WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.060 Every Bible, I want you to turn to Mark chapter 2, Mark chapter 2. 00:00:06.140 --> 00:00:11.099 Then I want you to take this card and I want you to hold it up, okay? 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:20.980 This tells me if he's lying a little while ago or if you actually have one. 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:26.240 Now while you're holding it up, let's pray together. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:35.920 Lord Jesus, I ask that you'll lay upon our heart, that you'll open our eyes, 00:00:37.259 --> 00:00:46.299 that you'll help us to see what you'd have us to see and help us to follow as you lead. 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:49.820 In Jesus' precious name, amen. 00:00:49.820 --> 00:01:00.460 In four weeks, we'll celebrate Easter and it is always a wonderful time to honor the Lord together 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:04.700 and to celebrate our new life through his resurrection. 00:01:05.180 --> 00:01:09.599 If you have other plans on Easter and you can get out of it, cancel it, all right? 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.000 And make sure that you are here. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.959 If you've not made plans for Easter, then don't overbook. 00:01:17.219 --> 00:01:18.159 Make sure you're here. 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:19.700 It's a significant day. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:22.019 We're hoping for record attendance. 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:28.939 We have been averaging about 200% of what we normally have on Sunday on Easter. 00:01:29.340 --> 00:01:36.000 And so I encourage you to be here and get here early and be a part of it. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:42.939 Last year, we made a commitment weeks out from Easter and it worked. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.280 Lives were changed by that and God's blessed our faithfulness. 00:01:48.500 --> 00:01:55.019 And so I want us to commit again today publicly and to lay it out before the Lord. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:00.359 This four by four card that you have is a prayer card. 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:12.520 And it is my request that you would write down, you can do this while I'm preaching. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:13.479 I'll let you. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:23.939 Write down four people that you want to pray for to invite to join us at Easter time. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.740 It may be somebody who don't care anything about church. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:31.300 Don't know anything about the Lord. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:32.659 Don't care anything about the Lord. 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:36.659 But if God lays that person on your heart, you write them down. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.780 It could be somebody that does know the Lord, but they're just not active in church. 00:02:41.320 --> 00:02:42.300 They're not faithful. 00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:45.120 Then you write that name down. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:47.800 I don't know what God's laid upon your heart to do. 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:52.300 And he may not have laid anything on your heart at this point, but that's why I'm going to preach for the next few minutes. 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:55.120 And while he does, I want you to write that down. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:01.819 Now, I went through this morning and I put a pen down this aisle on both sides and down this aisle on both sides. 00:03:01.920 --> 00:03:06.319 So if you're sitting on the end, don't be hoarding up your pen, all right? 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:07.379 Pass that down. 00:03:07.480 --> 00:03:09.340 Somebody might bump you in the middle of the sermon. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:10.060 You can do that. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:11.300 Hey, I need that pen. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:12.680 I thought of somebody else, you know? 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:15.819 And y'all share that like you Christians, okay? 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:17.219 Share that pen. 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:20.159 And hopefully it works. 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:23.060 If don't, nudge the guy in front of you and say, hey, we need your pen. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:29.539 So, and as I preach this morning, I want you to write down those names. 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:35.680 Now, I'm telling you that I have prayed that God will let those names flow in your life. 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:37.979 That you'll know who they are. 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.900 And it may be somebody that you think, this ain't going to happen. 00:03:43.900 --> 00:04:00.980 I'm not asking you to do anything this morning except write down names of folks that you commit to pray that God would give you the opportunity to invite. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:06.259 It might even be a circumstance right now where you say, I ain't going to invite them people, all right? 00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:08.199 Well, I ain't telling you to invite them. 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:11.219 I'm asking you to pray about inviting them, all right? 00:04:11.579 --> 00:04:17.199 And then me and the Lord working on you this week and all those names, all right? 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:19.579 That God would open up that. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:26.719 And I will give you ample opportunity in coming weeks to follow up on this, okay? 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:34.800 But all I'm asking for this morning is for you to simply say, Lord, you've given me these names. 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:36.020 I want to write them down. 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:45.240 And I commit to pray for these names as possibilities to invite on Easter. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:47.100 God's been wonderful to us. 00:04:48.280 --> 00:04:55.000 And Easter is a wonderful time to invite people to come and see what God's doing. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:58.199 People will come on Easter and at Christmas. 00:04:58.379 --> 00:04:59.379 We call them Christers. 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:03.779 They'll come at no other time but those times. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:05.360 They think they've checked the block. 