0:00 Good morning, family. We welcome you, those who participated here in person, and also our brothers and sisters who are joining on Zoom. And uh Yeah, uh we welcome you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Uh 0:18 today we have a special meeting. We invited our brother Zach to speak with us and um share his heart and a burden um he's carrying and to share with us to encouragement. And as a a beneficiary, many of us who 0:37 are in this room through his ministry, we've been blessed so much um with his boldness in standing for the truth. Reminded me of the words God has not given us the spirit of fear or timidity, but of 0:55 uh power, love, and discipline. Um It's like uh Ephesians 6:4, it's like a fathers, we raise up uh bring them up children in 1:14 discipline and instruction. Um He has been a spiritual father to many of us through his uh life and teaching. Even last Friday, we heard it. Seven 1:32 plus decades of faithfulness, not borrowing money, not living in debt, even if they had to live a simple life. Um Jude I Jude 23 Jude 1:48 There's one chapter in this 23 verse 23. Save others, snatching them out of the fire. And on some have mercy with fear. Hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 2:08 Even uh uh through his corrections teachings of the fire that people be delivered removed, snatched them out of the eternal fire. That's what uh Brother Zacky have been 2:26 to all of us. We invite you to share your heart uh with us. You have full freedom. Um We are so glad to have you with us this morning. So, we'll uh we'll we'll invite Brother Zack with a prayer. Our dear heavenly Father we thank you so 2:46 much for giving um your servant Brother Zack to lead us and guide us. Um And uh the calling you have given to him to raise disciples and uh make disciples and uh 3:05 build a new covenant churches. New wine in fresh wineskin. Thank you so much for his life and teachings. And open our eyes, the scales be be fall off. And the blinds in our hearts may be removed. 3:24 Our understanding may be opened as your servant share your word. Speak to our hearts. We ask and received all these things in Jesus' precious name. Amen. Brother Zacky. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> I hope you can all hear me. 3:49 In Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 we read in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And then something happened between verse 1 and verse 2 4:08 that this beautiful God doesn't create anything formless and empty. Verse 2 it says, "The earth was formless without shape and empty and darkness [clears throat] was everywhere." And then the spirit of God moved again there. 4:26 Now, whenever God creates anything it's absolutely perfect. But something happened between verse 1 and 2 which is not written here which made the earth shapeless empty, dark. Shapeless, empty, dark. God 4:45 never makes anything shapeless, empty, and dark. So, when you read that and you meditate, you realize hey, something happened here. And then the spirit of God verse 2 moved upon surface of the waters to restore shape and to remove the darkness 5:03 and remove the emptiness. That's why he created all re- remade all the earth again and created man in his own image. So we must remember that when God initially does something 5:21 it's always perfect. After that it gets corrupted by s- someone he created. In this case it was the devil between verse 1 and 2. He was not the devil then, he was the highest angel. 5:40 And he did something which brought corruption and darkness into the world. So, it's good for us to look at that because then we understand how corruption comes into something that God creates perfect. The church, the early church in the day of Pentecost 5:59 was a wonderful church. Corruption came in. Israel, when it started out in the days of Joshua and Canaan, wonderful nation, but corruption came in so quickly in the reading the next book, the book of Judges. So always like that. 6:16 Even the wonderful church in Ephesus that Paul sat for 3 years and built and he wrote to the Ephesus church in the letter to the Ephesians, which is one of the most spiritual letters of all of Paul's letters. Which teaches me that the church in 6:34 Ephesus was a really spiritual church. But 30 years later, you read that same church in the second letter to the Ephesians. Where is that? In Revelation chapter 2. The Lord says, "You have left your first love and I'm going to take away the anointing 6:51 from you. But some overcomers are there, they will come out and they'll start a new church. And all the big 500 member old Ephesus Ephesus church will criticize this group of 10 people meeting separately saying they're all heretics, but that's the 7:08 real church. And Jesus was with that small group of 10. This is what has happened in history again and again and again. Because God is always interested in purity and where he does not find purity, he comes and intervenes immediately and 7:26 purifies the church. And that's what he wants to do all the time. When we find in the Acts of the Apostles and we find in the letters to the churches. So let's at how 7:45 corruption first came. Because we can learn something from it. In the beginning, God created everything perfect. But the very next verse, it says it all became dark and empty. And that corruption is described in how it came is described in Isaiah 8:04 chapter 14. And Isaiah 14 >> [clears throat] >> he talks about the one who now we today call him the devil. How he became the devil. He was not created as a devil. He was created perfect. 8:24 But he got corrupt. And uh maybe I should show you there are two passages in scripture that you must read to understand about Satan, how he became Satan. Uh I'll show you the first one in Ezekiel 28 and then we'll come to Isaiah 8:42 14. Ezekiel 28 You You had referring to the king of Tyre, verse 12. The king of Tyre was the devil. The prince of Tyre is spoken of in leader of Tyre is mentioned in verse 9:01 two. But the king of Tyre, who was over the leader of Tyre, is the devil mentioned in verse 12. And he's the one behind all the kings and principalities and powers. And he tells this Satan once upon a time Ezekiel 28:12 9:20 you had the seal of perfection, wisdom, and perfect in beauty. No human being was like that. He's talking about Satan before he became Satan. What was he? Full of wisdom, perfect in beauty, and he was the first person who 9:34 was in Eden. Thirteen, not Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve came later. He This head of the angels was the first person in Eden. And when he got thrown out, he got he felt jealous that Adam and Eve were sent there, and he decided he'd get them 9:50 thrown out, too. That's what happened. And he says here, under uh You were 14. First of all, you had the seal of perfection, verse 12. Full of wisdom, perfect in beauty. That's how God made that angel. Like he makes everything, 10:08 perfect. You were the anointed cherub that covers. And I placed you there. You were blameless in your ways, verse 15. Until one day, unrighteousness was found in you. And you sinned. 10:29 Why? Verse 17. Because your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. Pride came in his heart. And that is why God says, "I cast you down to the ground." There's humility in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They submit to 10:48 each other. And each one is perfect in humility. And that's how God wanted all that he created to be perfect in humility. The glory of creation is its perfect humility, which is shown in perfect submission 11:08 to God. The Bible says, "Humble yourself and submit to God." And God gives grace to the humble, but he resists the proud. And this is the first instance of God resisting a proud person, the head of the angels. >> [clears throat] 11:26 >> What did he do in his pride? We read now we come to Isaiah 14. This perfect created being All the he saw all the angels worshipping God and he was the head of the angels leading the worship in God to 11:45 God. And in his heart came a desire. I want this worship for myself. Why don't they worship me also? And that is the meaning here. Verse 13 middle Isaiah 14:13 12:07 I will raise my throne above the stars of God. Verse 14 last part I will make myself like the most high God. What did he want in that position? Worship. 