opportunity to be here. And of course, thank you for Pastor Webb for allowing us to be
here and for Brother Brett for all the work and the organization to put this together.
So I'm honored to be up here to preach for you guys. So whether it's Psalm 92, if you
look at verse number 12, Psalm 92, 12, the Bible says, notice the righteous shall flourish
like the palm tree. It says he shall grow like a tree, like a cedar, I'm sorry, like
a cedar in Lebanon. Verse 13, those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish
in the courts of our God. So then the Bible says that the righteous are those who will
be flourishing. They're in Psalm, in verse number 12. And what does it mean to flourish?
The word flourish means to thrive or to prosper. In verse 13 it says those that be planted
in the house of the Lord, again notice, shall flourish, meaning they shall thrive, they
shall grow, they shall prosper in the courts of our God. Verse 14, they shall still bring
forth fruit in old age. They shall be fat and flourishing. So it says the righteous,
they will flourish. The righteous, they will be fat. You know, that word fat doesn't just
mean literally fat. It means that God will bless you. And it says even in old age, you
can become a Christian who thrives and flourishes even in old age. You say, well, how was it
then? How do you become the Christian who not only is flourishing right now, but even
in old age, at the end of your life, you will still be growing. You will still be producing
something for the Lord. You will still be flourishing. Well, look at verse number 13.
Notice what the Bible says. It says, notice those that be planted in the house of the
Lord. And the title of my sermon this morning is planted in the house of the Lord. See the
way that you will grow and thrive as a Christian is when you decide to get planted in the house
of the Lord. You know, I love the name of this conference, you know, the fundamentalist
conference and you know, what could be more fundamental in the Christian life than church?
You know, church along with Bible reading, along with prayer, but church is a foundation.
It is a fundamental of the Christian life. And the only way to thrive and succeed, not
just now, but even in old age is when you decide to get planted in the house of the
Lord. Look at verse number 13 again. Notice those that be planted in the house of the
Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old
age. They shall be fat and flourishing. You know, the word planted means to put or set
in the ground for growth. It means to establish, to place firmly. So you have to decide to
get firmly established in the house of the Lord. Go to Psalm 52 if you would, Psalm
chapter 52. You see how to become a Christian who not only is thriving now and look, what's
great about what I'm seeing today is that there's a lot of young people who are getting
saved. They're beginning to grow in the Lord, to go soul winning, to be faithful to church.
But you know what? It is rare to find the Christian who even in old age, who when they're
50, 60, 70, they're still serving God. They're still thriving. They're still flourishing.
That is a rare sight to see. Psalm 52, look at verse number seven. Notice what the Bible
says. Notice, lo, this is the man in verse seven that made not God his strength. We have
the Psalmist speaking of the wicked of the world. It says notice, but trusted in the
abundance of his riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness. See, the world will teach
you that in order for you to thrive, in order for you to flourish is for you to strengthen,
to trust in the abundance of riches. See, the world wants you to think that wealth,
possessions, money is what will help you thrive as a person in the future. Notice, and strengthen
himself in his wickedness. See, the world, they're not living for the Lord. They're not
going to church. They're not serving God with their life. And this is what the world wants
you to see. The world will look at us and they'll say it's foolishness to be planted
in church, that it is foolishness to be a sold out Christian who goes to church three
times a week, who lives for the Lord. But notice what David says in verse eight. See,
David said, I'm not like the world. In verse eight it says notice, but I, but I am like
a green olive tree, notice, in the house of God. See, David's saying, I'm not like the
world. I'm not like the world who's trusting in wealth, who's trusting in riches, who's
strengthening himself in his wickedness. No, I'm like a green olive tree. I'm just planted
where? In the house of God. See, the way to thrive as a Christian is when you decide to
get planted in the house of the Lord. And look, obviously the Bible says, it says if
I tell you long that thou mayest know how the oddest to behave thyself in the house
of God, which is the church of the living God. See, this is the house of the Lord. You
got to get planted in church. Why? Because this is the only way that you will thrive
as a Christian. Go if you would to Numbers 28, Numbers chapter number 20. So this morning
I want to give you four places where you ought to get planted in the house of the Lord. And
what you notice about a tree is, you know, a tree doesn't just grow overnight. A tree
just, you don't plant a tree and then it springs up like this. No, it takes time. It takes
time to grow. It takes time to get established. And you know, a tree, when you see a big massive
tree that is strong and healthy, you know what? It took time for those roots to get
established. It took time for those roots to go deep into the ground. It took time for
that tree to get firmly placed and established for it to grow to that strength. And so this
morning I want to give you four places where you ought to get established in the house
of the Lord. Number one, you got to get planted in the schedule of the church. The first place
you ought to get planted in the house of the Lord is just get planted in the schedule of
the church. And Numbers 28, I want to show you the attitude that God had towards the
schedule of his house in the tabernacle. In the Old Testament, notice the attitude that
God had towards the schedule of the church. Numbers 28, like verse number one. And the
Lord is speaking to Moses saying, notice, command. Command the children of Israel and
say unto them, my offering and my bread for my sacrifice is made by fire for a sweet saviour
unto me. Notice what he says, shall ye observe to offer unto me, notice, in their due season.
