Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/kc/sermons/68459/choosing-church-leaders/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Thank you for tuning into this message by David Entry. Every true revival is a product of the strong preaching of God's Word. May you receive a word from this message that will spark a revival in you. [0:15] Acts chapter 6 from verse 1 to 7. In those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a memory of the Grecian against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. [0:31] Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, It's not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out amongst you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. [1:01] And the same pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Paminas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they said before the apostles. [1:19] And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them, and the Word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. [1:33] Here ends the reading of God's Word. Please let's pray. Father, thank you for gathering us together to hear your Word and to receive from you. We pray that as your Word is taught, give us grace. [1:45] Give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you, that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened, that we may know. We pray that as your Word is taught, let this Word establish believers and strengthen churches. [1:59] Let the body of Christ in the United Kingdom, the body of Christ in London and across the world, be strengthened, and let believers be more established to your glory. [2:10] We pray that let sicknesses be healed. Let faith come alive in a radical way. And let your name be glorified in Jesus' name. Save the lost and convict sinning. [2:21] Let the power for holy living and righteous living be granted through the teaching of your Word. In Jesus' name, glory to Jesus. Jesus. From the text we read and from last week's teaching, we saw how the church was growing and the Bible actually clearly uses the word. [2:47] The number of disciples was multiplied. Disciples was multiplied. And because of the multiplied number of disciples, organizational issues started coming in. [3:05] And from our teachings, we realized that our previous session of teaching, Satan wanted to use what was supposed to be a blessing to become a burden or to block the church's mission. [3:20] Satan didn't mind church growth, but he cared about what actually causes God growth in the church. [3:31] What causes God growth? Satan didn't like that. So Satan doesn't mind gathering, but he minds church actually multiplying. [3:44] God increasing in the society. The Word of God multiplying in our community. That one is a threat to the devil, and he doesn't like it. So as the disciples multiplied, he said, let us target what is causing the multiplication. [4:02] Satan's target was the cause of the multiplication. If we can target the cause, it can just be increasing, but God is not growing in their midst. [4:14] So he said, I'm going to use organizational problem, and I'm going to use natural problem. Satan went as far back to an issue that God himself caused. [4:30] In Genesis chapter 11, they became so one, they wanted to achieve something that God was not in it. So God had to introduce something to divide them. [4:43] And God divided their language. He brought diversities of languages. That brought races. [4:55] Different cultures and different races. That is where it came from. Genesis chapter 11, the tower of Babel, or in the place of Babel, they wanted to build a tower. And God said, let us go down. [5:07] Else, what do you have a plan? They are so one. What they plan to do, it will not work. So if you don't want them to achieve their aim, divide them. [5:17] So Satan said, these people too, we have to divide them. If they are going to be one, let's divide them, but let's use what God used to divide them. So Satan decided to use the problem of language barrier. [5:31] Language barrier, cultural differences, and racial differences. To divide or to weaken the front of the church. [5:43] To weaken the unity of the church because the church can accomplish more united. So Jesus put it this way in John chapter 13. John chapter 13 verse 35. [5:56] Jesus said, by this shall all men know that you are men. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples. If you love one another. If you love one another. [6:06] When you guys are together, it will be a major testimony to the world outside. But when you are divided, you cannot be a great testimony to the world out there. So Satan said, we have been trying to stop them from preaching. [6:20] It's not working. Let's divide their ranks. Let's send this harmony. This unity. This unity. Amongst them. And once that goes in, it will not work. [6:33] So he sends this unity by touching on matters that were important. Food. Distribution. [6:45] Everybody needs food for survival. Let's target what will make the, what is essential for their social lives. If we target them on the social front, it will invariably affect their spiritual front. [7:01] So Satan said, let's get in from a social dimension. A social angle. So Satan tried to get in. And as I explained last week, he used what the food was not a problem, but the disharmony. [7:17] And its disharmony was brewing and growing based on the whisper campaign. They were in each other's ear about each other. [7:30] Have you seen what he said about you? Have you seen? So the next time you see bro, bro is coming to say hello. He said, oh, I'm not interested. Bro. Then the same person will go to bro. [7:42] You see, he doesn't like you. I told you he doesn't. Meanwhile, he went and told this person you are talking about him. And now your attitude changes. And attitude changes. Then he goes to, you see, they don't like us. They don't like us. [7:55] Anybody who brings highlights, racial, or cultural difference in a church is working for the devil. And they are using that to weaken. American church used to be the strongest. [8:07] Now the revival in America is going because racial lines is being used and carnality and worldliness and materialism is also being used by the enemy. [8:17] But racial lines is a very strong thing. Don't underestimate it. So, you know, some people are funny. When new people join the church, they target their vulnerability. [8:28] Because they know you don't know a lot. And when new people join, they join with happiness and lightness of heart. When new people join the team, they join the care group. [8:40] They join the department. They join the choir. They join the, it's usually all people who are not happy. When you see them befriending new people, it's a problem. [8:52] We have a problem on our hands. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's just one of the things that every wise leader must look out for. Disgruntled old people. They recruit new people very quickly. [9:06] Because they know that people who are already in the system will not take their side. So they look for. It happens in human societies. Recruitment program is always going on. [9:18] People are always recruiting. Because most times people recruit to make them look relevant. So they need support. [9:31] They need importance. They might not have a title. But in a lot of other people's years, they have titles. Because they have to sell themselves. [9:44] 180 days of fasting. It is. You see, most people who are not spiritual will always advertise their spiritual activities. [9:56] They will always advertise their spiritual activities. Just to buy credit. Buy reputation. Because, you know, as for me, I'm always fasting, you know. I'm always fasting. [10:08] Every day, I pray three hours. Before I go out. Every day. Most times, they don't have that kind of. They don't have spirituality. They use spiritual activities. [10:19] They purport. Or they claim to engage in. Just to buy spiritual credit before people. So. They go around talking. They say they are not giving us food. [10:30] They are not giving us food. They are not giving us food. And so. Bible. Look at the text again. Verse 1. There's something I need you to see there. It says that. And in those days. [10:40] When the number of the disciples was multiplied. There arose memory of the. The Christians against the Hebrews. So the Christians were memory against the Hebrews. [10:51] The memory. Memory. The good news. You remember. The memory. Whisper campaign. And there was whisper campaign going. It's like. It wasn't like they were just telling others. [11:02] They were just saying it. They were. They were hiding. Memory is like. You know. They don't make it public. Yeah. It's undertone. It's dead. It's like snake under grass. Under the green grass. [11:15] It's dead. So they were remembering. And. Look at the next verse. The next verse says that. The next verse says that. Then the 12. So they didn't go to the 12. If you have a problem. [11:26] It's good. To go to leadership. And talk to leadership. Instead of. This. Gorgousmas spirits. And so. Leadership saw that. Something is growing