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Jean Ross: Good morning,
friends, and welcome again to
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"Sabbath School Study Hour"
coming to you from Amazing Facts
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offices in
Granite Bay, California.
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We'd like to welcome all of our
regular Sabbath School members
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who are joining us as well as
those across the country and our
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friends around the world that
tune in every week to take a
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look and study
the lesson together.
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So we've got a very important
lesson that we're going to be
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studying today.
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It's lesson number eight in our
series entitled "Making Friends
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for God," and lesson
number eight is "Ministering
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Like Jesus."
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So we're going to be looking
at the example of Christ today,
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learning some very important
principles when it comes to
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sharing our faith.
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We do have a free offer we'd
like to tell you about, a book
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entitled "Is It Possible
to Live without Sinning?"
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It's got an intriguing title,
and I'd highly recommend this.
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If you'd like to receive a
free book, the number to call is
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866-788-3966 and just
ask for offer number 187.
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Again, that phone
line is 866-788-3966.
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Ask for offer number 187.
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We'll be happy to send it to
anyone here in North America.
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If you're outside of North
America, you can also still read
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the book by simply texting the
code SH040 to the number 40544
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and we can send you a
digital copy of the book.
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Again, that number is SH040,
and you want to text to the
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number 40544.
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And I think you'll be encouraged
as you read the book, "Is It
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Possible to Live
without Sinning?"
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And you'll see what the
Bible has to say about this
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important subject.
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Well, before we get to our
lesson today, we're going to
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roll in a special musical item
and, I think, you'll be blessed,
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and then we'll get to our study.
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¤¤¤
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¤ I need Thee every hour ¤
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¤ Most gracious Lord ¤
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¤ No tender voice like Thine ¤
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¤ Can peace afford ¤
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¤ I need Thee, O I need Thee ¤
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¤ Every hour I need Thee ¤
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¤ O bless me now, my Savior ¤
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¤ I come to Thee ¤
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¤ I need Thee every hour ¤
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¤ Stay Thou nearby ¤
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¤ Temptations lose their power ¤
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¤ When Thou art nigh ¤
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¤ I need Thee, O I need Thee ¤
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¤ Every hour I need Thee ¤
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¤ O bless me now, my Savior ¤
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¤ I come to Thee ¤
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¤ I need Thee every hour ¤
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¤ In joy or pain ¤
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¤ Come quickly and abide ¤
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¤ Or life is vain ¤
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¤ I need Thee, O I need Thee ¤
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¤ Every hour I need Thee ¤
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¤ O bless me now, my Savior ¤
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¤ I come to Thee ¤
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¤ I need Thee every hour ¤
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¤ Teach me Thy will ¤
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¤ And Thy which promises ¤
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¤ In me fulfill ¤
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¤ I need Thee, O I need Thee ¤
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¤ Every hour I need Thee ¤
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¤ O bless me now, my Savior ¤
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¤ I come to Thee ¤
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Jean: Amen, well, thank you,
Emma, for sharing that beautiful
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hymn, "I Need Thee Every Hour,"
and indeed those words are so
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true, we need Christ's Spirit.
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We need his guidance every
single hour, every single day,
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especially when it comes
to sharing our faith and being
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involved in evangelism; and
that's what our lesson is all
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about today.
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Well, before we get to our
study, I invite you just to bow
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your heads as we ask
God's blessing to be with us.
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Dear Father, we thank You that
we're able to open up the Bible
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and study a very important
subject dealing with how Jesus
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ministered to those around him
and how we also, following his
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example, can minister to our
friends, our neighbors, those
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that we come in contact with.
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So, Lord, we ask
for Your blessing.
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Guard our hearts and our minds
as we open Your Word in Jesus'
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name, amen.
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Well, our lesson today, lesson
number eight in our Sabbath
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School quarterly, it's entitled
"Ministering Like Jesus."
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And if you've been following
along with us, we do have a
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memory text, and you might
have it right there in your
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lesson quarterly.
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The memory text is Matthew
chapter 9, verse 36, and you can
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say that with me.
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Matthew 9:36 it says, "But when
he," Jesus, "saw the multitude,
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he was moved with compassion for
them because they were weary and
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scattered like
sheep having no shepherd."
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We find that Jesus
was genuinely care.
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He cared about people, and he
met their physical, mental, and
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emotional needs.
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Those that were around
him, he was always reaching out.
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Thus, he was opening
their heart to minister to them
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spiritual truths.
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He was able to share
with them the gospel.
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Maybe you've
heard it said before.
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People don't care how much you
know until they know how much
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you care, and how true that
is when it comes to evangelism.
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Now, there is a very important
statement that we find in the
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book, "Ministry of Healing,"
and I think we've mentioned this
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statement before.
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It's on page 143, but it's kind
of sort of be the springboard
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for our study today.
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"Ministry of Healing" page 143,
and it's talking about Christ's
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method of evangelism.
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It says, "Christ's method
alone will give true success in
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reaching the people.
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The Savior mingled with men
as one who desired their good.
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He showed his sympathy for them,
he ministered to their needs and
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won their confidence, then
he bade them, 'Follow me.'"
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Now, the first thing I want
you to notice is that there is
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one method of evangelism that
brings true success, and that's
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Christ's method.
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So if we can find out what Jesus
did to reach people around him
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and we follow his example and
his method for evangelism, well,
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the promise is we
will be successful.
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What is it that Jesus did?
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Well, the first thing we
note here is that Jesus mingled
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with men.
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He was not aloof, he didn't keep
himself at a distance, but he
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got to know people.
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He allowed
people to approach him.
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He visited with them, he talked
to them, he ate with them.
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Jesus engaged with
people, he interacted with them.
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So the first principle that we
find when it comes to evangelism
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is we need to be friendly.
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We need to be approachable.
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We need to reach out and
engage with other people.
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Secondly, we find that
Jesus ministered to their needs.
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Now, some of the needs
that Jesus addressed were
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social needs.
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Sometimes it was
emotional, sometimes physical;
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ultimately spiritual.
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Jesus always went that
direction, wanting to bring them
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the gospel and truth.
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But Jesus ministered to their
needs, and in doing so he won
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their confidence so that he was
able to share with them the way
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of life, the
keys for eternal life.
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And I think that's important
when it comes to our work
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of evangelism.
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We're ministering to the needs
of people, we are getting to
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know them, but the real goal is
to win their confidence so that
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they are willing to share with
us a genuine concern or a need
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that they have.
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And in so doing, we can pray for
them, we can minister to their
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need, we can win their
confidence so that they will be
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open to hear what we have
to say about Jesus our Savior.
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So Jesus met the
needs of people around him.
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He was always interested in what
people were doing, what they
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were saying, what
they were thinking.
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He looked for examples and
ways that he could minister to
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whatever the
needs are that he saw.
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Now, we have some wonderful
examples of this given in the
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first few chapters of the Gospel
of John, how Jesus ministered to
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the needs of those around him.
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You'll find in John
chapter 2 Jesus ministering to a
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social need.
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Let me give you the
background to the story.
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This is just after
the baptism of Christ.
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Jesus and his first five
disciples, they were invited to
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a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
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Now, John the Baptist was
baptizing down in the southern
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part, close to--in
Judea, close to Jerusalem.
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And so it was a fair journey
for Jesus and his first five
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disciples, which were
Andrew, Peter, John, Philip, and
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Nathaniel, to travel all the way
up to Galilee, and they went to
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a town called Cana.
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We're not quite sure where that
town is today, but there was a
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wedding that was taking place
and apparently the mother of
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Jesus, who was involved in
the preparations--apparently, it
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could have been a relative or a
close friend of the family, but
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Jesus is there
with the disciples.
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And during the wedding,
the Bible tells us they ran out
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of wine.
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Literally, the wine failed
and the mother of Jesus came to
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Christ and said, you
know, "They've run out of wine."
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And Jesus said,
"Well, what do I have to do?
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My hour is not yet come."
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Maybe she was hoping that
Jesus would perform a miracle,
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proclaim himself as the Messiah.
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Nevertheless,
Jesus did meet that need.
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There were six stone water jugs
that were set to the side, used
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for the purifying of the Jews.
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And Jesus told the servants
to fill the water jugs full of
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water and then to draw out some
of the water and take it to the
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governor of the feast.
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And somewhere in the process of
drawing out the water, the water
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became new wine
or pure grape juice.
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When the governor of the feast
tasted the water that was turned
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to grape juice or new wine, he
marveled and he said, "Usually
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people put the best first,
but you have kept the best
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until last."
00:11:51.77\00:11:54.88
So the first thing that we
Jesus--we find Jesus when he
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begins his public ministry,
he ministers to a social need to
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avoid embarrassment, and it also
pronounces Christ's blessing
00:12:01.25\00:12:05.82
on marriage.
00:12:05.85\00:12:09.62
Well, the second need that we
see Jesus meeting in the Gospel
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.89
of John is in John chapter 3,
and that's the famous story of
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Jesus and his night
visit with Nicodemus.
00:12:16.10\00:12:19.43
And Nicodemus had a spiritual
need that Jesus addressed, and
00:12:19.47\00:12:24.47
Jesus said, "Except you be
born again, you cannot enter the
00:12:24.51\00:12:27.28
kingdom of heaven."
00:12:27.31\00:12:29.18
Nicodemus said, "How can a man
be born again when he's old?"
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Jesus began to explain the
process of new birth, and those
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seeds of truth that were planted
in the heart, in the mind of
00:12:35.18\00:12:38.22
Nicodemus that night eventually
grew and bore great fruit,
00:12:38.25\00:12:42.69
especially after the
resurrection of Christ when
00:12:42.72\00:12:45.46
Nicodemus used his resources
to help the fledgling Christian
00:12:45.49\00:12:49.53
church and he himself also
boldly claimed to be a follower
00:12:49.56\00:12:53.37
of Christ.
00:12:53.40\00:12:55.97
The next need that we find Jesus
meeting in John chapter 4 is an
00:12:56.00\00:12:59.11
emotional need, and in
this story we find Jesus and his
00:12:59.14\00:13:02.54
disciples traveling
up to Galilee once again.
