 you tell a man something, it goes in one ear 0:06:34.190 --> 0:06:36.670 and out the other. Well, anyway. Well, you know, here's 0:06:36.670 --> 0:06:40.190 what I want to say. If we would spread the 0:06:40.230 --> 0:06:47.670 gospel as readily as we share the gossip, more people 0:06:48.150 --> 0:06:54.430 would be saved. And so Paul says, I kept back nothing. 0:06:54.430 --> 0:06:57.589 I evangelize, and that's what we're called to do. Uh, 0:06:57.630 --> 0:07:02.589 we are to share our faith with those at our job, 0:07:02.870 --> 0:07:06.909 at the, at the school, at the health club, wherever 0:07:06.910 --> 0:07:11.270 we are in the supermarket, we're to share the good 0:07:11.270 --> 0:07:14.430 news of Jesus Christ with our neighbors. And Paul said, 0:07:14.430 --> 0:07:18.230 proclamation I was a witness. Now you're a witness. You're 0:07:18.230 --> 0:07:21.310 either a witness or a good witness. And notice the 0:07:21.310 --> 0:07:27.870 qualifiers here. Notice, first of all, the comprehensiveness of his proclamation. 0:07:28.310 --> 0:07:30.910 Here's what he says and how I kept back nothing 0:07:30.910 --> 0:07:34.670 that was profitable unto you. Guess what that is? He 0:07:34.670 --> 0:07:40.390 said the comprehensiveness of my proclamation. I preached everything he 0:07:40.390 --> 0:07:44.030 says and have taught you publicly and from house to house. 0:07:45.430 --> 0:07:50.630 I have taught you everywhere, testifying both to the Jews 0:07:50.630 --> 0:07:53.990 and also to the Greeks. I have shared with everybody. 0:07:53.990 --> 0:08:01.110 Look at it. Everything everywhere to everybody. Evaluate your witnessing 0:08:01.110 --> 0:08:03.430 because that's what he said. Acts one eight but you 0:08:03.430 --> 0:08:06.070 shall receive power. After that. The Holy Ghost is come 0:08:06.070 --> 0:08:11.110 upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, 0:08:11.110 --> 0:08:13.470 and the uttermost parts of the earth. Here we are 0:08:13.510 --> 0:08:18.550 all demographics. What is Jerusalem? The place of their greatest failure. 0:08:18.590 --> 0:08:21.830 What is Judea? Place of their greatest conflict. They were 0:08:21.830 --> 0:08:24.510 getting ready to leave. Well, the grace of the place 0:08:24.510 --> 0:08:28.470 of their greatest failure. Uh. They all denied Christ, uh, 0:08:28.470 --> 0:08:32.270 and fled. And so go back there, witness. Place of 0:08:32.270 --> 0:08:36.230 your greatest failure. What about Judea? Place of their greatest conflict. Uh, 0:08:36.230 --> 0:08:40.109 they left ministry, went back, eight of them following. Peter 0:08:40.150 --> 0:08:42.829 went to the fishing business, and Matthew knew he ain't 0:08:42.830 --> 0:08:45.350 had no business fishing. He was a tax collector. Ain't 0:08:45.350 --> 0:08:48.350 know nothing about no fish unless he fishing money out 0:08:48.350 --> 0:08:51.670 of a men's pocket. And so here they went, back 0:08:52.030 --> 0:08:56.270 place of their greatest conflict. How about Samaria, place of 0:08:56.270 --> 0:08:59.190 their greatest prejudice. Because the Jews had no dealing with 0:08:59.190 --> 0:09:02.740 the Samaritans. go there and witness, and then the uttermost 0:09:02.740 --> 0:09:05.820 parts of the earth, the place of their greatest uncertainty. 