WEBVTT

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 Good morning. Welcome to Christ's family.

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 If you will please turn in your Bibles to Mark chapter 1.

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! We're going to be reading from verses 29 to 39 this morning.

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!

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 That which can be mimicked. Obviously we're not God in the flesh.

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 But what can be mimicked of Christ, we ought to mimic Him as much as we can, if we abide in Him.

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 So, an encouragement as we study through the Gospel, both corporately and individually.

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 Whenever you see things of Christ's life that you can replicate, strive to do so.

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 Really strive to do so, because that is the command of Scripture,

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 and that is our great honor as Christians, is to reflect our God, Christ.

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 And this is a reminder of the immediate context where we've been.

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 Nathan, the first sermon that we preached on this series, he preached on Mark 1.1,

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 which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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 And the Gospel, as he showed us there, was a reference to Isaiah 40, the coming of the King.

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 So, whenever we say the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

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 he's not talking about the crucifixion quite yet.

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 The pinnacle of the Gospel of Mark is the crucifixion of Christ, is death, burial, and resurrection.

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 But, thus far, we're talking about the coming Kingdom and the coming of Christ.

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 In the first nine chapters of Mark, Mark really desires and strives

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 to show us Christ as the powerful Son of God,

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 having authority over everything, as we're going to look at and see here in just a moment.

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 And in the last couple chapters, Mark really slows down,

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 because as everybody has pointed out when they've preached,

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 Mark uses the word immediately quite often to hurry the narrative along.

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 But, the last couple chapters are really shown,

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 they really show Christ as the suffering servant who dies for sins.

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 So, with that immediate context in mind,

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 let's also look at the context of this actual chapter.

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 Two weeks ago, Clay preached,

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 and he showed us Christ's absolute and total authority over man,

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 in that he said to the disciples,

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 Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

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 He had authority over their will.

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 They obeyed, and they complied to his command.

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 Last week, we saw Kyle show us,

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 we had Kyle show us,

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 his absolute authority over the spiritual realm,

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 in that there was a demon-possessed man in the synagogue,

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 in that he cast the demon out,

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 and the demon had no choice but to obey.

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 Even though it wanted to rebel, obviously, as we see that,

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 he told it to be quiet,

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 and it still made a loud noise when it left.

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 And this week, we're going to see quite a few things.

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 So, let's read our text.

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 Mark 1, 29-39 reads as follows,

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 And immediately after they came out of the synagogue,

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 they came into the house of Simon and Andrew,

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 with James and John.

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 Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever,

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 and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her.

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 And he came to her and raised her up,

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 taking her by the hand,

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 and the fever left her,

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 and she waited on them.

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 When evening came, after the sun had set,

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 they began bringing to him all who were ill,

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 and those who were demon-possessed.

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 And the whole city had gathered at the door,

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 and he healed many who were ill,

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 with various diseases,

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 and cast out many demons.

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 And he was not permitting the demons to speak,

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 because they knew who he was.

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 In the early morning, while it was still dark,

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 Jesus got up, left the house,

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 and went away to a secluded place,

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 and was praying there.

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 Simon and his companions searched for him.

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 They found him and said to him,

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 Everyone is looking for you.

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 And he said to them,

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 Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby,

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 so that I may preach the gospel there also.

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 For that is why I came for.

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 And he went into their synagogues,

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 through all of Galilee,

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 preaching and casting out the demons.

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 Let's pray.

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 Dear Heavenly Father,

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 we thank you for Scripture.

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 We thank you that you've given us

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 four accounts of the life of Christ,

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 and that we're working through one of them.

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 Father, I pray as we see your

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 just absolute sovereign authority

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 over all realms today,

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 Father,

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 and we see the need for prayer,

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 Father,

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 that we would be effectual hearers,

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 and that we do what the Word says,

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 Father.

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 As Wes just talked about,

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 that the miracle of hearing,

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 and response,

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 and faith would occur,

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 Father,

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 that we would have faith,

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 that this is the Word of God being spoken,

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 and that we would have repentance,

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 Father,

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 that we would conform ourselves

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 to what it says,

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 God.

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 Father,

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 Father,

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 we ask that you would move spirit,

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 if you don't move,

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 all is vain.

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 We praise you,

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 and we worship you,

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 and we pray all this in the name

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 and glory of Christ Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 All right.

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 So,

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 our text is broken into three paragraphs,

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 I'm sure in all of your Bibles,

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 at least it should be.

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 And it says,

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 And immediately after they came out

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 of the synagogue,

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 they came into the house of Simon

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 and Andrew with James and John.

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 So what Mark has done,

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 he's established that we are

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 in the same day as Kyle preached

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 about last week.

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 It's still the Sabbath.

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 Teaching had occurred,

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 demon had been cast out,

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 and then immediately

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 after they left the synagogue,

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 they went to Peter's house.

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 And upon going to the house,

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 they find out that

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 Peter's mother-in-law is sick,

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 that she has a,

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 Luke,

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 the physician records

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 in Luke chapter 4

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 that she had a high fever,

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 and that she was sick

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 to the point where Christ

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 had to stand over her

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 because she wasn't able to sit up.

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 So we see that she is

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 severely,

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 severely sick

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 in this text.

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 Maybe not super severe,

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 we don't really know,

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 but the text came to indicate

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 that she was really sick.

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 And we see that Christ

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 has authority

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 over the natural realm.

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 Before we get there though,

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 in the Gospel of Luke

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 in the fourth chapter,

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 Luke the physician,

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 the Gospel writer,

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 had already told us

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 that up until this point,

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 Christ had already

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 performed many miracles

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 and healing.

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 So we only have

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 the casting out of a demon

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 and the calling of disciples

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 according to this Gospel account,

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 but according to the Gospel of Luke,

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 they had seen many,

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 many,

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 many miracles

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 already occur.

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 So,

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 obviously they had trust

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 in the authority

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 and the power of Christ

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 and His ability to do

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 as He pleased

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 in the natural realm

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 as well as the spiritual realm.

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 So,

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 as we've looked at,

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 and the emphasis

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 that Mark is making here

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 is he's wanting to show

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 the absolute and complete

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 and total authority

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 of who Christ is.

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 Like we just said,

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 He has authority over man

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 as we saw

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 whenever Clay preached

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 and He told the disciples

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 to come.

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 He has authority

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 over the spiritual realm,

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 over demons,

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 those who rebel against Him

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 from the beginning,

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 in that He casts them out

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 and they have no choice

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 but to obey.

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 And we see here

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 that He has authority

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 over the physical realm as well.

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 Look what happens

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 in verse 31 with me.

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 And it says,

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 And He came to her

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 and raised her up,

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 taking her by the hand,

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 and the fever left her

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 and she waited on them.

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 So Christ came,

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 simply takes her by the hand,

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 raises her up,

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 and she is completely healed.

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 I'm sure everyone in here

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 has had a fever

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 of various kinds

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 and whenever you have a fever,

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 you feel like drunk.

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 And even after the fever's

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 kind of gone

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 and the fever's gone down,

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 you still feel ill,

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 your body's still recuperating

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 and recovering.

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 But notice how Christ

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 has healed her

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 in such a way

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 that she was immediately

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 able to wait on them.

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 And the wait on them

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 in this context

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 is more than likely

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 that she served a Sabbath meal.

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 They had a special meal

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 on the Sabbath,

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 the Jews did.

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 And I'll remind you

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 that they didn't have microwaves

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 and freezers

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 and refrigerators

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 and ovens back then.

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 So it was quite an ordeal

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 to get fresh food

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 and to prepare a meal

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 for four burly fishermen

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 because we see that

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 Peter and his brother

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 and James and John

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 had gone in there.

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 So four burly fishermen,

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 whoever else lived in the house,

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 and herself.

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 So that was quite a meal

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 to prepare.

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 So there's a great joy

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 in seeing that Christ

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 has the authority

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 over the natural realm

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 and that he is able

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 to heal so much so

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 to the point where

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 there's not even

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 a recovery phase,

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 but she is immediately well,

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 automatically.

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 And something that's

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 really interesting

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 and worth noting

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 in the text,

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 I'm sorry,

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 in Luke chapter 4,

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 is that Christ rebuked

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 the fever with a word

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 in Luke chapter 4.

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 So we see then

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 that Christ has the authority

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 and power over

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 the natural realm,

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 not just in terms of

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 how God has blessed us today

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 with various types of medicines,

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 surgery of various sorts,

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 but by his word

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 he's able to cure.

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 And what's really cool

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 is whenever we see

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 the correlation here,

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 we see that in 115

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 of the Gospel of Mark

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 that Christ spoke

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 to the disciples

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 and told them to follow

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 when they did.

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 We see that Christ

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 spoke to the demon,

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 told him to be quiet,

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 and cast out,

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 and it was.

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 And we see here,

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 whenever we look at

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 the parallel accounts,

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 that Christ rebuked the fever

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 and by his word

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 he had absolute authority.

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 In the same way

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 that Hebrews talks about

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 that he sustains all things

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 by the word of his power,

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 the word of God

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 is powerful,

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 both the Bible

00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:03.740
 as well as Christ's authority.

