WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.480 If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to John chapter 1. 00:00:06.640 --> 00:00:08.179 John chapter 1. 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:14.720 God has been nothing but good to us in recent days. 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:17.199 And for that I'm thankful. 00:00:18.400 --> 00:00:19.940 I missed you last week. 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:25.300 I was watching online as long as I could. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:27.600 But I was sick. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:35.780 And so I'm thankful for Jeff faithfully bringing God's word. 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:38.200 I gave him two head of notice, I guess, Thursday. 00:00:38.300 --> 00:00:38.900 I didn't feel good. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:43.740 And I said, man, you need to begin to prepare possibly. 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:45.359 I'm going to try my best. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:53.340 And I figured, you know, if Michael Jordan can win the NBA championship with a flu, 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:55.520 I'd be able to preach 30 minutes, you know. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.200 Unless. 00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:00.140 There was a few unlesses there, and I had one of them. 00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:04.799 So anyway, you can't do it sometimes. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.420 You should have got two of these cards when you came in. 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:12.540 I know everybody thinks I'm crazy, but that's all right. 00:01:12.800 --> 00:01:15.900 I've been thought, people have thought that about me before. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:21.680 One of them is for you to take home with you and become a prayer card for you. 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:32.820 And one of them is to lay before the Lord and ask God to bless your efforts as you pray for those dear folks. 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:35.979 So I just want you to take a card in your hand, if you would. 00:01:39.659 --> 00:01:40.739 And let's pray together. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:51.119 Lord Jesus, you have been mighty good to us. 00:01:54.199 --> 00:02:00.439 And in that, you've stretched us beyond a comfort zone. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:07.319 And let us, dear God, to lead others beyond a comfort zone. 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:16.099 Lord, I'm thankful that as we look toward Easter, that we don't have to be at all concerned about a Lord and Savior 00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:19.780 that wasn't afraid to go out of his comfort zone on our behalf. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.180 So God, I pray that we'll live in response to that. 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:24.700 That we'll follow your lead. 00:02:25.819 --> 00:02:28.120 And that you'll work and you'll move in our midst. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:30.300 In Jesus' precious name. 00:02:31.760 --> 00:02:32.099 Amen. 00:02:33.040 --> 00:02:36.340 I believe we need to honor the Lord with all that we have. 00:02:36.980 --> 00:02:41.760 Especially on what I think is the greatest gospel day of the year. 00:02:42.540 --> 00:02:47.060 If you have other plans for Easter and can change them, change them. 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:47.580 Okay? 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:52.100 If you've not made plans for Easter, don't overbook. 00:02:52.700 --> 00:02:53.000 Okay? 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:58.140 The celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Pickens First. 00:02:59.040 --> 00:03:03.340 The timing of it in the life of this church seems prescribed to me. 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:12.100 And I want to tell you what we're doing and what you, and want you to plan on being a very active part of making Easter 00:03:12.100 --> 00:03:18.500 this year one of the greatest days in your life and one of the greatest days in the life of this church. 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:23.039 Our Easter morning schedule will be as follows. 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:28.639 At 8 o'clock, we'll have outside early worship in Legacy Square. 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:29.659 It's not sunrise. 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:31.159 The sun comes up late around here. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:34.960 It's 8 o'clock, early worship in Legacy Square. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:37.620 That will be an abbreviated time of worship. 00:03:38.820 --> 00:03:44.719 And then we'll leave from there and come to the fellowship hall and have breakfast together at 8.30. 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:47.560 And then Sunday school follows at 9.15. 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:53.879 And then worship, resurrection, celebration services at 10.30. 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:55.939 Now, I want to be clear about something. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:01.359 My request is that you come as early as you possibly can and you stay all morning. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:02.039 Okay? 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:05.219 I know for some of you, you've never seen 8 o'clock a.m. 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:06.939 And so I understand that. 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:15.219 But I encourage you to be here for as much of that as you possibly can be. 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:18.779 I say Sunday school for all ages and for everybody. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:25.259 If you don't have a Sunday school class, you're just sticking your neck in or you don't stick your neck in far enough or whatever. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:30.159 There will be a place for you in the fellowship hall when we clean off the tables. 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:32.300 We're going to make us a spot. 00:04:32.699 --> 00:04:38.500 And we're going to have a special time with those who don't already have a place to go for Sunday school. 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:42.980 And let's just talk about the resurrection of the Lord together for that time. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.000 But we're just going to have a good time together. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:47.939 And I want you to make plans for it. 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:53.160 And I'm hoping that we'll have 300 in Sunday school that morning. 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:58.339 And in between early worship and resurrection celebration, we ought to double that number, quite honestly. 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:01.899 And we'll have a good time together in the Lord. 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:05.879 Either way, it's going to be a great day. 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:15.279 And how great it is when we are determined to do whatever we can to make it as great as possible. 00:05:15.500 --> 00:05:20.079 And so as we approach Easter, I am praying for a great day. 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:23.300 And I want you to commit today to join me in that. 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:27.680 To commit to pray that God would move and work in a mighty way. 00:05:28.139 --> 00:05:30.439 And to commit to do that. 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:34.959 That card that you received is simply a prayer card. 