WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:03.000 What a joy it is to be with you today. 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:09.800 A lot of faces I don't recognize because we come to the 8 o'clock service every week, 00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:13.160 but it is good to see you and good to be with you. 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:17.260 I want to begin by revisiting last week. 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:19.400 You know, Fred started the message. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:25.000 He said, what do unbelievers think about those of us in the church? 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.560 And their attitude often is that we're negative. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:31.039 We're mad at everybody. 00:00:31.699 --> 00:00:35.379 We're against everything. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.679 And he went ahead and preached a sermon, a good sermon. 00:00:39.579 --> 00:00:43.179 And he said, in our Christian life, in our living out the gospel, 00:00:43.579 --> 00:00:47.780 we need to balance the truth without ever compromising it. 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:53.019 But we need to balance it with grace and mercy and compassion 00:00:53.019 --> 00:00:55.980 without compromising those 00:00:55.979 --> 00:00:59.599 so that the gospel can be lived through us. 00:00:59.599 --> 00:01:02.619 And we need to do it with a positive attitude. 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:09.140 And as I said in the pew, I could not help but remember the story of a woman. 00:01:10.739 --> 00:01:12.859 It was, she lived alone and she was older. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:16.000 And it was early evening and she got a call from her daughter. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.200 And the daughter said, Mama, Emily's sick. 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:23.640 And she's not doing it all well. 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:25.140 I just called the doctor. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:26.500 Something is going around. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:28.560 He cannot see her this evening. 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:31.500 But he says he's pretty sure he knows what it is. 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:32.900 And he's called in a prescription. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.780 And he says if the medicine, she starts it tonight. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:38.480 If it doesn't work, to bring her in tomorrow afternoon. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:40.600 But Mama, I don't want to leave her. 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:44.939 Can you go to the drugstore and pick up the medicine? 00:01:46.320 --> 00:01:47.780 Now you know what Grandma said. 00:01:47.939 --> 00:01:49.260 Yes, I'll do that. 00:01:50.340 --> 00:01:55.180 And so she rushes down to the pharmacy and she goes in and goes to the counter 00:01:55.180 --> 00:01:57.719 and she gets the medication, goes back to her car 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:03.680 and suddenly realizes what she's done in her excitement and her anxiety and her nervousness. 00:02:04.300 --> 00:02:06.960 She had locked her keys out of her car. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:09.379 She has the medicine. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.060 But she can't get to her grandbaby. 00:02:13.180 --> 00:02:14.639 And she doesn't know what to do. 00:02:15.019 --> 00:02:17.400 And so she remembers something she's seen on TV. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.280 So she went to a dumpster over there on the side of the parking lot 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:23.659 and she found an old rusty coat hanger. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:27.919 And she knew she had seen something about how they used a coat hanger to open the door. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.959 And she went over there and she had no idea how to do it. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:34.699 And so she just stopped. 00:02:34.699 --> 00:02:37.899 And she did what came naturally. 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:39.299 She prayed. 00:02:40.459 --> 00:02:44.379 She said, Lord, you know this grandbaby needs the medicine. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:46.159 I've been foolish. 00:02:46.379 --> 00:02:47.639 I've locked myself out. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:50.119 Please send somebody to help. 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:50.699 Please. 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:55.599 And the words were almost not out of her mouth before she heard this rumble. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:58.799 And up rolled this guy on a motorcycle. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:03.259 Now, it was our Harley Davidson chopper. 00:03:03.359 --> 00:03:07.019 It had those eight bars where you ride around with your hands like this. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.680 He had a leather vest on with Hell's Angels on the back. 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:14.259 And he had this new rag with skull and crossbones and everything. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:17.479 And he says, something wrong, lady? 00:03:18.679 --> 00:03:21.419 She said, I've got this medicine for my grandbaby. 00:03:21.579 --> 00:03:24.079 And the baby needs the medicine. 00:03:24.620 --> 00:03:27.579 And I've locked myself out of the car and I can't get in. 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:30.399 No problem. 00:03:31.019 --> 00:03:32.879 He steps off his bike, walks over there. 00:03:33.519 --> 00:03:36.379 Ten seconds later, the door's open. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:38.780 She's amazed. 00:03:40.659 --> 00:03:45.859 She stops and does what came natural to her. 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:52.359 She put her hand on his arm and said, Lord, I ask you to send somebody to help. 00:03:53.519 --> 00:03:56.159 I want to thank you for sending this nice young man. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.300 He's a good man. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:03:59.659 Thank you for what you've done. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.199 And as soon as she said it, the guy said, hold it, lady. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.219 I'm not a good person. 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:08.879 I got out of prison yesterday. 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:12.180 What were you in prison for? 00:04:12.859 --> 00:04:15.199 I served eight years for jacking cars. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:19.319 But she stopped. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:22.259 And she did what came natural. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:28.819 She put her hand on his arm and said, Lord, thank you for sending this nice young man. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:29.839 He's a good man. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:34.600 But Lord, thank you for being so kind as to send a professional. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:41.379 You know, that's the type of person I'd like to spend time with. 00:04:41.420 --> 00:04:42.100 What about you? 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:45.459 You know, that's the type of person that does your heart good. 00:04:45.819 --> 00:04:51.759 Well, I want us to look this morning at a biblical character that has that type of personality, 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:54.120 that has that type of spirit. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:05:01.740 And we're going to begin by going to John chapter 1, begin with verse 35. 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:05.079 John chapter 1, begin with verse 35. 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:12.139 The next day, John, that's John the Baptist, was there again with two of his disciples. 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:18.379 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, look, the Lamb of God. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:22.639 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:28.000 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, what do you want? 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:33.040 They said, Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:37.680 Come, he replied, and you will see. 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.000 So they went and saw where he was staying and spent that day with him. 00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:43.839 It was about the 10th hour. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:51.659 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 00:05:52.599 --> 00:05:56.919 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 00:05:57.620 --> 00:05:59.839 we have found the Messiah, that is the Christ. 00:06:00.799 --> 00:06:02.620 And he brought him to Jesus. 00:06:04.299 --> 00:06:09.679 Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon, son of John. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:16.079 You will be called Cephas, which when translated is Peter. 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:26.460 As Jesus dealt with people, he always went to the deepest level of their lives and dealt with the spiritual issues. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:31.579 We sometimes forget that first and foremost, we're spiritual beings. 00:06:32.280 --> 00:06:36.600 We focus on the physical body, the mind, the emotions. 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.400 But before that, we are spiritual beings. 00:06:39.640 --> 00:06:41.160 That's what's going to be in eternity. 00:06:42.520 --> 00:06:48.180 The average university today, you have a stadium that will seat, say, 50,000 people. 00:06:49.080 --> 00:06:52.760 You have classrooms that will accommodate 15,000 students. 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:58.080 And they'll build a chapel that will seat 500 to 1,000. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:03.879 We have forgotten that we're spiritual beings. 00:07:05.080 --> 00:07:05.960 Jesus didn't. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:10.219 He could look into the heart of an individual and know what was there. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:15.120 And he knew there was two things that was true about every man, woman, and child. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.299 Every one of us is a sinner. 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:23.439 And every one of us is savable. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:30.939 That is illustrated so well by the man we're going to look at this morning, the man named Andrew. 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:31.939 Andrew. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:34.079 The name Andrew means manly. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:36.319 And I believe Andrew was a manly man. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:42.899 But Andrew was also an average man, an ordinary kind of a person. 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:47.480 There are some biblical characters I could never be. 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:53.060 I could never preach a Pentecostal sermon like Simon Peter. 00:07:53.520 --> 00:07:53.840 Never. 00:07:53.840 --> 00:07:59.400 I could not write a book of the Bible like the Apostle Paul. 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:04.899 I can't even write one Psalm like the King David. 00:08:05.859 --> 00:08:07.479 I couldn't be one of those characters. 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:16.600 But when I read the story of Andrew, an ordinary man, I begin to have reason for hope. 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:24.180 You see, we have an idea today that in order to truly be used by God, you have to be spectacular or sensational. 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:28.040 Andrew destroys that myth altogether. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:33.100 As far as we know, Andrew never preached a sermon. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.019 Never wrote a book. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:42.299 Andrew never influenced the masses. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:49.180 Yet the Lord found something in this man, Andrew, that caused Jesus to want to spend time with him. 00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:53.659 And so this morning, there are three things I want us to know about Andrew. 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:56.039 The first is his possessions. 00:08:56.959 --> 00:08:58.839 We find it in John 1.41. 00:08:58.959 --> 00:08:59.959 We read it a moment ago. 00:09:00.979 --> 00:09:02.699 Andrew told his brother Simon Peter, 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:04.799 We have found the Messiah. 00:09:05.339 --> 00:09:07.259 That works closely akin to Eureka. 00:09:07.719 --> 00:09:09.059 Andrew was really saying, 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:15.159 I've made it the greatest discovery in life that I've ever made. 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:19.719 I have found what I've always been looking for. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:25.399 I have found the one that can change my eternity. 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:30.459 And as we look at that discovery, that revelation to Andrew, 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:33.259 we realize it came because he was on a search. 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:34.899 We read that a moment ago. 00:09:35.719 --> 00:09:37.219 Verses 37 and 38. 00:09:37.319 --> 00:09:40.299 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:44.259 Turn around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:45.919 What do you want? 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:50.740 Andrew had left his fishing nets. 00:09:51.359 --> 00:09:55.659 In that day, fishing was a very lucrative occupation. 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:58.139 It was one of the better paying jobs. 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:04.799 Jesus was noting that Andrew had left a very well paying job to be there. 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:07.599 Andrew, what are you looking for? 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:16.019 And psychiatrists tell us that we're all looking for something. 