If you truly believe that God
is love let me hear you say Amen
00:01:00.86\00:01:04.08
Ahhh let's try it again. Do you
really believe that God is love?
00:01:04.11\00:01:08.29
Let me hear you
say Praise the Lord
00:01:08.32\00:01:10.42
Praise the Lord!
00:01:10.45\00:01:12.14
Oh I know that you
believe God is love
00:01:12.17\00:01:14.07
This entire book is telling
us the story about how much
00:01:14.10\00:01:18.74
God loves you and me, Amen.
00:01:18.77\00:01:21.11
And this morning we can rejoice
in knowing that God is love
00:01:21.14\00:01:24.93
that we are loved and that
God has saved us to serve others
00:01:24.96\00:01:29.99
and in the process of serving
we are sharing the love of God
00:01:30.02\00:01:34.64
and the plan that He has
for each and every one of us.
00:01:34.67\00:01:38.57
Bow your heads
with me this morning
00:01:38.60\00:01:40.91
as we open the Word of
God that God will speak to us.
00:01:40.94\00:01:44.53
Eternal Father we thank You
this morning for the blessings
00:01:44.56\00:01:49.95
of this Your Holy Sabbath
Day. We thank you for the song
00:01:49.98\00:01:54.36
of praise that reminds
us that truly God is love.
00:01:54.39\00:01:59.03
And Father this
morning we pray for these
00:01:59.06\00:02:02.10
who are worshipping with us,
the church family, the friends
00:02:02.13\00:02:05.18
who have come to worship
with us today, we ask for them
00:02:05.21\00:02:08.95
a special blessing that they
will see and hear and experience
00:02:08.98\00:02:13.56
that precious love that has
been given to us in Your Son
00:02:13.59\00:02:18.52
and our Savior Jesus Christ, and
Father we pray that as we hear
00:02:18.55\00:02:22.37
Your Word we will not be hearers
only but doers of the Word
00:02:22.40\00:02:26.54
Father it is to this end
we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:02:26.57\00:02:31.27
Over the last several years I've
come to have a particular burden
00:02:31.30\00:02:39.86
as it relates to
us, the people of God.
00:02:39.89\00:02:42.96
I have been to schools for
evangelism, I have preached
00:02:42.99\00:02:48.41
around the world but I've
finally come to realize that the
00:02:48.44\00:02:52.57
greatest evangelists are not
those of us who've been trained
00:02:52.60\00:02:56.29
and those of us who are in full
time ministry and those of us
00:02:56.32\00:02:59.98
who have the credentials
and degrees and all of that.
00:03:00.01\00:03:03.19
The greatest evangelists
are YOU the people of God.
00:03:03.22\00:03:08.32
Because God has saved you for
one purpose. That is to glorify
00:03:08.35\00:03:14.70
Jesus Christ through worshipping
Him and through service
00:03:14.73\00:03:18.61
for your fellow man. I
like the theme that we have
00:03:18.64\00:03:22.81
Saved to what everybody? Saved
for, saved for service. Amen.
00:03:22.84\00:03:30.39
I've often said we've not been
saved to sit but saved to serve.
00:03:30.42\00:03:34.45
That God has called us out
of the world to send us back
00:03:34.48\00:03:39.46
into the world with the glorious
message of the soon coming
00:03:39.49\00:03:43.01
of His son and our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
00:03:43.04\00:03:46.29
And so today, I want
to focus the message today
00:03:46.32\00:03:49.13
on a very simple theme and
the topic is Tell Your Story.
00:03:49.16\00:03:53.20
I've been sharing that
theme with the workshops
00:03:53.23\00:03:56.50
we've been doing yesterday
and then again tomorrow
00:03:56.53\00:04:00.31
Tell Your Story. Go
with me to Mark, chapter 5.
00:04:00.34\00:04:07.13
The Gospel of Mark, chapter 5.
00:04:07.16\00:04:10.45
It is a message I like to
share because it embodies the
00:04:10.48\00:04:16.43
heart of what it
means to tell your story,
00:04:16.46\00:04:21.46
how important it
is. Mark chapter 5.
00:04:21.49\00:04:25.65
If we look at the context of
Mark 5 what we discover is that
00:04:25.68\00:04:32.55
Jesus made a very
perilous journey across the sea
00:04:32.58\00:04:36.96
of Galilee. And we know in
the process of this journey
00:04:36.99\00:04:41.26
Jesus
encountered a terrible storm.
00:04:41.29\00:04:44.27
Well in the midst of
the storm Jesus was asleep.
00:04:44.30\00:04:47.76
And I'm just amazed that the
disciples being that they were
00:04:47.79\00:04:51.76
fishermen no doubt they had
been through many storms before
00:04:51.79\00:04:55.65
and this storm started off
probably just another storm but
00:04:55.68\00:04:59.35
soon they realized that
there was more to this storm
00:04:59.38\00:05:03.52
than they had
encountered before.
00:05:03.55\00:05:06.23
They probably tried all
that they knew how to do
00:05:06.26\00:05:09.74
and yet the Bible says,
the boat was filling up.
00:05:09.77\00:05:12.48
And somebody remembered
that Jesus was on board.
00:05:12.51\00:05:15.46
And they cried out to Him Master
don't you care we are perishing?
00:05:15.49\00:05:20.61
And the Bible tells us that
Jesus arose and calmed the storm
00:05:20.64\00:05:24.69
And the Bible says they were
astonished that even the winds
00:05:24.72\00:05:28.97
and the waves obeyed His
voice. As I survey the Bible
00:05:29.00\00:05:33.57
here is what I discovered.
The winds obey His voice
00:05:33.60\00:05:36.91
the waves obey His
voice, the ravens obey His voice
00:05:36.94\00:05:40.96
the only part of God's
creation that God has difficulty
00:05:40.99\00:05:45.17
with is you and me. Those who
are made in the image of God.
00:05:45.20\00:05:49.87
We seem to have a
problem listening to and obeying
00:05:49.90\00:05:53.62
the Word of God. The Bible
tells us the Jesus came on land
00:05:53.65\00:05:58.75
and He encountered another storm
in the person of the demoniac.
00:05:58.78\00:06:04.05
You know every time I study
these men a little laughter
00:06:04.08\00:06:08.33
comes into my soul and
into my spirit because these men
00:06:08.36\00:06:11.78
were isolated and relegated
to living among the tombs.
00:06:11.81\00:06:16.79
The living dead
among the physical dead.
00:06:16.82\00:06:20.32
I imagine that their
names had long been taken off
00:06:20.35\00:06:24.44
of those who need
visitation from the church.
00:06:24.47\00:06:26.70
But the Bible says that these
men recognized who Jesus was
00:06:26.73\00:06:32.47
and the story goes on
that Jesus then healed the men
00:06:32.50\00:06:37.77
cast out the demons and
then as we read the Bible
00:06:37.80\00:06:40.95
the Bible tells us here
in verse 19 of Mark chapter 5
00:06:40.98\00:06:47.79
'Howbeit Jesus suffered
him not but said unto him,
00:06:47.82\00:06:52.56
go home to thy friends and
tell how great things the Lord
00:06:52.59\00:06:57.78
hath done for thee.' In other
words Jesus was telling this man
00:06:57.81\00:07:01.59
go home and tell your story.
