Sermon Notes

“Sanctification in My Ministry”

By Arman George

October 1^st, 2017

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Hi, everyone.  Sometimes, I don't like being number three. I don't like being number three, because now you have to follow those brothers that are speaking the Word. But mine today is sanctification in my ministry. My Scripture for the day is Joshua, chapter three, verse five, and it says:

Joshua 3:5           And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

When I first heard about this, so, Parish and Andy giving us choices. “I have got some topics for you guys, and you guys can choose which ones you want.” I said, "Oh, Sanctification in My Ministry. That's mine, I've got to take that one.” Three days about preparing this, and I was like, I said, "God, I think I got the wrong one.” I was close to calling Malcom or Bob. But you know why I say that? Because, the whole time I was doing that, there was a lot of conviction that was going on, trying to study sanctification in my ministry; too much conviction, and I'm going to tell you what God has showed me. See, back in ‘86 when I got my first job, I had a mission. This was the very first job. I came to the United States in ‘85. Emigrated here and four months later, I got a job. In May and I was really excited about this first job that I had, because, I said, "My mission is, I'm going to get my first car, my first brand new car.” And that's my mission. So, I work hard and try to do everything I can. And back then, in ’86, I got paid, like, three sixty-five an hour. I said, “Man, that's a lot of money.” I had my first paycheck; I think it was like sixty-eight dollars, and my mom told me, "You should put that on the wall, you know, just to remind you,” and I said, "Mom, that’s not funny.” And, so, you know, I was really working hard and trying, and six months later… But around that time, ’86, my dad was a big Chevy guy, so I've got to go to Chevy. And, at the time, Chevy Cavalier Z24, was the thing for me. That was, “Wow,” but that's too big, you know, I've got to save some money. I'm making payments, Chevy Cavalier, that's too big. I can't handle that. It's too big for me, I can't afford it. So, I've got a drop down to just the Cavalier, not the Z24, and even then, I can't afford that, that was too big. So, I had to ask my dad to cosign for me, because I can't afford it. I said, "Dad, can you, you know, help me out?” He said, "Sure, no problem.” He cosigned for me, I got the car. Every week, I pretty much take care of that car. I wash it, because I want it to stand out there, you know. Shining it, make sure, you know, the tire wall was really shiny, you know. And I put this—I'm not a big smoker; I put this sign on the rear- view mirror, you know, it's a little frog, I hung it there, it says, "Do not smoke. I might croak.” And I don't smoke, I never smoked, I don't like smoking, so I put that in there. My mom seemed to think I wasn't doing good enough accessorizing my car, so she helped me out. So, she went to her closet, and she had this white crocheted blanket that she put in the back of my car. And that wasn't enough. She had this little stuffed animal to take, and she put that in the back. She put it in the back window so everyone can see it, and I was like, "Oh, man.  Oh, my God. No, ma, no, ma.” But I can't say that to my mom because I haven't seen my mom in, like, eleven years.  It's  the first time I've seen my mom in like, eleven years, so I couldn't say that to her. So, when I drive my car, I take it down. And, when I come back home, I put it back in there. But my dad, he had a problem on his car. He had a van so I had to take him to work. And he got into the car, and the first thing that he saw was that no smoking. My dad, he was a big smoker. And, as you know, my dad cosigned for me, so I've got to be nice. And, he said, "Did you put that no smoking sign in here?” So, I started thinking, and I said, "No, Dad; Mom did it.” And, I pointed around mom accessorizing it.

But, anyhow, I mean, I'm talking about sanctification of my ministry, you know. When I was young in the faith, that's the thing, Ii heard Pastor Painepastor paine talk about, you know, he was talking about how—he was helping us out, in how do you—he was relating a church service to a dinner table setting. He said, in order for someone to have a beautiful and delicious meal, somebody will have to set the table up, get the meal ready, and serve it, and then clean up afterwards. And, I knew, I knew, in order to belong to the ministry, you know, you've got to help. And by the way, I mean, I know it was already mentioned: Pastor Paine brought a beautiful message for last week’s sermon, and you know how he did that? Because every single one of us brought something to the table, and, just prayed about it, and you helped him in that process. And that's how he was able to chew down that message.

