WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.839 All right, church, I want to draw your attention to the final statement he made there, who 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:08.919 is your one? 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:13.759 Now, who that was, was J.D. Greer, pastor of Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, North 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:19.620 Carolina area, and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and just a man 00:00:19.620 --> 00:00:25.480 that God has moved mightily through to his church, to his community, to the world around 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:32.359 his church, has actually sponsored hundreds of beginnings, starting other churches, both 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:34.859 in the United States and all around the globe. 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:41.799 And so I'm grateful for his ministry, but several years ago, they began this campaign in their 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:47.320 own church, and our North American Mission Board, who we support, and part of our SBC 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:54.820 missions giving, picked up this campaign and kind of made it this national movement across 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:56.660 the country called Who's Your One? 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:03.359 And the idea is, each of us, each of God's children, prays for one person to share the 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.500 gospel with, to share the good news of Jesus. 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:08.920 And so that is the campaign that we're beginning here. 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:13.019 You'll start to see signs start popping up, posters start popping up. 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:17.740 You'll have resources placed in your hand throughout the next several weeks. 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:22.659 And so we're going to be looking at this idea of sharing our faith with one person. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:24.939 Say, can I only share it with one? 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:27.019 No, you can share it with a whole lot more than that. 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:33.500 But let's ask God to give us one person to lay on our heart that we can see brought from 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:37.640 darkness to light and become a follower of Jesus Christ. 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:42.759 Could you imagine what would it look like if each of us, or break it down a little further, 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:48.239 even just each of our Sunday school classes, each of our discipleship groups saw one person 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:54.099 come to faith in Jesus, be baptized, start to grow in their disciple, in their walk as 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:55.699 disciples of Jesus. 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:56.479 There we go. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:57.239 We got it now. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:01:59.519 All right, let's take our word. 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:03.419 Let's take the word of God, your copy of the word of God, and turn to the book of Matthew. 00:02:04.759 --> 00:02:09.379 We're going to be talking about the subject on earth as it is in heaven. 00:02:09.579 --> 00:02:10.819 Matthew chapter four. 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:13.019 Matthew chapter four. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:18.600 We've been in Matthew chapter five for several weeks, looking at the Sermon on the Mount, 00:02:18.880 --> 00:02:21.820 when Jesus talked about being salt and light. 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:27.460 We're going to back up just a little bit and see what he had to say before that. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:28.540 What transpired? 00:02:28.700 --> 00:02:33.020 What took place before this famous Sermon on the Mount? 00:02:33.160 --> 00:02:34.439 Matthew chapter four. 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:40.000 We'll read verses 18 through 22 together. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:45.500 If you found your place and you're able to join me in standing, would you mind doing that? 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:48.120 And let's read these verses together. 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:52.500 Matthew chapter four, verses 18 through 22. 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:59.719 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon, who is called 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:00.039 Peter. 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:02.180 So just so you know, that's who we're talking about. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:06.680 And his brother, Andrew, they were casting a nut into the sea because they were fishermen. 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:09.920 Jesus says, follow me, he told them. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:12.979 And I will make you fish for people. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:17.000 Immediately, they left their nets and followed him. 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:23.280 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee and his brother, John. 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:26.580 They were in a boat with Zebedee, their father, preparing their nets. 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:27.620 And he called them. 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:32.800 And immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:35.039 God, would you give us enlightenment from your word? 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:40.560 Would you illuminate the meaning of this, the application of this for our hearts and our lives? 00:03:41.519 --> 00:03:46.859 Would you help us identify one whom you can call through us? 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:48.759 And we'll give you the glory for it. 00:03:48.799 --> 00:03:49.719 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:50.259 Amen. 00:03:50.419 --> 00:03:50.959 You may be seated. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:51.760 Thanks for standing. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:04:01.219 Before we dive back into that passage, I'd like you to look over maybe one or two pages to Matthew chapter 6. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:08.180 And let's look at the model prayer called the Lord's Prayer when Jesus was teaching us how to pray. 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:17.160 Let's look at those opening lines in Matthew chapter 6 in verse 9 and we'll finish in verse 10. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:20.240 Therefore, you should pray like this. 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:22.600 Jesus is teaching his disciples. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:27.180 Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:31.199 Always a great way to start out the day, to start out our prayers. 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:33.340 And then in verse 10, what does it say? 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:35.259 Your kingdom come. 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:37.939 Your will be done. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:40.480 And let's say these final words together, can we? 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:44.199 On earth as it is in heaven. 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:47.639 God's will will always be done in heaven. 00:04:48.219 --> 00:04:53.759 And our prayer is that God's will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:55.819 That's what he told us to pray. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:58.560 That's what he taught us to pray. 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:00.500 So that's kind of the theme. 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:13.339 The reason behind this passage, this sermon, and this whole campaign is that God's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:15.519 So I like to say it this way. 00:05:16.599 --> 00:05:18.219 Your will be done. 00:05:18.739 --> 00:05:19.919 So who's my one? 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:23.140 You liked that, didn't you? 00:05:23.140 --> 00:05:26.180 Your will be done. 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:27.960 So who's my one? 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:42.379 God used me to find one person to share the gospel with, to share the good news of Jesus with, and see that person brought from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of life. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:43.379 Your will be done. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:45.240 Your will be done. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:46.680 So who's my one? 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:47.519 Can we say that together? 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:49.639 Your will be done. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:51.699 So who's my one? 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:56.839 I pray that God would show us who our one is. 00:05:57.539 --> 00:05:59.060 Now let's do a little word association. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:08.439 Before we get any further, I want to share with you that this sermon and next Sunday's sermon came from that guy that you saw in the video just a moment ago. 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:12.000 J.D. Greer, pastor of Summit Church in Raleigh, Durham, North Carolina. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:17.659 He preached these sermons as part of this campaign for who's your one to his church. 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:20.600 And now the North Carolina Commission Board picked up that material. 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:23.880 They printed up all kinds of handy stuff that we can use resources. 00:06:24.380 --> 00:06:26.200 And they sent these sermons along with it. 00:06:26.260 --> 00:06:30.000 So this is a great way to kick off this campaign by preaching these sermons. 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:33.260 So if you want to hear somebody better than I do, preach it. 00:06:33.340 --> 00:06:34.040 You can go online. 00:06:34.140 --> 00:06:37.240 You can hear this sermon again from J.D. Greer himself. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:42.120 He's got some more personalized stories for his church and from his life. 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:45.240 But we'll try to adapt it to our church as best we can. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:49.639 But you're going to hear a lot, primarily the bulk is what he preached as well. 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:51.960 So some word association, all right? 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.460 What comes to mind when you hear Dallas Cowboys fan? 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:58.860 Somebody laughs. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:01.019 Yeah. 00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:12.399 Until, I don't know if any of y'all are Mavericks fans and you just heard that the best player in a Mavericks uniform is in Zerkowitski. 00:07:12.539 --> 00:07:15.639 He just got traded away for some unknown reason, right? 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.879 So how about Mavericks fan? 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:18.899 What comes to your mind? 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:21.339 Maybe a gloomy face right about now. 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:23.060 Frustrated. 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:24.399 Irritated. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:26.000 Yes. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:33.819 How about Trump voter? 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.180 Don't talk about it, okay? 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.100 We're not going to die. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:37.879 This is what comes to your mind. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:40.420 Careful now. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:44.720 What about liberal Democrat? 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:45.740 All right? 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.120 We're going to die about sports, politics. 00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:50.180 It's all the things that divide us. 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:51.319 We're going to go there. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:56.019 You know, there's NASCAR fan. 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:57.240 How about NASCAR fan? 00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:57.879 Anybody? 00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:02.740 Maybe like a red, white, and blue bucket hat or something. 00:08:04.719 --> 00:08:05.159 Tattoos. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:05.939 I don't know. 00:08:06.659 --> 00:08:07.459 NASCAR fan. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:10.360 We get ideas. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:11.920 How about a vegan? 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:14.620 What comes to your mind when you think of a vegan? 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:17.100 Hungry. 00:08:17.219 --> 00:08:18.159 Somebody said hungry. 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:19.899 That is fantastic. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:20.779 I love it. 00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:22.579 If you're a vegan, we're not coming after you. 00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:27.779 You just have to know you're one of very few probably in our county. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:32.559 How about fitness fanatic? 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:34.720 Fitness fanatic. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:35.659 Anything come to mind? 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:38.199 Bless you. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:40.579 Funny you should ask that. 00:08:40.579 --> 00:08:43.740 How about 5K Dominator? 00:08:44.319 --> 00:08:45.500 5K Dominator. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:48.600 Obviously, this is what's going to come to your mind, right? 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:52.740 The picture of physical fitness. 00:08:54.060 --> 00:08:55.420 Obviously, I'm talking about Austin. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:57.779 All right. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:01.480 So we get ideas in our heads when we think of things. 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:04.600 Probably 5K Dominator isn't what we think of. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:07.600 Maybe 5K Survivor would be a better way to put it. 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:12.980 However, and by the way, I have started running again, little by little. 00:09:13.560 --> 00:09:14.139 Not going to lie. 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:15.180 I took a break after that. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:16.340 And then the holidays happened. 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:17.920 And so now here we go again. 00:09:19.060 --> 00:09:26.420 But what I want us to see is that we get ideas in our head when we think of different things. 00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:32.959 Now, we stayed on some humorous topics and some topics that we can look at and chuckle about. 00:09:33.199 --> 00:09:38.559 But there are maybe some deeper feelings that lie in some of those. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:46.539 And maybe there are ideas in people's heads when they think of the word Christian. 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:52.740 What do you think of when you hear the word Christian? 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:54.519 What comes to your mind? 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.000 Christ's followers should be. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:00.939 I'm not sure that's what comes to everybody's mind. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:10.759 When they think of the word Christian, I'm not sure that everybody automatically thinks of Jesus and people who look and act like him. 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:26.000 Maybe there are people that think of Christians as those who are a bit judgmental, a bit judgy, a bit looking down their nose at everybody else. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:40.419 Somebody said that Christians, specifically Baptists, can be described as those who think they're the only ones going to heaven. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:44.700 And they're secretly satisfied that nobody else is going to get there. 00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:47.720 Let that not be said of us. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.759 Let that not be said that that's our attitude. 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:51.720 That certainly wasn't Jesus' attitude. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:56.279 You know, the funny thing is the early Christians did not call themselves Christians. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.799 That was a derogatory term. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.519 It was an insult. 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:09.240 First views in Antioch, Acts 11, 26, we see that the first Christians were known as disciples. 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:13.379 The word Christian is used three times in the whole Bible. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:18.320 The word disciple is used 281 times. 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:23.100 You think Jesus wants us to be Christians or disciples? 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:26.820 I would pray that both were the same. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.379 But Jesus commanded us to be disciples. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:38.179 Disciple is a far more accurate description of what it means to follow Jesus. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:48.480 And as we'll see, the concept of a disciple exposes the fact that many who claim to be Christians are not actually disciples of Jesus. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.439 So let's get back into the text. 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:56.640 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, his brother Andrew. 00:11:56.780 --> 00:11:59.520 They were casting a net into the sea because they were fishermen. 00:11:59.660 --> 00:12:01.620 Jesus says, follow me. 00:12:01.760 --> 00:12:04.160 In other words, be my disciple. 00:12:05.020 --> 00:12:11.860 And what you'll do, what I'll make you, is a fisherman for people. 00:12:12.780 --> 00:12:14.420 You guys know fishing. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:15.860 You know fishermen. 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:22.159 You've been out there every night casting your nets all night long hoping for a catch. 00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:25.919 And what I'm going to do is make you fish for something else. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.440 Something far more important. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.460 Something lasting. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:30.460 I'm going to make you fish for people. 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.419 And what happened? 00:12:31.680 --> 00:12:35.539 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:40.080 Then he goes and sees the other two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:41.259 And they were in a boat. 00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:42.740 And they were getting their nets ready. 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:43.460 And he calls them. 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:44.060 And what happens? 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:49.439 Immediately they left their boat and their dad and followed Jesus. 00:12:50.239 --> 00:12:53.979 Y'all, I've always struck, this has always struck me as odd. 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:57.319 And J.D. Greer preaches the same thing. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:59.099 Apparently it struck him the same way. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:06.759 I've always thought, what was it that made these guys drop everything and follow Jesus? 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:14.419 Did he have some weird magical impact on these guys? 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.919 Did he shoot laser beams out of his? 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:24.659 What was it that convinced these guys just to drop everything, leave their way of life, leave their family, and follow him? 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:29.319 I just assumed that God just pulled some kind of miracle then. 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:32.340 And just made these guys do that. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:36.300 But that isn't consistent with who Jesus is. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.440 He doesn't go and make us do things. 