The Overflowing Joy of Fellowship: Living as Bearers of Light

• Perseverance in Well-Doing 00:00:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor encourages the congregation not to be weary in doing good, citing Galatians 6:9 and the example of David, promising that God will bless those who keep going.
• The Reality of Jesus Christ 00:05:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor contrasts John's testimony with philosophy or religion, emphasizing that the core of the Christian message is the tangible reality and glory of Jesus Christ experienced by eyewitnesses.
• Testimony and Evangelism 00:12:21 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that believers cannot keep their experience of God to themselves; sharing testimonies creates an overflow that touches others and facilitates fellowship with God.
• Fellowship with God 00:11:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines true fellowship as being with the Father and Son, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, and illustrated by the joy believers feel when sharing their faith.
• Fellowship and Unity 00:16:39 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor cites Philippians 2 to define fellowship as having the same love, being of one accord, and fulfilling joy through unity in the church.
• Practical Application of Love 00:18:33 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the example of praying for Angelo to illustrate that fellowship involves active compassion and prayer, not just passive presence.
• Evangelism and Joy 00:26:14 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor connects the act of inviting others to church with the joy of seeing them saved, contrasting the disappointment of rejection with the joy of salvation.
• Witnessing as Light 00:29:53 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Matthew 5 to explain that Christians shine by doing good works, which causes others to glorify the Father.
• Inviting Others to Church 00:29:08 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor urges the congregation to invite others to share in the joy found in Christ, emphasizing that this joy is greater than worldly things.
• Being a Light in Darkness 00:29:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that believers are called to shine as lights in a dark world, demonstrating their faith through good works that glorify God.
• The Role of Testimony 00:39:56 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor highlights the importance of personal testimony, using the woman at the well as an example of how sharing one's experience leads others to believe.
• Denominational Identity vs. Biblical Truth 00:42:56 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor clarifies that while denominations exist, the primary goal is saving souls through the Bible, and outsiders should recognize the church's commitment to biblical truth rather than specific labels.
• Encouragement in Ministry 00:46:25 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor encourages those who feel discouraged by their efforts, reminding them that God is using them and they will reap a harvest in due season.
• Encouragement and Perseverance 00:46:25 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor urges the congregation not to be discouraged or weary, but to continue doing good works and fighting the good fight, assuring them that God is actively using and blessing them.
• Church Unity and Love 00:47:51 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes the church as an example of people coming together, being like-minded, and loving one another, urging them to protect and cherish this unity.
• Pastoral Support and Prayer 00:48:22 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor encourages the congregation to actively support their leaders by praying for them, expressing love, and offering encouragement, rather than assuming the pastor only prays for them.
• Magnifying God 00:49:26 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor concludes by instructing the congregation to focus on magnifying God's name rather than comparing themselves to other churches or seeking self-glory.

• Sermon Illustration 00:03:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the story of a 94-year-old woman named Hazel who was distressed about missing church, illustrating the deep spiritual hunger and concern for God's Word that should characterize believers.
• Sermon Illustration 00:01:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the biblical account of David being in the 'miry clay' and then on a 'firm foundation' to illustrate the transition from despair to rejoicing through God's help.
• Sermon Illustration 00:13:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares anecdotes about specific church members (Angelo, Ernie, Joni) who have shared powerful testimonies of God's provision and transformation in their lives, using them as examples of how believers should share their faith.
• Sermon Illustration 00:15:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts how Joni's transformation from being unable to speak publicly to actively waving people into prayer time demonstrates God's power and the importance of sharing testimony.
• Sermon Illustration 00:18:04 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes a specific instance where he, Joanie, and others prayed for Angelo, who was experiencing physical pain, resulting in Angelo feeling better before he even got home.
• Sermon Illustration 00:28:37 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of his three daughters being born to describe the excitement and desire to 'have another one' (lead another soul to Christ) after witnessing someone's conversion.
• Sermon Illustration 00:31:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his wife seeing a 'peculiar person' at Walmart and taking a picture, using it to illustrate how Christians are viewed as different or peculiar by the world.
• Sermon Illustration 00:31:48 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a conversation with a lawyer who told him, 'I want what you have,' illustrating how non-believers may indirectly glorify God by desiring the spiritual state of believers.
• Sermon Illustration 00:36:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the biblical story of the woman at the well in John chapter 4, detailing how she testified to the men in the city about Jesus telling her all things she ever did, leading many to believe.
• Sermon Illustration 00:47:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Mark Twain's quote, 'one thing that I hate is a good example,' to ironically highlight that the congregation themselves are examples of saints and joy for others.

• Pastoral Charge 00:02:00 ▶️ 📄
  > Persist in spiritual duties and good works without growing tired.
• Pastoral Charge 00:13:49 ▶️ 📄
  > Share personal testimonies of God's work and blessings in their lives.
• Pastoral Charge 00:18:59 ▶️ 📄
  > Do not allow negative attitudes or the devil's influence to disrupt the fellowship of the church.
• Pastoral Charge 00:20:36 ▶️ 📄
  > Actively approach those in need and pray with them instead of offering passive sympathy.
• Pastoral Charge 00:26:09 ▶️ 📄
  > Invite others to attend church services.
• Pastoral Charge 00:35:33 ▶️ 📄
  > To actively invite others to church and share the gospel.
• Pastoral Charge 00:42:40 ▶️ 📄
  > To trust in the power of the preached Word for salvation rather than trying to persuade people based on denominational affiliation.
• Pastoral Charge 00:45:25 ▶️ 📄
  > Invite others to join the church to experience shared joy and fellowship.
• Pastoral Charge 00:46:25 ▶️ 📄
  > Refuse discouragement and choose encouragement.