0:09:05.860 --> 0:09:08.860 We are called to those who go and share. And 0:09:08.860 --> 0:09:11.980 then don't forget, the Great Commission has largely become the 0:09:11.980 --> 0:09:15.260 great omission. Go ye, therefore in all the world preach 0:09:15.260 --> 0:09:18.300 the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name 0:09:18.300 --> 0:09:21.460 of the father, son, Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe 0:09:21.460 --> 0:09:23.940 all things whatsoever I commanded thee. And lo, I am 0:09:23.940 --> 0:09:26.620 with you always, even till the end of the age. 0:09:26.620 --> 0:09:30.780 He says, I had a comprehensive witness. How about you, 0:09:31.540 --> 0:09:38.340 my brothers and my sisters? Are you telling everything everywhere 0:09:38.740 --> 0:09:41.780 to everybody? Paul said he did. How many? Won't be 0:09:41.780 --> 0:09:46.059 like the Apostle Paul? I do. But then notice not 0:09:46.059 --> 0:09:51.420 just the comprehensiveness of his proclamation. Notice the content of 0:09:51.420 --> 0:09:56.060 his proclamation. Repentance toward God. Oh, I'm sorry to say 0:09:56.059 --> 0:10:01.500 a bad word. Repentance. Yeah, it's inherent in the gospel. 0:10:01.820 --> 0:10:06.500 If you are going away from him, it takes 180 0:10:06.540 --> 0:10:10.380 degree turn to turn to Christ. What did I just do? 0:10:10.540 --> 0:10:14.340 When I put faith in Jesus Christ, let's say behind 0:10:14.340 --> 0:10:18.459 me here is all the things I did, uh, in 0:10:18.460 --> 0:10:21.699 all of my sin. When I say I'm turning my 0:10:21.700 --> 0:10:25.819 back on that and I'm having faith in Jesus Christ, 0:10:25.860 --> 0:10:29.740 it's 180 degree turn. Okay, I hate to get the 0:10:29.740 --> 0:10:32.020 Bible in this, but now word from our sponsor, second 0:10:32.020 --> 0:10:35.780 Corinthians 517 therefore, if any man, woman, boy or girl 0:10:35.820 --> 0:10:38.260 be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things have 0:10:38.260 --> 0:10:44.059 passed away. Behold, all things are become new. And so 0:10:44.380 --> 0:10:49.179 it is repentance toward God, faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, 0:10:49.179 --> 0:10:51.860 I love that Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe it tells us 0:10:51.900 --> 0:10:56.500 that this content has to be saturated with Lord Jesus Christ. Straight, 0:10:56.540 --> 0:11:02.500 no chaser, Lord, his deity, Jesus, his humanity, Christ, his sovereignty. 0:11:02.820 --> 0:11:04.980 And so we want them to know the good news 0:11:04.980 --> 0:11:09.339 of Jesus Christ about his deity, humanity, and sovereignty. 0:11:11.620 --> 0:11:14.500 And as Pastor Ford, talking about how to have an 0:11:14.500 --> 0:11:19.340 effective ministry, really a study from acts chapter 20, verses 0:11:19.340 --> 0:11:22.939 17 through 28. And this is a message we're bringing 0:11:22.940 --> 0:11:26.660 you today that actually was part of an instructional video 0:11:26.660 --> 0:11:29.740 for Pastor Ford's leadership team. But we felt this content 0:11:29.740 --> 0:11:31.580 was so good, we had to make sure that it 0:11:31.620 --> 0:11:33.939 made it on the radio. So if you don't hear 0:11:33.940 --> 0:11:36.540 all the noise in the background, that's why this content 0:11:36.540 --> 0:11:38.460 is so rich though. We wanted to make sure that 0:11:38.460 --> 0:11:41.260 you had the chance to hear it. If you want 0:11:41.300 --> 0:11:43.780 to hear it again, you can always come to our website. 0:11:43.820 --> 0:11:48.100 Treasure Truth radio.org order copies of the broadcast on CD. 0:11:48.179 --> 0:11:51.180 You can download MP3's for free, or you can simply 0:11:51.179 --> 0:11:55.180 stream this broadcast through your computer or mobile device. Another 0:11:55.179 --> 0:11:58.860 way to listen is to download the Moody Radio app. Now. 0:11:58.860 --> 0:12:00.740 It makes it really convenient for you to listen to 0:12:00.780 --> 0:12:04.020 Pastor Ford's teaching whenever it fits your schedule. But not 0:12:04.020 --> 0:12:06.179 only can you listen to this program, but other moody 0:12:06.179 --> 0:12:09.219 produced radio programs. You'll find links to the app when 0:12:09.220 --> 0:12:13.179 you come to our website. Treasure Truth radio. Back to 0:12:13.179 --> 0:12:14.980 the message. Here's Pastor Ford. 0:12:16.179 --> 0:12:18.860 That we have to be like those children in the play. Ah, 0:12:18.900 --> 0:12:23.500 I love this little story. I tell it often. They 0:12:23.500 --> 0:12:26.380 were going to do a play and, uh, come that 0:12:26.380 --> 0:12:29.020 that evening up the middle aisle with a big paper 0:12:29.020 --> 0:12:33.140 mache cross that they had made singing onward Christian Soldier. 