I want you to notice the attitude that God had towards the schedule of his house in the
Old Testament. The first word he says there is his command. And you know, we live in a
day where churches, they want to send out a flyer and survey people. Hey, when is a
good time for you to be in church? Let me schedule church around your life. But the
attitude that God says, you know, command for the people to be, to be with me, notice
what he says. It says, in their due season, when I expect you to be there, when I want
you to be there. Notice verse number three, it says, notice, and thou shalt say unto them,
this is the offering made by fire, which you shall offer unto Lord two lambs of the first
year without spot, day by day, notice, for a continual burnt offering. It's every day.
See, God's attitude is, hey, I want you to command the people, command the individual.
Every day I want you to offer me in my house, to serve me in my house. And the attitude
that God has is, hey, he doesn't say, hey, is this okay with you? You know, can I schedule
my life, my schedule, my house? Can I schedule my house around your life? No, God's attitude
towards his people and says, hey, you schedule your life around me. When it comes to the
schedule, you got to just get planted in the schedule of the church, meaning that your
life, the schedule of your life should be revolved around the things of God. It shouldn't
be, God shouldn't be looking down and say, and feeling like a burden to us. See churches,
the house of God is not a burden. It doesn't get in the way of our life. No, it is our
life. Christ, who is our life. See, we ought to schedule our lives around the schedule
of God. And here we see God having, notice, just a daily schedule. Not just that he has
also a monthly schedule. Notice verse 11, notice, notice, and in the beginnings of your
months, he shall offer a burnt offering unto Lord, two young bullets and one ram, seven
lambs of the first year without spot. Here we have God not just having a daily schedule,
but also notice just a monthly schedule. Say, hey, even not just every day, but every month
I want to have a schedule for you. And the attitude ought to be, you know what? This
comes first. See church should not be a burden. There's, there shouldn't be anything more
important in your life than the things of God. But not just that, we see, notice a schedule
for just special days. In verse 16 notice, and in the 14th day of the first month is
the Passover of the Lord. Notice, and in the 15th day of this month is the feast. Seven
days shall unleavened bread be eaten. See, when you look at the Bible, what do you see?
You see a schedule. And God's people, their lives, we look at the Old Testament and we
think to ourselves, well of course their lives should revolve around God. Why? Because it's
the Old Testament. But it's the same thing for us today. You know, our lives, our schedule
should revolve around the things of God. Go to Colossians one if you would. Colossians
chapter one. See the first place you had to get planted in the house of the Lord, he's
got to just get planted in the schedule of the church. And when we talk about the fundamentals
of the faith, the fundamentalist conference, how about the fundamental of going back to
the old ways of just being in church? You know, there used to be a day in this country
where it was, where families would just go to church. It would be commonplace. It would
be rare to see a family who just doesn't go to church. How about going back to the old
ways of just putting God first and just being in the house of God? Colossians one, like
verse number 18, the Bible says, and he of course talking about Jesus is the head of
the body, verse 18, the church who was the beginning, the firstborn from the dead notice
that in all things he might have the preeminence. Now what preeminence means, the fact of surpassing
all others, superiority, first place. See, God looks down and he says, you know, I should
be first in your life. And think about the schedule of your life. Do you schedule your
life around the things of God? And we live in a day when people want to schedule their
lives and have church be the secondary thing. Where we put vacations and sporting events
and parties and fun and their careers before God. Now look, obviously we have to work.
Obviously God commands us to raise our families, to work, to raise our children, to love our
spouse, to work hard in the world. But you know, all those things should be for the glory
of God. All those things should be done with having God as the preeminence. That means
that he's number one. That means that he's first place. Go to Hebrews 10 if you go to
Hebrews chapter number 10. You see how to get planted in church? Well, the first way
obviously is just be in church. See the attitude when it comes to church is that when the church
doors are open, you will be there. And obviously there's no command that says, hey, church
needs to be at 10 AM. Church needs to be at 6 PM. There has to be a Wednesday night service.
There's no command like that, but you know, when the church doors are open, guess what?
God wants us to be there. He expects us to be there. Hebrews 10 verse 24, the Bible says,
and let us consider one another to provoke and to love and to good works, not forsaking
the assembly of ourselves together as the manner of some is. You know, what a sad statement.