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:06.939 When they get here, I'll tell them they hadn't. 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:10.939 But they'll come if we'll invite them. 00:05:12.100 --> 00:05:17.060 People will come on Easter when they won't come at any other time. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.199 And we have something to share, folks. 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:23.660 We have something to share if we have Christ. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:38.879 We have no idea how significant it could be if we just pray and invite someone to come. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:40.939 We have no idea. 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:47.560 And I want us to see what can happen when we bring one to Jesus. 00:05:47.779 --> 00:05:51.100 It's in Mark chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:55.200 And it says this, and when he returned to Capernaum after some days, talking about the Lord, 00:05:56.260 --> 00:05:58.540 it was reported that he was at home. 00:05:59.700 --> 00:06:03.320 Many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:06.700 And he was preaching the word to them. 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:12.819 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:20.099 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him. 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:26.279 And when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:35.079 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, son, your sins are forgiven. 00:06:35.979 --> 00:06:41.019 Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts, why does this man speak like this? 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:42.739 He's blaspheming. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:47.019 Who can forgive sins but God alone? 00:06:47.019 --> 00:06:56.139 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:59.899 why do you question these things in your hearts? 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.579 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven? 00:07:05.159 --> 00:07:07.979 Or to say, rise, take up your bed and walk? 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:12.399 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:19.459 He said to the paralytic, I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:27.239 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all so that they were all amazed, 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:35.299 glorified God and glorified God saying, we never saw anything like this. 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:42.540 When Jesus entered Capernaum, there was a buzz in the air. 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:45.439 Jesus was in town again. 00:07:46.340 --> 00:07:48.020 He had previously been there. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:51.160 And when he had been there, he taught in the synagogue. 00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:57.740 And after teaching and eating at Simon's house, the whole town came and more were healed. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:01.080 He pulled away the next morning and went to pray. 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:05.599 And when he got up, he went and preached in Galilee. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.519 Now Capernaum is in the Galilean region. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:15.479 And all of that area overlooks the Sea of Galilee. 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:18.479 It is pretty rolling pasture there. 00:08:19.219 --> 00:08:21.979 It's the area of the Sermon on the Mount as well. 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:24.479 It smells of Jesus up there. 00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:25.740 I'm just telling you, it does. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.259 You can sense his influence. 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:33.720 The Galilean people have a different countenance to them. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.240 There's just something different about them. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:37.200 They look Galilean. 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:38.059 They act Galilean. 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:38.879 I don't know how to say. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:40.720 It's pretty neat to see. 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:45.500 Well, this morning in our passage, he returns to Capernaum. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:47.860 He has taught folks. 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:49.399 He's healed folks. 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:51.139 He fellowshiped with folks. 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.379 And they spread the word and more folks were coming. 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:57.279 And he stopped at someone's place. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:00.500 And a crowd surrounded the place. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.139 And Jesus began to teach. 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:06.500 Now I don't think this was an organized revival meeting. 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:09.340 I don't think they made flyers and put them out. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:13.000 I don't think they had newspaper announcements about it or anything like that. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:22.120 Instead, it was spread by word of mouth, which, listen, is the best way to get the message out. 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:28.080 We will advertise our Easter schedule. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:31.759 We will put it on social media. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.600 We'll boost it and let other people see it more. 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:37.940 We'll do everything we can. 00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:47.060 But I promise you, whatever we do will not be as great as word of mouth can be. 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:56.899 When you speak to somebody, you know with a personal invitation, it is the best way to get the message out, period. 00:09:57.199 --> 00:09:59.079 We call them testimonies. 00:09:59.599 --> 00:10:03.579 And your testimony is the best way to get the word out. 00:10:04.119 --> 00:10:08.979 The result of testimonies was a house overflowing with people. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.839 The room was full. 00:10:11.239 --> 00:10:12.679 The doorway was full. 00:10:13.119 --> 00:10:14.359 The windows were full. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:15.939 People were everywhere. 