1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:07,000 I was young and in Ministry and I had just been a part of the 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,300 launch of the crossing Macomb up in Macomb, Illinois. 3 00:00:10,300 --> 00:00:14,200 And I was in that season where all the people from the church 4 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,300 would invite the new Young Pastor over to the house and 5 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:21,600 then they would invite all their friends who didn't know Jesus 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:27,600 over for, like the sneak attack. And I think their Hope was that 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,900 they would you know, send me in is like SEAL Team Six and then I 8 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:34,600 would engage in a conversation and they'd go. 9 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,100 Oh, It's time for me to get baptized, you know that it was 10 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,400 just be this. And one particular night I was 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,000 on the back porch of a family's house who was new to the church 12 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,100 and actually kind of new to Faith and they had invited one 13 00:00:50,100 --> 00:00:54,000 of their friends over and he was a Western Illinois, University 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,600 professor and he was in his late 40s and I was in my early 15 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,500 twenties and he found out that I was a pastor and he looked at me 16 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,800 like fresh meat. And there's that internal Battle 17 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,400 of like, do we fight? Like, is that what we're going 18 00:01:13,408 --> 00:01:15,300 to do because we could ruin the meal for everybody. 19 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:21,200 And this is the tone. That the conversation started. 20 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:24,700 He goes to Europe, pastor. Yeah. 21 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:28,500 So, you believe in Jesus? Yeah. 22 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:32,600 So you believe in the Bible? Yeah. 23 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:38,700 So, you believe in Genesis? Yeah. so, you're telling me that 24 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:47,200 you believe in a talking snake, your crazy. 25 00:01:49,100 --> 00:01:53,600 You mean to tell me that you actually think that a snake 26 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,400 Talked to a person. Like well I mean it wasn't just 27 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,000 snakes. I mean a donkey did it too. 28 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,500 I mean. So I want to welcome all of you 29 00:02:03,500 --> 00:02:04,700 to all of our different locations. 30 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:08,900 Those of you watching online, and those of you who are a part 31 00:02:08,908 --> 00:02:12,400 of the crossing inside, and I want to wish a very special, 32 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,700 shout out to all the mothers. All the foster moms, all the 33 00:02:16,700 --> 00:02:20,000 grandma, if you're not clapping, you ain't saved. 34 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:25,600 We love you moms and we are so thankful for all that you do 35 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,400 that is both seen and unseen on our behalf, may you be honored 36 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,000 and celebrated this weekend by those who love you and are here 37 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,300 because of you. And I also know that there are 38 00:02:37,308 --> 00:02:40,300 some of you who are on the other side of that coin. 39 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:45,900 You have lost your kids. You can't have kids and I want 40 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:48,100 you to know that as a church. We are in your corner. 41 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:51,000 We love you. We see you. 42 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:56,600 And more importantly than that God sees you and God loves you. 43 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,100 And I know that this weekend could be filled with all kinds 44 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:02,400 of mixed emotions. And so, can I just give you a 45 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,600 verse for you to cling to as you're going through the 46 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,300 weekend? Psalm 34 Verse 18. 47 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,300 The Lord is close to the broken hearted. 48 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:16,400 And he saves those who are crushed in spirit Crossing 49 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:17,700 family. Can we give a big round of 50 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:20,200 applause to that group of women just to let him know? 51 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,200 We love you? We see you. 52 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:29,800 And you are not alone. We are in a sermon series called 53 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,600 unexpected and we're looking at the unexpected things that 54 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:37,600 happened when people encounter Jesus. and I got to be honest 55 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:44,000 with you, sometimes having faith in Jesus makes you a little 56 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,600 crazy. So people who don't have a 57 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,000 relationship with Jesus, And we've been looking at these 58 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,400 unexpected things, that happens when Jesus steps into the 59 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,400 equation. And we've learned this 60 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,600 unexpected truth, that the currency Of Heaven. 61 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:08,000 Is faith. Jesus died on a Friday. 62 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:13,900 On Sunday, he rose from the grave and that day, he appeared 63 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:18,200 to a bunch of different people. But not to everybody who was 64 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,100 close to him. There was one guy who got left 65 00:04:21,100 --> 00:04:24,500 out. And his name was Thomas. 66 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:30,300 We find his story at the very end of John chapter 20, this 67 00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:33,600 what it says. Now Tomas also known as didymus 68 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:39,300 One of the 12 was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 69 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:44,800 So the other disciples told him we have seen the Lord. but he 70 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:50,500 said to them, unless I see the nail marks in his hands, And put 71 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:56,500 my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side. 72 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:00,500 I will not. Believe. 