12:25 I will make all these angels worship me instead of worshipping God. And you find thousands of years later he still has that desire. You read in Matthew 4:10 12:45 that when he tempted Jesus the last temptation was fall down and worship me and I'll give you the whole world. And Jesus said get away Satan. You shall worship the Lord your God and him only will you serve. You know out of 13:01 the three temptations in Matthew 4 the last one was the devil asked even Jesus to worship him. So right at the beginning of creation he wanted worship from the angels when Jesus came to earth he wanted even Jesus to worship him. The 13:18 stupidity of Satan. You know when you turn go away from God you become stupid. He was very clever but the clever become stupid spiritually. And that's what we need to learn, dear brothers and sisters. 13:35 God gives his grace only to the humble. He doesn't look at a whole church as humble. He looks at individual people. Paul was a humble person. That's why he got grace. 13:53 The Corinthians were not humble. God resisted them. And that's why the Corinthians became so corrupt that a man was committing adultery with his own father's second wife. Terrible things were happening. One brother would take another brother to 14:12 court. And when they break bread in their mealtime after that, one they will not share their food with others. They let the poor people suffer. And the rich people would sit by themselves and eat. This is the corruption 14:28 you read that in 1 Corinthians 11 of the Corinthian church. Because they were proud and arrogant, God's grace was withdrawn from them. So we see that right [clears throat] from the beginning of time pride and wanting to exalt oneself 14:46 and unwillingness to submit to the authority of God was what brought chaos and confusion on the earth. God created the universe in such a way that everything is subject to God's authority. You take the planets for example. 15:03 Everything moves around for millions of years. They've been going around and round. And the sun is also moving in its in the in the heavenlies. And the solar system is all going around the sun. There's never been a collision 15:19 of the planets in thousands of years. Probably millions of years, I don't know. Because they all submit to authority. Collision comes when there's no submission to authority. And that's what happens in a church as 15:41 well. That's why we read in Ephesians 6 when God created the human race and he gave 10 commandments to Israel. There's one The first of the 10 commandments, which has a promise 16:01 attached to it. See, all the 10 commandments don't have promises attached to it. Nine of them don't have any promise. But the first commandment, which had a promise, was commandment number four. Sorry, number five. Which is 16:16 honor your father and mother. Ephesians 6 verse one and two and three. He's quoting the fifth commandment. The first four commandments related to man's relationship with God. Don't take the Lord's name in vain and 16:34 don't make idols and keep it the keep the Sabbath day and all that holy. From the fifth commandment onwards to the 10th, the last six relate to man. So, I There were two tablets of stone that Moses had. One contained four commandments relation to God, the 16:50 other six in relation to man. And the top one in the second tablet of stone was honor your father and mother. Ephesians 6:2. Which is the first commandment which has a promise. Other commandments had no promise. 17:08 The promise is it will go well with you. If you submit to the authority of your parents, it will go well with you in all your life. And you will live long on the earth. 17:26 Live long doesn't mean 200 years. You will fulfill all the days God planned for you. For Paul, it was 67. For Jesus, it was 33 and a half. For people like James, it was probably 30. Different for different people. 17:45 But you will complete your life that God planned for you on earth if you honor your father and mother. That is What is that teaching? Submission to authority. When should you teach your children that? From the time they are born. 18:05 From the time they are 1 year old. I've told you the story once of a child I saw in one home going up near a staircase, 1 year old, crawling, and going to about climb up the staircase, and 18:24 from behind, the father said, "No." And the child stopped. And looked around and saw his father staring at him. And he came away from there. I saw that same child. I was in that home the next day, again going to that staircase, 18:43 and looking around to see if his father is watching. Why did the child do that? He knew He knew that he's not supposed to go up those stairs. But he was determined to disobey 18:59 at the age of 1. That's the day I learned that even a 1-year-old child understands the meaning of the word no. Teach your children from the age of one what no means. First word in the English language they must learn. 19:18 Learn to obey. Submission [snorts] to authority. That is what brought sin into the world, the head head of the angels, the anointed cherub as he's called. We don't know his name. Would not submit to authority of the authority of God 19:35 and became the devil. And we know that there was an he was the archangel. That means the head of the angels. But there was another archangel also. There were two archangels. And the other one is Michael. 19:54 The second archangel. The first one who became the devil, we don't know his name. Some people call him Lucifer. But no, the real name is not mentioned. But in Jude verse 9, the name of this other archangel is mentioned. 20:09 Michael. So there were two archangels. One is this person who's called son of the morning. And the other is Michael. And God's plan is always for two people to work together. That is always God's plan. 20:29 Not a single person to rule. And I believe rebellion against authority that this head of the angels, he's called Lucifer. Okay, let's call him Lucifer. It's not his real name. Lucifer could not work together with Michael. 20:47 He was rebelling against God's authority and he could not work with an equal. And I've seen this in some elders in some churches. These two things go together. Vertical and horizontal. Vertically they will not submit to any 21:06 authority over them. And horizontally they will not submit to each other. To other elders. They rebel against any authority over them. >> [clears throat] >> And they will not fellowship with each other. Exactly like Lucifer. 21:21 He wants to rebel against even the authority of God and he will not treat Michael as an equal. And I've seen that in some churches. Where one senior elder will be the boss. And his word is law. And everybody has to listen to him. 21:36 There are other elders there. But he will not treat them as equals. They are like to be put under his thumb. You listen to me. He will not give them an equal chance to share the word of God. No. Even if they are gifted. 21:51 Now, if they are not gifted is another thing. But if they are gifted, it's different. So, we see this happening everywhere in Christendom. And that's why you have today churches which have one-man rule, pastor. There's no such thing in the New 22:10 Testament. New Testament Acts 14: 23 onwards says Paul appointed elders, plural. In the Old Testament there was one-man prophets, Moses, Joshua, one leader. One prophet at a time, Elijah, Elisha. 22:28 And even some of the prophets did not work with each other. There were other prophets in the time of Elisha, but he did not work with them. They could not work because the Holy Spirit had not come to dwell within people. 