00:08:05.719 --> 00:08:06.639
 And one thing

00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:07.259
 that we should note

00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:07.939
 from the text

00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:08.740
 that we should pull

00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:09.399
 from the disciples

00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:10.099
 seeing as we are

00:08:10.099 --> 00:08:11.039
 disciples of Christ

00:08:11.039 --> 00:08:12.379
 is the fact that

00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:13.980
 they had seen

00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:14.699
 Christ's authority,

00:08:14.779 --> 00:08:15.240
 they had seen

00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:16.719
 his ability to heal,

00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:17.939
 his ability to cast out demons.

00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:19.099
 These are miraculous things,

00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:19.860
 by the way,

00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:20.899
 I'm sure you all deduce that,

00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:22.699
 but these are really big deals.

00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:23.480
 There's things that hadn't happened

00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.399
 for 400 years,

00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:25.219
 more than that actually,

00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:26.060
 since the days of Elijah.

00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:28.139
 And he's speaking with authority,

00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:29.199
 and they had noticed

00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:29.980
 all these things,

00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:30.819
 and let us note

00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:31.980
 in verse 30 what it says.

00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:32.620
 It says,

00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:33.620
 Now Simon's mother-in-law

00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:34.799
 was lying sick with the fever,

00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:35.679
 and immediately

00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:37.139
 they spoke to Jesus about her.

00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.179
 The first thing

00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:39.919
 that disciples did

00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:40.960
 whenever they had a problem

00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.259
 in their life,

00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:44.480
 a situation occur,

00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:46.200
 they didn't rely on themselves

00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:46.539
 or anything like that.

00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:47.860
 They immediately went to Christ.

00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:49.939
 They went and spoke to Christ.

00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:51.080
 I'm not saying this is prayer,

00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:51.940
 because Christ was there,

00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:52.920
 so they probably spoke to him.

00:08:53.380 --> 00:08:54.340
 But we nowadays

00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:55.400
 have the gift of prayer.

00:08:55.940 --> 00:08:56.660
 And we would do well

00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:57.020
 to learn,

00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:58.020
 like the disciples did,

00:08:58.140 --> 00:08:59.160
 because of who Christ is,

00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.020
 because of his authority,

00:09:00.540 --> 00:09:01.900
 to immediately speak to Christ

00:09:01.900 --> 00:09:03.200
 in any temptation or trial,

00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:04.000
 whether it be sickness,

00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:04.760
 financial,

00:09:05.520 --> 00:09:06.120
 temptation,

00:09:06.300 --> 00:09:07.680
 in terms of being led to sin,

00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:08.880
 being led to,

00:09:09.040 --> 00:09:09.840
 in various ways.

00:09:10.280 --> 00:09:11.220
 So we would do well

00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:11.500
 to learn,

00:09:11.540 --> 00:09:12.240
 as the disciples did,

00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:13.640
 to look at the authority of Christ,

00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:15.320
 because he is absolutely authoritative.

00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:17.660
 He has sovereign dominion

00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:18.819
 over all the areas

00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:19.699
 that he had created,

00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:20.860
 over both man

00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:21.799
 in his own little realm,

00:09:22.219 --> 00:09:22.939
 the whole nature,

00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:24.219
 and the demonic forces.

00:09:24.719 --> 00:09:25.240
 And I've repeated this

00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:25.959
 like four times now,

00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:27.079
 because it is that significant,

00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:28.399
 that he has absolute authority

00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.779
 over every single realm.

00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.579
 And the disciples,

00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.199
 knowing that Christ was kind

00:09:33.199 --> 00:09:33.659
 and loving,

00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:35.480
 they came to him

00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:36.759
 knowing that he would help.

00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:37.439
 Now,

00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:40.039
 let me qualify this real fast.

00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:41.980
 We see two natures

00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.179
 of our Savior's office.

00:09:44.299 --> 00:09:45.159
 We see both his nature

00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:45.639
 as Savior,

00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:47.220
 in that he was kind,

00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:48.420
 and willing to help.

00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:49.399
 And we see both,

00:09:49.540 --> 00:09:50.200
 and we see also

00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:51.500
 his nature as Lord,

00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:53.060
 in that he was able to do

00:09:53.060 --> 00:09:54.019
 what he wanted to do.

00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:55.240
 So we see that

00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:56.379
 when something was brought to him,

00:09:56.420 --> 00:09:57.080
 he was kind enough

00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:57.920
 to hear their petition,

00:09:58.279 --> 00:09:58.720
 he was kind enough

00:09:58.720 --> 00:09:59.360
 to hear their request,

00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.340
 and to go and do it.

00:10:00.540 --> 00:10:01.440
 And he had the authority

00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:02.340
 and the absolute ability

00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:03.000
 to do it.

00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:04.200
 So,

00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:06.899
 those are the two main points

00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:07.360
 from the text.

00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:08.480
 And there's a third point,

00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:09.639
 which I think is very significant,

00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:11.420
 that we draw from verse 31.

00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:14.240
 It says,

00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:15.960
 And he came to her

00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:17.160
 and raised her up

00:10:17.160 --> 00:10:18.280
 and took her by the hand

00:10:18.280 --> 00:10:19.480
 and the fever left her

00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:20.759
 and she waited on them.

00:10:21.280 --> 00:10:22.820
 The last five words there,

00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:23.780
 and she waited on them.

00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:26.280
 What the Holy Spirit is doing

00:10:26.280 --> 00:10:27.139
 through Mark

00:10:27.139 --> 00:10:27.960
 in this gospel

00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:29.420
 is he is showing us

00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.440
 a proper response

00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.160
 to those who have been

00:10:31.160 --> 00:10:32.019
 touched by Christ,

00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.000
 for those who have been

00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:33.840
 moved by Christ.

00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.060
 It is to wait on them.

00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.680
 And there's two

00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:37.500
 kind of branches

00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:38.060
 within this them.

00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:38.759
 There is obviously

00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:39.720
 she waited on Christ.

00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:41.160
 In this situation,

00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:42.300
 as I said earlier,

00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.339
 she probably prepared

00:10:43.339 --> 00:10:44.319
 a Sabbath meal.

00:10:44.719 --> 00:10:45.240
 She probably prepared

00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:46.059
 food for them to eat

00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:47.019
 and something for them to drink

00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:47.500
 because it had been

00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:48.439
 a long day at that point.

00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:49.219
 Christ had been teaching,

00:10:49.339 --> 00:10:50.000
 casting out demons,

00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.000
 walking around and stuff.

00:10:52.719 --> 00:10:53.500
 So we see that

00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:54.299
 she waited on Christ

00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:55.759
 and we also see

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:56.740
 that she waited on them,

00:10:56.959 --> 00:10:57.759
 meaning the disciples

00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.000
 and those who were with him.

00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:01.120
 In the same way today,

00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:01.799
 us who have been

00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:02.620
 touched by Christ,

00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:04.279
 us who have been healed,

00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:05.199
 because we've been healed

00:11:05.199 --> 00:11:06.399
 in a far greater way, beloved.

00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:08.159
 She was healed of a fever.

00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:09.740
 We had sin-sick souls.

00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:10.939
 We were dead in our sin

00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:11.760
 and our trespasses,

00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:13.060
 rebelling against God,

00:11:13.140 --> 00:11:14.060
 completely and totally

00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:14.740
 against him.

00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:16.180
 We had a malady

00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:17.580
 that wrath was due us.

00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.380
 The wrath of God

00:11:18.380 --> 00:11:19.660
 was to be poured upon us.

00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:21.500
 So we have a much greater healing

00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:22.460
 than she did in this scene.

00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:23.160
 We have been healed

00:11:23.160 --> 00:11:23.860
 from our sin,

00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:25.540
 both in terms of

00:11:25.540 --> 00:11:26.580
 the wrath of God

00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:28.820
 and from the bondage to it.

00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.740
 So if she was so eager

00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.480
 to wait on them

00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:33.560
 in the text as we see

00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:34.660
 that she immediately

00:11:34.660 --> 00:11:35.480
 waited on them,

00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.240
 should not we

00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.000
 who have been cured

00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:38.340
 and forgiven of so much more

00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:39.420
 seek to serve our Christ

00:11:39.420 --> 00:11:40.500
 in all ways that are possible?

00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:41.820
 Beloved,

00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:42.940
 there are many, many ways

00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:44.120
 that one serves the church.

00:11:44.800 --> 00:11:45.160
 Ms. Barbara,

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.160
 I told you I was going to mention you today.

00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.780
 Ms. Barbara is very diligent.

00:11:47.920 --> 00:11:48.660
 If you ever show up

00:11:48.660 --> 00:11:49.500
 around like 9 o'clock

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.580
 and just watch her,

00:11:50.760 --> 00:11:51.780
 she does like everything around here.

00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:52.200
 It's crazy.

00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:52.920
 It's pretty awesome.

00:11:53.800 --> 00:11:57.060
 But in all seriousness though,

00:11:57.140 --> 00:11:58.000
 there are many, many ways

00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.000
 that you can serve the church.

00:11:59.520 --> 00:12:00.980
 Romans 12, 6-8 reads,

00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:02.860
 Since we have gifts that defer

00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.480
 according to the grace given to us,

00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.700
 each of us is to exercise them accordingly.

00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:07.540
 If prophecy,

00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:09.240
 according to the proportion of his faith,

00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.860
 is service and serving,

00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.779
 or he who teaches and is teaching,

00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:14.960
 or he who exhorts and is exhortation,

00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:16.840
 he who gives with liberty,

00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.940
 he who leads with diligence,

00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:21.340
 he who shows mercy with cheerfulness.