73 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:04,800 Now Thomas. Gets a bad rap. 74 00:05:05,700 --> 00:05:12,100 And shame on all of us. For calling him doubting Thomas. 75 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:18,600 Sure, he doubted. Thomas was not some person who 76 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,500 had this unique experience. Everybody was doubting that 77 00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:28,600 Jesus was actually alive, and Thomas is not some weak 78 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,300 marginalized timid, follower of Jesus. 79 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:36,200 In fact, when he shows up in scripture, he does some pretty 80 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,500 cool things in critical spaces. Let me tell you a little bit 81 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:44,000 more about Thomas, as it's revealed in the Gospel of John. 82 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,700 Many of you you've heard the story of Lazarus when Jesus 83 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:50,400 shows up, he shows up late Lazarus is dead. 84 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,800 He's like our I don't worry he's going to come back alive. 85 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,200 His sister's like listen, don't bring him back now because he's 86 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,000 stinks. Bad classic sister? 87 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:03,100 And Jesus is like nope, he's coming out and Jesus didn't go 88 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:06,700 there right away and there was a reason why this happened because 89 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:11,200 the disciples were worried about Jesus, going to the place where 90 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:15,500 Lazarus was look what it says in John chapter 11 verse 7 through. 91 00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:20,300 He said to his disciples, this is Jesus talking, let us go back 92 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:22,400 to Judea. This is near the region where 93 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,000 Lazarus was but Rabbi they're talking to Jesus. 94 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:30,100 Now they said this is the disciples a short while ago the 95 00:06:30,100 --> 00:06:34,600 Jews there tried to Stone you and yet you are going to go 96 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,200 back. So Jesus like, Hey, we're gonna 97 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,200 go back, I'm gonna bring Lazarus, you know, back from the 98 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,600 dead and they're like, listen. If you go back there, they'll 99 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:43,800 kill you, which is kind of interesting. 100 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,400 Jesus is going to go. Bring a guy who's dead back to 101 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,600 life and they're worried about them Killing Jesus, which 102 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,400 obviously, he has the power to anyhow. 103 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,800 But you're with me. Now, in the midst of all of this 104 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,600 uncertainty, that the disciples have about him going back and 105 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,200 dying. Look what Thomas says. 106 00:07:01,100 --> 00:07:05,800 Thomas or John chapter 11 verse 16 then Thomas known as did he 107 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:11,300 missed said to the rest of the disciples, let us go also. 108 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:18,400 That we may die with him. Did he get labeled courageous 109 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,000 Thomas? Know. 110 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,200 This is what he says, Jesus if you're going, and they're going 111 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,100 to throw rocks, those rocks are going to hit me, too. 112 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:29,600 Come on, fellas. We're dying with Jesus. 113 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,400 But you know what, you want to see Jesus alive and you want to 114 00:07:34,407 --> 00:07:36,400 put your hands where the nails were and all of a sudden, you 115 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,700 get labeled doubting Thomas later on, Jesus is getting ready 116 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:44,000 to prepare for his departure and he's trying to comfort. 117 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,900 His disciples about his leaving their presence and Thomas shows 118 00:07:48,900 --> 00:07:52,400 up again in this story, John Chapter 14 verse 1 through 7. 119 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,300 Here's Jesus talking. Do not let your hearts be 120 00:07:56,300 --> 00:07:58,900 troubled. You believe in God believe. 121 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:03,600 Also in me my father's house has many rooms if it were not. 122 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,000 So I would have told you or what I have told you that I'm going 123 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,100 there to prepare a place for you. 124 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,700 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and 125 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:20,700 take you to be with me that you also may be where I am, you 126 00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:23,200 know, the way to the place where I am going. 127 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,000 Thomas like no, we don't. We don't know where you're 128 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:28,100 going. Look, what Thomas says. 129 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:30,600 Oh Lord, we don't know where you're going. 130 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,299 So how can we know the way it's a good thing? 131 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:37,500 He asked this question. Because then we get an 132 00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:41,200 incredible description of life with Jesus Christ because then 133 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:47,900 Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life and no one 134 00:08:47,908 --> 00:08:52,100 comes to the father except through me we get the exclusive 135 00:08:52,100 --> 00:08:57,500 claim of Jesus saying the only way to the Father in Heaven is 136 00:08:57,500 --> 00:08:59,600 through me. Good thing Thomas asked the 137 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,600 question so we can get some clarity about by which we find 138 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,000 ourselves on the right side of our sin problem and in the 139 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,700 presence of God. But do we get Theologian, Thomas 140 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:13,000 know. We get doubting Thomas. 141 00:09:14,300 --> 00:09:17,100 Thomas is just a really good guy with some questions. 