The manner of some is to what? Is to skip out on church. And look, as God's people,
we shouldn't have church as an option. Look, church is foundational. It is a fundamental
thing that we do in the Christian life. And you will not find a Christian who is thriving
and flourishing that is not going to church. There's no such thing as a Christian who is
reading the Bible, who's praying, who's soul winning, but they don't go to church. I don't
see that. See the only way to flourish is to decide I'm going to get planted. I'm going
to get established and rooted in the schedule of the church. It says notice, but exhorting
one another. Notice what it says. It says, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.
See, we read the Old Testament and we think, well, of course God was angry with them. They
were forsaking his house. They weren't going to church. They weren't putting him at first.
But the Bible says here in so much the more. That church is even more important today than
it was yesterday. It says in so much the more as ye see the day approaching. You see, how
do you get planted in the house of Lord? Well, you got to just get planted in the schedule
of church. If church starts at 10 a.m., guess what? You're going to be there. If church
is at 6 p.m., guess what? You're going to be there. Churches on Wednesday night, guess
what? Just decide I'm going to be planted. I'm going to get established in the schedule
of the church. Go to Acts 11 if you would, Acts 11. You see, who, who's going to thrive
as a Christian? You know, there's people that I look at in my personal life that I see as
great examples that I tell them, I say to myself, you know, this is, this is how I want
to be as a Christian when I grew up. You know, I think of my pastor who's here and I consider
him a great example for me. You know, an example that I would like to be as, as a Christian.
But you see, how do, how do people get, get to be that place? It's because they decided,
it's because they made a decision to do what? To get planted in church, to be there in the
house of God. Why? Because church is important. Church is a fundamental thing that we do.
But you got, you got to develop a testimony of being faithful to church. Just develop
a testimony of being faithful to church. Notice what it says in Acts 11 in verse number 26,
it says, notice, and when he had found him in verse 26, he brought him into Antioch and
it came to pass that a whole year, notice, they assembled themselves with the church
and taught much people, notice, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. See,
here we see the apostle Paul in the early church just gathering with the church, assembling
themselves together. And the world looked at them. They looked at these radical people. You
know, they would have looked at them and said, these are extreme fundamentalists. And what do
they call them? It says that they were called Christians first in Antioch. See, these people
developed the testimony of being Christians, but how was it done? Was it done because they
went soul winning or because they were praying or because they were doing anything else? No,
it's because they assembled themselves with the church because they were in church, faithful,
to church. You know that word fundamental? I looked it up and it says, it's defined as forming
a necessary base or core of central importance. You see the world looked at these early Christians,
at these people who were just gathering for church. And they're saying these people,
they're just always assembling. They're just always together. And they call them Christians.
And they thought to themselves, this must be very important to them to be gathered in church. You
know, another word for the word fundamental, if you look up in the source, is the word radical.
You know, and this is the idea that people have about church. That, are you seriously going to
church three times a week? Are you going to church Sunday morning, Sunday night? Doesn't it seem a
little bit radical? No, it seems a little bit fundamental to me. It seems like that's something
that Christians have been doing in the past and should be doing today. And the only way you're
going to succeed, and look, people, your family should look at you and just know by your schedule
that you're a Christian. Your neighbors should know, hey, they're not there Sunday morning.
They're not there Sunday night. Because we just know that they're just these radical fundamentalists.
They're just these Christians. They're just always going to church, always assembling themselves
together. Just develop this testimony. See, the world should just know that you're a Christian
based on what? Based on your schedule. Why? Because you put church above sports. You put church above
fun. You put church above vacation. Why? Because in all things, he might have the preeminence. See,
church is vital as a Christian. The Bible says, I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into
the house of the Lord. So just develop this attitude. When the church doors are open, guess
what? I'll be there. I'm going to be in the church. I'm going to be there. And as radical as that may
seem to the world, it should be just a fundamental thing that Christians do. And then we live in a
day when people don't want to put church first. And look, just deciding to be faithful to church,
guess what it'll do? It'll develop some character in your life. And we live in a day where people
just don't have any character. And the reason why people decide I'm not going to be faithful
to church is because they're too lazy to get dressed, to be somewhere on time. And we live
in a day where people just can't show up to their work on time, ready to go. But as Christians,
hey look, this is the profession of our faith. This is what we do. We're Christians. We go to
church and church is a vital importance in our life. You say, how do I get planted in the house
Lord? Well, number one, you just get planted in the schedule of the church. Decide I'm going to
be there when the church doors are open. But number two, go to Ezekiel 33, if you would,
Ezekiel chapter 33. Not only should you get planted in the schedule of the church, but number two,
you got to get planted in the preaching of the church. You got to get planted in the preaching
of the church. You know, when you look at a tree that's big and beautiful, you know, you go to
a place, we recently went to Sequoia National Forest, I believe, or Yosemite, and you see these
big, beautiful trees, these massive trees, and you just look at them and they're just so massive.
And you think, man, what it took for God to create this beautiful tree. But you know what
you don't see when you see these trees that are just healthy and strong and massive? What you
don't see is the roots. You don't see what's underneath. You don't see what's underground.
