WEBVTT

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 So we're in John chapter 4, verse 41.

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 We're going to read all the way through John chapter 5, verse 18.

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 Well, as you hear the word of God read, beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 remember that this is his inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word.

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 When I'm done reading our sermon text for today, I'll say the word of God, and you'll respond, thanks be to God.

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 Hear the word of our Lord, John 4, verse 41.

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 And many more in Samaria believed because of his word.

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 They said to the woman, it is no longer because of what you said that we believe,

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 for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.

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 The first time Jesus is called that, it's from the lips of the Samaritans.

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 Now, verse 43, our sermon text.

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 After the two days, this is Jesus spending two days with the Samaritans, he departed for Galilee.

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 For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.

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 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast.

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 For they too had gone to the feast.

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 Verse 46.

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 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made water to wine.

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 And at Capernaum, there was an official whose son was ill.

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 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee,

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 he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

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 So Jesus said to him,

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 Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.

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 The official said to him,

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 Sir, come down before my child dies.

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 Jesus said to him,

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 Go, your son will live.

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 The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

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 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.

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 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better.

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 And they said to him,

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 Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.

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 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him,

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 Your son will live.

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 And he was, and he himself believed in all his household.

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 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

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 John chapter 5.

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 After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

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 Now there in Jerusalem, by the sheep gate, a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.

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 In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed.

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 One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years.

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 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him,

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 Do you want to be healed?

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 The sick man answered him,

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 Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up,

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 and while I am going, another steps down before me.

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 Jesus said to him,

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 Get up.

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 Take up your bed and walk.

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 Now that day was Sabbath.

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 So the Jews said to the man who has been healed,

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 It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.

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 But he answered them,

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 The man who healed me, that man said to me,

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 Take up your bed and walk.

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 They asked him,

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 Who is the man who said to you,

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 Take up your bed and walk?

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 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was,

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 for Jesus had withdrawn,

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 as there was a crowd in the place.

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 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him,

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 See, you are well.

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 Sin no more,

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 that nothing worse may happen to you.

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 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

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 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus,

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 because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

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 But Jesus answered them,

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 My father is working until now, and I am working.

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 Verse 18,

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 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him,

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 because not only was he breaking the Sabbath,

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 but he was even calling God his own father,

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 making himself equal with God.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 You may be seated.

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 Let's pray.

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 Oh Lord, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

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 Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and in love.

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 And give us strength to follow on the path that you set before us.

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 Through Jesus Christ we ask.

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 Amen.

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 There are three differences between sheep and goats.

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 Sheep feed on green pastures.

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 Goats feed on trash.

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 A goat can eat an entire metal spoon and digest it.

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 No problem.

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 That's number one.

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 Number two,

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 Sheep,

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 they live together.

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 They stay as a herd,

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 as a flock.

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 But goats,

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 they're loners.

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 They survive all alone in the mountains,

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 in the wilderness.

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 But the most important difference is number three.

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 Sheep follow their shepherd's voice.

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 A shepherd could start walking and call them,

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 and one by one,

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 all those that know the shepherd's voice will follow him.

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 And if you have goats,

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 you can try to call out and let their nose be as nice as you want to them.

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 They will ignore you,

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 and goats will do their own thing.

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 And that's what Jesus is bringing to attention in John chapter 10, verse 27.

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 He says,

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 My sheep hear my voice,

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 and I know them,

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 and they follow me.

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 In this passage that we read today,

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 what we have is the kingdom of heaven,

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 God himself,

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 breaking into earth,

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 a boy on his deathbed,

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 and a dad who's not even a Jew,

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 he's an official,

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 having faith in the word Jesus gives him,

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 and the giver of life,

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 healing that boy off of his deathbed.

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 And we have a lame man,

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 stinky,

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 all alone,

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 38 years,

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 in misery,

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 helpless,

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 hopeless,

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 and the word of Jesus to that man brings life,

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 and it creates faith in him.

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 When is it that the lame will walk,

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 and the dead will be rised again?

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 It's when Christ returns.

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 When Christ returns,

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 that's what will happen.

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 The new heavens and the new earth will be ushered in.

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 That's what the Bible teaches.

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 And now the king himself is walking the earth,

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 and he's showing now,

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 the kingdom of heaven is breaking in.

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 And what I want to point out to you,

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 is how he does this.

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 Christ advances his kingdom,

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 by his almighty word.

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 And those who are sick are healed by faith.

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 So my message to you is very simple,

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 but it's the most important message I can give you.

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 Believe in the word of Jesus Christ,

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 and be saved.

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 That's what's in focus.

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 15 times in the gospel of Mark,

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 the word of God is elevated.

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 24 times in the gospel of Matthew,

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 the word of God.

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 29 times in the gospel of Luke,

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 upholding the word.

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 But now we have the biggest concentration of this data,

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 right here in the gospel of John,

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 44 times,

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 and especially in the passage we just read.

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 The word of God,

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 going forth with power.

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 And what this should point out to us,

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 is that the foundation for life in Christ,

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 when Christ is ministering and ruling,

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 it's his word.

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 That's the foundation for life in Christ.

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 And in Acts,

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 59 times the word of God is upheld.

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 So not only is the word of God foundational

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 for you to have life in Christ,

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 the word of God is foundational for our life as a church.

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 That's what the book of Acts shows us.

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 But yet,

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 for the same reason,

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 the word of God has been attacked

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 and undermined with every generation.

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 And the church has had to wrestle with that.

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 The goats

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 that come to dominate congregations and pulpits,

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 they want to squelch God's word.

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 They don't want God's people to hear it,

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 the voice of the shepherd clearly from his word.

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 That's why thesis number 54,

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 one of Martin Luther's 95 thesis,

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 says this,

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 injury is done to the word of God

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 when, in the same sermon,

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 an equal or larger amount of time

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 is devoted to indulgences

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 rather than to the word of God.

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 And if the Roman Catholic Church

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 was taking the money from people

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 in order to tickle their ears

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 and give them a false assurance,

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 well, we have a very different

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 but the same kind of indulgence

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 going on still today, don't we?

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 It's a transaction

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 where you're not coming to hear

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 the word of the shepherd.

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 Instead, it's a transaction

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 to appease your conscience.

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 But the sheep will know

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 the voice of the shepherd

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 and they will follow him.

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 In John 6, 36,

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 we read that the words,

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 Jesus says,

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 the words I have spoken to you

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 are spirit and life.

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 And that's the power

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 we see them having in this text.

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 Now, I want you to put your eyes

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 on a verse from our passage today.

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 John 4, 41.

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 Look at John 4, 41.

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 Many more believed

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 because of his word.

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 It's Jesus spending time

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 with the Samaritans,

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 preaching to them

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 how he is the savior of the world.

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 And that's what they believe

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 and confess.

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 And now look,

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 a little bit later,

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 we're going to see this next time,

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 John 5, 24.

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 Look at what Jesus says

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 in 5, 24.

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 Truly, truly, I say to you,

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 whoever hears my word

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 and believes him who sent me

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 has eternal life.

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 So we see this travel of Jesus

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 from Jerusalem,

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 where he talked to Nicodemus,

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 up to Galilee,

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 where he was baptizing

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 on the way in the Israeli land,

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 we'll call it.