142 00:09:18,500 --> 00:09:20,300 He demanded just a little bit more. 143 00:09:21,300 --> 00:09:25,600 Proof. A little bit more data before he 144 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:31,500 believed. But so did every buddy else, 145 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:37,000 Perhaps they didn't have as much proof as Thomas did, and they 146 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,900 believed earlier, but his error as the same, their areas, the 147 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:46,200 same as everybody else is there. They needed to see it to believe 148 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:50,000 it. Nobody believed that Jesus was 149 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,100 alive until they saw it. You want to know why? 150 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:58,300 Because, as much as Jesus talked about it, nobody understood it. 151 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:04,100 Nobody thought that Jesus was going to come back from the 152 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:05,900 dead. You want to know why? 153 00:10:05,900 --> 00:10:12,500 Because people don't do that as one Pastor said on Easter week 154 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:16,700 on Easter Sunday, nobody Expected. 155 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:22,300 Nobody There was nobody in Jerusalem going, he's walking 156 00:10:22,300 --> 00:10:27,400 around here somewhere. Nobody expected, no. 157 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:32,200 Body. Thomas goes, until I put my 158 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,200 hands in his hands. Tell him I put my hand and his 159 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:40,500 side and tell I see the wombs. I will not believe. 160 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:47,200 So guess what Jesus Does? He shows up John chapter 26. 161 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:51,500 A week later. So this is on Sunday the day. 162 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:54,100 Jesus rose from the dead, he appears to everybody else but 163 00:10:54,100 --> 00:10:56,700 not to Thomas. Next Sunday night when they're 164 00:10:56,700 --> 00:10:59,500 at the family meal, I guess his disciples were in the house 165 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:04,800 again and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked. 166 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:10,600 Jesus came. And stood among them. 167 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:14,000 So you're in the room locked because you're scared. 168 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:18,400 All in Jesus, somehow passes through the wall. 169 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:23,400 Which would freak everybody out and his opening line piece. 170 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,400 Be with you. This is the new normal. 171 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:31,900 Okay, let's keep going. Then he said to Thomas. 172 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:33,500 Oh, can you imagine being Thomas? 173 00:11:35,900 --> 00:11:38,500 Come here, Thomas. Put your finger here. 174 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:42,800 See my hands. Reach out your hand and put it 175 00:11:42,808 --> 00:11:44,800 in my side. Stop. 176 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,100 Doubting. And believe. 177 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:54,300 Thomas said to him, my Lord. And my God. 178 00:11:55,300 --> 00:11:59,000 If you're like me. You might be thinking right now, 179 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:06,200 must be nice. Thomas wanted to see, and touch 180 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,100 Jesus. So his faith could be 181 00:12:09,100 --> 00:12:11,800 strengthened. I sure could use a little bit of 182 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,700 that. How could how come Thomas gets 183 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:16,700 it? How come he gets to touch? 184 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:19,600 Jesus. See Jesus with his own eyes. 185 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:23,000 And here I am having to do what I got to do. 186 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,200 Just believe. It's a whole lot easier. 187 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:35,800 To stop doubting and believe when you get to touch the real 188 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:41,900 Jesus. But Jesus is not done talking to 189 00:12:41,900 --> 00:12:44,800 Thomas. And he's not done talking to 190 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,500 you. Look at the very next. 191 00:12:48,500 --> 00:12:56,400 Verse John chapter 20 verse 29. Then Jesus told him. because you 192 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:01,200 have seen me, you have believed Blessed. 193 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:09,100 Are those who have not seen and yet have believed how many of 194 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:13,800 you at all of our locations have not seen Jesus's resurrected 195 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,200 body with your own eyes? And yet, you still believe that 196 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,600 Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God, Jesus calls you 197 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,600 Blessed. Why? 198 00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:31,900 Why am I blessed? Even though I don't see Hebrews 199 00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:35,400 chapter 11. Verse 1 gives us some insight. 200 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,800 Interesting, use of the word about this. 201 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:42,500 Now Faith. Is confidence in what we hope 202 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:48,500 for and Assurance about what we do not see. 203 00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:56,200 Paul is describing what faith looks like, what belief looks 204 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,300 like and it lines up with what Jesus says. 205 00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:05,200 Blessed are those who believe, even though they don't See, and 206 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:09,600 when you have the kind of faith that is allowed to believe, even 207 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,100 though you don't see, we are blessed because guess what? 208 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:20,600 God loves, God loves faith. How many of you have ever wanted 209 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,000 to? Please God. 210 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,500 You want to make God smile? You're going to like this sermon 211 00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:34,100 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6. And with out faith, it is 212 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:39,900 impossible. To, please God. because anyone 213 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:45,600 who comes to him, must believe that he exists, and that he 214 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:54,600 rewards those who earnestly seek him, Faith is believing even 215 00:14:54,600 --> 00:15:00,500 though I don't see and when I believe even though I don't see 216 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:05,200 it pleases. God Thomas did not have the same 217 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:10,100 opportunity to please God, that you and I do, because we believe 218 00:15:10,100 --> 00:15:14,300 even though we have not seen, we are blessed Thomas believed 219 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:18,600 because he had seen which requires way less faith. than 220 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:23,700 for those of us to believe even though we don't see and this is 221 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:30,800 led many people to believe that faith in Jesus is a blind faith. 