This story powerfully illustrates that obedience to God’s calling, readiness to serve, and willingness to engage with seekers of the truth can lead to transformative impacts far beyond initial interactions. For Philip, a simple act of obedience and a willingness to share the gospel contributed significantly to the foundation of Christianity in a distant land, underscoring the profound consequences that can follow from faithfully following God’s lead.
[00:00:00] Let us pray, pray together on our knees
[00:00:07] Let us pray, pray together on our knees
[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun
[00:00:21] Oh Lord, never see all the knees
[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock
[00:00:30] The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International
[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's Word
[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast
[00:00:44] And now, here's Elgin
[00:00:46] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior Jesus the Christ
[00:00:52] To the Bible Speaks
[00:00:55] And today I have the distinct pleasure of having something that you've heard before
[00:01:02] Dr. Darrell Brooks and Dr. Ovidia Rulac
[00:01:07] And today we are going to talk about why we do what we do
[00:01:14] And the spiritual inspiration comes from Acts chapter 8 verses 26 through 31
[00:01:23] Which reads, And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south
[00:01:31] unto the way that gulfed down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert
[00:01:37] And he arose and went, and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace,
[00:01:46] Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasures
[00:01:51] And had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning and sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah
[00:01:58] Or as we know Isaiah, the prophet
[00:02:02] Then the spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot
[00:02:08] And Philip ran dither to him and heard him reading the prophet
[00:02:14] And said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?
[00:02:24] And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him
[00:02:29] For me this story has two distinctive messages
[00:02:33] First, Philip's obedience
[00:02:36] Philip's obedience to divine guidance
[00:02:39] First, moving according to the angels' instructions
[00:02:42] Then following the Holy Spirit's prompt to approach the eunuch
[00:02:46] Demonstrates how individual obedience can have far-reaching effects
[00:02:51] Philip's actions led directly to the conversion of a key figure
[00:02:56] Who had both the influence and the means to spread the gospel in his home country
[00:03:01] Secondly, the eunuch was diligent in seeking the Lord
[00:03:06] And his diligence was rewarded with a life-changing event
[00:03:10] When you consider the dominant religion in Ethiopia would have been a form of ancient paganism
[00:03:17] Mixed with elements of ancestor worship and polytheism
[00:03:22] Typical of many African traditional regions
[00:03:25] Additionally, there was a significant presence of Jewish influence in the region
[00:03:30] Which had likely been established over centuries due to interactions and migrations between the kingdom
[00:03:37] The kingdom of Israel and Ethiopian region
[00:03:41] Jesus said in John 12 and 32
[00:03:46] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, would draw all men unto me
[00:03:52] So we can assume that the eunuch encountered a believer or believers
[00:03:58] That left such an impression he traveled to Jerusalem to worship the one true God
[00:04:03] Tradition holds that this early introduction of Christianity grew over time
[00:04:09] Eventually becoming a dominant religion in Ethiopia after King Izzana of the Axumite Empire
[00:04:18] Converted to Christianity in the 4th century AD
[00:04:23] Officially making it a Christian nation
[00:04:27] I am not a pastor by trade, but one of my spiritual gifts is shepherding
[00:04:33] A spiritual shepherd encourages and facilitates the spiritual growth of those placed in his or her care
[00:04:41] This involves providing resources for learning, opportunities for service, and encouragement for personal development and faith
[00:04:51] It's about bringing clarity and action to help guide others to their divinely appointed place in Christ
[00:04:58] So I wanted to invite Pastor Rulak and Pastor Brooks back to hear their why
[00:05:06] How each of them as pastors view the story of Philip and the eunuch
[00:05:11] And how it relates to not only their calling, but the expansion of God's kingdom
[00:05:17] So with that I'll ask Pastor Rulak if she'd like to go first
[00:05:22] Well thank you first of all for the Elgin for inviting me to be a part of this today
[00:05:29] And when I began to look at why we do what we do and I was reading this particular scripture
[00:05:36] One of the things that came to mind is it was talking about when the angels spake unto Philip
[00:05:41] That let me knew that he had an ear to hear
[00:05:44] And then after giving him some directions to rise and go toward the south
[00:05:49] You know we have to be willing is a key two things that I've heard, obedience and willing
[00:05:55] He say if we be obedient what we will accomplish in life and those things that will come to us
[00:06:01] But my own personal testimony was sparked out of this
[00:06:06] I can remember being raised in the Baptist faith again
[00:06:11] I never tear that down it was my foundation
[00:06:14] But there came a time in my life when I knew there was more
[00:06:19] There was a thirst and hunger that came to me upon me
[00:06:24] And I began to seek more answers
[00:06:28] And as I began to seek those more answers I'll never get it as clearly as day
[00:06:33] I was sitting there and I heard this voice say come now I have work for you to do
[00:06:40] And I'm looking around like am I losing my mind cause ain't nobody close enough to be speaking into my ear
[00:06:51] So from that come now I have work for you to do
[00:06:56] So sharing this portion of my testimony as well I was in a relationship
[00:07:00] I wasn't married at that time and I'm like okay I gotta decide what I'm gonna give up
[00:07:05] Whether I'm ready to follow the Lord to the fullness cause I've been in church all my life now
[00:07:10] Okay but now I'm hearing a voice that I have not heard before
[00:07:16] And I'm trying to figure out what is this voice saying unto me
[00:07:21] And so I remember leaving church and I went to visit that person
[00:07:26] I was like sharing my experience and I wanted them to be excited about what I had just experienced
[00:07:33] Listen I heard this voice say come now I have work for you to do
[00:07:37] And the reply I got was you were called and not me
[00:07:43] So that took me on a roller coaster trying to figure out okay
[00:07:50] What am I going to do? I gotta openly be honest it was some years before I submitted to that call
[00:07:57] And there were several things that I went through that I strongly feel God was trying to get my attention and says
[00:08:04] This is what you will do
[00:08:07] And finally I made up in my mind
[00:08:10] I got a revelation because the Lord allowed and I give honor to the man of God that he allowed across my path
[00:08:17] My spiritual brother, big spiritual brother, Apostle Dr. J. O. Cash
[00:08:23] I started going with them to various events and I began to grow more in Christ
[00:08:30] I began to get a greater understanding of what God was speaking unto me and encouraging me to do
[00:08:37] So I truly can understand hearing the voice of God
[00:08:42] Not walking in obedience in the beginning because I didn't have clarity
[00:08:47] But as I began to seek and that was so important for me
[00:08:51] Seek others and God allowed that divine encounter just as it was with Philip and the unit
[00:08:58] There was a divine encounter with my spiritual brother that bought me to the place of coming to a place
[00:09:04] And now I'm beginning to understand yes I was reading my word
[00:09:08] But I didn't understand the call on my life and then to meet somebody who could begin to break it down
[00:09:15] Who began to lead me and guide me, direct me
[00:09:19] Then it became even more clear
[00:09:22] So I do what I do because I had someone God allowed to come into my life
[00:09:28] To give me guidance, to give me direction and lead me in the path that God would have me to go
[00:09:34] And to date he's still there with me, still guiding me and still pushing me
[00:09:41] Amen, amen
[00:09:43] What about you Pastor Brooks?