No one can tell your story
00:07:01.62\00:07:07.84
about what Christ has done in
your life and what Jesus means
00:07:07.87\00:07:11.92
to you except you. You
are the author of your story.
00:07:11.95\00:07:16.25
And someone needs to know
what Jesus Christ has done
00:07:16.28\00:07:21.14
in your life. The Bible tells
us that then Jesus in verse 21
00:07:21.17\00:07:26.04
And Jesus passed over again
by ship unto the other side
00:07:26.07\00:07:30.72
much people gathered unto Him
and He was nigh unto the sea.
00:07:30.75\00:07:35.60
And behold there came one
of the rulers of the synagogue
00:07:35.63\00:07:41.67
Jairus by name and when he
saw Him he fell at His feet.
00:07:41.70\00:07:46.26
I know we've read this
passage many times before.
00:07:46.29\00:07:50.34
But somehow the impact of
this scene seems to have faded
00:07:50.37\00:07:56.96
from our minds. Jairus was
of the elite class of those
00:07:56.99\00:08:02.41
religious leaders of the day.
The Bible said he was a ruler.
00:08:02.44\00:08:05.81
And by its very nature the
mission and ministry of Christ
00:08:05.84\00:08:10.97
was in opposition to what the
established religious leaders
00:08:11.00\00:08:15.89
of the day believed it ought
to be. The Bible tell us that
00:08:15.92\00:08:20.60
Jairus had a problem. Jairus had
an issue. And he besought Him
00:08:20.63\00:08:26.71
greatly, verse 23 Mark chapter
5 And he besought Him greatly
00:08:26.74\00:08:31.51
saying, my little daughter
lieth at the point of death
00:08:31.54\00:08:35.30
I pray Thee come, lay Thy hands
on her that she may be healed
00:08:35.33\00:08:40.42
and she shall live. It
is interesting how Jairus
00:08:40.45\00:08:44.95
approaches Jesus. He comes
running to Him and pleading
00:08:44.98\00:08:48.96
Jesus do something, my daughter
lies at the point of death.
00:08:48.99\00:08:53.37
And the Bible says then
he proceeds to instruct Jesus
00:08:53.40\00:08:57.04
as to what He ought to do.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
00:08:57.07\00:09:00.73
It sounds like the way we often
pray. We tell God what we desire
00:09:00.76\00:09:05.29
we tell God what we want
but then we tell Him how to fix
00:09:05.32\00:09:09.22
the problem. Can I
help you right now?
00:09:09.25\00:09:12.31
Jesus knows what we need.
Jesus knows better than you
00:09:12.34\00:09:19.14
and better than me
what we truly need from Him.
00:09:19.17\00:09:22.56
The Bible tells us that Jairus
was at the point of desperation.
00:09:22.59\00:09:28.68
Then the Bible tells us as
we continue to read the story
00:09:28.71\00:09:32.50
that Jesus went with him.
Now notice that he said to Jesus
00:09:32.53\00:09:40.13
come to my house, lay
Your hands on my daughter
00:09:40.16\00:09:44.63
and she shall recover. Could
it be that Jairus heard what
00:09:44.66\00:09:50.62
Jesus may have done for someone
else? That the method of healing
00:09:50.65\00:09:54.74
and restoration was that Jesus
had laid His hands on the blind
00:09:54.77\00:09:59.44
and they recovered and laid
His hands on those who were sick
00:09:59.47\00:10:02.44
and they were healed. And
Jairus limited God to one method
00:10:02.47\00:10:06.87
and one mode of
healing and restoration.
00:10:06.90\00:10:09.35
Can I say to you this morning
that God has a thousand ways
00:10:09.38\00:10:12.60
in which to meet our needs.
And sometimes we limit God
00:10:12.63\00:10:17.26
by our own limited understanding
and perspective as to who He is.
00:10:17.29\00:10:23.04
But notice what the Bible
tells us. The Bible tells us
00:10:23.07\00:10:26.76
that Jesus went with
him and much people followed
00:10:26.79\00:10:30.28
and thronged Him, and a
certain woman which had an issue
00:10:30.31\00:10:35.64
of blood 12 years had suffered
many things of many physicians
00:10:35.67\00:10:41.47
and spent all that she
had and was nothing better
00:10:41.50\00:10:45.98
but grew worse. And when
she heard of Jesus she came
00:10:46.01\00:10:51.92
in behind the press and
touched His garment for she said
00:10:51.95\00:10:55.85
if I may but touch His
clothes I shall be made whole.
00:10:55.88\00:11:00.41
Notice the different
approaches of these 2 seekers
00:11:00.44\00:11:04.42
of Jesus Christ.
Notice the status and standing
00:11:04.45\00:11:08.89
of both of these individuals.
If you read the text
00:11:08.92\00:11:13.74
as it ought to be read,
both Jairus and the woman
00:11:13.77\00:11:17.39
with the issue of
blood, they both had issues.
00:11:17.42\00:11:20.59
Matter of fact, I
daresay today that all of us
00:11:20.62\00:11:23.66
sitting here this
morning, we all have issues.
00:11:23.69\00:11:26.54
And friends if you don't believe
that, then that's your issue.
00:11:26.57\00:11:30.25
All of us have issues. Some of
us it's our attitude, some of us
00:11:30.28\00:11:38.36
it's not feeling good
about ourselves, some of us
00:11:38.39\00:11:40.85
feeling too much of ourselves.
Some of us, it's a spirit of
00:11:40.88\00:11:44.01
self righteousness,
it's a spirit of entitlement.
00:11:44.04\00:11:47.35
But all of us have issues,
why? Because the Bible says
00:11:47.38\00:11:52.10
that we are all born in sin
and shapen in what? iniquity.
00:11:52.13\00:11:56.85
All of us have
deficits and shortcomings.
00:11:56.88\00:12:00.86
The Bible says in the beginning
God made us all of the dust of
00:12:00.89\00:12:04.17
the earth. But some people
believe that they are better
00:12:04.20\00:12:06.98
than others because
they were made of gold dust!
00:12:07.01\00:12:09.29
My brothers and sisters we're
made from the dust of the earth
00:12:09.32\00:12:14.55
and all of us stand in need
of the saving blood of our Lord
00:12:14.58\00:12:18.61
and Savior Jesus
Christ. Now notice in the text
00:12:18.64\00:12:22.53
the Bible doesn't say
explicitly but implicitly Jairus
00:12:22.56\00:12:26.89
being a man of wealth and power
and position no doubt in my mind
00:12:26.92\00:12:33.42
that he had utilized all of
his resources in order to bring
00:12:33.45\00:12:38.17
healing to his daughter and the
Bible says now she was at the
00:12:38.20\00:12:42.46
point of death.
Listen to what the Bible says
00:12:42.49\00:12:47.51
When she heard that Jesus came,
she came behind in the press
00:12:47.54\00:12:54.16
and touched His garment for
she said, if I only touch Him.
