Phil McNeill “Called to Reach the World”

[00:00:05] Speaker A: Hi there and welcome back to the well, an Elam Fellowship leadership podcast. My name is Thomas and I'm so excited that you are joining us today. Today we're going to be hearing from our president, Pastor Phil McNeil, as he spoke at Oasis, a powerful message entitled called To Reach the World. In this message, Pastor Phil talks about the heart of who we are here at Elam Fellowship. He talks about this idea of vision is good. It'll leak and it'll bleed over, but God will make the divine connections and bring our vision into his vision of who we are. He talks about Elam being prepared for the End Time revival and tells stories about our heart and our primary call to the nations. Ultimately, he touches on this idea that if you build God's house, God will build your house. So sit back and enjoy this message from Pastor Phil McNeil. [00:01:01] Speaker B: All right, so good to see you. All of you, welcome. Welcome to Oasis 2026. It's already been a great service, hasn't it? Great. My name is Cheryl McNeil and I have the privilege of introducing my husband, Reverend Phil McNeil. Phil serves as President of Elam Fellowship and he has served in a variety of leadership roles within Elam, including serving as Elam fellowship elder for 22 years and still standing, and he served as General secretary for over 10 years. Phil has pastored Word of Life Christian fellowship in Henrietta, New York for 32 years, where we co pastor together to invest in people and community at a local level. Phil's prophetic gift has taken him to the nations and across the US to edify the body of Christ, including teaching his prophetic ministry class at Elam Bible College for nine years. Phil is a graduate of Elam Bible College and holds a Master of Divinity in Northeastern Seminary. From all these experiences, Phil brings a deep understanding of both the local church and the broader movement. Phil and I have been married for 34 years. I am still his first wife, and we have four dynamic daughters, three of whom are here tonight, including Dr. Liz McNeil. Since Phil McNeil became the Elam Fellowship president two years ago, he has been starting new initiatives that have blessed many of you, such as the Call Conference, the Prophetic Conference, the Lead Pastors Conference, and now a traveling music group coming this summer to a few, to name a few. All of this is to the glory of God. One of Phil's favorite verses is First Corinthians 3, 7, which says, so neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything but God who gives the increase. Phil knows to whom the glory goes. And it shows in the words of Andre Crouch. Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. Bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. Bless his holy name. For he has done great things. He has done great things. He has done great things. Bless his holy name. We know we, we give the glory to the Lord. And I'm so grateful to be married to a man who understands that. Will you welcome with me President Phil McNeil. [00:05:32] Speaker C: I've said it many times. I was not smart enough to marry that girl. I am a total picture, and you all know this, of the absolute grace of God and the mercy of God, that even in times where I was bound and determined to go my own way, God has held me fast by his grace, just like you. Because God is no respecter of persons. How do you follow Paul Johanson? Can we say Amen? The Mother and the Father of us all. That's all I'm going to say right there. What a word. Faith. And if there is a person who has modeled faith, it's Brother Paul Johanson. I just want to thank you, Brother Paul, Sister Gloria, for the influence you've been on my life. I know my in laws are watching right now. Bernard and Sharon Evans. Sharon is one of my biggest fans. I'm so blessed. She'll say to Cheryl, are you being nice to Philip? And I'm going, that's right. Are you being nice to me? And that's right. You know, some of you have mother in law jokes. I have none. All I can say about my mother in law is she's the best burn. Sharon. Love you both. And I know you would be here if you could. Elam Fellowship's main purpose is to reach the world. That's our roots. That's our DNA. That's who we are. That's our culture that the nations are calling. And we are called to the nations. We have 127 missionaries right now. I believe those are the ones officially affiliated with us. I bet you there's another two or 300 that that are Elam. Went to Elam, graduated from Elam. Love Elam. But they're just with other organizations. I mean, it's massive, the fruit. And I've been here five minutes, so I can't take any credit for this. But it's massive, the fruit of the call on Elam Fellowship to touch the nations and to reach out and touch the world. I don't want us ever to lose that. Matthew says, and the gospel of the kingdom will be Preached in the whole world and as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come. Vision leaks and vision drifts. And for Elam Fellowship, stay with me here. We're going to get to you local pastors, don't worry, I be one. But for Elam Fellowship, our main calling is to touch the nations, to send forth laborers. That God would bring a beautiful end time