[0:00] As a part of God's family, you've been forgiven of all your sins, amen, you have a guaranteed ticket to heaven that you can't mess up and you won't be late.
[0:11] So those of you that are all, no, I'm going to give that back to my message. Usually my message, I like to kind of go in order. I usually have a specific topic and I like to go four or five points on that topic, amen, sometimes 60, 70.
[0:27] This message is going to be a little different, amen, and we'll see why as we go, amen, but if you would turn in your Bibles to Colossians chapter 1.
[0:38] I should probably unmute it, huh? He told me to unmute it, which would be helpful, amen, and luckily he's tall, so when he's waving, I actually saw it.
[0:49] All right, amen, we're on. Colossians chapter 1 and verse 4. Again, not part of my message, but were you singing those songs?
[1:06] Were you getting as much joy as I was? That is just neat, amen? You ever, I think we take too much for granted, amen? I got seven messages, I guess, but we're going to try and get back to this one.
[1:16] But man, we just take stuff for granted. Can you imagine what some people in this world would do to get inside a building and just be able to sing with all their might? I mean, they're under the threat of penalty of death, amen, to carry a Bible or to sing to their Savior, amen, and they still do it.
[1:34] Man, I'll tell you what. Like I said, I might get a little crazy on you guys because sometimes when we're singing those songs, we're singing about God forgiving your sins. We're singing about going to heaven.
[1:45] We're singing about things like that. We're singing about the majesty of the creator of heaven and earth, man. I just want to shout and run the bases, amen? So if that happens during my preaching, amen, just don't tell the pastor, amen?
[1:56] Amen. Yeah, amen. His wife's sworn to secrecy, I'm sure, amen? But here we are in Colossians chapter 1, Colossians chapter 1. And for sake of time, we'll read just verse 4, amen?
[2:10] Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the saints, amen? We need a little context, amen? Let's go back up to verse 3. Verse 3. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
[2:25] Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the saints, amen? Let's pray. Heavenly Father, wouldn't it be funny to teach on prayer and not pray?
[2:41] Lord, you're so good. You're so amazing, Lord. My mind can't understand how wonderful you are, Lord. I just enjoy thinking about you, Lord, and the throne in heaven and the cherubim and the seraphim.
[2:54] I look around at the waterfalls and the things that you make, the human heart. And man, you are just so amazing, Lord. And so I just want to thank you for the privilege of standing behind this pulpit.
[3:07] Lord, I know they got a good pastor. So please help me to fill this position today, Lord. Help me to be a vessel unto honor for thee, Lord. And I pray that I would say things fitly spoken.
[3:19] Most of all, Lord, I pray for your help. I'm your child, Lord. You said to ask, and, Lord, I'm begging you to be with me this day, Lord. Help me to preach a message that's right in your eyes.
[3:31] I love you. I pray these things in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen, amen. So here we are in Colossians 1, verse 4, and it says this.
[3:42] Since we heard of your faith, since we heard of your faith, I would like to tell you that people can hear things about you. People can hear things about you.
[3:53] And one of the things that they can hear about is hear about your faith. Amen. I call the title of my message, Be Sensible. Be Sensible, and that will make sense eventually. It's not a great title, but eventually it will at least make sense.
[4:05] Amen. Have they heard of your faith? It's interesting that as you read that passage, amen, it says that that was an encouragement to somebody else.
[4:16] That was an encouragement of someone else. And I'll tell you, I'm not doing a great job, amen, but I have been in the ministry probably for about 15 years, maybe a little more.
[4:26] Amen. Preaching different locations and things like that. Amen. But I've been saved for about 20 years, and I still like encouragement.
[4:39] Amen. I like it when somebody new comes through the back door. Amen. That's exciting to me. Amen. There's some things that encourage us in life.
[4:52] Amen. And I will say this. It seems like Christians need a little more encouragement than usual. Amen. When we look around this world, when we look around society and everything seems to be going against us, amen, when you can...
[5:07] Things just seem to be going against us, amen. I mean, we live in a society... I just gotta. I just gotta. Amen.
[5:18] They don't know the difference between a boy and a girl. Amen. Amen. And they think you're prejudiced if you do. Amen. Where do they think babies come from?
[5:29] I mean, I just got so many questions. What do you teach in a biology class? Amen. But anyways, we seem to need a little encouragement, man. Back to my message. Amen. And there in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 4, he says, we heard.
[5:43] We heard of something. We heard of your faith. Amen. We heard of your faith. Amen. If people were to hear things about you, what would people say? Now, of course, I grew up in a public school.
[5:58] Amen. In Los Angeles. Amen. And I'm not saying that to be special. I mean, it's not like they're... You know, they didn't have AK-47s. This isn't the rap video.
[6:09] Amen. I didn't... How much liberty do you have? Amen. But anyways, I went to a public school. Amen. And they taught me evolution and all these wonderful other thoughts that they had.
[6:22] And people talked about everybody. It seemed like gossip. I don't know if it was particular to my school, but they were really good at gossip. Amen. They talked about everybody all the time.
[6:35] Amen. It didn't seem to matter who you were. Amen. You didn't even have to be popular at my school to have people talk about you. Amen. And so to me, growing up that way, I just got used to it. I just got used to it.