222 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:36,100 But I want to talk to you about today is that we don't have a 223 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:42,000 blind face. We have a reasoned face. this 224 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,400 guy is looking at me and he's saying, you believe, In a 225 00:15:46,408 --> 00:15:52,200 talking snake, you must be crazy my answer. 226 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,300 Yep. But not. 227 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:02,400 As crazy as you. And I'm going to give you four 228 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:07,000 reasons why I might be the least crazy person on planet Earth, 229 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:12,900 and you might be as well, because I believe That Jesus is 230 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:16,500 the son of God, the savior of the world, and the king of the 231 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:19,900 universe, and I'm going to give it to you in four ways. 232 00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:23,900 Let's start from scratch. Everybody agrees that the 233 00:16:23,900 --> 00:16:27,900 Universe had a beginning. And if you ask the atheist, 234 00:16:27,900 --> 00:16:29,600 we're not even talking about Jesus yet. 235 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,100 We're just talking about the beginning of the world. 236 00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:34,500 If you talk to the atheist, somebody who doesn't even 237 00:16:34,508 --> 00:16:36,100 believe in God, we're not talking about all the other 238 00:16:36,100 --> 00:16:39,400 gods, somebody who doesn't even believe in God, they will agree 239 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,000 that the Universe had a beginning. 240 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:47,200 The issue for everybody is what caused the beginning for the 241 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,200 believer in God, they say God caused everything to happen. 242 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,500 The Atheist believes that nothing created everything. 243 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,600 So when I'm sitting across from them and they're calling me 244 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,500 crazy, I just want to make sure we're super stinking clear, you 245 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:06,300 think nothing made everything and that's your same position. 246 00:17:06,300 --> 00:17:10,200 Then you better call me crazy because I believe that someone 247 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,800 created everything. If we were walking down the 248 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,400 road, and you saw three rocks stacked on top of himself. 249 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,599 You wouldn't go. Wow. 250 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:24,800 How did they appear? Everybody would look at three 251 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,400 rocks. Stacked on top of each other go. 252 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,900 Somebody was here. But you want to look at the 253 00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:32,500 chromosomes and think that nothing made everything. 254 00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:35,100 Yeah. If that's crazy, I'll take it. 255 00:17:35,100 --> 00:17:37,800 Then here's the next thing for us. 256 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,400 We believe that since the universe had a beginning, God 257 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,400 had to create it. Well how do we make sense of 258 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,500 that Frank Turk? I believe explains it best. 259 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:49,100 It means that in order for the beginning to have a beginning, 260 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:53,500 something outside of time, outside of space and outside of 261 00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:57,900 matter, had to be the cause for many people. 262 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:02,700 The only logical. Reasonable conclusion. 263 00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:07,800 Is that there is only one thing that is outside of time outside 264 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,700 of space and outside of matter. And his name is God. 265 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:16,100 In order for there to be a beginning, you had to have time 266 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:22,300 space and matter all come into existence at the exact same 267 00:18:22,300 --> 00:18:25,300 time. Why stay with me here? 268 00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:30,100 Because if you have time and matter but no space, where would 269 00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:34,900 you put the beginning? If you have matter in space but 270 00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:37,400 no time, when would you put the beginning? 271 00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:42,300 And if you have time and space but no matter explain to me, 272 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:45,700 what? Is beginning, the Bible solves 273 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:49,100 this quandary in the first 10 words of the book which book 274 00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:55,900 Genesis chapter 1, verse 1. In the beginning God created the 275 00:18:55,900 --> 00:19:00,100 heavens and the Earth. The beginning that's time 276 00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:03,800 Heaven's that space Earth that's matter. 277 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,500 It is a trinity of Trinity's created by the Can I submit to 278 00:19:07,508 --> 00:19:10,000 you? The Trinity because time is 279 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,600 passed present and future space is linked with. 280 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,200 And depth matter, is solid, liquid and gas created by the 281 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,800 Father, the Son, and the spirit, a trinity of Trinity's created 282 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,600 by the Trinity versus your nothing. 283 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,600 Number two. If I was talking to a person who 284 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,600 thought I was crazy, I would say you might like my brand of crazy 285 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:36,100 because I believe that there has to be a moral law Giver. 