Announcer: BREATH OF LIFE
PRESENTS RELENTLESS PURSUIT WITH
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PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR.
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(theme music)
WP: TONIGHT I WANT TO
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DIRECT YOUR
ATTENTION TO JOHN, CHAPTER 5.
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IT IS A STORY THAT I'M
SURE YOU THINK YOU KNOW.
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JOHN, CHAPTER 5, AND I
THINK I CAN CAPTURE WHAT WE NEED
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BEGINNING AT VERSE 5.
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AND HERE'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:
"AND A CERTAIN MAN WAS THERE,
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WHICH HAD AN INFIRMITY
THIRTY AND EIGHT YEARS.
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WHEN JESUS SAW HIM LIE AND KNEW
THAT HE HAD BEEN NOW A LONG TIME
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IN THAT CASE, HE SAID UNTO
HIM, 'WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE ?'
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THE IMPOTENT MAN ANSWERED HIM,
'SIR, I HAVE NO MAN, WHEN THE
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WATER'S TROUBLED, TO PUT ME INTO
THE POOL, BUT WHILE I'M COMING
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ANOTHER STEPETH DOWN BEFORE
ME.' JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, 'RISE,
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TAKE UP THY BED AND WALK.'"
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I'VE LIFTED A FEW
WORDS FROM THIS TEXT TO
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ENTITLE THIS MESSAGE.
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I CALL IT I HAVE NO MAN.
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WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME ?
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FATHER IN HEAVEN, TONIGHT
WE OPEN THE SCRIPTURES, BUT WE
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DON'T DO IT WITHOUT ASKING FIRST
THAT THE POWER OF GOD WOULD BE
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DISPENSED INTO THIS PLACE.
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I RECOGNIZE THAT WITHOUT JESUS
MY VOICE WOULD MEAN NOTHING;
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MY LANGUAGE WOULD BE
BABBLING; THERE WOULD BE NO
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MEANING WHATEVER.
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AND SO I CONFESS THAT
ANY GOOD WORD THAT HAS EVER
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PROCEEDED FROM MY LIPS
HAS COME BY THE POWER OF GOD.
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NOW, WE TRUST THEE,
FATHER, FOR WE NEED TO HEAR FROM
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THE LORD TONIGHT.
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SPEAK TO US AND OUR
HEARTS SHALL BE SATISFIED.
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IN THE NAME OF
JESUS, WE PRAY, AMEN.
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YOU HAVE HEARD 25-30
SERMONS ON THE POOL OF BETHESDA.
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THE NAME OF THE
PLACE IS HOUSE OF MERCY.
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I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT IT'S
A STRANGE THING TO BE CALLED
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BECAUSE THE VERY STORY THAT WE
ARE ABOUT TO READ SUGGESTS THAT
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THERE IS SOMETIMES NO MERCY IN A
PLACE CALLED THE HOUSE OF MERCY.
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THE BIBLE SAYS
THERE IS THIS POOL.
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I HAVE BEEN TO THE PLACE
WHERE THEY SAY IS THE POOL.
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YOU'VE GOTTO BE CAREFUL
BECAUSE EVEN IN THE HOLY
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LAND PEOPLE ARE NOT
ALWAYS CORRECT IN WHAT THEY SAY.
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BUT THEY TOOK MY WIFE AND
I TO A PLACE AND WE LOOKED AT
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IT, AND THERE WE WERE, LOOKING
AT JERUSALEM, THE SCHOLARS
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ARE STILL ARGUING WITH EACH
OTHER--IS IT THE SHEEP GATE;
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IS IT THE SHEEP
MARKET; IS IT THE SHEEP POOL ?
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SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT AT THIS
POOL, WHILE YOU ARE THERE TRYING
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TO BE HEALED, YOU ARE EXPOSED
TO THE ENTERPRISE--YOU'RE NOT
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SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE WOODS.
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YOU CAN LOOK UP AT JERUSALEM
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
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SO, YOU'RE NOT ISOLATED FROM
THE ACTIVITY OF HEALTHY PEOPLE
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OF WEALTHY PEOPLE OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLESSED WITH
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HEALTH AND MOVEMENT.
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AND SO THE BIBLE SAYS AT THIS
PLACE THERE ARE PEOPLE GATHERED
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BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE
THAT AN ANGEL COMES BETIMES
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AND MOVES THE WATER.
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I READ A LOT OF
SCHOLARSHIP ON THESE THINGS.
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I DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT
I READ, BUT IT'S INTERESTING.
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ONE SCHOLAR SAYS THAT THIS POOL
IS FED BY THE STREAM OF SALOM.
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THAT MEANS THAT IT MIGHT BE
PART OF AN AQUEDUCT THAT COULD
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CAUSE SURGING IN THE WATER.
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MAYBE THE STORY THAT
IS TOLD ABOUT THIS POOL
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IS SOMEWHAT ASKEW.
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THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IN FACT,
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RELIABLE CRITICS HAVE LOOKED AT
THE BIBLE TEXT AND SUGGEST TO US
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THAT THE PART OF VERSE 3 THAT
TALKS ABOUT THE MOVING OF THE
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WATER, AND ALL OF VERSE 4, WHICH
SAYS AN ANGEL MOVES THE WATER,
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WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT.
