That is an assurance for all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Lord that keeps us safe, and it is his power that will take us to our eternal destination. With us, we cannot do it, but with the Lord, he's the only one that can do it. It's open right now, the book of Colossians. We have the series of Colossians. At this time, I'm going to speak about the restoration of John Mark, because he's mentioned in the book of Colossians. And he's a blessing right here. He's a blessing. But again, in order for you to know who is this man, we will go through different verses of the scripture, especially the book of Acts, because we can find the Acts that shows us about the person John Mark. It's almost time, please. It's almost time. Let us read verses tonight. We'll start off with Colossians 4, verse number 10. All of us will read this verse, and then we'll read the response to the lyrics after this verse, okay? Let's read verse number 10. The Bible says, read and read. Let us go and just keep that part of the scripture, Colossians chapter 4, and also here in Acts chapter 13. Acts chapter 13. So in Acts chapter 13, verses 1 to 13. Acts chapter 13, verses 1 to 13. This time we'll read these responses. I'll read verse number one, you respond verse number two, I'll go verse number 13. Now, there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas and Simeon, and that was called Neither, and Lucius of Cyrene, and menain, which hath been brought up with here of the victor and soul. As we ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate thee from us and the soul of the world. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. and they had also John to their minister. Which was with a deputy of the country, Sirius Polus, a Protestant who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, appealed to the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, Thou child of the devil, now give me thy righteousness, if thou not cease to prefer the right way unto the Lord. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Now with Paul and his company loose from Phippus, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departed from them, returned to Jerusalem. Now, let's stop from there and let's jump to chapter 13, chapter 15, and verse number 36. Let's see this reason here, why he left in that travel, in that journey. travel to minister to people. Verse number 36, chapter 15 of the book of Acts. Verse 36, okay. If you read now verse 36, I will read verse 37. Ready, read. And some days I will go to the temple of my mother, just to go again and visit her again, and if she will be with me, I will teach the word of the Lord, and see how I will do. in verse number 27, and Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. And the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other, and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus. Thank you, Lord, for this evening's reading. I pray, O God, that right there from the reading of your Word, it will shed some light in our hearts, in our mind, understanding Why? And the reason there, John Mark left the ministry, left the world, and Lord, we understood that John Mark backslid for a while, and Lord, but again, Lord, in the end of his life, I've got a blessing to see that he was restored into the ministry, and he became profitable person in the ministry through Apostle Paul and many others, and Lord, he has been He has an up and down in his Christian life, and perhaps, Lord, also, any of us here in our church can have that ups and downs in our Christian life, but Lord, Help us that we can also be restored in the work of the ministry if we are now away. And now, Lord, strengthen us if we are now working for your ministry, and help us, Lord, to be planted in the Church, and to be planted in the work of the Lord, so that, Lord, in the future, if there are opportunities for us to be used mightily, Lord, that you can pick us up, and that we are made ready for the use of Master's hand. Lord, help us also just tonight to understand your word and help your people, Lord. How they apply this of God, it will depend on the working of the Holy Spirit of God tonight. And I pray that the Holy Spirit will have a free course and his word in our hearts. Bless all of us tonight through your word. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Please be seated. You see here, Aristotle, my dear prisoners, I look at you and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, This is now a signal that John Marr was already accepted into the ministry and he has been doing well. But again, this is writing that is solemn and very serious for all of us, a serious warning It is a warning for any individual that wants to serve the Lord. And then after serving the Lord, we'll turn down. We'll stop serving. The Lord doesn't like it because, you know, the Word, He spoke a lot of times in Luke 9, verse 62. He said in Luke 9, verse 62, Look at that. He said that, and Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the floor, and looking by, is fit for the kingdom of heaven. Now, Apostle Paul has this kind of heart. Barnabas is different because that was his nephew. But it's not about maybe a relationship, but Barnabas maybe wanting to encourage John Mark, but Paul, this is not time to have a taste and to go back. If you want to serve the Lord, serve the Lord, because it's a waste of time, really, if you are not decided to serve the Lord faithfully. Now, here in this particular