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:42.740 He wants us to willingly follow him. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.660 He calls us into a relationship with him. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:50.080 And he wants our obedience to him to grow out of that relationship. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:56.200 Not by placing a magic spell over us that makes us drop our nets and go follow him wherever he goes. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.600 Like some Pied Piper. 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.720 Anybody remember that kid's story? 00:13:59.040 --> 00:13:59.720 The Pied Piper? 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:03.120 Plays his musical instrument and all the kids follow him everywhere. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.560 That's not what's happening here. 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:12.120 Jesus didn't just place this spell over them and they dropped everything and followed him. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.840 Any Star Wars fans in here? 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:15.820 We got a few. 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:17.440 Come on, I know there's more than that. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:20.260 Y'all know about Jedi mind tricks? 00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:22.340 That's not what was happening. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:27.040 Jesus didn't pull some Jedi mind trick and just use the force to make these guys follow him. 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:28.320 So why then? 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:31.820 Why would they drop everything and do this? 00:14:33.140 --> 00:14:35.000 Maybe I'm the only one that asks these questions. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.400 But I don't think so. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:45.199 Well, when you study the history, we're going to get a little bit history here, okay? 00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:49.720 I'm not trying to take y'all to school this morning, but we're going to get a little bit deep into this. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:53.679 So just nerd out with me for a little bit into Hebrew history. 00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:54.299 All right? 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:55.079 Here we go. 00:14:55.080 --> 00:15:02.200 All Hebrew boys back in those days went to what they called Torah school. 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:07.840 The Torah was their Old Testament readings that they would have, their scrolls. 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:12.020 And so they would go to school to learn these Old Testament prophets. 00:15:13.020 --> 00:15:16.180 Torah was just learning the first five books of the Old Testament. 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.940 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 00:15:19.020 --> 00:15:20.980 You started at age five. 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:23.800 I don't even think we have any five-year-olds in here. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:26.000 I think they're all in preschool church. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.720 It started with a ceremony where they would bring all the five-year-old boys in. 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:35.879 They would take a drop of honey and they'd put it on their tongue. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:41.779 Now, do you realize that for most of these kids, their families were poor. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.379 They had probably never tasted anything sweet. 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:50.340 Probably the closest they had come was maybe a piece of fruit. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:58.279 So having that pure sugar of honey would have awakened their senses to a whole new food group. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:01.519 Like, Mom and Dad, what have you been keeping from me my whole life? 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:03.500 You're telling me this is out there. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:09.600 And then while they would eat their honey, the Old Testament, the Torah would have been read to them. 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:15.080 So they associated, and there's even a verse in the Old Testament that says, 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.639 My words are like honey. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:23.900 So they would associate the Bible, God's word, the Old Testament Torah, with this honey. 00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:27.920 And they would crave it. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:31.280 That's how they started off. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:33.259 Maybe a little bit of manipulation? 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:34.080 I don't know. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:38.259 So this sensation of sweetness would flood into them. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:42.080 And at the same time, they're hearing the first chapters of Genesis. 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:45.139 So the word is going to be sweet to you. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:51.879 And for the next five years, they would memorize huge sections of the Torah. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.759 So by age 10, five years go by. 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:58.740 And by age 10, there would be a weeding out. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:04.819 They would say, okay, now we're going to select the best ones from this group. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:07.660 And they're going to continue on in school. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.640 They would only take maybe the top 20%. 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:15.500 And the rest of them who didn't make the cut would go back to their families. 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:18.599 And they would likely join the family business at that point. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:23.099 You say, why would everybody want to be, continue on in Torah school? 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:27.720 Because if you continued on, you would become a rabbi. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.079 You'd become a rabbi. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.200 Do you know what the rabbis were? 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:42.460 The rabbis were the superheroes, the rock stars, the professional athletes, the famous actors. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.620 That was the job to have. 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.880 They made the most money. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.700 They had the most power. 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.380 They had the most influence. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.420 They were the most respected members of society. 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:58.140 The rabbis were the ultimate career that you could have. 00:17:58.140 --> 00:18:02.300 Every little boy wanted to be a rabbi. 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:12.540 So, if you got selected when you were 10 to be in that top 20% and stay in rabbi school, 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:16.040 then you were on the fast track to becoming a rabbi. 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:21.140 And your life was laid out for you just as beautifully as it could be. 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:27.060 So, rabbi means teacher. 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:30.840 Talmud means disciple. 00:18:32.300 --> 00:18:41.440 The boys who would remain in Torah school would study for about the next seven years till they're about age 17. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:45.580 And then they would learn the rest of what we call the Old Testament. 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:48.059 So, not just the Torah, those first five books. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:50.240 They would learn the rest of the Old Testament. 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.559 Joshua through Malachi. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:54.880 And they would study that for the next seven years till they're 17. 00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:56.980 Then there was a final cut. 00:18:56.980 --> 00:19:03.519 And if you wanted to go on with your religious studies after that, the best of the best would stay. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.000 And then you had to find yourself a rabbi. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.620 A rabbi that you admired. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.279 A rabbi that was willing to have you. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.839 When you found your rabbi, 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:20.279 you would go and you would sit at their feet and listen to them teach. 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:25.339 That was your request to learn from that rabbi. 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.059 To be his Talmud or disciple. 00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:33.059 The rabbis would then examine you with a series of questions. 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:40.599 To see what you've learned in your, what, 12 years of Torah school and Old Testament learning. 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:47.299 They would put you through a series of tests to see if you were worthy to be one of their disciples. 00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:50.039 The rabbis had to be very selective. 00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:54.500 In those days, the rabbi was the best job possible. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.779 Their reputations were on the line. 00:19:57.099 --> 00:20:01.259 They had to make sure that their disciples would be in line with their teaching. 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:03.019 That they would be faithful to follow them. 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:07.960 That they would be prominent, upstanding, dependable members of society. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.700 Leaders of society. 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:21.319 So, the job of the disciple, the Talmud, was to learn everything they could about their rabbi. 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:24.639 They would learn their mannerisms. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:27.220 They would learn how they answered questions. 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:30.139 They would learn how to respond in different situations. 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:35.139 The highest compliment you could pay a Talmud or a disciple in that day. 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:37.039 We've talked about it actually before here. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:40.680 Was that the dust of your rabbi is all over you. 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:43.440 That means, not that you need to go take a shower. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:47.940 But that means that you were following so closely in your rabbi's footsteps. 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:52.980 That literally the dust from walking on those dusty roads would be kicked up all over you. 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.359 Say, wow. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:56.940 This guy is really like his rabbi. 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.599 Kind of like you're a teacher's pet back then. 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.619 That was a compliment. 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:00.799 A compliment. 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:05.699 Money, power, influence was all at stake. 00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:08.959 With a disciple and his rabbi. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:19.059 So, in Jesus' day, there was a very rare form of rabbi. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:24.879 Who possessed a characteristic that the Jews called. 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:27.559 You ready for this Hebrew word here? 00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:28.919 I'll teach you a little bit of Hebrew. 00:21:29.919 --> 00:21:30.399 Shmiha. 00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:30.739 Shmiha. 00:21:32.219 --> 00:21:34.099 Thank you for repeating that, some of you. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.619 You just couldn't help yourself, right? 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:36.459 Shmiha. 00:21:37.739 --> 00:21:38.779 Y'all want to try it out? 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.559 Shmiha. 00:21:39.979 --> 00:21:41.279 Kind of rolls off the tongue. 00:21:41.979 --> 00:21:42.339 Shmiha. 00:21:42.739 --> 00:21:43.459 It's a fun word. 00:21:43.719 --> 00:21:44.559 You know what it means? 00:21:46.479 --> 00:21:48.779 Basically, it translates as authority. 00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:52.339 Special, divine authority. 00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:56.939 But authority isn't as fun to say. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.139 So, let's say shmiha. 00:21:59.219 --> 00:21:59.579 Shmiha. 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.579 Shmiha. 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:05.059 These rabbis who had shmiha were very rare. 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.799 Extremely rare. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:17.399 We only know, have records of about a dozen from the whole first century that were rabbis recorded with shmiha. 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:18.400 Shmiha. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.820 These guys were named Hillel, Gamaliel. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.400 Shmiha. 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.800 Famous rabbis. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:30.119 And the difference between a regular rabbi and a rabbi with shmiha was these guys were masters of the Torah. 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:35.099 Other rabbis could maybe reach that status if they studied enough. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:45.179 But these guys had this spiritual authority where they could alone give new interpretations of reading God's word. 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:52.660 They were thought to be so close to God that they could give unheard of new insight into scripture. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:56.320 And people would listen and they would believe it. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:59.619 For Jewish people, that was highly unusual. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.919 I don't know if y'all know any Jewish people. 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:06.159 They're not usually as a culture fond of new things. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.560 Very history based. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.400 Very much reliant on their past. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.480 On what they've been taught. 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.660 What's been passed down. 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:19.040 So to listen to new things about God from a rabbi. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:22.120 Boy, they had to have absolute confidence in that guy. 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:25.880 So that was reserved for rabbis with shmiha. 00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:28.640 A couple other things here. 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:31.660 To be regarded as a rabbi with shmiha. 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:34.460 There had to be evidence that you had done miracles. 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.140 Actual miracles. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.580 That were credible. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:41.200 That could be confirmed by witnesses and other people. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.820 Probably other people in the Sanhedrin. 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:47.060 Finally, if you were regarded as one with shmiha. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:52.680 It had to be officially conferred on you by two other rabbis with shmiha. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.840 So you had to get two other guys with shmiha to say, 00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:00.180 Yes, we recognize that this rabbi has shmiha. 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:06.140 Just understand this was a very small event. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:07.160 It's an elite group. 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:07.340 It's an elite group. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:11.840 So, now that we've gotten this background. 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.759 What the rabbis were. 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:15.259 What the schooling was. 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.279 Everybody wants to be one. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:20.980 And these guys with shmiha are the best of the best. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:23.860 So we look back at Matthew chapter 4. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.200 And here comes Jesus. 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:30.440 Who was a master of the Torah. 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:39.480 You realize that at age 12, he was in the temple correcting the religious rulers, other rabbis in their teachings. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:42.279 Because they'd gotten some of the Torah wrong. 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:45.720 And he was correcting them at age 12. 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:49.579 He frequently says things when he's teaching. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.700 Like, you've heard it said this way. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:55.660 But I say to you, this other way. 00:24:55.660 --> 00:25:00.340 Then there's this new interpretation authority throughout the New Testament. 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:04.180 We see his hearers are constantly amazed at his authority. 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:07.240 A couple chapters after Matthew chapter 4. 00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:14.420 In chapter 7, it says they were amazed because he taught them as one with authority. 00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:16.420 Or shmiha. 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:20.039 These people were blown away. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:23.340 Because this guy that they'd never heard of. 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:29.019 Hadn't been conferred by other rabbis with shmiha. 00:25:29.560 --> 00:25:31.640 All of a sudden, he's teaching. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.900 And acting. 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.380 And performing confirmed miracles. 00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:37.380 And he's a master of the Torah. 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:41.940 And they realize that he has shmiha. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:47.980 So it's the craziest thing happening in the Jewish world. 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:50.840 That's why there was this big uproar. 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:54.860 It wasn't just that Jesus was going around and teaching people. 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:59.340 It wasn't just that he was going around and healing sicknesses. 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:04.820 It was that he showed all the evidence of having shmiha. 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:10.500 They taught him as one with shmiha. 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:12.099 Not like the other scribes. 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.319 Luke chapter 20. 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:18.599 They're saying things like, where'd you get your authority? 00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.539 Where'd you get your authority? 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:22.200 Where'd you get your shmiha? 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:23.720 Who conferred it upon you? 00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:26.759 We need to know you're doing miracles. 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:29.259 Matthew chapter 4 verse 23. 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.700 Just a couple verses after what we read. 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:35.460 It says that right after this passage, he goes throughout the region. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.799 Healing every disease. 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:38.200 Sickness among the people. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.700 And here's the best part. 