WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.660 It's amazing, though, who God chooses to use. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:09.279 The greatest Christian movements this country has ever experienced 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:09.279 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:13.839 ! It came from other people who are 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:14.839 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.039 He could not spell well. He did not speak well. 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:39.460 He was a teenage shoe salesman that stumbled over his words, 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:45.600 but he had a Sunday school teacher that had a burden for him. 00:00:47.579 --> 00:00:51.439 Edward Kimball paced back and forth in front of that Sunday school, 00:00:51.620 --> 00:00:53.539 I mean, in front of that shoe store one day, 00:00:54.379 --> 00:00:57.039 praying that God would give him the energy to speak 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:59.700 to Dwight L. Moody about his salvation. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.460 When Edward walked into that store, 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:08.299 Dwight L. Moody was in the back in the stock room. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:13.299 Edward Kimball walked back there, shared Christ with him, 00:01:13.340 --> 00:01:15.060 and Dwight L. Moody came to know the Lord 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:20.819 in the stock room of a shoe store in Boston, Massachusetts. 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:25.799 And God used Moody powerfully 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:30.299 through the second half of the 19th century. 00:01:31.259 --> 00:01:33.140 He put a fire in that man's soul 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:35.759 and a passion in his voice, 00:01:35.759 --> 00:01:41.719 and he preached simple sermons that burned with evangelistic fury. 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:48.760 And his meetings filled music halls, filled arenas, 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:53.780 filled theaters across America and throughout Great Britain 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:54.879 with the simple gospel. 00:01:56.019 --> 00:01:59.500 During one campaign in London of several nights, 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:03.099 he preached to over 2 million people who heard the gospel. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:05.059 And he would say, 00:02:05.559 --> 00:02:09.419 if you want to find fault, come and find fault in me, 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:12.659 but don't find it in Christ. 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:15.419 He had no microphone. 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:17.799 He had no radio. 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:21.620 His voice was carried by the Spirit of God. 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:25.340 And it's been said that no man since the Apostle Paul 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:27.240 has shaken two continents with the gospel 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:29.120 like Dwight L. Moody did. 00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:33.219 A simple man used of God. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:38.560 Last week, we looked at four ordinary men 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:41.680 that God used in extraordinary ways. 00:02:42.420 --> 00:02:45.860 And those men were accompanied by seven others 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:47.740 that were just as faithful, 00:02:47.939 --> 00:02:50.120 but that we're not nearest familiar with. 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:54.759 Just as unlikely and used just as mightily. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.039 And these most often are overlooked. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:02:59.159 But they shouldn't be, 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:02.219 and they're not going to be today. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:06.120 Mark chapter 3, beginning in verse 13, 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:07.400 it says, 00:03:07.540 --> 00:03:09.259 And he went up, speaking of Christ, 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:11.960 went up on the mountain and called to them 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:14.879 those whom he desired, and they came to him. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:19.560 And he appointed 12 whom he also named apostles. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:22.460 So that they might be with him, 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:24.240 and he might send them out. 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:25.879 Notice this. 00:03:26.620 --> 00:03:28.920 Three things is what he called them to. 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:32.300 One was that they might be with him. 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:36.340 Number two, and he might send them out to preach. 00:03:37.540 --> 00:03:39.560 And three, that he might give them authority 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.020 to cast out demons. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:44.380 They had a supernatural authority that God gave them, 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:45.880 those apostles that he called. 00:03:47.480 --> 00:03:48.740 He appointed the 12, 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:51.520 Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter, 00:03:52.320 --> 00:03:53.900 James, the son of Zebedee, 00:03:54.020 --> 00:03:55.860 and John, the brother of James, 00:03:56.320 --> 00:04:00.020 to whom he gave the name Barnurgus, 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:02.520 that is, sons of thunder. 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:05.860 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 00:04:06.820 --> 00:04:09.880 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James, 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:11.860 the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, 00:04:12.980 --> 00:04:14.360 and Simon the zealot, 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:17.780 and Judas as a carrot who betrayed him. 00:04:18.780 --> 00:04:21.280 Last week, we spent time talking about 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:23.180 Peter, the outspoken, 00:04:24.400 --> 00:04:26.600 Andrew, the inviter, 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:29.800 James, the thunderous, 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:32.700 and John, the passionate. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:36.200 Next on this list is Philip. 00:04:36.960 --> 00:04:39.040 I call him the practical. 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:43.620 There's a powerful passage in Acts chapter 9 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:46.200 about an Ethiopian that's led to Christ 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:47.580 by a man named Philip. 00:04:48.640 --> 00:04:50.040 That's not this one. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:52.360 Don't get your Philips mixed up. 00:04:53.320 --> 00:04:55.500 This one was a fisherman. 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.220 From Bethsaida in Galilee, 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:00.820 just like Peter, 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:02.680 just like Andrew, 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:05.320 the same areas James and John. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:07.920 He was a just-the-facts, 00:05:08.640 --> 00:05:11.120 by-the-book, practical kind of guy. 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:14.280 Honestly, a pessimistic killjoy. 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:17.939 When 5,000 men and their families 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:18.760 need to be fed, 00:05:18.760 --> 00:05:20.980 Philip told Christ how expensive it was 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:21.460 to feed them. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:24.140 Jesus got it done anyway. 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:27.240 When Jesus was in the upper room, 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:29.659 Jesus told the apostles, 00:05:29.919 --> 00:05:31.099 if you know me, 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:32.339 you know the Father. 00:05:33.419 --> 00:05:34.399 And Philip said, 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:36.919 show us the Father. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:39.120 In other words, 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:40.579 he didn't get it. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:42.879 He didn't get what Christ was saying. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:48.139 But God can use a practical pessimist. 00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:48.860 Pessimist. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:52.039 History tells us that God used 00:05:52.039 --> 00:05:54.399 Philip mightily in the church 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:56.639 and that he died a martyr. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:58.599 They stoned him to death. 00:05:59.599 --> 00:06:02.979 And his preaching reached many for Christ 00:06:02.979 --> 00:06:04.479 before his death. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:09.159 God can and will use the practical. 00:06:09.159 --> 00:06:12.159 And then there's also the skeptic. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.379 Philip's best buddy was Bartholomew. 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:19.199 John calls him Nathaniel. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:21.060 That's probably his given name. 00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:24.939 Anywhere you see Bar in front of a name 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:25.779 in the Bible, 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:27.879 Bar means son of. 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:30.000 And so in reality, 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:33.779 Bartholomew was the son of Ptomei. 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:37.319 And by the time you take an Aramaic name 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:39.079 and translate it into Greek 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:40.740 and then translate it into English, 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:43.579 you get Bartholomew out of Bartholomei. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:46.539 But he came from Cana 00:06:46.539 --> 00:06:50.639 where Jesus did his wedding miracle. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.219 Philip is the one that brought him to Jesus. 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.439 And he was just as imperfect 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.360 as the rest of us are. 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:02.620 His problem was he had too much bias in his life. 00:07:03.479 --> 00:07:05.219 He had some prejudice in his life. 00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:07.939 And I want you to watch what happens to him 00:07:07.939 --> 00:07:09.639 when he meets Christ. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:11.639 It's found in John chapter 1, 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:12.680 beginning in verse 45. 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:13.719 And it says this, 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:15.699 Philip found Nathaniel, 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:17.360 that's the same guy as Bartholomew, 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.759 and said to him, 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.199 we have found him of whom Moses and the law 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:22.620 and also the prophets wrote, 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:24.319 Jesus of Nazareth, 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:25.800 the son of Joseph. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.560 And Nathaniel said to him, 00:07:29.979 --> 00:07:32.240 can anything good 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.579 come out of Nazareth? 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:37.560 And Philip said to him, 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:39.599 come and see. 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:43.879 Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:45.419 and said to him, 00:07:45.479 --> 00:07:46.019 behold, 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.319 an Israelite indeed 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:50.199 in whom there is no deceit. 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:52.779 And Nathaniel said to him, 00:07:52.799 --> 00:07:53.839 how do you know me? 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:56.579 Jesus answered him, 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.740 before Philip called you 00:07:57.740 --> 00:07:59.039 when you were under the fig tree, 00:07:59.159 --> 00:08:00.500 I saw you. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:03.259 And Nathaniel answered him, 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:04.300 Rabbi, 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:06.500 you're the son of God. 00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:08.660 You're the king of Israel. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:10.980 And Jesus answered him, 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:12.939 because I said to you, 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:14.279 I saw you under the fig tree. 00:08:14.339 --> 00:08:15.060 Do you believe? 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:17.339 You'll see greater things 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:18.839 than these. 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:20.759 In this passage, 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.420 what you find out about Bartholomew 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:23.480 is both his weaknesses 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.439 and his strengths. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:26.180 His weaknesses 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:27.740 was that he wrote people off 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:29.000 because of where they were from. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:32.639 Or for what they look like. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:33.740 He was prejudiced. 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:36.179 He came from Cana. 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:39.120 Cana is a small, 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:40.299 nothing little town. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:41.799 You wouldn't know anything about Cana 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:43.440 if Jesus hadn't done 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.200 that wedding miracle there. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.440 But he scorned someone 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.000 who come from a rough, 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:51.379 unrefined little town 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:52.000 named Nazareth. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.320 And Nazareth was rough. 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:56.139 You get your tail whooped in Nazareth, 00:08:56.220 --> 00:08:56.720 you ain't careful. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:57.919 I mean, it's that kind of place. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:08:59.919 And he knew that. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.620 He didn't expect much 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.320 to come out of that, 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:05.500 but man, he got a whole lot. 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:08.419 Jesus told him something 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.419 only God could know. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:11.840 First, he tells him 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:13.220 that he's honest. 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:16.740 If you're an honest person, 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:19.600 God can use that powerfully. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.200 It's not common today. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:24.080 Second, 00:09:25.140 --> 00:09:27.100 Jesus speaks of what he knows 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:27.879 about Philip. 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.300 And we're not sure 00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:31.759 of what Jesus was speaking of, 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:32.560 but it really don't matter 00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:33.660 if we know what he's speaking of. 00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:34.300 Philip knew what he was speaking of. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:34.840 I mean, excuse me. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:36.340 Yeah. 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:38.440 Bartholomew knew who he was speaking of. 00:09:39.160 --> 00:09:39.700 He knew. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:44.860 And that is God's unique way, 00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:46.420 and that's the way he does it, 00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:49.759 to speak to each one of us 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:52.660 right where we are. 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:55.379 Through the Holy Spirit of God, 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.440 God can whisper something 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:57.600 in your ear today 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.820 that nobody else in the world 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:00.680 would ever understand 00:10:00.680 --> 00:10:01.480 what that means. 00:10:01.640 --> 00:10:03.080 But you know what that means. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:05.080 That's because he's personal. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:06.560 Customizes. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.059 And he did that for Nathaniel. 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:11.759 And the reality is, 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:13.679 we don't know what he's speaking of, 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:15.839 but what it appears to be, 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:18.839 houses were small in that day. 