And when it comes to church, you know, we can all put up a front, we can all play the part,
we can all get dressed. But you know what you don't see? You can't see the heart of someone
who's listening and applying the preaching of the word of God. So when it comes to church,
you got to just decide, I'm going to get planted, not just in the schedule, but also in the
preaching of the church. Ezekiel 33, look at verse number 31. Ezekiel 33, verse 31. Notice
what it says. It says, and they come unto thee as the people cometh. Here we have God speaking
of his people to Ezekiel. It says, and they come unto thee to Ezekiel as the people cometh. Notice,
and they sit before thee as my people. I want you to notice these people, guess what? They're
faithful in church. They're sitting in church. They're hearing Ezekiel. Notice, and they hear
thy words. They're listening. You say, what's the problem with these people? Is the problem
that they're going to church? Is the problem that they're faithful to church? No, here's the problem.
It says, but they will not do them. See the problem with some Christians, it's not that
they're there physically. It's that they're not there in their heart. It's that their heart is
not in it. It's that they're not planted in the preaching of the word of God. It says in verse
31, notice, for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
So you know what they say with their mouth? They're saying, praise the Lord and Amen. They're saying,
Ezekiel, I love this preaching. Ezekiel, you're such a great orator. And look, you can find a lot
of people who love our preaching, who love listening to our preaching. And that's not the
problem. The problem that God says is this, but they will not do them. They're there, but notice
what God says, notice, but their heart. But their heart goeth after their covetousness, what they
want, what they desire. See these people, they may be there physically, but guess what? Their heart's
not in it. They weren't planted in the preaching. They weren't listening. Verse 32, notice, and lo,
thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on
an instrument. Notice, for they hear thy words, but what's the problem? But they do them not.
You know, there's a purpose to preaching and the purpose of preaching is not for you just to love
the preaching. And look, we hope you love the preaching, but the purpose of preaching is not
just to listen. It's not just to say, Hey, I love the tune. Hey, it sounds beautiful. No,
the purpose is for you to apply. The purpose is for you to actually change. And when you see a
tree that's established, that's rooted, what you don't see is the roots under the ground. And what
you can't see in Christians is their heart, is when the preaching of the Word of God's going on,
they're saying to themselves, you know what, I'm going to apply this in my life. I'm going to have
a tender heart towards the things of God. See, when it comes to preaching, your heart ought to
be tender to apply the Word of God in your life and realize, look, this is God trying to change
you. See the problem with the people, it's not that they were there, look, they were there,
but the problem is they didn't do it. They didn't apply it. Verse 33, notice, and when it's coming
to pass, now that when this is talking about the judgment, it says, lo, it will come. Then shall
they know that a prophet has been among them. You know, what a sad statement that these people,
they had every opportunity to get right. And look, people come to church because hard times
come and praise Lord for those hard times. You know, whatever the circumstance is in your life,
they got to the church, praise God for it. People come to church and they want, they want church
to change their life. And look, church can't, it can change your life, but it's not enough just to
be there. It's not enough just to walk in the doors and expect something miraculous to happen.
No, you got to decide, you know what, I'm going to apply what I hear. I'm going to apply what's
being preached across the pulpit. And you can't see this in people. Look, but you know it in your
heart. You and your heart, you know, if you're the person who just sits there and just decides,
I'm not going to apply this. Like, I don't know it. Look, me, I will not be right with God if I
just sit in church and don't apply the preaching. God's no respecter of persons. Look, when it comes
to the preaching, just decide, you know what, I'm going to, I'm going to apply this in my life. I'm
going to change. Go to Acts 17, if you would, Acts 17. You see how to get planted. You got to get
planted in the preaching of the church. Because look, that changes your life when you actually
decide to apply the word of God. Acts 17, look at verse number 10, Acts 17, 10. The Bible says,
and the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night into Berea, who coming thither
went into the synagogue of the Jews. Notice what it says in verse 11, it says that these were more
noble than those in Thessalonica. You know, God looked down at these Bereans and God said, you
know, these Bereans, they're more noble than those Christians in Thessalonica. You know, God's saying,
look, these, these Christians are, they're better than these other Christians. They're better. You
know, and I would hope that God would look at you and look at me and say, you know what, these
Christians, guess what, they're better than some other Christians. You know, why, why is it done?
Notice it says, it says, and that they received the word with all readiness of mind. You know,
they went to church ready to receive the preaching, ready to receive the word of God,
willing to hear it, but not just that, notice, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those
things were so. See, what made them more noble is that they heard, no, it's because they received it
with all readiness of mind, but guess what, they went home. They took it home. They searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so. They say, what's the attitude in church? The
attitude ought to be, I'm going to receive the word. I'm ready to receive what God has for me.
And I'm going to take it home and apply it. And I'm going to take it home and put it in my life.