00:13:02.58\00:13:05.68
And they're going through the
area known as Samaria, and at
00:13:05.71\00:13:08.82
Jacob's Well Jesus meets a
woman who has an emotional need.
00:13:08.85\00:13:13.76
As you get into the story,
you'll find out that she had
00:13:13.79\00:13:16.39
been married six times and the
person that she was living with
00:13:16.42\00:13:19.19
was not her husband, and yet she
had a longing for meaning and
00:13:19.23\00:13:22.86
purpose in her life.
00:13:22.90\00:13:25.03
She had an emotional need.
00:13:25.07\00:13:27.50
She wanted to belong, and Jesus
opened up the truths of real joy
00:13:27.54\00:13:31.11
and peace and longing
and she was encouraged.
00:13:31.14\00:13:35.34
Matter of fact, she went--she
told everyone in the village, "I
00:13:35.38\00:13:38.28
have found the
man, the Messiah."
00:13:38.31\00:13:40.85
She was the first--one of
the first missionaries that took
00:13:40.88\00:13:43.92
the gospel.
00:13:43.95\00:13:45.92
So in John 4, we find
Jesus meeting an emotional need.
00:13:45.95\00:13:48.32
In John 5, we find Jesus meeting
a physical need, and this is the
00:13:48.36\00:13:51.79
story of a man who had
been laying for 38 years, the
00:13:51.83\00:13:57.13
paralytic that was
laying by the pool of Bethesda.
00:13:57.17\00:14:00.54
And Jesus came on a Sabbath and
said to him, "Do you want to be
00:14:00.57\00:14:02.47
made well?"
00:14:02.50\00:14:04.41
And the man said, "I have no one
to carry me and put me in the
00:14:04.44\00:14:06.31
water when the
water is troubled."
00:14:06.34\00:14:08.34
And Jesus said, "Rise,
take up your bed, and walk."
00:14:08.38\00:14:10.11
And the man was
healed immediately.
00:14:10.15\00:14:12.55
So in those first few chapters
of the Gospel of John, we get a
00:14:12.58\00:14:15.72
taste of the ministry that Jesus
was doing, meeting the spiritual
00:14:15.75\00:14:19.75
need, the
physical, the emotional.
00:14:19.79\00:14:22.96
Jesus ministered to those--the
emotional need, those that were
00:14:22.99\00:14:25.89
around him.
00:14:25.93\00:14:28.10
So that was Christ's attitude.
00:14:28.13\00:14:30.17
We can see Christ's attitude
in ministering to people.
00:14:30.20\00:14:33.17
Now on Sunday, the lesson
is actually entitled "Jesus's
00:14:33.20\00:14:36.10
Attitude towards People," and
Jesus always looked for the good
00:14:36.14\00:14:39.74
in others.
00:14:39.77\00:14:41.94
He drew out the best in them.
00:14:41.98\00:14:44.41
One of the criticisms that the
religious leaders gave of Christ
00:14:44.45\00:14:46.98
is that he receives
sinners and he eats with them.
00:14:47.02\00:14:50.39
Now, they were concerned because
he interacted with the ungodly.
00:14:50.42\00:14:55.02
They were surprised when Jesus
himself said, "For I did not
00:14:55.06\00:14:58.59
come to call the righteous
but sinners to repentance."
00:14:58.63\00:15:02.40
Jesus spoke of himself as coming
to seek and save the lost.
00:15:02.43\00:15:06.74
That was his mission;
that needs to be our mission.
00:15:06.77\00:15:10.34
In Matthew chapter 5, verse
13 we read, Jesus speaking, "You
00:15:10.37\00:15:15.24
are the salt of the earth.
00:15:15.28\00:15:17.71
But if the salt loses
its flavor, how shall it
00:15:17.75\00:15:20.38
be seasoned?
00:15:20.42\00:15:22.62
It is good for nothing but
to be thrown out and trampled
00:15:22.65\00:15:25.22
underfoot by man."
00:15:25.25\00:15:27.09
So Jesus likens the believer,
the Christian to being the salt
00:15:27.12\00:15:29.99
of the earth.
00:15:30.03\00:15:31.99
Salt back in Bible times, in
the ancient world, was extremely
00:15:32.03\00:15:36.06
valuable, a lot
more valuable than today.
00:15:36.10\00:15:39.47
Even Roman soldiers were often
paid by salt, and that's where
00:15:39.50\00:15:45.11
the word salary comes from.
00:15:45.14\00:15:47.48
It comes from
being paid by salt.
00:15:47.51\00:15:49.91
Salt was used to preserve food.
00:15:49.94\00:15:52.38
It was also used for flavoring.
00:15:52.41\00:15:54.98
Now, the true wealth in
the world--today the salt is
00:15:55.02\00:15:58.25
committed Christians, those
who love God and those who are
00:15:58.29\00:16:01.16
willing to make His gospel
known to those around them.
00:16:01.19\00:16:04.46
Jesus said, "You are
the salt of the earth."
00:16:04.49\00:16:08.13
But if we lose that spirit of
evangelism, if we lose the love
00:16:08.16\00:16:11.70
of souls, if we lose our
commitment to Christ, what good
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are we?
00:16:15.44\00:16:16.94
What can we do?
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How can we help those in
need if we lose that desire for
00:16:18.77\00:16:20.88
evangelism, that commitment
to making the truths of the
00:16:20.91\00:16:23.21
gospel known?
00:16:23.24\00:16:25.71
In Matthew chapter 5, verse 14,
Jesus used another illustration
00:16:25.75\00:16:29.05
as to what the
Christian needs to do.
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.59
Matthew 5:14, Jesus said,
"You are the light of the world.
00:16:31.62\00:16:35.22
A city that is set on
a hill cannot be hid."
00:16:35.26\00:16:39.39
So the Christian is likened unto
salt, but we're also likened
00:16:39.43\00:16:42.23
unto light.
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Light does not avoid darkness,
but light dispels the darkness.
00:16:44.70\00:16:48.94
And so as Christians, we are not
to avoid those in need, but we
00:16:48.97\00:16:52.61
ought to shine forth the love of
Jesus into the darkness of the
00:16:52.64\00:16:56.24
hearts of those who have never
experienced the grace and the
00:16:56.28\00:17:00.28
power of God not only
in forgiveness, but also
00:17:00.32\00:17:03.65
transformation in
their hearts and lives.
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It is God's desire that His
church shine forth the glory or
00:17:07.06\00:17:11.36
the character of the Savior.
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We actually find that to be the
mission of the remnant we find
00:17:14.30\00:17:16.36
in Revelation
chapter 18, verse 1 and 2.
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We call this the
fourth angel's message.
00:17:20.00\00:17:22.94
It says, "After these things,
I saw another angel coming down
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from heaven, having great
authority, and the earth was
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illuminated with his glory."
00:17:28.64\00:17:32.31
Now, these angels that we read
about in Revelation, both the
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three angels that we find in
Revelation chapter 14; you call
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it the first, second, and
third angel's message, plus this
00:17:38.25\00:17:40.82
fourth angel that we read
about in Revelation chapter 18,
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represent God's people in the
last days that are taking the
00:17:44.59\00:17:48.03
everlasting gospel to
every nation, kindred, tongue,
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and people.
00:17:50.73\00:17:53.10
So this fourth angel that
illuminates the world with the
00:17:53.13\00:17:56.84
glory or the character of
God really represents you and I,
00:17:56.87\00:18:00.61
represents the church.
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And the work that we have to
do is--verse 2, "And he cried
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mightily with a loud voice,
saying, 'Babylon is fallen,
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is fallen.'"
00:18:09.58\00:18:11.62
And then if you jump down to
verse 4, it says, "And I heard
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another voice from heaven,
saying, 'Come out of her, my
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people, lest you share in
her sins, and lest you receive
00:18:15.92\00:18:18.96
her plagues.'"
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Now, who is this other voice
from heaven that we read about
00:18:21.70\00:18:24.07
in verse 4?
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That would be
the voice of Jesus.
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Jesus said, "Other sheep I have
that are not of this fold, but
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I'll call them and they'll come,
and there'll be one fold and
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one shepherd."
00:18:32.87\00:18:35.61
In order for Jesus to call
His people out of religious
00:18:35.64\00:18:37.78
confusion, out of Babylon, God
has given us a work to do, and
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that is to proclaim and reveal
the glory of God to the world.
00:18:41.25\00:18:47.02
So central to the work of the
remnant in the last days is the
00:18:47.06\00:18:50.79
work of evangelism.
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That's why we are here.
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That's the work that
God has given us to do.
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In John chapter 17, verse 15, we
read the words of Jesus, "I do
00:18:58.17\00:19:03.04
not pray that You should take
them out of the world, but that
00:19:03.07\00:19:06.88
You should keep
them from the evil one.
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They are not of the world,
just as I am not of the world.
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Sanctify them by Your truth.
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Your Word is truth."
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And then verse 18, "As You sent
me into the world, I also have
00:19:20.59\00:19:25.06
sent them into the world."
00:19:25.09\00:19:29.03
So just as Jesus had come
to seek and save the lost, to
00:19:29.06\00:19:31.90
minister to the needs of
those around him, to win their
00:19:31.93\00:19:34.87
confidence and share the gospel
and share truth, so we as the
00:19:34.90\00:19:38.87
followers of Christ are
to follow in his example.
00:19:38.91\00:19:43.28
Now, we can see three distinct
phases in the work of Christ.
00:19:43.31\00:19:48.55
The first is what we
call the prepare phase.
00:19:48.58\00:19:51.55
Just before Jesus would go
to towns and villages and preach
00:19:51.59\00:19:54.66
the gospel, he would often
send his disciples before him to
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prepare the way.
00:19:58.76\00:20:00.90
The entire public ministry of
Jesus was prepared by John the
00:20:00.93\00:20:04.37
Baptist, who went and preached
and prepared the way for Jesus.
