1 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,680 I have my sister with me today and my little niece. 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,440 It's the only human being in the whole world that I share the 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,080 same DNA with. Yeah. 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:13,640 I mean, you can just come and stand. 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:16,239 Can you believe this came from the same mother and father? 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:24,760 I don't know, I don't know. And but we have the same blood. 7 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,000 It's the only person. This is my oldest friend. 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,280 It's been my friend for 58 years and God says that he'll make the 9 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,120 two one. And so actually we have a 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,400 biological blood but we under the same blood. 11 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:39,880 And so God takes all of us from different places, black, white, 12 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,120 rich, poor, young, old, married, single, puts us all together and 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,200 he gives US1 blood. And this is the mystery he 14 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:48,600 breaks. The wall, the dividing. 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,560 Wall of hostility. So we will be hostile towards 16 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:52,920 each other because of our upbringing. 17 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,880 Black against white, English against Afrikaans, young against 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,000 old, introverts versus extroverts. 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,000 We hostile towards each other because of the prejudice in 20 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,080 which we grow up in. But as we come to the blood of 21 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,120 Christ, we learn how to become one and we humble ourselves. 22 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,320 We serve each other and we look after each other. 23 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:10,720 We love and pray for one another. 24 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,760 And so it's really, really good to have you here this morning. 25 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,240 And we're doing a series in the book of John. 26 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,600 And if you can turn me, John, chapter 5. 27 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,400 Stephen and Kathy are in lockdown in Qatar. 28 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,040 They went to a conference there. There are bombs exploding over 29 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,160 their heads. Don't feel too sorry. 30 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,360 For them because I I saw my. Friend who's hosting? 31 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,120 Them now because they've all been kicked out of the 32 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,600 accommodation and the friend who's hosting, I said. 33 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:37,680 How are you? How? 34 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,440 Are Steve and Kathy and he sent me a picture of his Webber bra 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:47,800 with a pork belly inside. And a view of missiles over the 36 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,840 top he. Said we're doing just fine. 37 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,160 So pray for Kathy and Steve to come home to their. 38 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,920 Children will be nice. And that the bombs. 39 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,200 Don't land on them and that they don't eat too much pork belly. 40 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,680 But we're thinking of you, buddy, and we're thinking of. 41 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,080 We're thinking of everybody. At this time, a person. 42 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,039 Came up to me. Last week and they gave me a hat 43 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:14,400 with Poof Udder on it, Puff uttered. 44 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,320 I said, where are you from? He said. 45 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,880 Puff uttered. I wouldn't give you and it 46 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,120 doesn't say Brits, it says Puff uttered. 47 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,200 So I said don't go offline. Because we are watching you and 48 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:25,920 Puff Uttered. So I didn't say thank you for my 49 00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:28,080 hat, but thank you for my hat from Puff Uttered. 50 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,040 And for those who are in the room at the back and those who 51 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,320 are online, it's great to have you. 52 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,640 Tony Unsu, my very dear friend Chris and Jess, it's great to 53 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:40,440 see you at the back there. So let's have a look at John. 54 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,200 Chapter 5 It's a beautiful. Story. 55 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,840 It's a very complicated story. It's a weird story. 56 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,200 If you don't understand it, but let's. 57 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,200 See, and then what we're going to do, we're going to end this 58 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,600 story by just. You're going to leave the church 59 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:53,960 I'm going to. Sit down. 60 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,680 And you're going to leave? Cool. 61 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,520 Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a. 62 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,840 Feast of the Jews One of the things Jesus came to do was. 63 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:14,640 To mess with religion and to give us freedom so we don't come 64 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:18,160 from a set of laws into another set of laws. 65 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:20,560 You don't. Come from being enslaved. 66 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,880 To sin and money into being enslaved by the church and its 67 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,200 leaders. You get set free from one set of 68 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:31,360 expectations, and you get set free and the Spirit. 