revival through the nations of the world. This January we were in Kenya, six of us here from the fellowship. And Bishop Okinder graciously opened up PEFA to us. And Brother Okinda. Just wave. I think you're over there. I said wave. Okay. PEFA has 6,000 churches, millions of believers and all their top leaders met with us. Literally as you heard. The president of Kenya came to hear Mark Johanson speak preaching at the church as Father Paul Johansen started. Millions of believers there today because of Elam missionaries. Millions. That's just one country. I'm not even getting warmed up because Elam sent you, sent you, gave you, enabled these missionaries to go. And I really believe with all my heart when we're coming into an end time revival in the whole world and our sons and daughters who are out there in different nations, who are we're gonna join together and we're gonna see a mighty revival sweep this earth. Why be local when you can be all over the world? And I really believe that God is connecting not with Elam's name, but with people who love the Lord and are called to different nations, who've went to different nations. God is calling all these together and bringing them together. The connections that are being made, divine connections. Because God is ready to move in this earth and in a powerful way. And the cross pollination of all these different things and our children and our daughters that went over there, God is going to pull together to be involved in a mighty move of God and the end will come. That's what's going on. I really believe it with all my heart. While I was in Africa, the Lord spoke to me. Elam Fellowship's primary call and is the nations. We can't ever forget that. World revival in the nations. One of our nation. One of our missionaries here tonight goes by the name of Brother Barnabas. He's a missionary to Asia, to China. Literally millions of people in China have been touched by one guy that went to Elam. Off the charts one touching millions. Elliot Tepper started betel in Spain and Madrid almost three decades ago. Care for the needs of a few drug addicts and marginalized people. Today it's a program and communities. Its program and communities can found in over 100 area urban areas worldwide. In Madrid, there's a church that seats a thousand. Some of our elders went to meet with their leaders just in Madrid, not mentioning the other hundred urban centers throughout the world. They met with 200 leaders. This guy took heroin addicts off the street. He went to the wealthy, you know what I'm saying? The guy went here and then he went to either Yale or Harvard, I can't remember now. Then he goes over and starts this ministry. They would take used furniture, fix it up, and that's how they funded the ministry. Listen, God is calling one of you or two of you or three of you to be entrepreneurial for the kingdom of God. You gotta be entrepreneurial. You gotta believe God. You gotta figure out how's this gonna happen. He'll help you, but then he'll take your loaves and fishes. Those are natural things. And he will feed the 5,000 with them. That's what God's up to. I'm telling you. When these are Elam people. Toby Cavanaugh took about 250 mostly young people to China. They ministered on campuses. Many led to Christ. And in that nation, they went on a little trip and a guy. And they got over there and they got a vision. And all of a sudden 250 young men and women are going over to China to touch that nation. I was just in Roca Blanca. It's down right in the south part, almost near Guatemala of Mexico. Just there a couple weeks ago. And I shouldn't joke. I brought a little friend back, a digestive friend, if you know what I'm talking about. I didn't want to bring a little friend back. Thank God for certain pills to take care of that. Can we say amen? Me and Mexico do not get along. They love to come home with me. That's all I gotta say right there. If you're at the business meeting, you know, the accountant or the treasurer started talking about some things. We'll move on if you're there. You know what I'm talking about. Roca Blanca, Ben and Hannah Clark, Elam grads are there. This is a ministry that's planted 84 churches, started a Bible school with 90 students and 40 in their worship school. Ben and Hannah Clark, Elim grads, Barb and Steve Heppting, Elam grads, David Nelson, Sam Snyder and Elam Grad all sat around together eating this thing called jackfruit. I don't know if I like jackfruit anymore. I think that's where my little friend was all Elim roots. Half or a third at least of the buildings built on that campus were built by Steve Heppting and Ben Clark. There's a Spanish school there, Touching the Nations Nation to nation Bible school Brick Cliff Elm student graduated from Elm. This is what it says on the website. Reverend Cliff travels internationally to teach seminars in Dover Sea and start church based schools and and has started over 1000 based Bible schools. Church based Bible schools worldwide. He also teaches in two well known international places. Dr. Cliff right in his bio. Right on there is a graduate of Elam Bible Institute Touching the nations. They are now in China touching all sorts all over the world. Elam Fellowships first calling is to the nations. But