SILVANUS, Making A Difference In Church Work

[0:00] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to another word-filled message by David Entry. Preaching is the means by which God manifests His word and nourishes our spirits.

[0:12] May the life of God enter into you anew as you listen to this message. Be blessed. In 1 Peter 5, verse 12, 13, and 14, only two verses.

[0:25] 1 Peter 5, verse 12. By Salvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose. I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein we stand.

[0:43] The church that is in Babylon elect together with you, salute you, and so does Marcus, my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.

[0:56] Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. Father, thank you that you are raising some Silvanuses or Silasus amongst us.

[1:13] Thank you that you are raising some Marcuses in our midst just for your purpose. Thank you that you are pouring yourself into us, revealing yourself into us as we are in Christ, to be able to use us for your glory.

[1:30] In Jesus' name we have prayed. Amen. Hallelujah. We want to look at the American Standard Version of 1 Peter 5, verse 12 to 14, and then we will look at the NIV and then the message.

[1:48] Through Silvanus, a faithful brother, for so I regard him. I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God.

[1:58] Stand firm in it. Verse 13. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, send you greetings. And so does my son Mark.

[2:11] Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ Jesus. NIV. NIV. With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.

[2:33] Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, send you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.

[2:48] Peace be to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Then finally, let's look at the Amplified in verse 12 alone. Verse 12 says, By Silvanus, a true, loyal, consistent, incorruptible brother, as I consider him, I have written briefly to you, to counsel and urge and stimulate you, to declare to you that this is the true account of the grace, the undeserved favor of God.

[3:19] Be steadfast and persevere in it. Let's look at the next verse. Verse 13. Persevere. She, your sister church here in Babylon, who is elect, chosen with yourself, send you greetings, and so does my son, disciple Mark.

[3:41] Amen. This is so good. Now, I think, permit me to just go back a bit and talk about Peter. Peter. No one has been mentioned more in the Gospels outside of Jesus than Peter.

[3:57] Peter was more referred to in the Gospels, mentioned most times in the Gospels apart from Jesus.

[4:09] He was the one mentioned most times. But, you know, we have several accounts or several stories about Peter, particularly his failures.

[4:20] When Jesus said, you betray me. He said, me, not me. If everyone forsake. He actually thought he was better than everybody. He said, if all forsake, you ask for me, I will die with you. Jesus said, listen, even the cock will not crow thrice and you will deny me tonight.

[4:33] Not even next week. So, sometimes next year, you're forgotten what you said last year. But I said, tonight. Tonight. By the time the cock will crow, you have denied me three times. He was so sure, but he failed.

[4:46] He was the same person who, after he spoke on the behalf of the disciples about Jesus being the Messiah in Matthew chapter 16. The next time in verse 23, he takes Jesus aside.

[4:59] When Jesus began to explain and tell them about his assignment, his agenda, he takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Jesus. The Bible said he rebuked him.

[5:09] He took him aside and said, come, excuse me. Excuse me. Can you please? Master. Master. Master. Master. Please. Come. So, he called Master aside and away from the focus of the others and said, you can't be talking like this.

[5:24] He started rebuking. And Jesus, the Bible says that Jesus said, get behind me. Jesus turned to Peter. Turn to Peter. He said, get behind me, Satan.

[5:35] Because Satan has taken his, used his emotions. Satan likes to use emotions. So, those of us who are very emotional, Satan can use it easily. God can use it too.

[5:47] But the problem with emotions, they are unstable. And you can't guarantee that you will always be excited in your emotions for God to use you. You're excited about something.

[5:58] You see. But Satan can do so much with the little lack of excitement and excitement about God or excitement about the wrong things. Satan can do so much.

[6:10] What makes God use you much more and be able to do a lot with you is not only your zeal, but your knowledge. So, what you know about God and his word becomes your buffer.

[6:23] It becomes your basis, your grounds. It says that until we all come to the unity of faith. It says that for the Ephesians chapter 4, verse 13 talks about the faith.

[6:35] You know, apostles and pastors come to the unity of faith. Look at verse 14. It says that ye no longer be children tossed to and fro by every window.

[6:46] Don't ignore this. Every window of doctrine. Doctrine means teachings. So, it is your state of your understanding of what kind of teachings you have that determines your stability in the things of God.

[7:00] It's not how you feel about God and church. That's why a lot of people, anytime they feel funny about church, abnormal, abnormal. Some people say, when I meet God, I have questions for him.

[7:11] Look, I look at you. Please. You have questions for God. When you meet him, you can't even stand. You can't even stand. You know, so, our knowledge, what we know.

[7:23] For instance, in today's reading in Carys, 1 Timothy chapter 4, from verse 1 to verse 16, the whole of chapter 4. I realized he started talking about watch out because people will be diverted and follow teachings by devils, doctrines of demons.

[7:40] So, Satan will also introduce some deceiving spirits. They follow, you see, the spirit. Verse 1. The spirit is saying clearly that in the latter times, people will depart from the faith.

[7:53] You know, the faith here is talking about the set of truth. Please. Not feeling or action faith. But this is the information. Set of biblical, godly, healthy, wholesome, wholesome words of truth that you have.

[8:08] People will depart from it, giving heed. They start listening to deceiving spirits, telling them fornication, there's nothing wrong with it. Telling them that all this church, this all pastors are liars.

[8:20] Deceiving spirits are troubling you, my brother. Deceiving spirits are troubling you. You might have seen some quack and fake pastors Satan has ordained and trying to use them to divert you.

[8:31] And so you conclude, oh, pastors are bad. Look at what this pastor has done. Look at the number of cars that have been having accidents around the world. And yet, you keep, you own one. You are planning on buying me a different one.

[8:42] I've heard that one. So, you can't, you can't just say that. Not all mothers are bad. Not all fathers are bad. Not all husbands are bad.

[8:53] Not all wives are bad. Not all men are trash, excuse me. Not all women are garbage. You know, you can't say that. You can't say that. Not all churches are bad. Not all pastors are bad.

[9:05] So, Satan will deceive many. And they will give heed to deceiving spirits. Not even deceiving people. But the spirits are deceiving them.