study, we can see that this is really, Actually, this is designed, this is now designed for all of us to be warned that when any of us wants to take the course of the ministry, that we will not bring dishonor. If you go back to your former life, for sure you will bring dishonor unto the Lord. If you will not serve Him, if you serve Him and then you stop serving Him. Because that is what Satan wants. Because many people will get discouraged of your backsliding. And it will be more effective for Satan's use if you backslide. John Mark here is very popular in the Bible. John Mark stands out, especially on the pages of the New Testament. His name is right there. And in fact, he was also writing books. But again, we can we can see that this man, John Mark, I believe, was a useful servant to the ministry. But again, I don't know what's the reason there, why he went back, why he turned back, and then why he stopped following Barnabas and Saul or Paul. But at the end of the life of Paul, You can see again the name of John Mark, when Paul, before his behaving, before his martyrdom in Second Timothy, chapter four, verse number 11. The Bible says, only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with me, for he is profitable for me for the ministry. Now tonight, let us take a look at this man, because he's all over the place in the Bible. And let us gather up some scriptures and writings and allusions about this man whose name in Hebrew is John Mark. John and Mark is his Roman name, Marcus. John Mark is a very faithful man, I believe. He was a young person growing up in the ministry, being led, perhaps, by Barrabas, but his mother was very faithful also to the Lord. And you can find that later as we go along. Now, the first thing that you can find of this man, this John Mark, and his life, is that he was favored in his youth. He was so favorable to the people, to the church. No, I believe there's no question about his person, being a young person in the church, he was very, very favorable. And perhaps the older apostles, why? Because he went with them. Peter, maybe Bartholomew, and all of the apostles approved of Mark, John Mark, because of his maybe life in the home, very helpful in the ministry, setting up the home, because the ministry most of the time the meetings are done in their home. And here you can see that he was greatly favored by the Apostles and the Church in general for the fact that he was tasked to accompany Apostle Paul and Barnabas into their missionary trips, missionary journey to Asia Minor. And again, to be a part of that trip, three of you, along with Barnabas and Saul, and you are the third person, that was a great privilege, and he was still young. He was very young. Again, there were many circumstances there surrounding this table, but I believe it's not carnal. It's not carnal consideration. It's not because he was the son of Barnabas' sister. It's not because the prayer meeting are done in their home. that Barnabas, I mean, John Marne needs to go to mission. But I believe it is also his desire. It was his desire to serve the Lord in that way. But he's young, you know? He doesn't know what's going to happen there in the mission field. But when he tasted the mission field, it's not easy. It's boring. It's really, you know, and it's every day we walk and carrying this heavy, Bibles and parchments of Paul, because Paul was preaching. So the Bible is not like this. The word of God in those times is not like this. The book of John, perhaps, or the book of Revelation, you can be like, no, there's no book of Revelation in those times. But you see, the book of Genesis may be of very big role, maybe around five kilograms. And that is just the book of Genesis. And then there's another book of Exodus, Oh, it's heavy. It's a heavy journey. And then every day, wake up early in the morning, prepare a coffee, or if there's coffee there, for Paul and Barnabas. He was the helper. While Pastor Paul will preach and prepare this message, John will look for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That's what his job as a helper. And maybe he's not used to that kind of job. He's not used to that kind of routine. In their homes, maybe they have helpers. Now he's the helper. He's very big, different. He's not going to talk to people. He's going to be behind this man of God, behind Paul and Barnabas. And that was his job. Maybe Lowly is a servant, holy servant. Barnabas was also a servant, but now he's a servant of his servants. And it doesn't, you know, sit well with his mind. But you see, his mother was a Christian. His mother was a Christian that is faithful. His mother was a Christian and faithful, I believe. Faithful Christian. As we read here in Acts chapter 12, verse number 12. Acts 12, verse number 12. Here you can see that the saints met, you know, for prayer in their home. They met there in their home. And I believe he must have had constant contact with many of God's servant, apostles, and many of, you know, many people there that are in the ministry. And they always come to this house. They always come to this meeting in the house of Barnaba's sister. And again, you can see that the picture here of this meeting, people will be attending and being served with food, being served with something to drink, and they can have comfort in their homes. Maybe the sister or this Janmar is a son of a wealthy family. I think his mom is a wealthy person. And Barnabas is a rich person. He was the one who sold his property, his