here. [11:38] So they called. All the disciples. Wow. That's a lot of. Disciples. Thank God. They didn't call the multitude. They called the disciples. [11:50] Because. To solve church problems. It requires. These people. With a heart of discipleship. Oh. It's. I keep saying this. It's so easy to pastor disciples. It's very complicated. [12:01] To pastor. People who have. Just showed up. They are not disciples. But they just come. They like the music. They like the ambience. They like the people. They like some things. And so they come. [12:12] In the day of crisis. When there's a problem. Between them and somebody. Because the word of God. Does not appeal to them. Dogs don't eat grass. [12:24] You have dogs. In your congregation. And you are trying to feed them. With grass. They won't eat it. So now. To keep their dogs. You have to bring meat and bones. Wrong congregation. [12:35] Can change your message. Or let me put it this way. When you target the wrong people. You see. That your target audience. Will determine. What you are preaching. [12:48] If you preach to trend. You will not preach. The message God has given you. Gospel singers. If you want your song. To be. Number one. [12:59] Is it. How does it chat? The chat. On the. Number one. On what. That is your main motivation. That's your main motivation. It might top the chat. [13:10] But. It might not chat. The course of God. Wow. Is it wrong to top the chat? No. Now. If you also target. That I want my music. To be the best. [13:20] Both. Secular. And. Even gospel. You might not get it. And. At. Worse. Your song might even. Even. It won't bless anybody. And. It's. We are not even top editing. [13:32] So you see. He lost. The point I'm making is that. When we target. Certain people. We end up. Designing the message. [13:43] Towards them. And we can lose our message. Because of who we are targeting. We must target. To be conduits. Channels. That God. [13:53] Can flow through us. To meet the people. He wants to meet. It's very important. So the apostle said. Well. He called. They targeted the disciples. Called the disciples. [14:04] And he said. There's a problem here. It is not right. That we should now. Leave the word of God. And serve tables. Now. Serve tables there. Is not because. Serving table. They are above. [14:14] Serving table. The apostles called. And he said. It's not right. That we should leave. The word of God. And serve table. Serving table. Is not. [14:25] Demotion. Serving table. Is not demotion. But as I explained. There are two things here. We are talking about. Two important things. And they are not equal. One is of a high. [14:36] Importance. Without that. The church will not grow. Without that. The church will fail. Without that. Our impact will stall. Without that. Our impact will be. You know. [14:46] Our impact will stop. We will stop. We will have impact again. So the apostle said. Let's keep the main thing. The main thing. Because we are being distracted. To go and handle this. Because it's also another. Important issue. So the apostle said. [14:58] Then. As we all know. What was their offer? We can't leave. The word of God. To serve table. We can't leave. The word of God. To serve table. [15:08] Then. So the apostle says that. Look ye amongst. I like that. I like that. That's a very good one. Let's all read the verse three together. Let's go. Wherefore. Brethren. [15:19] Look ye out amongst your. Honest report. Full of the Holy Ghost. And wisdom. Whom we may appoint. About this. Business. [15:31] Whom we may appoint. About this business. Look ye. First point. Look ye out. Amongst. Church. Commissioning. Appointments. [15:42] Of people. To do things. In the church. Should not come from. Outside the church. Amongst ourselves. Amongst ourselves. It should be. From amongst ourselves. [15:53] So. When people. Join a church. They don't qualify. As soon as they join. They don't qualify. To be put into. Positions. They have to be. Amongst us. For a while. [16:04] So. Look ye. Among yourself. Inside. Don't look outside. Amongst ourselves. One of us. Must do this job. When there's a problem. In the church. [16:15] That means God. Has placed. Grace. On one of us. Or some of us. To handle the problem. In the church. The only one. Who can solve. The problems. In the church. Is the people. In the church. Who are aware. [16:25] Of the problem. One man of God. Says. The problems. You see. Are an indication. Of the problems. You have been created. [16:36] To solve. The problems. You see. Are a clue. To what you have been. Created. To solve. You know. [16:46] There