Welcome to 00:00:22.95\00:00:23.35 Timeless Healing Insights. 00:00:23.59\00:00:24.52 I'm Dr. David DeRose. 00:00:24.52\00:00:26.42 Jesus calls us to Himself, 00:00:26.42\00:00:28.79 but He also calls 00:00:28.79\00:00:29.96 us into community. 00:00:29.96\00:00:31.23 He calls us to be part 00:00:31.23\00:00:32.43 of a body of believers. 00:00:32.43\00:00:34.50 We engage with that topic today 00:00:34.50\00:00:36.40 as we continue 00:00:36.40\00:00:37.80 our series 00:00:37.80\00:00:38.97 on the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:38.97\00:00:40.37 Father in Heaven, 00:00:42.24\00:00:43.24 we are looking at the Gospel 00:00:43.24\00:00:44.67 of Mark. 00:00:44.67\00:00:45.04 We're seeing 00:00:45.04\00:00:45.47 how You call us individually 00:00:45.71\00:00:47.68 and then how You 00:00:47.68\00:00:49.04 want us to come into community. 00:00:49.04\00:00:51.45 Help us to see that more 00:00:51.45\00:00:53.01 clearly in the Gospel of Mark 00:00:53.01\00:00:54.62 if it's there for us, 00:00:54.62\00:00:56.32 as I believe it is. 00:00:56.32\00:00:57.72 And help us to understand 00:00:57.72\00:00:58.89 its practical implications, 00:00:58.89\00:01:01.06 we ask In Jesus name, Amen. 00:01:01.06\00:01:03.26 We've been walking 00:01:04.59\00:01:05.29 through the parables. 00:01:05.29\00:01:06.29 We've been looking at Mark 4. 00:01:06.29\00:01:07.40 We've been seeing how 00:01:07.40\00:01:08.20 things are building up. 00:01:08.20\00:01:09.63 And I want you to see how 00:01:09.63\00:01:11.77 this is relevant 00:01:12.00\00:01:13.44 when it comes to 00:01:13.44\00:01:14.27 healing insights. 00:01:14.27\00:01:16.10 As were speaking about this 00:01:16.10\00:01:17.41 important dynamic 00:01:17.41\00:01:19.27 not just for God 00:01:19.27\00:01:21.24 to lead you individually, 00:01:21.24\00:01:22.88 but God leads us 00:01:22.88\00:01:24.21 as a body, leads us together. 00:01:24.21\00:01:26.92 As a physician, 00:01:27.15\00:01:28.08 I have seen this 00:01:28.08\00:01:28.68 so many times in my life. 00:01:28.68\00:01:31.09 Yes, God wants you 00:01:31.09\00:01:32.79 to individually know 00:01:32.79\00:01:34.06 what's going on in your body, 00:01:34.06\00:01:35.59 but He often calls you 00:01:35.59\00:01:37.56 to act in community. 00:01:37.56\00:01:39.83 Let me tell you 00:01:39.96\00:01:40.46 what I'm getting at. 00:01:40.46\00:01:42.10 If you go to see your physician 00:01:42.10\00:01:44.57 and your physician recommends 00:01:44.57\00:01:46.30 cancer screening. 00:01:47.37\00:01:49.14 Okay? 00:01:49.14\00:01:49.70 By the way, 00:01:49.70\00:01:51.01 I've had some 00:01:51.01\00:01:51.51 interesting dialogs 00:01:51.51\00:01:52.47 with people over the years 00:01:52.47\00:01:53.58 about how unpleasant 00:01:53.58\00:01:54.88 different types of cancer 00:01:54.88\00:01:56.08 screening are. 00:01:56.08\00:01:57.21 Some are pretty simple, right? 00:01:57.21\00:01:58.95 Maybe it's just a 00:01:58.95\00:02:01.42 a CT scan. 00:02:01.58\00:02:02.78 You know if you've 00:02:02.78\00:02:03.89 got a significant history 00:02:03.89\00:02:05.09 of smoking 00:02:05.09\00:02:05.82 and you've 00:02:05.82\00:02:06.35 reached your fifties? 00:02:06.35\00:02:09.09 It's recommended 00:02:09.09\00:02:09.92 now that you have a screening 00:02:09.92\00:02:12.36 CAT scan every year, a low dose 00:02:12.43\00:02:14.23 CAT scan every year 00:02:14.23\00:02:15.80 to try to pick up on early 00:02:15.80\00:02:17.30 lung cancer. 00:02:17.30\00:02:18.50 They?not too painful. 00:02:18.50\00:02:19.83 You get a little 00:02:19.83\00:02:20.27 bit of radiation. 00:02:20.34\00:02:21.47 But other cancer 00:02:21.47\00:02:22.44 screenings are 00:02:22.44\00:02:23.04 less comfortable. 00:02:23.04\00:02:24.41 Some of you ladies have told me 00:02:24.41\00:02:25.74 that mammography 00:02:25.74\00:02:26.91 is not all that pleasant. 00:02:26.91\00:02:28.81 I have had 00:02:28.81\00:02:29.44 some colonoscopies in the past 00:02:29.44\00:02:31.38 on a screening basis. 00:02:31.38\00:02:33.55 I would not tell you 00:02:33.55\00:02:34.45 that the prep was pleasant. 00:02:34.45\00:02:36.99 Most people do not 00:02:36.99\00:02:38.09 remember the actual procedure, 00:02:38.09\00:02:39.75 if that's what your fear is 00:02:39.75\00:02:41.09 with the 00:02:41.09\00:02:41.66 modern medications 00:02:41.66\00:02:43.26 that are used. 00:02:43.26\00:02:45.99 But here's what I'm getting at. 00:02:45.99\00:02:48.06 I can't tell you 00:02:48.06\00:02:49.13 how many people 00:02:49.13\00:02:50.83 have disregarded 00:02:50.83\00:02:52.80 recommendations 00:02:52.80\00:02:53.97 of health care providers 00:02:53.97\00:02:55.34 to get appropriate screening, 00:02:55.34\00:02:57.11 they said, But I feel fine. 00:02:57.11\00:02:58.41 I don't need screening. 00:02:58.41\00:03:00.31 Why do we do screening? 00:03:00.31\00:03:01.51 Because you feel fine. 00:03:02.98\00:03:04.88 To detect things in an early, 00:03:04.88\00:03:06.95 treatable state. 00:03:07.08\00:03:09.32 So I would recommend to you 00:03:09.32\00:03:10.75 that you take the counsel 00:03:10.75\00:03:11.92 of your health care providers 00:03:11.92\00:03:12.99 if you really think 00:03:12.99\00:03:13.62 they're off track. 00:03:13.62\00:03:14.36 And by the way, 00:03:14.36\00:03:15.42 I'm not going to say that 00:03:15.42\00:03:16.32 everything I've ever 00:03:16.32\00:03:17.13 said was correct. 00:03:17.13\00:03:18.69 We all we're all human. Okay? 00:03:18.69\00:03:20.76 So if you think 00:03:20.76\00:03:21.53 your health care 00:03:21.53\00:03:22.20 provider is just, 00:03:22.20\00:03:23.40 you know, 00:03:23.40\00:03:23.80 telling you something to do 00:03:24.07\00:03:24.63 that's just crazy, 00:03:24.63\00:03:25.77 get a second opinion 00:03:25.77\00:03:27.74 from another professional. 00:03:27.74\00:03:29.44 Don't 00:03:29.44\00:03:29.90 you be the second opinion. 00:03:30.07\00:03:32.91 They tried to drill this 00:03:32.91\00:03:34.11 into our minds 00:03:34.11\00:03:35.31 in medical school. 00:03:35.31\00:03:38.45 There's different ways 00:03:38.45\00:03:39.41 this aphorism 00:03:39.41\00:03:41.25 has been rendered. 00:03:41.25\00:03:42.12 But one way is he 00:03:42.12\00:03:43.35 who treats himself 00:03:43.35\00:03:45.62 has a fool for a doctor 00:03:45.62\00:03:48.06 and a fool for a patient. 