[00:09:49] Well I tell you guys basically covered everything in this
[00:09:56] But my mind went to several things as you and my sister Dr. O were talking
[00:10:03] And again thank you again for the opportunity, I feel so honored to be able to sit at the table with you guys
[00:10:07] Every time we come together
[00:10:09] And I'm ever learning ever growing
[00:10:11] But she said the willingness, a willingness to obey
[00:10:16] That's something that you stated in that it was Philip's obedience
[00:10:18] When you look at the scripture it looks at this obedience
[00:10:21] That first he had an ear to hear and his obedience
[00:10:25] Which means it had to be in your heart
[00:10:27] You can't do this ministry without having a heart for God's people
[00:10:32] A heart to hear
[00:10:35] There was a heart to see, to see lives change and transform
[00:10:39] Through the ministry or your part or purpose whatever you've been called to do
[00:10:43] And so it's got to be in your heart
[00:10:47] Oftentimes we as leaders, as a pastor
[00:10:51] Don't know what to expect until we get to the place where we're needed
[00:10:56] He hears the voice of the angels tell him to get up and go
[00:11:00] And go near and when he goes there
[00:11:03] Where does he see this unit, the Ethiopian
[00:11:06] And he goes there and he hears him reading from the book of Isaiah
[00:11:10] So he's Isaiah son
[00:11:12] And Isaiah and he hears him and says do you understand what you're saying
[00:11:17] Do you understand what you're reading
[00:11:19] It opened the door for dialogue
[00:11:21] It's only when we open our heart to hear God's voice
[00:11:25] Open our ears to hear and then obey that voice
[00:11:28] That we find ourselves faced with something where
[00:11:32] I want to bring in this word trust, obedience and trust
[00:11:36] Where we have to literally trust the voice that we heard
[00:11:39] I have a testimony I want to just quickly share in this
[00:11:42] Because it's almost like this unit
[00:11:44] I was working with another ministry
[00:11:47] It was the Eme ministry, St. Paul, Christian, Bethesda
[00:11:50] The Episcopal church and I was one of the ministers on staff
[00:11:53] And we had a youth group going to Louisiana
[00:11:56] Like the next morning but one of the members
[00:11:59] One of the youth ministers died that morning
[00:12:03] And we were close and I went to the hospital
[00:12:06] They called me there and I was like
[00:12:09] Pastoring, I was not the pastor's shepherd
[00:12:11] But she was one of the ones that were assigned to me to cover
[00:12:16] And I went to the hospital and I'm like
[00:12:19] Listen, I was gun hold, you know, G.I. Joe at that time
[00:12:22] I was super saved, you know
[00:12:24] Listen, you let me in there, I'm gonna lay hands
[00:12:26] We're gonna raise her up
[00:12:28] So I tried to get into the back of the hospital
[00:12:30] They wouldn't let me in at my step by the time
[00:12:32] Was a respiratory therapist
[00:12:34] And I'm like, let me in there
[00:12:36] I mean they called me and they said baby she's not there
[00:12:39] And I'm like, let me go, I need to get in the back
[00:12:42] I'm a pastor and she said honey, she's not there
[00:12:46] And I knew what she was saying
[00:12:48] I said okay mom, so let me calm down
[00:12:50] And then went in the back
[00:12:52] Now that didn't stop me from still trying to lay hands
[00:12:54] And telling them come on get up
[00:12:56] And I was sitting there and I talked to my pastor
[00:12:58] Over at the church, I was like
[00:13:00] Why would God tell me he's gonna do these things
[00:13:02] For her and strengthen
[00:13:04] And we're on our way going to this youth trip
[00:13:06] And everything else and she dies
[00:13:08] Her only daughter was sitting there
[00:13:10] And she turned to me and she said
[00:13:14] Can we pray?
[00:13:16] The bodies in front of us said can we pray?
[00:13:18] We prayed, then we sang
[00:13:20] Then we prayed, we sang, we had church
[00:13:22] As a shepherd, I could minister to the one
[00:13:26] Vessel, our daughter that was there
[00:13:28] Who's yet still alive and her, our only sister
[00:13:30] And when the chaplain from the hospital came in
[00:13:34] And said well can we pray?
[00:13:36] The daughter says but we can leave now
[00:13:38] I'm at church with my mom and I'm okay
[00:13:40] And that's something that just
[00:13:42] Stuck with me all these years
[00:13:44] That it may not happen the way we went to a
[00:13:46] Disciple, but did it happen according to
[00:13:48] God's plan?