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:19.980 And there was a special need on the outer edge of the crowd. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:23.620 And thankfully, that man had help. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.960 Nothing like good friends. 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:29.220 And this man was paralyzed and he needed help. 00:10:29.260 --> 00:10:30.540 And thankfully, he had friends. 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:31.880 And they had a burden for him. 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:33.620 And they wanted him well. 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:37.160 And when they heard of Jesus and they saw his power, 00:10:37.640 --> 00:10:41.240 they wanted to get their paralyzed friend to Christ. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.180 And that's what we need to do. 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:49.420 I think this lays out exactly how it happens. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:51.240 One is we bring them. 00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:57.540 This man could not come to Jesus by himself. 00:10:57.640 --> 00:11:00.520 He was physically unable to do it. 00:11:00.880 --> 00:11:04.900 Jesus may pass by him, but he will not pass by Jesus. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.460 He was physically lame. 00:11:08.040 --> 00:11:10.300 Physically incapable of coming. 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:13.939 Do you know what? 00:11:13.939 --> 00:11:21.500 There are that many more people who are spiritually incapable of coming. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:25.279 Romans chapter 3 verse 10 through 12 says this. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:28.460 As it is written, none is righteous. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:30.120 No, not one. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.659 No one understands. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.559 No one seeks for God. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:35.200 All have turned aside. 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.980 Together they become worthless. 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.679 No one does good. 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:39.980 Not even one. 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:42.539 It's followed up by verses 17 and 18 that say, 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:45.039 And the way of peace they have not known. 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:48.420 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:52.899 You don't wake up to the fact that you need Jesus on your own. 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:54.720 It don't happen like that. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:02.000 God always makes the initiative in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.220 And you know how he does it? 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:08.679 He often does it by using us to do it. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:16.419 He has commissioned us to join him on the task of bringing others to him. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:21.299 Now I will tell you there will always be a resistance to that. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.240 There will always be. 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:27.259 There is an inner resistance within us to do that. 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:34.039 You just soon may not ask you to write down names to pray about to invite to church. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:36.139 You just soon not invite anybody. 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:38.240 You just soon mind your own business. 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:41.759 That's a spiritual resistance, quite honestly. 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:45.379 It's easy for us to do just that. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:49.139 And unless you're spirit-filled and led by the spirit, 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:55.980 you're not going to share Christ with others in a spirit-filled way. 00:12:57.259 --> 00:13:00.740 It is not our natural tendency to do that. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:04.179 We may talk about who won the basketball game yesterday. 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:07.819 We may talk about the new car that we just went in debt for. 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:10.939 We may talk about the new job that we've got. 00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:17.159 We may talk about our grandbaby or moan about our youngins or whatever the case may be. 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.659 We may do that. 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:21.919 But the reality is when it comes to talking about the Lord, 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:25.620 there's always going to be a resistance in us that do that. 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:29.019 What if somebody's not interested in that? 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:35.240 And if somebody's not interested in that, that scares a lot of Christians off. 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:39.860 I don't want to talk about somebody like them and I might feel comfortable with that. 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.259 And I'm going to tell you something. 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:42.299 Satan's all over that. 00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.320 He loves that. 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:46.919 He just soon you mind your own business. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:49.599 He's in the effort. 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:55.620 He's in the business of oppressing Christians, influencing society, 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:59.419 and indoctrinating the carnal man to stay that way. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.419 And in reality, we're in a war. 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.679 I talked about that last year. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.299 We're in a war. 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:07.539 And if we're not sharing Christ, we're losing the war. 00:14:08.099 --> 00:14:10.339 Because God chooses to use that. 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:17.800 Most people will never come to know the Lord if Christian friends don't bring them to Christ. 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:21.860 We think it's none of our business when Scripture tells us it is. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.800 It's clear that it is our responsibility. 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:30.139 We think that they can see Christ optioned clearly in their mind. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.600 When Scripture tells us they cannot. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.360 They can't see that. 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:35.400 Why can't they see that? 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:39.279 John 1.5 says that Jesus is the light that's shining in the darkness. 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:42.059 But the darkness has not understood it. 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:47.199 Never expect someone spiritually in the dark to become spiritually enlightened 00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:49.840 without the outreach of a Christian friend. 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:54.059 Jesus said, pray for the workers of the harvest. 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:58.779 Jesus said, God opened their eyes to see the fields that are white in the harvest. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:03.679 The last thing he said was he commissioned us to go and make disciples. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:08.859 And the active verb there is not go, but it's make disciples. 00:15:09.599 --> 00:15:13.539 It is to share Christ with folks around us. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:20.059 All folks in need must know that the Savior can solve their needs. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:20.919 So bring them. 00:15:23.739 --> 00:15:27.599 Do all you have to to bring them. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:31.179 Including go out of the way to do it. 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:33.979 Go out of the way. 00:15:34.099 --> 00:15:35.979 These guys had a plan. 00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:38.919 I think they just planned to lead him through. 00:15:41.239 --> 00:15:45.159 Maybe we can just tell folks to get out of the way for a minute and bump him through. 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:47.039 But the crowd was too great. 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.039 They couldn't get through. 00:15:49.479 --> 00:15:51.299 So they went to the nth degree. 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.459 Four of them carried him to the roof. 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:59.580 Now typically these homes would have had clay steps on the side of the home. 00:16:00.280 --> 00:16:02.139 They'd have a flat roof on them. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:08.800 And they climbed those stairs and began to tear through that roof of hay and dried mud. 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:14.019 Now can you imagine the scene inside as Jesus was teaching? 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:16.379 Because the roof began to fall. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:22.980 What if his friends would have said, that's too much work. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.580 What if they said, maybe we'll just try later. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:33.559 What if they said, what are people going to think? 00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:37.879 What if they had said what I would have thought? 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.580 What's the owner going to think? 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.679 You know? 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:45.359 What's Jesus going to think? 00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:50.459 We're going to interrupt him by busting a man through the roof. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.979 Why don't we just try this later? 00:16:54.139 --> 00:17:00.059 All those responses would have been easy to do, but none of them would have been acceptable. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.319 It was the day of a miracle. 00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:05.980 And none of those friends knew that when they got up that morning. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.200 They never knew that. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:14.700 You never know when God's going to do a miracle in somebody else's life through your effort. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:18.980 And the question is, what's too much? 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:22.380 I mean, think about that question. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:28.960 When have you went too far to lead someone to Christ? 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.360 When is it too much? 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:44.759 When have you done too much to lead someone into a real relationship with Christ and keep him or her out of an eternal hell? 00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:47.759 When do you give up trying on that? 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.539 These guys showed up. 00:17:53.479 --> 00:17:55.939 And they showed us that you don't. 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.859 It's never too late. 00:17:59.159 --> 00:18:02.259 God works in extreme efforts. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:05.900 It's in those times that he often makes his greatest moves. 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:08.359 And I want you to notice the reason for it. 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:10.059 I didn't put this in here. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.440 Scripture says this. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:16.059 Jesus did what he did. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:21.680 He said in verse 5, because of their faith. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:26.619 It does not say the man's faith. 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:32.079 It says he did what he did because of their faith. 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.819 Now, what does that mean? 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.739 I'm not telling you the man didn't have faith in Christ. 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.719 I'm not telling you that. 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:42.579 This is how I think it went down. 00:18:42.719 --> 00:18:43.879 And you can disagree with me. 00:18:43.919 --> 00:18:44.819 You've got a right to be wrong. 00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:47.599 But I believe this is how it went down. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:55.759 And I believe those fellas said, Jesus can do a miracle in this man's life. 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.879 And I think we need to bring him to Jesus. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:03.799 So you grab a corner and I'll grab a corner and let's get this. 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:09.399 And when they got there and all that crowd was there, somebody in the back went, uh-uh. 