house and lot, and he gave the money to the church. He was that one. And again, Peter might be accustomed to this, a meeting in this house of John Mark, and Apostle Paul, later on, followed also. And this family is very, very known to the ministry in those times. And Barnabas was his uncle. Barnabas was his uncle. And Barnabas was a faithful man. He's a very faithful man. He's a great giver to the ministry. Acts chapter four, so let me go down. Acts chapter four, verse number 33. The Bible says, Acts 4.33, and with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Never was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sought them. Not just Barnabas. There are many people there. They have extra house. Some of them, they have two houses. They sold the one. And the money, give it to the church so that they can distribute to those people who have needs. Not just Barnabas. He said here, never was there any among them that lacked. What a great revival is this. Those people, Christians that are poor, in poverty, the widows that do not have job, do not have Do not have income, do not have food on their table. They have money now because they are provided by the church. He said, neither was there any among them that land. For as many as were from six sorts of lands or houses, sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joseph, and this is Barnabas, And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is being interpreted the son of consolation, a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. They have a lot of resources in the church. A lot of resources. Now, they are about to travel. Paul and Barnabas are about to travel. They have no problem with that. And you can carry along with them, John Mark, they have enough resources, they have enough money for their job. And Barnabas was the uncle of John Mark. And John Mark was brought up in a godly home. Godly home. You can find this, you know, maybe this is the kind of, you know, in our church, Libby, or Janine, or this is the kind of Adrian, and Andre, and Nehemiah. This is the kind of young person that is brought up in the Christian home. So this is the kind John Mark, you know, in those times when he was young. He had been brought up according to the Bible in 2 Timothy 3, verse number 15, the Bible says, and that from a child, Thou hast known the holy scriptures. Oh, I'm glad, you know. Nehemiah read the entire book of Nehemiah, because he said, that's you, you have to learn it, learn it by heart, and you have no excuse. And I said, I said a word in the verse, so where is that? Who said this verse? He said, Nehemiah. Wow, you know it. Yeah, because that is in the man. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Who said that word? Nehemiah. How do you know it? Because right there, it's in the man. He was reading the man. I was tripping. But again, he needs to know that. He needs, you know, his name is Nehemiah. I want him to master that word, that book there. Not just that book, the entire Bible, but he must, If he read the entire Bible, I must require him to read it doubly. So I want him to know more and more about the Word of God. And that is, I believe, exactly also the life of John Mark, and that from a child that was known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, in Proverbs 22, verse number six. Proverbs 32, verse number 6, train up the child in the way that he should go. And when he is old, he will not depart from it. You see, he was brought up as a child. Timothy also was brought up as a child, and many others. I think Brother Timothy must read 1 Timothy, many times, 10 times. And Mathew, oh Mathew, it's a big book for you. You have to master that book, because you are named after that book. Thank God there's no book of Adrian. I'm not obliged. But I have to read the entire book, the entire Bible. You see, we need to be knowing our Bible. We need to be knowing the word of God. So to know the word of God, we need to read it. Here John Mark was brought up in a godly home. And there was also an evident mixture of affluence here. there is an invalid of riches here in the family of John Mark. It seems like they are really wealthy. That is the disadvantage now, because if they are really that wealthy, that means John Mark and his family have health first. And when he gets up in the morning, food is already prepared. And then put on nice, clean clothes, and leave. And leave that clothes there, and then the helpers will wash it. That is the disadvantage, because he may not be trained in the handiwork in the home, and that's going to be a problem in the mission field. Because in the mission field, he was the helper there. He was the one that had to wash clothes for three of them. He's the one that will go into the market and buy groceries, and then come home and then cook for Pastor Paul and Barnabas. And he's not prepared for that job. He was not prepared for that job because he was not trained in the home. And again, you can see here that this must be a wealthy home. Because in Acts chapter 12, verse number 12, that tells us there that many were gathered together in Mrs. Mark's home. So that means They will feed people. But it's not a problem. They have money. I think they have properties. And in fact, the sister of, I mean, the uncle of John Mark donated the entire property to the church. Sold the property, house of God, and gave it to the church. So there must be some wealth there in this family. Which, in the end, somehow it became a