WEBVTT 00:00:00.900 --> 00:00:13.620 When we look at the early days of the ministry of Christ as we're looking at these days in Mark, we see how powerful his ministry was. 00:00:13.620 --> 00:00:18.320 ! The reason it was powerful is because he knew what his priorities of ministry were. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:20.460 He was clear on that. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:29.359 And to have effective ministries in our lives, which if you're a Christian, we have a responsibility for that. 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:38.060 And to have effective ministries at Pickens First Baptist Church, we need to know what our priorities should be. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:45.359 There's no better way to realize that than by watching and seeing what's important to Christ. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:50.400 It's found in Mark chapter 1, beginning in verse 35, and it says, 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:58.640 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:00.660 And there he prayed. 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:06.879 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:09.040 Everyone is looking for you. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:11.560 And he said to them, 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:20.920 Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that's why I came out. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:27.040 And he went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:32.040 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling, said to him, 00:01:32.520 --> 00:01:34.900 If you will, you can make me clean. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:40.440 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said, 00:01:40.600 --> 00:01:42.920 I will be clean. 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:46.740 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:52.920 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once and said to him, 00:01:53.540 --> 00:01:57.560 See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:04.140 and offer for your cleansing what proof commanded, what Moses commanded, for a proof to them. 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:08.740 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:14.580 and to spread the news so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:16.639 but was out in desolate places. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:21.139 And people were coming to him from every quarter. 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:30.360 I believe that the ministry priorities of Christ ought to be our priorities as well, 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.819 if we have Christian ministry. 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:37.859 Notice first how he prioritized prayer. 00:02:39.139 --> 00:02:41.859 He started the day with prayer. 00:02:42.779 --> 00:02:49.199 He pulled away from the demands of people, the demands of ministry, and he prayed. 00:02:50.699 --> 00:02:56.879 He knew that his ministry was only as effective as his reliance upon the Father. 00:02:57.579 --> 00:03:01.119 That's not to say that people understood his ministry. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:04.599 They would rather him do other things. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:06.259 They wanted him to tend to them. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.060 They wanted him to feed them. 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:11.759 They wanted him to heal them. 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:14.960 They wanted him to stay with them. 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:19.860 His value with them, his ministry with them, 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:20.860 His prayer life. 00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:20.860 00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:21.860 His prayer life. 00:03:21.860 --> 00:03:22.860 His prayer life. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:24.860 His prayer life. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:25.540 His prayer life. 00:03:26.540 --> 00:03:30.700 And it's common for people to underestimate time alone with the Father. 00:03:30.820 --> 00:03:32.720 However, it is crucial. 00:03:32.880 --> 00:03:34.200 It was crucial to Christ. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:37.080 He leaned on the Father. 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:48.100 Now, granted, it's hard for us to understand the Son of God coming in the flesh, stripped of the glories of heaven, 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:51.320 and here on earth in the flesh. 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:53.160 Philippians chapter 2, verse 6 and 7. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:54.600 Help us some with this. 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:55.939 When it says, 00:03:56.079 --> 00:04:01.599 Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:09.180 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:13.019 So Christ on earth was still divine, 00:04:13.959 --> 00:04:15.639 and he was still God. 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:25.519 But he voluntarily stripped himself of those divine qualities that identify the independent abilities of God. 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:32.279 For instance, we know that when he was Christ in the flesh on earth, he was not omnipresent. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:35.060 He was in one place at a time. 00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:40.159 There's little we know about how much power he had from being God, 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:44.399 and how much power he had from having a sinless relationship with the Father who empowered him, 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:46.739 as well as his knowledge. 00:04:48.099 --> 00:04:53.259 It's obvious that he leaned on the Father for his abilities while on earth. 00:04:54.599 --> 00:04:59.179 And those abilities were still supernatural because, you understand, 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:03.599 he had a sinless dependence upon God. 00:05:04.539 --> 00:05:06.699 Nothing hindered his prayer life. 00:05:08.239 --> 00:05:10.779 I mean, for one, he was born of a virgin, 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:14.759 and the significance of that is that he was not born into sin. 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:17.399 He was not born with a sin nature. 00:05:17.539 --> 00:05:20.679 In addition to that, he never sinned. 00:05:21.659 --> 00:05:25.799 Nothing ever came between he and the Father as he prayed. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:34.459 So he proves that he is dependent upon prayer because he continues to go back to it. 00:05:34.459 --> 00:05:40.239 If he needed it, surely we need it, and he did it first thing. 00:05:40.359 --> 00:05:41.799 And it's a good pattern to do. 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:48.779 It's better to bathe the day in prayer before you begin it than at the end of it. 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:58.639 A fresh touch of time with the Lord before the rest of the day is worth, hear me, 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:04.399 it's worth the sacrifice of the time that it takes to get up and do it. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:06.180 It's worth it. 00:06:06.979 --> 00:06:08.959 Allow prayer to be a lifestyle. 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:13.379 Not just a prayer over a meal. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:18.459 Not just a prayer over the beginning of a crisis. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:24.699 But at the sunrise of a new day, when you don't know what that day holds, 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:26.239 but you know who holds that day. 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:30.379 And so you submit that day to him before the calamities come. 00:06:30.979 --> 00:06:32.279 And trust him with it. 00:06:33.719 --> 00:06:36.199 And I want you to notice something that stuck out to me. 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:40.199 Is that he was interrupted. 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:44.439 And when he was interrupted, he didn't lose it. 00:06:46.099 --> 00:06:47.539 He didn't get rude with them. 00:06:49.159 --> 00:06:51.599 It says that they were looking for him. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:57.759 And the Greek verb there speaks of frantically looking for him. 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:00.740 I remember when my children were young. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:02.620 And we'd be in an apartment store somewhere. 00:07:02.899 --> 00:07:06.599 And in the clothes, you know, in the clothes racks, sit about this high. 00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:07.919 And kids sit about this high. 00:07:08.039 --> 00:07:10.379 And you turn around and your young'un's not there. 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:14.519 And you know immediately they've been snatched and taken to Bolivia. 00:07:14.919 --> 00:07:15.179 You know. 00:07:15.599 --> 00:07:16.359 It's over. 00:07:16.359 --> 00:07:16.819 You know. 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:18.180 And then you look around the corner. 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:19.860 And sure enough, they're right there. 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.079 They're four feet from you instead of two. 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:25.959 But that frantic. 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:32.939 The scripture says that they were frantically looking for him. 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:35.879 I believe Peter thought something may have happened to him. 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:37.459 People are already getting mad at him. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:41.240 Maybe they've done something to him. 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:46.300 And they were frantically looking for him. 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:51.780 And there's nothing worse than being interrupted in prayer by a frantic. 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:54.000 That's a frantic fanatic. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.620 But he let it happen. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:08:00.040 And he wasn't afraid to be interrupted. 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:01.680 And he didn't get rude with them. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:04.360 Listen. 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:06.779 If prayer is a habit for you. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.740 You make it a practice in your life. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:12.540 It will be interrupted from time to time. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:15.199 It will be. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.180 For years, I kept a prayer journal. 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:21.900 It's now digital prayer journal that I started this year. 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:31.159 And as I read God's word, I begin with prayer asking God to show me a verse that he would have me to just etch within my heart. 00:08:31.239 --> 00:08:34.179 Just highlight it off the page and let it speak to my heart and life. 00:08:35.079 --> 00:08:41.059 When I find that verse, as I do each day, I pray through that verse. 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:43.360 I write some of that prayer down. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:49.840 And then I pray for the things that I think about the most. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:50.960 I pray for my family. 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:56.259 I pray for the needs of you as I know what they are. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:03.959 I pray for God to move in the life of this church and to guide us in the things that we're doing along the way. 00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:08.279 Burdens that I have and directional matters. 00:09:08.459 --> 00:09:10.279 I lay that out before the Lord. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.879 And then I ask him to lead as the day. 00:09:13.959 --> 00:09:16.179 And I kind of go through the day as I know it. 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:19.379 I go through that day and lay that out before the Lord. 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:20.919 I put that down. 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:22.740 And there are days in that journal. 00:09:22.959 --> 00:09:24.279 And I used to keep journals. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.099 We have some available. 00:09:27.439 --> 00:09:32.679 But I kept journals and would keep those prayer journals. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:38.759 And there's times when the page is very short because I got interrupted by somebody in my family. 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:41.299 That came to talk. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:48.939 And I am thankful now for that interruption. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:59.079 There was a time when my children knew not to mess with me when I was in the quote what they called the Jesus chair. 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:04.980 We had this chair in our bedroom. 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:08.500 I had bought at a charity auction. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:14.259 And a fellow had told me that if I bought the chair that he would cover it for me. 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:16.300 He had been in the upholstery business. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:19.620 And Don went and found fabric and asked him about it. 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:21.279 And he said that fabric could hold up great. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:25.240 And he upholstered it for me and charged me way too much. 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:29.139 And I took that chair home and sat down in it. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:30.259 And I liked it. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.500 And I wore it out. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:34.100 It didn't hold up like he said it would. 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:37.899 And it began to have an Archie Bunker kind of look to it. 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:46.100 And when we moved from Mississippi to here, my wife told me that my chair was not going. 00:10:47.959 --> 00:10:49.480 My chair wouldn't make the trip. 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:54.319 My prayer life has sunk ever since we left that chair in Mississippi. 00:10:58.179 --> 00:10:59.879 It looked rough, but it was special. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:07.639 I don't mind them interrupting me now. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:13.840 When they were younger, it bothered me more, I guess. 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:17.399 I don't mind it now. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.399 When there's a need. 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:29.120 I put on more than one day somebody had a question. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:34.279 Or a call came that I needed to answer. 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.220 And I don't mind that. 00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:38.580 Jesus don't mind that either. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.240 Because prayer is a priority. 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.160 And I'll be back. 00:11:42.160 --> 00:11:45.040 If not before the day is out in the morning. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:48.039 Jesus made it a priority. 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:50.740 He prayed at his baptism. 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:52.539 He prayed at the start of his ministry. 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:54.939 He prayed before choosing the 12. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:57.919 He prayed after feeding 5,000. 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:00.179 He prayed after cleansings. 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:02.000 He prayed after healings. 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:03.980 He prayed before the cross. 00:12:04.319 --> 00:12:05.360 Look throughout his life. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:08.440 Again and again and again and again. 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:11.700 Prayer was a priority. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:16.080 Not only that, I'll tell you another priority he had was preaching. 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:19.100 Preaching was a priority. 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:21.279 It says in verse 38 and 39, 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:22.240 And he said to them, 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:26.980 Let us go to the next towns that I may preach there also. 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:30.299 For that is why I came out. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.519 And he went throughout all Galilee preaching in their synagogues. 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:40.839 Notice that his burden was not giving people what they wanted. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:43.519 They wanted more healing. 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.860 Healing pointed to his power. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:48.259 Healing pointed to his authority. 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:54.980 Healing would open their ears to hear his message as they watched him work and move in their lives. 00:12:55.300 --> 00:13:00.639 But the healing itself was never just about healing the body. 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:02.700 Never was. 00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:06.139 Matter of fact, none of his miracles were just about the miracle itself. 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.920 There's always a message there. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:10.879 It was always about the message. 00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:12.799 And they came to him and they said, 00:13:13.319 --> 00:13:18.500 The people that you are ministering to want more of you. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:23.319 They want you to come back and see them again. 00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:25.120 And he said, Let's move on. 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.019 And he did. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:33.839 And Matthew, who gives us more details than Mark does, 00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:36.079 because Mark's in a hurry and don't give a lot of details, 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:41.240 tells us that he spread, that word spread all across Syria. 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:45.100 And that he went throughout Galilee to small villages. 00:13:45.280 --> 00:13:47.000 The word there is small villages. 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:51.120 When they had a town of a decent size, they'd build a wall around it, a protective wall. 00:13:51.160 --> 00:13:53.900 Like you may, a fence around your yard or something. 00:13:54.160 --> 00:13:55.700 But not in these little villages. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.580 They were too small to have a wall around them. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.460 And this speaks of him going to those villages. 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:06.639 They were small, but they were big enough for Christ to go to. 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:09.860 Matthew tells us that he went to the Decapolis. 00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:14.259 That is ten Roman cities that are filled with Gentiles. 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.740 That he also went to Judea. 00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:19.240 That he also went on the other side of the Jordan. 00:14:19.540 --> 00:14:23.519 It's estimated that he spent weeks, possibly even months, 00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:27.460 going from town to town before he ever came back to Capernaum, 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:30.820 where he set up his home base of sorts. 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:37.940 There are as many as 240 Galilean villages sprinkled throughout that region. 00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:41.440 And Christ traveled throughout that area. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:44.580 Large crowds came with sick and possessed people. 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:45.920 And he cured them. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:49.000 And when he cured them, he preached the gospel to him. 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.600 And the message spread. 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:54.880 And he said in verse 38, this is why I came out. 00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:56.100 You know what he's talking about? 00:14:56.260 --> 00:14:57.680 This is why I came out of the desert. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.480 This is why I do ministry. 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.879 But to preach the word. 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.420 His focus was on praying and preaching. 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:06.139 And he did a lot of other things. 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:10.080 But none of them was more important than getting the message out. 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:18.300 As a matter of fact, it's obvious in the book of Acts that the apostles picked up on the priorities from Christ. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:22.200 Because I want you to look at the selection of deacons in Acts chapter 6. 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:25.700 In the selection of deacons in Acts chapter 6, it says in verse 2, 00:15:26.020 --> 00:15:29.100 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:32.580 It's not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:38.920 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the spirit and of wisdom, 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:40.900 whom we will appoint to this duty. 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:47.060 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:51.799 And do you know what happened when they focused on prayer and preaching? 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.019 Acts 6, 7 says, 00:15:54.659 --> 00:16:03.019 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.639 It works, folks. 00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:07.899 Prayer and preaching works. 