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:18.340 And they name four things. 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:23.820 First thing everybody's looking for. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:26.159 How to be useful. 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:29.000 Now we know that's true. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.800 You take an older person living alone, 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:35.740 put a dog or a cat in that house, 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:37.440 what will happen? 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.519 They will live longer. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:44.220 That has been proven time and time again. 00:10:44.540 --> 00:10:46.379 You say, well, the companionship and so forth. 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:47.440 Yes, that's part of it. 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:51.040 But they're needed by that dog and cat. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:52.540 They need to take care of that animal. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.639 They feel useful. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:56.500 That's number one. 00:10:56.920 --> 00:11:00.820 The second one is one we don't like to talk about or even think about. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:03.399 We try to sweep it under the rug, suppress it. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:09.919 But psychiatrists tell us that the greatest thing that we're looking for is how to get rid of guilt. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:17.299 You know, this world does not offer even one solution to guilt. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:19.219 Not one. 00:11:19.219 --> 00:11:25.819 And people are carrying huge amounts of guilt and don't know how to deal with it. 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:29.779 The third one is how to love. 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:34.500 And the fourth one is how to have security. 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:37.259 What are you searching for? 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:41.879 Everybody, every one of us is searching for something. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.299 What is it you're looking for? 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:46.859 Jesus asked, what do you want? 00:11:47.859 --> 00:11:53.120 And Andrew and his friend answered that question in a very peculiar way. 00:11:54.479 --> 00:11:59.259 They said, teacher, rabbi, where are you staying? 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:06.079 Now, I don't believe for one minute that Andrew was saying, are you staying on this block or that block or the next block? 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:10.000 I think Andrew was saying this. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.139 Where are you going? 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:14.719 Because I want to go with you. 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:17.179 You've looked into me. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.179 You've seen something. 00:12:18.319 --> 00:12:19.500 You know I want something. 00:12:19.859 --> 00:12:22.259 I need time to talk to you about that. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:26.799 Where can we go and sit down and talk for a while? 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:31.839 And then Jesus made a remarkable claim. 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:34.279 He said, come and you will see. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.079 Come and you will see. 00:12:36.079 --> 00:12:40.819 Now, I don't think Jesus was saying, I'm staying at 103 South Elm Street. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.659 I don't think that at all. 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:44.799 I think Jesus was saying, Andrew, you're looking for something. 00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:50.579 If you come and spend time with me today, you're going to find what you're looking for. 00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:54.159 You're going to see what it is you need. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:58.799 I don't know what you need. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.799 I don't know what your needs are. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:07.179 But I do know that on that day, Jesus said to Andrew, come and you will see. 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:13.579 Now, I do know on a day long ago, Jesus said to me, Paul, come and you will see. 00:13:13.819 --> 00:13:18.159 And I know he's willing to say to anybody here today, come and you will see. 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:21.500 That what you're looking for, that what you're seeking, that's what you're needing. 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:26.259 You come and spend time with me and you'll find what you're looking for. 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:30.759 Secondly, I want us to notice Andrew's position. 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:33.039 John 1.40. 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:39.559 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.960 Now, did you notice how I read that? 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:47.440 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:54.160 You know, almost every single time that Andrew is mentioned in the New Testament, that's how he's referred to. 00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:57.400 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 00:13:58.300 --> 00:14:04.920 He lived in sort of a secondary position in life in the shadow of his more famous brother. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:10.360 You know, of all the times the disciples are listed, he's never listed higher than fourth. 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.440 He was not part of the inner circle. 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:14.920 He was not there at the transfiguration. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.200 He was just one of the other guys. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.500 A rather ordinary, mundane position in life. 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:25.820 And I can identify that and I suspect some of you can identify with that. 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:35.360 And when I studied the life of this ordinary man, I get the idea that Andrew had learned some things about his position in life. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:39.500 He had learned the secret of capacity. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:42.060 The secret of capacity. 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.760 He had learned what his abilities were. 00:14:45.760 --> 00:14:47.640 And he was satisfied with that. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.600 You know, the Bible says in Romans 12, 3, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:59.640 but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:04.120 So many people go through life wanting more ability. 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:07.559 Wanting to be used in a greater way by God. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:12.799 Andrew, I don't think went through life wanting more ability. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:21.159 I think he wanted just to use the ability he had more effectively at all times. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:25.579 He was content already with what God had given him. 00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:28.019 And he just wanted to use it for him. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.319 You see, Andrew had that gift of contentment. 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.799 Are you content? 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:34.959 Are you content? 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:39.780 Are you content with the way your face looks? 00:15:39.780 --> 00:15:44.240 Are you content with the shape of your body? 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:50.500 If you were to ask me that question, I would tell you no. 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.240 Absolutely not. 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:55.200 I don't know why. 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.639 I think it's common. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:03.019 But when I was growing up, I always thought I would age more gracefully than I have. 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.379 You know? 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.879 Now, I'm not kidding. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.720 I've settled for what I am. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.960 Yeah, I've done that all right. 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:12.300 But I wouldn't say I'm content with it. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.320 I wish it were different. 00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:15.519 I've settled for what I am. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:32.019 You know, there's not one iota of evidence that Andrew was ever discontented with his secondary position in life or with his gifts and talents. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:37.920 He just wanted to be used by God at every opportunity. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:43.419 And that brings us to the third thing about Andrew, his passion in life. 00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.639 But let me set this up. 00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:46.939 I want to do a couple of things. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:54.120 Remember, years ago in Sunday school, you had those envelopes with the little blocks. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.120 Did you read your Bible every day? 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.439 Did you pray every day? 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.159 Did you attend worship? 00:17:01.339 --> 00:17:02.279 Did you tithe? 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:06.240 And then way back then, it was, did you witness? 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.240 And then they watered that down. 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.899 Did you make a contact, you know? 00:17:11.899 --> 00:17:13.119 You know where that began? 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.440 Again, years ago with John Wesley. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:22.099 John Wesley believed that you could measure spiritual growth. 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.799 And I do too. 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:23.759 I agree with him there. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:29.940 And those blocks represented stages of spiritual growth. 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:36.480 Now, all of them are important, but two of them are very important. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:45.619 Because those two blocks represent the spiritual ceilings that we face when we grow spiritually. 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:53.279 That is, until those two blocks are checked, we can grow this far, but we're not going to go any further until that block is checked. 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:57.679 Now, the first one is tithing. 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.119 It's tithing. 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:04.359 Now, why is that so important? 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:09.500 Well, we all know that some people it's hard to tithe. 00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:13.979 Because what happens if something happens in a rainy day? 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:16.079 What happens if the wrong person is elected? 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:18.720 What happens if the economy goes south? 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.680 I need to make sure that I'm taken care of. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.940 I'm taken care of my family. 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:29.299 And so, we hedge our bets rather than trusting God for tomorrow. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.440 And here's the secret of tithing. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:34.259 Tithing is only about 5% money. 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:42.599 The rest of it, 95%, is about trusting God for tomorrow. 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:47.000 Now, let me illustrate that if I could. 00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:48.880 I want to give you three numbers. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:53.880 And I'd like for you to plant these numbers in your mind if you would. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:59.400 The first number, $871,320. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.799 $871,320. 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:09.079 The second number, $93,170. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.980 $93,170. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:19.000 And the third number is $4,210. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:22.099 $4,210. 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.799 You know what those numbers represent? 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:29.259 Let me ask you to do something before I tell you. 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.680 I want you to figure out your net worth. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:35.380 You own a house? 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:40.039 How much equity do you have in that house? 00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:42.600 If you own it outright, it's all equity. 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:56.120 You own cars, jewelry, bank account, savings, stocks and bond, motorcycle, a boat, lawnmower, whatever you got. 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.100 Clothes, everything. 00:19:58.100 --> 00:20:00.500 Extra land, rental property, whatever you got. 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:02.980 What is your net worth? 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.759 Take it for a moment and figure it out. 