SNT-0518- The Way Tree (Cummins)
Format: Mp3
Publication Date: 08-22-1971
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
SNT-518-TheWayTree(Cummins) DRAFT
SUMMARY KEYWORDS: word, Paul, fellowships, Colossae, church, Christ, Colossi, trunk, Peter, twigs, area, home, received, limb, apostles, man
Let's take our Bibles and turn to Acts chapter two this evening. You know, the way and many of you have seen this already have heard it before, the way is like a tree. As far as its organization instructional setup, it's like a tree, a tree has roots at the bottom right, has roots underneath the ground, and that those roots from that root come up the trunk of the tree. And from that trunk, go off the different limbs on that tree, and from those limb go out other branches. And on the ends of those branches, you have little twigs, and it's those twigs that bear fruit. Now though, the tree the way is like a tree, we haven't as the root, the international headquarters here at the way in new Knoxville, Ohio, that little city on the map that nobody can find people in Ohio. And even they have trouble sometimes too.
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That's the route, the international headquarters here. The trunks are representative say of the various countries like the United States represents one trunk. Australia represents another trunk. Sweden represents another trunk. SAMOA represents another trunk, all these different countries represent individual trunks. All coming from that one route. Then from the those different trunks, we have limbs coming out in the United States, with think of a state being a limb. In Canada, you wouldn't think of a state as being the limb, I suppose you'd think of the province, right? They call it provinces. Okay. Being a limb in the United States, we think of each state being a separate limb on that tree. Then that limb has different branches on like, in Ohio, the state of Ohio, which is a separate limb, we think of Columbus, and that particular area is one branch, we think of this area around Troy and the headquarters and Springfield, this particular area as another branch. We have other branches throughout the state. Many times when the community when there's so many fellowships in one community, that community may represent a branch. Otherwise, it takes on a larger territory, maybe encompassing several communities. Then, in those communities in those within the branch, we have those twigs, and a twig is simply a fellowship of three or more people meeting in the home. And it's on those twigs that you get the fruit. That beautiful. That's where you get the fruit. That's the life of the ministry, the twigs, we've got the root, we've got the trunk, the limbs, the branches, but it's that twig and all those twigs all around the world. That's the real life of the ministry. That's where you get the fruit. That's where you get to see that produces more trees. That's something Sure. And the twig is the lifeline. Just like in the early church. If you look back on the early church in the enacts and how the early church move from the day of Pentecost, and they had to, well they had the root and the root was at Jerusalem. That's where everything stemmed from. That's where the apostles moved in and out of was Jerusalem. This was their headquarters, this was their new Knoxville Jerusalem. Then they had different trunks different countries, but they had two basic trunks as I see it in the book of Acts. First of all, the Palestine area represented one trunk where which was basically Jewish, basically Jewish in the Palestine trunk, whereas the other trunk, which was centered at Antioch incidentally, we had some people here from Antioch are you still here tonight? We had some people from Antioch college Yellow Springs, Ohio. We're in here this afternoon with Reverend Anderson I saw them for a while. Anyway, this was not Antioch, Ohio. My thinking of Antioch because that's the place that's a place okay. That was the headquarters of the of the one trunk, the Gentile trunk, so to speak, which in composted the Syria area, Asia Minor, a K on Macedonia, what's known as Greece today, Rome, Italy, that area. This encompasses quite a large territory, but it was the central headquarters Antioch was for the Gentile world at that time. What was known as the Gentile, the Palestine area, which was Jewish, you had these two basic trunks, there may have been other trunks in other countries. That I don't know. But I'm thinking basically, from what we have recorded in the word, this is how it would just seem to logically and naturally divide them. Each of those trunks broke down into branches, or limbs, excuse me, like in the Palestine area, they had Galilee, Judea and Samaria, Galilee, Judea and Samaria. And these were three, what don't want to call them provinces of Palestine
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3.3 provinces of Palestine, and the this is how it was broken down. There were three different kinds of people, the Judeans, you know, were strict Jews, or Judeans, whereas the Samaritans were more half Jews and so on the Galileans different Yeah, three distinct groups, and they sort of separated themselves in this manner. Then, within each of those, it was broken down according to communities and localities into branches, like Judea was broken down into several communities, areas, which we could call branches. And then inside of the communities, they had the twigs or fellowships where everybody met in the home. And these fellowships, these twigs that met in the homes, again, were the lifeline of the ministry. Now you take the area, you know, the Gentile area, Central Headquarters at Antioch. Okay, now, Antioch was just the headquarters it was located in the Syrian section Syria. And I suppose Syria could be divided as a separate limb from Asia Minor, which is separate from a can Macedonia area. And perhaps Italy, or Rome, that section as another particular limb, of that Trump. Then each of those, excuse me, each of those limbs were broken down into branches, either communities, like at Ephesus was a tremendous community. Ephesus had quite a few twigs, or quite a few fellowships meeting in the homes, whereas you get over to Colossi and some of the Laya dicha in another community real nearby there Heliopolis or something like that. One of those cities. But there you have three communities where there were very few twigs, very few fellowships that met in the home. So you put them all together. And you call that a branch, an area particular branch? In other words, the early church move? Well, I shouldn't say that. I should say we're moving. Much like the early church moves. And why not? God set it up. If you're going to move and move God's way, you're gonna have to move like the early church move, right. But the lifeline so to speak of the ministry was the twigs, the fellowships that met in the home, that branch may die, for some reason, but those twigs seem to just carry on because they bore fruit and that fruit just kept building more and more. Maybe the headquarters of Asia Minor would die. But yet there were individuals who still kept meeting in the homes and these people carried on. And it was these twigs that kept the ministry moving the fellowships and so on. Now it's harder to stay in when that trunk isn't there anymore. You've almost got to drop your fruit and spring up new seed right? But this that's how the early church moved. This is how we move today. We don't go out building brand new buildings every place sure are people in California they ran a school or something in Kansas the same way rent a building. Sometimes they borrow or buy a building. Wonderful. But where to most of the fellowships meet in the homes right they made in the homes and this is the lifeline of the ministry shoot a church you know if they want to pull persecution on the bomb that right can't bomb all the homes that you that when you when you meet in groups of three or more in the homes, the fellowships, and it's these fellowships that keep it going.