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SOME PRO-ACTIVE SCHOLAR CAME
AND SAW WHAT WAS THERE AND SAID,
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"AHA, WE NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS."
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YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE IS
JUST ABOUT ENOUGH BY ITSELF.
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DOESN'T REALLY NEED
MUCH HELP--WHAT DO YOU SAY ?
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BUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS
CONFIRMS THAT THIS WHOLE STORY
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IS NOT BUILT ON TRUTH; IT'S
BUILT ON A TALE THAT IS PASSED.
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HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW
THAT ONCE YOU START A STORY,
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IT GAINS MOMENTUM.
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THERE ARE SOME OF US WHO
HAVE BEEN AT THE WRONG END OF A
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STORY THAT GAINED MOMENTUM.
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SOMEBODY TELLS A LITTLE
TINY LIE ABOUT YOU, BUT LIES ARE
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SO IRRESISTIBLE THAT EVERYBODY
HAS TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF
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HIS OR HER PERSONALITY
TO IT, AND BY THE TIME YOU
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HEAR IT, IT IS GIGANTIC.
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SO, I UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD
BE, BUT THE FACT IS THAT PERHAPS
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THERE WAS A GRAIN OF TRUTH
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY.
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I READ SOME THINGS
THAT WERE FANTASTIC.
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THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT
HAVE HAPPENED AT THE BIRTH OF
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JESUS, WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED
AT THE BUILDING OF THE WALL
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AROUND JERUSALEM, THAT SOME
GREAT EVENT MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT
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HOLINESS TO THIS LAND
THAT SEEPED INTO THE WATER.
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BUT I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT MAKES ME SUSPICIOUS.
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JESUS DOES NOT HEAL BY CHOOSING
THE ONE WHO NEEDS IT LEAST.
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THE STORY SAYS THAT THERE
ARE TIMES, AND I READ VERY
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CAREFULLY, AND THEY SAID THAT
SOMETIMES IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
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CONSIDERED WEEKLY, BUT PROBABLY
LESS LIKELY THAN EVERY WEEK.
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PEOPLE WERE
LOOKING ALL THE TIME.
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DURING THE DAY THE PLACE
WAS CROWDED; HUNDREDS GATHERED
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THERE, AND THEY
WATCHED FOR THE WATER TO MOVE.
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PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT
WALK TO THE POOL WOULD DRAG
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THEMSELVES TO THE POOL.
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THOSE WHO HAD ENOUGH
MONEY OR ENOUGH CLOUT OR ENOUGH
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CONNECTIONS HAD SOME PEOPLE
TO COME WITH THEM, TO BE THERE
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WHEN THEY NEEDED TO GET TO
THE WATER, BECAUSE YOU WERE
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HEALED IF YOU WERE FIRST
IN THE WATER, AND THEREIN LIES
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MY PROBLEM, BECAUSE IF
YOU'VE GOT A MIGRAINE HEADACHE
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YOU CAN GET THERE FIRST.
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IF YOU HAVE TERMINAL CANCER,
IF YOU ARE PARALYZED, YOU ARE
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UNLIKELY TO GET THERE FIRST.
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GOD DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
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I HAVE SEEN HOW GOD MOVES.
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THERE ARE TIMES WHEN HE
TAKES THE MOST PITIFUL OF CASES.
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IN FACT, IN THIS VERY PASSAGE,
JESUS DOESN'T GO DOWN AND
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SAY, "WHO LOOKS LIKE
THEY'RE ALMOST HEALED.
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WHO LOOKS THE HEALTHIEST ?"
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YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALMOST BE
READY TO PUT THIS THING DOWN IF
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JESUS OPERATED IN THAT FASHION;
THAT HE CHOSE THE ONE WHO NEEDED
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HIM LEAST AND HEALED THEM.
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I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO
SHOW HIS DIVINITY, GOD OFTEN
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CHOOSES THE WORSE CASE, BECAUSE
THERE ARE SOME CASES THAT NOBODY
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THINKS CAN BE HEALED.
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I HAVE A SERMON THAT HAS
AS ITS MAJOR THESIS THAT GOD
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SOMETIMES WAITS UNTIL
EVERYBODY SAYS THERE'S NO HOPE.
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IT CAN'T BE DONE.
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THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN
BE ACCOMPLISHED, AND WHEN
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EVERYBODY HAS SIGNED OFF ON THE
IMPOSSIBILITY, THEN GOD STEPS
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IN, BECAUSE GOD SPECIALIZES-YOU
KNOW WHAT THE FOLKS SAY-IN
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THINGS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE.
00:09:04.53\00:09:07.50
SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE
WILLING TO GO WITH ME OR NOT,
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BUT I THINK I'M ABLE TO
SUBSTANTIATE THAT THIS WAS NOT
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A STORY THAT WAS BASED ON FACT.
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YOU KNOW THAT SOMEBODY
MIGHT HAVE GONE THERE WHO HAD A
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PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESS,
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL,
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BUT IT'S NOT PHYSICAL.