286 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:40,000 Sometimes people will come up and ask me the question you 287 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,200 believe in God. Yep. 288 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,300 If do you believe he's all powerful? 289 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:44,600 Yep. Do you believe that he's all 290 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:45,500 love him? Yep. 291 00:19:45,500 --> 00:19:47,400 Then how do you explain all the evil in the world? 292 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:52,100 Sin But if he's so loving and so powerful, why does he allow all 293 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:54,000 of this evil in the world? Great question. 294 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,600 Fair question, reasonable question. 295 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:00,000 The way I would answer that is I would say well if you believe in 296 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,400 evil, do you also believe that there is good? 297 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:05,400 To which they have to concede. Yeah. 298 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,500 Because how would you know that there is Darkness, if there were 299 00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:13,200 no light, So, there has to be. If you order for you to describe 300 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,900 evil, you have to describe it against something in the absence 301 00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:19,400 of something, which is good if there's good. 302 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,900 There has to be a good. That supersedes us all which 303 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:27,900 would require a moral law Giver, which is God, whom you seem to 304 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:31,200 be denying. And if that's the case, if 305 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,400 you're denying the existence of God, then there is no moral law 306 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,800 Giver, which means there is no moral law, which means there is 307 00:20:37,808 --> 00:20:40,100 no good, which means there is no evil. 308 00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:48,200 So what your question, because if the moral law only existed 309 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:53,400 inside of some of us, then your moral good and my moral good 310 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:54,800 would be at odds with each other. 311 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,000 If it was done by popular opinion, you'd get communism and 312 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,200 you could ask people in Russia after the first world war or you 313 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,400 can ask the Nazis during the second world war, how their 314 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,400 description of good worked out for the people who didn't 315 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,300 actually agree with him. There has to be something Beyond 316 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:14,900 us. Something outside of us that 317 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:18,800 registers in us, that this is good, and this is bad. 318 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,800 We serve a God who gave us his word, which tells us what is 319 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,300 good and tells us what is bad, these two things alone, just 320 00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:29,200 these two things alone, the existence of the universe. 321 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,700 And a moral God, made or a moral law, made me realize that there 322 00:21:32,700 --> 00:21:35,300 is a God. So now we have a god, I've gone 323 00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:37,800 from being an atheist to being. I don't know what theist. 324 00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:40,600 Well, then I had to look at all the different gods. 325 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,300 And Jesus kind of comes to the top. 326 00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:47,600 Because Jesus number three was a real person. 327 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:54,100 Who did Supernatural things? This is not a faith claim. 328 00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:01,400 This is a historical claim. Jesus was a real historical 329 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,500 person who walked on planet Earth. 330 00:22:04,500 --> 00:22:09,400 There are records about what it is that he did and he is unlike 331 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,400 anybody, the world has ever seen. 332 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,900 Let me just mention three things about him that are different 333 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,800 than everybody else. One Jesus, demonstrated, power 334 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,300 over nature. He turned water into wine and 335 00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:25,100 John Tomb of the miraculous catch of fish. 336 00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:28,300 In Luke 5, the calming of the storm in Matthew chapter 8, the 337 00:22:28,300 --> 00:22:31,500 feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew chapter 14, he walked on water, 338 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:35,000 which I hear sick. In Mark, chapter 6, he fed 4,000 339 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:39,200 people in Matthew chapter 15, just to name a few, there's been 340 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,900 nobody else who's done, anything like that. 341 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:44,300 He doesn't just have power over the natural world. 342 00:22:44,300 --> 00:22:47,200 He has power to heal disease because he healed the nobleman's 343 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,800 son in John chapter 4, Peter's, mother-in-law's was healed of 344 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,500 her fever and Luke chapter 4. He cleansed the leper of his 345 00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:57,000 leprosy in Matthew healing of the paralyzed. 346 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,500 Made a mark 2 healing of the lame. 347 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:00,800 At the pool. Bethesda and John 5 healing of 348 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:01,900 the man. With the withered hand, in Luke 349 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:04,700 6, healing in the centurions paralyzed servant in Matthew 350 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:06,300 chapter 8. The woman with the issue of 351 00:23:06,308 --> 00:23:08,200 blood, which, I preached last week, hope you were here. 352 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,400 Mark chapter 5, restoring the site of the two Blind Men in 353 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,600 Matthew chapter 9, healed the death, in the mute man. 354 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,900 In Matthew chapter 15 healed. The blind man outside of 355 00:23:15,908 --> 00:23:17,900 Bethesda. In Mark chapter 8, the healing 356 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:19,800 of the ten lepers in. Luke chapter 17. 