In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a revelation of God in our hearts and responding to it in faith. He highlights the need for individuals to recognize their own sinfulness and their need for a Savior. The message also emphasizes the significance of worshiping and giving glory to God, both individually and corporately. The speaker encourages the congregation to approach church with a heart of expectation and to pray for the service. He concludes by reading from Psalm 127, emphasizing the value of children as a heritage from the Lord.

Hello, this is Brother Denny. Welcome to Charity Ministries. Our desire is that your life would be blessed and changed by this message. This message is not copyrighted and is not to be bought or sold. You are welcome to make copies for your friends and neighbors. If you would like additional messages, please go to our website for a complete listing at www.charityministries.org. If you would like a catalog of other sermons, please call 1-800-227-7902 or write to Charity Ministries, 400 West Main Street, Suite 1, EFRA PA 17522. These messages are offered to all without charge by the freewill offerings of God's people. A special thank you to all who support this ministry. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Unto Jesus. Greetings to all in the name of Christ, our risen Lord and Savior. Well, a couple Sundays ago, you all preached a message, do you remember? What kind of heart did I bring to church this morning? Remember that message? What kind of heart did I bring to church this morning? A heart of expectation? It's the Lord's Day. I get to go to church today. I'm going to meet with God today. God's going to talk to me today. I want to hear what He has to say. How many prayed for this service today? At least five minutes. I mean, you at least stopped and for five minutes you prayed. Do you have needs this morning? Do I have needs? Oh, that God would be in the midst of His people this morning. That God would walk amongst His people. That He would captivate our hearts. I'd like us to sing Psalm 25 unto the Lord. Lifting up our hearts to God. Can we stand together? Lift up our voices and our hearts to God. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee. Let me not be ashamed. Let not mine enemies triumph over me. Amen, Lord. Our God and our Father, we do come to You in Jesus Christ's name. That name that is above every other name. The name of Jesus. The name at which every knee shall bow. And every tongue shall confess. And give glory to God. Oh, Father, this morning we do worship You. We do praise You, Lord. We thank You that Christ Jesus the Lord is risen. Conquering King. And that He's seated at the right hand of the Father. And we thank You, Lord, that He's making intercession for us. Even this morning. For those that shall be heirs of salvation. For those that are even not yet saved today. He's making intercession. And it's not His will that one's soul should perish. Oh, Father, we pray You would walk up and down the midst of Your people. Oh, God, all is vain unless You come. All is vain, Lord, unless Your holy presence moves among us. And touches us, God. And gives us life, Lord. And brings conviction to our hearts. Oh, Father, we pray. Move among us. Visit us, God. Have mercy on our poor souls, Lord. And deliver us from ourselves, God. Father, we need You, Lord. We're helpless without You, Lord. We cannot change ourselves. We cannot just do better, Lord. We need to be saved. We need to be filled with the Holy Ghost, Lord. Oh, Father, look upon us in mercy. And visit us, Your people, Father. Move up and down these aisles, Father. Walk in the midst of these, Your people. And, Father, we ask in Jesus' name that You would rebuke the devil away from us, God, and from this place, Lord. We ask in Jesus' name, Father, that You would rebuke the devil away. And, Father, that everything that is exalting itself against Your knowledge, every high and vain thought would be cast down in Jesus' name. Father, we pray that if there be any spirit, oh, Lord, any spirit of mockery or hypocrisy or blasphemy or, oh, Lord, silliness, lightheartedness, God, would You just arrest and bring conviction to the hearts. Oh, Father, Lord, we thank You that You're a merciful God. We don't ask You to send fire from heaven and slay. But we ask You that You would move in our midst and save. Deliver us from hypocrisy. Deliver us from going through the motions. Deliver us from our deadness and our dryness, Lord. Deliver us from our warmness and our backsliding. God, deliver us from our earthly mindedness, Lord. And set our hearts upon heavenly things, Lord. Oh, Father, let eternity be stamped upon our hearts, upon our eyes. Give us illumination and revelation, Father, and inspiration, Lord. And vision and purpose. Lest we perish, God. Lest we just be another congregation that goes down in history as a people who once walked with God, who once were on fire for God. But now they're just like all the other churches before them. Oh, Father, please have mercy on us. And speak to our hearts, we pray in Jesus' name. And have mercy upon Your servant, Lord. Oh, God, please, please touch my lips with a hot coal off Your altar. And fill my heart with Holy Ghost, earnest desire and courage and boldness and yet compassion and love. Let no one feel condemned or hammered upon, Lord. But loved and cherished. This we ask in Jesus' name. For Your sake. Amen. You may be seated. Welcome in Jesus' name. Thank you for coming today. Grace, peace be multiplied to you today from our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever you're at in your life today, God knows and sees and He understands. And He is the Counselor. And He is the Mighty God. He wants to meet your need today. As I was seeking the Lord what to share, I felt clear to go ahead and share a message which I've shared here before. At least similar message. And the title is, The Ministry of the Saints. And I don't want to sound like a broken record this morning. But I believe it's God's heart and desire that we would lay hold on this in a greater degree than what we have, to a greater depth and to a greater understanding and practice of this principle, this heartbeat of God and His Word. Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 16. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. Very familiar verse. 1 Corinthians chapter 16 beginning in verse 13. Watch ye. Stand fast in the faith. Quit you like men. Be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. I beseech you, brethren. Ye know the house of Stephanus, that it is the firstfruits of Ikea, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints, that ye submit yourselves unto such and to every one that helpeth with us and laboreth. I am glad of the coming of Stephanus and Fortineus and Achaeus, for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied, for they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge ye them that are such. The ministry of the saints. This word ministry is the meaning of a servant, of an attendant, one who is in attendance. You could read it this way. The house of Stephanus. They have attended themselves. They have made themselves servants to the saints. It's the ministration. Strong's definition of relief and of service. Ministering both in spiritual and in material needs to the saints. Thayer's shares it this way. The ministration of those who render to other Christians, to others, Christian affection. They minister to other Christians. Their ministration is to others in the body of Christ in Christian affection. Paul said it this way. Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls because ye were dear unto us. So, being affectionately desirous. This ministration, according to the Scriptures, he says that ye submit yourselves unto such. That word submit, that ye enlist under them and ye pay all deference to those. You pay attention and you look unto those who are given to the ministration of the saints and to the ministry of the saints in God's body. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours, he says. Therefore, acknowledge ye then that are such. And a casual reading of that, we don't get the depth of it. Acknowledge ye them that are such. Deeply appreciate them that are such. The ministry of the saints. I believe that I can safely say that as we fulfill this ministry, we are equipped and enabled to other ministries. Ephesians 4, verse 7, But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore, he saith, when he ascended upon high, he let captivity captive and gave gifts to men. So, unto every one of us is given grace. What is that grace that is given? It's the divine influence upon the heart. And it's reflection in our lives. Unto every one of us is given grace. Unto everyone is given grace. Divine influence. The divine nature of Christ upon our hearts. That it may be manifest in our lives. And it's given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Why is this given? For the perfecting of the saints. Ephesians 4, verse 12. Yes, he gave gifts. He gave apostles. He gave prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers. And he gave this grace upon the hearts of the saints that we could have this ministry fulfilled in us for the ministry to the ministering to the saints for the work of the ministry. So that the apostles and the prophets can do all the work of the ministry. No, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry. What shall this ministry accomplish? For the edifying of the body of Christ. For the building up of the body of Christ. For the filling in that which is wanting and that which is needful and that which is lacking and that which we are desiring. This ministry to the saints. For the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man. Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Oh, how I travail for you, Paul said. Till Christ be formed in you that you would know what it is to have Christ dwelling in you. Not a code of religious creed to keep, but a living relationship with the living Savior. Christ in you. The hope of glory. For it is He that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. The ministry of the saints. Just a few more scriptures before we get into some practical things. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting, my brothers, my sisters. Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are the household of faith. And that word especially is chiefly. It is most of all. It is above all. Did you hear that? This ministry to the saints, to the household of faith. It is especially to the household of faith. It is chiefly to them. It is most of all. It is above all to them. Bear with me if you think I'm getting off track here. May I preach this message without having to balance it? Hereby perceive we the love of God because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Whoso has this world's good and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Answer me, says the Lord. How dwelleth the love of God in him if he seeth his brother hath need and he shutteth up his bowels of compassion toward him? How dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in words, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know the truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him. The ministry of the saints. Isn't it grievous to see a saint of God neglecting the ministry right at his doorstep? But going out to try to win the world when there is ministry at his doorstep. And there are hurting souls right at his doorstep. The ministry of the saints. First and foremost, ye saints of the Lord, is to minister unto the Lord. Your first ministry this morning is to the Lord, not to the lost. You say, Aaron, these are strange things. My brothers and my sisters, your first calling in ministry is to give glory to God. It's to the Lord. Individually and corporately. We see it in the Old Testament and we see it in the New Testament. As the people prepared and sanctified their hearts and they worshiped the Lord, the glory of the house filled the place. Something will happen in your heart when you go from a stage of going through the form of things into actual true spiritual worship. And as you worship God, you will see Him like you haven't seen Him before. It will do something in your heart. Are you a worshiper of the Lord God of Heaven? Are you a worshiper of the Lord God of Heaven? Do you give Him worship? Do you give Him the glory that is due unto His name? Do you praise Him in your prayer closet? Do you praise Him in the midst of the congregation? Do you declare His mighty acts to those around you? That the Lord God in the midst of thee is mighty. Something is happening over there. God is in the midst of them. People are getting saved. It's hot around there. Sinners can't walk in the holy presence of God around there. They get saved when they go there. They can't stand it. Or the sinners walk in the midst of the holy people of God. And this smites my heart. I don't know if I should even say it. Can the unconverted walk amongst us for years? Let's just put it that way. And not get touched by the holy God whom we serve. Lord, have mercy upon us. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted and prayed, the Holy Ghost came in their midst and spoke and gave direction to the church. The Holy Ghost said, Separate unto me Barnabas and Saul for the work unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts chapter 13. See the setting? As the church was in right relationship with God and they ministered to the Lord in fastings and prayers. I wonder what kind of church service that was. I wonder how many people were sleeping. I wonder how many people were writing notes to their best friends while that was taking place. I wonder how many people were thinking about the ball game that afternoon. I wonder how many were thinking what they're going to do next week. In that type of a setting when the Holy Ghost was in their midst. And they ministered to the Lord and they prayed and they praised and they blessed the Lord God of heaven. The ministry of the saints. God didn't save you because you were so special. God didn't save you because you're so smart and you have a lot to add to His kingdom. No. God didn't save you because, my, look at that talented person. And my, what great things he can do for God. No, you have to die first. You have to get rid of those talents. You have to get rid of those things so that you can be an empty, broken vessel that God can pick up and the potter can make of the vessel what he wants. That's what we need. No, He saved you to give Him glory. He saved you to glorify His name. That He's the mighty God who does these mighty acts. And He can save to the uttermost all those who will come to God by Him. The ministry of the saints. Have you ministered to the Lord lately? Did you know the Lord needs ministering too? Did you know the Lord inclines His ear to those who minister to Him? Remember Cornelius? He ministered to the Lord. Remember Dorcas? She ministered to the saints. She made those girdles and those clothes and she was a minister. Point number one. The ministry of the saints is to the Lord. Everything else, forget it. If you don't have that one, it will be hollow and empty on the other points. Oh Lord, restore us back to Yourself. The ministry of the saints is your spouse saved. Let's see your hands. Is your spouse saved? Are they a saint? Your second ministry is to your spouse. Your first ministry is to the Lord. Point number two. Your second ministry is to your spouse. It's to your wife, husbands. How vain to go try to win the world with your spouse, your wife, hurting, neglected. We all know the verses so well. You know which verse I'm going to quote, right? You have a pretty good thought. You're right. It's husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. That is a ministry that every husband in this room has been called to. Minister to your wife as Christ ministered to the church. That's a high and a holy calling. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church. You cannot do that in your own flesh. You cannot do that apart from the love of Christ indwelling in your heart. You follow the Holy Ghost this morning? Your wife will know it. Our dear black brother from down in DC. Remember what he said? Is your wife happy? Is she happy? Well, but you don't know my wife. Stop. Let's let God put His finger on our hearts this morning. Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it that He might sanctify and cleanse it. Does your wife receive sanctification, blessing, cleansing from your life? Maybe I should turn there. Ephesians 5. Love your wives. Husbands, Ephesians 5.25. As Christ also loved the church and gave Himself. Have you given yourself to the ministry of the saints to your spouse? Do you think you'll have success ministering to the saints over here if your spouse is all dried up and withered away and you're pouring your affectionate love and ministry out there? Do you really think God will bless that? There may be some blessing come because God's Word is His Word and it will not return void. It may have some effect but it will be nothing compared to what it would be if your wife is shepherded and loved and cared for and ministered to by you, her husband. How shall you minister to your wife? So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. No man ever get hated his own flesh but he nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church nourish and cherish your wife, husbands, even as the Lord does the Church. Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself. Your second ministry is to your spouse. Wives, reverence your husbands. Minister to your husband. Is your husband a saint? He's got a lot of faults though. But is he a child of God? This ministry to the saints begins at home. It's grassroots. It's foundational to all other ministries. You know, I can't preach this this morning because I'm perfect or have arrived. My wife could tell you that. But I can preach it because it's the Word of God. And I can preach it because it's my desire to go there and to grow in the ministry of the saints right in my own house. To my spouse. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands. How? As unto the Lord. My! That's a high calling, isn't it? That husband who has faults and failures. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the Lord. Something beautiful is about to happen if we get a hold of this. But you know what? If I hold out on my wife waiting for her to do her part and she holds out on me waiting for me to do my part, do you think much ministry is going to happen to the edifying, to the glorifying, to the beautifying, to the nourishing and nurturing in our relationship? Probably not very much, you know, because my old selfish nature is just waiting till she does her part. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the ministry of the saints begins at home. Is she happy? Wives, are you submitted to your husband as unto the Lord? Do you give him deference? Do you let him take the spiritual lead? Or do you always have a better solution? Do you reverence him? Do you adore him? Do you support him? Does he know you're fully behind him? It'll make him fly. It'll make him excel when you do that, sister, even in spite of his faults, even in spite of his failures. Fourth point, the ministry of the saints begins at home. Do you know where I'm going with this? Ephesians 6. Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The ministry of the saints begins at home. Parents to children. Ye fathers, ye fathers, we fathers, provoke not your children to wrath. Don't frustrate them. Don't exasperate them by putting things upon them that they're not able to bear, that are maybe hypocritical. You want to defend your reputation? My children aren't going to do that. My children are going to walk the line like tin soldiers when we're in front of other people. Do they feel your nourishing? Do they sense your cherishing? Do they sense your love? Or is it law and order? Is this the rule of the house? No questions asked. What dad says is it. You know what happens to some of those? They can't find their way. They can't make it. They're hurting. They're wounded. They're crying out for love and acceptance. For some nurture. The ministry of the saints is from the parents to the children. Have I arrived in this area? No, I have not. You could talk to my sons and my daughters and they could tell you my failures. But my brothers and sisters, I want to go there in the world that we live in today. A family that knows they're loved and is nourished and cherished. And there's peace. And there's forgiveness. And there's forbearance. And there's long suffering. And there's grace. And there's love. And then there's some more love. And there's discipline. And there's some more love. And then some more grace. And more acceptance. And more cherishing. And more nourishing. And digging around that little plant. And thonging it and fertilizing it and watering it and nurturing that plant. Oh! A family like that today is like a city set on a hill. Children whose hearts are turned toward their parents. Who love their parents. And parents whose hearts are turned toward their children. In the world today and in the church today, many fathers hearts are turned toward other things. Sad. Very sad. It could be your business. It could be your hobby. Anything else. Your bank account. God forbid even sports. I was deeply grieved the other week as I heard growing men talking about sports. And listening to the radio. They can't wait for the newspaper to find out who won. And then talk about the players and how they fumbled the ball. Oh! What a hell. Why do you do that? They're not going to make it. Hoping they