1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:10,080 We'll return to 2nd Kings chapter 2, 2nd 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,200 Kings chapter 2. 3 00:00:16,740 --> 00:00:18,960 We'll read from verse 13. 4 00:00:26,980 --> 00:00:34,140 Chapter 2, verse 13. 5 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,520 And Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah 6 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,080 which fell from him and went back and 7 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,040 stood by the bank of the Jordan and 8 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,580 he took the mantle of Elijah which had 9 00:00:47,580 --> 00:00:50,660 fallen from him and smoked the waters and 10 00:00:50,660 --> 00:00:53,920 said where is Jehovah the God of Elijah. 11 00:00:54,460 --> 00:00:58,120 He also smoked the waters and they parted 12 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,580 hither and thither and Elisha went over. 13 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:04,200 And the sons of the prophets who were 14 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,620 at Jericho on the opposite side saw him 15 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:09,940 and they said the spirit of Elijah rests 16 00:01:09,940 --> 00:01:11,640 on Elisha. 17 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:15,080 And they came to meet him and bowed 18 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,860 themselves to the ground before him and said 19 00:01:17,860 --> 00:01:20,360 to him behold now there are with thy 20 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:22,040 servants fifty valiant men. 21 00:01:22,700 --> 00:01:24,540 Let them go we pray thee and seek 22 00:01:24,540 --> 00:01:27,780 thy master lest perhaps the spirit of Jehovah 23 00:01:27,780 --> 00:01:30,660 have taken him up and cast him upon 24 00:01:30,660 --> 00:01:33,020 some mountain or into some dine. 25 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,280 And he said ye shall not send. 26 00:01:36,740 --> 00:01:39,060 And they pressed him till he was ashamed 27 00:01:39,060 --> 00:01:40,980 and he said send. 28 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:44,580 They sent therefore fifty men and they sought 29 00:01:44,580 --> 00:01:46,580 three days but did not find him. 30 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:48,940 And they came again to him now he 31 00:01:48,940 --> 00:01:51,520 was staying at Jericho and he said to 32 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,300 them did I not say to you go 33 00:01:53,300 --> 00:01:53,620 not. 34 00:01:54,580 --> 00:01:56,040 And a man of the city said to 35 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,540 Elijah behold now the situation of the city 36 00:01:59,540 --> 00:02:02,780 is good as my Lord sees but the 37 00:02:02,780 --> 00:02:05,380 water is bad and the land is barren. 38 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,820 And he said bring me a new cruise 39 00:02:07,820 --> 00:02:09,320 and put salt in it. 40 00:02:09,539 --> 00:02:11,740 And they brought it to him and he 41 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:13,820 went forth to the source of the waters 42 00:02:13,820 --> 00:02:16,920 and cast the salt in there and said 43 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,220 thus said Jehovah I have healed these waters. 44 00:02:20,940 --> 00:02:22,960 There shall not be from things any more 45 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:24,340 death or barrenness. 46 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,100 And the waters were healed to this day 47 00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:30,640 according to the saying of Elijah which he 48 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:30,980 spoke. 49 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:33,460 And he went up from things to Bethel 50 00:02:33,460 --> 00:02:35,640 and as he went up by the way 51 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,200 there came forth little boys out of the 52 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,420 city and mocked him and said to him 53 00:02:40,420 --> 00:02:43,000 go up go ahead go up go ahead. 54 00:02:43,420 --> 00:02:45,640 And he turned back and looked on them 55 00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:49,240 and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. 56 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,180 And there came forth two she bears out 57 00:02:53,180 --> 00:02:55,800 of the wood and tore 42 children of 58 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:56,000 them. 59 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,480 And he went from things to Mount Carmel 60 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,620 and from things he returned to Samaria. 61 00:03:02,420 --> 00:03:05,800 Chapter 4 verse 38. 62 00:03:06,860 --> 00:03:09,160 Chapter 4 verse 38. 63 00:03:13,070 --> 00:03:16,290 And Elijah came again to Gilgal and there 64 00:03:16,290 --> 00:03:18,550 was a famine in the land and the 65 00:03:18,550 --> 00:03:20,890 sons of the prophets were sitting before him. 66 00:03:21,330 --> 00:03:23,290 And he said to his servant set on 67 00:03:23,290 --> 00:03:26,550 the great pot and boil potage for the 68 00:03:26,550 --> 00:03:27,550 sons of the prophets. 69 00:03:28,310 --> 00:03:29,970 Then one went out into the field to 70 00:03:29,970 --> 00:03:32,790 gather herbs and found a wild vine and 71 00:03:32,790 --> 00:03:35,030 gathered from it his net full of wild 72 00:03:35,030 --> 00:03:38,430 Colossians and came and shred them into the 73 00:03:38,430 --> 00:03:40,870 pot of potage for they did not know 74 00:03:40,870 --> 00:03:41,110 them. 75 00:03:41,710 --> 00:03:43,410 And they poured out for the men to 76 00:03:43,410 --> 00:03:43,630 eat. 77 00:03:44,050 --> 00:03:45,650 And it came to pass as they were 78 00:03:45,650 --> 00:03:48,210 eating of the potage that they cried out 79 00:03:48,210 --> 00:03:50,470 and said man of God there is death 80 00:03:50,470 --> 00:03:51,330 in the pot. 81 00:03:52,010 --> 00:03:53,270 And they could not eat it. 82 00:03:53,750 --> 00:03:55,190 And he said then bring meal. 83 00:03:55,770 --> 00:03:57,930 And he cast it into the pot and 84 00:03:57,930 --> 00:04:00,290 said pour out for the people that they 85 00:04:00,290 --> 00:04:00,790 may eat. 86 00:04:01,110 --> 00:04:03,210 And there was no harm in the pot. 87 00:04:03,870 --> 00:04:06,350 And there came a man from Beal, Cilicia 88 00:04:06,350 --> 00:04:09,210 and brought the man of God bread of 89 00:04:09,210 --> 00:04:12,330 the first fruits 20 loaves of barley and 90 00:04:12,330 --> 00:04:14,250 fresh ears of corns in his sack. 91 00:04:14,630 --> 00:04:16,250 And he said give to the people that 92 00:04:16,250 --> 00:04:16,829 they may eat. 93 00:04:17,170 --> 00:04:19,250 And his attendant said how shall I set 94 00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:20,529 this before a hundred men. 95 00:04:20,970 --> 00:04:22,890 And he said give the people that they 96 00:04:22,890 --> 00:04:23,330 may eat. 97 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:26,450 For thus said Jehovah they shall eat and 98 00:04:26,450 --> 00:04:27,550 shall have to spare. 99 00:04:27,950 --> 00:04:29,950 And he set it before them and they 100 00:04:29,950 --> 00:04:33,230 ate and left thereof according to the word 101 00:04:33,230 --> 00:04:34,150 of Jehovah. 102 00:04:40,270 --> 00:04:49,050 Last night we mentioned about the call of 103 00:04:49,050 --> 00:04:52,350 Elijah to be a prophet. 104 00:04:54,130 --> 00:04:56,670 And also the confirmation. 105 00:04:58,550 --> 00:05:00,670 The call came to him when he was 106 00:05:00,670 --> 00:05:01,650 plowing the field. 107 00:05:03,750 --> 00:05:05,370 He responded to that call. 108 00:05:06,530 --> 00:05:13,130 He followed Elijah all the way until Elijah 109 00:05:13,130 --> 00:05:15,310 was taken from him. 110 00:05:16,250 --> 00:05:19,830 And there he received the double portion of 111 00:05:19,830 --> 00:05:21,530 the spirit of Elijah. 112 00:05:22,450 --> 00:05:24,790 His calling was confirmed. 113 00:05:27,220 --> 00:05:30,080 He was an apprentice as it were for 114 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,040 several years pouring water upon the hands of 115 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:39,880 Elijah before he was confirmed as a prophet. 116 00:05:40,820 --> 00:05:45,320 So from then on he was a prophet 117 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,700 before God. 118 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,840 Now tonight we would like to fellowship together 119 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:58,020 on the circuit of his ministry. 120 00:05:58,820 --> 00:06:03,640 You notice that in the last journey Elijah 121 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:11,560 and Elijah they walked together from Gilgal to 122 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:12,760 Bethel. 123 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,540 From Bethel to Jericho. 124 00:06:17,140 --> 00:06:19,700 From Jericho to Jordan. 125 00:06:20,580 --> 00:06:24,720 And then Elijah was taken to the heavens. 126 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:33,200 In a sense this walk through the four 127 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:39,940 stations represent a walk with God. 128 00:06:41,730 --> 00:06:45,310 As we walk with God we will go 129 00:06:45,310 --> 00:06:49,910 through what these four places represent. 130 00:06:51,570 --> 00:06:55,790 And then at the last it will be 131 00:06:57,100 --> 00:06:58,280 recorded. 132 00:07:02,980 --> 00:07:08,080 When Elijah passed through these four places with 133 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,780 Elijah following him. 134 00:07:12,890 --> 00:07:16,210 Did he do anything in these places? 135 00:07:18,470 --> 00:07:19,430 There was no record. 136 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:24,340 It seems as if he was just passing 137 00:07:24,340 --> 00:07:24,700 through. 138 00:07:27,250 --> 00:07:28,690 He didn't do anything. 139 00:07:29,970 --> 00:07:30,190 Why? 140 00:07:30,370 --> 00:07:33,730 Because the emphasis is on the walk. 141 00:07:34,910 --> 00:07:36,970 The walk with God. 142 00:07:38,110 --> 00:07:41,650 The emphasis was not on the doing. 143 00:07:42,570 --> 00:07:45,410 The emphasis was on life. 144 00:07:46,870 --> 00:07:50,250 A life with God is a life that 145 00:07:50,250 --> 00:07:51,350 walks with God. 146 00:07:51,970 --> 00:07:54,850 And a life that walks with God will 147 00:07:54,850 --> 00:08:00,130 go through various experiences as represented by these 148 00:08:00,130 --> 00:08:00,710 four places. 149 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,300 And finally rapture. 150 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,180 So brothers and sisters in one sense this 151 00:08:11,180 --> 00:08:12,620 applies to us today. 152 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,240 Our life with God is a walk. 153 00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:26,230 We walk with God and if we do 154 00:08:26,230 --> 00:08:30,230 we will walk into the heavens. 155 00:08:32,780 --> 00:08:35,159 The walk is always heavenward. 156 00:08:35,940 --> 00:08:36,679 It goes up. 157 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,640 But then you'll find after Elijah was taken 158 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:48,740 to heaven Elijah received the prophetic ministry. 159 00:08:50,340 --> 00:08:52,860 Then you'll find he came back. 160 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,980 And as he came back he came to 161 00:08:59,980 --> 00:09:01,160 the same places. 162 00:09:02,500 --> 00:09:03,740 But in reverse order. 163 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:07,960 He started from Jordan. 164 00:09:09,220 --> 00:09:10,800 Then he came to Jericho. 165 00:09:11,980 --> 00:09:13,940 And from there he came to Bethel. 166 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:18,340 And after Bethel he came to Gilgal. 167 00:09:22,630 --> 00:09:26,770 With Elijah it was a walk with God. 168 00:09:28,050 --> 00:09:30,070 It goes upward. 169 00:09:31,070 --> 00:09:31,730 Heavenward. 170 00:09:32,430 --> 00:09:35,670 With Elijah it is a returning to the 171 00:09:35,670 --> 00:09:36,570 people of God. 172 00:09:39,820 --> 00:09:42,300 And in returning to the people of God 173 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:45,220 you'll find things are being done. 174 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,300 There were works to be done. 175 00:09:50,780 --> 00:09:55,820 So in one sense with Elijah it represents 176 00:09:55,820 --> 00:09:56,420 life. 177 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,320 With Elijah in returning to these places it 178 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:02,880 represents ministry. 179 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,940 Now this is the connection between life and 180 00:10:06,940 --> 00:10:07,340 ministry. 181 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,480 And this is the right order too. 182 00:10:12,820 --> 00:10:15,940 If we want to have a spiritual ministry 183 00:10:15,940 --> 00:10:21,460 to God's people we must first have a 184 00:10:21,460 --> 00:10:22,540 walk with God. 185 00:10:24,620 --> 00:10:27,080 If we do not have that walk with 186 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:32,360 God which is heavenward there will not come 187 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,240 forth a ministry towards man. 188 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:37,000 It is manward. 189 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:46,160 That's why we say gift alone never constitutes 190 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:46,920 a ministry. 191 00:10:49,460 --> 00:10:52,540 It has to be backed by a walk, 192 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:53,300 a life. 193 00:10:55,000 --> 00:11:00,540 And with that life a ministry will be 194 00:11:00,540 --> 00:11:00,980 produced. 195 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:06,120 So in the returning circuit you'll find the 196 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,360 principle of the demonstration of ministry. 197 00:11:11,060 --> 00:11:14,780 So I do hope that we remember this 198 00:11:14,780 --> 00:11:20,240 as the ground for our fellowship tonight. 199 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,240 Now first of all Jordan. 200 00:11:24,660 --> 00:11:27,580 You know according to the record of the 201 00:11:27,580 --> 00:11:33,260 word of God the waters in Jordan were 202 00:11:33,260 --> 00:11:43,260 divided three times up to the 203 00:11:43,260 --> 00:11:44,120 time of Elijah. 204 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:49,080 The first time the waters of Jordan were 205 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:53,360 divided so that the children of Israel could 206 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:57,860 walk through the riverbed to the promised land. 207 00:11:58,860 --> 00:12:01,860 And how was the water divided? 208 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,000 It was divided by the ark. 209 00:12:07,620 --> 00:12:10,420 The ark of God was born on the 210 00:12:10,420 --> 00:12:11,920 shoulders of the priests. 211 00:12:12,940 --> 00:12:16,540 And as their feet touched the water, the 212 00:12:16,540 --> 00:12:17,620 water divided. 213 00:12:18,660 --> 00:12:22,100 Then the priests who bore the ark they 214 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:26,260 stood in the middle of the dry riverbed. 215 00:12:27,060 --> 00:12:29,420 And the children of Israel passed through. 216 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,640 And after they had all passed through then 217 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,560 the priests who bore the ark they also 218 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:38,460 came up to the other shore. 219 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:40,680 And when they came up on the other 220 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:42,100 shore the water returned. 221 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,540 Now that was the crossing of the river 222 00:12:45,540 --> 00:12:45,900 Jordan. 223 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,560 Now we know that basically the water of 224 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:52,380 the river Jordan represents death. 225 00:12:54,810 --> 00:12:56,610 But it is not just death. 226 00:12:58,150 --> 00:13:01,430 It is life out of death. 227 00:13:02,390 --> 00:13:04,730 So in the experience of the children of 228 00:13:04,730 --> 00:13:10,930 Israel it is co-death, co-burial and 229 00:13:10,930 --> 00:13:15,620 co-resurrection if we want to use New 230 00:13:15,620 --> 00:13:16,360 Testament terms. 231 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,080 And so far as we are concerned this 232 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:21,340 is what it is. 233 00:13:22,740 --> 00:13:26,420 We need to see our Lord Jesus not 234 00:13:26,420 --> 00:13:29,020 only as one who bore our sins on 235 00:13:29,020 --> 00:13:29,500 the cross. 236 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:32,600 But we need to see that our Lord 237 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,140 Jesus also has borne us in him. 238 00:13:35,420 --> 00:13:37,680 And with him we were crucified. 239 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:41,740 And we were buried together with him. 240 00:13:42,540 --> 00:13:44,120 Because we were in him. 241 00:13:44,820 --> 00:13:47,780 And we were being raised from the dead 242 00:13:47,780 --> 00:13:50,040 because we were in him. 243 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:53,500 So the experience of the children of Israel 244 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:58,020 crossing the river Jordan is our experience of 245 00:13:58,020 --> 00:14:02,040 co-death, co-burial and co-resurrection with 246 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:02,560 Christ. 247 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,960 And because of that we come into the 248 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,920 abiding life in Christ. 249 00:14:12,620 --> 00:14:14,020 That is the promised land. 250 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:16,920 Now that is the first instance. 251 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,900 Now the second instance when the waters of 252 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:26,640 Jordan were divided was when Elijah on his 253 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:31,700 way to heaven he came to the bank 254 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:32,880 of the river Jordan. 255 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,100 He rolled up his mantle. 256 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,260 He smote the waters and the water divided 257 00:14:38,260 --> 00:14:41,200 so that he could go through it to 258 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,860 the other side to be raptured. 259 00:14:47,150 --> 00:14:51,930 Now I believe this is different from the 260 00:14:51,930 --> 00:14:52,730 first crossing. 261 00:14:53,710 --> 00:14:57,150 Because the first crossing is co-death, co 262 00:14:57,150 --> 00:15:00,890 -burial, co-resurrection with Christ so that from 263 00:15:00,890 --> 00:15:03,910 now on we abide in Christ. 264 00:15:05,540 --> 00:15:08,680 But with Elijah you see it was not 265 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,600 the ark that divided the water. 266 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:12,400 It was the mantle. 267 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:17,280 A mantle always represents ministry. 268 00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:20,740 A work. 269 00:15:22,460 --> 00:15:25,000 With Elijah it is prophetic ministry. 270 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,920 So the water was divided by that mantle. 271 00:15:30,380 --> 00:15:33,860 And I believe the New Testament counterpart of 272 00:15:33,860 --> 00:15:36,540 it is in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. 273 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:42,960 You know 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 when we 274 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,640 read it, it seems as if it is 275 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,140 a chapter on spiritual life, on life. 276 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:53,220 What is spiritual life? 277 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,720 How can this life be manifested? 278 00:16:00,140 --> 00:16:04,120 We are as earthen vessels but with a 279 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:05,620 treasure in us. 280 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:11,020 And the radiance, the power of that treasure 281 00:16:11,020 --> 00:16:13,840 is of God, is not of us. 282 00:16:14,490 --> 00:16:17,160 In order that the treasure may be manifested, 283 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:19,380 the vessel must be broken. 284 00:16:20,540 --> 00:16:25,160 So God raised up all kinds of environments. 285 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,360 We are surrounded and yet we are not 286 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:29,700 finished. 287 00:16:30,820 --> 00:16:31,480 Why? 288 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:32,760 Because we have a way out. 289 00:16:34,020 --> 00:16:37,620 We are beaten down but we are not 290 00:16:37,620 --> 00:16:38,240 beaten out. 291 00:16:39,220 --> 00:16:41,480 So you find that the Holy Spirit was 292 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:47,360 so arranged our environment to break us, to 293 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:51,260 break the outward man, so that the inward 294 00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:53,920 man which is Christ in us, the treasure, 295 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:55,640 may be manifested. 296 00:16:56,510 --> 00:16:58,900 So Paul sums it up and says, we 297 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:01,800 bear in our body the dying of Jesus, 298 00:17:02,180 --> 00:17:05,720 the slaying of Jesus, that the life of 299 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,020 Jesus may be manifested in us. 300 00:17:09,980 --> 00:17:15,280 How can this life that is bound within 301 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:19,680 us, imprisoned within us, be released? 302 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:23,599 The only way for the life within us 303 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:26,480 which is Christ to be released is through 304 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,000 the breaking of the outward man. 305 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,620 By bearing in our body the dying of 306 00:17:32,620 --> 00:17:36,140 Jesus, that is to say, we die daily. 307 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:41,500 We deliver ourselves as it were, deliberately, as 308 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:44,700 the Holy Spirit arranges in our environment, we 309 00:17:44,700 --> 00:17:45,480 choose it. 310 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:51,660 We deliberately deliver ourselves to the dying of 311 00:17:51,660 --> 00:17:54,360 Jesus, to the slaying of Jesus, and the 312 00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:55,660 result is we are broken. 313 00:17:56,660 --> 00:17:59,640 And the real life is released. 314 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,100 Life in us. 315 00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:06,360 Now that is represented by Elijah. 316 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:12,320 The crossing of Jordan with Elijah is he 317 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:16,240 had now entered into the maturity of life. 318 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,100 He had come to know the life of 319 00:18:22,100 --> 00:18:25,100 Christ, of course we are using New Testament 320 00:18:25,100 --> 00:18:29,260 phrases, in such a way that he is 321 00:18:29,260 --> 00:18:33,440 broken but Christ is released. 322 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,220 And that is the apostolic life. 323 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:40,300 That is the life of rapture. 324 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,900 That kind of life is to be raptured. 325 00:18:47,420 --> 00:18:51,820 Now with Elijah, you find his returning. 326 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:57,260 He used the mantle of Elijah, he smoked 327 00:18:57,260 --> 00:18:59,300 the water and said, where is the God 328 00:18:59,300 --> 00:18:59,880 of Elijah? 329 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:01,760 And the water devoured him. 330 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:03,760 And he crossed over. 331 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,280 Now in his case, the emphasis is on 332 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:08,680 ministry. 333 00:19:09,820 --> 00:19:13,980 So 2 Corinthians chapter 4, when you read 334 00:19:13,980 --> 00:19:17,020 it, your first impression will be, now this 335 00:19:17,020 --> 00:19:17,940 is life. 336 00:19:18,360 --> 00:19:20,100 This is spiritual life. 337 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,920 But then if you read again, you find 338 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:25,720 this is spiritual ministry. 339 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:30,700 Actually what 2 Corinthians chapter 4 is talking 340 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:32,020 about, is talking about ministry. 341 00:19:32,580 --> 00:19:35,180 Because Paul said, we have this ministry. 342 00:19:36,660 --> 00:19:39,020 It is the ministry that is in view. 343 00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:41,100 Now what is ministry? 344 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Ministry comes out of life. 345 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:49,520 Therefore you will find in the same chapter, 346 00:19:49,860 --> 00:19:53,920 verse 12, Paul continues to say, we bear 347 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:55,980 in our body the dying of Jesus that 348 00:19:55,980 --> 00:19:58,420 the life of Jesus may be manifested in 349 00:19:58,420 --> 00:19:58,860 us. 350 00:19:58,860 --> 00:20:01,800 And then in verse 12 he said, that 351 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,400 the life of Jesus may be manifested in 352 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:04,820 you. 353 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:06,360 Now that's ministry. 354 00:20:08,110 --> 00:20:10,850 When the life of Jesus is manifested in 355 00:20:10,850 --> 00:20:11,810 us, that is life. 356 00:20:12,050 --> 00:20:13,070 That is real life. 357 00:20:15,210 --> 00:20:17,710 But when the life of Jesus is manifested 358 00:20:17,710 --> 00:20:19,950 in you, that is ministry. 359 00:20:19,950 --> 00:20:23,770 You know, when the life of Jesus is 360 00:20:23,770 --> 00:20:29,130 released through us, and it touches other people, 361 00:20:30,310 --> 00:20:35,460 it is an imparting of, and ministry is 362 00:20:35,460 --> 00:20:38,880 none other but imparting of life. 363 00:20:39,940 --> 00:20:43,780 I think this is a very basic understanding 364 00:20:43,780 --> 00:20:45,560 of what ministry is. 365 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,440 You know, often times we think of ministry 366 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:49,660 as doing something. 367 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:51,220 Acting. 368 00:20:53,140 --> 00:20:56,560 Sometimes we think of ministry only in terms 369 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:57,980 of serving. 370 00:20:59,220 --> 00:20:59,620 Serving. 371 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:02,880 Now we have done something. 372 00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:06,280 We have served some purpose. 373 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,800 We have accomplished some work. 374 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:15,660 But dear brothers and sisters, strictly speaking, this 375 00:21:15,660 --> 00:21:16,500 is not ministry. 376 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,600 Ministry is the impartation of life. 377 00:21:25,120 --> 00:21:28,580 Unless we are able to impart life to 378 00:21:28,580 --> 00:21:29,240 other people. 379 00:21:29,940 --> 00:21:32,140 Now of course, the life that is to 380 00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:33,800 imparted is not our life. 381 00:21:35,340 --> 00:21:37,880 The life that is imparted is the life 382 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:38,360 of Christ. 383 00:21:40,860 --> 00:21:46,340 Whether it comes through prophesying, or it comes 384 00:21:46,340 --> 00:21:50,580 through teaching, or it comes through serving, or 385 00:21:50,580 --> 00:21:53,680 it comes through loving, or it comes through 386 00:21:53,680 --> 00:22:00,020 helping, in whatever capacity, channel, it may come 387 00:22:00,020 --> 00:22:00,300 forth. 388 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:04,120 You find what is really the substance of 389 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:07,200 ministry is the imparting of Christ. 390 00:22:10,820 --> 00:22:12,920 Now, are we imparting Christ? 391 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:17,020 This is a very serious question. 392 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,000 We may be involved in many activities. 393 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:26,040 We may be doing all kinds of works. 394 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:32,880 We may be accomplishing all kinds of things. 395 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,100 But dear brothers and sisters, if there is 396 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:40,260 not an imparting of the life of Christ 397 00:22:40,260 --> 00:22:42,700 in it, you have no ministry. 398 00:22:43,740 --> 00:22:45,060 There is no ministry. 399 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,240 Ministry begins with Jordan. 400 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:53,820 That's where it begins. 401 00:22:54,820 --> 00:22:56,760 You remember our Lord Jesus? 402 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:58,800 When He was 30? 403 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,960 He was going to commence His ministry. 404 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,760 Where did He commence His ministry? 405 00:23:06,220 --> 00:23:07,040 At the River Jordan. 406 00:23:09,420 --> 00:23:11,920 There you'll find our Lord Jesus who had 407 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:14,060 lived a perfect life for 30 years. 408 00:23:16,390 --> 00:23:17,450 It was a perfect life. 409 00:23:18,290 --> 00:23:22,110 But when He was to begin His ministry, 410 00:23:22,270 --> 00:23:24,490 the first thing He did was to go 411 00:23:24,490 --> 00:23:30,410 to the River Jordan and, in other words, 412 00:23:31,350 --> 00:23:38,110 there He laid down Himself so that God 413 00:23:38,110 --> 00:23:40,750 may be manifested through Him. 414 00:23:41,550 --> 00:23:44,870 And it was from Jordan that He started 415 00:23:44,870 --> 00:23:45,950 His ministry. 416 00:23:47,170 --> 00:23:50,070 Brothers and sisters, where do we start our 417 00:23:50,070 --> 00:23:50,590 ministry? 418 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,400 Do not think that Jordan is the last 419 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:56,740 station. 420 00:23:58,340 --> 00:24:00,740 So far as life is concerned, it seems 421 00:24:00,740 --> 00:24:02,380 as if Jordan is the last station. 422 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:05,560 Gilgal is the first one. 423 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:07,280 Jordan is the last. 424 00:24:07,860 --> 00:24:10,720 But so far as ministry is concerned, Jordan 425 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:12,820 is the first, is the starting point. 426 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:15,160 Do we know Jordan? 427 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:22,780 Do we know that breaking of the awkward 428 00:24:22,780 --> 00:24:23,120 man? 429 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:28,000 Do we know the life of Christ manifested? 430 00:24:28,780 --> 00:24:31,680 Are we able to impart Christ? 431 00:24:34,670 --> 00:24:38,810 So Elijah, in coming back, you'll find the 432 00:24:38,810 --> 00:24:42,690 first point, the starting point is going through 433 00:24:42,690 --> 00:24:43,850 the River Jordan. 434 00:24:45,130 --> 00:24:47,290 Now after He passed through the River Jordan, 435 00:24:48,950 --> 00:24:50,890 the sons of the prophets were watching. 436 00:24:53,330 --> 00:24:56,290 They did not go with Elijah through the 437 00:24:56,290 --> 00:24:56,870 River Jordan. 438 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,280 They were on the other shore. 439 00:25:02,860 --> 00:25:05,540 And I don't believe they saw Elijah taken 440 00:25:05,540 --> 00:25:05,800 up. 441 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:08,020 Only Elijah saw. 442 00:25:08,860 --> 00:25:09,600 They didn't see. 443 00:25:11,260 --> 00:25:14,940 So they saw Elijah coming back and they 444 00:25:14,940 --> 00:25:15,800 saw the mantle. 445 00:25:16,180 --> 00:25:18,760 They saw Elijah smoke the water and the 446 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,040 water divided hither and thither and He crossed 447 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:21,220 over. 448 00:25:21,220 --> 00:25:24,840 Immediately they knew the spirit of Elijah rests 449 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:26,340 on Elijah now. 450 00:25:27,580 --> 00:25:29,760 So they came to Him and bowed to 451 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:30,240 Him. 452 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:30,680 Why? 453 00:25:30,780 --> 00:25:33,900 Because He was to be the head, the 454 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:35,840 superintendent of the school of prophets. 455 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:37,220 Now. 456 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,600 And you know what they suggested to Him? 457 00:25:43,850 --> 00:25:44,870 It's unbelievable. 458 00:25:46,250 --> 00:25:51,770 They told Elijah, they said, we have fifty 459 00:25:51,770 --> 00:25:53,370 strong men here. 460 00:25:54,610 --> 00:25:57,090 We are ready to go through the mountains 461 00:25:57,090 --> 00:25:59,770 and the valleys to find the body of 462 00:25:59,770 --> 00:26:00,110 Elijah. 463 00:26:01,590 --> 00:26:05,770 God has taken Elijah away and maybe God 464 00:26:05,770 --> 00:26:09,810 just throws him somewhere in a mountain or 465 00:26:09,810 --> 00:26:10,550 the valley. 466 00:26:11,170 --> 00:26:13,370 Now give us permission to find him. 467 00:26:14,450 --> 00:26:17,230 Now Elijah of course knew that wasn't the 468 00:26:17,230 --> 00:26:19,770 case because God took Elijah to heaven. 469 00:26:21,050 --> 00:26:23,070 So Elijah said, no, don't do that. 470 00:26:23,510 --> 00:26:25,470 But they pressed him so much until he 471 00:26:25,470 --> 00:26:26,270 was ashamed. 