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 Then he slips over into Samaria

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 and then back into Israel land

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 and Cana of Galilee.

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 So the first miracle

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 takes place there

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 in that region

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 for the official son.

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 Then he travels

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 all the way back down

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 to Jerusalem

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 and that's where he goes

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 into the temple

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 and he heals the lame man.

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 So that pattern is

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 from Jerusalem

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 to Israel land,

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 slip into Samaria,

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 and then back into Israel land

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 and then back down

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 to Jerusalem

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 as he ministers.

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 Every time he gets closer

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 to Jerusalem

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 where the established church

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 is going to try to kill him,

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 it's more concealed.

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 Not yet.

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 My time is not yet

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 to be crucified.

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 And then he backs away

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 and goes back

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 and every time he pushes back in,

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 it's that power struggle

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 because they know

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 the king of heaven and earth

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 will rule over all

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 one way or the other.

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 So now look at John 4, verse 50.

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 Jesus said to that man,

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 Go, your son will live.

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 And look at the response

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 of this official

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 who's not even an Israelite.

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 The man believed

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 the word that Jesus spoke to him

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 and went on his way.

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 So what I want to show you

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 in these two miracles,

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 these two signs,

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 is that number one,

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 you must hear God's word

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 in order to believe

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 and number two,

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 you must respond to his word

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 in order to be saved.

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 So first,

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 you must come to know

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 that you need a savior.

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:50.299
 That's what the Samaritans realized.

00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:51.120
 That's why he preached

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.039
 the gospel to them.

00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.159
 They were not trying

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.059
 to save themselves

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:55.599
 by self-righteousness.

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.179
 Look at verse 41 again.

00:12:57.359 --> 00:12:59.059
 The Samaritans heard Christ's word

00:12:59.059 --> 00:13:01.099
 and believed that they needed him

00:13:01.099 --> 00:13:02.679
 to be their savior.

00:13:02.819 --> 00:13:03.379
 Verse 41,

00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:04.719
 many more believed

00:13:04.719 --> 00:13:05.819
 because of his word.

00:13:06.359 --> 00:13:06.919
 Verse 42,

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.500
 they said,

00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:09.299
 we have heard for ourselves

00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:12.179
 and we know that this is indeed

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:14.219
 the savior of the world.

00:13:14.819 --> 00:13:15.979
 They knew they were sinners.

00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:18.000
 They knew they could not have a hope

00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.179
 of being right with God

00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:20.820
 unless they would be saved.

00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:23.299
 You too must know

00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:25.399
 that you need a savior.

00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:29.000
 Now John is developing the theme

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.139
 that he already hinted at

00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:30.860
 at the very beginning

00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:31.580
 of this gospel.

00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.919
 Remember John chapter one,

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.559
 verse one,

00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:36.399
 in the beginning was the word

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.500
 and the word was with God

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.600
 and the word was God.

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:41.100
 All things were made through him.

00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:42.200
 Verse 14,

00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.419
 and the word became flesh

00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.360
 and dwelt among us

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.139
 and we have seen his glory.

00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:49.080
 Glory as the only son

00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:50.360
 from the father,

00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:53.500
 full of grace and truth.

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:55.399
 So every time the word of Christ

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.139
 is proclaimed,

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.899
 when Christ gives his word

00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.919
 in these stories,

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.700
 it's a word of grace

00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:02.860
 and a word of truth.

00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:04.659
 And all those that the father

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.879
 will bring to life,

00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:06.720
 they will believe,

00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:07.759
 they will respond,

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:09.300
 and they will obey him.

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:12.019
 So Christ advances his kingdom

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:15.620
 on earth by his clear word.

00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.259
 Number two,

00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.500
 you must want to hear Christ,

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.179
 not just to see a sign.

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.179
 Look at verse 48.

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.639
 The Israelites in Cana of Galilee,

00:14:25.939 --> 00:14:27.879
 they still needed his word

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.939
 in order to believe.

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:31.279
 So we read in verse 48,

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.220
 Jesus said to them,

00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:37.039
 unless you see signs and wonders,

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.799
 you will not believe.

00:14:39.719 --> 00:14:40.859
 And he's talking about

00:14:40.859 --> 00:14:42.299
 these people who had heard

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.019
 about his miracles

00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:43.959
 down in Jerusalem.

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.219
 And Jesus is saying to them

00:14:46.219 --> 00:14:47.359
 what Paul says later,

00:14:47.459 --> 00:14:48.079
 that faith,

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.879
 it comes not by seeing a sign

00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.419
 or a miracle.

00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.740
 You're saved by faith,

00:14:53.839 --> 00:14:54.659
 not by sight.

00:14:54.979 --> 00:14:55.959
 And he needs them now

00:14:55.959 --> 00:14:57.539
 to stop looking for a sign,

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.759
 look instead to the one,

00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.959
 to Jesus Christ,

00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:01.319
 who the signs are pointing to,

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:03.019
 and believe his word.

00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:06.019
 Now Jesus knew

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:07.240
 what was in the heart of man,

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:07.700
 we read,

00:15:07.779 --> 00:15:08.879
 and as he was in Jerusalem,

00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.240
 the crowds gathered

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.480
 and he goes back to Cana.

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:12.220
 They just knew him

00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:13.519
 from being the miracle worker.

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:14.919
 And he knew what was

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:15.440
 in their heart

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.580
 and he would not give himself

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.159
 to them

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.340
 because he knew

00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.019
 they were after

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:20.539
 more and more signs.

00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:23.060
 But now we have a contrast

00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:25.039
 with these Jews

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.019
 that just wanted a sign

00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.000
 with this official.

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:28.700
 The official, I think,

00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.419
 is to show us,

00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.960
 look, the gospel will go forth

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.259
 and it will work with power,

00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:34.180
 not just for the self-righteous.

00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:34.960
 In fact,

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.340
 it's for those who quickly know

00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.500
 they are sinners.

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.280
 Look at verse 47.

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.300
 When this man,

00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.320
 and this is referring

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.480
 to the official,

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.639
 most likely he worked

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.460
 for King Herod,

00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:49.000
 non-religious,

00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:49.660
 non-Jew,

00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:51.580
 he lived down at Capernaum.

00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:54.160
 Capernaum was the city

00:15:54.160 --> 00:15:54.920
 down by the lake.

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:57.000
 So picture a lakefront mansion.

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:58.320
 This man works for the king,

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:58.920
 for the official.

00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:01.220
 But now this man has a son

00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.639
 and his dear son gets a fever.

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.080
 I mean,

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.100
 we think of how much sickness

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.019
 we've all had

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:08.100
 in our families these days

00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.519
 and in ancient times

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.000
 a fever is going to be deadly.

00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:12.879
 And this boy gets weaker

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.160
 and weaker and weaker.

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.080
 And the family,

00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:15.720
 all the servants,

00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:16.480
 the mother,

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:16.840
 the dad,

00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.700
 everything stops.

00:16:18.420 --> 00:16:19.040
 He gives orders.

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.720
 Everything gets paused with work.

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:22.920
 It's all about his son's life now.

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.220
 This could be their final moments

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.840
 with their dear boy.