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DON'T WORRY; I'M NOT
GOING TOO FAR DOWN THAT PATH.
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SOME PEOPLE WILL
BE ANNOYED WITH ME.
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BUT SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE
THINKING THEY'RE SICK, AND IF
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YOU THINK YOU'RE SICK, YOU ARE.
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YOU CAN SIT IN YOUR BED;
YOU CAN LIE THERE AND BE SICK.
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YOU MAY NOT BE SICK, BUT IF
YOU THINK YOU ARE, YOU'RE SICK.
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I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN SICK FOR AGES.
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NO DOCTOR HAS BEEN
ABLE TO VERIFY IT, BUT THEIR
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ILLNESS SEEMS PALPABLE.
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IT'S IN THEIR HEADS,
BUT COULD IT HAVE BEEN THAT
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SOMEBODY WHOSE ILLNESS WAS
NOT PHYSICAL, BUT PSYCHOSOMATIC,
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WENT DOWN TO THE POOL,
SAW IT MOVE, JUMPED IN, GOT UP
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AND SAID, "HEY, I'M HEALED !"
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AND YOU KNOW HOW
THAT WILL TAKE OFF.
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THAT'S A STORY
THAT HAS LEGS-IT'LL FLY.
00:10:18.13\00:10:20.90
SO, IF IT IS TRUE, AND I
BELIEVE THAT IT IS, THAT THIS
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STORY IS BASED ON AN OLD WIVES
TALE, IF YOU WILL, AND THAT
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PEOPLE ARE WAITING THERE BECAUSE
IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER HOPE,
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YOU WILL HOPE IN ANYTHING.
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INCIDENTALLY, THAT'S WHY I THINK
CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO SPEAK UP.
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I WISH I HAD BEEN THE ONE
WHO SAID IT, BUT A GENTLEMAN
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WROTE THAT EVERYBODY IN
SOCIETY HAS COME OUT OF THE
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CLOSET EXCEPT CHRISTIANS.
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WE WALK AROUND WITH PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING
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ANY HELP FOR THEIR NEEDS,
AND HERE WE ARE WITH THE SOURCE
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OF ALL POWER, BUT WE
ARE UNDERCOVER CHRISTIANS.
00:11:04.23\00:11:11.06
AND SO PEOPLE PASS US
ALL THE TIME WHO NEED TO KNOW
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WHAT WE HAVE KNOWN ALL
ALONG, BUT WE DARE NOT SHARE IT
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WITH THEM BECAUSE IT WILL
IDENTIFY US AS CHRISTIANS.
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FRIENDS OF MINE--THEY ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DOING MANY THINGS THAT
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ARE ODD, THAT ARE STRANGE, THAT
ARE LIKE ICOOCLASTIC, WHY IN
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THE WORLD WON'T CHRISTIANS
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED, LET THE
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REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO !
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WELL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO BELIEVE IN-SO
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THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED.
00:11:40.23\00:11:41.96
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
GATHER THERE DAY AFTER DAY.
00:11:41.96\00:11:44.80
SOMEONE BRINGS THEM AND
THEN THEY TAKE THEM BACK.
00:11:44.80\00:11:49.40
BUT THERE ARE
SOME WHO DON'T LEAVE.
00:11:49.40\00:11:51.96
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
COME TO THIS PLACE AND
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STAY NIGHT AND DAY.
00:11:54.93\00:11:58.56
DURING THE DAY THE SUN SCORCHES,
SO SOMEBODY GOT INGENIOUS.
00:11:58.56\00:12:03.73
THEY SAID, "LET'S PUT SOME
SHADE--LET'S CREATE SHADE."
00:12:03.73\00:12:07.23
AND THEY PUT SOME COVERING
OVER SOME OF THE PORCHES
00:12:07.23\00:12:12.70
THAT HAD BEEN BUILT, SO
THAT DURING THE DAY THE SUN
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WOULD NOT SCORCH PEOPLE.
00:12:15.40\00:12:16.73
AND THEN PEOPLE WHO CAME TO
STAY DURING THE NIGHT UNDERSTOOD
00:12:16.73\00:12:20.63
THAT IT GOT COLD, SO THEY
HAD BLANKETS, AND THEY HAD THEIR
00:12:20.63\00:12:25.60
RUGS, AND THEY WOULD LIE DOWN
ON THEM-NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE
00:12:25.60\00:12:29.20
WAY TO SLEEP, BUT IF YOU
WANT TO BE THERE JUST IN CASE AT
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DAYBREAK, THE WATER SHOULD MOVE.
00:12:33.23\00:12:37.63
AND YOU CRAWLED DOWN TO
THE EDGE, AND YOU WANT TO BE
00:12:37.63\00:12:41.46
THERE IN CASE IT
HAPPENS AT THE BREAK OF DAY.
00:12:41.46\00:12:44.83
PERHAPS IN THE GRAY
OF MORNING IT WILL COME.
00:12:44.83\00:12:48.83
SO THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE.