• Pastoral Charge 00:46:53 ▶️ 📄
  > Persevere in spiritual warfare and obedience to God's will.
• Pastoral Charge 00:48:14 ▶️ 📄
  > Support, love, pray for, and encourage church leaders.
• Pastoral Charge 00:48:32 ▶️ 📄
  > Approach the preacher privately to offer prayer, affirmation of his character, and support.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
The Bible is turned to 1 John.

[00:00:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Let me say this to the church.
[00:00:42] Cornerstone, let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season ye shall reap if we not faint, as we have therefore opportunity for us to do good unto men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
[00:01:13] When David was in the miry clay, he was in the pit, he said, all I could do was look up.
[00:01:25] After he was put on the firm foundation, he rejoiced.
[00:01:32] You got to start somewhere.
[00:01:36] And one of these days, if we are not weary and well-doing,
[00:01:42] The Lord's going to bless you.
[00:01:45] Instead of the preacher coming up and saying, I wonder where everybody's at, he's going to say, where are we going to seat everybody?
[00:01:55] I believe that with all my heart.
[00:01:58] And I mean that.
[00:02:00] This message for the church tonight, don't be weary in the well-doing.
[00:02:05] Keep on keeping on.
[00:02:08] Keep doing what you're doing.
[00:02:11] The church is here to bring in the lost, but it takes us to do that.
[00:02:18] And I want to encourage you tonight that you're at the beginning, you're starting.
[00:02:23] Two years ago we came and you put two churches together and you've done a wonderful job.
[00:02:31] As I've been here this week, it's been a blessing to watch you.
[00:02:35] Not so much to talk to you, but to watch you.
[00:02:40] And as I've watched you, you've had fellowship with each other.
[00:02:44] I can see the love that you have one for another.
[00:02:48] The care.
[00:02:49] The concern.
[00:02:51] The preacher's concern for people that aren't here tonight.
[00:02:54] That's a genuine concern of a pastor.
[00:02:58] And that's good.
[00:03:00] And people ought to respect that.
[00:03:02] They ought to love it.
[00:03:02] They ought not to get mad at him because we're not in church.
[00:03:08] They ought to thank God that they have a pastor that's concerned for them.
[00:03:13] Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
[00:03:17] I have an older lady in the church.
[00:03:19] She just turned 90.
[00:03:20] 94.
[00:03:24] Hazel, 94.
[00:03:27] She come to me one Sunday morning.
[00:03:30] She had missed the Sunday before.
[00:03:33] And she come to me almost crying.
[00:03:36] She's a preacher.
[00:03:37] I'm so sorry I missed church last week.
[00:03:41] I said, Hazel, you're 94 years old.
[00:03:44] I'm sure it's okay.
[00:03:46] She said, oh no.
[00:03:48] She said, when I miss church, I'm worried that I miss what God wanted to say to me.
[00:03:58] And I've kind of put that in my own mind.
[00:04:01] Because I believe every time this book is open, the Lord's going to say something to you.
[00:04:07] But Becky and I would like to extend our appreciation to each and every one of you, all of you that are watching on the video whenever it might be.
[00:04:17] But we want you to know that we appreciate Cornerstone Church.
[00:04:22] The accommodations have been wonderful, the fellowship has been tremendous, and the services have been great.
[00:04:29] I've thoroughly enjoyed being with you.
[00:04:32] You're attentive, you're easy to speak to,
[00:04:37] And I can just sense the Spirit of God in this place.
[00:04:43] And that's what you want to honor and glorify and above all magnify that others might see what you have.
[00:04:53] Here in 1 John chapter 1, John begins with a testimony unlike any other.
[00:05:00] He doesn't begin with philosophy.
[00:05:03] Now we've joked about Baptists and about Presbyterian and we talked a little bit about Catholic.
[00:05:09] We've talked about the religions.
[00:05:11] We've talked about other beliefs and so forth.
[00:05:13] But notice John doesn't say anything about that.
[00:05:17] What John begins with is the reality of Jesus Christ.
[00:05:24] The reality of Jesus Christ.
[00:05:28] Do you know him?
[00:05:30] Do you know the reality of him in your life?
[00:05:33] And that reality brings joy, and that joy overflows.
[00:05:41] And as my preacher used to say, he said, I'll fill my cup until it overflows, then the saucer gets blessed as well.
[00:05:49] And that's exactly what's happening when the Holy Spirit gets a hold of our hearts, and he brings that joy.
[00:05:55] We overflow, and as we overflow, we hope that it will affect others.
[00:06:01] And so tonight,
[00:06:02] As you have talked about the attendance of this week, you thought you would have more during the 31 days of the Bible.
[00:06:12] What's disappointing is the fact that you have a great joy in you that you want to reach out and touch others.
[00:06:22] But you don't know who you have touched.
[00:06:27] You don't know who you have blessed.
[00:06:30] And as I've been here this week and I've talked to people and I have to ask them, are you a member here at Cornerstone?
[00:06:39] And many of them said, no, we're just visiting.
[00:06:42] We're just here for the 31 days or this morning.
[00:06:46] No, we've just been coming for the last couple of months.
[00:06:49] And I said, are you a member?
[00:06:50] No, we're thinking about it though.
[00:06:54] But listen, as a visiting preacher, as I come and visit with people, people are telling me,
[00:07:01] And as a result, you've touched the hearts of many people.
[00:07:05] By you standing out here, Angelo, talking to people out here.
[00:07:10] Ernie, talking to people out here.
[00:07:13] Andy, talking to people out here during the festival.
[00:07:16] That means a lot.
[00:07:18] And as you give testimony, you're touching lives.
[00:07:21] Now I know some of them said, no, I don't want it.