[00:13:50] We gotta be willing to allow God to have
[00:13:52] His way of will in any situation
[00:13:54] But that story doesn't end there
[00:13:56] As we were leaving
[00:13:58] I went back home
[00:14:00] The bus with all the young and youth
[00:14:02] And other ministers left and headed toward Louisiana
[00:14:04] And I gathered my things
[00:14:06] I heard the voice of the Lord saying
[00:14:08] Go, I'm like wait a minute the bus left
[00:14:10] I called the station they were already gone
[00:14:12] No one was answering the phones
[00:14:14] I had to leave a message no one got anything
[00:14:16] But I heard the Spirit Lord say go
[00:14:18] Now mind you this is crazy
[00:14:20] My mother said to me
[00:14:22] How are you going to go?
[00:14:24] I said I don't have the money right now
[00:14:26] All my money I'm pulling this trip
[00:14:28] But can you get me a bus ticket
[00:14:30] To Jacksonville, Florida
[00:14:32] I'm in Samantha, Georgia
[00:14:34] She said are you sure you're going to be stranded?
[00:14:36] I said I heard the Lord say go
[00:14:38] And so my mom has to now trust
[00:14:40] Me and trust that I believe
[00:14:42] That I heard God's voice say go
[00:14:44] And so I got a one way ticket
[00:14:46] To Jacksonville, Florida
[00:14:48] By faith
[00:14:50] Then I heard that voice say
[00:14:52] Go and sit in
[00:14:54] The Burger King restaurant
[00:14:56] Which was attached to the Great
[00:14:58] Hound bus station in Jacksonville
[00:15:00] And I got that one way ticket
[00:15:02] Got on the bus with the Jacksonville
[00:15:04] And I'm sitting there
[00:15:06] Bought me a little value meal
[00:15:08] You know and we're sitting there eating
[00:15:10] And all of a sudden
[00:15:12] The minister that was over the trip
[00:15:14] Along with his fiance
[00:15:16] A taxi cab stopped in front of it
[00:15:18] And they got out and came inside
[00:15:20] And I got up and they looked at me
[00:15:22] And they said oh my God
[00:15:24] I said what happened
[00:15:26] They said we were driving down
[00:15:28] And when we got in Jacksonville
[00:15:30] And the boy hitting I tend to go across
[00:15:32] All the way to go to Louisiana
[00:15:34] We heard the Lord say stop Darryl's coming
[00:15:38] Get a cab he's going to be at
[00:15:40] The Great Hound bus station
[00:15:42] And they came
[00:15:44] And we picked me up
[00:15:46] And we went all the way to Louisiana
[00:15:48] To the kitchen and I told him what happened
[00:15:50] And it was just amazing
[00:15:52] And so I questioned
[00:15:54] God on the trip going
[00:15:56] But I'm hearing his voice
[00:15:58] And I said but Lord you told me that
[00:16:00] You were going to give her her kidney
[00:16:02] You told me you were going to restore
[00:16:04] Because she didn't want to have surgery
[00:16:06] And then our voice of the Lord said to me Darryl
[00:16:08] I did
[00:16:10] He said she didn't want to have surgery
[00:16:12] And she didn't want someone else's kidney
[00:16:14] So I let her keep her home
[00:16:16] And called her home
[00:16:18] And I said wow
[00:16:20] And then this is crazy
[00:16:22] I got a glimpse of her praising God
[00:16:24] Laughing saying I made it
[00:16:26] And I said one more thing to end the story
[00:16:28] Oh absolutely
[00:16:30] The daughter called me afterwards
[00:16:32] And I said I wish to God
[00:16:34] I turned things around and she said no everything is alright
[00:16:36] With me
[00:16:38] Her only child she was maybe 21 or 22
[00:16:40] She says
[00:16:42] Darryl
[00:16:44] My mother passed just like my grandmother
[00:16:46] I said what do you mean
[00:16:48] She said she was out of her clothes getting packed for the trip
[00:16:50] To get on the bus with you all
[00:16:52] And she looked up in the corner
[00:16:54] And she said oh Jesus
[00:16:56] And with a smile on her face
[00:16:58] And gave up the ghost
[00:17:00] She said he came for her
[00:17:05] Oh being the voice of God
[00:17:07] And you doing what God called you to do
[00:17:09] Impacts lives
[00:17:11] No matter whether we believe it or not
[00:17:13] It brings change to those
[00:17:15] Who really need hope and deliverance in their lives
[00:17:17] And they don't make a difference for us
[00:17:21] So I hope in a nutshell
[00:17:23] That's why I do what I do
[00:17:25] You know
[00:17:27] I just want to share that
[00:17:29] That is
[00:17:31] That is absolutely amazing
[00:17:33] And I tell people
[00:17:35] God is just
[00:17:37] Capable
[00:17:39] Of anything and we hear it
[00:17:41] But do we
[00:17:43] Honestly believe it
[00:17:45] Do we really
[00:17:47] Does he always have to be
[00:17:49] So demonstrative
[00:17:51] For us to have to believe
[00:17:53] And I think that he does it for those
[00:17:55] Who he knows will use that
[00:17:57] As a way to change the lives
[00:17:59] Of many
[00:18:01] And even before
[00:18:03] I was saved I can tell you
[00:18:05] That I had a similar experience
[00:18:07] I grew up in an
[00:18:09] Apartment building in Washington DC
[00:18:11] And I lived in an apartment
[00:18:13] 104
[00:18:15] And apartment 204
[00:18:17] Was an elderly woman named Miss Bowman
[00:18:19] And Miss Bowman's
[00:18:21] Kids were
[00:18:23] In their 50s
[00:18:25] And they would come by every now and then
[00:18:27] And I knew who they were
[00:18:29] But everything she needed was carried out
[00:18:31] By me
[00:18:33] And she couldn't say Elgin
[00:18:35] She called me Elsa
[00:18:37] And I'm talking
[00:18:39] No, actually she called me Elridge
[00:18:41] That's what she called me
[00:18:43] And so if I was out in the back
[00:18:45] With the guys horse playing around
[00:18:47] Doing stuff I wasn't in
[00:18:49] She did yell out in the back
[00:18:51] And so I didn't hear trash
[00:18:53] I'd go grocery shopping for it
[00:18:55] I mean this went on probably from
[00:18:57] The time I was nine to college
[00:18:59] And so
[00:19:01] I was in the bed sleeping
[00:19:03] My freshman year in college
[00:19:05] And I had this dream
[00:19:07] And in this dream I was running and running
[00:19:09] And I couldn't see where I was going
[00:19:11] But I was just running and running
[00:19:13] And then finally I came up to this little church
[00:19:15] That looked to be about maybe 600 square feet
[00:19:17] And I ran through the door
[00:19:19] And there was a casket there
[00:19:21] And I'm like
[00:19:23] Oh!
