Hello and welcome to
Foundation of Our Faith,
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a Dare to Dream
production here at 3ABN.
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I'm John Lomacang,
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and allow me to welcome you
to a dynamic production today.
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Our speaker for this message
is Dr. Morgan M. Medlock,
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well qualified educationally
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but what I'm impressed with more
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is her spiritual tenacity
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and the way
that God has used her
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to handle the scriptures.
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Dr. Medlock
graduated from Oakwood College,
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now Oakwood University in 2007
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and with a degree in
biology and pre-medicine.
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She later went on
to Andrews University
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to complete MDiv degree in 2011,
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then afterward completed a
Doctorate of Medicine degree
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at the Mayo Clinic
College of Medicine in 2013.
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As you listen to
her message today,
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stretched and strengthened,
you will be impressed
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not just by her
educational achievements,
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but by her
connection with the Lord.
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Before she comes,
our minister of music,
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Jason Bulgin, is
going to bless us
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with a song
entitled "Sweetest name".
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He is a native
of Toronto, Canada,
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a man who
desires to live his life
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on purpose and uplift Jesus.
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After he sings,
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the next voice
that you will hear
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would be that of
Dr. Morgan M. Medlock
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It was
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Your words
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That calm storm
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Few raging winds
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I am still secure
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You shall turn the rain,
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took away the pain
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Jesus is the sweetest name
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My melody
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Is sympathizing Jesus
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Who understands
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and heals my deepest pain
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Your love for me
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has made a change in me
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Jesus is the sweetest name
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The sweetest name I know
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In sickness and health
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You're by my side
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Without Your grace
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I would've died
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I am grateful to You
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Your love pulled me through
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And Jesus is the sweetest name
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My melody
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Is sympathizing Jesus
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Who understands
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and heals my deepest pain
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Your love for me
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Has made a change in me
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Jesus is the sweetest name
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My melody He's a man
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Who walked on water
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He stretched out His hands
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To save my sinking soul
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Breathe into me new life
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A joy, I can't explain
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Jesus is the sweetest name
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The sweetest name I know
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He is,
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He is I know that
He is the sweetest name
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I know He is,
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He is My Jesus
is the sweetest name
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I know He is,
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He is I know that
He is the sweetest name
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I know He is,
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He is My Jesus
is the sweetest name
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I know He is,
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He is I know that
He is the sweetest name
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I know He is,
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He is My Jesus
is the sweetest name
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I know
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Amen, amen, and amen again.
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Jesus is
certainly the sweetest name
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that we have and
that we can call upon.
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How many are thankful for Jesus?
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The Bible says that
there is no other name
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given among men
whereby we can be saved.
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His name is the greatest name,
for Paul says in Philippians 2
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that God has highly exalted him
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and given him a name
that is above every name.
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Somebody said that
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when you just call on that name,
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your situation begins to change.
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So I don't know about you
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but I'm
thankful for Jesus today.
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I'm so excited
to be with you today
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to share the Word of God
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and to share the
love of Jesus Christ.
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I want to invite you to
turn with me in your Bibles
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to the Book of Luke 6
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and we will consider today
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for our sermonic
focus verses 1-11.
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Luke 6:1-11.
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Reading from the
New King James Version,
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the Bible says,
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"Now it happened
on the second Sabbath
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after the first
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that He went
through the grain fields.
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And His disciples
plucked the heads of grain
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and ate them,
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rubbing them in their hands.
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And some of the
Pharisees said to them,
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'Why are you doing
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what is not lawful
to do on the Sabbath?'
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But Jesus answering them said,
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'Have you not read this,
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what David did
when he was hungry,
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he and those who were with him,
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how he went into
the house of God,
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took and ate the showbread,
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and also gave
some to those with him,
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which is not lawful for
any but the priests to eat?'
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And He said to them,
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'The Son of Man is
also Lord of the Sabbath.'
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"I love that."
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Now it happened on
another Sabbath, also,
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that He entered the
synagogue and taught.
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And a man was there
whose right hand was withered.
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So the scribes and
Pharisees watched Him closely,
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whether He would
heal on the Sabbath,
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that they might find
an accusation against Him.
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But He knew their thoughts,
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and said to the man
who had the withered hand,
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'Arise and stand here.'
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And he arose and stood.
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Then Jesus said to them,
'I will ask you one thing.
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Is it lawful on the Sabbath
to do good or to do evil,
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to save life or to destroy?'
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And when He had
looked around at them all,
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He said to the man,
'Stretch out your hand.'
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And he did so,
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and his hand was
restored as whole as the other.
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But they were filled with rage,
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and discussed with one another
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what they might do to Jesus."
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I want to read for us
again verse 10 of this passage
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which is our
sermonic focus today,
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"And when He had
looked around at them all,
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He said to the man,
'Stretch out your hand.'
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And he did so,
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and his hand was
restored as whole as the other."
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Today I want to
consider with you
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the subject
stretched and strengthened,
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stretched and strengthened.
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Let us pray,
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Father, into Your hands
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I commit my
spirit in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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In June, 2016
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the world lost a man
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who many consider
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one of the greatest
athletes of all time,
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Muhammad Ali.
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More than an athlete, he
was an activist, a leader,
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and a motivator.
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It was considered
by many to be great
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both inside and
outside the sports arena.
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My father loved Muhammad Ali
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and when I visited
him a few months ago,
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I noticed that
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he had purchased
several magazines
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which paid tribute to this man.
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In these
tributes there were quotes
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from close
friends, and relatives,
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and each of these
narratives provided
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a behind the scenes glimpse
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of what this mighty
champion was really like.
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His views on war and
religion, and politics
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as well as other topics
dear to his heart were shared.
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And as I read
these firsthand accounts
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of those he had impacted,
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it was clear that
this man had lived
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a very meaningful life.
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Reading Ali's tribute
made me think about another man
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who despite never gracing
the cover of sports illustrated
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nor being selected
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as Time magazine's
person of the year.
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I can say confidently
today that He is truly
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the greatest of all time.
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I'm talking about Jesus Christ.
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Jesus is the
greatest of all time
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because to Him belongs
the greatest comeback story
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in all of history.
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If you haven't heard that story,
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I came to tell you that
Jesus was crucified on a Friday,
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and He
resurrected Himself on Sunday.
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You see, Jesus is
the external champion.
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Now Jesus tribute is
found in the gospels.
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Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John share a firsthand account
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of the amazing
things Jesus accomplished.
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Jesus healed the
sick and raised the dead,
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Jesus closed funeral
homes, Jesus ended pity parties,
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Jesus was powerful.
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And the Gospel of Luke
is one of my favorite books
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because it's unique, in
that Luke gives us a glimpse
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of Jesus' life
behind the scenes.
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You know, you never
know what people are like
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until you can get
a firsthand account
00:11:57.48\00:12:00.12
of somebody who knew
them and walk with them.
00:12:00.15\00:12:02.38
And so Luke tells us
what Jesus was really like.
00:12:02.42\00:12:06.22
He says that Luke is not only...
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Luke in his book
is not only concerned
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with Jesus' power,
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he's concerned with
what made Jesus powerful.
00:12:11.63\00:12:14.80
Luke pulls back the
curtain and shows us
00:12:14.83\00:12:17.63
that Jesus power was not random.
00:12:17.67\00:12:20.64
You see, Jesus was serious
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about nurturing His relationship
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with His Father.
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Luke reveals,
unlike any other book,
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how much Jesus enjoyed
spending time with His Father,
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how much Jesus
enjoyed attending church
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and studying the word,
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how much He spent times
seeking the will of His Father.
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We see Jesus healing by day,
00:12:41.46\00:12:43.93
but Luke tells us that
He also prayed all night.
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And I wonder what would
happen among God's people
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if we spend time in prayer.
00:12:50.70\00:12:54.00
You see, never would Jesus say,
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"I'm spiritual but
I'm not religious."
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No, that's not
the message of Luke.
00:12:59.27\00:13:01.38
Luke lets us know
that Jesus loved religion.
00:13:01.41\00:13:04.68
In fact, it was His
custom to enter the synagogue,
00:13:04.71\00:13:08.65
another word for the
church, on the Sabbath day,
00:13:08.68\00:13:11.39
were told in Luke 4:16.
00:13:11.42\00:13:15.12
Now because Jesus valued,
worshiping on the Sabbath day,
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which by the way is the
day He established and blessed.
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And that day He spends
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from Friday sunset
to Saturday sunset,
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it appears that
because Jesus was so interested
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in keeping this day holy
00:13:29.70\00:13:31.74
that He
developed a triage system
00:13:31.77\00:13:34.54
for determining how to
manage healthcare needs
00:13:34.58\00:13:37.71
that might arise on the Sabbath.
00:13:37.75\00:13:40.45
I find in the gospels
that for those with mild
00:13:40.48\00:13:43.18
to moderate diseases,
00:13:43.22\00:13:44.69
Jesus had a sunset
clinic, have mercy.