00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:23.320
 So we see that Paul here

00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:24.899
 is saying that the Spirit gives us

00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:26.259
 many gifts in terms of

00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:27.060
 how to serve the church.

00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.660
 Perhaps God has given you

00:12:28.660 --> 00:12:29.639
 some of the gift of preaching.

00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:30.860
 Perhaps God has given you

00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.720
 some of the gift of teaching.

00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:32.879
 Perhaps God has given you

00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.580
 the gift of music.

00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:34.960
 Those are the more public things.

00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.080
 There's also the things

00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:36.940
 that no one sees.

00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.379
 You know, the financing that occurs

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.720
 to keep everything running smoothly.

00:12:40.160 --> 00:12:41.240
 The administrative aspect

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.240
 to keep everything planned.

00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:43.620
 Even things as small as

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.720
 making the coffee in the morning.

00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.420
 All these things are done

00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:48.600
 and they bring us great fellowship.

00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:49.300
 Think about it.

00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:51.279
 The coffee seems like a small thing,

00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.819
 but everybody's gathered

00:12:52.819 --> 00:12:53.479
 around the coffee,

00:12:53.579 --> 00:12:53.979
 drinking it,

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.779
 and enjoying fellowship.

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.919
 So all these different forms of service

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.459
 add to the church

00:12:58.459 --> 00:12:59.799
 in a way that God has chosen.

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.819
 And an implication therein

00:13:01.819 --> 00:13:03.019
 is that if you are not serving

00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:04.379
 in a way that God has gifted you,

00:13:05.219 --> 00:13:06.359
 then the body is neglected.

00:13:06.719 --> 00:13:07.539
 The body is missing

00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:08.459
 an aspect of service

00:13:08.459 --> 00:13:09.139
 that it could have.

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:11.219
 And that is to the detriment of the body.

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.740
 But the greatest way,

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.639
 and above all else,

00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:17.939
 the way that we can

00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:19.780
 serve this body,

00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:20.760
 serve the believers,

00:13:20.920 --> 00:13:21.400
 serve the church,

00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.280
 both visible,

00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.700
 which means here in this congregation,

00:13:23.880 --> 00:13:24.240
 and invisible,

00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:25.300
 meaning the whole church,

00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:26.340
 is through prayer.

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.700
 It is through praying for the service,

00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:29.700
 praying for the worship,

00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:30.860
 all aspects of it.

00:13:30.880 --> 00:13:31.340
 The preaching,

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:33.120
 that God's word would be proclaimed

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.200
 through the hearing,

00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:35.080
 as we've talked about

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:36.020
 several times already today,

00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.340
 that the people that are here

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:39.240
 would respond in faith and truth

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.300
 to what the text shows.

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:42.360
 They pray for the singing aspect

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.200
 and the music,

00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:45.360
 that God would be greatly glorified

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:46.440
 through the worship of His name

00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:47.780
 and through the praise of His people.

00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:49.080
 Pray for the Lord's Supper,

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:50.080
 that it would be the solemn

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.880
 and joyful event

00:13:50.880 --> 00:13:51.660
 that it's meant to be.

00:13:52.140 --> 00:13:52.880
 Pray for one another

00:13:52.880 --> 00:13:54.320
 as we bear one another's burdens.

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.720
 The greatest service

00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.080
 that you can do for the church

00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:58.400
 is to pray.

00:13:58.900 --> 00:13:59.780
 And that is a service

00:13:59.780 --> 00:14:00.480
 that we can all do,

00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:01.600
 that we are all gifted in.

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.040
 We all have the ability

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:03.840
 to sit down,

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:04.660
 get on our knees,

00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.180
 lay down,

00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:05.860
 have a pace,

00:14:05.880 --> 00:14:06.480
 however you want to,

00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:06.940
 to pray,

00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:08.500
 and to pray for the beloved.

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:09.580
 So,

00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:10.920
 don't tell me

00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.760
 that you don't have the ability.

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.500
 Don't tell anybody

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.280
 that you don't have the ability.

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.280
 I think we're very blessed here

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:15.399
 with a body who does serve

00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.959
 and serves very fervently

00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:17.679
 in a lot of ways.

00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:18.419
 And for that,

00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:18.980
 I'm very thankful.

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:19.819
 I know Nathan is thankful.

00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.980
 I've heard him say it many times.

00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:21.959
 So,

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.480
 but if you're not serving,

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.439
 there are ways you can serve.

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.879
 And I would encourage you

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.620
 to seek them.

00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.980
 And I know we have many teams here

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:30.759
 that do the audio,

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.539
 the service,

00:14:32.339 --> 00:14:32.939
 and other stuff.

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.779
 Maybe Wes can make an announcement.

00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.179
 I don't know.

00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:35.939
 But,

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.139
 so,

00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:37.839
 okay,

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:38.459
 so that concludes

00:14:38.459 --> 00:14:39.659
 verses 29 through 31.

00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.500
 We've seen that Christ

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.459
 has absolute authority,

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.799
 just to emphasize again,

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.740
 that the disciples

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.159
 had seen his absolute authority

00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:46.419
 and felt comfortable

00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.079
 coming to him

00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.899
 with their request

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:51.719
 that they may be made known to him

00:14:51.719 --> 00:14:52.699
 and that he may do

00:14:52.699 --> 00:14:53.319
 as he pleases.

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.899
 And we see also

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:56.659
 that a proper reaction

00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.059
 to being touched by Christ

00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:59.339
 is to serve both him

00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.819
 through the work of reconciliation,

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:02.279
 sharing Christ in the gospel,

00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:03.699
 which is not exactly

00:15:03.699 --> 00:15:04.399
 what this text says,

00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.179
 but it's an implication,

00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:07.240
 and also through various ways

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:07.939
 of serving the church,

00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:09.120
 both physically and spiritually.

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.399
 So,

00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.939
 let's look at verses 32 through 34.

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.219
 It says,

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.179
 when evening came,

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.659
 after the sun had set,

00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:17.179
 they began bringing to him

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:18.240
 all who were ill

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.659
 and those who were demon-possessed.

00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:21.099
 And the whole city

00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:22.079
 had gathered at the door,

00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:24.099
 and he healed many who were ill

00:15:24.099 --> 00:15:24.959
 with various diseases

00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:26.779
 and cast out many demons.

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.000
 And he was not permitting

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.959
 the demons to speak

00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:30.179
 because they knew who he was.

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.079
 So,

00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.159
 verse 32 starts off

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.779
 with a kind of interesting phrase.

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:35.599
 It says,

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.399
 when evening came,

00:15:36.459 --> 00:15:37.519
 and after the sun had set,

00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.439
 they began bringing.

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.120
 And the reason this was so

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.979
 was because you weren't allowed

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.460
 to carry anyone or anything

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.060
 on the Sabbath.

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.840
 In the Gospel of Luke,

00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:45.519
 in the 14th,

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:45.759
 sorry,

00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.519
 the 13th chapter,

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.899
 in the 14th verse,

00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:50.300
 one of the leaders of the synagogues

00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:51.420
 rebuked some Jews

00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:52.320
 who had brought someone

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.420
 to be healed by Christ.

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.060
 And he's saying,

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.680
 there's six days

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.379
 where work can be done.

00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.320
 Why do it on this day?

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.360
 So, obviously,

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.360
 the people had been taught

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.259
 that doing anything

00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.759
 that was like that on the Sabbath

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.620
 was a negative thing

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.379
 that shouldn't be done.

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:03.519
 So,

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.519
 they waited until the sun

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.060
 had gone down,

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.019
 and the reason that was

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.779
 was because the Jews

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.740
 didn't understand days

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.180
 as we do

00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:08.879
 from 12 a.m.

00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.519
 to 12 a.m.

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.779
 They understood days

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:12.000
 as from sundown to sundown.

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.259
 So,

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.220
 whenever the sun had went down

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.179
 on the day of the Sabbath,

00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:15.399
 which would have been a Saturday,

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.620
 not a Sunday,

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.080
 by the way,

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.059
 just so you all know

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.720
 from Jewish culture,

00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:21.080
 the day would have been over.

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:21.740
 So,

00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:22.299
 they would have been able

00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:23.299
 to freely bring people

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:23.820
 to Christ.

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.240
 And let us see

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.360
 the kindness of Christ,

00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.179
 and once again,

00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.559
 the greatness and grandeur

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.259
 of who He is,

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.759
 in that He's able to heal

00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.779
 all who are brought to Him.

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.179
 Mark records that

00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:33.899
 He healed many.

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.299
 The Gospel of Luke

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.000
 in the 4th chapter

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:36.879
 records that He healed

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.559
 each one,

00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:39.319
 indicating each

00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:40.119
 individual person.

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.579
 So,

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.259
 we have a Savior

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.099
 who is both willing

00:16:43.099 --> 00:16:44.919
 and able to heal.

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:45.579
 Now,

00:16:45.859 --> 00:16:46.579
 I want to make a

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.459
 clarifying note here

00:16:47.459 --> 00:16:48.000
 about healing.

00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:48.739
 I'm not saying that

00:16:48.739 --> 00:16:50.439
 God heals all the time.