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:14.619 Now, if your net worth equals $871,320, 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:18.519 everything you have, 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.000 if it would be worth that much, 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:30.079 did you know that you are among the world's 1% of wealthiest people? 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.160 1%. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:40.200 And there are a number of people here this morning who are worth that or more. 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:44.940 You're in the top 1% of wealthy people in the world. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:49.820 If it comes to $93,170, 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:56.000 you're still in the top 10% of the wealthiest people in the world. 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:59.360 And if it's $4,210, 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:02.860 you're still in the top 50%. 00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:09.319 That comes from the 2018 Global Wealth Report 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:12.659 by the Credit Suisse Research Institute. 00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:20.199 If I'm in that top 10%, and we all are, 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:23.519 don't tell me that you're in that $4,000, 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.599 because if you are, 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.500 I'll tell you what, 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:29.660 I'll give you $4,210 for the car you drove here this morning. 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.160 All right. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.940 I don't think I'm going to have many offers. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.059 But we're all in that top 10%. 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:40.660 God has blessed us. 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:44.339 We're in the top 10% of the wealthiest people in the world. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:48.579 And we don't feel like we can trust Him for tomorrow. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.079 What does that say? 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:56.359 If a person doesn't trust his wife 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:59.599 or his wife doesn't trust him to be faithful, 00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:03.559 they're not going to put down many roots 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.720 for a permanent marriage. 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.579 If you have a friend, 00:22:07.699 --> 00:22:09.919 but you can't trust that person enough 00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:11.899 to tell them something that's going on in your heart 00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:14.699 without them going out and blabbing it all over the place, 00:22:14.939 --> 00:22:17.319 you're not going to put down roots in that friendship. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:23.500 And if we can't trust God for tomorrow, 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.679 do you understand that? 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:30.240 Why that puts a spiritual ceiling on our growth? 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:34.299 We're only going to go so far and no further. 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.720 But when you break through that 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.240 and you start trusting God for tomorrow, 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:39.799 it really opens up a lot of stuff. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.240 But then there's that second ceiling. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:47.179 And that has to do with Andrew's passion in life. 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:50.099 And it was a passion that ruled 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:51.319 and motivated him unbelievably. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.659 In Matthew 4, 19, Jesus said to Andrew, 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.500 come, follow me, 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:01.579 and I will make you fishers of men. 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.939 He was a fisherman already. 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.740 But this time instead of fish, 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:06.179 he's going to fish for men. 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:09.379 And I want you to notice how Andrew did it. 00:23:09.439 --> 00:23:10.519 Now this is remarkable. 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.599 He never used the Roman road. 00:23:14.439 --> 00:23:16.779 He never gave the faith presentation. 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.579 You know what he did? 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:22.980 Went home to Simon. 00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:26.319 He said, I need to tell you what Jesus did for me. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.299 I want you to come and meet him. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.079 That's all he was. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.339 An introducer. 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:36.500 This is what he did for me. 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:39.159 I want to introduce you to him. 00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:42.059 That was Andrew. 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:44.519 If you take this stage area 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.720 and just fill it with bottles, 00:23:45.939 --> 00:23:48.099 there are two ways I can fill all those bottles. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.019 I could take big tubs of water, 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:52.220 buckets, and just pour over them and everything. 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.919 Of course, water's going to flow everywhere, 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.599 but I can fill the bottles eventually. 00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:57.259 Or I can take those bottles 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.639 and fill them one by one. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:00.660 Well, to be honest, 00:24:01.300 --> 00:24:04.140 if you take those big buckets of water and pour them, 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.340 that's sort of like preaching. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.160 It goes everywhere. 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.360 But nothing will improve 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:12.780 on that one by one filling of bottles. 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.480 And that's what Andrew did. 00:24:15.040 --> 00:24:17.800 First thing he did was went and find his brother, 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.200 Simon, Simon Peter. 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:23.860 Now, my image of Simon is 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:26.420 he was just one tough fisherman. 