0:12:33.820 --> 0:12:36.739 The adult that was over it said, no, that's too weighty. 0:12:36.780 --> 0:12:39.140 It's not. No, no, no, put it behind the door. 0:12:39.580 --> 0:12:41.900 And so they put it behind the door and they 0:12:41.900 --> 0:12:44.780 came ready. They opened the double doors. The kids began 0:12:44.780 --> 0:12:53.140 to sing. Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war with 0:12:53.179 --> 0:12:57.820 the cross of Jesus. Then they all stopped and pointed, 0:12:57.860 --> 0:13:03.780 hid behind that door. They would not allow Christ to 0:13:03.820 --> 0:13:08.900 be hid. How about you? Can people see Christ in 0:13:08.940 --> 0:13:13.140 you and be drawn to him like a moth to 0:13:13.179 --> 0:13:16.140 the flame? Here's the fourth mark. Here's the fourth mark. 0:13:16.179 --> 0:13:21.700 Almost done. Hang in there with me. The fourth mark. Perseverance. 0:13:21.980 --> 0:13:26.700 Be a warrior. See the first three. Talk about the 0:13:26.700 --> 0:13:31.179 commitment we must have. The last two talk about the 0:13:31.179 --> 0:13:35.980 cost we must pay. Now, when you start talking about cost, 0:13:36.500 --> 0:13:43.620 folk begin to drop off like flies. Because we want 0:13:43.660 --> 0:13:51.540 a gospel. That's all honey, all ease, all flowers. No bees. 0:13:51.780 --> 0:13:54.180 But notice what he says. Let me just walk through 0:13:54.179 --> 0:13:58.100 and show you in verses 22 through 25, the price. 0:13:58.100 --> 0:14:00.980 Paul says it's a sermon all by itself. But let 0:14:00.980 --> 0:14:04.980 me give you what he says. And now, behold, I 0:14:04.980 --> 0:14:07.100 go bound in the spirit. Here's the first thing he 0:14:07.100 --> 0:14:13.699 says the first cost. Have determination. Persevere. Have determination. I 0:14:13.700 --> 0:14:16.820 go bound in the spirit. Now my Bible spirit is 0:14:16.820 --> 0:14:20.900 small s which is human spirit which means. Then he's saying, listen, 0:14:20.900 --> 0:14:26.060 in my humanity, I am not going, uh, to, uh, 0:14:26.100 --> 0:14:30.380 do anything but serve Christ. And so I will have determination. Lord, 0:14:30.380 --> 0:14:32.620 is this, he says, not knowing the things that shall 0:14:32.620 --> 0:14:37.260 befall me there. He's saying, expect the unexpected that that 0:14:37.260 --> 0:14:40.940 that the Bible tells us trials and tests, they just come, 0:14:40.980 --> 0:14:44.180 we fall into them. We're not expecting them. And so 0:14:44.180 --> 0:14:46.260 he says, if you're going to pay the price, you 0:14:46.260 --> 0:14:49.980 have to have determination. Expect the unexpected notice. The third 0:14:49.980 --> 0:14:52.780 thing he says here, he says, save that the Holy 0:14:52.780 --> 0:14:56.500 Ghost witnesses in every city that bonds and afflictions abide. Me. 0:14:56.500 --> 0:15:00.130 Know what he's saying? Be ready to suffer for Christ. 