WEBVTT

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 You get it, I want you to just hold it up for me.

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 Y'all look like you're voting, but in reality, we're praying.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord Jesus, I love you, and I thank you for the opportunity of worship today.

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 Your sweet spirit's been in this place.

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 I'm thankful for it.

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 God, with that same spirit, direct us right now.

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 Clear our minds, then fill our minds, oh God.

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 Show us what you'd have us to do, and give us the conviction to do it, oh God, I pray.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Easter will be here in five weeks.

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 I want to take an excursion today away from our sermon series on creation

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 to just talk about the importance of what's coming up.

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 I'll be dealing with Genesis chapter 3 for the next three weeks,

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 and then on Palm Sunday, we'll look to the cross of Christ,

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 and on Easter Sunday, thank God, we'll look at the resurrection.

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 Easter is a great day to honor the Lord and celebrate our new life through resurrection,

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 and if you have other plans on Easter and can change them, change them, okay?

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 If you've not made plans for Easter, don't overbook it.

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 You don't want to miss it, I promise you.

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 One year ago, it was a significant day in the life of our church,

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 so much so that we won't do Easter this year like we did last year

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 because we can't accommodate it, thankfully.

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 Last year, we hoped for 300 in Sunday school.

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 We got that.

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 We wanted to double that in a combined service of an 8 o'clock outside parking lot service

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 and then a different service at 1030.

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 If we could combine both of those and maybe have 600.

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 We had about 200 in the parking lot.

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 We had 681 for worship.

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 Amen.

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 681, we can't handle that.

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 We had an overflow, and so we need to accommodate that better this year,

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 but man, what a day we had.

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 So I want you to get this schedule down, and I want you to understand it.

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 At 830, we will have a worship service in here,

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 and then at 915, we'll have Sunday school at 8 o'clock.

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 Excuse me.

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 You're right.

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 8 o'clock.

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 Thank you.

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 Don't show up 30 minutes late.

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 Thank you, Jerry.

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 8 o'clock.

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 And then at 915, we'll have Sunday school.

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 At 1030, we'll have the same.

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 Well, it says identical.

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 Ain't two worship hours I've ever been in has been identical, praise the Lord.

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 But anyway, but we'll have the same program in both,

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 and so the same order twice.

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 Our children options will be more advanced at 1030 than at the early one.

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 If you don't have a Sunday school class, don't leave, okay?

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 If you are not in Sunday school before Easter and you don't have a class,

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 then start on Easter.

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 I'm going to be holding a class in the fellowship hall,

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 so I want everybody here for Sunday school.

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 Either you come at 8 and stay for Sunday school,

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 or you show up for Sunday school and stay for worship.

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 We're going to have a great day in the Lord.

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 Last year, we made a commitment five weeks out, and it worked.

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 And lives were changed because God blessed our faithfulness.

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 So I want us to commit again today publicly

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 and to lay that out before the Lord.

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 The five-for-five card that you received has a tear-off on the bottom.

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 That tear-off is for you to turn in in a little while.

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 That top part looks much like a bookmark, and that's on purpose.

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 So that you can write names upon that list, make that a prayer list for you,

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 put that in your Bible, put that wherever you need to put it,

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 to pray over that daily.

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 Pray about five people that you can invite

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 to celebrate the resurrection with us on Easter Sunday.

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 Now, as I preach this morning, I want you to write those names down.

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 I've asked God to give you those names,

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 to make them clear to you, to remind you of those things.

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 I often don't want you distracted when I preach.

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 I want you distracted this morning

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 by five names that God lays on your heart to invite.

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 I'm not asking you to invite them.

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 I'm asking you to pray about inviting them.

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 Just write those names down on that sheet.

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 May God grant that.

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 Write them twice on both the top list and on the bottom list.

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 You'll keep the bottom list.

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 Excuse me.

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 You'll turn in the bottom list and lay it at the cross of Christ

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 at the close of this service.

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 And the top, you can just hold on to that as a bookmark.

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 I pray that God will let the names flow into your life.

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 God's been wonderful to us as a church,

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 and Easter is a wonderful time to invite people to come

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 and see what God is doing.

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 People will come on Easter Sunday that will not come any other time.

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 It is a great opportunity.

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 And we have something to share.

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 If you have Christ, you have something to share.

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 We have no idea how significant it could be to just pray and invite someone to come.

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 I will tell you that there was a name put on at least one of these cards last year

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 and placed at this cross.

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 And that man, since that time, has been saved and baptized as a member of this church

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 because people were praying.

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 More than that, but because people were praying.

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 So I'm firmly convinced that God blesses our efforts in that,

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 and I'm going to ask God to make that clear to you.