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:29.500 And I can just see Andrew walking in and say, 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.180 Brother, I need to talk to you. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.779 What is it, baby brother? 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.580 And he tells about what happened that day. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.180 I've just found someone that's changed my eternity. 00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.799 Come, I want you to meet him. 00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:43.240 And that big tough fisherman 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:46.799 was tamed that day. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:50.539 That was the greatest day's work 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:53.319 Andrew ever did. 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.980 On the day of Pentecost, 00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.700 Peter preached that sermon. 00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:02.019 3,000 people were added to the church. 00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:04.899 And I can just see Andrew standing over here, 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.220 and he is just, 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:08.259 he is beaming with pride. 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.460 Peter may have been the spiritual father 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.500 of those 3,000. 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:16.000 Andrew was the spiritual grandfather. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:19.200 And there was a joy that he experienced that day 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.259 because he introduced Peter to the Lord, 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.380 and he saw what was coming of that. 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:26.480 That is the joy of sharing our faith. 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:29.359 It brings a happiness and a joy to our life 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:33.759 that we cannot get any other way. 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:38.400 Second one he brought to Jesus was a boy. 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.640 They'd gone out into the wilderness. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:42.099 They were preaching. 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.099 Jesus was teaching. 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:46.279 And 5,000 men plus the women and children, 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:47.539 maybe 10,000 in all, 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.559 had followed him. 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.719 There was no food. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.619 And here comes Andrew. 00:25:51.719 --> 00:25:52.339 He's got a boy. 00:25:53.199 --> 00:25:53.779 And he said, 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.599 here, here's this boy. 00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:58.059 He's got five barley loaves and two fish. 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:02.259 Now, you would have thought 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.199 that he would have brought 00:26:03.199 --> 00:26:05.219 one of the movers and shakers in society, 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.259 a government official, 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:07.399 a businessman, 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:08.500 a civic leader, 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:11.779 a clergy somebody. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:15.279 No, he brings a boy 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:19.480 because Andrew saw something in a boy. 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:22.079 Remember the name D.L. Moody? 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:24.359 Used to be a great evangelist in his time. 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.240 Tremendous. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.480 He came home one night. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.039 His wife said, 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.779 did you have any converse tonight? 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.400 He said, yes, two and a half. 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:33.140 Oh, two adults and a boy and a child. 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:35.220 No, I had two children and an adult. 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:40.759 You know, it's hard for a Sunday school teacher 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:43.100 to look in the eyes of that person that's teaching 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:45.680 and see the next Billy Graham 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:48.360 or William Wallace 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:50.539 or Lottie Moon. 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:53.819 And I can guarantee you, 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.360 I can guarantee you, 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:59.319 I never had a Sunday school teacher 00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:01.019 that looked into my eyes 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:03.940 and ever once entertained the thought 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:06.180 that boy would be in the ministry one day. 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:10.559 But we don't know what happens 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:13.640 when we introduce people to Jesus 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:16.460 and what Jesus is going to do. 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.100 And then the third time he appears 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.740 is in the 12th chapter of John. 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:26.299 In John 12, 21, 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.960 some Greeks come to Philip 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.420 and they say, 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.000 sir, we would like to see Jesus. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:35.180 Now, these Greeks were from the land 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:37.099 of philosophy and religion. 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.440 It wasn't the true religion, 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.759 but it was religion. 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.000 And they had studied 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.779 and learned their whole life, 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.160 and yet there was an emptiness in them, 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.859 a searching, a frustration. 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.599 They knew they didn't have the answer yet. 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:50.039 And they heard about Jesus, 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.740 and they said, we will see Jesus. 