00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:28.540
 And someone mentions to him,

00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.419
 there is a man

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.439
 who is doing miracles

00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.319
 down in Jerusalem.

00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.480
 And a father does

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.500
 what any father would do.

00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:35.379
 He leaves everything.

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.399
 He starts hiking up

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.299
 away from the lake,

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:39.259
 back up to where Jesus is

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.740
 in Cana.

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.240
 And let's see what he says

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.199
 in verse 47.

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.279
 This man heard

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.519
 that Jesus had come

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.799
 to Galilee

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.879
 and he went to him

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.819
 and asked him

00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:51.159
 to come down

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.799
 and heal his son

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.339
 for he was at the point of death.

00:16:56.219 --> 00:16:57.120
 Verse 48,

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.600
 so Jesus said to him,

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.039
 unless you see signs

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:00.679
 and wonders,

00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:02.820
 you will not believe.

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.059
 And that's exactly true

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.779
 of the people of Cana.

00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.839
 They wanted to see more signs

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.160
 and they wanted a miracle worker.

00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:13.079
 But let's see if this man

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.359
 will have a faith

00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.039
 in Jesus at his word

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.759
 without needing to see anything.

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.200
 Because Christ advances

00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.200
 his kingdom on earth

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.279
 by his soul-searching word.

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.160
 And that word

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.660
 put this man back

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.880
 to evaluate,

00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:28.180
 do I need to see a sign

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.560
 or will I have faith

00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:31.180
 and go trusting

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.019
 this man's orders?

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:34.200
 So we see in verse 49,

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:35.380
 the official said to him,

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.340
 sir, come down

00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.680
 before my child dies.

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.900
 Come down

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.600
 or going down

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.600
 toward the lake again.

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:41.580
 He says,

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.080
 come down

00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:42.880
 and be with us.

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.940
 Just like the Samaritans

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:44.259
 had said,

00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:45.040
 stay with us

00:17:45.040 --> 00:17:46.300
 for a couple days.

00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:47.220
 We want you.

00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:48.779
 We want your presence with us.

00:17:49.060 --> 00:17:50.320
 We don't want just a sign

00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:50.820
 or a miracle.

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.600
 We want you.

00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.540
 Your presence

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.599
 is what could heal him.

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.839
 But this also foreshadows

00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.720
 how Mary and Martha said,

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.039
 Jesus,

00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:59.319
 if you had only been here,

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.799
 then our brother Lazarus

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.619
 would not have died.

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.819
 None of them had the faith

00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:05.839
 that Jesus could also

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.139
 let that person die

00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.019
 and then raise them

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.700
 from the dead.

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.639
 That's what he would do

00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.359
 with Lazarus.

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.339
 And look in verse 50,

00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.720
 Jesus said to this man,

00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:14.139
 go,

00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.339
 your son

00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:17.059
 will

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.000
 live.

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.940
 And we read

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.759
 that the man

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.880
 believed

00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:23.400
 the word

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.740
 that Jesus spoke

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.259
 to him

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.019
 and went

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.420
 on his way.

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.160
 The man believed

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.960
 the word

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.900
 that Jesus spoke

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.380
 to him

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.619
 and went

00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.500
 on his way.

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.500
 The application

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.019
 for us

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.880
 is that you must

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.799
 hear the word

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.259
 of God

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.140
 and then you must

00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.880
 believe

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.740
 the word

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.640
 of God.

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.059
 Because Jesus

00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:45.140
 is still speaking

00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:45.519
 today

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.160
 and he's still

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.539
 speaking to you

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.539
 through his word.

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.799
 Verse 51,

00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.700
 as he was going

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.019
 down,

00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:52.720
 his servants

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.319
 met him

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.079
 and told him

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.220
 that his son

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.139
 was recovering.

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.039
 Now listen

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.899
 to what comes next.

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.399
 This man

00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.480
 was thinking

00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.059
 about it.

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:00.960
 Okay,

00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.740
 I walk there,

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.839
 it's about 20 miles

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.559
 from Capernaum

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.039
 to Cana.

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.299
 20 miles,

00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.359
 about a two-day trip

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.599
 and the whole way

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.619
 back he's thinking,

00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:10.859
 I just left.

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.619
 I did this whole

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.039
 big trip,

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:12.740
 I could have missed

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.579
 the final moments

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.299
 with my son.

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.099
 Will this actually

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:17.379
 be saving him

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:17.820
 or not?

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.020
 And as soon

00:19:19.020 --> 00:19:19.520
 as the servants

00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:20.100
 tell him the good

00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:20.300
 news,

00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:21.040
 he wants to now

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:21.760
 try to see

00:19:21.760 --> 00:19:22.400
 if he can connect

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.880
 the dots.

00:19:23.580 --> 00:19:24.100
 He says,

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.900
 what hour was it?

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.480
 It was the seventh

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:25.820
 hour.

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.000
 That is when

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.500
 the Lord spoke

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.260
 the word to me.

00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:30.180
 The very moment

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.060
 he spoke the word.

00:19:31.300 --> 00:19:32.020
 I didn't have to

00:19:32.020 --> 00:19:32.520
 come back,

00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:33.040
 I didn't have to

00:19:33.040 --> 00:19:33.740
 do anything.

00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.300
 It was the word

00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:36.100
 of Christ

00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:37.640
 that healed my son

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.580
 that very moment.

00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.420
 And so you see,

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.240
 we're told next,

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:43.120
 verse 53,

00:19:43.780 --> 00:19:44.780
 he himself

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:46.139
 believed.

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.000
 He believed

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:50.539
 and all his

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.079
 household.

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.519
 Now you see,

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.359
 that word that

00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:55.180
 Christ spoke to him,

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.019
 it did two things

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.879
 at the same time.

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:59.000
 It made his son

00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.059
 on his deathbed

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.740
 well.

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.359
 Just like the word

00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:02.940
 of God brought

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.000
 creation into being,

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.139
 the word of Christ

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.220
 20 miles away

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.399
 made that boy well.

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.200
 That's the first

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:08.720
 thing it did.

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.000
 The second thing

00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.859
 the word of Christ

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:12.059
 did is it

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.980
 regenerated

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.919
 this official

00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.859
 Gentile.

00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:15.919
 Gave him a new

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.240
 heart.

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.960
 He believed

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.399
 because the word

00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:19.940
 of God was

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.419
 powerful.

00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:23.019
 Now I want to

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.359
 pause.

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.819
 We've all lost

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.480
 loved ones

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.460
 and

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:29.440
 Jesus came

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.559
 to proclaim

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.220
 salvation

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:32.240
 for your soul

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.319
 for all eternity.

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.259
 And I see

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.799
 in this story

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.359
 that even if

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:37.859
 this man

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.179
 would have

00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:38.759
 gotten back

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.279
 and his son

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.899
 was not

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:40.740
 healed,

00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:42.200
 the word

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.660
 of Christ

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.620
 regenerated

00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:43.880
 him.

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.040
 And the sign

00:20:45.040 --> 00:20:45.920
 confirmed the

00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.540
 faith that God

00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:46.840
 had already

00:20:46.840 --> 00:20:47.540
 put in him.

00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:48.240
 This man

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.880
 encountered

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.360
 Jesus.