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 I've been praying in that way.

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 So I want us to look at John's gospel, John chapter 1,

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 for just a few moments to give us a glimpse of what can happen

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 when we walk through the doors that God opens for us.

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 I want you to see how to respond when Christ walks by.

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 It's in John chapter 1, beginning in verse 35.

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 It says this.

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 The next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples,

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 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said,

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 Behold, the Lamb of God.

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 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

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 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them,

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 What are you seeking?

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 And they said to him, Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying?

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 He said to them, Come and you will see.

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 So they came and saw where he was staying,

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 and they stayed with him that hour, excuse me, that day,

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 for it was about the tenth hour.

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 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew,

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 Simon Peter's brother.

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 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him,

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 We have found the Messiah, which means Christ.

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 He brought him to Jesus.

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 Jesus looked at him and said,

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 You are Simon, the son of John.

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 You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter.

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 As I prepared for this last week,

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 I read a devotion around this passage from morning and evening by Charles Spurgeon.

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 And once again, Spurgeon hit the nail on the head.

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 The old boy was pretty good at what he did.

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 And he said this, listen to this.

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 He said,

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 When Peter went to find his brother,

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 he little imagined how imminent Simon would become.

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 Simon Peter was worth ten Andrews,

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 so far as we can gather from sacred history.

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 And yet Andrew was instrumental in bringing him to Jesus.

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 You may be very deficient in talent yourself.

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 And yet you may be the means of drawing to Christ,

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 one who shall become imminent in grace and service.

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 Oh, dear friend,

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 you little know the possibilities that are in you.

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 You may but speak a word to a child.

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 And in that child, there may be a slumbering,

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 there may be a slumbering noble heart,

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 which shall stir the Christian church in years to come.

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 Andrew has only two talents,

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 but he finds Peter.

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 Go you and do likewise.

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 This morning, I just want to ask you to pray about it.

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 Who would God have you to pray for?

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 I don't want you to think about the awkwardness of bringing it up.

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 I don't want you to think about the fact

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 that you haven't cultivated a relationship

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 where you feel comfortable doing that yet.

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 I don't want you to think about any of that.

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 I just want you to write that name down.

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 I want to show you this morning how God works.

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 How he uses us,

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 and we don't even realize the impact.

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 And I want to illustrate that

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 with something called God's web.

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 I'm going to do it by looking at a hypothetical lady's life.

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 All of the experiences that I will share with you

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 are real experiences,

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 but not just in one life.

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 But it shows the strands of God's web

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 that I've seen in other people's life

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 and how he works.

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 I'm going to call this lady Lucille.

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 That was my grandmother's name.

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 And although this is not her story by any means,

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 I loved her,

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 and I thought about her when I was writing this.

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 So I want to name her Lucille.

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 Lucille was one who was not raised in a godly home.

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 Not a church-going home,

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 but she was invited to vacation Bible school.

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 And when she went to vacation Bible school,

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 people that invited her,

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 the workers that worked there,

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 the people who gave out the refreshments,

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 the friends that were with her there,

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 it was a positive experience for her to have at church.

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 It was only for one week,

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 and she never went back again.

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 But it made an impact.

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 As a student in high school,

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 she was invited to a youth function.

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 It was one of those overnight kind of events

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 that youth ministers love,

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 filled with fun games, lively music,

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 and good biblical preaching on salvation.

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 And as she looked around that room,

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 she saw those who lived that out.

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 She saw others that played at it,

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 didn't really live it out.

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 That confusion caused by their example

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 caused her to listen,

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 but to not move forward toward it.

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 As she grew older,

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 she had workmates,

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 workmates that went to church,

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 churchgoers.

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 Sometimes she would hear a little about church.

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 She'd hear them say something about their church.

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 That community intrigued her.

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 Maybe it was a place for her child.

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 She's home one day,

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 and she also saw a smiley preacher

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 in a big arena-type church on TV.

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 He gave a toothy, positive message.

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 It was not the gospel,

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 but it was positive,

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 and he was pretty,

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 and so she watched him.

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 She wondered from time to time

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 how that related to her earlier church experiences.

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 She heard some ladies one day

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 talking about a Bible podcast,

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 and so she downloaded it,

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 and she listened to that one day.

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 For just a few minutes,

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 it sounded relevant.

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 Food for thought,

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 nothing much more.

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 One day at work,

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 someone invited her to come to church.

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 She thought it may be good for her child.

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 Maybe the child would have a VBS-type experience,

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 and she told them she'd consider letting her child go,

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 and the one that invited her asked,

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 why don't you come with her?

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 Now, that hit her hard.