00:20:04.40\00:20:08.97
Jesus sent out the 12 disciples
to different towns and villages,
00:20:09.00\00:20:11.81
and you can read another
occasion where Jesus sent out 70
00:20:11.84\00:20:15.41
others who were to go and
prepare the way before him.
00:20:15.44\00:20:19.48
So the first phase of Christ's
ministry is preparation, and
00:20:19.51\00:20:23.35
we'll look at how that
relates to the church in just a
00:20:23.39\00:20:25.92
few moments.
00:20:25.95\00:20:28.29
The second phase that we see
of Christ's ministry was that of
00:20:28.32\00:20:30.26
preaching, where Jesus would go
to those same towns and villages
00:20:30.29\00:20:34.00
and he would preach where the
work had been done--where the
00:20:34.03\00:20:36.43
preparation was done.
00:20:36.46\00:20:38.93
And then the third phase, a very
important phase of the ministry
00:20:38.97\00:20:41.07
of Christ, was that of preserve.
00:20:41.10\00:20:44.41
Jesus taught the importance
of nurturing new believers, and
00:20:44.44\00:20:48.04
that's the work that
the church needs to do.
00:20:48.08\00:20:50.61
You got to remember that the
baptistery isn't the finish line
00:20:50.65\00:20:53.95
when it comes to evangelism.
00:20:53.98\00:20:56.12
In reality, it is
the starting line.
00:20:56.15\00:20:58.75
You can see how the
early Christian church was
00:20:58.79\00:21:00.56
established; not only to preach
the gospel to those who have
00:21:00.59\00:21:04.16
never heard, but it was
also established to preserve and
00:21:04.19\00:21:07.23
nurture those who did believe.
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And we can see this truth
beautifully illustrated in a
00:21:10.70\00:21:13.77
parable that Jesus told.
00:21:13.80\00:21:16.50
It's a familiar parable.
00:21:16.54\00:21:18.64
It's the parable of the Good
Samaritan, and it's recorded for
00:21:18.67\00:21:20.48
us in Luke chapter 10.
00:21:20.51\00:21:22.54
And the story is about a man
traveling from Jerusalem down
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to Jericho.
00:21:24.81\00:21:26.61
And geographically if you were
to go from Jerusalem to Jericho,
00:21:26.65\00:21:29.05
you would literally go down.
00:21:29.08\00:21:31.49
Jericho is close to the Dead
Sea, which is the lowest body of
00:21:31.52\00:21:34.19
water on the earth.
00:21:34.22\00:21:36.56
So there was quite a
geographical change, and the
00:21:36.59\00:21:39.23
man's traveling from Jerusalem
down a very twisty mountainous
00:21:39.26\00:21:42.60
road with caves and rocks.
00:21:42.63\00:21:46.23
And as he's traveling
down to Jericho, Jesus said the
00:21:46.27\00:21:49.64
thieves came.
00:21:49.67\00:21:51.77
He fell amongst thieves,
and they stripped the man of
00:21:51.81\00:21:54.18
his raiment, they beat him, they
left him half dead, and there he
00:21:54.21\00:21:56.34
was on the side of the road.
00:21:56.38\00:21:59.18
But then a priest came by
and the priest didn't really do
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.52
anything for him,
neither did the Levite.
00:22:01.55\00:22:03.95
But when the Samaritan came
by--and of course you understand
00:22:03.99\00:22:06.12
that the Jews and the
Samaritans, they did not
00:22:06.15\00:22:08.62
get along.
00:22:08.66\00:22:10.66
But when the Samaritan came by
and he saw the man, Jesus said
00:22:10.69\00:22:13.06
he had compassion upon him
and he went over to the man and
00:22:13.09\00:22:15.76
ministered to his needs.
00:22:15.80\00:22:19.10
Jesus said that he poured in
oil and wine into his wounds.
00:22:19.13\00:22:22.94
He probably covered him with his
own cloak and placed him on a
00:22:22.97\00:22:25.74
donkey and took him to an inn.
00:22:25.77\00:22:28.58
And then he ministered to the
man there in the inn, but then
00:22:28.61\00:22:30.65
he told the
innkeeper, "I need to go.
00:22:30.68\00:22:33.48
If you spend any more money than
I've given you, I will richly
00:22:33.52\00:22:36.08
repay you when I
come back again."
00:22:36.12\00:22:39.39
Now in the parable, this
man traveling from Jerusalem to
00:22:39.42\00:22:41.89
Jericho in one sense can
represent the whole human race.
00:22:41.92\00:22:46.70
The priest could represent the
sacrificial system of the Old
00:22:46.73\00:22:49.63
Testament that couldn't really
take care of the sin problem.
00:22:49.66\00:22:53.84
The Levite could represent
the chosen people, Israel.
00:22:53.87\00:22:57.47
Again, they would
appoint people to Christ.
00:22:57.51\00:23:00.88
They were not
the final solution.
00:23:00.91\00:23:03.88
But the Good Samaritan,
of course, represents Jesus.
00:23:03.91\00:23:07.12
Jesus came to
minister to our needs.
00:23:07.15\00:23:10.12
It says he poured in oil
and wine into the man's wounds,
00:23:10.15\00:23:13.69
nursed him.
00:23:13.72\00:23:15.46
Oil is a symbol of the Holy
Spirit; this new wine a symbol
00:23:15.49\00:23:17.76
of the atoning blood of Christ.
00:23:17.79\00:23:20.46
And then the Samaritan took the
man to the inn and took care of
00:23:20.50\00:23:23.37
him and gave money to the
innkeeper and said, "You take
00:23:23.40\00:23:26.43
care of the man."
00:23:26.47\00:23:28.17
Where does Jesus take those
who have responded to the gospel
00:23:28.20\00:23:30.84
of grace?
00:23:30.87\00:23:33.24
Those whom he has forgiven,
where does he take them?
00:23:33.27\00:23:35.38
He takes them to the church,
and Jesus has given the church
00:23:35.41\00:23:37.71
talents and abilities.
00:23:37.75\00:23:39.88
And Christ says to us,
"You take care of these people.
00:23:39.91\00:23:42.58
You nurture them.
00:23:42.62\00:23:44.72
You build them up, and
when I come again, I will richly
00:23:44.75\00:23:47.42
repay you."
00:23:47.46\00:23:49.59
So we can see even in the
parable that Jesus told the
00:23:49.62\00:23:51.83
importance of
nurturing new believers.
00:23:51.86\00:23:55.20
It's so important when
it comes to evangelism.
00:23:55.23\00:23:59.10
Well then moving on, on Monday
the lesson is entitled "Jesus's
00:23:59.13\00:24:02.60
Treatment of People."
00:24:02.64\00:24:05.07
And we've got a few
Bible stories here that help
00:24:05.11\00:24:06.88
illustrate how Jesus ministered
to people around him, and one of
00:24:06.91\00:24:10.68
my favorites is in
Matthew chapter 8 from verse 5
00:24:10.71\00:24:13.72
through 10.
00:24:13.75\00:24:16.02
You have the story of the
healing of the centurion's
00:24:16.05\00:24:18.35
servant, and it goes like this.
00:24:18.39\00:24:20.72
Matthew chapter 8, verse
5, "Now when Jesus had entered
00:24:20.76\00:24:23.29
Capernaum, a centurion came to
him pleading with him, saying,
00:24:23.32\00:24:26.33
'Lord, my servant is
lying at home paralyzed,
00:24:26.36\00:24:28.53
dreadfully tormented.'
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.00
And Jesus said to him,
'I will come and heal him.'"
00:24:31.03\00:24:34.84
Now, remember
this is a centurion.
00:24:34.87\00:24:37.21
This is a Roman officer.
00:24:37.24\00:24:39.17
This is not a Jew, but he heard
something of Jesus and faith
00:24:39.21\00:24:42.18
awakened in his heart
and he said, "I'm going to go
00:24:42.21\00:24:44.38
find Jesus."
00:24:44.41\00:24:46.58
And when he finds Jesus and
tells him his problem, Jesus
00:24:46.61\00:24:48.75
says, "I will come
and I will heal him."
00:24:48.78\00:24:51.32
You'd think that most
people would say, "Fantastic."
00:24:51.35\00:24:53.76
They would say, "Clear the way.
00:24:53.79\00:24:55.39
Jesus is coming to my house."
00:24:55.42\00:24:57.53
But that's not
this man's response.
00:24:57.56\00:24:59.49
Look at what he says.
00:24:59.53\00:25:01.46
Verse 8, "The centurion answered
and said, 'Lord, I am not worthy
00:25:01.50\00:25:04.53
that you should come under my
roof, but only speak a word and
00:25:04.57\00:25:09.20
my servant will be healed.
00:25:09.24\00:25:12.21
For I'm also a man under
authority, having soldiers
00:25:12.24\00:25:14.78
under me.
00:25:14.81\00:25:16.51
And I say to this one, 'Go,'
and he goes; and to another one,
00:25:16.54\00:25:18.38
'Come,' and he comes; and to
my servant, 'Do this,' and he
00:25:18.41\00:25:20.05
does it.'
00:25:20.08\00:25:22.35
When Jesus heard it," take note
of this, "When Jesus heard it,
00:25:22.38\00:25:24.29
he marveled and he said to those
who followed, 'Assuredly, I say
00:25:24.32\00:25:27.79
unto you, I have not
found so great of faith; no,
00:25:27.82\00:25:31.03
not in Israel.'"
00:25:31.06\00:25:33.33
Of course, Jesus did speak the
word and the centurion's servant
00:25:33.36\00:25:35.30
was healed.
00:25:35.33\00:25:38.07
You can just imagine the man
saying, "I'm not worthy, Lord,
00:25:38.10\00:25:40.14
for you to come under my
roof, but just speak the word."
00:25:40.17\00:25:43.77
He had faith in the
power of the word of Christ.
00:25:43.81\00:25:48.54
And when Jesus heard that, he
turned to those standing around
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.75
him and said, "I have not
seen this kind of faith; no, not
00:25:50.78\00:25:53.88
in Israel."