00:03:48.66\00:03:50.86 Okay? 00:03:51.26\00:03:51.66 That's what they tell people 00:03:51.93\00:03:52.83 with medical degrees 00:03:52.83\00:03:54.10 who've gone to residency. Okay? 00:03:54.10\00:03:56.23 So what about you? 00:03:56.60\00:03:58.27 Now, by the way, 00:03:58.27\00:03:58.83 let me tell you the other place 00:03:58.97\00:03:59.83 where counsel comes in 00:03:59.83\00:04:01.74 and I'll just tell 00:04:01.74\00:04:02.77 to be really honest with you. 00:04:02.77\00:04:04.34 And I'm 00:04:04.34\00:04:04.61 not trying to pick on the guys, 00:04:05.04\00:04:05.94 but I found that 00:04:05.94\00:04:06.54 this seems to be 00:04:06.54\00:04:07.34 more of a problem 00:04:07.34\00:04:08.24 sometimes for the men 00:04:08.24\00:04:09.84 that I speak to 00:04:09.84\00:04:10.65 than the ladies. 00:04:10.65\00:04:11.91 But sometimes 00:04:11.91\00:04:12.88 you will be getting counsel 00:04:12.88\00:04:13.95 in your home to do something. 00:04:13.95\00:04:16.02 Maybe it's even from your wife. 00:04:16.42\00:04:18.89 And I have noticed 00:04:18.89\00:04:19.92 that many men 00:04:19.92\00:04:21.26 want to rely 00:04:21.26\00:04:22.59 on their own medical skills. 00:04:22.59\00:04:24.66 Okay? 00:04:24.69\00:04:25.53 When the wife is telling them, 00:04:25.59\00:04:26.90 but honey, 00:04:26.90\00:04:27.46 it seems like your chest 00:04:27.46\00:04:28.80 pain is getting worse 00:04:28.80\00:04:29.90 every time you mow the lawn. 00:04:29.90\00:04:31.77 And he's saying 00:04:31.77\00:04:32.43 it's just indigestion. 00:04:32.43\00:04:33.94 Next time I'm 00:04:33.94\00:04:34.80 going to not eat for three days 00:04:34.80\00:04:36.50 before I mow the lawn. 00:04:36.50\00:04:37.97 Okay? 00:04:37.97\00:04:38.44 No, 00:04:38.44\00:04:38.57 there is another problem 00:04:39.04\00:04:40.41 likely going on. 00:04:40.41\00:04:41.28 Are you following 00:04:41.28\00:04:41.78 along with me? 00:04:41.78\00:04:42.71 So healing 00:04:42.71\00:04:43.58 often comes in community. 00:04:43.58\00:04:45.88 Now, the Gospel of Mark 00:04:45.88\00:04:48.38 has a very 00:04:48.38\00:04:49.15 interesting connection 00:04:49.15\00:04:50.72 with this. 00:04:50.72\00:04:52.19 But before we jump there, 00:04:52.19\00:04:53.96 I want to 00:04:53.96\00:04:54.39 remind you of something, 00:04:54.56\00:04:55.19 because I 00:04:55.19\00:04:56.02 can anticipate 00:04:56.02\00:04:56.86 that some of you are 00:04:56.86\00:04:57.39 sitting here saying, well, 00:04:57.49\00:04:58.13 this is not very spiritual. 00:04:58.13\00:04:59.73 I mean, you might be a doctor 00:04:59.73\00:05:01.10 and you might be a pastor, 00:05:01.10\00:05:02.46 but if you're a pastor, 00:05:02.46\00:05:03.37 you should be just saying 00:05:03.37\00:05:04.23 we should be praying, 00:05:04.23\00:05:05.07 we shouldn't 00:05:05.07\00:05:05.43 be going to doctors. 00:05:05.60\00:05:06.94 It's actually interesting to me 00:05:06.94\00:05:09.20 that the New Testament, 00:05:09.20\00:05:10.77 the healing 00:05:10.77\00:05:12.17 in the New Testament 00:05:12.17\00:05:13.48 is often 00:05:13.48\00:05:14.28 in the context of individuals 00:05:14.28\00:05:16.44 being involved in the process. 00:05:16.44\00:05:17.88 We saw in Mark 3 right? 00:05:17.88\00:05:19.91 That Jesus, well, 00:05:19.91\00:05:20.58 look at Mark 3 with me. 00:05:20.58\00:05:22.55 Look at Mark 3 00:05:22.55\00:05:23.35 when Jesus called 00:05:23.35\00:05:24.39 the disciples. 00:05:24.39\00:05:25.49 What is He calling them 00:05:25.49\00:05:27.02 to be involved with? 00:05:27.02\00:05:28.62 I'm in Mark 3, 00:05:28.62\00:05:30.99 beginning with verse 13. 00:05:30.99\00:05:32.73 It speaks about Jesus 00:05:33.83\00:05:35.20 calling 00:05:35.20\00:05:36.00 these individuals 00:05:36.00\00:05:37.20 to Him 00:05:37.20\00:05:37.57 and in verse 14, 00:05:37.67\00:05:39.23 He first calls them 00:05:39.23\00:05:40.34 to be with Him, 00:05:40.34\00:05:41.60 and then 00:05:41.60\00:05:42.14 it says that 00:05:42.14\00:05:42.64 He might send them out 00:05:42.64\00:05:44.64 to preach 00:05:44.64\00:05:45.94 and to have power 00:05:45.94\00:05:47.08 to heal sicknesses 00:05:47.08\00:05:49.24 and to cast out demons. 00:05:49.24\00:05:50.95 He is commissioning them 00:05:50.95\00:05:52.78 in community 00:05:52.78\00:05:54.05 to be involved 00:05:54.05\00:05:54.92 in healing communities. 00:05:54.92\00:05:55.98 He's not just saying 00:05:55.98\00:05:56.85 go and tell people 00:05:56.85\00:05:58.12 about prayer for the sick. 00:05:58.12\00:06:00.32 This is true 00:06:00.32\00:06:01.02 in James 5 as well. 00:06:01.02\00:06:02.99 In James 5, when James believed 00:06:02.99\00:06:06.43 to be the half 00:06:06.43\00:06:07.03 brother of Jesus, when James 00:06:07.03\00:06:09.96 is writing about a need 00:06:10.73\00:06:12.67 for healing, here's 00:06:12.67\00:06:13.50 what he says. 00:06:13.50\00:06:14.67 Is anyone among you sick? 00:06:14.67\00:06:16.71 Let him do what? 00:06:16.71\00:06:17.54 Let him go to his room 00:06:17.54\00:06:18.37 and pray. 00:06:18.37\00:06:19.11 That's not what he says. 00:06:19.11\00:06:20.74 He says, Let him call 00:06:20.74\00:06:22.28 for the elders of the church 00:06:22.28\00:06:23.98 and let them pray over him, 00:06:23.98\00:06:26.15 anointing him with oil 00:06:26.15\00:06:27.35 in the name of the Lord 00:06:27.35\00:06:28.58 and the prayer of faith. 00:06:28.58\00:06:30.05 The collective prayer of faith 00:06:30.05\00:06:32.42 will save the sick 00:06:32.79\00:06:34.42 and the Lord will raise him up. 00:06:34.42\00:06:36.32 Interesting, isn't it? 00:06:36.32\00:06:37.83 So even when we're dealing 00:06:37.83\00:06:39.43 with difficulties, 00:06:39.43\00:06:40.30 even in the spiritual realm, 00:06:40.30\00:06:42.13 community is first 00:06:42.13\00:06:43.90 and foremost. 00:06:43.90\00:06:45.27 Now, 00:06:45.27\00:06:45.97 if I were to ask you 00:06:46.47\00:06:47.30 this question, 00:06:47.30\00:06:48.74 what is the most personal way 00:06:48.74\00:06:51.37 that God could guide you? 00:06:51.37\00:06:53.44 I don't know what 00:06:53.44\00:06:53.98 your answer would be, 00:06:53.98\00:06:54.84 but it's likely that 00:06:54.84\00:06:55.88 some of you would say, Well, 00:06:55.88\00:06:57.15 the most personal way 00:06:57.15\00:06:58.31 that God could guide me 00:06:58.31\00:06:59.55 is through a vision 00:06:59.55\00:07:01.08 or through a dream. 00:07:01.08\00:07:02.22 I mean, that's pretty 00:07:02.22\00:07:02.72 personal, isn't it? 00:07:02.72\00:07:03.89 You're laying in bed 00:07:03.89\00:07:04.75 and God 00:07:04.75\00:07:05.12 gives you a special dream. 