[00:19:25] I'm too late
[00:19:27] And I opened the casket
[00:19:29] And Miss Bowman was laying there
[00:19:31] And she said
[00:19:33] And I said, oh I didn't get to tell her that
[00:19:35] I love her
[00:19:37] And she sat up and looked at me
[00:19:39] And said
[00:19:41] I know you do
[00:19:43] Hug me and she laid back down
[00:19:45] About 10 minutes later
[00:19:47] DC DC
[00:19:49] Phone for you man
[00:19:51] And so I get up and I go out into the hall
[00:19:53] And I asked her to phone her
[00:19:55] It was my mom
[00:19:57] And she said babe I have news for you
[00:19:59] And I said yeah Miss Bowman died
[00:20:01] And she was like how in the world did you know that
[00:20:03] And I said
[00:20:05] It was in my dream last night
[00:20:07] And I got to tell her that I love her
[00:20:09] So
[00:20:11] You know even before
[00:20:13] I knew God for myself
[00:20:15] And I was sharing with me
[00:20:17] And I didn't really understand then
[00:20:19] Why
[00:20:21] What was going on
[00:20:23] It was just a big coincidence
[00:20:25] But as I grow
[00:20:27] Spiritually
[00:20:29] I understand
[00:20:31] That was the beginning of him priming me
[00:20:33] To be able to hear from him
[00:20:35] And to understand
[00:20:37] When he is specifically
[00:20:39] Showing me something
[00:20:41] When he's specifically telling me something
[00:20:43] And for me to be able to take action on that
[00:20:45] And so
[00:20:47] You know my short story
[00:20:49] Another I'll give you
[00:20:51] Is
[00:20:53] My wife and I had
[00:20:55] She had a car, I had a car
[00:20:57] About three years ago
[00:20:59] I drove into my garage
[00:21:01] And the Holy Spirit said
[00:21:03] You need to give this car
[00:21:05] To so and so's family
[00:21:07] And I said huh
[00:21:09] You need to give this car
[00:21:11] To this family
[00:21:13] And I was like okay
[00:21:15] So I went in to my wife
[00:21:17] And I said huh Holy Spirit said
[00:21:19] We're supposed to give this car
[00:21:21] To this family
[00:21:23] And she looked at me and said
[00:21:25] That's fine
[00:21:27] And so the next day
[00:21:29] I took it to the shop
[00:21:31] Had them change the oil
[00:21:33] Put new tires on it
[00:21:35] New brakes on it
[00:21:37] And we gave it to this family
[00:21:39] And the engine seized
[00:21:41] She had five kids
[00:21:43] So
[00:21:45] He didn't tell me why to give it to her
[00:21:47] He didn't tell me anything other than just give it to her
[00:21:49] And I did
[00:21:51] And she has it to this very day
[00:21:55] So the
[00:21:57] The obedience that you learn
[00:21:59] But you know the fulfillment
[00:22:01] For me
[00:22:03] Was when that engine
[00:22:05] Lawn top
[00:22:07] Oh
[00:22:09] But it wasn't conditional
[00:22:11] On me giving it
[00:22:13] He said give it so I gave it
[00:22:15] And I hope to
[00:22:17] Through programming like this
[00:22:19] And discussions like we're having today
[00:22:21] To help people to
[00:22:23] Find their spiritual why
[00:22:25] We understand what our purpose is
[00:22:27] In bringing God glory
[00:22:29] And we understand the purpose of
[00:22:31] The expansion
[00:22:33] Of the kingdom
[00:22:35] Our individual
[00:22:37] Implementation
[00:22:39] Of our gifts that he gave us
[00:22:41] In the world in the marketplace
[00:22:43] There has to be a driving force
[00:22:45] And that
[00:22:47] Force is not
[00:22:49] And I'm not saying that from the spiritual side
[00:22:51] As I am from the human side
[00:22:53] Because there's
[00:22:55] Times where
[00:22:57] You know your spirit is willing
[00:22:59] But the flesh like man
[00:23:01] I don't want to do this
[00:23:03] But it comes to
[00:23:05] Nevertheless Lord
[00:23:07] Not my will
[00:23:09] But let your will be done
[00:23:13] That's exactly right so
[00:23:15] You know we may have different roles
[00:23:17] But I believe we all guide others
[00:23:19] To revelation
[00:23:21] And understanding
[00:23:23] And especially the part that
[00:23:25] Revelations are progressive
[00:23:27] That we gain as we go
[00:23:29] And but the key there is go
[00:23:31] When the Lord spoke to
[00:23:33] Pastor Brooks he said go
[00:23:37] When he spoke to you
[00:23:39] He said go
[00:23:41] Matter of fact I can tell you a couple times
[00:23:43] Several times
[00:23:45] Because
[00:23:47] You know my
[00:23:49] My dilemma was
[00:23:53] And I could share testimonies
[00:23:55] About this when we allow
[00:23:57] Things to become an idol in our life
[00:23:59] When God has called us
[00:24:01] Not ready to give up some things
[00:24:05] I ended up in the hospital for four days
[00:24:07] My body right with pain to this day
[00:24:09] They never knew what happened
[00:24:11] They think I had
[00:24:13] An eruption of some type of
[00:24:15] A vessel or something
[00:24:17] But God sustained me and he kept me
[00:24:19] Through it all
[00:24:21] And I can remember
[00:24:23] When God began to say to me
[00:24:25] You will have no other God before me
[00:24:27] Then I began to
[00:24:29] Understand and realize some of the
[00:24:31] Tasks and the
[00:24:33] Test is a better word
[00:24:35] That I was going through was
[00:24:37] Connected to
[00:24:39] My failure to
[00:24:41] I heard him
[00:24:43] But I didn't walk in obedience
[00:24:45] At that time
[00:24:47] I was still seeking those answers
[00:24:49] But once I came into the knowledge
[00:24:51] Of the full knowledge of the truth
[00:24:53] That was the same to me
[00:24:55] Then I began to walk there in
[00:24:57] And walking there in
[00:24:59] It required me to make
[00:25:01] Some decisions
[00:25:03] That I wasn't ready to
[00:25:05] But I knew I had to
[00:25:07] And I want to say to those of you who are listening
[00:25:09] Sometimes we're not ready to give up some things
[00:25:11] But I
[00:25:13] Challenge you
[00:25:15] And to know without a chat of a doubt
[00:25:17] That which you give up
[00:25:19] The Lord will restore
[00:25:21] It greater.