00:25:53.92\00:25:56.25
Here we find Jesus encouraging
the faith of this centurion and
00:25:56.28\00:25:59.19
using his faith as an example to
the Jews who were lacking this
00:25:59.22\00:26:03.19
kind of faith, that whatever
Jesus said they believed or he
00:26:03.22\00:26:07.93
believed--the centurion believed
it would happen because there
00:26:07.96\00:26:10.67
was power in the word of Christ,
and we want to encourage that
00:26:10.70\00:26:14.14
same kind of faith in the
people that we minister to.
00:26:14.17\00:26:18.67
We have another story recorded
for us in Mark chapter 12, verse
00:26:18.71\00:26:21.74
34, and this is where a scribe
comes to Jesus and asks--asked
00:26:21.78\00:26:26.11
Christ what is the greatest
commandment in the law, and
00:26:26.15\00:26:29.52
you'll recall the
response of Christ.
00:26:29.55\00:26:31.79
He said there are
actually two commandments.
00:26:31.82\00:26:33.89
The first is to love the Lord
thy God with all your heart, all
00:26:33.92\00:26:36.02
your soul, all your mind, all
your strength; and the second is
00:26:36.06\00:26:38.89
like unto it, you must
love your neighbor as yourself.
00:26:38.93\00:26:41.26
Well, after Jesus said
that, these words made such an
00:26:41.30\00:26:43.73
impression upon the scribe
he responded and said, "You have
00:26:43.77\00:26:46.97
answered correctly."
00:26:47.00\00:26:49.04
He said, "Indeed, to love
God with everything is the most
00:26:49.07\00:26:51.01
important, to love
your neighbor as yourself."
00:26:51.04\00:26:53.31
But then Jesus responded to him.
00:26:53.34\00:26:55.51
This is verse 34 of Mark 12.
00:26:55.54\00:26:58.31
"Now when Jesus saw that he
answered wisely, he said to him,
00:26:58.35\00:27:02.62
'You are not far
from the kingdom of God.'"
00:27:02.65\00:27:06.45
Now, that's quite a statement.
00:27:06.49\00:27:08.79
Here is a scribe searching for
truth, wanting to find the way
00:27:08.82\00:27:12.03
of life.
00:27:12.06\00:27:14.46
He asks Jesus a question because
he was genuinely concerned.
00:27:14.46\00:27:17.67
Jesus gave him an answer.
00:27:17.70\00:27:20.00
He responded positively to that
answer, and then Jesus said,
00:27:20.04\00:27:22.90
"You're not far
from the kingdom of God."
00:27:22.94\00:27:25.41
That must have encouraged him
to learn more, to study further.
00:27:25.44\00:27:28.81
We want to encourage people
in their walk with Christ.
00:27:28.84\00:27:32.55
It's easy to discourage someone
by pointing out their faults and
00:27:32.58\00:27:35.68
their errors and their sins, but
what Jesus did was to encourage
00:27:35.72\00:27:39.29
people, to build on their faith.
00:27:39.32\00:27:42.29
Even if it was a little, Christ
wanted to strengthen their faith
00:27:42.32\00:27:45.76
and build on it.
00:27:45.79\00:27:47.93
So learning from the example
of Jesus, we can see that Christ
00:27:47.96\00:27:50.93
looked for the good in people
around him and he tried to
00:27:50.97\00:27:54.04
encourage faith.
00:27:54.07\00:27:55.77
He tried to
encourage spiritual growth.
00:27:55.80\00:27:58.74
Isaiah chapter 42, verse 3,
it says, "A bruised reed He will
00:27:58.77\00:28:01.58
not break, and a smoking
flax He will not quench."
00:28:01.61\00:28:06.15
In other words, Jesus was
careful not to needlessly bruise
00:28:06.18\00:28:10.15
a sensitive soul.
00:28:10.19\00:28:12.75
He tried to encourage people.
00:28:12.79\00:28:14.72
Colossians chapter 4, verse 5
and 6 it says, "Walk in wisdom
00:28:14.76\00:28:17.73
towards those who are
outside, redeeming the time.
00:28:17.76\00:28:22.46
Let your speech always be with
grace, seasoned with salt, that
00:28:22.50\00:28:27.64
you might know how you
ought to answer each one."
00:28:27.67\00:28:32.17
So when it comes to evangelism,
here Paul is telling us in
00:28:32.21\00:28:34.71
Colossians, those outside the
church how we're to treat them.
00:28:34.74\00:28:38.91
Let your speech be seasoned with
grace, and pray that God will
00:28:38.95\00:28:42.75
give you wisdom as
you interact with them.
00:28:42.78\00:28:45.82
Ephesians chapter 4, verse
15 says, "But speak the truth in
00:28:45.85\00:28:48.62
love, that you might grow up in
all things unto Him who is the
00:28:48.66\00:28:52.79
head, which is Christ."
00:28:52.83\00:28:55.23
So we are to
speak the truth in love.
00:28:55.26\00:28:57.80
We are to always
speak with grace.
00:28:57.83\00:29:00.74
We can find that this is an
important work when it comes to
00:29:00.77\00:29:03.00
evangelism because it's planting
seeds of truth in the hearts and
00:29:03.04\00:29:07.08
the minds of people.
00:29:07.11\00:29:09.34
When it comes to evangelism,
we can see the example of Jesus.
00:29:09.38\00:29:12.08
There are different phases of
the work that Christ did, and we
00:29:12.11\00:29:16.18
want to learn from Jesus.
00:29:16.22\00:29:18.35
He is our example.
00:29:18.39\00:29:20.39
Now, I want you to imagine for
a moment a farmer who decides to
00:29:20.42\00:29:22.52
grow wheat.
00:29:22.56\00:29:24.59
And so he plows up his field and
maybe he fertilizes it and he
00:29:24.63\00:29:28.56
waits for the wheat to grow,
but nothing seems to happen.
00:29:28.60\00:29:32.70
His neighbors, their fields
are filled with green shoots of
00:29:32.73\00:29:36.30
growing wheat, but he's got
nothing growing in his field.
00:29:36.34\00:29:40.14
And so he goes to his farmer
friends and he says to them,
00:29:40.18\00:29:42.74
"I'm not sure why wheat
is not growing in my field."
00:29:42.78\00:29:45.65
And so they ask him what
type of fertilizer he used.
00:29:45.68\00:29:48.32
He tells them.
00:29:48.35\00:29:50.39
And they ask him, "Did you check
the pH balance of the soil?"
00:29:50.42\00:29:52.92
And he tells them yes,
and they can't figure it out.
00:29:52.95\00:29:55.69
Well, one day all of his friends
come over to his farm because
00:29:55.72\00:29:58.93
they're curious about this,
and there they walk out onto the
00:29:58.96\00:30:02.10
farm, onto the dirt, and
onto his field and around it is
00:30:02.13\00:30:05.77
beautiful green fields, but
nothing is growing on his field.
00:30:05.80\00:30:12.41
So finally one of his farmer
friend says to him, "Well, say,
00:30:12.44\00:30:15.48
what kind of seeds
did you plant anyway?"
00:30:15.51\00:30:19.75
Well, with that, our farmer
friend looks down and a little
00:30:19.78\00:30:23.69
embarrassed he says, "Well,
you know, I've been hoping for
00:30:23.72\00:30:26.35
wheat, I've been praying
for wheat, but I guess I didn't
00:30:26.39\00:30:29.22
plant any seeds."
00:30:29.26\00:30:32.03
Now, of course,
that's not a true story.
00:30:32.06\00:30:33.86
There isn't a farmer alive that
would expect a harvest without
00:30:33.90\00:30:36.87
first planting seeds.
00:30:36.90\00:30:39.40
But when it comes to evangelism,
we pray for a harvest, we hope
00:30:39.43\00:30:43.17
for a harvest, but often
we neglect the importance of
00:30:43.20\00:30:46.14
planting the
seeds of the gospel.
00:30:46.17\00:30:49.88
We look at the example of
Jesus, he was always planting
00:30:49.91\00:30:52.31
spiritual seeds.
00:30:52.35\00:30:55.18
Now, when it comes to
evangelism, there are different
00:30:55.22\00:30:57.89
phases that make
evangelism successful.
00:30:57.92\00:31:01.16
We typically call this the
evangelism cycle, and it's been
00:31:01.19\00:31:04.83
divided up into six phases
of evangelism and each of them
00:31:04.86\00:31:08.60
are important.
00:31:08.63\00:31:10.87
You've got the
personal preparation phase.
00:31:10.90\00:31:13.27
This is even before you
get involved in some kind of
00:31:13.30\00:31:15.74
evangelistic outreach.
00:31:15.77\00:31:18.47
Phase two is preparing the soil,
phase three is what's called
00:31:18.51\00:31:21.74
sowing the seed, and then
you've got four--phase four,
00:31:21.78\00:31:25.95
cultivating; phase five,
the harvest; and phase six is
00:31:25.98\00:31:29.65
preserving the harvest.
00:31:29.68\00:31:32.85
So I'm going to just highlight a
few things about this evangelism
00:31:32.89\00:31:35.56
cycle as we look at
the example of Christ.
00:31:35.59\00:31:38.49
The first phase is personal
preparation, and it begins with
00:31:38.53\00:31:41.33
us as individuals.
00:31:41.36\00:31:43.40
We are to seek for revival.
00:31:43.43\00:31:46.87
We are told in "Review and
Herald" March 22, 1887, it says,
00:31:46.90\00:31:52.01
"The revival of true godliness
among us is the greatest and the
00:31:52.04\00:31:55.38
most urgent of all of our needs.
00:31:55.41\00:31:59.05
To seek this
should be our first work."
00:31:59.08\00:32:02.72
So in this phase of
personal preparation, we are to
00:32:02.75\00:32:05.99
seek revival.
00:32:06.02\00:32:07.99
How do we do that?