00:13:44.72\00:13:48.26
We are told in Mark 1:32
that after sunset on Sabbath,
00:13:48.29\00:13:52.96
the crowd had become accustomed
00:13:52.99\00:13:55.60
to bringing to Him all
00:13:55.63\00:13:57.17
who were sick and
possessed with demons
00:13:57.20\00:13:59.97
and Jesus healed them all.
00:14:00.00\00:14:02.17
You see that you understood
that Jesus was powerful
00:14:02.20\00:14:04.87
than the enemy,
00:14:04.91\00:14:06.24
but for the most severe cases
00:14:06.27\00:14:08.31
I find that Jesus took time
00:14:08.34\00:14:10.85
not to wait until
sunset to heal these people,
00:14:10.88\00:14:13.72
He provided emergency services.
00:14:13.75\00:14:17.52
You see, on the Sabbath
day we find Jesus healing
00:14:17.55\00:14:20.22
the most severe cases.
00:14:20.26\00:14:21.82
He healed a man
who was born blind,
00:14:21.86\00:14:24.93
He healed a woman who had
an infirmity for 18 years.
00:14:24.96\00:14:29.96
He healed a man
with an evil spirit
00:14:30.00\00:14:32.47
on the Sabbath day.
00:14:32.50\00:14:34.50
And so my question today is,
00:14:34.54\00:14:36.50
are there any
severe cases today,
00:14:36.54\00:14:38.91
I want to let you know that
Jesus emergency room is open.
00:14:38.94\00:14:43.61
You see, Jesus Sabbath miracles
00:14:43.65\00:14:45.88
provoked the ire on
the religious leaders,
00:14:45.91\00:14:49.08
the scribes and the Pharisees.
00:14:49.12\00:14:52.19
You see, they believe
that by healing on the Sabbath
00:14:52.22\00:14:55.12
that Jesus was
breaking the Sabbath.
00:14:55.16\00:14:57.83
The Pharisees were
part of a religious sect
00:14:57.86\00:15:01.43
that believed they
could earn God's favor
00:15:01.46\00:15:04.20
by keeping a long list
of rules and regulations.
00:15:04.23\00:15:08.50
You see, in addition
to the Ten Commandments
00:15:08.54\00:15:10.74
that we find in
the Book of Exodus,
00:15:10.77\00:15:12.57
which is so
precious to us as Christians,
00:15:12.61\00:15:14.98
they had then
added another 613 laws
00:15:15.01\00:15:18.81
that must be kept.
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.25
And in addition, they had
added another 39 laws to that
00:15:20.28\00:15:23.99
that were especially
important for the Sabbath.
00:15:24.02\00:15:27.52
You see, according
to their tradition,
00:15:27.56\00:15:29.92
it was unlawful to write
00:15:29.96\00:15:31.86
more than two
letters on the Sabbath.
00:15:31.89\00:15:34.80
It was unlawful to
walk more than 2.2 miles
00:15:34.83\00:15:38.60
on the Sabbath,
00:15:38.63\00:15:39.97
and according to the Pharisees,
00:15:40.00\00:15:41.34
it was unlawful
00:15:41.37\00:15:42.70
to practice
medicine on the Sabbath
00:15:42.74\00:15:44.97
and that was
their chief complaint
00:15:45.01\00:15:46.54
against Jesus.
00:15:46.57\00:15:47.91
See, they felt that when
Jesus healed on the Sabbath,
00:15:47.94\00:15:50.61
He was practicing medicine
00:15:50.65\00:15:52.68
but I came to let you know
that Jesus had no pill box,
00:15:52.71\00:15:56.22
Jesus had no prescription pad.
00:15:56.25\00:15:58.49
The Bible tells us
that He was so powerful
00:15:58.52\00:16:01.22
that in the presence of illness,
00:16:01.26\00:16:03.22
power went out from Him
00:16:03.26\00:16:05.23
and healed whoever needed it.
00:16:05.26\00:16:08.16
And so Jesus was too
powerful for the Pharisees.
00:16:08.20\00:16:11.77
You see, the more they
campaigned against Him,
00:16:11.80\00:16:14.60
the more powerful He became.
00:16:14.64\00:16:16.87
Jesus did not
allow the Pharisees
00:16:16.91\00:16:19.14
to deter His mission,
00:16:19.17\00:16:20.78
He led His work
speak for itself.
00:16:20.81\00:16:24.28
And I'm so glad
that we have a Savior
00:16:24.31\00:16:26.61
who is more powerful
00:16:26.65\00:16:28.42
than all the
forces of the enemy.
00:16:28.45\00:16:31.35
Now our text for today tells us
00:16:31.39\00:16:34.86
about yet another power struggle
00:16:34.89\00:16:38.36
between Jesus and the Pharisees.
00:16:38.39\00:16:42.16
You see, it was the Sabbath
00:16:42.20\00:16:44.30
and once again
Jesus was in church.
00:16:44.33\00:16:47.90
In fact, Jesus was
delivering the sermon.
00:16:47.94\00:16:51.51
Can you imagine
hearing Jesus preach?
00:16:51.54\00:16:54.98
Can you imagine
having the living word
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.58
expound on the written word?
00:16:57.61\00:16:59.35
What a privilege.
00:16:59.38\00:17:00.72
Jesus' sermons were unique
00:17:00.75\00:17:02.78
because He
taught with authority,
00:17:02.82\00:17:05.35
according to Luke 4:32.
00:17:05.39\00:17:07.69
You see, the
Pharisees interpreted the law
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.89
but Jesus made the law.
00:17:09.92\00:17:11.69
When a Pharisees spoke,
00:17:11.73\00:17:13.06
they cited Moses
as their authority
00:17:13.09\00:17:15.50
but when Jesus
spoke He cited himself.
00:17:15.53\00:17:18.43
For He said, "You have
heard that it was said,
00:17:18.47\00:17:21.37
'but I say unto you.'
00:17:21.40\00:17:24.14
" See, Jesus made the
law, He explicated the law,
00:17:24.17\00:17:27.21
and so He had
authority to expound on the law.
00:17:27.24\00:17:30.91
And so those who heard Him said,
00:17:30.95\00:17:32.68
"Wow, we have never heard
anyone preach in this manner,
00:17:32.71\00:17:36.48
" for He taught the
word with authority.
00:17:36.52\00:17:39.69
You see, Jesus not
only had authority in word
00:17:39.72\00:17:42.66
but indeed Jesus proved
00:17:42.69\00:17:45.06
that He had authority
over demons and diseases.
00:17:45.09\00:17:48.36
Jesus was not a charlatan
00:17:48.40\00:17:50.00
who performed
counterfeit miracles.
00:17:50.03\00:17:53.03
Jesus had real authority
and whenever He taught,
00:17:53.07\00:17:56.47
He was always
looking for someone
00:17:56.50\00:17:59.31
who needed deliverance,
00:17:59.34\00:18:00.91
isn't that good news
00:18:00.94\00:18:02.41
that Jesus even today
00:18:02.44\00:18:04.15
is looking for
people who need Him.
00:18:04.18\00:18:06.82
So if you are in need today,
00:18:06.85\00:18:08.18
I want you to know that
Jesus can meet that need.
00:18:08.22\00:18:11.19
What I love
about Sabbath miracles
00:18:11.22\00:18:14.52
is that they all occurred
at the initiation of Jesus.
00:18:14.56\00:18:20.16
And so the Bible says
that as Jesus is teaching,
00:18:20.20\00:18:24.20
He beholds a man
with a deformed hand,
00:18:24.23\00:18:29.87
his hand was
withered due to nerve damage,
00:18:29.90\00:18:33.48
his hand was not functioning.
00:18:33.51\00:18:36.34
The life in his
hand had dried up,
00:18:36.38\00:18:39.55
the muscles had contracted.
00:18:39.58\00:18:41.85
He was paralyzed.
00:18:41.88\00:18:43.45
His hand had lost the function
of grasping and holding.
00:18:43.49\00:18:47.46
And Luke being a physician
00:18:47.49\00:18:49.59
add specificity that
the other gospels did not,
00:18:49.62\00:18:52.96
he tells us that it
was the man's right hand
00:18:52.99\00:18:55.63
which was deformed.
00:18:55.66\00:18:57.20
He had lost use of the
hand that for 95% of people
00:18:57.23\00:19:01.37
is the dominant hand.
00:19:01.40\00:19:02.94
The right hand for most people
is stronger than the left.
00:19:02.97\00:19:05.97
The right hand is
needed for working and writing.
00:19:06.01\00:19:09.14
And perhaps, on
your first reading
00:19:09.18\00:19:11.01
of this passage,
00:19:11.05\00:19:12.48
you found it
difficult to understand
00:19:12.51\00:19:14.68
why Jesus felt
00:19:14.72\00:19:16.58
it was an
emergency to heal this man,
00:19:16.62\00:19:20.16
especially on the Sabbath day.
00:19:20.19\00:19:22.09
Remember that
Jesus Sabbath protocol
00:19:22.12\00:19:23.93
was that only
the emergency cases
00:19:23.96\00:19:26.63
were addressed on the Sabbath.