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.619 This ain't going to work. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.359 Hey, man, I got to go. 00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.339 You know, something. 00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:14.079 Somebody. 00:19:14.219 --> 00:19:14.839 There's always one. 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:17.259 No, you're coming with us. 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.839 And so they did what they did. 00:19:20.959 --> 00:19:29.859 And I believe when that man saw their effort and saw their strong faith in the Lord Jesus, 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:40.240 God used their influence to place a faith in his life to trust Christ for what Christ was going to do in him. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:57.680 It was the faith of believers that got him to the point where God initiated the faith within him that he needed to be saved and changed and healed. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:04.200 Because God chooses to use us in that process. 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:12.200 Let's not let our lack of faith keep someone from coming to Jesus. 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.519 Let's go out of our way. 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.600 Go out of our way. 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:23.340 And when we do, he'll meet them. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.680 He'll meet them. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:31.720 After they did all that, Jesus did not even do what they wanted him to do. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:34.839 Or at least he didn't do what was obvious to do. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:36.559 He handled something else. 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:40.200 Jesus looked past the physical condition of this man. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:42.100 He saw his spiritual condition. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.880 And you know what? 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.860 He always does. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:52.900 Jesus always looks past the physical condition and looks to the spiritual condition. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.579 You may have something on your mind. 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.180 It's a physical matter. 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:01.620 You may have something on your mind and it's a material matter. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:04.839 You may have something on your mind and it's a possessive matter. 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:07.299 Something that's weighing on you. 00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:13.460 And I'm going to tell you, God always looks past whatever that is and looks to the spiritual matters. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.519 He always does that. 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:18.460 Yes, he healed this man as proof of what he could do in his heart. 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:21.220 But I bet nobody thought that was how it was going to go. 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.640 Understand something. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:29.819 It is not our job to determine someone's greatest need. 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:34.279 It's our job to get them to Jesus. 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:38.559 Jesus will meet the needs regardless of what they are. 00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:40.359 Jesus will work it out. 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:44.639 We often think sometimes that somebody needs to change their lifestyle first. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.720 I can't invite them. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:50.300 I mean, look at the lifestyle they live. 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:55.400 That they need to somehow clean up their life before we can do that. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:22:00.780 That they need to change something within them. 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:03.619 Or maybe they need to change the places that they go. 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:06.440 Or maybe they need to act differently. 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:11.059 Or to show a concern for spiritual things. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:17.359 And that will hold us off sometimes from sharing our faith with someone. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.619 From just, look, I ain't even asking you to share your faith. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:23.759 I'm just asking you to pray about inviting them to church. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:27.839 Well, they don't look like us. 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.859 They don't act like us. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.640 They don't go the places we go. 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.900 How in the world would all that work out? 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:37.920 It ain't your responsibility to work all that out. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:41.539 Bring them to Jesus and he'll work out those things. 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:47.759 And on that note, if you're here this morning and you've never given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:51.980 And you're waiting until you change something in your lifestyle. 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.359 I got news for you. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.819 You're going to wait too long. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:59.099 If you wait until you stop going to the places you go. 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.940 You wait until you act differently. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:05.180 You wait until you share a concern for such spiritual matters in your life. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:07.619 If you wait for those things to come to Christ. 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.680 You may never come to Christ. 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:16.480 I want you to never forget that people without Jesus act like people without Jesus. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:21.059 People that don't have Christ in them does not have Christ in them. 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:24.759 And because they don't have Christ in them, they're not going to look Christ-like. 