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:38.839 One is for you and one is to turn in. 00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:52.659 My hope, and I feel led to go this way, is to ask you to pray about inviting five people to Easter morning worship. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:54.079 Five people. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:58.019 They can be people from all kinds of different circumstances. 00:05:58.019 --> 00:06:02.279 They can be people that are easy for you to invite. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:05.859 They can be people that are difficult for you to invite. 00:06:06.979 --> 00:06:08.819 I have prayed over this hour. 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:12.359 And I've asked God to lay people upon your heart. 00:06:13.159 --> 00:06:16.439 I'm going to give you permission while I preach to write. 00:06:16.919 --> 00:06:17.919 And not what I'm saying. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:22.299 But to write names as God gives you those names. 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:24.120 I've asked that he do that. 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:26.759 That he makes it clear for us. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:28.659 And some of them you don't want to talk to. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:29.699 Okay? 00:06:30.039 --> 00:06:31.240 I'll just tell you how God works. 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:34.560 God puts people in your mind and you think, uh-uh. 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:36.719 Somebody else, Lord. 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:37.379 Okay? 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:39.800 Well, he put that in your mind for a reason. 00:06:40.180 --> 00:06:41.279 So you write that name down. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:41.579 Okay? 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:46.599 What you're writing down is simply a prayer request at this point. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:47.079 Okay? 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:48.500 Just a prayer request. 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:49.959 You write that down. 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:57.459 Now, to be honest with you, at the close of this service, I'm going to ask you, just duplicate everything you're doing. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:04.019 And one of those cards I'm going to ask you to bring in place at this altar and lay it before the Lord. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:04.740 Face down. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:06.979 We're not going to go through those cards. 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:08.679 We're not going to check those names. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.979 I'm not even going to call them people and ask them if you actually invited them. 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:14.179 I'm not going to do that at all. 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:25.040 It's just an opportunity for us to publicly say we're serious about God, wanting God to do powerful things in people's lives. 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:32.319 And we just lay this before you, Lord, this morning and ask you to work and move in us. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:34.620 God's been wonderful to us. 00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:39.319 And I don't know of a better time to celebrate that than at Easter Sunday. 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:50.579 And I will tell you that it is the easiest time that you have to invite somebody to something because sometimes they won't come to regular events, but they instead will come to special events. 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:54.060 And we see people at Easter time that we'll never see again. 00:07:54.339 --> 00:07:54.620 Okay? 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:58.819 And so why not give them that opportunity to be a part of that? 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:06.759 This year, the theme beginning this week and throughout this Easter season is come and see. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:08.199 And I'll tell you where that comes from. 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:10.139 It comes from the Gospel of John. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:18.899 John always wrote about the impact that Christ has on people's lives. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:26.959 And he writes out of the desire that he has for Christ to impact other people's lives. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:35.139 He states the purpose of writing the Gospel of John in John chapter 20, verse 30 through 31. 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:42.819 He closes out this book basically by saying, now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:50.860 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:52.679 That's his purpose for writing. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:57.080 And he makes it clear from the very start when he writes. 00:08:57.539 --> 00:09:00.259 Now, I want to be clear about something because sometimes people get confused. 00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:03.840 John the Baptist did not write the Gospel of John. 00:09:04.319 --> 00:09:06.899 John the Apostle wrote the Gospel. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:13.720 But John the Baptist is featured a lot, especially in the early pages of this Gospel. 00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:19.740 John the Baptist was set aside by God before he was born to prepare the way of the Lord. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:26.500 And God was to use John to stoke the hearts of others to be ready when Christ came. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:35.240 And John the Baptist was so excited about Christ that even when he was in his own mother's womb and Christ was in the womb of Mary, 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:39.460 John jumped for joy as Christ came into the room. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.419 And he didn't slow down when he was born either, my friend. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:47.539 When he left the womb, John knew that his job in life was to prepare the way of the Lord. 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:49.539 And he spent his life doing that. 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:52.279 When Christ came out of the desert, he came to John. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:56.460 And John proclaimed, behold, the Lamb of God. 00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:59.340 In other words, what John was saying was, wake up, folks. 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:08.240 Look, Christ, the one who will be God's once and for all sacrifice for our sins, has come. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.159 Don't you dare miss it. 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:15.200 And I must tell you that I am with both Johns this morning on their message. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:19.519 With John the Baptist, I say, Jesus is here, thank God. 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:20.960 Don't you dare miss him. 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:29.200 And with the writer, I say, I do what I do so that you can believe in him and that you can have life in Christ's name. 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:34.180 How do you respond when Christ moves? 00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:37.919 When Christ comes by, I want you to notice this, folks. 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:42.219 I want you to see how you respond when Christ walks by. 00:10:42.359 --> 00:10:46.059 It's found in John chapter 1, beginning in verse 35, and it says this. 00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:50.639 The next day, again, John was standing with two of his disciples. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:56.620 And he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, behold, the Lamb of God. 00:10:57.399 --> 00:11:00.340 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:06.080 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, what are you seeking? 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:11.340 And they said to him, Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:16.280 And he said to them, come and you will see. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:20.340 So they came and saw where he was staying. 00:11:20.420 --> 00:11:23.060 And they stayed with him that day for it was about the 10th hour. 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:28.180 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon, Peter's brother. 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:34.339 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, we have found the Messiah, which means Christ. 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.459 He brought him to Jesus. 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:39.339 Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon, the son of John. 00:11:39.579 --> 00:11:41.859 You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter. 00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:45.339 The next day, Jesus decided to go to the Allelie. 00:11:45.859 --> 00:11:48.099 He found Philip and said to him, follow me. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:53.899 Now, Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 00:11:53.899 --> 00:12:05.539 And Philip found Nathanael and said to him, we found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:12.059 Nathanael said to him, can anything good come out of Nazareth? 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:15.840 Philip said to him, come and see. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:24.560 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, behold, an Israelite indeed in whom there is no deceit. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.360 Nathanael said to him, how do you know me? 00:12:27.040 --> 00:12:31.560 Jesus answered him, before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.899 Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the son of God. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:36.000 You are the king of Israel. 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:40.320 And Jesus answered him, because you have said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.180 You'll see greater things than these. 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:49.539 And he said to him, truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man. 00:12:49.719 --> 00:12:50.759 That's a lot to read. 00:12:50.839 --> 00:12:55.079 But I want you to notice what happens when people come in contact with Jesus. 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:58.539 John pointed people to Jesus. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:01.359 And Jesus said, come and see. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:08.500 When Andrew saw what Christ was, he went and told and brought Peter, his brother, to Jesus. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:13.679 And then Philip meets Jesus and tells Nathanael. 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:18.000 Now listen, Nathanael is a naysayer. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:26.600 If you're praying about who God would have you to write down on that card, God's going to possibly give you a naysayer. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:31.500 Somebody that don't want to have that conversation with you. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:36.159 And therefore, you don't really want to have a conversation with them about that. 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:40.719 Nathanael was one of those. 00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:45.779 But Philip just said, come and see. 00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:54.259 And because he came, Nathanael was changed because of what Jesus knew about him. 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:57.679 Now, I don't know what happened under that tree. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:02.899 And I don't know what Nathanael was dealing with at the time. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.739 But Nathanael knew. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.159 And Jesus knows. 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:12.879 And Jesus met him where he was. 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:15.379 Saw him for who he was. 00:14:16.239 --> 00:14:17.959 And made a life change in his heart. 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.279 Listen. 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:18.360 Listen. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.019 You don't know where people sit. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:24.059 You don't know what their circumstances are. 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:28.179 You don't know what matters are weighing upon their life. 00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:30.620 And you don't know what God's doing in their life. 00:14:31.839 --> 00:14:33.220 You just bring them to Jesus. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.779 He'll take care of all those things. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.919 You just tell them to come and see. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:42.500 And watch them be changed because of the difference. 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:46.379 It's as simple as come and see. 00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:48.279 That's all you have to say. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:53.559 We tend to talk about things that are most important to us. 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.279 We talk about newborns. 00:14:57.460 --> 00:15:01.980 Just last week, Bob and Taylor Hendricks were just blessed with a beautiful baby boy. 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:03.580 A little over a week ago. 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:06.159 And they shot out a picture of Garrett just as soon as they could. 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:08.519 They were proud and should be. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:17.100 And if like most, that sweet young'un is going to grow up and go to middle school and in a few years become a knucklehead. 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.879 Because I think we all are in middle school. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:25.399 Every time I see a middle school teacher, I say, bless you. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.939 You teach a school of terrorists. 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:31.819 Notice parents don't say a whole lot during those years. 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.199 They just got to kind of grow quiet. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.279 And then a little bit of a daze. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:40.740 Then they find out that the church is having an event for their youth to be gone for a few days. 00:15:40.839 --> 00:15:45.860 They'll pay whatever ransom they have to pay to send that kid up the mountain with a pastor. 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.159 And hope he don't get a night's rest. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.579 But man, when them babies are new, you just want folks to know. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.639 How about new cars? 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:03.120 When you get a new car, I love what Lou Holtz says. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:06.919 He says, if you want to be happy for an hour, eat a steak. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:11.159 If you want to be happy for a day, play golf. 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:15.799 If you want to be happy for a week, go on a cruise. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:20.679 Because going on a cruise is kind of like going to jail, but you have the opportunity to drown. 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:21.340 You know? 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:25.080 You want to be happy for a month? 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:27.080 Buy a car. 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:30.020 You want to be happy for a year? 00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.860 Win the lottery. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:37.800 If you want to be happy for a lifetime, put your faith in Jesus Christ. 00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:42.280 But I'm telling you, a man with a new car, that old boy is beaming. 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:43.900 I mean, he's beaming. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:47.500 He acts like he made it himself, you know. 00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:49.000 He's riding around. 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.300 Then it gets a dent in it. 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:53.160 Our Kool-Aid gets spilled on the back seat. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.620 And they're going with that. 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.679 But the payments just keep coming. 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.639 They just keep coming. 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.460 New cars. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.580 How about new championships? 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:07.859 Man, I'm telling you, nothing better than when your college team wins it all. 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:13.339 Men out of shape, as bad as me, will say, we did this and we did that. 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:16.220 And we ain't even got up out of the recliner, you know. 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.660 Some of them can't even spell championship. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.980 But they can buy a T-shirt. 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.339 Proud of it. 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:27.019 And then new relationships. 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.239 Man, we're proud of them. 00:17:28.979 --> 00:17:33.219 Some of the boys gets a good-looking girl on his arm and it's like his worth has come up. 00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:37.799 He wears it proud. 00:17:37.959 --> 00:17:39.000 And then it wears off. 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.579 And it shouldn't. 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:42.979 And we must work to strengthen those relationships. 00:17:43.239 --> 00:17:44.399 And that's a sermon for another day. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:50.360 But, you know, our relationship with the Lord can get like that if we're not careful. 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:56.360 Somebody gets saved and gets changed, they want other people to know about it. 00:17:56.359 --> 00:18:03.439 But nobody more proud than a new baptized Christian. 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.819 But before long, it may get old. 00:18:06.719 --> 00:18:09.659 We don't work out our salvation, as Scripture tells us. 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.480 And we don't talk about it. 00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:12.940 And we don't share it with others. 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:17.180 So I'm asking you, who do you need to share it with? 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:24.519 Who needs an invite to be a part of a celebration of the resurrection of the Lord? 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:26.879 Just an invite. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.139 Write that name down. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.799 It's just between you and God. 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.879 Abbreviate as you need to. 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:41.119 Just so you can recognize it. 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:48.660 But let's don't miss the opportunity to tell someone, 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.980 just come and see. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:55.599 Just come and see. 00:18:56.759 --> 00:19:01.059 I mean, you know, you never really know the difference that you can make. 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.860 I thank God that somebody, 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:06.819 I thank God that Andrew bothered to tell Peter. 00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:10.839 Folks, that's pretty significant for us. 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:11.460 Okay? 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:14.779 Because Andrew told Peter, the gospel spread, 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:19.079 and the Spirit moved when Peter preached in the book of Acts. 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:22.079 You never know the impact. 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:25.019 Psalm 34, verse 8 says, 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:27.159 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:30.720 Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:34.460 Oh, but now some will doubt along the way. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:40.000 The resurrected Lord told them when they doubted. 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:43.680 He said in Luke chapter 24, 38 and 39, 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:47.500 Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your heart? 00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:50.640 See my hands and my feet, 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.539 that it is myself. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.480 Touch me and see. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:58.400 And I'm telling you, 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:01.200 just trust God with it. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.140 Trust him. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.680 Tell others to just come and see. 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.480 Work at it. 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.519 Talk about it. 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.640 Share it with others. 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.740 Go to others and say, 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.400 come and see. 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:20.240 But in the meantime, 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:23.480 just think about it. 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.680 Write it down. 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.880 All I'm asking today 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:35.519 is for you to commit to pray 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:38.040 for five people. 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.820 Just pray for five people. 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:49.460 And don't wait to do it. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.099 Melvin Carter 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:56.379 was one that came after Christ 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:58.139 and saw the difference that he made in his life 00:20:58.139 --> 00:21:00.419 and God gave him a burden to tell others about him. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.839 And there was one particular boy 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:04.779 that worked at a shoe store in Boston 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.879 that he really had a burden for. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.619 And the young fella 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:10.460 worked in a shoe store 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:12.379 and Melvin went to share Christ with him 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.620 and when he got to the shoe store, 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.680 Melvin got nervous 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:17.540 and he started pacing back and forth 00:21:17.540 --> 00:21:18.400 in front of that store 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:21.140 and finally he got the wherewithal to walk in 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:22.080 and when he walked in, 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.700 he asked for the man he was looking for 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.480 and he said, 00:21:24.540 --> 00:21:25.400 he's in the back. 00:21:26.760 --> 00:21:28.320 And he walked in the back 00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:29.820 and standing up on that ladder 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:31.980 was an 18-year-old young man 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:35.640 sorting shoes at the shoe store. 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:39.960 Melvin stood at the bottom of that ladder 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.880 and told him, 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:46.160 he had come to share Christ with him 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:49.900 and that young man came down those steps 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:51.040 and Melvin told him 00:21:51.040 --> 00:21:53.160 how he had been praying for him 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:55.740 and he had been hoping 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:57.660 and then invited him to come to Christ. 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.760 And that day, 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:01.120 that young man came to Christ 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:03.460 and right there in the stack room 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.540 of the shoe store, 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:10.039 Dwight L. Moody gave his life to the Lord. 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.920 Not only was his life changed that day, 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.000 but many others were changed 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.659 because his life was changed. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.519 If you go to Boston 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.839 in the Scully Square, 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.039 in Boston, 00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:23.159 there's a plaque there 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.759 and it says, 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.640 D.L. Moody, 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.019 Christian evangelist, 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.100 friend of man, 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:31.779 founder of the Newfield Schools, 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.759 was converted to God 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.279 in a shoe store on this site 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.940 on April 21st, 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.920 1855. 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:42.220 D.L. Moody went on 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.500 and started Sunday school classes 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.940 to teach children about Christ. 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:47.240 He held noon prayer meetings 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.360 at the YMCA 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.660 to lead folks to Christ. 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.920 He became a traveling evangelist 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.160 that traveled the world preaching. 00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.820 He preached to more than 00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:56.259 100 million people, 00:22:56.779 --> 00:23:00.080 over 130,000 he preached to on one day 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:02.180 and he preached six sermons 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:03.200 in one day, 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:05.200 only a month before he died. 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.860 D.L. Moody preached 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:10.480 and personally counseled a man 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:14.220 named J. Wilbur Chapman. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.500 That got saved 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.320 and became a preacher 00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:18.039 of the gospel. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.759 Under Chapman 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.720 came another preacher. 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.519 Worked under him 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.920 a man named Billy Sunday. 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.559 Billy Sunday went on 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.340 to become a very powerful evangelist 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.820 winning thousands to the Lord 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:33.720 in the 1920s, 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.120 in the 1930s 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:36.360 in grassroots revivals 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.480 that God was blessing 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.000 in New England 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.799 like nobody's business. 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.940 He also led 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.120 businessmen's lunches 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.700 in Charlotte 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.740 that was instrumental. 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.820 to inviting Mordecai Ham 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.640 to Charlotte 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:48.600 to preach 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:50.920 and when Ham 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:52.000 preached in Charlotte 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.700 that year, 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.440 a young man 00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.340 walked down the aisle 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:56.120 and gave his life 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.799 to Christ 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:59.400 and that young man's name 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.140 was Billy Graham. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.360 You never know 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:07.700 the difference 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:10.400 that God can make 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:14.400 through you just inviting somebody 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:18.900 to attend an Easter resurrection 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:21.200 celebration. 