00:19:26.66\00:19:28.86
So you may be thinking
that there are worse things
00:19:28.90\00:19:31.47
to befoul a person
00:19:31.50\00:19:33.13
than to have a withered hand,
00:19:33.17\00:19:34.77
after all we are told
that Jesus waited four days
00:19:34.80\00:19:38.87
to raise a man from the dead,
00:19:38.91\00:19:41.81
so why was this man's
healing such a priority?
00:19:41.84\00:19:46.85
I believe that Jesus
had a different perspective,
00:19:46.88\00:19:49.72
see not only was He interested
00:19:49.75\00:19:51.25
in teaching how His
Sabbath was to be used,
00:19:51.29\00:19:54.32
not to save life,
not to destroy life,
00:19:54.36\00:19:57.56
but to save life.
00:19:57.59\00:19:59.49
I imagine that
when Jesus saw this man,
00:19:59.53\00:20:02.06
He also appreciated
00:20:02.10\00:20:03.90
the impact of this small injury.
00:20:03.93\00:20:06.90
See, no matter how small
the problem is in your life,
00:20:06.94\00:20:10.71
Jesus wants to
relieve your suffering.
00:20:10.74\00:20:13.51
And I believe
that Jesus appreciated
00:20:13.54\00:20:15.94
how challenging
it must have been
00:20:15.98\00:20:17.75
to only have a
single functioning hand.
00:20:17.78\00:20:20.62
See, some things in
our life are important
00:20:20.65\00:20:23.89
not because of how they appear
00:20:23.92\00:20:26.49
but because of their impact.
00:20:26.52\00:20:29.66
So to only have use of one
hand is severely incapacitating.
00:20:29.69\00:20:34.03
He lived in a society
00:20:34.06\00:20:35.40
where the use of one's
hands determine livelihood.
00:20:35.43\00:20:39.23
He was expected
to be the breadwinner
00:20:39.27\00:20:41.60
but had no
proper use of his hands.
00:20:41.64\00:20:44.77
His withered hand had probably
led to his unemployment.
00:20:44.81\00:20:48.14
It was likely that
this man was destitute
00:20:48.18\00:20:51.11
due to his disability
00:20:51.15\00:20:52.88
and even the
practice of begging,
00:20:52.91\00:20:55.25
because he could only use
one hand would be difficult.
00:20:55.28\00:20:59.15
You see, the hand is
a small part of the body
00:20:59.19\00:21:01.92
and only one hand was affected
00:21:01.96\00:21:04.13
but the impact was profound.
00:21:04.16\00:21:06.49
And can we just
reflect on that for a moment
00:21:06.53\00:21:09.06
that it's often the
smallest things in life
00:21:09.10\00:21:12.13
that have the biggest impact.
00:21:12.17\00:21:14.44
Small events,
small arrangements,
00:21:14.47\00:21:17.21
small decisions can
accumulate to determine destiny.
00:21:17.24\00:21:21.84
Have you ever thought about
00:21:21.88\00:21:23.68
the impact of smaller things?
00:21:23.71\00:21:27.22
Friendships can end
over small disputes.
00:21:27.25\00:21:30.82
Fortunes can change
over small investments.
00:21:30.85\00:21:34.86
Your life can be
turned upside down
00:21:34.89\00:21:38.13
due to small indiscretions.
00:21:38.16\00:21:40.63
And in the same way,
00:21:40.66\00:21:42.26
the Bible says that
small things can inspire,
00:21:42.30\00:21:45.27
small things can encourage,
00:21:45.30\00:21:47.30
small things can
make a difference.
00:21:47.34\00:21:49.37
That's why we're
counseled in God's word
00:21:49.40\00:21:51.44
to be faithful
in the small things,
00:21:51.47\00:21:54.44
if we desire
entitlement to the big things.
00:21:54.48\00:21:57.85
You see, the man in our story
00:21:57.88\00:22:00.32
was dealing with a small problem
00:22:00.35\00:22:02.88
which had a major impact,
00:22:02.92\00:22:06.45
his hand was withered.
00:22:06.49\00:22:10.06
It was so deprived
of nervous stimulation
00:22:10.09\00:22:13.36
that it was completely unusable,
00:22:13.40\00:22:16.60
in this condition
it was no hand at all,
00:22:16.63\00:22:20.44
for hands are made to grasp
00:22:20.47\00:22:23.17
but his hand could not be
opened nor could it be closed.
00:22:23.20\00:22:26.88
It was no hand,
00:22:26.91\00:22:28.48
it was simply a
thing, a lifeless thing,
00:22:28.51\00:22:33.01
hanging limp from his body,
00:22:33.05\00:22:35.45
his hand was deprived
of life giving forces,
00:22:35.48\00:22:39.62
it was a dead thing,
00:22:39.65\00:22:42.66
and that leads to a
deeper understanding
00:22:42.69\00:22:45.39
about the condition
that this man was in.
00:22:45.43\00:22:48.60
He was attached to
something that was dead.
00:22:48.63\00:22:52.90
And what entangles many of us
00:22:52.93\00:22:54.64
as believers is our attachments.
00:22:54.67\00:22:58.11
We are attached to a dead thing.
00:22:58.14\00:23:00.64
This word is for someone
00:23:00.68\00:23:02.08
who is attached to
a dead relationship.
00:23:02.11\00:23:04.58
Perhaps, when you started dating
00:23:04.61\00:23:06.08
you thought you needed someone
00:23:06.11\00:23:07.48
who was financially secure,
and physically attractive.
00:23:07.52\00:23:10.55
Perhaps, you desire to meet
someone with similar interest
00:23:10.59\00:23:13.86
but as time has worn on,
00:23:13.89\00:23:15.66
you have discovered
00:23:15.69\00:23:17.03
more of their
habits and their character,
00:23:17.06\00:23:19.39
yet fear of being alone
00:23:19.43\00:23:21.06
has caused you
to remain attached
00:23:21.10\00:23:23.26
to someone who
is spiritually dead.
00:23:23.30\00:23:25.87
Well, the Word
of God to you today
00:23:25.90\00:23:27.74
is before you enter
into the marriage covenant,
00:23:27.77\00:23:30.51
it is important for God
to direct your attachments
00:23:30.54\00:23:34.08
because the character of
the person you're attached to
00:23:34.11\00:23:37.18
will eventually
determine your character.
00:23:37.21\00:23:39.85
See, what entangles
us is our attachments.
00:23:39.88\00:23:43.39
Someone is
attached to a habit that,
00:23:43.42\00:23:45.79
that you thought you
could indulge intermittently
00:23:45.82\00:23:48.29
and maintain control.
00:23:48.32\00:23:50.06
And now it is clear
00:23:50.09\00:23:51.43
that you are the
servant and not the master
00:23:51.46\00:23:53.90
and you're hoping that no
one discovers your bondage.
00:23:53.93\00:23:56.56
Let me encourage you that
Jesus is the best confidant
00:23:56.60\00:24:00.77
because when you
disclose your struggles to Him,
00:24:00.80\00:24:03.74
He does not
expose you, He frees you.
00:24:03.77\00:24:07.48
We need Jesus today
00:24:07.51\00:24:09.34
because we are
entangled by attachments.
00:24:09.38\00:24:12.38
Our minds are
attached to anxious
00:24:12.41\00:24:14.58
thoughts and
discouraging images.
00:24:14.62\00:24:16.75
We're troubled by
memories of yesterday
00:24:16.79\00:24:19.12
and concerns about tomorrow.
00:24:19.15\00:24:21.26
God is seeking
today to renew our minds
00:24:21.29\00:24:24.36
and give us peace
that passes understanding.
00:24:24.39\00:24:27.40
You see, any attachment
00:24:27.43\00:24:30.00
which does not
fulfill God's purpose
00:24:30.03\00:24:32.10
for our lives is dead weight.
00:24:32.13\00:24:34.80
It can only take us down.
00:24:34.84\00:24:37.17
It will sink our faith,
00:24:37.21\00:24:39.51
that's why Paul's counsel to us
00:24:39.54\00:24:41.21
is to throw off every weight
00:24:41.24\00:24:43.38
in the sin that
so easily besets us
00:24:43.41\00:24:45.61
and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us.
00:24:45.65\00:24:48.38
How can we do that?
00:24:48.42\00:24:49.75
Looking on to Jesus, the author
00:24:49.78\00:24:52.82
and finisher of our faith.
00:24:52.85\00:24:56.32
See, when Jesus saw the man
00:24:56.36\00:24:58.53
with the withered and dead hand,
00:24:58.56\00:25:01.60
He recognized that
this man needed healing
00:25:01.63\00:25:04.97
but he also needed saving.
00:25:05.00\00:25:07.80
See, if Jesus only
healed the illness,
00:25:07.84\00:25:10.91
the infirmity which is spiritual
00:25:10.94\00:25:13.51
would have still remained.