[6:46] People would say stuff about me all the time. Like, I started seeking it out. Like, what am I doing lately? Amen. I kind of want to know. Am I dating somebody new? You know? You know what's happening in my life?
[6:56] Have I been arrested lately? I just want to know. I mean, what's the cool stuff on me? You know, some of this stuff is exciting. Amen. I like the guy they talk about. He seems much more interesting than I am.
[7:06] Amen. But although I developed an immunity to what people say about me. I won't say immune, but a little thicker skin than most. Amen. I still appreciated a little encouragement.
[7:22] And that was in my lost days. Amen. I didn't grow up in church. Amen. And I'm not saying that. This isn't a sob story. Amen. The end of the story is I go to heaven. Just FYI.
[7:33] Amen. But this isn't a sob story. But I grew up in a lost home. Amen. Out on the streets of Los Angeles. Amen. I've been arrested more than once. And I needed encouragement back then.
[7:43] Amen. And I was going with the flow. What do you think it's like now as I go against the flow? Amen. Like I said, if I say there's a difference between a boy and a girl, people look at me funny.
[7:56] Like, really? That's controversial? Really? I can't keep up with what they believe. Amen. The letters that go with all this stuff. L-G-B-T-Q-R-I. The people that are, they don't even know all the letters.
[8:09] Amen. They don't know what it stands for. Amen. But my basic part is this. Wouldn't it be nice to be encouraged? And wouldn't it be nice if you were used to encourage somebody else?
[8:23] You know, one of my little daydreams, amen, for lack of a better way of saying it, is somebody to come up to me, you know, like the kids, the teens that I taught and preached to or something like that, they come up to me and say, hey, man, you're a real blessing, amen?
[8:37] I'm serving the Lord because of what you did. Amen. I might breakdance. Amen. Some of you are looking forward to that, amen? I might actually breakdance, amen?
[8:48] I might moonwalk back up to the pulpit right now. Amen. But I would just be so excited to hear something like that. And here in this passage, this isn't some ho-hum Christian that's saying it.
[9:00] Amen. This isn't some guy that just joined the cause three weeks earlier, amen? And I'm not saying anything bad about those people. Some of them have much more zeal than the rest of us. But I am saying this, amen?
[9:14] Even established Christians need a little encouragement, amen? I went off to Bible school, amen? Went off to Bible school, and now I have a piece of paper with my name on it, amen?
[9:27] They even spelled it right. Middle name is Gerhard, amen? Most people don't get that right. It's phonetic. Help me out, amen? But anyways, amen? But people look at me sometimes, and they go, like, you graduated from Bible school?
[9:43] You don't need prayer, amen? You don't need any encouragement. You graduated from Bible school. I mean, we should be asking you every question there is.
[9:54] I mean, the darkest passage of Ezekiel, we're just going to come to you because you have the piece of paper, amen? I don't even have it up on my wall. That's how much. I mean, really, amen? And I think sometimes we look around at other Christians, and they say, hey, he comes in with a smile on his face.
[10:10] He's doing great. He's not here. I get to dog on him, amen? He's the pastor. Obviously, he's got it all together, amen?
[10:21] And I'll say this. He'll probably fire me for this one right here, but I think your pastor does have it going on, amen? I've got a chance to deal with him a few times, amen? But my guess is, my guess, it's just a guess, amen?
[10:32] But he'd like a little encouragement, too, amen? And the people around you, the ones that come in here, the ones that are early, that get here way ahead of time, and they unlock everything, and they set everything up, and they put a nice glass of water out for the preacher, and they do all that stuff.
[10:46] Even some of them need a little bit of encouragement. I know it's shocking. I know it's shocking. Even little kids, little kids, amen, with that boundless energy that you wish you could plug into, amen?
[10:59] It's just like, seriously, you've run around the church 500 times. Could I just have one lap? Could I just have one lap of that energy, amen, amen? Even the kids need encouragement, amen?
[11:10] Do you know what the kids, the Christian kids are up against right now? I mean, my kids are homeschooled, and I feel bad for them, amen? I mean, really.
[11:23] I mean, my daughter asked me to explain stuff, and I try my best to explain stuff to her, but nowadays, as we drive places, I'm like, please don't ask any questions on this trip, amen? Daddy, what does that billboard mean?
[11:37] Whew, all right. I don't know why I have to have this conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, but let's start, amen? I'm just here to say this. Have they heard of your faith?
[11:48] If they heard of your faith, if they were to actually tell the truth about you, which people don't seem to do much very often anymore, amen? But if they were to tell the truth about you, would they hear about your faith?
[11:59] Would they hear about your faith? Go with me to Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10. I'm sure it's a different message, but what would people hear about you?
[12:15] If we were to videotape your life for this week, and somebody had to watch that and say, okay, here's the rundown, amen? I'm big into sports.
[12:26] Pray for me. I know I'm a Christian, but I'm still a Lakers fan, amen? Pray for me, amen? But if they had a sportscaster for your life, amen? He's dribbling down the court. Yeah, I'm terrible at this, as you can see.
[12:37] But let's say she's going to work. She is praying on her way to work. This is amazing. Have you seen this before? This is an amazing person right here. And she's got to work. She got out of the car.
