Good afternoon brethren, please take your Bibles and turn to Colossians chapter 4 Colossians chapter 4 and we just had that passage read to us and
Through this passage. You'll notice that I guess from about the midpoint to the end
Paul is naming a lot of believers. All right, you notice that some of those names were hard to pronounce hard to read
But I just want you to think about this because we're talking about the Word of God here
We're talking about something that is penned for all eternity and imagine having your name in the Bible
Okay, and how your name is going to be remembered is what the Bible says about you, you know
These people that that I mentioned here, you know ticket
Ticket chest and and on isthmus and all these other names, you know, they're just regular people
They're just regular believers like anyone else at New Life Baptist Church
Just like you know, it could be brother Jason or Callum or you know, brother Tim or brother Rob, you know
Etc brother Caleb, you know Nicholas Matthias, etc. You know, it could be any
Person that makes up a local church, you know
These are regular people that have been named by Paul and they've been recognized for all eternity
For the work and the service they did. Okay, and it's not just
Positive things sometimes it is even negative things that are mentioned for us in the Bible
But could you imagine if you lived in these days if the Bible was being penned when you're alive and
You're part of the work. You're part of the church. What would the Apostle Paul write about you?
What would God move?
Men to say about your name and the title for the sermon this afternoon is how will you be remembered?
How will you be remembered? Look at Colossians chapter 4 and verse number 7
So the purpose for this sermon it might be a little bit different to the ones that you're normally used to me preaching
We're just going to go through the names in
This chapter and names in other parts of the Bible and just to show you what the Bible says about them
And I want you as a believer as a member of a local church to ask yourself the question
How will I be remembered?
How does God remember what I have done in service for him and I hope it challenges you
I hope it challenges you to see how these early Christians behaved
What they were known for and I hope you desire to be a little bit more like these righteous that are mentioned
So look at the first name
Colossians chapter 4 verse 7 it says
all my states shall
Tichicus declare unto you who is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and
Fellow servant in the Lord
I want to narrow into the last of words there Tichicus is known as a fellow
Servant in the Lord. Okay, so not only is he a servant but is a fellow servant
You know this man according to Paul is someone that would come alongside
Would be a fellow to another believer and they would do the work of God forever
They would do the work of God and sorry and his and his reputation is
Noted for all eternity. It's noted forever being a fellow servant in the Lord. And
So again as we go through these names, I want you to ask yourself the question
Am I a fellow servant in the Lord? Am I serving the local body?
Am I serving with other people and doing works that God has called us to do?
And if you're listening to the broadcasting you can hear that sound it's a bit of rain
So I might have to speak a little bit louder to make sure my voice is louder than the rain on the on the roof
There so hopefully the rain stops. That'd be great. Okay. Now look at verse number nine
you know, are you a ticket chest or are you more and
on
On estimates, okay on estimates, so I'm gonna struggle with some of these names on estimates here in verse number nine
When it's mentioned it says with Onesimus a
faithful and
Beloved brother who is one of you they shall make known unto you all things which are done here
so Onesimus, how is he known as a faithful and
Beloved brother. How would you like to be known as someone that is faithful someone that is a beloved brother?
You know when they see you they see you as my brother or sister in the Lord, you know
What kind of relationships have you formed in your local church?
You know, I know we use this term brother so-and-so or sister so-and-so, but do you actually mean it?
Did you notice that they're not all called brother and sister so-and-so, okay
but specifically when it says here faithfully beloved brother it's because he sees this believer as
Someone as close as family
Someone that it would be as close as a brother someone that's faithful to the believers someone that is faithful to the work of God
Brethren what would God say about you if you could write your name in the Bible?
Okay, what would God say and I want to really focus on this because are you living up to the standard that we see believers?
Live up to in the Word of God. Okay. Let's go to verse number 10
Now it's Aristarchus
Aristarchus in Colossians chapter 4 verse 10. It says Aristarchus my fellow prisoner
Salutif you. Okay. So what is he a fellow prisoner?
He's someone who has sacrificed himself
He's been able to stepped out, you know against people that were you know
Trying to prevent them from preaching the word. Okay, he's upsetting people by standing on the Word of God
So much so that is thrown into prison and of course the Apostle Paul when he wrote Colossians was in prison himself
And so he sees a fellow brother in the Lord
He sees a fellow prisoner there who has also been arrested and cast into prison
You know, are you willing to go to prison for the Lord? Do you think that's who you are?
And I don't know. Yeah until that time comes
I mean, I hope you know
Obviously it's my desire to no matter what to stand on the Word of God and say well the Bible says
This and if you want to arrest me about that if you want to arrest me for my beliefs
So be it and be a fellow prisoner
But you know what? I think when it comes to true persecution
When it comes to being arrested it could cause people to turn away
It could cause people to not want to go through that struggle, you know
Are you willing brethren to lose your liberties to be arrested and go to prison?
For the Lord for what the Word of God says what a standard to live by and again, these are normal
Believers just like you and I that have been named such now what great honor to be given these titles
Knowing that hey, I'm gonna be forever recognized that that fellow prisoner, you know
Went to prison for the Lord and then it says notice that the rest of us number 10. It says and Marcus
Now we know Marcus that's mark John mark. Okay, it says here sister's son to Barnabas
Touching whom you received
Commandments if you come unto you receive him and so Marcus now
I don't know if you remember this story
But you may remember how Paul and Barnabas went on missions trips together, right?