[00:25:23] One of the things for me growing up
[00:25:25] Was
[00:25:27] When we talk about hearing the voice
[00:25:29] And walking in
[00:25:31] What we are called to do and why we do
[00:25:33] What we do
[00:25:35] I came in from a neighborhood
[00:25:37] Where all the people
[00:25:39] The few who did go to college
[00:25:41] They were all teachers
[00:25:43] Well
[00:25:45] I'm not going to be a teacher
[00:25:47] Because everybody who did go to college
[00:25:49] Is a teacher
[00:25:51] So what I decided to do
[00:25:53] I went into the criminology side
[00:25:55] But when I go back
[00:25:57] And look at my entire life
[00:25:59] Starting from
[00:26:01] Being a system with a math
[00:26:03] And reading tutor
[00:26:05] I was teaching
[00:26:07] You know, I worked
[00:26:09] A summer program
[00:26:11] Through CEDA
[00:26:13] And after planning shrubberies and stuff
[00:26:15] I still was helping with tutoring
[00:26:17] So I became a training director
[00:26:19] Everything that I
[00:26:21] Avoided and I want us to understand
[00:26:23] That
[00:26:25] While we are yet a
[00:26:27] Concept in the mind of God
[00:26:29] Before he places
[00:26:31] In the lawn sack of our fathers
[00:26:33] And we have survived all the
[00:26:35] Sperms that were released
[00:26:37] Before we break through
[00:26:39] The birth canal
[00:26:41] He has already purpose and ordained
[00:26:43] Us for what we are to do
[00:26:45] And a lot of times
[00:26:47] My greatest thing
[00:26:49] Was I spent so much time saying
[00:26:51] What I wasn't going to be
[00:26:53] Yet God had already ordained me
[00:26:55] To be
[00:26:57] And everything I did
[00:26:59] Involved teaching
[00:27:01] So
[00:27:03] Once I came
[00:27:05] From that side
[00:27:07] And begin to see things from a spiritual perspective
[00:27:09] And the
[00:27:11] Significant people that God sent into my life
[00:27:13] You know, my spiritual mother
[00:27:15] My spiritual brother
[00:27:17] And another pastor that I was up under
[00:27:19] I became a co-pastor
[00:27:21] And then a pastor and I've been doing
[00:27:23] Ministry now
[00:27:25] 36 years
[00:27:27] What I say is
[00:27:29] When we are called
[00:27:31] To do what God has called us to do
[00:27:33] Oftentimes we're wondering
[00:27:35] Am I equipped to
[00:27:37] Or will I be successful at it
[00:27:39] If he called you to do it
[00:27:41] He has already equipped us
[00:27:43] To fulfill his purpose
[00:27:45] That he would get the glory
[00:27:47] Yes, yes
[00:27:49] Alright now come on there
[00:27:51] Apostle you're kind of crying now
[00:27:53] I was just sitting there getting lost
[00:27:55] In everything
[00:27:57] I was looking at those numbers sometimes
[00:27:59] Apostle just said
[00:28:01] About being 36 years
[00:28:03] I had to go back and do my numbers
[00:28:05] And you know what I'm like
[00:28:07] I got called to preach at the age of nine
[00:28:09] I got called to preach at the age of 13
[00:28:11] I knew I was a prophet at the age of 17
[00:28:13] And I was pastoring from the age of 21
[00:28:15] Up until now
[00:28:17] So I'm like you know what did I have a choice
[00:28:19] God?
