#S085 - Faith Looks A Certain Way - (Part 1) 00:00:03.60\00:00:07.30 Give us a 00:00:19.88\00:00:21.48 look at Chapter 14, 00:00:21.52\00:00:23.49 and we're going to look together at verse number one. 00:00:23.52\00:00:25.79 If you still find that gets pass through them, come in 00:00:25.82\00:00:28.06 X, chapter 14 00:00:30.33\00:00:32.76 and verse number one. 00:00:32.79\00:00:34.93 I'm reading from the new King James version of the Bible 00:00:36.13\00:00:38.20 today x 14 in verse number one. 00:00:38.23\00:00:41.44 The Bible says Now what happened in Iconium 00:00:42.87\00:00:46.07 that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews 00:00:47.21\00:00:50.05 and so spoke that a great multitude, 00:00:50.85\00:00:52.95 both of the Jews and the Greeks believed, 00:00:52.98\00:00:55.72 but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles 00:00:56.72\00:00:59.39 and poisoned their minds against the Brethren. 00:01:00.42\00:01:02.39 Therefore, they stayed there a long time, 00:01:03.32\00:01:05.73 speaking boldly in the Lord who was bearing witness 00:01:06.86\00:01:09.33 to the Word of His grace, 00:01:09.96\00:01:11.53 granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 00:01:11.57\00:01:14.70 But the multitude of the city was divided, 00:01:15.67\00:01:17.91 part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles. 00:01:19.04\00:01:21.78 And when a violent attempt was made by both Jews 00:01:22.84\00:01:25.88 and Gentiles with their rulers to abuse and stone them, 00:01:25.91\00:01:30.09 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Darby. 00:01:31.25\00:01:34.96 Cities of like like Kenya and the surrounding regions. 00:01:36.12\00:01:39.53 And they were preaching the gospel there 00:01:39.56\00:01:41.86 and in life struck a certain man without what? 00:01:42.90\00:01:47.00 Without strength 00:01:48.00\00:01:49.30 in his feet was sitting a cripple 00:01:49.34\00:01:53.48 from his mother's womb who had never walked. 00:01:54.48\00:01:59.01 And this man. 00:01:59.45\00:02:00.92 Are you all. Are you all with me today? Church. 00:02:00.95\00:02:03.25 And I need your I'm the I need your undivided attention 00:02:03.28\00:02:06.32 on this today. 00:02:06.35\00:02:07.46 I need John to see this because I believe God 00:02:07.49\00:02:10.66 wants to do something in this place today. 00:02:11.63\00:02:14.00 Listen, listen. 00:02:15.43\00:02:16.23 This man who had never walked. 00:02:16.26\00:02:18.27 This man heard Paul speaking, 00:02:18.97\00:02:21.60 observing him intently, 00:02:22.44\00:02:24.77 seeing that he had the faith to be healed. 00:02:25.74\00:02:29.84 And he said with a loud voice. 00:02:30.55\00:02:33.58 Stand up straight on your feet. 00:02:34.28\00:02:37.75 But I like this brother. 00:02:38.32\00:02:39.12 He didn't just stand the word says 00:02:39.15\00:02:42.22 and he leap. 00:02:42.26\00:02:44.33 And he walked. 00:02:45.49\00:02:47.73 Can the church say, man? 00:02:48.26\00:02:49.80 But I learned what verse nine says. 00:02:49.83\00:02:51.53 This man heard Paul speaking and Paul observing him intently 00:02:51.57\00:02:55.87 and seeing that he had faith to be healed. 00:02:56.77\00:03:01.88 I want to talk today for a little while under the subject. 00:03:03.04\00:03:05.48 Faith looks a certain way. 00:03:06.11\00:03:09.02 Faith looks a certain way. 00:03:10.52\00:03:13.12 Let us pray together. 00:03:13.15\00:03:15.16 Father, the same anointing 00:03:15.79\00:03:18.96 you gave the apostles to preach back then 00:03:18.99\00:03:21.73 and that same year, 00:03:23.03\00:03:24.70 even greater an anointing to preach today. 00:03:24.73\00:03:27.54 And I am praying today that in the hearing of the word 00:03:28.64\00:03:32.81 that faith would be multiplied exponentially in the hearts 00:03:34.04\00:03:37.15 and in the ears of those that hear the word. 00:03:37.18\00:03:39.71 And so, Father, I'm praying that your spirit would attend 00:03:40.95\00:03:43.75 today's service in a very distinct fashion. 