They would go out and and preach the gospel to gentle
Gentiles into other places besides Israel and Jerusalem and on one of these journeys mark comes along
Okay
but then he backs out and Paul is very upset with mark so much so that there's a strong argument between
Paul and Barnabas, you know Paul wanted to just forget about Barnabas move on Barnabas wanted to give mark another chance
I don't know if you remember that story now this verse actually helps us understand
Well, first of all, we know that Barnabas is is a person who is very encouraging to the brethren first and foremost
but secondly
we understand a little bit more why he cared maybe more for Marcus than maybe what Paul did is because
Mark or Marcus was the sister's son to Barnabas. So he's Barnabas's nephew
Okay
So Barnabas's sister is the mother of Mark so now you can understand where that relationship
Exists and why Barnabas wanted to give mark, you know a second chance when Paul was ready to move on and
So but here's the thing about mark. Okay. I know mark is mentioned here and
But in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 11
These are the words of Paul once again, even though he wanted to give up on mark
He says later on in his life take mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable
To me for the ministry
He is profitable to me for the ministry. Okay, so mark was profitable and that's going to be forever
Written in the Word of God about mark. What a great thing to be known for are you profitable brethren?
Are you profitable to the ministry?
You know, or are you a deficit, you know, does this ministry this new life Baptist Church?
Is that more blessed by having you here or is it not blessed, you know, I want you to think about that
You know, do you add?
Profit to this church or do you not?
do you help encourage and build up people and welcome visitors in this church and
Assist with the service and the work wherever it is that you can help with. Is that you are you profitable?
Or you someone that sucks up the resources
Are you someone that is always in conflict and and always discouraged and always upset and you bring other people down or are you?
Profitable, what would you like to be known for for all eternity in the Word of God?
I'm sure it would be someone that would be profitable to the ministry and mark was eventually known as that person
And here's the thing if what I just said offends you, you know, and you're saying well, of course, we're in profit. Look
at one time mark was a deficit at one time mark caused division between Paul and
Barnabas at one time Paul was discouraged by Mark's refusal to go on the mission field
Okay, but what's happened? He's worked his way out, right? He's worked his way. He's matured. He's grown
He's become more spiritual and he's become at this point profitable for Paul
So look, you know
If you're someone that doesn't meet up to these standards of the people that we read
Well, the points behind this is that you work toward this standard that you work toward being someone that is recognized for all eternity
For the work and service that you did unto the Lord
Now, let's go to verse number 11 same chapter
Justice it says here and Jesus now that Jesus is not the Jesus that you know
Son of God Jesus that we commonly know and this Jesus which is called justice
That's another name that's given to him who are the circumcision these only are my fellow workers unto the kingdom of God
Which have been a comfort unto me?
So we see that is a fellow worker in the kingdom
But notice we've already sort of spoke about that but notice the next words which have been a comfort unto me
So justice for all eternity is known as someone that gives comfort
Okay, I use someone that gives comfort to the brethren I use someone that's encouraging to the brethren
You know when someone's upset or discouraged or cast down
I use someone that comes along and brings comfort to that person or you more likely the person that will kick them while they're down
Okay, what do you want to be known for for all eternity? You know, how will you be remembered?
What will God say if he could just write that one sentence about your life?
What would he say and for justice? He said well, he's a comforts
He's someone that encourages and comforts the brethren in first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 11. It says we're for
Comfort yourselves together and edify one another even as also you do
So another way of saying comforting together is to edify that's building each other up
Are you someone that builds up your brother or you someone that wants to tear them down?
Well, you know, what do you how would you describe yourself as a person that makes up New Life Baptist Church?
Now look at verse number 12 verse number 12
epaphras
Epaphras see in Colossians chapter 4 verse 12
Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ salute a few notice the next words always
laboring fervently for you in
Prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God
This goes pretty well with my sermon that I preached this morning
About you know the need to have a prayer life
Or what is a path risk known for for his fervent prayers for laboring fervently in prayers?
You know, do you value prayer?
Because look it's work its labor
Okay, and someone that prays for someone else hey, they're laboring for that person
They're trying to be a help unto that person. They're petitioning the Lord God that Lord God will step in and bless
Someone, you know, what is your prayer life like when you go to the Lord and pray?
Do you just ask about the things you need the things you want or in your mind?
Are you more like Epaphras and you're asking the Lord for others for the Lord to answer their prayers?
Do you think about others?
Do you pray for others or you're more likely to just pray for yourself and your own needs and look?
There's nothing wrong for praying for yourself. There's nothing wrong with that
That's actually a lot easier than praying for other people
And you know what as a pastor if you have a desire to be a pastor one day you have to be someone
willing to pray for others
Okay to petition the Lord for your church for the spiritual growth of the people in your church
You have to have this love and this labor in prayer
You know never think that prayer is
Irrelevant or not important or just some breeze. I don't know about you, but I struggle to pray sometimes because it's labor
It's a spiritual work
Okay
And if you struggle in prayer
Then make sure you come to our Wednesday night services when we have our prayer time together
So you can be laboring together as one body in the Lord in prayer
You know will you be remembered brethren as someone that labored fervently in prayers?
Now look at verse number 14
We have Luke
Luke the beloved physician and
Demas greets you. I want to focus in on Luke before Demas. Luke the beloved physician
What is he known as the beloved physician? What's a physician? That's like a local GP a doctor?
I suppose we would call it today. Okay, so he's known for his work. He's known for his career
You know, but more so than that, what is he the beloved?
Physician beloved, you know Luke was someone that is easy to love
Luke is someone that's easy to get along with Luke was someone that people liked
He
Was someone that was friendly he was beloved people loved being around him
You know, what are you like brethren the people call you beloved?
I'm not necessarily saying the literal sense, but the people enjoy your company
Do you you know step out and make people feel you know?