[00:07:25] But listen, if you give that word, that word will touch their hearts.
[00:07:30] And that
[00:07:31] Word will ruminate in their hearts and the Holy Spirit will touch them.
[00:07:37] And as a result, who draws them to church?
[00:07:40] Not the program.
[00:07:43] The Holy Spirit of God.
[00:07:45] And that's the reality of Christ.
[00:07:50] Notice in verses 1 and 2, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
[00:08:00] and Our Hands Have Handled.
[00:08:03] What is it?
[00:08:04] The Word of Life.
[00:08:07] John is an eyewitness.
[00:08:09] Remember, he heard Jesus teach.
[00:08:11] He saw him heal the sick.
[00:08:13] He leaned upon him at the Last Supper.
[00:08:15] He stood at the foot of the cross.
[00:08:17] He ran to an empty tomb.
[00:08:19] John had experienced the Lord.
[00:08:23] John writes in John chapter 1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[00:08:31] Verse 14, the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld what?
[00:08:37] His glory.
[00:08:39] John said, I've seen him.
[00:08:41] I've talked to him.
[00:08:44] I've beheld his glory.
[00:08:47] Our eyes have not seen the Lord, but we have seen and encountered the glory and the power of God.
[00:08:55] We have witnessed the transformation of lives.
[00:08:58] How many people have you seen come into this church, get saved, and as a result their lives change?
[00:09:05] It's not because they come to church.
[00:09:07] It's because the Holy Spirit has come into their lives, and the Word of God has enhanced that, and as a result those lives change.
[00:09:15] It's what I was speaking on last night.
[00:09:17] It's the power of God working in them, effectually working in them.
[00:09:23] And as a result, you sit here and you see them come in week after week after week,
[00:09:29] And you begin to see a change.
[00:09:33] And as you see that change, it's not them conforming to the church, but it's God making them more conformed to the image of Christ.
[00:09:44] And people ought to see that in you.
[00:09:47] Even if we're an older Christian, we can still make that confirmation with Christ.
[00:09:54] We can still be conformed more and more to His image.
[00:09:57] And as people see that, they realize that God is still doing the work in your life.
[00:10:06] I know what God has done for me, and I know that my Christ liveth in me.
[00:10:13] And when we invite someone to church, we're not offering a program, we're not offering a social opportunity.
[00:10:19] What we are inviting them to do is to meet the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
[00:10:26] Brother Joseph made mention where two or three are gathered together, I'll be in the midst.
[00:10:31] Is he here tonight?
[00:10:33] We qualify, don't we?
[00:10:36] And so he's here.
[00:10:38] And if we had somebody that didn't know him, he's here.
[00:10:42] And because they see us, we get to invite them to fellowship with him.
[00:10:48] And that's what John's saying.
[00:10:50] He said, I've had that experience with him.
[00:10:53] He knows the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:10:55] You know the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:10:58] That glory lives in us.
[00:11:01] And as we invite people to come, especially in the church, but as we invite them to come, they'll sense the presence of the Lord.
[00:11:10] And we say, boy, wasn't it good to be in church?
[00:11:14] Wasn't it a blessing?
[00:11:15] Didn't we hear the Word of God today?
[00:11:17] Didn't God speak to our hearts?
[00:11:19] And as they listen to that and they hear that,
[00:11:22] They'll begin to realize that there's a spiritual relationship with God and God as a spirit speaks to our hearts and encourages us and we reflect that in our attitude and in our response to what the preacher has preached today.
[00:11:42] Notice in verse number three, that which we have seen and we have heard declare we unto you that, notice,
[00:11:50] Ye also may have fellowship with us.
[00:11:54] And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
[00:12:03] Again, God intends for us to experience and enjoy the fellowship with Him.
[00:12:11] And we who have seen and heard such things cannot keep it to ourselves.
[00:12:21] You know anybody in the church that just can't shut up about the Lord?
[00:12:28] Huh?
[00:12:29] I mean, they're always talking about the Lord.
[00:12:35] What that is, is overflow.
[00:12:37] I can't stop, preacher.
[00:12:40] I gotta talk about my Savior.
[00:12:41] I gotta talk about my Lord.
[00:12:43] I don't care if it's out here in the backyard.
[00:12:44] I don't care if it's in the back hallway.
[00:12:47] If I'm out here in the parking lot, I gotta talk about my Lord.
[00:12:51] And it's an overflow of the joy and the excitement that we have when we're with Christ.
[00:12:58] Notice what 1 Corinthians 1.9 says, God is faithful by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
[00:13:11] God takes care of his own.
[00:13:13] And as we fellowship together and as we give testimony, we're showing that God is the one
[00:13:20] Whom we have experienced.
[00:13:22] It's God whom we fellowship with.
[00:13:25] Now, when the festival was taking place, I got to hear two testimonies.
[00:13:31] Angelo and Joan.
[00:13:34] And I enjoyed them.
[00:13:35] And there was others going on.
[00:13:37] I believe Brother Steve was given one when we got here.
[00:13:39] I didn't want to go and interrupt it.
[00:13:43] But I believe that if you ever have opportunity in the church,
[00:13:49] Each and every one of you ought to give a testimony.
[00:13:52] I don't know if you want to take a night, a Sunday night, and begin and have a testimony, one testimony every Sunday night, or what.
[00:14:00] I'm just making a suggestion.
[00:14:04] But I've heard some testimonies of members of this church that are just unbelievable.
[00:14:13] And as Ernie had us for dinner today and he was telling us about all that has transpired
[00:14:18] In his life, I'm thinking, has everybody heard this testimony?
[00:14:25] As Angelo talks about his life, losing the house, going to nothing, having nothing, only with the clothes on his back.