22:40 They would be fighting with each other. Unity could be possible only after the Holy Spirit coming and dwelling within people. But God's plan was always two. Not one single rule. And that's why in the Old Testament there was 22:55 one authority, Moses, Elijah, Joshua, etc. But as soon as you come to the New Testament, it says Jesus sent out his disciples two by two. See you see for example in that in Luke's gospel and chapter 10, that is God's perfect plan. 23:17 Luke chapter 10, there were 70 disciples whom Jesus selected. And now he could have sent them to 70 places. Lot more preaching could have been done, but no. He sent them to 35 places 23:36 because it says in Luke 2:1, he sent them two by two, in pairs. God's plan is never single man rule or authority in the church or anywhere else. God's plan is two by two. In the old covenant, it was one. 23:55 As soon as Jesus came and established a new covenant, it's always two. That's why you read in Acts chapter 14 that when Paul was placing people in responsibility in a church, he appointed elders, plural. 24:14 Minimum two in every church. Acts 14:23, appointed elders, not one pastor. That is completely against God's will to have a single pastor. Pastor is a gift, like evangelist or teacher. It's a gift, not an office. The office is elder. 24:33 Gift may be different. Pastor means a shepherd. That's one gift, teacher is another gift, evangelist is another gift. Apostle is another gift, prophet is another gift. These five gifts are mentioned in Acts, sorry, Ephesians 4:11 to build the 24:48 church. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. But man changes everything that is in God's word. Man wants the single rule, single man rule. And that is what because they haven't studied the word, they don't understand 25:03 God's mind, they don't appoint elders. We decided right from the beginning in our churches that we will have elders, plural. Right from the beginning when we started CFC in my house way back 51 years ago, we had two of us were the leaders. 25:17 From the beginning and we continued like that for 50 years till the other brother passed away and God has raised up others. But we have always had two minimum in every church. But that's not enough. The two must work together. 25:32 And that's where we have seen even in CFC churches sometimes one man begins to take over and then God removes him. I've seen that happen again and again and again in about 20 CFC churches. I made a list of those 20 churches and 25:47 circulated it to some of our elders. This is what happened. The man who first started the CFC church, God removed him. The man who started the first CFC church in this place, removed him. God and the man who started the CFC church in this 26:00 place, God removed him. 20 CFC churches like that. God removed the first person who was the first elder there. And that's happened in Austin also now. You're just one of the 20. So, I could name 26:21 mention case after case like that. And what is the reason? Because one of those elders did not want to be a fellow elder with others. He did not want to work with others. He wanted to be a one-man ruler. That is the same spirit as what made 26:39 Lucifer into Satan. And that is the spirit that has to be overcome in the church. You remember it when the first time Jesus mentioned the word church in Matthew chapter 16, the very first time the word church is used by Jesus. 26:57 See what he says. Verse 18, I will build my church and the powers of hell will not be able to overcome it. So, there he speaks about the church and he speaks about the church being attacked by the powers of hell, 27:16 powers of death. And they will not be able to overcome it if they keep to God's order. But if they disobey God's order and the spirit of that hell, which is one man rule, comes in, the church will be destroyed. Jesus alone 27:38 is to be the sole leader. Otherwise, every disciple of his he sent them when out in pairs. So, and I've seen again and and again and again in many, many churches, not only these churches which have one single pastor, but even in CFC churches 27:56 where one of the elders began to act like a pastor and a leader, so everybody must listen to me. And I will speak most of the time, the others are not as good as me. And it brings chaos and confusion. We have to learn lessons from all these 28:12 things. If we if we learn something from history, we will not make the same mistakes. But if we don't read learn from the Bible, the mistakes that happened in the Bible, people will happen will make the same mistakes again. 28:29 That's why God has given us the scriptures, so we can learn from the mistakes of others. So, what is the so lack of submission to authority was the beginning of sin. Lucifer could not submit to the authority of God. Unwillingness to work together with 28:49 others was the result of that. So, this is the two mistakes with which sin came into this universe. Lucifer could not submit to God's authority. He could not work along with Michael, his fellow archangel. Now, 29:07 that's how So, sin came into the universe through lack of submission to authority. So, submission to authority is very important. That's why I said the first commandment with promises, teach your children to submit to authority. 29:24 We just saw that. Obey your father and mother. And he attached a promise to it. So, that's why we must teach our children the importance of submitting to authority. And 29:43 when they are not taught that, you see the chaos and confusion of young people growing up today in the world without submitting to any authority because their parents never taught them to submit to authority in their home, and 29:53 they grow up and bring confusion in society. I want to say to all of you brothers and sisters who are married, please teach your children the first lesson God wants all human beings to learn when they are children, submit to authority. Submit to 30:11 your father and mother. Submit to whoever is the authority over you. If you're in an office, submit to the authority. If you're not happy with the authority, resign. Go and work somewhere else where you can submit to authority, but don't ever stay 30:27 in an office where you join with rebellious people against the authority. That will be the spirit of Lucifer. And we see it everywhere. Everywhere. And a Christian must have no part in it. A Christian must learn to submit to 30:45 authority. Perhaps your parents never taught you when you were a child to submit to authority, but you can learn now that you're born again Christian, you can learn that and teach every one of your children before they grow up to be teenagers, 31:00 they must learn total obedience to parents. If your parents are non-Christians, then you realize that your parents are under God, you can obey God if your parents tell you to do something against God's word. But otherwise, submission to authority 31:17 is a very important thing. Now, let's turn to what is the first sin that man committed. Most Christians will say, I think most of you sitting here will also say, the first sin was the first sin committed in Eden was 31:35 eating the forbidden fruit. Wrong. That was the third sin. I'll show you what the first two sins were. Genesis chapter 3. The serpent came to Eve and said, "Has God said, 'Don't eat from every tree?'" Why did 31:54 the devil go to Eve? Why didn't he go to Adam? He knew that Eve was weaker. The Bible says the woman is a weaker vessel. And the devil knew that right at the beginning. So, he goes to Eve. What should Eve have done as soon as the 32:13 devil opened his mouth and said one word? He should have said, she should have said, "Serpent, keep quiet. I've got an authority over me standing next to me here, Adam." And we read in Genesis 3 and verse 6 that Adam was standing right next to 32:32 her. Here is Eve and here's Adam, just next to her. And the devil comes and speaks only to Eve. Hey Eve. She should have said, God has given me an authority. You serpent, God has given me an authority here. 32:50 He will tell me what to do, not you. Let me ask him. She did not do that. She did not submit to authority. That was the first sin that man committed. The woman committed it. What's the second one? >> [clears throat] 33:08 >> When Adam saw Eve talking to the serpent, he should have told Eve, keep quiet. I God has put me as an authority over you. Let me deal with the serpent. He did not exercise his authority as the husband. 