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In Acts chapter two, verse 38. The day of Pentecost. How many of you were here last week, Sunday night or Sunday morning when that tremendous what Gary Curtis did on this thing. This beautiful one Peter sermon. Those of you who are weren't here, you just missed it was beautiful. Peter's sermon. But anyway, chapter two of the X verse 38. This was toward the end of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive Lombardo receiving the manifestation, the gift of pinu Maha Gaon, Holy Spirit, for the promise, the promise is unto you, to whom was he talking on the day of Pentecost, Jews by religion, Jews, the promises to you and to your children? And to all that are aware, hey, does that include us? Yeah. To all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall do up. And with many other words, that he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this onto our generation. Then they that gladly received his word look at that gladly received. Remember that thing, a man convinced against as well as the same opinion still? That's right. If they're going to fight it, no receptivity, you know, those that gladly received the word were baptized in water. Then say that says up above, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Right. Right. Water. The same day there were added unto them about three souls. About three South 1000 souls kind of reminds me of egos. You know, there's about that many there, I guess. Maybe a few more, I don't know, but about 3000 souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, all respect came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common and sold their possession. That's right, they're pluralities. They sold their possessions, not that which they needed. But if they had pluralities, they sold their pluralities and goods and part of them to all as every man had what right not greed, need. And they continuing daily, daily, daily, they continue with one accord in the temple. And look at this breaking bread where that's right. That's how they move from house to house. They were in the temple some of the time and they moved from house to house part of the time, did eat with meat, did eat their meat, with gladness and singleness of heart from house to house. See, they were in the temple. They went from house to house and this is how the early church moved from house to house Praising God and having favor with all the people in the Lord added to the church daily such as should be one right he did the adding he did the adding to the church such as should be saying we met out in Eagles last week. There were people out there who were hungry for that word. God did the adding we just witness to the greatness of His word right? God did the adding and the multiplying the subtracting dividing everything. He did that we just witness we just share the work. Look, here's the words God's Word so simple. You want to believe it? They say Nope. Okay, good. Love you anyway. by on the other hand, you want to believe it? Sure. I want to play that's great. That's got something it's got answers to life but don't want it's what I'm been looking for. Well praise the Lord. That's all we're responsible for is to share that word to show that word to people. If nobody wants to blame it great. We still share though. You walk down to somebody share it to him, just lay it on. Look, here's the word but he doesn't want to believe it. What do you do? Sit there and argue with him. That's his job, his responsibility. Let him make up his mind. You just show it to you Sure. Lovingly, kindly do now look at chapter five. But they continued from house to house chapter five of X verse Well, verse 40, up above this you know the the word was already getting out the people, the Jews didn't like what the apostles were doing. And I think there was a little envy, jealousy or something. But these people were getting a lot of converts. Don't ask me what a convert is, but it's a word they use anyway. They were getting a lot of followers anyway, people who are hungry for that word. And they didn't like what was going on. So they thought, well, let's put the screws to these apostles, let's beat them a little bit or do something, kill them, get rid of them. And they have to have a lawyer in their midst. This lawyer says no, wait a minute. We had a few things happen a number of years ago, where another group of people kind of rose up and they thought they were going to, you know, just change the world. And we just let this thing go. And nothing happened. Pretty soon, the whole group just kind of died out. Because there wasn't anything to it. He says, let's do the same thing with this group. Last, it just by chance would be of God. And then you'd be struggling against whom? Right? You can't do that. See? Now he was a lawyer, smart doctor at the law says. So they listen to him. They thought that's pretty good idea. Now, verse 42. Him they agree.
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And when they had called the apostles, they let him go. Lou, they beat him first had to get that lookin.