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:51.900
 And Jesus

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.200
 said,

00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:52.840
 unless you see

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.259
 a sign,

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:53.620
 you won't

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.160
 believe.

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.320
 So this man

00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:57.140
 was believing

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:58.280
 without even

00:20:58.280 --> 00:20:59.140
 seeing the sign.

00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.519
 And God

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.259
 did heal him.

00:21:02.780 --> 00:21:03.200
 God did

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.660
 bring life

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.360
 to his son.

00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.000
 But remember,

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.040
 salvation is by

00:21:07.040 --> 00:21:07.980
 faith through

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.960
 the word of God,

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.400
 not by sight.

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.120
 And so the

00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:12.819
 encouragement to

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.319
 you is that

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.100
 you must

00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:15.779
 receive the

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.340
 word of God

00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:17.100
 by faith.

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.160
 And you must

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.160
 believe without

00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:20.840
 seeing the

00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:22.100
 promised spiritual

00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.620
 realities,

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.299
 the truth of

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:23.700
 the Bible.

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.519
 You must

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.380
 believe in

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:25.900
 Christ by

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.200
 faith alone.

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.039
 So Christ's

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.059
 kingdom advances

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:31.340
 on earth

00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:31.880
 through his

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:33.299
 faith-giving

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.140
 word.

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.420
 Not only must

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.140
 you believe the

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.640
 word of God,

00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.420
 you must also

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:40.000
 obey the

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.420
 word that

00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:40.840
 the Lord

00:21:40.840 --> 00:21:41.940
 gives you.

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.580
 Let's look,

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.180
 not only did

00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.960
 this official

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.800
 believe and

00:21:45.800 --> 00:21:46.420
 obey by going

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:46.920
 back and

00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.380
 seeing it,

00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.300
 look at the

00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:48.680
 next story.

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.160
 I think that's

00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:49.660
 what it shows

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:49.940
 us.

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.080
 Chapter 5,

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.680
 verse 1.

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.259
 You must

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.519
 obey and

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.320
 respond to

00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:56.800
 the word of

00:21:56.800 --> 00:21:57.519
 God as you

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.039
 hear it.

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.440
 Verse 1 of

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.019
 chapter 5,

00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:02.039
 after this,

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.720
 there was a

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.660
 feast of the

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.420
 Jews, and the

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.100
 Jews went up

00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.060
 to Jerusalem.

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.179
 Jerusalem.

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.659
 Now, Jerusalem's

00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.240
 in the mountains,

00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:09.099
 and so every

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.659
 time you're going

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.220
 to Jerusalem,

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:10.659
 it's called

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.319
 going up or

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.079
 ascending, like

00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.779
 the Psalms of

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.139
 Ascent.

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.839
 So Capernaum is

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.319
 down by the

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:15.740
 lake, we go

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.000
 down, so it's

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.619
 more geographic

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.819
 than north and

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.139
 south.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.579
 Verse 2,

00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.740
 there were in

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.700
 Jerusalem by the

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.899
 sheep gate a

00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:25.539
 pool, really two

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:25.899
 pools.

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.659
 In Aramaic,

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.159
 they're called

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:28.899
 Bethesda, which

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:30.599
 has five roofed

00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.220
 colonnades.

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:33.460
 So the book of

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.379
 Nehemiah describes

00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.119
 the rebuilding of the

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.699
 walls and the

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:37.239
 gates, and this

00:22:37.239 --> 00:22:37.899
 would have been on

00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:40.359
 the northeast entrance

00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:42.559
 into the temple

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.939
 area, into Jerusalem,

00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:45.199
 and it's a gate that

00:22:45.199 --> 00:22:46.679
 was smaller, and it's

00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.959
 where all the sheep

00:22:47.959 --> 00:22:48.439
 could have been

00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:49.199
 brought in, even

00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:50.179
 from Bethlehem and

00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:51.299
 from those pastures

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.119
 surrounding the city,

00:22:52.419 --> 00:22:53.599
 they would be filing

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.279
 in, bringing in

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.059
 through the sheep

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.239
 gate, and what

00:22:56.239 --> 00:22:56.859
 would they be brought

00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:57.519
 into the temple

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:57.899
 for?

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.099
 To be offered as

00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:01.259
 sacrifices for the

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.519
 forgiveness of sins,

00:23:02.979 --> 00:23:04.099
 and these pools,

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:06.259
 they're called

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.859
 Bethesda.

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.339
 Bethesda means

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.179
 house, remember

00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:11.000
 Beth means house

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.919
 of Bethlehem,

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.199
 house of bread,

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.299
 Bethesda means

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.699
 house of grace,

00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.139
 and we're told

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.000
 that there was

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.079
 this scene here,

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.079
 quite a scene.

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.059
 Look at verse

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.919
 three, there lay

00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:24.639
 a multitude, a

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:26.099
 multitude of

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:28.819
 invalids, blind,

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:31.000
 lame, and

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.419
 paralyzed.

00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:34.580
 You've been to

00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.360
 the Denver Public

00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.120
 Library, you've

00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:36.900
 been to Portland,

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.800
 you've been to

00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.420
 other parts of the

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:38.960
 world, you know

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.420
 what that looks

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.360
 like, a multitude

00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.759
 of destitute,

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:43.180
 poor, stinky

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.180
 invalids, the

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.779
 blind, the lame.

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.220
 I mean, it's a

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.060
 picture of hell.

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.440
 Picture the sounds,

00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.300
 the cries, the

00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:53.980
 agony, the

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.800
 misery, helplessness,

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.360
 and then yet here

00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.279
 there are Levites

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.279
 and priests going,

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.279
 taking these lambs,

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.399
 serving all around

00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:01.859
 the temple.

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.079
 And Jesus had been

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.920
 taken to the temple

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.619
 throughout his whole

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:05.899
 life.

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.460
 His parents were

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.259
 taking him there

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.339
 because he was

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.500
 fulfilling all of

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.700
 the law of Moses.

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.420
 And we're told that

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.619
 these invalids would

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.639
 wait for the waters

00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.319
 to stir.

00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:17.259
 And so how these

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.200
 pools were filled,

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.180
 do you remember

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.460
 last week we talked

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.639
 about the living

00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.779
 waters that bubbled

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.980
 up from that spring

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.899
 under Jerusalem?

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.139
 That same spring,

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.500
 it would pass through

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.680
 minerals that were

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.900
 red and they would

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.600
 pick up a red

00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:32.900
 color and they

00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:33.620
 would feed into

00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.220
 this pool.

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.299
 And the springs

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:37.019
 were not constant

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.519
 so there would be

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.000
 times where there

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.420
 would be more

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.340
 water spilling out,

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:39.960
 bubbling up,

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:40.960
 picking up more

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.200
 minerals, sweeping

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.340
 in this red color

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.500
 and causing the

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.120
 waters of these

00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.060
 pools to stir.

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.460
 So there's some

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.440
 wonderful imagery

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.759
 here.

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.060
 Can you picture it

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.539
 in your mind?

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.299
 The gate where the

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.200
 sheep come in to be

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.220
 offered as sacrifices,

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.039
 these red waters

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.519
 moving and bubbling

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.240
 up, the living

00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.960
 waters filling

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.299
 these pools in

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.559
 the house of grace

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:04.319
 and yet the multitude

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:06.119
 of invalids and

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.519
 sick.

