WEBVTT

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 I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to John chapter 4, verse 43 through 54.

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!

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 Let's begin with prayer.

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 Our Father God, this morning as we take up your word together as a body of believers,

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 those who have been redeemed, whose sins have been forgiven because of the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and his sacrifice on the cross, those who have come by faith, having first of all been

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 convicted of the darkness and hopelessness of our sinful state, and recognizing that there

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 is nothing we could have ever done to earn your grace and your forgiveness.

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 We who have been drawn by your grace to become believers in the Lord Jesus Christ gather this

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 morning to worship you and to delight in the truth that you've given to us.

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 And we pray for the work of the Holy Spirit this morning that I would preach with his enabling,

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 that your people would hear with ears that are tuned by your Spirit,

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 and that those who sit in our fellowship this morning that have never come to faith in Christ,

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 some who are here and deceived by the enemy to believe that merely growing up in a Christian

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 home was adequate, some who may even at one point or another have made steps that they have been led to believe

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 are sufficient.

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 Father, those who are here that do not know Christ, we pray that your Spirit would convict them

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 and draw them to saving faith.

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 Father, those who are here that do not know Christ, we pray that your Spirit would be

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 and we ask that Jesus, who we delight in as our Savior, and the Holy Spirit delights in lifting up,

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 would be the one that is seen most clearly.

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 And we ask this together in Jesus' name.

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 We are in John chapter 4, and at the very end of this chapter, we come to a very interesting,

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 little picture that is important for you to understand.

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 Let me help you see the picture by stepping back, if you would, for a moment to John chapter 1.

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 So turn back in your Bible to John chapter 1, verse 10 and 11.

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 In 10 it says,

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 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.

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 Now stop and recognize that this person that John is speaking about,

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 in John chapter 1, verse 1 says,

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 He was in the beginning.

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 He was the Word.

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 He is the one who not only was at the beginning, but all things were made by Him,

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 and there is not anything that has been created that was not made by Him.

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 And yet this is the one that, as it says in verse 10,

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 the world has not identified and recognized.

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 Verse 11,

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 He came into His own.

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 Speaking about the nation, the Jewish nation, it says,

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 He came into His own, and His own people did not receive Him.

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 And so, from the very beginning,

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 and I want you to understand that in some senses,

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 the early part of John is kind of an overview.

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 It's a little bit like going to the beginning of a book,

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 and you turn to the index,

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 and that little part that introduction explains,

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 this is what the chapters are,

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 and the chapter headers give you more or less an idea of what's going to follow.

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 John chapter 1 tells us,

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 this is how the book is going to play out.

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 The underlying theme that John the Apostle wants us to have fixed in our heart

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 is that his book is written to bring us to the spot of recognizing

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 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

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 and that believing in Him we might have everlasting life.

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 With that kind of as that overarching theme,

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 you then find John step in to a couple early little incidents with Jesus,

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 and one is the changing of water into wine,

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 not something that was recognized by a great many people.

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 It was not something that kind of a high on the food chain in terms of public impact.

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 It was his first miracle.

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 Following that, he walks into Jerusalem,

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 and he cleanses the temple.

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 If he wondered about something impact,

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 that was certainly high impact.

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 He took care of the mess and the deceit

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 and the wickedness that was going on in the very center

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 of Israel, the temple itself.

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 And you would think that, well, that is a starting point.

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 Everything kind of would go forward from there,

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 and you would just see Jesus in his ministry

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 and his effect kind of just climbing up the ladder

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 one thing after another, leading to tremendous success.

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 However, if you come to the end of chapter 2,

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 and I want you to just turn there just for a moment,

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 it says this, that now when he was in Jerusalem,

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 this is verse 23,

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 at the Passover feast,

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 many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

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 They were impressed by what they saw.

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 In fact, they liked some of those things.

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 I mean, healing.

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 How would you like to be able to receive healing

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 without having to go to a doctor,

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 just immediately taken care of,

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 and the problems disappear?

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 He did things that people loved.

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 And yet, as we read there, it says in verse 24,

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 Jesus, on his part,

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 did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people

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 and needed no one to bear witness about man,

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 for he himself knew what was in man.

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 He knew that the attitudes of those that he was ministering to

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 was really, hey, I'm interested in the miracle,

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 and I'm interested in the good things you're doing for me,

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 but I really am not interested in you stepping into my life

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 and taking over and being in control.

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 I like some of the things you do.

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 I don't want you to be in charge.

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 And so we work our way through,

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 and we then come to chapter 3 and 4

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 that give us this lengthy picture

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 of several different evangelistic incidents

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 and the outcome of those.

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 And remember, why did Jesus come into the world?

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 He came into the world, as it says in John chapter 1.

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 He came to be the Lamb of God.

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 And we know also from both Luke and other places,

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 it says he came into the world to save sinners.

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 And so in chapter 3, we have Nicodemus,

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 a ruler who came to Jesus by night and asked some questions,

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 and it ended up being this wonderful evangelistic opportunity.

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 We don't know from this part of the passage at this point

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 whether or not Nicodemus came to be a believer or not.

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 There's no indication of it.

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 All we know is he asked some questions.

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 He really didn't get it.

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 Chapter 4, on the other hand,

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 is a very interesting picture of Jesus as he is leaving Jerusalem

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 and going back to his hometown area.

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 He, as he is making this journey,

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 stops at a well in Sychar in Samaria,

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 and there he ends up having a lengthy conversation

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 with a woman who was a known, wicked, ungodly sinner.

