1 00:00:05,287 --> 00:00:07,579 What is it that causes us to 2 00:00:07,579 --> 00:00:11,340 fall out of ranks? 3 00:00:11,340 --> 00:00:13,905 Brethren, it's petty indifferences 4 00:00:13,905 --> 00:00:17,575 that we make into huge deals. 5 00:00:17,575 --> 00:00:19,634 It's our own pride 6 00:00:19,634 --> 00:00:22,431 seeking to set ourselves up over others. 7 00:00:22,431 --> 00:00:23,869 Brethren, I'll tell you what 8 00:00:23,869 --> 00:00:25,417 keeps the ranks in order 9 00:00:25,417 --> 00:00:26,906 is humility. 10 00:00:26,906 --> 00:00:29,004 What keeps those ranks tight 11 00:00:29,004 --> 00:00:32,075 is when we're willing to be stepped on 12 00:00:32,075 --> 00:00:34,153 that Christ might be glorified. 13 00:00:34,153 --> 00:00:35,912 We're willing to be passed over 14 00:00:35,912 --> 00:00:38,784 in honor, attention, recognition 15 00:00:38,784 --> 00:00:40,871 that Christ might be exalted. 16 00:00:40,871 --> 00:00:42,693 We can't build churches. 17 00:00:42,693 --> 00:00:44,926 It's God that builds churches. 18 00:00:44,926 --> 00:00:49,076 It's Jesus Christ that establishes churches. 19 00:00:49,076 --> 00:00:52,623 But as the weeks and the months went by, 20 00:00:52,623 --> 00:00:55,144 because I was here so often, 21 00:00:55,144 --> 00:00:59,414 I developed a sense that God was here. 22 00:00:59,414 --> 00:01:02,457 No matter how small it was. 23 00:01:02,457 --> 00:01:05,095 No matter how many discouragements came, 24 00:01:05,095 --> 00:01:08,201 there was a sense that God was here, 25 00:01:08,201 --> 00:01:11,285 and really, isn't that all we need? 26 00:01:11,285 --> 00:01:14,214 To know that God is with us and among us? 27 00:01:14,214 --> 00:01:15,783 Brethren, I'll tell you what, 28 00:01:15,783 --> 00:01:17,706 you start trying to start a local church 29 00:01:17,706 --> 00:01:21,935 full of nine members 30 00:01:21,935 --> 00:01:24,872 here in the middle of Satan's battleground. 31 00:01:24,872 --> 00:01:26,317 He is going to seek to come in 32 00:01:26,317 --> 00:01:28,372 and cause division in the church. 33 00:01:28,372 --> 00:01:30,417 It's going to happen. 34 00:01:30,417 --> 00:01:31,902 Brethren, you need to be committed 35 00:01:31,902 --> 00:01:34,381 to something bigger than yourself. 36 00:01:34,381 --> 00:01:36,193 You need to be committed to something 37 00:01:36,193 --> 00:01:37,523 bigger than your own honor 38 00:01:37,523 --> 00:01:38,812 and your own recognition. 39 00:01:38,812 --> 00:01:40,630 There's absolutely no reason 40 00:01:40,630 --> 00:01:42,761 that a new little church 41 00:01:42,761 --> 00:01:44,046 on the edge of the ocean 42 00:01:44,046 --> 00:01:45,313 down in Corpus Christi 43 00:01:45,313 --> 00:01:47,748 cannot have an incredible impact 44 00:01:47,748 --> 00:01:49,675 on the world. 45 00:01:49,675 --> 00:01:52,572 Because Jesus Christ is the Lord of the harvest. 46 00:01:52,572 --> 00:01:54,171 And if we pray to Him 47 00:01:54,171 --> 00:01:57,094 and He promises to give what we need 48 00:01:57,094 --> 00:01:59,736 there should be no reason 49 00:01:59,736 --> 00:02:03,454 that He cannot do very great things 50 00:02:03,454 --> 00:02:04,828 for this church. 51 00:02:04,828 --> 00:02:08,872 Lift up your eyes on Christ. 52 00:02:08,872 --> 00:02:11,106 Love Him supremely. 53 00:02:11,106 --> 00:02:12,370 Treasure Him. 54 00:02:12,370 --> 00:02:14,135 Above all else. 55 00:02:14,135 --> 00:02:16,900 Abandon yourself to Christ. 56 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:20,485 Strive to maintain unity 57 00:02:20,485 --> 00:02:22,824 for the sake of the Gospel. 58 00:02:22,824 --> 00:02:24,329 Shoulder to shoulder, brethren. 59 00:02:24,329 --> 00:02:27,414 When your shoulders are together, 60 00:02:27,414 --> 00:02:29,914 one is not way above the other. 61 00:02:29,914 --> 00:02:32,142 You're side by side. 62 00:02:32,142 --> 00:02:35,186 You've been chosen by the God of heaven 63 00:02:35,186 --> 00:02:38,386 to be His representatives at this time and this hour, 64 00:02:38,386 --> 00:02:43,458 this day, this age, in this city. 65 00:02:43,458 --> 00:02:45,761 I guarantee you, that there are 66 00:02:45,761 --> 00:02:49,547 not massive numbers of people 67 00:02:49,547 --> 00:02:53,549 in this city faithful to the faith of the Gospel. 68 00:02:53,549 --> 00:02:55,701 You are some of them.