can be some problems. Some people will not see it. I don't see. Something. When I enter. An auditorium. Like ours. When something is not. Decent. And in order. Or excellent. Any lack of excellence. [16:58] I just pick it. And it just. Distracts me so much. It might not be. So essential. But it. That's why. I just can't function. When there's no excellence. I just can't function. [17:09] Properly. And fully. The problems. You see. Is a clue. To what you have been. Created. To solve. Is not a sign. [17:19] Of what you have been. Created. To complain about. It's a sign. Of what you have been. Created. To solve. So instead of. Complaining. Why is it not. Why is it not. Why is it that. [17:30] The musicians. Are always playing so loud. Why is it. The sound is not nice. You. God has put you here. Because he has given you. An ear for sound. Join the sound team. [17:40] And don't go and be boss. Of sound team. Go. And serve. Serve through the ranks. And see how you can. Offer the. Some people. Will not do it. Unless they have been. Put at the top. I will show you something. [17:52] As we go. I'm going to show you something. So. He said. Look ye. From amongst you. Because the problem. Can only be solved. By some people. Amongst you. God has already. [18:03] Placed them inside. Tell. Can you look at someone. And tell the person. You are here to solve a problem. Not just for your problems. To be solved. Tell the person. Not just for your problems. [18:14] To be solved. Not. Tell the person. Don't feel comfortable. If you have no status. Solving a problem here. Some people. [18:29] Go to church. Because you are going to be entertained. No. You are born again. You are in a church. So that. God can bless you. And for you to be a blessing. He said. I'll bless you. And make you a blessing. Bless you. [18:40] And make you a blessing. You are here. To solve problems. So when the problem arises. Where should we look? Inside. I'm telling you. Inside. One thing I've discovered. [18:54] In my journey of ministry. I've seen. Many years ago. Some of the. Western preachers. Big names. Like. Particularly this. The one. [19:06] Cerullo. Cerullo. Maurice Cerullo. Maurice Cerullo. Ora Roberts. Kenneth Hagen. No. Kenneth. No. Red and Bonke. Those who go to Africa. [19:17] And impoverished regions. You know what. This man. When he comes to Africa. Of blessed memory. The one. Just. Maurice. He doesn't joke with the offering. [19:29] Yeah. He makes sure. Everybody. Bring your best. He challenges people. Bring money. Bring your best. Bring your best. Bring your best. But you are coming from America. We. We. You should come and give it to us. [19:41] And you know. Most of the time. When they. The offering. They don't fly the offerings. Out of the country. The offerings. Stay. Where they. To build. To build the church. What I'm trying to. [19:52] Let you know is. Every church. The resource. For the building of the church. Is always. That's how God has planned it. That's how God has planned it. The blood. [20:02] That must be working. In your tongue. Is not supposed to come. From your brother. It's in your. It's in your. Bladder. It's in your body. [20:14] The body. Nourishes itself. So for. Every church. Church leaders. Stop looking out. For. Specialists. Outside. If God is really. [20:25] In the work. You have to look. Inside. What's the problem. The problem. You are facing. There is somebody. Inside there. Who God has placed. Unless God is not in the work. Yeah. If God is in the work. [20:37] If the work. Needs a certain amount. Of money. For something. If God. Wants that thing. To be done. He has already. Put that money. In the mouth. Of the fish. In the church. In his faithful. [20:48] Disciples. Faithful disciples. He can raise. A billoneer. From his own house. When the work. Needs to be done. Oh yeah. Look ye. [21:00] Amongst yourself. And then he says that. Look out. Amongst yourself. Seven men. Seven. Not women. Men. Oh yeah. That man there. [21:10] Is not. Generic. Is male. Men. Yeah. Usually. Church leadership. Biblical model. Of church leadership. Is male. [21:23] That's a very sensitive thing. I've touched on. Very. Very. Very. Very sensitive thing. I've touched on. But it's very biblical. It might not be contemporary. [21:35] But it's just biblical. If you're going to be true. To the scriptures. You have to face it. Does that mean. Women are. Less than. No. [21:46] Never. When he resurrected from the dead. He showed himself. First to a woman. Yeah. Showed himself. First to the woman. To the standard. He. When he. When he was about to be