00:25:13.54\00:25:15.14
And maybe there
were people in your life
00:25:15.18\00:25:16.75
who've seen your struggles
00:25:16.78\00:25:18.68
have suggested
behavioral remedies
00:25:18.71\00:25:20.85
to spiritual problems.
00:25:20.88\00:25:22.82
They've said if you stop
going there and doing that,
00:25:22.85\00:25:25.75
then the problem will be solved,
00:25:25.79\00:25:27.72
but that's only
symptom management, my friends.
00:25:27.76\00:25:30.99
We need Jesus to deal
00:25:31.03\00:25:32.83
with the power
of sin in our lives.
00:25:32.86\00:25:35.63
See, when Jesus sees you,
00:25:35.66\00:25:37.90
He looks deeper
00:25:37.93\00:25:39.47
and He sees what
your spirit is in need of.
00:25:39.50\00:25:43.34
Do you need salvation?
00:25:43.37\00:25:45.17
Do you need revival?
00:25:45.21\00:25:46.94
Do you need another chance?
00:25:46.98\00:25:49.04
Jesus came to seek
00:25:49.08\00:25:51.81
and to save that which was lost.
00:25:51.85\00:25:56.42
And so that's why Jesus
00:25:56.45\00:25:57.79
was so concerned about this man.
00:25:57.82\00:26:01.06
The problem on the
outside was just a symptom
00:26:01.09\00:26:05.03
of what was going on the inside.
00:26:05.06\00:26:08.16
You see, spiritually,
00:26:08.20\00:26:09.93
he was in the process of dying,
00:26:09.96\00:26:13.77
he was in church,
00:26:13.80\00:26:15.67
but his spiritual life
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.94
was withered and dying.
00:26:17.97\00:26:23.24
It is commonly noted
00:26:23.28\00:26:27.08
that the
Christian's most fervent
00:26:27.12\00:26:29.55
commitment to God
00:26:29.58\00:26:32.15
is often during the
early days of conversion.
00:26:32.19\00:26:36.73
It's a miraculous experience
00:26:36.76\00:26:39.46
when God first shines
His light in our hearts
00:26:39.49\00:26:43.80
and reveals what
we have in Christ.
00:26:43.83\00:26:47.40
What a gift that God
has sent His Son to die
00:26:47.44\00:26:50.87
in our stead that
we might be saved.
00:26:50.91\00:26:53.78
But despite the wonder
00:26:53.81\00:26:55.31
which occurs at this
precious and divine revelation,
00:26:55.34\00:26:59.28
it is possible for one's
initial fervor to dry up,
00:26:59.31\00:27:04.02
enthusiasm and interest
00:27:04.05\00:27:06.59
for spiritual things may wane.
00:27:06.62\00:27:08.86
Without the
renewal of the Holy Spirit,
00:27:08.89\00:27:11.39
one's experience may
grow stale and wither.
00:27:11.43\00:27:15.56
The question I
have for you today is,
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.30
is your spiritual life withered?
00:27:17.33\00:27:20.84
See the process
of becoming withered
00:27:20.87\00:27:23.61
is exemplified by
the common houseplant.
00:27:23.64\00:27:27.54
We know that the houseplant
relies on two energy sources,
00:27:27.58\00:27:32.88
water and the sun,
00:27:32.91\00:27:35.65
in order to sustain its life.
00:27:35.68\00:27:38.92
Unfortunately,
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.52
I present a great
challenge to the houseplant
00:27:40.56\00:27:43.93
because my
apartment has few windows
00:27:43.96\00:27:46.19
and it is also difficult for me
to keep up with daily watering.
00:27:46.23\00:27:50.87
I must confess that I
have witnessed several plants
00:27:50.90\00:27:54.14
in an energy crisis
00:27:54.17\00:27:56.60
and when in this state
00:27:56.64\00:27:58.47
I've noticed that a plant
goes through three stages.
00:27:58.51\00:28:02.48
When it is without water first,
that plant beings to droop,
00:28:02.51\00:28:06.78
then it withers,
00:28:06.82\00:28:09.58
and finally it dies.
00:28:09.62\00:28:12.45
We are living in a time
00:28:12.49\00:28:14.42
when even church
members have begun to droop.
00:28:14.46\00:28:17.86
There are saints who
have started to wither
00:28:17.89\00:28:21.20
that there are
believers who have become weary.
00:28:21.23\00:28:25.10
And first it is
faith which droops,
00:28:25.13\00:28:29.07
then it is prayers which wither,
00:28:29.10\00:28:32.47
and finally it is
our spiritual life
00:28:32.51\00:28:35.18
which dies.
00:28:35.21\00:28:36.98
Someone's faith is
being challenged today,
00:28:37.01\00:28:40.48
someone's faith has withered.
00:28:40.52\00:28:42.85
You see, it is
challenging to wait
00:28:42.88\00:28:45.52
for that which seems expedient.
00:28:45.55\00:28:47.92
Perhaps, you have
prayed and cried out to God.
00:28:47.96\00:28:50.66
The waiting has
exhausted your strength.
00:28:50.69\00:28:52.89
It seems that you have
sown but failed to reap.
00:28:52.93\00:28:55.80
Jesus wants to water withered
faith today, for the word says,
00:28:55.83\00:29:00.34
"That those who
wait up on the Lord
00:29:00.37\00:29:02.70
shall renew their strength.
00:29:02.74\00:29:04.97
They shall mount up
with wings as eagles,
00:29:05.01\00:29:07.61
they shall run and not be weary,
00:29:07.64\00:29:09.74
and they shall
walk and not faint."
00:29:09.78\00:29:11.75
The Bible says in Galatians,
"Be not weary in well doing,
00:29:11.78\00:29:15.52
for in due time you
will reap if you faint not."
00:29:15.55\00:29:18.82
And let me share
another promise with you,
00:29:18.85\00:29:20.89
in 1 Corinthians
15:58, it says, "Be steadfast,
00:29:20.92\00:29:25.63
immovable always abounding
00:29:25.66\00:29:28.00
in the work of the Lord
00:29:28.03\00:29:29.53
knowing that your labor
is not in vain in the Lord."
00:29:29.56\00:29:34.44
Perhaps, someone's
praise has withered.
00:29:34.47\00:29:37.61
You see, we have
fallen into a trap
00:29:37.64\00:29:40.28
of only offering
conditional praise.
00:29:40.31\00:29:43.04
See, conditional praise
00:29:43.08\00:29:44.78
is based on what God
does rather than who He is.
00:29:44.81\00:29:49.95
We praise God for His gifts
00:29:49.98\00:29:52.32
but we often fail to
honor Him as the giver.
00:29:52.35\00:29:57.09
God desires praise
that is based on who he is,
00:29:57.13\00:30:01.10
not just what he does.
00:30:01.13\00:30:02.96
See, the psalmist says
that praise waits for God
00:30:03.00\00:30:06.53
which means that if he
never did another thing for us,
00:30:06.57\00:30:10.41
there is an eternity of praise
00:30:10.44\00:30:12.47
that is stored up
and that is due him
00:30:12.51\00:30:15.71
not because of what he does,
00:30:15.74\00:30:17.71
but just because of who he is.
00:30:17.75\00:30:21.98
Someone's
commitment has withered.
00:30:22.02\00:30:25.95
Perhaps, someone viewing
00:30:25.99\00:30:27.42
has become disillusioned
00:30:27.46\00:30:30.13
by some church
event or some happening
00:30:30.16\00:30:32.99
or some hurtful deed,
00:30:33.03\00:30:34.90
and as a result we are
considering withdrawing
00:30:34.93\00:30:37.30
from the body of Christ.
00:30:37.33\00:30:39.13
May I challenge
you with something?
00:30:39.17\00:30:41.27
I have observed,
I've observed something
00:30:41.30\00:30:43.41
that in our secular lives,
00:30:43.44\00:30:45.91
we deal with
hurt and bad events,
00:30:45.94\00:30:50.25
but we never stop going
00:30:50.28\00:30:52.05
to certain places
or certain things.
00:30:52.08\00:30:53.82
One example of this is Wal-Mart.
00:30:53.85\00:30:55.58
Now I'm not
intending to be funny,
00:30:55.62\00:30:57.35
but may I
challenge you with this idea.
00:30:57.39\00:30:59.65
What I've noticed about
Wal-Mart is that no matter
00:30:59.69\00:31:02.06
how people are treated
there, they keep coming.
00:31:02.09\00:31:06.26
Why is that?
00:31:06.29\00:31:07.96
It is because they
understand something
00:31:08.00\00:31:10.30
that the behavior
of the other shoppers
00:31:10.33\00:31:13.67
does not change the
value of the savings.
00:31:13.70\00:31:16.60
Now listen to this,
00:31:16.64\00:31:17.97
because the same
is true about church.
00:31:18.01\00:31:20.18
The behavior of God's people
00:31:20.21\00:31:22.74
does not change
the value of salvation.