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They command and beaten them. They commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. And they did well, then they let them go. They beat him first. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. That's right, the apostles rejoice. And they lay in the temple. And were in every house in every house, they cease not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ. Again, they went into the temple. Again, they went from house to house just teaching and preach. That's where the twigs met. That's where the fellowships grew. Just a few people gather in a home. Now these guys could get the apostles at the top, but they couldn't go in every house, could they? Just there was one man that tried it. Look at chapter eight. Remember, Stephen, they gave him the old x. And in chapter eight, verse one, and saw was consenting to his death, Stephens death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church. Which was a Jerusalem. Well, this is basically only the only place the church had been so far at Jerusalem. Everybody was just humbled, you know, rounding Knoxville, everybody just stayed there. And there was a persecution at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad, throughout the regions of Judea, and Samaria, except to, you know, the apostle stayed there, the trunk, or whatever, say, the headquarters the route, they stayed there, but everybody else was scattered out. And boy, they were just shocked. They just kept quiet. Didn't say another word about that word of God. Right. After read on verse four, therefore they were scattered abroad, they they were scattered about when everywhere doing what shirt, all that persecution did was to spread the word. Praise God for the persecution. Well, they went everywhere preaching the word. They were scattered by that now. I'm thankful we didn't need a persecution to get this thing going here in the United States. I'm thankful our people are rising up. They're not staying here, Jerusalem, but they're moving out with that word that people everywhere can have a chance to hear. Hey, man, we ought to be some Methodists here. Shouting Methodists. Okay, back to verse two. Development carried Steven to his burial may great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he may have aka the church. He may have aka the church. He bombed it, huh? No, entering where? Right. Why do you have to go in the houses? That's where the church was. That's where the church met in the houses into every house, and healing men and women committed them to prison. Now, he couldn't get to every house. I'll clue you. Although he tried. But he went into these houses, you know, going everywhere, wherever he knew there was a quote, a Christian twig. You know, a twig, a group of believers who met in that home, he go into that home, take them out, put them in prison. But why did he go to the home because that's where the church met. They didn't meet in a big fancy church building. They went into the temple once in a while for prayer, like during the hours of prayer, but they met and taught the Word and study that word in the homes that's how the early church. Now look at chapter 12. Chapter 12 verse one, now about that time, this is a little later on, Herod, the king stretched forth his hand to veck, certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John with a sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then Were the Days of Unleavened Bread. When he had apprehended him, Peter, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quadrants of soldiers to keep him intending after Easter, to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
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When Herod would have brought him forth the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door, kept the prison. Get the picture. Here's Peter laying down here stretch down, he's got chains around his LIS, wrists and ankles. He's got two soldiers, one on either side, he's got soldiers at the door, keeping the one. Wow. Well, we're seven, behold, there goes that commercial game, you know, behold, the angel, the Lord came upon him, and a light shine in the prison. Any smoke Peter on the side and raise him up saying, Good, Peter, right, rise up quickly. Give him a good swift kick, get up Peter. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, gird thyself and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he said unto him, cast I garment about the in follow me. And he went out and followed him and with not or knew not that it was true, which was done by the angel, but thought he saw vision, when they were passed the first and the second ward that came into the orange gate that leaves the city, which open to them of its own accord. Wow. And they went out and passed on through one street, and forth with the angel departed from. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety that the Lord has sent his angel, and have delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people, the Jews, and when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were what? Right, they met in the home in the house. That's where they were praying together for Peter. And Peter knocks at the door of the gate, and the dancer comes to the door and names Rhoda Shem to be the pianist for the group. And when when she knew Peters voice, she opened not the gate for gladness. But Randy and untold are Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, thou art man that she constantly Well, that was a real prayer now aren't mad but she constantly affirmed that it was even so then said they, it is his angel. And Peter continued knocking. When they had opened the door, they saw him were astonished and he beckoning unto them with the hand of told their peace, declared unto them all the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, Go show these things to James and to the brethren. And he departed and went to another place. But where were they meeting? Where were they praying together? In the house in the home? That's where the early church minute, look at chapter 28.
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Now they went into synagogues and went into the temple, for different activities for prayer. And they even went into schools like the school of Taranis and I suppose maybe they even had a Rock of Ages I'm not sure. But anyway, they did go into different places besides of but the homes is where the small fellowships meant. Day after day daily from house to house. Daily they met in the homes This is where the the twigs or the fellowships the small fellowships met. In Acts, chapter 28, verse 30. And Paul dwell to whole years in his own hired what? And received all that came in unto him preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. with all confidence, no man for bidding. He did it were in his house that's wearing with his feet. The people come into him, he teach him. They go out, they go bring people in their houses. That's where the early church move. Now this was at Rome, in this chapter 28. Look at First Corinthians 16.
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First Corinthians 16 Remember Priscilla and Aquilla? You know, they were the two, you know, that took a palace by the wayside and said, Look, a palace. You know, the baptism of John, but there's little more to it. And they expanded to him the scriptures more perfectly, didn't they? So, and then Paulus left, God sent him to another place, and Paul came to Ephesus, and Priscilla and Aquilla worked with Paul for quite a bit there. So they were kind of close to his heart. And in closing in First Corinthians 16, verse 19. He says to the Corinthians, the churches of Asia salute you. Now Corinth was that was in Greece, or Akia, which is now known as Greece. Whereas he was over in Asia. He says, the churches of Asia salute you. A Quillen. Priscilla salute you much in the Lord with the church. That is where? That's right. That's where the church met in their house. Was this the branch so to speak, or the lamb nap? It was a twig of small fellowship of three or more believers. Go back to Romans chapter 16.
