What Must We Do?

My wife and I are honored and humbled to be here. And the head of the church, our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, has inspired through His Spirit and with God the Father's authority, the leadership of the church, to give us the opportunity to serve you and to be helpers of your joy.

And our goal and mission is really to be helpers of your joy, to serve you, to help you, to grow, and to be ready as a bride for Christ's coming. That's our big job, brethren. We are humbled indeed, and we pray that God may give us wisdom to serve you in the truth, that He may give us love, to care for you in the right way, and to help you to grow in peace so that there may be growth in you in Dallas. And we are honored to have such a lovely group of well-founded members in the truth.

And I know the word you use is an incorrect word, but we'll use you. We will listen. We have to listen and then implement what is right and godly to serve you. But we do know that we have an enemy. We do know that it's not all going to be a bed of roses. There is a Satan trying to destroy us, to destroy the church, and to destroy every congregation and to divide us and separate us, because the least number of people that become sons and daughters of God, for Him, that's a victory.

And you know what? Unless you and I messed it up, God has made sure that we will be there. And you will be there. God wants you there. That's the Father's business. That's His job. To what? To make us His sons and daughters in His kingdom with His glory. So regardless of what age you are, young people all alike, you are important.

And we want to make sure that young people feel part, that this is not just Daddy or Grandpa's church. It's their church. And we want to make you part of it. And I know you all desire that. So what must we do to be there? And one of the things is we gotta be doing what God is doing, and what is He doing? If you read in Hebrews 2, verse 10, Hebrews 2, verse 10, He wants to bring many sons into glory.

In other words, into the family of God, as spirit beings. Turn with me to Hebrews 2, verse 10. Hebrews 2, verse 10. For it was fitting for Him, that's the Father, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory. To make the capital of their salvation, that's Christ, perfect through suffering. God has a mission. A mission is to bring many sons to glory.

And He delegated that task, that job, to Christ. And everything related to that project. Let's call it a project. He said, Christ, you do it. You gotta create a world, you gotta create people, you gotta train them, you gotta educate them, you gotta go out there and die for them. And Christ said, yes, sir, and I'll do it with pleasure. And He will reign over us, and when we all, and He's got all of us in the Kingdom, He will hand it over to the Father, and what will He say? Dad, mission accomplished. That's the job that the head of the Church has, and He wants you and I there, and He's done everything possible that you and I will be there.

Now, during the sermon, I mentioned about the mission of the Church, which is preach the Gospel and prepare the people. Prepare us as the bride to be sons and daughters to be in that wedding supper. Now, you and I know the mission of the Church, prepare the people and preach the Gospel, but do we really, could we state in just a couple of words the vision of the Church? Well, if I say, what is the mission of the Church? You can look at this little seal in front of the podium, and it's like, preach the Gospel and prepare the people, just two short sentences, and you've got it.

What is the vision of the Church, and what is the vision for you and I? Well, I just read it to you from Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10. But let me state the wording of the vision of the Church, which says, quote, a church led by God's Holy Spirit joined and knit together by what every man supplies, what every man supplies, obviously includes women, right? But all of us provide, add value to it, with all doing their share and growing in love to fulfill God's great purpose for mankind, which is what?

For us to be sons and daughters of His in the Kingdom of God, which says, which is to bring many children to glory. So brethren, what is our vision? You see, it's easy to say, okay, we've got a mission. A mission means we've got to do this. But you don't have a vision. Kind of the mission loses focus.

You and I have to have a vision, a hope, a goal, something that you're aiming at.

And how to get there.

And we know, you know, it's the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, right? But the Kingdom of God is the family God. That means is being sons and daughters of God and His righteousness is how to get there. But what are we supposed to do?

Now, when I read the vision a short while ago, it's kind of a long verbose thing.

And you probably don't even remember it, even though I read it a couple of seconds ago.

So one of our focuses in the Council is a project, and it will be delivered, hopefully, with our strategic plan this year, of focusing in a crisp way what is our vision.

And today, as I'm going to go through explaining how we need to grow in character, we are going to look at that very point of our vision.