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 And what's the outcome of that conversation?

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 She comes to faith.

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 And not only does she come to faith,

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 but immediately after coming to faith,

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 she runs into town and tells all those who would listen to her about Jesus,

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 is not this the Messiah?

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 And a lot of people there in Sychar believed in Jesus as a result,

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 and they came to see Jesus as well.

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 Additional people then flocked to meet Jesus where he was at the well,

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 and the outcome of all of that is that it seems that there is a rolling revival taking place,

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 and it's just beginning to kind of mushroom out and affect everybody,

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 all these believers in Samaria.

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 It's great news.

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 And you would think that from that little start,

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 we're on the roll,

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 and everybody's going to believe in Jesus,

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 and the story's going to end up happily ever after.

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 Wouldn't that be nice?

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 That's not how it works.

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 And John gives us a clear and accurate picture of how the ministry of Christ would play out in the days to follow.

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 And that's what we have in these verses,

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 picking up there in verse 43.

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 Let me read it to you and frame it,

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 and then we'll move through and see a couple different points that are important.

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 After the two days,

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 he departed for Galilee.

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

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 So as we look at this passage,

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 what we find John the Apostle doing is wanting us to understand something about evangelism.

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 Is that important for us as believers?

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 We've come to know Christ.

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 We have the blessing of having confidence in where our eternal destiny is.

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 We have joy.

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 I love the songs that we've sung this morning about the fact that when we know Christ,

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 there is joy and peace in our hearts.

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 And that's entirely true.

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 But not only do we have that blessing of knowing Christ as our Savior,

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 but we also have the responsibility of being witnesses to his grace.

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 Isn't that right?

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 I mean, the reason I am here and not up there

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 is for that principal purpose of sharing with other people the sweetness of the gospel

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 and the hope that they have of knowing Christ as their personal Savior.

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 And so you would think,

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 man, that's what it's all about.

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 And I would like to see how that's going to play out.

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 John says,

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 whoa, stop just for a minute.

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 Understand,

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 it's not always going to go the way you'd like.

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 And that's what we're looking at here

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 in verse 43,

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 44,

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 and 45.

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 We find that there were people that were all about his miracles,

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 but rejected his message.

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 There in 43,

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 it says he left.

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 He was going back to Galilee.

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 That's where his hometown was.

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 And in making this journey back,

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 we are given this little picture there in 44 of what we could expect would take place.

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 He'd spent two days in Samaria.

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 And Samaria had ended up being very,

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 very responsible to the gospel ministry of Christ.

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 Many people had come to believe in him.

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 And yet we are reminded here that as he is headed back for the area in which he grew up,

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 we understand that things weren't going to go the way they had gone in Samaria.

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 And here we're given this little reminder.

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 Don't always expect everything in relationship to your ministry to other people

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 to be as productive and as easy and as wonderful as what took place at the well with the woman.

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 I think it's important for us to keep in mind

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 that this attitude of disbelief was not just something of Galilee

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 because earlier when he was in Judea, in Jerusalem actually,

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 and he had been ministering there,

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 there as well he had not been really well received.

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 We saw that back in chapter 2.

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 As we noticed there, it says that,

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 hey, people believed.

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 They liked the miracles that they saw.

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 But the truth of the matter is they really did not come to faith in Christ.

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 They liked the external fruit.

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 They liked the physical blessings.

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 But they really didn't have faith.

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 And they were not all about having him expose their sins

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 and bring the darkness of their heart to light.

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 How do we know that?

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 Look for a moment, just for a turn back in your Bible, if you will,

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 go to John chapter 3 and look at verse 19, 20, and 21.

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 I think it's important for us to track this.

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 So turn back in your Bible.

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 We're dealing with the truth that Jesus in his ministry,

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 received by some but rejected by most.

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 And this is the judgment.

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 The light has come into the world,

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 and people love the darkness rather than the light,

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 because their works were evil.

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 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light,

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 and does not come to the light,

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 lest his works should be exposed.

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 For whoever does what is true comes to the light,

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 so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out by God.

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 And so as Jesus is ministering first in Jerusalem and not well received,

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 then for a moment, very favorably, in Samaria,

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 now he's going back to Galilee, his hometown,

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 and he makes this interesting little statement.

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 John writes this.

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 He says, listen, understand this,

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 that a prophet is not going to be received in his own hometown.

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 Now, there's a little discourse or a little discussion

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 whether or not that statement is,

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 a prophet is not received in his own hometown or his own home country.

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 Both could be the way it is, and it was true.

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 He was not received in his hometown,

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 and he was not received as a general principle in all of Israel.

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 And so as you stop and ask yourself the question,

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 why would that be?

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 Why would it be that Jesus,

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 the one who came to be the Savior of the world,

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 and came in particular, first of all, to the Jewish nation,

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 would not be received?

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 What would lead a person to be indifferent to their spiritual need?

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 I want you to think about that,

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 because all of us today are involved in ministry.

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 I'm talking to you who know Christ.

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 All of us are involved in working with individuals,

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 sharing, praying for them,

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 with an interest in seeing them come to faith.

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 What is it that makes them kind of tone deaf

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 to their spiritual need?

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 Well, I want you to recognize a couple things

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 in relationship to this.

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 One is this.

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 Sin is far more blinding and deadening than we might think.

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 Sin is far more blinding and deadening than we might think.

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 I want you to turn in your Bible back to or forward.

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 You're in John, so just go to Romans 1, verse 21.