here's what I know folks. If you build God's house, he'll build your house. If you build in other nations, he'll build your ministry. It's not even your ministry but just for fun. That's the only word I can find right now. I really believe this. I've seen it in my own church where we would take times where we'd double our budget and our building project would sit still for a few months. I don't have time to tell all those stories I saw us build. I'm not taking credit for this. At the time I think I was probably half insane. But we couldn't put carpet in our new building while we were helping three churches build up the Amazon. But you want to know something? Today we sent out of that church 12 missionary couples and we are debt free on our building. God will build your house, you build his house. And we gotta get a vision that is for the world. If we don't, then we stay focused inside and, and faith says if I give, I will receive. But control says I have to hold on to what I have. But faith says I can release it, believing that as I cast my bread under the water after many days it will return. Come on. There's so much out there, so much bigger. And if you're sitting around worried about your 5 cents on Sunday morning, God's coming to you and say if you will give, you will receive and the blessing of God will fall on your life. I believe if you build his house, he'll build your family. I believe it because they're watching you laying down your life for the kingdom and believing by faith and the same faith that you model they will take as their own. I believe these things. I know it's hard to believe that I'm still alive. Isn't it now. Elam's first fellowship. Call us to the world. Please hear me. But that doesn't mean we're not also called to the churches here. We had 13 regional events this year all over the east coast, northeast to minister to our local pastors. Over 300 of our credential holders came to those, not to mention others, New pastors Conference. If you were pastoring for three years or less, we brought you in, put you up for the weekend, or all you had to do is get there, ministered to you and sent you home. Holy hope, hopefully blessed in God. That's America. We had about a dozen. We've done it two times now. A dozen each time. Once a year. Lead Pastors Conference. Two nights down in Florida in February. We prayed hard. [00:16:27] Speaker A: Where? [00:16:28] Speaker C: Oh, God, where should we go in February? Lima. No, no, no. We rebuke that. We rebuke that. You know, that's why Kodak's here. It's the world's largest darkroom. You know what I mean? You'll think about it or else you've already heard it. Lead pastors coming together, building relationships, sitting, talking over dinner. And those relationships kept going. Because you do not want to be alone. Oasis registration up from 300 last year to close to 500 or just over 500 this year. Why are we doing this? To minister to you. Our heart is here. We gave over $100,000 to Elam Bible College last year. That's from you. New church planting initiative with Stadia. Our first church plant starts this fall over here in Flower City. Church, it's called Over Here in Rochester. We've given money. Yeah, come on. We've given money to help local churches start traveling here. This is the fun one. Like, I have nothing to do, so I'm recruiting. I have about six worship kids. We're gonna go out for 10 days and we're gonna do churches. They're gonna lead the worship. I'm gonna preach a little bit, and then they're gonna minister at the altar. And we're going out for 10 days and. And to minister. Why? To disciple these kids. Because I got nothing else to do. You know why? Because we believe in training up and impartation here. So we're not just saying, oh, we believe in here. That's why I don't worry about my 5%. My 5% is in the nations. My 5% is in Spain and Africa and Asia. Elam Fellowship is not a local thing. Elam Fellowship. When you give Elam Fellowship, you are giving to the nations. Come on. I Look up at that school and I see some of your children. And we help that school on your behalf as you give. Because we want your children, your legacy, and so do you. We want them to. To move and serve God and touch the nations and be used by the power of God in the kingdom. Amen. You understand? This thing is big. It's big. One of the things that so impressed me over the years is the nations that are touched by this place because of average people going, why do we bring Elam to the world? Not that Elam's the only organization. It is not. That's not what we're saying. But the firm belief of the Holy Spirit, not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord. We go to the nations not in our own strength, but in his strength. We go with nothing and believe him for everything. That's the only way to live. Why would you want to live any other way? Come see my house. Well, we're happy for your house. I have a very nice house. Come see my car. I have a very nice car. But I'm going to tell you something. None of those things fulfill like seeing lives touched for the kingdom and the purposes of God. When I travel with that group praise song or highest call or whatever, and we minister to people at the altar and people's lives were changed, filled