[00:28:21] I never had a choice
[00:28:23] But
[00:28:25] I was born for this
[00:28:27] The thing is it was in my heart
[00:28:29] One of the things I said
[00:28:31] I was just writing down as you both were
[00:28:33] Sharing
[00:28:35] Why do we do depends on
[00:28:37] Are we willing to hear what he says
[00:28:39] And if we're willing to hear what he says
[00:28:41] Are we willing to follow through with what he said
[00:28:43] And that's it
[00:28:45] I believe Isaiah 119
[00:28:47] If you're willing and obedient
[00:28:49] You shall eat the good of the Lamb
[00:28:51] But if you refuse and reveal
[00:28:53] You should be devoured by the sword
[00:28:55] For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it
[00:28:57] So the thing is this
[00:28:59] Are you willing
[00:29:01] And do you have a heart to obey
[00:29:03] We have a lot of people that are willing
[00:29:05] We have a lot of people that are pastors and shepherds now
[00:29:07] But it's not in their heart
[00:29:09] They're in it for the wrong reason
[00:29:11] For filthy lucre, for filthy gain
[00:29:13] Or for popularity
[00:29:15] Ministry is
[00:29:17] Not to those of us who love
[00:29:19] What God is and what God does
[00:29:21] And how he created us for his glory
[00:29:23] But
[00:29:25] Ministry now has become so lucrative
[00:29:27] And it's more so a
[00:29:29] Business to some
[00:29:31] I remember working on a job one day
[00:29:33] And I used to do air conditioning construction
[00:29:35] And the person that we were working with
[00:29:37] Came to me and said
[00:29:39] I heard that you're a pastor
[00:29:41] He said why are you working
[00:29:43] In doing air conditioning
[00:29:45] I said because I'm a real pastor
[00:29:47] I said what do you mean
[00:29:49] Because I'm a real pastor
[00:29:51] I literally tend to the sheep
[00:29:53] I go see about the people
[00:29:55] I'm like the old school doctors
[00:29:57] That would go make house calls
[00:29:59] I said that's me
[00:30:01] I'm hands on
[00:30:03] He said oh yeah because my friend
[00:30:05] Just went to school and said I'm going to school to be a pastor
[00:30:07] And he's making over $150,000 a year
[00:30:09] I said well guess what
[00:30:11] I wish somebody would give me $150,000
[00:30:13] A year to pass and do what I'm doing
[00:30:15] I said I'm not near that
[00:30:17] Because what I'm saying is
[00:30:19] I'm not saying that that's not possible
[00:30:21] What I'm saying is he was basically saying
[00:30:23] His friend said
[00:30:25] I'm doing it because this
[00:30:27] On the paper says
[00:30:29] This is one of the most lucrative jobs you can do
[00:30:31] And so I'm going to school
[00:30:33] To be a pastor
[00:30:35] For the money
[00:30:37] For the job
[00:30:39] If you will
[00:30:41] Not for the souls
[00:30:43] We have so many people
[00:30:45] That are in it that don't have the heart to be in it
[00:30:47] The thing that I think about
[00:30:49] Is
[00:30:51] The eunuch in this story
[00:30:53] Heard something
[00:30:55] This was a person
[00:30:57] When you think about the palace structure
[00:31:01] The eunuchs were very powerful
[00:31:05] Very
[00:31:07] If they wanted somebody to take care of
[00:31:09] They'd be gone
[00:31:11] And for them to
[00:31:13] Come down to Jerusalem
[00:31:15] To worship Yahweh
[00:31:17] What did he hear?
[00:31:19] What did he hear?
[00:31:21] And God
[00:31:23] In his infinite love and wisdom
[00:31:25] Made sure at the point
[00:31:27] Of his curiosity
[00:31:29] At the point of his obedience
[00:31:31] At the point of his daring
[00:31:33] Because if he was Ethiopian
[00:31:35] He was a rather dark brother too
[00:31:37] Okay
[00:31:39] Going into Jerusalem
[00:31:41] Alright
[00:31:43] In this fancy chariot
[00:31:45] Because if he was in charge of all of the queen's wealth
[00:31:47] I guarantee this wasn't a little bucket
[00:31:49] Okay
[00:31:51] All of that
[00:31:53] On the way
[00:31:55] With someone who had a heart for it
[00:31:57] Who had someone
[00:31:59] Who had no idea
[00:32:01] That he was going to encounter that person
[00:32:03] It wasn't like God speaking to Ananias
[00:32:05] About going down and getting saw
[00:32:07] Okay
[00:32:09] He just told him to go
[00:32:11] And then he did
[00:32:13] And so we see two instances of that
[00:32:15] And for me, you know
[00:32:17] Part of what I do is
[00:32:19] I want to help bring
[00:32:21] A priority
[00:32:23] To people who already have a thirst
[00:32:25] Yes, I'm going to introduce
[00:32:27] The word of God to people
[00:32:29] Who have no idea
[00:32:31] Of who God is and the power that they're missing out on
[00:32:33] But for me
[00:32:35] My passion
[00:32:37] Are those who thirst
[00:32:39] And say, you know
[00:32:41] They feel it
[00:32:43] The Lord has pricked them
[00:32:45] And that's why I use the scripture
[00:32:47] As a reference of
[00:32:49] If I be lifted up
[00:32:51] I'll draw them, right?
[00:32:53] The Lord said, I'll draw them
[00:32:55] And so we in our roles
[00:32:57] Are
[00:32:59] Facilitating parts of it
[00:33:01] You know, it says
[00:33:03] In 1 Corinthians 3, 6 through 9
[00:33:05] Paul says
[00:33:07] I planted the seed
[00:33:09] Apollos watered it
[00:33:11] But God has been making it grow
[00:33:13] So neither the one who plants
[00:33:15] Nor the one who waters
[00:33:17] Is anything
[00:33:19] But only God
[00:33:21] Who makes things grow
[00:33:23] And so that story you told about
[00:33:25] The gentleman who is doing it
[00:33:27] For the money
[00:33:29] He totally
[00:33:31] Doesn't get it, number one
[00:33:33] And number two, he's going to be
[00:33:35] Wolfly and effective
[00:33:37] Because
[00:33:39] When he's not able to
[00:33:41] Lead them to spiritual growth
[00:33:43] Through the process that the Lord has set
[00:33:45] That 150,000 ain't going to ever happen
[00:33:49] Because it's going to be him and his 13 people
[00:33:51] That all give a dollar
[00:33:53] Okay, and then they're going to get mad
[00:33:55] And go off and start their own church, right?
[00:33:59] Oh yeah. You know
[00:34:01] Something else you said at that pastor
[00:34:03] When you talked about that
[00:34:05] I was looking at when you
[00:34:07] About hearing the word of God
[00:34:09] We said even when Apostle Paul
[00:34:11] One man planted, one man watered
[00:34:13] And he was going to increase
[00:34:15] First Corinthians 3-6
[00:34:17] But you know Romans 10
[00:34:19] I love Romans 10
[00:34:21] 14 verse breaks it down even in the world
[00:34:23] With that, how then
[00:34:25] Well actually 13 verse
[00:34:27] For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord
[00:34:29] Shall be saved
[00:34:31] You said the eunuch
[00:34:33] What did he hear?