born. [21:57] It was women who knew. That God was coming. Where was the man? He didn't even use the man. He just said. Take care of the woman. And John the Baptist. Father. Was. The angel appeared to him. [22:08] But he had to shut his mouth. Because he's not good enough. To keep this kind of secret. He would spoil it. But the mother carried it. Mary went to. These two women. Because a new generation is coming. [22:19] A new face. Of God is about to come. God needed women to start it. But. What I'm trying to say is. Biblical. Leadership. All the 12 disciples of Jesus. There was no one woman. [22:31] There were 12 apostles. The 12. When you say the 12. There was not one woman. Oh. Why should it be? Wait me Jesus. Ask him. All the authors of the scripture. [22:42] All authors of the scripture. Of people who wrote the Bible. God used to give us scripture. All the authors. About 40 of them. Not one. Was a woman. Not one. [22:53] Was a woman. All the early apostles of Jesus Christ. Early church. The leaders of the early church. There were women. There were women prophetess. There were women prophetess. [23:03] So women can play certain leading roles. But when you talk about real leadership. It's male. This is a very. [23:14] The charismatics don't like this. Charismatics don't like this. And it has become a tonitin in the flesh of the charismatic church. No, no. You can't. It's a big issue. [23:25] So. That is why in the past. I think the Catholics still don't. Ordain female bishops. But the church of England. Because of societal situation. They have to. Now bring it. [23:36] All that. But the Catholics. Not. You will never find a female pope. Even though now they are pushing. I'm sure they'll be pushing towards that. Well. They said. Select choose ye. Seven men. [23:46] Why seven? In the Jewish. In those days. It wasn't anything so spiritual. One. In those days. Communities. When they want to appoint people to solve some community issues. [23:58] The Jews will normally. Seven is the standard number. That's one. And number two. Plurality of leadership. The New Testament does not know singularity of leadership. [24:09] That's also another point. Another point. So. I cannot be the only one who is running the church. [24:20] There must be elders. Read the Bible. It's elders. Elders. There must be elders. It's very important. That what I said is so important. Plurality of leaders. Plurality of leadership. [24:32] So. In certain denominations. The church is run. It doesn't matter how small the church is. It's run by a team of leaders. They call them maybe a team of elders. [24:44] A council. They run it. It's every church. Every church. Like the Baptist church. And I think the Presbyterian church. They are so particular about this. The Presbytery. [24:55] Presbyterian church. You'll never see a church that is okay. The head pastor does. He's the only one who is in charge for everything. No. There must be a plurality of. So. They chose seven. They said. [25:06] Choose. Look. Seven. From amongst you. Seven men. A hand. That's where the rabbi is. The road. Three qualities they needed. Three qualities they needed. [25:19] They said that. Brethren. Look. Ye. Out. Amongst you. Seven men. Of. Honest. Report. What type of men? Honest. Men of what? [25:30] Honest. Report. So. Look. Amongst you. Seven men. Of. Honest. Report. When you look at the. English. Versus. He uses. Men of. Repute. [25:40] King James uses. Honest. Report. New King James uses. Good. Reputation. Ah. Ah. Good. Reputation. Machiro. The Greek word. [25:51] Good. Reputation. And then. The New Living. Translation. Uses. Well. Respected. NLT. Uses. Well. Respected. [26:02] Reputation. And when you look at the. The Message Bible. The Message Bible uses. Everyone trusts. Everyone trusts. [26:12] This one is not dodgy. Everyone. But I like the way the Amplify puts it. It captures. The material. Better. The Amplify. [26:24] Says. Uses good reputation. But not. Then. Men. Of. Godly. Character. When you go. To work. [26:36] What is happening. At home. Doesn't. Matter. As long as you get your job done. At work. Right. So they employ you as an accountant. [26:47] And you are doing it well. You employ you as an engineer. Everything is doing. Pharmacy. Everything. When you go home. Your wife is not happy. And you don't even. Talk to your wife well. Or you don't talk to your husband well. [26:58] Or your children are not happy. I am not interested in what is going on. Listen. At work. They don't care. They don't care. What happens at work. Is. [27:10] It doesn't have to have a bearing. Or what