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.000
 And what is the

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.619
 purpose of the

00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:08.839
 temple?

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.500
 It's so that the

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.079
 sick and the

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.319
 broken can be

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.940
 made whole,

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.359
 they can be healed

00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.200
 and been brought

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.200
 into fellowship and

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.599
 communion with the

00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:16.900
 Lord.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.279
 Now I want to

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.879
 point out to you

00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.839
 how you can trust

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:22.200
 the word that Jesus

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.000
 speaks to you

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.279
 because he sees

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.779
 the very least of

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.119
 these.

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:27.619
 Now even though

00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:28.099
 there was a

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:29.039
 multitude in verse

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.779
 three we're told

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:31.939
 there were blind,

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:32.719
 lame, and

00:25:32.719 --> 00:25:33.199
 paralyzed.

00:25:33.919 --> 00:25:34.319
 And then verse

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.959
 five, one man

00:25:35.959 --> 00:25:37.679
 was there who

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.659
 had been an

00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:40.439
 invalid for 38

00:25:40.439 --> 00:25:41.079
 years.

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.379
 And out of all

00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:42.979
 that multitude,

00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:43.599
 look at verse

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.779
 six, when Jesus

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:46.079
 saw him.

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.500
 Jesus sees him

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.379
 as one individual,

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.839
 one person, a

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.799
 paralyzed man amid

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.799
 the multitude.

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:53.879
 multitude.

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:55.579
 And Jesus knew

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.519
 that he had

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.359
 already been there

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.559
 a long time.

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.779
 Now one person,

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.680
 Jesus Christ, he

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.139
 could have known

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.859
 this according to

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.839
 his divine nature,

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.139
 omniscient God.

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.740
 He could have also

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.619
 known that this man

00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:08.740
 had been there a

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.740
 long time according

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.720
 to his human nature.

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.279
 Maybe as a boy, as

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.859
 a teenager, this

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.899
 scene broke his

00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.220
 heart.

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.419
 And the compassion

00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:17.099
 of the Father,

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.119
 knowing what the

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.980
 temple was for,

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.740
 his heart toward

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.359
 this man.

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.359
 Maybe he'd even

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.119
 talked to this man

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.439
 when he was

00:26:23.439 --> 00:26:24.000
 growing up.

00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:25.179
 That was a man

00:26:25.179 --> 00:26:26.539
 he knew, had been

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.239
 there in misery

00:26:27.239 --> 00:26:28.119
 for so long.

00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:31.299
 And Jesus spoke

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.199
 to that man.

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.899
 You can trust

00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.539
 the word of

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.459
 Jesus when he

00:26:36.459 --> 00:26:37.000
 speaks to you

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.879
 because he speaks

00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.559
 to the heart.

00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.219
 Notice what it

00:26:39.219 --> 00:26:39.779
 is that Jesus

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.359
 says, verse six.

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.399
 Jesus said to

00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:44.239
 him, do you

00:26:44.239 --> 00:26:45.239
 want to be

00:26:45.239 --> 00:26:45.559
 healed?

00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:48.199
 Do you want

00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:48.839
 to be healed?

00:26:48.959 --> 00:26:49.519
 Doesn't that seem

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.279
 like an obvious

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.799
 question?

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:52.779
 Don't you want

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.299
 to be healed?

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.419
 But think about

00:26:56.419 --> 00:26:57.419
 how soul-searching

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:58.079
 this is.

00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.680
 This man, for

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:02.220
 38 years, this

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.899
 is life.

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.619
 This is all he

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.460
 knows of life as

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.159
 I lay here.

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.940
 This man does

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.819
 not have a name.

00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:10.559
 His name is the

00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.200
 sick man.

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.480
 That's his entire

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.099
 identity.

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.240
 And he says,

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.039
 there's no one to

00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.619
 put me in the

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.019
 waters.

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.099
 And in fact,

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.900
 people cut me

00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.819
 off when I

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.379
 think I have a

00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:20.759
 chance.

00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.619
 This man is

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.099
 helpless.

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.940
 And this man

00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.720
 is hopeless.

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.839
 And Jesus

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.559
 asked the

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.139
 hopeless,

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.319
 helpless man,

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.019
 do you want

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.599
 to be healed?

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.240
 Jesus asks you

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:36.680
 today, is the

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.319
 life that you

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:39.200
 have now, is

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.779
 that really what

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.339
 you love?

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.680
 Or do you want

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.980
 to be healed?

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:44.559
 Because the

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.180
 kingdom of God

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.119
 comes to heal

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.519
 you, not to

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.000
 leave you as

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.399
 you are.

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.379
 Jonathan Edwards

00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.779
 in the 1700s

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:53.559
 pointed out how

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.739
 a human being,

00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.399
 according to

00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.739
 their free agency,

00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.259
 will always do

00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.019
 what they want

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.659
 most.

00:28:01.699 --> 00:28:02.559
 So for example,

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:04.039
 a man would

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.339
 not go rob a

00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:07.000
 bank because he

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.819
 wants his

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.779
 freedom more

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.379
 than the high

00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:10.039
 risk wealth.

00:28:10.479 --> 00:28:11.319
 So you do what

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.259
 you want most.

00:28:13.219 --> 00:28:13.959
 And that's why

00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:14.739
 the will needs

00:28:14.739 --> 00:28:16.099
 to be converted.

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.919
 Your will needs

00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:17.399
 to change.

00:28:17.479 --> 00:28:18.039
 You will always

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.359
 want what is

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.859
 for you.

00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:21.319
 You will always

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.359
 want that sin.

00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:22.979
 That's why every

00:28:22.979 --> 00:28:24.159
 single drug addict

00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:25.379
 has not an

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.000
 addiction to a

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.319
 bunch of

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.000
 different drugs.

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.000
 They have a

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.899
 drug of choice

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.719
 because that's

00:28:29.719 --> 00:28:30.319
 what they want.

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.439
 They believe that

00:28:31.439 --> 00:28:32.379
 drug will give

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:32.919
 them the greatest

00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.379
 happiness.

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.519
 So they do what

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:34.979
 they want.

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.119
 And then they

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:37.539
 become, it's

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.039
 your chemical

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.859
 addiction to it.

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.299
 It's an identity.

00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.399
 This is who I am

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:41.619
 now.

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:43.079
 And Jesus comes

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.939
 to reverse that.

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.939
 Do you want to

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.380
 be healed?

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.140
 So Christ, he

00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:48.920
 advances his

00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.100
 kingdom through

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:50.920
 his personal

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.820
 word.

00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:53.140
 Only he knows

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:53.740
 man's heart.

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.420
 He knows my

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:54.700
 heart.

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.600
 He knew this

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:56.160
 man's heart.

00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:57.220
 And he knows

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:57.980
 your heart.

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.640
 Do you want to

00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.240
 be healed by

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.600
 Jesus?

00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.460
 Now, the next

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.860
 thing I want to

00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.559
 point out is the

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.500
 order in which

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.279
 this happens, the

00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:06.720
 sequence.

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:10.100
 Jesus first has to

00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:10.860
 heal the man.