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:42.080 Right before this account in Matthew 4. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.140 John. 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:44.160 John the Baptist. 00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:44.559 Right? 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.039 He goes out in the wilderness. 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.480 The camel skin wearing. 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:51.360 Locust and honey eating. 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:54.600 Greatest preacher probably who ever lived. 00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:56.740 The prophet preaching in the wilderness. 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:59.580 He was a teacher dripping with shmiha sauce. 00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.400 If there ever was one. 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:04.559 By the way, John the Baptist was probably Jesus' favorite teacher. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.400 Referenced him quite a bit. 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.340 Had great respect for him. 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.940 And so John the Baptist. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.259 He's out there preaching. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.660 And he says, hey, there's somebody in this crowd. 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.100 And he points to Jesus. 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:20.920 And he says, he is greater than I am. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.559 He's so much greater than I am. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:27.319 I'm not even worthy to lace up his shoes. 00:27:28.919 --> 00:27:31.759 I'm not even worthy to lace up his sandals. 00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.779 He has shmiha. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.819 He has authority. 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:38.359 And then at the same time. 00:27:38.919 --> 00:27:40.119 As this happens. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:44.079 The people standing there listening to John the Baptist preach. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:47.240 All of a sudden hear a voice from heaven. 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:55.039 And God the Father says, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:58.799 You want to know who conferred shmiha on Jesus? 00:27:59.139 --> 00:28:00.259 First John the Baptist. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:02.139 Then God the Father himself. 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.680 And everybody standing there. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.720 I mean, red lights going shmiha, shmiha, shmiha. 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.259 Jesus has it. 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:09.700 Okay? 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.899 We realize it. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.899 We recognize it. 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:15.579 And word is spreading all across the land. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:17.779 Why do you think they hated him so much? 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.939 Why do you think the rabbis hated him? 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.839 Why do you think the Pharisees hated him? 00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:24.419 Because he had shmiha. 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:28.639 And he didn't follow their system to do it. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:36.659 So when you read that Jesus is walking along the beach. 00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:43.019 And he sees these fishermen who hadn't made the cut. 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:47.200 Remember, age five, they start their Torah school. 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:49.500 Age ten, they get weeded out. 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:52.940 And if they weren't the best of the best, they go home to the family business. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.799 Guess what these guys had done? 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.879 They'd gone home to the family business. 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:59.420 They weren't good enough students. 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:02.799 They didn't memorize all their Torah passages. 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:05.039 They had some mistakes along the way. 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:10.240 So by the way, kids, if you make some mistakes sometimes, you know, and you don't quite get a verse right. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:13.019 Or maybe you mess up a little bit or you get in trouble a little bit. 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.599 Guess what? 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:15.200 God still might choose you. 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:17.400 God still loves you. 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:20.039 That's actually the one he looks out for. 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:31.299 So instead of choosing the best of the best, Jesus goes and chooses these guys who didn't make the cut. 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.259 The B team. 00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.720 Maybe the C team. 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.380 That takes us to a principle. 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:38.740 Jesus doesn't choose the best. 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:40.820 He chooses the willing. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.700 Jesus doesn't choose the best. 00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:45.580 He chooses the willing. 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:48.960 The great philosophers were at Athens. 00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:51.780 The powerful were in Rome. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:55.180 He passed over Herodotus, the historian. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.800 Socrates, the great thinker. 00:29:57.100 --> 00:29:58.540 Julius Caesar, the great ruler. 00:29:58.820 --> 00:30:00.720 He chose men to be his disciples. 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:03.260 And they were so ordinary, it was crazy. 00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:04.460 It was funny. 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:07.480 Not a single rabbi would ever do this. 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:12.779 No teachers, no religious experience experts were among his followers. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.799 Not even a synagogue ruler. 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.240 Half of them were fishermen. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.140 One was basically an IRS agent. 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.900 And everybody loves the IRS, right? 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.600 One of them was a former terrorist. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:32.379 He chose the B team because his work in the world would not come from their abilities. 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:36.599 It would come from his shmeha and his power. 00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:49.099 So, Jesus chose the willing, not the best. 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:51.179 It's not how you and I think. 00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:57.579 When we're putting, you know, when I was a kid, we put together a playground basketball game or football game. 00:30:57.579 --> 00:31:00.599 The best of the best would always get selected first. 00:31:01.199 --> 00:31:07.299 And then me and the rest of the kids would try to figure out who's not going to be last, right? 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:09.720 Don't pick me last, please. 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:12.480 Next to last is fine, just not last. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:18.620 But God is looking for those who get picked last. 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:26.920 God's looking for those who aren't relying on their own smarts, their own strength. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:33.579 So, if you're relying on your own smarts, your own strength, your own goodness, 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:37.240 can I tell you, you're probably not a disciple of Jesus. 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.759 I'm sorry. 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:41.799 Jesus set up the system. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.859 If you think you're a Christian because of how good of a person you are, 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:49.099 you're not a disciple. 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:53.460 So, learn Jesus' way. 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:57.279 Humble yourself before your rabbi. 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.740 Recognize his authority. 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:04.460 Say, God, I recognize I'm not good. 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:06.180 I'm not smart. 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:07.579 I'm not strong. 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.799 I need you. 00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:11.099 And so, I humble myself before you. 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:13.259 I follow closely behind your feet. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.399 I sit at your feet. 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.559 I listen to you teach. 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:17.379 I just want to be willing. 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:19.159 I don't have to be best. 00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:23.740 God wants to use you and your family, at your workplace. 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:29.159 People with a lot of talent and ability sometimes get in the way of what God wants to do. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:31.799 Because they'll never learn to lean on God's power. 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:36.720 But Jesus taught that his power would show up best in our weaknesses. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:40.079 So, he embraces our weaknesses. 00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:43.559 So, he can show his strength. 