And I want you to turn with me first to Ephesians 4, verse 13. Ephesians 4, verse 13. And it's talking about that God, as through Christ, has given us the ministry and leaders with the purpose, verse 13, to all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In other words, we are to become like Christ. We, that is the goal. That is our vision to be sons and daughters of God in the Kingdom. And as I mentioned, our goal to be there is to be in that family. And part of being in that family, you know from Revelation, there is going to be a marriage of the bride. And if we look at Revelation 19, verse 5 through 9, Revelation 19, 5 through 9, it talks about a marriage supper. And a key verse there is that says, Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. So, brethren, you and I are to be there, and our children are to be the pioneers in the world tomorrow. Imagine the world tomorrow, and you young people, you are going to be the leaders. You are going to be setting up the pattern of how things are going under the guidance of your parents and grandparents, which will then be spread to beings as part of that bride. It's going to be wonderful. You will set, as young people, you will set the standard. This will be very exciting for you. I mean, really, you'll be the young King David's beating the Goliath of the world in the world tomorrow. You will be the leaders. Be motivated, be encouraged. I want you to be excited about it.

So, brethren, but it says, we are chosen, it says, and we made ourselves ready. If we made ourselves ready, you see, you and I know that God calls us. John 6, 44, you know, no man can come to me unless we call, God calls us. But are we responding to that calling?

Are we responding to that calling by being committed? You know, our response does not only affect you and I, it affects our children. Look at 1 Corinthians 7, verse 13 through 15. 1 Corinthians 7, verse 13 through 15.

And we read there, it says, and a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. In other words, they set apart. They are chosen, they are called, let's put it this way, they are called. They have the opportunity to respond. And it says, otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. Young people, God is calling you. There's no doubt. And all you need is to say, yes, sir, yes, dad, heavenly dad, heavenly father, I want to please you, dad. Don't you want to please your father and your mother?

But how much more to please your heavenly father? And you're going to be there. He wants you there, and he'll do everything for you to be there. So don't say, oh well, maybe I'm not good enough.

None of us is good enough. I'm not good enough. None of us is good enough. But Christ has jumped that chasm, that pointer, we're not good enough for us. He's done that for us.

So don't worry about not being enough. All you have to do is make sure that you stay the course.

Don't give up. Don't give up. Do you know the parable of the wedding feast? Do you remember the parable of the wedding feast? It was the wedding feast. And you read that in Matthew 22, and from 1 to 14, the wedding feast. It says, come to the wedding feast. And some says, oh well, now whatever, whatever. And then at the end, it says, go out in the streets and call more people, because there's still spice.

Those that didn't come was their choice not to go. God is calling you. And then at the end of that parable, do you know what it says? Many are called, but few are chosen.

God is calling many. Unfortunately, few respond.

But the ball is in your court to respond. Young people, God wants you there.

And we want to make sure that you are being encouraged, looked at.

We want to do things to make you part of the church. We want to help you. We want to be helpers of your joy, because we are a family. We are a family.

And that's what the plan that God has for us, to be a family.

So then we have the other parable in Luke 8, which is the parable of the sower. And it says, they gave out the seed, and the seed is the gospel of the kingdom. And you know, the parable in Luke 8 says, then they went, some of it, by the wayside. And Satan went there and took it out. Why?

Went on the rocks and took the seed out. You read that parable in Luke 8, from the beginning till about verse 12 or so, or even beyond that. Why did Satan take it out?

Because that seed did not penetrate like the heart was like a rock.

Your heart and my heart needs to be soft, like good ground, to allow the seed to penetrate and arrange so that we respond to God. That's what we're going to do.

So we're going to start this way by responding. Responding.

And when you and I respond, what happens? When you and I respond to the calling, that means you make a commitment, and over a period of time you will be baptized, but that response shows a desire, an intent, a willingness to respond to God and do what He wants us to do. And when that is, you are amongst the few that are chosen. Because God has chosen you. Why? Because you have responded.

The ball is in your court. The ball is in our court. We have to respond. We have to respond.

And then we'll become chosen. And that's why we're reading 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9 and 10. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9 and 10. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9 and 10. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9 and 10. He says, But you are a chosen generation. We are chosen. Why? Because we're responding.

A royal priest to the Holy Nation, his own special people, God's own children, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You once were not a people, but you're now the people of God.

Once you had not obtained mercy, but now you've obtained mercy. Because you've responded.

We need to be responded. We need to be responding.

But then, you know, that doesn't end there. Why? Because there's going to be trials. There's an enemy. There's a Satan. And he's going to try and trip you. He's going to try and discourage you. He's going to try and make you feel negative.

Your peers at school are going to give you a hard time. But you have to remain fast on the road. And that means you have to remain faithful.

And then you read, for instance, in Revelation 1714. Revelation 1714, when it's talking about having all these trials and difficulties and the beast and the false prophet and all the things that are going to happen in the world, which they will come. And let me tell you, it's not many years from today. It's not many years from today.