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.079
 This is a very specific

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:53.000
 and special time

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.839
 in redemptive history

00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:56.039
 when Christ was in person

00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:56.679
 in the flesh.

00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.639
 What we would do wise

00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.159
 to learn

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.359
 is that though God

00:17:00.359 --> 00:17:00.859
 can heal,

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.419
 He's in no way

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:02.919
 obligated to heal.

00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:03.799
 He heals

00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:05.139
 at His sovereign choice.

00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.960
 At this time,

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.099
 in the Gospel,

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.500
 I'm sorry,

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.699
 the Gospel of Isaiah,

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.879
 in the Prophet Isaiah,

00:17:10.439 --> 00:17:12.000
 we see that He had said

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.699
 that Christ came

00:17:12.699 --> 00:17:13.539
 to take the infirmities

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.079
 of them all,

00:17:14.179 --> 00:17:14.799
 meaning Israel.

00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.519
 So,

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.779
 this was a very specific time

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:18.359
 and Christ was fulfilling

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:19.459
 a very specific role

00:17:19.459 --> 00:17:20.039
 as the Messiah

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.859
 at this time period.

00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:21.579
 So,

00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.439
 though Christ is

00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:23.199
 and though God is

00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:23.959
 so able to heal,

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:24.740
 and I believe

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.480
 does so occasionally,

00:17:25.719 --> 00:17:26.480
 that's a whole other sermon

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.199
 that can be discussed,

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.559
 He is not forced,

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.619
 His hand is not played

00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:31.679
 by us to do so.

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:32.659
 So,

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.799
 if you go to Christ

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.500
 and pray for healing

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.240
 and it doesn't come,

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.440
 take comfort in knowing

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.299
 that God works out

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.180
 all things for the good

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.880
 of those who love Him

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.160
 and are called

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:39.779
 into His purposes.

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.819
 That if you are not healed,

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.759
 it is for your good.

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.839
 Even though it may seem

00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:44.759
 bad to you initially,

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:45.839
 in the long run,

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.660
 you can take comfort

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.640
 in knowing that God,

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.799
 who is infinitely wise,

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.000
 infinitely knowledgeable,

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.220
 knows the future

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.180
 because He plans it,

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.660
 has decided that it is not

00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.059
 good for you

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.359
 to be healed

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.819
 at this moment.

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.380
 So,

00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.319
 let us observe

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.400
 though Christ did here,

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:59.120
 He is not obligated to today.

00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:01.239
 even though

00:18:01.239 --> 00:18:02.679
 many people would say

00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:03.179
 He might be.

00:18:07.739 --> 00:18:08.099
 Alright.

00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:09.500
 So,

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:11.159
 let's move on

00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:11.679
 to the last portion

00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:12.119
 of our text.

00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:12.759
 We've kind of gone

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.579
 through the first two portions

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.439
 relatively quickly

00:18:14.439 --> 00:18:16.059
 because I want to spend

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.779
 the most time

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.719
 in the last portion.

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.459
 I think that's where

00:18:18.459 --> 00:18:19.539
 the meat of what God

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.259
 has for us today

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:20.679
 is at.

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.059
 And it says,

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.259
 in the early morning

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.740
 while it was still dark,

00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:25.940
 Jesus got up,

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.339
 left the house,

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.159
 and went away

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.299
 to a secluded place

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.319
 and was praying there.

00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:34.059
 The first thing

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.639
 that Christ did

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.159
 with His day,

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.799
 the very first thing

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.480
 that this text shows us

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.619
 is that in the early morning

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.639
 while it was still dark,

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:42.079
 the KJV translated

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.000
 long before dawn,

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:45.000
 that Christ went out

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.179
 and He prayed.

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.779
 And what this shows us

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.319
 about Christ

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.139
 and His view of prayer

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.639
 is that He saw it

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.319
 as a priority.

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.099
 He is the first thing

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.619
 He wanted to do

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.139
 with His day.

00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:55.679
 Before He saw the face

00:18:55.679 --> 00:18:56.319
 of any man,

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:58.139
 before He had an encounter

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:58.819
 with any person

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.359
 or other thing,

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.519
 He wanted to see His Father.

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:02.279
 He wanted to see God the Father

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.339
 and interact with Him

00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.659
 and be with Him.

00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:06.819
 And also,

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.940
 it's really cool to see how,

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.379
 as we're kind of exploring

00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:09.940
 a little bit here,

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.819
 that Christ's prayer

00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.119
 was wedged in between

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.619
 His two forms of ministry.

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:13.980
 You know,

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.740
 He was healing

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.740
 and preaching the Gospel.

00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:16.700
 Oh yeah,

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.179
 that's what I wanted

00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:17.679
 to point out.

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.500
 Okay,

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.619
 real fast,

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.220
 backtrack with me

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.859
 for just a moment.

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:22.679
 This whole time,

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.339
 everything that we have

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.039
 been talking about,

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.979
 all the healings

00:19:24.979 --> 00:19:25.839
 and miracles and whatnot,

00:19:26.199 --> 00:19:27.439
 the emphasis is found

00:19:27.439 --> 00:19:28.519
 in verse 15 of this chapter.

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:28.859
 It says,

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.939
 The time is fulfilled

00:19:29.939 --> 00:19:31.099
 and the kingdom of God

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.639
 is at hand.

00:19:31.979 --> 00:19:33.139
 Repent and believe the Gospel.

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.879
 So Christ's main focus

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:35.399
 in His ministry,

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.279
 as He's about to say,

00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:37.399
 and we've already read once,

00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:38.779
 was to preach the Gospel.

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.799
 And all these other things

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.299
 were happening

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.719
 because they were foretold

00:19:41.719 --> 00:19:42.179
 that they would.

00:19:42.679 --> 00:19:43.399
 But this whole time,

00:19:43.479 --> 00:19:43.919
 while He's doing

00:19:43.919 --> 00:19:44.679
 all these things,

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.019
 He has continued

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:47.019
 to preach the Gospel.

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.400
 that the kingdom of God

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.000
 is at hand,

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:51.019
 that God is literally there

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.519
 at that moment

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.519
 in terms of Christ

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.079
 and the Carnet,

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.339
 that the kingdom of God

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.420
 and that the people of God

00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.940
 need to repent and believe.

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.680
 As we've already established,

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.059
 that the Gospel,

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.980
 in terms of Jesus Christ

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.440
 crucified,

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:01.839
 buried,

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.319
 and resurrected,

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.559
 obviously not occurred

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.059
 at this point.

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.119
 So He was telling them

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.480
 to repent,

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.740
 turn from their sins,

00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:07.639
 forsake their evil,

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.279
 wicked ways,

00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.799
 and believe unto God.

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:13.240
 So that is the context

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.039
 in which everything else

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.480
 is occurring.

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.519
 And we need to keep that in mind

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.399
 because it shows the focus

00:20:17.399 --> 00:20:18.220
 of Christ's ministry.

00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:19.519
 And it shows the focus

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:21.399
 when we do various kinds

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:21.779
 of ministry,

00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.619
 what we will be doing

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.779
 and how we should be focusing.

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.299
 All right.

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.359
 I don't even know

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:31.839
 what I'm at in my notes.

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.500
 I haven't been using them.

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.599
 Anyways,

00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:35.119
 let's continue on

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.740
 with verse 35.

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.059
 Yes,

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:38.659
 let us know,

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:40.380
 this gives back

00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.759
 where we were.

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.680
 He went out early

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.180
 in the morning

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:44.220
 because He saw it

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.400
 as a priority in His day.

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.779
 It was the very essence

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.279
 of His day

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.440
 to start it off that way.

00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:51.540
 He gave it the top priority

00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:52.580
 because it was first.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.700
 And also,

00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:54.740
 while it was still dark,

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.640
 Jesus got up,

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.279
 left the house,

00:20:56.340 --> 00:20:57.600
 and went to a secluded place.

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.640
 So why did Christ

00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.800
 go to a secluded place?

00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.540
 Why did He go to be alone?

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.940
 He went to be alone

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.640
 because He wanted

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.540
 to be alone with God.

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.220
 And I know that seems

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.060
 like an obvious statement

00:21:06.060 --> 00:21:06.980
 based on what the text

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.380
 is saying,

00:21:07.800 --> 00:21:08.259
 but we have to take

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.740
 a step back

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.119
 and think about

00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:09.799
 what that really means.

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.579
 He didn't desire

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.279
 to be interrupted

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.920
 by the distractions of men,

00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:13.619
 by the distractions

00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.400
 of our society.

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:16.480
 He sought to seek God first

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.019
 and for that to be

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.299
 a priority in His life.

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.900
 And He sought to do it wholly,

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.680
 to be separated

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.660
 from everybody else

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.440
 and be wholly devoted

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.539
 to God in this time period.

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.400
 What's interesting here

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.019
 in the text,

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.000
 the word secluded,

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.379
 that's translated right here

00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.700
 in verse 12

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.599
 and other places

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.180
 in the text,

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.480
 is also the word

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.319
 that is translated wilderness.

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.339
 So in verse 12

00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:35.640
 where it says,

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.580
 immediately the Spirit

00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.140
 impelled Him

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.960
 to go into the wilderness,

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.460
 the word wilderness there

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.360
 is the same place

00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.420
 for secluded place here.