disadvantage to Jamar in the ministry. So I hope that even if you are, you know, if you have helpers in your home, you have mom, you have your parents that will do the work for you, do not give it to them. You have to work hard because if you rely upon your parents, you will have a hard time when you go out there and you have to do things on your own. And you are not prepared for that. You are not prepared to stay up late in the night. You are not prepared to get up early in the morning. You are not prepared in the ministry. So you do the hard job in the homes, so that when you go out there in the ministry, it's not new to you. It's not new to you. And you are ready for any, you know, thing that will come your way. John Mark has a problem because he's not used to that. And John Mark also, you can see that he had consecrated relatives. And you can see here that his mother, perhaps the mother of John Mark, or the uncle of John Mark, Barnabas, In Colossians chapter four, verse number 10, it says there that John Mark, or Marcos, sister's son to Barnabas, that you come, you receive commandments. If he come unto you, receive him. In other words, this man is now being taken back into the ministry after he backslid. And he's now back in the work of the Lord, and the people now is trying to keep distance from him. You can see by the way it was written that the people now needed to be advised. Okay, folks, this young person, remember that Apostle Paul was not happy with him. doesn't want to do anything with him now in the ministry, but it seems like he repented, and he's now working well in the ministry. When he comes to you, receive him. Why? Why he said that? Because if without Apostle Paul, in Colossians 4, without Apostle Paul, John Mark will be treated maybe as an unbeliever, or will be treated differently. will be treated in a way that is not really acceptable in the ministry. Maybe if he comes to a church, he will not be allowed to read, to do some reading of that scripture. He may not be allowed to preach, he may not be allowed to, no one maybe will allow him to do Bible study. Why? Because he's a box writer. He's not a faithful servant of the Lord. And especially pastors, you know, me, I'm a pastor, we are very particular with the faithfulness of the person. If the person is not faithful, it's so hard for us to give them tasks. Because we know that if that person is not faithful, he may not be approved of God, or he may not be praying for the task given to him. And we don't allow it. That people will do their task and not pray about it. And that is very common to those people who are not faithful. They will not come to church, or they will not come to the Bible study groups that they have. Then we cannot allow them to run the ministry, because otherwise that ministry will just go to waste. And that is exactly here. Apostle Paul needed to tell them, okay, brother, Mark is now, or John Mark is now back into the ministry. Please, if he comes to you this evening. That was Apostle Paul saying that. But above all, above all here, John Mark was converted when he was quite young. He was young when he was saved. And oh, I thank the Lord for that, for the young people that were saved at their young age. I really thank the Lord for them because what a blessing to have these young people saved in their young age. In 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter 5, verse number 13, the Bible says, the church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluted you. And so that Marcus, my son, So what does it say is that Apostle Peter shared the gospel to John Barth, and John Barth received the Lord Jesus Christ while John Barth was still young. And that is the testimony there. He suggested he got converted through the ministry of Apostle Peter. It's not Apostle Paul, but Peter. And perhaps, during those times that the preachers, the pastors, will come to their house. And messages after messages after messages after messages, he heard in that meetings, and he got saved right there while he was very young. Oh, what a blessing if young people will be saved as young angels. In other words, John Farn was favored in his youth. Now, secondly, the other side of this story is that he faltered in his mission. He got favored in his youth, but he faltered in his mission. Sad, but it happens to all of us. It happens to so many. Some people, you know, very strong in the faith, faithful, and many people are a blessing to so many people also, but sometimes they are down spiritually, they are down in their Christian life, but wait, wait, just wait for some few months or years maybe, then they will get back up. That is John Mark here, but at this moment, he faltered in his mission. John Mark, when he accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey to the Gentiles, he was there, but alas, He turned back. He turned back. We remember his background in his home, how all the people approved of him. I believe John Mark was the best of the best. I believe the young person, the young man, John Mark, among hundreds of young people in those times, John Mark was the best. and he was given the authority to go with Paul and Barnabas. That was his background. And his mother was very, an influence to the ministry, I believe, because she was the sister of Barnabas. And then Peter, perhaps, frequented to their homes and preaching their homes. Maybe the neighborhood and maybe far places will come to their homes to listen to the word of God, where the pastor's