Go to Luke six, you go to Luke chapter number six, Luke six. You say, how do you plant in the
preaching? Cause look, when you plant a tree, you could, you could have a tree and just put it
somewhere. But if you don't plant it, if you don't let those roots grow, it's just going to die. And
the same way as a Christian, you know, our goal as Christians is not just to fill a pew for the
purpose of just filling a pew. The purpose when it comes to churches is guess what? I'm going to
apply the preaching of the word of God. And look, this is the key to, for you to succeed as a
Christian. You will not succeed as a Christian if you just don't decide to apply what the Bible
tells you to apply. Luke six, look at verse number 47, the Bible says, whosoever cometh to me,
verse 47, notice, and heareth my sayings. Here's somebody who hears the word of God, who hears the
preaching, notice, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like. Here's someone who decides,
you know, I'm going to hear it and guess what? I'm going to apply it. Verse 48, he is like a man
which built an house and dig deep, notice, and laid the foundation on a rock. And when the flood
arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake it for it was founded upon a
rock. See the Christian who succeeds, the Christian who will thrive in the future,
who when the storms come, who will not be moved, who is steadfast, who is strong in the faith is
the one who hears and does. The one who hears and applies. But notice in verse 49, notice,
but he that heareth, notice, and doeth not. Here we have the Christian who sits in church,
fills a pew, but decides in their heart, I'm not going to apply. Notice, is like a man that,
notice, without a foundation, built an house upon the earth. It looked beautiful against which the
stream did beat vehemently and immediately it fell and the ruin of that was great. You see,
success comes down to you doing what? To you applying the word of God in your life. So when
it comes to getting planted in the house of the Lord, realize that it's not just being there. And
look, you ought to just be there. But you know what? It comes down to you just deciding in your
heart, I'm going to apply what the Bible says. And you know what? When you plant a tree, you
expect that tree to grow. You expect that tree to year by year get bigger, get stronger, to grow
bigger and just to develop it to something massive, something great, something enormous. But
in the same way, you as a Christian, when it comes to church, you know, church ought to produce some
change in your life. And it's not going to be instantaneous. It's going to be a little by
little. That's why you need every service. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, being
there for the purpose of what? For the purpose of applying it in your life. And look, this is the
key to success. And you have to ask yourself, you know, have I changed since I've been coming to
church? Well, that may be because you're not just applying the word of God. Look, whenever you hear
the word of God preach and it says, thus saith the Lord, then you know what? Just do it immediately.
Do it right away. Why? Because this is how you will get planted in the house of the Lord. Go,
if you would, to Acts 15. You see, how do you get planted in the house of the Lord? Well, number one,
you got to get planted in the schedule of the church. You just decided when the church doors
are open, I'm going to be there. You also got to get planted in the preaching of the church. That
when the word of God is being preached, I'm going to apply it in my life. Number three, you got to
get planted in the work of the church. I mean, talk about fundamentalists. I mean, how about the
fundamental of just men girding up their loins like a man and actually working nowadays. And when
it comes to church, look, just go back to the fundamental of I'm just going to go to work at
church and I'm going to work. And this is, this is why we are in church. You got to get planted in
the work of the church. And what does that mean? That means you got to get involved in the soul
winning of the church. Acts 15, look at verse number 35. Acts 15, 35. Notice Paul also in
Barnabas continued in Antioch. Notice teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. You know,
later on the world would look at these men and they would say, these that have turned the world
upside down have come hither also. You know, when you read the book of Acts, you know, often we
think of just Paul and Barnabas doing these great exploits, but notice what it says in verse 35.
Notice teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. Notice what it says. It says with many
others also. Here we have the church at Antioch and it says, Paul and Barnabas, guess what? They
were doing the work, but it says, notice with many others also. And you and I, you know, if we were
there, I would have hoped to have been one of these many other, many others also. Just in the
work, involved in the preaching, teaching the word of God, going out soul winning. And look,
this ought to be you. When it comes to church, get planted in the work of soul winning. Be one
of these many others also who goes out there and preaches the word of God. And the world will look
at us and say, these that have turned the world upside down have come thither also. So you got to
get involved in the soul winning of the church. Go to Romans 10 if you have Romans chapter 10.
Romans chapter 10. And look, God wants us to get planted in the house of the Lord in church
for the purpose of what? For the purpose of working in church. Romans 10, look, verse 14,
it says, how then shall they call on him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe
in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach except they be sent? See, God says, how is the world going to hear the truth of the gospel?