[00:34:35] To call him to go all the way down
[00:34:37] To Jerusalem to worship
[00:34:39] What did he hear?
[00:34:41] Shall they believe in him?
[00:34:43] And whom they have not heard and how shall they hear
[00:34:45] Without a preacher
[00:34:47] Yes. How powerful, how significant
[00:34:49] To know that your words
[00:34:51] Have purpose
[00:34:53] Attached to meaning
[00:34:55] Sometimes we may think
[00:34:57] That we're not making an impact on people's lives
[00:34:59] That's what the Lord had to do with me
[00:35:01] Even though I sent you here to this people
[00:35:03] To that one or to this place
[00:35:05] Don't think that you're not making a difference
[00:35:07] Our job is to do this
[00:35:09] To plant
[00:35:11] My job may be
[00:35:13] To come behind you, sure you to come behind me
[00:35:15] Or even Dr. O and to water
[00:35:17] But we never see sometimes
[00:35:19] What God is doing when he brings
[00:35:21] Increase. It was enough
[00:35:23] To cause the eunuch to go
[00:35:25] All the way, whoever planted
[00:35:27] Whoever watered
[00:35:29] It was enough for him to go all the way
[00:35:31] To receive change
[00:35:33] It was enough
[00:35:35] To get to that place where you needed
[00:35:37] To be in need of change
[00:35:39] And we're not making a difference
[00:35:41] That's what the Lord had to do
[00:35:43] With us.
[00:35:45] I know that there are many
[00:35:47] Who are in need of change
[00:35:49] But I'm not sure
[00:35:51] What God is doing
[00:35:53] How he does it
[00:35:55] I know that there are many
[00:35:57] Who are in need of change
[00:35:59] Who are in need of change
[00:36:01] Who are in need of change
[00:36:03] Who are in need of change
[00:36:05] I do know who if you're
[00:36:07] Impacting or touching
[00:36:09] Or making the difference
[00:36:11] How beautiful
[00:36:15] Reaching the gospel
[00:36:17] Bringing glad tidings
[00:36:19] We have to be sinned
[00:36:23] Know that he Sets you
[00:36:25] For the pastor who is the
[00:36:27] Leader or minister
[00:36:29] I don't think I'm making
[00:36:31] Listen, did you obey his voice?
[00:36:33] If you obeyed his voice, you did your job.
[00:36:37] That's right.
[00:36:38] That's right.
[00:36:39] And you have times where people will come back to you and say something years later.
[00:36:45] And I had that happen to me where a young lady came to me and thanked me profusely about
[00:36:52] the counseling I did with her son and he turned his life around and he was now in
[00:36:57] college.
[00:36:58] And can I be honest and say that I didn't remember the conversation?
[00:37:03] I remember her.
[00:37:04] And when she showed me a picture of his son, I remember his face.
[00:37:08] But what does that tell you is that because Elgin Keralock had nothing to do with that
[00:37:12] conversation.
[00:37:13] That's right.
[00:37:14] Right?
[00:37:15] So there was nothing for me to retain.
[00:37:18] Whatever it was that came out came from God.
[00:37:21] And so that was from God to him.
[00:37:24] And so I don't remember what the conversation was, but glory to God that it worked.
[00:37:29] You just was a willing vessel.
[00:37:31] Yes.
[00:37:32] And that's a sincere prayer, Lord.
[00:37:35] I desire to be a vessel, meet for the master's use.
[00:37:39] And so when God began to speak to Philip, he gave him directions and guidance, not
[00:37:44] knowing, just honoring the directions.
[00:37:49] You were given a request to talk to this young man and just being that yielded vessel that
[00:37:55] the Holy Spirit could speak through.
[00:37:58] It touched the heart where their heart may have been stony.
[00:38:02] God circumcised that stony heart where he may have been dull of hearing.
[00:38:06] God anointed his ears to hear his voice.
[00:38:09] And because of that, it calls him to redirect his life.
[00:38:14] When we think about the unit, the unit to me represents how Jesus draw all kinds of people
[00:38:21] to him.
[00:38:23] Yes.
[00:38:24] And then when we look at Philip, you know, he's representing Jesus working through those
[00:38:30] who are willing, those who are obedient to help those and drawing them to him.
[00:38:36] And it goes right back to, you know, I'm sure somebody had spoken to that young man's
[00:38:41] life before.
[00:38:42] You came along and you watered it.
[00:38:46] And then God took it and turned that whole, he manifested his glory in it.
[00:38:51] So you know, it's amazing.
[00:38:54] And I want to piggyback up on something that Apostle Brooks said as well.
[00:39:00] It's amazing how sometimes we could feel, and I can make an eye statement here.
[00:39:07] I could feel like, you know, I minister to somebody and then walk away wondering.
[00:39:14] Did I say something that's going to make a change or it will make a difference?
[00:39:20] And then, okay, all right, keep moving.
[00:39:23] I know I heard the voice of God.
[00:39:25] God, I honor what you told me to do.
[00:39:29] And then it may be sometimes years later, you know, especially myself having worked
[00:39:34] in chaplaincy in a correctional facility, you know, many people cross my path and my
[00:39:40] life and I spoke into their lives.
[00:39:43] And you know, whether you wonder whether or not how effective you were is not so much
[00:39:49] how effective you were.
[00:39:51] Were you submitted to the will of God that you were that vessel that he could move
[00:39:56] through?
[00:39:57] That's what's important.
[00:39:58] And I do believe just as God allowed the young lady to come back to speak to you about the
[00:40:06] significant impact you made on your, on her son's life.
[00:40:11] God from time to time, I believe allow those things to come about just to reassure you,
[00:40:17] son, I got you, daughter, I got you.