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:19.799 And when we were studying 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:21.099 Capernaum a couple of weeks ago, 00:10:21.239 --> 00:10:23.099 I told you that an exterior wall 00:10:23.099 --> 00:10:24.979 was no more than 18 feet on a house, 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:25.639 and that was it. 00:10:26.099 --> 00:10:27.099 So they were small, 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:28.399 and when they were cooking going on, 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:28.959 it got hot, 00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:29.859 and they lived in the desert. 00:10:30.619 --> 00:10:31.359 And so there was often 00:10:31.359 --> 00:10:32.339 a shade tree nearby, 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:33.299 and they'd go hang out 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:34.119 on the shade tree, 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:35.859 either for rest 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:38.560 or possibly for study. 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:41.060 Theologians believe 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:42.379 that what he saw, 00:10:42.560 --> 00:10:43.759 and we don't know for sure, 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:45.980 what he was talking about 00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:47.480 was Bartholomew studying 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:48.500 the Word of God 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.980 under that tree. 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.860 Jesus had seen him 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:54.759 studying God's Word. 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:58.919 And Jesus was saying to him, 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:00.300 what you've read 00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:02.820 is now being fulfilled 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:04.500 before you. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:09.379 And in response to that, 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.779 he knew what he was talking about, 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.440 and he said, 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.320 you're the Son of God. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.320 We don't know much else about him, 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.259 except that he was 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:24.440 brutally killed for his faith, 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.440 and his body was thrown into the sea. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:30.920 God can and will 00:11:30.920 --> 00:11:32.940 change and use 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:34.780 the skeptic. 00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:36.940 And then there's Matthew. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:38.500 And I call Matthew 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.440 the meticulous, 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:40.980 because Matthew 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.620 was probably 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:42.420 the most educated 00:11:42.420 --> 00:11:43.000 among them. 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:44.660 He was the tax collector, 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.860 which was a shameful 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:47.700 occupation. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.640 He had sold his soul 00:11:50.640 --> 00:11:51.320 to the Romans 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.320 for money. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:53.100 That's what the Jews 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:53.640 would think. 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:55.340 And that is until 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:56.419 Christ called him 00:11:56.419 --> 00:11:57.139 and he walked away 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:58.039 from his lifestyle 00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:59.559 and he invited 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:00.299 all his friends 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:01.000 to his house 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.899 and invited Jesus 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:02.799 to his house 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:03.519 and introduced 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.620 his friends to Jesus. 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:07.299 We basically know 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:08.679 two things about Matthew. 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:10.759 One is that he was 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.500 a publican 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:13.159 or a tax collector. 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:15.500 And we also know 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:15.939 that he wrote 00:12:15.939 --> 00:12:17.100 the Gospel of Matthew. 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.960 And this is what 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.560 is interesting. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:22.759 In the Gospel of Matthew, 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.820 he quotes the Old Testament 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:26.920 99 times. 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:29.279 It is in an effort 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:31.060 for the Jews 00:12:31.060 --> 00:12:32.720 to see Jesus 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.139 as the fulfillment 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:34.960 of prophecy. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.680 But I want you 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.340 to remember something. 00:12:39.540 --> 00:12:41.100 As a Roman commissioned 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:43.200 tax collector, 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:45.519 his job was seen 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.100 as so sinful 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.100 that he was not 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:48.779 allowed 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.899 in the synagogue. 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.399 So this man's 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.220 not been sitting 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.320 under the teaching 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.180 of the Word of God. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.259 He's not been able 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.080 to because of 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:01.560 what he did 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.120 for a living. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:04.360 So how in the world 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:04.899 did he know 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.379 Scripture 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:07.080 so much? 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:08.980 Well, apparently 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:10.019 he studied on his own. 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.759 And by him 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.860 studying God's Word 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.519 on his own, 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:15.860 God began to 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:16.720 draw him. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:18.080 God began 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.379 to work in him. 00:13:19.800 --> 00:13:20.820 And then one day 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.440 when he was sitting 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.259 in that tax booth, 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.240 Jesus walked by. 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.800 And Jesus looked 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:25.500 at him and said, 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:26.960 come and follow me. 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.759 And the man 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.440 dropped everything 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:29.800 he did 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:31.000 and followed Christ. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:31.639 No wonder 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.919 he left immediately. 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.060 God had already 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:34.840 been doing a work 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.460 in his life. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.519 He seems to have 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:38.580 stayed humbly 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:39.460 in the background 00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.560 of the ministry 00:13:40.560 --> 00:13:41.519 of the Lord. 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.860 It seems obvious 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.379 that he was 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.500 journaling to me. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.379 Obviously, 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.120 he was journaling 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:46.820 the words 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:47.759 and the actions 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.659 of Jesus 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:50.240 everywhere they went. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.240 We have the Sermon 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.700 on the Mount, 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.639 Matthew chapter 5 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.080 through 7, 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.779 because of Matthew 00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:56.939 and because of his 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.679 scribing 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.320 while Jesus 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.460 was speaking. 00:14:01.059 --> 00:14:02.480 Not only did he write, 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.299 but the history 00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.080 tells us 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.320 that he shared 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:06.000 the gospel 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.939 with the Jew 00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:08.360 and the Gentile 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:08.960 alike 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.019 until he was 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.899 most likely 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:12.879 burned at the stake 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.319 for his strong 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:16.340 Christian message. 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.240 God uses 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.199 the meticulous. 00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.419 Then there's also 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:23.059 Thomas. 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.879 Thomas is the pessimist. 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.960 You probably know him 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.360 as Doubting Thomas, 00:14:28.699 --> 00:14:30.539 but he's more than that. 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.919 Thomas was a worrier. 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.120 He was anxious 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.480 and he was cautious 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:37.159 and he was a bit like 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:38.579 Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:38.900 He's, 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:39.160 oh, 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.280 it'll never work. 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:41.840 He's that kind of guy. 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:44.379 When Lazarus died 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.040 and Jesus was going 00:14:46.040 --> 00:14:46.620 into Bethany 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.340 to raise him 00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:47.960 from the dead, 00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:48.520 the disciples 00:14:48.520 --> 00:14:49.400 didn't want him to go. 00:14:50.160 --> 00:14:51.860 It was a dangerous place 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:52.960 and they didn't want him 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.300 to go. 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:53.960 They were afraid 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:54.620 of what would happen 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:54.920 to him. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.580 They tried to get him 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.180 not to go. 00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:57.960 Jesus would not hear 00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:58.259 of it 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.320 and Thomas said, 00:15:00.040 --> 00:15:01.639 let us also go 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.520 that we may die 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:03.060 with him. 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:06.320 And Philip said, 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.660 do what? 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:09.259 And in the Greek, 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:09.620 that's, 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.019 huh? 00:15:12.339 --> 00:15:13.740 But he don't stop there. 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.919 When Jesus told him 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.699 in John 14, 00:15:16.819 --> 00:15:17.439 he would prepare 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.379 a place for them 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.240 and where he goes, 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.120 he will go also. 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:23.339 It was Philip that said, 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:23.759 excuse me, 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:24.839 it was Thomas that said, 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.120 Lord, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.759 we don't know 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.459 where you're going. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:29.719 How can we know the way? 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.539 And Jesus said to him, 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:34.439 I'm the way, 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:35.740 the truth, 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.980 and the life. 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.719 No one comes to the Father 00:15:38.719 --> 00:15:39.319 through me. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.360 What he is most known for 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.799 is not being with the disciples 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.039 in the locked room 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.759 when the resurrected Lord 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.579 appeared to them. 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.779 And later, 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.699 they told Thomas 00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:53.240 that they had seen Christ 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:53.959 resurrected 00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:55.079 and he didn't believe it. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.259 Notice what he says 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.959 in John 20. 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:57.959 It says, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.799 so the other disciples 00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.259 told him, 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.220 we've seen the Lord. 00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:02.240 But he said, 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:04.480 unless I see in his hands 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.679 the marks of the nails 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.939 and place my finger 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:09.159 in the marks of the nails 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:10.960 and place my hand 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.559 in his side, 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.559 I'll never believe. 00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:15.059 Eight days later, 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.759 his disciples 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.879 were inside again 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.960 and Thomas was with them. 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.179 Although the doors 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:19.799 was locked, 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.700 Jesus came 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.559 and stood among them 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:21.980 and said, 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.379 peace be with you. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.539 And then he said to Thomas, 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.600 put your finger here 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.220 and see my hands 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.680 and put your hand 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:31.180 and place it in my side. 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:33.820 Do not disbelieve, 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.639 but believe. 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:37.060 And Thomas answered him, 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.800 my Lord 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:39.660 and my God. 00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:41.700 It does not say 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.220 in scripture 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.480 that he touched his hands. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.399 It does not say 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.580 that he touched his side. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.399 And I personally believe 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.100 he didn't have to 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.480 because when he saw 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:50.820 the Lord, 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.300 he knew 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.500 and he said, 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.440 my Lord and my God. 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:55.279 It was a life-changing 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.779 experience 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.840 for Thomas. 00:16:58.220 --> 00:17:00.120 Many historians concur 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.399 that he shared Christ 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:03.080 effectively in India 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.220 and that's where 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.860 he's buried. 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.720 And if you go 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.519 to India today, 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:08.740 there are still churches 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.200 that were established 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.400 during the first century 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:13.480 during his ministry. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.460 He's believed 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.360 to have died 00:17:16.360 --> 00:17:17.100 a martyr 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:19.059 by being ran through 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.860 with a spear. 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.659 with a spear. 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:23.119 God can change 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.119 and use 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:26.419 even a pessimist. 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:29.359 Give your kink to God 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.679 because he can. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.699 Then there's the obscure. 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:36.500 The obscure is a man 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.419 named James the Less. 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.939 He's called the Less 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:42.759 probably due to his stature. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.939 That's about all we know 00:17:44.939 --> 00:17:45.459 about him. 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.939 It is interesting 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.440 that his dad's name 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.539 was Alphaeus. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.299 And we learn 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.960 in Mark chapter 2 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.180 that Matthew's dad's name 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.680 was Alphaeus. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.059 Now, 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:01.680 there's a lot of close connection 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.720 among the disciples. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.900 As I've studied the disciples, 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.980 I realize they were all, 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.220 many of them 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.380 were already friends 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.680 before they ever met Jesus 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.539 and followed him. 00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.680 Many of them 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.820 were from the same area. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.460 Seven of them 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.019 are fishermen, 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.840 for instance. 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:17.679 So there's a possibility 00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:19.299 that they could be brothers, 00:18:19.439 --> 00:18:19.980 but there's nowhere 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.339 that it says that 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:23.220 except that Mark points out 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.980 both of their dad's names. 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.679 And he don't do that 00:18:26.679 --> 00:18:27.500 for everybody. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.319 History tells us 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.139 that James took 00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:32.299 the gospel to Syria 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:34.019 and to Persia 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.259 where he was killed 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:35.980 for his faith. 00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:38.779 Even when little see it 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.500 and it seems obscure, 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:42.419 God uses 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:44.019 those. 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.320 And then there's also 00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:47.100 the zealous. 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.680 He was another man 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.600 named Simon. 00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:52.340 Don't get your Simons mixed up. 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:55.500 This Simon is a former zealot. 00:18:55.560 --> 00:18:57.180 That means that he's a militant, 00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:59.360 politically motivated outlaw 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:00.800 that hated Rome 00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:03.019 and wanted to bring down Rome 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.539 one man at a time. 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:08.480 The zealots were disruptors. 00:19:09.320 --> 00:19:10.680 They were assassins. 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.799 They wanted to 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.460 take down Rome 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.200 and they 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.580 had men 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:19.120 that were called dagger men 00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:21.279 who kept a small, 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.100 concealed, 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:22.799 curved, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.519 bladed knife 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.940 in their robes, 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.140 underneath their robes. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.620 They're bad dudes. 00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:30.120 But you know what? 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.259 God changes bad dudes. 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.019 God doesn't work 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.700 in bad dudes. 00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:35.860 I got to reading this 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.460 and I got to thinking 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.900 about something. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.799 Can you imagine 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:40.500 you got Matthew 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:42.420 or Levi 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:44.299 who was the publican. 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.059 Now that means 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.559 that he 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:48.660 bought himself out 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:50.240 to take up taxes 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:50.900 for the Romans. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.700 He aligned himself 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:54.080 and worked for 00:19:54.080 --> 00:19:55.140 the Romans. 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:57.580 And then on the same 00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.620 team 00:19:58.620 --> 00:20:00.160 you've got Simon 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.840 the zealot 00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:02.160 who hates the Romans. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:04.060 How in the world 00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:05.519 could two people 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.620 be on the same team 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:09.519 and be so different? 00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:11.440 How can that happen? 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.660 God. 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:16.400 God does that. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.080 It is believed 00:20:19.080 --> 00:20:20.400 that Simon died 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.259 for his faith. 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.660 God can use a zealot 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.880 and he can turn 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.580 that zeal 00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.220 into something 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.240 that changes people's life 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.880 for the gospel. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.160 One more today 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.900 I want to talk about 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.680 and that's the humble. 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:36.340 There's another man 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:37.840 among the apostles 00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:38.720 named Judas 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:41.020 and if you're that guy 00:20:41.020 --> 00:20:41.980 no wonder you're humble. 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:43.060 You got the wrong name. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:43.980 But 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.960 he was also called 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.620 Thaddeus 00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.680 and I'm going to call him 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.200 Thaddeus 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.840 so we don't get 00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:50.880 the Judas guys 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.500 mixed up. 00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:54.860 Thaddeus 00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.760 is a nickname. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:58.279 It means breast child. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.839 The modern translation 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.359 of that is 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.220 he's a mama's boy 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.500 just to be honest with you. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.000 He is. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.259 And I don't mean that 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:05.940 as a criticism 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.099 but he was soft hearted. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.200 He was unassuming. 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:09.480 He was humble 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.200 and he was tender. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.799 And he's mentioned 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.879 one other time 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.500 in scripture. 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:16.400 It's in the upper room 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.720 when Jesus 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:19.000 is telling them 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.879 that he'll ask 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:22.839 he will make himself 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.960 known to them. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:26.500 and humbly 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:29.860 Judas asked him 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.840 Thaddeus asked him 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:32.000 Lord 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:34.039 how is it 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.000 that you will manifest 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.700 yourself to us 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:39.120 and not to the world? 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.360 What a 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:43.840 what a humble statement. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.200 He couldn't believe 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.279 that Christ 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.700 would let himself 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.819 be known to them. 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:50.120 It was as if he was saying 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.059 who are we? 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:54.819 There's a great account 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.940 in history of Thaddeus. 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.799 Thaddeus took the gospel 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.819 to Mesopotamia 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:03.279 the modern day Turkey 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.759 today. 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:06.359 And he went to a king 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.179 named Kim Abgar. 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.359 This is told to us 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.159 by Eusebius 00:22:11.159 --> 00:22:13.359 which is a reliable historian 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.319 and we find out 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.079 a lot about 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.919 what happened 00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:16.559 to the apostles 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.359 after the days 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.480 that scripture writes about 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.599 from his accounts. 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.120 And 00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:23.680 in this account 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.759 he goes to 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.660 King Abgar 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:27.319 of Edessa 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:29.180 and he lays 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.980 hands 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.819 on that king 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.240 and he heals 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.380 him of a debilitating 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:34.960 disease 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.019 and that king 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.000 came to Christ 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.700 and he encouraged 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.420 others to come 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:40.980 to Christ 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.079 as well. 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.180 Thaddeus did a 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.240 powerful work 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.799 for the Lord 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:47.960 before he was 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.059 beaten to death 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.960 by clubs 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:52.039 because of his faith. 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.799 So what are we? 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.599 Think about 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:00.039 your traits. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.619 Are you so practical 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.200 that you make 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.680 everybody else 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.480 around you sick? 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.059 Always shutting 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.460 them down 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.879 when they want 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.579 to do something special? 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.379 No, 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.200 that's not practical. 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:10.819 Well, 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.859 God will cultivate that. 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.599 He'll use that. 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.899 Are you a skeptic 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:17.899 questioning 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.439 everything 00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.139 that comes 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:20.000 down the way? 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.379 God can 00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:23.419 nurture that. 00:23:24.439 --> 00:23:25.299 He can work 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.879 with that. 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.779 Are you one 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.559 with a meticulous 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.059 nature? 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.619 A bean 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.059 counter? 00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:34.099 One focused 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:35.439 on the details? 