00:31:22.78\00:31:26.18
For so, for someone
00:31:26.21\00:31:27.55
whose commitment
may have withered.
00:31:27.58\00:31:29.15
Let me encourage
you to stay committed
00:31:29.18\00:31:30.92
to the Body of Christ,
00:31:30.95\00:31:32.62
for it is God's instrument
00:31:32.65\00:31:34.39
for sharing the
good news of salvation.
00:31:34.42\00:31:37.56
See, Jesus recognized
00:31:37.59\00:31:39.23
that the man was
in need of salvation.
00:31:39.26\00:31:43.03
He said to the Pharisees,
00:31:43.06\00:31:44.67
"Is it not better for me
to save this man's life?"
00:31:44.70\00:31:49.44
Jesus came to save him.
00:31:49.47\00:31:52.41
But this man's
illness was not only physical
00:31:52.44\00:31:55.38
but psychological.
00:31:55.41\00:31:57.05
The problem was
not merely his hand,
00:31:57.08\00:31:59.88
but his heart because this
man was a sinner as we all are,
00:31:59.91\00:32:04.95
his chief problem was
not isolated to his body
00:32:04.99\00:32:08.99
but it involved his soul.
00:32:09.02\00:32:11.03
See, according to Isaiah 1:5,
00:32:11.06\00:32:13.23
sin makes the whole head sick
00:32:13.26\00:32:16.20
and the whole heart faint,
00:32:16.23\00:32:18.27
so even when we agree
00:32:18.30\00:32:19.63
with the will of
God for our lives,
00:32:19.67\00:32:21.47
we have no
power to carry it out.
00:32:21.50\00:32:25.01
Paul says, "What I
want to do, I do not do.
00:32:25.04\00:32:28.18
And what I hate,
that's what I end up doing."
00:32:28.21\00:32:31.21
Without Christ,
our souls are withered
00:32:31.25\00:32:34.52
and slanted toward evil.
00:32:34.55\00:32:37.15
There is no
power for good in us,
00:32:37.19\00:32:39.99
but when Jesus fills our souls,
00:32:40.02\00:32:42.72
He brings forth love,
He brings forth peace,
00:32:42.76\00:32:46.43
He brings forth longsuffering,
00:32:46.46\00:32:48.66
He brings forth gentleness,
00:32:48.70\00:32:50.53
and listen to this,
00:32:50.57\00:32:51.90
He brings forth faith.
00:32:51.93\00:32:56.77
Pharisees knew
00:32:56.81\00:32:59.24
that Jesus would not
ignore this man's suffering,
00:32:59.27\00:33:03.31
so the Bible says
00:33:03.35\00:33:05.51
that they fixed
their eyes on Him
00:33:05.55\00:33:09.45
to see whether
00:33:09.48\00:33:11.52
He would heal on the Sabbath.
00:33:11.55\00:33:16.39
Some have suggested
00:33:16.42\00:33:17.76
that the Pharisees
planted this man in the crowd
00:33:17.79\00:33:21.66
in order to find
cause to accuse Him.
00:33:21.70\00:33:25.67
But that only proves the fact
that Jesus is a mighty Savior.
00:33:25.70\00:33:30.81
He will not overlook the person
00:33:30.84\00:33:33.71
who desperately needs Him.
00:33:33.74\00:33:36.18
The Pharisees hated Jesus
00:33:36.21\00:33:38.35
but even they recognized
00:33:38.38\00:33:40.75
that He was too powerful
00:33:40.78\00:33:42.65
to let disease go unchecked.
00:33:42.68\00:33:45.82
And so the best
thing they could have done
00:33:45.85\00:33:48.06
is to bring this man
into the presence of Jesus
00:33:48.09\00:33:51.79
and let me
encourage someone here
00:33:51.83\00:33:53.90
that the best thing
you could have done today
00:33:53.93\00:33:57.00
is to come into
the presence of Jesus.
00:33:57.03\00:34:02.17
Now, to illustrate
00:34:02.20\00:34:04.81
the change
00:34:04.84\00:34:06.47
that is about to
take place for this man,
00:34:06.51\00:34:09.74
let me return
00:34:09.78\00:34:11.41
to the parable
of the houseplant.
00:34:11.45\00:34:14.55
You see, overtime,
00:34:14.58\00:34:16.52
I have improved
in plant maintenance
00:34:16.55\00:34:18.69
and I'm grateful for that.
00:34:18.72\00:34:20.39
I have gotten some practice
in reviving withered plants.
00:34:20.42\00:34:24.83
I've discovered that
when a plant is withered,
00:34:24.86\00:34:28.06
there are three
things that must take place.
00:34:28.10\00:34:31.07
First, you must
remove the dead leaves,
00:34:31.10\00:34:34.80
the dead
attachments from the plant.
00:34:34.84\00:34:38.27
Secondly, you have to provide
the plant with plenty of water.
00:34:38.31\00:34:43.65
You have to
remove the dead leaves,
00:34:43.68\00:34:45.25
the dead
attachments and secondly,
00:34:45.28\00:34:47.65
you have to water the plant,
00:34:47.68\00:34:49.75
but the
crowning and crucial step
00:34:49.78\00:34:52.15
is that you
have to put the plant
00:34:52.19\00:34:55.02
in the presence of the sun,
00:34:55.06\00:34:57.66
it needs the sun in
order to be restored.
00:34:57.69\00:35:00.83
It needs the sun in
order to be revived.
00:35:00.86\00:35:04.20
Well, in order for our
spiritual lives to be revived,
00:35:04.23\00:35:08.34
I find that these same
three processes are crucial.
00:35:08.37\00:35:12.17
You see, we must be freed
from our dead attachments.
00:35:12.21\00:35:16.34
We must be nourished
00:35:16.38\00:35:17.91
by the water of the Holy Spirit
00:35:17.95\00:35:20.22
and the crowning and
crucial step of our revival
00:35:20.25\00:35:24.02
is that we must be put
in the presence of the Son,
00:35:24.05\00:35:28.02
S-O-N, Jesus Christ.
00:35:28.06\00:35:30.76
You see Jesus is the only one
00:35:30.79\00:35:32.83
who can restore
the withered soul.
00:35:32.86\00:35:36.06
Jesus planned
to restore the man.
00:35:36.10\00:35:40.54
And this stirred up
00:35:40.57\00:35:41.90
the indignation
of the Pharisees.
00:35:41.94\00:35:45.41
See, the problem
with the Pharisees,
00:35:45.44\00:35:47.64
according to Luke 5,
00:35:47.68\00:35:50.21
is that they refused
00:35:50.25\00:35:52.85
to stretch their faith.
00:35:52.88\00:35:55.95
Jesus compared them to
old vine skins in Luke 5,
00:35:55.98\00:36:01.52
which cannot hold new vine,
00:36:01.56\00:36:04.36
lest they're for
lack of stretching
00:36:04.39\00:36:07.03
end up bursting.
00:36:07.06\00:36:09.60
Here was Jesus
00:36:09.63\00:36:11.23
trying to do a new
thing in this man's life
00:36:11.27\00:36:14.57
but the Pharisees were concerned
00:36:14.60\00:36:16.54
with maintaining the status quo.
00:36:16.57\00:36:19.44
When Jesus knew their thoughts
00:36:19.47\00:36:22.94
that they were unchangeable,
00:36:22.98\00:36:25.01
He turned to the man,
00:36:25.05\00:36:27.25
He spoke directly to
the one who needed Him
00:36:27.28\00:36:31.65
and someone here
desperately needs the Lord.
00:36:31.69\00:36:35.32
You have felt
encumbered by dead attachments.
00:36:35.36\00:36:38.59
You have felt that your
spiritual life has withered.
00:36:38.63\00:36:41.50
I want you to know that
Jesus is speaking to you today.
00:36:41.53\00:36:46.20
He told the man,
00:36:46.23\00:36:47.57
come and stand here.
00:36:47.60\00:36:51.54
I assume that this
was a place next to Jesus
00:36:51.57\00:36:54.84
and I believe that this
was a significant act in itself
00:36:54.88\00:36:58.85
for it established
this man's value to Christ.
00:36:58.88\00:37:02.82
So in a sense,
00:37:02.85\00:37:04.19
Jesus was claiming
this man as His own.
00:37:04.22\00:37:06.55
He said come
and stay in with Me,
00:37:06.59\00:37:09.52
and in itself this act
00:37:09.56\00:37:11.33
is a
representation of the gospel
00:37:11.36\00:37:13.93
because every sinner
00:37:13.96\00:37:15.63
who is in need of salvation
00:37:15.66\00:37:17.90
is invited to stand with Jesus,
00:37:17.93\00:37:21.97
knowing that when they
place their trust in Him
00:37:22.00\00:37:25.21
that when they stand with Him,
00:37:25.24\00:37:27.98
their sins are forgiven
00:37:28.01\00:37:30.41
and they are given new life.
00:37:30.45\00:37:35.18
So it was
00:37:35.22\00:37:37.42
that after the man stood,
00:37:37.45\00:37:40.39
Jesus commanded him
00:37:40.42\00:37:43.12
to stretch out his hand.