frequenting their visits. Maybe they can have assurance of food there, and if they want to stay for a few days, they can stay there because maybe it's a big house. That is not a problem with supply and sustenance. They have enough sustenance for all of them, for the pastors. and the wives of the pastors perhaps are provided well. And therefore, this is a busy home. Day in and day out, pastors come and pastors go. It's a very busy home. And they always have word of God in the home. And you see John Mark here enamored with the ministry. In that sitting in the home, it's all good. Clean up, maybe help. But when they go out to the mission field, it's a different story. And here, he faltered in that full-time service. It was an opportunity for him to accompany a great man of God, Apostle Paul, but it's just a failure. In Acts chapter 13, verse number one. Acts chapter 13, verse number one, and this was our reading a while ago. The Bible says in verse number one, now they were in a church. That was at Anjou, serving prophets. and teachers, as Barnabas and Simeon. That was told neither, and Lucius of Cyrenaic, and Anain, which have been brought up with Herod the Fifth Arch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the word whereunto I have told them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent him away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed into Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had also John to their minister. Minister is helper. Now, if you read, If you read Acts chapter 13, verse number 13, you will see here that the Bible says, now when Paul and his company lose from Pecos, they came to Herda, in Papalia, and John appeared again. John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. Now, if we do not read any other passage of scripture, we do not suspect that there's a problem there. It seems like Apostle Paul is saying, okay, John, I think we left something and we need something from Jerusalem. Go, depart now, and then, you know, sort out things there and come back. If the Bible stops right there, we do not know the story. But the Bible speaks to us in another portion of the scripture So that we will not speculate, what is this departing? What is the problem here? There is a problem here. Because in Acts chapter 15, John Mark, in that moment was actually, the trip was in route to the journey. He quits the ministry and he left Paul. He left Paul and Barnabas and he went back home. Maybe he felt tired. Boredom, this is boredom. I really could not stand boredom in the ministry. And the routine, oh, Sunday again, and then go to the places, and keep on knocking and talking to people, and the people are not accepting. The people will just slander them. And he was a young person. And he goes to people, and people will be laughing at him, And that really paid the ball to him. Now, in Acts 15, verse 36, this is the real story now. It reveals what's the problem there in Acts chapter 13, verse number 5. Acts 15, 36, and some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with him John, take with him John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the world. And the condition was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other. And so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed into Cyprus, and Paul chose Silas, and departed being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. So Silas was recommended. Before, they recommended John Mark. Now, because John Mark, backslid somehow, they put him aside, then the people now in the church recommended Silas. You see, there was a problem there. of that trip back to Jerusalem. It was not with Paul's consent. It was a discouragement on the part of John Mark that he could not do this job. I did not expect that this is this hard. And John Mark did not have patience. He could not wait for the time for them to arrive back. He did not complete the task. And now, therefore, with John Mark left the ministry, Now, Paul has to study and has to bring all these parchments and books and all their clothes and everything. It's harder. Because if John Marr, if they knew that John Marr could not survive in that, they would have Silas to go with them or many others instead of John Marr. But the problem is it's already halfway in the journey. we could not find a placement, we have to carry on the journey without a helper. And that is, to Apostle Paul, a very frustrating situation. So Paul doesn't want him, doesn't want to take him again in the ministry. So that's what happened there. And Barnabas, the problem here, Barnabas. Barnabas has a good heart, but he split with Paul, and Barnabas from there never heard of the scripture. And the favor of God was followed Paul until the end of the life of Paul. The scripture, the Bible, the book of Acts followed him, and many other writings. But Barnabas is out of the way. But good thing for John Mark. He reappeared in the scripture towards the end of the life of Paul. But Barnabas is gone. You see, he has a good heart, but he went against Paul. And Paul, I think, was right. Not to go again with Jean-Marc, so that Jean-Marc must know. And also for a testimony for other young people. Other young people will be encouraged to go to the ministry a halfway, quick, and it's OK. Because with Jean-Marc, it's OK. Paul said, no, it's not OK. I think Paul was right. Barnabas was just so soft. In fact, maybe soft towards his nephew. But it's not right. This is a ministry. It's not about family