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 How does sin affect the sinner?

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 Romans 1, verse 21.

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 It says,

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 Although they knew God,

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 they did not honor Him as God.

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 Or give thanks to Him,

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 but they became futile in their thinking,

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 and their foolish hearts were darkened.

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 I want you to think about that for a moment with me.

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 It says here,

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 they became futile in their thinking.

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 How many of you have ever tried to do a math equation,

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 and you had some of the starting principles wrong?

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 You copied them wrong,

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 or you just didn't get your hands around the starting principles.

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 Anybody else besides me

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.919
 have had that miserable experience?

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:16.519
 And you keep on doing the problem,

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:18.379
 and it just keeps on not working out.

00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.659
 The lack was,

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.299
 you didn't understand the core issue.

00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:23.500
 Here's what it says.

00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:25.319
 They became futile.

00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:27.099
 They didn't get it.

00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:32.019
 And as a result of refusing the truth of who God is,

00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:34.259
 the outcome was that their thinking

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:36.219
 became progressively darker and darker.

00:15:36.979 --> 00:15:39.219
 And do you think they recognized,

00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:41.859
 Man, I am descending into the abyss.

00:15:42.199 --> 00:15:45.399
 My thinking is getting worse and worse.

00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:47.639
 How many of you bump into people every day that say,

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:50.000
 I am becoming a more wicked person?

00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:51.779
 Anybody?

00:15:54.339 --> 00:15:55.799
 The truth of the matter is,

00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:56.519
 is every time,

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.240
 listen up,

00:15:57.339 --> 00:15:58.000
 everybody say,

00:15:58.359 --> 00:15:59.399
 they're following me here.

00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:03.559
 Every time we say no to what the Spirit of God convicts us of,

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.059
 what's the outcome of that?

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.139
 If we're a child of God,

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.419
 He won't let us get away,

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.319
 but what does it do?

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:14.240
 It brings firmer dealings.

00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:15.219
 How many of you understand that?

00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.099
 That's for the believer.

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.079
 For the unbeliever,

00:16:18.359 --> 00:16:20.839
 it just progressively dampens down.

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:24.719
 The sensibility and sensitivity we have

00:16:24.719 --> 00:16:27.359
 to what God is in the process of teaching us.

00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.799
 And so here in Romans chapter 1,

00:16:29.859 --> 00:16:30.219
 it says,

00:16:30.839 --> 00:16:32.819
 their thinking became futile,

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:35.039
 and their foolish hearts were darkened.

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:37.459
 When we squelch,

00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:40.359
 the promptings of our conscience,

00:16:40.459 --> 00:16:41.399
 or His Holy Spirit,

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:45.500
 things just get darker and darker in your heart.

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:48.980
 And so when we think back to John chapter 4,

00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:54.200
 and we recognize the general reception that Jesus received,

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:56.240
 you understand that as people were saying no,

00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:57.220
 no thank you,

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.080
 I'm not interested,

00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.860
 I don't want you messing with me,

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:02.159
 I don't want you interfering with my life,

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.840
 and my own little idolatries.

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:06.359
 Every time the nation of Israel,

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.279
 and people all around said no to Jesus,

00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:12.399
 the consequences were that they were darkening their spirit.

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:16.200
 And Jesus here understood what was going on.

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:19.180
 So in the first part of our lesson this morning,

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.700
 one of the things that I want you to recognize

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:24.160
 is that you can sit under the teaching of the Word of God,

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:27.819
 you can hear what God is saying,

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:31.559
 and you can be part of this fellowship,

00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:34.519
 and yet not necessarily have come to faith

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:36.419
 just because you have quieted,

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.480
 you've squelched the ministry of the Spirit

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:41.059
 and the convicting work of God in your life,

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.579
 and it's a dangerous thing.

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.240
 It's a dangerous thing.

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.179
 Well, you go back there,

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.000
 and it says,

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.240
 so when He came to Galilee,

00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.799
 the Galileans welcomed Him,

00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:53.179
 having seen all that He had done in Jerusalem at the feast,

00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:55.539
 for they too had gone to the feast.

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:58.420
 And we find that here,

00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.500
 and when He got back to the area that He'd grown up in,

00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.779
 everybody was glad to see Him,

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:04.299
 but why were they glad to see Him?

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.399
 Do you think they were saying,

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:08.579
 hey, listen, I have this nasty sin problem,

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:11.920
 and I really want you to do something

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:15.259
 about the hard, dark heart that I have?

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.440
 Most of the time,

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.859
 people are willing to recognize

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.879
 that there are problems in their lives,

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:24.139
 but usually they think the problems are,

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:24.639
 guess what?

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.879
 Everybody else.

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.619
 Jesus comes along and says,

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:32.099
 hey, listen, the problem you have is sin in your heart,

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.500
 and I'm here to help you with it.

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.000
 No, thank you.

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.039
 I don't want you to deal with that.

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.960
 They wanted the miracles.

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.000
 They wanted His attention,

00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:41.599
 but they were not willing to allow Him

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.740
 to touch the reality of the root of the problem,

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.259
 which is the darkness of their own heart.

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.440
 And so when we find this little passage here,

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.920
 verse 43 through 45,

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:53.779
 it gives us a picture that I think is important

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.660
 for us to understand.

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.480
 Hey, listen,

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:58.740
 not every time that you are engaged in ministry

00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:01.799
 to other people will the light bulb go on,

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:03.559
 and will they immediately recognize

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.119
 what God is doing and be drawn to the cross.