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Romans 16 verse three, read Priscilla and Aquilla my helpers in Christ Jesus, who have for my life laid down their own next, unto whom not only I gave things, but also all the churches that the Gentiles, likewise greet the church, that is where in their house right, that's where they met with him. And he goes on to greet a number of other people. And many of these people must have been had churches meeting in their house, or fellowships, twigs, so to speak, meeting in their homes. Colossians chapter one. Paul, remember in Acts, chapter 19, Paul spent two years and three months in Ephesus, Ephesus, he spent three years in the synagogue at Ephesus, our three months gives me three months in the synagogue at Ephesus, teaching Jews, Gentiles, anybody that came in, but they didn't like it so well there. And they own the church building. So Paul takes the 12 believers that he got out of the synagogue, and he goes off to the school of trends. So they meet in the School of trennis for two more years, two whole years now, that makes two years and three months. Now, in those two years, it says all of Asia heard the word. Remember, all of Asia heard the word, Asia Minor. All of Asia Minor heard that word. Ephesus was the central headquarters of that particular limb. And it was from there where Paul did the teaching that he sent people out and they covered all of Asia Minor in two years time. Now we've even got television today. And Ted said, we're going to have a program that we can put it on. So we ought to be able to get that word around the world in at least two years, don't you think? Okay. But now there was a place called Colossi Colossi where they also had some believers which was reached, probably from this outreach from Ephesus, because Kalasa is in Asia Minor. It's a part of a province. They're known as Phrygia. Or friggin or something. I don't know why it's called fridge. Yeah. Maybe because they were frigid. Because there wasn't too many believers there. I don't know. But anyway, there was some at Colossae there was summit liquidation summit, the other place. But anyway, Paul's writing to the people in Colossae. And this affects not only the Colossians but also the people lay a Dyson that other place. Because he tells them you share this with him. I'll show it to you in a little bit. But in chapter one, verse one, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus should be the other one by the will of God. And Timothy is our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are aware, at Colosse. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the words and the Lord Jesus Christ are not in the critical Greek texts. But he's writing to these people, a Clawson, which must have been more or less like the headquarters of that particular area or branch, which was a part of Asia Minor, which made up a limb. We give things for three to God, the Word and is scratch, not in the text. We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith, or your believing in Christ Jesus, and of the love to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up or stored for you, in heaven, or heavens, I believe plural in the text for you in the heavens, where have you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which gospel is come to you, unto you, as in all the world, and bring us for, for fruit, increasingly, this gospel bring forth fruit increasingly, as also in you, since the day he heard and knew the grace of God in truth, I left out the talents because the talents are supplied by the translators. Right?
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Right. And ye the word also is not in the text. And ye learned of Epaphras
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now you know, you English majors don't criticize my pronunciation. Anyway, it sounds like some kind of tea to me, EPA friends. And he learned of EPA friends, but it was a guy I'll clue you. Either that or girl, I think was a guy. And he learned of EPA frass. Our dear fellow servant or fellow slave, he was a fellow slave, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, Emperor France was from Colossi he was from Colossi he had been a minister there some who was a fellow slave with Paul, so to speak, what he calls him a fellow slave one who's bound together with the one who's doing the work with him. And EPA frass was quite concerned about the people at Colossae. Matter of fact, we're going to read a little bit he was quite concerned about the people all around that particular area. Now, whether or not he was what we would classify as a branch leader, I do not know or whether he was even a twig leader, I don't know. But I know one thing. He loved the people at Colossae in that area, and he had a special concern for them. Y'all, he learned a vet professor, dear fellow slaves, who is for you, a faithful minister of Christ, who also declared unto us your love in spiritual things, his text spiritual things. Now we go to chapter four. And you'll see some more about it for friends. So he was a faithful minister to these people in spiritual things. He loved these people out of special concern for him. In chapter four of Colossians verse 12. First word what? EPA friends who is who want to you he's one of you guys that Clawson. One of you caution boys. Ever France who is one of you? A servant of Christ. He salutes you. He wasn't at Colossi right now. He had taken a journey and come over to where Paul was. Like, Reverend doc comes visit headquarters during summer school. Maybe Paul had summer school at this time he wrote this letter right? would be I don't know. Or like Reverend Townsend comes in here different times. Sure. Well, after frass took a visit when oversee Paul Epaphras who's one of you? A servant of Christ salute you. Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Notice how this guy just had a special concern for the people at Colossae he just constantly lifting them in prayer. Verse 13. For I bear him record so you see this record that we produce isn't going to be the first one they had one back here
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well for I bear him record but I don't get paid for those things. But I bury him record that he has a great zeal for you. This app of France fella has a great zeal for you guys. You cautions right? And then that are aware. Lad Ayesha, that's a neighboring city lights, like new Knoxville, New Bremen. And them in there it is. Heliopolis close enough. That's like minster that's like these three guys are no this guy after France had a special concern for new Knoxville, New Bremen and Minster. He had a special concern for these three cities for Colossi Leah dicha and Harry opolis. He had a special concern for these three cities. Last time, I'll pronounce it. Thank God for answers to prayers. But this fellow EPOR, France had a special concern for these people in these three cities. He had a special emphasis in his prayer life, so it is for him. He was concerned about him. He lifted him daily constantly. Paul says I bury him record. But now whether he was a leader of that particular branch or that area, that segment of the ministry? I don't know. Because it doesn't say, Now isn't that simple? Now what most people want to do and when they don't know, guess, right? Well, can you guess about God's word? No. You had a check. And you couldn't read the writing on it? Would you let the banker guess at what it said? Ah, no. Or if you went to the grocery store, and you bought a bunch of bananas, some bread, some may add a few canned items. You brought it up to the cashier and you laid it all down or on that thing that rolls around, you know, they just moves the food right down the line. You laid it all down there. And the cashier says, Well, look, my cash registers broke today. If you don't mind, I'll just guess what your bill is. $37.82 Close enough. Would you? Would you let him do it? Can you guess it God's word?