00:12:48.83\00:12:51.56
THERE ARE ALSO
PEOPLE WHO DIE THERE.
00:12:51.56\00:12:56.36
THERE IS FOR
THEM NO HOPE ANYMORE.
00:12:56.36\00:13:00.36
THEY HAVE WAITED TILL THEIR
MOMENT COMES--THE WATER MOVES,
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BUT THERE'S NOBODY TO
PICK THEM UP, AND SO THEY TRY
00:13:03.63\00:13:06.80
THEIR BEST TO GET DOWN,
THEY CRAWL, THEY USE WHATEVER
00:13:06.80\00:13:10.63
POWER THEY HAVE, BUT
THEY CAN'T GET THERE IN TIME.
00:13:10.63\00:13:15.66
IN FACT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
DECLARE THAT WHEN THEY THOUGHT
00:13:15.66\00:13:19.66
THE WATER MOVE, THE HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE WOULD BE LIKE DRIVEN
00:13:19.66\00:13:24.90
ANIMALS, WOULD STEP OVER THE
HEADS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD OTHER
00:13:24.90\00:13:30.46
ILLNESSES, WOULD TRAMPLE
THEM UNDER AND PERHAPS SOME OF
00:13:30.46\00:13:33.73
THE DEATH THAT OCCURRED AT
THIS PLACE HAPPENED BECAUSE
00:13:33.73\00:13:38.33
SOMEBODY WAS TRAMPLED
TRYING TO GET TO THE WATER.
00:13:38.33\00:13:42.00
THAT, MY FRIEND, IS
NOT THE WAY GOD WORKS.
00:13:42.00\00:13:46.43
GOD IS A GOD OF DECENCY
AND ORDER; EVEN WITH GOD MOVES
00:13:46.43\00:13:53.26
WITH LARGE GROUPS THERE
IS ORDER THERE, BUT AT THIS
00:13:53.26\00:13:57.10
POOL YOU CAN TELL IT
WAS SOMETIMES WITHOUT MERCY.
00:13:57.10\00:14:04.23
WELL, THE BIBLE SAYS THERE WERE
PEOPLE WHO CAME THERE, BUT WHEN
00:14:04.23\00:14:08.36
JESUS PASSED BY--AND I LOVE THIS
PART OF THE STORY--HE MIGHT HAVE
00:14:08.36\00:14:15.53
HEALED EVERYONE THERE, BUT
THE POLITICAL SITUATION WAS SO
00:14:15.53\00:14:20.56
TENSE, AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU
THINK THAT THE BIBLE IS SO, SO
00:14:20.56\00:14:25.23
PRETTY, AND IT'S SO
DELICATE--ALL OF YOUR JESUS
00:14:25.23\00:14:30.80
STORIES ARE PRETTY--"YES,
JESUS WOULD ALWAYS GO
00:14:30.80\00:14:37.16
AND HEAL THE PEOPLE."
00:14:37.16\00:14:39.73
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND--THERE
WERE FOLK AROUND TRYING TO
00:14:39.73\00:14:41.86
KILL JESUS; TRYING TO
IMPUGN HIS CHARACTER; TRYING TO
00:14:41.86\00:14:46.40
DETRACT FROM HIS CREDENTIAL.
00:14:46.40\00:14:49.00
HE HAD NOT GONE TO ONE OF
THE SCHOOLS OF THAT DAY, HIS
00:14:49.00\00:14:52.66
WISDOM CAME FROM SOMEWHERE,
BUT HE SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY,
00:14:52.66\00:14:57.30
SO THEY KNEW THERE WAS
SOMETHING THAT BACKED HIM UP.
00:14:57.30\00:14:59.76
YOU AND I KNOW HE WAS
NOT IN A REGULAR PROGRAM; YOU
00:14:59.76\00:15:03.43
MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THESE
DAYS NOT EVERYBODY GOES TO AN
00:15:03.43\00:15:07.53
ORDINARY EDUCATIONAL SITUATION.
00:15:07.53\00:15:09.36
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO
ARE PART OF DISTANCE LEARNING.
00:15:09.36\00:15:15.20
THIS IS WHY I LOVE MY JOB;
I GET TO DO STUFF LIKE THIS.
00:15:15.20\00:15:18.90
JESUS WAS ENROLLED IN A
DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM.
00:15:18.90\00:15:22.73
EARLY IN THE MORNING, A GREAT
WHILE BEFORE DAY, HE WOULD WAKE
00:15:22.73\00:15:25.50
UP AND COMMUNE WITH HIS FATHER.
00:15:25.50\00:15:28.20
HIS FATHER WOULD SEND DOWN
A LESSON OR TWO, AND HE WOULD
00:15:28.20\00:15:32.50
FULFILL THE LESSON AND
FILL IN ALL THE BLANKS AND SEND
00:15:32.50\00:15:35.80
IT BACK UP, SO THAT HIS
EDUCATION WAS COMPLETE AND
00:15:35.80\00:15:39.66
SUPERIOR TO ANYTHING
ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
00:15:39.66\00:15:43.10
IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN AT A
NORMAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION,
00:15:43.10\00:15:45.36
AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS TENSION BETWEEN FORMAL
00:15:45.36\00:15:49.53
EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL
EDUCATION, LET ME SAY QUICKLY,
00:15:49.53\00:15:53.86
LEST SOMEBODY TRYING TO LEAVE
THIS INSTITUTION BLAME IT ON ME.