with the spirit, touched, I said to myself, I am totally addicted to this now. You might. I'll be in rehab next week, you know. But when you ch. When you see a life changed and a nation changed. IQ Spencer. And I'm going to be done in 15 minutes. Don't time me too hard, but I'm going to be done 15 minutes. Because you know where I'm going tonight? Right here, this altar. I believe it's on the. On the screen. The Lord gave me a vision. This is high. Q. In 1912, the Lord gave me a vision and revelation of the Pentecostal movement during the remaining part of. Of the dispensation. This was read to us as elders by Kevin Graves. The Pentecostal outpouring had only taken place about six years before the Lord. Let me see the groups and handfuls of Pentecostal saints here and there, scattered throughout the world and revealed to me the purpose of this worldwide diffusion. They were to bear the light of the supernatural ministry that he had given them and to intercede for greater things for the peoples of their localities. Then I saw the movement grow in great numbers and. But not in power. And the supernatural became less and less. Then I foresaw times of siftings and afterwards a glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The word revival stood out before me for two or three days in red letters in almost any direction that I looked. And the Lord said to me, if you stand true to me through the testings and siftings, I can use you in that glorious revival of the End Age. That's our roots. That's our roots right there. Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. We believe in faith. The elders who went to Kenya ministered to leaders prophetically. Jonathan Bowden got this text. I just want. This is from a couple of the leaders that were with us in Kenya. I just wanted to let you know that I recently was on a zoom call with the EF Kamedi PEFA leadership in Kenya. Now they're moving and they're moving by the Spirit. I just want you to hear that before I read this. The Kenyan brethren were talking about the EF elders who traveled to East Africa in January and the impact of their trip. Bishop Thomas, General Secretary of pefa, specifically mentioned that the impartation of the Holy Spirit was very encouraging and reminded them of the need to see a fresh move of the Holy Spirit and in their churches. He specifically said that it reminded them of their roots and the need to go back to some of the fundamental things that PEFA was built on. How many know we need to go back to some of the fundamental things of our roots. The Holy Spirit, the firm belief, secondly, that God can use anyone. Exodus 20 is very interesting. An altar of earth you shall make for me. He's talking about building an altar to make a sacrifice on. And but your sheep and your oxen and every place where my name I will come to you and I will bless you. And if you make me an altar of stone. Talking about building your life as an altar before God, if I can use it that way. You shall not build it out of hewn stone. For if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Hewn stone means cut stone, perfect stone. All the same, the altar of God for your life is not about how well you are cut. It's not about how professional you are. God chooses Elam fellowship, the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. Have you met some of our missionaries? Moving along, moving along. It is to be built with uncut stone. The strength of man is not to be upon it by taking any iron and striking that stone. It's to be built in an understanding of God is The one who sends the fire on the unperfect altar that is surrendered to him and pours his blessing upon it. I'm not good enough to go to the mission field. You're probably in the right place right there. A church ministry cannot be marketed, manipulated, or birthed in the strength of man. God has to come and walk among it. The church has to be made of living stones. People with callings, giftings, anointings, ministries that come together to make a church. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be excellent. I believe in that. Come on. You know, the world demonstrates at times better than us of how things should be pulled together. But the end of the day, your calling, your destiny, your ministry is not based on the strength of man or the strength of iron. It's based on you laying yourself on the altar, an uncut stone. And you say to him, here I make myself a living sacrifice to you. And I believe tonight in this room, there are some that God's going to call into different things. And you have said, not me. And God is saying, yes, you. And you have looked at people in your church and you've said, they're not cut, they're not polished enough. But God comes to you and he says, I have called them. I have set them apart from for a purpose. And if you'll believe in them and help them, I will bring them into what I have for them. But if you don't, someone else will. You're called to work with imperfect stones. Cause you are the biggest imperfect stone in the world. Ask your spouse. Come on. Build. Disciple. Mentor. Spend time. Why am I taking these kids on the road to build, to spend time. Cause I was one of them. And God had people invest in me. Paul, an apostle, not by his strength, but by the will of God. Not by man's will, not by man's strength. What strength did Eva Butler have among the Maasai warriors? She was a single, divorced woman. And God used her powerfully to touch that nation. You know what's crazy? There was someone there who was with another organization, and she was thinking about a Bible school. She met Eva Butler, one of our Elam heroes. She saw her living literally in a metal container, like a freight container. That's where she was living when she ministered to the Maasai. And this girl said, whatever she's got, wherever she got it, I want to go there. Because it's not the strength of man, it's the calling, the humility, the brokenness, the total leaning on the spirit of God to Make you what he has called you to be. A vessel with cracks. A vessel that falls short. But in this room tonight, God is calling people and telling you you need to get to some people and work with them and develop them and put in their heart the call of God for their life. God's not looking for strength. He's looking for willingness and calling Elam. A complete trust in the sovereignty of God. These are the things that make Elam, Elam, that make our missionaries. Our missionaries. They serve. A total fear of human manipulation. We don't have to fight for it. Title or position. We have to believe God to establish us. Proverbs 1:2 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You fear the Lord. He is the one who calls you and establishes you. You don't have to make your way or manipulate or kick or scream. He is the one who establishes you. Psalm 2:4. He sits in the heavens and laughs. I heard my father in law talk about this years ago. That word laughs can be translated. He watches. He squints. I healthy fear the Lord. I believe he is watching me at all times, in all my affairs. He is squinting to see the motives of my heart. That's Elam. We're not looking for title or position. We're looking to serve. If God promotes great. But if not, doesn't really matter, because my identity is not found in a title or position. My identity is found in that I am loved by God. [00:28:16] Speaker B: Come on. [00:28:17] Speaker C: I don't need a title. You know what's so more important to me? First of all, my walk with God. Then my wife and my children. The rest can go. And let me tell you, it will go. Build your life on a title or a position. Manipulating, scheming, planning. The Bible says in Psalm 18:26, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious, you show yourself shrewd. [00:28:46] Speaker B: Whoa, [00:28:48] Speaker C: whoa, whoa. I'll put the fear of God in you right there. Let me just repeat it, because I need to know it. You need to know. All God's children need to know it. To the pure, you show yourself pure, but to the devious, you show yourself. True ministry is not a ladder to climb. That's why our missionaries lay their life down. And they're not the only ones. I know you pastors lay your life down. Please hear my heart on all of this. But this is what we are called to. And as I'm sharing these things, if God is dealing with your heart on any of them, that's what this altar is for. I used to come to these conferences. Sometimes I get encouraged, and sometimes I get encouraged, but not in the way I wanted to get encouraged. I had to go to the altar and say, ah, forgive me, Lord, just forgive me. Because I believe in that. God wants to deal with our hearts. And your heart is important. And what we don't know and what I know about myself, like you, the heart is deceitful above all things. Who can know its course? And so you're not constantly in a fear or not being able to make a decision, but in a way that says, God, purify my heart. Because if your heart is not pure, it's only a matter of time before the whole thing falls down. Foundations are everything. And one of the things I learned at Elam was lay your foundation. Right? I believe in these things. We blame the devil for a lot of spiritual warfare. When the truth of the matter is when we do not have a complete trust in the sovereignty of God, then we cause spiritual warfare. When people around us are striving for positions, they cause spiritual warfare. That's why you've got to deal with your heart. Submit yourselves then to God. Out of James 4:1, what causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? These things I learned at Elim. This is the hallmark of the things I learned, to trust the Lord. And as we send laborers into the nations, those are the missionaries that make it. We heard about faith tonight. How have people just moved to a city and believe God believes? The Bloomberg says, I think off the top of my head, just moved to Hanoi, Vietnam. I believe, if I remember right, moved about women who were being prostituted gained favor with the police chief because they helped these women. Years later, I might have all the details right on this, but I'm pretty close. Years later, that police chief became the head of the whole city of Hanoi. And it gave them favor in the church there. But what did they do? They went to the prestige. No, they went to the down and out. They're not looking for title or position. And without faith, we heard tonight, it's impossible to please