00:03:43.79\00:03:46.39 Would you please hide me in the shadows of the cross 00:03:47.52\00:03:49.42 that Jesus alone might be? 00:03:50.06\00:03:51.59 See, that Christ alone might be heard. 00:03:51.63\00:03:54.93 And at the end of our time 00:03:55.53\00:03:56.53 together, let Jesus alone be praised. 00:03:56.56\00:03:59.17 Bless us. 00:03:59.67\00:04:00.77 To this end, we ask in the mighty name of Jesus, 00:04:00.80\00:04:02.64 let those who love him say together. Amen. 00:04:02.67\00:04:04.94 And amen. 00:04:05.54\00:04:06.74 You may be seated in the House of God again, talking to you 00:04:06.78\00:04:09.91 under the subject. 00:04:10.41\00:04:11.18 Faith looks a certain way. 00:04:11.21\00:04:18.19 You know, friends over the 00:04:18.22\00:04:19.85 over the last few months, 00:04:23.59\00:04:26.33 God has been impressing me 00:04:26.36\00:04:28.86 to declare 2025 00:04:28.90\00:04:31.67 to be a leap year. 00:04:32.17\00:04:34.20 And to be clear, church 00:04:35.84\00:04:37.57 it is not a stationary year. 00:04:37.61\00:04:39.64 It is not a stained year. 00:04:40.78\00:04:42.88 It is not just a step year, 00:04:43.68\00:04:46.01 it's a leap year, 00:04:46.65\00:04:49.28 which means by the time this year ends, you 00:04:49.32\00:04:53.25 ought to be in a different place than you are right now. 00:04:53.29\00:04:57.26 I believe that this year somebody 00:04:58.73\00:05:01.56 is going to make a big spiritual leap. 00:05:01.60\00:05:04.10 I believe somebody is going to make a big financial leap. 00:05:05.33\00:05:09.30 I believe somebody is going to make a big professional leap. 00:05:10.51\00:05:13.91 I believe somebody is going to make a forgiveness leap. 00:05:15.11\00:05:18.08 I believe somebody 00:05:18.58\00:05:19.95 is going to make a leap in their healing today. 00:05:19.98\00:05:23.39 And if Jesus comes, we are going to make a 00:05:24.35\00:05:26.39 so nothing leap as we are bound from this earth to eternity. 00:05:26.42\00:05:31.86 But no matter what the leap, it ought to be a year of progress. 00:05:33.13\00:05:35.60 Are you with me today? 00:05:36.16\00:05:37.23 And the thing I want to say is that a leap 00:05:37.27\00:05:40.54 year doesn't begin with what you have. 00:05:40.57\00:05:44.11 A leap year begins with what you believe. 00:05:45.04\00:05:48.01 And friends, let me take a moment because I 00:05:48.98\00:05:51.95 am consistently astounded by what we don't believe. 00:05:51.98\00:05:57.89 Because 00:05:59.52\00:06:00.39 some of us have into sensory faith 00:06:00.42\00:06:02.92 so that we believe certain things are possible for others. 00:06:04.09\00:06:07.96 But we don't believe that it's possible for us. 00:06:08.96\00:06:11.37 Most of us don't really believe 00:06:12.37\00:06:15.17 we can experience spiritual breakthrough. 00:06:15.20\00:06:18.11 Most of us don't really believe 00:06:19.71\00:06:22.48 we can receive the Holy Ghost in its entirety. 00:06:23.51\00:06:26.21 Most of us don't really believe 00:06:27.08\00:06:29.32 we can be the head and not the tail. 00:06:29.35\00:06:32.12 Most of us don't really believe 00:06:32.82\00:06:35.46 for divine healing in our bodies. 00:06:35.49\00:06:38.13 Most of us don't really believe 00:06:38.83\00:06:41.06 that even though we are the Church of Prophecy. 00:06:42.10\00:06:44.00 We don't really believe in visions and dreams in our time. 00:06:45.17\00:06:48.74 And the reason Church certain things never become 00:06:49.84\00:06:53.38 is because we don't really believe. 00:06:54.14\00:06:56.51 And let me be clear 00:06:57.05\00:06:58.21 that when we talk about faith, faith is not a noun. 00:06:58.25\00:07:02.28 Faith is a verb. 00:07:02.32\00:07:03.85 It is not something you possess. 00:07:04.85\00:07:07.02 It is something you demonstrate. 00:07:07.06\00:07:09.12 In other words, church faith is not a meditation. 00:07:09.16\00:07:12.76 It's a muscle. 00:07:12.79\00:07:14.56 It is something that has to be employed 00:07:14.60\00:07:17.07 and put into work in order for it to grow. 00:07:17.10\00:07:20.50 And I just want to say, Church, of all the leads 00:07:21.50\00:07:23.41 that we need to take this year, 00:07:24.11\00:07:25.67 the first leap that we all need to take 00:07:26.51\00:07:28.54 is we need to take a leap in the area of our faith. 