00:12:54.19\00:12:57.76
Notice, Jairus'
approach was to be instructive,
00:12:57.79\00:13:02.87
to tell Jesus what He ought to
do. This woman on the other hand
00:13:02.90\00:13:06.85
did not seek an audience
with Jesus, all she said,
00:13:06.88\00:13:10.75
if I can get just close
enough to Him to touch Him
00:13:10.78\00:13:15.02
I know that everything
is going to be alright!
00:13:15.05\00:13:18.64
Notice in both cases Jesus
accepted both for who they were.
00:13:18.67\00:13:24.74
And for their approach to Him.
Straightaway the Bible tells us
00:13:24.77\00:13:29.83
the fountain of her blood dried
up and she felt in her body
00:13:29.86\00:13:35.95
that she was
healed of the plague.
00:13:35.98\00:13:38.87
There are some
interesting similarities
00:13:38.90\00:13:41.69
and some differences
in Jairus and the woman.
00:13:41.72\00:13:44.95
Let me highlight
just a few of them.
00:13:44.98\00:13:47.52
First of all Jairus is
named. The woman is unnamed.
00:13:47.55\00:13:53.16
The Bible tells us that Jairus
was a man of power, prestige
00:13:53.19\00:13:58.34
and position. This woman was
the lowliest of all that dwelt
00:13:58.37\00:14:03.60
because the Bible
tells us she had an issue.
00:14:03.63\00:14:06.72
Jairus was a leader of the
synagogue, this woman was not
00:14:06.75\00:14:10.29
even allowed to enter into the
synagogue because her condition
00:14:10.32\00:14:14.98
rendered her unclean and unfit
to dwell among the people of God
00:14:15.01\00:14:19.79
One of the sad things that I've
discovered in ministry is that
00:14:19.82\00:14:24.72
there are a lot of people some-
times who want to come to church
00:14:24.75\00:14:27.53
they want to fellowship but
you know what their problem is?
00:14:27.56\00:14:30.07
They're scared of the saints!
There are people who have not
00:14:30.10\00:14:34.68
been in church for 4
months and 5 months and 8 months
00:14:34.71\00:14:37.22
and they want to come back
to church but they're afraid
00:14:37.25\00:14:40.07
because they don't want to be
interrogated when they return.
00:14:40.10\00:14:43.48
and so they stay
away. The Bible tells us
00:14:43.51\00:14:48.15
that Jairus was a man of power
and prestige. Notice if you will
00:14:48.18\00:14:56.07
Jairus' daughter was 12 years
old. The woman with the issue
00:14:56.10\00:15:03.03
of blood had suffered for
12 long years. It appeared
00:15:03.06\00:15:08.60
from the text that where Jairus
had the benefit and blessing
00:15:08.63\00:15:12.84
of celebrating the joy of
having his daughter for 12 years
00:15:12.87\00:15:17.25
this woman's issue
began almost at the same time.
00:15:17.28\00:15:21.66
12 years of suffering,
12 years of celebration
00:15:21.69\00:15:25.07
and yet the Bible tells us that
they're now at the same place
00:15:25.10\00:15:28.90
where they both needed
the intervention and ministry
00:15:28.93\00:15:32.40
of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
Bible tells us that Jesus now
00:15:32.43\00:15:38.53
is on His way to the home
of Jairus with the purpose
00:15:38.56\00:15:44.58
and intent of doing
something wonderful for Jairus.
00:15:44.61\00:15:50.31
But the Bible tells us that
the woman in the crowd came up
00:15:50.34\00:15:55.71
behind the press,
touched the hem of His garment
00:15:55.74\00:15:59.47
and the Bible says, and
this verse is so powerful
00:15:59.50\00:16:02.58
that Jesus felt that
power had gone out of Him.
00:16:02.61\00:16:08.67
The Word of God says, Jesus
cried out 'who touched Me'?
00:16:08.70\00:16:13.90
Who touched me? And
the church members said
00:16:13.93\00:16:17.53
Lord, don't you see the crowd?
00:16:17.56\00:16:19.46
Don't you see all of
these people thronging you
00:16:19.49\00:16:23.26
and you ask, who touched
me? But Jesus was speaking
00:16:23.29\00:16:27.62
not just of physical
touch but a spiritual connection
00:16:27.65\00:16:31.72
that was made
by an act of faith.
00:16:31.75\00:16:34.82
This woman is one that I admire
greatly. Notice the progression
00:16:34.85\00:16:41.48
of her standing and stature.
And it's instructive for us.
00:16:41.51\00:16:46.57
The longer we spend time
with Jesus, the more we grow
00:16:46.60\00:16:51.99
into the person that Jesus
has come to make us into, notice
00:16:52.02\00:16:58.23
she begins as a woman
with an issue of blood.
00:16:58.26\00:17:01.15
The Bible tells us that
Jesus stopped in His tracks
00:17:01.18\00:17:07.09
and cried out, 'who touched me?'
00:17:07.12\00:17:10.30
My friends this woman
did not count on this event.
00:17:10.33\00:17:16.16
Listen to what the Bible says,
'and straightaway, verse 29
00:17:16.19\00:17:22.52
her blood was dried up
and she felt within her body
00:17:22.55\00:17:27.34
she knew that
something had happened to her.
00:17:27.37\00:17:30.57
for 12 long years she
spent her entire life savings
00:17:30.60\00:17:36.47
she withdrew all the money that
she had and placed that money
00:17:36.50\00:17:41.54
in the hands of physicians that
were not able to bring about
00:17:41.57\00:17:46.24
the desired healing. There's
some lessons there for us.
00:17:46.27\00:17:50.37
There are some important lessons
there for you and for me.
00:17:50.40\00:17:54.71
Only Jesus can do for
us what our hearts desire.
00:17:54.74\00:18:00.83
Only Jesus can heal us of
all the afflictions of life.
00:18:00.86\00:18:06.23
Only Christ can provide the
remedy for the malady that sin
00:18:06.26\00:18:11.36
has brought into our lives. But
the story gets even more serious
00:18:11.39\00:18:16.38
The Bible says Jesus looked
around and said 'who touched me'
00:18:16.41\00:18:21.50
She did not count on
this. In her mind, in her spirit
00:18:21.53\00:18:29.49
her thoughts were to come behind
the press on hands and knees
00:18:29.52\00:18:34.12
and touch the hem of His
garment and slip away quietly
00:18:34.15\00:18:38.05
into the crowd. But
Jesus had a greater purpose.
00:18:38.08\00:18:42.36
Jesus had a greater desire.
Jesus had healed her body
00:18:42.39\00:18:49.65
But now Jesus wants to offer her
more than just physical healing.
00:18:49.68\00:18:54.23
So Jesus said, 'who touched me'.