relationship. It's not because you are a nephew, you have favor in the ministry. It's not because you are a pastor's son, you should be a pastor also to replace your father. It's not like that. You have to prove your merit. You have to work hard. Work hard and I will be glad. Be a man in the ministry. Do not think that because you are a son of a pastor, or you are a daughter of the pastor, and then you can have all the positions in the church. It's not like that. You see, Apostle Paul is right. Barnabas was wrong, and their contention was so sharp. In other words, maybe they attacked worse. They spoke words that's not supposed to be spoken. And they separated ways. But the problem is, God's favor was not at all. So Barnabas out of the way. This is our advice or This is our maybe warning or advice to the young people that wanting to do the work of the Lord. If you want to do any task of the church, be faithful there. Be faithful. Do not put it on and put it off. Be faithful. If you are asked to do a ministry somewhere, be faithful. Do not just drop it anytime because It is not. Apostle Paul here, you can see the attitude of Apostle Paul. He doesn't like it that if you want to serve the Lord, serve the Lord until you die. But again, you will not die there because the Lord will help you and will prosper you. The Lord will be blessing you. But be faithful there. If you do, if you are the one that assigned me to clean up our meeting hall. Be faithful. If you are the one who opened the door every Sunday morning, be faithful. If you are the one doing the physical arrangement of the church, be faithful. Anything that you do in the church, be faithful. Before you jump into that ministry, count the cost. You have to count the cost. John Mark did not count the cost. And he failed in that aspect. Perhaps he felt that there is a great thrill. Wow. A missionary. A missionary. I'll tell you. The Holy Spirit was calling two. What was that? Paul and Barnabas. But when the trip began, there were three. But the Holy Spirit only called two people, Barnabas and Paul. But John Mark was not called. John Mark was just appointed by these two. But now, you know, it faltered. Because John Mark did not count the cost. But this is also the first visionary journey. Even Apostle Paul do not have idea what's going to happen there, what is life over there. So John Mark was not warned. John Mark, this is tough. This is not easy. You will be a servant to me. You're putting the front. Lay it down. You will, you don't wash clothes in your home, you wash clothes here, including myself. You don't cook in your home, you cook here. Cook a good morning, breakfast, lunch, dinner. You don't, you don't, you know, wash the, clean the bathroom, you wash, you clean the bathroom here. Those are the things beyond his imagination because it was the first missionary journey. No idea. The Bible says we need to count the cost. Luke chapter 14. Look at this. Luke chapter 14, verse 27. God wants you to count the cost. He said, this is an example by the Lord Jesus Christ. And whosoever that hath Mary's cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower, and set it not down first, and counted the cost, whether you have sufficient to finish it. So in other words, if you want to build a building, you count the cost. Because if you start building and then you don't have enough money, then you cannot finish it, and the people will laugh at you. Less happily, after you have laid the foundation, and it's not able to finish it, All that behold it began to mock him, saying, this man began to build and was not able to finish. Or say here, another example. Or what king? Or what king going to make war against another king? Sit it down first. Consult it whether he be able with 10,000 to meet him that come against him with 20,000, or else. While the other is yet a great way off, he sent yet an ambassador, and desired the wishes of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you, that forsaken not all that he had, he cannot be my disciple. In other words, when you enter into the ministry of the Lord, forget your life. Do not think that when you enter into the ministry, you will become the boss in the church. You will become the master of that. No. When you enter into the ministry, roll up your sleeves. You are the last person to sleep. You are the person, if no one will clean here, it's my responsibility. If no one will stack up these chairs, I will do it. If no one will open this building, I will come and open it. If no one will go to work, I will go and do the work for ministry. You have to do a dirty job in the ministry. And again, do not be too much in a hurry in the ministry. You know, be saturated in the word of God. Do not be in a hurry. Although God is saying to us that I must work the works of him that sent me, While it is day, the night cometh, that no man can work. But it doesn't mean that you jump into the work without training. Without understanding the will of God. Without understanding of the work of God. That is what God said in John 9, verse 4. He said, I must work the works of him that sent me. While it is day, the night cometh, that no man can work. But do not jump into the work. Because God is not in a hurry. And so must you. Do not be in a hurry, too, because we have also Isaiah, chapter 28, verse 16, that will tell you where it is. Oh, pastor, the Lord will come soon, and I cannot wait a day longer. I have to travel to the ministry. Now, count the cost. Are you