[00:14:35] Have you heard that testimony?
[00:14:36] Now, with Angelo, I know you have.
[00:14:40] Okay?
[00:14:41] Because he enjoys telling you about it.
[00:14:45] But what he enjoys is telling you, here's what I fellowship with Christ.
[00:14:49] Here's what Christ did for me to take me through this.
[00:14:52] This is how Christ blessed me.
[00:14:55] And I'm sure that each and every one of you have that type of testimony.
[00:15:01] But do the others know it?
[00:15:06] Joni says, you know, a few years ago it would have been very difficult for me to get up here and say anything.
[00:15:13] Boy, she went on almost like Joseph done.
[00:15:18] Now who did that?
[00:15:20] God did.
[00:15:22] And then they, Joni was telling me that she likes to be out here and waving people in to the prayer time.
[00:15:29] And she was telling me about it and I said, yeah, woman, you're just exaggerating.
[00:15:34] You know?
[00:15:36] And so I came and I was talking to Joseph and we talked about the prayer time out here in the parking lot and so forth.
[00:15:42] He said, oh, you can't believe Joni.
[00:15:45] You know, she's out there, she's waving, you get in here, you know.
[00:15:50] Well, who does that?
[00:15:53] God does.
[00:15:55] See?
[00:15:56] And why does she do that?
[00:15:57] Why is there such a change?
[00:15:59] Because of what God has done for her.
[00:16:02] But the important thing is that we fellowship around that testimony.
[00:16:06] I want to know how you changed.
[00:16:08] I want to know the blessings that God has given to you.
[00:16:12] There's others that are in the church that are going through the stage that you started out, and they want to know, how can I become like you?
[00:16:20] And the only way that can happen is you have that fellowship with each other.
[00:16:26] You begin to express how God has provided for you, how He's taken care of you.
[00:16:32] We gather to worship.
[00:16:33] We are enjoying the fellowship with Him through the Spirit.
[00:16:39] Philippians chapter 2.
[00:16:41] If there be
[00:16:42] Therefore, any consolation of Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercy, fulfill ye my joy.
[00:16:54] Notice again, Paul is speaking, he says, fulfill ye my joy that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind.
[00:17:07] Where does that happen?
[00:17:09] It happens in the church.
[00:17:11] And folks, listen, be very careful.
[00:17:15] Count the church as being very precious.
[00:17:21] Don't bring stinking thinking into the church.
[00:17:27] When you walk through those doors, you leave your burdens outside.
[00:17:35] And then when you leave, go out that door.
[00:17:40] And don't pick them up again.
[00:17:45] Cast all your burdens upon me.
[00:17:47] I'll give you rest.
[00:17:49] Leave your burdens outside.
[00:17:51] But when you come in here, seek the rest.
[00:17:54] And that rest comes through the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:17:57] But that rest comes through the Holy Spirit as we come together as a church.
[00:18:04] Angelo was having problems last night.
[00:18:08] Physical problems and so forth, and I could see that he was going through that.
[00:18:12] Becky came to me and said, Angela's really hurting.
[00:18:15] So I went back and I started talking to him, and Joanie come by, and I said, listen, come on over here.
[00:18:21] We held hands and we prayed.
[00:18:24] That should happen everywhere in the building.
[00:18:30] That's your fellowship in the Spirit.
[00:18:33] There's nothing I can do for him, but I can pray for him.
[00:18:37] I know one who can take care of me.
[00:18:40] And I asked him.
[00:18:41] And Angelo's testimony was, before I got home, I was feeling much better.
[00:18:46] That's not praise, God.
[00:18:49] That's the answer to prayer.
[00:18:50] Do you believe in prayer?
[00:18:52] And all of us need prayer.
[00:18:54] But it's in the fellowship of the church.
[00:18:57] And you folks have that.
[00:18:59] Don't let the devil destroy it.
[00:19:02] Don't let him give you a bad attitude to come in here and say, well, nobody cares about me.
[00:19:10] You be tenderhearted.
[00:19:13] He said compassionate, bowels of mercy.
[00:19:16] Those bowels of mercy comes from way down.
[00:19:21] It's a feeling that only the Holy Spirit of God can give to us.
[00:19:27] And you have to be careful.
[00:19:40] The Holy Spirit is not going to call all of us to go gather around Angelo and pray for him.
[00:19:48] What the Lord is going to do, he's going to burden somebody to go to him.
[00:19:55] Have you ever come into church and you saw somebody and the Lord said, go pray with them?
[00:20:01] Or just go talk with them?
[00:20:03] Or encourage them?
[00:20:04] You ever done that?
[00:20:06] Have you ever sensed that?
[00:20:08] This is where it's going to happen.
[00:20:10] How many times have you seen people down here at the altar before the church service praying for an individual?
[00:20:17] You've got your prayer list.
[00:20:21] You've got people in the church that have difficulties.
[00:20:28] That fellowship of the Spirit, the compassion, the bowels of mercy, make them active.
[00:20:36] Don't stand back and say, oh, I'm sorry, brother, I hate what you're going through.
[00:20:40] No, come down and pray with them.
[00:20:42] Let the Holy Spirit fill you and use you and saturate this place.
[00:20:48] And as the Lord begins to see that you take care of each other in the congregation the size you have, once he sees that you're capable of taking care of that congregation, then all of a sudden he begins to add two here and three or four over there,
[00:21:02] And now we have a multitude of people coming, and now we are able to expand and take care of their needs.
[00:21:10] A lost man comes and gets saved, how much need does he have?
[00:21:14] He has a lot of needs.
[00:21:15] But let me ask you, is there anybody in the church that can take care of him?
[00:21:19] There's a bunch of us.