00:15:53.86\00:16:01.53
SO LONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT WISDOM COMES FROM GOD
00:16:01.53\00:16:04.26
YOU CAN GET YOUR
INFORMATION FROM ANYWHERE.
00:16:04.26\00:16:07.46
IN FACT, THE CLOSER
YOUR INFORMATION COMES FROM
00:16:07.46\00:16:10.16
DIVINITY, THE BETTER IT
IS AND THE MORE RELIABLE--IT
00:16:10.16\00:16:12.50
IS SUPERIOR INFORMATION.
00:16:12.50\00:16:14.70
BUT GOD HAS NO
TENSION AGAINST LEARNING.
00:16:14.70\00:16:17.23
GOD USED PEOPLE WITH FORMAL
EDUCATION THE APOSTLE PAUL
00:16:17.23\00:16:21.73
BEING A STERLING EXAMPLE.
00:16:21.73\00:16:25.06
HE WAS NO LESS EFFECTIVE
BECAUSE HE WAS TRAINED.
00:16:25.06\00:16:28.60
HIS MIND WAS SHARP AND GOD
USED HIM IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
00:16:28.60\00:16:31.73
THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE
COULDN'T USE SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T
00:16:31.73\00:16:33.90
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
00:16:33.90\00:16:35.40
REMEMBER THAT INFORMATION COMES
FROM ALL SOURCES, MANY SOURCES.
00:16:35.40\00:16:40.06
WISDOM COMES FROM GOD.
00:16:40.06\00:16:43.70
AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT
THAT, YOU GOT IT STRAIGHT.
00:16:43.70\00:16:45.63
SO HERE WE ARE
WITH THIS SITUATION.
00:16:45.63\00:16:48.60
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.
00:16:48.60\00:16:50.63
THESE ARE THINGS
THAT CAN BE DEDUCED.
00:16:50.63\00:16:53.23
THIS MAN WHO HAD BEEN
PARALYZED FOR 38 YEARS, COULD
00:16:53.23\00:16:56.76
NOT TAKE HIMSELF TO THIS POOL.
00:16:56.76\00:17:02.40
SOMEBODY TOOK HIM, AND
NOW THE SOMEBODY IS GONE.
00:17:02.40\00:17:10.76
ARE WE TOGETHER SO FAR ?
00:17:10.76\00:17:13.30
THIS IS NOT
WRITTEN, IT CAN BE DEDUCED.
00:17:13.30\00:17:16.76
HE GOT THERE, BUT IF
HE'S PARALYZED, HE COULDN'T
00:17:16.76\00:17:19.13
TAKE HIMSELF, BUT BY THE
TIME JESUS GETS THERE, YOU
00:17:19.13\00:17:21.40
REMEMBER JESUS SAYS, "DO
YOU WANT TO BE MADE WHOLE ?"
00:17:21.40\00:17:25.23
AND I CATCH THE WORDS
OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS, WHO
00:17:26.23\00:17:28.73
SAYS THAT THE MAN LOOKED UP
AND SAW THAT FACE, THAT FACE
00:17:28.73\00:17:34.76
UNLIKE ANY OTHER FACE.
00:17:34.76\00:17:36.20
JESUS' FACE WAS NOT DIFFERENT
BECAUSE HE WAS TOO HANDSOME.
00:17:36.20\00:17:40.63
HE HAD NO FORM OF
COMELINESS, ISAIAH SAID, THAT WE
00:17:40.63\00:17:44.30
MIGHT DESIRE HIM.
00:17:44.30\00:17:45.63
GOD MIGHT HAVE MADE JESUS SO
HANDSOME THAT EVERY WOMAN WOULD
00:17:46.66\00:17:50.06
HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM;
SO MUSCULAR THAT EVERY MAN WOULD
00:17:50.06\00:17:52.23
HAVE ENVIED HIM, BUT HIS BEAUTY
WAS NOT FROM HIS MUSCULATURE.
00:17:52.23\00:17:57.63
IT WAS FROM WHAT WAS WITHIN.
00:17:57.63\00:18:00.10
SO, WHEN THAT FACE BENT DOWN
OVER THAT MAN, IT WAS NOT THAT
00:18:00.10\00:18:03.66
HIS FEATURES WERE SO HANDSOME;
IT WAS THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
00:18:03.66\00:18:07.50
OF LOVE AND POWER IN THAT
FACE, AND WHEN THE MAN SAW HIM,
00:18:07.50\00:18:12.10
SOMETHING INSIDE OF HIM LEAPED,
BUT THEN HE SAID, "NO, I'VE
00:18:12.10\00:18:17.86
BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE."
00:18:17.86\00:18:19.20
SO, WHEN JESUS SAYS, "WHAT DO
YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU," HERE
00:18:19.20\00:18:22.86
IS HIS ANSWER, AND PREACHERS
ENJOY IGNORING THE MAN'S ANSWER.