happens at home. Is not necessarily. Supposed to have a bearing. What happens at work. In other words. They indeed employ you. Because of your house. They indeed employ you. [27:22] Because of your character at home. They employ you to do a job. In the church. It is a different matter. Who you are. Is more important. [27:32] Than what you do. When it comes to Christianity. When it comes to church life. Who you are. You can be singing. Like a nightingale. [27:44] It still does not matter. As long as. Who you are. Is concerned. Character. So. Character. [27:54] Goes. Before. Ability. When it comes to the work of God. Character. Is premium. But now. O man of God. [28:05] Flee these things. First Timothy. Chapter 6. Verse 12. But now. O man of God. Flee these things. When it comes to church. [28:16] When it comes to God. When it comes to. Our role. In church. He says that. Anyone who does not know how to run his own house. Is not fit. To be a leader. [28:28] He must know how. When we are choosing. A bishop. Someone who knows how to run his house. Oh. It's just. It's just. What I do. It's just between me and God. No. [28:38] Not really. Does that mean everybody is supposed to be perfect? No. Obviously. It doesn't. That's not. No one is perfect. Does that mean. We are supposed to be impeccable. Faultless. [28:49] Not necessarily. But we are supposed to live. Live. Our lifestyle. Is supposed to match. Our office. So then. [29:00] If something goes wrong with our. Our lifestyle. Does that mean we are. If someone does something wrong. Does that mean he is not qualified to be. In that office. Not necessarily. As long as. That is not the lifestyle he is living. [29:12] Do you understand that? You can't live a certain way. And stay in it. And be relevant in God. You can't be relevant in God. Living a different lifestyle. You can't. [29:23] God has your prayer like that. So he says that. Look ye amongst you. Men. Of. Good reputation. Honest report. You might be struggling with a certain behavior. [29:36] You might be having a particular challenge. It needs to be sorted. Okay. That guy. Is. Is. One of the departmental leaders. He. Was fighting with his wife. [29:47] So we should remove. No. That's not what I am saying. He was fighting his wife. Maybe it happened. Spelled the moment of something. We sit down. He said. Me no. I will be there. Ah. Now you can't be a leader. [29:58] You see what I am talking about. You can't be a leader. But he said. Pastor. I just. I can't. I. This is not right. I don't intend to do that. Please. Pray for me. Help me. I have to. [30:08] I go to my wife. Kneel down. I can't do this. I don't know what I am doing. Normally. They say. I don't know what came up on me. Which might be true sometimes. I don't know. I was overtaken. [30:20] But. You know. So. Bible use the word. I like that. Bible use. If any of you is overtaken by a fault. That's different. When someone. People can be overtaken by a fault. Yeah. People can be taken. A praise and worship leader. [30:32] A song minister. Who is pregnant out of wedlock. So. We should throw the person out of the choir. Not necessarily. Not necessarily. [30:43] It doesn't mean endorsement. We disapprove some things. But. It doesn't mean we should. Throw the person out. We have to take the person. Through a process. Of restoration. But. [30:55] If anyone is overtaken by a fault. The Christian approach. The true discipleship approach. Is to see how you can restore somebody. You know. Help the person. [31:05] It's a brethren. If a man be overtaken in a fault. Ye which are spiritual. One of the signs of genuine spirituality. Is not when you go and sit online. And talking. If you are spiritual. Prove it by helping this person. [31:17] Getting restored. That's the sign that. So those who are spiritual. Because to restore people. Takes spiritual people. It does. People who are not spiritual. Cannot restore other people. Who are not spiritual. [31:27] That's all. Those who are free. Restore such and one. Restore such and one. In the spirit of meekness. Not thinking that. You see. I knew. I knew this was coming. Yeah. [31:38] I told you. No. In the spirit of. Considering yourself. Yes. Considering yourself. So it says. [31:49] Let's select men. Of. Good. Reputation. Good. Character. Good. Character. Look. Read in between the lines. It. There's something. [32:00] They didn't say. They didn't say. Let's select men. Some business. That goes. Because this is about money and food. Let's select those. With successful businesses. So just in case. [32:11] We run out of food. They can't even