00:23:36.719 --> 00:23:37.500 We need 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.219 folks like that. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:38.980 God has a way 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.839 of refining 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.379 that, 00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:41.459 smoothing 00:23:41.459 --> 00:23:41.980 that. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:44.240 Or are you 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.160 a pessimist? 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.120 Ask your neighbor. 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.759 They'll tell you. 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.860 God can make 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.259 a believer 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:51.759 out of you 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.200 as well. 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.220 He did Thomas. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.480 Are you one 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.000 that's behind 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.620 the scenes? 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:58.819 Good. 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.400 We need 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.019 folks behind 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.579 the scenes. 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.019 We need 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.559 folks who are 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.140 willing to serve 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.579 the Lord 00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.819 even if they're 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.799 not recognized 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.819 for it. 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.599 God uses 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:10.180 such as that. 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:12.160 Are you 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:12.640 one that's 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.019 full of 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.440 zeal? 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.840 If you are 00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.259 throw your 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.779 knife blade 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.539 down please 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:19.000 and let the 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.960 Lord sanctify 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.960 that zeal 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.240 and God 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:22.820 will use 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.720 you powerfully. 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.700 Powerful things 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.200 can happen 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:27.080 for the Lord. 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.320 Are you so 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:29.920 humble that 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.660 you're shocked 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:32.240 that God 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.640 can ever 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.259 use you? 00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:36.019 He can 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.639 and he 00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.079 will. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:39.879 But hear 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.200 me. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.680 Don't let 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.059 the devil 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.980 humiliate you 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.539 into thinking 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.279 that you 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.680 can't be 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.119 used by 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.460 God. 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.480 None of 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:48.900 us have 00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.420 excuses. 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.680 The apostles 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.559 teach us that 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.039 God does 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.500 extraordinary 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.019 things through 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.259 ordinary 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.680 people. 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.099 God 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.519 gathers 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.019 the most 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.700 unlikely 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.259 people 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.859 together 00:24:58.859 --> 00:24:59.940 to do 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.379 the most 00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.299 unbelievable 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.779 ministry. 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:05.299 I started 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.839 this morning 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.319 by talking 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.960 about D.L. 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.259 Moody. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.839 Let me 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.240 quote him 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.579 one more 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:09.980 time. 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.240 He said 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:11.680 this, 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:12.799 I am 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.019 only one 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.899 but I 00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:15.420 am one. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.639 I can't 00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.220 do everything 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:17.700 but I 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:17.960 can do 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.379 something. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.039 What I 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.779 can do 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.039 I ought 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.500 to do 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.500 and by 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:23.940 God's 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.379 grace 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:25.619 I'll do 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:25.920 it. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.399 May we 00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.180 all be 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.000 the same 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.220 and then 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.259 do it. 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.319 With every 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.759 head bowed 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:33.960 and every 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.500 eye closed. 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.379 I want 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:36.720 to ask 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.000 you this 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.440 morning if 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:37.779 you've ever 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.180 given your 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.440 heart and 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:40.399 life to 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:40.680 the Lord 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.579 Jesus Christ 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.160 you may 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.000 find yourself 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.319 with some 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:43.519 of the 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.059 traits of 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.740 these guys 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:46.519 that just 00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.119 came natural 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:47.599 for them 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:47.799 and it 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.319 comes natural 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.920 for you. 