But, anyway, I'm not a big—you know, I helped out. When I first, you know, started being a Christian in Christian Fellowship, I helped out in children's department; I was a teacher's helper. And, then, I went on to become a teacher. And, then, Bob and I, you know, heading up the children's ministry. And, then, I'm right here in front of you stalking, talking about the ministry. And, this right here, this was never on my list, never on my list, and that's not a complaint.  This is not a complaint; I'm talking about my ministry. But, you know, I prayed to God, and I said to God, I said, "God, have your way with me. And, God, thou art the Potter, and I am the clay. Mold me and shape me after Thy will.” You know, we sing that song. I'm not a big attention getter. I don't want to be right in front of everybody, I'm kind of like a behind the scenes kind of guy. Then, I knew, if I'm going to belong to this ministry, I'm going to have to sweep the floor, I'm going to clean the bathrooms, or something. And that's what I had in my mind, you know. But, I pray to God, you know, "Have your way with me.” And in Mark, chapter eight, verse thirty-five, and he says:

Mark 8:35            For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Have you ever lost yourself in God? I have, for the past two weeks, I was lost in God. I mean, it's not a very comfortable place to be in. And, sometimes, I think it's not reasonable to do. But, you know, it was all well worth it, because God is in it, you know? Sanctification of my ministry is about adding value into your ministry; it's about taking that first step to do what God has for you. Have you ever taken your car to a dealership for an appraisal? And, once you, you know, every single one that goes in there, everyone comes out like (downtrodden expression on his face). I’m going to get that appraisal. Because this dealer, you know, they just put you down. The value--you accessorize your car. You put everything you have into it. And these people just devalue it, just like that, you know, and, how about when you're sharing the gospel with somebody? When you're sharing with good gospel with someone, you know you have that ministry. And, people just kind of like step over it, and say, "Oh, I don't want to go,” and you kind of get angry, "Fine, you don't want to go; I don't care.” But, that's the kind of, you know, what you have in your heart, because you value so much of your ministry, and some people just step on it, you know. And, you know what else is big in my ministry? This is another big one. And it’s so big, I have to ask God to cosign for me because I want to own it. I have to ask God to cosign for me. You know what it is? It's tithes and offerings. I'm not here to preach to you about tithes and offerings, but I'm talking about my ministry. And there's a lot of greediness and selfishness in me, but I need to pluck it out. I need to pluck it out. Because, you know, I am so miserable if I never give to God. See, I'm a big, big, superstitious. I grew up around older people in the Philippines, and I kind of get those beliefs from them. I'm going to give you an example: When we have a dinner table and when we're eating dinner, my grandma, if someone had to go to work when we were eating, you know what she would do? She would turn every single one their plate, before that someone leaves, you know, and that's supposed to reverse the curse of whoever is leaving and just kind of, and that's what she did, you know, and you know what was mine. And I take that part of the ministry. I ask God many times about, "Is this really my ministry, God?” and God said, "Mmmm-hmmm, yeah.” And I ask God, "How do I tackle this?” Since I am a big, big, superstitious, I say to God, "What if I don't pay my tithes and offerings? What would happen?” The gas price would go up. Utilities will go up. And, you know, and somehow, my car will break down. And it's not going to break down in the grass, it's going to break down somewhere in the middle of the road. And that's the kind of thing I think. So, whyWhy do I pay my tithes and offerings? So that I don't have to pay much more than what my tithes and offerings wouldwouild be. And, so, that's how I do it. And, I say all that to bring you to this. And this is the real, this is the ministry I'm striving for, and sanctifying, and it's not easy, so I'm trying to own this and I'm really, really asking God to cosign for me. And he says in Romans twelve, ten and He says:

Romans 12:10    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; [A lot of women are very affectionate. Men, it’s kind of too much muscle. Men has got too much muscle, and, it says, brotherly love. I have to give brotherly love, you know, He says,] in honour preferring one another;

Eleven, says:

Romans 12:11    Not slothful in business; [In what business? God's business, my ministry, your ministry.] fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

And twelve said:

Romans 12:12    Rejoicing in hope; [I can't rejoice in hope if I don't have hope, so I've got to have hope, you know.] patient in tribulation; [When I see that patience in tribulation, and I see Brother Joseph. He's got some tough love from God. I mean, have you ever? I don't want to get tough love from God, and I have, and I've been through it, and I don't want to go back to that, you know? It says,] continuing instant in prayer;

Thirteen says:

Romans 12:13    Distributing to the necessity of saints; [He didn't say distributing to the necessity of the world; he says distributing to the necessity of the Saints, right here, right here. And it says,] given to hospitality.

You know, when I think about given to hospitality, God, you know, you invite some people to your house, and eating and stuff, you know. But how about, you know, the hospitality of the Word of God? You know when you try to share the Word of God with someone?

And this one's really big. I can’t swallow this one:

Romans 12:14-17              Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. [That's hard.] Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, [You ever meet a guy that's really, you know, everything that he said was like, you know, “Oh, yeah, I can do all that.” I mean, it's very irritating sometimes, even though, sometimes, I've done it many times. I've done it many times. And he says:] but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

I mean, that's really big right there. Then it says, and I like this one last one, it says:

Romans 12:18    If it be possible, [Is that the kind of God we have? He's so gentle, He's asking us, can you please do this? It says, “If it be possible,”] as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Now, if everything I said to you, if this is the only thing that makes sense out of everything that I've said to you, I think God is in control of your heart. Sanctification of My Ministry. Thank you.

                           Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd