Sunday Morning Worship Service
by Mark McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Revelation 2:1-3, James 2:17-20, Matthew 9:35-38, 1 Corinthians 7:20-22, Luke 21:19, Proverbs 13:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, Philippians 1:15-16, Proverbs 24:10, Revelation 2:4, Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:7

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/mark-mccool--sunday-morning-worship-service-133
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Lord bless you you may move to your seats we greet you in the precious name of Jesus I will not repeat all the accolades that have been given for I feel that the Lord has given me a message for the church that will address those things so I want to get right into scripture this morning I call your attention to the book of the revelation the second chapter the book of the revelation the second chapter we're going to read the words of Jesus beginning with verse number one the Revelation 2 beginning with verse number one unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus right these saith he that holdeth the Seven Stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks I know everybody say I know I Know Thy works and thy labors and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and thus tried them which say there are Apostles and are not and it's found them Liars and as born and as patients and for my name's sake has labored and has not fainted for a few moments this morning I hope you will hear carefully what the word says to us I want to give you this title Jesus knows Jesus knows and I would subtitle this remembering your first love one of the most difficult positions to find oneself in is to have a situation in your life in which no one or you feel that no one knows what you're going through the feeling of being unappreciated there's an Old English rhyme that states when I did well I heard it never when I did ill I heard it ever and there's also an old spiritual that has been recorded and presented time and time again that states Nobody Knows the Trouble I've seen if you research the song you'll find that artist after artist over decade after decade literally have recorded the song Nobody Knows or used part of it I looked a few names up Sam Cook e Mahalia Jackson Louis Armstrong Dizzy gillyps Gillespie Bruce Hornsby Gene Autry the artist formerly known as Prince and even Zazu from The Lion King said Nobody Knows the Trouble I've seen and sadly most who use that phrase stopped right there for if you read all of the lyrics of that song that song really says Nobody Knows the Trouble I've seen But on in the lyrics it says nobody knows but Jesus Glory Hallelujah you see human nature is invariably experiencing from one time or another the feeling of being unappreciated or not being remembered for your good deeds and for your Acts and it's easy to feel this way everyone desires to be valued and appreciated and can use a little attention when you're going through something frankly mankind does not always know your situation there are some who would act like they understand everything about you oh I know what you're going through sometimes they don't even though they think they do but I'm glad to have the Assurance today that Jesus knows I bring this message to everybody in the house no matter your situation Jesus knows and furthermore Jesus cares and ultimately Jesus is the one who can do something about it he knows he cares and he can fix it when he chooses to you see Jesus knows the detailed intricacies he knows the subtle nuances he knows the minute elements and the fine points of every situation why because he Jesus and he knows he was God manifest in flesh the omniscient God the all-knowing god in our text Jesus is speaking to the church at Ephesus but it is certainly an example of him generally speaking to the church which we are all a part of we are part of the church and notice Jesus carefully worded manner he acknowledges the efforts and the accomplishments of the church this is an example to all who would give instructions to others that even when pointing out the needs for improvement for anyone it'd be a good idea to acknowledge some accomplishments Jesus first complimented the church and acknowledged their challenges he let them know I know your situation I know what's going on as a minister I find it needful to recognize even in reproof and instruct the church but I come to tell you again the well-worn but so true statement the church is better at its worst than the world is at its best never mistake the church is the place you want to be the church is better in its worst times than the world is at its best and God knows what you have been doing for him well what had the church at Ephesus been doing he said I know your works defined in this instance that's the general ministries of the church at Ephesus work defined as a specific task a duty a function or assignment which often brings apart or a phase of some larger activity together work is important James 2 17. through 20 says even so faith if it hath not works is dead being alone I submit that a church that does not work is a dead Church oh preacher you're just trying to get volunteer help no I'm wanting us to be alive and vibrant Church a church that has faith will be a working church he went on to say yeah amen may say thou has faith and I have Works show me thy faith with that without thy works I will show you thy my faith by my works thou believe is that there is one God that do as well the devils also believe and tremble but will thou know old vain man that faith without works is dead now let me explain why these two scriptures are together it's talking about works and faith in other words Faith the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen as we commonly Define as believing I believe and he said thou believeth in one God you do well but if believing is all there is to it you're no better than the devil because the devil believes and trembles because the devil knows what those who believe in God really have in common they are faith-based people and they will work in faith they do something they have tasks that they undertake contrary to the propaganda of the eternal security crowd the apostolic church does not teach salvation comes through words instead we believe that the truly saved will work in the kingdom of God there's a big difference now everybody in the house hear me you've heard the accolades Bishop loves his family and thank you Bishop for talking about us but y'all are all this you better hear me there's an old adage that's well warm that every one of you have heard it before so if I repeat it then we'll all have heard it again there's no sin if you see a turtle on top of a fence post he didn't get there without help now hear me I love my family I love the mccools and I appreciate all the accolades when guest ministers talk about your team and all that you know who my team is everybody in this house is my team When anybody brags on me they're bragging on Thee I didn't get here by myself I'm not worried about my personal adoration though there's folks right now let me tell you what's going on right now now I oh we can I've heard it well man we can have church without music yeah we can we can have church without a sound system oh yeah we can we can have church without a choir yes we can we can have church without a tech team yes we can but you see as God prospers us and he multiplies our Ministries the church is working the church is fulfilling what Jesus told the church in Ephesus he said I Know Thy Works some of you may never stand behind a Podium you may never play an instrument there is something that you've been doing in the kingdom of God and if you aren't careful the enemy will try in your own mind to diminish what you're accomplishing and tell you you're not doing anything for the Lord you're not working for God I'm here to tell you he's a liar he's the father of it whatever you do in the kingdom of God it's a Ministry of works it's a Ministry of Faith hear me today it's not about me it's not about my family we're all on the same team ushers you aren't just working you're ministering there's security just to give you an idea for one service could we get along without all of this man I could take the posture man the one thing you got to have is a preacher preacher's got another word but he's got to be heard long before anybody hears my prepared message that I've studied for long before anybody hears all the songs did you know there are security officers who are looking after our safety there are greeters and ushers that are making the first impressions on folks coming in the door I look I'm talking about Jesus knows what you're doing a lot of us would like to come if we went just with our flesh and I just want to sit and be a uh or sit and be a sponge and take everything in but you're saying no I'm going to get here early I I'm gonna come early and did you know when you come and unlock the building before anybody else gets here and you turn off the alarm system did you know you're ministering did you know when you get here early and you got a smiling face and you're greeting folks your security making folks comfortable when you're doing all those things when the choir gets here at nine o'clock when the the musicians get here at 8 30. when the technicians come in they start warming up cameras and turning on sound systems and and warm them up lights could we do without any of it why would we want to if God provides it why do we want to do without anything we can say I you think of these folks who stand behind cameras who stand behind sound boards who are in rooms producing video we have a master producer up there that's that's speaking to every did you all know that this don't just happen we have somebody that's producing video that's going out over the Airways then we have another producer that's talking to everybody they're communicating with each other why because we're a team we're working together that that stuff in their ears are really not hard of hearing from being in Apostolic churches for so long but you know these are Holy Ghost filled people that are doing a work in the kingdom of God there's folks down in another part of the campus that's ministering to Children right now there's folks that come around here and they they make the building look good outside and inside I'm purposely holding back with the best of my ability not to call anybody's name because if I call one all I need to do is make a list the rest of the day of you folks I'm here to tell you Jesus knows what you're doing Jesus knows what's going on maintenance because and custodian folks you're ministering you're doing a work audio video the stuff that's up here on the on the wall if I call the team Leader's name that's not sufficing because there's a team it's not one individual and they will tell you they got other folks working with them all the time absolute masterpieces of presentations video quality that would work anywhere in the production world do we have to do that no but why wouldn't we want to if God equips us and allows us to present the gospel every way possible we're not getting a bunch of devices just to play games we are ministering because our goal is Souls are we in competition with the world you better know we are the world's trying everything to get our kids attention to get the adults attention don't blame it on all the kids I mean they're studying it sociologists are studying it we can put our head in the sand bless God we're going to do it the old time way out there's nothing wrong with the old-time way but let me tell you the old-time way will incorporate itself with advancing in technology to prevent to present the gospel because we're competing with a genderized sinful world audio and video text your ministering Sunday school teachers you're ministering musicians your ministering choir youth choir singers you're ministering flower arrangers really I don't feel real spiritual about that you see when the Queen of Sheba came towards Solomon she she came to prove him with hard questions the Bible tells and and when she saw the coming in and the going out of his servants now please hear what the preacher's preaching today God is speaking to some people in the church because if we aren't careful even when we're working for God we'll feel like we're unappreciated and what we're doing is not important and it couldn't be further from the truth you did you know we could probably take up the offering without all these ushers having jackets the same color choir could probably sing without robes the same color why not take advantage of everything we can I'd say the balls could probably play without wearing orange jerseys but why wouldn't they prettiest color it's ever been why wouldn't we want to be uniform and present an or represent he knows why wouldn't we want to do the best yeah we can half do things but we're soul winners I'm gonna do the best I can with what God equips me with hear me I'm bragging on all the First Apostolic church if you're in the child care and school business if you're in the yard business if you're an El oh I feel a call of God and all I ever get to do is pray for somebody an elder a minister of God and all you get to do is pray give me a break God has asked you to do something God's called you to do something do it with your might done with what he's given you your presence your wisdom your faithfulness is ministering you may not stand behind this Pulpit but you are ministering what about Builders and remodelers folks that are Master Craftsmen even this week I'm not going to call names I'm trying hard we had a board out back that got exposed to the weather from a storm and it started rotting out I just knew the right person to go talk to in the church actually sister Jamie Diaz and I just said amen and all of a sudden somebody got a ladder somebody got material somebody got paint and put that there they weren't working they were working in Ministry you are ministering to make God's house look good Friday night we're getting ready to have a a Minister's dinner get a call from one of our workers brother McCool I know it's the worst time in the world but we've got a plumbing back did you know we still have plumbing problems in the church oh we won't man everything's just perfect you know sometimes toilets back up in the church I knew who to call I'm trying not to call names but suffice to say I got this call of a can do group yeah yeah we'll we'll get this we'll get an auger we'll get that and all I can tell you is by Friday night when the dinner was being served the toilets were working perfect why because somebody was ministering oh can you hear what I'm saying it doesn't matter if you're painting a board singing a song remodeling a room hanging drywall working on a computer standing behind a camera laying carpet doing electrical work building walls or tearing out walls you're ministering oh God I know you know I know you know Lord let me understand whatever you've called me to do I'm going to give it my best effort if you're coaching a bunch of little kids you're coaching doing a word for God Matthew said it for the next thing in Revelation it said work it distinguished between I know your works that's kind of the Ministries and then it talk about talks about your labor now those may seem to be the same thing but the term labor means expenditures of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory in Matthew 9 35 Jesus went about all the cities and The Villages teaching in their synagogues preaching the gospel healing every sickness and every disease Jesus was doing The Miracle part healing and taking care of the diseased giving insight scripturally but when he saw the multitude he was moved with compassion on him because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no Shepherds then he said unto his disciples the Harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few pray therefore the lord of the Harvest that he will send forth laborers unto his Harvest Jesus was doing the Miracles you see that's a problem when the laborers when we all get to feeling like well we've got to perform Miracles look I can't turn water into wine I struggle to make Kool-Aid Jesus will do the Miracles if we'll be the laborers if we will just be the hands and the feet if we will if we will do the leg work if you will it's been said that there are two kinds of willing workers those who are willing to work and those who are willing to let them work Jesus know the works of ministry he also knows the workers their desires and their faithfulness God's power is Limitless his resources for Ministry are Limitless but apparently in Matthew the laborers were few I've also found out as a pastor if giving opinions and advice got the work of God done we'd have plenty of laborers you know that's the folks says well somebody ought to you know if somebody are you a somebody don't claim to be a nobody if you're somebody do the work of a somebody if somebody would have your plan Jesus went to the cities and villages he taught and preached he healed sick and disease he had the compassion he drew the crowd look we're nothing without Jesus never mistake if we eliminate Jesus from the equation we have a great big zero but in all that when Jesus is apart then we will be the laborers there will be something we will do in your areas of expertise there's some there's some great folks we have attorneys in our church we have folks that we can consult that give us such wise advice we have folks who do construction folks and and and building work we talk to them we we ask questions of them uh you're ministering but I would also say this Jesus knows this lawful the self-indulgent the self-aggrandizing those who feel they're too too good to do a work for God he knows the uncooperative the territorial those who are elect reluctant to take instructions or to improve or advance in the fields of Labor to some it may be beneath them to labor in any kind in the kingdom of God oh just let me come and be ministered too God knows every motive and every agenda in the house use your talents and abilities for God First Apostolic church is blessed with the most diverse amount of talent and ability find your Niche and get busy First Corinthians 7 20 said it this way let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called that's the problem when folks are called to do one thing they want to do something else let me explain man when brother Nathan steps behind that keyboard and starts playing then on top of it see I call somebody's name that's just an example I can sing boy I'd love to be able to do that but you know why I don't because I can't play the piano and I certainly can't sing like that God equips folks and I can sit on the sideline and say well God if I can't sing you may not be the best singers why you're not saying it I had to break that to you not all of us can say not all of us sound near as good in the microphones we do in the shower man I know where middle C is and after that that's pretty much over with with the keyboard and I can sit on the sideline and say if I can't do what I want to do for God then I'm not going to do anything for God let me tell you there's something you can do get your bottom lip off the ground and straighten up Square your shoulders and say I'm going to make myself available if I can't do that I'm going to do this if I can't do this I'm going to do that I'm gonna find some way to be used in the kingdom of God use your talents your abilities he said let every man abide in the same calling where it with he was called or if they'll call to be a servant oh man I don't want to be a servant he said care enough for don't don't care if you're called to be a servant but if thou mayest be made free use it rather if you're a servant be the best servants ever served for he that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lord's free man likewise also he that is called being free is Christ's servant he said abide in your calling that term abide means to accept or act in accordance with a real decision or recommendation to be able to tolerate continue without fading or being lost sadly some will be lost when they allowed their flesh to dictate what they want to do rather than what God's called them to do not fade because you're not satisfied with your call if God calls you to labor he will equip you and open the doors for you to do that well I've gone this far I'm as well shoot all over the tree now I'm thankful for the vision in the beginnings of our church that we've reviewed almost at nauseum but we're reminded of our foundation I think Bishop and my mom for establishing a work ethic for the church for not just my family but it's all that we work together let me tell you the day of a preacher and the preacher's wife being some kind of prima donna and being served will not arrive at First Apostolic Church you're not here to serve the preacher you're here to serve God we work together I promise you you're not going to see bishop and sister McCool making their GE their grand entrance and neither will anybody else we're all here laboring in the kingdom of God together we're going to put our shoulders together now I would tell you some would think well preacher you're you're thinking too small you ought to just be the CEO in handing out uh orders no sir we're going to work together none of us are too good to do anything but some are more skilled at doing some things than others I'm a thinking too small no it's the attitude of Jesus knows we're not working for accolades we're not ministering for self-aggrandizing compliments we are working in the kingdom of God because our goal is still Souls same time I will say of this assembly it's very difficult for myself to carry anything down the hall they'll be one of these young men before I give her pastor I want to again I'm not going to call names but we were shutting things down on Friday night and there was folks still working there was over 50 folks I know that had given of of their time and volunteered and done this and done that and and and uh I confess there is one great uh benefit of being the pastor when we have a dinner if there's leftovers sometimes I get them so I was carrying leftovers I had a young man wouldn't even let me carry it to my car here Pastor you don't need don't need carrying that man I appreciate that I could carry it but I did appreciate that and that's what this this church family has always respect all leadership but that's not what this family and we're about we're one together well let me move quickly for he said I know your work I know your labors and then he said I know your patience whoa and in that same statement that's in Revelation 2 2 he said I Know Thy patience and how thou can't not bear them which are evil let me explain this to us first of all patience is the quality of sticking to a goal tenacity persistence staying power Jesus said in Luke in your patience possess ye your soul Jesus is looking for tenacious persistent staying power among the church but I would also explain that statement that says and how thou canst not bear them which are evil this simply means that we as a church must continue loving Sinners without loving their sin the church should minister to The Sinner without enabling a sinful lifestyle now let me explain there will be some who will approach the church as a money hole so they continue living a sinful life you know maybe the church will buy me some groceries so I can keep affording my nicotine my drugs and my alcohol that's not what the church is for you see the church WIll minister to those in need who are in need indeed but Proverbs also said the way of a transgressor is hard we must love the sinners but we can never be enablers of sinful lifestyles yeah y'all remember the old adage of give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day teach a man to fish and he'll buy a bass boat and miss church for a bass tournament maybe that's a new addition I don't know Sinners should feel welcome yet convicted when they come into the church we should not have a condemning Spirit of any individual but we must continue to speak out against sin we will not water down the message to make allowances for sinful Lifestyles God's conviction will do the job if we care for The Sinner we will love everybody that comes through those doors but we will not love the sin that is binding them Sinners should not feel judged when they come into this house they should feel loved they should find sympathy from the church but still feel the guilt of sin until they repent he said I know that you're not bearing or supporting the evil of sin in the church we are not in God's will if we convict or rather if conviction is not felt in our services for those who are living a sinful life we've got to know the laborers who labor among us it's not everybody that will be able to speak into the church he said in verse 2 again of our text thou has tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and has found them Liars we will be cautious about who stands behind this desk and preaches as this saith the Lord they will be tried and oh I the first Thessalonians 5 12 says and we beseech your brethren to know them which labor among you the no in this instance most Bible scholars state the no in this instance was intended for the laity the church for the laity to be familiar with their leadership It's always important to know the motives and intentions of those who preach teach and instruct in the church you know Philippians said some preach Christ even of envying and strife but some also Goodwill moving quickly verse 3 of our text said and has borne and has patience and for my name's sake has labored and has not fainted Proverbs said if thou famous in the day of adversity thy strength is small Jesus needs a church that will not faint during adversity difficulties and Misfortune or adversity Jesus is looking for a church that's not afraid to be a church of the name for the end of verse 3 and praise to musicians get ready I'm not finished but I'm going to close shortly it said and has borne speaking of the church and has patience and for my name's sake has labored and has not fainted did you know now think about this just a minute this is just maybe this is good old East Tennessee logic now this is really Church logic can you imagine that there are churches in our community there are movements around us that they would be insulted if you said they were a Jesus Name Church got that just a minute and here oh don't call us in Jesus name Church why not why would you be afraid to be called people of the name of Jesus that's what we are we are in Jesus name Apostolic Holiness Church we're not going to faint if somebody says that's a Jesus name Bunch you better know it I wear that moniker with a Godly Pride yes we are people of the name of Jesus Jesus is looking for a church that won't faint at the mention of his name we must not be ashamed of the name of Jesus that should not be a bad moniker but after all of that let me tell you where Jesus was going he said nevertheless verse 4 I have somewhat against thee he said I know your Works know your labor know your patience he named all the stuff he said but I have got a little problem with church because thou Hast left thy first love god holds it again against the church when we don't put him first and love him first I love doing the work of God but cannot supersede loving God even in the midst of working if we aren't careful we can lay aside our love for God and we can start saying I'm doing this for an individual or I'm doing this for myself or I've got an alternative agenda everything we do we better do it because we love Jesus I don't know could we take a moment could you just say Jesus I love you Jesus I love you Jesus come on say it say it where you can hear it Jesus I love you Jesus I love you Jesus I love you Jesus I love you Jesus I love you you see something starts happening down inside because when you tell him you love him he starts reciprocating that love you can feel him saying I love you too I love you as you are I love you because you love me I care for you oh hallelujah hallelujah stand with me you see if we love our music more than we love Jesus our music becomes wrong if we aren't careful even in our Apostolic movement instead of worshiping God we'll worship worship and praise praise I'm here to tell you I'm going to worship Jesus and I'm going to Praise Jesus that's what I've got to do he said remember therefore from whence Thou Art fallen and repent do the first words the first thing that happened when you became a part of God's family is you said Jesus I love you Jesus I want you to come in I'm repenting of my sin I'm taking your name on in baptism you're giving me the gift of the Holy Ghost I love you Jesus that's got to be my first love ah [Music] being a witness to the Lost will be our first words why because we're in other folks to love Jesus just like we do I don't know such a message as I've preached to the church today you may not understand but I'm here to tell you and repeat the words of Pastor Whitley Camp meeting's not over camp meeting comes together when the maturity of the church starts realizing just how good God's been to us just I don't know maybe today [Music] there's some of us who we might have gotten distracted man we've been working in the kingdom of God and but there's some personal issues that can sometimes become more important than loving Jesus I'm not saying you've backslid but I'm just saying sometimes you just got to get your mind right sometimes I gotta wake up in the morning get my mind right again say Jesus I love you that stuff that was troubling me I'm gonna put you first I know you're gonna take care of this for you see Jesus said in Revelation 2 7. he that hath an ear [Music] let him hear what the spirits saith unto the churches to him that overcometh well I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God if you're an overcomer in the house today I'm going to ask you to step out and make your way around the altar for a season of just re-establishing in your own heart and saying Jesus I love you Jesus I know you know my situation there may not be another person in the house that knows what you're going to I promise you Jesus knows Jesus cares and Jesus has the comfort that you need in this house today would you lift your hands and love him as the praise team leads us in song Jesus Loves You Hallelujah Hallelujah [Music] yes Lord yes Lord Yes Lord From beginning to the end it will it will always be it's always been you Jesus Jesus for Nothing Else Matters nothing in this world right now Jesus knows your situation whatever you've been facing Jesus [Music] [Music] nothing in this world will do Jesus [Music] [Applause] [Music] from my heart to the heavens Jesus be the center it's all about you yes it's all about you from my heart to the heavens Jesus [Music] Jesus [Music] [Applause] [Music] the center of it all songs the center of it all [Music] would you love Jesus one more time [Music] I'll quote it because most of you know it was an old song we used to sing and said my Jesus knows just what I need oh yes he knows just what I need he satisfies my every need he supplies oh yes he knows just what I need in fact the verse went on to say my Jesus knows when I'm lonely there may be lonely folks in the house today Jesus knows he's going to be with you he knows each pain he feels each tear he understands each lonely heartache he understands why because he cares aren't you happy to know Jesus knows I'm glad to know Jesus knows man I called all those other special singers names I think Elvis even sang that thank you very much everybody ought to know that Jesus knows Jesus