step in. With their resources. No. They didn't look for people. With deep pockets. That's not what they said. They didn't say. [32:23] Let's look for people. With deep pockets. They didn't say. Let's look for. Long term. Members. People who have been here. Long enough. No. [32:34] Been here long enough. Doesn't mean. You are qualified. To certain levels. Of leadership. They didn't say. Let's look for. Successful businessmen. Let's look for. Highly qualified. [32:48] Or highly gifted people. Yeah. Let's look for gifted men. Gifted men. The charismatic church. For a long time. Has been running. On the platform. Of gifted people. [33:00] The pastor. The prophet. The apostle. Like me. Gifted. The apostle is gifted. The singers. The gifted singers. Always keep changing churches. [33:11] Oh yeah. That's why. In the charismatic church. You don't have stable musicians. If they are not paid. They are going with their gifts. I don't know. What kind of gift that is. It's an ability. [33:22] I don't even call it a gift. It's not a spiritual gift. It's a spiritual gift. When it's producing. Spiritual growth. It's producing. Godly results. In people who are. [33:33] Receiving. Godly results. God is the one behind it. So if God is behind it. Then. Your character. Will be in a certain shape. [33:45] God will not. Sidestep your character. And use you anyway. Godly character. You cannot be beating your wife. [33:57] Or going to be sitting. In Shisha. Lounge. And yet. Constantly. No. When you are overtaken by a form. You can understand. [34:08] But if every time. 3 a.m. 2 a.m. You are sitting in Shisha Lounge. You have a wife. Your wife doesn't know where you are. No. We will know. Doesn't matter how gifted you are. You won't be singing. You won't. [34:19] You won't. You won't. Doesn't matter how good. You won't play. Because when you play. It's like spiritual worms are coming to you. Yes. There are times I'm ministering. [34:30] And the one playing. Is stopping the. Or the one on the sound. Because those areas. Sometimes it looks like. You don't. It doesn't take spirituality to be there. But it requires spirituality. Good reputation. [34:42] I need to end now. So. Let me do the three. Good reputation. Okay. Follow the Holy Ghost. The human spirit fails. [34:52] Unless the Holy Spirit fails. The human spirit fails. Unless the Holy Spirit fails. You don't do ghost work. [35:03] With just a normal human ability. Sister. Sister. What were they coming to do? Serve tables. Serve tables. So why do you need a spiritual person? Full of the Holy Ghost. To serve tables. [35:14] Because it's a spiritual work. Because it's a spiritual work. So. It's not only good reputation. It's not only godly character. You must also be spiritual. [35:25] Fill with the Holy Spirit. Because he must take the responsibility of. The fruits you are producing. In the work. Now. Think about what is interesting. Not there is. The gizmo is going on. [35:36] Already. Tension is brewing. You need someone. Who is full of the spirit. To be able to. Go in. And work. For God's agenda. To prevail. You need spiritual people. [35:48] People who are full of. It doesn't mean. You have to be gifted. It's just. You are prone. Towards the things of the spirit. It's very easy. You don't have to hear. The Holy Spirit told me. [35:59] And the Holy Spirit told me. And the Holy Spirit told me. That's not what we are talking about. That's not a sign. That you are full of the Holy Spirit. So. Apostle Peter. Said. For people to serve tables. The word table there. [36:10] Is talking about. Distribution of food. And then to. That is like. Jesus of our true. The money table. The table for. Yes. So it's like. Not only food. Resources are distributed. [36:21] That's what they use. And we want people. To just come and handle that. It's that. People who are full of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. And then number three. Full of wisdom. There's a difference. Between wisdom and knowledge. There are people. Who are highly educated. [36:32] By educated fools. Yeah. We have so many. Clever devils in UK. So don't. [36:43] Just. Just send your children. To universities. Don't send your children. Some of you. That your children. Are not. Interested. At all. In church. [36:53] Reefing. We've been fried from men. Or some of them. You are not. You will murder a father. You've come to church. This kind of preaching. Sometimes the children. Will not get it. [37:04] There is a. Children's ministry. To help them. You block them. You want your. Your son. To sit next to you. Your child. To sit next to