00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:49.240 So, stop making excuses that you're not able, you're not strong enough, you're not good enough. 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:51.720 Say, man, I don't fit in with that Christian crowd. 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:53.620 That should never be said. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:57.420 Because we should be the ones with the weaknesses. 00:32:57.940 --> 00:33:02.839 We should be the ones that would never get picked first. 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:05.579 He doesn't need your ability. 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:08.440 He only requires your availability. 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:14.960 As we often will say, God doesn't call the equipped. 00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:16.340 He equips the called. 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.019 I've heard that my whole life. 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:21.019 God will give you what you need. 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:25.019 He doesn't require you to be all ready for it beforehand. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:28.380 So, have you just made yourself available? 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:30.259 Jesus doesn't choose the best. 00:33:30.600 --> 00:33:31.740 He chooses the willing. 00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:34.779 The second part is he chose us, not we him. 00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:38.839 We won't spend a lot of time here, but I want to make this point clear. 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.680 He chose us, not we him. 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:43.519 Jesus came to them and said, follow me. 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:52.259 The normal way is that you would choose your rabbi and you would go sit at his feet and hope that he saw the best in you 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:57.480 and decided that you were good enough to be on his team, to be among his disciples. 00:33:58.299 --> 00:34:02.799 If you were the best of your class, you would get to go choose your own rabbi. 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:05.839 And that would give you all kinds of confidence. 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:11.380 If he said, yeah, you make the cut, then you would just fill up with ego. 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.219 You would fill up with pride. 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.800 Yeah, man, I got picked. 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.800 It's like a first round draft pick. 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:25.519 If you follow the NFL or the NBA, you know, they have their draft selecting the best players in college and say, yeah, I'm the best of the best. 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:27.219 I was a first round pick by my rabbi. 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:28.460 How about you? 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:35.179 If they were struggling, they could say, oh, but my rabbi believed in me. 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.659 He chose me. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:42.000 But Jesus even started the process further back than that. 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:44.820 They didn't have to come sit at his feet. 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:50.019 He came seeking them and then taught them to sit at his feet. 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:52.360 They weren't even looking for him. 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:57.440 They never would have dreamed that he would have ever chosen them. 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.680 Some of you are struggling right now. 00:35:00.640 --> 00:35:02.620 And you need to come sit at Jesus' feet. 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:05.240 But understand this. 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:10.200 You can find confidence in the fact that Jesus chose you. 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:12.539 Not because you were good enough. 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:19.820 The Bible says not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but only by his mercy he saved us. 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:25.480 So you can have the confidence to say Jesus chose me. 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:27.420 He picked me. 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:29.559 He wanted me on his team. 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:33.019 He wanted me as his disciple. 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.900 His follower. 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:38.059 He saw value in me. 00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:40.440 Maybe when I didn't even see it in myself. 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:45.139 If I asked you to raise your hand, I dare say every hand in the room would be raised. 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:51.440 Has there been a moment in your life when you thought, I'm not valuable? 00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:54.260 There's no value in me. 00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:56.400 I'm not good enough. 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:59.400 And the truth is, you're not. 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:01.159 And that's why God chose you. 00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.740 That's why God chose me. 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.980 It's who he's looking for. 00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:09.840 He chose us, not we him. 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:13.059 John 15, 16 says, Jesus is teaching them. 00:36:13.140 --> 00:36:14.600 He says, you didn't choose me. 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:16.039 I chose you. 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:18.900 And I appointed you to go and produce fruit. 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:21.460 And that your fruit should remain. 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:25.840 So that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.539 Do you understand? 00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:29.280 It's all about me working through you. 00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:31.700 You don't have to bring anything to the table. 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.980 So he chose us, not we him. 00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:37.440 Number three, our primary calling is to be with him. 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:40.079 Our primary calling is to be with him. 00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:45.579 We had our second meeting of this next round of starting point discipleship for new believers 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:47.159 this morning upstairs in the classroom. 00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:52.039 And we talked about how a relationship with Jesus is what God is calling you into. 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:57.619 God will ask you to do things along the way, but he's not calling you to do. 00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:59.420 He's calling you to be. 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.659 You understand the difference there? 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:03.480 God's not calling you. 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:05.759 He doesn't need people going out and doing for him. 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:08.199 He needs people being with him. 00:37:08.859 --> 00:37:15.019 When you be with him, you will know what to do. 00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:26.179 But if you just go do, and you don't be with him first, you know what the result of that is? 00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:36.639 The Christians that have the wrong word association that we started out with. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:44.259 The Christians that give off the bad reputation of what church people and Christians are like. 00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:49.920 That's a result of doing and not being. 00:37:51.379 --> 00:37:58.299 That's a result of not sitting at Jesus' feet, but just trying to act like you're his disciple. 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:01.379 You don't really know him. 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:04.420 You just know about him. 00:38:05.740 --> 00:38:06.539 You've studied. 00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:08.200 You've read. 00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:11.800 You've filled your head with facts, trivia. 00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:15.519 You could probably stump me on the Bible a time or two. 00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.640 But you don't know him. 00:38:21.160 --> 00:38:23.059 You don't have a real relationship with him. 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:27.440 So you go out, and you don't act like he acts. 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:30.860 You might do some of the same things he would do. 00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:34.260 You might do some of the things he would want you to do here. 00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:37.039 But it's going to be with the wrong spirit. 00:38:37.460 --> 00:38:38.680 It's going to be with the wrong heart. 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:41.740 It's not going to be in the way that Jesus would do it. 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:44.320 And that's when people get turned off by Christians. 00:38:44.660 --> 00:38:46.640 That's when people get turned off by church. 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:52.640 When Jesus was walking around this earth, what did he attract continually? 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.260 Anybody know? 00:38:57.220 --> 00:38:57.700 Crowds. 00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:59.519 He attracted crowds. 00:38:59.519 --> 00:38:59.720 Crowds. 00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:04.700 Everywhere he went, people wanted to be around him. 00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:06.180 They wanted to hear him. 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:10.120 Not just to get healed, but just to listen to his teaching. 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:13.079 They just wanted to be around him. 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:15.519 Why isn't that true with you and me? 00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:18.039 We're missing something. 