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 She was stirred by that,

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 so she talked to her mother about it,

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 and her mother surprisingly said

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 that she had been praying

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 for that very thing to happen.

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 She decided to go.

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 She started in morning worship.

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 When she attended there,

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 people were friendly.

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 She felt at home.

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 The message was relevant to her life.

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 The follow-up by the church,

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 by the pastor,

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 by those that had invited her,

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 led to a conversation

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 that asked her about giving her life to Christ,

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 and Lucille said,

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 yes.

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 Now, let me ask you some questions.

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 Was it the power of the sermon

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 that drew her to the Lord?

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 It played a part,

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 but not alone.

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 Was it the friendliness of the people

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 that drew her in?

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 Not only that,

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 but it played a part.

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 Was it her decision to go to church

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 that saved her?

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 No.

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 Was it her mother praying

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 that did that?

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 Was it the one that invited her

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 that did that?

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 Was it her persistence in asking?

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 Was it the TV preacher?

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 Was it the podcast?

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 Was it the workmates talking about it?

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 Was it her experience as a student?

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 Was it the VBS experience?

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 Did all of that play a part?

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 Yes, it did.

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 They all played a part in God

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 drawing her in

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 to a web of salvation.

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 Was all those steps equally important?

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 Yes.

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 Was all those steps

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 and responsibilities the same?

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 No.

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 Somebody

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 had to give a positive experience.

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.820
 Somebody

00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:56.540
 had to invite.

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:58.579
 Somebody

00:14:58.579 --> 00:15:00.419
 had to pray.

00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:03.519
 Did any of those people

00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.439
 do the saving?

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.000
 No.

00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:10.699
 Who did the saving?

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.819
 Who did the drawing?

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:17.980
 Who designed the strands of the web?

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:20.899
 And my question is

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:23.480
 what would happen

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.480
 if somebody

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:27.279
 disobeyed God

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.840
 in some part of that?

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.159
 What if somebody

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.060
 was not sensitive?

00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:39.519
 Who knows?

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.920
 I don't know.

00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:45.439
 We know all of that

00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:46.839
 played a part.

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.319
 So this is what I ask.

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.819
 Let's play a part.

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.639
 Let's just play

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.919
 a part.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.799
 Because we do know

00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:00.879
 a few things.

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.659
 One is

00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:06.159
 we know that God

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.419
 is at work

00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.679
 in your life.

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:10.839
 He's at work

00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.459
 in my life.

00:16:12.819 --> 00:16:14.159
 No matter who we are

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.979
 He is working

00:16:15.979 --> 00:16:17.319
 around us

00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:19.259
 and He is working

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:19.959
 in us

00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:21.120
 and the question is

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.399
 are we picking up

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.779
 on it?

00:16:24.099 --> 00:16:25.239
 Do we sense it?

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.059
 Second thing

00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:28.479
 is this.

00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:31.099
 God is at work

00:16:31.099 --> 00:16:32.279
 in people's lives

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.519
 around us.

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:36.479
 No matter who you are

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:39.300
 no matter who they are

00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:41.560
 He is working

00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.420
 in people

00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.300
 around us.

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.740
 He's also working

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.580
 in us.

00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.500
 So the question is

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:49.360
 are we working

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.820
 with Him

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:52.500
 about them

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:54.100
 in their life?

00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:58.019
 Not only that

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:59.779
 but God

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.440
 is drawing.

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.639
 God's drawing.

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.400
 He's drawing

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.500
 people to Him.

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.460
 He's drawing

00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.140
 Christians

00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:09.680
 into His work.

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.440
 God

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.460
 is at work.

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:17.099
 And lastly

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:20.039
 we're not to miss

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:22.299
 a divine opportunity.

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:26.819
 You never know

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.140
 the difference

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.819
 that God can make

00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:32.339
 through you

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:34.480
 just inviting

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.259
 someone

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.819
 to attend

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.599
 an Easter

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.400
 resurrection

00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.259
 celebration.

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.799
 You have no idea.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.140
 You also

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.759
 don't know

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.200
 what God

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.599
 will do

00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.299
 in you

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.400
 when you

00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.460
 commit to pray

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:51.559
 for people

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:53.259
 to invite

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.900
 to an Easter

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.640
 resurrection

00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.740
 celebration.

00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:00.259
 Whether it's

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.180
 an out of church

00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.840
 member

00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:03.720
 of a long

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.320
 time ago

00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:05.680
 that we

00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.060
 just ain't

00:18:06.060 --> 00:18:06.460
 seen.

00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.279
 Whether it's

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:08.900
 somebody that

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:09.279
 you know

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:09.820
 that might

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.340
 just need

00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:10.660
 to be

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.259
 encouraged

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.779
 along the

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.039
 way.