Worthy, you know of your attention of your care of your prayers, you know
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18 verse 24 a man that hath friends must show himself
Friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother
If you say look, I've got no friends. I've got no friends in life. I've got no friends in church. Well
The Bible's got to be true
Okay, and the Bible is saying that if you want to have friends you must show yourself
friendly
Okay, you can't just go around and tear people down tear people down people's opinions, you know think that you're better than other people
Okay, even if you're giving someone attention if all you're doing is tearing down their life tearing down their opinions
They're not going to think you're friendly. They're not going to consider you beloved
But when it comes to Luke, you know and God of course used Luke to write the book of Luke in the book of Acts
He was beloved people liked him
Okay, and of course, you know, he wasn't someone just seeking to please men
He sought to please God first and foremost, but once that was settled we could make sure he's pleasing God
He's stepped out of you know out of his way to make people comfortable to make people feel like they've got a friend in Luke
Brethren what are you known for would you be considered beloved the people know you as someone that loves your brethren?
Are you someone when the visitor attends our church that says hey that man that woman she made me feel loved
She or he was friendly toward me
And look you can't hide, you know behind being an introvert, you know people say well, you know, I'm not friendly
You know, I don't greet visitors because I'm an introvert. No, that's just you being lazy
Okay, I know people are introverts and people are extroverts
Okay, but listen the new man the spiritual man the born-again spirit is not an introvert
He's not an extrovert. He's like Jesus Christ
He's like the Holy Spirit and you know
Jesus Christ was welcoming to hundreds yay thousands of people that would come to his ministry and just hear him speak
Not only that he even fed them, you know four thousand men five thousand men at a later time
He even fed people that would come
Jesus was welcome into the visitors
Okay, this is not about being an introvert or extroverts if you don't want to make people comfortable
You don't want to be that friend that's got nothing to do about your personality that has everything to do about your lack of
spiritual walk that's got to do with your carnal flesh and
Look the introverts that doesn't go out of his way to greet
You know somebody yeah, he may have to do more work than the average person to welcome somebody
You're not to be that beloved person. You might have to do more work
That's fine. But if you ignore visitors, that's just your selfishness
Okay, and the extrovert yeah, he might find it easier to welcome the visitors the extrovert
But listen the extrovert can get in the flesh as well and the extrovert will most likely if he's in the flesh
Boast of himself lift himself up instead of actually caring for the person that's visiting or not
Even a visitor just a brother or sister that's in the church
Look, I know that we can't all be friends. We can't all have a close relationship
listen, the only close friend that I have number one should be God and
then my wife I
Mean, I don't really go around and share in private information about myself to anybody else. I
Pretty much have the Lord God. Here's my friend my wife. She's the closest person, you know, I can share anything
I have my heart toward her if I need to you know
Or listen to what she has to say and then when it comes to everybody else
Pretty much for me. Everyone else is on an equal plane
You know all the brothers and sisters that I have in the Lord. I want to treat them the same
I want to treat them equally, you know, I want to get along with people
Even when I look at people's life and I say well I wouldn't do that
I think that person's making a mistake, you know
I don't think that person's doing that right at the end of the day if you're my brother and sister in the Lord
I want to see you as a beloved and I want you to consider me as a beloved
I'm harping on about this one point a little too much. Let's keep going verse number
15 verse number 15
We will come back to Demas. So Demas was mentioned in verse number 14
We will come back to him but Colossians chapter 4 verse 15 reads
salute the brethren which are in Laodicea and
Nymphos now, this is the man Nymphos and the church which is in his house. Hey, what's Nymphos known for?
For having a church allowing a church body to gather in his own home in his own house
Okay
Now what that tells me is that Nymphos was there for every service
Right every church service Nymphos was there
Why because it's in it's in his house. Okay, he's got no choice
You know what?
That means that he's got to be so hospitable to allow groups of people to come into his house
Hey requires to probably clean up before they arrive it requires to be you know
Cleaned up after they leave but Nymphos was willing to offer his own house to hold the church
Service there and so I believe you know Nymphos represents someone that is faithful to church faithful to church
But notice what church was gathered in his house, which church was it? It's there in verse number 15
salute the brethren which are in Laodicea
Now, I don't know if you guys remember remember when I did the series on the seven churches in the book of Revelation
Well, what was the worst church on that list or at least yet? Definitely one of the worst churches there the church in
Laodicea remember that church in Laodicea
I'll just read to you in Revelation chapter 3 verse 20 now before I read Revelation 3 20
This is about 30 years at least I reckon about 30 years after what was written in Colossians chapter 4
Okay, it's about 30 years later. So we know he's got a the Laodicean church in his house
That's where they're meeting right now
I guess it's not that big at this point in time if they can meet in our house
But then in Revelation of the free verse 20, like I said about 30 years later
Jesus says about the church
So what does Jesus say about the Laodicean church some 30 years later?
Jesus wasn't even there
All right, Jesus was outside as it were knocking on the door. Hey guys, let me in
Hey guys, oh great. You're having church service, but can you at least worship God?
Can you at least mention my name? Can you at least pray my name?
Can you at least preach the things that I taught in the Word of God?
Hey, they had forgotten all about Jesus. They made it about some activity some social gathering
They totally forgot to the Lord. They totally forgot the Lord some 30 years later after the book of Colossians
What does that tell me?
Okay, what does that tell me the fact that Paul he is greeting the church obviously they were a good church at this point
30 years later. What do we have a generational shifts?
Right generational shifts. So we have now, you know the children in
Colossians have now become the adults. Maybe the church has grown
maybe they have allowed some false prophets to creep in, you know, some tears amongst the wheat and
now some maybe some false doctrines for sure and
Their hearts were not even set on Jesus Christ. Okay. So what's the lesson for us as New Life Baptist Church?