00:07:05.39\00:07:07.39 Does God sometimes do that? 00:07:08.22\00:07:10.33 Yes. 00:07:10.33\00:07:11.06 Back to Mark 4 00:07:11.06\00:07:11.99 because many commentators 00:07:11.99\00:07:13.16 believe that Mark 4 00:07:13.16\00:07:14.30 as it as the parables conclude, 00:07:14.30\00:07:16.33 the final parable in Mark 4 00:07:16.53\00:07:18.30 is actually 00:07:18.30\00:07:18.93 connecting listeners 00:07:18.93\00:07:21.24 Jesus?arers 00:07:21.24\00:07:22.64 with this dynamic. 00:07:22.64\00:07:23.67 Let's look at it together. 00:07:23.67\00:07:25.24 Jesus says, 00:07:25.24\00:07:26.64 What shall we say 00:07:26.64\00:07:27.68 the Kingdom of God is like, 00:07:27.68\00:07:29.08 or what parable shall 00:07:29.08\00:07:30.45 we use to describe it? 00:07:30.45\00:07:31.91 It is like a mustard seed, 00:07:31.91\00:07:33.78 which is the smallest 00:07:33.78\00:07:34.95 of all seeds on earth. 00:07:34.95\00:07:36.45 Yet when planted, it 00:07:36.45\00:07:37.55 grows and becomes 00:07:37.55\00:07:38.49 the largest 00:07:38.49\00:07:39.25 of all garden plants 00:07:39.25\00:07:40.69 with such big branches 00:07:40.69\00:07:42.49 that the birds can perch 00:07:42.49\00:07:44.13 in its shade. 00:07:44.13\00:07:45.86 If you were living 00:07:45.86\00:07:47.50 in the days of Jesus 00:07:47.50\00:07:49.03 and you had heard Jesus 00:07:49.03\00:07:50.80 speaking these words, 00:07:50.80\00:07:52.43 would your mind have been drawn 00:07:52.43\00:07:53.87 to anything else? 00:07:53.87\00:07:55.30 Now you could say, Well, 00:07:55.30\00:07:56.24 2000 years later, 00:07:56.24\00:07:58.11 how can anyone say 00:07:58.11\00:08:00.34 what someone would have thought 00:08:00.38\00:08:02.18 2000 years ago? 00:08:02.18\00:08:03.55 But many commentators agree. 00:08:03.55\00:08:05.15 If you were in the 00:08:05.15\00:08:06.01 Hebrew mindset of that day 00:08:06.01\00:08:07.78 when you heard Jesus 00:08:07.78\00:08:09.38 tell this parable, 00:08:09.38\00:08:11.35 it is very likely 00:08:11.35\00:08:13.05 your mind would have gone 00:08:13.05\00:08:14.92 to another Bible book, 00:08:14.92\00:08:17.36 the fourth chapter 00:08:18.13\00:08:19.63 of the Book of Daniel. 00:08:19.63\00:08:21.46 Let's look at it together. 00:08:21.46\00:08:23.50 Many of you are familiar 00:08:23.50\00:08:25.37 famous dream, in Daniel 2. 00:08:25.37\00:08:27.54 Nebuchadnezzar 00:08:28.00\00:08:29.44 also has a dream 00:08:29.44\00:08:30.57 in chapter 4 of Daniel. 00:08:30.57\00:08:32.64 And it says There. 00:08:32.64\00:08:34.34 Nebuchadnezzar 00:08:34.34\00:08:36.38 telling the story. 00:08:36.38\00:08:37.88 “The visions of my head 00:08:37.88\00:08:39.15 as I lay in bed were these: 00:08:39.15\00:08:40.65 I saw and behold, a tree 00:08:40.65\00:08:42.95 in the midst of the earth, 00:08:43.12\00:08:44.65 and its height was great... 00:08:44.65\00:08:46.59 The beasts of the field 00:08:46.59\00:08:47.52 found shade 00:08:47.52\00:08:48.16 under it, 00:08:48.16\00:08:48.59 and the birds of the heavens 00:08:48.82\00:08:50.39 lived in its branches 00:08:50.39\00:08:52.06 and all flesh was fed from it.” 00:08:52.06\00:08:53.60 Do you see 00:08:53.60\00:08:53.93 the similarities there? 00:08:54.13\00:08:55.80 So if you're familiar 00:08:55.80\00:08:57.70 with the Bible 00:08:57.70\00:08:59.20 and you're listening 00:08:59.20\00:09:00.37 to the great teacher 00:09:00.37\00:09:01.74 Jesus, and He's talking about 00:09:01.74\00:09:03.84 a parable that involves a tree 00:09:03.84\00:09:06.78 in which the birds are nesting 00:09:06.94\00:09:08.88 in, you are likely 00:09:08.88\00:09:11.08 connecting the dots 00:09:11.08\00:09:12.31 and going back to Daniel 4 00:09:12.31\00:09:14.78 Now, why I think this is 00:09:14.88\00:09:15.78 so remarkable 00:09:15.78\00:09:16.99 is Daniel 4 is underscoring 00:09:16.99\00:09:20.72 the very points 00:09:20.72\00:09:22.26 that we've been making 00:09:22.26\00:09:23.76 to this point in our journey. 00:09:23.76\00:09:25.53 Because God 00:09:25.53\00:09:26.43 speaks directly 00:09:26.43\00:09:27.73 to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:09:27.73\00:09:28.83 He gives him a vision. 00:09:28.83\00:09:30.47 But here's the crazy thing. 00:09:30.47\00:09:32.23 That vision is given 00:09:32.23\00:09:33.34 in a social context. 00:09:33.34\00:09:35.20 Nebuchadnezzar 00:09:35.20\00:09:36.40 gets nothing from the vision 00:09:36.40\00:09:38.77 until God sends 00:09:38.77\00:09:41.48 someone to interpret it. 00:09:41.48\00:09:43.28 Okay? 00:09:43.28\00:09:44.11 And the interpretation 00:09:44.58\00:09:46.35 has social implications 00:09:46.35\00:09:48.78 as well. 00:09:48.78\00:09:49.92 Let's look. 00:09:49.92\00:09:50.75 Here's Daniel's 00:09:50.75\00:09:52.09 interpretation 00:09:52.09\00:09:53.12 of Nebuchadnezzar?ision. 00:09:53.12\00:09:54.79 “The tree you saw, 00:09:54.79\00:09:55.89 which grew large and strong... 00:09:55.89\00:09:57.43 giving shelter 00:09:57.43\00:09:58.13 to the wild animals 00:09:58.13\00:09:59.36 and having nesting places 00:09:59.36\00:10:00.83 in its branches for the birds - 00:10:00.83\00:10:02.53 Your Majesty, 00:10:02.53\00:10:03.83 you are that tree!” 00:10:03.83\00:10:05.70 And many of you know 00:10:05.70\00:10:06.43 from your study 00:10:06.43\00:10:07.07 of Bible prophecy 00:10:07.07\00:10:08.94 that often a king or 00:10:08.94\00:10:10.81 an individual 00:10:10.81\00:10:11.51 is representative 00:10:11.51\00:10:12.57 of his kingdom. 00:10:12.57\00:10:14.14 So here 00:10:14.14\00:10:14.61 we have the Kingdom of Babylon, 00:10:14.84\00:10:15.98 and it's king 00:10:15.98\00:10:17.05 providing for all nations. 00:10:17.05\00:10:20.72 This is clearly, 00:10:20.72\00:10:22.32 this is clearly ultimately 00:10:22.32\00:10:24.02 a parable of what 00:10:24.02\00:10:25.69 Jesus wants 00:10:25.69\00:10:26.72 to do for all of us. 00:10:26.72\00:10:27.69 Because we remember 00:10:27.69\00:10:28.89 how Daniel's visions typically 00:10:28.89\00:10:31.56 end up the visions 00:10:31.56\00:10:32.46 in the Book of Daniel 00:10:32.46\00:10:33.50 with God setting 00:10:33.50\00:10:34.56 up his kingdom. 00:10:34.56\00:10:35.40 Here, Daniel continues, 00:10:37.03\00:10:38.43 his interpretation. 00:10:38.43\00:10:39.77 “You have become 00:10:39.77\00:10:40.57 great and strong; 00:10:40.57\00:10:41.47 your greatness has grown 00:10:41.47\00:10:42.90 until it reaches the sky, 00:10:42.90\00:10:44.77 and your dominion extends 00:10:44.77\00:10:46.64 to distant parts 00:10:46.64\00:10:47.51 of the earth... 00:10:47.51\00:10:48.44 But here's now the point. 