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.119 And what did Philip do? 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.619 He immediately went 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:57.440 and found Andrew 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:00.980 because Andrew had been on that same search. 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.880 And together, 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:06.779 they told Jesus about these people, 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.059 introducers. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.160 Now, 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:16.600 that's what Andrew did time and again. 00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:19.920 Let me tell you why it's relevant to today. 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:22.759 This COVID 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:25.180 has hit everything in society 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.560 pretty hard, 00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:29.259 including church attendance. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.620 Across the board, 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:36.560 we see attendance down 00:28:36.560 --> 00:28:39.180 30, 40%. 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:41.600 And I've talked to a number of pastors, 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.580 haven't talked to Fred, 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.940 but I've talked to a number of pastors, 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.900 and I haven't talked to a pastor yet 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:48.140 that is optimistic 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:49.680 about those people coming back. 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:53.380 And let me tell you, 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:56.920 it's not the first thing 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.980 that time has happened. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.080 That's what we need to remember. 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:02.620 It's not the first time it's happened. 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:05.080 The first time it happened 00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:07.340 was with Jesus. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:09.800 Oh, 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:11.640 who left Jesus? 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:15.480 There was a mass exodus. 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:17.980 from Jesus. 00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.980 In John, 00:29:22.320 --> 00:29:23.259 chapter 6, 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.620 beginning with verse 66. 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:27.080 From this time, 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.880 many of His disciples turned back 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:31.720 and no longer followed Him. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.000 Jesus had been given 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.940 some hard teachings. 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.060 They went through some hard times. 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:39.700 Bye-bye, 00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:40.880 they were out the door. 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:43.040 Oh, but not that many people 00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:44.440 would leave Jesus. 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.660 He was the perfect pastor. 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:47.240 He was the perfect teacher. 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:48.360 He was the perfect leader. 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.740 Not many would leave Him. 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.980 Oh, yeah, they did. 00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:52.840 I tell you what, 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.320 enough people asked 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:56.700 that as they were going out the door, 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:59.820 Jesus turned to the 12 disciples 00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:01.660 and said, 00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.480 are y'all going too? 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:06.080 It was enough of an exodus 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:09.839 that He turned to the 12. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.819 Are y'all leaving too? 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.039 And listen, 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.679 Simon Peter answered Him, 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.019 Lord, 00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:20.740 to whom shall we go? 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.899 You have the words of eternal life. 00:30:25.179 --> 00:30:26.259 We believe and know 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:30.079 that You are the Holy One of God. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:33.240 And I can just see the disciples 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.759 sitting there 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:35.079 and every one of them 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.699 nodding. 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:37.059 Yes, yes. 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:41.500 But I can see Andrew over here 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:44.199 and I'll tell you what, 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.199 he's thinking, 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.240 yes, that's true. 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:51.879 But I introduced Peter 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:53.179 to Jesus. 00:30:54.939 --> 00:30:56.199 He heard the words 00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:57.059 and He agreed with them. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:59.339 But there was a joy 00:30:59.339 --> 00:31:00.599 that flooded his soul 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:03.359 because of what he had done before 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:05.879 in introducing his brother to Jesus. 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:08.379 There is something 00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:10.419 about introducing people to Jesus 00:31:10.419 --> 00:31:12.419 that change our whole 00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:14.079 Christian perspective. 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.700 Let's put it this way. 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.859 When you have a grandbaby, 00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:23.519 it changes things. 00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.980 I visited in a home one day 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.480 and they had a sign over the door. 