69 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,480 Of God. Lives inside of us and teaches 70 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,880 us how to live. So all these feasts and all 71 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:37,640 these things get fulfilled in Christ. 72 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:45,280 Now there was in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, a pool which an 73 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,160 Aramaic is called. Bethesda and which is? 74 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,720 Surrounded by 5 covered. Colonnades. 75 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:52,760 You think that's weird? There's a. 76 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:54,560 Pool. I mean, I tell. 77 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,800 The story you Afrikaners have got a place called. 78 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:02,440 Varambat and when you're not. Feeling so? 79 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,840 Lacquer or you've been. Busy you go to. 80 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:09,640 Varambat, normally as fat oaks. Go there and then you you sort 81 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,080 of. Walk around the pool and you. 82 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,519 And then there's another place. If Varambat is full, you go to 83 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:17,920 but. Plus. 84 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:23,920 And and and then if you want to don't drive so far, you go to a 85 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:30,520 place called Springs. Springs is closer, and in 86 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:35,040 Springs is another little town called Dacha Fontaine in 87 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:36,800 Springs. And if you don't drive, 88 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,040 therefore you go to Bob Fontaine, the Baptist Fontaine. 89 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,000 And but we've got to get around the water and we sort of like 90 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,000 Goof. Around the water like. 91 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,240 That you see those chicks in bottom butt with their small. 92 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,360 Cozies their big tummies. Couple of sores and and they 93 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,040 sort of they they goof around the pool and they float and they 94 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:59,960 hope that they get better and and you sort of float around the 95 00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:05,160 pool and and you think oh the sulfur the minerals and and you 96 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:06,840 get out and you and you feel better but when. 97 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:08,960 You come back to. Work you don't still feel so 98 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:15,600 like her and then if you really want to go far to to to feel God 99 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,800 in the garden and the flowers you go to bloom Fontaine. 100 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,440 And and there you'll. Feel the water, the flower 101 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,520 fountain. And and you'll feel. 102 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,800 The same. Story doesn't matter what your 103 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,680 problem is, you won't fix it in bottom butt butt plus. 104 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,600 Spring Fontaine, Dacha Fontaine, ASA Fontaine, or Bloom Fontaine. 105 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,520 You'll fix it in Christ. Amen. 106 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:40,920 Amen. You with me? 107 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,600 Where you going on holiday? OK. 108 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:51,440 Still by. It should be a second Pretoria 109 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,640 they'll connect still by. You. 110 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,640 And are still by forest. Dhonikna fleas by. 111 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,080 It's just all about water with the Afrikaans soaks by play an 112 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,520 urban near Chrissy's mirror. But there's a mirror. 113 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,640 A Mirror's nature Piki, Water I. Was by a mirror and Caicos Ali 114 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,360 water down full on. Piki Pieta. 115 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,440 Chris's mirror, but plus sulfur. It's you don't get better there. 116 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,760 Similar story. OK, don't worry. 117 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,200 I'll get letters from you all the time. 118 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,400 Why are you wearing a hat? Why is your hair long? 119 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,200 God bless you. Write me a letter about but 120 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:47,280 plus. Here, a great number of disabled 121 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:54,200 people used to. Lie the blind, the lame, the 122 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:59,320 paralyzed. One who was there. 123 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,600 Had been an invalid for 38 years. 124 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:08,160 Measured hanging around butt glass for 38 years when? 125 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,720 Jesus saw him lying. There and. 126 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:12,480 Learned that he had been in this. 127 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:17,600 Condition for a long time, he asked him, Do you want to get 128 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,960 well? It's a question I'm going to ask 129 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,240 you today. Do you want to get well? 130 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,880 At times like. This we have some people in our 131 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,880 congregation or in wheelchairs and obviously they want to get 132 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,280 well. And people who are sick with 133 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:33,920 cancer, obviously you want to get well. 134 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,760 I'm not drawing attention to people who are in our trust, not 135 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:41,720 in any way unsympathetic to long term. 136 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,200 Illnesses, but this is. A scripture we have to preach. 