If you think you've got a lot of time, you don't. We don't. Time is short. And so, when it's day in Revelation 17, talking about that situation, in verse 14 says that they will fight against Christ. But those that are with Christ are the cold, chosen, and faithful. In other words, those that will be resurrected and will be of Christ are those that have been called. And you are called. Young people, you are called. And some of your own family, young people that might not be here today, they are being called too. They will have to respond to be chosen.

But not only respond, they will remain faithful. And those that remain faithful till the end, and when is the end? When Christ comes or when you die, whichever comes first for those adult, mature Christians, they will be of Christ. And the children will be the pioneers in the world tomorrow. So they are the faithful. But faithful means you go through trials and difficulties, and what do you do? Remain faithful. Stick to it. Stick to it.

So brethren, we've got to endure. Now, if you read at Revelation 14 verse 12, which I quoted a little earlier, but let me mention, or maybe I haven't, sorry, but let's go to Revelation 14, 12. Revelation 14, 12, very quickly. Revelation 14, 12, Yah is the patience of the saints. Yah are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.

Again, Yah, this is talking about the pressure in society, and those that are holding fast, those that are holding fast, Yah is the patience. Now, what is the word patience here?

It's the, it's a Greek word which says, hupomani, which means cheerful or hopeful endurance, which is patiently continuing waiting. So we have to be patiently continue waiting for that day, regardless of trials, regardless of trials. Now, if you go back to that parable of the sower with the seed, and some of it fell on the rocky ground, you know, there was others, that for instance, one that fell, and it started growing, but then the cares of the world choked the gospel. And you know, what is the cares of the world? Materialism. You know, it shows people that grew fast, but then once the difficulties came, they gave it up. I usually call those people shooting stars. You know, shooting stars, quickly promoted whatever it is, and then fizzles away.

Because once the difficulties and the challenges come, they give up.

And so those challenges are the different tweaks. Not sticking to the branch of the tree, or to the main trunk of the tree, should I say, but getting involved in little tweaks, having the visions of little things, or even big things, but having divisions.

Different cares. Different things. Could be health-related. Could be health trials. Enormous trials.

I pray for this young lady in Dallas, Melissa, really very concerned about her.

And we do pray for her, and for her little one and family. So I hope you're all praying for her, too. I'm sure you are. So it's a very sad situation. But God's in charge, and He knows better.

But it takes faith as well. But once we have challenges and difficulties, it's easy to let go. So we have to, through these trials, become better people.

You know, trials are there to make us better. And so God allows these trials and difficulties and challenges. Why? Because He's testing our hearts. You know, God is testing our hearts. You know, you read Deuteronomy 13. I want to turn to that one. Deuteronomy 13, verse 1 through 5.

Deuteronomy 13, verse 1 through 5. Because the eyes say, when the streamer of dreams comes out, let's say, if there arise among you a prophet and a dreamer of dreams, you know, this guy, God knows it all. And he's telling you, I say, well, this is going to happen. This is it, and whatever it is, and you know what? It happens. Oh, we've got a following.

Oh, not so quick. That's what it says. Not so quick. Why? Because maybe a plot from Satan, you know, to kind of deceive us, because then this guy says, oh well, let's go and follow other gods. Let's start our own church. Let's do whatever it is. And you know what? You can start another family but gods, unless God has led it.

So what do we got to do? You remain faithful. And know that God allows trials for our good because he's testing our hearts. Look at it. At the latter part of verse 2, this individual, this dreamer of dreams, says, let's go after other gods. Let's go to another church. Let's go do this or whatever it is, which you have not known. It comes out of some new name out of the blue.

It says, you shall not listen to the words of that dreamer of dreams or that prophet or whatever it is. You shall not listen. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. God is testing our hearts. And so, what are we going to hold on? Who's going to hold on to the truth? Right? You can't compromise with the truth. And I've got a slide here that just shows, if you were to draw the truth in a straight line, if we can show up that slide, we got a point truth is important. And you know that if you just read, for instance, 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15, 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15, if we just look at that, 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15, it says, But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God. Yeah, in God's family, in God's house, which is the church of the living God, which is God's church, the pillar and ground of the truth, the truth. You cannot compromise with the truth. And you know what? God's law is truth. God's law is not dictatorial. God's law is revelatory. Revelates to us what is truth, but God's law is also love. And if you draw another dimension on there, we have love. So we have, in a sense, a little chart, a little graph of truth and love.