My desire is that 30 years from now, you know
Whether it's me or someone else that this church will be going strong for the Lord
You know that we would continue serving him that would continue to worship the Lord in
Prayer in Bible study and preaching in door-to-door soul winning or some other ways to get the gospel out
That's my desire 30 years from now
But we need to make sure that our children that our children grow up and understand the doctrines
That we've had time to learn
You know a lot of us as adults if you've been saved later in life
Or maybe you were in some corrupt church and now you're getting good teaching
It's taken us time to learn good doctrine, hasn't it?
It's taken us time to study to to challenge to talk about you know
It's a different people and we've come to a better understanding of the scriptures, you know
We feel more like we have a greater knowledge of the scriptures. The Holy Spirit has been working our lives
But we can't forget that our children also need to do their own study
They need to do their own Bible reading. They need their own personal relationship with God. They need to desire to be in church
You know right now my kids are here in church because I make them come to church
My desire, you know in 10 years time in 20 years time is that you guys will continue being in church
Whether it's dad's church or whether it's some other good church that's preaching the right gospel that's serving the Lord and say hey
Yes, mom and dad took me to church. But now I want to be in church because I love Jesus Christ
I love my salvation. I want to see people saved
And we don't want to become like the church in Laodicea that really dropped the ball and forgot all about Jesus Christ
But notice we're talking about how will you be remembered?
We're not talking about so much the church here
But Nymphos forever remembered as someone who's willing to open his doors for the church
They can be gathered in his house
Okay, look at verse number 17
Colossians chapter 4 verse 17
Archippus, Archippus
Colossians chapter 4 verse 17 and and say to Archippus
Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it
Okay, so Archippus you can see here has been given a ministry from the Lord. Now everyone's been given a ministry
if you're saved
You have the ministry of reconciliation. We all have the job to preach the gospel and see souls saved
Okay, but the fact that this has been specifically mentioned means I truly believe that Archippus was a pastor
Okay, as some other leader in his local church
now if you can keep your finger then go to James chapter 3 go to James chapter 3 and
While you turn to James chapter 3, I'm going to read to you from
Philemon verse 2
Philemon verse 2 because Archippus is mentioned in Philemon verse 2
Paul's writing saying and to our, he's writes to, sorry, and to our beloved
Apthia and
Archippus our fellow soldier and
to the church in thy house
So Archippus also had a church that was meeting in his house
But notice he's also called a fellow soldier. That's in Philemon verse 2 a fellow soldier
Hey, so this is a man that would go to the war, go to war
This is a man who had the armor of God who had the sword of the Spirit
Okay
Ready to take on the enemies ready to preach the gospel ready to stand strong ready to get into a spiritual battle
Archippus was
To the fact that he now had a church in his house
And this is why I believe he was an ordained pastor or something along those lines because in Colossians
It's mentioned that he has received a ministry from the Lord
Okay, so this is a great thing to be known for for all eternity that the Lord God gave you a ministry the Lord gave you
Leadership over a local church, but when you look at Colossians 4 verse 17 you'll notice that Paul is giving
Archippus a bit of a soft rebuke
Okay, because it seems like Archippus here had maybe gotten a little bit discouraged in the ministry because it says and say to Archippus
Take heed. It means pay attention
Listen up Archippus to the ministry which thou has received in the Lord and then it says this that thou
fulfill it
Hey finish it finish what you started finish the work that God has given you to do Archippus
And so I feel like maybe Archippus here needed that gentle rebuke that gentle reminder
Maybe it's getting a little discouraged who knows why okay, and he's saying look God's given your ministry
Finish the work
Okay, and so you know these other names are not being rebuked in any sort of way
They're just being praised, but when it comes to a spiritual leader when it comes to a pastor
I believe here is being rebuked by Paul and the reason for this you guys are in James chapter 3 verse 1
It says my brethren be not many masters knowing that we shall receive the greater
condemnation
You see
Pastors or people that are in leadership in a church if they are in sin in wickedness
They're going to be judged much harsher than the average church member
Okay, and if some you know if a pastor finds himself in great sin, let's say fornicate
Adultery there's got to be married right so it'll be adultery or you know taking
You know addicted to drugs or you know gambling or you know we've seen some of these things before from previous pastors
Hey these pastors need to be called out these pastors need to be condemned
And they need to step down because they're no longer blameless
They no longer meet up to the qualifications of the Bible and so as Paul's going through
Colossians chapter 4 you notice it gives that bit of a rebuke there
You know Archippus you know getting courage get back
You know finish the work that God has given you to do
And I'm thankful that because you know during I've said this maybe I'm sound like a broken record
You know as a pastor during this corona lockdown. I kind of got a little discouraged right a little
unmotivated not because
It's because
You try preaching to a camera
No one else around you know and it's hard to feed off
You know the energy in the room and and you know singing you know I'd sing my hymns before I preached and there'd be no
Other voices it just me and the Lord right and so obviously it's very different
The Bible says that when two or three are gathered in his name there
He is in the midst and so obviously by having a church service even with you know two or three people as long as it's a
Local body of the Lord you know having that congregation together is a powerful thing
It's something where the Lord will bless and do great work in and so Archippus had somehow become a little discouraged here
And is being called out by Paul, but look thank God. You know I mean it seems like he's doing a decent job
He just needed to get back on track
Alright now if you if you can or to get to turn to some other references
But you know I hope you think about you know how will you be remembered?
What will God say if you could write your name in a sentence right next to it? What would he say about you?
Okay, now when it comes to Enoch now
I'll get you you're in James so or maybe you turn back
But go to James chapter 2 go to James chapter 2 and I'm going to talk about Abraham there
but for now I'm going to go to Enoch one of the Old Testament Saints and
In Genesis chapter 5 verse 22 regarding Enoch it says an Enoch
walked with God
You know that's in verse number 22 and then in verse number
24 it says an Enoch walked with God
Okay, so both Genesis 5 22 in Genesis 5 24 says that Enoch walked with God
and
Then so my you know my question to you brethren is are you someone that's walking with the Lord?