[00:21:22] But the question is, will we allow the Lord to do that?
[00:21:27] And what John is telling us is we've been with the Lord.
[00:21:30] We've seen what the Lord can do.
[00:21:32] Now today we have the Holy Spirit.
[00:21:34] And the Holy Spirit has given us that power.
[00:21:37] He's given us that encouragement that we can do as Jesus did.
[00:21:41] And didn't he say that we would do greater works than he did?
[00:21:46] So we have the Holy Spirit of God, and as the Holy Spirit comes to us, He leads us into those good works that God wants us to do.
[00:21:55] To carry one another's burdens, to love one another, to comfort one another.
[00:22:00] And the Lord's going to come to you, and He's going to touch you.
[00:22:07] And instead of just saying, good morning, how are you today?
[00:22:11] We'll ask Him.
[00:22:13] How are you doing?
[00:22:15] Is the Lord taking care of you?
[00:22:17] Are you being blessed?
[00:22:19] Is there anything I can pray for you about?
[00:22:21] Is there any burden that you have?
[00:22:23] The Bible tells us to share our burdens with one another.
[00:22:27] Do we do that?
[00:22:28] And why should we do that?
[00:22:30] So we can pray for one another.
[00:22:32] And why should we pray for one another?
[00:22:34] Because we love one another.
[00:22:37] You see, the whole aspect comes together in the idea of love.
[00:22:42] And the love is the central aspect of Christianity.
[00:22:46] It's the central theme of the church.
[00:22:50] We come together here because we love one another.
[00:22:54] We care for one another.
[00:22:55] And that's what John's trying to get across here.
[00:22:58] And he says, we want you to come and join us that your joy might be full also.
[00:23:04] Listen, when you begin to be used of the Lord,
[00:23:09] In doing those things that I have spoken of, you'll have a joy when you leave church.
[00:23:14] It's more than just sitting in a pew and listening to the preacher.
[00:23:18] Now you've come to church and you've been an active part of the ministry.
[00:23:25] And in that ministry, now you can go home and know, not only did the Lord bless me today, the message touched my heart, but I was able to encourage somebody.
[00:23:35] I was able to pray with somebody.
[00:23:36] I was able to be used of the Lord as the preacher Sunday morning by being encouragement to another person.
[00:23:51] John says something real important here.
[00:23:53] He says,
[00:23:54] that you also may have fellowship with us.
[00:24:01] And that's what the fellowship is all about.
[00:24:04] Fellowship and together with Christ.
[00:24:08] Verse number four, these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
[00:24:17] Now joy is the fruit of the fellowship with Christ.
[00:24:23] So in order to do these things that I was speaking of in the church, we have to have fellowship with Christ.
[00:24:30] And when Christ puts the burden on us, then we can go and we can do what God leads us to do.
[00:24:37] The Holy Spirit will empower us to do that.
[00:24:40] So the basis is the presence of Christ in our lives.
[00:24:46] Listen carefully, Psalm 16, verse 11.
[00:24:50] You probably can quote this verse.
[00:24:52] In thy presence is fullness of joy.
[00:24:56] At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
[00:25:00] So if we're coming to church, where two or three are gathered, the presence of the Lord is here, we already have a joy in the fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:25:10] If we have that fellowship with the Lord, then the Lord is enabling us to be able to take on the task
[00:25:17] of doing that which is a good work in the church that we might be a blessing to those around us.
[00:25:23] That blessing now becomes the fact that we love one another.
[00:25:28] If you love one another, pray for one another.
[00:25:30] If you love one another, care for one another.
[00:25:32] If you love one another, encourage one another.
[00:25:34] But it comes from the Holy Spirit in the aspect of love.
[00:25:39] And as that love fills us, then there's the fullness of that joy.
[00:25:45] Abounding joy of Christ is a work of the Spirit dwelling in me.
[00:25:50] It is a quality which belongs to the Christian's life in its essence and encourages me to share it with others.
[00:25:59] And when others come, my joy overflows.
[00:26:09] Have you gone out and invited somebody to church?
[00:26:14] How many of you invited somebody to church?
[00:26:16] Okay, all of you.
[00:26:18] What happens when they don't come?
[00:26:22] We're down, aren't we?
[00:26:24] I can tell the preacher's down tonight.
[00:26:27] You know, he's disappointed that people aren't here tonight.
[00:26:32] But he's just like you are.
[00:26:34] And when people that you invite don't come to church, there isn't much joy, is there?
[00:26:40] But what happens when they do come?
[00:26:43] Are you excited?
[00:26:45] Are you joyful?
[00:26:47] Well, the Bible tells us, They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
[00:26:54] So as you go out and you invite others, your heart is weeping because you know that they're walking in the darkness of this world.
[00:27:02] We were just talking a moment ago about people that haven't received the Lord going to heaven.
[00:27:07] Family members, friends.
[00:27:10] Doesn't that break your heart?
[00:27:13] And as a result, we want to be those that are going out and winning people to Christ that they can go to heaven.
[00:27:19] And the way that they can go to heaven is the fact that they come to church.
[00:27:23] And as they come to church, they hear the word.
[00:27:25] And as they hear the word, they get saved.
[00:27:27] And when they get saved, when they come forward and they say, I want to receive the Lord as my personal Savior, if you're the one that invited them, what's your heart doing?
[00:27:36] Your heart is leaping.
[00:27:39] Your heart is full of joy.
[00:27:41] Praise God, I invited him.
[00:27:44] He received the Lord.
[00:27:48] I'm the reason that the Lord touched his heart and saved him.
[00:27:53] I'm the reason that God has used me to save a soul from hell.
[00:27:59] Praise God.