00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:13.639
 then the man has

00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:14.399
 to obey.

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.319
 It's not the

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.019
 other way around.

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.259
 The man doesn't

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.639
 obey God and he's

00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.639
 healed by obeying.

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.279
 First, God has to

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.799
 heal you.

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.500
 And then you will

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.839
 obey.

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:25.979
 If you are truly

00:29:25.979 --> 00:29:26.479
 healed, you will

00:29:26.479 --> 00:29:26.639
 obey.

00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:27.139
 Look at verse

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.459
 seven.

00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:28.639
 The sick man

00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:29.139
 answered him,

00:29:29.219 --> 00:29:30.019
 Sir, I have no

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.599
 one to put me in

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.000
 the pool.

00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:32.159
 When the water is

00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.219
 stirred up, I am

00:29:33.219 --> 00:29:33.939
 going and another

00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:34.799
 steps in down

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.339
 before me.

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.339
 He doesn't say,

00:29:36.479 --> 00:29:37.079
 yes, I want to be

00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.279
 healed.

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:37.879
 He makes more

00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.319
 excuses.

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.700
 He needs to be

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.799
 healed to even

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.539
 know that this is

00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.899
 what he needs, what

00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.419
 he wants.

00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:44.819
 So Christ's word is

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.339
 humbling.

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.859
 And look at verse

00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.059
 eight.

00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.159
 Jesus said to him,

00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.740
 get up, take up

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:52.099
 your bed and walk.

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.879
 So he commands

00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:55.099
 him on what is the

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.779
 thing he needs to

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.039
 do.

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.179
 But the man still

00:29:57.179 --> 00:29:57.960
 does not have the

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.919
 power to do it

00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.619
 until God heals

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:00.779
 him.

00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:01.279
 Look at verse

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.619
 nine.

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.700
 At once, look at

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.960
 the order, the man

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.619
 was healed, but it

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.500
 doesn't stop there.

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.039
 And he took up

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.059
 his bed and

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.440
 walked.

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.880
 So the word of

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:14.539
 Christ is

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.359
 authoritative.

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.539
 His kingdom is

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.039
 coming.

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.319
 And he commands

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.119
 you, you must

00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.980
 believe.

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.660
 You must repent.

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.579
 You must turn to

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.680
 the Lord Jesus.

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.259
 And his word is

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.700
 humbling.

00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:29.380
 Unless I heal

00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:30.380
 you, you will

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.019
 never turn.

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.259
 You will always

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.480
 want the sin or

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.900
 the idol more than

00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.660
 to be with me,

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.299
 your creator.

00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.740
 So if you are

00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.419
 walking with

00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:39.819
 Christ, praise the

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:40.779
 Lord that he turned

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.279
 your heart.

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.599
 And praise the

00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.139
 Lord that he's

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.220
 making Christ more

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.740
 and more of your

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.440
 desire, the healing

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.240
 of God more and

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.919
 more the thing you

00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:49.619
 do want most in

00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.919
 life by his grace.

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.639
 But you and I

00:30:53.639 --> 00:30:54.500
 never get to put it

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.359
 back on God.

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.519
 Well, I don't have

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.579
 to believe because

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.500
 I'm not healed.

00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.399
 No.

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.480
 His word is

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.240
 authoritative.

00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.639
 You must obey him

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:04.859
 if you are to be

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.240
 saved.

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.220
 You don't get to

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.240
 just hear his word

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.380
 and ignore his

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.680
 word because then

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.160
 you've made your

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.599
 decision.

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.980
 You have chosen to

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:14.299
 reject your God,

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.400
 the King of kings.

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.400
 So how do you

00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.740
 obey the word that

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.839
 Jesus speaks to you?

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.900
 Well, I want to

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:25.720
 show you in verse

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.299
 14.

00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:29.240
 Afterward, Jesus

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.279
 found the same man

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:32.240
 in the temple and

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.400
 Jesus had to remind

00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:36.700
 him, see, you are

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.180
 well.

00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:40.180
 The man for 38

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.240
 years lies on the

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.660
 ground in his filth

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.600
 with no one to help

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:43.759
 him.

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.540
 Now the man's walking

00:31:45.540 --> 00:31:46.620
 around and Jesus has

00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:47.360
 to point out the

00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.519
 obvious thing to him.

00:31:49.060 --> 00:31:49.860
 Man, look at

00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.360
 yourself.

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.080
 You're not the same

00:31:52.080 --> 00:31:52.620
 as you were.

00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.660
 You have been healed.

00:31:55.320 --> 00:31:56.340
 And why is that so

00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:56.640
 important?

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.500
 And why does Jesus,

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.280
 the good shepherd,

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.660
 whose voice they will

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.940
 always know, why does

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.940
 he care to tell this

00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:02.380
 man that?

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.240
 Look at what Jesus

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.360
 commands him next.

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.160
 What are those three

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.519
 words?

00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:10.519
 Sin no more.

00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:12.400
 So how do you know if

00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.180
 the word of God is

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.299
 working powerfully in

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:14.480
 you?

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:16.100
 It's that you continue

00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:17.100
 walking with him.

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:19.460
 You do not live in

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:19.880
 sin.

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.360
 And Jesus says, make

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.100
 sure that nothing

00:32:23.100 --> 00:32:24.320
 worse may happen to

00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:24.440
 you.

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:24.940
 And you might be

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.000
 thinking, what's worse

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.299
 than laying in a

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:29.019
 multitude of invalids

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:30.779
 for 38 years?

00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:31.319
 How could it

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.559
 possibly get worse

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.720
 on this earth?

00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:36.319
 Jesus is declaring

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:38.759
 to live an unrepentant

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:41.160
 life is worse than

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.619
 being broken in the

00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:42.980
 body.

00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:45.539
 You will have to face

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.940
 your creator one day.

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.759
 And he is most pure,

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.500
 most loving,

00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:52.779
 most righteous.

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.879
 And the blood of

00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:58.240
 Jesus Christ is the

00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:59.220
 only thing that can

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.319
 heal your soul.

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.819
 And just like the

00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.859
 springs of living

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.980
 water bubble up,

00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.519
 it's the blood of

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.400
 Christ that he will

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:08.720
 shed from the cross

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.920
 for the forgiveness

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:11.359
 of your sins.

00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:13.559
 By his blood we are

00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:13.980
 healed.

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:17.440
 Go and sin no more.

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.259
 Christ's kingdom

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.480
 advances on earth

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:25.220
 by his life-changing

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.220
 word.

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.279
 word.

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.900
 It changed that

00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:28.559
 man's life the

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.240
 moment he was

00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:29.579
 healed.

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.039
 He picked up his

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.220
 mat and walked and

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.700
 obeyed.

00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:34.420
 That initial step of

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:34.940
 conversion.

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.900
 But it's life-changing

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.960
 for the rest of your

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.339
 life.

00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:40.180
 Go and sin no more.

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.819
 It's the same power,

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.860
 the same authoritative

00:33:42.860 --> 00:33:44.640
 word that converts a

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:44.860
 sinner.

00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:45.819
 It's the same

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.220
 authoritative word that

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.579
 sustains that

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.720
 Christian, that saint

00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:51.100
 in sanctification,

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.200
 becoming more and more

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.360
 like Christ.