00:10:48.44\00:10:50.55 The most high is sovereign 00:10:50.55\00:10:53.21 over all kingdoms on earth 00:10:53.21\00:10:54.85 and gives them to anyone 00:10:54.85\00:10:56.92 he wishes.” Okay? 00:10:56.92\00:10:58.59 So it looks like you're 00:10:58.59\00:10:59.75 in charge. God has blessed you. 00:10:59.75\00:11:02.39 He's individually ministering 00:11:02.42\00:11:04.26 to you, 00:11:04.26\00:11:04.96 but you are ministered 00:11:04.96\00:11:06.16 to individually, 00:11:06.16\00:11:07.20 so you'll be a blessing 00:11:07.20\00:11:08.36 to others. 00:11:08.36\00:11:09.13 It's only 00:11:09.13\00:11:11.13 blessings coming to you 00:11:11.13\00:11:12.83 so that you'll bless others. 00:11:12.83\00:11:15.44 Think about it this way. 00:11:15.44\00:11:17.34 We've been looking at Mark's 00:11:17.34\00:11:19.07 gospel. 00:11:19.07\00:11:19.54 We've been seeing 00:11:19.54\00:11:20.14 how it's rooted. 00:11:20.14\00:11:21.38 The time frame is rooted 00:11:21.38\00:11:23.21 in the Book of Daniel. 00:11:23.21\00:11:24.78 We've been seeing 00:11:24.78\00:11:25.45 other connections 00:11:25.45\00:11:26.35 with the Book of Daniel. 00:11:26.35\00:11:27.18 I just want you to see this 00:11:27.18\00:11:28.88 as we're 00:11:28.88\00:11:29.52 looking at Mark 4 00:11:29.52\00:11:31.02 that there's also 00:11:31.02\00:11:31.85 these connections there. 00:11:31.85\00:11:33.42 And what we've been 00:11:33.42\00:11:33.99 seeing in Mark's 00:11:33.99\00:11:34.96 Gospel is true In Daniel's 00:11:34.96\00:11:36.73 book. 00:11:36.73\00:11:37.69 Daniel is set 00:11:37.99\00:11:38.79 in a social context 00:11:38.79\00:11:40.30 in the first four 00:11:40.30\00:11:40.96 chapters of Daniel. 00:11:40.96\00:11:42.36 In Daniel 1 00:11:42.36\00:11:43.77 you remember the story perhaps. 00:11:43.77\00:11:45.53 Daniel and his friends 00:11:45.53\00:11:47.64 resolve to be faithful. 00:11:47.64\00:11:48.90 It's not just an individual. 00:11:48.90\00:11:50.84 We come to Daniel 2. 00:11:50.84\00:11:53.24 God answers 00:11:53.24\00:11:54.38 not the prayer of Daniel alone, 00:11:54.38\00:11:56.75 but when Daniel 00:11:56.98\00:11:58.15 and the lives of his 00:11:58.15\00:12:00.35 friends are threatened, 00:12:00.35\00:12:01.58 they're among the leaders, 00:12:01.58\00:12:03.79 the wise men of Babylon. 00:12:03.99\00:12:07.89 When the representative 00:12:08.82\00:12:11.03 wise men, before Nebuchadnezzar 00:12:11.03\00:12:12.79 could not interpret his dream. 00:12:12.79\00:12:14.30 Nebuchadnezzar pronounces 00:12:14.30\00:12:15.63 a death decree 00:12:15.63\00:12:16.56 on the whole group of wise men. 00:12:16.56\00:12:18.60 When Daniel and his friends 00:12:18.60\00:12:20.14 hear that, what do they do? 00:12:20.14\00:12:21.57 They come together in Daniel 2 00:12:21.57\00:12:23.24 and they pray together. 00:12:23.24\00:12:25.51 And what happens? 00:12:25.51\00:12:26.68 God hears 00:12:26.68\00:12:27.31 their corporate prayer. 00:12:27.31\00:12:28.58 Don't miss this. 00:12:28.58\00:12:29.78 Don't miss this. 00:12:29.78\00:12:30.55 Because in Mark 2 00:12:30.55\00:12:32.71 connect the dots with me 00:12:32.71\00:12:34.35 and Mark 2 00:12:34.35\00:12:34.95 do you remember the story, 00:12:34.95\00:12:35.78 how Mark 2 opened up? 00:12:35.78\00:12:37.29 There's this paralytic 00:12:37.29\00:12:38.45 and how does he get in 00:12:38.45\00:12:39.42 the presence of Jesus? 00:12:39.42\00:12:40.66 His friends open up the roof. 00:12:41.79\00:12:44.73 Are you seeing this thing? 00:12:45.33\00:12:46.63 And so you say, Well, 00:12:46.63\00:12:47.66 but you know, I'm 00:12:47.66\00:12:48.26 not sure that all this 00:12:48.26\00:12:49.23 fits together. 00:12:49.23\00:12:50.67 Time and time again, 00:12:50.67\00:12:52.03 we're seeing a recurring theme. 00:12:52.03\00:12:54.04 We're seeing a recurring theme. 00:12:54.04\00:12:56.04 I want you to notice something. 00:12:56.04\00:12:57.21 We mentioned 00:12:57.21\00:12:57.61 the book of Malachi. 00:12:57.74\00:12:58.57 Go to Malachi 3 with me. 00:12:58.57\00:13:00.48 I want you to notice 00:13:00.48\00:13:01.21 one other thing. 00:13:01.21\00:13:02.61 Because although John 00:13:03.68\00:13:05.05 the Baptist 00:13:05.05\00:13:06.18 is the voice in the wilderness 00:13:06.18\00:13:08.35 fulfilling the prophecy 00:13:08.35\00:13:10.32 of Malachi. 00:13:10.32\00:13:11.95 He is in Malachi 3:1, 00:13:11.95\00:13:14.56 God's Messenger 00:13:14.82\00:13:16.93 who prepares the way before me. 00:13:16.93\00:13:19.23 I don't want you to miss 00:13:19.53\00:13:21.70 how Malachi ends. 00:13:21.70\00:13:23.87 Jump to the very last verse. 00:13:23.87\00:13:26.37 What was this 00:13:26.67\00:13:27.60 prophet going to do? 00:13:27.60\00:13:29.07 What is he going 00:13:29.07\00:13:29.54 to set the stage for? 00:13:29.64\00:13:31.91 He will, verse 6 Malachi 4, 00:13:31.91\00:13:35.24 Turn the hearts of the fathers 00:13:35.51\00:13:37.35 to the children 00:13:37.35\00:13:38.58 and the hearts of the children 00:13:38.58\00:13:40.05 to their fathers, 00:13:40.05\00:13:41.25 lest I come 00:13:41.25\00:13:42.18 and strike the earth 00:13:42.18\00:13:43.65 with a curse. 00:13:43.65\00:13:44.89 What I'm wanting you to see 00:13:44.89\00:13:46.72 is that as 00:13:46.72\00:13:47.16 the Old Testament is closing, 00:13:47.42\00:13:48.66 God's calling for a people 00:13:48.66\00:13:49.82 to be connected 00:13:49.82\00:13:50.76 with other people, He's 00:13:50.76\00:13:51.66 calling for a message 00:13:51.66\00:13:52.63 that connects people, 00:13:52.63\00:13:53.60 that connects families, 00:13:53.60\00:13:54.66 that brings us 00:13:54.66\00:13:55.30 in the family relationship. 00:13:55.30\00:13:56.87 And the same thing is happening 00:13:56.87\00:13:58.57 as Mark opens his gospel. 00:13:58.57\00:14:00.30 We're seeing this 00:14:00.30\00:14:01.10 in all these stories. 00:14:01.10\00:14:02.20 In Daniel 00:14:02.20\00:14:02.84 3 It's not just one individual 00:14:02.84\00:14:05.11 who stands up 00:14:05.11\00:14:05.77 in the plain of Dura. 00:14:05.77\00:14:06.91 It's three 00:14:06.91\00:14:08.34 standing in community together. 00:14:08.34\00:14:10.71 Now, here's 00:14:11.05\00:14:11.85 the remarkable things 00:14:11.85\00:14:12.71 about dreams and visions. 00:14:12.71\00:14:14.48 Sometimes the dream or 00:14:14.48\00:14:15.92 vision just like we saw 00:14:15.92\00:14:17.22 in Daniel 00:14:18.39\00:14:18.92 4 And just like 00:14:18.92\00:14:19.92 we see with the parables, 00:14:19.92\00:14:20.92 they're often not apparent. 