Listen to what the Bible says
00:18:54.26\00:18:59.08
And the woman, verse 33,
the woman fearing and trembling
00:18:59.11\00:19:05.60
and knowing what was done in her
came and fell down before Him
00:19:05.63\00:19:10.91
and told Him all the
truth. Jesus realized
00:19:10.94\00:19:16.78
that had the woman simply
slipped away into the crowd
00:19:16.81\00:19:20.93
she would've left there
believing that the healing
00:19:20.96\00:19:24.48
was in the HEM
and not in the HIM
00:19:24.51\00:19:29.17
Jesus wanted her to understand
that the true source of healing
00:19:29.20\00:19:34.16
was not in the
touching of His garment
00:19:34.19\00:19:36.67
but was in the
faith she placed in Him
00:19:36.70\00:19:39.86
as the divine Son of
God and healer of mankind.
00:19:39.89\00:19:43.77
But the Bible says she was
afraid. Why was she afraid?
00:19:43.80\00:19:47.86
Understand, that a woman in her
condition was forbidden by law
00:19:47.89\00:19:55.32
to make contact with a
Rabbi. What she had done
00:19:55.35\00:20:00.26
was equal to a capital offense.
For rendering the Rabbi unclean
00:20:00.29\00:20:06.22
she could've been taken out
and stoned, but the Bible said
00:20:06.25\00:20:10.33
that Jesus wanted to
do some thing more for her
00:20:10.36\00:20:13.85
than simply healing her body.
00:20:13.88\00:20:15.86
Yes, Jesus is
interested in her our being.
00:20:15.89\00:20:19.18
The Bible tells us in third John
Beloved I wish above all things
00:20:19.21\00:20:24.70
that thou prosper and be in
health even as thy soul prospers
00:20:24.73\00:20:30.47
Jesus is not just interested
in healing us physically
00:20:30.50\00:20:34.23
Jesus came so that He
can heal us spiritually
00:20:34.26\00:20:38.32
that the disease of sin that
brings not only physical death
00:20:38.35\00:20:42.93
but eventually will
bring spiritual death
00:20:42.96\00:20:45.49
that is His
mission, that is His purpose
00:20:45.52\00:20:47.83
and for that reason He came.
00:20:47.86\00:20:49.94
The Bible tells us that
this woman began with a purpose,
00:20:49.97\00:20:54.80
a purpose to be
healed. And I like the fact
00:20:54.83\00:21:00.09
that no matter how
many obstacles Satan raised
00:21:00.12\00:21:03.90
in her path, she kept going.
One doctor disappointed her
00:21:03.93\00:21:08.51
she looked in the yellow pages
and she found another doctor.
00:21:08.54\00:21:11.46
This doctor failed
her and she left Brisbane
00:21:11.49\00:21:14.85
and went to Melbourne.
She couldn't find a doctor in
00:21:14.88\00:21:17.85
Melbourne so she took a long
drive across west gong to Perth
00:21:17.88\00:21:21.49
And she couldn't find a
doctor there and she came back
00:21:21.52\00:21:24.10
and she went to
the north country.
00:21:24.13\00:21:25.91
This was a woman with purpose.
00:21:25.94\00:21:29.67
But more than
purpose, she had perseverance.
00:21:29.70\00:21:32.54
I want to say to
you today church family
00:21:32.57\00:21:34.88
that if we're going
to make heaven our home
00:21:34.91\00:21:37.65
we must make heaven
our singular purpose.
00:21:37.68\00:21:42.00
But more than purpose
we must have perseverance.
00:21:42.03\00:21:47.55
Because the enemy of your
soul and the enemy of my soul
00:21:47.58\00:21:51.67
he's going to place obstacles
in our paths to cause us to
00:21:51.70\00:21:57.30
to become discouraged, to
cause us to doubt, to cause us
00:21:57.33\00:22:02.08
to become disillusioned but the
Bible says this woman continued
00:22:02.11\00:22:06.55
to persevere. So
now Jesus calls her out.
00:22:06.58\00:22:10.11
She didn't count on that. In her
mind 'I just want to go get my
00:22:10.14\00:22:14.96
healing and slip away
and go home. Just like we do
00:22:14.99\00:22:18.91
every Sabbath. We come to church
we get our sermon and our song
00:22:18.94\00:22:22.88
and we slip away
back to our homes.
00:22:22.91\00:22:25.46
But the Bible
says, and our theme says
00:22:25.49\00:22:28.88
We are saved for what
everybody? For service.
00:22:28.91\00:22:33.24
The thing that I like about
Jesus and admire about Jesus
00:22:33.27\00:22:39.36
is that He knows what we need.
00:22:39.39\00:22:41.48
Can you now imagine,
if you will, see Pastor
00:22:41.51\00:22:46.86
I have an imagination that
sometimes is a little crazy
00:22:46.89\00:22:50.10
and so I'm thinking
in my mind right now
00:22:50.13\00:22:53.42
What is Jairus
thinking right now?
00:22:53.45\00:22:56.59
Can't you not see the look
on his face? Jesus hurry up
00:22:56.62\00:23:01.13
let's go, my
daughter is about to die.
00:23:01.16\00:23:05.44
But Jesus is spending
time with this woman, why?
00:23:05.47\00:23:09.08
Because Jesus knew and
Jesus had been listening
00:23:09.11\00:23:13.37
to the conversation
at the home of Jairus.
00:23:13.40\00:23:16.13
In that very moment as Jesus
was dialoguing with the woman
00:23:16.16\00:23:22.62
with the issue who had
now been healed and restored
00:23:22.65\00:23:26.04
the messengers were on
their way from Jairus' house
00:23:26.07\00:23:30.22
and when they
arrived, they said to Jairus
00:23:30.25\00:23:33.37
Trouble not the master any
further, your daughter is dead.
00:23:33.40\00:23:37.78
Please understand.
The woman who had an issue
00:23:37.81\00:23:44.05
that Jesus called out
and told her entire story
00:23:44.08\00:23:49.48
her testimony was to strengthen
Jairus for the message
00:23:49.51\00:23:54.23
that he was about to receive.
Her testimony, about 12 years
00:23:54.26\00:23:59.99
of searching, 12 years of
dis- appointment, 12 years
00:24:00.02\00:24:03.67
of obstacles, 12 years of
having to pursue and persevere
00:24:03.70\00:24:08.58
and finally she found
herself at the feet of Jesus
00:24:08.61\00:24:12.01
and she was healed.
There's a song that says
00:24:12.04\00:24:15.51
It is no secret what God
can do What He's done for others
00:24:15.54\00:24:20.58
He will do for you. Notice if
you will, Jairus was not given
00:24:20.61\00:24:27.68
opportunity to respond to
the message and the messengers
00:24:27.71\00:24:32.73
Listen to what Jesus said
to Jairus, the Bible tells us
00:24:32.76\00:24:37.48
verse 36, 'As soon as Jesus
heard the words that were spoken
00:24:37.51\00:24:44.21
He said unto the ruler of
the synagogue, Be not afraid
00:24:44.24\00:24:49.27
only believe. Be not
doubting, only believe.
00:24:49.30\00:24:58.09
It's interesting. What Jairus
went to Jesus that morning
00:24:58.12\00:25:05.14
seeking was healing. What
Jesus had in mind for Jairus
00:25:05.17\00:25:10.56
was a resurrection! It's amazing
how we settle for so little
00:25:10.59\00:25:16.42
when God wants
to give us so much.