[12:48] Oh, she's cursing her boss under her breath. Ooh, that was a rough one, amen? That's holding. That's five yards, amen? Ooh, that wasn't good, amen? If they were to hear about your life, amen, what would they hear?
[12:59] Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 25. Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 25 says, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.
[13:19] Amen? If they hear of your faith, you know one of the things that that does? It encourages the brethren. It encourages the brethren. Go with me to Matthew chapter 5.
[13:30] Matthew chapter 5. We're getting pretty tech savvy at the church I go to, amen? We actually have a little video camera now, amen?
[13:42] So they absolutely hate me because I move all over the place, amen? They're like, I just can't stand still, amen? So if you have trouble with that, just look down, amen?
[13:55] Amen. Keep reading that Bible, amen? Matthew chapter 5 and verse 16. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.
[14:11] You're going to figure out why I said the title of this is Be Sensible. The first is, have they heard of your faith? The second one is similar to it. Have they seen your good works? Have they seen your good works?
[14:25] Now, how many in here? I'm going to ask for a show of hands, amen? People hate this part of church, amen? We're going to do it anyways, amen? How many in here know for a surety that good works cannot get you into heaven?
[14:39] Amen. The rest of you, I'll be outside afterwards. We can talk about that, amen? Does that mean you shouldn't do it? I'll ask it again.
[14:51] Does that mean you shouldn't do it? No. No. Amen. Your testimony has a much greater impact when they see your good works.
[15:02] When they see your good works. Now, let's say they moved up in the digital world, amen? They went from the play-by-play broadcaster, amen? And now they got you on video, amen?
[15:14] What would they say your life was all about? What would they say? And I think there's some fishermen in this church, so I'm going to tread lightly right here, amen?
[15:25] But would they say, hey, he woke up really early, made sure his tackle box was just right, that he had just the right lure. He went out at three in the morning, amen? Paid a bunch of money to get onto a boat, go out in the middle of the ocean, amen?
[15:40] Not a safe place. I grew up on a boat, just, and he got out on this boat, and he fished, and he fished, and he was sincere about it. And then he got home, and he went to work, and then he did this, and he did that, and he did this.
[15:54] And would any of it be called a good work in God's eyes? You know, Christians are supposed to be different, amen?
[16:07] Christians are better than everybody else. Say, well, that's a pretty bold statement. They know it. Why would you say that? Because they look at you and say, you're a Christian. You shouldn't do that.
[16:18] What does that mean? You're better than everybody else, amen? But that means they're watching. They're watching how you live your life, amen? So when you witness to your neighbor, you do witness to your neighbor, right?
[16:33] Shake your head like this, even if you don't. No, that's lying in church. Don't do that, amen? But if you witness to your neighbor, and then, oh, I'm going to dive right in right now.
[16:43] And you watch TV for six hours a night, amen? That did not go over well. I'm going to say, let's stay there for a little while, amen? If you say you're a Christian, and you tell your neighbors or your friends or your whatever, your workmates, hey, man, you should come to my church, amen?
[17:03] And then every single day you come in with this sad little poochy face, and you work about half as hard as everybody else. And every chance you get, you're on the cell phone, and you badmouth the boss.
[17:14] And they look over at you and say, yeah, I need to go to that church. Because look how that guy's doing. What do they see when they look at your life?
[17:27] Now, I'll just say it. I know this will shock some of you, but if you came here looking for a holy man today, you're going to be sorely disappointed, amen? I did not float here on a cloud. I'm not part of the angelic host, amen?
[17:39] I'm a sinner saved by grace, and it didn't mean it stopped there, although that shocked me, amen? When I first got saved, I thought, that's all over, amen? I just smooth sailing from now, no problems, no sin, no nothing, amen?
[17:52] I'm still a train wreck, amen? Every once in a while, the Lord gets me back on the tracks, pushing me along for a little while until I fall off again, amen? I'm just a train wreck. But if they were to look at your life, amen, with its flaws, you do make mistakes like everybody else.
[18:06] You are a sinner still, amen? But if they were to look at your life, would they see good works? What would they see if they were to look at your life, amen? And again, I'll make the point again that good works cannot save you, amen?
[18:20] But let's go to Romans chapter 2. You're supposed to be a Bible preacher, amen? Then let's go through that Bible. I often say it this way. I was going to do the hand thing again.
[18:34] What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? I say bad idea. But let's do it anyways, amen? How many of you are a Bible believer, amen? Born again, Bible-believing Christian, just raise that hand. I believe the Bible.
[18:47] Altar call for the rest of you, amen? But anyways, amen. That's right, amen? If you find an error in there, you'll be the first one. But let's move on. Romans chapter 2 and verse 10.
[18:58] Romans chapter 2 and verse 10. But glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good. To the Jew first and also to the Gentile.
[19:11] 2 Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 8. For the sake of time, I'm just going to read these. If you don't get there, amen? You might have to just hope I'm telling you the truth.
[19:22] Amen? 2 Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
[19:36] Colossians chapter 1 and verse 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
[19:51] 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 17. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 17. Comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
[20:10] 1 Timothy chapter 5. At least I'm going along so that you can just keep moving in your Bible. I did that on purpose. Pretty cool, huh? I know.
[20:20] I know you're impressed. Amen? I know. Amen. 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 10.