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:53.439
 Christ.

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:57.039
 Now, if you're like

00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:58.759
 me, one of the

00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.740
 scariest thoughts you

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.799
 have is that I know

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.599
 God saved me.

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.059
 I know it's the power

00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:05.500
 of Christ that holds

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:05.799
 me.

00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:07.759
 Yet not I, but Christ in

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:09.059
 me is all that carries

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.319
 me.

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.599
 And one of the scariest

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:13.039
 thoughts is that what

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:15.000
 if I relapse or

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.519
 backslide or I fall

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:18.420
 into egregious sin?

00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:20.579
 I know by my flesh I

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.500
 would still fall back

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.039
 into sin.

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:23.579
 I need Christ to

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.740
 sustain me every hour.

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.960
 And that's such a

00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.840
 terrifying thought.

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.380
 Samuel Rutherford was

00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.760
 a pastor in the 1500s

00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.380
 in Scotland.

00:34:32.180 --> 00:34:33.460
 Tiny little church in

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.019
 the countryside.

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:36.019
 And he felt that.

00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.099
 He said, it feels like

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.340
 I'm like a spider.

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.920
 And the only thing

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:41.019
 holding me up from,

00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:42.780
 you know, from hell is

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:45.099
 this one thread of a

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.400
 web.

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:48.860
 But the hand that

00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:50.300
 holds that thread is

00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.320
 the hand of Jesus

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.960
 Christ.

00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.619
 He ransomed me.

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.500
 And we have the

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.460
 confidence that the

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.639
 same God who saves

00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:59.539
 will sustain you by

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:01.180
 that same power every

00:35:01.180 --> 00:35:02.280
 day because Jesus

00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:03.240
 says, look at verse

00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:06.400
 17, God is working.

00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:08.880
 God is working and he

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.639
 will keep you.

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.320
 Verse 17 says,

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.280
 Jesus answered this

00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.380
 man, my father is

00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:15.320
 working until now and

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:17.200
 I am working.

00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.380
 That's your promise

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.480
 that God who saved

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:22.039
 you will sustain you.

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.780
 I want to give a

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.480
 couple words of

00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:25.980
 caution and reflection

00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:27.820
 here on the Pharisees

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.720
 are right mixed into

00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:29.539
 the same story.

00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.880
 And as I said at the

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:33.360
 beginning, what's

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.580
 happening here is the

00:35:34.580 --> 00:35:35.860
 promise of heaven, the

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.539
 promise of a new

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.500
 creation, the dead will

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.519
 rise, the lame will

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:40.300
 walk, and Christ is

00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:41.320
 breaking in the kingdom

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.260
 of heaven everywhere he

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.080
 steps his foot.

00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:45.159
 life and these tastes

00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:46.079
 because he just brings

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:47.380
 the power of God.

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.019
 It's happening.

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.480
 And the caution is that

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.279
 you could miss it just

00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:53.199
 like these Pharisees

00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:53.739
 missed it.

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.420
 Thomas Watson said,

00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:01.639
 none will find it more

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:04.000
 difficult to repent than

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.920
 hypocrites.

00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:06.900
 They have juggled in

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:08.599
 religion so much that

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.900
 their treacherous hearts

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:12.300
 know not how to repent

00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:13.000
 any longer.

00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.220
 And when you hear the

00:36:15.220 --> 00:36:16.400
 word of God go forth,

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.639
 you must believe.

00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.660
 How do you know you

00:36:18.660 --> 00:36:19.039
 believe?

00:36:19.220 --> 00:36:20.019
 You repent.

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:22.280
 You turn to Christ once

00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:23.760
 again as your only hope

00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:25.920
 in life and in death.

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.880
 Watson said, hypocrisy

00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.820
 is this.

00:36:29.200 --> 00:36:30.400
 It's counterfeiting

00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:32.860
 sanctity.

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:34.619
 The hypocrite pretends

00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:36.220
 to a form of godliness

00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.720
 like the Pharisees but

00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:39.200
 denies the power of God.

00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:41.199
 2 Timothy 3.5,

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:43.079
 the hypocrite is a saint

00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:45.699
 in jest, like an ape

00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:47.119
 clothed in purple.

00:36:47.859 --> 00:36:49.579
 Under his mask, a

00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:51.719
 profession that he hides

00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:54.099
 his plague sores.

00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:55.439
 Isn't that an image?

00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:57.179
 An ape in a purple robe?

00:36:57.859 --> 00:36:59.460
 That's what hypocrisy is.

00:37:00.179 --> 00:37:01.539
 He is seemingly good so

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:03.980
 that he may be really bad.

00:37:04.379 --> 00:37:05.739
 The hypocrite seems to

00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:07.039
 have his eyes nailed to

00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:09.119
 heaven, but his heart is

00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:11.119
 full of impure lustings.

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:14.659
 He lives in secret sin

00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:16.960
 against his conscience.

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:20.420
 Be careful to not be like

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.139
 the Pharisee.

00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:23.319
 See, Jesus came to be

00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:24.239
 the Lamb of God.

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:25.980
 He became the gate

00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:27.400
 through which his sheep

00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:29.000
 would enter now to have

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.019
 fellowship with the Holy

00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:30.420
 God.

00:37:30.819 --> 00:37:32.319
 He spilled his blood.

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:34.980
 He brings healing by his

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.440
 word.

00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:37.800
 What is repentance and why

00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.820
 is there so much freedom

00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:40.119
 for us to live in

00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:41.019
 continual repentance?

00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:43.400
 Well, Charles Spurgeon in

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.820
 the 1800s quoted a

00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:46.420
 children's hymn that was

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.380
 known at the time and it

00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:48.139
 goes like this.

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:51.599
 Repentance is to leave the

00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:54.880
 sins we loved before and

00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:57.400
 show that we in earnest

00:37:57.400 --> 00:38:01.460
 grieve by doing so no more.

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:09.860
 Christ's kingdom advances on

00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:12.679
 earth by his living and

00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.900
 active word.

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.760
 I want to make a

00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.780
 connection here for you.

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:23.280
 The living word of God, it

00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:24.519
 still goes forth today.

00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.760
 Salvation is still by faith,

00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:28.300
 not by sight today.

00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:30.840
 In Ephesians 121, we're

00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:32.180
 told that Christ rules over

00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:34.560
 all the earth now and he

00:38:34.560 --> 00:38:36.440
 rules from above, from

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:37.900
 heaven above, over all

00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:39.039
 authority and power and

00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:40.460
 dominion, above every name

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:42.120
 that is named, not only in

00:38:42.120 --> 00:38:43.500
 this age, but also in the

00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:44.300
 age to come.

00:38:45.220 --> 00:38:46.640
 And the kingdom of heaven is

00:38:46.640 --> 00:38:48.340
 breaking in still by his

00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:50.160
 word as is proclaimed through

00:38:50.160 --> 00:38:51.120
 the church, through his

00:38:51.120 --> 00:38:51.539
 people.

00:38:52.200 --> 00:38:53.640
 So the ear, the body,

00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:55.039
 receives the word of God.