00:25:16.45\00:25:19.72
It's amazing that we settle
for just being church members
00:25:19.75\00:25:23.73
when Jesus has saved us and
called us to become disciples.
00:25:23.76\00:25:27.64
You know friends, I blame
myself and I blame us as pastors
00:25:27.67\00:25:31.54
to some degree because we
have somewhat misread the gospel
00:25:31.57\00:25:35.89
commission. The
gospel commission says
00:25:35.92\00:25:39.14
Go ye into all the
world and make disciples
00:25:39.17\00:25:42.21
not church
members, but disciples.
00:25:42.24\00:25:48.55
It is true that we
become part of the body
00:25:48.58\00:25:53.05
but the focus of the
mission and the message
00:25:53.08\00:25:56.81
that Jesus has entrusted to
us is that we go into the world
00:25:56.84\00:26:01.61
with the purpose and
with the singular goal
00:26:01.64\00:26:04.36
of making men
and women disciples.
00:26:04.39\00:26:07.09
So the question then is, what is
a disciple? I'm glad you asked.
00:26:07.12\00:26:10.32
Let me give you a very simple
definition that works for me.
00:26:10.35\00:26:17.72
A disciple is a reproducing
Christian. That works for me.
00:26:17.75\00:26:27.60
It means that at the
moment that I've become saved
00:26:27.63\00:26:31.60
I also become
indebted to the unsaved.
00:26:31.63\00:26:36.70
If Jesus Christ has saved
my soul, Ellen White says,
00:26:36.73\00:26:42.86
No sooner than one
becomes, I'm paraphrasing
00:26:42.89\00:26:46.39
No sooner than one
becomes a child of God
00:26:46.42\00:26:51.42
there springs up within
that individual a desire
00:26:51.45\00:26:55.73
to see others saved.
And so it troubles me that
00:26:55.76\00:27:01.62
upwards of 80% of us
who name the name of Jesus
00:27:01.65\00:27:07.81
who are members of the
church of the living God,
00:27:07.84\00:27:10.24
remnant church of the living
God will spend our entire lives
00:27:10.27\00:27:15.83
in the church and never lead
another person to Jesus Christ.
00:27:15.86\00:27:20.92
Something is wrong! Somehow we
have misread the instructions.
00:27:20.95\00:27:26.88
We have been saved for service.
00:27:26.91\00:27:32.71
But I understand the root of the
problem. Because for too long
00:27:32.74\00:27:39.34
evangelism was a program. It's
something we did for a few weeks
00:27:39.37\00:27:46.02
during the year and then
we went back to having church.
00:27:46.05\00:27:49.11
I shared it with a
few earlier this week
00:27:49.14\00:27:53.19
maybe about 3 or 4 years ago,
00:27:53.22\00:27:55.75
our leaders at the
General Conference declared
00:27:55.78\00:27:58.92
This is the year of
Evangelism. I thought about it
00:27:58.95\00:28:03.88
and then I got angry. My
anger stemmed from the fact
00:28:03.91\00:28:10.35
that I began to
ask myself if this year
00:28:10.38\00:28:13.33
is the year of
Evangelism, what was last year?
00:28:13.36\00:28:18.47
I thought maybe I
missed the meeting when they
00:28:18.50\00:28:22.72
told us what last year
was. My brothers and sisters
00:28:22.75\00:28:27.63
every waking moment,
every moment that breath
00:28:27.66\00:28:31.55
is in our bodies, every waking
moment that blood is cruising
00:28:31.58\00:28:35.08
through our veins, that
is a moment for evangelism.
00:28:35.11\00:28:38.59
And the way we
evangelize is not just with the
00:28:38.62\00:28:42.63
trainers and the
specialists, we need them.
00:28:42.66\00:28:45.03
But evangelism takes place every
day at work we're evangelizing
00:28:45.06\00:28:51.86
because we're showing up on time
00:28:51.89\00:28:54.29
and we're giving a full day's
work for a full day of pay.
00:28:54.32\00:28:58.63
Hello? That's evangelism.
00:28:58.66\00:29:02.43
Evangelism is holding the door
open when the person behind you
00:29:02.46\00:29:08.13
maybe a few steps away and
it will take a few moments of
00:29:08.16\00:29:11.33
your time to just stand
there and hold the door open.
00:29:11.36\00:29:14.35
That's evangelism.
Because you are demonstrating
00:29:14.38\00:29:18.34
a love, a kindness
and a sense of compassion
00:29:18.37\00:29:22.38
for those around you. Evangelism
is telling your story.
00:29:22.41\00:29:27.42
The woman told her story
about what she had been through
00:29:27.45\00:29:32.40
and how coming to Jesus
Christ she finally received
00:29:32.43\00:29:37.22
what her heart had desired. She
told her story. And her story
00:29:37.25\00:29:45.00
enabled and empowered Jairus
to follow Jesus to his house
00:29:45.03\00:29:52.04
after hearing that
his daughter was dead.
00:29:52.07\00:29:55.42
Now friends, it
takes perseverance,
00:29:55.45\00:29:59.08
it takes perspective and it
takes a sense of not giving up
00:29:59.11\00:30:07.07
until we have received from
God that which our hearts desire
00:30:07.10\00:30:13.16
but more than that, that
which God desires us to have!
00:30:13.19\00:30:18.00
I remember few years ago when
I started post graduate studies
00:30:18.03\00:30:23.81
at a school in Rochester, NY
00:30:23.84\00:30:27.62
I had done all my
writing and research
00:30:27.65\00:30:31.07
And when I got to my defense,
I ran into a committee that
00:30:31.10\00:30:36.46
was hostile. I
couldn't figure out why.
00:30:36.49\00:30:39.62
And after the interview
they told me, well you know
00:30:39.65\00:30:48.13
you did some good work
but there are several things
00:30:48.16\00:30:50.46
that we want you
to fix, to correct.
00:30:50.49\00:30:52.83
It will take
about another 3-4 months
00:30:52.86\00:30:54.89
for you to
complete this and come back.
00:30:54.92\00:30:58.01
But those were the
days when I was still not
00:30:58.04\00:31:02.08
as mature in Christ and
some of the old me surfaced
00:31:02.11\00:31:06.22
and I said, I'm
not correcting anything
00:31:06.25\00:31:08.14
And I took my dissertation and
my paper work and I went home
00:31:08.17\00:31:12.42
And the dissertation
sat there for four years.
00:31:12.45\00:31:14.81
And one day, it's like
the voice of God said, Son
00:31:14.84\00:31:18.30
you need to finish. And so
what I did, I discarded that
00:31:18.33\00:31:26.53
entire four years of work
and started the whole process
00:31:26.56\00:31:30.58
all over again.
Now let me caution you
00:31:30.61\00:31:34.16
and tell those of you
who maybe in like situation
00:31:34.19\00:31:36.44
don't do that.