[20:33] Well reported of for good works if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
[20:48] 2 Timothy chapter 2. I might just have to tell you what the other three points are. Amen? 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 21.
[20:59] I'd like you to read this one. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 21. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 21.
[21:10] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
[21:30] Little side note on this one. You'll probably have to get rid of some stuff in your life. I grew up with some habits. And I shouldn't say it that way.
[21:42] I got some habits to myself. Amen? I was very diligent about making sure I had habits when I was younger. Amen? Spent money, time, and effort.
[21:53] Amen? To get myself some bad habits. Amen? And if I'm going to serve God, if I'm going to have some good works in my life, a lot of that has to go. And it's tough.
[22:05] I'm not here to tell you the Disneyland version of Christianity. I'm here to tell you real life, it's tough to get some of these things out of your life. But I'm here to tell you if you do, you'll be fit for the master's use.
[22:21] Amen? And some good works come right out of your life. Amen? How about it? Are they seeing some good works in your life? First one, encourage the brethren.
[22:32] Second one, glorifies your father. Glorifies your father. When other people see your good works, you know what they have to say to themselves? There's something different about him. There's something different about her.
[22:44] That young lady is not like all the rest of them. Amen? There's something different about them. And God looks down and says, yeah, that one's mine. My kids will always be mine.
[22:56] So far, I'm happy to say so. Amen? She's about to be a teenager. Pray. Pray for me. Amen? Amen. Amen. Genesis chapter 8.
[23:09] It's kind of what they call a shotgun message. Amen? I know some of you know that I came from Los Angeles. That's why I didn't start with that statement. Amen? I didn't want to see people ducking and running. Amen? It just means that it's different points.
[23:22] Amen? It's a little scattered. Amen? Genesis chapter 8 and verse 21. Genesis chapter 8.
[23:38] How many like reading Bible verses out loud in church? Brother Gary, you want to read this for us, please? Genesis chapter 8 and verse 21.
[23:49] Genesis 8 and verse 21. Genesis 8 and verse 21. Amen. The next one.
[24:20] Amen. Heard of your faith. See your good works. Sweet smelling savor. Amen. This one's pleasing to God.
[24:31] I didn't think that was possible. Amen. When I first went to church, I was one of those guys that was afraid the ceiling would fall in. Amen. Like when they invite you, you're like, no, that's probably a bad idea on your part.
[24:46] Amen. Appreciate the thought. Real sweet of you. Amen. But that'd be bad for your congregation. Amen. I was afraid that when I went in there, a couple people know this.
[24:58] The only reason I went to church the first time is because I was jealous of a girl I was dating. Amen. Some guy in the church said, you know, I'll give you a ride to church and then afterwards we'll go to my house and we'll do a Bible study.
[25:12] Now, I grew up on the streets, man. I know what that means. Amen. His wife was there. His kids were there. It really was a Bible study. But I didn't hear that. Amen. And that's the only reason I went to church.
[25:23] You say, why do you say that? Because I didn't think I could be pleasing to God. Right now, it's still tough for me to understand that. But luckily, God doesn't lie. And so when he says it, I got a shot.
[25:36] Amen. I can create a sweet smelling savor to God. The creator of heaven and earth. The one that spoke the world into existence. The one that created the human body.
[25:48] Amen. Where the blood gets pumped in here and goes in there and grabs the oxygen from here and does. While you're asleep. Amen. You ever work on something and try and make sure it works for 90 years?
[26:05] I haven't found that piece of machinery yet. Amen. Amen. Sweet smelling savor. Amen. You can actually be well pleasing to God.
[26:17] And I would like to go at this from a different angle. Amen. You can be a sweet smelling savor to God. But I would like to go at this a little differently. Amen. My sister likes to garden. Amen.
[26:28] I like to kill stuff. Amen. It's true. Amen. I don't do it. Okay. Amen. Amen. But like destroying stuff.
[26:39] That's. Yeah. Amen. For a little while I was roofing. Amen. We were in the tear off crew. We just destroy stuff day in and day out. Just covered in dirt. It was amazing.
[26:50] Amen. And they paid me for it. Amen. Probably because it was hot. I was in Florida. Everybody hated that job. Amen. But. But she's gardening. Amen. Amen. And she has this beautiful garden.
[27:01] And she knows the name of each plant. What it needs. And everything. And so. I can't help. Right. Can't help. You want water on it? I can water it. Amen. That was too much.
[27:12] My bad. Amen. I can water it. Spritz, spritz. I want you to water it. That was not enough. I'm sorry. Amen. But every once in a while. I can do something. Right. So she heard that seaweed.
[27:23] Was this great. Great thing. And I'm next to the ocean. Amen. I'm like five minutes away. Amen. I used to work at the beach. Amen. And so I'm like. Yeah. I can do this. Amen. I wasn't a lifeguard.
[27:34] I wasn't cool like that. Amen. Just the toll booth. Amen. But. So I go down. And I get seaweed. Amen. And we bring it up. And we put it in the garden. And out. We're like. This. Like the best thing for your garden.
[27:45] Man. The nutrients in it. And everything. This is going to do wonders for your garden. Amen. Some of you already know. But. About three days later. Probably less.