You know brethren are you someone that is in fellowship with the Lord someone that is serving the Lord are you walking with the Lord?
The way that Enoch is recording the Bible to have walked with the Lord come in brother come join us brother
So we have someone else in our church. Don't worry. We're still within the limit of 10 for the online recording
We're safe brother Michael, we're recording with we've got church service you can join us
All right now you guys are in James chapter 2 James chapter 2 verse 23, please James chapter 2 and verse 23
Referring to Abraham, and I love what he said about Abraham
I mean God could have said so many things about Abraham, but he says something very specific here in
James chapter 2 verse 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith
Abraham believed God and he was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God
How would you like to be known for all eternity that you were the friend of God?
And a friend is a wonderful thing if you could find a good one all right
I mean just haven't imagine having God as your friend
You know normally when you think of friends you think about how you know spending time with them
Having a laugh together and join each other's company. Is that how God thinks of you?
Does God think of you as his friend the way he you know spoke of?
Abraham and once again for all eternity. What do we all know for all eternity in heaven you know?
10,000 years from now in heaven will remember when we see everyone
Oh, there's God's friend
And there's God's friend that was serving the Lord that was
Speaking to the Lord that had a great time with the Lord are you going to be known brethren as a friend of God?
What about Job?
Job, and I'll just read it to you. I'll get you guys to turn to Acts 13 go to Acts 13
I'll get into that later on but while you're turning there
I'll just talk to you about Job and in Job chapter 1 verse 1 Job chapter 1 and verse 1
The Bible reads there was a man in the land of Oz whose name was Job
And that man was perfect and upright not as he's perfect and upright and one that feared God
And he shoot evil hey he hated evil. He didn't want to do anything wrong
He didn't want to do anything wicked his desire was that he just wanted to please the Lord he had a great fear of God
Hey, do you notice how those two things go together in order for you to give up your sins to overcome the wickedness in your life?
You've got to have a fear of God
You've got a fear what God may do unto you how God may chastise you
When you're when you do wrong, I mean like mom and dad right when mom and dad you know you guys do something wrong
There should be a healthy fear a fear that you know mom and dad love me. They're going to correct me
They're going to chastise me. I don't want to face the chastisement, but I know they're doing it because they love me
Hey, and that was job. You know he didn't want to disappoint God
He wanted to keep himself from evil and the Bible says he was someone that was perfect and upright
Okay, so perfect in the Bible means complete. Okay. He was a well-rounded believer
It's not saying perfect like without sin we all have sin okay job of course had sin
But he's someone who had the Lord God as his God
he was someone that had forgiveness of sin someone that was saved and
Lived his life to overcome the wickedness and evil that he would face
Moses
What does the Bible say about Moses?
What is recorded for all eternity now what what he said about Moses is amazing to me
It says in Numbers chapter 12 verse 3 now the man
Moses was very meek
Now look if I said to you, you know what guys I'm such a meek person
Would that be meek of me to say that?
Now a meek person would not say I'm very meek a meek person wouldn't even say he's meek because as soon as you start saying
That what are you you've been filled with pride
You're very proud, but what if God says no this man is very meek
Would that be then be true
Absolutely it's coming from the Lord God and look Jesus Christ is known as someone that was meek our Lord God is meek
Okay, but he says about Moses
Moses was very meek notice next words above all the men
Which were upon the face of the earth and of everybody that lived on the earth in the days of Moses the most
meek man was Moses himself
Notice how God chooses the meek how it can work in those that are meek
Moses did not feel at this point in his life that he was the person that would deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians
Early in his life. He thought he would be the one to deliver the the Israelites, but he wasn't the right time
He got discouraged. He fled Egypt God calls him 40 years later
It's all right Moses. It's time and by then Moses like it's too late Lord. I'm old I can't talk
I can't do what you want me to do and God says you know you you are a very meek person
I'm gonna be using you you are the meek now if you want to be used by God
You know it's not about you being proud. It's not about you being puffed up
Okay
We've we've whatever you think you may be puffed up by your by your appearance by your skills by your knowledge by the way
You speak and God does not want that person God wants to use
The meek and listen so much so that Moses was able to deliver an entire nation out of slavery
through the power of God
What is Moses known for for all eternity has been very meek more meek than anybody else on this earth
Once again, what does God say about you?
Do you live up to this standard of these men once again?
Who are these men normal men normal believers normal people that struggle with a sinful flesh?
normal people that have weaknesses and yet God was able to use them mightily and
Record these great words about these men. You're in Acts chapter 13. Let's go to Acts 13 verse 22
Acts 13 verse 22. This is a much more common understanding or
Statement that's made about a man of God in Acts 13 verse 22 speaking about King David
It says and when he removed him he raised up unto them David to be the king to whom also
He gave testimony and said I have found David the son of Jesse a man after mine own heart
Which shall fulfill all my will?
So what is King David known as a man after God's own hearts?
Hey, he wanted to love the things that God loved he wanted to hate the things that God hated
He wanted the heart of God. That's what he sought after. This is Lord. I want to be more like you Lord
Teach me what's good. I want to do what's good. Teach me what's wrong. I don't want to do what's wrong
Teach me what you hate. I want to have your heart. I want to have your love
That was King David
He wanted to be more like his Savior and hey, we ought to have a desire to be more like Christ
Okay, we are to follow after these steps. We have the teachings of the Word of God
We see how Jesus Christ lived his life and we ought to strive to live after his ways
We ought to strive to be people after God's own heart
Will God say that about you in eternity that brother so-and-so sister so-and-so
She was someone after my own heart. Will God say that about you?