00:14:20.92\00:14:21.99 Many people 00:14:21.99\00:14:22.46 don't understand them. 00:14:22.52\00:14:23.43 Sometimes the dream vision 00:14:23.43\00:14:24.69 we could say 00:14:24.69\00:14:25.06 the parable 00:14:25.06\00:14:25.93 doesn't make immediate sense 00:14:25.93\00:14:27.60 to the one who receives it 00:14:27.60\00:14:28.73 or the one who hears it. 00:14:28.73\00:14:29.96 However, the message 00:14:29.96\00:14:31.03 often becomes clear 00:14:31.03\00:14:32.70 as events play out, 00:14:32.70\00:14:34.24 as they transpire 00:14:34.24\00:14:35.67 and it's often 00:14:35.67\00:14:36.64 in a social context. 00:14:36.64\00:14:37.87 We see this in 00:14:37.87\00:14:38.71 the Book of Daniel. 00:14:38.71\00:14:39.77 Let's see if it's also true 00:14:39.77\00:14:41.91 in some other places, 00:14:41.91\00:14:43.35 and then we'll see 00:14:43.35\00:14:43.98 how this all brings us 00:14:43.98\00:14:44.98 back to the gospel of Mark. 00:14:44.98\00:14:47.48 In Judges 7 00:14:47.48\00:14:48.85 is one of my favorite stories 00:14:48.85\00:14:50.29 of a dream or a vision 00:14:50.29\00:14:52.32 that absolutely to me 00:14:52.32\00:14:54.09 in my human wisdom 00:14:54.09\00:14:55.09 makes absolutely no sense. 00:14:55.09\00:14:57.09 Okay? 00:14:57.09\00:14:57.99 The context is God's 00:14:58.09\00:14:59.86 people are being overrun 00:14:59.86\00:15:01.13 by the Midianites 00:15:01.13\00:15:02.46 and the Amalekites. 00:15:02.46\00:15:03.90 A vast group, a vast throng, 00:15:03.90\00:15:06.43 decimating the farms, 00:15:07.77\00:15:10.51 pressing down God's people and 00:15:10.51\00:15:13.01 God calls Gideon 00:15:13.01\00:15:14.18 to deliver them. 00:15:14.18\00:15:15.38 Gideon like and I. Who am I? 00:15:15.38\00:15:16.91 What do you want me to do? 00:15:16.91\00:15:18.71 Gideon struggles 00:15:18.81\00:15:19.68 with God's call. 00:15:19.68\00:15:20.35 Many of you know how 00:15:20.35\00:15:20.92 the narrative plays out. 00:15:20.92\00:15:22.05 It gets to the point 00:15:22.05\00:15:22.65 where, finally, Gideon is 00:15:22.65\00:15:25.05 somewhat on board. 00:15:25.05\00:15:26.52 He ends up with an army 00:15:26.52\00:15:27.42 of 32,000 men, and God ends up 00:15:27.42\00:15:30.49 promptly sending all 00:15:30.49\00:15:31.69 but 300 home. 00:15:31.69\00:15:33.86 I mean, 00:15:33.90\00:15:34.20 this would be demoralizing 00:15:34.50\00:15:35.80 for any earthly general, 00:15:35.80\00:15:37.97 wouldn't it be? 00:15:37.97\00:15:39.03 Here's how the story plays out. 00:15:40.24\00:15:41.77 Judges 7:9. 00:15:41.77\00:15:44.31 It happened on the same night 00:15:44.31\00:15:46.88 he just sent the majority 00:15:46.88\00:15:47.94 of his army home. 00:15:47.94\00:15:48.88 This is what God does 00:15:48.88\00:15:50.08 for Gideon. 00:15:50.08\00:15:50.85 The Lord says to him, Arise, 00:15:50.85\00:15:52.75 go down 00:15:52.75\00:15:53.38 against the camp of the enemy, 00:15:53.38\00:15:55.78 for I've delivered it 00:15:55.78\00:15:56.82 into your hand. 00:15:56.82\00:15:58.52 And I think as he's speaking 00:15:58.62\00:16:00.26 to Gideon, he's 00:16:00.26\00:16:00.89 kind of looking like, 00:16:00.89\00:16:01.66 what do you want me to do? 00:16:01.66\00:16:02.82 You?delivered in my hand 00:16:02.82\00:16:03.83 go down? 00:16:03.83\00:16:04.79 And the Lord says, But, 00:16:05.23\00:16:07.03 but if you're afraid 00:16:07.03\00:16:08.03 to go down, 00:16:08.03\00:16:09.06 go down to the camp 00:16:09.06\00:16:09.90 with Purah your servant 00:16:09.90\00:16:11.03 and you shall hear 00:16:11.03\00:16:12.23 what they say. 00:16:12.23\00:16:14.14 And afterward 00:16:14.14\00:16:15.00 your hands 00:16:15.00\00:16:15.47 shall be strengthened 00:16:15.57\00:16:16.77 to go down against the camp. 00:16:16.77\00:16:18.97 So God is speaking to him 00:16:18.97\00:16:21.21 personally. Right? 00:16:21.21\00:16:22.44 But he doesn't 00:16:22.44\00:16:23.14 just tell him something. 00:16:23.14\00:16:24.78 He says, 00:16:24.78\00:16:25.11 go down to the enemy camp. 00:16:25.41\00:16:26.58 Now. This is dangerous. 00:16:26.58\00:16:28.65 But he's supposed to go down 00:16:28.65\00:16:29.62 and hear what they say. 00:16:29.62\00:16:30.62 How close do you have 00:16:30.62\00:16:31.45 to get to the enemy to hear 00:16:31.45\00:16:32.52 what they're saying? 00:16:32.52\00:16:33.92 Yeah, very, very close. 00:16:33.92\00:16:35.29 So he had Purah go down there 00:16:35.29\00:16:37.59 and it says 00:16:37.59\00:16:38.99 they come to the outpost, 00:16:38.99\00:16:40.20 you know, on the outskirts 00:16:40.20\00:16:41.13 there of the camp. 00:16:41.13\00:16:42.83 And it says they look, 00:16:42.83\00:16:45.03 the Midianites 00:16:45.03\00:16:46.27 the Amalekites, 00:16:46.27\00:16:47.20 all the people of the east. 00:16:47.20\00:16:48.44 They're lying in the valley 00:16:48.44\00:16:49.74 as numerous as locusts 00:16:49.74\00:16:51.84 and their camels 00:16:51.84\00:16:52.74 were without number 00:16:52.74\00:16:54.21 as the sand 00:16:54.21\00:16:55.41 by the seashore in multitude. 00:16:55.41\00:16:57.58 Do you think 00:16:57.58\00:16:58.51 Gideon's confidence is going 00:16:58.51\00:17:00.15 up when he goes down there? 00:17:00.15\00:17:01.18 Every step 00:17:02.28\00:17:02.88 closer, he's seeing more, 00:17:02.88\00:17:04.52 how daunting the enemy is. 00:17:04.52\00:17:06.72 But God told him to go down 00:17:07.06\00:17:08.39 and listen, to hear 00:17:08.39\00:17:09.42 what they're saying 00:17:09.42\00:17:10.93 When Gideon had come, 00:17:11.16\00:17:12.59 there was a man 00:17:12.59\00:17:14.36 telling a dream 00:17:14.36\00:17:15.66 to his companion. 00:17:15.66\00:17:17.10 He said, “I 00:17:17.10\00:17:18.13 have had a dream: 00:17:18.13\00:17:20.40 To my surprise, 00:17:20.40\00:17:22.00 a loaf of barley bread tumbled 00:17:22.00\00:17:24.87 into the camp of Midian; 00:17:24.87\00:17:26.31 It came to a tent and struck it 00:17:26.31\00:17:28.31 so that it fell and overturned, 00:17:28.61\00:17:30.71 and the tent collapsed.” 00:17:30.71\00:17:32.28 And if I was Gideon 00:17:32.28\00:17:34.32 down there 00:17:35.12\00:17:35.58 listening to that 00:17:35.58\00:17:36.12 dream, I'd say 00:17:36.12\00:17:36.62 that is the dumbest thing 00:17:36.75\00:17:37.55 I've ever heard. 