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.500 They're not going to act Christ-like. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.440 They're not going to adhere to the things of Christ. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:31.740 If we could fix all those things, we wouldn't need a Savior. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.059 But thank God we can't fix all those things. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:41.079 And if you're waiting to fix those things, you just bring whatever your need is to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:43.579 And when you bring it to him, he'll take care of the rest. 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:47.659 Don't worry about what God needs to do in somebody else's life. 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:50.159 Don't worry about what God needs to do in your life. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.259 Come to Jesus. 00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:54.039 Get them to Jesus. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.859 He'll meet them where they are. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.720 And he'll change them to be what he would have them to be. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.139 You've got to trust the Lord. 00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:04.139 Our judgment is insufficient. 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:08.639 Even our good old Sunday sanctified judgment. 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.119 It's insufficient. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:12.679 We've got to trust the Lord in the matter. 00:24:13.939 --> 00:24:17.439 He'll meet them where they are. 00:24:18.439 --> 00:24:20.699 You can see it again and again in Scripture. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.359 In the Gospels. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:29.319 Every time he came to a need in somebody's life, he met them where they were and brought them where they needed to be. 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:33.179 He'll change things. 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:35.140 I want you to notice what it says in verse 12. 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:36.960 It says, 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:44.720 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all so that they were all amazed and glorified God saying, 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:49.140 We never saw anything like this. 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:52.860 This transformation was not done in secret. 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:56.379 People saw what took place. 00:24:57.419 --> 00:25:00.079 And when they left there, they couldn't help but share it. 00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:03.639 It's powerful when somebody comes to Christ. 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:07.399 It does not only affect the person that comes to Christ. 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:09.500 It also affects so many others. 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:13.459 Salvation is not meant to be done in inclusion. 00:25:13.959 --> 00:25:15.659 It is to be made public. 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:32.519 And I'm telling you, when it's made public, say people get fired up, lost people get saved, private Christians will make it public, churches will experience revival, the kingdom of God will grow, heaven will celebrate, the angels will shout. 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:39.040 I'm telling you, all kinds of things happen when somebody just obeys God and just follows through. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:45.920 Every time somebody gives their heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ here and admits that publicly and shares that with you. 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:50.859 Or every time somebody comes and they're to be baptized in this church, I always tell them, 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:58.180 Your influence in standing up for Christ is well beyond anything you'll ever know this side of eternity. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.519 I get to see the evidence of it. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:03.779 Every time I baptize somebody else, they'll share with me. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:08.139 Somebody will share with me in that group how somebody else's influence affected them. 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:11.300 How they saw somebody else get baptized and how that influenced them. 00:26:11.540 --> 00:26:13.980 I see it again and again and again. 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:19.860 But I'm telling you, that does not even, that's just the tip of the iceberg of what we'll know in eternity. 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:28.720 When we realize the lives that have been changed because we stood up for Christ, because we made it public, and because we shared our faith with other folks. 00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:33.440 There are people, you better be writing. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:40.940 There are people that you'll write down on this list, and you'll pray about inviting, and you'll invite. 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.320 They got me on a leash this morning. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:51.400 And you'll pray about inviting, and they may not come. 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:58.259 But you know what will happen? 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:06.500 What you know will happen is that if you'll just take the rest of this week and pray for these people daily, 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:10.500 God will put a burden on your heart. 00:27:10.560 --> 00:27:11.680 He'll put a spur in your saddle. 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:15.960 He'll change your tune the way you look at somebody. 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:20.539 And he'll work in you. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:28.720 And we may never know this side of the turn of how he's working in them while we're praying for them. 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:33.740 And folks, that's the worst of it. 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:40.759 Because the best of it is that as you're writing that name down today, 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:43.920 God's working in the heart of that person. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:47.140 They won't admit it to you mostly. 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.400 Most of the time they won't. 00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:51.140 But God's doing a work in their heart. 