Now I'll get you to turn to Mark chapter 3 turn to Mark chapter 3
And while you're turning to Mark chapter 3
I'm going to read to you from Numbers 14 and we're going to look at Caleb now Caleb is one of the two spies
Caleb and Joshua you may remember that went into the promised land with the other spies and these two said hey
The Lord would deliver the enemies into our hands. We can get into that nation. We can go into that land
We can take it for ourselves as the Lord God promised but then when he came to the other spies
They all said no, we're like we're like grasshoppers in their sight, you know, they're like giants
There's no way we can defeat these guys
Okay
and you may know the story the Lord got upset with Israel and they were to wander in the wilderness for another 40 years and
That generation were not permitted to enter into the promised land except for those two spies
Joshua and Caleb and the Bible says in Numbers 14 verse 23
Surely they shall not see the land which I swear unto their fathers
Neither shall any of them that provoked me see it. So that's that generation that would not go into the promised land
But then it says this
but my servant Caleb
Hey, is that what God says about you my servant?
your name
Will God write that in his books of eternity that you were a servant of God says but my servant Caleb
Because he had another spirit with him
That's not another spirit how we kind of turn it right the other spirit is different to the spirit that was in those that were
Too afraid to go into the promised land. Hey, he had the Spirit of God
He had the Holy Spirit empowering him and to give him wisdom
He had the Spirit of God and then it says this and have followed me fully
Him will I bring into the land where into he went and his seed shall possess it
Hey, not only was he the servants of God
Not only did he have the Spirit of God, but it says here that God wrote about him. He have followed me fully
Okay, it so he was someone that just his whole desire was to follow after what God wanted
To walk in the steps that God sought for his life
Fully he wasn't half-hearted. He wasn't well Lord. I'll do the minimum
No, he wanted to go above and beyond and be fully following God
You know what? Jesus says in John chapter 12 verse 26. He says if any man serve me
Hey, what was Caleb called my servants? Okay. So if any man served me, let him follow me
What was said about Caleb he have followed me fully
Hey, if you want to be a servant if you want God to write for all eternity that brother so-and-so was a servant
You have to follow him
Follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my father honor
We're talking about how will you be remembered for all eternity?
The Bible says that if you become a servant if you follow after the footsteps of Christ that God the Father
Will honor you. Hey, just like Caleb was honored just in this passage alone to be known as a servant
Someone that followed fully someone that had the Spirit of God working in his life
Now what did I get to turn mark free?
mark free go to mark free verse 17 mark free 17, and this is of course the disciples of Jesus apostles and
Jesus starts to you know of you know
He chose his disciples and then with some of his disciples he gives them names like with Simon he gave him the name
Peter right and
So we're talking about James and John here and James and John with two brothers, but in mark free 17
He's choosing them. It says and James
the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James and
He's surname. This is what Jesus gave the name and he surnamed them
Boanerges, which is
the sons of
Thunder
The sons of Thunder. That's what Jesus Christ called these two brothers
Say what does that mean? You know what? I'm not too sure but it sounds pretty cool
Could you imagine that Jesus would call you and and you'll see you know your brothers and sisters here right now
You know the sons the sisters of Thunder. All right now here's what I think it means
Here's what I think I mean, you know, these are about sons here
Right what I believe this is referring to okay, because when Jesus Christ brought in his disciples
What did he say that he was going to turn them into?
Into fishes of men remember that so the whole purpose of getting the disciples was that he could teach them
He could help them along and that they would eventually become sole winners
All right, they would eventually become preachers. And so these two brothers are known as the sons of Thunder now
Look, this is a bit of my guess
Of course, you know Bob doesn't really tell us exactly what that means
But I don't think it needs to be that complicated because when we think about Thunder, what do we think about it?
Don't we think about a lot like a big noise, you know something that might even spook people
All right, when he it's usually comes along with lightning lightning and thunder. All right, so it's it's a big display
Is what I'm trying to say. It's a big noise a big display and I think what?
James and John
Sorry. Yeah, John and James. I think what they were. I think they were powerful preachers. I think these guys had big voices
Alright, so when they preach it thundered
When they preach it drew a crowd it drew attention
I think that's why the court sons of Thunder because they were
Powerful in their delivery they had big voices, you know
They preach loudly maybe they're the kind of people that could get on a hill and preach to a hundred people
200 people without an amplifier, you know
Maybe they were those big voices that Jesus used to get the gospel out when there were you know, great multitudes
That's what I believe the sons of Thunder refers to and if that's the case that would then tell us that well the other ten
Disciples when they preach they probably weren't as powerful. They probably weren't as loud
Okay, but that doesn't mean just because you haven't got a big booming voice
It doesn't mean that you can't be used by God to serve him to work for him to deliver
You know a message or deliver the gospel, but I think you know, imagine not being known for all eternity
This is the name that Jesus Christ gave these brothers the sons of Thunder pretty cool name
All right, please go to Luke chapter 6
Go to Luke chapter 6 and I'll read to you from 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 16
Second I'm gonna read to you from 2nd Timothy 1 16 you go to Luke 6 and I'm going to now go to Onesiphorus
Onesiphorus
Some challenging names here
But in 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 16 the Bible reads the Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus for he oft
Refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain
So what is he known for all eternity as someone that refreshed Paul?
You know, we need people in our church to be the refresher
Now Paul was a hard-working man. God was using him mightily didn't have a family, right? He was a
Unique for the kingdom of God. He didn't have his own wife didn't have his own kid
So God could use him in a powerful way to you know, dedicate his entire life, you know get in the gospel
traveling
You know suffering, you know being thrown in jail all these things and quite often every now and again
Paul would need somebody to just go and encourage him
You know your ministry might just be to encourage another brother
That's it someone that's you know, that's serving the Lord with a full ability and you know what it gets tiring
Because it is work. It is spiritual work. There is the devil
There is the forces of darkness that are working against the local church working against the soul winner
And sometimes brethren just need to be encouraged to be told. Hey, good job. Keep working. I'm praying for you
What can I do? Do you need some finances? Can I help you to preach the gospel? Do you need some resources?