00:07:29.68\00:07:32.68 If you believe it, let me hear you say, man, 00:07:33.68\00:07:34.75 if hey, let me say it this way. 00:07:35.45\00:07:36.75 I remember when my kids were a little younger. 00:07:36.79\00:07:39.29 We were at our neighborhood swimming pool. 00:07:39.32\00:07:41.82 Malcolm And as long as I was in the shallow end, waist high, 00:07:41.86\00:07:46.26 my kids, without thought would jump cannonball 00:07:47.23\00:07:49.63 into my arms in the shallow end of the water. 00:07:49.66\00:07:53.03 But after a while say I would go into the deep end, 00:07:54.17\00:07:56.77 where it was about five foot, 00:07:57.47\00:07:58.57 where they could not stand on their own, 00:07:58.61\00:08:01.21 and they would have to trust me to catch them. 00:08:02.18\00:08:03.81 And so I would invite my oldest son to leap in the water. 00:08:04.98\00:08:07.42 But he began to act tentative 00:08:08.12\00:08:09.65 and he would try to hold on to the earth and hold on to me 00:08:09.68\00:08:13.49 at the same time. 00:08:13.52\00:08:14.86 But that's why God bless his dad is with daughters. 00:08:14.89\00:08:17.76 They are here in the past as the day. 00:08:17.79\00:08:19.66 And so I told my daughter to jump into the water 00:08:19.69\00:08:22.86 and she went all the way back to the fence 00:08:23.83\00:08:25.67 to get as much runway as she could. 00:08:26.53\00:08:28.54 And she came and didn't slow down at the end, 00:08:29.47\00:08:31.97 but she made a cannonball into the arms of her daddy. 00:08:33.14\00:08:35.71 And once she got out, she began to chasten her older brother. 00:08:36.95\00:08:39.65 She says, What were you afraid of? 00:08:40.42\00:08:42.05 Even though it's the deep end that is taller than the deep 00:08:43.28\00:08:45.75 end, and also Daddy strong enough to catch us. 00:08:45.79\00:08:49.62 And guess what? Daddy ain't never let us fall. 00:08:50.59\00:08:52.53 Y'all not here with me today. 00:08:52.56\00:08:54.46 And what I'm saying to somebody today is that it's time 00:08:54.50\00:08:58.00 for you to jump into the deep end of faith. 00:08:58.03\00:09:00.87 But the good news is that your daddy is taller than 00:09:01.97\00:09:04.54 the deep end. 00:09:04.57\00:09:05.87 Your daddy is strong enough to catch you. 00:09:05.91\00:09:08.61 And do I have a witness, though? 00:09:09.31\00:09:10.21 Daddy has never let you fall. 00:09:10.25\00:09:12.48 And so somebody needs to let go of the edge 00:09:13.48\00:09:16.18 and take a leap of faith in Jesus. 00:09:16.95\00:09:19.99 I hear me today, church. 00:09:20.56\00:09:21.42 And so 00:09:22.82\00:09:23.73 today, as we go back to Acts Chapter 14, 00:09:23.76\00:09:26.43 I want you to know that this text, though brief, 00:09:27.50\00:09:29.66 is dense with powerful and spiritual application. 00:09:30.73\00:09:33.80 And the first thing it teaches is that faith 00:09:34.80\00:09:37.57 is the only thing that made him stand out. 00:09:37.61\00:09:41.58 Let me say it again, that the only thing that makes him 00:09:42.78\00:09:45.75 and makes us stand out is the power of faith. 00:09:46.68\00:09:49.92 Now, understand, friends. 00:09:50.55\00:09:52.19 We find the apostles ministering here in the city of Lystra. 00:09:52.22\00:09:56.89 Now, the reason they wind up there is 00:09:57.76\00:10:00.10 because the persecution in Iconium was so great 00:10:00.13\00:10:03.63 that they had to migrate there in order to escape it. 00:10:04.77\00:10:07.97 And then this moment, 00:10:08.54\00:10:09.50 it is not obvious where Paul is preaching. 00:10:09.54\00:10:12.77 Maybe Paul is in an open square. 00:10:13.48\00:10:15.94 Perhaps he is in someone's residence. 00:10:16.78\00:10:18.91 Maybe Paul is in a local temple. 