[9:17] But how do they do it? They work through individuals. Deceiving spirits. And watch this. And doctrines. Demons have doctrines. Demons.

[9:28] Satan will use all kinds of teachings. And so, once upon a time, you feel so excited about God and church. But if you don't get grounded in God's word, Satan will send deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils to divert you from the things of God.

[9:45] And by the time you realize that you have departed from the faith. The reason why people backslide is not because someone offended them. It's because they are not grounded. Children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

[9:59] Every wind of teaching. Ideology blows you. Blows you off. Because some people say, Jesus is a black man. Ah! Really? I've always suspected that some people, this Christianity is a white man religion.

[10:13] I've always suspected that. Excuse me. Moses is not Scottish. Paul was not German. Excuse me. Neither was Silas an American.

[10:24] Hallelujah. I know. I know. You were taught. Some pictures were painted for you to feel that Joseph. Joseph was Irish.

[10:35] No, he was not Irish. Hallelujah. Praise God. So, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him.

[10:45] Peter was, you know, so Jesus had to make, when I spoke about Peter, I spoke earlier a lot about Peter and his shortcomings, his fallings. And John Jesus resurrected. He said, I'm going back to fishing.

[10:57] I go fishing. He left and went. And that night, he caught nothing. He was struggling. Things were not working. Ministry was, business was not working. Industry was not working. Every job he gets, they will sack him.

[11:08] Things were not working. Because he has decided to leave church. Some people, when they go, no problem. Later on, the crisis will come. But other people, when they try to leave, things will work against them.

[11:20] Because God has a bigger assignment for them. And they are a statement of grace. Why do you think that boyfriend broke your heart? He promised to marry you and took you out of your church. And broke your heart.

[11:30] Went for your best friend. And told you you are useless. And with their pain, you almost felt like dying. And you ran back to church. Hallelujah. Now, see the way you are singing beautifully in the choir.

[11:41] Can you imagine? See the way you are doing well. God knows what he is doing. God couldn't allow you to go. So, even that good boy became bad boy. Because your ministry was on the line.

[11:54] This is all functions of grace. Ah, that's what I'm talking about. Grace will not let you go. Grace will not let you go. And Peter came back.

[12:06] Was restored. And he denied when there was fear. He denied Jesus. Yes. He spoke when he didn't have spoken. He was. So, now Peter is writing to a suffering church.

[12:17] And he's telling them that you don't have to stand firm in faith. Stand in Christ. He was trying to use his own previous history. And how God has changed him.

[12:28] And now he knows what he's talking about. So, in chapter 5, when he got to the elders. He didn't even say that me, Peter, apostle. He said, a fellow elder. Fellow elder.

[12:38] I want you to know that I am actually a witness. I'm standing in the witness box of ministry. Of true service to God. And addressing you from that angle.

[12:49] I am not addressing you from a different angle. But I'm addressing you from an existential point of view. Or I am a living witness. I'm living what I'm sharing.

[13:00] I'm living what I'm saying. I'm living what I'm telling you to live. He says that I am a fellow. So, Peter was sending them a signal. But listen.

[13:10] I failed a few times. Hallelujah. I failed a few times. But grace picked me up. And I'm standing in grace as a witness of grace. Hallelujah. I feel like preaching.

[13:22] I failed. Listen. Have you failed? Have you messed up? Come on now. Come on now. Get up again. Because grace will keep you going.

[13:32] He said he called us by his grace. He called us by his grace unto his eternal, not temporal, eternal glory. That after you've suffered a little while.

[13:44] Can you imagine? Eternal and a little while. Eternal is unending. Little while is just a short time. But he said he will perfect you. He will establish you.

[13:55] He will strengthen you. And he will settle you. Hallelujah. I see that becoming your testimony. So Peter was talking. Now look at it. Let's look at the verse 12 again.

[14:07] By Sivanos, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, exhorting. Oh my goodness.

[14:18] Thank you, Lord Jesus. Exhorting. Watch this word. And witnessing. Testifying. Testifying. Testifying what?

[14:29] That you see. So he was given a witness about how he failed. But grace has made it possible for him to do it. What it takes a certain kind of people to do the work of God.

[14:42] It takes a certain kind of people to do what it takes to do the work of God. Number one, grace. It's that testifying of this grace in which we stand. Testifying that this is the true grace of God.

[14:55] You want to know the grace of God when you don't qualify. And you've lost everything. So long as qualification to be useful, to be used before God is concerned.

[15:09] And you turn to God with a genuine heart. He is able to supply grace for you to continue on the journey. For you to start the journey. Listen, I don't know what has happened in your life.

[15:22] But it's grace. And Peter. And it takes a certain type of people to testify of this grace.

[15:33] This is true grace in which we are standing. This is the true grace of God. This is the true. The true grace of God is that me, I can be a witness to you about what God wants to do with you.

[15:46] Because I'm doing it. How can I be in it? Some people, when you see them and the way they are on fire for Jesus, doing great things for God. God is using them immensely and mightily.

[15:58] You're wondering, is this the same person? Yes. This is the true grace of God. You don't write anybody off. Don't write anybody off. Because if grace finds them, you'll be disappointed.

[16:12] And there is the God of all grace. So he says that, testifying, I, Peter, I have written this. Oh, this is, it's getting stronger now, boy.

[16:25] It's getting my brother's existence. Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this? He said, I'm testifying. By, by Silvanus, if he will write down to you, as I suppose.

[16:36] I have written briefly. There's a lot I can write. But I'm just, this is to exhort. Exhort is to encourage you to do something. To encourage, in spite of your suffering. Encouraging you and testifying.

[16:50] So, I'm encouraging you. I'm just writing this to encourage you. To boost your faith. To keep telling you like, listen. In spite of what is going, what is happening to you.

[17:01] What has happened to you. What, what just happened. What has been happening. How disappointed you are. How hurt you are. How wounded you are. In spite of all that.

[17:12] Listen, I'm encouraging you to get up. So, the purpose of this is to encourage you. And, and guess what? Not just encourage you. And to testify.