ready to forget yourself? Are you ready, you know, are you ready to be a servant of God? Are you ready to be, you know, sometimes you miss your food? If you go to a ministry and there's no money there, there's no offering there, then that means you may not be able to pay your rent. And then you go out and then find some place there that you can find and sleep, with your blanket only. Outside the building, you sleep in some corner and have blankets and cardboard, and get inside the cardboard and sleep, because you cannot pay your rent. There's no enough support. Count the cost, because it can happen. Isaiah 28, verse 16. Therefore, that saith the Lord God, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation of stone, a tried stone. It's not just a stone, it is a tried stone. In other words, you as a Christian, when you jump into the ministry, you must be tried in the ministry. Are you obedient to your pastor? Are you obedient to your Sunday school teacher? Are you obedient? Do you come to church early? Do you come to church without absences? Do you do the work of the ministry? Are you willing to extend your time in the church? Count the cost. You see, this is a tried stone, a precious stone, a precious cornerstone. Assure foundation, he that believe it shall not make haste. Do not rush. Do not rush. You learn, learn first, learn, learn, learn. Me, I learned 16 years. I was under Pastor Jimbo for 16 years. God never hurries when he is making and preparing his workmen. If God is really calling you, he will not hurry up, you know? He will not hurry you up. He will give you time. He will make you prepare in a fashion that is really intended for His Word. That is in Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 8, verse number two. Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these 40 years in the wilderness, to humble thee. God puts us in the humble position first before God will take us up there. And to prove thee, that means God will test you in many ways, to know what is in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. So God will keep you. All right? We're nearly there. We're nearly there. So again, Advice to the people, be absolutely sure that your motive is pure. When you enter the ministry, when you do the work of the Lord, you must be sure. It's not because you are good in something that you can be in the ministry. It's good to have mastery of something. You are good, you have a good voice, you are a singer, you are a musician, and you can do something, or you are a good preacher. It is good, but that is not the ultimate measurement. You must have a motive that is pure. There's a Christian called Oswald Chambers. Oswald Chambers said that it may be harder to face God with your motive than to face congregations with your message. Because when you come to the ministry, you are going to face God right there in the private of your life, you will speak to God. You will say to the Lord, search me, oh God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my spirit, know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. You will come to God. You will not jump to the ministry and say, Pastor, I want to do the mission there. I will tell you, brother, If you can win soul in our church, if you can win soul, give me five souls, five families. Add it to our church. We'll baptize that. And that people will remain in our church. If they will remain in our church, then I will send you out. Because if you cannot win soul in our church, you cannot win soul there. This ain't work. Oh, I'm sorry, I want to go to Michigan, I want to go to India, to Nepal, to Laos, to Cambodia, to Vietnam, and to places, whatever, wherever is that. But do you know how to win soul here? Do you know how to take care of these people that you want? Do you disciple them? Because when you go there, exactly the same thing you will do. If you can do it here, you can do it there. That is what the principle in our church. I learned that principle. Pastor Jimbo will not send me as a missionary if I do not know this thing. The same thing is true with us. If you want to go to Mission Field, you must prove it here that you can do it here. You go out, maybe you go to Mount Eden. You go to Ipsum. You go to Royal Oak. Share the gospel there if you can do it. convince people there, if you can share with us over there, and people will get saved, and people will be baptized. Wow, brother, you are ready to go. That is what we need. Because the same job over there, the same job also over there in far places. The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home. The light that shines the brightest, you go to foreign mission. Why? You must be shining the brightest here. That means you are so winning here, so winning there. And then you have a testimony of success, of so winning. So therefore, it's not remote that when you go out there, you will be successful also. But you must show in here too. And again, remember that you will have no greater success in the field than you have right here in this place. That is what Pastor Jimbo said to Pastor Harley. And Pastor Harley passed the test for sure. And again, Be absolutely sure of your goal. Make sure that it is God who told you. You know the problem with John Mark? It was Barnabas, the uncle, who told him. It was the uncle that told him into the ministry, not the Lord. Remember how many people God told? How many people the Holy Spirit told? Siparitni, Barnabas, and Paul, and John Mark. John Mark is not