00:37:43.16\00:37:48.33
After the man had stood,
00:37:48.36\00:37:50.57
Jesus commanded him
00:37:50.60\00:37:52.63
to stretch out his hand.
00:37:52.67\00:37:57.34
That baffles me.
00:37:57.37\00:37:59.54
It's remarkable
00:37:59.57\00:38:01.31
that Jesus asked him
00:38:01.34\00:38:03.85
to stretch the very hand
00:38:03.88\00:38:06.95
that was paralyzed.
00:38:06.98\00:38:10.05
Jesus asked him
00:38:10.09\00:38:12.39
to stretch the very hand
00:38:12.42\00:38:16.52
that was withered.
00:38:16.56\00:38:18.49
Wow.
00:38:18.53\00:38:20.46
So that makes me realize that,
00:38:20.50\00:38:23.16
that this man could not
have stretched out his hand
00:38:23.20\00:38:27.24
unless he believed
00:38:27.27\00:38:29.20
that the miracle
was already done.
00:38:29.24\00:38:32.84
You see it was
impossible to obey Jesus
00:38:32.87\00:38:36.78
unless he had, by faith,
00:38:36.81\00:38:39.31
received the healing.
00:38:39.35\00:38:41.82
You see by the
command of Christ,
00:38:41.85\00:38:44.09
the man's faith was tested.
00:38:44.12\00:38:47.69
Would he believe
00:38:47.72\00:38:49.32
that he was healed
00:38:49.36\00:38:51.03
without any
evidence of the fact?
00:38:51.06\00:38:54.00
Or would he remain paralyzed
00:38:54.03\00:38:56.36
due to a lack of faith?
00:38:56.40\00:38:59.07
See, according to Hebrews 11:1,
00:38:59.10\00:39:02.00
"Faith is the substance
00:39:02.04\00:39:06.17
of things hoped for
00:39:06.21\00:39:08.68
and the evidence
of things not seen."
00:39:08.71\00:39:13.38
Faith makes real in our lives
00:39:13.42\00:39:16.55
what God has promised.
00:39:16.58\00:39:19.19
Faith makes evident
00:39:19.22\00:39:21.29
what cannot be seen
and cannot help us today
00:39:21.32\00:39:25.36
and share that often,
00:39:25.39\00:39:27.40
we confuse faith with hope.
00:39:27.43\00:39:31.13
Hope when it
reaches a difficulty
00:39:31.17\00:39:33.87
says God can.
00:39:33.90\00:39:36.84
When hope reaches some impasse,
00:39:36.87\00:39:39.57
it says God may.
00:39:39.61\00:39:42.41
When hope faces some trial,
00:39:42.44\00:39:45.01
it says, perhaps God will,
00:39:45.05\00:39:48.25
but faith in the
presence of difficulty
00:39:48.28\00:39:52.05
says God has already done it.
00:39:52.09\00:39:56.83
And isn't this not true
00:39:56.86\00:39:58.59
that for those who have
put their faith in Christ,
00:39:58.63\00:40:01.86
everything
pertaining to our salvation
00:40:01.90\00:40:05.13
has already
been done, for Christ
00:40:05.17\00:40:07.77
has already died for our sins.
00:40:07.80\00:40:10.01
Christ has already been
raised for our deliverance.
00:40:10.04\00:40:14.31
What we need today is
a change in perspective,
00:40:14.34\00:40:17.28
from hope to faith.
00:40:17.31\00:40:20.22
You see hope desires a blessing,
00:40:20.25\00:40:23.05
faith acts as if
it has the blessing.
00:40:23.08\00:40:26.12
Hope longs for miracle,
00:40:26.15\00:40:28.96
but faith acts as if
the miracle is already done.
00:40:28.99\00:40:34.70
Hope desires deliverance,
00:40:34.73\00:40:38.37
but faith acts as if
00:40:38.40\00:40:41.17
it has already been delivered.
00:40:41.20\00:40:45.64
And let me clarify this point
00:40:45.67\00:40:49.04
that there is a
distinct difference
00:40:49.08\00:40:52.15
between faith and
other popular belief systems
00:40:52.18\00:40:57.29
because faith is rooted
not in self sufficiency,
00:40:57.32\00:41:02.92
but in the sufficiency
and power of Jesus Christ.
00:41:02.96\00:41:07.60
You see the
reason we can believe
00:41:07.63\00:41:09.73
that what Jesus
commands is already done
00:41:09.76\00:41:12.87
is because He has
the power to fulfill it.
00:41:12.90\00:41:15.97
Jesus is the one
who has promised it.
00:41:16.00\00:41:18.61
Jesus is the one
who has commanded it.
00:41:18.64\00:41:21.61
And He
accomplishes what He commands.
00:41:21.64\00:41:24.88
It is already done
00:41:24.91\00:41:26.82
because it is true in Christ.
00:41:26.85\00:41:32.49
And how different
would our faith walk be
00:41:32.52\00:41:36.26
if we truly acknowledged
00:41:36.29\00:41:38.76
that the
promises of God in Christ
00:41:38.79\00:41:42.03
are yes and in him 'amen'
00:41:42.06\00:41:45.80
that means that they
are already accomplished
00:41:45.83\00:41:48.70
through God's power?
00:41:48.74\00:41:50.14
They only need to be
claimed through faith.
00:41:50.17\00:41:54.08
Someone's spiritual
progress has been halted
00:41:54.11\00:41:57.05
because you have
waited or you are waiting
00:41:57.08\00:41:59.71
for evidence of what
God has already commanded
00:41:59.75\00:42:03.49
and God is saying to you today,
00:42:03.52\00:42:05.32
stretch out your faith
00:42:05.35\00:42:07.36
and believe that
it's already done.
00:42:07.39\00:42:12.19
See, when Jesus
commanded this man
00:42:12.23\00:42:15.06
to stretch forth his hand,
00:42:15.10\00:42:17.87
he responded in faith.
00:42:17.90\00:42:21.47
He dared to believe
00:42:21.50\00:42:23.71
that he had received the healing
00:42:23.74\00:42:26.41
that Jesus had promised.
00:42:26.44\00:42:28.61
For years, his hand had
been contracted in such a manner
00:42:28.64\00:42:32.71
that it could not be opened.
00:42:32.75\00:42:34.98
It was withdrawn and locked up,
00:42:35.02\00:42:38.09
it was not useful for
holding and grasping anything,
00:42:38.12\00:42:42.32
but when he
stretched out his hand,
00:42:42.36\00:42:45.16
Jesus reversed the process
00:42:45.19\00:42:48.30
that made him
deformed and desperate,
00:42:48.33\00:42:51.50
his muscles and
nerves were regenerated
00:42:51.53\00:42:54.30
through the power of Jesus.
00:42:54.34\00:42:56.24
He stretched out his hand
00:42:56.27\00:42:58.94
and it was made as
whole as the other.
00:42:58.97\00:43:03.75
Often we do not
stretch our faith
00:43:03.78\00:43:09.35
because from our standpoint,
00:43:09.38\00:43:11.85
the outlook is hopeless,
00:43:11.89\00:43:14.59
but nothing, my friends,
00:43:14.62\00:43:16.89
absolutely nothing,
00:43:16.93\00:43:18.76
nothing is impossible with God.
00:43:18.79\00:43:22.96
We restrict God's activity
00:43:23.00\00:43:25.43
when we do not stretch our faith
00:43:25.47\00:43:27.94
or when we stretch only as
far as what seems possible,
00:43:27.97\00:43:33.78
but today is the day
00:43:33.81\00:43:35.44
to take the limits off of God
00:43:35.48\00:43:38.15
and to believe
00:43:38.18\00:43:39.51
that He will
accomplish His word.
00:43:39.55\00:43:42.72
There are several
things we learn from this story
00:43:42.75\00:43:47.32
which pertain to the
value of stretching our faith.
00:43:47.36\00:43:52.33
The first thing we learned
00:43:52.36\00:43:54.30
is that stretching our faith
00:43:54.33\00:43:57.23
breaks the cycle
of unanswered prayer.
00:43:57.27\00:44:01.40
See, in this man's life,
obedience to Christ command
00:44:01.44\00:44:05.94
broke the cycle of
expecting but not receiving.
00:44:05.97\00:44:10.05
Perhaps your
faith has been stuck
00:44:10.08\00:44:11.98
in a rut due to
seemingly unanswered prayers,
00:44:12.01\00:44:16.05
Jesus, I want to let you know,
00:44:16.08\00:44:18.05
has answered that
prayer with a command
00:44:18.09\00:44:21.32
and He is waiting for
us to stretch our faith.
00:44:21.36\00:44:25.73
Often we focus on the process
00:44:25.76\00:44:28.36
of waiting on God
to answer our prayers,
00:44:28.40\00:44:31.73
but many times
He is waiting on us,
00:44:31.77\00:44:35.74
and I want to let you know
00:44:35.77\00:44:37.21
that obedience
00:44:37.24\00:44:38.87
breaks the cycle
of unanswered prayer.