00:18:22.86\00:18:28.63
HE SAYS, "I HAVE NO MAN."
00:18:28.63\00:18:31.30
NOW, YOU KNEW I WAS
GOING TO TAKE A PIECE OF THAT.
00:18:31.30\00:18:37.73
IN MY TRAVELS, AND I'M GLAD THAT
MY WIFE IS MOST OFTEN WITH ME
00:18:37.73\00:18:41.23
BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT
GENDER GROUPS THAT APPROACH
00:18:41.23\00:18:45.26
WITH SEPARATE REQUESTS.
00:18:45.26\00:18:52.60
WHEN A GROUP OF YOUNG WOMEN
COME, I CAN ALMOST TELL WHAT
00:18:52.60\00:18:57.23
THEIR QUANDARY MIGHT BE.
00:18:57.23\00:19:00.86
I PULL MY WIFE CLOSE.
00:19:00.86\00:19:05.26
AND SOMETIMES THEY SAY THE
VERY WORDS THAT THE PARALYZED
00:19:05.26\00:19:09.13
MAN SAID, "PASTOR
PEARSON, I HAVE NO MAN."
00:19:09.13\00:19:19.50
WHAT CAN I TELL THEM ?
00:19:19.50\00:19:22.03
I'VE HAD YOUNG LADIES ASK ME,
"WHEN YOU TRAVEL, WOULD YOU TAKE
00:19:22.03\00:19:25.36
ME A PICTURE OF ME WITH YOU ?"
00:19:25.36\00:19:27.90
WELL, I WOULD END UP WITH A
LARGE POCKET FULL OF PICTURES
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.90
I'M NOT SURE MY WIFE WOULD
BE COMPLETELY IN CONSONANCE
00:19:30.90\00:19:34.43
WITH THAT PLAN, SO I
DO NOT ACCEPT PICTURES.
00:19:34.43\00:19:37.73
I HOPE YOU'RE FOREWARNED.
00:19:37.73\00:19:40.93
"I HAVE NO MAN."
00:19:40.93\00:19:42.10
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS
NOT JUST THAT "I DON'T HAVE A
00:19:42.10\00:19:45.70
MAN NOW, BUT I'VE HAD
SOME EXPERIENCES WITH MEN."
00:19:45.70\00:19:50.56
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
THIS MAN'S REAL PROBLEM IS.
00:19:50.56\00:19:53.16
DO YOU MIND IF WE
CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE.
00:19:53.16\00:19:57.66
WHAT THE MAN IS SAYING IS
THIS: "SOMEBODY BROUGHT ME.
00:19:57.66\00:20:01.26
AT LEAST THEY WERE KIND
ENOUGH TO BRING ME HERE."
00:20:01.26\00:20:03.40
I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.
00:20:03.40\00:20:04.33
I'VE DONE AS MUCH
RESEARCH AS I CAN DO.
00:20:04.33\00:20:06.30
I CANNOT FIND OUT WHO IT
WAS THAT BROUGHT HIM, BUT
00:20:06.30\00:20:08.66
WHOEVER BROUGHT HIM MIGHT HAVE
STAYED WITH HIM FOR A WHILE,
00:20:08.66\00:20:12.10
BUT EVENTUALLY THEY
BECAME ENCHANTED WITH SOMETHING
00:20:12.10\00:20:17.00
ELSE, AND THEY LEFT HIM.
00:20:17.00\00:20:19.30
SO I HAVE AN IDEA HOW
THE CONVERSATION WENT.
00:20:19.30\00:20:23.36
DAY AFTER DAY, WITH NO
MOVEMENT OF WATER, MAYBE
00:20:23.36\00:20:26.20
THE MOVEMENT DID HAPPEN AND
THEY SAID, "COME ALONG, COME
00:20:26.20\00:20:28.63
ON, WE'VE GOT TO GO !"
00:20:28.63\00:20:29.56
AND HE SAID, "YEAH, BUT I. . ."
00:20:29.56\00:20:30.46
"COME ON, MAN,
SEE, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.
00:20:30.46\00:20:34.53
IF YOU'D COME WHEN I TOLD
YOU TO COME, WE'D HAVE MADE IT.
00:20:34.53\00:20:38.76
NEXT TIME DON'T PLAY AROUND.
00:20:38.76\00:20:42.30
I'M HERE WITH YOU,
BUT I CAN'T CODDLE YOU.
00:20:42.30\00:20:45.13
THIS IS TOUGH LOVE.
00:20:45.13\00:20:47.30
AND WHEN THAT WATER MOVES I'M
GOING TO SNATCH YOU NEXT TIME;
00:20:47.30\00:20:50.46
I HOPE YOU'RE READY."
00:20:50.46\00:20:52.20
BUT AFTER A FEW SNATCHES,
WHOEVER IT WAS WHO CAME--COULD
00:20:52.20\00:20:56.86
IT HAVE BEEN HIS WIFE,
COULD IT HAVE BEEN A SON ?