00:32:08.02\00:32:09.76
Well, we spend time in prayer,
we spend time studying the Word.
00:32:09.79\00:32:13.23
Some of the last words that
Jesus told his disciples before
00:32:13.26\00:32:16.23
ascending to heaven, he said
that they were to go to all the
00:32:16.26\00:32:18.47
world and they were
to preach the gospel.
00:32:18.50\00:32:20.97
But before they were to go
out to the world and preach the
00:32:21.00\00:32:23.97
gospel, Jesus told them to tarry
in Jerusalem until they received
00:32:24.01\00:32:27.81
power from the Holy Spirit.
00:32:27.84\00:32:30.91
In order for evangelism to
be successful, we must be filled
00:32:30.95\00:32:34.25
with the Spirit of God.
00:32:34.28\00:32:36.42
You can't give
something that you don't have.
00:32:36.45\00:32:38.95
So the first phase of evangelism
is seeking for a deeper
00:32:38.99\00:32:41.76
experience, pleading for
the Holy Spirit, spending time
00:32:41.79\00:32:44.16
in prayer.
00:32:44.19\00:32:46.36
It's also wise
to do some planning.
00:32:46.39\00:32:48.63
What is the plan for the church?
00:32:48.66\00:32:50.67
What are we going to do to
try and reach out to those in
00:32:50.70\00:32:52.97
the community?
00:32:53.00\00:32:55.20
So some of the things that
we want to be looking for during
00:32:55.24\00:32:57.14
this first phase of evangelism,
we're looking at the spiritual,
00:32:57.17\00:33:01.34
practical Christian
experience of the believers.
00:33:01.38\00:33:05.15
We're looking at the commitment
that the individual members in
00:33:05.18\00:33:07.85
the church have to evangelism,
to the fulfillment of the
00:33:07.88\00:33:11.22
Great Commission.
00:33:11.25\00:33:13.92
The focus of the church needs
to be on the work of evangelism,
00:33:13.96\00:33:17.06
sharing the gospel.
00:33:17.09\00:33:19.36
We want to have some
planning taking place.
00:33:19.39\00:33:21.36
We want to plan for an
evangelistic series, some other
00:33:21.40\00:33:23.93
training events taking place.
00:33:23.97\00:33:26.40
So the first phase of this
evangelism cycle is spending
00:33:26.43\00:33:29.37
time preparing our hearts
and our minds for the work
00:33:29.40\00:33:32.61
before us.
00:33:32.64\00:33:35.08
Before Jesus started his
public ministry, right after his
00:33:35.11\00:33:37.55
baptism he went into the
wilderness for 40 days, where he
00:33:37.58\00:33:41.38
spent time fasting and praying,
where he was equipped and filled
00:33:41.42\00:33:45.95
with the Spirit and prepared for
the great work that he was about
00:33:45.99\00:33:49.16
to do.
00:33:49.19\00:33:51.59
The second phase, then, of this
evangelism cycle is what we call
00:33:51.63\00:33:55.30
preparing the soil.
00:33:55.33\00:33:58.40
Before the farmer plants the
seed, he needs to go plow up the
00:33:58.43\00:34:01.60
soil, and he
needs to fertilize, etc.
00:34:01.64\00:34:03.87
What does this involve
in an evangelism cycle?
00:34:03.91\00:34:07.38
Well, we want to be involved
with things like friendship
00:34:07.41\00:34:09.71
evangelism; getting to know
people, find out about their
00:34:09.74\00:34:13.42
family, their occupation, what
is their religious background.
00:34:13.45\00:34:18.52
Maybe you can even share your
own personal testimony with the
00:34:18.55\00:34:21.79
people you engage with.
00:34:21.82\00:34:24.29
The church wants to be involved
in community service programs
00:34:24.33\00:34:26.93
where we are ministering to
the needs of those around us.
00:34:26.96\00:34:30.77
We might also want to start
advertising for Bible studies.
00:34:30.80\00:34:34.04
We might want to do surveys
door to door to find out the
00:34:34.07\00:34:37.81
interest--the spiritual
interests of the people in
00:34:37.84\00:34:40.58
the community.
00:34:40.61\00:34:42.61
We want to be involved in
building up a database of names
00:34:42.64\00:34:44.78
of people that we can
follow up on, those who might be
00:34:44.81\00:34:47.65
interested in spiritual things.
00:34:47.68\00:34:50.15
So what are we looking for
in this second phase of the
00:34:50.19\00:34:52.35
evangelism cycle?
00:34:52.39\00:34:54.36
We're looking for the number of
positive relationships between
00:34:54.39\00:34:56.83
the church and the
people in the community.
00:34:56.86\00:35:00.73
We're also looking for the
number of positive relationships
00:35:00.76\00:35:03.03
between the members of the
church and non-members, those in
00:35:03.06\00:35:07.17
the community around us.
00:35:07.20\00:35:09.90
Now on Tuesday, the lesson
is entitled "Jesus's Healing
00:35:09.94\00:35:13.38
Ministry," and
there's two parts.
00:35:13.41\00:35:16.14
So Tuesday is part one,
and then Wednesday is part two.
00:35:16.18\00:35:20.45
And in the introductory to
Tuesday's lesson, it says Jesus
00:35:20.48\00:35:24.05
ministered to
the needs of people.
00:35:24.09\00:35:26.25
One of the greatest needs that
Jesus addressed was in the area
00:35:26.29\00:35:29.22
of health and healing.
00:35:29.26\00:35:31.69
The ultimate need, however,
is that of having a saving,
00:35:31.73\00:35:34.30
transforming
relationship with God.
00:35:34.30\00:35:37.53
Jesus said, "I have come that
they might have life, and that
00:35:37.57\00:35:40.17
they might have
it more abundantly."
00:35:40.20\00:35:43.47
Jesus was concerned about the
quality of life that people had.
00:35:43.51\00:35:47.61
Not only concerned about their
need or the quality of their
00:35:47.64\00:35:52.01
life now, but he was ultimately
concerned about their eternal
00:35:52.05\00:35:54.98
destiny, concerned
about having--them having
00:35:55.02\00:35:58.12
eternal life.
00:35:58.15\00:36:00.52
So we can see how Jesus used
healing--the work of ministry in
00:36:00.56\00:36:04.56
healing to lead people
to a spiritual experience.
00:36:04.59\00:36:09.40
We have a couple of stories that
are given in our lesson, of how
00:36:09.43\00:36:11.93
Jesus did this.
00:36:11.97\00:36:13.60
We have one in
Matthew chapter 9.
00:36:13.64\00:36:16.04
It's the healing of the man
lowered through the roof, and
00:36:16.07\00:36:19.47
this is what it is.
00:36:19.51\00:36:21.71
Matthew chapter 9.
00:36:21.74\00:36:23.71
You can also read
this story in Mark.
00:36:23.75\00:36:25.65
A parallel passage there.
00:36:25.68\00:36:27.72
It says, "So he got into a boat,
crossed over, and came to his
00:36:27.75\00:36:29.75
own city."
00:36:29.78\00:36:31.19
That would be Capernaum,
and that was the home also of
00:36:31.22\00:36:32.89
Simon Peter.
00:36:32.92\00:36:34.46
We believe this story actually
took place in the home of
00:36:34.49\00:36:36.12
Simon Peter.
00:36:36.16\00:36:37.76
Verse 2 says, "Then behold, they
brought to him a paralytic lying
00:36:37.79\00:36:39.73
on a bed.
00:36:39.76\00:36:41.56
And when Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the paralytic, 'Son,
00:36:41.60\00:36:43.33
be of good cheer.
00:36:43.37\00:36:45.23
Your sins are forgiven you.'"
00:36:45.27\00:36:47.14
Now, again, Mark tells us
that this story took place in
00:36:47.17\00:36:49.57
a house.
00:36:49.60\00:36:51.27
And the man on the bed was
carried by his friends to Jesus,
00:36:51.31\00:36:53.84
but they couldn't get in because
of the crowd so they went up
00:36:53.88\00:36:56.11
onto the roof.
00:36:56.14\00:36:58.15
And as Jesus is preaching
and teachings, suddenly he is
00:36:58.18\00:37:00.25
interrupted by a scraping
noise as they begin to move the
00:37:00.28\00:37:03.45
roof tiles.
00:37:03.49\00:37:06.19
The roofs back in those
days--flat roofs, and often
00:37:06.22\00:37:08.82
there was a hole in the center
of that--of the room where the
00:37:08.86\00:37:12.19
smoke from the fire could go,
and there were tiles that were
00:37:12.23\00:37:15.33
covering, often, that opening.
00:37:15.36\00:37:18.13
And here Jesus is preaching and
suddenly stops, and everybody
00:37:18.17\00:37:19.90
begins to look up
as the tiles are moved.
00:37:19.93\00:37:22.94
And here is this man lowered
down to where Jesus is, and of
00:37:22.97\00:37:27.21
course everybody's staring at
Christ wondering what he's going
00:37:27.24\00:37:29.68
to do.
00:37:29.71\00:37:31.85
And Jesus looking at the
man, he knows his real need.
00:37:31.88\00:37:35.12
So before even healing him
physically, Jesus wanted to heal
00:37:35.15\00:37:38.52
him spiritually, and
that's why Jesus said those
00:37:38.55\00:37:41.96
beautiful words.
00:37:41.99\00:37:43.96
"Son, be of good cheer.
00:37:43.99\00:37:46.16
Your sins are forgiven you."
00:37:46.19\00:37:48.46
And before the man could
even respond--I'm sure there was
00:37:48.50\00:37:50.67
peace in his heart, but before
he could say anything--the story
00:37:50.70\00:37:53.50
goes on.
00:37:53.54\00:37:55.24
It says, verse 3, "And at once
some of the scribes said within
00:37:55.27\00:37:57.74
themselves,
'This man blasphemes.'"
00:37:57.77\00:38:00.94
You see, rightfully they
knew that only God could forgive
00:38:00.98\00:38:04.11
sins, and they said Jesus is
blaspheming because, you know,
00:38:04.15\00:38:08.58
he's forgiving sins.