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.579
 And for some of you who are sitting here this morning

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:12.019
 who have loved ones that you care for

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.559
 and you are praying for,

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.200
 let me encourage you to know

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:18.740
 that your ministry does not change

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:22.179
 just because they don't receive it at the moment.

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:28.539
 Christ knows what it's like to be rejected.

00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:31.940
 He knows what it's like to pour His heart

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:35.700
 into individuals and have them turn their back.

00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:38.059
 That didn't change His heart

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:40.519
 towards those people who rejected Him.

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:43.200
 He persisted in His affection and His love,

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:46.660
 and we in Christ's stead are to do the same.

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.799
 It's important.

00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.839
 Let's come to the second part of the message this morning

00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.440
 and recognize another picture of conversion.

00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.420
 Verse 46 on to 54

00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:00.859
 is a little interesting story

00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:03.359
 that is radically different from the Samaritan woman.

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:06.539
 How did the story go with the Samaritan woman?

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:08.639
 Remember, Jesus sits down at the well,

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.280
 a woman comes to visit,

00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:11.860
 he asks about water,

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.340
 and from there on in,

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:16.720
 the whole conversation goes over to this issue

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.020
 of this woman coming to faith,

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:20.120
 and then she scampers back into town,

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.600
 and she says,

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:22.840
 hey, you've got to come meet this guy,

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.360
 and a lot of other people believe in Jesus as well.

00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:29.800
 Now, we have a completely different story.

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:32.680
 And I want you to recognize

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.960
 that one of the benefits

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:38.680
 of this kind of completely different conversion picture

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:40.859
 is that it reminds us

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:42.399
 that the Holy Spirit's work

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:44.059
 in drawing people to the cross

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:46.000
 is quite varied,

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.119
 and we've got to be careful

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.859
 that we don't get in a little box

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:50.819
 and say, well, this is the way it has to be.

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.559
 You have to come to Christ

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.680
 when you're four years old,

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.359
 and your mother has to be the one

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.919
 who is doing devotions in your home

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.240
 and sharing the gospel,

00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.000
 and you have to pray in your bedroom.

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:02.700
 Okay?

00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:05.500
 Or you have to have been

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.740
 at a Billy Graham crusade.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:10.380
 Some of you have come to faith at a crusade.

00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:12.380
 Or you have to be at a youth group event.

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.980
 Or you have to come down front.

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:16.080
 I will never forget

00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:17.900
 sharing the gospel with an individual

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:21.180
 as he was rolling in for surgery.

00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:23.340
 He had already heard

00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:25.259
 that he had cancer in his bowel,

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.859
 and he was a hard-headed

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:31.259
 German plant manager,

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.019
 and strangely enough,

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.680
 he said, his wife said,

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:36.059
 you need to come and pray for this guy,

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:36.579
 and I did.

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.539
 I'm walking down the hall

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.359
 towards the surgery,

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.700
 and guess what I'm sharing with him?

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.920
 I'm sharing the gospel with him,

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.000
 and he started crying,

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.579
 and he trusted Christ on the gurney.

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:46.039
 Died six months later.

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.900
 That's okay.

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.160
 I'll see him in heaven.

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:52.099
 I've seen people walk down the front,

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:53.700
 and I remember someone saying to me,

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.720
 I need Jesus.

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.460
 Happens all different kinds of ways.

00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:00.120
 And we need to be reminded

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.900
 of the diversity of ways

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:04.140
 in which the Spirit of God works.

00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:06.600
 And that's what we see in this case.

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.400
 We see another picture of conversion.

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.620
 So let's kind of recognize

00:22:10.620 --> 00:22:12.700
 as we work our way through this story

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:14.620
 of the different little signals

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.819
 that give us indications

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:17.100
 of the Spirit working

00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.140
 in this person's life.

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.900
 We have the story there.

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:23.500
 Here, an official comes to Jesus,

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.200
 and his son was sick,

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:27.259
 not just sick with the flu,

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.100
 not just sick with a little bit

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.860
 of a head cold,

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.259
 but he was dying.

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:33.900
 And so the man had made the journey

00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.240
 from where he lived

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:37.660
 up to where Jesus was.

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:40.100
 And the journey from Capernaum

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:43.060
 to Cana was about 16 miles,

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.019
 which would translate

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:46.400
 into five or so hours.

00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.460
 And so I'm going to just,

00:22:47.580 --> 00:22:48.300
 think with me here

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.799
 just for a minute,

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.799
 how many of you here

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.940
 walked five miles,

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.139
 five hours one way

00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:54.399
 to visit anybody lately?

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.240
 Anybody do that?

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.099
 Five hours?

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.539
 I mean, hey, we're stretching it

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.899
 when we drive five hours

00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.839
 to visit somebody.

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.460
 You know, it's like family.

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:06.299
 And so here is a father

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.639
 who is willing to walk

00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:09.519
 five hours one way

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.980
 to talk to Jesus.

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:14.039
 And when he shows up there,

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.200
 we find there,

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.139
 when this man heard

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.920
 that Jesus had come

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.560
 from Judea to Galilee,

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.480
 he went up to ask

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.160
 and he came and says,

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.580
 hey, listen,

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.700
 you've got to do something

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.380
 for my son.

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.220
 He's at the point of death.

00:23:26.540 --> 00:23:27.720
 So Jesus said to him,

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.759
 unless you see signs

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.320
 and wonders,

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:31.200
 you will not believe.