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God's much more accurate anyway than the groceries. Much more natural, better for you? Anyway you wouldn't guess about those matters. You don't guess about things in this life in the physical life?
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Nobody does. They do they haul him off to the, you know, one of those places. Right. But when it comes to God's word, just guest guest guest guest guests. Like in the meeting I was in this morning. They said, Well, we had to read in Life Magazine that there was a statement in there that you know that you know that you know that you know, they said Now how can you know that? You know that you know that? You know that? You know? In other words, we know it all? I said no, we don't know it all. We don't know it all? Do. We there are certain segments of that word where we studied and we've read it as plain as night as from day and those segments we know that we know that we know that we know that we know that we know. But there are other segments we just don't know about what most people want to do as guests. We don't guess if we don't know we don't know what we know we know that's simple. That's as honest as they are in their secular business are more honest. There are certain things in their businesses that they know that they know that they know that they know Right? Like you know if you don't show up to work until noon every day and you're supposed to be there at eight o'clock in the morning, that you're not going to have that job very long. There are lots of things you know in the business In this world that you know that you know, there are certain things in the business world that you don't know so much about. And you don't guess about them either Do you honestly maybe the stock markets I don't think they the people who really work the stock markets don't guess too much. They're either doing anybody here working Lars anyway, even on the stock market, they they watch certain things, there's a lot of things they watch. I know, I know, people who've worked the thing, and they don't just guess about you know, okay, here's my $50, throw it down there. 100, whatever it takes, you know, just put in any place you want to throw it around. don't work that way. But when it comes to God's Word, we just guess. Let's get just as honest, if not more honest with God's word. Let's quit guessing. Get back to what it says. Does it say that applifast was a branch leader? No. Does it say he was a leader that area? No. But one thing I do know he had a special concern for that area. He may have been branch leader, I don't know. But what I do know is that he had a special interest in that area. I know he was from that area.
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We're not gonna guess verse 14, loop, the blood physician and demons greet you slit the brethren which are in lay Adarsha. And see, it tells him slit the guys over there. And Memphis.
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And that church, which has were in his house, right, Memphis, inlaid I should he had a special he had a church which met in his home in his house. There you have it again. And when this pistol is read among you, cause it to be read also in the Church of the liquidation. And that like you likewise read the pistol from Les dosha. And say to Archippus look, archy Take heed, take heed to the ministry which Tao has received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it, do the work God's called you to do stay on the ball. That's right, don't flip out every five minutes, get in there and do what you're supposed to be doing. Now, again, it doesn't say that Archippus had a particular twig or fellowship meeting in his home. But he had a special a certain ministry or service, which he had received from the Lord. And apparently he wasn't living up to it to its full capacity. Because he says, Tell Archippus to take heed to the ministry we're onto. He's been called and so on. And so now in fine Lehman
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by Lehman, incidentally, was at Colossae. Look at Philemon chapter or verse one. Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto whom, finally even Our dearly beloved and fellow labor, and to our beloved Ophea and who? Yeah Archippus and where was Archippus? At Colossi right. And there are certain other people listed in here who were also at Colossi and this is how, you know, generally where he must have been at least in that area. Because this is where the people moved in. So our fellow soldier and to the church, to the church, where now that's what I want you to see the church and I have finally man also had a church a group that met in his home in his house. Follow it again. Where did the early church meet? In the houses that's where the twigs the small fellowships Miss Grace to you and peace from God our Father in the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God making mention of the always in my prayers, The Who, by laymen, the guy who was head of a twig fellowship, the guy who was in charge of a fellowship that met in his home That's right. So this book of Philemon is addressed to someone who had charge of a fellowship, a small fellowship that men in his home. Now look what he says. Verse 40, I think my God making mention of the always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and believing, which thou has toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints, that the communication or fellowship Koinonia of thy faith, thy family of faith, may be effectual the word effectual is that word enter gaze, you know, which will get energized, energy may become energized, by acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ, the word Jesus is not in the critical Greek text.