0:15:00.170 --> 0:15:02.650 Because remember what Jesus said, that we have to pick 0:15:02.650 --> 0:15:06.810 up our cross, die daily and follow him. There's a 0:15:06.810 --> 0:15:11.610 cost to follow Jesus. Salvation cost us nothing. Discipleship cost 0:15:11.610 --> 0:15:14.570 us everything. Notice what else he says. He says, but 0:15:14.570 --> 0:15:17.930 none of these things move me. In other words, be 0:15:17.930 --> 0:15:21.690 independent of circumstances. Then he says. He says, neither can 0:15:21.690 --> 0:15:24.810 I my life dear unto myself. Be ready to die. 0:15:25.010 --> 0:15:27.450 Isn't that the same thing as what no one is? 0:15:27.490 --> 0:15:30.170 Be ready to suffer and be ready to give the 0:15:30.170 --> 0:15:33.090 ultimate commitment to Jesus Christ. Be ready to die. Then 0:15:33.090 --> 0:15:36.690 notice what he says. He says, uh, that I might 0:15:36.690 --> 0:15:41.090 finish my course with joy. What's he saying there? Keep 0:15:41.090 --> 0:15:46.010 your eyes on the prize that your ministry. You want 0:15:46.010 --> 0:15:48.890 to hear Jesus say. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. 0:15:48.930 --> 0:15:52.170 You want to finish what you started because God said 0:15:52.170 --> 0:15:54.050 you were going to finish it. Where did he say 0:15:54.050 --> 0:15:57.050 that pastor for? Glad you asked. You ask intelligent questions. 0:15:57.050 --> 0:16:00.730 Philippians one six. He says, being confident of this very thing, 0:16:00.730 --> 0:16:03.530 that he who hath begun a good work in you 0:16:03.530 --> 0:16:06.650 will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus. And 0:16:06.650 --> 0:16:09.570 then notice what else he says. He says, think of 0:16:09.570 --> 0:16:13.690 the impact on others. He says to testify the gospel 0:16:13.690 --> 0:16:16.130 of the grace of God. He's saying, listen, as you 0:16:16.130 --> 0:16:20.290 testify the gospel of grace, people are going to come 0:16:20.290 --> 0:16:23.610 to it. Think of the impact on others. So as 0:16:23.610 --> 0:16:25.850 we begin to minister, there are people that are going 0:16:25.850 --> 0:16:27.970 to come, and the very people that you try to 0:16:27.970 --> 0:16:31.450 minister to often are the people that hurt you the most. 0:16:32.170 --> 0:16:35.450 But you gotta man up. You got to woman up, 0:16:35.730 --> 0:16:38.730 and you got to say that there's no opposition, even 0:16:38.730 --> 0:16:41.490 from the ones that I'm trying to minister to, that 0:16:41.490 --> 0:16:45.330 will make me stop doing what God has called me 0:16:45.330 --> 0:16:48.450 to do. Here's the last one. I'm going to drop it. 0:16:48.450 --> 0:16:53.370 I'm not going to push it. He says, wherefore I 0:16:53.370 --> 0:16:55.490 take you to record this day that I am pure 0:16:55.610 --> 0:16:57.690 from the blood of all men. Listen to what he says, 0:16:57.730 --> 0:17:00.210 verse 27. For I have not shunned to declare unto 0:17:00.210 --> 0:17:02.930 you all the counsel of God. Here's verse 28 take 0:17:02.930 --> 0:17:06.810 heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over 0:17:06.810 --> 0:17:09.490 which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed 0:17:09.490 --> 0:17:11.770 the church of God which he hath purchased with his 0:17:11.770 --> 0:17:14.970 own blood. For I know this, that after my departing 0:17:14.970 --> 0:17:18.450 shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 0:17:18.650 --> 0:17:23.730 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, 0:17:23.730 --> 0:17:28.290 to draw disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember. By 0:17:28.290 --> 0:17:30.929 the space of three years I ceased not to warn 0:17:30.930 --> 0:17:33.930 every one night and day with tears. Now get this 0:17:34.530 --> 0:17:38.010 first mark presence. Be with them. Second mark participation. Be 0:17:38.010 --> 0:17:42.130 a worker. Third mark proclamation. Be a witness. Fourth mark perseverance. 