[00:28:01] And when that new child is born into the family of God, you know what you want to do?
[00:28:07] You want to go get another one.
[00:28:10] Right?
[00:28:13] How many of you have led more than one to the Lord?
[00:28:15] Don't raise your hands.
[00:28:19] But when I reach out and I lead somebody to the Lord Jesus Christ, immediately, I want to find another one.
[00:28:28] Because as I'm taking that word, I sense the Holy Spirit of God working in me.
[00:28:34] And as He works in me and through me,
[00:28:37] And to see that newborn child into the family of God, it's just as exciting as it was my three daughters being born.
[00:28:49] I just want to have another one.
[00:28:52] Amen?
[00:29:00] When we invite someone to church, we're saying, come share in the joy that we have found in Christ.
[00:29:08] I want you to be happy.
[00:29:12] I want you to find great joy.
[00:29:17] I don't want you to settle for the things of the world.
[00:29:19] There's something greater than this world and it's found in Jesus Christ.
[00:29:25] I want to invite you to come to find Christ.
[00:29:30] Look at verse number five.
[00:29:32] This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you
[00:29:37] That God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
[00:29:42] Now we know that the world around us is dark with sin and confusion and despair and He has called us to shine as lights in darkness.
[00:29:53] Matthew 5 and verse 14, Ye are the light of the world.
[00:29:56] Verse 16, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
[00:30:07] Now that's kind of interesting.
[00:30:09] He's saying that we're going to shine as lights and then we're going to let them see our good work and they're going to glorify our Father.
[00:30:18] People are going to see what you are as a Christian.
[00:30:22] And because you are a peculiar people, because you have a love for the lost, they're going to see that.
[00:30:33] And in their comments, they may not say, praise God for this individual, but they'll say, boy, God's done a work in their heart.
[00:30:44] They must really believe in God.
[00:30:48] And they'll begin, not directly, but they'll begin to glorify the Father in an indirect way.
[00:30:56] They know you're Christian.
[00:30:58] They know you're different.
[00:31:00] They don't know the Father, but they'll make comment of,
[00:31:04] And that's what the Lord wants.
[00:31:06] He wants you to be that peculiar person that everybody talks to.
[00:31:11] You ever go to Walmart and see a peculiar person?
[00:31:16] Huh?
[00:31:18] My wife will see somebody and sometimes she'll even take a picture.
[00:31:29] And then she'll come home and say, you can't believe what I saw today.
[00:31:39] Well, listen to me.
[00:31:41] That's what the world is doing with you.
[00:31:42] That's what that lawyer said to me.
[00:31:48] I want what you have.
[00:31:49] You're peculiar.
[00:31:53] Now he didn't say directly praise God, but he said, I want what you have.
[00:31:57] God gave it to me.
[00:31:59] God was the one working in it.
[00:32:02] And indirectly, he's glorifying the Father because I have something he wants.
[00:32:07] That's true of all of us.
[00:32:09] And as we live our lives, as we go out and we talk to others, we're taking the light of the Lord Jesus Christ into a dark world, and that light shines upon them.
[00:32:21] And believe it or not,
[00:32:22] That's what they're looking for.
[00:32:24] There's not a greater opportunity than in the time that we live right now to share the gospel with the world.
[00:32:34] Everybody's looking for the end.
[00:32:37] Enough people out there know a little bit about the end times that they'll ask, are we living in the end times?
[00:32:45] Do you think the Lord's coming back?
[00:32:47] Now I don't know if they do that to you, but they do that to me as a preacher.
[00:32:52] Preacher, do you think we're living in the last times?
[00:32:54] Yeah, I think so.
[00:32:55] Why do you ask that question?
[00:32:57] Well, things are really different than they used to be.
[00:33:00] And they'll start talking about things, and I'm thinking, how did you know that?
[00:33:05] But the world knows the truth of the word.
[00:33:09] They don't believe it, but they know it.
[00:33:12] And now they're seeking that out, and the opportunity for them to be saved in that seeking now becomes our opportunity to lead them to the truth.
[00:33:23] And what is that truth?
[00:33:24] We are the bearers of light.
[00:33:26] If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
[00:33:33] That's the truth.
[00:33:35] Now I mentioned in my series in 1st, 2nd, 3rd John and Jude that truth and love go together.
[00:33:45] The same thing is true always.
[00:33:48] So here the truth is the light that we carry with us
[00:33:53] That the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins.
[00:33:57] But the love, if we deliver that in the love that we have for people, John 13 verse 35 says, By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love to one another.
[00:34:15] Preacher, why do you keep on me about being saved?
[00:34:19] Why do you keep on me about being in church?
[00:34:22] Because I love you!
[00:34:23] And I love you enough that we can be together, that we can fellowship together, and the best place to fellowship together is in the church!
[00:34:38] You don't have a greater setting in life than the church.
[00:34:43] We've all come in here, and what did the Bible say?
[00:34:46] One-minded, like-minded, bowels of mercy.
[00:34:53] You're not going to find that anywhere else.
[00:34:56] But that all comes out because of the love of God that we have with us.
[00:35:01] When we're walking in the lights, others will be drawn, not to us, but to the Savior, to come and experience Him for themselves.
[00:35:13] My conclusion tonight, and I've got 30 minutes yet.
[00:35:21] Church, we have tasted the goodness of God.
[00:35:26] We have felt His presence.
[00:35:28] We have known His forgiveness.
[00:35:30] And we are filled with His joy.
[00:35:33] So let us go out with an invitation on our lips.
[00:35:38] I want you to turn over to John chapter 4.
[00:35:44] John Chapter 4 I want to show you tonight an illustration that you can take home and study and you will know how to deal with somebody who is lost.