00:10:19.61\00:10:21.78 But the one thing that is obvious 00:10:22.62\00:10:24.12 is that, as Paul preaches, the Holy Ghost has come upon him 00:10:25.29\00:10:29.02 and understand that this territory 00:10:29.86\00:10:31.93 is not what you would consider fertile, are comfortable 00:10:33.09\00:10:35.53 territory for the gospel to grow for in the city of life. 00:10:35.56\00:10:40.07 Sure. 00:10:40.10\00:10:40.97 You've got an eclectic mix of beliefs. 00:10:41.00\00:10:43.71 So you've got hardened, unbelieving Jews 00:10:44.57\00:10:47.01 who are dispersed 00:10:47.51\00:10:48.68 among the Greek religions and superstitions of the day. 00:10:48.71\00:10:52.61 And even though this is not an ideal place for the gospel 00:10:53.85\00:10:57.32 to grow, the Holy Ghost begins to cause the room to swell. 00:10:57.35\00:11:02.39 As God gives Paul 00:11:02.89\00:11:04.66 a unique ability to preach the gospel that day. 00:11:04.69\00:11:08.26 And friends among the hearers is a man 00:11:09.16\00:11:12.87 that the Bible says is in a sitting position, 00:11:12.90\00:11:17.64 and he has been crippled from his mother's womb and friends. 00:11:17.67\00:11:22.28 Isn't it completely fortuitous that a crippled man who cannot 00:11:22.31\00:11:27.95 walk winds up in a service where Paul is preaching? 00:11:27.98\00:11:32.42 Now, Prince, I 00:11:33.49\00:11:34.46 don't know if this is the service he chose 00:11:34.49\00:11:38.23 or if he got just stuck in the service. 00:11:39.13\00:11:41.66 In other words, maybe there are some 00:11:42.53\00:11:44.60 who migrate toward the exit, but because he cannot walk, 00:11:45.80\00:11:49.37 he is unable to get out of the door. 00:11:50.17\00:11:52.61 And so I don't know if 00:11:53.17\00:11:54.58 he chose the service or if the service chose him. 00:11:54.61\00:11:58.25 Is he friends of mine? 00:11:59.08\00:12:00.48 Do I have a witness that sometimes the services 00:12:00.52\00:12:03.65 you try to escape are the ones you need? 00:12:03.69\00:12:06.15 The most? 00:12:06.19\00:12:07.52 Oh, y'all brand new with me today? 00:12:08.36\00:12:09.22 I do have a witness that was raised by 00:12:09.26\00:12:11.39 some of those old school parents where you didn't get to decide 00:12:11.43\00:12:14.66 whether or not you wanted to go to church. 00:12:14.73\00:12:16.80 They decided on your behalf you were going to church. 00:12:17.97\00:12:21.27 That that sometimes you got blessed at the program. 00:12:22.34\00:12:25.01 You didn't want to attend, but. 00:12:25.71\00:12:26.68 So kids had to sing. 00:12:26.71\00:12:28.24 Y'all not going to be real with me today. 00:12:28.28\00:12:30.48 And they put your 00:12:30.51\00:12:31.71 kids at the end of the program so you couldn't leave early. 00:12:31.75\00:12:34.75 And that's where you got your blessing. 00:12:35.65\00:12:37.69 And see, one of the things I've learned, 00:12:38.55\00:12:39.85 Church, is to not protest certain services, 00:12:39.89\00:12:43.76 because what I've seen is that the services I resisted 00:12:44.86\00:12:48.13 the most were the services where I got blessed the best. 00:12:48.16\00:12:51.87 I see sometimes the devil puts a resistance in your heart 00:12:53.07\00:12:57.04 to keep you from receiving 00:12:57.67\00:13:00.18 what God had in store for you. 00:13:01.64\00:13:03.68 Y'all with me today? Church. 00:13:04.35\00:13:05.55 And so you understand that as Paul begins to preach the word. 00:13:05.58\00:13:11.12 I don't know if y'all caught it. 00:13:11.82\00:13:12.89 There is something as he notices and executes 00:13:12.92\00:13:16.32 his office audience as speakers do. 00:13:16.36\00:13:19.16 There is something about the man that Paul says, Man, 00:13:20.23\00:13:23.87 this brother has the faith to be healed. 00:13:24.80\00:13:27.74 Now, when you read Acts of the Apostles, 00:13:28.67\00:13:31.01 it actually gives us an insight into Paul's sermon 00:13:32.04\00:13:34.81 manuscript this day and Acts of the Apostle. 00:13:35.74\00:13:37.88 She says that as Paul begins to preach, 00:13:37.91\00:13:40.48 he starts with the story 00:13:41.05\00:13:42.15 of creation, and he lets these superstitious men know 00:13:42.18\00:13:46.02 that God is the creator of the heavens and the Earth. 