[27:57] Something changed. And I'll say this. You know. In San Pedro. The places are somewhat close together. You probably understand that here too. Amen. But.
[28:08] Our neighbors did not like us very much. Amen. That stuff. Stank. It was horrible. Amen. Amen. It didn't smell like that. When we put it in the garden.
[28:19] Amen. And. Because. You know. I'm not a quick learner. Amen. We tried something else. Amen. I work at a little flag manufacturing place. Amen. We make golf flags. And stuff like that. So.
[28:29] One time a year. I go to the golf show. Amen. No. I don't play. That would be course abuse. Amen. But we go to this golf show. And. Fertilizer. Everywhere around me. Everywhere around me.
[28:40] Amen. And I don't understand the lick of it. Amen. That's how smart I am. I'm working in the golf industry. And know nothing about it. So we're in there. Amen. And so. I go to this place. And they have fertilizer. For my sister's garden.
[28:52] Amen. I talk real sweet to them. I'm real nice to them. And they give me a bunch of this stuff. And this is grade A fertilizer. This is the top class stuff. And I. I. I.
[29:02] I. I thought about how to say this. But. It is what. What happens. With the chickens food. After they eat it. Amen. And for some reason. The chickens are better than other animals.
[29:12] I don't know all this stuff. Amen. But I get it for my sister. And I bring it home. Amen. And we do the same thing. We put it in the garden. We put it everywhere. Because this stuff is supposed to be great. Doesn't matter what type of plants or anything.
[29:24] And then you turn on the sprinklers. Because you could take this bag. It was amazing. And I don't suggest doing this. But you could take the bag and go. Nothing. Nothing. You put it in the garden.
[29:35] Nothing. You turn on the sprinklers. They're little pellets like that. You don't get those back. It's not like. Oh my bad. Oh my bad.
[29:46] Here let's just pick that back up. No. No. No. It's everywhere. And it stank. Horrible. Horrible. Some of you were already thinking of the images. Of spoiled milk.
[29:57] Or rotten eggs. Or something. And just those nasty smells. That you've come across. Where you did one of these. Oh. Whoa. Like it slapped you. Amen. What does your life smell like to God?
[30:11] When he looks over your life. And goes. Does he say. Oh. That's a sweet smelling savor. Amen. Look how much they love me. Beautiful.
[30:25] Bouquet of roses. Oh. The smells that God has created. I mean. They're. Cornbread. Oh. Cornbread.
[30:36] Oh. Picnic is next week. Right? Dang it. Amen. Amen. Or is it. Or is it seaweed? Amen. Because you have control over that.
[30:49] And that's one of those things. The interesting part about this one is. Is it's a sweet smelling savor to God. Meaning that other people might not know. There's probably people in this church right now.
[30:59] That absolutely love God. And they might be a little more quiet. A little more meek than everybody else. And so. Other people don't take as. Notice. You as much. Amen. But God looks over there.
[31:10] And he goes. Wow. Ah. That's just beautiful. That's just beautiful. He compares that to the.
[31:21] To the prayers of the saints. Coming up before his very throne. As sweet smelling incense. Amen. Is that what your life would be for God? Or does everybody else look and say.
[31:33] Oh. There comes that Christian again. And then God goes. Yeah. That's my kid. Man. Sure wish he would shower.
[31:44] Once in. Washing of that word. Will do a lot for him. Amen. Go with me to Mark. Chapter five. Sorry to keep you so long. I'll try. Only two more points.
[31:55] Amen. Bear with me. Mark chapter five. See. I'm really just going to. Preach like three hours.
[32:06] So that you're happy to have your pastor back. Man. You're going to be like. No. No. No. No. Take your time. Pastor. We had Brian last week. It's all right. We understand. Amen. We are truly blessed. Amen. Mark chapter five.
[32:17] And verse 23. Mark chapter five. And verse 23. I'm actually going to say that. Can you imagine. I don't know.
[32:28] Nothing to do with my subject. Amen. Nothing to do with my message. But can you imagine. A guy. Prays. Earnestly. Seeks the Lord.
[32:39] Reads his Bible. Prays. Comes here with a message. And somebody in the church is like. I'm having fun.
[32:51] I hope you are too. Amen. Mark chapter five. And verse 23. Amen. Amen. And besought him greatly saying. My little daughter lieth at the point of death.
[33:02] I pray thee. Come and lay thy hands on her. That she may be healed. And she shall live. This is of course. Somebody coming to Jesus. Amen. To have a family member healed.
[33:13] Verse 24. And Jesus went with him. And much people followed him. And thronged him. And a certain woman. Which had an issue of blood. Twelve years. And had suffered many things.
[33:23] Of many physicians. And had spent all that she had. And was nothing bettered. But rather grew worse. When she had heard of Jesus.
[33:34] Came in the press behind. And touched his garment. For she said. If I may touch but his clothes. I shall be whole.
[33:49] Have you ever touched the hem of his garment? There's what they hear. And see about your life. Amen.
[33:59] There's things that you can do. To be pleasing to God. But have you ever reached out. And touched the hem of his garment? There's something about Christianity. Amen. And I'm sorry for those. That didn't have breakfast.
[34:10] But here we go. Amen. It's like a nice juicy steak. Amen. Prepared perfectly. Amen. Organic. For those of you that are into that.