33:27 That was the second sin. Both sins had to do with authority. Eve did not submit to the husband's authority God had appointed husband as her head, but she did not bother about God's appointing him as the head. And Adam did not obey God's giving him 33:44 authority over his wife and did not exercise it. Two sins. The third was Eve took the fruit and ate it. And the fourth was Adam also ate it. And when God comes to Adam and asks him, he tries to put the blame on his wife. 34:02 That's always what happens when you don't submit to authority. You always blame somebody else. So you see how the sin originated in the angels through lack of submission to authority, Lucifer. Sin originated in the human race by lack 34:15 of submission to authority. Eve did not submit to Adam. Adam did not exercise his authority as the head. That is why the Lord says, in the entire human race, children, teach them the first lesson which Adam and Eve did not learn, submit to 34:31 God-appointed authority. Not any Tom, Dick, and Harry. An authority appointed by God. That's why the Bible says even in a government, we must submit to the government. Turn with me to Romans chapter 13. Romans 13 and verse 1. 34:57 It says in Romans 13 verse 1, "Be submissive to every authority. Be subject to the governing authorities. Listen to this. Romans 13:1. There is no authority 35:15 except except from God. And verse 2, if you resist authority, you're opposing the ordinance of God. Romans is the is the letter that explains the gospel clearly. It starts with all everybody's in sin chapter 3 and speaks about justification 35:32 by faith chapter 5, about being buried with Christ in verse 6, chapter 6, the fullness of the spirit in chapter 8, the uh sovereignty of God in verse chapter 11, chapter 9 rather, the righteousness of God in chapter 10, the 35:49 faithfulness of God in the chapter 11, and the body being built together in chapter 12, and then this is all of this is part of the gospel. Chapter 13, be subject to governing authority. Now he's talking about our relationship with the 36:02 world. Submit to the authorities. Because he says there is no authority except from God. And so if you resist authority, you're opposing the ordinance of God. Now stop for a moment when you read that, you ask yourself, to whom is Paul writing? 36:21 To the Christians in Rome. Go to secular history and find out go to Google or chat GPT and ask who was ruling Rome in 36:38 45 AD whenever Paul wrote this of 50 AD. It was one of the most wicked rulers emperors that Rome ever had, Nero. He was a man who persecuted Christians and killed thousands of them. And he killed Paul also later. 36:56 Be in subjection to Nero to the emperor Nero. What a command. Paul knew who the emperor was. He's writing to the Romans. Today we have a lot of authorities in countries. They're not righteous. They're ungodly, 37:14 evil, perhaps anti-Christian. Listen to Romans 13:1. Be subject to authority. Your boss in your office maybe unrighteous, ungodly. If you work in that office, be submit to him. If you don't want to be submit to him, resign. 37:29 Find another job. But submission to authority is absolutely important. But we [clears throat] most human beings submit only where there there'll be a danger of punishment. For example, in the on the streets the police are the authority. 37:48 Why do we submit to the the speed limits on the road if you see a police car behind you? Why do you suddenly make sure you're within the speed limit? Because you know he can pull you up and you'll be fined. It's good to have that fear of 38:03 authority. If you're a person who does not believe in submission to authority the fear of punishment at she if you can't obey authority because you fear God then second best is you fear punishment. So if you can't obey the police rules 38:18 on the road rules because you fear God then at least obey the road rules and the police rules because you fear the police authority. Second best. But God wants submission to authority. There'll be chaos in the world if >> [clears throat] 38:33 >> God did not establish authority. In the home, there's an authority, father and mother. Children must be taught to obey authority. Hus- wives, sub- be submissive to your husbands. He's the authority in the home. 38:50 Everywhere established authority. And we all in an office, you will not rebel against your boss because you lose your job. On the roads, you will obey the traffic rules because otherwise you'll be caught by the police. It's only in the church 39:07 people say, "Oh, what authority? We're all equal before God. Who's the person of authority? I can do what I like. I don't have to listen to the elders. Yeah, he's got his ideas and I've got mine." I tell you, rebellion is found in the 39:18 world mostly in the church. And even again, born-again churches where people think they know so much, they think they're better than everybody else. Okay, test yourself. Do you submit to the authority in your church? Do you recognize and respect the elders 39:32 in your church as an authority? And you know, we read that the elders in the early church were subject to the authority of Paul as an apostle. That is why Paul could write to the Corinthians 39:52 and tell them what they should do. The Corinthians had elders. And he he writes to those writes to the church in Corinth and he says, "I know you got elders, that's wonderful. But I take a decision as an apostle." He said, "There's a man living in sin." 40:10 1 Corinthians 5. Immorality. A man sleeping with his father's wife, second wife. 1 Corinthians 5:1 And some have become so arrogant. 1 Corinthians 5:2 as if 40:28 this is not a serious thing. It's so serious, he says, "You must remove that man from your midst." Remove him. That's what he says there. Read it. Get rid of that man from your midst. And he says, "I, even though I'm not 40:44 with you, verse 3, I have judged him." And you say, "Paul, how can you judge him? There are elders in the church in Corinth." Yes, Paul says, "But I appointed those elders. And God has given me authority over them. And they should listen to me because 41:02 I'm the one who's been given authority over them." >> [clears throat] >> But the elders in Corinth did not value Paul. You read about that in 2 Corinthians. Turn to 2 Corinthians and chapter 10. Because you know what the Corinthians 41:27 said about Paul? Turn to 2 Corinthians 10:8. If I boast somewhat further about the authority which the Lord gave me, Paul says. He's an apostle. There are elders in Corinth. But he tells the Corinthians, 2 41:46 Corinthians 10:8, "The Lord has given authority to me to build you up with my teaching, not for destroying you. I don't want to terrify you by my language." You know, Paul spoke with great authority. And some people said, "Hey, he's so 42:03 hard. He's so strong, unlike Barnabas who speaks so gently." Well, Barnabas was not the one appointing the elders. Paul appointed the elders. God wanted a very strict person to appoint the elders. And it says here this this man, his letters are so 42:18 weighty and strong, but his personal presence verse 10, 2 Corinthians 10:10, is unimpressive and he's not such a great speaker. You know that Paul was not such a great speaker? He spoke with authority, but his speech was not so perfect. It says here in 42:32 verse 10, "His speech was contemptible." And his personal presence was unimpressive. Can you believe that? What a terrible thing that God chose such a man to 42:52 Uh the Living Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:10, "Don't bother about him, you say. He sounds big, but it's all noise. When he get When he gets here, you'll see that he's nobody great. He's nothing and he's not the Well, 43:05 there's nobody worse preacher than him." He says, "The trouble verse 7, 2 Corinthians 10:7, Living Bible, is you look at me and you say, 'I seem weak and powerless, but you don't look beneath the surface.' 