00:38:08.62\00:38:10.59
But of course they didn't
recognize Jesus as God, and
00:38:10.62\00:38:12.55
Jesus had the power to forgive.
00:38:12.59\00:38:15.06
And verse 4, "But Jesus knowing
their thoughts he said, 'Why do
00:38:15.09\00:38:18.83
you think evil in your hearts?
00:38:18.86\00:38:21.86
For what is easy to say, 'Your
sins are forgiven you,' or to
00:38:21.90\00:38:24.33
say, 'Arise and walk?'"
00:38:24.37\00:38:27.80
Now for us, if we put
ourselves in the place of Christ
00:38:27.84\00:38:33.24
and somebody was in need of
forgiveness and they were in
00:38:33.27\00:38:36.44
need of a miracle, we might
think, "Well, the easier thing
00:38:36.48\00:38:39.65
to do is to forgive them."
00:38:39.68\00:38:42.38
I mean, especially if they
didn't hurt us too badly, we can
00:38:42.42\00:38:45.92
say, "Okay, I forgive you."
00:38:45.95\00:38:48.89
But when it comes to performing
a miracle, well, that's
00:38:48.92\00:38:51.89
something we can't do.
00:38:51.93\00:38:54.03
We can't perform miracles.
00:38:54.10\00:38:56.20
But in the case of Jesus,
what was easier for Jesus?
00:38:56.23\00:38:58.93
Was it easier for Jesus to
forgive, or was it easier for
00:38:58.97\00:39:01.60
Jesus to perform a miracle?
00:39:01.64\00:39:05.61
You see, what does it take
for Jesus to perform a miracle?
00:39:05.64\00:39:08.94
He simply needs to speak the
Word and the man is healed, but
00:39:08.98\00:39:13.28
what did it take for
Jesus to be able to give that
00:39:13.31\00:39:17.29
man forgiveness?
00:39:17.32\00:39:19.92
You see, Jesus knew that
in order for him to provide
00:39:19.95\00:39:22.09
forgiveness, it
would involve a cross.
00:39:22.12\00:39:25.13
It would involve his
crucifixion, his suffering,
00:39:25.16\00:39:28.50
his death.
00:39:28.53\00:39:30.93
Thus Jesus said, "What do you
think is easy to say: 'Your sins
00:39:30.97\00:39:33.40
are forgiven?'
or, 'Rise and walk?'"
00:39:33.44\00:39:36.27
You see, Jesus was
illustrating here the importance
00:39:36.30\00:39:38.97
of spiritual healing.
00:39:39.01\00:39:41.44
Yes, physical healing is good
and nice, but in the eyes of
00:39:41.48\00:39:44.75
God, even more important
than physical healing is
00:39:44.78\00:39:48.32
spiritual healing.
00:39:48.35\00:39:50.75
It's obtaining that forgiveness
that only Jesus can give.
00:39:50.79\00:39:54.39
And then verse 6, "But that you
might know that the son of man
00:39:54.42\00:39:57.46
has power on
earth to forgive sins.
00:39:57.49\00:39:59.59
He said to the paralytic,
'Arise, take up your bed, and go
00:39:59.63\00:40:02.46
to your house.'
00:40:02.50\00:40:04.43
And he arose and he departed."
00:40:04.47\00:40:07.17
Of course, the people
were amazed, and they saw what
00:40:07.20\00:40:09.20
Jesus did.
00:40:09.24\00:40:11.41
We have another story recorded
for us in Mark chapter 5, and
00:40:11.44\00:40:13.61
I'm not going to read through
the whole story because of time.
00:40:13.64\00:40:16.41
But it's a woman that came to
Jesus while he was journeying in
00:40:16.44\00:40:19.48
a crowd and she couldn't
actually get close to him, but
00:40:19.51\00:40:22.88
she was able to reach out and
touch the hem of his garment and
00:40:22.92\00:40:26.35
she was healed of this flowing
of blood that she had struggled
00:40:26.39\00:40:29.39
with for 12 years.
00:40:29.42\00:40:32.06
And when she reached out and
she touched the hem of Christ's
00:40:32.09\00:40:34.20
robe,
immediately she was healed.
00:40:34.23\00:40:36.23
She knew within herself
that she had been healed.
00:40:36.26\00:40:38.50
She kind of slipped back into
the crowd, but Jesus stopped and
00:40:38.53\00:40:41.14
he turned to his disciples
and he said, "Who touched me?"
00:40:41.17\00:40:44.37
The disciples said, "But, Lord,
there's so many people pressing
00:40:44.41\00:40:46.27
in around you.
00:40:46.31\00:40:48.08
How can you ask,
'Who touched me?'"
00:40:48.11\00:40:50.11
Jesus says, "No,
somebody touched me.
00:40:50.15\00:40:52.08
I felt virtual
power go out of me."
00:40:52.11\00:40:54.12
And then of course
she came forward, she
00:40:54.15\00:40:56.32
confessed everything.
00:40:56.35\00:40:57.92
It says she was
trembling, she was afraid.
00:40:57.95\00:41:00.36
But Jesus said to her in verse
34 of Mark 5, "Daughter, your
00:41:00.39\00:41:03.66
faith has made you whole.
00:41:03.69\00:41:06.49
Go in peace, and be
healed of your affliction."
00:41:06.53\00:41:10.53
Jesus affirmed her faith.
00:41:10.57\00:41:12.47
Jesus encouraged her.
00:41:12.50\00:41:14.54
So Jesus ministered to all kinds
of people; those who were strong
00:41:14.57\00:41:16.91
in faith, those
who were weak in faith.
00:41:16.94\00:41:19.67
He ministered to those who were
humble, all classes of people.
00:41:19.71\00:41:23.14
Didn't matter
what their position.
00:41:23.18\00:41:25.31
Jesus recognized that here is
a soul to be saved, and so it is
00:41:25.35\00:41:29.68
when it comes to
our work of evangelism.
00:41:29.72\00:41:32.35
We want to be
planting seeds of truth.
00:41:32.39\00:41:35.36
So we minister to the
physical needs of people.
00:41:35.39\00:41:37.73
We want to win their confidence
so that we can share Bible
00:41:37.76\00:41:39.83
truth, and the way we do this
in a practical way is through
00:41:39.86\00:41:44.20
different types
of Bible studies.
00:41:44.23\00:41:47.10
It might be a personal,
one-on-one Bible study.
00:41:47.14\00:41:50.37
We could drop off a lesson that
somebody could read on their own
00:41:50.41\00:41:54.38
at home.
00:41:54.41\00:41:56.61
We might invite somebody
to a small group Bible study.
00:41:56.64\00:41:59.85
But just as Jesus ultimately
wanted to lead people to a
00:41:59.88\00:42:02.35
saving relationship, so we in
our work of evangelism want to
00:42:02.38\00:42:06.42
lead people to being exposed
to Bible truth so that they can
00:42:06.45\00:42:11.23
make a decision for Jesus.
00:42:11.26\00:42:14.93
We also read that an important
part of the work that we have to
00:42:14.93\00:42:17.87
do when it comes to evangelism
is cultivating these new
00:42:17.90\00:42:22.60
interests, those who show an
interest in spiritual things.
00:42:22.64\00:42:26.84
In doing so, we might want to
invite them to church--to some
00:42:26.88\00:42:29.98
church activity, we might
want to invite them to a special
00:42:30.01\00:42:33.21
program that the
church is putting on.
00:42:33.25\00:42:36.22
We want to introduce them to
other church members who might
00:42:36.25\00:42:39.39
have similar interests or
backgrounds, and of course one
00:42:39.42\00:42:42.09
of the greatest things you could
do is invite them to come to
00:42:42.12\00:42:44.39
your home for a
small group Bible study.
00:42:44.43\00:42:46.83
Maybe a meal at first and
then transition that into a
00:42:46.86\00:42:49.46
Bible study.
00:42:49.50\00:42:51.87
So some of the things that
we are looking for here is the
00:42:51.90\00:42:53.70
number of consistent personal
Bible studies that are taking
00:42:53.74\00:42:57.17
place between the church members
and those in the community.
00:42:57.21\00:43:02.31
We also want to look for
the number of people who are
00:43:02.34\00:43:04.71
actually attending these bridge
events that the church might put
00:43:04.75\00:43:07.38
on, health seminars and alike.
00:43:07.42\00:43:11.32
Well, then we come to Wednesday,
and Wednesday's lesson
00:43:11.35\00:43:14.09
continuing with Jesus's
example of healing people.
00:43:14.12\00:43:17.59
We also see that there
were three phases to the work of
00:43:17.63\00:43:20.36
Jesus: teaching,
preaching, and healing.
00:43:20.40\00:43:25.20
In Matthew chapter 4, verse 23
it says, "And Jesus went about
00:43:25.23\00:43:28.44
all Galilee teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel
00:43:28.47\00:43:32.91
of the kingdom, and healing all
kinds of sicknesses, all kinds
00:43:32.94\00:43:36.95
of diseases amongst the people."
00:43:36.98\00:43:39.95
So there we see Jesus teaching,
preaching, and healing.
00:43:39.98\00:43:42.75
In Mark chapter 1, verse 32 it
says, "At evening, when the sun
00:43:42.78\00:43:46.82
had set, they brought to him all
who were sick and those who were
00:43:46.86\00:43:49.92
demon-possessed, and the whole
city was gathered together at
00:43:49.96\00:43:52.53
the door."
00:43:52.56\00:43:54.56
This is after the healing that
took place of a demon-possessed
00:43:54.60\00:43:56.97
man in the synagogue
that Sabbath morning.
00:43:57.00\00:44:01.34
Now the sun had set, Saturday
evening, and people came.
00:44:01.37\00:44:04.44
This is taking
place at Capernaum.
00:44:04.47\00:44:06.88
People brought their sick
to Jesus, and he healed them.
00:44:06.91\00:44:09.44
Verse 34 says, "And he
healed many who were sick of
00:44:09.48\00:44:11.58
various diseases.