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:11.539 God chooses to use prayer and preaching. 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:15.439 It was a ministry priority for Christ. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.939 Not only that, but another priority for Christ was overcoming evil. 00:16:20.459 --> 00:16:22.879 Once again, demons come to him. 00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:25.639 And when they came, he cast them out. 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:28.399 And it was an ongoing battle. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:37.199 Mark emphasizes this demonic struggle, this demonic battle, how they continue to confront Christ in all of his ministry. 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:39.559 Matthew emphasizes the healing a lot more. 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:43.199 Mark focuses on the demonic possessions and oppressions. 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:52.699 He leans hard in these brief accounts to the empowering prayer of Jesus and the powerful preaching of Jesus 00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:56.359 and the power of Christ over the underworld of evil. 00:16:57.599 --> 00:17:00.459 Satan confronted him through the demon-possessed. 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:05.099 And every time he did, Christ conquered them. 00:17:05.399 --> 00:17:06.259 Every time. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.500 And he always will. 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:13.299 He was set on overcoming evil. 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.799 He prioritized it. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:20.659 He also prioritized changing lives. 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:26.259 We see it again and again, and we see it here through the account of the leper. 00:17:27.419 --> 00:17:28.659 The leper that came to him. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:33.740 Leprosy was a debilitating disease in that day. 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:37.559 There was very little medicinal help for skin diseases. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:46.599 And because leprosy was so contagious, so disfiguring, so feared, any discoloration of sin caused alarm. 00:17:46.599 --> 00:18:03.500 Do you remember back in spring of 2020 and they told us that if we'd go home for two weeks and isolate, that COVID would go away and we'd never deal with it again. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:10.339 And we all went home, shut the doors, lassoed each other in the face. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:16.900 Looked out the window, saw somebody walking down the street and said, how dare them? 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.680 They're spreading it. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:27.019 If anybody got a tickle in their throat, we'd throw them out. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.240 What are they trying to kill us? 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.240 What are they doing here? 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.880 You remember that? 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:35.799 People would cough and you'd look at them and go, what in the world? 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:41.700 Somebody sneezed. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:43.379 We used to be, God bless you. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.720 Now it was, get out of here. 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.759 You're killing somebody. 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.039 It's a whole different thing. 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:49.000 Well, I'm going to tell you something. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.099 That's the kind of alert that people have with leprosy. 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.559 And no wonder it was horrible. 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:02.680 I mean, they'd panic when they saw a discoloration on their skin. 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.940 Because it might be. 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:12.079 Outside of America, it was a plague that would stay with the inflicted for life. 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.899 Today it's called Hansen's disease. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:17.720 There are medical concoctions that helps today. 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:24.379 But Dr. Paul Brand was a leading leprosy surgeon in the 20th century. 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:28.460 And he dedicated himself to ministering to them. 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:33.859 Phil Yancey, and he wrote a book called The Gift of Pain. 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.659 He wrote a couple books about it. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.879 He did extensive study on it and treatment of it. 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.700 And he said this. 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.299 He said, and I quote, he said, 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:43.559 It's a radical disease of the whole person. 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:47.559 It attacks not merely the skin, but the blood, the flesh, and even the bones. 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:54.019 Until the unhappy patient begins to lose his extremities and to rot by inches. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:20:02.359 The disease acts like an antiseptic, bringing numbness to the extremities as well as to the eyes and the ears and the nose. 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:04.619 It is a painless hell. 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:06.259 End of quote. 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:12.599 The numbness causes you to not be aware of a burn or a cut or a break. 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:14.699 Infection, gangrene. 00:20:15.699 --> 00:20:18.319 Disgusting and smelly wounds just eat the skin. 00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:21.059 The digits and the features of the face fall away. 00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:24.179 It's horrible physically. 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:28.299 But it's also horribly socially because you were made an outcast. 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:31.160 You were dangerously contagious. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.320 Nobody wanted to be around a leper. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.240 It was awful in the way it progressed. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:39.640 It was such a progressive death upon the body. 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:47.300 On top of that, Mosaic Law isolated lepers from social contact. 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:51.440 They were forbidden to come within six feet. 00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:53.020 You remember? 00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:53.960 Ain't that interesting? 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.580 I think COVID was six feet, wasn't it? 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.140 You know? 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:02.540 If the wind was blowing and someone had leprosy, they couldn't come within 150 feet. 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:06.640 And surely there was somebody with a 150-foot tape measure around. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:12.480 They were to wear rent, wore out, torn clothing. 