make the Super Bowl this year, but the way they're going they're going to get kicked out long before that ever comes. Growing men! Professing Christian men! Hearts going after other things. Sad. The ministry of the saints is at home first. Amen? Men and children you're not excluded. Children to their parents. Children obeying their parents. Young. New converted. Youth. Children in the home. Taking up prayer burdens. Praying for mom and dad. Coming alongside. Having spiritual fellowship. Yes dad. Yes mom. You lead the way. We'll follow. I want to serve God. Nah, you can't go tonight. That's alright. You know what's best for me? I trust you have my best interest in mind. Whatever you say mom. How can I help you mom? Here, I'll do the dishes tonight. Let me wash up the floor. Let me go change that diaper. Is that too practical? Is that too low? No, no. Seeing the work around the house. And just rise up and bless your parents. And minister to your mom. And minister to your dad. With a cheerful serving servant heart. Yes, children to your parents. Do you want to have a blessed life children? Children, obey your parents in the Lord. For this is right. It's always right to obey your parents. Honor thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise. What's the promise? That it may be well with thee and that thou mayest live long on the earth. We want that for you children. That's our hearts desire for you. It's a ministry of the saints. Are you addicted to the ministry? Have you made yourself servant to the saints? Have you made yourself a slave to the ministry of the saints? Somehow my flesh finds it easier to go minister to someone else. Do you ever find out, you know, it's easier to go minister to someone else? The glaring need in my own life and my family, maybe I don't want to face it. It's a little harder to minister to that one. I have to die to minister to that one. They know me too well. They won't be fooled by my actions. But if I can go minister to someone else who doesn't know my life, they'll say, what an encourager he is. May he bless my life. But you know, my spouse, my children say, Dad, what about you? Now, I'm not saying my children should say that. That's a wrong attitude for you to have, son or daughter. But, what about it, Dad? You know, I just have to face the reality. The spiritual condition in my home. Responsibility lies here. Whether my children are cherished and nourished and nurtured lies here. With Mom and Dad. With Dad first and Mom second. It's a great ministry. Think of the fruits of it. So, how many children do you have? Brother? Anyone? Two? Okay. Another one. How many children do you have? Brother? Eight? Okay. How many children do you have, brother? Three? How many children do you have, brother? Five? And how many children do you have? Thirteen? Is that right? You know, somehow we don't grasp it like we ought. This ministry right here is the greatest ministry that you and I have been called to. Now, take it down another generation. What's going to happen if you take these down another generation? Somebody tell me what's 13 times even 10. 130. Now take it just one more generation. 130 times let's just say five. What is it? 650. Brother, sister, if we fail in this ministry, we have utterly failed. If I fail in this ministry, it will affect generations to come. Well, but God's sovereignty has all things under His control, and you know, so it doesn't matter what I do. It doesn't matter so much what plans I make. You know, God has already decided who my children are going to marry and all these sorts of things. Oh, yeah? Do you think that the one who neglects this ministry and his children go out into the world and marry unbelievers, do you really think God and His sovereignty are designed for that to happen? Look in your family tree. Look in your family circles and see where this ministry has been neglected and go down one or two generations and look at the fruit. Can any of you do that? Do you have any of that in your family tree that you can look at it and you can say, My! One father and one mother who failed in the ministry of worship to God first and then failed in the ministry of nurturing and loving one another as husband and wife and then failed in the ministry of nurturing their children. Do you know any like that? This is an awesome thing. The ministry of the saints is foundational. It's grassroots. It begins in my heart, in my worship and ministry to God and in my worship and ministry to my spouse and in my ministry to my children first. Then second lay, when these things are in place, to my brother in the body of Christ and to my sisters in the body of Christ. Now does that mean this morning, lest you misunderstand me, does that mean we should not try to reach out and minister because we see our failings and our shortcomings? No, I don't think so. But we have to recognize this as truth and let truth sink into our hearts and into our ears and not stick our heads in the sand about the needs in my own life and the needs in my own marriage and my home. And if we'll face those things and humble ourselves, God giveth grace to the humble. And then when we're in a place of honesty and humility before God, then even in our failures and the things that God is teaching us at home, we can minister to another brother or sister in Christ in our congregation. Is that right? Can we do that? In that way then? Yes, I believe we can. But if we stick our heads in the sand and we try to pretend or ignore this ministry, it's all going to come crashing down someday. Very sad. Very sad. The ministry of the saints, I don't know that we have time to go into much else, but this must be in place. The ministry of the saints is first to the Lord, secondly to the saint closest to you, your spouse. And if you're single and not married, then you can skip that part and jump down to the next one. Maybe you have brothers or sisters who are unsaved. Maybe they're hurting. Maybe they're saved, but they're hurting. They need nourishing and they need cherishing. Maybe you're single here today, a youth, your ministry to your father and mother in honor and obedience. Your ministry to brothers and sisters in the church. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. He that ministereth in the spiritual sense and ministers by the grace and Spirit of God upon his heart in these ways. He shall of the Spirit reap life. Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. The husband man has long patience. He plants the seed and then he has long patience. You know, and first it's just a little blade. Then it grows a little bit farther. Begins to mature. Begins to develop. Finally in due season there is a reaping. Finally the full ear of the corn. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Chiefly to them who are of the household of faith. Most of all to them who are of the household of faith. Above all to them who are of the household of faith. And as these ministries are functioning, flowing in the body, oh, the body is built up. It is edified. It is strengthened. The church becomes stronger because as goes the home, so goes the church. Isn't it a little dry in our services? Things a little stuffy and stale. How is it at home? I believe I will close there. Give you opportunity to share. That we together as brethren and sisters can share. Do I believe in ministry to all the world? Yes, I do. But I believe we are selling ourselves short. If we try to go minister to all the world when there is glaring, wanting needs in our own homes. The ministry of the saints when this congregation tries to reach out to the community but we have unmet glaring needs in our own congregation. Hurting, wounded souls who are uncherished and unloved. Yes, I am building on last Sunday's message. In case you didn't know. How shall we go cherish and love those out there and sit beside a hurting, wounded brother in our congregation Sunday by Sunday but not see it and overlook it. I believe that does so much hindrance to the flow of ministry in our community. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all that I might gain them more. Unto the Jews I become as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under law as under law that I might gain them that are under law to them that are without law as without law, being not without law to God but under the law of Christ that I might gain them that are without law to the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have showed toward His name. How in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister the King shall answer and say, Verily I say unto you in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me. God bless you. I thank God for a shepherd among us. I do. Thank you Lord for shepherding us and guiding us and speaking to our needs. I appreciate it very much. I also thought of one area of ministry that I think would be good to address is what about the children? Who do they minister to? Who can you as a youth minister to? You can minister to your younger siblings. That's the place to start. Ministry for young people. I'm going to open up and just let you share that you share your heart. Do we have anyone who wants to share? Do you find it fulfilling to be in ministry or are you unfulfilled? Maybe it's because you're just looking at yourself. Is there anyone who wants to share this morning? Following this message? Put your hand up so I can see it. In the back. Yes, I just thank the Lord for the message this morning. I found myself thinking that Lord, didn't you have these messages in reverse? Last week was a beautiful message on the body and caring for each other and the body and now this week it seems almost like it's backwards but it seems as I thought about that that no, it was the right order. We needed to hear what the standard is that we need to go for and then we need to be challenged with the foundation to get there. And I was just blessed because I believe it's God's word and it's part of part of the pathway to revival. I think these messages we hear like this, it's just it's God giving us the very foundations. If we want revival that it's the only way I believe we'll get it if our homes and our relationships are in order like that. I just praise the Lord. I see so much room for growth in my life and I feel like the message was for me. Thank you. Certainly thankful for the message this morning. I believe that's God's heart that we start right at home and it's been a challenge to me and I really appreciate this encouragement to keep on looking at the needs right at home and then finding ways from there to reach out to those around us. Good morning everyone. Excellent. I'll just ask for the church to pray for me for to encourage me and encourage me in the word and pray for me for you know it seems pretty humbling for me to even stand up here in the middle of this church but I know it's good for people if they