How is the world going to get saved? How is the world going to hear about Jesus Christ? It says,
how shall they hear? Notice, except they be sent. See, a church is here to do what? To send you
out. To equip you. To strengthen you. To teach you how to preach the gospel. To teach you how
to get somebody saved. It says, how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written,
how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of
good things. So when it comes to getting planted in church, you got to just decide, you know what,
when it comes to church, I'm going to show up to work in soul winning. Get planted in the work of
soul winning. And look, work, and what's great about soul winning is that soul winning makes
Christianity all the more real. And you got to just decide, I'm not here to play, to look like
a Christian or just play Christianity. No, I'm here to actually live Christianity. And look,
soul winning will really bring Christianity to life. When you go out there and you knock on
someone's door, the world is going to think, hey man, this guy's a radical. Knock on my door. This
guy must be a fundamentalist. Just knocking on my door. But you know what? This makes Christianity
all the more real. When you actually go out there and when somebody slams the door in your face,
or when somebody yells at you for what you believe, or when somebody curses at you for
what you believe, or when some dog chases you, you know, spiritually and physically. But this
makes Christianity all the more real. When you go out there and decide to engage the devil in
warfare, try to go get somebody saved. Look, this brings Christianity, it makes it all the more real.
And as Christians, when it comes to church, just decide I'm going to get involved in the work of
soul winning. And be one of these many others also, and realize, look, this is why we're here.
This is why there's a church here. So that we can help people, strengthen people to send them out to
preach the word of God. Go to 2 Corinthians 5, if you go to 2 Corinthians 5. Look, talk about
fundamental. I mean, just working. What's more fundamental than work for a man? And look, this
ought to be our view of church. That we show up to church, and guess what? We're ready to work.
And soul winning is not something that's just an option. Realize that soul winning is something
that God doesn't just use as an option for us. No, it's a command He's given us. 2 Corinthians 5,
look at verse number 18, the Bible says, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. See, you know,
you and I think, well, the ministry, that's just for the pastor. That's just for the deacon. That's
just for the staff. That's not for me. No, the Bible says here that He has given to us the
ministry, the work of reconciliation. And you, just because you're in the pew, realize that God
has given you a ministry. To reconcile unbelievers unto Jesus Christ, unto God. To go out there and
preach the word of God. Verse 19, notice, to which that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, notice, and hath committed. You know, what does
it mean to commit? The word commit means to pledge or bind a person or an organization to a certain
course or policy. It says, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. See, God doesn't
look at soul-wedding as just an optional thing that we do. No, God has given you, He's given us a
ministry, a work to reconcile, to preach the word of God, to get people saved, to preach the gospel.
So when it comes to getting planted in the house of the Lord, realize that we don't have soul-wedding
just to have soul-wedding. Or it's, soul-wedding is not just for the ultra-spiritual. No, no, soul-wedding is
for all believers, for everyone to get involved, for everyone to get out there and preach the word of
God. It is, it is your ministry. It is your work. It is what God has given you. And this is the, this
is why we're here. To equip us so that we can go out there and preach the word of God. Go to Ephesians
4, Ephesians chapter 4. You gotta get planted in the work. Meaning what? Meaning you're gonna get
involved in the, in the soul-wedding of the church. Meaning when you show up, guess what? You're there
also to work. But not just that. You shouldn't just get planted in the work of soul-wedding. You
have to just get planted in the volunteer opportunities of the church. Notice what it says in
Ephesians 4, verse 11. Ephesians, Ephesians 4, 11 says, and He gave some apostles and some prophets
and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. Notice, for the perfecting of the saints. And
that's what it says. It says, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
There it says that God gave you a pastor, a teacher, not just for the perfecting of the saints, but also
for the work of the ministry. You know, one thing about ministry is that you may or may not understand
is that ministry is work. And I'm talking about in the most practical sense, is that gathering
people, ministry, having church is work in the most practical sense. But look, you got to just
decide, I'm gonna get involved in that work. Because look, it took work to gather all these people
into this building this morning. There was a lot of work that was involved in that. There was
preparation. Look, somebody had to turn on these lights. Somebody had to clean the building. Somebody
had to prepare the bulletin. Somebody had to just play the piano. Somebody had a song lead, read the
scriptures. Somebody had to do all this work to get us here, to get us involved. And how is it done?
It's done through people working. And when it comes to church, you have to just decide, I'm gonna get
involved in the work of just whatever there is, in the work of the ministry. Look, your pastor should
just know, I can count on this person to be there to work, to help out wherever is needed. Get involved
in the work of the ministry, in the most practical sense. Pick up a brew. Vacuum. Turn on the lights.
Your pastor should know, this person is there to work. Whatever I need, they're there to help.
And look, get involved in the work. Get involved in church. Because look, Christianity is not just
this thing that we just watch like it's some sort of movie. You know, it's something we do. Christ
who is our life. You're saying church be my life. Look, church ought to be your life. I mean, if
Jesus Christ died for the church, if he gave himself for the church, if he builds the church,
then guess what? Church is pretty important. And in the most practical sense, just get involved in
the work. And in your local church, just decide, you know what? I'm gonna just go there and be a
blessing to the pastor. Be a blessing to the church. And just get involved in the work of the
ministry. Go to Ephesians 2, if you go to Ephesians 2. We gotta just get back to the fundamentals of
just work. Of getting back there, of just working in church. And look, this is the purpose. The
purpose is for us to actually work. Ephesians 2, look at verse number eight. The Bible says,
notice, for by grace are you saved through faith. And then not of yourselves, it is a gift of God,
not of works, lest any man should boast. And we love that verse. And we're not saved by works.