[17:23] So, a witness is encouraging you. When you hear my testimony. It should be an encouragement for you. To continue. And guess what? This is my testimony.

[17:34] And my encouragement. Couldn't come to you. Any other way. But by Sylvanus. Hallelujah. Sylvanus.

[17:45] Every church. Every move of God. Every anointed and called pastor. Church leader. Needs a Sylvanus.

[17:57] Because your witness. Pastor, without your Sylvanus. Your witness will be stifled. Your witness will be blocked.

[18:09] Your witness can go. Because I, in Psalm 68 verse 11. It says, God gave the word. And great is their company. The Lord gave the word.

[18:19] Great was their company. It takes a company to do the work. Great is their company to publish it. For it to go beyond yourself.

[18:32] Listen. Your testimony. For your testimony to go beyond yourself. Beyond your four walls. Beyond your community. Beyond your world.

[18:43] Beyond your generation. There is the need for a Sylvanus. Sylvanus. Where are you? Sylvanus.

[18:54] Don't follow Alexander the Coppersmith. You are a different breed, Sylvanus. You are a different breed, Sylvanus.

[19:07] Pastor needs you. God actually needs you. Because without you. The testimony can't go. Because it goes by Sylvanus. Through Sylvanus.

[19:21] Sylvanus. Don't follow. Don't follow. Don't follow Hymenus. Don't follow. Demas.

[19:32] Demas. Paul said, Demas has forsaken me. Second Timothy chapter four. Demas. Yeah. For Demas has forsaken me. Because he loved.

[19:42] Iyanapa. He loved. Afronation. Yeah. He loved. He loved. Partying. He loved. Partying. Boozing.

[19:53] And drinking. And dancing. He loves comfort. He loves convenience. Having loved his present world. And has departed. For those days.

[20:03] Thessalonica. Is the place for. Afronation. Where people go and have fun. Real fun. It was the nightclub.

[20:17] The party time. Party world. Of those days. They would go. Let me just go and enjoy my life. Let me just go. Let me go and enjoy my life with my boy.

[20:28] With my girlfriend. With my. Let me go on vacation. Staycation. Oh yeah. You have left church. You are going on vacation. You.

[20:39] You are a Demas. Because of. A girl. You have left God. You know you are backslided. That's why you said. I'm leaving church. It's not because the church is far.

[20:50] I'm going for a different church. You are going to hide. Because nobody knows you. You are going with that girl. To go and hide there. Demas. Demas.

[21:03] Demas has forsaken me. But. Silvanos. Without you. Peter. Senior apostle.

[21:15] Writing this crucial letter. To a suffering church. In a crucial time. Where people need the voice of the apostle. They need the voice of the apostle. To encourage them.

[21:26] Silvanos is needed. Silvanos is needed. Who is Silvanos? Silvanos. In the NIV. The NIV calls him Silas.

[21:39] But the King James. New American Standard Version. And many other versions. Call him Silvanos. And I pleasantly submit to you. As I briefly mentioned. In the previous teaching. That Silvanos.

[21:50] Is the same. As Silas. Silvanos. Is the same. As Silas. Silvanos. So who is Silas? Who is Silvanos?

[22:02] There are a few things I've written down about Silvanos. But before I even go there. Look at what Peter said again. By Silvanos. He should have said by Silvanos. I've written by Silvanos.

[22:13] By Silvanos. Then he poses and puts. See. That's a parenthetical statement. It has brackets. Oh sorry. Commerce. If you take the one.

[22:23] The faithful brother onto you. If you take it there. It doesn't change what you're trying to say. Okay. And then the I suppose. So. By Silvanos. I have written briefly.

[22:35] But he couldn't just mention his name and pass. See. And this one. Sometimes when you are studying the scripture. Take your time. Some things might be mentioned briefly. But it is loaded. It's like you are trying to pull.

[22:47] Yeah. Sometimes you have a cloth or something. You want to pull. You see. Maybe. The fabric. Something. You know. It's like a string. You want to pull.

[22:58] You didn't realize that. It's connected to you. You pull it. It's like the ladder. Ladder. Tights.

[23:09] So. You might see something small. So it's mentioned lightly. But it's not light. Silvanos is not light. Until you begin to get into Silvanos. You won't realize.

[23:20] The seriousness of the person who has been mentioned. Because it takes a person like that. To get the word going. To get the testimony going. For others. To pick up. Their guns.

[23:30] And start fighting for the Lord. Silvanos. I pray that. It will be said of you. That you are a Silvanos. Now look at how Peter posted. He said. By Silvanos.

[23:41] A faithful brother. He said. I have people who have their own opinion. But as I suppose. Now. The original word. As I suppose. Or this phrase. Is. As I deem him.

[23:52] As I consider him. As I count him. As I consider him. So. I. The one who is writing. You see. I don't know. He's funny to some people. Some people don't like him.

[24:03] Some people may say. Some guys may say. All kinds of things about him. But as long as I'm concerned. This is a faithful brother. Yeah. Because the work I'm doing. I need some faithful. And this guy has proved himself faithful.

[24:15] You see. It doesn't matter who you are. Because you're a human being. Others will have their own negative opinions about you. Yeah. Don't be so much worried. About how you've tried everything. And still they see you negative.

[24:28] Don't be worried. But at least. It's important that your apostle. Your pastor. Your leader. Must be able to say that. So long as he's concerned. Don't say.

[24:39] Anyway. It doesn't matter. My pastor doesn't like me. My prophet doesn't like me. My leader doesn't like me. So I don't care what they think. No. You have to be very concerned about what they think. Because Peter must say.

[24:49] As I suppose. I consider. I consider. Because I'm working with him. I'm sending this thing through him. I can't send it to someone. I don't consider.

[25:00] Peter. I'm sending this. So it matters. Don't join some others. Who will make you be disconsidated. If I can say a word like that.

[25:11] Yeah. Yeah. Peter. Said. By Silvanus. A faithful. Oh. That phrase. Is so good. Our faithful brother.