you. You are not helping that child. And it's beginning to show. [37:16] Some of the children. Who are. They've grown through the system. But they are still. Kind of. Insulated. From a church life. And it's beginning to show. [37:28] And sometimes. We don't prioritize. Their. Worship life. Their devotion. But we want them. To succeed. Big time. We want them. To be very academic. We want them. To be very intelligent. You're all. [37:39] Your boasting is about. My son. My child. Has got this. He's been in this school. Has got this. It's good. Please. It's good. It's good. It's good. Okay. Because it's not easy to get. All some of this. So let's celebrate it as well. [37:50] Yeah. I pray that all my daughters. Will get all that. It's important. Because it's frustrating. If. Your child. He said. Your child. Is in year 11. And you're asking. [38:01] What is 8 times 5? He said 85. With confidence. With confidence. So. That's what I'm talking about. But I'm talking about. I'm talking about. [38:11] Let us not raise. Clever devils. Wisdom. Is different from knowledge. Knowledge. Knowledge. Knowledge. Is acquisition of information. Wisdom. Is knowing what to do. [38:22] With the information. Wisdom. Tells knowledge. What to do. Wisdom. Is a principal thing. Bible talks about. Jesus Christ. [38:32] Grew in wisdom. Yes. John chapter 2. Verse 52. Jesus Christ. Grew up in wisdom. And in. It says that. And Jesus. Increased in wisdom. And in stature. [38:43] And in favor. With God and man. Man. So even Jesus. Needed wisdom. When he was human. To operate. Wisdom. Wisdom. Didn't they say about Jesus. In Mark chapter 6. [38:54] What manner of wisdom. Has been given to this man. Mark chapter 6. Verse 2. Somewhere there. What manner. They wonder. He said. Where does he get these things. And what. What wisdom. [39:05] Is this. Which is given unto him. That such mighty works. Wisdom. Does mighty works. Yes. So he said. Let's look for. People of good. Reputation. [39:16] Or. Godly character. Number 2. Full of the Holy Ghost. And number 3. Full of wisdom. That we may. He said. You should look. You know them. We are not going to choose them. [39:28] Let's all work together. The church working together. For church growth. The whole church. Must work together. For. The church growth. The church. So you guys get involved. It's not. [39:39] From top down. 100. It's. Let's all work together. So you choose. And we will appoint. Then look among yourself. About 20,000 people. And they need about. [39:49] Seven. Seven of them. That's a kind of. A lot of work. But you know. It wasn't a struggle. I was. And they chose. They knew who. They would choose. It didn't. They didn't. Stephen and their team. [40:00] They didn't start campaigning. You know. You have to choose me. You have to. They didn't have to campaign. Their character was already speaking. Character. And reputation. [40:11] Are kind of. Two different things. Reputation. Is what people think about you. Character. Is what God knows about you. What God knows about you. And reputation. [40:22] So. Reputation. What people see. But character. Character. Character. Most good mothers. Said you. This character. Good fathers. They are always concerned about. [40:33] Your character. Character. Character. Character. We might not see a lot of things about you. Because you know how to put your best. Foot forward. [40:45] But God. Knows you. Choose people with good reputation. Full of the Holy Spirit. And. That we will appoint. About this. Then. [40:56] Next week. I'll go on. I thought I was going to go to verse 7. And. We will give ourselves. Continually to prayer. And the ministry of the word. Next week. I'm going to talk about. [41:06] The prayer life. Of the believer. And the prayer life. Of the minister. Prayer life. Is like an iceberg. It's like an iceberg. The bit that you see. [41:17] Is tiny. Than the one you don't see. Your prayer life. Is supposed to be. Like an iceberg. Yeah. I heard one man of God say. If your prayer life. Is not like an iceberg. Your spiritual life. [41:28] Will be like a Titanic. Did you receive something? Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Thank you for listening to this message. [41:46] By David Endry. We pray you have been revived towards God. You can connect with David Endry. On all relevant social media platforms. Including Instagram. And LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages. [41:58] From David Endry. On all relevant streaming platforms. At the Carish Church app. Don't forget to like. And share the message. Be blessed. Be blessed. [42:08]