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That was the result of his love and believing, which he had toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints, was that the fellowship is fellowship, cornea, of vie, family of faith, may become effects are energized, by acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ. For we have great joy and consolation, I love because look at this, the bowels of the saints are refreshed by the brother hat. This guy was the head of a fellowship that met in his home. And he says, the bowels of the saints are refreshed by the brother, because it was this man who was in charge of the church that met in his home that taught him the word week after week, or that invited the guest speakers like Paul, Timothy. That's right. He, or he taught the Word and it was he that cause their bowels to just be refreshed, that draw your picture, beautiful. Some aren't so fresh, but we won't get into them virtually. Wherefore, though I might not, might be much bold in Christ to enjoin the that which is convenient, yep, for love's sake, I rather beseech thee being such an one, as Paul the agent, now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I beseech thee for my son on SMS, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Anonymous was kind of a special guy to Paul, which in times time pass was to the unprofitable he didn't do you much good on SMS wasn't much profit to you in the past. But now he's profitable, both to you. And to me, Paul says, Who whom I have sent again, though, therefore do up. Yeah, I'm sending an SMS back to you. So receive him. That is my own bow, somebody that's real dear to me, whom I would have retained with me, that invites that he might have ministered unto Me in the bonds of the gospel. But without my mind, what I do nothing that I benefit should not be as it were, of necessity, but willingness, look at that verse. He's saying, I'm sending it back to you. But I'm not doing it without your mind. In other words, if you don't want him, I don't want to send him back. Because it doesn't, you know, you can't do it of necessity, but willingly says, I want this on SMS to come back to you, but only on your will. Because I know now that he's going to be profitable to you. But there was a time passed, when this guy was tripping out quite a bit, he wasn't very profitable. But now, it's the will of the Lord that on SMS stay with you, but only if you're willing, not of necessity. Follow it. For perhaps, he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive Him forever. There was a reason for him leaving that he could learn some things. So he could go back and be a real prophet to this guy, a real benefit to finally verse 16, not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother, beloved, especially to me, but how much more to whom? To the both in the flesh and in the lower? In other words, this guy is going to be a real benefit to you. He's going to be your Howard Ellen. That's right. He's going to be your worker, the guy that Does the things for you that gets the job done? If now count me, therefore a partner received Him as myself. If he asked wrong V, or OCR, you put that on my bill. Put that on my account. If he owes you anything if this Anessa fella owes you filing, if he owes yawata, DOE or anything else, put that on my bill, I'll pay it off. I'll be it. No, I, Paul, I've written it with my own hands, I will repay it. I'll be it. I do not say to the house. Oh, listen to me, even my no self Besides, when would you don't owe me anything. But if he owes you something, I'll pay it.
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But you don't owe me anything. Verse 20, yay, brother. Let me have joy of the in the Lord, refresh my bowels in the Lord. Remember before he says you refresh the bowels of the saints to whom your ministry in your home. says Now refresh my vows in the same way. having confidence in thy obedience. Paul already knows by revelation, what the score is this guy is going to do the will of the Lord having confidence and die obedience. I wrote into the knowing, not guessing not doubting. Not maybe if perhaps someday the guy might get around to believing God's word. But knowing, having confidence and by obedience, I wrote into the knowing, knowing that he knows and he knows that he knows and he knows it. He knows. That's right. Not guessing. He knew it. How did he know? Vance my students? Revelation. God showed it to him by word of knowledge or were to he knew it? Because God told him knowing that thou will also do more than I want. Man, isn't that something? Look at that, to know that you can instruct a man of God. And there's there's few people like this in the secular world who you can tell him to do something. And they go way beyond that and do a lot more. Like Remember Jesus said, You know, if a guy compels you to go one mile, how far do you go with him to try and let's just make it the word over the world.
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Go with him three. Know if a guy compels you to go one mile go to with him.
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But Paul says, I know that you're not only going to do what I asked you to do. But you're going to go way beyond that you're going to do more than I say. Now, that is a remarkable trait in men of God as well as in other individuals. But boy, that's something and you know, this is something in your own life. If a man of God asks you to do something, is that where it ends? No. You keep going, you keep working. Do more than what you're actually asked to do. Ever heard this thing? Well, you didn't have to be told to do everything. Anyway, no, you don't have to be told, if you're right on with God and His work. When God tells you to do something, you know, or a man tells you to do something a man of God. Well, that's just a springboard. What are you going to do beyond that? Okay, these ambassadors, you know, we had about 300 signed up to be ambassadors for the WWE word over the world ambassadors this last week. And about 100 of those a little over 100 are willing to go anywhere and that wonderful, tremendous, great. And, of course, this isn't the end of it, you know, Ambassador ship is still open, but we're all ambassadors at any rate. Well, suppose we send an ambassador to Timbuktu right? We send our ambassador down there. He says, Okay, I'm going so he goes down there and he sets that what we set him there for? No, we have to tell him to do everything. We have to tell him to brush his teeth. reftown the witness? No. We sent him down there by the word of the Lord. But that's not all we expect him to do. Just take a journey. We expect him to do something when he gets there, right. Does he have to be told that Will tells me to do something. Okay, I'll do that much. But I go beyond it. Like when he tells me to work something out, or he tells me to line something up, I get it all together. But I do much more. Because I know there may be other questions come up, when I bring this back to him. I think the thing through ahead of time, same way with other people on our staff, like Howard Allen, the doctor asked him to do something. Well, he thinks that thing through so he covers every angle, so that he takes it back. He hasn't just covered what he asked him to do. But anything else that may be relevant so that when he gets there, he doesn't have to run back and forth six times yet. Same way with Fred Wilson in the printing department. Same way with our secretaries, everybody. They just they don't just do what they're asked to do. They go way beyond they think a thing through spiritually in every way. Like summer school, Mrs. Owens, the way she planned that thing. Dr. Mobile says, Okay, you take care of registration, or what does she do sit at her desk and just sign people that come in? No, she thinks that think through how they're gonna how this is gonna work, that it will work the easiest for everybody concern, so that everybody will be happy. That's going that extra mile. He says, I'm glad you are I know that you're not only going to be obedient to what I say. But you're going to go way beyond what is saying. Now, that's a remarkable trait. If you're going to stand on God's word, and you forgot to go places with God, like, Finally, also do more than I say, verse 22. But with all prepare me also a lodging for I trust that through your prayers, I shall be given unto you there salute the Epaphras. Remember this guy that was so concerned about Colossi and Laya, dilation? Heliopolis, EPA friends, he had, he was either there. This was before or after the book of Colossians was written when EPA France was at Colossae. My fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, Marcus, arrow, starkest Amos Lucas, my fellow laborers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Be with your Spirit, amen. The beautiful book written to a man who had a fellowship in his home, and how he just didn't do what he was asked to do. But he did even more than Paulson. Now, that's what makes a leader a leader. He's willing to go that extra mile willing to stay up till two o'clock if necessary, or three or four, all night long. Whatever it takes to get the job done.