00:13:47.19\00:13:49.76 He makes it clear 00:13:50.26\00:13:51.39 that God is the architect of every snowcapped mountain 00:13:51.43\00:13:54.76 and God is the contractor for every flower filled valley. 00:13:55.93\00:13:59.30 And he lets them know that the systems of Earth 00:14:00.44\00:14:02.64 have no mind or will of their own, 00:14:03.47\00:14:05.67 but they execute the will of the God that created them. 00:14:06.88\00:14:09.74 And then Paul shifts into God as a provider, 00:14:10.68\00:14:13.68 and he preaches that God opens his hand 00:14:14.55\00:14:16.69 and supplies the desire of every living creature. 00:14:17.79\00:14:20.36 Then He begins to preach about the prophecies of the Messiah, 00:14:21.62\00:14:24.56 and he points out how the services of the Sanctuary 00:14:25.69\00:14:28.10 were a little play of what the Messiah would do. 00:14:29.16\00:14:30.97 But then the sermon hits his peak 00:14:31.70\00:14:33.47 as he talks about the life of Jesus. 00:14:34.27\00:14:36.37 He begins to preach how he was born as a babe in Bethlehem, 00:14:37.61\00:14:40.98 how he walked among men, and how he lived as a miracle worker. 00:14:42.21\00:14:45.85 And he began to preach in this man's hearing 00:14:46.85\00:14:48.72 how Jesus of Nazareth 00:14:49.28\00:14:50.89 was able to give the blind their sight, the deaf, 00:14:50.92\00:14:54.36 their hearing, and the cripple would get up and walk. 00:14:54.39\00:14:57.63 And as the man listened to preach, 00:14:58.46\00:15:01.46 that was something that detonated inside of his soul. 00:15:01.50\00:15:05.60 That was something so great on the man that Paul could see 00:15:06.84\00:15:11.01 that the man had faith to be healed. 00:15:12.41\00:15:14.91 Now, church, 00:15:15.54\00:15:16.58 let me slow it down because I need you to get this. 00:15:16.61\00:15:19.15 The only thing that distinguished the man was 00:15:20.15\00:15:24.15 his faith. Okay. 00:15:24.19\00:15:26.42 In other words, the man was not more moving. 00:15:27.69\00:15:30.93 He was not more righteous. 00:15:31.56\00:15:33.46 He was not more deserving. 00:15:34.10\00:15:36.00 He was just more believing. 00:15:36.67\00:15:38.87 Okay. 00:15:40.20\00:15:40.97 In other words, the only distinctive thing 00:15:41.94\00:15:44.01 about this man is that he believed for it. 00:15:44.04\00:15:50.35 Okay. 00:15:51.08\00:15:51.88 See, I'm trying to wake somebody up today 00:15:52.75\00:15:54.35 because there is somebody that is in need of a miracle. 00:15:55.55\00:15:59.05 And the only pre-condition is 00:15:59.75\00:16:02.99 that you believe God for it. 00:16:03.02\00:16:05.56 Okay. 00:16:07.03\00:16:07.76 See, Hebrews 11 six says that without faith, 00:16:08.70\00:16:12.00 it is impossible to please God. 00:16:12.80\00:16:15.00 But He that comes to God must believe that He is, 00:16:16.00\00:16:19.21 and that He is a reward of them that diligently seek him. 00:16:20.38\00:16:23.51 In other words, freeze. 00:16:24.08\00:16:24.95 If you believe it, 00:16:24.98\00:16:27.28 then you are 00:16:28.25\00:16:28.78 qualified to receive it. 00:16:28.82\00:16:30.95 Oh. You're not going to wake up in a minute. 00:16:31.89\00:16:33.96 And the reason I'm saying this is because there is something 00:16:35.22\00:16:38.36 about us as people that loves to add 00:16:39.23\00:16:42.70 merit requirements 00:16:42.73\00:16:44.77 and stipulations to the blessings of God, 00:16:44.80\00:16:47.94 that the Scriptures have not put there. 00:16:48.87\00:16:50.57 Notice that there was no morality clause in the miracle. 00:16:51.71\00:16:56.14 Oh, God, no, no. 00:16:56.95\00:16:59.08 That this brother in the temple this day, he probably serves 00:16:59.11\00:17:03.35 another deity. 00:17:03.39\00:17:04.99 He has never kept a Sabbath day. 00:17:05.02\00:17:07.49 He is never given tithes and offering. 00:17:08.39\00:17:10.29 And even if he's a Jew, he doesn't believe on Jesus. 00:17:11.43\00:17:14.66 And He has not received the Holy Ghost. 00:17:15.53\00:17:17.33 So that the miracle is not about what he earned. 