And praise the Lord, we're not saved by works. But notice what God says in verse number 10. It
says, notice, for we, that's you and I. For we are his workmanship. Notice, created in Christ Jesus,
notice, unto good works. See, yeah, we're saved without works. But guess what? Now that you're
saved, guess what? God is working on you. And how's it done? It's done through us. We're created
unto good works. See, as you work for the Lord, as you work in the ministry, as you work in
soul winning, guess what? God is working on you. And this is the purpose. We've been saved for the
purpose of working for the Lord. And when you plant a tree, when you plant like a fruit tea,
for example, guess what? You expect to produce some fruit. When you plant a tree, you want it
to produce some shade. There's a purpose for planting a tree. And guess what? God has saved
you for the purpose of working for him. And while you work for him, guess what? God is working on
you and changing your life and trying to fix you, trying to fix me, trying to help us become more
into the image of his dear son, trying to help us grow in the Lord. But how's it done? It's done
working. So just decide, you know, when it comes to the house of the Lord, I'm going to get planted
in the work of the church, whatever, whatever that is. Find, find a place to help out and just get
involved. Go if you would to Acts 2, if you would, Acts 2. You see, how do you get planted in the
house of the Lord? You got to get planted in the schedule of the church. Just decide, you know,
I'm going to be there. You got to get planted in the preaching of the church. Decide I'm going to
apply the word of God whenever it's preached. You got to get planted in the work, get involved in
the soul and get involved in the volunteer opportunities. And number four, you got to get
planted in the fellowship of the church. You got to get, I mean, what's more fundamental than just
human interaction, human relationships. Look, we live in a day where people just don't want to
fellowship, but like you have to just get planted in the fellowship of the church. We live in a day
where people have best friends just on social media. Look, and it's all great to have friends
on social media, but look, you got to just be someone who fellowships with other people. When
you show up to church, you're going to fellowship. You're going to talk to people. You shouldn't be
closer friends with someone you never met on the other side of the world than with your church
people who you actually see all the time. And when it comes to getting planted in church, realize,
look, there's more to church than just sitting there and just soul winning. And those are
important, but you got to get planted in the fellowship of the church. Acts 2 41, that's what
the Bible says. It says the man that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day
they were added unto them about 3000 souls. Notice what it says, and they continue to notice
steadfastly. These people were planted. These people were not movable. Notice in the apostles
doctrine, notice and fellowship and in breaking bread and prayers. These people, they were
steadfast. Yes, in the doctrine and obviously doctrine is important. This is what unites his
doctrine. We need doctrine, but it wasn't just the doctrine, notice and in fellowship. And we
got to get back to the old days of just fellowshipping with other people, of just having
human interactions. And when it comes to church, look, church is not just showing up when the
service starts and just leaving once it ends. No, church is also fellowship. You got to show up
early to church just to talk to other believers. You got to stay a little bit late in church just
for the purpose of fellowshipping with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Decide when it
comes to church, I'm going to get planted in the fellowship of the church because just showing up
and listening to preaching and just leaving and not talking to people is not church. That is not
church. Look, it's also you fellowshipping with other people. Go to Acts 20, Acts chapter 20. Just
decide when it comes to the house of the Lord, when it comes to church, you're going to go there,
you're going to be there, but you're also going to fellowship with other people. You're also going
to talk to other people, invest in other people. Acts 20, look at verse number 36. Acts 20, 36.
Here we have Paul speaking to the elders of Ephesus in verse 36. Notice it says, it says,
and we have thus spoken. He kneeled down and prayed with them all. Notice what it says,
it says, and they all wept sore. And in this chapter, we have God warning the pastors there
of some pretty harsh things, of some pretty difficult things. You know, Paul's just telling
him, hey, I'm not going to see you again. And he says, hey, after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you, not spraying the flock. He says, hey, even of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Look, these are some pretty
harsh things, but notice why these people are weeping. And they all wept sore, notice, and fell
on Paul's neck and kissed him. Verse 38, notice, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake,
that they should see his face no more. You know, this verse is always stuck out to me. And this
verse shows the love that people had for the apostle Paul. And notice, they're weeping sore.