Don't let your pride
00:31:36.47\00:31:41.89
don't let your self
sufficiency get in the way
00:31:41.92\00:31:45.98
do the corrections and
what you can do in 3 or 4 months
00:31:46.01\00:31:52.23
it will save you 4 years
of having to go through this
00:31:52.26\00:31:55.51
who process all over again.
Listen to the voice of God
00:31:55.54\00:32:00.60
Surrender and submit to
Him and what you can't do
00:32:00.63\00:32:05.27
God will do in a very short time
00:32:05.30\00:32:08.24
So they're in the home of Jairus
As they approach the house
00:32:08.27\00:32:13.24
the mourners, the
paid mourners are there.
00:32:13.27\00:32:17.93
And the Bible tells us
that they're weeping and wailing
00:32:17.96\00:32:21.45
and Jesus stepped in, I
like the way Jesus operates
00:32:21.48\00:32:24.19
He comes in and says,
What's happening here?
00:32:24.22\00:32:26.41
What's all the fuss? She's
not dead, she's only asleep.
00:32:26.44\00:32:36.26
And notice what happens, the
people who were just mourning
00:32:36.29\00:32:39.83
and wailing and
weeping now they're laughing.
00:32:39.86\00:32:42.83
Watch what Jesus
did. This is instructive
00:32:42.86\00:32:48.60
for the church of the
living God. The Bible says
00:32:48.63\00:32:52.03
Jesus asked them to leave.
00:32:52.06\00:32:56.43
Because what Jesus was about
to do, they were not privileged
00:32:56.46\00:33:06.25
by their lack of faith
in who He was to witness
00:33:06.28\00:33:11.49
This is a serious
and sobering point.
00:33:11.52\00:33:14.90
God is about to do something
special, something very unique
00:33:14.93\00:33:22.28
among His people. But there
are those who may have to leave.
00:33:22.31\00:33:27.51
So that what God needs to do
will not be hindered by unbelief
00:33:27.54\00:33:35.27
and skepticism. There are things
God wants to do in our hearts
00:33:35.30\00:33:41.94
personally, but He is not able
to do it until there are things
00:33:41.97\00:33:46.53
in our lives that we must throw
out, and put out and cast out.
00:33:46.56\00:33:51.62
I don't know what it is for you
but I know what it is for me.
00:33:51.65\00:33:56.51
I don't know what may be in your
life that may be hindering God
00:33:56.54\00:34:02.93
from doing in you and
through you the work that God
00:34:02.96\00:34:07.14
has saved you to do. The
Bible tells us that not only
00:34:07.17\00:34:17.74
did the woman have an
issue but Jairus had an issue.
00:34:17.77\00:34:22.83
Jairus' issue was that he only
sought Jesus as a great healer.
00:34:22.86\00:34:29.98
But he did not understand
that what Jesus came to do
00:34:30.01\00:34:34.44
was not limited to
physical healing and restoration
00:34:34.47\00:34:38.78
but what Jesus came to do
was to restore us in spirit.
00:34:38.81\00:34:43.01
To renew our hearts, to help
us have a greater appreciation
00:34:43.04\00:34:47.99
for who the Father is and what
He has done for us on Calvary.
00:34:48.02\00:34:54.37
My brothers and sisters,
Jairus began his journey
00:34:54.40\00:35:00.90
in seeking Jesus for one thing.
That is he wanted his daughter
00:35:00.93\00:35:07.03
to be healed. But what Jesus
had in mind was not limited
00:35:07.06\00:35:14.08
to just a healing. Jesus
had resurrection in mind.
00:35:14.11\00:35:20.17
Some of us are not at a place
now in our spiritual journey
00:35:20.20\00:35:28.35
in terms of where
God wants us to be.
00:35:28.38\00:35:34.24
Some of us have come in, we've
sat down and we've taken in
00:35:34.27\00:35:39.65
and we're good members, we're
faithful, we attend every week
00:35:39.68\00:35:42.76
we give our
offerings, we support the church
00:35:42.79\00:35:45.03
But that is not what God
has primarily saved you to do.
00:35:45.06\00:35:51.85
God has saved you so
that in turn He can use you
00:35:51.88\00:35:57.60
your witness, your testimony,
your story to be a source
00:35:57.63\00:36:02.13
of encouragement and
empowerment to others.
00:36:02.16\00:36:06.18
My brothers and sisters, no
one can tell your story but you.
00:36:06.21\00:36:11.01
No one can have the impact
on your friends, on your husband
00:36:11.04\00:36:15.54
on your wife, but you. We go
back to the story we began with.
00:36:15.57\00:36:21.63
The man whose life was control-
ed by these demonic spirits
00:36:21.66\00:36:28.61
Jesus healed him and he said
Lord, I want to go with you.
00:36:28.64\00:36:34.45
I wonder why he
didn't want to go home.
00:36:34.48\00:36:37.46
I wonder why he did not want
to go back to his former church.
00:36:37.49\00:36:41.30
When he was healed and
restored he had one desire.
00:36:41.33\00:36:47.25
One thought occupied his
mind. One overwhelming desire
00:36:47.28\00:36:53.13
consumed his life. One
passion he had and that is why
00:36:53.16\00:36:57.36
he wanted to be with Jesus.
He wanted to go where He went.
00:36:57.39\00:37:02.00
He wanted to follow
Him. Jesus says, Go home.
00:37:02.03\00:37:06.40
And tell your story about
what the Lord has done for you
00:37:06.43\00:37:12.74
And you know what the
Bible says? He obeyed.
00:37:12.77\00:37:15.59
He went home and began to tell
his story, and the Bible says
00:37:15.62\00:37:21.31
all who heard him were amazed.
00:37:21.34\00:37:25.03
My brothers and
sisters, today there are people
00:37:25.06\00:37:28.13
who will not come to know
Jesus until you tell your story.
00:37:28.16\00:37:34.22
There are people
who waiting for you
00:37:34.25\00:37:38.90
to share what
Christ means to you.
00:37:38.93\00:37:43.75
And today God is
calling you to stand up
00:37:43.78\00:37:47.84
and to tell what He
has done in your life.
00:37:47.87\00:37:53.25
And my brothers and sisters,
when we allow the Spirit of God
00:37:53.28\00:37:58.66
to use us, to share our
story, there is no telling
00:37:58.69\00:38:03.29
the extent of
good that we can do
00:38:03.32\00:38:06.88
for the building
up of the Kingdom.
00:38:06.91\00:38:08.59
Jairus had an
issue, what was his issue?
00:38:08.62\00:38:13.50
He only saw Jesus as
a healer of the body.
00:38:13.53\00:38:18.38
Jesus had more
in store for Jairus.
00:38:18.41\00:38:21.54
Jesus wanted Jairus to under-
stand that He was not simply
00:38:21.57\00:38:26.20
a healer but He was
none other than the Lord
00:38:26.23\00:38:29.89
and Savior of the world.
I believe today that this
00:38:29.92\00:38:35.64
encounter Jairus had with Jesus
placed him in a place where
00:38:35.67\00:38:40.63
as his life and
his journey continued
00:38:40.66\00:38:43.50
he reflected on what
Christ had done for him.