God. Because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists. And he rewards those who earnestly seek Him. I love that verse. You know, he rewards. I've been rewarded in life not because I'm smart, mostly because I'm very handsome. Come on, say amen. Hallelujah. Because somewhere along the line, every now and then, I got it right. Mostly because my wife said, no, you're not doing that. But anyhow, all Glory to my wife. You know, I got four daughters right now. I know when we get home tonight, the three that are here, I will get the official critique of everything. I said Bernard Evans said to me, my father in law one time, I said, bernard, you ever worry about me? He goes, oh no, you got your wife and four daughters. You ain't going very far, Phil, without them saying something. And I thank the Lord for it. But don't get any ideas tonight, okay? Hallelujah. I learned faith at Elam. I graduated from Elam in my 20s, came down to Elam Fellowship and talked to them, I won't be long, about starting a traveling music ministry here. I was fresh out of elim, in my 20s, single. I talked to Tom Nelson and brother Frank about putting together a full time traveling ministry team. I got resistance from those who had some thoughts, you know, and I know you never get resistance right. You're going to do anything in faith, you will face resistance. At a service, Brother Paul Johansen speaks up here in the tabernacle on giving the baby to God. From the story of Solomon's wisdom, you all know that story. At times you must give your ministry to God and let him bring it back to you. You gotta trust God with it. That woman gave her baby to God out of complete love for that child. She had to let go of all, control it to preserve its life. In the end, God gave back to her. So when Brother Johansen finished and we were in the middle of starting this full time traveling team, and I was a full time traveling too, because that's all the members I had at the time and just believing God and getting some resistance, literally things said to me, like, who do you think you are? And I said, I don't know, I'm just trying to figure out something here, you know. And I went up to the altar after that sermon of giving it to God, I learned faith in Elam. And I looked over on that concrete floor of the tabernacle lay Elmer Frink prostrate with me on the ground. Now, Elmer Frink was in his 80s. Now you're 20 and you get down on the floor, that's one thing. You're 80s, you get down on the floor, that's another thing. Amen. There he was laying next to me and he had no idea what was in my head. I hadn't told him some of the opposition. And he looked over at me, said, phil, if it's of God, it will go. That's all I need to hear. Do you know there are young men and women around you. That's all they need to hear. That's all I need to hear at the end of the day. Within a few months, we had a team of 13 people. We had a brand new airport shuttle bus which in the day was 35,000. Now that would be 90,000. We had a sound system of $35,000. Today would be what, 70, 80. We booked that year 200 churches, more than 200 churches. We ministered to about 40,000 people with an average of 200 at each time of ministry. We saw miracles, we saw people healed. We saw people filled with the spirit. The altars would fill the prophetic release that happened. I learned faith at Elam. Think about it just for a second. 1320 year olds, all single, sent onto the road, led by me. I mean, you talk about a God kind of thing. That was a God kind of thing. But it started with faith. I didn't get paid for the first several months. I literally got a room and Washington hall here that the fellowship ended up paying for. But I had no furniture, so I borrowed quote unquote mattresses from the dorm and a chest of drawers to sleep on. My annual salary was $5,000 a year. How great is our God? Sing with me. I did not care. What they didn't know is I would have done it for free. What an opportunity. I got friends here in this room that came up to my apartment and saw what I had and didn't have. [00:36:52] Speaker A: Faith. [00:36:55] Speaker C: Well, you know, if you just get me something real comfortable. Let me tell you something. Elam's heritage is we go with nothing and believe for everything. That's who we are. So when I hear that go into the world when I'm standing in Africa, I believe it. I learned humility. You have to learn how to play well in the sandbox, not taking offense and spinning out. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And if they kick you, kick them twice. No, sorry. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you may have against one another. Forgive us. The Lord forgave you and all of these virtues. Put on love which binds them all together. There's an account in scripture of the disciples are with Jesus and two of them say, can I sit on your left and right hand? He says, can you drink from my cup? They have no idea what he's talking about because they both end up believe they were martyred for the kingdom. They wanted to be on the left and right hand. That's not humility. And then the other disciples heard, and they got indignant. So if you think that your church or your ministry is the only place that deals with this, these were the disciples who went to the whole world, and most of them ended up giving their lives. It's normal. And so you have to deal with it in humility. You have to make sure that nothing takes you out when people are people. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying it is what it is. That's a New York saying. It is what it is. I had this guy in my church who grew up in the Fulton fish Market, and he taught me that it is what it is, Pastor. It is what it is. It's the human condition. Years ago, I called my father in law about a conflict in the church I'd been pastoring for a year or two. And these two people were upset. And I said to my father in law, I said, okay, what's the answer here? He said, well, you can do this. You can do this. You can do this. You can do this. Okay. No, no, no, no. God is sovereign. He has all power. There is a right answer that will end this conflict. He goes, we can do this. You can do this. You can do this. And I said, no, God is sovereign. There's an answer. He goes, you ain't been pastoring very long, have you? It's like the farmer, how long you been farming that poster with two little kids? You ain't been pastoring very long. I've learned personal conflict is normal, and you always have to be sensitive to it on some level. But do not let it take you out. I'm going to tell you right now, more people leave the ministry over a fence and walk away from God than immorality of any kind. Purity is everything. I believe in that. But I'm going to tell you right now, the problem is you don't know their names because they just kind of fade away into the darkness. Why am I saying all these things? I thought you opened up by saying eel. And fellowship is called to the world. You are the gift, and the enemy wants to destroy you in these areas so that you cannot go to the nations, so that you cannot be one of those churches that helps missionaries that receives a reward because his job is to take you out, and he works overtime in these areas to take you out. Do not be unaware of the enemy's schemes. Church hurt is a big thing right now. And I'm not saying those things aren't real, but it is A tool of the enemy to destroy you and take away your faith. Don't be unaware. I'm not saying we don't examine things and look at things. I understand. But at the end of the day, don't let anything take you all away from the. The calling of. Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Come on. You want to talk church hurt? Let's talk about the Garden of Gethsemane, where his own disciples betrayed him. Garden of Gethsemane is the place where olives were squeezed. That's what was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Olives. And we're going to be squeezed as believers. But we have to make sure we oil comes out, not the flesh. You draw on the Holy Spirit. That though you slay me, I will trust you. I will not be taken out, not by my strength. Because I'm going to tell you, even in my own life, there were times where the angels came and ministered to me. The journey was too great. The disappointment, the hurt. I want you to know I've never felt betrayal. I've never been disappointed. Never had expectations crushed. But here's what I He is worthy of it all. He is worthy of it all. I will not be taken out. My family needs me here. They need me strong. But I don't have what it takes. And neither do you. But he can help us if we fall upon her face and say, God help me be faithful to the end. Because there's a world out there in nations that are worthy of it all. They are worthy of it all. When I hear about nyssome and a kid from this church, I think it was 13 years old preaching on the subway the gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter what your church goes through, no matter what this church goes through, no matter what anything goes that is worthy of it all. Worthy of it all. I am not my own. I have rights. I don't know what Bible you're reading. I mean, you just gotta read that whole that's another thing of Elam. And I'm almost done. You talk about learning about the cross. I mean, that was our thing for a while. My cross is bigger than your cross. My cross is bigger than yours. You don't know the trouble I've seen. You know, it got a little weird there for a while. But I'm going to tell you something. The cross is real. It's real. You must deny yourself, take up your cross. That's the gospel. Not what you can give me God, but what I can do for you to extend your kingdom to win for the lamb, the fruit of his sufferings. I live for that. Nothing else. Nothing else. That's where safety is. I'm just telling you that's where safety is. The call of God is radical. It is radical and it's not for puppy dogs. And I'm not discounting what you've been through. A bruised reed, he will not break. A smoldering wick, he will not snuff out. I've been there. I have been that Bruce Reed. I've been that smoldering wick. And so I'm not saying to you get with it. I'm saying to you there is a side of that that's true, but the other side of it is the love of God that brings me to repentance for my heart and my attitude. When I pour out my complaint, how can I pour out my complaint at the foot of the cross? And I'm not saying weeping doesn't remain for the night, I