00:17:37.55\00:17:38.45 What does that mean? 00:17:38.45\00:17:39.29 That means wait, 00:17:39.29\00:17:40.76 I mean, think about that. 00:17:40.76\00:17:41.89 Some of you know the story, 00:17:41.89\00:17:43.22 But if you're just listening, 00:17:43.22\00:17:44.19 I mean, what does that mean? 00:17:44.19\00:17:45.79 A loaf of barley 00:17:45.79\00:17:47.30 bread hitting a tent, 00:17:47.30\00:17:48.53 knocking it over? 00:17:48.53\00:17:49.56 Now, remember what I'm 00:17:50.60\00:17:51.57 trying to explain to you, 00:17:51.57\00:17:52.97 that even when God 00:17:52.97\00:17:54.04 does something 00:17:54.04\00:17:54.67 individually for you, 00:17:54.67\00:17:56.74 the significance 00:17:56.74\00:17:58.07 of what he's 00:17:58.07\00:17:58.44 doing individually, 00:17:58.61\00:17:59.54 the full meaning 00:17:59.54\00:18:00.48 is only apparent 00:18:00.48\00:18:01.78 when you come into community, 00:18:01.78\00:18:03.88 when there's others with you. 00:18:03.88\00:18:05.35 So there's community 00:18:05.35\00:18:06.48 in the tents of the enemies. 00:18:06.48\00:18:08.52 And when he pronounces 00:18:08.52\00:18:10.02 this vision, 00:18:10.02\00:18:11.19 this dream that he had, 00:18:11.19\00:18:14.06 one of his companions 00:18:14.06\00:18:15.59 says something 00:18:15.59\00:18:16.36 very interesting. 00:18:16.36\00:18:18.29 “This is nothing else but 00:18:18.36\00:18:20.50 the sword of Gideon, 00:18:20.50\00:18:21.90 the son of Joash, 00:18:21.90\00:18:23.13 a man of Israel! 00:18:23.13\00:18:24.67 It's into his hand. 00:18:24.67\00:18:25.63 God has delivered Midian 00:18:25.63\00:18:27.27 and the whole camp.” 00:18:27.27\00:18:28.80 Now when some of you, 00:18:28.80\00:18:29.90 one of you even explain to me 00:18:29.90\00:18:31.77 how you get that interpretation 00:18:31.77\00:18:34.01 out of that vision. 00:18:34.01\00:18:36.31 But God was moving 00:18:36.31\00:18:38.35 in community. 00:18:38.35\00:18:39.35 Do you see what's 00:18:39.35\00:18:39.91 going on here? 00:18:39.91\00:18:41.98 And when Gideon hears it, 00:18:41.98\00:18:43.52 what does he do? 00:18:43.52\00:18:44.59 Praise the Lord, 00:18:44.59\00:18:45.39 Just like Daniel does, 00:18:45.39\00:18:46.32 by the way, in Daniel 00:18:46.32\00:18:47.19 2, praise the Lord. 00:18:47.19\00:18:48.66 Let's go, everybody. 00:18:48.66\00:18:49.86 God has given us 00:18:49.86\00:18:51.56 Midian into our hands. 00:18:51.56\00:18:52.93 This is nothing 00:18:52.93\00:18:53.93 but the hand of God. 00:18:53.93\00:18:54.96 Well, some of 00:18:57.00\00:18:57.47 you are saying, Boy, 00:18:57.53\00:18:58.03 I need such a vision 00:18:58.03\00:18:59.00 or a dream. 00:18:59.00\00:19:00.54 I'll take one of those, 00:19:00.54\00:19:01.74 even if I need someone else 00:19:01.74\00:19:02.97 to interpret it. 00:19:02.97\00:19:04.41 Let me just share something 00:19:04.41\00:19:05.84 with you. 00:19:05.84\00:19:06.74 God's primary 00:19:06.74\00:19:08.01 way of guiding us. 00:19:08.01\00:19:09.24 We're told in the Bible itself 00:19:09.24\00:19:10.98 is through his word. 00:19:10.98\00:19:12.18 Okay? Thy word is what? 00:19:12.18\00:19:14.32 It's a light. 00:19:15.18\00:19:15.92 It's a lamp, right? 00:19:15.92\00:19:17.32 God wants 00:19:17.32\00:19:18.05 God has given us his word 00:19:18.09\00:19:19.82 to communicate to us, 00:19:19.82\00:19:21.29 this is his primary way. 00:19:21.29\00:19:23.06 In my experience, 00:19:23.06\00:19:24.13 many people who come to me 00:19:24.13\00:19:25.23 with dreams, 00:19:25.23\00:19:26.56 I'm not in a position to judge, 00:19:26.56\00:19:28.03 but I will tell you that 00:19:28.03\00:19:30.17 I think a lot of the dreams 00:19:30.17\00:19:31.50 that I've had, in fact, 00:19:31.50\00:19:33.40 I think I can tell you 00:19:33.40\00:19:34.34 all of the dreams I've had. 00:19:34.34\00:19:35.40 I don't think they 00:19:35.40\00:19:35.87 were any special messages 00:19:36.04\00:19:37.04 from God there. 00:19:37.04\00:19:38.71 And here's 00:19:38.77\00:19:39.24 something you can 00:19:39.24\00:19:39.84 take to the bank. 00:19:39.84\00:19:41.18 If you have a dream 00:19:41.18\00:19:42.94 and it contradicts the Bible, 00:19:42.94\00:19:45.08 you can be sure. 00:19:45.08\00:19:46.65 You can be sure 00:19:46.65\00:19:47.45 that's not a dream 00:19:47.45\00:19:48.08 from God, right? 00:19:48.08\00:19:49.15 Because God never 00:19:49.15\00:19:49.88 contradicts himself. 00:19:49.88\00:19:51.05 But I will tell you this. 00:19:52.55\00:19:54.86 Some of you know, 00:19:54.86\00:19:55.66 not all that long ago, 00:19:55.66\00:19:56.59 Sonia and I were 00:19:56.59\00:19:57.29 in the Middle East 00:19:57.29\00:19:58.63 and we heard of 00:19:58.63\00:19:59.43 many people there 00:19:59.43\00:20:01.70 having visions and dreams. 00:20:01.70\00:20:03.80 You say, 00:20:04.43\00:20:04.70 well we could use more of that 00:20:05.10\00:20:05.77 here in North America. 00:20:05.77\00:20:07.47 But let me tell you 00:20:07.47\00:20:08.07 something interesting. 00:20:08.07\00:20:08.87 If you don't know much about 00:20:08.87\00:20:10.67 the Muslim world. 00:20:10.67\00:20:13.54 Many Muslim children are raised 00:20:13.54\00:20:17.81 from their earliest years 00:20:18.05\00:20:19.81 being taught 00:20:19.81\00:20:20.75 that the Bible is 00:20:20.75\00:20:22.28 not trustworthy. 00:20:22.28\00:20:24.12 You cannot trust the Bible. 00:20:24.12\00:20:26.49 This is a very difficult issue 00:20:27.12\00:20:29.79 for many Muslims. 00:20:30.03\00:20:31.83 So even if God is strving 00:20:31.83\00:20:33.93 with the heart 00:20:33.93\00:20:34.56 of a muslim, it's very possible 00:20:34.60\00:20:36.56 that God, 00:20:36.87\00:20:37.50 if He tried to impress them 00:20:37.50\00:20:38.67 to go to the Bible, 00:20:38.67\00:20:39.47 they'd say, well this just 00:20:39.47\00:20:40.70 I mean, 00:20:40.70\00:20:41.34 what what good would that be? 00:20:41.57\00:20:43.27 True story. 00:20:44.31\00:20:45.57 Some of you may 00:20:45.57\00:20:46.14 have heard of Nabeel Qureshi. 00:20:46.27\00:20:48.51 Nabeel wrote the bestselling 00:20:48.51\00:20:50.08 book Seeking Allah 00:20:50.08\00:20:52.35 Finding Jesus. 00:20:52.65\00:20:54.65 At the time of the story 00:20:54.65\00:20:55.62 that I'm going to tell you. 00:20:55.62\00:20:56.48 He, Nabeel, was a devout 00:20:56.48\00:20:58.92 medical student, 00:20:59.09\00:21:00.49 and he was struggling 00:21:00.49\00:21:01.59 with the claims 00:21:01.59\00:21:02.09 of Jesus in the Bible. 00:21:02.09\00:21:03.43 He had had a friend 00:21:03.43\00:21:04.56 who had been witnessing to him, 00:21:04.56\00:21:06.13 and it was challenging Nabeel 00:21:06.13\00:21:07.23 to look into his 00:21:07.23\00:21:08.73 Islamic heritage 00:21:08.73\00:21:10.20 as well as looking 00:21:10.20\00:21:11.37 at the biblical heritage. 