[25:24] Our faithful brother. It takes. A faithful brother. It takes. A faithful brother. Faithful sister. Faithful.

[25:34] Member. Faithful. Church. Member. Church work. Faithful. Who continue. The testimony of God. In the house. Yeah.

[25:46] It is not titles. But faithfulness. So Jesus said. When the master comes. He said. Well done. Matthew 25. 21.

[25:56] And 23. Matthew 25. 21. And 23. He said. Well done. Good. And what? Faithful servant. Why? Because it is required.

[26:07] First Corinthians chapter 4 verse 2. It is. It is a necessary requirement. For someone. Who is entrusted with something. It's required of a steward. That he be found. Found.

[26:18] That means you have been assessed. In yesterday's reading. We found out. How he says that. Don't put someone. Who is a novice. Into pastoral office. Say. Don't put him.

[26:28] He shouldn't be a novice. Lest. He will fall into the pride of the devil. Or the. He will fall. Puffed up with pride. And fall into the same condemnation of the devil. Then when it comes to deacons.

[26:39] Deacons are people who are just serving. Not people who are preaching. And they are servants. They say. So. Another way of deacon. Is minister. Who is a minister? Someone who is servant. A servant of the church.

[26:50] What is it. This. What. Now in this. We have ministers. Who just want to be seen. Behind puppets. Or behind internet. And everybody giving their attention. No. A minister is behind the scenes.

[27:01] Seven. A minister should be the one who is serving. Seven tables. The menial ones that. Others will not even see. And clap for. That's what. A minister is specialized in doing. So.

[27:11] A deacon. Who is a table server. Who is a minister. He said. A deacon. Watch this. This is so important. It talks about how. A deacon. Must. Be first.

[27:22] Tried. Yeah. He said. Must be tried. It's there. When you read it. It says that. Having been tested. Having been tried. Must be now put into the office. It's there.

[27:33] Yesterday we read it. Yes. See. Verse 10. But let these also. First be tested. And let themselves. As deacon. Be found blameless.

[27:45] Let them. They must be tested. Don't come to the church. Because you. You are a manager. At your. At your workplace. They should make you. A ser leader. No. You have.

[27:55] Please. You have to be tested. You have to be tested. How much you can. Take certain shocks. And take pressures. For the name of Christ.

[28:06] Without flipping. Without flipping. Anything that I'm not sure. A little bit. You are off. You are off. No. You have. Some. There are too many people.

[28:17] In our generation. Who have failed. The test. Of church leadership. But yet. They have gotten the titles. But they don't know. They are failures. In the. With the titles. It's just similar to someone.

[28:28] Who has bought his degree online. You didn't write. You just pay some money. They send it to you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

[28:41] All right. Let's get on to. The word. So. He says that. A faithful brother. A steward must be found faithful. Faithfulness.

[28:51] Is a crucial. Quality. Is a crucial quality. Of anyone. God. Can take far. Or anyone. Who can make a difference. In the things of God.

[29:02] Faithfulness. So. Now. Salvanos. Is a faithful brother. Let's look at. Salvanos. For a minute. I've written down. A few things. That I found out. About Salvanos. Number one.

[29:14] According to. Silas. Okay. Or Silas. Silas. Salvanos. The same. Few things. I've written down. According to the book of. Throughout the book of Acts.

[29:25] He was actually referred to as. Silas. And. Referred to. As Salvanos. In the epistles. Four times.

[29:36] Salvanos. But. Silas. All the book of Acts. You see. Silas. Silas. Silas. Silas. Silas. Silas. Silas. Hallelujah. And.

[29:47] In Acts chapter. 15. Verse 22. When there was. Some issues. With the Gentiles. Gentiles. In the Gentiles. Paul. And. Barnabas. Went to Jerusalem.

[29:58] To see the elders. To settle. So there was. An. Apostolic. And church. Elders. Council. And the whole church. In Jerusalem. They gathered together. And.

[30:09] And deliberated on the matter. And. When they came to a conclusion. Arrived at the conclusion. They wrote a letter. To be sent to the Gentile churches. As to how. Gentiles.

[30:20] Who have now become born again. How they should conduct themselves. And guess what. It was Paul. And Barnabas. Who came and met them. With this issue. But they didn't want to send. Only Paul and Barnabas.

[30:32] They needed certain time. So. Certain type of people. So listen. He said. Then. It pleased the apostles. And the elders. With the whole church. That's in Jerusalem. To send.

[30:43] Chosen men. Wow. These are. The choice. Chosen men. King James. Yes. To send. Chosen men. Of. Their own company.

[30:54] To Antioch. With Paul and Barnabas. So you have to accompany. Paul and Barnabas. These are chosen men. Men. Bible calls them. Chief men. Amongst the brethren. Can you imagine?

[31:05] These are senior guys. Number one is. Judas. Send him. Basabas. So Judas. Basabas. And then. Judas. Basabas. We didn't hear much. About him again. But.

[31:16] Silas. So Judas. Basabas. And Silas. Silvanus. They said. We need. There is problem. In the church. Over there. We want. A Silvanus.

[31:27] A Silvanus. Must go. And get it sorted. We are sending letters. So. Number one. What we have to know. Look at verse 25. Verse 25. What we have to know about Silvanus.

[31:38] Is that. Silvanus. It seems. This is what the apostle said. They wrote the letter. It said. It seemed good to us. Being assembled with one accord. To send. Oh. Chosen men unto you.

[31:49] That's. Unto you. With. Barnabas and Paul. Chosen men. So. Silvanus. Or. Silas. Or Silas. Is one. Of the two. Chosen men.

[32:01] Chief of the men. Appointed. By the apostles. To send. To go and get the matter solved. Yeah. An apostolic delegation. So.

[32:11] They were. Chosen men. Or. Chief. Amongst the brethren. Chief men. Amongst. So. Number one. Silas. Okay. Let me. Pastor. So what's the difference. With. Silas.

[32:22] And. Silvanus. Silvanus. Is a Latin. Name. Okay. And then. Silas. Some scholars believe. Is a Greek. Version. Or.