00:17:18.33\00:17:21.14 It's not about what he deserved. 00:17:21.84\00:17:23.37 It's completely about what he believed 00:17:24.27\00:17:26.57 and see. 00:17:27.58\00:17:27.98 Friends of mine. 00:17:28.01\00:17:29.08 This is why understanding the truth is so critical 00:17:29.11\00:17:32.35 to your faith. 00:17:32.38\00:17:33.42 Because some of us listening today have literally 00:17:33.45\00:17:36.99 made ourselves ineligible for miracles. 00:17:37.02\00:17:41.22 Because you have called the belief 00:17:41.99\00:17:44.03 that says I'm not deserving enough 00:17:44.86\00:17:47.60 or worthy enough of the blessings of God. 00:17:48.46\00:17:51.53 But friends, when you look at the word, 00:17:52.43\00:17:54.47 miracles are not given to the deserving. 00:17:55.40\00:17:57.91 Miracles are given to the believing. 00:17:58.77\00:18:01.08 Okay, let. 00:18:02.28\00:18:03.71 Let's look at the word. 00:18:03.75\00:18:05.18 Remember that Jesus did a miracle 00:18:05.21\00:18:08.32 for a pagan bloody centurion. Why? 00:18:09.15\00:18:11.72 Because the man had enough faith 00:18:12.42\00:18:13.86 that when Jesus was on his way to his house, 00:18:14.86\00:18:16.66 he says, Don't even come all the way to the house. 00:18:17.76\00:18:19.86 Just speak the word. 00:18:20.40\00:18:21.86 And I know that my servant will be healed. 00:18:21.90\00:18:24.53 Jesus did a miracle for a witchcraft, Saracen. 00:18:25.57\00:18:29.37 Decent woman 00:18:29.40\00:18:30.51 whose daughter was filled with the devil, 00:18:30.54\00:18:32.64 for even when Jesus said, I can't give the 00:18:33.61\00:18:35.64 bread to the dogs, but she had the faith to say 00:18:36.68\00:18:39.45 that even the dogs get the crumbs 00:18:40.25\00:18:41.72 that fall from the master's table. 00:18:42.55\00:18:44.12 Jesus did a miracle for a man filled with a legion 00:18:45.22\00:18:48.82 of demons. Why? 00:18:48.86\00:18:50.46 Because miracles are not given to the deserving, 00:18:50.49\00:18:54.20 but assigned to the believing. 00:18:54.86\00:18:57.53 And she prays. 00:18:57.97\00:18:58.50 Let me just say this, 00:18:58.53\00:18:59.63 because some of y'all going to hear something 00:18:59.67\00:19:01.24 that I'm not saying. 00:19:01.27\00:19:02.34 This is not an endorsement or presumptuous saying. 00:19:02.37\00:19:05.51 I'm not saying that you don't need to walk out rightly. 00:19:06.71\00:19:08.81 But I need 00:19:09.18\00:19:10.35 somebody to understand that if God bless the Canaanite, 00:19:10.38\00:19:13.38 if God can bless our pagan centurion, 00:19:14.25\00:19:16.05 if God can bless a demon possessed man, 00:19:16.89\00:19:18.85 then God bless his own children that walk with him 00:19:19.89\00:19:22.89 every single day of your life. 00:19:23.59\00:19:28.56 As the problem is, we have this merit based morality 00:19:28.60\00:19:32.30 that says, I've got to get to a certain level 00:19:33.30\00:19:35.70 before I can ask something from God. 00:19:36.57\00:19:39.17 Man, that's some insanity. 00:19:39.21\00:19:41.84 What Bible are you reading that says, I got to 00:19:42.81\00:19:45.91 be on a certain level 00:19:45.95\00:19:47.72 to be blessed by God. 00:19:48.75\00:19:50.72 It's just like somebody other day, my God, from somebody, 00:19:50.75\00:19:52.99 some brothers who are saying, you know, to get a gym 00:19:54.12\00:19:55.26 in the new year, a gym membership. 00:19:55.29\00:19:57.63 And they were like, well, 00:19:58.26\00:19:59.23 I'm going to lose a certain amount of weight 00:19:59.26\00:20:00.33 before I start the gym and I want to get a certain 00:20:00.36\00:20:02.36 amount of muscle before I start the gym. 00:20:02.40\00:20:04.47 And I says, Man, I don't want a membership at a gym 00:20:04.50\00:20:07.50 where I got to audition to be a member. 00:20:08.37\00:20:10.47 In other words, they're saying, I got to get to a certain level 00:20:11.74\00:20:13.94 before I even go to the gym. 00:20:14.61\00:20:16.68 But you don't get to a certain level in order to go to the gym. 00:20:16.71\00:20:20.72 You go to the gym in order to reach a certain level. 