00:23:31.300 --> 00:23:31.860
 Well, recognize,

00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:32.759
 first of all,

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.940
 that the Spirit

00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:35.300
 is creative

00:23:35.300 --> 00:23:37.720
 in drawing people to faith

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.880
 through challenges

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.700
 and heartache.

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.700
 Do you understand that?

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.280
 There are some of you

00:23:43.280 --> 00:23:44.160
 sitting here this morning

00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.380
 that really are going

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.680
 through some very difficult

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.880
 moments in your life.

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.660
 It seems like the pieces

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:51.940
 are not just aligned properly.

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.620
 And I want to challenge you

00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.080
 to think,

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.960
 what is God at work

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:57.580
 doing in your life?

00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.779
 If you're here

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.940
 and you do not know Christ,

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.759
 I want to encourage you

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.360
 to recognize

00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:04.580
 that he may well be

00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.960
 using those heartaches

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.900
 and those challenges,

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.540
 those difficulties,

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.799
 and those burdens

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:11.000
 to bring you to the point

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.740
 of recognizing

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:13.139
 you can't solve

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:14.599
 these problems by yourself.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.399
 And that's what happened

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:16.980
 with this man.

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.740
 I have no doubt

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:19.319
 that before he decided

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.299
 that it was reasonable

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:22.240
 to take a five-hour hike

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.460
 to see someone

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:25.339
 that he'd never seen before,

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:28.339
 that he probably had asked

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:31.119
 every other resident medical expert

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.180
 in the little town

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:33.139
 that he was living in,

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.339
 can you do something

00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.319
 for my son?

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:35.960
 No.

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.259
 No.

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.299
 No.

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.819
 He's dying.

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.379
 Well,

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.660
 I think it's reasonable

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.279
 for me to take

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.379
 a five-hour walk

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:44.900
 so I can ask Jesus

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:46.259
 if he'll do something for him.

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.599
 So I want you

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.619
 to understand this morning,

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.500
 if you're here

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:54.079
 and the weight of life

00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:56.160
 is pressing down on you,

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.559
 it may be that

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.640
 the Spirit of God

00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:00.299
 is using those heartaches

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.440
 to draw you

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.279
 to realize

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.940
 that there is something

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:05.319
 in your soul

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.660
 that only Jesus

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.680
 can care for.

00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.900
 I want you to recognize

00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.779
 something else,

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:14.080
 that as you look at this,

00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:15.720
 you find out that

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.660
 the heartache

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.320
 and challenge

00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:18.660
 that this man

00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.420
 was facing

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.779
 was something

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.759
 that at least

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.440
 prompted him

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.980
 to realize

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.480
 that Jesus

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.420
 could be the answer.

00:25:26.540 --> 00:25:26.740
 Now,

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.440
 if you go back

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.259
 just for a moment,

00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:30.160
 back to John chapter 2,

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.240
 and we all referred to it,

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.660
 but I want you

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.340
 to look at it again.

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.939
 In John chapter 2,

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.699
 verse 23,

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.459
 it says that

00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:38.159
 many believed

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.939
 in his name.

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.359
 Now,

00:25:39.419 --> 00:25:40.159
 does that mean

00:25:40.159 --> 00:25:41.039
 that in this case

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.459
 necessarily they were saved?

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:42.699
 No,

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.240
 not at all.

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.500
 And the reason we know that

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:46.279
 is because of what we read

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.720
 in verse 24 and 25.

00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:49.359
 They believed in the power

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.759
 that Jesus was manifesting.

00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:52.119
 They saw the evidence

00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.679
 of something supernatural

00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:54.579
 taking place,

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.720
 but their belief

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.359
 was not a belief

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.919
 in Christ

00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.220
 as their personal Savior.

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:02.019
 And so,

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.440
 again,

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.200
 in 3.2,

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.880
 it says the man

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.579
 came to Jesus

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.700
 talking about Nicodemus.

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.339
 He said,

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:06.640
 Rabbi,

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:08.259
 we know you're a teacher

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.019
 come from God.

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.839
 How do we know that?

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.700
 Because no one

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.480
 could do the signs

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.160
 that you're doing

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.079
 unless God was helping him.

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:15.259
 See,

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.019
 people saw

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.920
 the power

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.700
 of what Christ

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.380
 was doing.

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.640
 And this man

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.079
 had heard the stories

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.100
 and he recognized

00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:24.980
 that Christ

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.860
 was someone

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:27.500
 that could do

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.819
 something unusual

00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:30.200
 and as a result

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.619
 of that,

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:32.460
 he wanted to see

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:34.019
 Jesus face to face.

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.379
 Now,

00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.159
 let me carry this over

00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:35.759
 into your life

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.399
 just for a moment.

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.359
 Do you realize

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:40.119
 that you and I

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:42.480
 are living examples

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.539
 of the miraculous

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.539
 power of Christ?

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.179
 Do you realize?

00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:46.099
 Say that with me.

00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:47.000
 I do understand that.

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.639
 When I look in the...

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.099
 Stop.

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.799
 Everybody look.

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:51.419
 Hello.

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:52.339
 Okay.

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.939
 If you are here

00:26:53.939 --> 00:26:55.000
 and you are a child

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.539
 of Christ,

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.859
 you are a living

00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.619
 example

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.920
 of the supernatural

00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.319
 power of Christ

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.180
 to do something

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.420
 that is beyond

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:04.500
 human ability

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.500
 and reason.

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.599
 Am I right or wrong?

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.240
 Hmm?

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.379
 Yes or no?