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.900 They were to shave their head. 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.940 They were to cover their mouth. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:20.360 If someone accidentally approached them, they were to yell, 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.320 Unclean! 00:21:22.520 --> 00:21:23.040 Unclean! 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.720 And listen, they were required to leave not only community, 00:21:28.060 --> 00:21:31.400 but they were required to leave their family behind. 00:21:32.300 --> 00:21:36.480 To dress the part and to warn others of their malady when they came. 00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:43.800 In the days of the New Testament, there was no disease that was regarded with more terror and pity. 00:21:43.800 --> 00:21:48.440 The instructions in Leviticus 13 and 14 tell us how to deal with it. 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:52.660 And it speaks of symptoms and procedures to deal with skin diseases. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:59.980 It actually mentions symptoms of 72 different skin disorders and diseases 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:04.740 that were often feared to be leprosy. 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.559 However, I want you to make no mistake. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:13.579 If it was leprosy, there was no hope for them outside of a touch of Christ. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:19.019 And that's exactly what this man attempted to do. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.019 He approached Jesus. 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.500 Unheard of for a leper to approach anybody. 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:26.139 He boldly declared the power of Christ. 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.579 He didn't yell, Unclean! 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:29.079 There is no account of that. 00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:31.279 But instead, requested healing. 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:35.740 And in pity, the Scripture says, it also means compassion. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:39.339 In compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:41.139 No one touches a leper. 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.519 But Jesus did. 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:48.339 He spoke healing and immediately the man was healed. 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:52.279 And then he tells the man to deal with his cure lawfully. 00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:56.000 Make it official with the priest as the law demands. 00:22:56.919 --> 00:23:02.539 He also tells the man not to say a word about it to anyone. 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:06.059 Why did he say that? 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:12.039 Well, Jesus' ministry was filled with healing. 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:15.680 But his ministry was not about healing. 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:22.579 It was not about the many other things that people were distracted with about him. 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:32.539 His goal of preaching the gospel in as many places as possible would not be possible with a crowd following him from place to place. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:38.279 The villages that he wanted to attend would not be large enough to accommodate the crowd that would follow him. 00:23:39.199 --> 00:23:41.319 Tensions would rise sooner. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.579 His ministry would be cut short. 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.119 His ministry would be cut short. 00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:48.099 So he told the man, don't tell anybody. 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.519 Just go deal with it. 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:54.259 But this man told others. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:58.639 And Scripture said they came from every quarter. 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:06.059 That publicity limited Christ from being able to go from town to town. 00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:12.579 Luke tells us in Luke 5 verse 16, he would withdraw to desolate places and he would pray. 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.220 Why? 00:24:13.419 --> 00:24:16.599 Because prayer was the power behind his ministry. 00:24:17.199 --> 00:24:20.079 And he remained dependent upon the Father throughout his ministry. 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:22.899 Even to the garden on the night of his arrest. 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:27.159 While they crucified him, he prayed for those who crucified him. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.559 While he hung on the cross. 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.819 Prayer was a priority in his ministry. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:35.500 As was preaching and overcoming evil and changing lives. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.980 And I got news for you. 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:41.879 We do the ministry of Christ. 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:46.679 Pickens First Baptist Church is a Christian ministry. 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:52.980 Why would we not prioritize our ministry around the same areas that Christ does? 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.139 I'll answer for us. 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:57.000 That's exactly what we ought to do. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:00.660 We need to prioritize prayer. 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:06.099 We need to prioritize in our lives. 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:09.299 We need to prioritize in our families. 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:13.240 We need to prioritize in our church. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.220 We need to prioritize it for our church. 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:24.620 If Christ was dependent upon prayer, it only makes sense that we make prayer a priority. 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:29.360 I hear so many people talk about prayer in schools. 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:31.700 What about prayer in our lives? 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:34.299 What about prayer in our homes? 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:40.039 I'm not knocking the need for prayer to be everywhere. 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.859 Don't misunderstand me. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:44.539 But I don't depend on the public school to bring the spiritual nourishment to my children. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.259 That's not what their job is. 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.299 That's my job. 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:54.059 And it's my job to bring them to a place where they'll get that spiritual nourishment. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:56.379 A place that's been prayed for. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:26:01.180 A place that is prayerfully prepared to do the task that is at hand. 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.279 We can't lay that off on somebody else. 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.319 That's our job. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:21.619 And the reason why it is so hard to educate children today in our world is because there's a lack of prayer and a lack of Christ in the homes in which they come from. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.539 Now, there are exceptions in this rule. 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.839 Some of you just knuckleheads. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.899 It ain't nobody's fault but yours. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:37.700 But a lot of children only get the nurture that they get in life from school. 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:40.140 No wonder they're a mess. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:45.259 I'm not saying we don't prioritize it in other places. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:50.700 I'm saying we prioritize it in our lives not just to talk about it but to do it. 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:53.460 I send a text out to a lot of people on Saturday. 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:58.400 And I often put in that text and I don't do it flippantly. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.360 I pray over that text every time I send it. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.319 I often ask you to pray. 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:08.019 Pray about who you would invite. 00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:13.019 When you see that text, I just want you to drop your head for just a moment and say, 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:16.420 Dear God, is there somebody that I need to contact? 00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:19.299 Is there somebody that I need to encourage? 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:23.299 Is there somebody I ain't seen in a while that I need to invite back? 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:27.059 Is there somebody that I need to reach out to? 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:34.579 And then, Lord, what do you want to do in me? 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:43.519 God, prepare my heart today for what you'll do tomorrow when we worship together. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:46.880 And prepare those who lead us in worship. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:49.160 I covet your prayers for me. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.180 I covet your prayers for me. 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:58.100 Let me say and do exactly what God would have me to do. 00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:01.200 Nothing more and nothing less. 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:05.840 Pray that God would move in our midst. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:14.000 The movement of God in the house of God is an intangible that we cannot control. 00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:17.759 We are dependent upon him to do what he can do. 00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:20.480 And he inhabits the praise of his people. 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:24.839 We just need to take that before him faithfully. 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.740 Pray for the worship hour. 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.419 Pray for the message. 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.519 Pray for your life group. 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:38.500 Pray that God will provide through us everything that we need to minister the way he would have us to do. 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:41.299 We must prioritize prayer. 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:46.839 We also must prioritize the preach word. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.899 Paul put it this way. 00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:50.480 In Romans 10, verse 14, 15, and 17. 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:50.819 He said, 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:53.659 How then will they call on him in whom they've not believed? 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:57.059 And how are they to believe in him of whom they've never heard? 00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:59.680 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:03.139 And how are they to preach unless they're sent as it is written? 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:06.119 How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news? 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:10.819 So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:16.199 There are a lot of things that make a Christ-honoring church ministry. 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:21.179 But none of that can be void of the preaching of the word of God. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.239 It's a priority. 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.759 It's a priority to Christ. 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:26.339 It's a priority to the New Testament church. 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:29.819 It's a priority that carries over to the 21st century church. 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:32.379 We must stick to the word of God. 00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:34.799 We must stay true to the word of God. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.779 And understand me when I say, 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:41.859 I'm fully aware of the weight of that responsibility. 00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:49.980 We must prioritize the preach word. 00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:54.139 As well as overcoming evil. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:00.039 Does that mean we're going to cast out demons? 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.500 No, that's not what I'm talking about. 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.119 I told you a couple of weeks ago 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:06.500 that the man that met Jesus in the synagogue was possessed 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:08.559 because he got into sin. 00:30:08.719 --> 00:30:11.599 And when he got into sin, sin got into him. 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:14.319 God does not need us to cast out demons. 00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:16.559 He needs us to remove sin from our lives. 00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:20.639 He needs us to not get into sin. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:24.459 Listen to how James describes the process of sin. 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:26.679 He says in James 1, 14 and 15, 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:31.080 But each person is tempted when he's lured and enticed by his own desire. 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:34.860 Then desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin. 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:39.440 And sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.740 So it's a process. 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.640 We get lured in. 00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:46.320 And when we get lured in, we bite. 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:50.740 And we get dragged into the boat of sin like a big fish that bit the wrong bait. 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:54.700 And James says sinful habits bring death. 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.039 It does. 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.839 Sin brings death to marriages. 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.299 Sin brings death to dreams. 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.779 Sin brings death to plans. 