00:20:21.85\00:20:24.65 And some of us approach God the same way. 00:20:25.62\00:20:28.02 Well, we feel like I've got to get to 00:20:28.86\00:20:30.46 a certain tier of righteousness before I can trust God. 00:20:30.49\00:20:34.23 But you just got to come as you are. 00:20:35.10\00:20:40.37 And what's gonna take you to the next level 00:20:40.40\00:20:43.14 and see friends of mine? 00:20:43.84\00:20:45.01 This truth is worth celebrating, because there is a parallel 00:20:45.04\00:20:48.64 between the miracle and our salvation. 00:20:49.54\00:20:51.05 Because how many of us know the same criteria for the miracle 00:20:52.28\00:20:54.62 is the same criteria for our salvation. 00:20:55.72\00:20:58.09 Oh, God. 00:20:58.85\00:21:00.42 No, no, no, no. 00:21:01.72\00:21:02.52 The same criteria for the miracle 00:21:02.56\00:21:04.59 is the same criteria for our salvation. 00:21:04.63\00:21:07.10 How many of us know that we are not saved by how we behave? 00:21:08.26\00:21:10.10 We are saved by what we believe and see. 00:21:10.97\00:21:14.34 Friends of mine. 00:21:14.37\00:21:15.20 The only prerequisite for salvation 00:21:15.24\00:21:18.37 is to simply believe in the death, the burial 00:21:19.31\00:21:22.24 and the resurrection 00:21:22.28\00:21:24.45 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:25.25\00:21:27.55 That's why the Bible says it is by grace. 00:21:27.58\00:21:29.78 Well, am I preaching to you today? 00:21:30.72\00:21:32.75 It is my grace that you are saying through faith. 00:21:32.79\00:21:36.26 It is the gift of God, not of works less. 00:21:37.19\00:21:40.23 Any of you should bows. 00:21:40.26\00:21:42.66 So. So you know what salvation is? 00:21:43.60\00:21:46.03 Salvation is not a verdict 00:21:46.07\00:21:49.00 where you're declared not guilty. 00:21:49.84\00:21:52.11 Salvation is not a not guilty verdict. 00:21:53.34\00:21:55.74 Salvation is a pardon. 00:21:56.31\00:21:58.71 No, no, no, no, no. 00:22:00.68\00:22:01.88 See, salvation doesn't mean you didn't do it. 00:22:01.92\00:22:04.29 Salvation is a pardon. All right, let me. 00:22:05.22\00:22:07.12 Let me bring it up to speed. 00:22:07.79\00:22:08.82 We were a few weeks ago, Joe Biden pardoned. 00:22:08.86\00:22:13.19 He pardoned his son. 00:22:13.23\00:22:15.60 Now, the pardon is not saying he didn't do it. 00:22:15.63\00:22:18.83 The pardon is simply saying, I've got the authority 00:22:19.93\00:22:22.44 to not leave him 00:22:24.07\00:22:25.87 in the hands of my enemies, 00:22:25.91\00:22:28.18 but because he's my son, I'm going to commute the sentence 00:22:29.41\00:22:35.58 so that he don't suffer the punishment 00:22:36.42\00:22:38.69 that. 00:22:39.72\00:22:41.36 Can I suggest we haven't been declared not guilty? 00:22:42.56\00:22:46.49 We got a pardon because he's got the authority 00:22:46.53\00:22:51.03 and he says, I can't leave y'all in the hands of my enemy. 00:22:52.20\00:22:56.50 So I'm going to commute the sentence 00:22:57.37\00:22:59.67 and you simply receive it by faith. 00:23:00.61\00:23:04.45 Are you here in the word today, friends? 00:23:05.38\00:23:08.75 Second thing. 00:23:11.52\00:23:13.02 Secondly, this story teaches 00:23:13.69\00:23:16.09 because faith looks a certain way. 00:23:16.12\00:23:18.26 Faith is focused 00:23:18.69\00:23:20.96 as Paul notices the man. 00:23:23.10\00:23:25.97 He's not just noticing him in a vacuum. 00:23:26.97\00:23:29.20 He's noticing him in the context of the rest of the crap. 00:23:29.24\00:23:31.97 So just like it is when you're preaching, Paul probably notices 00:23:33.21\00:23:35.61 that there are some that are attentive in some parts 00:23:36.68\00:23:38.71 and inattentive in other parts. 00:23:38.75\00:23:41.02 He can see that there are some of them 00:23:41.05\00:23:42.58 who are literally digesting parts of the word and discarding 00:23:42.62\00:23:45.92 other parts. 00:23:45.95\00:23:47.06 There are some that are literally watching their clock. 00:23:47.09\00:23:49.76 The entirety of the sermon. 