2 Corinthians 10:7, "If anyone can claim 43:20 power and authority of Christ, I can claim it. I may seem to be boasting more than I should about my authority over you, but my authority is to help you, not to hurt you. And I'm going to make good every claim. So, don't listen to these other people. 43:40 I say this verse 9, Living Bible, so that you will not think I'm just blustering when I scold you in my letters." You know that Paul scolded the Corinthians in his letters because he had authority? He was like a father. 43:52 That's That's what he told them in 1 Corinthians. I'm trying to explain the principle of authority in the church. Turn to 1 Corinthians in chapter 4. Verse 15. 44:11 1 Corinthians 4:15. Although you may have 10,000 teachers to teach you, remember that you have only me as your father, for I was the one who brought you to Christ when I preached the gospel to you. And he sends Timothy. 44:29 See the way the early church functioned was they had apostles over the elders. Different different churches and the different apostles over the different elders. And the elders submitted to the apostles. And the people in the church submitted 44:46 to the elders. This was the pattern. This is the New Testament pattern. A lot of people speak about New Testament pattern. The New Testament pattern is not one pastor. It's many elders ruling a church and apostles appointing those 45:04 elders. Are we reading in Acts 14? And correcting them. Sometimes rebuking them. Take for example what the way right Paul writes to the Galatians. See in Galatians in chapter 3. And verse one. 45:23 He's writing to believers. Oh, foolish Galatians. What magician has hypnotized you? Cast an evil spell on me. Upon you. Let me ask you a question. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by trying to keep the Jewish laws? Of course not. 45:41 Have you gone verse three? Have you gone completely crazy? What would you think if a brother when a spiritual brother spoke to you like that? Oh, you foolish people in CFC Austin. Who has hypnotized you to cast an evil spell upon you? 46:00 I'm reading from Galatians 3:1 in Living Bible. Let me ask you when he says, "Have you gone completely crazy, you CFC Austin people?" Verse three. You'd say, "How dare anybody speak like that?" That is the arrogance of today's 46:19 Christians. You know what the Galatians did? They submitted to Paul. And God blessed them. We grow up We have grown up in a system where nobody respects authority in the world. And unfortunately, that spirit has come into the church. 46:35 And lot of our children are growing up without submitting to parents. We are trying to raise up a new Christianity in the world. That's one of the functions of CFC. And there are many other churches, not only CFC, where they emphasize submission to 46:48 authority. Closing the Galatians or the Corinthians had told Paul, "Yeah, thank you for your letter, Paul, but we are not going to listen to you. We're going to do according to our convictions." Can you imagine? That church would have gone 47:05 to the dogs or to the devil. But they submitted. They finally submitted and even though they had a spirit of rebellion in the beginning. The Holy Spirit humbled them. I don't know how the Holy Spirit humbled them. Maybe through sickness or some other 47:19 way. There are many ways in which God humbles people. But that is God will always support his servants. I'll tell you that. If a man is a true servant of God, I warn you never to try to oppose him because you'll be fighting against God. 47:33 I'm trying to show you that this principle of submission to authority is very, very important. Now, turn with me to Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 13. Please turn in your Bibles to Hebrews in 47:54 chapter 13. >> Verse seven, Hebrews 13 and verse seven. Remember those who led you, 48:18 who spoke the word of God to you. He's not just talking about the elders. Remember the elders are there in that church. But he says, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you." And 48:43 what does he go on to say concerning them? Submit to them. Verse 17, "Obey those leaders. Submit to them because they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account." 49:02 Your elders are watching over your souls. Good elders, you've got some excellent elders there. I know all four of them. They are watching over your souls. They're not seeking their own. And they are seeking to preserve 49:22 themselves so that they can be faithful servants representing the Lord to you. So, I would advise you, submit to them because they keep watch over your souls. Here it says 49:39 about spiritual authority. Obey your leaders and submit to them because they have to give an account to God one day how you people grow up spiritually. I want to say to you elders, do you know that you have to give an 49:58 account to God one day how the people in your church behave? You cannot exploit them. You cannot take advantage of the opposite sex. You cannot take advantage of anybody. You have to watch over them and care for them like a father. 50:12 Which father will exploit his daughter sexually? Unheard of. That is even the heathen don't do it. So, elders must be very, very, very careful. You're like a spiritual father. 50:31 Never to take advantage of anyone financially or sexually or in any way. Because they have you have to give an account to God for those people under you. So, let them do this with joy. He says, "Submit to them their authority over 50:49 you." Because if you don't submit to them, Hebrews 13:17, it will be unprofitable not for them. It'll be unprofitable for you. And so it says about them, remember 51:05 seven, remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you. There are many, many people spoken the word of you, but consider the result of their conduct. That means see how they ended their life. That is the important thing he 51:21 says. It's a very, very important verse. See how they ended their life. That is the important That's the meaning of that expression there. Consider the result of their conduct. Or it says in let me read that in the 51:40 King James version. Consider the result of their conduct. Consider the end of their conversation or the end of their life. Remember those who rule over you are your leaders 51:59 and who spoke the word of God to you. Follow their faith. King James Version, Hebrews 13:7, considering how they ended their life. Did they end their life in a godly way or in an ungodly way? That is the meaning of that expression. 52:19 Think how they ended their life. So, whenever don't blindly follow a leader, but see how he ended his life. Message Bible says, "Take a good look at the way they lived." 52:39 Hebrews 13:7, Message Bible. Take a good look at the way they lived. How they ended their life, as well as their truthfulness and faithfulness. There should be a consistency Hebrews 13:7, 52:59 in life and in teaching. Then you can appreciate such people. So, this business of submission to authority is a very, very important teaching. We must teach it to our children right 53:19 from the beginning. And we must practice it everywhere because God resists the proud. It's only a proud person who says, "I Who's there Who's there there over me? Only God is over me." Try and say that in your office. You 53:38 will not last in that office for more than 1 day. Try and say that when you go over the speed limit and the police car is following behind you. And when he comes to catch up with you, try and tell that policeman, "Only God is over me." 53:51 And see where you'll end up. But we fear we fear these secular authorities because we fear punishment. But but because in the church elders are so lenient and kind, we take advantage of the apostles and elders in the church. 