472 00:26:27,470 --> 00:26:29,030 He said, alright, if you want to do 473 00:26:29,030 --> 00:26:29,670 it, you do it. 474 00:26:30,030 --> 00:26:31,370 So they sent fifty men. 475 00:26:33,370 --> 00:26:35,250 And of course after three days of searching 476 00:26:35,250 --> 00:26:36,430 they couldn't find the body. 477 00:26:40,110 --> 00:26:45,670 They had the knowledge that God took Elijah. 478 00:26:48,170 --> 00:26:51,710 But their knowledge was mental knowledge. 479 00:26:55,670 --> 00:26:59,870 You know, if our knowledge is only mental 480 00:26:59,870 --> 00:27:06,590 knowledge, our understanding of God's word is so 481 00:27:06,590 --> 00:27:10,170 limited we can only believe to a certain 482 00:27:10,170 --> 00:27:11,930 point and no further. 483 00:27:12,750 --> 00:27:16,770 They could believe that God took Elijah, but 484 00:27:16,770 --> 00:27:19,430 they couldn't believe God could take Elijah to 485 00:27:19,430 --> 00:27:19,710 heaven. 486 00:27:21,030 --> 00:27:21,910 That's too high. 487 00:27:22,950 --> 00:27:26,430 So God must throw him somewhere else. 488 00:27:27,190 --> 00:27:28,330 Now isn't that true? 489 00:27:28,330 --> 00:27:32,430 If our knowledge of God is only mental, 490 00:27:33,410 --> 00:27:36,770 if our understanding of the word is just 491 00:27:36,770 --> 00:27:40,170 mental, our faith is limited. 492 00:27:41,610 --> 00:27:44,650 We can only believe thus far and no 493 00:27:44,650 --> 00:27:44,850 further. 494 00:27:47,060 --> 00:27:49,040 We cannot go all the way. 495 00:27:52,980 --> 00:27:55,800 So after three days, of course they couldn't 496 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:56,220 find him. 497 00:27:56,580 --> 00:27:59,520 But during those days where was Elijah? 498 00:28:00,540 --> 00:28:02,300 He was staying in Jericho. 499 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,440 So you see the second station. 500 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:09,460 While he was in Jericho, the people in 501 00:28:09,460 --> 00:28:10,680 Jericho came to him. 502 00:28:11,900 --> 00:28:13,420 And they said, look here. 503 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,720 The location of this city is good. 504 00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:22,340 Everything about the city is good. 505 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:24,920 Only the water is bad. 506 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,320 So the land is bad. 507 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,960 When the children of Israel came to Jericho 508 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:37,820 in the first place, the walls of Jericho 509 00:28:37,820 --> 00:28:39,540 must be brought down. 510 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,220 The stronghold must be overthrown. 511 00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:47,520 But here you'll find when Elijah was in 512 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,440 Jericho, they came to him and said everything 513 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,200 was good except the water. 514 00:28:53,860 --> 00:28:56,300 And because the water was bad, the land 515 00:28:56,300 --> 00:28:57,020 was bad. 516 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:04,970 What does the water here represent? 517 00:29:08,980 --> 00:29:11,080 You remember our Lord Jesus when he talked 518 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:12,080 with a Samaritan woman? 519 00:29:13,660 --> 00:29:15,180 He said if you know who he's talking 520 00:29:15,180 --> 00:29:17,780 with you, and if you will ask of 521 00:29:17,780 --> 00:29:20,680 him, he will give you a living water. 522 00:29:21,860 --> 00:29:24,280 And you will never be thirsty again. 523 00:29:24,980 --> 00:29:28,860 Because this water will become a fountain that 524 00:29:28,860 --> 00:29:32,620 will well up within you forever. 525 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,840 Of course he speaks of his life. 526 00:29:38,580 --> 00:29:41,520 And then in John chapter 7, on the 527 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:43,740 last day of the great feast, that is 528 00:29:43,740 --> 00:29:46,480 the Feast of the Tabernacles, the Lord stood 529 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,100 on a high place and shouted, if anyone 530 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:50,240 is thirsty, come. 531 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:54,300 He that believeth out of his belly shall 532 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,800 flow rivers of living water. 533 00:29:58,100 --> 00:30:00,840 And this he speaks of the Holy Spirit. 534 00:30:02,510 --> 00:30:04,270 The Holy Spirit has not yet been given 535 00:30:04,270 --> 00:30:06,190 because he has not yet been glorified. 536 00:30:06,910 --> 00:30:10,430 So here you'll find the water represents the 537 00:30:10,430 --> 00:30:11,430 water of life. 538 00:30:12,370 --> 00:30:15,310 And then of course in Revelation chapter 22 539 00:30:15,310 --> 00:30:18,330 you'll find in the holy city there is 540 00:30:18,330 --> 00:30:21,410 a river of life that flows from the 541 00:30:21,410 --> 00:30:24,390 throne of God and of the Lamb. 542 00:30:25,010 --> 00:30:27,590 And it goes around the whole city and 543 00:30:27,590 --> 00:30:31,530 wherever the river flows there is the tree 544 00:30:31,530 --> 00:30:32,330 of life. 545 00:30:35,370 --> 00:30:37,730 Water here speaks of life. 546 00:30:39,850 --> 00:30:42,310 What is more basic than life? 547 00:30:43,930 --> 00:30:45,950 You may have a good location. 548 00:30:47,550 --> 00:30:49,050 You may have a good background. 549 00:30:50,270 --> 00:30:54,250 You may have a good social position. 550 00:30:54,990 --> 00:30:56,610 You may have a good education. 551 00:30:57,350 --> 00:30:58,850 You may have good environment. 552 00:30:59,630 --> 00:31:01,050 You may have riches. 553 00:31:01,590 --> 00:31:03,570 You may have anything, everything. 554 00:31:03,570 --> 00:31:07,050 But if the life is bad, you are 555 00:31:07,050 --> 00:31:07,490 barren. 556 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:11,560 And isn't our life bad? 557 00:31:14,330 --> 00:31:16,590 Paul said, in me that is in my 558 00:31:16,590 --> 00:31:18,130 flesh there is no good. 559 00:31:19,930 --> 00:31:22,350 But how difficult it is for us to 560 00:31:22,350 --> 00:31:23,070 realize that. 561 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:47,920 Before we believe in the Lord, before 562 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:53,220 we believe in the Lord Jesus, the bad 563 00:31:53,220 --> 00:31:57,560 side of our flesh committed many things until 564 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:01,440 we were horrified and we repented. 565 00:32:02,620 --> 00:32:06,480 But after we believe in the Lord, we 566 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,580 use the good side of our flesh trying 567 00:32:10,580 --> 00:32:13,800 to serve God to keep his law. 568 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:17,460 We are not that bad. 569 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,780 Our water is not altogether bad. 570 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,620 Until one day we realize that in us 571 00:32:25,620 --> 00:32:27,860 that is in our flesh there is no 572 00:32:27,860 --> 00:32:28,200 good. 573 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:36,610 Your good nature, your good temperament, your good 574 00:32:36,610 --> 00:32:39,590 gentleman and so on and so forth. 575 00:32:40,490 --> 00:32:41,030 No good. 576 00:32:41,850 --> 00:32:44,010 There is absolutely no good. 577 00:32:44,390 --> 00:32:47,330 Our natural life is bad water. 578 00:32:48,510 --> 00:32:54,030 And if the natural life is bad, no 579 00:32:54,030 --> 00:32:58,590 matter what you give to Him, it is 580 00:32:58,590 --> 00:32:58,970 barren. 581 00:32:59,830 --> 00:33:00,430 No good. 582 00:33:01,450 --> 00:33:02,650 No good. 583 00:33:02,650 --> 00:33:04,730 So they came to Elisha. 584 00:33:05,810 --> 00:33:07,470 And you know what Elisha did? 585 00:33:08,390 --> 00:33:12,030 Elisha said, give me a new cruise and 586 00:33:12,030 --> 00:33:15,010 put salt in it. 587 00:33:15,170 --> 00:33:17,470 He took the new cruise with the salt. 588 00:33:18,030 --> 00:33:20,070 He went to the source of the water. 589 00:33:21,130 --> 00:33:24,030 He poured the salt upon the source of 590 00:33:24,030 --> 00:33:24,450 the water. 591 00:33:24,450 --> 00:33:29,610 And he declared, Jehovah the Lord has healed 592 00:33:29,610 --> 00:33:30,490 these waters. 593 00:33:31,370 --> 00:33:34,910 Henceforth there will be no death and barrenness. 594 00:33:35,370 --> 00:33:39,870 And it is so until this day. 595 00:33:42,140 --> 00:33:43,920 You know this day is not only the 596 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:46,660 day when 2nd King was written. 597 00:33:47,140 --> 00:33:48,680 But this day is even today. 598 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,560 If you go to Jericho today, you will 599 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,340 find in Jericho there is only one fountain. 