ask for prayers because I have needs in my trials for just pray for the Lord that to the Lord that he might show me some encouraging encouragements that I need to face into my life because I want to continue to grow and I know we have some struggles at home sometimes but I can't just say hey I'm going to excuse myself I'm going to blame it on everybody and all my family and all that but that doesn't work I mean it's what's in the heart I mean you don't want to I don't want to go to the next generation and get my children to blame everything on me because I want to submit myself to authority even though even though if he's not right with the Lord and I still want to submit to authority and be humble and I just ask the church to pray for me yes I'm thankful to be here today and to hear that reminder of our ministry where it all begins I was just thinking back upon my life 15 or 16 years ago I was feeling the Lord was leading me to marriage and I felt like he was leading me to trust him for how many children I would have that was kind of a scary thought to me and one time an evangelist came to our church and he was an older man 60 or 70 I think he was probably 70 then and he was a man who traveled around the world and he was a wonderful preacher and in one of his messages he shared that he had I think it was 10 children and so I thought well here's my chance to go talk to somebody so I went up to him after the service and I said I said brother how did you find time to prepare for the ministry with all those children how did you do it and he said to me brother my children have been the greatest blessing in my ministry they are the ones who have made my ministry what it is you don't learn spiritual truth in the seminary but you learn it in life and now 16 years later 8 children later my wife I can understand what he was talking about how God has used them to show me my need of Him my selfishness my flesh and also how to minister to people I'm learning there with my family and I just say amen to that message and it's blessed me a lot to hear to see the testimonies of some families that we're all in different stages of life and I'm thinking of one family in particular there was a time where they didn't do anything else they just stayed at home and they worked on the home and today their children are going around the world preaching the gospel and they're so there are seasons of life and Lord help us to do what we heard today God bless you Paul and your family and your ministry thank you my heart is full my mind is in a bit of a whirl so I'm not sure coherently said what I was still pondering a bit brother Clare's children's lesson and that upside illustration in terms of what things are foundational you know he had the wrong part of the house as the foundation we know that doesn't work and I just had to think about that as brother Aaron was preaching too and we lose sight of the things that are foundational in life by the time we figure it out based on what's happening to the house as I thought we've been praying for revival for a while and it seems to me the Lord is beginning to show us where the areas of revival are needed and what we need to do to have revival hope we have ears to hear hope I have ears to hear that he would continue to show us and to bring real solid lasting fruit bearing revival in terms of whereas dad just want to thank you for the message with me starting my new home just got married I see what dad put into our lives as children he said in his message you could ask his children and we would say he's not perfect but I would say he's very close and I want to follow in his footsteps and get these things down right and my whole life ahead of me and my home and dad I just want to thank you for example and for your message I know you are qualified to preach it because I know you try so thank you I really appreciated the order of the message and I believe that it was the right emphasis to say that number one in ministry is worship to the Lord and I believe that anytime the focus gets to something other that seems more captivating than the Lord even though it may be a good thing that it won't turn out right and for the emphasis on ministry to the family to the church, the saints in general that also is supremely important but I believe that the emphasis that it was first unto the Lord is where things really get into the place where the power flows in and through and makes the other effective and I thought as I thought of that also wanted to tie that into the first message why is it that so many people missed Jesus the first time as the brother was saying go back try to visualize I went back and I also went back and stood in the crowd and then I grappled with the tremendous responsibility of trying to understand who Jesus is if I had been there would I have understood, would I have come to faith in this Savior that was born in such an obscure way and then I began to ask myself well what did it take to acknowledge what did it take to come to the light of who Jesus was when He was born in the setting in which He lived, would I have been in the group of the religious who rejected, who were unbelievers would I have been among those that did not acknowledge Him or would I have been those that said yes, this is God's gift, this is God's Son, this is the Messiah and you know today it's not really any different it's not, I don't believe it's really any different for us to come to the place where