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.319 Whether it's an 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.819 out-of-church member 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:26.120 of a long time 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:29.420 or someone who just needs 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.240 to be encouraged 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.059 along the way 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:33.580 or somebody 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.580 for some reason 00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.559 that God has laid 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.500 upon your heart 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:39.339 or somebody 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.319 with hang-ups 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:43.019 or somebody 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.579 that looks like 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.740 she's got it all together, 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:47.879 I'm asking you, 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.200 will you just commit 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.879 to pray 00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:52.179 for five folks 00:24:52.179 --> 00:24:54.039 for Easter? 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.619 Lord, 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.399 who would you have me 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:00.480 just to pray 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:03.200 about inviting? 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.740 I want you to take 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.600 that card in your hand 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:13.040 and as we pray, 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.420 I want you to write 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.080 those names 00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:17.019 that God has laid 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.800 upon your heart. 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.660 Make yourself a copy 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:23.540 so that you know 00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.259 who they are. 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:36.079 nobody's going to check 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.720 your answers, 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.799 nobody's going to count 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.299 your names. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:39.799 I cheated, 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.940 I got seven on mine. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:58.420 dear Lord, 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.100 I ask 00:25:59.100 --> 00:25:59.860 today 00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:03.980 that you'll help us 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.200 to just be obedient, 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:09.140 to follow your will 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.580 and away 00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:13.580 to lift up names 00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.280 before you, 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:14.920 dear God, 00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:16.820 by first just 00:26:16.820 --> 00:26:17.820 writing them down 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:20.180 and then after 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.120 writing them down 00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:23.200 asking you 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.720 to go ahead 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.880 and prepare their heart 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:27.040 for the opportunity 00:26:27.040 --> 00:26:28.820 to invite. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:30.920 God, 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.960 I pray right now 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:34.280 that you'll help us 00:26:34.280 --> 00:26:35.280 to turn matters 00:26:35.280 --> 00:26:36.080 over to you 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.900 that sometimes 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.980 we may not feel 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.640 too good about 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.099 ourselves, 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.680 dear God. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.620 Burdens that you 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.500 lay upon us 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.279 that we're not sure 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.980 how to handle. 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.539 God, 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.259 I pray that you'll 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:50.299 give us a Holy Spirit 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.940 confidence, 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.420 oh God, 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:51.900 to just 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.920 write them down, 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.740 give them to you 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:58.779 and entrust them 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.079 to you, 00:26:59.140 --> 00:26:59.559 oh God. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.000 Lord, 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.660 we're going to ask 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.380 you to use us 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:04.220 in coming days 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.940 but right now, 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.220 Father, 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.259 we just ask 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:08.559 that you'll just 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.380 lay hearts 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.220 on our hearts 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:12.180 and that we'll 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.779 just lay them 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.319 before you, 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:13.839 dear Father. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.799 Lord, 00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.319 I pray 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:19.640 that you'll have 00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.039 your will 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.680 in your way 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.680 right now 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.220 in our midst, 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.660 dear God, 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:25.299 that you'll do 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:25.720 in us 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.779 what only you can do, 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.180 oh Father, 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.720 I pray 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.880 in Jesus' 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:30.779 precious name. 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.600 Amen. 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:34.480 I want to ask 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:34.919 you to stand 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:35.359 where you are. 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.539 Amen. 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:35.959 Amen. 00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.459 Amen. 00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:36.539 Amen. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.039 Amen. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.119 Amen. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.179 Amen.