00:44:11.61\00:44:13.38
He cast out many demons.
00:44:13.42\00:44:15.18
He did not allow the demons
to speak because they knew him.
00:44:15.22\00:44:17.89
Now in the morning," this would
be early Sunday morning, "having
00:44:17.92\00:44:20.19
risen a long time before
daylight, he went out and
00:44:20.22\00:44:23.06
departed to a
solitary place and he prayed.
00:44:23.09\00:44:26.33
And then Simon," whose
house Jesus was staying at,
00:44:26.36\00:44:30.03
"And Simon and those who were
with him searched for him, and
00:44:30.07\00:44:32.60
when they found him, they said
to him, 'Everyone is looking
00:44:32.63\00:44:35.40
for you.'"
00:44:35.44\00:44:37.34
Speaking to Jesus.
00:44:37.37\00:44:39.11
"But he said to them, 'Let us
go into the next towns, that I
00:44:39.14\00:44:41.38
might preach there also
because for this purpose I've
00:44:41.41\00:44:43.75
come forth.'
00:44:43.78\00:44:46.21
And he was preaching in their
synagogues throughout all of
00:44:46.25\00:44:48.28
Galilee, casting out demons."
00:44:48.32\00:44:50.92
So we find that Jesus was
not content just to minister to
00:44:50.95\00:44:53.15
those that were close to him.
00:44:53.19\00:44:56.02
Jesus has a burden to minister
to as many people as possible,
00:44:56.06\00:44:59.73
and he actually began his first
Galilean tour traveling from
00:44:59.76\00:45:03.26
town to town,
village to village.
00:45:03.30\00:45:06.43
He was preaching the gospel.
00:45:06.47\00:45:08.64
He was healing.
00:45:08.67\00:45:10.34
He was sharing with them
the truths of the kingdom.
00:45:10.37\00:45:12.37
In Luke chapter 19, verse 10,
Jesus says, "For the son of man
00:45:12.41\00:45:14.61
has come to seek and
save that which was lost."
00:45:14.64\00:45:18.28
So we see an important phase
of Christ's ministry not just
00:45:18.31\00:45:21.02
ministering to the needs of
people and not just providing
00:45:21.05\00:45:24.09
healing, but we also see a
very definite emphasis on the
00:45:24.12\00:45:27.76
preaching part of
Christ's ministry.
00:45:27.79\00:45:30.86
When it comes to evangelism,
we don't want to neglect the
00:45:30.89\00:45:34.10
importance of
evangelistic preaching.
00:45:34.13\00:45:38.13
And I want to encourage
churches, especially those that
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.30
haven't done an
evangelistic series for a while.
00:45:40.34\00:45:42.87
I want to encourage churches
to be involved in doing a public
00:45:42.90\00:45:46.21
evangelistic meeting.
00:45:46.24\00:45:48.91
And during this public
evangelistic meeting, you want
00:45:48.94\00:45:51.75
to invite those that
you've ministered to, those who
00:45:51.78\00:45:54.18
have--you want to reap
confidence, you've built
00:45:54.22\00:45:57.09
relationship with them.
00:45:57.12\00:45:58.92
You want to invite them to come.
00:45:58.95\00:46:01.39
And during this evangelistic
series, you want the message,
00:46:01.42\00:46:04.59
the gospel, the three angels'
messages to be preached clearly,
00:46:04.63\00:46:09.16
and you want to
call for a decision.
00:46:09.20\00:46:11.67
You want people to respond.
00:46:11.70\00:46:13.80
Now, if you can't do an
evangelistic series in person;
00:46:13.84\00:46:16.81
maybe you don't have any
evangelists, maybe the pastor is
00:46:16.84\00:46:19.41
unable to preach an evangelistic
series, you can still do a video
00:46:19.44\00:46:21.88
evangelistic series.
00:46:21.91\00:46:24.28
You can even invite people
to your home and you could do a
00:46:24.31\00:46:26.98
evangelistic series
right there on the television.
00:46:27.02\00:46:30.19
You can invite them night after
night, but the goal is to share
00:46:30.22\00:46:32.92
these life-saving truths,
the three angels' messages
00:46:32.95\00:46:36.69
with people.
00:46:36.73\00:46:38.96
What are the things you're
looking for in this phase?
00:46:38.99\00:46:40.93
Well, first of all,
you want to get a crowd.
00:46:40.96\00:46:43.13
You want as many people to come
out to your evangelistic series
00:46:43.16\00:46:45.70
as possible so that
they can hear the Word.
00:46:45.73\00:46:48.90
You want to keep a crowd;
so that might involve visiting
00:46:48.94\00:46:51.54
people throughout the
evangelistic series, encouraging
00:46:51.57\00:46:54.21
them to come, giving
them resources and materials,
00:46:54.24\00:46:57.05
answering their questions,
and you want to baptize a crowd.
00:46:57.08\00:47:01.05
Jesus said, "Go preach the
gospel to every nation, kindred,
00:47:01.08\00:47:04.35
tongue, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, Son, and the
00:47:04.39\00:47:07.12
Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all things that I've
00:47:07.16\00:47:10.09
commanded you.
00:47:10.13\00:47:12.06
Lo, I am with you always,
even until the very end."
00:47:12.09\00:47:14.56
So the commission that
we've been given by Christ is to
00:47:14.56\00:47:16.90
preach, to teach, and to
baptize, to bring people into a
00:47:16.93\00:47:20.14
saving relationship with Christ.
00:47:20.17\00:47:24.04
Now, once somebody makes that
decision to be baptized and to
00:47:24.07\00:47:28.41
join the church, we mustn't
neglect the importance of
00:47:28.44\00:47:31.81
preserving their faith
and growing their faith.
00:47:31.85\00:47:36.12
Statistically, if a person
doesn't develop meaningful
00:47:36.15\00:47:38.75
friendships within the church
in the first few months of when
00:47:38.79\00:47:42.89
they join, it's very unlikely
that they will actually stay
00:47:42.92\00:47:46.73
with the church.
00:47:46.76\00:47:49.96
So not only presenting Bible
truth is important, but also
00:47:50.00\00:47:53.00
connecting them with other
like-minded believers, building
00:47:53.03\00:47:56.30
relationships, encouraging
them in their walk with Christ;
00:47:56.34\00:47:59.87
especially if maybe they're the
only believer in their family
00:47:59.91\00:48:02.34
and they're going to have
challenges at family, maybe
00:48:02.38\00:48:06.05
they're going to have challenges
at work because they are
00:48:06.08\00:48:07.98
standing up for Bible truths.
00:48:08.02\00:48:10.22
As a church, we want to be there
to encourage people and to build
00:48:10.25\00:48:12.72
them up.
00:48:12.75\00:48:15.39
So in summary then looking
at the example of Jesus, we find
00:48:15.42\00:48:18.09
Jesus involved in
different phases of ministry.
00:48:18.13\00:48:20.93
We see Jesus ministering to
the physical needs of people.
00:48:20.96\00:48:24.70
We see Christ
interacting, befriending people.
00:48:24.73\00:48:27.87
And as he won their confidence,
he began to share with them the
00:48:27.90\00:48:31.81
truths of the gospel.
00:48:31.84\00:48:33.91
We want to follow Christ's
example in getting to know
00:48:33.94\00:48:36.18
people, being friendly, being
approachable, allowing people to
00:48:36.21\00:48:38.78
come and building relationship
with them, ministering to their
00:48:38.81\00:48:42.45
needs, winning their confidence
so that we can share the Word.
00:48:42.48\00:48:46.42
Maybe that'll be inviting them
to an evangelistic series, maybe
00:48:46.45\00:48:49.26
inviting them to a small group
Bible study, or maybe even just
00:48:49.29\00:48:51.79
a one-on-one Bible study.
00:48:51.83\00:48:54.36
But we want to get to the point
where we're able to share the
00:48:54.40\00:48:56.67
Word with them, and then we need
to nurture these new believers
00:48:56.70\00:49:01.10
in their
relationship with Christ.
00:49:01.14\00:49:03.57
Three reasons why evangelism
sometimes does not work, we
00:49:03.61\00:49:07.34
don't plant enough seeds.
00:49:07.38\00:49:10.31
We need to remember that
the seed is in the harvest.
00:49:10.35\00:49:13.18
We need to keep doing the work
of evangelism, and we neglect
00:49:13.21\00:49:16.45
preserving the harvest.
00:49:16.48\00:49:18.89
We don't want people coming
in through the front door of the
00:49:18.92\00:49:20.86
church, but leaving
through the back door.
00:49:20.89\00:49:23.06
We want to hold on to them.
00:49:23.09\00:49:24.96
We want to nurture
the, we want them to grow.
00:49:24.99\00:49:27.76
In closing then, let me
share with you this verse.
00:49:27.76\00:49:30.10
2 Corinthians chapter 9, verse
6, "But this I say, he who sows
00:49:30.13\00:49:32.63
sparingly shall reap also
sparingly, but he who sows
00:49:32.67\00:49:36.14
bountifully shall
reap also bountifully."
00:49:36.17\00:49:39.47
God wants us to plant the seeds
of the gospel as far and as wide
00:49:39.51\00:49:42.81
as we possibly can, that there
might be a rich harvest of souls
00:49:42.84\00:49:46.95
for the kingdom.
00:49:46.98\00:49:49.12
I want to remind you, friends,
about our free offer for today.
00:49:49.15\00:49:51.99
It's a book entitled
"Is It Possible to Live
00:49:52.02\00:49:53.96
without Sinning?"
00:49:53.99\00:49:56.12
And we'd like to make
this available to anyone in
00:49:56.16\00:49:57.69
North America.
00:49:57.73\00:49:59.19
Just call 866-788-3966
and ask for offer number 187.
00:49:59.23\00:50:04.67
We'll be happy to put in
the mail and send it to you.
00:50:04.70\00:50:07.27
If you would like a digital copy
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00:50:07.30\00:50:10.67
text the code SH040
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00:50:10.71\00:50:16.88
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00:50:16.91\00:50:19.38
without Sinning?"