00:38:43.53\00:38:47.89
My brothers and sisters
today, Evangelism is simply
00:38:47.92\00:38:53.11
you telling a friend,
and you telling a friend
00:38:53.14\00:38:56.31
and you inviting a
friend, and you telling them
00:38:56.34\00:38:59.22
what Jesus Christ has
come to mean in your life.
00:38:59.25\00:39:03.82
I can testify today that
the reason I'm doing what I do
00:39:03.85\00:39:09.91
is because I realize how
gracious and how good God
00:39:09.94\00:39:16.48
has been to me. Last night I
shared a little bit of my story
00:39:16.51\00:39:23.82
that it took me an entire
year from the point where God
00:39:23.85\00:39:29.46
was clearly speaking to me.
And I allowed fear to creep in
00:39:29.49\00:39:36.04
I allowed the enemy to whisper
into my ear 'not right now'
00:39:36.07\00:39:39.90
'you have more time' and
the next year that I spent
00:39:39.93\00:39:45.31
was a year of pain and
turmoil, a year of regret
00:39:45.34\00:39:50.91
and remorse because I
turned away from the moment
00:39:50.94\00:39:56.38
when God was speaking to me.
00:39:56.41\00:39:59.92
My brothers and sisters, we're
here this morning and I know
00:39:59.95\00:40:02.18
that God is speaking to
some of you this morning
00:40:02.21\00:40:04.42
I don't know what your
issues are, like the woman
00:40:04.45\00:40:08.40
your issue maybe that you need
physical healing and restoration
00:40:08.43\00:40:13.10
The God I serve is able
and available to restore
00:40:13.13\00:40:18.32
broken bodies. But more than
that He wants to do something
00:40:18.35\00:40:24.04
to restore our souls. It is
His desire, His aim, His purpose
00:40:24.07\00:40:30.11
to bring not only physical
healing but spiritual healing
00:40:30.14\00:40:33.98
and restoration. Last
night we talked about baptism.
00:40:34.01\00:40:39.27
What it means. It's an
experience that we have
00:40:39.30\00:40:44.10
with the Lord Jesus
Christ. Baptism is the outward
00:40:44.13\00:40:49.04
manifestation of what the
Spirit of God has already done
00:40:49.07\00:40:53.60
on the inside.
That's what baptism is.
00:40:53.63\00:40:56.61
It's declaring publicly to
the world that Jesus Christ
00:40:56.64\00:41:01.79
has come into my life and
a change has come over me.
00:41:01.82\00:41:06.82
And now I want to live the rest
of my life in service to Him.
00:41:06.85\00:41:11.74
Tell your story. There are
people who are waiting to hear
00:41:11.77\00:41:17.29
what God has done for you.
There are people who are waiting
00:41:17.32\00:41:21.63
to hear what God is willing
to do in and through your life.
00:41:21.66\00:41:26.44
As the musician comes, I am
going to share with you a story.
00:41:26.47\00:41:30.68
Many years ago, Elder E E
Cleveland, some of you may know
00:41:30.71\00:41:37.35
who Elder E E
Cleveland is, he's deceased now.
00:41:37.38\00:41:39.88
But I believe he was probably
the singular greatest evangelist
00:41:39.91\00:41:43.76
that this church has ever
produced. Tens of thousands of
00:41:43.79\00:41:49.30
men and women are
rejoicing in Jesus Christ today
00:41:49.33\00:41:52.91
because of his
ministry. He went to a town
00:41:52.94\00:41:57.45
and he spent several
weeks, back in those days
00:41:57.48\00:42:01.91
evangelists held meetings
for two months, and 3 months.
00:42:01.94\00:42:08.58
I don't know how they did
it. After 3 weeks I'm spent!
00:42:08.61\00:42:13.00
And night after night
he preached with all of his
00:42:13.03\00:42:20.66
God given power and there
was a family that attended, but
00:42:20.69\00:42:24.18
they did not make their decision
A few months later the pastor
00:42:24.21\00:42:34.24
of the church decided that he
was going to run an evangelistic
00:42:34.27\00:42:36.63
meeting and the pastor
was not really an evangelist.
00:42:36.66\00:42:40.84
And some of the members
said Pastor are you sure
00:42:40.87\00:42:43.75
you want to do this? They were
being kind. But the pastor said
00:42:43.78\00:42:51.15
God has spoken to me and
I'm going to do this meeting.
00:42:51.18\00:42:54.14
And the pastor ran the
meeting and he only baptized
00:42:54.17\00:42:58.05
about 4-5 people. Can
you hear church members now,
00:42:58.08\00:43:03.34
pastor, we told you...
But one of the families
00:43:03.37\00:43:08.93
that were baptized were
the parents of Barry Black
00:43:08.96\00:43:14.88
Do you know who Barry Black
is? Barry Black is the chaplain
00:43:14.91\00:43:21.80
of the Senate of
the United States.
00:43:21.83\00:43:26.43
Barry Black rose
through the ranks of the US Navy
00:43:26.46\00:43:29.58
and became the
Chief of Chaplains.
00:43:29.61\00:43:32.30
His ministry has
brought into the family of God
00:43:32.33\00:43:37.61
thousands of
individuals. Because one man
00:43:37.64\00:43:43.80
against the odds and without
the full support of even his own
00:43:43.83\00:43:49.40
church family decided to
do what God told him to do
00:43:49.43\00:43:52.59
and as a result, one
family came into the church
00:43:52.62\00:43:56.16
but through that family God
has blessed tens of thousands
00:43:56.19\00:44:00.75
of people. Tell your
story. Some of you may have been
00:44:00.78\00:44:08.30
sick and hospitalized. The
reason you were hospitalized?
00:44:08.33\00:44:11.40
Is not because God doesn't
care. But there was a nurse, or
00:44:11.43\00:44:16.03
a doctor that needed to under-
stand and see how a child of God
00:44:16.06\00:44:21.39
holds fast to the
Master even in sickness
00:44:21.42\00:44:27.21
and in the face of death.
You know what I've learned?
00:44:27.24\00:44:30.68
In my own life? And
it's a model I live by.
00:44:30.71\00:44:35.67
That not everything that
happens to you is about you.
00:44:35.70\00:44:41.32
Joseph said it,
'you meant it for evil,
00:44:41.35\00:44:48.27
but God sent me here to Egypt,
from the pit to the prison
00:44:48.30\00:44:54.48
to the palace, God sent me
here to prepare the way for you'
00:44:54.51\00:45:02.50
Not everything that
happens to you is about you.
00:45:02.53\00:45:06.91
Tell your story. You know friend
of mine, one of the things
00:45:06.94\00:45:12.62
that we as Christians
need to learn how to do
00:45:12.65\00:45:14.45
is to wait on the Lord. To trust
Him. When He speaks we move.
00:45:14.48\00:45:20.06
A story that is very meaningful
to me, my wife may have heard it
00:45:20.09\00:45:26.03
3 or 4 times but she'll
hear it one more time today.