357 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,800 The man born blind in John chapter 9, the woman with the 358 00:23:22,808 --> 00:23:26,200 messed up back, which sounds cool in Luke Chapter 13 and the 359 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,200 severed ear of malchus and Luke chapter 22 just to name a few. 360 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,900 He is unlike anybody else you've ever seen, but, you know, he 361 00:23:34,900 --> 00:23:37,800 doesn't just have power over nature and power to heal 362 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,000 disease. He has power over the Demonic. 363 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,100 You know, the evil. He the man with the unclean 364 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:45,500 spirit in the synagogue of Capernaum. 365 00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:48,800 In Mark, chapter 1, the daughter of the sorrow Phoenician woman 366 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,700 in Matthew chapter 15 and the child after the Transfiguration 367 00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:55,200 in Luke chapter 9, just to name a few. 368 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,100 Let me be clear there has never been nor Will there ever be? 369 00:23:59,100 --> 00:24:03,000 Anyone like him? The Skeptics might say, but 370 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:08,000 there are lots of founders of religions, but Jesus is 371 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,400 different because he had power. Over nature. 372 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:18,900 Power over sickness and power over the Demonic and all the 373 00:24:18,908 --> 00:24:24,300 other Founders are d. E, a d did. 374 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,500 Watch if you want to be a Buddhist. 375 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:29,900 That's cool, but that founder, he died in 843. 376 00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:33,500 What are Sedar Guatemala and he was ashes. 377 00:24:33,500 --> 00:24:35,900 Were he was cremated in his ashes were sent to the different 378 00:24:35,900 --> 00:24:39,100 Kings in India and Sri Lanka. If you want to be a Muslim, 379 00:24:39,100 --> 00:24:42,600 that's cool, their founder dead. And you can go and visit his 380 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,200 grave and madinah Saudi Arabia. If you want to be a Jew, great 381 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,800 Abraham founder of that religion, dead. 382 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,800 You can go to his grave and Ibraham Hebron in the West Bank, 383 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:54,600 if you want to be a Mormon, cool. 384 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,600 But just so you know that Founders dead and you don't have 385 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,200 to drive that far to get to it because the cemetery The Smith 386 00:25:00,208 --> 00:25:04,400 Family Cemetery is a Nauvoo Illinois, not too far from any 387 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,600 one of our locations. However, if you want to find the 388 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,200 founder of My Religion, you will find No Grave. 389 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,900 In fact, Christians are the only people on planet Earth. 390 00:25:11,900 --> 00:25:16,100 Who fly all the way to Israel to visit two possible, places to 391 00:25:16,100 --> 00:25:18,700 see something. That is not there because he's 392 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:21,300 not inside either one. Why? 393 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:24,700 Because unlike the other Founders, he is not d. 394 00:25:24,700 --> 00:25:26,700 E a d. He Is a l. 395 00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:28,700 I v e need to spell and I'm not so amped. 396 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:30,200 Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you? 397 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,900 Now, you might be saying, you might be saying, okay, okay, 398 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:36,400 okay, okay, but did he really rise from the dead? 399 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,800 Well, let me give you some empirical evidence that might 400 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,300 help you realize that he's unlike anybody that you have 401 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:44,600 ever seen one. The tomb was, in fact, empty, 402 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,100 Jesus was alive and I'll walk you through it. 403 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:51,200 Pilate the governor stationed, guards at the request of the 404 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,500 people who had Jesus killed to make sure that nobody stole the 405 00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:56,900 body. The women found the tomb. 406 00:25:56,900 --> 00:26:00,300 Empty went back and reported it as did Peter and John, that is 407 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:02,900 three eyewitnesses. There were 10 Resurrection, 408 00:26:02,900 --> 00:26:06,700 sightings of Jesus being alive after he was dead. 409 00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:09,100 There was the women returning from the Tomb in, Matthew 28, 410 00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:12,200 Mary Magdalene at the Tomb. In John chapter 20 Clio, puts in 411 00:26:12,208 --> 00:26:15,300 another disciple on the road to Emmaus in, Luke chapter 24 10 412 00:26:15,300 --> 00:26:17,800 April, in the upper room. That didn't include Thomas, 413 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,700 which we've already talked about in John Chapter 20, The 11 414 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,600 positive Thomas president in John chapter 20, a little bit 415 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,700 later, there were the disciples by the Dead Sea in John. 416 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:29,800 Chapter 21, 500 people are mentioned in First Corinthians 417 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:31,600 15. James was mentioned in First 418 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,100 Corinthians 15 and the apostles on the Mount of Olives. 419 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:39,000 Before his Ascension in Acts chapter 1, Hear me, that's a lot 420 00:26:39,008 --> 00:26:42,800 of people saying, a man who was supposed to be dead walking 421 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:47,100 around. Not only that the testimony, the 422 00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:52,000 eyewitness testimony of all of these people fundamentally. 423 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:59,200 Changed an entire religion. Calendar. 424 00:27:00,100 --> 00:27:02,900 And the world. Let me unpack this. 425 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:07,600 Up to this moment, the people who were following, Jesus were 426 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:12,400 Jews, not just by nationality, but by religion, and at that 427 00:27:12,408 --> 00:27:14,200 point time, there wasn't a separation. 