600 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:57,960 One source of water. 601 00:33:58,980 --> 00:34:02,740 It was the very fountain that Elisha healed. 602 00:34:03,780 --> 00:34:07,020 When I was there over 10 years ago 603 00:34:07,020 --> 00:34:08,340 we went to that place. 604 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:10,659 And we saw that water. 605 00:34:10,739 --> 00:34:13,460 That was the only water in that locality. 606 00:34:14,260 --> 00:34:16,940 So it was the water that Elisha healed. 607 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,739 And even today women will come in groups 608 00:34:19,739 --> 00:34:22,120 to get water. 609 00:34:23,420 --> 00:34:25,219 And we saw these women coming. 610 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:27,580 They came from a refugee camp. 611 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,340 The Arab refugee camp nearby. 612 00:34:30,340 --> 00:34:34,120 But instead of putting a kind of earthen 613 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,420 pot, you know, a pitcher on their head 614 00:34:36,420 --> 00:34:41,199 to draw water, they now use kerosene can. 615 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,120 Everyone had a kerosene can on their head, 616 00:34:44,380 --> 00:34:46,380 you know, and they came to draw water. 617 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,380 The water has been healed. 618 00:34:51,449 --> 00:34:53,870 And as you approach the city of Jericho, 619 00:34:54,130 --> 00:34:56,510 you find it is green everywhere. 620 00:34:57,750 --> 00:34:58,730 Green everywhere. 621 00:35:01,900 --> 00:35:07,420 Now brothers and sisters, what is the spiritual 622 00:35:07,420 --> 00:35:10,800 implication of the healing of the waters? 623 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,760 You will find the water was healed by 624 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:15,060 salt. 625 00:35:17,410 --> 00:35:25,300 You know salt is something that not only 626 00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:27,570 cures but also preserves. 627 00:35:30,930 --> 00:35:35,050 There is a power in salt to cure 628 00:35:36,490 --> 00:35:38,870 and to preserve. 629 00:35:40,130 --> 00:35:43,410 In the Old Testament all the sacrifices must 630 00:35:43,410 --> 00:35:44,870 be salted. 631 00:35:45,670 --> 00:35:48,670 You must put salt on the sacrifice when 632 00:35:48,670 --> 00:35:49,370 you offer it. 633 00:35:50,850 --> 00:35:53,230 And also you find God's covenant with the 634 00:35:53,230 --> 00:35:55,330 children of Israel say it is a covenant 635 00:35:55,330 --> 00:35:55,870 of salt. 636 00:35:56,930 --> 00:36:00,270 In other words, salt speaks of permanency. 637 00:36:02,850 --> 00:36:05,310 Salt speaks of unchangeableness. 638 00:36:07,210 --> 00:36:10,250 Therefore, salt in the scripture speaks of the 639 00:36:10,250 --> 00:36:11,750 eternal life. 640 00:36:15,490 --> 00:36:22,520 The life of God in Christ is represented 641 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:23,780 by the salt. 642 00:36:25,410 --> 00:36:28,610 Now in Matthew we are told Christ says 643 00:36:28,610 --> 00:36:30,470 ye are the salt of the world. 644 00:36:32,090 --> 00:36:35,790 As if the disciples, they are the salt 645 00:36:35,790 --> 00:36:36,310 of the world. 646 00:36:36,930 --> 00:36:37,670 They are. 647 00:36:38,590 --> 00:36:44,150 But if you apply it very strictly, actually 648 00:36:44,150 --> 00:36:46,770 we are the salt of the world. 649 00:36:46,930 --> 00:36:47,150 Why? 650 00:36:47,310 --> 00:36:51,710 Because we have the life of Christ in 651 00:36:51,710 --> 00:36:51,950 us. 652 00:36:53,390 --> 00:36:54,850 He is the salt. 653 00:36:55,710 --> 00:36:57,610 We are the new cruise. 654 00:37:00,710 --> 00:37:03,370 The salt must not be put in the 655 00:37:03,370 --> 00:37:03,930 old cruise. 656 00:37:05,830 --> 00:37:07,890 There is no suitability there. 657 00:37:09,050 --> 00:37:11,190 The salt has to be contained in the 658 00:37:11,190 --> 00:37:11,770 new cruise. 659 00:37:12,710 --> 00:37:18,290 And the new cruise represents individually and corporately 660 00:37:18,290 --> 00:37:18,990 the church. 661 00:37:19,950 --> 00:37:22,610 The church is the new cruise, the new 662 00:37:22,610 --> 00:37:22,970 vessel. 663 00:37:24,730 --> 00:37:26,870 And we who are the Lord are the 664 00:37:26,870 --> 00:37:27,390 new cruise. 665 00:37:29,410 --> 00:37:33,710 Brothers and sisters, if we live in the 666 00:37:33,710 --> 00:37:39,470 old life, it is as if the salt 667 00:37:39,470 --> 00:37:43,350 is diluted to the point that it becomes 668 00:37:43,350 --> 00:37:45,510 favorless, saltless. 669 00:37:47,780 --> 00:37:49,360 And it will be useless. 670 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:52,780 It will be cast away and be trodden 671 00:37:52,780 --> 00:37:53,100 under. 672 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:58,240 But if we live in the newness of 673 00:37:58,240 --> 00:38:01,060 the Spirit, we are a new creation. 674 00:38:01,380 --> 00:38:03,420 And if we live in the newness of 675 00:38:03,420 --> 00:38:05,400 the Spirit, we are like a new cruise. 676 00:38:05,820 --> 00:38:07,320 And you will find the salt is there. 677 00:38:10,110 --> 00:38:11,830 But it has to be poured out. 678 00:38:12,250 --> 00:38:17,230 Are we willing to pour out, pour out 679 00:38:17,230 --> 00:38:19,770 the life of Christ in us? 680 00:38:20,170 --> 00:38:24,350 And as it is poured out, the water 681 00:38:24,350 --> 00:38:25,350 is filled. 682 00:38:29,430 --> 00:38:31,950 Brothers and sisters, here again you find it 683 00:38:31,950 --> 00:38:34,130 is the pouring out of life. 684 00:38:35,470 --> 00:38:38,210 But it is the pouring out of life 685 00:38:38,210 --> 00:38:45,590 upon the deadness and the barrenness of the 686 00:38:45,590 --> 00:38:46,490 old life. 687 00:38:47,330 --> 00:38:52,430 And here you find it heals it, transforms 688 00:38:52,430 --> 00:38:52,770 it. 689 00:38:53,910 --> 00:38:57,030 Not in the sense that the natural life 690 00:38:57,030 --> 00:39:00,010 is transformed into the spiritual life, but in 691 00:39:00,010 --> 00:39:03,970 the sense that the soul is being transformed. 692 00:39:03,970 --> 00:39:04,690 Why? 693 00:39:04,850 --> 00:39:08,030 Because Christ's life has come in to substitute 694 00:39:08,030 --> 00:39:09,090 self-life. 695 00:39:10,250 --> 00:39:12,010 It is the transformation. 696 00:39:13,130 --> 00:39:16,310 It is the transformation of our soul. 697 00:39:19,210 --> 00:39:22,330 And from then on you will find there 698 00:39:22,330 --> 00:39:25,230 is no more death, no more barrenness, but 699 00:39:25,230 --> 00:39:25,610 free. 700 00:39:27,110 --> 00:39:29,870 So brothers and sisters, here you find this 701 00:39:29,870 --> 00:39:31,070 is ministry. 702 00:39:34,240 --> 00:39:37,300 Ministry has a manward aspect. 703 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:43,860 The manward aspect is when the salt in 704 00:39:43,860 --> 00:39:46,580 us is poured out, it cures. 705 00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:49,780 And it gives life. 706 00:39:50,780 --> 00:39:53,620 And it makes fruitful. 707 00:39:54,580 --> 00:39:55,520 Makes it fruitful. 708 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:57,440 That's ministry. 709 00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:01,140 Then from there on you will finally move 710 00:40:01,140 --> 00:40:01,760 on to Bethel. 711 00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:05,400 Something very strange happened in Bethel. 712 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:08,240 Now what is Bethel? 713 00:40:09,460 --> 00:40:10,900 Bethel is the house of God. 714 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:12,840 The gate of heaven. 715 00:40:14,910 --> 00:40:17,130 It should be the most pleasant place. 716 00:40:18,130 --> 00:40:22,310 If Derrico came to Elisha to ask for 717 00:40:22,310 --> 00:40:25,870 help, certainly Bethel will open its door to 718 00:40:25,870 --> 00:40:26,590 Elisha. 719 00:40:27,770 --> 00:40:34,490 But strangely, as Elisha ascended to Bethel, some 720 00:40:34,490 --> 00:40:35,850 children came out. 721 00:40:35,850 --> 00:40:42,930 Now all most, well, some authority told us, 722 00:40:43,450 --> 00:40:47,190 actually the word there are not little boys 723 00:40:47,190 --> 00:40:48,210 or little children. 724 00:40:48,990 --> 00:40:50,430 The word there are teenagers. 725 00:40:52,010 --> 00:40:52,730 Young people. 726 00:40:53,410 --> 00:40:56,710 A group of young people came out to 727 00:40:56,710 --> 00:40:57,610 meet Elisha. 728 00:40:59,110 --> 00:41:01,770 And as this group of young people came 729 00:41:01,770 --> 00:41:04,550 out, they mocked Elisha. 730 00:41:05,130 --> 00:41:06,190 They ridiculed him. 731 00:41:06,750 --> 00:41:09,290 They said, go up, go ahead, go up, 732 00:41:09,330 --> 00:41:09,850 go ahead. 733 00:41:11,250 --> 00:41:14,950 And Elisha looked at them and cursed them 734 00:41:14,950 --> 00:41:16,010 in the name of the Lord. 735 00:41:16,470 --> 00:41:19,010 And to Sheba, Sheba came out of the 736 00:41:19,010 --> 00:41:23,330 forest and killed 42 of these youngsters. 