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.160 And I'm 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.700 thankful that 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.339 their stories 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.180 give us hope 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.779 that God 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.619 takes us as 00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:55.279 we are and 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.799 makes us to 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.299 be what he'd 00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.799 have us to 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.399 be but we 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.079 must surrender 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.700 who we are 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.160 to him. 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.480 And if 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:01.899 you've never 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.420 surrendered your 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:02.759 life to 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.379 Christ you've 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:03.940 never admitted 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.379 that you're 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.940 a sinner and 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.519 you're separated 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.099 from God 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:08.119 that you need 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:08.660 him to forgive 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.059 you of your 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.579 sins and to 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:09.920 come into your 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.319 life and 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:11.019 empower you and 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.799 change you 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:13.319 that's never 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.920 happened to you 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.619 I encourage you 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.400 today to come 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.200 follow the Lord 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:17.879 in obedience. 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.220 Maybe you're 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.799 here this morning 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.299 and you have 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:21.740 done that but 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.079 you've never 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.720 acknowledged that 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.420 through baptism. 00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:25.859 We're baptizing 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.799 next week and 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.420 if you've never 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.319 been baptized as 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:30.299 a believer I 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.940 encourage you to 00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.619 come we'd love 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.640 to line that up. 00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:33.920 Set that up 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.259 with you. 00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.600 Maybe God's 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.180 drawing you to 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.720 Pickens First 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.660 Baptist Church. 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.540 God's doing a 00:26:40.540 --> 00:26:41.220 wonderful work 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.620 here and I 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.200 just want people 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.800 to be obedient. 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:44.820 I just want you 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.380 to follow what 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:45.980 the Lord's telling 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.520 you to do. 00:26:48.020 --> 00:26:48.700 If you feel led 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.240 to commit your 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.680 life to follow 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.480 him here I 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.140 encourage you to 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:52.460 come. 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:54.360 God's doing a 00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:54.900 good life to 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.400 do it. 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.380 And for all 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:59.319 of us I hope 00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.440 today through the 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.019 scope of the 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.700 Holy Spirit of 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.700 God you've seen 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.420 those traits 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.460 within yourself. 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:07.120 Those traits that 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:08.000 may not be that 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.539 good and may be 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:12.160 pretty good but I 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.000 am thankful through 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.860 the Holy Spirit of 00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:14.620 God through the 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:17.579 sanctification that 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.720 only he can give. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:20.519 that our lives 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.440 can change and we 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:21.860 can become 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:23.140 productive for 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.559 Christ. 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.839 God can use us 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:26.240 in mighty ways if 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.000 we're open enough 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.700 to allow him to 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.360 use us. 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.220 Will you surrender 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.180 who you are today 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.759 to the Lord? 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.059 Whether it be in 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.860 the place you stand 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.360 or whether it be at 00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:35.420 this altar or 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.900 whether you have a 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.620 pastor praying for 00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:36.759 you. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.779 Lord I'm ready to 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.700 serve you and I 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:40.279 ask that you'll 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.140 refine me to be 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.980 everything you'd 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.559 have me to be. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:45.259 I don't know what 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:45.980 God's telling you 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.779 but I encourage you 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:49.059 just do exactly what 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.639 he tells you. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.500 Trust him. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.200 Heavenly Father I 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.740 love you and I 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.399 thank you Lord for 00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:55.279 your love for us and 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.179 I ask right now 00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:57.059 Father that you'll 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.759 have your will and 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.259 your way in our 00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.500 midst. 00:27:58.619 --> 00:27:59.159 Help us to be 00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.899 obedient and follow 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:01.500 you as you lead. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.399 In Jesus name. 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:03.879 Amen.