00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:14.200
 What about

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.940
 that crusty

00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:15.279
 neighbor?

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:16.940
 The one

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.200
 you don't

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:17.620
 like?

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.200
 The one

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.759
 you avoid?

00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:21.019
 The one

00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.360
 that God

00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:22.100
 always brings

00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:22.580
 up to you

00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:23.060
 when somebody

00:18:23.060 --> 00:18:23.539
 says you need

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:23.799
 to share

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.180
 your Christ

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:24.700
 with somebody?

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.240
 Has God

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.779
 placed anybody

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.259
 in your life

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.480
 and you go

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:26.839
 no not

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:27.140
 him.

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.319
 Not him.

00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:28.920
 That guy.

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.319
 Write him

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:30.660
 down.

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.400
 What about

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:34.980
 somebody who's

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.879
 got hangups?

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.579
 They're messed

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:38.980
 up.

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.619
 What about

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.180
 somebody that

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.460
 looks like she

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:44.940
 has it all

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:47.140
 together and

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.460
 don't need

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.200
 anything else?

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.879
 Write her

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.180
 down.

00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.640
 Will you

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.379
 just commit

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.060
 to pray

00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:58.200
 for five

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.600
 of them?

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:01.180
 For five

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.640
 weeks?

00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:03.780
 Lord,

00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:06.420
 who would

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:06.860
 you have

00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.640
 me pray

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.660
 about

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:10.080
 inviting?

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.940
 We'll talk

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.300
 about the

00:19:13.300 --> 00:19:13.800
 next step

00:19:13.800 --> 00:19:14.140
 later.

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.480
 We'll provide

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.280
 materials for

00:19:16.280 --> 00:19:16.740
 you to help

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.060
 with that

00:19:17.060 --> 00:19:17.640
 process.

00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:22.800
 But let's

00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:23.140
 preface

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:23.900
 everything we

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:24.280
 do

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:27.019
 with just

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.420
 praying.

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.399
 A concert

00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:31.160
 of prayer

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:33.759
 as individuals

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.759
 for folks

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.379
 that God's

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:36.759
 laid upon

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.299
 our heart.

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.639
 What

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.119
 difference

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.460
 would it

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.859
 make

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.859
 if hundreds

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.639
 of people

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.240
 are prayed

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.599
 for?

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.680
 Would that

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.059
 make a

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.500
 difference

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:52.319
 in people's

00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:52.799
 lives?

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.079
 I believe

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.500
 it will.

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.779
 And I'm

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.539
 excited not

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.160
 only to see

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.720
 what God

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.440
 will do

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.759
 in those

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.960
 that prayer

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.740
 may lead

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.140
 to an

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.660
 invite

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.779
 and for

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.279
 those

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.339
 who are

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.720
 committed

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.279
 to just

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.819
 pray about

00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.119
 it.

00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:17.219
 if you

00:20:17.219 --> 00:20:17.699
 would bow

00:20:17.699 --> 00:20:18.159
 your head.

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.299
 I don't

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:20.619
 want you to

00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.000
 close your

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.439
 eyes though.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:21.779
 I want you

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.039
 to look at

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:22.479
 that sheet.

00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.439
 And if you

00:20:25.439 --> 00:20:25.759
 don't have

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.419
 five names

00:20:26.419 --> 00:20:26.759
 yet,

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.199
 I want you

00:20:30.199 --> 00:20:30.779
 to ask God

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.259
 to give you

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.899
 clarity in

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.139
 that,

00:20:32.919 --> 00:20:33.579
 to know

00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:33.979
 what that

00:20:33.979 --> 00:20:34.339
 is.

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:37.959
 again,

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.599
 you duplicate

00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.359
 those names.

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.519
 You write

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.000
 those on

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.559
 those first

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.259
 five lines

00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:43.759
 so you can

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.139
 keep that

00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:44.779
 for yourself.

00:20:45.699 --> 00:20:46.359
 You write

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:46.599
 them on

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.079
 those bottom

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.899
 five lines

00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:48.399
 so you can

00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:48.980
 rip that

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.279
 off.

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:49.459
 It's

00:20:49.459 --> 00:20:50.000
 perforated.

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.179
 You can

00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:51.599
 rip that

00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:51.919
 off and

00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:52.259
 I'll give

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:52.799
 you instruction

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.299
 for that

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.659
 for just

00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.019
 a moment.