00:50:19.41\00:50:21.48
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's life-changing
00:50:23.65\00:50:25.49
free resource.
00:50:25.52\00:50:27.42
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00:50:27.46\00:50:29.56
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00:50:29.59\00:50:32.03
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important, to
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announcer: Amazing
Facts, Changed Lives.
00:51:01.36\00:51:04.96
Diamond Garcia: Hi, my name is
Diamond Garcia and I am from the
00:51:09.73\00:51:11.87
beautiful islands of Hawaii.
00:51:11.90\00:51:14.40
I was raised in a very
dysfunctional family, like
00:51:14.44\00:51:17.37
most families.
00:51:17.41\00:51:20.04
Being in that environment,
I would lie, cheat, steal, rob
00:51:20.08\00:51:22.84
houses, cheat in school and
tests and lie to teachers, and
00:51:22.88\00:51:27.38
getting into fights
and all kinds of stuff.
00:51:27.42\00:51:31.32
One day I was asked to take this
little box of something and I
00:51:31.35\00:51:35.26
had to walk down the road and
give it to someone and they will
00:51:35.29\00:51:37.76
give me money and I'll walk back
home, and I later realized I was
00:51:37.79\00:51:40.83
dealing drugs.
00:51:40.86\00:51:43.73
Growing up in that environment,
I thought that, you know, being
00:51:43.77\00:51:46.60
an adult was a life of drinking
and smoking and partying, and
00:51:46.63\00:51:49.84
that's just what adults did.
00:51:49.87\00:51:53.21
When I looked at my family
and saw the road that they were
00:51:53.24\00:51:55.81
going down: getting arrested,
getting beaten up, coming home
00:51:55.84\00:51:59.68
drunk and puking all over the
floor, I just didn't want that
00:51:59.71\00:52:03.45
for myself.
00:52:03.49\00:52:06.05
Growing up, I had a grandma who
was baptized as a Christian in
00:52:06.09\00:52:09.12
her 20s, but then she wasn't
a real practicing Christian.
00:52:09.16\00:52:13.09
And so one day I was at her
house and there was a box of
00:52:13.13\00:52:15.43
various books, and I went to the
bottom of that box and found a
00:52:15.46\00:52:19.20
book called "The
Great Controversy."
00:52:19.23\00:52:22.17
And I picked it up and I
said, "This is interesting."
00:52:22.20\00:52:24.87
And I opened to the first page
of that book and it said, "If
00:52:24.91\00:52:27.74
thou hadst known."
00:52:27.78\00:52:30.28
I had no clue what it meant,
and so I said, "You know what?
00:52:30.31\00:52:32.31
Forget this."
00:52:32.35\00:52:34.42
I put the book down.
00:52:34.45\00:52:36.32
I just walked
away, did my thing.
00:52:36.35\00:52:37.69
But then something told
me, "You know what, Diamond?
00:52:37.72\00:52:39.22
Go back to that book."
00:52:39.25\00:52:41.22
And so I went back to the book,
picked it up, went to the last
00:52:41.26\00:52:43.16
two chapters, and I read it.
00:52:43.19\00:52:45.86
And I said to my grandmother, I
said, "What church is this from?
00:52:45.89\00:52:49.03
I want to go to that church."
00:52:49.06\00:52:50.93
So she brought me down to the
local church, and then I walked
00:52:50.97\00:52:53.60
in through the back door
and the piano is off-key, people
00:52:53.64\00:52:56.60
are off-key.
00:52:56.64\00:52:58.34
It's like, "Man, this is
really kind of--I don't want to
00:52:58.37\00:53:00.44
be here."
00:53:00.48\00:53:02.74
And I got to the front of
the church and I sat down.
00:53:02.78\00:53:04.65
I was listening to the sermon
and the whole service was so
00:53:04.68\00:53:06.92
boring to me, but then someone
gives me this set of DVDs and it
00:53:06.95\00:53:11.35
was called "The Prophecy Code."
00:53:11.39\00:53:14.52
It was through watching Doug
Batchelor explain the truths
00:53:14.56\00:53:18.29
found in the Bible that really
brought me to Christ and brought
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me to realize
that, "You know what?
00:53:21.30\00:53:23.47
There is a life better
than my family's life."
00:53:23.50\00:53:27.57
My second week at church
on Sabbath, there was one
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person there.
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He basically told
me, "Hey, Diamond.
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Do you want to make some money?"
00:53:34.18\00:53:36.08
And I said, "Sure."
00:53:36.11\00:53:37.75
I said, "What do you do?"
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He says, "Well,
I'm a call porter.
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We go door to door and
we sell Christian books."
00:53:41.88\00:53:43.75
I said, "Oh, okay,
well, that sounds interesting.
00:53:43.79\00:53:45.22
I do want to
make some money, too."
00:53:45.25\00:53:46.69
And so he said, "Okay, well,
why don't you come with me?"
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We drove out to the
neighborhood, parked the car,
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and that night was just raining.
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It was pouring and pouring.
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It could not stop raining.
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He prayed.
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He said, "God, this
is Diamond's first night.
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If it's Your will, stop the rain
so we can go knocking on doors."
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And as soon as he said
amen, the rain just stopped.
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I was just thinking in my head,
"Is this guy a prophet or what?
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I mean, he just prayed and
asked God and it happened."
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And so I was so happy.
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I got the books and I
went to the first door.
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And the first door I went
to, the person gave me 50 bucks.
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That night was actually a
big night for me because it was
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where I saw God's power work
in stopping the rain and people
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actually giving
me lots of money.
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I then became a call porter or a
canvasser, and I saved money to
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pay for my way through academy.
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And when my church began to
see how God was using me, they
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immediately recognized that it
was God's Word moving and they
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put me, you know, preaching and
teaching and sharing my faith,
00:54:41.31\00:54:45.55
and I've been engaged in
ministry for the past 6 or 7
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years now and God has taken me
all over the world on multiple
00:54:47.15\00:54:50.22
continents sharing my testimony,
how God has brought me out of
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darkness into his marvelous
light, which is total contrast
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as to how it was before and now.
00:54:57.76\00:54:59.69
You know, total contrast.
00:54:59.73\00:55:02.60
My name is Diamond, and Amazing
Facts has helped to change
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my life.
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¤¤¤
00:55:08.00\00:55:14.61
Doug Batchelor: Flying sounds
really exotic when you're young.
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As you get older, if you do any
commercial flight, it can lose
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its luster.
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The longest commercial flight
in the world goes from Auckland,
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New Zealand to Dubai,
over 17 hours, 8,800 miles.
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That's a long flight,
especially if you're stuck in
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the middle seat.
00:55:45.57\00:55:47.61
You spend a long time looking
at your watch, waiting for the
00:55:47.64\00:55:49.28
plane to land.
00:55:49.31\00:55:51.48
But scientists have now found
there are some birds that can
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fly much longer than
anything a man has made.
00:55:53.72\00:55:56.45
Matter of fact, for years
they've known that the great
00:55:56.48\00:55:59.42
frigate birds can stay on
the wing for several weeks.
00:55:59.45\00:56:02.92
We always thought that was
impressive until recently when
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scientists in Sweden
did an experiment with the
00:56:06.06\00:56:08.46
common swift.
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They have these very
lightweight micro-transmitters.
00:56:10.87\00:56:13.67
They put them on 13
swift birds and let them go.
00:56:13.70\00:56:17.04
They discovered that three of
those swifts did not land even
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one time in 10 months.
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Ten months of non-stop flying.
00:56:23.58\00:56:27.02
So someone might naturally
be wondering, "How do the swifts
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manage to sleep, especially
if they're flying non-stop for
00:56:30.09\00:56:31.72
10 months?"
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Everybody needs their rest.
00:56:33.86\00:56:35.99
Well, we're not exactly
sure, but through studying these
00:56:36.02\00:56:38.56
swifts with the electronic
transmitters, it seems just
00:56:38.59\00:56:41.66
before sundown they fly up to an
elevation of about 2 miles and
00:56:41.70\00:56:45.57
then they begin to glide
slowly down, taking catnaps.
00:56:45.60\00:56:51.11
Birds taking a catnap.
00:56:51.14\00:56:53.21
Evidently, that's what they do.
00:56:53.24\00:56:55.31
You might be wondering, "How
do they eat without landing?"
00:56:55.34\00:56:58.28
You see, the swift has an almost
perfect aerodynamic design.
00:56:58.31\00:57:01.48
In fact, some aircraft designers
have looked at the shape of the
00:57:01.52\00:57:04.02
swift and used their design to
pattern jet fighters 'cause the
00:57:04.05\00:57:08.26
swift is able to turn
and maneuver so precisely in
00:57:08.29\00:57:11.09
the air.
00:57:11.13\00:57:13.36
So generally, right after
sunrise and just before sundown,
00:57:13.40\00:57:16.56
the birds go on a feast and
they're able to grab the bugs
00:57:16.60\00:57:19.93
right out of the air, having
a great birdie-bug buffet.
00:57:19.97\00:57:24.01
Perhaps before you've
wished that you could have that
00:57:24.04\00:57:27.01
unending energy like these
birds, be able to fly non-stop
00:57:27.04\00:57:29.98
without getting bored or tired.
00:57:30.01\00:57:33.31
You know, the Bible says that
those that put their trust in
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God will never feel
that kind of fatigue.
00:57:34.88\00:57:37.92
Isaiah chapter 40, verse 31,
"They that wait upon the Lord
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will renew their strength.
00:57:41.92\00:57:44.36
They will mount up
with wings like eagles.
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They will run and not be weary.
00:57:46.59\00:57:49.00
They will walk and not faint."
00:57:49.03\00:57:51.43
So, friends, if you need an
energy boost, surrender to Jesus
00:57:51.47\00:57:54.24
and he'll help you mount
up with wings like a bird.
00:57:54.27\00:57:57.61
¤¤¤
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¤¤¤
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