promise you. I understand. I am. I was born in Ireland. I'm emotional at times. I know you find that hard to believe just listening to me tonight, but I understand. But at the end of the day, it always comes back to the same thing. At the foot of the cross, it's just, no. Your life is not your own. Can we stand together? I'm preaching these things for a reason. I'm preaching for this altar call. I'm preaching to remind us about vision drift, mission drift. That we are called to the world, that the Holy Spirit is our hope. Not by might nor by power. God is looking for uncut, unpolished stones. He's looking for stones coming together as an altar to go into the world. Complete trust in the sovereignty of God. I don't have to establish myself, manipulate fomo, fear of missing out, being in the right place at the right time. All my days were ordained for me before one of them came into being. You believe that? I believe it. Faith. People like Jacob Bloomberg and his wife in Vietnam, Dave and Becky Snyder moving to Mexico as missionaries. And when they moved down there, you know what they lived in with their kids? A pop up trailer. That's what they lived in. Now there's an established church, seats about 300. Several churches related to them. They're in Petitlan. When he went to Elam, his family disowned him. He had to move into the little hotel in the town because his family disowned him because he was going to Elam. I mean, faith John speaker, his mom going down there and working in a Church down there. Now, that church in Mexico has thousands and Andres and Mexico City has thousands. Eva Butler, as I mentioned, playing well in the sandbox, handling change and getting along with people. Iron, sharpening iron. Don't let it take you out. God has called you wherever you are. God has a call on Elam to the nations. But you can be a part of that, even here. Don't let the enemy take you out. You know, David has a statute in the Old Testament that those who stayed behind and guarded the camp received part of the plunder when those who went to war came back. And you can. You can have war in your camp. You know what I mean? You can do things for the kingdom. Please hear my heart. But anything you give to missionaries, you have an inheritance in it. I mean, and then you're just going to get a crown in heaven that you'll throw at the feet of Jesus because it's all by grace. Amen. Can I have the musicians come and ask the. And just to play quietly. I think they're going to play. Holy Spirit, you are welcome here. Listen, the whole point of this sermon, yes, was to renew us and refresh us again on that call to global missions. Really. But the other part of it is this, in all those callings and dealings, you still have to deal with yourself and deal with people. And this altar is being opened because this is why I'm preaching these things. Because I believe God wants to deliver, heal, set free, restore and encourage at this altar here by his Holy Spirit. That's what I believe with all my heart. So I'm going to ask the elders and their spouses who are here just to come and line the front here. I believe there's going to be a prophetic release here. And if I was a little harsh, please forgive me. I. I'm like you. I have my moments. The Lord spoke to me. There's someone here. And you were brought to a place of testing, and you feel like you didn't pass the test. And you feel that you've missed out on the destiny of God for your life. You had an opportunity and you feel like you failed. And now it's too late. But God wants you to know that he's going to restore even what the locusts devoured. And the last chapter has not been written. And out of your failure is going to come an altar of power, full of fire from God. Do not let the enemy lie to you, that you cannot move forward because you made that mistake. God wants, you know he's here to redeem and restore and don't let sorrow overtake your soul. He wants to heal that sorrow tonight as we sing Come forward. Don't miss out. These elders are here. They're here to serve you and to minister to you. Come and let's meet at the altar together. Can we do that and believe the Lord? Maybe there's things I've said you just know. Yeah, I got to get my heart right. Maybe you're struggling. What's your call? I'm believing that some at this altar tonight are going to be called and move forward and touch people and lives and even nations. Maybe you're a missionary here and you're so discouraged. God is here to meet you tonight as we sing that song. Just come forward and let's believe for the ministry of the Holy Spirit at this altar right now. In Jesus name. Hallelujah. [00:50:27] Speaker A: Thank you for watching. We have so many more amazing episodes to share with you both upcoming and on our website, so make sure you check them out wherever you get your podcasts. For even more amazing content, go to elamfellowship.org and check out the Hub. Not only are all the well, podcasts there, but there is so much more content for you. And if this message was meaningful to you, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing this channel and drop your thoughts down below. It really does make a big difference for us. So until next time, I'm Thomas and we will see you around the well.