54:06 Well, who's going to suffer? Not the apostles and the elders. You will suffer. So, dear brothers, learn the importance importance of submitting to authority. Very very important. That's how sin came in the universe through Lucifer. That's 54:24 how sin came in the Garden of Eden. And when sin came in the Garden of Eden, that they did not submit to authority. Eve did not submit to Adam's authority. What is the result? Their first son, Cain. He also did not submit to his How did 54:38 Cain go and kill Abel? I'll tell you how. He was not brought up by his parents to fear God. That's how he killed Abel. You think if Cain had been brought up by Adam and Eve to fear God and submit to uh Adam and Eve, you think Cain would 54:53 have gone and killed his younger brother? Impossible. Adam and Eve did not submit to God's authority, and their son did not submit to their authority. So, their first son became a murderer. Always what happens. Throughout history, 55:07 you see throughout the Bible, you see one thing from beginning till end. You don't submit to authority, you suffer. Be careful. Now, let me turn you to Matthew chapter 7. Matthew's gospel in chapter 7. A very important verse which 55:25 is not often spoken of or understood. In the In CFC, we preach many truths in the New Testament which are not taught by others. So, I want you to turn to Matthew's gospel and chapter 7. And 55:46 verse 13. Matthew's gospel and chapter 7 and verse 13. Please read carefully. Even a 10-year-old child can understand this. 56:05 Enter through the narrow gate cuz the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction. Now, verse 14. This is my verse I'm pointing out. Even a 10-year-old child can answer this question if you read carefully. 56:19 The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life. So, I say to this 10-year-old, "Listen, son. Tell me, what is what is it that leads to life?" He will read this and say, "A small gate and a narrow way." But, what do most preachers preach? Only 56:39 a small gate. How is that 10-year-old child or even a 6-year-old who can read English will say there is a small gate and a narrow way, but great clever preachers who go through Bible school and all say there's only a small gate. That's all. 56:54 They have canceled out one part of God's word. The gate is small, the way is narrow that leads to life. That's what the Bible says. It's not just I've accepted the Lord, 57:14 I've come through the gate. Then Jesus would have taught there is a small gate that leads to life. And there are very few who find it. That is what many preachers are preaching today. They have canceled out one part of verse 14. 57:29 That's what I wanted to show you. And many people are believing that that I've accepted Christ 20 years ago, I got in through the gate and I'm in life. You're not in life. There is a way that leads to life. Here's the starting 57:46 line of the marathon race. You come there, wonderful. And there's a huge way and then at the end is life. So, you're stuck in the starting line. How can you say you've come to life? No. Not at all. It's very important for us to understand 58:02 these truths and to obey to read scripture exactly as it is written, to preach it exactly as it is written. It's not popular. Not at all. You'll be unpopular. That's why it says in verse 14, very few will find it. And the people the preachers who preach 58:16 it exactly like this will become unpopular. And most preachers do not want to be unpopular. The Lord told me when I started preaching God's word, "Don't seek popularity ever in your life. Never mind if everybody leaves you, I 58:33 will stand by you." And I want to tell you there was a time in the beginning when it looks as if looks at looked as if everybody would leave. The early days of the meeting in our house, so many people would come and many of 58:46 them would suddenly leave because they didn't like the message. I told the Lord then, I said, "Lord, if it's only my wife and I left here finally, we will stand by you till the end." But the Lord added many, many thousands through the years because 59:01 there were people in India and around the world who really wanted to obey everything in scripture and go through the small gate and the narrow way and come to life. You know what it says about husband and wife? 59:18 What God has joined together, what's the rest of the verse? Let no one separate. That's called a divorce. Man and wife have been joined together by God in marriage. 59:36 When a man comes between them and separates them, it's a terrible sin. God hates divorce. Malachi chapter 2 verse 13 14 says, "I hate divorce." What God has joined together, let no one separate. 59:54 Here is what God has joined together. Matthew 7:14. A small gate and a narrow way that leads to life. What have preachers done? They've divorced what God joined together and said, "No, it's only the small gate. That's all. 1:00:14 You're born again, you're in. You're in life." Rubbish. It's a small gate and a narrow way. I will not divorce what God has joined together because God says, "I hate divorce." But when you join that together, 1:00:32 very few will find it. If it is only a gate small, there'll be thousands. Brother, just ask Jesus to come into your heart. I'll say right now. Say, "Lord Jesus Christ, say I'm a sinner. Lord Jesus, come into my heart." And he says, "Yes, 1:00:43 Lord Jesus, come into my heart." Okay, brother, you're saved. You got life now. You You can go to heaven now." And you move on to the next person. Well, how's this person going to continue like that? You find him one week one year later 1:00:56 falling into terrible sins, but he's got eternal life. What rubbish. So many people being deceived. Why? Because man has separated what God has joined together. And we are called in all our CFC churches to get rid of that divorce and preach the 1:01:13 whole purpose of God. The small gate and the narrow way leads to life, but there are very few who find this. Many people will find the gate small. Think they come into life, they are deceived. But those who believe in the gate and the way, 1:01:30 there are very few who find it. So, there's a lot of deception going on in the world and if you're not careful, you will easily get taken up in that deception. God God wants to save us from that calamity and this is this connection. It's in 1:01:50 connection with the separation, divorce. See the next verse. Matthew 7:15. Beware of false prophets. Who are the false prophets? He's talking about the gate and the way. Let me paraphrase it. There is a small gate and a narrow way 1:02:08 that leads to life. And there are few who find it, but false prophets will come and say, "No, no, no, no, no. It's only gate small is enough. You just accept the Lord, you're in." And there'll be many who find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you 1:02:22 speaking God's word, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. They're only interested in your money and increasing the size of their congregation. They're not interested in your spiritual development and your fellowship with God. 1:02:40 So, dear brothers and sisters, please take seriously everything that God warns us in scripture. Let me uh now turn you to Acts of the Apostles in chapter 24. Paul is a great example. 