00:44:38.91\00:44:43.95
Well, the second thing
that I learned from this story
00:44:43.98\00:44:46.88
is that stretching releases us
00:44:46.92\00:44:50.55
from old attachments.
00:44:50.59\00:44:53.02
See when the man
stretched out his hand,
00:44:53.05\00:44:55.79
it was a release
of his old experience
00:44:55.82\00:44:59.06
and an acceptance of the new.
00:44:59.09\00:45:01.23
Similarly, when we
stretch out our faith,
00:45:01.26\00:45:04.20
God seeks to deliver us
from old pains and old hurt,
00:45:04.23\00:45:08.37
old disappointment,
old damage, old grief.
00:45:08.40\00:45:12.31
He's inviting us today
to let go of the grudges,
00:45:12.34\00:45:15.04
let go of the
difficulty, let go of the pain,
00:45:15.08\00:45:17.81
let go of the
things which have hurt us
00:45:17.85\00:45:19.78
and to accept God's healing,
00:45:19.81\00:45:23.15
stretching releases
us from old attachments.
00:45:23.18\00:45:28.29
A third thing I learned
00:45:28.32\00:45:30.96
from this story
00:45:30.99\00:45:33.16
is that stretching our faith
00:45:33.19\00:45:36.23
allows God to do a
new thing in our lives.
00:45:36.26\00:45:41.47
Is anyone in
need of a new thing?
00:45:41.50\00:45:44.04
We pray for an
increase in faith,
00:45:44.07\00:45:46.54
we pray for an
increase in patience,
00:45:46.57\00:45:49.08
and we pray for an
increase in holiness,
00:45:49.11\00:45:51.98
we pray for an
increase in godliness.
00:45:52.01\00:45:54.22
How does this happen?
00:45:54.25\00:45:55.58
How do we grow in our faith?
00:45:55.62\00:45:57.32
How do we grow in our
relationship with God?
00:45:57.35\00:46:00.46
It is by trusting in
the power of Jesus Christ.
00:46:00.49\00:46:04.19
When He commands us to stretch,
00:46:04.23\00:46:06.70
He has already
provided the power to do so,
00:46:06.73\00:46:10.93
but there is no command of God
00:46:10.97\00:46:13.67
which is not also accompanied
00:46:13.70\00:46:16.00
by His promise
00:46:16.04\00:46:17.57
to accomplish it in us.
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.88
In verity, stretching is
not a working out of anything
00:46:20.91\00:46:25.61
in our own power,
00:46:25.65\00:46:27.05
but it is a faithful reliance
00:46:27.08\00:46:29.85
on the
sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
00:46:29.88\00:46:33.86
For it is God, says
Paul in Philippians 2,
00:46:33.89\00:46:37.86
who works in you to will
00:46:37.89\00:46:41.66
and to do His good pleasure.
00:46:41.70\00:46:44.50
That means, when He commands it,
00:46:44.53\00:46:46.43
He will work in
you to complete it.
00:46:46.47\00:46:49.00
For the Bible
says in Thessalonians,
00:46:49.04\00:46:50.87
"That faithful
is he who called you
00:46:50.91\00:46:53.51
and He will do it."
00:46:53.54\00:46:58.51
Fourth thing I learned
00:46:58.55\00:47:01.28
from this story
00:47:01.32\00:47:04.45
is that stretching our faith
00:47:04.49\00:47:08.32
is a confirmation of God's word.
00:47:08.36\00:47:13.73
See Jesus said to stretch,
00:47:13.76\00:47:16.56
he said to stretch
and the man did so.
00:47:16.60\00:47:21.30
See, there is
power in Jesus' word,
00:47:21.34\00:47:24.84
but so much of what has
been commanded by Christ
00:47:24.87\00:47:28.01
has gone unclaimed by believers
00:47:28.04\00:47:31.01
because we do not
receive His word in faith,
00:47:31.05\00:47:36.48
but to anyone today,
00:47:36.52\00:47:38.42
who would dare to
believe on His name,
00:47:38.45\00:47:42.39
His word never returns void.
00:47:42.42\00:47:45.83
Dear friend, what
has Jesus commanded you?
00:47:45.86\00:47:50.00
Will you confirm His word
today and stretch your faith?
00:47:50.03\00:47:56.20
See what I find is
such a beautiful message
00:47:56.24\00:47:58.37
of this story
00:47:58.41\00:47:59.81
is that it was
as the man stretched
00:47:59.84\00:48:02.51
that he was healed.
00:48:02.54\00:48:04.25
As the man stretched,
00:48:04.28\00:48:06.51
he was strengthened,
00:48:06.55\00:48:09.68
he was stretched
and he was healed,
00:48:09.72\00:48:12.95
he stretched
and he was restored,
00:48:12.99\00:48:16.32
he stretched and he was revived,
00:48:16.36\00:48:19.29
he stretched and
God strengthened him.
00:48:19.33\00:48:23.33
And I believe that God wants
to do the same for us today,
00:48:23.37\00:48:26.57
that as we stretch our faith,
God is strengthening the weary.
00:48:26.60\00:48:31.34
As we stretch our faith,
00:48:31.37\00:48:33.41
God is strengthening
those who are broken.
00:48:33.44\00:48:36.01
As we stretch our faith,
God is restoring relationships.
00:48:36.04\00:48:40.62
As we stretch our
faith, God is giving us peace.
00:48:40.65\00:48:44.85
As we stretch our
faith, God is giving us rest.
00:48:44.89\00:48:49.36
As we stretch our faith,
God is healing our bodies.
00:48:49.39\00:48:53.16
As we stretch,
God is renewing minds.
00:48:53.19\00:48:56.53
As we stretch, God
is reviving our spirit.
00:48:56.56\00:49:01.24
And the most
beautiful aspect of this miracle
00:49:04.87\00:49:10.75
is that Jesus
performed it on the Sabbath day.
00:49:10.78\00:49:16.15
Jesus reminded the Pharisees
00:49:16.18\00:49:19.05
that the Sabbath was meant
00:49:19.09\00:49:21.46
to be a blessing not a burden.
00:49:21.49\00:49:24.13
As the creator,
He restored this man,
00:49:24.16\00:49:27.96
His creation on the Sabbath day.
00:49:28.00\00:49:31.57
Now remember that
He had said before
00:49:31.60\00:49:33.80
in Luke earlier in
this chapter in Luke
00:49:33.84\00:49:36.30
that He is the
Lord of the Sabbath.
00:49:36.34\00:49:39.01
What does that mean?
00:49:39.04\00:49:40.38
It means that He
created the Sabbath.
00:49:40.41\00:49:42.54
It means that He hallowed it,
00:49:42.58\00:49:44.01
and it means that He determines
00:49:44.05\00:49:45.88
what is lawful to
do on the Sabbath day.
00:49:45.91\00:49:48.28
And so by this great miracle,
00:49:48.32\00:49:50.25
He is declaring that the Sabbath
00:49:50.29\00:49:51.85
is a time for spiritual rest
00:49:51.89\00:49:54.02
and renewal and healing
00:49:54.06\00:49:55.96
and that only occurs
00:49:55.99\00:49:57.76
as we rely on the
power of Jesus Christ.
00:49:57.79\00:50:02.16
I believe that the Lord
of the Sabbath is here today
00:50:02.20\00:50:05.23
and He has declared
00:50:05.27\00:50:06.80
that this is the
day of salvation.
00:50:06.84\00:50:10.84
Will you receive Him?
00:50:10.87\00:50:14.51
See those who
witnessed the miracle
00:50:14.54\00:50:17.85
were left with a vital decision.
00:50:17.88\00:50:22.25
Will we accept
00:50:22.28\00:50:25.02
or reject Jesus?
00:50:25.05\00:50:28.42
The Pharisees decided
00:50:28.46\00:50:30.66
that since they
could not control Jesus,
00:50:30.69\00:50:34.60
they would destroy Him.
00:50:34.63\00:50:37.27
And it was this very miracle,
00:50:37.30\00:50:39.70
this very event
00:50:39.73\00:50:42.17
which incited
their joining together
00:50:42.20\00:50:45.87
to arrange His death.
00:50:45.91\00:50:48.74
But what they did not understand
00:50:48.78\00:50:51.01
is that their murderous plot
00:50:51.05\00:50:53.52
would only bring to fruition
00:50:53.55\00:50:56.38
the perfect and
eternal will of God,
00:50:56.42\00:51:01.76
for Jesus is the
lamb that was slain
00:51:01.79\00:51:06.09
from the
foundation of the world.
00:51:06.13\00:51:09.63
For He said, if I be lifted up,
00:51:09.66\00:51:13.34
I will draw all men unto Me.