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.940
 If any man

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.000
 be in Christ Jesus,

00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:13.940
 he is a...

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.599
 I'm something.

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:16.000
 That word creation

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.519
 there is a word

00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.299
 that is used

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.099
 in relationship

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.159
 to the creation

00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:20.779
 of the world.

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.099
 Something out of nothing.

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.559
 Spectacular.

00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:27.000
 Now, when I look

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.879
 at myself in the mirror

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.680
 and probably when you

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.279
 look at yourself

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.759
 in the mirror,

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.440
 you say, really?

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.420
 But when the Spirit

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.659
 of God is at work

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:36.500
 and we are growing

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.319
 in grace,

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.559
 do you know

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.539
 that other people

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:41.299
 see what is taking place

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.500
 and they're curious

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.240
 about that

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.899
 and then in the bankruptcy

00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:45.799
 of their soul

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.619
 and the brokenness

00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:47.240
 of their moment,

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.079
 they say,

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.379
 well,

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.339
 I don't know.

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.960
 The mess I'm in,

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.000
 I'd at least like

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.720
 to find out

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:56.059
 what He knows

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.960
 and how He's making it.

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.440
 You see,

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.799
 God uses heartache

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.440
 and challenges

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:04.559
 to draw people

00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.220
 around you

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:06.059
 to wonder about

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.559
 the faith

00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.019
 and the life

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.779
 that you live.

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.640
 And that's part

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.240
 of what He does

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.079
 in evangelism.

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.620
 Well, I want you

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.160
 to recognize

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.740
 another thing

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.500
 that plays out here.

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:15.120
 We find that

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.140
 the Holy Spirit

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.579
 used Christ's rebuke

00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:20.000
 of a limited view

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.660
 of His power.

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.660
 The man comes

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:21.960
 and says,

00:28:22.040 --> 00:28:22.180
 hey,

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:22.840
 I need you

00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.320
 to do something

00:28:23.320 --> 00:28:24.000
 for my son.

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.759
 He's five hours

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.380
 down the road.

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.000
 You need to come

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.440
 down there.

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.300
 You need to do

00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:28.980
 something for him.

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.840
 And Jesus says here,

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.540
 verse 48,

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.120
 unless you see signs

00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:32.620
 and wonders,

00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.740
 you will not believe.

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:34.420
 Bang!

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.960
 How's that

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.000
 for a favorable response

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:39.279
 when you walk

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.220
 five hours

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.220
 to talk to Jesus?

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.340
 What do you think?

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.580
 That's pretty stunning,

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.019
 isn't it?

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:48.720
 What Jesus was rebuking

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:51.639
 was the attitude

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:53.759
 that many people

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.680
 can have

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:56.759
 of limiting

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.180
 the power of God

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.480
 to do what really

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.460
 needs to be done.

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.160
 Hey, you know,

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.539
 if you would do it

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.400
 my way,

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.740
 it may pull off.

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.639
 I read Tom Wolfe's

00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:11.839
 interesting blog.

00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.440
 How many of you

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.119
 know Tom Wolfe,

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:14.579
 our missionary

00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.599
 in South Africa?

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:19.199
 He had a winsome blog.

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.779
 By the way,

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:20.719
 if you're not reading

00:29:20.719 --> 00:29:21.739
 Tom Wolfe's blog,

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.259
 you should.

00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.839
 It is the best

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.819
 missionary blog

00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.819
 I know of.

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.659
 Now, I'm not

00:29:26.659 --> 00:29:28.399
 a mega blogger reader,

00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.739
 but that's a good one.

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.399
 Okay?

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.000
 And he was talking

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.479
 about the devastation

00:29:33.479 --> 00:29:34.859
 of the prosperity

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:36.239
 gospel in Africa.

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.959
 Just Google something.

00:29:39.979 --> 00:29:41.299
 I want you to look up

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.839
 the ten richest pastors

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.479
 in the world.

00:29:44.979 --> 00:29:45.519
 Do that.

00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:45.939
 Do that.

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:49.419
 The largest percentage

00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:50.500
 of them are in Africa.

00:29:52.959 --> 00:29:53.739
 That's stunning.

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:57.579
 A land of abject poverty

00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.619
 as a general rule.

00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:59.479
 I shouldn't say abject,

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:01.119
 but of challenging

00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.619
 economic status,

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.619
 and yet,

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.500
 the idea of

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.659
 name it, claim it,

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.539
 God is there

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.599
 to do it your way,

00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:09.259
 and by the way,

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.259
 if you need a Lexus,

00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.839
 just ask and put something

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.740
 in the offering plate

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.819
 to help it along.

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:16.519
 You see,

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:18.139
 this idea that God's

00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:18.859
 kind of a power

00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.839
 that we can manipulate

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.159
 for our own purposes

00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:22.480
 according to our own plan,

00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.359
 Jesus says,

00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:24.500
 hey, don't go there.

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:27.460
 I'm not about doing it

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.240
 your way.

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.359
 I want you to recognize

00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:32.960
 that the Spirit

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.319
 also uses persistence.

00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.599
 I love what we read next.

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:40.579
 Verse 49,

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.599
 put your finger on it,

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.659
 the official said to him,

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.679
 sir, come down

00:30:43.679 --> 00:30:45.599
 before my child dies.

00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.459
 How's that for blunt?

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:48.619
 Huh?

00:30:50.439 --> 00:30:52.339
 The man blew right past

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:53.439
 Christ's rebuke

00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:56.500
 and was unrelenting

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:58.819
 with his brokenhearted plea.