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:55.779 And God's preparing them, just like he did with Philip. 00:27:56.620 --> 00:28:01.120 When he told him, go down to that crossroad, there's a chariot coming by. 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:04.080 And there's a man in there that you need to speak to. 00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:06.860 What am I going to say? 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.600 He didn't say that. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.140 He just went. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.480 He just went to the crossroad. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:14.160 And when he got there, the man was reading scripture that he couldn't understand. 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.400 And you know what it was? 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:18.860 It was a messianic prophecy about what the Lord Jesus would do. 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:23.140 And when he came to that man and shared with him, that man said, 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.640 How in the world can I know what this means? 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:27.000 And he shared with him what it meant. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.980 They had a pool of water over to the side. 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:31.079 And the man said, Why not be baptized right now? 00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.140 There's water. 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.519 Let's do it. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:35.440 God set all that up. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.160 It wasn't Philip. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.500 God set all that up. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:40.000 And that's what God will do. 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.519 Why? 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:47.400 Because some friends went to the extreme to just bring a man to Jesus. 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:51.880 Jesus is the one that heals the deepest herds. 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:55.200 Jesus is the one that cures the deepest one. 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:58.460 Jesus is the one that changes somebody inside and out. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:03.579 And because many lives witnessed it, they've never been the same since. 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:08.400 I want you to imagine, just to use your spiritual imagination for a moment, 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:10.819 what if you'd been standing in the doorway? 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:14.259 You might even been the jerk that didn't let them by. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:17.920 And you're standing in the doorway hearing Jesus. 00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:19.720 I ain't letting them men by. 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.720 They're going to get my spot. 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:22.099 I ain't going to let them get my spot. 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.519 And then you watch them. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:27.139 I was trying to be funny when I called you a jerk. 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.180 But you took that seriously. 00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:34.039 And they ripped a hole in the roof and brought that man down. 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:40.720 And not only was he saved that day, but he got up, wrapped up his bed, 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:43.420 and I guarantee you the crowd cleaned out. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.359 They made a way for the man to walk out. 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.200 They weren't about to touch him. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.960 Scared the death of him. 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:49.079 And he walked right out of there. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:52.619 And I'm telling you, you know what happened to you who was standing in the doorway 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.659 when you left there? 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.419 You should have seen what I saw. 00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.599 I ain't ever seen nothing like it. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.720 That blew me away. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:07.619 They brought that man to Jesus, and his life was forever changed. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:13.119 Scripture tells us that when people left there, 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:17.099 they left there marveling and talking about it. 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:22.779 And I don't know about you, but I want to be a part of being marveled by the work of God 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:25.199 and to leave here talking about it. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:29.199 And that's what happens when you bring them to Jesus. 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:31.759 The last thing Jesus said before he ascended was, 00:30:32.219 --> 00:30:33.059 go and make disciples. 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.480 How do you do that? 00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:37.579 You stick to the assignment. 00:30:40.459 --> 00:30:41.899 You write the names down. 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:48.160 Now, the sheet I've given you is perforated. 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.300 Okay? 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:52.519 If you don't know what that means, it means it's got little holes in it. 00:30:52.540 --> 00:30:53.720 We can tear it off real easy, okay? 00:30:59.040 --> 00:31:01.740 This top copy is yours. 00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:07.200 The bottom copy is not. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:12.279 And so I just want you, once you fill that out, 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:14.580 to rip that off. 00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:19.000 And in just a moment, 00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:21.700 I'm going to ask you to do something. 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:25.460 Before I get into that, I want you to know something. 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:30.000 We're going to do something different here in a moment than we normally do. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:33.400 But if you're here this morning, 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:38.700 and you've never given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:44.319 I want you to know you can come to Jesus just as you are, 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:47.980 and he'll forever change your life if you'll surrender your life to him. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:51.460 If you've got questions about that, we can answer them. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:54.819 We'd love to guide you in that process. 00:31:54.819 --> 00:32:00.079 And don't let anything that we're about to do interrupt you from doing exactly 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.299 what God's told you to do. 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:05.559 Maybe you're here, and you are a Christian, 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:07.000 but that's a private matter for you. 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.220 You've never made it public. 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:13.399 And the reality is that God's laid upon your heart that you need to make that 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:13.740 public. 00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:17.539 You need to tell others what Christ has done in your life. 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:20.079 Jesus, by his example and by his commission, 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.500 tell us to do that through baptism. 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:25.440 And if you've never been baptized as a believer, you need to obey God today, 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.019 and you come. 00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:27.380 I'll be available. 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.559 I'll be here for you. 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.720 I'll be happy to guide you in that process. 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:32.099 We're not going to do it this morning. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.240 We'll schedule a time. 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:35.240 You just come as God leads you. 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:38.380 Maybe God's drawing you to First Baptist Church. 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:41.619 You know that God's doing a work in this church, 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:44.420 and he's doing a work in your life, and you feel led to be here. 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.660 You come. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:47.359 We'd love to guide you in that process, 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:49.980 and don't let what we're about to do interrupt that. 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.339 You just obey God. 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:55.160 For the rest of you, 00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:59.880 I want you to take this small sheet, 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.640 if you will, 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:04.640 right after I pray, 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.880 and as soon as we stand, 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:11.839 to do it as efficiently and prayerfully and quietly and smoothly as possible, 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:19.199 and that is to just bring this card down and lay it at the foot of the cross. 00:33:21.659 --> 00:33:26.019 Just lay those people before the Lord. 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:29.680 Keep your prayer marker. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:32.400 And every day this week, 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:34.480 don't you have to contact them at all. 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.720 Don't say anything to them. 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.140 You just pray. 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:40.160 Pray that God will work in their life. 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:43.080 Pray that God will open up an opportunity for you. 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:44.460 Pray that God will give you the boldness. 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:47.400 You just pray. 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.640 That's all I'm asking you to do. 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:50.340 There's more coming. 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.940 That's all I'm asking you to do this week. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:56.720 I want us to prayerfully prepare for what God's going to do. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:59.720 You lay that before that cross, 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:02.380 and I'll promise you something. 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:05.180 When this service is over, 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:07.640 I'm going to collect those names, 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:10.579 and I'm going to take them to my prayer closet, 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:13.380 and we're going to pray together over these folks. 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.460 Some of them need the Lord. 00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:18.500 Some of them need to get their tail in church. 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.940 Some of them need to get their heart right. 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.860 That's just between them and God. 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:30.799 And me and you are going to pray them before the throne of God. 00:34:31.379 --> 00:34:36.379 And we're going to ask God to do what only God can do in the midst of that. 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:40.219 Lord Jesus, I love you, 00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:43.159 and I thank you for the power of prayer, 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:45.639 for the power of testimony, 00:34:46.459 --> 00:34:47.819 and more than anything else, 00:34:47.879 --> 00:34:49.179 the power of Christ. 00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:53.199 And I ask your God that you'll help us to trust you completely today 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:57.719 as you work and move in our midst right now. 00:34:57.859 --> 00:34:59.239 We love you dearly, 00:34:59.359 --> 00:35:00.919 and we thank you for the opportunity. 00:35:01.339 --> 00:35:03.019 In Jesus' precious name, 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:03.919 amen. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:17.980 You know what I believe in Jesus' precious name, 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.599 it's a beautiful night. 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:18.599