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And sleep the next week. But let's get the work done. Let's think it through that the job gets done truly, not just thoroughly, but throughly. Through and Through and Through it, remember? Go back to Colossians. How people like find Lehman, these people who were leaders, along with all the people they taught must have been refreshed at that letter, that false sense to the Colossians Colossians chapter two.
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Verse six, could you imagine being Epaphras, the head of your home, the fellowship that meets in your home, and week after week, you're just sharing the word with people, showing it to them? Rightly dividing it week after week in the fellowship meets you pray together, break bread together, do a lot of things together. And, and then you get this letter that comes to your area for everybody. You know, it's kind of like a tape Sunday night tape that goes out. Well, it is and you read in here, you know, like in verse six of champion to, as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, as you have received Christ is Lord, so walk in him, rooted and build up in him and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding there in with what we've got a lot to be thankful for. Beware, beware. Now here's a little warning, lest any man spoil you threw up philosophy and vain deceit. After the tradition of whom, man that's right after man's tradition, may ins tradition, philosophy, vain deceit. That's where it comes from man's tradition. That's what's going to spoil you beware of that junk. Get back in God's word. After the tradition of men after the rudiments or rules and regulations of the world, and not after whom. Watch out for those worldly rules and regulations. The rules and regulations we follow her After whom? Christ. For him in Christ dwells all the fullness, the fullness, look at that, all the fullness of what? The Godhead finally, everything that God represents us in Christ, all the fullness of that dwelleth in Christ, not something. Wait a minute. And you verse 10, are complete. In Him. Well Praise God. Remember in chapter one a question, it says, It's Christ in you, the hope of glory. And if all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily dwells in Christ, and it's Christ in you, well, I gotta guess you got a reason to be complete. And, you know, that's that word in the Aramaic. There's three degrees, basically, you know, like complete, the other one would be like, completely complete, have used the third degree and be completely completely complete.
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It's not any of those they haven't have a fourth degree which is used about six times New Testament, you are completely completely complete. And him well, I guess so if all the phones the Godhead, Bali dwells in Christ, Christ dwells in you, are you full, Plato overflowing. And you are completely completely completely complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also ye were circumcised, with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of home. Right, we don't have to be circumcised, he was circumcised for us, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you were risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead, and you being dead in your sins, the uncircumcision of your flesh, Hathi, quickened or made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all. Blah, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, took it out of the way, nailing it where? That's right. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it. He did all this stuff for you. Well guess you got something to be thankful for now, therefore, as you've received Christ, Jesus the Lord, so walk in. Look at verse 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or a new moon, or the Sabbath day, got to keep the Sabbath, or new moon or something, which are a shadow of things to come but the body as well of Christ. Let no man beguile you have your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels intruding into those things which He has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. self righteousness and not holding the head from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together increases with the increase of God which Amen increase. Wherefore, if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why is the living in the world are you subject to ordinances, touch not taste not handle now? Why do you want to be? Why do you want to listen to man's ordinances? Man's rules and regulations? Things that man makes up why Allah is what God says. Don't be subject to the stupid ordinance, which all are to perish with the law after the commandments and doctrines of who God no man which things have indeed a show of wisdom in all in will worship and humility say well worship self worship and humility all looks real good, you know, bomb so humble and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh look I'm doing without all these things. Isn't this great? Man, I'm so humble. I wrote a book on it once with 17 autographed pictures of the author and the front on humility maybe it's good thing I can't think of the other one. I was thinking I can't think of it anyway. You know, I don't write these go. Words if you know where they're saying, you know, I'm, I'm so great. You know, I'm so humble. Do everything I sacrifice everything of God, sackcloth and ashes. The whole trip alone. Look at chapter three cinci then be risen with Christ. seek those things which are were right don't. Don't be concerned about the rules and regulations of men. The commandments which and doctors are men which are to perish with using touch, not taste not handle on where, but seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, that's fine. Reach up above verse to set your affection where? Yes, set it on things above, not on things on the earth. Tremendous beautiful. Set your affections on things above not on things as it were on the earth, because these things are on earth are temporary. So man when I quit my job in school, but I just blew people's mind. What about your security? Your job security? What are you going to do? What if you get fired from the way what you're going to do for job security about your insurance? actually thinking about your family? Boy, oh, boy. These are all things Satan threw at me when? When I quit the rack, but I got better security now. Praise God. Set my affection on things above. not on things on there. Because the things that you're if you don't have security in these things. You got your security up there. That's your affection on things above not on things on the earth. For your wad. Right? You're dead. You're dead. And your life is hid with Christ in God. Ha. You are dead. And your life is hid with Christ and God. That's where your life. So if you're if you're dead, why do you want to live? The things in this world live according to the rules and regulations which men set down? What difference does it make what man says, I want to know what is God saying? We study to show yourself approved under whom? God rightly dividing his word of truth, not the word of man. We walk to show ourselves approved to God. We walk in God's Son. We set our affections on things above not on things on the earth. We want to know what God thinks about when we do something. We don't want to know what what is the neighbor thing. I don't care what the neighbor thing. I want to know what does God think? What does God think about my life about my wall? Right? God's eternal, your neighbor's only temporal? Acacia dead note. Right. But you know, for a natural man, this is hard to accept. It's hard to believe that. Then remember, the natural man receives not things the Spirit of God for the foolishness until he hears that word, and like the apostles remember when they were walking with Jesus down that road? And Jesus was sharing that word with them. They got to the end of the trip and Jesus was gone. They said didn't our heart burn within us when he expounded unto us the script? How our heart burns within us, when we just see that word fit time after time, so beautifully, so magnificently. How that word just thrills our souls. It just sets us on fire at electrifies it makes us better an atomic bomb. Something more energy anyway. But we've got something to coincidence that nothing happened at Eagles last week. So you can coincidence that people are healed. When we pray for him or when we ministered to just coincidence that cancer just happened to fall out you know would have happened. Or their leg really wasn't broke anyway. Somebody screwy but not God's people. In the eyes of man, we may look a little peculiar. We got long spiritual hair. We don't care what people think we care what God thinks. Set your affection on things above. not on things on the earth.