part. It's just Barnabas and Paul. They left into the ministry. Three of them left. So John Mark was just called by man. Paul and Silas was called by God. You see there? Why? Why John Mark jumped into this ministry? Why? Because he found there was a desire in his heart. Oh, I want to serve. I want to be like Paul. I want to be like my uncle Barnabas, so a great preacher. Oh, I love to go with you, uncle. I love to go with you in the ministry. I'm willing to do what you're doing. I think I can do it. Why? He has a desire. And he has opportunity. Opportunity because he can talk to Barnabas. And Barnabas can say yes. And he can go to Paul, and Paul can say yes. And with this too, say yes, and the people, no objection, go. He has a design, he has an opportunity, and there is a need. You know, you need someone there. I think with me, with you, I think we can do things together. I think it's better to have three of us. We have the need, and then he has the ability, too. John Mark has the ability. And then there is an invitation by his uncle. John Mark, are you willing to come with us? To do the work of the Lord? Wow, work of the Lord? Wow, missionary? God's servant? Wow, that's... Wow, the thrill there was so high. Wow, his heart was filled with desire and on fire. But when we get there, it's a different story. It's boredom, very boring. Very boring. And he's not used to that. He's not used to this kind of life. Get up in the morning, and the routine in the home, The beautiful bed, you know, there is no bed at all. He could not last very long. You see, our home, we are so comfortable in our bed. Very comfortable. When we go to other places, we cannot sleep. Why? It's because we are used to a beautiful, comfortable life. Be absolutely sure about your call. Then, how solemn it is for us to know the will of God. Because if we do the work of the Lord, it's fine. But if God is not calling us in their place, and you are there, oh, it is a tragedy. That is what happened to John Marks. It was a tragedy instead of a blessing. The last point is restoration. He was restored into the ministry. You can see Apostle Paul thanking the Lord for him. Lord, thank you for sending John Mark. He's a blessing now. John Mark became profitable. He said in 2 Timothy 4, verse number 11, this is now full restoration to this young man who went back and now back to the ministry again. He said here, Only look is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee. For he is profitable to me, for the ministry. Now you can see that John Mark became profitable. Before he was not profitable. But now he is profitable to all. Not all people in the church are profitable. You know, not all people around us are profitable in the ministry. But here is the man became profitable to God. And again, the Lord is looking for some people who are willing to leave all and forget all and forsake all for the sake of the ministry. John Mark arrived to that point. He arrived to that point. John Mark received this comment from the Apostle Paul He became now profitable to the pastor, he's profitable to the minister, he's profitable to the ministry, he's profitable ultimately to the Messiah. He is profitable. Another blessing is before the end of the writings of Paul, John Mark was restored into the ministry. You see, he was high. flying high at the beginning of his Christian life, and then dropped down low, and then later in life, he went back to this level. Why is that? Because, you know, he learned, maybe he repented of his wrong thing. Maybe he told Apostle Paul, Pastor Paul, I was really foolish. I was foolish why I did what I did. But thank God, he responded. My friends, if you are in that position right now, wherever you are, whether you are high up here in your Christian life, when you serve the Lord, forget your life. Or if you are right down here in the ministry right now, there is a verse for us, 1 John 1. How does it say? He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. You can come to the Lord again, and then the Lord will slowly bring you up, bring you up, bring you up, until you'll be in the ministry again, and God will use you mightily, and many people will do this. And now, Apostle Paul, who once said, I will never have to do anything with John Mark. Now, John Mark is welcomed at home, and said, he is now acceptable to me. So John Mark became profitable to the ministry. Why? Because I believe it starts from John Mark. He surrendered his life to God, and he made a decision. And it's not too late. It's not also too late for all of us. We can make our decision, and give our all to God, and God will accept our person. As far as I'm concerned. Our Father in heaven, thank you, Lord, for the blessing of your word. Continue, Lord, to work in our hearts. Thank you for this reminder. This can be us, Lord. This can be me. This can be any of our young people. Lord, all of us can go through this kind of situation. But Lord, whenever we are in this situation, please help us, Lord. And bring us back to the ministry. Bring us back to the fold. And Lord, for the young people that are still in their lifetime, in their Christian life, I pray that they will remain there. all the rest of your life, and that Lord, they will not experience spotlighting, but Lord, they will continue to serve you faithfully, and that Lord, you will surrender your life as young as they are. Thank you, Lord, once again. Thank you for your blessing. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Thank you.