428 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,500 These Jews who had been following God, worshiped every 429 00:27:19,500 --> 00:27:24,200 single Saturday, the Sabbath. Why? 430 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,300 Because God said in his Ten Commandments, remember the 431 00:27:28,300 --> 00:27:34,100 Sabbath day and keep it, holy God, after he, what did he do? 432 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:38,300 Created the world. He created for six days and he 433 00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:43,400 rested on the seventh which was the Saturday the Sabbath. 434 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,600 But on the heels of something. That happened on a Sunday. 435 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,500 All of these people stopped showing up for church on 436 00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:57,400 Saturday and started worshiping on Sunday. 437 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:03,200 Think to yourself, 200 years, into the future in America, what 438 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:08,900 kind of seismic event would have to happen in America for us to 439 00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:12,800 be celebrating our independence on July 14th? 440 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,900 You spent your entire life? Celebrating our independence on 441 00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:25,300 July 4th. What would have to happen in our 442 00:28:25,300 --> 00:28:30,400 nation in your life for us to shift our entire calendar? 443 00:28:31,300 --> 00:28:36,300 To a completely different day. When these new people who are 444 00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:39,200 following Jesus, who later be called were called Christians. 445 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,300 When they became Christians, they would gather on a Sunday. 446 00:28:42,300 --> 00:28:45,800 And there were two things that they would practice. 447 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:50,700 One. The Taking of communion. 448 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:58,000 We're ending. So, They were reminded of a new 449 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,600 covenant. That was purchased. 450 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:05,000 Through the blood of Jesus Christ on a cross. 451 00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:10,100 And the Fulfillment that their debt had been paid through his 452 00:29:10,100 --> 00:29:12,900 resurrection. The second thing that the church 453 00:29:12,900 --> 00:29:18,600 did when they gathered is they baptized Because as Paul 454 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:22,400 explains, when you baptize somebody, you are laying them 455 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:27,200 into a watery grave and you are bringing them back to newness in 456 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,900 Christ, mimicking modeling symbolizing Jesus. 457 00:29:32,300 --> 00:29:36,100 Being laid in the grave and three days later being brought 458 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:41,000 back which gives us new life. This is not some ancillary claim 459 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,600 to our faith First Corinthians chapter 15 says this. 460 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:50,200 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. 461 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:56,200 You are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen 462 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:02,400 asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life, we have 463 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,700 hope in Christ. We are of all people. 464 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:12,800 Most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been 465 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:19,300 raised from the dead. Their Central claim is, if Jesus 466 00:30:19,300 --> 00:30:25,600 is still dead, we are fools. Here to know the impact. 467 00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:33,700 Of Jesus's life and Ministry. Jesus was put to death. 468 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:39,400 By Jewish oppressors through the hand of Roman soldiers. 469 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,600 That were apart of the Roman. Empire. 470 00:30:46,500 --> 00:30:53,000 And now, if you were to go to Rome, it is the center. 471 00:30:53,900 --> 00:30:59,600 Of the Catholic Church. Jesus Is Life Ministry. 472 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,000 And then the followers who believed in him, transformed the 473 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:09,500 very nation that killed him. If Jesus is Alive, there are 474 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:13,500 implications. And means that God is real. 475 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:19,600 It means the Bible is true. It means I have a creator. 476 00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:26,000 Hell, is hot. Death is not the end you and I 477 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,400 have a sin problem. But Jesus is the solution. 478 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:35,700 My question to you is, will you be blessed and believe we're 479 00:31:35,700 --> 00:31:43,900 moving to a time of decision? Uh, to those of you that are 480 00:31:43,900 --> 00:31:46,500 here today that have yet to start your relationship with 481 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:49,700 Jesus Christ. You might be going Clayton, 482 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:53,500 that's great. I don't know everything that 483 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:55,900 there is to know and I would just tell you that never, that 484 00:31:55,900 --> 00:31:57,900 never happens. But I'm willing to wager that, 485 00:31:57,908 --> 00:32:00,700 you know enough. And if you would apply the same 486 00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:03,500 logic to Jesus that you apply to other areas of your life, you'd 487 00:32:03,500 --> 00:32:06,300 realize that there's almost something satanic taking place. 488 00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:11,300 I was thinking this week. I have no clue how toilet paper 489 00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:16,100 is made. But I use it. 490 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:20,200 And I refused to shake hands with people who don't. 491 00:32:22,500 --> 00:32:24,100 I don't have to know how they quilted it. 492 00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:26,500 I don't know the difference between how they make a three 493 00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:29,700 ply four ply, whatever they may. I just know there's a 494 00:32:29,708 --> 00:32:32,200 difference. And I know the life is better 495 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,200 with it than without it. I don't know, hardly anything 496 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,000 about a car. My wife has you know, she's 497 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,300 never looked at me and she said, honey, can you fix this? 498 00:32:41,900 --> 00:32:45,100 I'm not that guy. I'm more like I can't be okay. 499 00:32:45,100 --> 00:32:49,200 Then handy. You get it and I know zero 500 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,900 things zero about a car. I like to talk to the fellas 501 00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:55,800 about, you know, the things inside of cars. 502 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:58,300 But that's it. I don't know. 503 00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:00,200 Hardly anything about how my vehicle works. 