00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:20.599 It's not just his shmeha. 00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:22.980 It's him. 00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:25.079 It's his love. 00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:26.219 It's his compassion. 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:28.880 It's how he really cares. 00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:30.420 Do we really care? 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:34.019 Our primary calling is to be with him. 00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:37.119 The greatest example of this in the New Testament is Mary and Martha, right? 00:39:37.639 --> 00:39:40.440 Martha wanted to do, do, do, do, do for Jesus. 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:45.340 And Mary was content to just be, be, be with Jesus. 00:39:45.900 --> 00:39:47.900 You might be doing a lot for Jesus. 00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:48.700 And I love it. 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:49.619 I appreciate it. 00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:51.159 I want you to keep doing it. 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:59.059 But if maybe you have to step back and spend some time being with him. 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:01.159 I understand that. 00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:05.500 You might need to take a season off in doing a ministry. 00:40:05.799 --> 00:40:06.219 Isn't that funny? 00:40:06.299 --> 00:40:09.199 After last week, we talked about signing up and doing more ministry. 00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.539 Some of you need to do that. 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:13.739 Some of you need to step in and start doing because he's ready for you to do. 00:40:13.739 --> 00:40:16.219 Some of you might need to take a break. 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:25.359 Say, I've lost my time being with him because I'm more concerned about doing for him. 00:40:25.799 --> 00:40:29.419 But our primary calling is to be with him. 00:40:31.939 --> 00:40:32.759 Number four. 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:42.119 Number one, if you've taken notes in your bulletin, Jesus doesn't choose the best. 00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:43.339 He chooses the willing. 00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:45.880 Number four, he chose us, not we him. 00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:48.620 Number three, our primary calling is to be him. 00:40:48.700 --> 00:40:52.120 Number four, to follow him, we have to leave all. 00:40:52.200 --> 00:40:54.039 We see that back in Matthew chapter four. 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:58.000 Immediately, they left the boat and their father and followed him. 00:40:58.260 --> 00:40:59.640 Why did they do these things? 00:40:59.780 --> 00:41:05.840 Why did the author of this gospel feel compelled to mention these two things? 00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:11.240 Because usually, these represent the most significant things in our lives. 00:41:11.240 --> 00:41:12.920 The boat was their career. 00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:14.720 They left the boat. 00:41:14.720 --> 00:41:15.620 They left their nets. 00:41:15.760 --> 00:41:19.579 They left the tools of their work that made them money. 00:41:19.579 --> 00:41:23.480 The way we provide for ourselves, for our families. 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:25.519 They walked away from it. 00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:28.500 Is God calling us to do the same? 00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:34.000 Is there something that you're holding on to that you feel like you have to just to make it, 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:39.860 and you're not willing to take that risky step of leaving it behind and saying, 00:41:39.860 --> 00:41:43.780 Jesus, I'll follow you, and I'm so serious about it, I'll leave this. 00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:48.679 I'll leave my job because it keeps me out of the fellowship of the believers too much. 00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:55.039 I'll leave this hobby because it's taking me away from my family. 00:41:55.139 --> 00:41:57.139 It's taking me away from my time with the church. 00:41:58.239 --> 00:42:04.460 What is it that you're holding on to that's holding you back from following Jesus? 00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:04.619 Jesus. 00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:07.179 And then they left their father. 00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:11.860 That represents the most important and significant relationships in our lives. 00:42:12.679 --> 00:42:16.360 Maybe there's a relationship that has become toxic for you. 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:18.539 Maybe it's a grandchild. 00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:21.059 Maybe it's a boyfriend, a girlfriend. 00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:25.579 Maybe it's a spouse. 00:42:25.840 --> 00:42:27.099 Maybe it's a son or a daughter. 00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:28.860 Maybe it's parents. 00:42:30.259 --> 00:42:32.579 And you have to look at that relationship and say, 00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:38.159 is that relationship affecting me in such a way that it's drawing me away from Jesus? 00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:42.659 Jesus said, if you want to be my disciple, you have to hate your father and mother. 00:42:43.299 --> 00:42:44.599 You have to hate your wife. 00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.219 Leave them and follow me. 00:42:47.099 --> 00:42:47.739 Say, what? 00:42:49.739 --> 00:42:50.139 What? 00:42:50.139 --> 00:42:55.859 Now, am I really teaching you that you need to get divorced to be a Christian? 00:42:56.039 --> 00:42:56.659 Of course not. 00:42:57.960 --> 00:43:01.440 That would be completely contrary to the bulk of the teaching of Scripture. 00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:08.119 What you have to do is understand that Jesus comes first. 00:43:09.299 --> 00:43:13.599 Because in putting Jesus first, in being with him, 00:43:14.299 --> 00:43:17.619 more importantly than being with any of those other people, 00:43:17.619 --> 00:43:20.719 you learn how to treat your wife well. 00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:23.259 You learn how to parent your kids well. 00:43:23.339 --> 00:43:28.299 You learn how to be a healthy, positive impact in that relationship. 00:43:28.300 --> 00:43:31.780 And if not, if you don't learn those things, 00:43:31.780 --> 00:43:35.740 then those relationships could come between you and God 00:43:35.740 --> 00:43:41.080 and the only good, positive source of anything helpful in your life. 00:43:41.079 --> 00:43:46.239 So you've got to keep that path clear. 00:43:46.799 --> 00:43:50.000 Between you and your heavenly father. 00:43:52.179 --> 00:43:56.639 So you must be willing to see relationships change. 00:43:57.480 --> 00:43:59.279 To see dynamics change. 00:43:59.280 --> 00:44:08.300 To follow Jesus, he has to take precedent over career, over relationships. 00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:12.740 Most of you won't literally lose your parents over a relationship, 00:44:13.080 --> 00:44:15.540 or a spouse over Jesus. 00:44:16.140 --> 00:44:17.000 But it's happened. 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:22.320 Sometimes, when one spouse commits to Jesus, 00:44:23.099 --> 00:44:26.260 the other spouse, over time, just can't handle it. 00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:30.719 And even though that wife or that husband might be praying 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:34.400 and begging God to change the heart of their husband or wife 00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:36.519 and bring them to faith in Christ, 00:44:37.260 --> 00:44:38.300 sometimes it doesn't happen. 00:44:39.199 --> 00:44:40.559 And a relationship ends. 00:44:41.199 --> 00:44:44.639 And we hate the effect of sin in this world that causes that. 00:44:44.639 --> 00:44:47.960 Sometimes parents might disown a child. 00:44:48.579 --> 00:44:49.359 I've seen it happen. 00:44:51.259 --> 00:44:56.400 Hardcore parents deep in earthly religions, 00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:59.099 if a child leaves that religion, 00:44:59.379 --> 00:45:01.059 whether it's in a third world part of the country, 00:45:01.199 --> 00:45:02.719 honestly, it even happens here in America. 00:45:03.639 --> 00:45:04.960 You say, I'm going to go follow Jesus. 00:45:05.500 --> 00:45:06.440 Say, oh no, you're not. 00:45:06.819 --> 00:45:08.299 Not my son, not my daughter. 00:45:08.940 --> 00:45:09.980 Don't you come back home. 00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:12.019 You're going to call yourself a Jesus follower. 00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:15.519 Therefore, sometimes relationships end. 00:45:16.440 --> 00:45:17.679 But you know, more often than not, 00:45:18.340 --> 00:45:21.739 God provides a way to have a healthier relationship than ever before. 00:45:22.539 --> 00:45:24.519 He can heal broken relationships. 00:45:25.259 --> 00:45:27.679 That's that power, that shmeha that he has. 00:45:29.059 --> 00:45:32.300 Then number five, he commands us to spiritually reproduce. 00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:33.320 And this is our last point. 00:45:34.239 --> 00:45:38.480 Jesus said, follow me and I will make you fish for people. 00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:43.460 Following Jesus means you subject everything in your life to his lordship. 00:45:43.559 --> 00:45:44.320 He's in charge. 00:45:44.699 --> 00:45:46.440 Forsaking all that he has forbidden, 00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:49.539 pursuing all that he has laid out for you. 00:45:49.699 --> 00:45:51.659 Just like he was a fisher of men, 00:45:52.099 --> 00:45:55.719 Jesus' followers would also become fishers of men. 00:45:56.280 --> 00:45:58.119 It's an essential part of being a disciple. 00:45:59.639 --> 00:46:00.740 It's not optional. 00:46:01.240 --> 00:46:03.199 It's not something only a few of us do. 00:46:03.420 --> 00:46:05.800 It's something each of us must do. 00:46:05.800 --> 00:46:10.320 There's no such thing as a non-reproducing disciple. 00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:15.820 There's no such thing as a non-reproducing disciple. 00:46:16.360 --> 00:46:18.440 So what kind of fruit have you produced? 00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:20.760 Have you produced another disciple? 00:46:21.780 --> 00:46:24.460 When was the last time I produced another disciple? 00:46:24.840 --> 00:46:29.260 When was the last time God used you to reproduce another disciple? 00:46:29.900 --> 00:46:32.200 How do you prove you're a disciple? 