1:03:01 And before Acts 24, let me show you Acts 20. Paul spent 3 years in one church. They were very fortunate, church in Ephesus. Acts 20, Paul says 1:03:20 he called the elders in Acts 20:17. He sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to him. Acts 20 and verse 17. Please turn to Acts chapter 20 and verse 17. He called the elders of the church and 1:03:37 what did he tell them? He told them in I have been with you for 3 years. Verse 31. Day and night 1:03:54 for 3 years day and night for 3 years I did not stop admonishing you with tears. You know, Paul was weeping sometimes when he preached. Because he was so sad, these people are 1:04:14 not taking seriously what I say. It wasn't just a He was a man who wept in secret and for the church. He spoke strongly. And he says in verse 19, I served the Lord with humility and with tears 1:04:33 and I did not shrink verse 20 [snorts] from declaring to you the full purpose of God from house to house and telling Jews and Gentiles about repentance and faith. And yet the Holy Spirit tells me that wherever I go, there'll be afflictions 1:04:49 and bonds that await me, but I do not consider my life dear to myself. Only such a person can preach the truth of God. One who does not consider his life dear unto himself. That's wonderful. I do not consider my life dear unto 1:05:07 myself. And I preached to you with tears. And further in verse 34, I took care of my own needs. And I did not 1:05:26 make myself a burden to you. So, it's such a man that God used to build the church, one who did not seek anything for himself. Was really concerned about people. And he says here that I was with you for 3 years, verse 31, night and day. 1:05:46 Always admonishing you with tears, hoping that you will come to the truth. This is why he had authority. He was really burdened for the church, just like a father, you know. Father who cares for the children that the children should grow up 1:06:01 to be spiritually strong. Not one who's seeking his own. Not one who's promoting himself. There are many preachers like that. Who promote themselves or they promote their family members who are not gifted. What do you do then? 1:06:20 We have to see who is a person who is interested in proclaiming the whole purpose of God. The whole purpose of God in the scriptures. And who's will not compromise on anything. I believe that is God is looking for 1:06:39 such people everywhere. Now, I can turn to Acts 20:24. And we can close here, Acts 24. In Acts, now Paul is speaking now to the some authorities before whom he's giving 1:06:56 his testimony. And he says, "I belong to the way, verse 14. You know that Christianity in the early days was called the way. People of the way. Not people of the gate. 1:07:15 The early church preached the gate and the way. And they were known as people of the way. But he says, "I admit to you that I belong to the people of the way." Why were they called people of the way? Because they preached a narrow way, not 1:07:30 just a narrow gate. That leads to life. And they others call it a sect. And even today there are people who call us a sect because we preach the way and not just the gate. Let them call it. But we serve God believing everything written in the word 1:07:48 of God. Believing that there is a gate and a way. We believe everything. And we have a hope in God. Listen to this. Verse 15. There will certainly be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. Two resurrections. The righteous and the wicked. 1:08:06 Because there going to be two resurrections and I want to be in the resurrection of the righteous. What do I do? Verse 16. I don't just sit back and say, "I came through the gate. So I'll be in the resurrection of the righteous." No. 1:08:20 There is a way. So I do my best because I want to be in the resurrection of the righteous. Verse 16. I do my best to keep my conscience always pure before God and before men. If I hurt somebody, I ask forgiveness immediately. 1:08:38 If I cheated somebody, I'll return the money immediately. If I borrowed money, I'll return it as soon as possible. If I had a bad thought towards somebody, I'll confess it to God immediately. Not tomorrow. Immediately. Always means what? 1:08:52 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Verse 16. Always 24 hours a day, 7 days a week I keep my conscience without blame before God and before men. Why? Because verse 15 I want to be in the resurrection of the righteous and not in the resurrection of 1:09:12 the wicked. Hey, but Paul, you already came through the gate, man. Why are you worried you'll be in the definite resurrection of the righteous? No. He says, "I belong to the people of the way." Verse 14. The way is after I enter through gate, 1:09:25 there's a way. And in that way, I keep my conscience blameless all the time. That's how I walked the way. Paul, how did you walk the way? By keeping my conscience absolutely free from blame before God and before men. That means 1:09:39 whenever God told me something, I obeyed immediately. I saw something in scripture which I did not know earlier, that is God speaking to me, I obeyed immediately. I hurt somebody in some way, I asked forgiveness immediately. I 1:09:50 kept my conscience blameless before God and men. He said, "Paul, you're to do all that in order to enter into the resurrection of the righteous?" Sure. Because there is a resurrection of the righteous in view of this means because 1:10:06 there are two resurrections and I want to be in the resurrection of the righteous, I do my best to maintain 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a blameless conscience for God and before men. Therefore, I know I will be in the resurrection of the righteous. 1:10:24 My dear brothers and sisters, we live in a world of tremendous deception. And I'm sorry to say there are many believers who have come into our CFC churches who brought that deception into the church as well. Because they proclaim that cheap 1:10:40 a cheap salvation. And they live without seeking for the power of the Holy Spirit, without seeking for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and they live in sin. You always find that. People who live in sin will be against the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy 1:11:00 Spirit. The two go together. Those who reject the baptism of the Holy Spirit end up like that. Because it's the Holy Spirit. How is it with the early apostles? I'll show you two references. Acts 1:11:19 chapter 2 verse 4. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter 3. We read here again. Acts and chapter 4. 1:11:38 They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Again, a third time in chapter 4 and verse 31. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. So, you already see three times here 1:11:56 Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit. So, that's why it says in Ephesians 5:18, "Be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit." That is written to the most spiritual church in the first century. Be continuously 1:12:15 filled with the Holy Spirit. So, I want to say that to you, my brothers. Take a concordance and look at the word filled with the Spirit and see where all it comes in the New Testament. There was no once-for-all experience. 1:12:27 They had to be filled with the Spirit again and again and again. And this is what you need. Every one of you, if you're not sure whether you're filled with the Holy Spirit, please go to God and ask him. You may be born again. You may have come 1:12:40 through the gate. If you do walk the way, it is impossible to walk the way if you're not continuously filled with the Spirit. You will fall into sexual sin. You will fall into anger. You will fall into the love of money. you'll fall into 1:12:53 a rebellious spirit against others, and you will sit there criticizing the other elders, and one day God will judge you. I want to save you all from that. Please listen to me. And I if I speak strongly, it's because I want to save all of you from calamity. 1:13:09 And God has given you wonderful elders. Don't sit at home and criticize them. Don't sit at home and find fault with them. If you have a doubt or a question with one of them, go to them directly. Don't speak behind their back. 1:13:24 Don't be a backbiter like Satan. Go don't be an accuser of the brethren. The title accuser of the brothers is given to Satan in Revelation chapter 12. He's not only a rebel against authority, he's an accuser of brothers. 