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As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so do a walk in him, not in man's wisdom, not in the wisdom which man teaches but you walk in that wisdom which God teaches. Again, the natural man can't know God in Romans it says he can't please God can't even know it. Because all the things of God, they're in the spirit realm, and they're spiritually discerned. Now to discern spiritual things, you're going to have to have a little spiritual connection and praise God for that. Man when you come to that word, offshoot do we know that we know that we know that we know certain fields? You Bet Your Life we do. And that's not boasting when you say you can jump over the barn and you can do it. That's not boasting when you say jump over that barn and you can't that's boasting, right? When you say you can do something that's right on with God's word. That's not boasting. That doesn't mean walk down. And you know, I can't do this. Alright, good. Shoot.
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Don't go around popping your buttons inside you maybe do you thankful to God that you've got it? And inside, you're just effervescing you're just bubbling up with that stuff. You're thankful to God? Man, this is something he's given us power. Love, a sound mind, a healthy body strength. He's given us something he's made available to us. Right? He hasn't made us people to choose walk all over. Let me tell you, Sam, you go to a community function. If they ask you to talk about the way don't talk about the Bible. Because that's what the way represents God's word right. And it's only that word that sets people free to tell him everything you want to about the way won't set people free. Tell him about the word sets people free. Well, the financial report of the way set people free. My Well, well, a statement or a brochure about the different kinds of clothes we wear, set people free.
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Well about the kind of toothpaste we all use are a few other personal lines. The kind of perfume is only one thing that sets people free. And that's God's word. So what are you going to give them God's word? Give them that word.
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Show them that word. Show them what's shown they can have life. Just share. If they don't want to accept that, then that's their fault. But if they want to accept it, then they've got something they've got life. They got something tap into just like us. Praise God. Aren't you thankful, and a great time to be alive. I'm thankful to. And I'm thankful for you people. Because if you weren't here, I couldn't talk. Not like this.
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But it's something this, this ministry is growing. And I tell you something, if every drive buddy got by the wayside, but just a couple people, we'd still go on the Sunday nights just Sunday night f7 I teaching the Word. If there was only a couple here, we might sit in a little circle and do it. But still doesn't matter the numbers. What matters is that that word gets out. Now suppose you go out as an ambassador, suppose you go over to someplace and nobody in that community, you stay there for six months a year, and nobody wants to believe. You kick the dust off your feet, and go on to the next place. Let's just like the 70 did like the 12 did when Jesus sent them out in the gospel. They went into a place and so people are hungry. They stay there and taught them the words. If they weren't hungry, they kick the dust off their feet, which means just no animosity. They just left went to the next place. They found somebody that's hungry, and why they just taught him the word till midnight 12 123 Whatever it took, like Paul, you really started at one time. Early in the morning it says an axe and he taught them till I forget what time of the night it was he finally quit. Finally they had to quit because somebody fell out of the window.
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You had to go down and minister to him to get him out. Yeah, it's an X read it. But it's just a beautiful trip. And the reason it's so beautiful is because God made it that way. Not because man has made it that way.
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And it just gets good or all the time. Better For you English masters. That's God's word. And this is our ministry. And like those twigs, those fellowships, how they met in the home, and how, what's his name by Leeman must have just been thrilled that this letter, as well as the letter that was addressed to him as a leader, and how phi layman as a leader was willing to go that extra mile. He not only did what Paul said, but he was willing to go and do even more than what Paul said. And he just carried out the work where God had called him to do. And Paul did the same thing. The people, other leaders on twig fellowships, did the same thing. And it was these twigs, these small fellowships that met in the homes that went from house to house and met in these houses. That was the lifeline of the ministry. That's where the fruit was born. That's where the people carried on the work the word they shared that word, new people came in, they learned that word, they carried it on. Pretty soon that home got too big, and that split up you know, and they went into several different homes. Then they had several twigs going pretty soon each of those would get too big. So that split up you know, go into some more homes. And that's how the fruit was born. That's how the early ministry group those twigs, those small fellowships with a lifeline.