00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:34.120 By making another disciple. 00:46:34.119 --> 00:46:36.839 God can do that through you. 00:46:37.179 --> 00:46:39.039 If you're not bearing fruit, 00:46:39.759 --> 00:46:44.139 you have to question whether you're connected to the tree at all. 00:46:45.279 --> 00:46:46.639 Jesus is the vine. 00:46:46.779 --> 00:46:47.639 We are the branches. 00:46:48.099 --> 00:46:49.599 The branches bear fruit. 00:46:49.759 --> 00:46:51.559 If we're not bearing fruit, 00:46:51.799 --> 00:46:54.000 are we really connected to the vine? 00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:56.880 Because if we are, 00:46:57.480 --> 00:46:58.579 we'll produce fruit. 00:46:59.719 --> 00:47:01.699 And all throughout the New Testament 00:47:01.699 --> 00:47:02.780 and even the Old Testament 00:47:02.780 --> 00:47:04.159 and Proverbs and other places, 00:47:04.380 --> 00:47:08.119 it makes it clear what the fruit of the righteous is. 00:47:08.860 --> 00:47:12.280 The fruit of the righteous is more disciples, 00:47:12.539 --> 00:47:13.760 more followers of Jesus. 00:47:14.119 --> 00:47:16.159 So if you're not producing that, 00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:17.659 are you a disciple? 00:47:17.659 --> 00:47:20.119 So our job then would be, 00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:22.219 God, give me fruit. 00:47:23.239 --> 00:47:24.639 Maybe it's been years. 00:47:24.799 --> 00:47:25.940 Maybe it's never happened. 00:47:26.399 --> 00:47:28.500 And say, God, before I die, 00:47:28.879 --> 00:47:30.599 give me one. 00:47:31.659 --> 00:47:33.299 Give me one. 00:47:33.639 --> 00:47:36.079 So who's your one? 00:47:37.440 --> 00:47:38.179 Who's your one? 00:47:38.719 --> 00:47:39.739 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:47:39.739 --> 00:47:42.699 God, give us one. 00:47:43.459 --> 00:47:48.159 Give every man, woman, and child in this room one. 00:47:50.839 --> 00:47:52.639 And then after that, give them another one. 00:47:53.479 --> 00:47:54.359 And another one. 00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:56.019 But let's start with one. 00:47:57.479 --> 00:47:58.579 Who's our one, God? 00:47:59.579 --> 00:48:02.319 Our primary calling is to be with Jesus. 00:48:02.839 --> 00:48:04.939 To follow Jesus, we have to leave all. 00:48:06.339 --> 00:48:08.139 And you command us to bear fruit, 00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:12.599 to spiritually reproduce fruit for you. 00:48:13.159 --> 00:48:14.279 Your kingdom come. 00:48:14.719 --> 00:48:17.500 Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:48:17.599 --> 00:48:18.639 Church, would you look up here? 00:48:22.119 --> 00:48:23.460 I want to give you our takeaway. 00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:24.639 Jared's going to begin to play. 00:48:25.039 --> 00:48:26.219 What is your next step? 00:48:27.159 --> 00:48:29.279 I don't want to just preach this sermon to you 00:48:29.279 --> 00:48:30.940 and not call you to respond. 00:48:31.599 --> 00:48:32.900 So here's your next step. 00:48:33.839 --> 00:48:34.799 Throughout the New Testament, 00:48:34.960 --> 00:48:36.699 we see different challenges from Jesus, 00:48:36.699 --> 00:48:38.460 different callings from Jesus. 00:48:38.919 --> 00:48:42.039 His first one we read about to his disciples was, 00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:43.299 hey, come, come and see. 00:48:43.619 --> 00:48:45.219 Come and see what I'm going to do in this world. 00:48:45.339 --> 00:48:46.019 Come follow me. 00:48:46.679 --> 00:48:48.319 The next part was a little tougher. 00:48:48.819 --> 00:48:49.859 He said, come and die. 00:48:50.579 --> 00:48:51.439 Die to yourself. 00:48:52.179 --> 00:48:53.619 Die to what you hold important 00:48:53.619 --> 00:48:56.119 and embrace a new life with me. 00:48:56.699 --> 00:48:58.500 And then the last one was go and tell. 00:48:59.159 --> 00:49:02.139 Go tell everybody else what I've taught you. 00:49:02.599 --> 00:49:04.279 Go tell everybody else what you've learned 00:49:04.280 --> 00:49:05.140 in walking with me. 00:49:05.460 --> 00:49:07.140 Y'all, I know so many of you 00:49:07.140 --> 00:49:09.000 have been walking with Jesus for years, 00:49:09.080 --> 00:49:09.700 for decades. 00:49:10.560 --> 00:49:12.260 Some of you half a century or more. 00:49:13.400 --> 00:49:14.880 You've got a lot to tell 00:49:14.880 --> 00:49:16.860 about walking with Jesus. 00:49:17.560 --> 00:49:18.580 So go tell it. 00:49:19.180 --> 00:49:20.000 Go tell it. 00:49:20.480 --> 00:49:21.660 Ask God to give you one. 00:49:21.960 --> 00:49:23.100 So what's your next step? 00:49:23.620 --> 00:49:25.420 Is it to move from come and see 00:49:25.420 --> 00:49:26.220 to come and die? 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:28.720 Is it to move from come and die 00:49:28.720 --> 00:49:29.540 to go and tell? 00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:31.759 What is it for you? 00:49:32.460 --> 00:49:34.019 Would you ask God that question right now? 00:49:34.199 --> 00:49:35.139 You can keep your seats, 00:49:35.460 --> 00:49:36.579 but would you bow your head with me 00:49:36.579 --> 00:49:37.360 in prayer right now 00:49:37.360 --> 00:49:38.219 and just say, God, 00:49:38.420 --> 00:49:40.079 what is my next step 00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:43.500 in identifying something 00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:45.539 that you want me to do 00:49:45.539 --> 00:49:46.279 or someone 00:49:46.279 --> 00:49:48.019 that I can go and tell? 00:49:51.199 --> 00:49:52.400 Maybe you're in this room 00:49:52.400 --> 00:49:54.259 and you need to take the first step. 00:49:54.980 --> 00:49:56.099 Jesus is calling you 00:49:56.099 --> 00:49:58.019 to turn from your sin 00:49:58.019 --> 00:49:58.980 and turn to him 00:49:58.980 --> 00:50:00.579 for the first time. 00:50:01.559 --> 00:50:02.960 Just like he called those boys 00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:03.960 on the beach that day, 00:50:04.659 --> 00:50:05.960 he's calling you 00:50:05.960 --> 00:50:06.860 to be his disciple. 00:50:07.780 --> 00:50:09.199 But you've got to humble yourself 00:50:09.199 --> 00:50:10.099 and say, okay, God, 00:50:10.199 --> 00:50:12.360 I will give my life to you. 00:50:14.179 --> 00:50:15.400 Maybe I've been hearing about you. 00:50:15.460 --> 00:50:16.259 Maybe I've been in church. 00:50:16.360 --> 00:50:17.079 Maybe I haven't been. 00:50:17.699 --> 00:50:18.719 But today's the day 00:50:18.719 --> 00:50:20.539 I'm going to give my life to Jesus 00:50:20.539 --> 00:50:21.780 for the first time. 00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:23.340 If that's you, 00:50:23.400 --> 00:50:24.420 would you just share that with me 00:50:24.420 --> 00:50:25.519 and slip your hand up real quick 00:50:25.519 --> 00:50:26.280 and I'll pray for you. 00:50:27.060 --> 00:50:27.760 If that's you, 00:50:27.820 --> 00:50:28.019 would say, 00:50:28.080 --> 00:50:29.180 I'm going to give my life to Jesus 00:50:29.180 --> 00:50:30.360 for the first time today. 00:50:30.960 --> 00:50:31.640 Slip your hand up. 00:50:33.420 --> 00:50:34.780 Maybe some of you would say, 00:50:34.920 --> 00:50:36.820 I gave my life to Jesus 00:50:36.820 --> 00:50:38.620 maybe recently, 00:50:38.740 --> 00:50:39.820 maybe a long time ago, 00:50:40.820 --> 00:50:41.720 but Jesus wants me 00:50:41.720 --> 00:50:42.680 to take the next step 00:50:42.680 --> 00:50:43.320 and sacrifice. 00:50:44.140 --> 00:50:45.720 That's the come and die part for me. 00:50:48.220 --> 00:50:49.680 Got to give something up for him. 00:50:49.800 --> 00:50:51.500 Something else has distracted me. 00:50:51.500 --> 00:50:52.139 It's... 00:50:52.139 --> 00:50:55.820 You're sitting at my rabbi's feet, 00:50:56.260 --> 00:50:57.900 following him, 00:50:58.039 --> 00:50:59.139 covered in his dust. 00:51:00.159 --> 00:51:01.000 That's not me. 00:51:02.199 --> 00:51:02.980 How many of you would say, 00:51:03.059 --> 00:51:03.559 pray for me 00:51:03.559 --> 00:51:04.760 because I've got some things 00:51:04.760 --> 00:51:06.519 I need to leave 00:51:06.519 --> 00:51:08.539 so I can follow Jesus more closely. 00:51:08.679 --> 00:51:09.019 Slip your hand. 00:51:09.079 --> 00:51:09.480 Thank you. 00:51:10.159 --> 00:51:10.639 Thank you. 00:51:11.119 --> 00:51:11.619 Thank you. 00:51:12.219 --> 00:51:12.840 Thank you. 00:51:13.860 --> 00:51:14.480 Thank you. 00:51:15.039 --> 00:51:16.219 You can put your hands down. 00:51:17.239 --> 00:51:18.340 How many of you would say, 00:51:18.500 --> 00:51:19.300 this is the next step, 00:51:19.300 --> 00:51:19.980 the last step, 00:51:20.420 --> 00:51:21.720 I need to go and tell somebody. 00:51:22.680 --> 00:51:23.600 And I'm going to ask God 00:51:23.600 --> 00:51:24.960 to give me one person 00:51:24.960 --> 00:51:26.860 that I can pray 00:51:26.860 --> 00:51:29.620 and find opportunities. 00:51:29.880 --> 00:51:31.220 Ask God for opportunities 00:51:31.220 --> 00:51:33.100 to tell them about Jesus. 00:51:33.720 --> 00:51:34.820 Would you slip your hand up too? 00:51:35.220 --> 00:51:37.000 Say, I'm going to ask God for somebody. 00:51:37.680 --> 00:51:38.080 Thank you. 00:51:38.240 --> 00:51:38.600 Thank you. 00:51:38.740 --> 00:51:39.120 Thank you. 00:51:39.240 --> 00:51:39.720 All around, 00:51:39.800 --> 00:51:40.500 you can put your hands down. 00:51:40.580 --> 00:51:40.880 Thank you. 00:51:40.920 --> 00:51:41.120 God, 00:51:41.580 --> 00:51:42.900 you know what's going on in our hearts. 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:43.680 You know the people. 00:51:43.680 --> 00:51:45.360 You know the faces in their minds. 00:51:46.900 --> 00:51:47.920 You know the names. 00:51:48.440 --> 00:51:49.280 You know the experiences. 00:51:49.300 --> 00:51:51.320 The obstacles. 00:51:53.019 --> 00:51:54.260 Would you go before them 00:51:54.260 --> 00:51:55.060 and prepare the way 00:51:55.060 --> 00:51:56.680 through your spirit? 00:51:57.460 --> 00:51:58.840 Would you prepare the way 00:51:58.840 --> 00:51:59.780 to each one 00:51:59.780 --> 00:52:03.180 that we can go and tell them? 00:52:04.840 --> 00:52:05.280 God, 00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:05.920 I can't imagine 00:52:05.920 --> 00:52:06.600 what Henrietta, 00:52:06.760 --> 00:52:07.300 Clay County, 00:52:07.320 --> 00:52:08.539 and beyond would look like 00:52:08.539 --> 00:52:10.220 if our church 00:52:10.220 --> 00:52:11.580 each said, 00:52:11.940 --> 00:52:12.860 give me one 00:52:12.860 --> 00:52:14.500 to reproduce, 00:52:14.800 --> 00:52:15.519 to bear fruit. 00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:15.619 God, 00:52:16.420 --> 00:52:19.380 it's all for your glory, 00:52:19.500 --> 00:52:19.659 God. 00:52:20.380 --> 00:52:21.480 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:52:22.199 --> 00:52:22.500 Amen. 00:52:24.500 --> 00:52:25.699 Would you stand to your feet? 00:52:27.159 --> 00:52:28.239 Let's sing one verse 00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:28.960 of this together, 00:52:29.380 --> 00:52:30.659 one verse in a chorus, 00:52:31.079 --> 00:52:32.000 and we'll be dismissed. 00:52:32.199 --> 00:52:33.599 for this 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.599 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:33.880 Amen.