How are we doing it? Because you know God is love. Don't have to go to those scriptures. 1st John 3, I mean, 3 verse 18 through 19, we must hold on to the truth. 1st John 4 verse 8, God is love. 1st John 4 verse 16, we are to be like God, we are to be like Him, love. Love. And look at Ephesians chapter 4. We were there a moment ago, but I want to go there. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 13 through 16.

In verse 13, it says, come to the unity of the faith. You know, it was to be a perfect man like Christ. We read that. And then verse 14, there will no longer be tossed to and fro with every window of doctrine. In other words, we stick to the truth. We don't compromise with the truth.

By the trickery of man, which is basically inspired by Satan, in the cunning craftiness and deceitful plotting. That's what Satan is, is a cunning plotter.

Right? But verse 15, speaking the truth in love, that you may grow in all things unto Him, which is the head of Christ. Now, I'm sure your Bible says speaking the truth in love, or most Bibles say that, but you know that the word speaking is not there in Greek.

Oh, you probably never noticed it.

Because in Greek, the word speaking is not there, but the word truth is a verb.

Now, in English, truth is a noun. Well, in Greek, it's both a noun and a verb.

Oh, what does that mean? Because in Greek, it says, truth-thing, let's call it, if I was to make a verb out of the word truth. In Greek, it's truth-thing, speaking the truth, acting the truth, behaving the truth, being the truth, truth-thing in love. And brethren, that is our goal. That is the vision of the church. If we are to summarize the vision like we summarized the mission, the mission, preach the gospel, prepare the people, and the vision, I read it to you. Let me read it to you again. A church led by God's Holy Spirit joined and looked together by what every man supplies with all doing their share and growing love to fulfill God's great purpose for humanity, which is to bring many children to glory. To glory, you say, what did I say? Well, I tell you what I said. Truth-thing in love.

Ah, now I'm going to remember. The mission of the church is to preach the gospel and prepare the people. But our vision, our goal, is to be like Christ in words, being truth in love.

And so if you're looking at that chart, God is infinite truth and God is infinite love.

So if you were to say, where is God? He's on that chart. We'll be all the way out in the quadrant of truth and love infinity. If we, you and I, are to be like God, where do we need to be?

I think that's self-explanatory. But where are a lot of people? Let me give you, and let's move to the next slide, please. If we don't hold to the truth and we have little love, do you know what we are? Tradition, religion. Tradition, Christianity. They have practically no truth full of lies, and they're short in love. However, next slide, please. If we have love, we are licentious because we have no truth, and we go out into these licentiousness things of the swamp. All you need is love! All we need is love. Remember that song? Well, you need truth, too.

It's not just love, it's truth. You basically, these evangelicals put a label into a group, put a label into a group, but that's an example. It could be many others. And there are different grades of where you are in that scale.

Right? Different churches, different religions, and different... But let's now look at the next one. Next chart, please. If you stick to the truth but you have no love, you're a legalist.

You're a hardliner, dictator, or yeah, you've got all the truth, but you have no love.

Brethren, where you and I need to be is the next slide, please. It's in that quadrant of holding on to the truth and holding on to love.

We must be growing to be truth in love.

That's our vision. That's what we ought to be.

We ought to be a light of the world by being truth in love. Read the scriptures of you to be the light of the world. Matthew 5 verse 14 and 16, we have to be the light of the world.

You look at scriptures like the fruit of God's early spirit, love, joy, peace, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, meekness, and self-control. Those are truth in love. God is truth in love. How do we grow in truth? You've got scriptures like 1 Corinthians 13.

This is the love, and if you have all the knowledge and you don't have love, it's useless. It's a lot of scriptures that we can draw in and study in our own personal individual Bible studies about these points about being truth in love. So what is our mission? Let me put it another way. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 17 and 18.

2 Peter chapter 3 verse 17 and 18. 2 Peter chapter 3, right at the end of this little epistle.

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you fall from your unsteadfastness. Beware! Don't fall from the truth! Stick to the truth! Hold on!

The church is the pillar and the ground of the truth. That's what we're going to be.

Never compromise with the truth, never compromise with God's law, but in loving kindness, or in other words, in grace. Grace is God's love, it's God's kindness. Yes, it's God's mercy, but it's also His loving kindness towards us. So, he says, but grow, verse 18, in the grace, that is the love, the kindness, but keeping to the truth, growing that. And the knowledge, which is the truth, the grace and the knowledge, of our head, our head, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord Jesus the Christ, to Him be the glory of now and forever. So, brethren, what is our vision? Our vision is to be truth in love. How do we get there? By responding to the calling, by enduring our trials, and really working in being truth in love.