[32:32] Of the Latin. Name. Or. A Semitic. Version. Of it. But. Some also believe. The short form. So the way. Georgina. Can be. Called. Gina. Okay.

[32:44] The way Michael. Can be called. Mike. Or Mickey. The way Joshua. Can be called. Josh.

[32:54] Right. Same way. Some believe. That. The Greek. Version. Of Silvanus. Is. And a short. Version of it. The Greek. Short. Version of it.

[33:04] Is. Silas. Now. So. They sent. Silas. Chief man. So number one. Silas. Is a chosen. Is. Amongst. The chief. Men.

[33:15] You know. Notable men. In the Jerusalem church. Number two. He was also. When you look at. Verse 22. Again. He was part of. The apostolic team. Apostolic. He wasn't an apostle.

[33:26] But he was in. The apostles company. He said. Send chosen men. Of our own company. And look at. Verse 33. Verse 33. When they have finished. The job. After they had.

[33:38] Tarried their. Space. They were let go. In peace. From the brethren. Onto the apostles. Because they belong. To the apostles company. So after they finished. Their job. The brethren said.

[33:48] Okay. You can now go back. To their company. So. Silas is. Part of the. Apostolic company. Serious guy. Number three. Verse 26.

[34:00] Of the same. Acts chapter 15. Verse 26. These are men. Who have hazarded. Their lives. For the name. Of the Lord. Jesus Christ. Do you know.

[34:10] What it means. To hazard your life. Put your life. In danger. When your emotions. Are a bit. Offended. Then you are. No. Your entire life. Is in danger. These are people.

[34:21] Who know their emotions. Their entire life. Are in danger. For the name of Christ. Their entire life. Sometimes. It's your finances.

[34:32] Sometimes. It's your career. Sometimes. It's your family. Sometimes. It's your health. Sometimes. It's your relationship. Sometimes. It's your friendship. Must be jeopardized. For the name of Christ.

[34:44] If they need be. So these are men. Who have hazarded. So when we talk about Silas. It's someone. Who is ready to. Put. Anything important.

[34:54] In their life. At risk. For the name of Christ. Number four. Silas speaks. It's the apostolic language. When he's there. Whatever he says. It's not different.

[35:05] From what the apostles will say. There are people. As a pastor. You say. I send them to places. And I'm not. I want somebody to send. I know this. Why I can't send. Because he'll go.

[35:15] And represent himself. He won't go. He won't go. He won't go. He won't go. He won't go. He won't go. He won't go. To represent the church. He'll go. To represent his own interests. Like Americans say. We stand for American interests first.

[35:28] Yeah. So. Verse 27. Look at verse 27. Verse 27. Tells us. A little bit more. About. Silvanus. We have sent. Therefore. Judas.

[35:39] And Silvanus. Or. Silas. Who shall also. Tell you. The same. Things by mouth. The same thing. The same thing. Tell you. The same thing.

[35:51] We used to have some. Cell leaders. Who. The material. That everyone. Has been taught. To. When they go. They don't talk about the material. They say. Today. God.

[36:01] Speaking to me. No. You see. That's not a Silas. That's not a Silas. That's why. You make Peter's message. Get missing. Because Peter said. Buy. Silvanus. I've written. We need some Silvanus.

[36:13] So that the work. Can continue. Any church. That is not growing. Or that is not doing well. If the problem. Is not with the pastor. Then. The Silvanus. There are. There are lack of Silvanus.

[36:23] Around. Yeah. There are lack of Silvanus. Silvanus. And. Demas. Potentially. Has recruited some. Demas.

[36:33] Like recruiting people. During lockdown. If you are not. You have been recruited. What are you doing. In that boyfriend's room. You have been recruited. That's why. You are not going to church.

[36:44] You are. You are going to live. With your boyfriend. And girlfriend. You have been recruited. And you have some church members. Who say. There's nothing wrong. They have recruited you. Hey. So.

[36:58] Speak the same language. So. Silas. Or Silvanus. Will speak. The apostolic. Same apostolic. Language. Number. Five.

[37:09] I like this one. Silas. I didn't realize that. Come on. Look at verse 32. I want you to see. Before I tell you what it is. You can tell for yourself. Look at verse 32. And Judas and Silas.

[37:19] Hey. Being what? Prophets also in themselves. See. He said. Peter said. I've sent this one. He didn't say. No. No. I'm a prophet. Let me also send my own message. No. This.

[37:30] This is a solid guy. They're prophets also in themselves. Yeah. Silas. There was a prophet in the Jerusalem church called Judas.

[37:43] It's not Iscariot. But this was Judas Basabbas. Prophets. And then. That's why he said. Chief amongst the brethren. So it was very difficult. You can tell.

[37:54] Peter and the apostles who find it not easy to send these guys. Because these are notable guys. But they send their best. They send their best. Silvanus. Silvanus.

[38:05] Silvanus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So they sent. Silvanus is a prophet. Number six. From 2 Corinthians. I will jump to 2 Corinthians and come back because of the point.

[38:18] 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 19. Paul says. Silvanus and Timotheos. Timotheos. Timothy. Okay. Timotheos. They were also preachers.

[38:28] It says that. For the son of God Jesus Christ. Who was preached amongst you by us. Even by me and Silvanus. So Silvanus was a preacher. He was a preacher. Not only a prophet.

[38:39] But a preacher. Of the son of God. He was preacher of Christ. Number seven. Verse 34. Silvanus will always go an extra mile.

[38:52] Yeah. Now after they have finished their job. When you read verse 33. Bible says that. They let them go. So. After they had tarried there a space. New King James.

[39:03] So it makes it a bit more easy. After they had stayed there for a time. They were sent back. With greetings from the brethren to the apostles. But.

[39:15] Silas. However. It seemed good to Silas to remain. He went. They have sent you for a job. Go back to Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem is a good place. That's where all the big guys were.

[39:28] Jerusalem was very good. That's why. When they got to Pamphylia. Acts 13. 13. Marcus left. And went back to Jerusalem. Yeah. He was homesick.

