What is it that causes us to
fall out of ranks?
Brethren, it's petty indifferences
that we make into huge deals.
It's our own pride
seeking to set ourselves up over others.
Brethren, I'll tell you what
keeps the ranks in order
is humility.
What keeps those ranks tight
is when we're willing to be stepped on
that Christ might be glorified.
We're willing to be passed over
in honor, attention, recognition
that Christ might be exalted.
We can't build churches.
It's God that builds churches.
It's Jesus Christ that establishes churches.
But as the weeks and the months went by,
because I was here so often,
I developed a sense that God was here.
No matter how small it was.
No matter how many discouragements came,
there was a sense that God was here,
and really, isn't that all we need?
To know that God is with us and among us?
Brethren, I'll tell you what,
you start trying to start a local church
full of nine members
here in the middle of Satan's battleground.
He is going to seek to come in
and cause division in the church.
It's going to happen.
Brethren, you need to be committed
to something bigger than yourself.
You need to be committed to something
bigger than your own honor
and your own recognition.
There's absolutely no reason
that a new little church
on the edge of the ocean
down in Corpus Christi
cannot have an incredible impact
on the world.
Because Jesus Christ is the Lord of the harvest.
And if we pray to Him
and He promises to give what we need
there should be no reason
that He cannot do very great things
for this church.
Lift up your eyes on Christ.
Love Him supremely.
Treasure Him.
Above all else.
Abandon yourself to Christ.
Strive to maintain unity
for the sake of the Gospel.
Shoulder to shoulder, brethren.
When your shoulders are together,
one is not way above the other.
You're side by side.
You've been chosen by the God of heaven
to be His representatives at this time and this hour,
this day, this age, in this city.
I guarantee you, that there are
not massive numbers of people
in this city faithful to the faith of the Gospel.
You are some of them.