[34:21] Organic. Okay. It's organic. Grass fed. Grass finished. I figured out what that was. Amen. Even the butcher in our town. Didn't know what that was. Amen. But I did. Amen. Because of my wife.
[34:32] Because I'm not that smart. Amen. And you got this nice juicy steak. Prepared perfection. Cooked perfectly to your liking. Amen. Seasoned. Oh man. Those must have come from a different country.
[34:44] Because those are out of this country. Amen. And you just look at it. You're just weeping at how beautiful this is. And then you go to cut it with your knife. And forget the knife. This thing is so tender. You take your fork.
[34:55] And cut this thing. And you take a bite. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Best thing you've ever had in your life. And you go to describe it to somebody else. Amen.
[35:05] Amen. But it's just a description to them. Amen. Because they haven't touched the hem of his garment.
[35:16] That's how Christianity is. If you haven't experienced that in your Christian life. It's because you haven't put in the effort. Amen. When I say touch the hem of his garment. What would it be worth to you to do that?
[35:29] This woman. It was so important to her. She had spent her life savings trying to get healed. This woman's health. Yay. All that a man hath will he give for his flesh.
[35:40] Amen. He. She is at her wits end. She is willing to go to whatever lengths there is. And she's willing to press through the crowd. Do whatever she can. That she can just badly touch the hem of his garment.
[35:52] Please let me just touch the hem of his garment. Are you willing to press through the crowd? Because that's what keeps most Christians at that level.
[36:04] Where they just hear about it. The reason you're not enjoying your Christianity. Is because you're sitting back with the rest of everybody else. And you're looking out at that crowd. And saying how could you get to him?
[36:15] Look. I mean really. I mean they're thronging him. God. Every word is right. Amen. So when he says throng him. He doesn't mean two or three people. Amen.
[36:27] He's saying there's a press of people upon him. Amen. Like. Like walls. Amen. Just a mass of people trying to get to the. But she made it.
[36:38] And that's because she was willing to press through the crowd. How about you here today? Are you. Are you. Are you wanting to touch the hem of his garment? Do you want to touch the hem of his garment?
[36:51] Because it'll change everything in your life. Everything. You're not going to be perfect. None of us are. Amen. But you touch the hem of his garment once. And you see what happens. Amen.
[37:02] She was made whole. And that's what happens with Christians. Amen. They finally understand. They're not talking about that steak that somebody else had. They've had a taste. Amen. And they want to look around.
[37:13] And. Oh. Oh. That's what it's like. Amen. When you talk about prayer. It's not. Like. Really? It's like. Oh. Prayer. Amen. There was that time.
[37:24] Woo. Woo. Amen. I was. I was just at home. Nothing special about the day. Didn't have to do with the weather or anything else. But I prayed. And man. I got a hold of God.
[37:37] I'm supposed to go down to Bible school. Amen. So I wanted to go to Bible school. Because all the Christians that I knew. All the best Christians that I knew. They came from this Bible school. This Bible school.
[37:48] So I was like. Man. I'm going to that Bible school. Amen. It seemed like. It really did. And this isn't true. But it seemed like they had an answer to every question I asked. Like obscure questions from other parts of the Bible.
[37:59] That you know. Aside from Matthew. Amen. And they actually knew the answer. Amen. When I asked about baptism. They told me. Like stuff out of the Bible. Amen. And so I wanted to go down to this Bible school.
[38:11] Amen. And so I was ready to go. And so I went going in that direction. Oh. Lord said. Nope. You're not going. I said. I'll just go around this way. Oh.
[38:22] Not going there. Amen. He just slammed the door in my face. Amen. And so. Okay. God's. God's a lot stronger than I am.
[38:32] If he wants to stop me. He can stop me. Amen. So why keep trying. Amen. So I finally said. Okay. I'm not going. Amen. Amen. And so eventually. Later. The door opens up big and wide. That's what I. I didn't know I was waiting.
[38:44] Amen. Hindsight. 2020. But I was supposed to be waiting. So what happens is. Like now it opens wide. I'm like. No. No. I know this trick. I know this trick. Amen. I've talked to salesmen.
[38:56] I know how this trick works. Amen. You know. The door swing wide open. Everything's peachy. You're like. No. No. There's a catch. Amen. So I. So I start praying about it. Amen. And I'm sincere.
[39:06] Right. But then. It's getting closer and closer. And I don't know if the answer is yes or no. And I'm married. And my wife's asking me. Are. We.
[39:18] Going. Kind of important. Be nice to know ahead of time. Now my wife's a saint. Amen. I call her my better two thirds. For good reason. Amen. She is a sweet lady.
[39:28] Amen. She'll follow me wherever. But just tell me where we're going. Amen. You know. Abraham's wife. Woo. That girl was awesome. Amen. Where are we going? I don't know. Okay. Let's go.
[39:39] Amen. But. But she's like. Where are we. I don't know. I don't know if we're going. I don't know. Amen. I want to know the answer. More than you. Please. I want to know the answer.
[39:49] And one day. Amen. I got down in my. My. My living room. Amen. And I am begging God. Please. Lord. Let me know. I just want to know.