[39:39] He departed. This is Paul. And Barnabas. They were going to do God's work. They sailed from Paphos. They came to Bega. In Pamphylia. Bega in Pamphylia is another place.

[39:52] That place. The things were very hard. And John. Departed from them. Returned. So everybody would like to go back to Jerusalem. However. Silas. When it was time to go.

[40:03] He didn't go. Judas went. Judas. Bathabas went. But. However. It seemed good. Silas felt. I want to be still here. And make sure I dedicate myself more.

[40:14] Instead of going back and relaxing. And living a normal life. So Silas. Will go an extra mile. Is that one?

[40:24] I think I'm talking to a Silas. Yeah. God is calling you Silvanus. Number 8. He was Paul's choice companion.

[40:36] Paul chose him. That means I want to go. Others have left. I've rejected others. But you. You are the key person I want to go with. Chapter 15 of Acts. Verse 40. Paul's choice companion.

[40:47] Paul chose him. I want to go with you. May you be chosen. And Paul chose Silas. And departed. Paul chose. He was Paul's choice companion.

[40:58] So in Acts chapter 16. Verse 19. Acts chapter 16. Verse 25. Acts chapter 16. Verse 29. All you see. And the master. They seized Paul and Silas.

[41:09] And dragged them out. And. They beat them. And 25 said. They put them in prison. They threw them into prison. Verse 25. But at midnight. Paul and Silas were. See.

[41:19] He was. Timothy was part of. But they didn't mention Timothy. It's Paul and Silas. Look at verse 29. When the jailer realized that. He fell before Paul and Silas. Silas was a serious guy. Silvanus.

[41:31] Serious. He became. Paul. Major. Traveling companion. That's why Paul was saying. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 1. Verse 19. We just read. That by Silvanus. I preached Christ to you. The price that was preached to you.

[41:42] By us. Even by me. Silvanus. And Timothy. He was a major guy. Paul's very. Very. Serious. Chapter 17. Of Acts.

[41:52] Verse 4. It talks. Verse 10. Verse 14. Verse 15. Particularly. Chapter 17. Verse 4. Some of them. Persuaded. And a great multitude. Of the devout grief.

[42:04] And not a few. Leading women. Joined Paul. Silas. You can see. It was always. Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas. Paul. After Barnabas left. It was. Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas.

[42:14] But look at verse 14. And verse 15. I want to show you something. Paul was whisked out of the place. So he took it. So then immediately the brethren sent Paul away. To go to the sea.

[42:26] But both Silas and Timothy remained there. Okay. But look at it. They later on had to come and tell Timothy and Silas. Paul needs you. You have to go to Paul. Look at verse 15.

[42:37] So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens. And receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed.

[42:47] I can't do it without this guy. And Timothy. Paul. Silas. Where are you? Come to me with speed. And receive commandment. And look at chapter 18 verse 5.

[42:59] When they arrived. Paul. Paul's spirit was lifted. And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia. Paul was compelled by the spirit. As soon as some people come around you.

[43:09] The ministry begins to take a different shape. Holy Ghost is he moves better. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Praise God. Alright. Because of time.

[43:20] So that's number 8. Number 9 is. Ah. He was a Roman citizen. Now. That's why he had a Latin name Silvanus. He was a Roman citizen. Just like Paul. Yet he was a Jew.

[43:32] Okay. Okay. Both of them have said it. So he was a Roman citizen. In Acts chapter 16 verse 37. He said. Paul was saying. They are beating us publicly without charge. Even though we are Romans.

[43:45] Uncondemned Romans. Romans. So it's not only me a Roman. But me and Silas. We were Romans. So he was a Roman. That means that he had access anywhere. He could travel anywhere.

[43:56] And so then. He can go into certain places where the Greeks were. And receive some immunity because of a Roman citizen. And yet he was Jewish. So he could also enter the synagogues. And preach.

[44:06] Well. He had dual citizenship. He was a Jew. Because. How do you know he was Jewish? Because they sent him from Jerusalem. And when they wrote the letter. They said. We have chosen men from amongst us.

[44:18] All right. They sent the men. To go and sort out the problem. Among the Gentiles. So they wrote the letter. And then sent it by the hands of these guys. To go and sort out. Acts 15 23.

[44:29] I'm sorry. And they. They wrote letters. By them. After this manner. The apostles. And elders. And brethren. Send greetings. Unto you brethren. Which are.

[44:39] Of the Gentiles. In Antioch. Syria. And Cilicia. From Jerusalem. So. It is the apostles. And the company in Jerusalem. Who sent. Because there was a problem. With how Gentiles.

[44:51] Should be integrated. Into the church. He was already a Jew. That's why he was sent. To go and talk to the Gentiles. But he was a serious guy. He was a teacher. He was a prophet. He was a preacher.

[45:03] Servanus. I see God is raising. A lot of Servanuses here. So number 10 is Jews. And then. One more. Let me add one more. It was Peter's companion. Now. That was one who used to travel with Paul.

[45:14] And. He. He became Peter's companion. That's why Peter said. By Servanus. I have written. By Servanus. I have written. Because this guy is. I mean. By Servanus.

[45:26] By Servanus. That's why the letter. Has gotten to us today. Because there was a Servanus. Yeah. We are reading this. Because. There was a Servanus. There was a Servanus.

[45:37] To be able to carry on. The. Witness of Peter. Of what this grace of God can do. Now. Watch this. What's the point here. He needed a Servanus. Someone who is a living witness. Of the things he's preaching.

[45:49] Who has hazarded his life. He is a prophet. By who. He humble himself and save. He is a preacher. By who. Keep quiet. And let Peter write. And send it. He will say. Let me also have. Me to have something to say.

[46:01] Me to have something. Are you the only one preaching. Me to have something to say. No. He's. He's. He's. I mean. The guy is loaded. And yet. He's. Peter said. I consider this guy faithful.

[46:12] A faithful brother. Whom I can count him so. I consider him so. He's a faithful brother. To insult you. And let you know. You see. Watch.

[46:23] This is very important. Testifying that this is the true grace. All of us are able to do this. Because of the true grace. So how are you able to do God's grace. Grace. Number two. By the hands of Silvanus. God cannot do anything on earth.