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.640 Children by appointment. 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.120 Grandchildren, 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.980 welcome anytime. 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:37.279 That's just the way life is. 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:42.519 When you become an introducer, 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.940 it changes things. 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:46.240 Now let me tell you something else. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.839 You know when those people 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.640 went out the door 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:50.400 and left Jesus 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.660 and Jesus turned to the disciples 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:51.880 and said, 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.700 are y'all leaving too? 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.079 Listen. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:56.899 There was no panic 00:31:56.899 --> 00:31:57.960 in heaven that day. 00:31:59.139 --> 00:32:01.259 Not one bit of panic. 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.879 God knew 00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:05.419 what was going to happen. 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.000 The day would come 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.539 when Jesus would go to a cross. 00:32:10.939 --> 00:32:11.960 He would die. 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.919 He'd be resurrected. 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:16.119 And that remnant that was left 00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.639 would go out into the world 00:32:17.639 --> 00:32:19.379 and have the responsibility 00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:21.879 to change the world 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:23.720 with their commitment 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:25.760 despite being persecuted. 00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.280 And God knew 00:32:27.280 --> 00:32:28.440 that those that went away 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.840 because of those hard teachings 00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:30.860 or because of COVID 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.800 or anything else 00:32:31.800 --> 00:32:33.440 were not the type of people 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.640 that were going to change the world. 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.960 There was no panic in heaven. 00:32:38.260 --> 00:32:40.060 But there was that consistent 00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:41.800 sharing of faith 00:32:41.800 --> 00:32:43.380 and introducing people to Jesus 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:45.500 and they grew from within again 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.580 just like every church 00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.920 is going to have to grow from within. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:50.640 But here's the thing. 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:53.460 When churches start doing that 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:56.180 it brings a greater joy 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.320 into our lives 00:32:57.320 --> 00:32:59.780 and a fuller understanding 00:32:59.780 --> 00:33:00.820 of what it means 00:33:00.820 --> 00:33:01.940 to be a follower 00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:04.400 and a closer relationship 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:06.780 to Jesus Christ. 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:10.040 It changes us. 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:12.440 And that is the blessing 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:14.579 of being an average man 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.899 like Andrew. 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:18.099 So I encourage you 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.899 that person 00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:21.819 just tell them 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:23.279 what Jesus did for you. 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.539 That's all it is. 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:26.940 Let them know 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:28.759 how He changed your life 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:30.559 and what He can bless 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.259 and He can be 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.240 to their life. 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.480 Will you pray with me? 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.319 Father, 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.059 we thank You 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:36.279 for these moments together. 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:39.359 for Your Word, 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:41.759 for the truth 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.680 of Your Word, 00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.700 for the mercy 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.579 in Your Word 00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.500 and the grace 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.259 that is presented. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.460 And Lord, 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:49.980 we thank You 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.740 for the opportunity 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.920 to break through 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:53.339 those spiritual ceilings 00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:55.139 and to grow 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:55.940 in our faith 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:57.059 and our spiritual journey. 00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:58.740 But Lord, 00:33:58.819 --> 00:33:59.839 we also look forward 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.519 to that day 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:03.059 when we will experience 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.059 the joy 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:06.420 that Andrew knew 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:09.159 of introducing somebody 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.199 to Jesus Christ 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.840 and seeing them 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.900 grow in the Lord 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.960 just like we see 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.019 our grandchildren grow. 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:19.380 That is a tremendous blessing. 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.179 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.440 Amen.