What do you need brother? Maybe that's all we need to be the person that refreshes somebody else
And in verse number 17, it says this but when he was in Rome
He sought me out very diligently and found me says Paul
So on this verse finds out that he's in the same city as Paul and now he strives to go and find Paul
Okay
and then it says in verse number 18 the Lord grants unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day and
How many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well
So and it's the first when he was in in Rome
He goes I'm gonna find Paul and I'm gonna go and minister unto him
I'm gonna see how I can be a help how I can refresh my brother
Now what I like about him is he steps outside of his local area
He goes and diligently seeks other brethren that he can be a blessing to
Are you gonna be known as that person?
You know, what kind of attitude do you have toward other brothers and sisters that are not in this city not in this church
Maybe they are in other places in Australia. Maybe there are in other places in this world and they need to be refreshed
Maybe they don't have a good church to go to
Haven't we met some people and now you know Friday night prayer meeting people that don't have a good church are in Australia
They have no good church to go to and the best they can get out of it is listening to us pray together
So, you know listening to our preaching. Hey, we ought to be somebody that refreshes, you know
And some of the feedback that I received from these people
Was that it was a great benefit to them to be part of the prayer night on a Friday
Even though they're never gonna you're probably never gonna visit our church
I hope they can move and join our church, but we don't know if that's possible
but you notice that
Onisiferous had a heart for other Saints people that were outside
He diligently went and sought after other brethren that he could bless outside of the local congregation of people that he met
We need people like this, you know, we need to have a heart for believers that are outside of our network
Our church network, you know when we have again I mentioned the visitors
But we ought to enjoy having visitors encourage the visitors and say well, you know, you may not be like us
You know, it might not just you might not be new wife be who cares if there are brother in the Lord
We ought to love them. We ought to encourage them. We ought to refresh them
We ought to diligently seek these people and try to be a help unto them
We can't be people that have the attitude, you know us for no more, you know, we're on the same page
We believe the same doctrines, you know, we don't want someone else to come and interrupt that flow
No, that's it. That's a wicked attitude to have we ought to be people that seek to refresh
What would God say about you
are you someone that
Steps out of your comfort zone
Seeking other brethren to bring them into the body or just to be able a blessing just to refresh other brethren
Will God say that about you? You're in Luke 6 Luke 6 verse 15 Luke 6 verse 15
and
We're looking at Simon now
What a name that's given to Simon one of the apostles of God of Jesus Luke 6 15 Matthew and Thomas
James the son of Alphaeus and Simon called Zelotes
You know what that means Zelotes that he's a zealot. He's zealous
Yeah, he's zealous for the Lord and one of the names that's been given to Simon, you know
Because he's zealous to say you're you know, you're Zelotes. That's who you are. You're zealous for the things of God. I
Believe this is something that was positive in reference to Simon
Someone that was that wasn't mean to be zealous to be excited to be passionate. Hey, he was passionate for the things of God
You know when he gets a church he was excited. Yes. I'm here to sing praises. I'm here to worship God
I'm here to fellowship with my brothers
Hey, there's the lockdowns over praise God. Whoo, that was Simon. Okay, he was full of zeal. He was excited
He you'd think having someone like that would get other people excited for the things of the Lord
Okay, the Bible tells us in Titus 2 14 Titus 2 14
It says here who gave reference to Jesus who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify
Unto himself a peculiar people notice the next words zealous of good works
Does God want us to do good works?
Now that we're saved does God want us to do good works?
Absolutely, right
But does he want us to do good works?
Half-hearted, you know, no, this is boring
Next him what him are we singing now, you know, I
Have a song that Jesus gave me it was sent from heaven above
Is that how God wants us to be without works toward him or does he want us to be zealous?
It says here that he's created us to be zealous of good works
He wants us to be excited to be encouraged, right?
So we sing it in my heart there rings a melody there rings a melody with heaven's harmony
In my heart there rings a melody there rings a melody of love
You know when we sing when we do the works of God we ought to do it as zealous people excited to serve the Lord
Because listen, do you love the Lord God?
Of course, you should love him that he gave his only begotten son that you could be saved
He took on your sin that you can become a child of God
He's deserving of praise and you know what I want for our church
That when we sing when we get together when we enjoy each other's company that the Lord looks down that is pleased. I
Don't want any church service the two services that we have on Sunday the midweek service
I don't want it to be a service where it's empty where the Lord doesn't get honored where the Lord doesn't get praised
I want every service for the Lord to be touched in his heart for the Lord to be pleased for the Lord to be blessed
And listen, you know how he's gonna that's gonna happen by us being zealous. I've been excited for the things of God man
I've been in church kids. I
Grew up in church and you're at your age. I'm telling you. It was a bull fest
I don't know. Maybe that was my fault. Maybe that was my problem. I don't know. I'm telling you everyone's quiet
No one's singing up and everyone looks like they're just each and to get out of church
The preaching was boring. I mean, I don't know if my preach is that great but man, you know
I was like, what do we you just go to church because you know, you should be in church
You're not really doing it to the Lord you do it out of habit, you know, you do it to check off a box
I guess God's happy. I went to church. I don't want you to be like that
I don't want anyone to I don't want to be like that, you know, we spend an hour two hours more in church
Hey, let's enjoy it. This is our life. We're getting older
There's gonna come a time when we pass away and I want you to remember and look back and say hey
I enjoyed being at New Life Baptist Church. I enjoyed singing praises
I got zealous and that the Lord records that fully full eternity. Hey, that was a zealous church for me
That's what I want for New Life Baptist Church. Will God say that about you?