[46:35] Without the person who is going to use. Receiving grace. So he said. He said. We are testifying. That this is the true grace. All of us. Whatever we are doing. We are testifying. But we are not just. We are witnesses.

[46:46] So I need that. Another witness. Silvanus. To send him. Witnesses. Hallelujah. So by Silvanus. A faithful brother. Unto you.

[46:56] I suppose. I have written. Briefly. Exulting. And testifying. That this is the true grace of God. Where we stand. The church. That is a Babylon. Elected together with you.

[47:07] Salutes you. The church elected. No. Remember. In chapter 1. Verse 2. It calls us. We are the elect of God. We are the elect of God. Elect. According to.

[47:18] So. We are not elected alone. There were others also elected. Another way of putting it. Is chosen. Okay. Chosen. Chosen. Chosen. So. The church. At Babylon. Chosen.

[47:29] Elected. 1 Peter. Chapter 2. Verse 9. Said. For you are a chosen generation. We are chosen. Romans. Chapter 16. Verse 13.

[47:40] Romans. Chapter 16. Verse 13. Salutes Rufus. Chosen in the Lord. Oh. Hallelujah. And his mother. Some people are chosen. We are the chosen people. And he says that.

[47:50] The church. Also. In Babylon. Chosen. Sends. Their greetings. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. In Romans. Chapter 8. Verse 33. Romans 8. 33. Talks about.

[48:01] Who can bring a charge. Against God's chosen. Against God's elect. Can you imagine? We are the chosen. Ephesians. Chapter 1. Verse 4. It talks about. How God has elected. Or chosen.

[48:11] According to how he has chosen us. In him. Before the foundation of the world. And he says. Peter makes it clear that. This being chosen. We are not alone. There are others. Who are also chosen with us. Quickly.

[48:22] Let me throw a little bit light. On this Babylon. Where was he writing from? Usually. This. When he says that. The church in Babylon. Or the church. That means. The church. Who are where I am.

[48:33] Send their greetings. So now. It stands to suppose. That. It stands to imply. That he was writing. From Babylon. Now. Some. It has become. A theological.

[48:44] Quagmire. Over the years. Was it Babylon. Or was it a nickname. He was using. For Rome. Because. At some time. At some point in time. It seemed like. Babylon. Or Rome.

[48:55] Was referred to. Was nicknamed Babylon. Based on Revelation. Chapter. 17. Verse. 5. It was nicknamed. Babylon. And chapter. 18. Verse.

[49:05] 2. The great Babylon. Mother of all halos. You know. Abomination. And all that. And 18. Verse. 2. So this. It is concluded. That. When you see Babylon.

[49:16] It was a nickname. For Rome. However. It seems like. All throughout. Peter's letter. He never used.

[49:27] Any nickname. Chapter 1. Verse 1. He mentioned. These are actual. Places that existed. He didn't refer to. Any of them. As nicknamed. So if you. And then when you read.

[49:37] The book of Acts. There are several places. You see. In the book of Acts. Where. Acts chapter 19. Verse 21. Acts chapter 28. Verse 14. Where Rome. Was actually mentioned. As Rome.

[49:48] So it wasn't like. Rome. It's a forbidden thing. To mention Rome. So. Really. There's nothing. Stopping. In 2 Timothy. Chapter 1. Verse 17. Paul. Actually.

[49:58] Who. Wrote. After. It's believed. This letter was written. After Peter's letter. Now. If they were afraid. To mention Rome. Paul wouldn't have mentioned Rome. See. When he was in Rome. When he was.

[50:08] He sought me. So. Rome was not something. To be ashamed. To mention. So. It. Others. Believe. Many scholars. Believe. That. When he said Babylon. He was actually writing. From Babylon. Babylon. And there was a church.

[50:19] In Babylon. Babylon. At the actual. City. Of Babylon. He was there. He was writing. From there. All right. So. He says that the church. Which is at Babylon. I won't go too much into it.

[50:30] Because. In some translations. He says. He uses. The word. The one. She. That is in Babylon. All right. But. Many translations say. She who is in Babylon. Was NIV.

[50:41] Didn't say. The church per se. Some also believe. That that's Peter's wife. Because Peter was married. Please. Peter was married. Okay. He was married. First Corinthians. I think. 15. Nine or so. He had his wife. He said. Paul said.

[50:51] Me too. I could have married. One of the sisters. Just like Peter married one. But I didn't. Marry. So. Paul said. I have the right to marry. So Peter was married. So. All that. But. The fact is.

[51:02] I don't want us to go too much. Into this. Kind of stuff. The point is that. Those who are in Babylon. Chosen as well. Send their greetings. Hallelujah. So. It says that.

[51:13] Salute you. And then. The one I want to mention. And end. Is Marcus. Marcus. Marcus. My son. Who is Marcus? Now. This. Salvanus. And Marcus.

[51:24] Time will not permit me. To go too far. But look. Marcus. Is such a. Marcus. Is the one. Who wrote the gospel. According to Mark. Marcus. Is the same as Mark. And his spiritual.

[51:36] Peter's spiritual son. Mark. He's. Actually. As I also call. John Mark. So in. Acts chapter 12. Verse 12. Chapter 12. Verse 25. His mother was married.

[51:47] They used to gather. In Mark's house. Those of us who. Your houses are used. For the work of God. It will translate. Into your child. Becoming like a Mark. Marcus. Yes. You avoid the church.

[51:58] Coming closer. And keep your children. Away from church. You won't get a Marcus. In your family. Look. He says that. When he considered this thing. He came to the house of Mary.

[52:09] The mother of John. That's the same Marcus. Peter. When he was released. From prison. Whose surname was Mark. Where many had gathered. And praying. They were having fellowship. In the house. Look at verse 25.

[52:20] Verse 25. Says. And Barnabas and Saul. Returned from Jerusalem. When. Rejected from Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled. Their ministry. And took with them. John. Whose surname was Mark.

[52:32] They went with him. To do the work. But that's when he. In Acts chapter 13. Verse 13. He left and went back. To Jerusalem. When they got to. Pamphylia. Right. So then.