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:57.280
 The soul believes and obeys

00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:58.500
 and trusts in Christ for

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.900
 forgiveness.

00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:01.400
 And then from the soul, that

00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:02.900
 life in Christ of the age to

00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:04.660
 come works its way out in the

00:39:04.660 --> 00:39:04.960
 body.

00:39:06.040 --> 00:39:07.380
 So how do you know if you've

00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:08.740
 been converted, if you have a

00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:09.180
 new heart?

00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:12.280
 It's like the drunk man that

00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:14.240
 again with Charles Spurgeon, he

00:39:14.240 --> 00:39:16.420
 was on the streets drunk again

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:18.620
 and Charles Spurgeon was walking

00:39:18.620 --> 00:39:20.019
 by on his way to work.

00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:22.580
 And this man said, hey, Pastor

00:39:22.580 --> 00:39:24.700
 Spurgeon, I'm one of your

00:39:24.700 --> 00:39:25.120
 converts.

00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:25.279
 Converts.

00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:27.559
 And then Spurgeon turned around

00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:29.059
 and said, yeah, you must be one

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:30.539
 of my converts because if you

00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:32.859
 were one of God's converts, you

00:39:32.859 --> 00:39:34.159
 wouldn't be living like this.

00:39:35.859 --> 00:39:38.299
 Beware of the hypocrisy of the

00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:38.940
 Pharisees.

00:39:40.900 --> 00:39:43.099
 So we pray now that like the

00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:44.659
 hymn, Lord, haste the day when

00:39:44.659 --> 00:39:46.199
 our faith will be made sight.

00:39:46.839 --> 00:39:48.159
 The clouds will one day be

00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:49.579
 rolled back as the scroll.

00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:52.179
 The trump shall resound and the

00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:53.199
 Lord shall descend.

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:55.059
 And if you're in Christ, you can

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:57.059
 say, it is well with my soul.

00:39:59.379 --> 00:40:01.579
 You must respond to God's word

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:04.399
 if you are his, if you belong to

00:40:04.399 --> 00:40:04.639
 him.

00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:07.599
 To reject his word is to be a goat.

00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:09.759
 And Jesus said in Matthew 25,

00:40:10.419 --> 00:40:13.119
 Jesus will gather all nations and

00:40:13.119 --> 00:40:15.439
 he will separate people, one from

00:40:15.439 --> 00:40:17.719
 another, as a shepherd separates the

00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:18.679
 sheep from the goats.

00:40:19.159 --> 00:40:20.980
 One will go away into eternal

00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:24.079
 punishment and the other, the

00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:26.019
 righteous in Christ to eternal

00:40:26.019 --> 00:40:26.800
 life.

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:29.320
 Be sure that you believe now and

00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:30.900
 obey Christ, that you can have

00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:32.219
 life in him.

00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:34.000
 His kingdom is coming.

00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:36.740
 It advances on earth by his word.

00:40:37.219 --> 00:40:39.360
 So don't ignore the word of God.

00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:42.019
 Confess that it is, it is

00:40:42.019 --> 00:40:43.179
 everything that we've seen it to

00:40:43.179 --> 00:40:43.920
 be in this passage.

00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:45.480
 His word is mighty.

00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:46.780
 It works with power.

00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:47.960
 It is clear.

00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:49.780
 You can't say, I didn't understand

00:40:49.780 --> 00:40:51.220
 that I need to have faith in

00:40:51.220 --> 00:40:51.639
 Christ.

00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:54.159
 His word will search your soul.

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.960
 Put yourself under his word.

00:40:56.760 --> 00:40:59.199
 His word is faith giving.

00:40:59.740 --> 00:41:01.639
 You come to the Lord weak and ask

00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:03.199
 him to work mightily in your heart

00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:05.360
 to increase your faith by his

00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:05.639
 word.

00:41:06.420 --> 00:41:07.840
 You'll see over and over in the

00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:10.519
 word of God, God is merciful toward

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:11.440
 those who repent.

00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:13.900
 So you can come to him just as you

00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.139
 are.

00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:16.179
 Don't try to clean yourself up first.

00:41:16.179 --> 00:41:17.899
 And his word is personal.

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.819
 He knows your heart.

00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:22.239
 He knows where you need healing

00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:23.000
 even today.

00:41:24.339 --> 00:41:27.000
 Yes, his word is humbling and

00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:27.759
 authoritative.

00:41:28.839 --> 00:41:31.039
 But let's bow the knee to our Lord

00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:34.279
 Jesus today because one day every

00:41:34.279 --> 00:41:36.460
 knee will bow in heaven and on

00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:39.239
 earth and confess that Jesus is

00:41:39.239 --> 00:41:39.619
 Lord.

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.359
 Let's pray.

00:41:41.359 --> 00:41:41.460
 Amen.

00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:41.500
 Amen.

00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:48.539
 from Isaiah 35.

00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:51.219
 Lord, we read how the wilderness

00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:54.000
 and the dry land will one day be

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:54.440
 glad.

00:41:55.279 --> 00:41:58.199
 We still walk in the desert and we

00:41:58.199 --> 00:42:00.119
 feel the shadows deepen all around

00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:00.519
 us.

00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:02.940
 But we thank you, Lord, that

00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:05.699
 spiritually you've inaugurated the

00:42:05.699 --> 00:42:06.859
 kingdom of the age to come.

00:42:08.119 --> 00:42:10.440
 We pray, Lord, that you will blossom

00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:12.399
 in our hearts and our souls and our

00:42:12.399 --> 00:42:15.299
 families your abundant life, that we

00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:17.440
 can rejoice with joy and singing.

00:42:18.180 --> 00:42:20.200
 We pray that the glory and majesty of

00:42:20.200 --> 00:42:23.080
 the new creation will be breaking in,

00:42:23.640 --> 00:42:25.640
 that you will strengthen the feeble

00:42:25.640 --> 00:42:25.980
 name.

00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:29.019
 Lord, those with an anxious heart even

00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:31.660
 today, may we be strong in Christ.

00:42:32.100 --> 00:42:34.220
 May we not fear your judgment because

00:42:34.220 --> 00:42:36.539
 we know our sins are covered by your

00:42:36.539 --> 00:42:36.900
 blood.

00:42:37.800 --> 00:42:39.440
 We behold you, our God.

00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:42.120
 You will come with a vengeance to

00:42:42.120 --> 00:42:43.860
 judge the living and the dead.

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:46.260
 But those who are united to you will

00:42:46.260 --> 00:42:48.180
 leap like a deer.

00:42:48.280 --> 00:42:50.840
 The lame will be healed and the tongue

00:42:50.840 --> 00:42:52.460
 of the mute will sing for joy.

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:55.280
 You promise that the waters will break

00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:57.660
 forth in the wilderness and the streams

00:42:57.660 --> 00:43:00.000
 in the desert and the burning sand

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:02.599
 shall become a pool and the thirsty

00:43:02.599 --> 00:43:04.920
 ground springs of water.

00:43:05.720 --> 00:43:07.440
 We praise you, Lord, that we can taste

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:10.280
 that now in Christ when we taste Christ and

00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:13.320
 we can believe in you now through your

00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:14.640
 powerful word.

00:43:15.019 --> 00:43:15.240
 Amen.