00:20:56.86\00:20:59.36
THEY MUST HAVE SAID TO
HIM, "YOU KNOW SOMETHING ?
00:20:59.36\00:21:02.40
YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, DON'T
YOU, BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING,
00:21:02.40\00:21:07.93
I THINK I'D BE MORE HELP
TO YOU MAYBE GOING OUT AND
00:21:07.93\00:21:12.13
GETTING A JOB SOMEWHERE.
00:21:12.13\00:21:13.20
LOOK, RIGHT UP
THERE I SEE PEOPLE.
00:21:13.20\00:21:15.90
I BELIEVE THERE ARE
JOBS AVAILABLE UP NEAR THE
00:21:15.90\00:21:18.23
SHEEP GATE, OR DOWN
HERE NEAR THE SHEEP POOL.
00:21:18.23\00:21:21.20
I BELIEVE THAT I COULD GO DO
SOMETHING THAT MAKES MORE SENSE
00:21:21.20\00:21:25.10
THAN SITTING WITH YOU EVERY DAY
WAITING FOR THIS WATER TO MOVE
00:21:25.10\00:21:28.53
AND THEN TRYING TO GET YOU UP.
00:21:28.53\00:21:29.90
WOULD YOU MIND ?
00:21:29.90\00:21:31.63
COULD I TAKE A COUPLE OF
DAYS AND JUST GO CHECK ?"
00:21:31.63\00:21:35.00
WELL, WHAT'S HE GOING TO SAY ?
00:21:35.00\00:21:37.16
HE CAN'T FORCE THEM TO STAY.
00:21:37.16\00:21:39.63
"SO, OKAY, I'LL BE RIGHT
BACK; HEY, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK."
00:21:39.63\00:21:45.83
OKAY, YOU KN HOW THAT GOES.
00:21:45.83\00:21:49.63
I BELIEVE THAT
SOMEBODY ABANDONED HIM.
00:21:49.63\00:21:52.70
THEY MAY HAVE COME BACK ONCE
OR TWICE, OR MAYBE THEY CAME TO
00:21:52.70\00:21:56.06
CHECK ON HIM, BUT THEIR VISITS
BECAME FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, AND
00:21:56.06\00:22:00.33
EVENTUALLY THIS MAN FOUND
HIMSELF AT THE PLACE OF HEALING,
00:22:00.33\00:22:05.46
WHERE THE WATER WAS SUPPOSED TO
MOVE, BUT NOBODY TO PICK HIM UP
00:22:05.46\00:22:07.63
AND TAKE HIM OVER THERE.
00:22:07.63\00:22:09.50
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE
ARE SOME YOUNG LADIES WHO HAVE
00:22:09.50\00:22:12.06
HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE.
00:22:12.06\00:22:13.66
THEIR REAL COMPLAINT IS NOT THAT
"I HAVE NO MAN," BUT THAT "I HAD
00:22:13.66\00:22:17.50
A FEW AND THEY ABANDONED ME."
00:22:17.50\00:22:23.16
"HONEY, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE I COULD TAKE YOU.
00:22:23.16\00:22:28.53
I HAVE LOOKED AT YOU
AND I'VE SEEN YOUR PROBLEM.
00:22:28.53\00:22:32.03
YOU KNOW I CAN READ
INTO YOUR MIND, AND IT'S JUST
00:22:32.03\00:22:37.60
A GIFT I'VE GOT.
00:22:37.60\00:22:40.33
I'M ABLE TO DO THAT.
00:22:40.33\00:22:43.26
AND SINCE I KNOW WHAT YOUR
WEAKNESS IS, AND TRUST ME, YOU
00:22:43.26\00:22:46.03
ARE ALMOST PERFECT, BUT YOU
DO HAVE THAT ONE LITTLE THING,
00:22:46.03\00:22:50.26
AND I KNOW A PLACE WHERE I
CAN TAKE YOU WHERE WATER MOVES.
00:22:50.26\00:22:58.76
COULD I TAKE YOU DOWN THERE ?"
00:22:58.76\00:23:01.70
"I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT."
00:23:01.70\00:23:02.63
"DON'T WORRY
ABOUT, I'VE HEARD OF IT.
00:23:02.63\00:23:05.36
I'LL TAKE YOU THERE,
GIRL, AND I'LL STAY WITH YOU.
00:23:05.36\00:23:08.73
I'LL BE THERE
UNTIL THE WATER MOVES.
00:23:08.73\00:23:13.06
AND WHEN THAT WATER MOVES,
GIRL, I'M GOING TO GRAB YOU
00:23:13.06\00:23:17.43
AND RUN DOWN TO THAT WATER.
00:23:17.43\00:23:20.30
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYBODY
DOWN THERE BY THAT POOL WHO
00:23:20.30\00:23:23.03
CAN MOVE AS FAST AS I CAN.
00:23:23.03\00:23:24.36
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, I'LL HAVE
YOU SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF
00:23:24.36\00:23:27.10
THAT WATER, AND WE'RE GOING TO
COME AWAY WITH A HEALED WOMAN.