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:05.180 Sin brings death to jobs. 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.819 Sin brings death to testimonies. 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:13.299 And if you die without Christ, sin brings death that leads to hell. 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:43.279 Sin brings death to death. 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:44.839 Snuffing out sin. 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:48.899 As the great theologian Barney Fife said, 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.379 Nip it in the bud. 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:53.619 Knock it out from the start, folks. 00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:55.639 Never get involved in it. 00:31:56.419 --> 00:32:03.379 Because it's a trap and it's a stronghold that will drag you down and take others with you. 00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:11.379 It is a priority for Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:21.960 For not just me, but for all of you to stay out of sinful patterns in your life. 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:27.500 And when the Holy Spirit shows you what they are, stop them. 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.500 Stop it. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:37.220 I was watching an old Bob Newhart show. 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.200 I never watched that. 00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.799 And somebody talked about how great it was. 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.039 I don't know when. 00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.880 I don't know if he died. 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.619 I don't know what brought it up. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.519 But somebody talked about it. 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.460 So I watched someone. 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.259 He's a counselor. 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:47.279 And somebody came in. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:49.859 And they said, I do this and I do this and I do this. 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:53.679 And he looked at them and he said, I want you to go home and do something. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.019 She said, what? 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.659 He said, stop it. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.799 How did I do that? 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.500 He said, stop it. 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.539 Well, what if it doesn't stop it? 00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:08.859 And that's exactly what we must do with the sinful patterns in our life. 00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:09.939 We ought to overcome evil. 00:33:10.399 --> 00:33:11.500 And it starts with us. 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:19.819 And then lastly, we must have a ministry priority to see changing lives. 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:26.740 I find it fascinating this leper was told by Christ to not say anything about it, 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:28.599 but he got a bad case of the can't help it. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.420 And he went anyway. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.319 Christ changed his life. 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:36.059 And when Christ changed his life, he had to tell folks about it. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:40.559 And if you're here today and Christ has changed your life, 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.799 I got news for you. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:45.559 He's never told you to keep it quiet. 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.940 He never has. 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:51.379 Christ has told us to go and make disciples, 00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:53.099 to lead them to Christ, 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.539 to baptize them, 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:56.200 to grow them up in the Lord. 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:59.099 If Christ has changed your life, 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:02.259 you need to get a bad case of the can't help it. 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:05.619 You need to tell somebody what Christ has done in your life. 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:09.579 Because when this leper was spreading the good news, 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.759 the scripture says, 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.599 they came out of every corner. 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:16.960 If Christ has changed your life, 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:19.440 let it be known. 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.079 Give him credit. 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.559 Each and every opportunity, 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:26.319 you have the opportunity to do it. 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:29.420 Bring it up in conversation. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:33.319 Let folks know how it happened. 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:43.960 If you need Christ today, 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:48.400 to change your life, 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:51.860 let it be known. 00:34:56.660 --> 00:34:58.720 If you need the Lord Jesus in your life, 00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:00.539 because you've never surrendered your life to Christ. 00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:05.599 And you come today and ask God 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.339 to forgive you of your sins 00:35:07.339 --> 00:35:08.259 and to come into your life 00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:09.379 and to change your life 00:35:09.379 --> 00:35:12.119 and to empower you to rise above 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:14.139 and help you to overcome the evil 00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:15.199 that comes into your life. 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:18.059 And the promise is 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:19.639 that if we'll confess Jesus as Lord 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:21.119 and that we'll believe in our heart 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:22.480 that God raised him from the dead, 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:24.740 we shall be saved, 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.059 everyone 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:28.860 that calls upon the name of the Lord 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.740 shall be saved. 00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:33.019 And if you've never been saved, 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.820 I want you to know 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:35.980 it's a priority of this church 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:38.400 to not only preach the gospel 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:39.539 and share the gospel, 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:41.980 but to lead you through the gospel of Christ. 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.719 We'll stand in just a moment 00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:46.360 and we'll sing 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:48.900 in the greatest priority of that time. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:51.300 And it's just for a few minutes. 00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:54.099 But the greatest priority of that time 00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:55.940 will be if there's one here 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:57.760 who's never given his or her heart and life 00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:58.800 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.680 Today's the day of salvation. 00:36:01.680 --> 00:36:02.440 You come and say, 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.559 preach, I need to be saved. 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.700 Maybe you're here 00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:09.460 and you have been saved. 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.740 You never acknowledged that public 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.980 has been a private matter to you. 00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:13.220 You've never told anybody about it. 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.440 And Jesus, by his commission 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:16.200 and by his example, 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:17.700 show us that we're to do that 00:36:17.700 --> 00:36:18.360 through baptism. 00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:21.300 God's changed your life. 00:36:21.420 --> 00:36:22.660 You can join this church by baptism 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:24.300 and be a part of it. 00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:25.099 Maybe God's drawing you 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:26.099 to First Baptist Church. 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.599 I know he's working 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:29.240 in some of your lives 00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:29.900 you shared with me. 00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:31.200 So if God's leading you 00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:32.160 to be a part of this church, 00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:32.619 you come. 00:36:36.860 --> 00:36:37.579 Or maybe, 00:36:38.700 --> 00:36:44.579 maybe the Holy Spirit 00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.800 has shown you today 00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:47.780 that your priorities 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:49.440 are not what they need to be. 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:54.280 I want you to understand 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:54.980 something this morning. 00:36:55.080 --> 00:36:56.260 If you're a born-again Christian, 00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:58.680 you have a ministry. 00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:02.900 It may be defunct in your life 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:03.640 and not effective, 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:04.640 but I'm telling you, 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:07.400 God's placed upon you 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.740 the mantle of Christianity 00:37:08.740 --> 00:37:10.280 and Christian ministry 00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:12.100 wherever he'd have you to serve. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.640 And I realize that that's different 00:37:14.640 --> 00:37:17.140 for each and every one of us. 00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:18.800 Customized, individualized, 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:19.280 and personalized 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:21.360 for each one of us. 00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:24.300 It may be that someone's here 00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:24.760 this morning 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:26.100 and you realize 00:37:26.100 --> 00:37:27.019 God's pulling you, 00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.400 calling you to ministry, 00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:31.240 to dedicate yourself 00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:32.200 to full-time ministry. 00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:35.179 It's very possible 00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:37.259 that that would be the case 00:37:37.259 --> 00:37:38.119 and God's drawing you. 00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:39.460 And I'd love to guide you 00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.219 in that process. 00:37:40.319 --> 00:37:40.779 I've been there. 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:43.000 Felt a struggle. 00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:44.819 Understand it. 00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:48.619 Or maybe it's not 00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:50.759 public full-time ministry. 00:37:50.839 --> 00:37:51.719 Maybe it's just your own 00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:52.539 personal ministry, 00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.439 but the problem is 00:37:53.439 --> 00:37:54.919 you've not prioritized 00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:55.899 prayer in your life. 00:37:57.339 --> 00:37:58.659 You've not prioritized 00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.460 sharing the gospel 00:37:59.460 --> 00:38:00.239 in your life. 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:03.279 You've not prioritized 00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:04.459 overcoming the evil, 00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.779 not of the world out there, 00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:07.279 but in your own heart and life. 00:38:09.759 --> 00:38:11.000 You've not thought about 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:12.159 dedicating yourself 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:14.739 to seeing life change happen, 00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:16.319 beginning in you, 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:18.979 and then watching it go 00:38:18.979 --> 00:38:20.959 to others through you. 00:38:22.799 --> 00:38:23.699 I'm just telling you 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:24.500 that's where it's at. 00:38:25.399 --> 00:38:26.899 That was the priorities of Jesus. 00:38:28.779 --> 00:38:30.219 If that's the priorities of Christ, 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:30.559 he says, 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.259 we as Christians 00:38:31.259 --> 00:38:32.399 ought to have the same priorities. 00:38:33.939 --> 00:38:35.099 And so if anything hinders you 00:38:35.099 --> 00:38:36.039 from any of that today, 00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:38.000 make it right. 00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.899 Lord Jesus, I love you. 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:43.559 I thank you, Lord, for your word. 00:38:43.899 --> 00:38:44.439 Thank you, Lord, 00:38:44.479 --> 00:38:45.679 for the encouragement of it. 00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:48.199 I ask God that you'll lead us 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:49.359 to simply be obedient, 00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:51.939 to follow your will and your way 00:38:51.939 --> 00:38:53.879 in whatever you would have us 00:38:53.879 --> 00:38:54.699 to do right now. 00:38:55.379 --> 00:38:56.919 In Jesus' precious name, 00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:57.879 amen.