504 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:01,500 I just know. It beats walking. 505 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,700 I don't have to know everything to recognize the value of 506 00:33:06,700 --> 00:33:10,900 something. And I'm going to wager that you 507 00:33:10,900 --> 00:33:15,500 know, plenty. You know that there is something 508 00:33:15,500 --> 00:33:19,900 inside of you that was designed created for something more. 509 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,000 You hate the idea that you were an accident and your life has 510 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:27,700 zero, meaning and zero purpose. The Bible says that he turned it 511 00:33:27,700 --> 00:33:31,300 was written in your heart. You know, more than you think 512 00:33:31,300 --> 00:33:34,200 you do. You know, that you have not been 513 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:35,700 the person that you were created to be. 514 00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:39,700 That you've let people down that you have not measured up. 515 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:46,800 You know, you've sinned. You know, deep down inside that 516 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:50,700 you need hope and peace and you can't find it. 517 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,800 You've been chasing things to satisfy the hole in your heart 518 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:00,000 and yet nothing you do get you there. 519 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,600 You thought you would finally be fulfilled when you found 520 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,900 somebody to marry you but that marriage ended up not being as 521 00:34:07,900 --> 00:34:11,000 fulfilling as you had hoped. You thought that once you held 522 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,300 your kids in your arms, that life would be complete? 523 00:34:13,300 --> 00:34:15,500 And then your kids went through puberty and you're like, I don't 524 00:34:15,507 --> 00:34:18,199 know if I want them. You know, like, I don't know 525 00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:20,800 what I do with that. You thought when you got the 526 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:24,300 promotion that your life would finally be on easy street, but 527 00:34:24,300 --> 00:34:26,900 that never happened. You thought when you went on the 528 00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:29,199 vacation that your life would be completely fulfilled. 529 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:32,199 You thought, when you had the house, had the boat had the car. 530 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:36,199 You just can't fill it. It's almost as if you need 531 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:40,600 something eternal. You know. 532 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:46,699 More than you think, you know? And what I can't understand. 533 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,100 Is why you wouldn't ask the question? 534 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:56,400 That have been holding you back to starting your faith in Jesus. 535 00:34:57,300 --> 00:35:01,700 And the only reasonable answer I can come up with is your either 536 00:35:01,700 --> 00:35:08,600 lazy or its satanic. That Satan doesn't want you to 537 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:12,500 ask the question. Because he doesn't want you to 538 00:35:12,500 --> 00:35:17,300 have the answer. Because Satan came to steal and 539 00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:21,500 kill and destroy. And so maybe today. 540 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:26,500 Your step of faith. Is finally asking the questions 541 00:35:26,500 --> 00:35:30,200 that have been rattling around inside of your head for way too 542 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,300 long. Others of you, you've been on 543 00:35:33,300 --> 00:35:36,800 the sidelines for a long time knowing that you needed to place 544 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,000 your life In the Arms of Jesus. But you've been unwilling to do 545 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:43,500 so and maybe today, while the people around you standing in 546 00:35:43,500 --> 00:35:45,900 some of them come to the steps and pray you'd walk right over 547 00:35:45,900 --> 00:35:48,800 there and say it's time it's time for me to ask my questions. 548 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,100 It's time for me to get baptized. 549 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:52,800 It's time to confess that Jesus is indeed my lord and savior 550 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:54,700 because I'm a sinner who needs saved. 551 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,300 To the rest of you. In the room. 552 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:00,900 Who already have a relationship with Jesus Christ? 553 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:03,500 I'm going to poke you for a little bit. 554 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:09,400 If you really believe. That Jesus is the Christ. 555 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:13,900 The son of the Living God. That God is real. 556 00:36:13,900 --> 00:36:18,000 Jesus is Alive and the Bible is true. 557 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,000 Does your life? Reflect it. 558 00:36:27,100 --> 00:36:29,800 Because Jesus didn't come just to be your savior. 559 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:35,200 He came to be your king. To rule in your life. 560 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:41,900 Faith. Is not merely an intellectual 561 00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:50,100 Pursuit. It is not just vocal Allegiance. 562 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:56,800 It is a life. Marked with surrender and 563 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:02,600 obedience. Which means? 564 00:37:04,100 --> 00:37:07,100 There are plans and purposes that God has for you. 565 00:37:08,500 --> 00:37:13,200 That you are rebelling from. And that's not how you treat a 566 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,200 savior king, would you stand with me? 567 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:24,900 Heavenly Father. the only hope that we have, the only hope that 568 00:37:24,900 --> 00:37:31,100 this church has the only hope that this region has is for your 569 00:37:31,100 --> 00:37:35,100 Holy Spirit. To take ground that can only be 570 00:37:35,100 --> 00:37:38,300 taken. By your power. 571 00:37:39,500 --> 00:37:43,300 And your mind. And our lives to be completely 572 00:37:43,300 --> 00:37:47,200 surrendered to your rule and your wisdom. 573 00:37:48,700 --> 00:37:52,600 And God in faith. I'm asking that you would make 574 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:56,300 it clear. To every person who can hear my 575 00:37:56,300 --> 00:37:59,500 voice. What it is that you want them to 576 00:37:59,500 --> 00:38:03,000 do today? And that you give them the 577 00:38:03,008 --> 00:38:06,400 courage to do it. You remember praying, amen.