00:23:27.10\00:23:32.30
GIRL, YOU READY TO BE HEALED ?"
00:23:32.30\00:23:36.86
LADIES, YOU'RE MIGHTY QUIET.
00:23:36.86\00:23:42.06
AND IT'S OKAY IF HE'D
STAYED, BUT EVENTUALLY SOMETHING
00:23:42.06\00:23:50.20
CAUGHT HIS EYE BY
THE GATE OF JERUSALEM.
00:23:50.20\00:23:54.93
"HEY, REMEMBER I SAID I WAS
GOING TO STAY HERE WITH YOU ?
00:23:54.93\00:23:59.26
AND YOU KNOW I MEAN THAT.
00:23:59.26\00:24:01.66
DON'T YOU KNOW I MEAN THAT ?
00:24:01.66\00:24:05.56
BUT I JUST SAW A FRIEND OF MINE
UP THERE, AND I KNOW THIS MAN
00:24:05.56\00:24:09.03
GOT SOMETHING GOING ALL THE
TIME, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
00:24:09.03\00:24:11.66
SOMETHING, IF YOU GIVE ME A FEW
MINUTES, IN FACT, MAYBE LIKE A
00:24:11.66\00:24:14.50
DAY AND A HALF WITH HIM, I'LL
GO UP THERE AND GET A COUPLE OF
00:24:14.50\00:24:17.40
THINGS MOVING, I'LL COME BACK
DOWN HERE AND BRING YOU SOME
00:24:17.40\00:24:19.90
FOOD AND STUFF--YOU KNOW WE
DON'T HAVE MUCH DOWN HERE--ALL
00:24:19.90\00:24:22.76
WE'VE GOT IS LIKE THIS RUG.
00:24:22.76\00:24:25.56
I'LL BRING US BACK
SOMETHING SO WE CAN AT LEAST BE
00:24:25.56\00:24:28.53
COMFORTABLE WHILE I'M
WAITING ON THAT WATER TO MOVE.
00:24:28.53\00:24:30.70
YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WATER,
WAITING ON THAT WATER TO MOVE,
00:24:30.70\00:24:33.63
SO LET ME JUST RUN. .
.AND YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, BUT
00:24:33.63\00:24:37.36
RIGHT NOW, I'VE GOT TO GO.
00:24:37.36\00:24:40.23
I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK."
00:24:40.23\00:24:43.60
LADIES, YOU KNOW THE
WHOLE STORY, DON'T YOU.
00:24:43.60\00:24:46.20
I HAVE A DAUGHTER.
00:24:46.20\00:24:47.70
WE HAVE HAD DEEP
ANALYTICAL CONVERSATIONS.
00:24:47.70\00:24:52.60
IT IS RARE WHEN THE
BROTHER EVEN MAKES THAT PHONE
00:24:52.60\00:24:57.80
CALL HE PROMISES.
00:24:57.80\00:24:59.63
Y'ALL ARE REAL QUIET;
YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW
00:24:59.63\00:25:02.10
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ?
00:25:02.10\00:25:03.30
ARE YOU TRYING TO ACT
LIKE YOU ARE NOT THE ONE
00:25:03.30\00:25:05.30
WHO KNOWS THIS STUFF ?
00:25:05.30\00:25:06.36
ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE NEVER
00:25:06.36\00:25:08.40
EXPERIENCED THIS ?
00:25:08.40\00:25:10.66
WELL, ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU
IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
00:25:10.66\00:25:14.26
WOULD TAKE YOU PLACES PROMISING
HEALING THAT THEY CANNOT GIVE,
00:25:14.26\00:25:18.43
AND THEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE
IT MIGHT HAPPEN, THEY ABANDON
00:25:18.43\00:25:21.96
YOU, AND THE HURT IS NOT
JUST IN THE FACT THAT THEY TOLD
00:25:21.96\00:25:26.86
YOU THINGS THAT WERE NOT TRUE;
THINGS THAT WERE FANTASTIC;
00:25:26.86\00:25:30.40
THINGS THAT WERE TOO GOOD
TO BE TRUE, AND CERTAINLY THEY
00:25:30.40\00:25:33.43
SOUNDED LIKE THEY REALLY WERE.
00:25:33.43\00:25:36.03
OR MAYBE IT'S SOME MAN, AND
BROTHERS DON'T YOU THINK THAT
00:25:36.03\00:25:38.33
THERE'S NOT SOME SISTERS
WHO CAN SAY THAT SAME STUFF.
00:25:38.33\00:25:43.30
Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR
MORE OF PASTOR PEARSON'S MESSAGE
00:25:43.30\00:25:46.63
ON THE POOL OF BETHESDA.
00:25:46.63\00:25:48.73
Announcer: TO ORDER CD OR
AUDIOCASSETTE COPY OF THIS
00:26:21.76\00:26:23.90
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JUST CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER,
00:26:23.90\00:26:26.50
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00:26:26.50\00:26:28.86
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00:26:28.86\00:26:33.66
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00:26:33.66\00:26:36.43
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00:26:36.43\00:26:40.16
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(theme music)
00:27:54.03\00:28:10.56