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.160
 So if you look at a map,

00:21:43.540 --> 00:21:44.860
 which I don't expect

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:45.300
 you all to do,

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.420
 but if you look at a map,

00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.300
 you'll see that there are

00:21:47.300 --> 00:21:48.040
 no wilderness,

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.420
 how it's generally used

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.600
 to describe in Capernaum

00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.800
 in the immediate area.

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.440
 So Jesus would have gone

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.420
 a relatively good ways

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.100
 away from the city

00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:55.500
 to get away

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.240
 from everybody else,

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.680
 to go and pray

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.800
 and be alone with God

00:21:58.800 --> 00:22:00.040
 and to spend time

00:22:00.040 --> 00:22:00.620
 with the Father.

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:02.619
 And let us also see,

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.559
 wait,

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.639
 whenever you look

00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.439
 at the rest of Scripture,

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:10.799
 you see Christ's prayer life

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.259
 continually.

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:13.139
 Let us remember

00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:14.639
 that mark here

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:16.219
 in these first nine chapters

00:22:16.219 --> 00:22:17.279
 and especially in chapter one

00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.139
 as he's continually

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.959
 showed the authority

00:22:18.959 --> 00:22:19.559
 of Christ,

00:22:19.979 --> 00:22:20.859
 is showing Christ

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.699
 as the God-man,

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:23.099
 He who is powerful,

00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:24.839
 who is far more able

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.459
 than we are

00:22:25.459 --> 00:22:26.719
 in our own human flesh,

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.539
 in our own human selves.

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.339
 And yet Christ took

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.079
 the time to pray.

00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.559
 It was His priority

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.299
 in His life.

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.879
 And the lesson for us

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.539
 as we looked at

00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.480
 1 John 2, 6,

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:36.759
 obviously we can't replicate

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.740
 the first part of the text

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.279
 that we looked at.

00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.000
 We don't have the ability

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.699
 to heal the way that Christ did.

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.179
 We don't have the ability

00:22:41.179 --> 00:22:41.960
 to do all those miracles,

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.539
 although Christ does do

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.339
 miracles today still.

00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:46.899
 We don't have the ability

00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.460
 like He did.

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.980
 But we can replicate

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.079
 this aspect of His ministry,

00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:50.559
 of His life.

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.799
 We do have the ability

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:54.539
 to continue on in prayer

00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:55.500
 alone and making it

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.019
 a priority.

00:22:56.919 --> 00:22:57.679
 So that's why

00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.319
 whenever we look at

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.019
 what Christ is doing

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.720
 here is significant

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.440
 that we take note

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.019
 and that we notice

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.579
 what He does,

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.720
 so that way we can do it too.

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.099
 If Him who was perfect

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.819
 sought to pray,

00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.839
 how much more so

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:08.279
 do we who are imperfect

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:08.779
 need to?

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.940
 Christ had no sins

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.500
 to confess,

00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.119
 which would take up

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.000
 most of our time in prayer,

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.059
 based on how sinful

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.480
 we are.

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.019
 He had no...

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.240
 Well,

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.119
 He didn't deal

00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.559
 with temptation

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.000
 the same way

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.539
 that we did,

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.000
 in that we have to

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.240
 bitterly seek freedom

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.879
 from temptation.

00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:25.180
 If Christ,

00:23:25.300 --> 00:23:26.040
 who was God

00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:26.860
 in the flesh,

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:27.900
 sought the face

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.900
 of His Father,

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.780
 probably praying

00:23:30.780 --> 00:23:31.260
 for the ministry

00:23:31.260 --> 00:23:31.700
 that occurred

00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.360
 the day previous,

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.900
 that the word

00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.620
 that had been sown

00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.300
 would remain,

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:34.860
 that Satan

00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:35.600
 wouldn't snatch it up

00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.500
 and be on good soil,

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.620
 and praying for the

00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:38.480
 next day,

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.500
 which was His preaching,

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.600
 if He sought

00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.720
 so vigorously the Father

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.820
 as to make it a priority

00:23:42.820 --> 00:23:43.840
 to rise early

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:45.140
 long before the sun rose

00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:46.100
 and to go somewhere

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:47.500
 far away from everybody else

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.420
 after a long day

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:48.940
 of ministry,

00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.440
 should not we as well?

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.100
 You told me that...

00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:52.960
 You told me you're too busy

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.299
 to really sit down

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.180
 and take time to pray?

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.180
 That's crazy,

00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.059
 because Christ was way

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.779
 busy than any of us.

00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.420
 Look at His day.

00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.820
 32 through 34

00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:02.100
 is really just a summary

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.940
 of a day of Christ,

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.940
 that He killed many,

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:04.559
 many people,

00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.799
 and that the whole town

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.580
 had literally come to Him

00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:07.160
 and He healed all

00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:07.660
 who were sick

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.420
 and demon-possessed.

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.600
 You told me that

00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.240
 you are distracted?

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.480
 I understand, beloved.

00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:13.360
 Whenever I seek to pray,

00:24:13.840 --> 00:24:14.700
 that's like the only time

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.460
 I get text messages,

00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:16.160
 the only time I get

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.740
 phone calls.

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.900
 It's really strange.

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.940
 People knock at the door.

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.640
 I'm really tempted

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.340
 to check Facebook.

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.039
 And various things.

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.220
 I can relate to your temptation,

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.080
 but far greater,

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.539
 far greater than my ability

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:28.200
 to relate to your distraction,

00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:28.799
 your ability,

00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:29.680
 or your tendency

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.220
 to be distracted

00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.120
 is Christ's.

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:31.920
 Look here.

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.920
 Look at us in verse...

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.400
 Look at us,

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.799
 with me,

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.400
 in verse 36 and 37.

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.039
 It says,

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.960
 Simon and his companions

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.899
 searched for Him.

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.980
 They found Him

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.639
 and said to Him,

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.960
 everyone is looking for you.

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.019
 Christ had taken

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.879
 this great effort

00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.960
 to arise long before

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.859
 everybody else,

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:45.879
 so that we hopefully,

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.359
 I imagine,

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.039
 that He didn't want

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.559
 to be seen,

00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:49.240
 gone to this far-off place

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.879
 to be secluded,

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.899
 to be alone with God

00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:51.920
 and to seek His face.

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.099
 And then disciples,

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.559
 wanting to do a good thing,

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:54.879
 I imagine,

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.099
 saying,

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:56.119
 everybody's looking for you.

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:57.500
 They go and distract Him.

00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.639
 They go and take Him away

00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.579
 from the Father's presence.

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.460
 So, beloved,

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.399
 listen,

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:04.040
 this is really, really important.

00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:05.180
 Christ can relate

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.680
 to your weakness

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.300
 in this area.

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.280
 Christ knows

00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:08.900
 what it feels like

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.560
 to be distracted

00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:10.340
 while you seek

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.180
 the Father's face.

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:12.780
 It is no surprise to Him.

00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:13.240
 It is not something

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.100
 He is unlearned in.

00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.360
 And let us learn

00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:16.400
 to look to the beloved,

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.860
 the beloved crucified

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.560
 Son of God

00:25:18.560 --> 00:25:19.660
 who is risen

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:21.040
 and who knows

00:25:21.040 --> 00:25:21.680
 our weakness

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.240
 to learn to cope

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.080
 with these things.

00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:25.480
 Beloved.

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:32.720
 Let us also note

00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:34.319
 that Christ in His flesh

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.880
 did not have

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.559
 infinite energy.

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.220
 It was not something

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:40.480
 that we see

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.640
 continuing in the Scriptures

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.640
 at moments like

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.120
 when Christ says,

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.640
 I thirst,

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.039
 and moments like that,

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.140
 that Christ did not have

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.099
 infinite amount of energy

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.079
 and that Christ

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.140
 had had a very busy day,

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.900
 far busier than

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.640
 what most of us

00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.720
 experience on our regular day

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.319
 previously.

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.420
 And as we see

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.900
 from the following verses

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.820
 that He was going to go

00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.380
 and continue to do

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.500
 the same thing continually.

00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.560
 Yet He made the time

00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:00.980
 and the priority to pray.

00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:03.320
 So, if you feel tired,

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:03.980
 distracted,

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.400
 like you don't have energy

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.019
 to stay awake

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.600
 and sit there,

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.259
 beloved,

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.980
 Christ knows how you feel.

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.519
 Look to Him for guidance.

00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.400
 Look to Him for wisdom.

00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.360
 Look at His example.

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.140
 In Luke 5.16 it says,

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.100
 But Jesus Himself

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.300
 would often slip away

00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:19.800
 to the wilderness and pray.

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.060
 One of the beauties

00:26:21.060 --> 00:26:21.780
 of this text,

00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.340
 as a man named

00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:24.300
 Brother Paul Washer

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.460
 points out in a sermon,

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.079
 is that Christ slipped away

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.859
 to pray in the wilderness.

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.019
 And you slip away

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.859
 to that which you love.

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.200
 You slip away

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.000
 and go off

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.519
 to that which is

00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.440
 most cherished to you.

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.319
 Maybe you slip away

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.319
 to play music

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.079
 or you slip away

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.059
 to read a book.

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.960
 Those aren't intrinsically

00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.839
 bad things to do,

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:39.299
 by the way.

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.319
 I'm not saying those are sin.

00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.000
 Those are good things to do

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.639
 and God refreshes

00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:43.359
 our spirit to them.