00:21:11.37\00:21:13.03 And he was struggling. 00:21:13.03\00:21:14.30 So at this point 00:21:14.30\00:21:15.07 in his journey, 00:21:15.07\00:21:15.54 he recognized that 00:21:15.54\00:21:16.67 he had these biases 00:21:16.67\00:21:17.87 with the Bible, 00:21:17.87\00:21:19.31 and he was asking God 00:21:19.31\00:21:21.31 to do something that had 00:21:21.31\00:21:23.65 actually 00:21:23.65\00:21:25.05 occurred in his family. 00:21:25.05\00:21:26.61 His family had had visions 00:21:26.61\00:21:28.25 and dreams that they believe 00:21:28.25\00:21:29.25 God gave them and led them. 00:21:29.25\00:21:30.55 And Nabeel 00:21:30.55\00:21:31.55 was praying for 00:21:31.55\00:21:33.15 a vision or a dream. 00:21:33.15\00:21:36.69 But God didn't give it to him. 00:21:36.69\00:21:37.86 Not for a week 00:21:38.93\00:21:40.30 or a month, 00:21:40.30\00:21:41.26 but after several months, 00:21:41.26\00:21:43.57 Nabeel shares what happened. 00:21:44.17\00:21:47.44 God had given me a dream. 00:21:48.44\00:21:50.64 And I had what? 00:21:51.47\00:21:53.71 No idea what it meant. 00:21:53.71\00:21:58.55 The quality of the dream 00:21:58.55\00:21:59.68 was unlike any dream 00:21:59.68\00:22:00.98 I'd ever experienced. 00:22:00.98\00:22:02.15 Even while in the dream, 00:22:02.15\00:22:03.18 I had an awareness 00:22:03.18\00:22:04.15 that this was a message 00:22:04.15\00:22:05.55 from God. 00:22:05.55\00:22:06.02 I don't know how I just knew. 00:22:06.25\00:22:08.79 But the dream was cryptic, 00:22:08.79\00:22:10.63 full of symbols 00:22:10.63\00:22:12.06 I did not understand. 00:22:12.06\00:22:14.93 So Nabeel starts 00:22:14.93\00:22:16.93 pondering this dream 00:22:16.93\00:22:18.20 and contemplating it, 00:22:18.20\00:22:19.53 no doubt praying about it. 00:22:19.53\00:22:20.77 He was a praying person, 00:22:20.77\00:22:22.97 and I could read you 00:22:22.97\00:22:23.87 the whole dream. 00:22:23.87\00:22:24.71 But for the sake of time, 00:22:24.71\00:22:25.71 let me just give you 00:22:25.71\00:22:26.34 some of the features 00:22:26.34\00:22:27.14 of the dream. 00:22:27.14\00:22:28.41 There was a poisonous snake 00:22:28.58\00:22:30.48 on a stone pillar. 00:22:30.48\00:22:32.18 There was a huge iguana 00:22:32.18\00:22:34.02 that threatened Nabeel's life. 00:22:34.02\00:22:36.02 There was a giant boy 00:22:36.02\00:22:37.49 who challenged the iguana, 00:22:37.49\00:22:39.55 and there was a huge cricket. 00:22:39.55\00:22:41.06 That's right. 00:22:41.06\00:22:41.39 A cricket 00:22:41.39\00:22:42.39 that ultimately rescued Nabeel. 00:22:42.39\00:22:44.29 How many of 00:22:44.29\00:22:44.66 you know immediately 00:22:44.83\00:22:45.36 Now what this is 00:22:45.36\00:22:45.96 a vision about? 00:22:45.96\00:22:46.59 No you say, like, what is this? 00:22:47.60\00:22:49.20 But he knew it was from God. 00:22:49.20\00:22:50.67 And so as he's 00:22:50.67\00:22:51.17 contemplating this, 00:22:51.17\00:22:52.10 there's some things 00:22:52.10\00:22:52.60 coming to his mind. 00:22:52.60\00:22:53.44 Could it possibly mean this? 00:22:53.44\00:22:54.84 He decides to call someone 00:22:54.84\00:22:55.97 for help, 00:22:55.97\00:22:56.60 and he calls no one but 00:22:56.60\00:22:58.61 his mother. 00:22:58.61\00:22:59.54 His devout Muslim mother, 00:22:59.54\00:23:02.38 who just happens 00:23:02.71\00:23:03.75 to have in her possession 00:23:03.75\00:23:05.65 a muslim book 00:23:05.65\00:23:07.02 on the interpretation 00:23:07.02\00:23:08.05 of dreams. 00:23:08.05\00:23:09.18 And so 00:23:09.18\00:23:10.15 he calls her on the phone. 00:23:10.15\00:23:11.35 He is miles away 00:23:11.35\00:23:13.05 and he tells his mother 00:23:13.05\00:23:15.06 about the dream. 00:23:15.06\00:23:17.09 And as he shares that dream, 00:23:17.09\00:23:19.29 he starts to realize 00:23:19.69\00:23:21.50 that what his mother 00:23:21.50\00:23:22.53 is describing exactly 00:23:22.53\00:23:24.47 fits his own thoughts 00:23:24.47\00:23:25.60 about the dream. 00:23:25.60\00:23:26.23 Let me give you some details. 00:23:26.30\00:23:27.60 His mother said it's a dream 00:23:27.60\00:23:29.14 about someone 00:23:29.14\00:23:29.94 questioning his religion. 00:23:29.94\00:23:32.01 And at that time, 00:23:32.01\00:23:32.61 it doesn't seem his mother 00:23:32.61\00:23:33.51 had any awareness 00:23:33.51\00:23:34.28 that he was questioning 00:23:34.28\00:23:35.01 his religion. 00:23:35.01\00:23:35.51 Nabeel was very active 00:23:35.51\00:23:37.08 an in Muslim activities. 00:23:37.08\00:23:38.88 Was a leader of youth 00:23:38.88\00:23:40.22 and young people in the 00:23:40.22\00:23:41.25 in the Muslim communities 00:23:41.25\00:23:42.72 that he was part of. 00:23:42.72\00:23:43.92 She says to him, 00:23:43.92\00:23:45.19 this dream, the book 00:23:45.19\00:23:46.62 says, is about 00:23:46.62\00:23:47.36 someone's religion 00:23:47.36\00:23:48.82 or the way they see 00:23:48.82\00:23:49.59 the world is changing 00:23:49.59\00:23:51.36 very quickly. 00:23:51.36\00:23:53.40 She went on, 00:23:53.40\00:23:54.60 she said, 00:23:54.60\00:23:55.50 there's a hidden enemy 00:23:55.50\00:23:56.67 that fails 00:23:56.67\00:23:57.80 because of its inability 00:23:57.80\00:23:59.13 to provide proof. 00:23:59.13\00:24:00.54 And this is what Nabeel 00:24:00.54\00:24:01.44 was finding, his own study. 00:24:01.44\00:24:02.70 He was finding, 00:24:02.70\00:24:03.47 even though he thought 00:24:03.47\00:24:05.04 much of the Bible 00:24:05.04\00:24:05.81 story was false, 00:24:05.81\00:24:06.61 he was finding evidence 00:24:06.61\00:24:07.74 after evidence historically 00:24:07.74\00:24:09.48 looking at secular sources 00:24:09.48\00:24:11.15 as well, 00:24:11.15\00:24:11.68 that Jesus really lived, 00:24:11.75\00:24:13.15 that he really did say 00:24:13.15\00:24:14.58 he was God, 00:24:14.58\00:24:15.52 that Jesus really did die. 00:24:15.52\00:24:17.22 He really was crucified. 00:24:17.22\00:24:18.49 You know, 00:24:18.49\00:24:18.75 most Muslims don't believe 00:24:19.12\00:24:19.72 that Jesus was crucified? 00:24:19.72\00:24:20.86 So and he say 00:24:21.99\00:24:22.92 Jesus was crucified. 00:24:22.92\00:24:24.33 You know, 00:24:24.33\00:24:24.56 that's a historical fact. 00:24:24.96\00:24:26.36 And Jesus did 00:24:26.36\00:24:27.10 rise from the dead. 00:24:27.10\00:24:28.50 So he's becoming 00:24:28.50\00:24:29.13 convicted of all these things. 