00:23:50.43\00:23:51.89 There are some of them, while the word is being preached, 00:23:53.13\00:23:54.63 that they are preoccupied 00:23:55.26\00:23:56.53 with what's happening on Instagram or Facebook. 00:23:56.56\00:23:59.37 And literally there is a miracle moment 00:24:00.37\00:24:02.14 happening in front of them. 00:24:02.80\00:24:03.97 But they're so focused on what they go eat at the church 00:24:04.01\00:24:07.41 and what's going to happen at sunset, and who's 00:24:07.44\00:24:10.58 sitting next to whom and who just broke up with each other 00:24:10.61\00:24:14.42 that they are 00:24:16.69\00:24:17.69 missing healing power 00:24:17.72\00:24:20.66 that is present inside of the room. 00:24:22.22\00:24:25.23 Now, it's interesting because the scholars 00:24:26.19\00:24:27.30 are literally trying to surmise what it is that Paul sees 00:24:27.36\00:24:31.17 that says that this man has the faith to be healed. 00:24:32.30\00:24:35.07 And one scholar says the way they know the man has faith 00:24:36.27\00:24:38.47 is because that brother is focused in the word. 00:24:39.47\00:24:41.81 So that when Paul is preaching and somebody comes 00:24:43.41\00:24:46.58 with some gossip in his ear, he's suing them away. 00:24:46.61\00:24:49.15 When the word is being spoken 00:24:50.12\00:24:52.12 and a loud noise is made in the back, 00:24:52.15\00:24:54.29 he don't even turn around to see what's going on. 00:24:54.32\00:24:56.79 While the word is being spoken and somebody sits 00:24:57.86\00:25:00.86 in front of him. 00:25:00.90\00:25:02.06 He doesn't get an attitude, but he simply repositions himself 00:25:02.10\00:25:05.60 so that he can get every word 00:25:06.30\00:25:07.84 that falls from the mouth of the apostle that day. 00:25:07.87\00:25:11.34 And the one thing about this man 00:25:12.04\00:25:13.61 is he's not going to let any variable, any stimulate 00:25:13.64\00:25:16.85 any conversation into our conflict 00:25:17.68\00:25:19.71 in our church drama, distract him from hearing 00:25:20.68\00:25:24.62 what God is trying to say to him. 00:25:26.02\00:25:28.06 And one of the things I've come to believe, Church, 00:25:29.19\00:25:31.23 is that if spiritually you don't have a leap year, 00:25:32.33\00:25:35.30 you've got to have a faith that is focused. 00:25:36.26\00:25:41.74 Thank you for joining us for The Breath of Life 00:25:42.70\00:25:44.47 Television Ministries Broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell. 00:25:44.51\00:25:48.41 We hope and pray that you've been blessed 00:25:49.28\00:25:51.75 by this powerful message. 00:25:52.38\00:25:55.08 Join us next week for part two of “Faith 00:25:55.12\00:25:59.25 Looks A Certain Way.” 00:25:59.85\00:26:02.32 You don't want to miss it. 00:26:02.36\00:26:04.53 Hello, I'm Pastor 00:26:04.56\00:26:06.46 Snell, speaker\director for The Breath of Life 00:26:06.49\00:26:08.93 Television Ministry. 00:26:08.96\00:26:10.33 This ministry was established to take the gospel of Jesus 00:26:10.37\00:26:13.94 Christ throughout North America and across the globe. 00:26:13.97\00:26:17.67 My goal is to make Jesus Christ 00:26:18.37\00:26:21.01 known through the preaching of the word. 00:26:21.94\00:26:23.71 I need you to know that we need your financial partnership 00:26:24.88\00:26:27.42 in order to make sure that the Gospel can go into every hill, 00:26:28.68\00:26:32.32 into every rural county, and into every inner city. 00:26:33.42\00:26:36.02 And we can only take the gospel as far as the gifts 00:26:37.09\00:26:40.30 that you lend to us. 00:26:40.33\00:26:42.00 We thank you for your financial partnership in the past, 00:26:42.03\00:26:45.37 and I'm asking 00:26:45.80\00:26:46.94 that you will continue to be a financial partner 00:26:46.97\00:26:49.67 with this ministry going forward. 00:26:50.47\00:26:52.01 Here are some ways you can give. 00:26:52.04\00:26:54.54 You can give online at our website 00:26:54.58\00:26:56.68 at www.breathofLife.TV. 00:26:57.25\00:26:59.45 You can send your gift by mail to Breath of Life. 00:27:00.58\00:27:02.62 P.O. 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