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:45.299
 But Christ often

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.559
 slipped away to pray.

00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:48.139
 And that shows us

00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.599
 in the text,

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.480
 Christ slipping away,

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.319
 that was the most valuable

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.700
 to Him,

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.859
 was seeing the face

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.679
 and beholding the face

00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.559
 of the Father in prayer.

00:26:54.219 --> 00:26:55.599
 It was the great joy

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.199
 of His day.

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:58.199
 In the context of that passage,

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.719
 He had been doing

00:26:58.719 --> 00:26:59.459
 many miracles.

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.619
 It says that He was

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.500
 healing many lepers.

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.059
 It says,

00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:03.319
 but Christ would often

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.199
 slip away to pray.

00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.539
 So let us learn,

00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.839
 like our beloved did,

00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:08.019
 to slip away to God,

00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:09.399
 to make prayer a priority,

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.299
 to make beholding

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.979
 the face of God

00:27:10.979 --> 00:27:11.919
 such a joyous thing

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.600
 in our hearts,

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.320
 that we long for

00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:15.080
 to the point where,

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.800
 in spite of our busy day,

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:18.420
 in spite of our hectic schedules,

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.140
 in spite of our tiredness

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:20.800
 and all these things,

00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:22.140
 that we slip away to it.

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.080
 That it becomes

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:24.560
 our source of strength

00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:25.700
 and joy in the ministry.

00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.980
 Because we're all called

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.400
 to the ministry

00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.060
 of reconciliation.

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.539
 In 2 Corinthians 5,

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.620
 Paul talks about

00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:31.640
 all who are born again.

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.980
 And then he continues on

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:35.000
 and he ends the passage

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.039
 with a great exchange,

00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:38.019
 justification by grace

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.500
 through faith.

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.840
 But in between that,

00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.440
 he says that God

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.880
 has given us

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.900
 the ministry

00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:42.640
 of reconciliation.

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:43.840
 Going out

00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:44.880
 and proclaiming to men

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.460
 the good news

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.920
 that Jesus Christ is Lord.

00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:50.900
 And let us learn, beloved,

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.920
 as Christ did,

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.460
 as he went about

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.320
 this same ministry,

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.020
 let us look at his example

00:27:55.020 --> 00:27:55.920
 and see how he did it.

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.600
 He slipped away to pray.

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.740
 And my prayer for this point

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.100
 in the sermon

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.060
 is that y'all really see

00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:02.820
 the value of prayer.

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.800
 Because Christ did it.

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.900
 Christ who was God

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.560
 made a common practice of it.

00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:08.040
 If Christ,

00:28:08.320 --> 00:28:09.580
 who was God in the flesh

00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:10.420
 made a practice of it,

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.620
 we ought to.

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.820
 Because he is our

00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.519
 perfect example.

00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.420
 He is the captain

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:14.920
 of our faith,

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.600
 our elder brother,

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.640
 who we should look after

00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.180
 to repeat.

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:20.220
 And let us also note

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:20.860
 in this text

00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:23.580
 involving Christ's ministry

00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:24.279
 and how he was,

00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:24.900
 how he worked,

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.480
 how he shunned the comfort

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.060
 and popularity

00:28:27.060 --> 00:28:27.840
 of the world.

00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:29.800
 His disciples walk up to him

00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.220
 and they say,

00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.560
 everyone is looking for you.

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:33.000
 All men seek after you.

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.080
 This is a great,

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.060
 joyous proclamation.

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.800
 It would have been so easy

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.180
 to say,

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.000
 I'm popular here.

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.480
 I'm well received here.

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.720
 I'm going to stay here,

00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:41.480
 continue preaching,

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.200
 continue healing,

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.180
 be loved by the people

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.819
 and continue on in my ministry.

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.759
 But what does Christ say?

00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.299
 He says,

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.839
 let us go somewhere else

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.680
 to towns nearby

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.059
 so that I may preach

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.720
 there also.

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.839
 For that is what I came for.

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.500
 Christ knew the work

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.700
 that God had set before him

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.720
 and refused to rest

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.500
 in the comfort of works

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.319
 already accomplished.

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.279
 And I know myself,

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.619
 and I'm sure many of you

00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.539
 can relate to me in this,

00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:03.500
 that often I find

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.359
 the opposite to be true.

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.559
 I find myself only referring

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.980
 back to past experiences

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:09.160
 instead of continually

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.859
 pushing forward

00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:11.160
 oftentimes in the work of God.

00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.559
 I take comfort

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.480
 in what God has already

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.119
 used me for

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:14.720
 and what God has already

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.259
 done in me

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.779
 rather than striving forward.

00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:18.319
 And we would do well

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.480
 to learn as our Savior did

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.640
 to not rest

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.660
 until we have done

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.819
 what God has given us to do.

00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.420
 And as you all know,

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.539
 what God has given us to do

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.259
 is the Great Commission

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.839
 to go into all the nations,

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.519
 all the world,

00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.559
 and preach Christ.

00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.740
 And that has not been done,

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.519
 as we all know.

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.799
 So let us learn,

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.759
 as our Savior did here,

00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.880
 not to rest in the comfort

00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.519
 of our friends,

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.620
 the comfort of those

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.559
 who receive us well.

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.440
 Let us continue fighting on

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.660
 for the glory of God,

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.220
 advancing the flag of Zion.

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:46.120
 Let us not rest in ease

00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.720
 and peace

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.680
 while men are out there

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.640
 not worshiping God

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.660
 as he ought to be worshipped,

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.880
 praising the Lord

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.099
 as he ought to be praised,

00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.720
 and they are dying

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.859
 and condemned to hell as well.

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.400
 We should have a burden

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.660
 and urgency about us

00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:59.319
 to continue pressing on

00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:00.799
 because God deserves glory,

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.220
 both being bowed to

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.740
 as Lord

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.019
 and being rejoiced

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.779
 over as Savior.

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.380
 Because Christ deserves

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:06.799
 these things,

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.480
 let us press

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.819
 and press and press

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.480
 and rely entirely

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.940
 upon seeing the face

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.339
 of the Father

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.660
 in prayer as Christ did here.

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:24.940
 Verse 39 of our text says,

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:27.259
 And he went into their synagogues

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.720
 throughout all of Galilee,

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.079
 preaching and casting out

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.519
 the demons.

00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.559
 This shows us that

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.500
 what Christ had said

00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.179
 in verse 38,

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.980
 what he came to do,

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.099
 to go and preach,

00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.559
 he did,

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.859
 and he accomplished.

00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.439
 It's obviously a curse

00:30:40.439 --> 00:30:41.500
 to the rest of the Gospels.

00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:42.480
 I'm not saying

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:45.039
 at verse 39 it was done

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.819
 because it wasn't.

00:30:45.919 --> 00:30:46.099
 Obviously,

00:30:46.179 --> 00:30:47.259
 we have the rest of this Gospel

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.099
 in the Gospel accounts,

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.539
 but it shows that

00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.500
 Christ continued on

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.099
 and pressed on

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:51.960
 with what he came to do.

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:54.700
 He,

00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:58.680
 we see that Christ,

00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.360
 ah,

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.819
 I'm trying to word this properly.

00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:02.000
 It's not in my notes.

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.840
 That was a bad choice.

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.480
 We see that Christ

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.360
 is entirely dependent,

00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.480
 as we've actually covered,

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.500
 and that he accomplished

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.180
 what he came to do

00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:10.920
 because of the work

00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.920
 that he had done previously.

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.299
 The power of his ministry

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.039
 was in prayer.

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.000
 The power of his ministry

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.079
 was in prayer,

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.600
 my beloved.

00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:20.980
 We are not going

00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.799
 to accomplish things

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.559
 because of our wit,

00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:23.279
 our own ability,

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.019
 or anything like that.

00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.139
 We will accomplish

00:31:25.139 --> 00:31:25.859
 because we behold

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.659
 the face of God

00:31:26.659 --> 00:31:27.779
 and act as Christ did,

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.359
 as our great brother.

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:32.859
 So,

00:31:32.939 --> 00:31:33.559
 last page of the notes.

00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:33.839
 Good.

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:34.439
 So,

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.919
 we're at the finally

00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.459
 and the conclusion.

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.419
 Oh,

00:31:38.439 --> 00:31:38.559
 yeah,

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.539
 I remember what I was going to say now.

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.119
 Sorry,

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.299
 I apologize for that distraction.

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:42.519
 But,

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:43.919
 what Christ came to do,

00:31:43.959 --> 00:31:44.199
 he said,

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.279
 was to preach the Gospel.

00:31:45.399 --> 00:31:46.139
 That was the focus

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.899
 and main aspect

00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:47.559
 of his ministry.

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:48.799
 Um,

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.240
 oftentimes,

00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.039
 you hear about

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.119
 social work these days

00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.939
 and social justice

00:31:51.939 --> 00:31:52.559
 is an area

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.079
 that has been

00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.879
 often neglected

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.759
 by the church,

00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.379
 especially among

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.379
 the evangelical church.

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.639
 And that's the tragedy

00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:58.679
 because God loves

00:31:58.679 --> 00:31:59.439
 social justice.

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.919
 He desires for it

00:32:00.919 --> 00:32:01.539
 to be brought out

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.139
 and accomplished.