[40:00] Lord. I don't want to do the wrong thing. I'm involved in my church. I'm probably. Leaving is the devil trying to get me out of this. Amen. It's the wrong thing to do. I know you slammed the door.
[40:10] My. Please. Lord. Let me know. Amen. And I'm crying. Amen. I know. Men don't cry. I do. Amen. And I'm crying. And I'm begging God. Please.
[40:21] Lord. Let me know. And I got a hold of God. And here's the funniest part. I just like humor. Amen. Forgive me. Amen. But I just like humor. Amen. He didn't answer.
[40:32] But I got up from prayer. Like this huge weight got lifted off of me. Amen. And I'm just walking around. I don't have an answer yet. And I'm just.
[40:43] Man. I got a hold of God. Amen. Me and him had a time. Woo. I touched the hem of his garment. Woo. It was beautiful. Amen.
[40:54] Amen. Just for you that need the answer. Amen. That same day. My lost neighbor. My biker guy. Comes over. Knocks on my door. And he goes.
[41:04] Hey. I usually don't do this. Amen. But this letter came to you. And I usually just throw it away. But. You know. Here you go. I think this is for you. Two Brian Waters. From Bible school.
[41:17] It was real thin. Amen. But it did say yes. All right. So. Amen. But you know what. From then on. I thought. Man. I can get alone with God.
[41:28] I touched the hem of his garment. And from then on. There's this guy. From the east coast. Amen. You know those easterners. Amen. And he says it like this. He says. You weren't.
[41:39] You weren't. Amen. That means ruined. For you folks out here. Amen. If you touch the hem of his garment. Woo. Woo. Amen. Say.
[41:50] Is your life still a train wreck? Absolutely. Amen. But every once in a while. I reach in. Ah. Amen. Amen. Amen. Are you willing to push through the crowd?
[42:02] What is Jesus Christ worth to you? This life is so crowded with things to do. Is it not? Are you not even now saying to yourself. I still got to do those 17 things.
[42:13] Amen. Are you still not even now saying. Well I got to get this done. And I got to get that done. I got. Some of the. This is going to be sexist. I'm sorry.
[42:23] Amen. But some of the ladies are like. I got to make food. What am I going to make for the kids? Amen. They're always starving when they leave here. Amen. What am I going to do about this? I got to make sure that that's right. And. No time.
[42:36] Because the crowd. It's crowded. Are you willing to push through that crowd. To touch the hem of his garment? Amen. He's available.
[42:47] He was available to everybody in that crowd. Amen. But one got through. Go with me to Psalm 34. Who feels like reading verse eight.
[43:06] Out loud. With everybody staring at you. Anybody feel like that? I was about to say me either. Man.
[43:16] I like both you guys. Go ahead, brother. Now I got.
[43:28] I know I got ahead of myself on this last point. But that steak is tasty. That steak is tasty. Amen. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
[43:38] Would you at least give him a try? Would you at least give him a try? Here's the interesting thing about the Christian life. It's a hundred percent successful. But you have to understand what I mean by that.
[43:50] If you open up the Bible and read it. Looking for understanding. You'll get it. If you ask God. To save you and forgive you all your sins.
[44:01] It happens. Amen. If you want a blessed life. And I don't mean you got the nice car. Amen. Don't check my. It's a minivan. It's cool. Amen.
[44:11] I think minivans are cool. Amen. But if you want a spiritually blessed life. Amen. Just give it a try. Because like I said.
[44:22] The one warning that comes with this message. And it's sincere. Is this. Watch out. You might get. Amen. You might get. Because man. If you. If you try it. You'll see that it works. And if you're a pragmatist like me.
[44:33] That's all you need. Amen. Amen. I tried it. It works. I'm done. Next question. Amen. When you go to the restaurant. What do I get? The same thing every time. Because it tastes great. Amen.
[44:44] My wife hates that. Amen. You know there's other stuff on the menu. Right? Yeah. But this one. I tried it. It's good. What do I need else? Amen. So it's even better now.
[44:54] Now I steal just a taste of her food. Okay. Next time. I can get that too. Amen. Now I got choices. There's like three or four that I can order on now. Amen. But once you try it.
[45:07] If there. I'll say it this way. And forgive me. If there is a God. And if he did create this world. Like science and everything else points to.
[45:19] Amen. And you asked. And you seek him. And you go after him. What would happen? What else in your life is 100% guaranteed?
[45:34] Death and taxes. I know. Amen. But with God. If you'll try. If you'll be sincere about it. If you're for real. Okay. Not these.
[45:46] Not these TikTokers. Amen. Amen. I could do this perfectly. Amen. You tried it 752,000 times. And you finally got it once. And you're going to put it on there like you're cool.
[45:56] Great. Good job. Amen. You spent your whole life so that you can. I don't even know. Make your cat fall a laser. I don't know. Whatever it is. Amen. But if you're sincere.
[46:07] And you try. I have this to say. Taste and see that the Lord is good. If you got nothing else out of this. I'm here to tell you. Because you're going to. You're going to either experience or not.
[46:18] Taste and see that the Lord is good. If you don't know that he's good. It's because you didn't try. I will say that again. As boldly as I can. And you didn't try.
[46:32] You're a liar. If you say you gave him a try. And it didn't work out. You're the liar. Nobody. Nobody has ever said. Oh I wish I didn't get saved. Nobody.