[00:36:07] It's not difficult, it's just a principle, but it's illustrated in an action.
[00:36:12] And watch this carefully.
[00:36:13] In John chapter 4, let's begin with verse 25.
[00:36:17] We all know that the woman at the well has come to meet with Jesus.
[00:36:22] Jesus starts to talk to her.
[00:36:23] He starts to talk about water and drink and so forth.
[00:36:27] And the next thing you know, he starts to turn it spiritually.
[00:36:32] The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ.
[00:36:39] When he is come, he will tell me,
[00:36:41] All things.
[00:36:43] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
[00:36:52] So she knows the Messiah's coming.
[00:36:54] The world knows this world's coming to an end.
[00:36:57] They know that Jesus Christ is going to come.
[00:37:01] Alright?
[00:37:03] She says when he comes, he'll know all things.
[00:37:08] So,
[00:37:10] If we go back to verse 18, he said, For thou hast five husbands, and him whom thou now hast is not thy husband, in that saith thou truly.
[00:37:29] Let's go on.
[00:37:30] Verse 28.
[00:37:32] The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and said to the man,
[00:37:39] are to the men.
[00:37:41] Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did.
[00:37:46] Is not this the Christ?
[00:37:51] So what he is doing, he's had fellowship with her.
[00:37:57] He's brought her to the belief.
[00:38:01] He told her the truth.
[00:38:03] When you come to church, you have fellowship with Christ.
[00:38:07] Christ has told you the truth.
[00:38:10] Isn't it amazing how the Lord knows exactly where you are?
[00:38:16] An interesting passage of scripture to read in that regards is Psalm 139.
[00:38:24] The Lord is omniscient.
[00:38:27] He knows all about me.
[00:38:34] He's omniscient.
[00:38:37] That's with an F. He created me.
[00:38:45] He knows all about me.
[00:38:48] He knows you.
[00:38:50] So as you come to church and you open your heart, the Lord is going to fellowship with you and He's going to tell you all things that you need to know.
[00:38:59] While the preacher's preaching, the Holy Spirit's speaking to you.
[00:39:03] As the Holy Spirit speaks to you, He tells you where your sins are.
[00:39:06] He tells you where your unrighteousness is.
[00:39:09] What does the preacher do?
[00:39:10] The preacher gives an invitation.
[00:39:11] If you need to get that right, come down here.
[00:39:15] This woman got right with God.
[00:39:18] As a result, the Bible says the woman left her water pot and went her way into the city and saith to the men, Come see a man which told me all things that I ever did.
[00:39:32] It's not this the Christ.
[00:39:34] Look at verse 39.
[00:39:36] Here's the result.
[00:39:38] And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him
[00:39:43] For the saying of the woman which testified, he told me all that I ever did.
[00:39:56] Your testimony is important because your testimony will tell the world God knows me, God knows what I need, and God accomplished it.
[00:40:13] I was a sinner.
[00:40:16] I needed justice.
[00:40:19] The Lord Jesus Christ died for me, and now I'm saved.
[00:40:25] And because I'm saved, I'm going to heaven.
[00:40:29] We can give that testimony.
[00:40:31] That's what this lady is doing.
[00:40:33] He's told me everything.
[00:40:37] And as a result, she's come to believe upon him.
[00:40:40] Now she's out testifying.
[00:40:42] Now watch verse 44.
[00:40:45] And many more believed because of his own word, and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of the saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this indeed, this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
[00:41:10] So what he is telling us here in this story is that we get saved and we go out and we testify of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.
[00:41:20] There will be those who will believe upon the Lord because of our testimony.
[00:41:28] But there will be others who will believe because they have come and heard from Him themselves.
[00:41:35] But I want to ask you a question.
[00:41:38] How'd they get there?
[00:41:42] And the answer's in there.
[00:41:46] She said, come and see.
[00:41:52] Come and see.
[00:41:56] Don't take my word for it.
[00:41:58] Come and see.
[00:42:02] And what does the Bible say?
[00:42:03] Many of them got saved because they heard His word.
[00:42:09] You can get people saved with your testimony.
[00:42:12] They'll come to the believing knowledge of Christ.
[00:42:16] But more importantly, many more will come because they hear the voice of God preached through the preacher by the power of the Word of God, preached in love, that it reaches out and touches them with a fellowship.
[00:42:29] And as a result, we want you to come and join us that your joy might be full.
[00:42:38] You don't have to
[00:42:40] Persuade them about church.
[00:42:44] You hear me?
[00:42:49] I'm a Baptist.
[00:42:51] You're Presbyterian.
[00:42:54] But listen to me.
[00:42:56] We're Biblicists.
[00:42:58] We believe that Bible.
[00:43:01] And only through that Bible do people get saved.
[00:43:04] Denomination has nothing to do with it.
[00:43:06] When the Word of God is preached, it will do what it's intended to do.
[00:43:10] Its intention is to bring people to the saving knowledge of Christ.
[00:43:14] It doesn't make them Presbyterian.
[00:43:15] It doesn't make them a Baptist.
[00:43:17] It makes them a child of God.
[00:43:20] And folks, that's our number one goal.
[00:43:23] People, listen, we're even confused sometimes.
[00:43:27] Cornerstone A.R.P.
[00:43:30] Presbyterian.
[00:43:32] And I'm scratching my head and I say, what's that A.R.P.
[00:43:34] stand for?
[00:43:36] Does that mean it's an old people's church?
[00:43:47] But listen, people look at that and they'll wonder.
[00:43:51] What you want them to do is say, I don't know what that ARP means, but I know that they believe that Bible, they believe in the Trinity, they believe in getting saved, and they believe the only way that you'll ever go to heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:44:07] And that's all they need to know.