00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.759
 But we see here

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:05.319
 that Christ's primary ministry

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.359
 was preaching the Gospel.

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.939
 What Christ came to do

00:32:07.939 --> 00:32:09.299
 and what we are to push on doing

00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.059
 is to preach

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.939
 the Gospel of Christ.

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.219
 We are to love

00:32:12.219 --> 00:32:13.139
 as Christ loved,

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.139
 to walk as he walked

00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:14.759
 as we looked at

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.419
 that first verse

00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:15.879
 that I read,

00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:17.219
 which includes

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.980
 looking after

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.680
 those who are sick,

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.740
 those who are destitute,

00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.559
 those who are poor,

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.860
 unable themselves.

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:24.059
 But his primary focus

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.900
 was to preach

00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:25.579
 the Gospel

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.559
 in all the places

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:27.180
 that he was going.

00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.100
 For him,

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:28.620
 it was Israel.

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.039
 For us,

00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.059
 he has expanded it

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.720
 to the whole world.

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.640
 So as we go forth,

00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.299
 I know many of you

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.220
 are called to missions.

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.100
 I know many of you,

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.559
 whether it be

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.259
 missions overseas

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.920
 or missions

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.299
 in a different state

00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:40.200
 or missions down the road

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:42.519
 or however it is

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.480
 that God has called you to do,

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.860
 let us not lose focus

00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.660
 of the main thing

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.599
 in our time of going,

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.620
 that we not ever see

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:50.000
 the Gospel

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.880
 as less than an end

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.519
 and all these things

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.160
 as a means.

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.000
 Using these things

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.960
 to extol God.

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.539
 So,

00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:58.900
 I want to,

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.339
 I want to,

00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:00.000
 we've kind of looked at

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.599
 a bunch of like

00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:01.900
 spider web strings

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.940
 and I want to show you

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:04.319
 how the web actually looks

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:05.360
 in light of the whole passage

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.200
 that we've been looking at.

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.799
 So we see the first

00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:09.099
 that Mark has at this point

00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:10.000
 established Christ's

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.759
 absolute authority.

00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.420
 I hope you all

00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.259
 have walked away with that

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.720
 because I've said it

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.500
 like ten times.

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.180
 So we see Christ

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.140
 as absolute authority

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:17.180
 and we see that

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.759
 the disciples

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.819
 were compelled

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:20.319
 by that absolute authority

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.519
 to go to Christ

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.259
 and to present

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.379
 their needs before Him.

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.440
 That

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:28.420
 they had comfort

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.119
 knowing that Christ

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.519
 would hear

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:31.099
 and faith knowing

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.759
 that He was able

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.980
 to do as He pleased.

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.539
 And then we see

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.480
 that Christ continues on

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.500
 with a really busy day

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.400
 and we see an emphasis

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.039
 on prayer

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.059
 in that Christ prayed

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.400
 and we see how Christ prayed.

00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:41.440
 We see the emphasis

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.299
 of how Christ prayed

00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:43.480
 being alone

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.279
 to be completely

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.059
 shut off to God

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:46.140
 and early

00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:47.240
 showing a priority.

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:49.000
 So beloved,

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:51.820
 what God is showing us

00:33:51.820 --> 00:33:52.380
 through Mark,

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.340
 one of the many things

00:33:53.340 --> 00:33:54.620
 is the importance

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.180
 of prayer

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.100
 and turning to God

00:33:56.100 --> 00:33:56.900
 in all things

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.559
 for ministry

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.299
 and for all.

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.740
 Whether it be

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.259
 the ministry

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.120
 of being a husband,

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:01.600
 a father,

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.140
 a son,

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.580
 a daughter,

00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:03.840
 or the ministry

00:34:03.840 --> 00:34:04.799
 of preaching the gospel

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:06.380
 to those who don't know Christ.

00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:08.139
 God is showing us

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.900
 this great,

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.500
 great,

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.359
 great need

00:34:10.359 --> 00:34:11.099
 for prayer.

00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.239
 And beloved,

00:34:12.379 --> 00:34:13.199
 Hebrews 4.15

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:14.000
 says that we do not have

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.579
 a high priest

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:14.980
 who is unable

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:16.019
 to sympathize with us

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.659
 but in all ways

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.159
 was attempted

00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:17.920
 as we were

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:19.059
 yet without sin.

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.179
 And then it goes on

00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:20.599
 to say,

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.359
 now let us boldly

00:34:22.359 --> 00:34:23.159
 approach the throne

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:23.719
 of grace,

00:34:23.859 --> 00:34:24.599
 receiving grace

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.980
 as it is for the need.

00:34:26.759 --> 00:34:27.319
 And beloved,

00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.299
 listen,

00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:29.719
 this is really important.

00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:31.859
 We see

00:34:31.859 --> 00:34:32.500
 that the emphasis

00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.059
 of that passage

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.519
 shows us

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.099
 that because of

00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:35.019
 who Christ was,

00:34:35.359 --> 00:34:36.119
 we have boldness

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.819
 before the Father.

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.980
 We can come

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.059
 and make bold requests

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.519
 of God

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.079
 in our prayer,

00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:41.539
 present bold things.

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.319
 That's why we have

00:34:42.319 --> 00:34:43.019
 the ability to pray

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:44.000
 for things like revival

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.299
 because Christ

00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:45.940
 is our token.

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:47.199
 His righteousness

00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:48.319
 has paid for us.

00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:50.139
 Our union with Christ,

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.480
 being one with Him,

00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.500
 has made the road

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.239
 for us to be

00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:54.099
 at the throne room

00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:54.599
 of God.

00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:56.139
 And we have the ability,

00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:57.480
 the great and glorious,

00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.559
 precious ability

00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:00.199
 to walk before God,

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.539
 say Father,

00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:03.299
 and present our requests

00:35:03.299 --> 00:35:03.599
 to Him

00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.420
 because of Christ,

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.779
 because of who He is,

00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.840
 because of what He has done.

00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:08.860
 So let us pray boldly.

00:35:09.100 --> 00:35:10.120
 Let us pray often,

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.400
 alone,

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.580
 and boldly

00:35:12.580 --> 00:35:13.420
 to our God

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:15.180
 who hears us

00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.060
 and graciously,

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.900
 ever so graciously,

00:35:18.080 --> 00:35:18.680
 condescends

00:35:18.680 --> 00:35:19.600
 to answer our prayers.

00:35:21.220 --> 00:35:22.420
 I have a confession

00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:22.960
 to you all.

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.840
 As Nathan preached

00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.760
 through the book of Nehemiah,

00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:25.960
 he often talked

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.519
 about the value

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:26.920
 of prayer

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.840
 as we see in the book.

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:29.120
 And I so often

00:35:29.120 --> 00:35:30.019
 found myself saying

00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:30.620
 yes and amen

00:35:30.620 --> 00:35:31.240
 in my heart,

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.800
 but so little

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.640
 had been changed

00:35:33.640 --> 00:35:34.300
 by hearing

00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.300
 what he was preaching about.

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:36.420
 And I promise you,

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.060
 until preparing

00:35:37.060 --> 00:35:37.720
 for this sermon,

00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.560
 God has birthed

00:35:39.560 --> 00:35:40.280
 a greater prayer life

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:40.600
 in me

00:35:40.600 --> 00:35:41.480
 through this text

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.080
 than before.

00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.539
 But my confession

00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:44.080
 is that

00:35:44.080 --> 00:35:45.320
 it is not enough,

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.700
 brethren,

00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.539
 brothers and sisters,

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.440
 to say yes and amen

00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:48.160
 to these truths,

00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:49.440
 to say that prayer

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:49.940
 is important

00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.800
 and we need to do it

00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.720
 and we need to push on.

00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:54.180
 We must back

00:35:54.180 --> 00:35:54.900
 our words

00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.539
 with actions

00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.660
 because

00:35:56.660 --> 00:35:59.120
 in the letter

00:35:59.120 --> 00:35:59.620
 to Corinth,

00:35:59.680 --> 00:36:00.260
 in the first one,

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:01.340
 Paul talks about

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:02.300
 those who are reviling him

00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:02.660
 and he says,

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:02.800
 well,

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.620
 I will come soon

00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:04.280
 and they can have

00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:04.660
 the words

00:36:04.660 --> 00:36:05.140
 because the kingdom

00:36:05.140 --> 00:36:05.840
 of God comes

00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:07.320
 in word and deed.

00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:08.640
 So, brethren,

00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:09.519
 as we encourage

00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:09.940
 one another

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.420
 to pray

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:10.940
 and to seek

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.780
 God's face,

00:36:12.120 --> 00:36:12.960
 as we say yes

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.320
 and amen

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.060
 to these truths

00:36:14.060 --> 00:36:14.640
 because they are

00:36:14.640 --> 00:36:15.420
 beautiful truths

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.120
 found in scriptures,

00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:16.700
 the righteousness

00:36:16.700 --> 00:36:17.260
 of Christ

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.120
 enabling us to pray,

00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:19.400
 let us back

00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:20.000
 our actions,

00:36:20.100 --> 00:36:20.600
 let us back

00:36:20.600 --> 00:36:21.320
 our words

00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:21.960
 with actions.