[46:44] Nobody has ever honestly. Started to read that Bible. And say it did nothing for me. Nobody. Nobody has ever continued in prayer. And said. Well. That was a waste.
[46:57] And the only difference is. You haven't tried it. Taste and see that the Lord is good. There was a person that I was talking to once. Amen.
[47:08] And we were talking about different foods. And I am not adventurous when it comes to food. Amen. I like chicken. Amen. I like two vegetables.
[47:20] No I'm just kidding. Amen. But I'm not adventurous at all. Amen. But we were talking about different foods. Amen. And this one guy. We were talking about a food. And he says. Oh I don't like that stuff. And my wife. My wife.
[47:30] She's so cute. Amen. She says. Oh. Well when did you have it? And literally. I'm not kidding. He said this. Oh I've never tried it. Like even I got that one.
[47:41] Like wait a second. That makes no sense. How could you say that sentence? Like especially. Like he seemed sincere when he answered. I don't like that.
[47:52] Like he was like. Oh. I don't like that. Amen. Oh. Like she was going to ask. Like how did you have it prepared? Where did you have it? Maybe it was this. Maybe it was that. No. No. He had never tried it. And I thought to myself. That's the stupidest statement I've ever heard.
[48:03] Man. You don't like it. And you've never tried it. How does that make any sense? Amen. For you that have never tried the Lord Jesus Christ. How does that make any sense? If you were just going to be honest.
[48:13] Wouldn't you give it one try? Wouldn't you stop yourself from being on the other side of that fence. And say well. That Christian thing. That might work for you. How do you know it doesn't work for you?
[48:25] Have you tried? Have you given him a chance? Did you taste and see? The Lord is available.
[48:41] When I was called to be a preacher. Amen. I thought. Lord you got the wrong person. As a matter of fact. Funny enough. I argued with God for quite a while. Amen. Because I just simply told God.
[48:52] Amen. That you got the wrong guy. I wouldn't be good at that job. Amen. There's probably three or four things that I'm good at in my life. And none of them are Christian. Amen. I don't think a fighting contest is going to happen.
[49:07] You know. Hopefully. Lord willing. There's not a drinking contest. Amen. Or some of the other things. Amen. I was pretty good at lying. Amen. I'm thinking Lord. You got the wrong guy. Amen.
[49:17] But eventually. The Lord showed me that he wanted me to preach. And so. Just to make sure. I said. Lord. I think this is a bad decision. But you're a lot smarter than me. So. If so. This is what I'd like.
[49:29] I want to know. And he said yes. Take it up with him. Amen. But soon after that. Amen. I had another conversation with God. And it went something like this.
[49:39] Go with me to Revelation chapter 14. It went something like this. Lord. I'm. I'm not the. I'm not going to be the best preacher there is. Not everybody I preach to is going to want to hear what I say.
[49:51] As a matter of fact. Their favorite words are probably going to be. That when I say I'm finally done. Amen. But Lord. I said Lord. I can do one thing. Okay. Lord. I can do one thing.
[50:01] When I'm preaching. Amen. If you give me the privilege and the opportunity to preach. Lord. I can do one thing. I can at least warn. Everybody I preach to. Revelation chapter 14.
[50:12] Verse 11. In that book that has never ever been proven wrong. The holy words of God himself. And this is what he says. He says. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever.
[50:25] And they have no rest. Day. Nor night. Now remember. This is God that never lies. And this is what he says. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever.
[50:37] And they have no rest. Day. Nor night. Now I cannot describe that place. Very well. But since we're being sensible.
[50:48] Here tonight. This morning. Excuse me. I want to say it this way. If you want just a sliver of an idea. If you've never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. And you want to know what your future is.
[50:58] Just one little sliver of an idea is this. You just go ahead and close your eyes. And you never ever open them again. It says. They shall be cast into outer darkness.
[51:10] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. I'd be a pretty poor preacher. If I didn't at least warn you. Of what's to come. If you reject. If you decide not to taste and see that the Lord is good.
[51:23] The other side is this. Say. I don't think God would do that to anybody. Well let me put it to you in a real practical way. If God is light. And you reject him. What are you left with?
[51:33] You can say whatever you want about my preaching. You can say whatever you want about my life. My family and everything else. But I will tell you this. You have been warned.
[51:44] You have been warned. If you've never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. What would stop you from doing it today? What would stop you from accepting a perfect and holy God. That is willing to forgive you of all your sins.
[51:56] Adopt you into his family. And give you a place in heaven for all eternity. What would stop you? And then as you think about what would stop you. I would like you to think about facing God on judgment day. And telling him what that was.
[52:08] Yeah. I would have accepted your son as my savior Lord. But. What would people have thought of me? I would have Lord. But. Now my guess is everybody in here is saved.
[52:22] But I did promise the Lord. I'd do my best to warn them. Amen. For those of you that are Christians in here. How about you take that next step. How about you start working out some of that salvation that's in you out towards other people.
[52:37] Start doing some good works. Why don't they start seeing some differences in your life. Amen. Why don't you taste and see that the Lord is good. Take that next step. That the Lord would have for you. Amen. Let's pray.
[52:49] Heavenly Father. I thank you Lord for every breath that you give me. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.