0:17:42.170 --> 0:17:49.889 Be a warrior. Fifth mark protection. Be a watcher. He says, man, 0:17:49.890 --> 0:17:52.489 you gotta watch. Now, there's some words in here that 0:17:52.490 --> 0:17:55.210 I want you to see. Because there there are those 0:17:55.210 --> 0:18:00.050 who think that elder, bishop and pastor are three different persons. No. uh, 0:18:00.050 --> 0:18:02.850 he's talking to the elders. Verse 17. Now he uses 0:18:02.850 --> 0:18:06.090 the word overseers, which is the word bishop to feed, 0:18:06.090 --> 0:18:09.530 which is the word pastor in one passage. He's speaking 0:18:09.530 --> 0:18:12.970 to the same individuals, and he uses all three terms. 0:18:13.730 --> 0:18:18.290 And the reason being, because the elder speaks of the 0:18:18.290 --> 0:18:23.890 person and, uh, pastor speaks of the performance and, uh, 0:18:23.930 --> 0:18:28.810 Bishop speaks of the position. Uh, and so it's one person, 0:18:28.850 --> 0:18:33.410 three aspects of that one person. Uh, so but he says, listen, 0:18:33.410 --> 0:18:37.770 you have to watch. Be on guard. Now, remember, the 0:18:37.770 --> 0:18:42.770 Jews had three watches in the night and the Romans had, uh, four, uh, 0:18:43.410 --> 0:18:47.810 started 6 to 10, uh, 10 to 2, 2 to 6. 0:18:47.810 --> 0:18:52.410 That was Jewish. Uh, Romans 6 to 9, 9 to 12, 0:18:52.450 --> 0:18:56.070 12 to 3, 3 to 6. They thought that four 0:18:56.070 --> 0:18:59.650 hours was too long for anyone to be on guard 0:18:59.930 --> 0:19:05.210 and so hear what they're saying. What is our job 0:19:05.530 --> 0:19:10.330 to watch? He says don't only watch inside. Watch outside. 0:19:10.330 --> 0:19:13.530 I'll never forget we were having prayer and a person 0:19:13.530 --> 0:19:16.330 that joined us, uh, that just came from the outside. 0:19:16.369 --> 0:19:19.090 And of course, we're always welcoming people. We thought, what 0:19:19.090 --> 0:19:22.170 an opportunity. And everybody's trying to share the gospel with 0:19:22.170 --> 0:19:24.570 the lady. We get in our prayer circle, and we're 0:19:24.570 --> 0:19:28.930 praying it's her turn. And she prays, Lord, help me 0:19:28.970 --> 0:19:32.690 because I'm a kleptomaniac. You should have saw the eyes open. 0:19:32.730 --> 0:19:34.489 Matter of fact, I opened mine. That's how I know 0:19:34.490 --> 0:19:37.169 everybody had their eyes open. And so I open up 0:19:37.170 --> 0:19:40.490 my eyes and. And then I did what the scripture says. 0:19:40.490 --> 0:19:43.730 Watch and pray. I had one eye on the woman, 0:19:43.930 --> 0:19:47.770 and I had one eye closed in prayer. And I 0:19:47.810 --> 0:19:50.410 watched the women as they were grabbing their purses, and 0:19:50.410 --> 0:19:53.370 men as they were holding on to their back pockets 0:19:53.369 --> 0:19:56.810 and their wallets. And it was like, wow. We had 0:19:56.810 --> 0:20:01.570 to watch and pray And Paul says, listen, let me 0:20:01.570 --> 0:20:05.330 tell you why. Because there are those who are on 0:20:05.330 --> 0:20:08.290 the outside and we see it all the time, especially 0:20:08.290 --> 0:20:13.730 with doctrines that are detrimental to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 0:20:13.970 --> 0:20:17.970 Paul said it's another gospel, but it's really not another gospel. 0:20:17.970 --> 0:20:23.450 Paul said it is heretical. You know, like, dare I 0:20:23.450 --> 0:20:26.530 say it, uh, a prosperity gospel. Don't throw out the 0:20:26.530 --> 0:20:30.370 baby with the bathwater. But you know, Jesus never promised 0:20:30.410 --> 0:20:33.010 we'd be healthy, wealthy and wise. He didn't say we 0:20:33.010 --> 0:20:36.730 couldn't be. He never promised that because he said, John 0:20:36.730 --> 0:20:41.210 1633 in the world you shall have tribulation. But be 0:20:41.210 --> 0:20:42.889 of good cheer. I have overcome the world. So he 0:20:42.890 --> 0:20:46.649 promised us we'd have tribulation. Promise us there'd be trouble, 0:20:47.130 --> 0:20:49.850 you know. And so here, now, uh, we've got to 0:20:49.850 --> 0:20:53.530 be careful. We've got to watch. And then he said, 0:20:53.530 --> 0:20:56.530 there are wolves in sheep's clothing, that there are people 0:20:56.530 --> 0:20:59.760 who come in. You know them, uh, as those who 0:20:59.760 --> 0:21:03.119 worship with you, but you better be careful because many 0:21:03.119 --> 0:21:08.840 of them as well are are like individuals in the Bible, like, uh, 0:21:09.119 --> 0:21:14.480 diotrephes who love preeminence and would not allow itinerant preachers 0:21:14.480 --> 0:21:17.800 to be ministered to by the church. And so how 0:21:17.840 --> 0:21:20.840 have you done in this little exam? How to have 0:21:20.840 --> 0:21:24.960 an effective ministry? Because you need presence. Be with them. 0:21:25.320 --> 0:21:30.200 You need participation. Be a worker. You need proclamation. Be 0:21:30.200 --> 0:21:35.119 a witness. You need perseverance. Be a warrior. You need protection. 0:21:35.240 --> 0:21:39.119 Be a watcher. And if you do those things, one 0:21:39.119 --> 0:21:43.359 day you will hear God say, well done, thou good 0:21:43.600 --> 0:21:49.160 and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord. 0:21:52.640 --> 0:21:56.480 You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford, and it's 0:21:56.480 --> 0:21:59.160 our hope that as you listen to this program, you'll 0:21:59.280 --> 0:22:02.160 be encouraged and equipped with tools that you need so 0:22:02.160 --> 0:22:06.640 that one day you'll hear God say, well done. Well, 0:22:06.680 --> 0:22:10.040 of course, God's Word takes root best when it has 0:22:10.040 --> 0:22:13.560 a nurturing home environment where you can share what you're learning, 0:22:13.840 --> 0:22:17.840 where you can get shaped by feedback. Unfortunately, many homes 0:22:17.840 --> 0:22:21.440 are shaped by marriages that lack that biblical foundation. And 0:22:21.440 --> 0:22:24.760 maybe that's where you're at today. You long for spiritual 0:22:24.760 --> 0:22:27.760 intimacy with your spouse, but you're not on the same page, 0:22:27.920 --> 0:22:29.720 and you don't know how to get to that next 0:22:29.720 --> 0:22:32.800 level in your relationship. We'd like you to have a 0:22:32.800 --> 0:22:36.680 book by Pastor Ford called Seven Reasons Why God Created Marriage. 0:22:37.200 --> 0:22:40.800 This in-depth resource will help you understand why God intended 0:22:40.800 --> 0:22:43.840 the marital relationship, and it will help you grow closer 0:22:43.840 --> 0:22:47.720 to your husband or wife. Request seven reasons why God 0:22:47.720 --> 0:22:50.000 created marriage. When you give a gift of any amount 0:22:50.000 --> 0:22:56.520 to this ministry, call us at 888644 7660 or go 0:22:56.520 --> 0:23:00.560 online to Treasure Truth Radio.com. Org. If you'd like to 0:23:00.560 --> 0:23:03.200 send a check in the mail or address is Treasure Truth, 0:23:03.359 --> 0:23:09.880 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. You know, 0:23:09.920 --> 0:23:12.439 Pastor Ford has been helping men and women grow in 0:23:12.440 --> 0:23:15.400 their marriages for more than 30 years as a pastor 0:23:15.400 --> 0:23:18.440 and a marriage counselor. And as you read his book, 0:23:18.760 --> 0:23:21.719 you'll strengthen the pillars of your marriage and reap the 0:23:21.720 --> 0:23:24.960 benefits God intends for you along the way. So give 0:23:25.000 --> 0:23:29.119 a donation and request seven reasons why God created marriage. 0:23:29.560 --> 0:23:35.520 Call us at 888644 7660 or go online to Treasure 0:23:35.520 --> 0:23:40.280 Truth Radio. I'm Steve Hiller. Our producer is Amy Rios. 0:23:40.480 --> 0:23:43.400 Join us again tomorrow for more Bible teaching from Pastor 0:23:43.400 --> 0:23:47.639 Ford here on Treasure truth. A production of Moody Radio, 0:23:47.880 --> 0:23:50.320 a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.