1:13:42 Are you one of the accuser of the brothers? You're holding hands with Satan. When you go to criticize somebody, one of the elders, Satan says, "Come, I'll hold your hand. I'll I'll tell you more and more to things to say." 1:13:55 And you think it's your own mind. It is not your mind, brother. Sister, it is the devil putting things into your mind to ruin you. So, be careful. If you don't know certain things about what is happening, just keep your mouth 1:14:10 shut. And don't know. There are a lot of young people who have got that rebellious spirit just because they have a little bit of Bible knowledge. They start well, and they ruin themselves. See, for example, God sees some very zealous young brother 1:14:25 coming and joining a fellowship like CFC Austin. And he's very sincere. But then after a while, he gets a bit puffed up that he knows so much. And [clears throat] he thinks he's a very important person. And he gets puffed up, and he begins to 1:14:37 correct even the elders, and criticize the elders behind the back, and Satan's got him in his hands. He says, "Thank you. Thank you. You've come right into my lap. You are an accuser of the brethren just like me. Please add some more to your number and 1:14:52 get some more accusers of the brothers. Be careful that you don't be fooled by Satan's deceptions. Live in the fear of God, walk in humility. If you have a problem with an elder, go to that person directly and speak to him. 1:15:08 Don't sit behind his back and speak evil. Yeah, there are many more things. You You've got elders who will guide you in all those things. Let us bow our heads in prayer. Please bow your head with me and 1:15:26 ask the Lord to show you out of all the things you heard today, if there's one thing that God wants you to concentrate on, or two things, or three. Say, "Lord, help me to remember those things. Help me take seriously what 1:15:42 you told me today. And to be very careful about secret sins. Careful about dirty thoughts. Careful about anger. Careful about gossip. Backbiting. Criticism of elders. 1:15:59 Rebellion against authority. Lord, teach me to aware beware of these things and not to be like the worldly people or like worldly Christians. Heavenly Father, I pray that you will build a strong church here in Austin. May your name be glorified. Give 1:16:17 tremendous wisdom to the way elders in this difficult situation to lead the church on the straight and narrow path that leads to life. We believe you will do it in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for 1:16:32 listening patiently. God bless you all. >> uh Brother Zach 1:16:51 for speaking such powerful message. Thank you for waiting on the Lord and to hear what you need to speak today to the church and I believe I trust that the Lord has spoken to all of us. I was thinking about >> [clears throat] 1:17:07 >> few as you were sharing even the day of Pentecost when Peter spoke such powerful sermon and Acts chapter 2 verse 37 >> [clears throat] >> they say, "Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and rest of the 1:17:26 apostles, 'What shall we do brethren, what shall we do?'" So, that's the encouragement and I want to challenge all of us, what shall we do with the word that is given to us? We heard several warnings, exhortations, admonition. The church is a place where 1:17:42 we don't hear always a nice word of encouragement and comfort, but also strong word of correction, rebuke, exhortation, admonition just as we heard today. And as I as you were speaking, I saw the spirit a spirit of a father 1:17:59 a father wants every child of his to succeed. And if he sees something wrong, he will speak strongly. I'm sure, you know, all of us who are parents have the same experience. The way I speak to my children to correct them and discipline 1:18:13 them is completely different. I won't do that with other children because I have authority, I have a responsibility. And I'm thankful for a brother like Brother Zach who takes his responsibility as apostle to us, as a elder to our us elders, and a spiritual 1:18:31 father for all of us who doesn't mince words, who doesn't speak uh kindly, but his ministry is calling is like that and see the heart see the heart heart of the father and Paul says you have many tutors if you go to YouTube you get plenty of 1:18:49 preachers there's no scarcity of the preachers but we you will find it very difficult to find a father a father like figure and um also the other picture I was getting is the picture of a doctor if you go to a doctor and the doctor clearly sees 1:19:09 even the blood report or the scanning he sees the problem and he gives you strong advice don't do this it is going to be harmful it can even lead to death the physical doctor may say physical death but here spiritual doctor say it will lead you to 1:19:25 a spiritual death the pride in you the lack of submission in you is very very serious because the sin originated with the lack of submission as we heard and what a wonderful example we have in Jesus Christ we saw the example of 1:19:40 the devil falling because of pride lack of submission but please turn to Luke chapter 2 verse 51 on the other side contrast our Lord Jesus we have such example he went down with them and came to Nazareth 1:20:00 and continued in subjection to them and his mother treasured all these things in her heart and Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men it all started with that subjection to them 1:20:18 were Mary and Joseph perfect no but Jesus yes he was perfect perfect as man perfect as God but he was subject to them that's why you see Jesus as man kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God 1:20:37 and man to the point when uh Jesus was baptized God could say This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Uh let us look onto the Lord his life and meditate meditate on that life of uh humble submission and um 1:20:56 I think three example three three most important characters of the Christian is humility humility humility and um that's opposite of to the spirit of pride and we see that in our Lord Jesus Christ as we meditate. Um yeah, even when we hear strong words 1:21:13 like this uh as I was mentioning last week also Psalms 141 verse 5 what does it say the psalmist says >> [clears throat] >> Um let the righteous smite me. It will be like an oil upon me. 141 verse 5. Let 1:21:31 the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me. It is oil upon my head. So when we hear such a strong words Lord may our response be Lord give me more. Thank you for exposing the sin in me. Thank you for speaking to me. Give me 1:21:47 more and it will be like an oil. I want more of it so that I can set things right here when I have an opportunity. Not I don't want to hear all these things later in my life when I have an opportunity to set things right. Um so 1:22:02 let's thank the Lord for the strong word he has given to us. The word of God is like a two-edged sword. It will pierce into pierce even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and judges the thoughts and 1:22:18 the intents of the heart. Uh let's allow let's give the full freedom to the Holy Spirit as he speaks to us so that we'll bear fruit. We don't want to hear all these sermons and all these messages and go out and forget. We want this word to 1:22:33 bear fruit and much fruit. Not be satisfied with 30-fold, 60-fold, 100-fold fruit so that we can build individual lives, families, godly families, godly individuals, and godly church where the gates of hell shall not prevail. 1:22:49 Um so, such is the authority God has given to the church. We are thankful uh for our teacher brother Zach and also um for being uh taking that responsibility as an apostle so seriously and speaks words uh as strong as we heard today. Uh may the 1:23:05 Lord help us and uh respond to those words by obeying all that we heard today. Thank you and uh now I would request uh brother Kalyan to share on the memory verse. Thank you once again, brother Zach, for being with us today.