and
Now if you go to the book of John go to the book of John
actually
I'll get you to turn to 2nd Timothy go to 2nd Timothy go to 2nd Timothy and
You know, there are two names and I mentioned Demas, but I'll mention one one other name
Well, actually I mentioned three names
Judas Iscariot
Now Judas was not saved. He was a reprobate. He was a non-believer
But he passed like a believer. He served Jesus. He did the work he
Fellowshiped he had friends in the ministry
He looked like any other disciple any other apostle so much so that Eve when Jesus says Judas is the betrayer
Nobody believed it. It's like come Judas. He's just like us and look, I don't know
It could be that we have a Judas in our church. It could be that we have a reprobate in our church
I don't know. I hope not. I I'm I don't think we do. Okay, but then neither the Apostles
We never know okay, but I
want to make sure that you are in church and
You when you hear the gospel if you don't know the gospel already that you call upon Christ the Savior
Or that as a believer you go on and you grow and you continue to serve the Lord all the days of your life
But listen if you're in this church, and you're not even saved and you know it, you know
You're not even saved and you've heard the gospel and you're like well one day
I'll believe it one day. I'll get saved
Don't put it off because one day just like Judas Iscariot who was a non-believer
Became a reprobate. Okay, and it says in John chapter 18 verse 2 and Judas also which betrayed him
Hey, what's Judas Iscariot known for all eternity as the one that betrayed Jesus Christ in John 18 verse 5 they answered him
Jesus of Nazareth Jesus saith unto them I am he and Judas also which betrayed him stood with him
Hey, there's two passages right there. What's Judas known as the betrayer the one that betrayed Jesus Christ
Boy, it would break my heart if we have someone in this church that becomes a betrayer of Jesus Christ that becomes a reprobate
listen
If you're not saved you need to get that settled straight away straight away before you become reprobate before you cross that line with God
Okay. Now, I don't know. I I expect everybody in this church to be saved unless you're a little child
You know your understanding is not there yet, but once again
These apostles they would never have thought that it was Judas Iscariot
So the lesson there is we could never know we could have a reprobate in our midst and just never know. Okay
The other person that I wanted to talk about is Esau Esau. Now Esau I believe was a saved man
I believe he was raised right
Maybe a bit of we see in the book of Genesis some
favoritism between the parents between the kids and I think this affected Esau and he made some terrible mistakes as he grew up
But Esau is known here in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 16
It says lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat
sold his birthright
What is Esau known for and again, I believe he's saved. What is he known for all eternity as a fornicator?
Okay
And a profane person profane wasn't mean to be profane
It's a person of disrespect, you know, he disrespected the truth of the Word of God
He didn't live in accordance to the way that God wanted him to live
He lived a very wicked life as a believer and he fornicated, you know, he had multiple marriages
Married unsaved women, you know things like that and the Bible for all eternity knows him as a fornicator and profane person
What a way to go I don't want you to be known for all eternity or something like that
I want you to be known as the other good men that we read through right
Now in Colossians chapter 4 I did say we're going to go back to Demas
So you're in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 2nd Timothy chapter 4 and I will finish up on this 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 10
Because even though Demas is mentioned a positive light in Colossians chapter 4 or later in the ministry of Paul
It says here verse number 10 for Demas have forsaken me
Having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica
Christians of Galatia tied us unto Dalmatia. So what we learn here is that Demas was once
Serving God. Hey, he's a saved man. He's a believer
Okay, and he's recognized for the work he's done in the Bible
But as he went on in life, he eventually gave up
Kind of like Mark. Remember how Mark got into the ministry and then he backed out
But then later in his life he got right and it was profitable to the ministry
Well Demas is kind of the opposite. Yeah, he starts well as well, but then he gets out of the ministry and never returns
Why does he get out of the ministry? Why did it forsake the ministry of the gospel with the Apostle Paul?
It says because he loved this present world
Do you want to be known for all eternity?
Again, the Bible is written for all eternity. We're gonna see Demas in heaven
Demas, are you the one that loved this present world?
What a record for eternity to have. I don't want that for you
I don't want that for me
Where we give up serving the Lord because we'd rather chase the pleasures of this world and listen
The world there is a lot of pleasures in this world. There's a lot of temptations
The devil will bring something into your life
Guarantee more than once bring something into your life
To pull you out of church to pull you out of serving God and to get you stuck into some addiction of the world
And you need to be strong enough to say no, I'm not gonna love this world
I'm gonna have the love of the Father. I'm going to serve God
I'm going to do the ministry that God has given me the Ministry of Reconciliation
Hey, I might not be a perfect Christian all the time
I might have some bumps in my Christian life, but at the end of it all I'm gonna continue serving the Lord
I'm not going to give in to the pleasures of this world
Reverend I'll wrap it up there. But how will you be remembered? That was a title. How will you be remembered and
You know we see
Many times great men being recognized again just men and women like you and I no difference
But I want you to be remembered for the good things
I want you to be remembered for the service you've done for the Lord
And so I hope this gives you some things to think about
You know if there are areas of your life that you're lacking in and you can see these great qualities in these people
Hey, you need to work toward those things. I don't know what they are
You probably know what they are, you know, most likely I think you're like one of the greatest Christians on the earth
But you know who you are, you know the weaknesses, you know the things that you struggle with
So, you know make sure you challenge yourself
Make sure you ask the Lord God to help you in the weaknesses that you can be a great servant for him
And I want you to be remembered for all eternity for being a great servant for the Lord. All right, God bless