00:36:23.680 --> 00:36:24.300
 I've been doing

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:25.019
 a lot of meditation

00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.860
 on Christian liberty

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.360
 recently

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.380
 and something

00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:27.920
 that God

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.720
 has really shown me

00:36:29.720 --> 00:36:30.860
 through the meditation

00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.400
 and the word

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.180
 is that there are

00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:32.740
 two kind of people

00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:33.340
 and James talks

00:36:33.340 --> 00:36:33.760
 about this.

00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:34.700
 There are the effectual

00:36:34.700 --> 00:36:35.360
 hearers and those

00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:35.740
 who do.

00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:36.740
 There are people

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.680
 who say these things

00:36:37.680 --> 00:36:38.220
 that will say

00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:39.079
 yes and amen.

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.099
 Yes,

00:36:40.160 --> 00:36:41.140
 these are true statements.

00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:41.960
 We need to pray more.

00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:42.900
 We ought to act

00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.780
 as Christ acted

00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:44.400
 in that way

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.300
 but then nothing

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:46.200
 changes in their lives

00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:47.039
 and I'm fearful

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.519
 for that

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.440
 for many of you

00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:49.019
 and for myself

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:49.559
 above all.

00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.200
 Trust me.

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.160
 James 3.1

00:36:51.160 --> 00:36:51.360
 says,

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:51.780
 let not many

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.539
 become teachers

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.700
 for held to a higher

00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:54.079
 judgment.

00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:54.460
 So,

00:36:54.680 --> 00:36:55.460
 I fear

00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.539
 to sit here

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.519
 and preach this to you

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.360
 to say these things

00:36:58.360 --> 00:36:58.800
 to you

00:36:58.800 --> 00:37:00.880
 and then not change myself

00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:02.460
 but I fear for you also

00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.179
 because you have heard

00:37:03.179 --> 00:37:03.940
 the word of God

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:05.840
 regardless of how

00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:07.079
 poorly or well

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:07.920
 this sermon has been delivered

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.519
 you have seen

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.340
 that Christ prayed

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.500
 made it a priority

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.720
 and went to do it

00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.240
 by himself

00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:12.820
 and did so

00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:13.159
 for the sake

00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:13.780
 of his ministry

00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:15.559
 and if you do not

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.240
 follow suit

00:37:16.240 --> 00:37:17.280
 with what Christ has done

00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:18.019
 you give an account

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.420
 for it

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.380
 because you have knowledge

00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:20.539
 brethren

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:21.960
 I pray that the fear

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.280
 of God

00:37:22.280 --> 00:37:23.119
 would press upon you

00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:23.619
 in that regard

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.480
 and it would myself

00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:26.300
 that we would know

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.539
 that God has called us

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.480
 to be these kind of people

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:29.300
 people of prayer

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:30.740
 people that seek him

00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:34.199
 and that we would not stand

00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:35.599
 before God on judgment day

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.639
 and give an account

00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.380
 for all the truth

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:38.300
 we heard about prayer

00:37:38.300 --> 00:37:39.199
 all the truth

00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:39.619
 we heard about

00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.280
 these beautiful

00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:41.119
 glorious truths

00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:42.260
 and also

00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:43.679
 let's look at the beauty

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.300
 and the truth

00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:45.380
 of who we get to pray to

00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:47.179
 we get to pray to Christ

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:48.320
 who had absolute authority

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:49.619
 as we've seen in this text

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:51.039
 and over the past couple sermons

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.259
 over both man

00:37:52.259 --> 00:37:53.619
 the will of man

00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:54.619
 the nature

00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.519
 the nature

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:55.920
 nature

00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:57.779
 as well as the demonic world

00:37:57.779 --> 00:37:58.599
 and the spiritual realm

00:37:58.599 --> 00:38:00.460
 what a joy to bring to him

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.460
 our troubles and peace

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.480
 our troubles

00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.759
 and seek peace from him anyways

00:38:03.759 --> 00:38:05.000
 but

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:07.079
 I want to end

00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.699
 with

00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:08.880
 talking to any of you

00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:09.779
 who are not in Christ

00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:11.380
 who do not know Christ

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:14.840
 I tell you people

00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:16.380
 that

00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:17.900
 this sermon

00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.480
 has very little

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.059
 to offer you

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:20.420
 because God is not

00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:21.639
 obligated to hear your prayers

00:38:21.639 --> 00:38:23.139
 God is not

00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:23.460
 I mean

00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:25.119
 he knows what your prayers are

00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:26.420
 because he knows all things

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.820
 but he's not obligated

00:38:27.820 --> 00:38:28.219
 to hear them

00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:28.759
 in the sense of

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.420
 as a good friend

00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:29.880
 listens

00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:31.360
 to you whenever you talk

00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:32.779
 in the book of Daniel

00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:33.699
 in the 9th chapter

00:38:33.699 --> 00:38:34.599
 in the 18th verse

00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:36.279
 Daniel tells us that

00:38:36.279 --> 00:38:37.880
 he is not praying

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:39.599
 based on his righteousness

00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:40.799
 based on his own merits

00:38:40.799 --> 00:38:42.299
 but on the great compassion

00:38:42.299 --> 00:38:42.840
 of God

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.299
 and in the context

00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:45.079
 of what happens there

00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.619
 the next thing

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.779
 that Daniel says

00:38:46.779 --> 00:38:47.579
 is forgive us

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:48.820
 forgive us oh Lord

00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:49.519
 for our sins

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:49.960
 he's making

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:51.059
 he's praying

00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:51.780
 for the transgression

00:38:51.780 --> 00:38:52.400
 of his people

00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:54.380
 so

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:55.940
 what that shows us

00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:56.420
 is that

00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:57.320
 whenever we talk about

00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:58.160
 having such confidence

00:38:58.160 --> 00:38:58.760
 and boldness

00:38:58.760 --> 00:38:59.120
 and prayer

00:38:59.120 --> 00:38:59.700
 being able to go

00:38:59.700 --> 00:39:00.640
 to God Almighty

00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:01.840
 and present our request

00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:03.000
 is not because of who we are

00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:04.480
 but is who Christ is

00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:05.120
 and what he has done

00:39:05.120 --> 00:39:05.940
 and the compassion

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:07.320
 that Daniel was talking about

00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:08.580
 in that passage

00:39:08.580 --> 00:39:09.860
 the compassion of the Lord

00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:11.160
 is the work of Jesus Christ

00:39:11.160 --> 00:39:12.280
 that he came

00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:12.980
 lived a perfect

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.820
 sinless life

00:39:13.820 --> 00:39:16.100
 never committed a single sin

00:39:16.100 --> 00:39:17.200
 never lied once

00:39:17.200 --> 00:39:18.180
 never had an impure thought

00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:19.259
 everything

00:39:19.259 --> 00:39:20.919
 if you are outside of Christ

00:39:20.919 --> 00:39:21.460
 that you have done

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:21.980
 that is wrong

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.659
 he never did

00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:24.379
 and that he died

00:39:24.379 --> 00:39:25.000
 for his people

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:27.480
 he completed the work

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:28.000
 for his people

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.879
 and that he made redemption

00:39:28.879 --> 00:39:29.659
 for their sins

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:31.019
 and that is the merit

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:31.919
 that we come and pray

00:39:31.919 --> 00:39:33.219
 before our God with

00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:35.480
 and if you are not in Christ

00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:36.139
 I tell you

00:39:36.139 --> 00:39:36.779
 and I invite you

00:39:36.779 --> 00:39:37.500
 to join us

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.399
 Christ said

00:39:38.399 --> 00:39:38.799
 that he will

00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:40.059
 I'm sorry

00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:40.759
 the scriptures teach

00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.279
 that all who call

00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:41.759
 on the name of the Lord

00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.379
 will be saved

00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:43.880
 all who call

00:39:43.880 --> 00:39:44.579
 on the name of the Lord

00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:45.180
 will be saved

00:39:45.180 --> 00:39:46.119
 and you will also

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:47.200
 have this joyous access

00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:48.200
 to this great God

00:39:48.200 --> 00:39:49.980
 let me emphasize once more

00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:51.539
 and now in my sermon

00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:53.059
 we're in the preaching

00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:53.780
 section of worship

00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:55.800
 that God is not obligated

00:39:55.800 --> 00:39:57.320
 to answer your prayers

00:39:57.320 --> 00:39:59.360
 he is not obligated

00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:00.599
 to do as you ask

00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:01.980
 we do not force God's hand

00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:03.440
 God rejoices

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:04.300
 to use the prayers

00:40:04.300 --> 00:40:04.880
 of his people

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:06.079
 to accomplish his means

00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:07.480
 but he has a far

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.220
 greater view

00:40:08.220 --> 00:40:09.220
 and a far greater wisdom

00:40:09.220 --> 00:40:09.680
 than we

00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:11.000
 in many things

00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:12.039
 so sometimes

00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:12.819
 we may ask things

00:40:12.819 --> 00:40:13.500
 and they may not be

00:40:13.500 --> 00:40:15.179
 they may not be given to us

00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:16.019
 they may not be granted to us

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.519
 by the Father

00:40:16.519 --> 00:40:17.719
 but it is not because

00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:18.460
 the merit of Christ

00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:19.079
 is insufficient

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:20.440
 it is because

00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.819
 God has a better

00:40:21.819 --> 00:40:22.519
 and greater plan

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.139
 for his beloved

00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:24.779
 to make them like Christ

00:40:24.779 --> 00:40:26.619
 let's pray