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.799
 But before

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.240
 we do

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.599
 that,

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.399
 I must

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:58.899
 ask,

00:20:59.899 --> 00:21:00.939
 is it

00:21:00.939 --> 00:21:01.439
 possible

00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:03.399
 that someone's

00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:03.980
 here today

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:06.220
 and you've

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.900
 never given

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:07.380
 your heart

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:07.819
 and life

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.120
 to the

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.579
 Lord Jesus

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.120
 Christ?

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.400
 And you

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:11.940
 realize,

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:14.460
 you realize

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:14.900
 that you're

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.620
 separated from

00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:15.980
 God.

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.059
 You realize

00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.680
 that God's

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.259
 placed you

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.599
 in this

00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.460
 place today,

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:22.880
 maybe many

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.579
 times over

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:23.880
 and over

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.319
 again,

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.480
 but he's

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:25.920
 placed you

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:27.660
 here because

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.099
 you need to

00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.500
 commit your

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.839
 life to the

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.319
 Lord Jesus.

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.039
 I'm going

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.579
 to tell you

00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:35.299
 that Jesus

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.019
 came to

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.379
 seek and

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:36.839
 to save

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.220
 that which

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.879
 was lost.

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.059
 And I'm

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.779
 thankful today

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.179
 that he'll

00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:40.879
 save you.

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.019
 He'll

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.659
 change you

00:21:42.659 --> 00:21:42.919
 if you

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.139
 surrender

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:43.519
 your life

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:43.919
 to him.

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.879
 I encourage

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.319
 you as we

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.639
 give the

00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:47.279
 invitation in

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.839
 just a moment

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.240
 for you to

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:48.559
 come.

00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.679
 I'll be here

00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:50.220
 ready to pray

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.740
 for you.

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.519
 Be happy to

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.139
 thoroughly show

00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.619
 you what it

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.119
 means to give

00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:55.559
 your heart and

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:55.939
 life to the

00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:56.339
 Lord Jesus

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.839
 Christ.

00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.039
 Don't put it

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.319
 off.

00:21:59.399 --> 00:21:59.939
 Maybe you've

00:21:59.939 --> 00:22:00.439
 done that,

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:00.879
 but you've

00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.679
 never publicly

00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:02.460
 acknowledged that

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.180
 through baptism.

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:05.000
 Jesus, by his

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.740
 example and by

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.259
 his commission,

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:06.880
 told us that's

00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.380
 how we show

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.059
 folks that we're

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.420
 Christians.

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.319
 So I encourage

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.640
 you if you've

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.240
 never done that,

00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:11.640
 come.

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.140
 Make that

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.460
 right.

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.360
 We'll line

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:14.980
 that up for

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.480
 you when you

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:15.799
 come.

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.039
 Maybe you're

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.559
 here and God's

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.120
 drawing you to be

00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:19.640
 a part of First

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.340
 Baptist Church.

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.960
 You know this is

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.640
 where God would

00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.299
 have you to serve.

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:23.940
 I encourage you

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.340
 to come.

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.900
 I encourage you

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.180
 to come.

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.779
 I'd love to pray

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.319
 for you.

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.279
 I'd love to guide

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.319
 you in that process.

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:31.939
 Or maybe you're

00:22:31.939 --> 00:22:33.500
 here and you've

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:33.980
 got something you

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.319
 need to lay

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.879
 before the Lord.

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.539
 Might be

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:36.939
 something about

00:22:36.939 --> 00:22:37.559
 your own life.

00:22:37.639 --> 00:22:37.859
 Might be

00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.139
 something about

00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:38.720
 somebody else's

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.039
 life.

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.700
 But you just

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.819
 need time before

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.419
 the Lord.

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.639
 These steps here

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.299
 are a makeshift

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:47.500
 altar for us to be

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.259
 able to lay things

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.200
 down before him.

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.179
 I have no idea how

00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:53.000
 God's guiding you.

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.559
 I don't pretend

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:53.779
 that.

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.399
 I just do what

00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.119
 God leads me to

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.339
 do.

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.319
 I just encourage you

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.000
 to be obedient to

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.939
 follow him in every

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.259
 way.

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.600
 We'll stand

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.320
 together and we'll

00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:02.620
 sing.

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.299
 But more important

00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:04.460
 than that, I

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.080
 encourage you to

00:23:05.080 --> 00:23:05.920
 obey God as he

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.340
 speaks to your

00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:06.840
 heart and life.

00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.860
 Lord Jesus, I love

00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:08.120
 you.

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.620
 And I ask your

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.279
 God that you'll

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.700
 guide each and

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:13.380
 every one today to

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:14.340
 simply follow what

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:15.039
 you would have them

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.980
 to do, oh Lord, I

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.240
 pray.

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.799
 In Jesus' precious

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.059
 name, amen.

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.160
 Amen.