[00:44:11] And as they come to church here, they find a
[00:44:14] Oh, what fellowship!
[00:44:15] Oh, what joy divine!
[00:44:19] Leaning on the everlasting arm!
[00:44:25] Let me ask you this.
[00:44:28] How many of you sought for a church before you came here?
[00:44:36] How many of you?
[00:44:36] Raise your hand.
[00:44:37] How many of you?
[00:44:39] And you kept looking.
[00:44:45] Why'd you end up here?
[00:44:49] There's your testimony.
[00:44:52] There's your testimony.
[00:44:54] Why are you coming to Cornerstone?
[00:44:56] Oh, I love the preaching.
[00:44:58] I love the fellowship.
[00:45:01] I enjoy the atmosphere at the church.
[00:45:03] They're all so friendly.
[00:45:04] They're loving people.
[00:45:06] They're caring people.
[00:45:08] I couldn't say you were a Presbyterian.
[00:45:09] I couldn't say you were a Baptist.
[00:45:11] What did you say you were?
[00:45:12] Everything that God gave John to write so that you might be joyful.
[00:45:19] The reason I go to Cornerstone is because I'm joyful there.
[00:45:25] And because I'm joyful there, I'm inviting you to come that you might have the same joy that I have and we can fellowship together.

[00:45:34] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen?

[00:45:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Folks, that's for the church.
[00:45:37] That's what God wants you to do.
[00:45:40] As you go about your daily lives, you allow God to work in your heart.
[00:45:45] You have the compassion to reach out and touch the lost and dying world.
[00:45:50] You have the power of God to be able to speak to them.
[00:45:53] You have the Word of God to be able to influence them through the Holy Spirit of God.
[00:45:58] And as a result, if you continue to do the good work, if you are well doing, don't be weary, for in due season,
[00:46:10] You'll reap.
[00:46:15] This is an asterisk.
[00:46:17] I don't know if that's in the Bible but I'm going to put an asterisk here.
[00:46:21] You two men right there.
[00:46:25] Don't get discouraged.
[00:46:28] You be encouraged.
[00:46:30] You be encouraged that God is using you.
[00:46:33] He's blessing you.
[00:46:35] He's filling you.
[00:46:37] He's using you in a mighty way.
[00:46:39] It's not a matter of these people that aren't here.
[00:46:42] It's not a matter of not having people saved.
[00:46:45] It's a matter that you too are well doing.
[00:46:50] Do not be discouraged.
[00:46:51] Do not be weary.
[00:46:53] You continue to fight the good fight.
[00:46:55] You continue to do what God would have you to do.
[00:46:59] And God will use you as the leaders of this church to be an encouragement to these people.
[00:47:04] And as these people come and they see that your life is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, it has influenced them.
[00:47:12] Mark Twain, whoo, that's a real candle.
[00:47:21] Davey's back there saying, ha ha, you were pointing at me.
[00:47:27] Mark Twain says this, and then I'll read a verse.
[00:47:31] Mark Twain says, one thing that I hate
[00:47:35] is a good example.
[00:47:39] You all are examples of the saints of glory.
[00:47:44] You're examples of the joy that God has given us through a great salvation.
[00:47:51] Your church is an example of people coming together, being like-minded, loving one another, caring for one another.
[00:48:00] I've seen it.
[00:48:01] It's real.
[00:48:02] Don't allow the devil to abuse it.
[00:48:06] You pray over it.
[00:48:08] You count it precious.
[00:48:10] You take care of it.
[00:48:11] You protect it.
[00:48:14] You watch over these men because they're leading you in the right direction.
[00:48:18] You love them.
[00:48:18] You pray for them.
[00:48:19] You encourage them.
[00:48:22] There's nobody that comes to the preacher and says, Preacher, can I pray for you?
[00:48:25] Because everybody thinks the preacher is supposed to be praying for them.
[00:48:30] Just take the preacher aside one time.
[00:48:32] Take him in his office.
[00:48:33] Say, preacher, I want to pray with you before you preach today.
[00:48:36] I just want to ask the Lord to bless you.
[00:48:38] I want you to know I love you, and I'm here because you're a great preacher.
[00:48:42] You tell the truth.
[00:48:44] You have a sincerity about you, and I just love it, and I want other people to see it.
[00:48:50] Can I pray with you?
[00:48:51] And then pray for an hour, and then come out and be dismissed.
[00:48:57] I finish with this.
[00:48:59] Psalm 70 verse 4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee, and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
[00:49:21] Let God be magnified.
[00:49:26] Don't say look at us.
[00:49:29] Don't say, well, we're better than the church down the road.
[00:49:33] All you have to do is go out and say, My Lord is a great God.
[00:49:39] I'm going to magnify His name.
[00:49:43] Brother Joseph.

[00:49:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Praise the Lord.
[00:49:55] Pastor Sandy, who else would do that for us?
[00:49:59] The Lord sent Brother Bob to charge us this evening and to charge you, the congregation, and I pray that our congregation will watch.
[00:50:09] What a wonderful message.
[00:50:11] What a great encouragement.
[00:50:12] What a parting shot.
[00:50:17] Thank you, Brother Bob.
[00:50:19] Brother Bob has asked that we sing this final hymn, Take My Life and Let It Be, but as John goes to the piano,
[00:50:29] I want us to look at it real quickly, just read it simply, it doesn't take long.
[00:50:35] Do we ever sing songs but don't read the words?
[00:50:38] Sometimes just go with the melody and say, that was a nice song.
[00:50:41] Well, what did it say?
[00:50:42] Well, take something, I don't know.
[00:50:45] Let's just read it because he chose it for a reason.
[00:50:49] Take My Life, 458.