[00:40:20] Just continue walking in obedience.
[00:40:22] Just continue humbling yourself and being that vessel meet for my use.
[00:40:26] So we can, we can, we could see the glory of the Lord in these situations.
[00:40:31] And it becomes an encouragement.
[00:40:33] You might not.
[00:40:33] Okay.
[00:40:33] I don't know when I said or what I said, but the fact to know that you humbled
[00:40:41] yourself enough to submit to the will of God and to speak to that person about
[00:40:48] that significant change.
[00:40:50] And so one of the points I'd like to bring up before we conclude is more
[00:40:57] from the just the appreciation of how God does things.
[00:41:04] Okay.
[00:41:04] So this unit was baptized and saved and went back and is attributed to helping
[00:41:15] the conversion, right?
[00:41:17] Of that nation to a Christian nation.
[00:41:20] Do you do understand under the Levitical law castrated man cannot be a preacher?
[00:41:26] Come on.
[00:41:27] Hello.
[00:41:28] And who did God use to inspire?
[00:41:33] And it just goes to show you that, that he, you know, he, uh, his thoughts are
[00:41:37] so far above our thoughts and the customs that we think that shouldn't be,
[00:41:43] you know, that you can have a murderer leave the people of Egypt or leave them
[00:41:48] out of the bondage in Egypt.
[00:41:50] You can have a murderer being the lineage of Jesus Christ.
[00:41:55] You can't have prostitutes that you bless because they help keep kept your
[00:42:00] people and God says, yeah, I can.
[00:42:06] And I will.
[00:42:07] And he uses whomever he chooses to deliver whomever he chooses.
[00:42:14] And that's a very important point for the listeners to understand where
[00:42:19] you may feel you are insignificant, where you may feel you've done something
[00:42:24] that was so, um, that's unforgivable unto you.
[00:42:29] Remember God has a purpose for your life and those things that we go through
[00:42:36] in life, God doesn't throw it away.
[00:42:38] He will take those things.
[00:42:41] What was meant for evil?
[00:42:43] He will turn those things around for your good and recognizing that all
[00:42:48] things are working together for your good.
[00:42:50] Not that all things are good, but it's working together for
[00:42:54] your good.
[00:42:55] Um, so just, just want you to be encouraged.
[00:42:58] Don't ever think that you can't be used by God.
[00:43:03] I'm a firm believer that what you have gone through, your anointing
[00:43:08] comes through the things that you suffer.
[00:43:10] The anointing comes through the testing trials that you've gone
[00:43:14] through your ups and downs in life.
[00:43:16] I strongly believe that because when you go through the anointing,
[00:43:22] when you go through that press, then the oil can flow and then
[00:43:27] others can be touched and God glorified.
[00:43:30] And then you can't get through it without the press.
[00:43:32] Amen.
[00:43:32] I want to just share something, but this is a scripture that shares
[00:43:36] the outcome of what we do.
[00:43:39] When we do what God told us to do and then you can find it in
[00:43:43] Isaiah 52, uh, verses seven through 10.
[00:43:46] And the same says this, how beautiful upon the mountains are
[00:43:49] the feet of him who brings good news.
[00:43:52] Number one, who proclaims peace, who brings the tidings of good
[00:43:56] time, of good things, who proclaim salvation, who says to Zion,
[00:44:00] your God reigns, your watchman shall lift up their voices with
[00:44:05] their voices.
[00:44:06] They shall sing together for they shall see eye to eye when
[00:44:10] the Lord brings back Zion.
[00:44:12] Then it says, break forth into joy, sing together your, you
[00:44:16] waste places of Jerusalem for the Lord has comforted his people.
[00:44:21] He has redeemed Jerusalem.
[00:44:23] The Lord has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all nations
[00:44:28] and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
[00:44:32] When we do what God calls us to do, they will see the salvation
[00:44:36] of our God.
[00:44:37] When we do what we're called to do, he brings peace to Zion.
[00:44:41] He brings, brings peace.
[00:44:42] They will be comforted and he redeems Jerusalem.
[00:44:45] See, we never know the impact, but God will bring the increase.
[00:44:50] God will cause change to come in their lives.
[00:44:52] God will cause a eunuch, as you said, who's not supposed to
[00:44:56] scripturally or, or how I say that, supposed to carry the
[00:45:02] gospel, if you will.
[00:45:03] Like you said, in the example of someone who's, who was once
[00:45:06] a sinner or a prostitute who was a murderer to preach the
[00:45:09] gospel, but God uses whom he chooses.
[00:45:12] He uses whom he chooses.
[00:45:14] And the thing is we must be willing and able to allow God to
[00:45:18] have his way in his life because the end result is God will
[00:45:22] bring salvation to his people.
[00:45:25] Yes.
[00:45:26] Yes.
[00:45:27] Yes.
[00:45:27] All right.
[00:45:28] So brothers and sisters, this story, part of it illustrates
[00:45:33] the obedience to God's calling, readiness to serve and a
[00:45:38] willingness to engage with seekers of the truth.
[00:45:41] And how that can lead to transformative impact far beyond
[00:45:46] initial interactions, fulfill a simple act of obedience and
[00:45:51] a willingness to share the gospel contributed significantly
[00:45:55] to the foundation of Christianity in a distant land,
[00:45:58] underscoring the profound consequences that can follow from
[00:46:03] faithfully following God's leads.
[00:46:06] I thank you once again for spending this time with us
[00:46:10] and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.
[00:46:14] And until then, God bless.
[00:46:26] This program is cared for by listeners who care.
[00:46:29] Your prayers and financial investment in this ministry
[00:46:33] helps to keep the good news on the air.
[00:46:35] We look forward to hearing from you and invite you to
[00:46:38] write us at Harvest International, Post Office Box 6690
[00:46:43] Ocala, Florida 34478.
[00:46:46] Again, that's Harvest International, Post Office Box 6690
[00:46:52] Ocala, Florida 34478.