There will be ministries - there are always needs in the family, chores to be done in a family; but the great work, is the work you do most of the rest of your life, which is out there with people - engaging with them. Are you a fisher of men, attracting people to Christ?
That's what God is on; so don't hanker for what He was doing. Begin to build on what He's done; start to move forward - start to get a hold of where God's moving, and say: “I want to be fully part of that!”
This is not age-dependent – the young ones resist it just as much as old ones do. The moves of God have never been dependent on age; so when God talks about a ‘new generation’, He's not talking about ‘how old you are’ - He's talking about your thinking!
You can be young, or be old, in your thinking. You can be young; but set in your thinking. You can be old; yet fresh in your thinking, sensitive to God, and say: man, I see what God is doing - bring it on!
Do we need change? Yes; but bring it on! Bring on what God is doing. That's the way we want to live; not fighting what God is doing, and standing against it (because in my opinion – “I don't agree with it”). That's what people do!
The Church is not the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is bigger than the church - so let me just give you some perspective....
If someone leaves our church, and goes somewhere else - God's kingdom didn't diminish! Wasn't that good?
It may not necessarily be good for them, because where you're a part of is important for your spiritual development. If you don't understand the legacy, and what you can get hold of, and position yourself for it - then it doesn't matter where you go.
When I come back into this church, I just love the presence that comes - and the worship. There is something about it, every time - it's like water to me. I've been in great churches; but when I come here, God does something here for me, that I don't get anywhere else - and I love to be here and be back in it.
I want to share a scripture; then list some key things God has built in our life; and ask firstly whether you've made these part of your life; and secondly whether you're communicating any of these things to anyone.
Hebrews 13:7 - “Remember those who rule over you (or who lead you), who have spoken to you the word of God”.
Bring back into mind (or start to think again) about those who lead you; and who have brought you God's word. That's a pretty clear instruction, isn't it? You may not like that - but God says to “think about it”.
It says: “...whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct (or their life)”. The word ‘consider’ means: take another close look at. God wants you to closely look at people who lead you. Look at the end result of what flows out from the way they live their life. Look at every aspect of their life. It's not about the message - it's about the person.
The Bible commands us to follow people of faith; not people of offence - so how can you tell a person of faith? Do they just say: I love Jesus; I just brought this great prophecy; or preached a great message? No, that's not how you tell a person of faith.
You have to consider their lifestyle; and what, over a period of time, has resulted from it. Then that will indicate whether they're people of faith.
You're not called to necessarily follow a person. We're to follow Jesus Christ; but God works through people, and the thing you look for in the people is their faith. It says: imitate someone's faith - if they're a person of faith.
I was in one season of my life, and I looked around, and I said: God, I don't know where there's any men of faith - because every time I go to this conference, that we're a part of this movement - they all talk about people who: fell in immorality; failed in finance, this happened, that happened - I'm sick of all of that! Where are men of faith?
Someone told me about a man; and I listened, and I heard, and I heard: that's a man of faith. I need to connect - so I can grow in my faith! Faith has to do with you believing God - and experiencing His reality working in your life. So you look not just at whether the person has got a great personality - you look at the outcome of their life.