737 00:41:29,910 --> 00:41:35,710 Bethel was originally the house of God. 738 00:41:36,670 --> 00:41:38,910 The gate of heaven. 739 00:41:40,570 --> 00:41:44,790 It was a place where God was worshipped. 740 00:41:45,750 --> 00:41:47,970 God rested among his people. 741 00:41:48,750 --> 00:41:53,790 It was a place where revelation was given 742 00:41:53,790 --> 00:41:55,650 from above. 743 00:41:56,650 --> 00:41:58,830 But you know, at the time of Elisha, 744 00:41:59,310 --> 00:42:00,090 something happened. 745 00:42:02,840 --> 00:42:06,360 When the nation of Israel were divided into 746 00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:06,740 two. 747 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:10,680 The ten tribes formed a nation of Israel 748 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:12,800 under King Jeroboam. 749 00:42:15,150 --> 00:42:20,890 But then the people of Israel, every year 750 00:42:20,890 --> 00:42:24,290 they still traveled to Jerusalem, to the temple 751 00:42:24,290 --> 00:42:25,350 to worship God. 752 00:42:26,130 --> 00:42:29,750 Because that was the place where the name 753 00:42:29,750 --> 00:42:31,170 of God was set. 754 00:42:32,540 --> 00:42:37,280 So when Jeroboam saw the situation, he had 755 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:38,600 a separate kingdom now. 756 00:42:39,300 --> 00:42:43,640 But his people still went to Jerusalem to 757 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:44,360 worship God. 758 00:42:44,820 --> 00:42:48,340 And if this thing should continue, sooner or 759 00:42:48,340 --> 00:42:53,540 later, his kingdom will be so weakened, the 760 00:42:53,540 --> 00:42:56,100 heart of the people will return to Judah 761 00:42:56,100 --> 00:42:58,840 and his kingdom will come to an end. 762 00:42:58,840 --> 00:43:04,300 So out of political consideration, he took a 763 00:43:04,300 --> 00:43:04,500 step. 764 00:43:05,660 --> 00:43:08,100 He made two golden towels. 765 00:43:11,050 --> 00:43:15,050 Set one in Bethel, set another one in 766 00:43:15,050 --> 00:43:15,310 Dan. 767 00:43:16,010 --> 00:43:18,750 And he made some people priests. 768 00:43:19,090 --> 00:43:21,110 Not Levites, but he made them priests. 769 00:43:21,110 --> 00:43:24,950 And he made a proclamation in his kingdom 770 00:43:24,950 --> 00:43:27,030 and said, you don't need to go to 771 00:43:27,030 --> 00:43:28,370 Jerusalem to worship God. 772 00:43:28,550 --> 00:43:30,390 We have Jehovah God here. 773 00:43:32,170 --> 00:43:33,850 You come to Bethel and worship. 774 00:43:34,730 --> 00:43:37,090 They even call the golden towel Jehovah. 775 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:44,000 So you find in Bethel a counterfeit worship. 776 00:43:49,490 --> 00:43:52,070 Therefore when you read the book of Amos, 777 00:43:52,570 --> 00:43:54,830 in Amos chapter 4 verse 4, it says, 778 00:43:57,010 --> 00:43:59,910 go up, don't go up to Bethel and 779 00:43:59,910 --> 00:44:00,570 transgress. 780 00:44:02,490 --> 00:44:06,690 People went up to Bethel to transgress against 781 00:44:06,690 --> 00:44:07,090 God. 782 00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:14,040 So instead of being a pure worship, there 783 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:22,610 was a controversy and evidently the false priests 784 00:44:24,820 --> 00:44:32,710 instigated, encouraged these young people to come out 785 00:44:32,710 --> 00:44:37,170 to meet the prophet, to prevent him from 786 00:44:37,170 --> 00:44:41,370 coming to the holy place. 787 00:44:41,370 --> 00:44:42,550 What did they say? 788 00:44:43,130 --> 00:44:45,290 They said, go up, go ahead, go up, 789 00:44:45,310 --> 00:44:45,790 go ahead. 790 00:44:46,290 --> 00:44:51,590 Now, if you know the typography of the 791 00:44:51,590 --> 00:44:55,990 place, of course, when Elijah went to Bethel, 792 00:44:56,110 --> 00:44:57,230 he had to go up. 793 00:44:57,490 --> 00:44:58,030 That is true. 794 00:44:58,850 --> 00:44:59,950 But that's not mocking. 795 00:45:01,330 --> 00:45:04,770 Now, Elijah might be a ball head, but 796 00:45:04,770 --> 00:45:05,570 that's not mocking. 797 00:45:07,350 --> 00:45:10,730 Why was this considered as mocking? 798 00:45:14,740 --> 00:45:22,320 They mocked Elijah and said, isn't your master 799 00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:24,760 Elijah went up? 800 00:45:25,720 --> 00:45:27,700 Why didn't you go with him? 801 00:45:29,720 --> 00:45:35,420 Your master Elijah went up, but you were 802 00:45:35,420 --> 00:45:37,740 left behind because you were not worthy. 803 00:45:40,650 --> 00:45:41,830 You couldn't go up. 804 00:45:42,090 --> 00:45:43,230 Why didn't you go? 805 00:45:44,650 --> 00:45:45,910 And said, ball head. 806 00:45:46,910 --> 00:45:50,110 Now, ball head, if you read Jeremiah, you 807 00:45:50,110 --> 00:45:52,750 will find it is a sign of mourning. 808 00:45:53,950 --> 00:45:57,470 When people mourn, they shave their hair. 809 00:45:58,370 --> 00:45:59,370 It's a sign of mourning. 810 00:45:59,690 --> 00:46:02,070 In other words, Elijah, you ought to be 811 00:46:02,070 --> 00:46:03,450 ashamed of yourself. 812 00:46:06,470 --> 00:46:10,250 How dare you come and try to be 813 00:46:10,250 --> 00:46:11,770 the prophet of God? 814 00:46:12,810 --> 00:46:14,430 You are not worthy. 815 00:46:15,190 --> 00:46:16,050 You have failed. 816 00:46:17,130 --> 00:46:20,890 So here you find the enemy tried to 817 00:46:20,890 --> 00:46:24,430 put on a false accusation upon Elijah. 818 00:46:25,070 --> 00:46:28,370 And Elijah, if he should accept that, his 819 00:46:28,370 --> 00:46:29,470 ministry would be finished. 820 00:46:32,750 --> 00:46:35,250 And dear brothers and sisters, isn't that true? 821 00:46:37,090 --> 00:46:41,750 Wherever God is building his house, the enemy 822 00:46:41,750 --> 00:46:48,140 tries to build side by side. 823 00:46:49,160 --> 00:46:52,210 It always happens that way. 824 00:46:52,430 --> 00:46:54,550 You know, in Matthew chapter 16, the Lord 825 00:46:54,550 --> 00:46:57,070 said, I will build my church upon this 826 00:46:57,070 --> 00:46:57,370 rock. 827 00:46:58,410 --> 00:47:00,890 And immediately he said, and the gates of 828 00:47:00,890 --> 00:47:03,670 Hades shall not prevail against it. 829 00:47:03,670 --> 00:47:07,130 In other words, when the Lord is building 830 00:47:07,130 --> 00:47:12,930 his church, real, on the rock, the enemy 831 00:47:12,930 --> 00:47:13,470 is busy. 832 00:47:14,270 --> 00:47:16,190 All the gates of Hades will be open 833 00:47:16,190 --> 00:47:20,790 and try to attack, try to accuse, try 834 00:47:20,790 --> 00:47:24,870 to frustrate, try to discourage, try to destroy. 835 00:47:24,870 --> 00:47:27,630 But thank God, the Lord said, the gates 836 00:47:27,630 --> 00:47:30,130 of Hades shall not prevail against it. 837 00:47:30,410 --> 00:47:30,790 Why? 838 00:47:32,610 --> 00:47:35,130 Because the gates of heaven is also open. 839 00:47:39,670 --> 00:47:41,370 So Elijah turned back. 840 00:47:41,850 --> 00:47:47,130 Instead of accepting the enemy's accusation, he stood 841 00:47:47,130 --> 00:47:50,310 with God and he cursed them in the 842 00:47:50,310 --> 00:47:51,250 name of Jehovah. 843 00:47:51,250 --> 00:47:56,070 In other words, he exercised authority over the 844 00:47:56,070 --> 00:48:00,590 enemy in the name of the Lord. 845 00:48:01,610 --> 00:48:05,370 And the enemy was vanquished. 846 00:48:06,590 --> 00:48:12,190 Brothers and sisters, this is authority that Christ 847 00:48:12,190 --> 00:48:14,190 has given to his church. 848 00:48:17,470 --> 00:48:21,770 The enemy is trying to discourage. 849 00:48:23,310 --> 00:48:27,070 Oftentimes the enemy tries to accuse us falsely. 850 00:48:28,570 --> 00:48:30,790 And you know, if we don't know the 851 00:48:30,790 --> 00:48:35,010 enemy and accept his false accusation, our ministry 852 00:48:35,010 --> 00:48:35,510 fails. 853 00:48:39,430 --> 00:48:45,300 How we need to stand on the ground 854 00:48:45,300 --> 00:48:47,860 that Christ is our right hand man. 855 00:48:48,840 --> 00:48:49,700 He never changes. 856 00:48:50,580 --> 00:48:52,240 We may fail, he never. 857 00:48:53,260 --> 00:48:56,200 How we need to overcome the enemy with 858 00:48:56,200 --> 00:48:57,220 the blood of the Lamb. 859 00:48:59,590 --> 00:49:01,770 With the word, testimony. 860 00:49:03,510 --> 00:49:05,310 Word of our testimony. 861 00:49:06,530 --> 00:49:09,450 And with love, not our life, even unto 862 00:49:10,830 --> 00:49:11,070 death. 863 00:49:11,070 --> 00:49:14,810 And that is what is meant, if two 864 00:49:14,810 --> 00:49:18,070 of you shall agree on earth, touching anything. 865 00:49:20,510 --> 00:49:22,850 If you bind on earth, it shall be 866 00:49:22,850 --> 00:49:23,650 bound in heaven. 867 00:49:24,210 --> 00:49:26,470 If you loose on earth, it shall be 868 00:49:26,470 --> 00:49:27,690 loosed in heaven. 869 00:49:28,570 --> 00:49:28,990 Why? 870 00:49:29,270 --> 00:49:32,530 Because there is a spiritual conflict there. 871 00:49:33,830 --> 00:49:37,310 Whenever God is building something real, the enemy 872 00:49:37,310 --> 00:49:38,490 always tries. 