we acknowledge who Jesus is, it takes the same thing it takes a revelation of God to our hearts and then it takes a willingness to respond in faith and a very important part of that revelation is the revelation of who I am, the needs, my sinfulness, a reality of my needs of a Savior and this is what I believe was in the hearts of those that come to acknowledge Jesus for who He was because they saw their own need before Him and I believe also the message of ministering to others, Brother Aaron's message that it will flow out of those who have come into the reality of their need for Christ and the worship and honor and glory that's given to His name and the sense of humility that comes and then a sense of purpose will flow out of that that will bring us into fruitfulness. I praise God for this morning. Thank you, Brother. Amen. I say amen to the message. God bless you, Brother Aaron. I'd like to read a few portions of scripture in Psalms 127, a very familiar verse for us. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows. For so He giveth His beloved sleep. Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of His womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. And I think the psalmist here would have said the same thing or echoed the words this morning. It's vain for us to go about our lives in building houses, guarding the city, working many hours and neglecting our children or our family. And as fairly new in the area, that's very popular in this area, is that we build bigger homes and we work longer hours, more days, but if we're not careful, we'll lose everything. And y'all have strove for, we have strove for these last 25 years, we'll lose the vision of the home. Lose the vision of the family. And it won't take but a generation and all will be lost. So may God help us. Amen to the message this morning. I just want to say, praise God. That's why we moved our family 3,000 miles to be part of this fellowship. For that blessing. And I never want to take it for granted. Thank you Brother Aaron for allowing God to grant you the desires of your heart and to preach with conviction. I need to hear it, I can't get enough of it. I've been meditating on Matthew 6.33 this month where it says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and these things will be added unto you. There's a couple of verses that give commentary to that. Over in Luke 17.21 it says the kingdom of God is within you. And again I agree, the emphasis of this message was seeking first that kingdom of Christ ruling over our thoughts, ruling over our being in our quiet times. But then the next step is to the saints and I want to thank the Lord for my queen this morning my precious wife who's here and our new little princess. We have a little baby girl and I'm so thankful that both are healthy. The little one was born five weeks early and Mama gave birth early because of an infection that could have been fatal. But my Father has had mercy on us. And I'm so thankful you're here today sweetheart. I'm so thankful. I just thank God for the hope and perhaps that's why that's my little one's name. I have so much hope that should the Lord tarry this is where my little flock is going to be fed. Anything I can do, any way I can serve, I want to. This is my home. We are so thankful for our elders and our ministers for providing a place for me and my house where we can be fed like we have been this morning. Thank you Brother Aaron. Thank you all of my ministers who have welcomed us in. Brother Aaron, I wish you God's blessing. I am so blessed to hear that kind of a message in its entirety and just straightforward. It didn't have to be any way balanced, but we could just hear the truth spoken in love as it needs to be spoken and it blessed me to hear that. I can say from my own heart that the last week, two weeks of my life as I've begun to settle back in at the Yoder household, I've just really felt God's blessing upon my life as I've yielded in those areas too and just begun to see revival in my own heart involving being under authority and pitching in and carrying part of the load. I just had to say, Brother, that it spoke from my heart. It was true. I thank God for those kind of messages this morning and I pray that we would never lose sight of those things. That would always be the heartbeat here and I sense that's the heartbeat of the brothers here, but I do realize also that it seems like when the rubber meets the road, it just doesn't quite pan the way we often talk like it should and we definitely need the help of God Himself. So I just pray that this would continue. God bless you, Brother. When we sang that song from Psalm 25, the Lord spoke to me, the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. What a balance. We've heard truth here today and He will have mercy on us to be able to obey. Thank you. The ministry of the saints, it can be done in your prayer closet, but in general, it is a physical thing. It is going over there and helping out. It is going to visit someone. It's taking someone under your wings. It's ministering to your children physically, your wife. Doing things for them, whoever you minister to, these are physical things and if we are going to be involved in ministry, ministry is physical outworking of the things that need to be done among us. Thank you all for sharing. I want to bless you too, Aaron, bringing the message, reminding us of those very needful things. Ministry one to another.