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.240
 You come down

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:04.099
 before my child dies.

00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:06.059
 One of the things

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.959
 that characterizes

00:31:06.959 --> 00:31:08.039
 the work of the Spirit

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:10.559
 as that He prompts persistence.

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:12.259
 He keeps on pressing.

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.200
 He keeps on bearing in.

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.859
 He keeps on convicting

00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:18.200
 till we come to that point

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:19.220
 where we recognize

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:21.460
 that unless Jesus does something,

00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.399
 there's nothing

00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:23.419
 that can be done.

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.399
 And I love that.

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.619
 I want you to mark

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:29.619
 this man's persistence

00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:30.619
 as something

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.899
 that was not credited

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:33.720
 to a character trait.

00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.539
 Now, I want you to think

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.440
 about that for a moment.

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:38.379
 Some people are easily discouraged.

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:40.200
 Others just bear in.

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:43.159
 I would say that

00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:44.519
 this man's persistence

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.720
 was ultimately

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.919
 the work of grace

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:48.639
 in calling out to Jesus

00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:49.139
 and saying,

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:50.379
 unless you do something,

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.339
 it's going to be

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.480
 a desperate situation.

00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:54.519
 And how did Jesus respond?

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:57.079
 Come to the last little bit.

00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.000
 I want you to recognize

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.779
 the Spirit used Christ's words.

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.200
 Here we have the man say,

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.119
 you better come down

00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.220
 before my child dies.

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.159
 Verse 50,

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.820
 Jesus said,

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.220
 go,

00:32:07.540 --> 00:32:08.980
 your son will live.

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.300
 The man believed

00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:11.720
 the word that Jesus

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.540
 spoke to him

00:32:12.540 --> 00:32:13.880
 and went on his way.

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.380
 Now, you stop

00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:15.140
 and think about that.

00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.900
 You've traveled five hours.

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:24.940
 You finally see the doctor.

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:28.720
 And you tell him,

00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:30.759
 you need to come to my house

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:32.460
 because my child is dying.

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.920
 And the doctor says,

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:37.200
 who are you to tell me

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.180
 how to do things?

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.460
 Go.

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.340
 Your son will be okay.

00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.980
 How many of you

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:45.140
 would pack up right then

00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.600
 and leave,

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.180
 going back

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:47.200
 and expecting your son

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:47.799
 to be okay?

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:47.900
 Okay.

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:53.440
 That man believed

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.300
 Jesus' word.

00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:55.600
 That's what happened.

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.519
 The Spirit of God

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.460
 prompted his heart

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.140
 to recognize

00:32:59.140 --> 00:32:59.920
 that the one

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:01.360
 he was pleading with

00:33:01.360 --> 00:33:02.480
 had the authority

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.259
 and the power

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.480
 to do something

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.040
 16 miles away

00:33:06.040 --> 00:33:07.140
 at that instant.

00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.640
 And he left.

00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:13.280
 He left.

00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:16.620
 Satisfied.

00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.920
 As we find,

00:33:20.600 --> 00:33:22.860
 when he got back,

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.840
 everybody said,

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.100
 hey,

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.580
 you're not going

00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.100
 to believe this.

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.320
 Five hours ago,

00:33:28.380 --> 00:33:29.160
 your son got better.

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.100
 Hmm.

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.060
 Yeah.

00:33:31.800 --> 00:33:33.220
 And then what we read there,

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.300
 it says,

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.120
 and he himself

00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:35.900
 believed in all

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.580
 his household.

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.920
 Aren't you encouraged

00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.100
 that we have

00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:41.960
 this little picture

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:44.140
 of developing faith

00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:45.519
 that isn't just like

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.480
 the woman at the well?

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.080
 Huh?

00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:49.519
 I mean,

00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:50.400
 all we know

00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.340
 is Jesus said

00:33:51.340 --> 00:33:51.920
 to this woman,

00:33:52.060 --> 00:33:53.100
 go call your husband,

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.980
 and she says,

00:33:55.060 --> 00:33:55.160
 well,

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.040
 I don't have one,

00:33:56.080 --> 00:33:56.740
 and Jesus says,

00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:56.940
 well,

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.140
 yeah,

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:57.820
 that's true.

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.980
 You've had five,

00:33:59.040 --> 00:33:59.440
 and the man

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.259
 you're shacking up

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.920
 with right now,

00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:01.860
 you're not married

00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:02.280
 to him,

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.060
 and she's,

00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:03.340
 bang,

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.820
 saved.

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.540
 It'd be pretty

00:34:05.540 --> 00:34:06.100
 spectacular

00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:06.660
 if everybody

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.440
 got converted

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:07.940
 that way,

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.760
 but the problem

00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.980
 is there aren't

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.860
 that many Samaritan

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.760
 women at the well.

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.059
 There are other choices,

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:15.619
 and we have this man

00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:17.840
 comes because he's

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.840
 driven by need

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.480
 and love,

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.679
 comes because

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.940
 of the bankruptcy

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:24.320
 of all the effort

00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:25.200
 that he'd put in,

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.059
 and he comes crying

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.840
 to Jesus and said,

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.780
 you've got to save

00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.240
 my son,

00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:28.900
 and Jesus says,

00:34:29.240 --> 00:34:29.800
 it's done.

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.200
 It's done.