It's a difficult time for them, but they're not weeping because of the wolves. They're not weeping
because of the false prophets. They're not weeping because of all those, the other hard things that
Paul told them. It says, no, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, notice that they
should see his face no more. And you read those words and man, you think, man, these people really
just love the apostle Paul. You know, Paul really had their heart, but you know, we also see, we also
see the impact that Paul had on these people's lives. The fact that Paul was someone who gave
his heart to other people. And, you know, I don't know about you, but I would hope that if I told my
church or people that I love, hey, I'm never going to see you again. I would hope that they would weep
sore. And what we see is the fact that the apostle Paul was a man who spent time investing in people,
fellowshipping with people, talking to people, being there with people. And we see the, we see
the heart that the apostle Paul had for people. It says, sorrowing most of all for the words which
he spake, that they should see his face no more. You know, what is, what, what, what, what a heart
in the Bible. You know, the love that the people had for Paul, but you know, it shows the love that
Paul had for people. And look, you ought to have the same love for your brethren. You got to be
the person who decides, you know, I'm going to invest my time, my energy into somebody else. I'm
going to invest my heart into somebody else. See people ought to have a love, they ought to have
a love for us in our church. Why? Because we spend time with them. We talk to them. You think if the
apostle Paul was just somebody who showed up to church and never talked to people, you think
people would be this sad about it, that he would leave? I mean, could you imagine they'd be like,
well, I mean, I don't really have a relationship with him. I didn't really know him, but no,
that's not what we see here. We see the people heartbroken for the fact that they're losing
their friend. We're losing someone who has invested in them, who spent time with them,
who loved them. And that's what they're sorrowful about. And when it comes to church,
you ought to just decide I'm going to get planted. Yeah, I'm going to be there in the schedule. I'm
going to be there for the work. I'm going to be there for all these things, but you know what,
I'm going to get planted in the fellowship. I'm going to invest my heart into the lives of
somebody else. And look, this is how you make an impact. And we see the love that the apostle Paul
had for people. Go to Galatians two, Galatians chapter two. And look, a Christian doesn't get
to the end of the life. And look, you will not get to the end of your life thriving as a Christian,
not investing in other people. You see why? Because look, the reason you got saved is because
somebody invested the time to preach you the gospel. The reason anyone has grown as a Christian
is because somebody spent time investing in them in their life, helping them, encouraging them,
loving them. But you know what? You ought to take time to invest, help, encourage other people as
well. Galatians two, look, verse number nine. Galatians two, nine. Notice what it says. It says,
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceive the grace that was given
to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we should go into the
heat and they enter the circumcision. You know what people need sometimes? They need you and
they need me to extend the right hand of fellowship. You know, when somebody walks through
the doors of your local church, you ought to be the first person that says, you know what? Join us.
Give me your hand. You know, I'll give you the right hand of fellowship. I'm there to talk to
you. I'm here to invest in you. Why? Because when it comes to church, just realize, look,
people need you to be there for them. And look, when we come to church, we go to church for other
people. So decide when it comes to the house, Lord, I'm not just going to go there and live in
my little bubble and not talk to anyone or invest in anyone. No, I'm here to give my heart to these
people, to help them, to serve them, to extend the right hand of fellowship. Go back to Hebrews
10 if you would, Hebrews chapter number 10. Because look, church is more than just the
preaching or the singing or the doctrine. And those things are all vitally important. But you
know what else is foundational or fundamental? It's just human interaction. It's just fellowship.
You know, I think of a tree that's just there by itself, but nobody nourishes it. Nobody gives
it some water. Nobody takes care of it. Eventually it's not going to grow. In the same way, you
got to just be a person who decides I'm going to invest my heart, my time, my life into the people
of my church. Hebrews 10 verse 23 again, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering for he is faithful. I promise verse 24 notice, and let us notice, consider one another
to provoke and to love and to good works. See the reason why you go to church is not just for
yourself. You got to consider your brethren. You got to consider other people. It's just,
and let us consider one another. So when it comes to church, because church is more,
it's not just, it's not a building, it's the people. And how does God build people? It's
through other people. Look, you need just to decide I'm going to get planted in the fellowship
of the church and decide, you know, I'm going to give my heart, not just for me, to help somebody
else grow, to help somebody else thrive. You say, how do you get planted in church? You got to get
planted in the fellowship of the church. Decide I'm going to be there early and I'm going to meet
somebody new. I'm going to talk to people. I'm going to stay a little bit late so I can just
invest my time and help somebody else be there for them and give my heart to somebody else. You see,
how do you get planted in the house of the Lord? Number one, you got to get planted in the schedule
of the church. Decide I'm going to be in church when the doors are open. You got to decide I'm
going to get planted in the preaching of the church. Decide I'm going to apply the word of
God when it is preached. How do you get planted in the work of the church? Decide I'm going to
get involved in soul winning. I'm going to get involved in volunteer opportunities. How do you
get planted in the fellowship of the church? Decide I'm going to give my heart, my time,
my life to other people. You say, who's going to thrive at the end of life as a Christian? Even in
old age, still thriving, it's those who are planted in the house of the Lord. Let's close