873 00:49:43,410 --> 00:49:44,810 He wants to set up his conflict. 874 00:49:45,910 --> 00:49:47,750 But we do not need to fear. 875 00:49:48,690 --> 00:49:50,570 The Lord has given us authority. 876 00:49:52,220 --> 00:49:54,440 And we need to claim the victory of 877 00:49:54,440 --> 00:49:54,780 Christ. 878 00:49:55,300 --> 00:49:58,420 The authority of Christ over all situations. 879 00:50:00,560 --> 00:50:02,400 And the enemy shall flee. 880 00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:06,960 So here you'll find ministry has not only 881 00:50:06,960 --> 00:50:09,100 a manward aspect. 882 00:50:10,140 --> 00:50:16,560 Real ministry always has an enemyward aspect. 883 00:50:17,560 --> 00:50:21,900 If it doesn't touch the enemy, something is 884 00:50:21,900 --> 00:50:22,800 not quite. 885 00:50:27,400 --> 00:50:33,500 Do you think you can minister really life 886 00:50:33,500 --> 00:50:36,720 to people and the enemy will just stand 887 00:50:36,720 --> 00:50:37,040 by? 888 00:50:40,650 --> 00:50:40,990 Never. 889 00:50:41,990 --> 00:50:45,310 If it is just an imparting of mind 890 00:50:45,310 --> 00:50:49,290 to mind, he doesn't need to be around. 891 00:50:50,510 --> 00:50:52,730 But if it is the imparting of life, 892 00:50:53,850 --> 00:50:55,930 and if it is the building of the 893 00:50:55,930 --> 00:51:01,050 house of God, the enemy cannot afford to 894 00:51:01,050 --> 00:51:01,610 stand by. 895 00:51:02,950 --> 00:51:06,690 There will be the spiritual conflict there. 896 00:51:07,030 --> 00:51:08,930 And often times it comes in the form 897 00:51:08,930 --> 00:51:10,170 of a false accusation. 898 00:51:11,630 --> 00:51:14,250 That's why the Bible says the brethren overcome 899 00:51:14,250 --> 00:51:17,390 him, the enemy, by the blood of the 900 00:51:17,390 --> 00:51:17,510 Lamb. 901 00:51:17,510 --> 00:51:18,410 We are not perfect. 902 00:51:19,630 --> 00:51:21,090 But thank God we have the blood. 903 00:51:23,850 --> 00:51:25,630 And because of the blood of the Lamb 904 00:51:25,630 --> 00:51:27,190 we have a testimony to others. 905 00:51:28,430 --> 00:51:29,130 He is Lord. 906 00:51:33,030 --> 00:51:34,610 We are fully committed to him. 907 00:51:35,330 --> 00:51:37,390 And the Lord is committed to us. 908 00:51:37,770 --> 00:51:40,450 This is the authority of the church. 909 00:51:40,450 --> 00:51:43,490 So this is battle. 910 00:51:44,430 --> 00:51:48,230 And then you'll find the circuit is what 911 00:51:48,230 --> 00:51:50,310 complete when Elijah came. 912 00:51:52,990 --> 00:51:55,890 But when he came to Gilgal, two things 913 00:51:55,890 --> 00:51:56,210 happened. 914 00:51:58,390 --> 00:52:02,150 You know Gilgal means rolled away. 915 00:52:03,130 --> 00:52:05,550 Because when the children of Israel came to 916 00:52:05,550 --> 00:52:08,850 Gilgal, they were circumcised. 917 00:52:09,650 --> 00:52:12,710 And the reproach of Egypt was rolled away. 918 00:52:13,390 --> 00:52:18,350 In other words Gilgal represents the subjective working 919 00:52:18,350 --> 00:52:20,890 of the cross unto death. 920 00:52:23,090 --> 00:52:28,610 But here you'll find Gilgal becomes a place 921 00:52:28,610 --> 00:52:31,090 of life and resurrection. 922 00:52:33,130 --> 00:52:33,450 Why? 923 00:52:33,590 --> 00:52:36,690 When Elijah came to Gilgal you'll find there 924 00:52:36,690 --> 00:52:38,550 was a drought standing there. 925 00:52:40,850 --> 00:52:41,890 Scarcity of food. 926 00:52:43,130 --> 00:52:45,130 And Elijah said set the pot. 927 00:52:46,130 --> 00:52:48,710 Boil the pot for the people to eat. 928 00:52:49,290 --> 00:52:51,930 And someone went out and saw a wild 929 00:52:51,930 --> 00:52:52,370 vine. 930 00:52:52,950 --> 00:52:55,190 And he gathered some gourd. 931 00:52:55,930 --> 00:52:56,530 You know. 932 00:52:56,850 --> 00:52:59,850 And they shredded the gourd into the pot 933 00:52:59,850 --> 00:53:02,870 to add some crust to the pot. 934 00:53:03,770 --> 00:53:06,830 But when they started to eat suddenly someone 935 00:53:06,830 --> 00:53:08,630 cried out there is death in the pot. 936 00:53:08,990 --> 00:53:10,010 They couldn't eat it. 937 00:53:10,910 --> 00:53:14,090 And Elijah said take some meal, flour. 938 00:53:14,730 --> 00:53:17,110 And he put the flour in the pot 939 00:53:17,110 --> 00:53:19,170 and he said take out and eat it. 940 00:53:19,850 --> 00:53:20,890 There is no more death. 941 00:53:23,030 --> 00:53:26,510 Life has swallowed up death. 942 00:53:31,370 --> 00:53:33,990 The meal represents Christ. 943 00:53:35,130 --> 00:53:37,550 Because in John chapter 12 we are told, 944 00:53:38,810 --> 00:53:42,210 verily, verily, I say unto you, unless a 945 00:53:42,210 --> 00:53:44,870 grain of wheat fall into the ground and 946 00:53:44,870 --> 00:53:46,170 die, it abides alone. 947 00:53:47,290 --> 00:53:49,670 But if it shall die, it will bear 948 00:53:49,670 --> 00:53:51,710 much fruit. 949 00:53:52,710 --> 00:53:55,990 It represents the life of Christ which is 950 00:53:55,990 --> 00:54:03,790 so pure, so fine, so balanced, so perfect. 951 00:54:04,710 --> 00:54:09,730 And that life swallows up death and poison. 952 00:54:13,070 --> 00:54:16,950 So you find here the cross has two 953 00:54:16,950 --> 00:54:17,270 sides. 954 00:54:18,270 --> 00:54:21,870 The cross has the side of death, putting 955 00:54:21,870 --> 00:54:23,330 to death, death negative. 956 00:54:24,170 --> 00:54:27,130 But the cross has the other side which 957 00:54:27,130 --> 00:54:29,370 is positive, life giving. 958 00:54:30,970 --> 00:54:33,790 So in the ministry of Elijah you find 959 00:54:33,790 --> 00:54:37,110 it is the cross in the life giving 960 00:54:37,110 --> 00:54:37,610 side. 961 00:54:39,130 --> 00:54:43,030 And not only giving life, but life more 962 00:54:43,030 --> 00:54:43,710 abundantly. 963 00:54:44,530 --> 00:54:48,130 Because then the second incident was someone came 964 00:54:48,130 --> 00:54:53,170 and gave Elijah plenty loaves, new loaves of 965 00:54:53,170 --> 00:54:56,190 barley and a few corns of yeast. 966 00:54:56,770 --> 00:54:59,650 And Elijah told his servant, lay it before 967 00:54:59,650 --> 00:55:01,170 the people and let them eat. 968 00:55:01,330 --> 00:55:02,690 And there were a hundred men there. 969 00:55:03,550 --> 00:55:06,730 So the attendant said, how could this little 970 00:55:06,730 --> 00:55:08,810 feed a hundred? 971 00:55:09,110 --> 00:55:10,830 Elijah said, do it. 972 00:55:11,850 --> 00:55:16,170 So they distributed and a hundred people ate 973 00:55:16,170 --> 00:55:17,310 and they were left over. 974 00:55:17,310 --> 00:55:20,690 It was just like our Lord using five 975 00:55:20,690 --> 00:55:23,310 loaves and two fishes to feed five thousand. 976 00:55:24,950 --> 00:55:29,890 And what is represented there is life more 977 00:55:29,890 --> 00:55:30,650 abundantly. 978 00:55:33,130 --> 00:55:37,310 Not only life giving, giving life, but it 979 00:55:37,310 --> 00:55:39,590 is life more abundantly. 980 00:55:39,590 --> 00:55:43,310 You have enough and left over. 981 00:55:44,250 --> 00:55:47,670 And that is always the case when a 982 00:55:47,670 --> 00:55:51,690 ministry is in life, is in life. 983 00:55:52,130 --> 00:55:53,470 There is always something. 984 00:55:55,420 --> 00:55:58,120 So brothers and sisters here you find in 985 00:55:58,120 --> 00:56:05,300 the return circuit the nature of ministry is 986 00:56:05,300 --> 00:56:05,840 demonstrated. 987 00:56:07,930 --> 00:56:11,650 So we can sum up and say a 988 00:56:11,650 --> 00:56:16,730 life with the Lord will produce a corresponding 989 00:56:16,730 --> 00:56:18,690 ministry to man. 990 00:56:19,690 --> 00:56:22,950 And that ministry will be a ministry of 991 00:56:22,950 --> 00:56:27,090 life, resurrection life, the life of Christ. 992 00:56:27,590 --> 00:56:28,310 Shall we pray? 993 00:56:29,620 --> 00:56:34,040 Our heavenly father, we do praise and thank 994 00:56:34,040 --> 00:56:41,490 you because thou has called us to ministries 995 00:56:41,490 --> 00:56:43,650 of various kinds. 996 00:56:44,730 --> 00:56:47,690 But the nature is the same. 997 00:56:48,710 --> 00:56:50,790 It is a ministry of life. 998 00:56:52,170 --> 00:56:57,210 It is a ministry of imparting life. 999 00:56:58,050 --> 00:57:01,390 Not our life, but thy life. 1000 00:57:02,190 --> 00:57:03,930 Oh who is competent for this? 1001 00:57:04,530 --> 00:57:06,490 We do praise and thank you. 1002 00:57:06,650 --> 00:57:09,170 Our competency is of God. 1003 00:57:09,650 --> 00:57:12,830 That we are made ministers of the new 1004 00:57:12,830 --> 00:57:13,190 covenant. 1005 00:57:14,350 --> 00:57:16,610 Not of letter, but of spirit. 1006 00:57:16,610 --> 00:57:20,370 For the letter kills, but the spirit quickens. 1007 00:57:20,830 --> 00:57:22,990 Oh we do praise and worship thee. 1008 00:57:23,530 --> 00:57:25,390 We do ask thee Lord that every one 1009 00:57:25,390 --> 00:57:28,250 of us here may have a life with 1010 00:57:28,250 --> 00:57:28,530 thee. 1011 00:57:29,290 --> 00:57:35,130 And thus a ministry we ask in thy 1012 00:57:35,130 --> 00:57:35,830 precious name. 1013 00:57:36,490 --> 00:57:36,750 Amen.