00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:33.460
 And when he comes

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.219
 back to town

00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.639
 and finds out

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.179
 the power of Christ

00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:38.399
 over 16 miles,

00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:39.899
 it's not just a matter

00:34:39.899 --> 00:34:40.639
 of believing

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:43.099
 in a physical miracle,

00:34:43.359 --> 00:34:44.339
 but it is a matter

00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:44.980
 of believing

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.539
 in the one

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.039
 who came

00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.339
 to save lost mankind.

00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.699
 Here's the truth.

00:34:53.439 --> 00:34:54.419
 Here's the truth.

00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:58.019
 There are some of you

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.939
 here this morning

00:34:58.939 --> 00:34:59.719
 that desperately

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.599
 need Christ.

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:05.239
 And the truth

00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:05.960
 of the matter is

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.359
 is that

00:35:06.359 --> 00:35:08.559
 it may be

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.819
 that the pressures

00:35:09.819 --> 00:35:10.759
 and the heartaches

00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.779
 and the difficulties

00:35:11.779 --> 00:35:13.039
 of the moment

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.000
 you are in

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.599
 is nothing other

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.579
 than the gentle,

00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:18.199
 persistent tapping

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.359
 of the Holy Spirit

00:35:19.359 --> 00:35:20.539
 saying to you

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.319
 today,

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.799
 only Jesus

00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.619
 can solve

00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.319
 the problems

00:35:25.319 --> 00:35:26.619
 of your broken heart.

00:35:27.879 --> 00:35:29.159
 Only Jesus

00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:31.159
 can take away

00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:31.719
 the burden

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.599
 of your sin.

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.779
 Only Jesus

00:35:34.779 --> 00:35:36.099
 can forgive you

00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:37.339
 and make you

00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:38.000
 new again.

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:40.099
 Only Jesus

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:41.799
 is the Savior

00:35:41.799 --> 00:35:42.500
 of the world.

00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:43.799
 Do you know

00:35:43.799 --> 00:35:44.219
 what it takes

00:35:44.219 --> 00:35:44.899
 to come to faith?

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:47.279
 Not complicated.

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.379
 Number one,

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:51.000
 recognizing

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.719
 that you're

00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:53.000
 a bankrupt sinner

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:54.079
 who cannot

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:55.079
 in any way

00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:56.599
 redeem themselves

00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.980
 before a holy God.

00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.960
 Number two,

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.759
 understanding

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:02.539
 that the day

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.259
 of judgment

00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:04.000
 is coming

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.839
 eventually.

00:36:06.259 --> 00:36:07.219
 And the Spirit

00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:07.759
 of God

00:36:07.759 --> 00:36:09.059
 is prompting you

00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.719
 and tugging

00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.360
 on your heart

00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:11.299
 and saying,

00:36:11.799 --> 00:36:12.460
 deal with it

00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:13.119
 now!

00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:16.159
 Because what it

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.900
 says in the Scriptures,

00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:17.799
 it says it's appointed

00:36:17.799 --> 00:36:19.039
 unto man once to die

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.779
 and after that,

00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:20.039
 what?

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:22.360
 there's judgment.

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.300
 And I would

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.880
 encourage you

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.380
 this morning

00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:28.099
 if you are here

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:29.179
 and do not know Christ,

00:36:29.279 --> 00:36:30.179
 today is the day

00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:32.259
 that you need

00:36:32.259 --> 00:36:33.019
 to humble yourself

00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.679
 and cry out

00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.019
 and say,

00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:34.820
 I stand

00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.259
 condemned

00:36:35.259 --> 00:36:36.340
 before a holy God.

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:42.039
 but I believe

00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.740
 Jesus died

00:36:42.740 --> 00:36:43.620
 for my sins.

00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:47.860
 I can't save myself.

00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.800
 And I am willing

00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:52.039
 to humble myself

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.539
 and say,

00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:53.579
 the mess I am

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.660
 has no solution

00:36:54.660 --> 00:36:55.320
 but Jesus.

00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.880
 Don't let that pass.

00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:10.780
 Don't let that pass.

00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:12.820
 Let's close.

00:37:16.660 --> 00:37:17.760
 Precious God,

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:20.059
 thank you for the Lord

00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:20.960
 Jesus Christ

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:22.800
 who came into the world

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.640
 to save sinners.

00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:28.600
 And I ask that

00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:30.100
 as we sing this song

00:37:30.100 --> 00:37:30.720
 this morning

00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:31.600
 that your Spirit

00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:32.800
 would work

00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.780
 to draw people

00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:34.620
 to the cross.

00:37:36.340 --> 00:37:39.760
 make us a people

00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:40.539
 that are passionate

00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.980
 about lost mankind.

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.960
 Make us a people

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.800
 that because of

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:47.000
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.940
 live lives

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:49.440
 that are winsome,

00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:51.180
 gentle,

00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:52.800
 loving.

00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:55.579
 That the unbeliever

00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.500
 around us

00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.160
 would be drawn

00:37:57.160 --> 00:37:57.920
 to ask us

00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.460
 a reason

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.059
 for the hope

00:37:59.059 --> 00:37:59.860
 that we have.

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.860
 And our answer

00:38:01.860 --> 00:38:02.620
 would be Jesus.

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.960
 We ask this

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.880
 in Jesus' name.

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:06.820
 Amen.

00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:09.840
 As we sing this song

00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:10.539
 in closing,

00:38:10.680 --> 00:38:11.440
 let's stand together

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:14.000
 and let me encourage you

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:14.900
 if you are here today.

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:17.300
 as we call it

00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.300


00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.300


00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.300


00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.300


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00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.300