00:24:29.13\00:24:30.50 And then he starts 00:24:30.50\00:24:31.33 using that same analytical mind 00:24:31.33\00:24:33.30 that got him 00:24:33.30\00:24:33.90 into medical school 00:24:33.90\00:24:35.04 to start 00:24:35.04\00:24:35.37 analyzing 00:24:35.37\00:24:35.97 the Koran and the stories 00:24:35.97\00:24:37.41 that he had heard 00:24:37.41\00:24:37.91 about Muhammad. 00:24:37.91\00:24:38.77 And he's finding that 00:24:38.77\00:24:40.08 they lack proof, a hidden enemy 00:24:40.08\00:24:44.21 that will fail 00:24:44.51\00:24:45.31 because of inability 00:24:45.31\00:24:46.25 to provide proof. 00:24:46.25\00:24:47.75 And then his mother said, 00:24:47.75\00:24:49.72 there's a friend 00:24:49.72\00:24:50.59 who will help you overcome 00:24:50.59\00:24:51.72 your enemies. 00:24:51.72\00:24:52.52 He's the bearer of good news. 00:24:52.52\00:24:53.99 He will provide you 00:24:53.99\00:24:54.76 with something you are seeking, 00:24:54.76\00:24:56.66 something that will give you 00:24:56.66\00:24:57.83 an abundant life. 00:24:57.83\00:24:58.93 Wait a minute. 00:24:58.93\00:24:59.66 His mother's words. 00:24:59.66\00:25:00.80 Good news, abundant life. 00:25:00.80\00:25:02.93 Where have you read 00:25:02.93\00:25:03.37 about that before? 00:25:03.43\00:25:04.33 Yes. 00:25:05.40\00:25:06.00 And he's his best friend. 00:25:06.00\00:25:08.04 David Wood 00:25:08.54\00:25:09.70 had been studying the Bible 00:25:09.70\00:25:11.04 with him, 00:25:11.04\00:25:11.64 sharing the good news. 00:25:11.64\00:25:13.01 Do you think Nabeel was able 00:25:13.01\00:25:14.74 to connect the dots? 00:25:14.74\00:25:16.58 Here's what he said. 00:25:16.58\00:25:17.28 I could hardly believe 00:25:17.28\00:25:18.28 what had just happened. 00:25:18.28\00:25:19.58 Every single symbol 00:25:19.58\00:25:21.48 fit perfectly, 00:25:21.48\00:25:22.65 all pointing 00:25:22.65\00:25:23.39 to the interpretation 00:25:23.39\00:25:24.42 that I came up with shortly 00:25:24.42\00:25:26.52 after seeing the dream 00:25:26.52\00:25:27.89 and far from barely fitting, 00:25:27.89\00:25:30.26 they fit almost too well. 00:25:30.53\00:25:37.20 Believe it or not. 00:25:37.20\00:25:38.70 Believe it or not, as 00:25:38.70\00:25:39.73 we go through Mark's Gospel, 00:25:39.73\00:25:42.04 where we will come in 00:25:42.04\00:25:43.87 our next study is to Mark 4. 00:25:43.87\00:25:46.94 And I want you to notice 00:25:46.94\00:25:47.91 what's going to happen, 00:25:47.91\00:25:48.98 because all of this 00:25:48.98\00:25:49.94 is going to come together 00:25:49.94\00:25:51.31 at what next happens 00:25:51.31\00:25:53.28 in the lives of Jesus 00:25:53.28\00:25:55.52 and His disciples. 00:25:56.25\00:25:57.65 Because what 00:25:57.65\00:25:58.09 you're going to see 00:25:58.19\00:25:59.42 is a parable, 00:25:59.42\00:26:01.09 a prophecy in Psalm 107 00:26:01.09\00:26:04.66 will be fulfilled 00:26:05.09\00:26:07.10 at the conclusion of Mark 4. 00:26:07.10\00:26:10.23 A prophecy 00:26:10.23\00:26:11.80 that seemed to be hidden 00:26:11.80\00:26:13.23 for centuries 00:26:14.54\00:26:15.87 now finds its 00:26:15.87\00:26:16.71 ultimate fulfillment 00:26:16.71\00:26:18.07 in the life of Jesus. 00:26:18.07\00:26:19.31 What's the take home message? 00:26:19.31\00:26:20.91 The take home 00:26:20.91\00:26:21.44 messages are twofold. 00:26:21.44\00:26:22.68 God wants to guide 00:26:22.68\00:26:23.75 you individually. 00:26:23.75\00:26:25.01 You can take that to the bank. 00:26:25.01\00:26:26.61 And the other thing is 00:26:26.61\00:26:27.78 God does not guide 00:26:27.78\00:26:28.92 you individual, 00:26:28.92\00:26:29.85 does not guide 00:26:29.85\00:26:30.45 you individually 00:26:30.45\00:26:31.59 to pull you away 00:26:31.59\00:26:32.65 from community, 00:26:32.65\00:26:33.72 but to pull you into community, 00:26:33.72\00:26:35.52 to build one another up. 00:26:35.52\00:26:38.03 May God bless you 00:26:38.03\00:26:39.56 as you contemplate 00:26:39.56\00:26:40.63 those great truths. 00:26:40.63\00:26:42.63 Jesus is indeed 00:26:43.80\00:26:45.03 the Prince of Peace. 00:26:45.03\00:26:46.47 He calls us into fellowship 00:26:46.47\00:26:47.74 with Him 00:26:47.74\00:26:48.57 and into fellowship 00:26:48.57\00:26:50.51 with one another. 00:26:50.51\00:26:52.17 We've tried to provide 00:26:52.41\00:26:53.51 a community 00:26:53.51\00:26:54.34 of healing on our website. 00:26:54.34\00:26:56.08 We've got a variety 00:26:56.08\00:26:57.01 of resources 00:26:57.01\00:26:57.78 that I would encourage you 00:26:57.78\00:26:58.68 to take advantage of. 00:26:58.68\00:27:00.15 We have a weekly radio show. 00:27:00.15\00:27:02.25 We have this weekly 00:27:02.48\00:27:04.22 television broadcast. 00:27:04.22\00:27:06.15 We have free health resources. 00:27:06.15\00:27:08.22 Whether you're trying 00:27:08.36\00:27:09.22 to improve your blood sugar 00:27:09.22\00:27:10.79 or your blood pressure, 00:27:10.79\00:27:12.03 whether you're trying 00:27:12.03\00:27:12.66 to lose weight, 00:27:12.66\00:27:13.60 a host of resources 00:27:13.60\00:27:14.83 all at 00:27:14.83\00:27:15.33 TimelessHealingInsights.org. 00:27:15.50\00:27:18.23 Also, every single televised 00:27:18.50\00:27:20.40 episode has a handout, 00:27:20.40\00:27:22.47 a free handout 00:27:22.60\00:27:23.41 that you can download, 00:27:23.41\00:27:24.37 print out and study further. 00:27:24.37\00:27:27.04 It's my prayer for you 00:27:27.04\00:27:28.08 that God would continue 00:27:28.08\00:27:29.04 to guide you on a journey 00:27:29.04\00:27:30.78 to better health. 00:27:30.78\00:27:31.61 With that in mind, 00:27:31.61\00:27:32.31 let's pray together. 00:27:32.31\00:27:33.95 Father in Heaven, please 00:27:33.95\00:27:35.28 continue to bless us 00:27:35.28\00:27:36.79 as we engage with your Word 00:27:36.79\00:27:38.49 and as we engage 00:27:38.49\00:27:39.35 with one another 00:27:39.35\00:27:40.46 in this world 00:27:40.46\00:27:41.06 where it's so easy 00:27:41.06\00:27:42.19 to find ourselves 00:27:42.19\00:27:43.46 in the midst 00:27:43.46\00:27:43.93 of conflict and stress. 00:27:44.03\00:27:45.33 Let your peace 00:27:45.33\00:27:46.29 come into our lives. 00:27:46.29\00:27:47.76 May we be agents of peace 00:27:47.76\00:27:50.03 in a world 00:27:50.03\00:27:50.50 that is so longing 00:27:50.50\00:27:52.10 for the God of comfort 00:27:52.10\00:27:53.97 and hope. 00:27:53.97\00:27:54.87 Thank you for that promise. 00:27:54.87\00:27:56.91 In Jesus name, Amen. 00:27:57.07\00:27:59.01