00:45:26.06\00:45:28.26
Because it is such a
powerful and moving story
00:45:28.29\00:45:34.17
about waiting on God
and moving when God moves.
00:45:34.20\00:45:39.67
That woman thought she found
Jesus? No. Jesus placed Himself
00:45:39.70\00:45:44.98
where she could have access
to Him. Jairus thought that he
00:45:45.01\00:45:49.16
happened to stumble on to Jesus?
No. Jesus went to where he was
00:45:49.19\00:45:53.72
so that He could
make Himself available.
00:45:53.75\00:45:56.62
Little boy went to
the store with his mother.
00:45:56.65\00:46:01.23
And while he was in the
grocery store he was picking off
00:46:01.26\00:46:05.67
the milk, the butter and the
cheese and being very attentive
00:46:05.70\00:46:09.07
to his mom. They
filled up the grocery carts
00:46:09.10\00:46:12.70
went to the cashier. The little
boy had a thought in his heart
00:46:12.73\00:46:17.55
that if I was good today and
did all that mom wanted me to do
00:46:17.58\00:46:21.07
that at the end of it all,
mom would have enough money left
00:46:21.10\00:46:25.98
to buy me some candy.
The cashier rang up and mom
00:46:26.01\00:46:32.94
had no money left over
for candy Little boy was sad
00:46:32.97\00:46:37.04
and discouraged. You
could see his head hanging low
00:46:37.07\00:46:40.46
His countenance
revealed his disappointment.
00:46:40.49\00:46:43.78
The store owner was
looking on. And he saw
00:46:43.81\00:46:50.40
the look of disappointment
on the little boy's face
00:46:50.43\00:46:53.82
and he came over to the
little boy and said, little boy
00:46:53.85\00:46:55.68
do you want some
candy? Little boy said Uh Huh
00:46:55.71\00:46:58.42
He said reach into the
jar and take some candy.
00:46:58.45\00:47:03.24
The little boy said mmm
mmm. He said, but little boy
00:47:03.27\00:47:07.01
didn't you say you wanted
some candy? He says uh huh
00:47:07.04\00:47:10.22
He said, well reach in
there and take some candy.
00:47:10.25\00:47:13.24
Little boy said mmm mmm.
The store owner opened the jar
00:47:13.27\00:47:18.84
reached in, took out some candy
and gave it to the little boy.
00:47:18.87\00:47:22.77
He put some in his
pocket, he put one in his mouth
00:47:22.80\00:47:25.43
and he walked out the
store with a smile on his face.
00:47:25.46\00:47:28.03
But his mother was
troubled because she said, Son
00:47:28.06\00:47:33.16
didn't you come with me today
because you wanted some candy
00:47:33.19\00:47:38.22
He said, Uh huh. Didn't the
man tell you to reach in there
00:47:38.25\00:47:43.29
and get some
candy? He said Uh huh.
00:47:43.32\00:47:46.24
She said well why didn't
you obey and take the candy
00:47:46.27\00:47:49.80
when he told you? He looked
up at his Mom and he smiled
00:47:49.83\00:47:53.30
He said, Mom I knew that his
hands was bigger than my hands!
00:47:53.33\00:47:58.54
My brothers and
sisters today, God's hands
00:47:58.57\00:48:11.89
the hands of Jesus
that was nailed to the cross
00:48:11.92\00:48:16.74
is bigger than your problem
and my problem. There is nothing
00:48:16.77\00:48:21.93
that we desire from Him or of
Him that His hands cannot supply
00:48:21.96\00:48:27.62
And today what Jesus is
asking for you and for me
00:48:27.65\00:48:31.65
is to wait on Him
and to follow Him.
00:48:31.68\00:48:34.85
And I believe that this witness
ministry that has been conducted
00:48:34.88\00:48:39.51
and it's such a beautiful
thing to see young people
00:48:39.54\00:48:42.76
young men and women
leading out, praising God
00:48:42.79\00:48:47.36
inviting friends to come.
Today we want to invite you
00:48:47.39\00:48:51.54
to do something for Jesus.
Not for me, not for the pastor
00:48:51.57\00:48:58.08
not for the church,
but some thing for Jesus.
00:48:58.11\00:49:01.06
Last night we
talked about baptism.
00:49:01.09\00:49:04.32
And it's a public expression
of what Jesus has already done
00:49:04.35\00:49:10.91
in your heart. Several of
you have already indicated
00:49:10.94\00:49:16.12
the desire to be baptized.
So here's what we want to do.
00:49:16.15\00:49:20.40
I want to pray again
with you and for you.
00:49:20.43\00:49:22.55
Those of you who came last
night to the front and stood
00:49:22.58\00:49:26.14
and said, Yes God has spoken
and I have made up my mind
00:49:26.17\00:49:30.66
to follow Jesus. We want
you to stand where you are.
00:49:30.69\00:49:33.81
Come on, those of you who stood
last night You wanna be baptized
00:49:33.84\00:49:37.90
You wanna give your heart to
the Lord, you made up your mind
00:49:37.93\00:49:40.78
that nothing will come
between you and Christ.
00:49:40.81\00:49:43.46
You know that Jesus
Christ died to save you
00:49:43.49\00:49:46.75
We wanna pray with you again.
00:49:46.78\00:49:49.09
I want you to do what
you did again last night
00:49:49.12\00:49:51.92
to encourage others to come.
So those of you who are standing
00:49:51.95\00:49:56.54
would you come and I'm
going to ask Pastor Zeny
00:49:56.57\00:49:58.26
to come and join me here
at the front. Those of you
00:49:58.29\00:50:02.12
that stood last night. Those
of you whom God is speaking to
00:50:02.15\00:50:07.86
right now, that you know
that your life is incomplete
00:50:07.89\00:50:12.94
and the only way to
experience that fullness of joy
00:50:12.97\00:50:18.03
is to surrender and submit your
life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:50:18.06\00:50:21.77
And He's inviting
you to do so right now.
00:50:21.80\00:50:24.57
So those of you who are standing
please come again and stand
00:50:24.60\00:50:27.52
in front. Step out and
come. We just want you to come.
00:50:27.55\00:50:30.37
Get close. The pastor is here
we want to pray with you again
00:50:30.40\00:50:33.50
But there are some others here
today that God has been speaking
00:50:33.53\00:50:36.83
to you. You need to make a
decision right here, right now
00:50:36.86\00:50:40.74
today. Because whatever
healing you need, Jesus said
00:50:40.77\00:50:45.89
I am the one that can bring
that healing and restoration.
00:50:45.92\00:50:50.15
Is there someone else
that would like to come?
00:50:50.18\00:50:53.40
You wanna give your
heart to Jesus Christ.
00:50:53.43\00:50:56.53
You know that Jesus
loves you. He died for you.
00:50:56.56\00:51:00.31
And right here, right now
today He's calling for you
00:51:00.34\00:51:03.64
to come and to
give your life to Him.
00:51:03.67\00:51:08.20
He wants to fill your
life with joy, with purpose.
00:51:08.23\00:51:11.97
He wants to do for you
what you cannot do for yourself.
00:51:12.00\00:51:15.69