[52:42] As they traveled. Paul said. Let's go and do. The work more. And then. Verse 30. Acts chapter 15. Verse 36. There about. Barnabas.

[52:55] Paul said. Let's go and visit the churches. Then verse 37. Says. Barnabas was determined. To take John. That's Mark. See. The same guy. Marcus. He said. We have to go with Marcus.

[53:06] Paul said. No. No. No. This guy abandoned us. He made. He. Verse 38. He. He reached the work of God. Paul. Paul was no. No. He said. No. And. So. It became so.

[53:17] Sharp. That. It. Because of. John. John. Mark. Paul. And Barnabas. Went. They are separate. We didn't hear about Barnabas again. And that's when. Paul also took Silas. And went.

[53:27] To do the work. But guess what. Marcus was such a powerful guy. Many years after. Paul. When he was in prison. Acts. Sorry. Second Timothy chapter 4.

[53:38] When he said. Demas has forsaken me. Only look. Verse 10. Only look is with me. Then he said. When you are coming. Bring. He said. Demas has forsaken me. Only look is with me.

[53:49] Take Mark. And bring him with thee. Mark. This Mark. He's been around for a long time. But consistent. Even though. Watch this. Watch this. At the point in time.

[54:00] He abandoned them. But grace. That's why he said. You know. This is a witness. Someone who has gone. But is still doing well. He has gone. And now is well integrated again. In the things of God. So he said.

[54:11] We are testifying of grace. And he said. Marcus my son. He was. Working with Peter closely. He worked with Peter closely. He's the one who wrote the book of. Matthew.

[54:22] Mark. Luke. And John. Mark. Mark. That's the Mark we are talking about. Marcus. And he says that. Marcus is here with me. And Marcus my son. Is also saluting you.

[54:33] Then he finished by saying. Greet all. Greet you one another with. Kiss of love. Doesn't mean go around kissing people. What it just. What it means.

[54:45] Those days. You know. Like the French. Man to man. Women to woman. Those. That's what they. Used to do. So. Greet. Greet everyone with a kiss. Of love. Then he finishes by saying.

[54:56] Peace be with you. All. That are in Christ Jesus. That one alone is of. In Christ. How do you get into Christ? Through. It's God who puts us in Christ.

[55:07] Bible talks about. It's of God. That we are in Christ. Hallelujah. It's God who puts us in Christ. First Corinthians chapter 1. Verse 30. God puts us in Christ. First Corinthians 1.

[55:19] 30. God puts. It's of God that we are. It says that. But. New King James please. But. Of him. You are in Christ. God. It takes God for us to be in Christ.

[55:31] Okay. Very important. And number two. We on our path. How do we get into Christ? By faith. Through baptism. So Galatians chapter 3. Verse 27. How we get into Christ.

[55:42] After when we are baptized. Baptism puts us into Christ. It says that. For as many as have been baptized. Into. You see that. This is very important. How did you get into Christ? Through baptism. You entered him.

[55:54] God put you inside. And you yourself. You did that. Cooperated with God. Through baptism. Faith in baptism. So in. John chapter 3. Verse 5.

[56:05] It talks about. Except a man. Is born of water. And of spirit. He cannot enter. How do you enter into Christ? Who is the kingdom of God? Is by faith. Through baptism. And Romans chapter 6.

[56:16] Verse 3. Baptism puts us into Christ. This is important. So. Romans 6. It says that. Know ye not. That. So. So many of us. As were baptized.

[56:26] How? Into baptism. We are. So it says. Peace be of to all those. Who are in Christ. How did you get into him? It's God put you in. Through the instrumentation. Of faith in baptism.

[56:38] We are inside. Now when you are. Jesus told them. Baptizing them. In the name of the Father. The Son. And of the Holy Spirit. Matthew chapter 28. Verse 19. In the name. So. When you are in Christ.

[56:49] Not just Christ. You are in. You are inside the Trinity. The triune God. You are actually. Inside the entire Godhead. You are in. You are inside. The entire Godhead. And you know.

[56:59] Let me tell you something. It's not just. I am inside. But. You are become so much. Part. That's why it says that. First Corinthians chapter 6. Verse 17. He who is joined with Christ.

[57:10] Is one. Spirit. So it's like. Not just inside. But. It's an organic union. You are so united. With Christ. It's one. That's why when a pregnant woman.

[57:21] A pregnant woman. They are careful. What medication. They give her. Or what. Because it will. There is some union. Organic. Connectivity. Between the mother. And the child.

[57:32] Or. And the fetus. There's an organic. Now. When you are in Christ. There is this organic connectivity. That's why we have become. One with him. And he says that. Peace.

[57:42] Hallelujah. Verse 40. Peace. A great. Verse. Holy case. And then. Peace be. With you. All. That are. In Christ. Not everybody. Yeah.

[57:53] When you are enjoying grace. It doesn't matter the things you are going through. When grace is carrying you. Peace will be your ultimate. Enjoyment. When you are enjoying grace. You get peace.

[58:04] In Jesus mighty name. Amen. And so. We see how. The church has been through difficult times. But it takes. A witness. Peter. Who has also gone through suffering. Who has also understood grace.

[58:15] And enjoyed grace. Send his message. And exhortation. To them. And back it. By the greetings of Marcus. Who has been through it all. And still standing. And doing well. And he went by the hands.

[58:26] Of Silvanus. Silvanus. Marcus. And Peter. It takes Silvanus. Marcus. And senior man Peter. To have. A suffering church. Become strengthened. And continue going.

[58:36] I see you doing well. I see you pressing on. I see you moving forward. I see your church doing well. You are working a lot. Doing well. You will not fail. But like Silvanus. You will rise.

[58:47] And build. For the glory of God. In Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for listening to this message. By David Entry. To hear more from David Entry. Follow him on Facebook.

[58:59] Instagram. Twitter. And LinkedIn. You can also subscribe to Caroush Church on YouTube. Don't forget to share. And subscribe to our podcast. So you are always up to date. Be blessed.