00:51:13.37\00:51:18.11
So they hung Him high
00:51:18.14\00:51:21.54
and they stretched Him wide,
00:51:21.58\00:51:25.05
He hung His head
for you and me He died,
00:51:25.08\00:51:29.88
but I am so glad
00:51:29.92\00:51:31.92
that when Jesus
stretched out His hands,
00:51:31.95\00:51:37.49
humanity was strengthened.
00:51:37.53\00:51:40.50
When Jesus
stretched out His hands,
00:51:40.53\00:51:44.30
sin and Satan were defeated.
00:51:44.33\00:51:47.44
When Jesus
stretched out His hands,
00:51:47.47\00:51:50.74
the curse was forever broken.
00:51:50.77\00:51:55.01
By His stripes, we are healed.
00:51:55.04\00:51:58.78
Healing still
flows from Calvary today,
00:51:58.81\00:52:01.92
therefore, everything pertaining
00:52:01.95\00:52:04.42
to our salvation
has already been done
00:52:04.45\00:52:07.76
and the great
invitation of scripture
00:52:07.79\00:52:10.23
is who will believe on His name.
00:52:10.26\00:52:16.23
This man in our story
00:52:16.26\00:52:20.04
came to Christ
with a great witness,
00:52:20.07\00:52:25.11
but he was strengthened
00:52:25.14\00:52:27.54
through the power of God.
00:52:27.58\00:52:30.98
The Bible says in Romans 5:6,
00:52:31.01\00:52:35.25
"That it is while
we were still weak
00:52:35.28\00:52:39.39
at the right time,
00:52:39.42\00:52:41.26
in the very
moment of our weakness,
00:52:41.29\00:52:44.16
Christ died for the ungodly."
00:52:44.19\00:52:47.96
In fact, if we
understand this verse
00:52:48.00\00:52:50.30
in its original language,
00:52:50.33\00:52:52.00
we see that it
was at the very moment
00:52:52.03\00:52:54.74
that we were the
weakest that Christ was dying.
00:52:54.77\00:52:59.11
It was at the very
moment that we were sinning
00:52:59.14\00:53:02.04
that Christ was dying.
00:53:02.08\00:53:04.61
It was at the very
moment that we were weak,
00:53:04.65\00:53:07.25
that Christ was
imparting His strength.
00:53:07.28\00:53:13.15
So it is that we are weak,
00:53:13.19\00:53:16.36
but by His stripes
00:53:16.39\00:53:18.26
we are strengthened
00:53:18.29\00:53:19.73
and the invitation today
00:53:19.76\00:53:21.76
is for us to stretch our faith
00:53:21.80\00:53:25.57
in response
00:53:25.60\00:53:27.14
to what Jesus
Christ has already done.
00:53:27.17\00:53:31.41
The Bible says in Acts 16:31,
00:53:31.44\00:53:35.21
"If we believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:53:35.24\00:53:39.11
we shall be saved."
00:53:39.15\00:53:41.55
And faith, the foundation
of our faith is Jesus Christ.
00:53:41.58\00:53:47.22
At every moment
of our development
00:53:47.26\00:53:49.79
from the time that we
are first converted to Christ
00:53:49.82\00:53:52.53
to the time that we come to
spiritual maturity in Christ
00:53:52.56\00:53:55.46
which is a lifelong process,
00:53:55.50\00:53:57.40
it is faith in Him
00:53:57.43\00:53:59.27
which is the vital power
00:53:59.30\00:54:01.34
and provides the vital supply
00:54:01.37\00:54:03.34
that we need in
order to be strengthened.
00:54:03.37\00:54:06.31
There is nothing that
comes from our own power,
00:54:06.34\00:54:09.11
there is nothing that we receive
00:54:09.14\00:54:10.81
or accomplish spiritually
00:54:10.85\00:54:12.61
that is not done in Christ
00:54:12.65\00:54:14.98
and through faith in Him.
00:54:15.02\00:54:17.85
So may we recognize today
00:54:17.89\00:54:20.29
that it is vital to receive Him
00:54:20.32\00:54:23.63
and it is my prayer
00:54:23.66\00:54:25.33
that our faith
would be stretched
00:54:25.36\00:54:28.86
and that in turn
00:54:28.90\00:54:30.53
we would be strengthen.
00:54:30.57\00:54:33.30
Let us pray.
00:54:33.34\00:54:34.87
Father,
00:54:34.90\00:54:36.40
thank You for Jesus Christ
00:54:36.44\00:54:39.74
who was stretched
00:54:39.77\00:54:41.68
so that we
could be strengthened.
00:54:41.71\00:54:45.01
We pray now for an
increase in our faith,
00:54:45.05\00:54:49.45
God that we may believe
00:54:49.48\00:54:51.62
that everything in Christ
00:54:51.65\00:54:54.22
and what is
necessary for our salvation
00:54:54.26\00:54:57.09
has already been done,
00:54:57.13\00:54:59.36
may we grow in faith
because of this message today.
00:54:59.39\00:55:02.46
May we grasp our Savior
because of this word today
00:55:02.50\00:55:06.50
and as we
stretch forth our faith,
00:55:06.53\00:55:09.20
I pray that we
would be strengthened
00:55:09.24\00:55:12.27
in Jesus Christ.
00:55:12.31\00:55:14.08
In His holy and precious name,
00:55:14.11\00:55:16.58
we pray.
00:55:16.61\00:55:18.05
Amen.
00:55:18.08\00:55:19.41
I know that you were
blessed by that message
00:55:27.66\00:55:29.52
that Dr. Medlock
brought about stretched
00:55:29.56\00:55:32.29
and giving our faith
00:55:32.33\00:55:34.40
and knowing that
the Lord will bless us
00:55:34.43\00:55:36.83
as we trust Him with our
hearts and with our lives.
00:55:36.87\00:55:40.44
As you watch this broadcast,
00:55:40.47\00:55:41.87
we'd like to extend the
continue challenge to you.
00:55:41.90\00:55:44.74
There may be someone
watching this program today
00:55:44.77\00:55:46.88
that may be
challenged in their prayer life.
00:55:46.91\00:55:50.21
The challenge is
to put your requests
00:55:50.25\00:55:52.51
before the Lord,
00:55:52.55\00:55:53.88
be stretched in your faith,
don't look at the obvious,
00:55:53.92\00:55:57.32
but keep your
eyes fixed on Christ.
00:55:57.35\00:56:00.26
Many of us are
challenged in our lives
00:56:00.29\00:56:02.06
because we look at our problems
00:56:02.09\00:56:03.93
and our problems
stretch our faith
00:56:03.96\00:56:05.93
to the point of breaking.
00:56:05.96\00:56:07.30
As Dr. Medlock
challenge you again today,
00:56:07.33\00:56:10.00
don't look at our
problems, stretch our faith
00:56:10.03\00:56:13.20
and ask the Lord
to give us a glimpse
00:56:13.23\00:56:14.94
of our problem solver.
00:56:14.97\00:56:16.81
There may be someone
stretched in their relationships
00:56:16.84\00:56:19.21
with their
children, with their spouse,
00:56:19.24\00:56:20.81
with their
family, with their church.
00:56:20.84\00:56:22.78
The Lord is saying to you today,
00:56:22.81\00:56:24.48
put your request before God
00:56:24.51\00:56:26.41
and don't allow the challenges
00:56:26.45\00:56:27.85
that surround
you to close you in,
00:56:27.88\00:56:30.29
but by faith,
00:56:30.32\00:56:31.65
allow your faith to be stretched
00:56:31.69\00:56:33.82
and take hold of the only one
that can resolve your issues.
00:56:33.86\00:56:38.26
And know that the
single greatest event
00:56:38.29\00:56:40.53
that happened was when Jesus
stretched His arm on the cross
00:56:40.56\00:56:44.30
to pay for your
sin and for mine,
00:56:44.33\00:56:46.53
but that was not
the end of the story.
00:56:46.57\00:56:48.47
It was just not His death
00:56:48.50\00:56:50.87
that guaranteed us the salvation
00:56:50.91\00:56:52.77
that we all now enjoy,
but it was His resurrection.
00:56:52.81\00:56:56.48
We have a
Savior that ever liveth
00:56:56.51\00:56:58.25
to make intercession for us.
00:56:58.28\00:57:01.15
Here at Dare to Dream,
00:57:01.18\00:57:02.52
that is the
foundation of our faith,
00:57:02.55\00:57:04.62
The Risen Savior.
00:57:04.65\00:57:05.99
The foundation of our
faith now gives us the option
00:57:06.02\00:57:09.06
to allow our
faith to be stretched.
00:57:09.09\00:57:11.29
So today, from Dare to Dream,
from 3ABN network to your home,
00:57:11.33\00:57:15.86
to your heart, to
your place of worship,
00:57:15.90\00:57:18.57
bring your
request before God today
00:57:18.60\00:57:20.67
and we know
that by trusting Him,
00:57:20.70\00:57:22.90
your faith will be stretched
00:57:22.94\00:57:24.94
and your prayers
will be answered.
00:57:24.97\00:57:27.51
God bless you
until we see you again.
00:57:27.54\00:57:30.25