137 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,120 I've never seen a person come out of a wheelchair. 138 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:56,600 I deeply desire to see that, Sir, the invalid say invalid, 139 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,960 the invalid replied. I have no one to help me into 140 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:05,040 the pool when the. Water is stirred. 141 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:11,160 While I'm trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of 142 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,000 me. He's lost all hope. 143 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,800 Lost all hope I. Can't get there? 144 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:27,640 Then Jesus said to him, Get up. Exclamation mark get up from the 145 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,680 bottom of my heart as a pastor who deeply. 146 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,640 Prays for you and loves you dearly. 147 00:08:33,159 --> 00:08:34,480 The two words I. Would love to. 148 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:39,760 Speak over you today is get up and at the end of the service 149 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:44,200 I'm going to speak and say get up and I'm going to ask you in 150 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,960 faith to get up. From your seat and to leave with 151 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,520 something of the. Mandate of God to walk in the 152 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,680 wholeness that He bought for you at the cross of Christ. 153 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,440 At once the man was cured. He picked up his. 154 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,360 Mats and he walked the day on which this took. 155 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,080 Place was a Sabbath. Did think that was a 156 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,480 coincidence. He had been there for 38 years. 157 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,520 Jesus could have chosen Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 158 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,960 Friday, any time of the year at any time. 159 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,440 But he chose. He waited. 160 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,480 He probably woke up on Monday and thought, I need to do 161 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,960 something. I did on the Sabbath to. 162 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:32,200 Irritate the religious people. To show them that your 163 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,360 well-being is not in the keeping of rules. 164 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,680 But in the encounter. With Christ, so he waited until 165 00:09:38,680 --> 00:09:42,120 the day that will cause the most affected religious society. 166 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,880 Took place and on that. Day by choice, he. 167 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,200 Chose to heal him. And so the Jew said to. 168 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,280 The man who had been. Healed. 169 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,560 It is the Sabbath the law forbids. 170 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:59,480 You to carry your mat. Can you believe it? 171 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:05,320 38 years of freedom and they come back down to a dirty bed. 172 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:07,960 I mean how? Does that happen? 173 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,640 Five very simple things. The first is this. 174 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,480 Where is your hope? Where is your hope? 175 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:19,800 Where's your hope? Because if you read some of 176 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,400 these, some of the accounts, it says the Angel of the Lord 177 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,840 stirred the water. It actually says your Bibles 178 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,800 might say the Angel of the Lord stirred the water. 179 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,880 Now if I think of my God, I think and and and and and in my 180 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,440 mind, I'm sitting in my sand thinking, Can you imagine for 38 181 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:43,000 years lying around the pool and the water stirs and now you're 182 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,120 in a competition with other cripples to get to the water. 183 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,520 And you can imagine the the the Can you imagine what the 184 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,000 different levels of disability? Might be to. 185 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,560 Get to that water and some Bible says the first guy get yields, 186 00:10:56,560 --> 00:11:01,080 the second guy doesn't. So Can you imagine you get there 187 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,080 first, but you get there second, but you crippled but you don't 188 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,440 have it. And so you fall in. 189 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:11,240 What happens to the second guy that pulls 100 meters long, 30 190 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:18,000 meters wide and 40 foot deep. So when you get to the edge and 191 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,800 you're not first, you sink to the bottom. 192 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:26,400 And I think the Angel of the lyrics thought there's no ways 193 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:32,320 not the God I serve, there's no ways that the God I read about 194 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,760 in the Bible, there's no ways the God that I've served for 40 195 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,800 years would ever put cripples. In a competition. 196 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,000 Nobody put English and. Afrikaans in a competition. 197 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,560 Nobody put black. And White in the competition. 198 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:49,120 And yet we find ourselves pushing to get ahead, to get to 199 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:50,760 something, to get the. Prize. 200 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,000 So then, what is the what is the what is the explanation? 201 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,760 How did the world to stir? Who stirred the waters? 202 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,320 Was it the wind that stirred the waters? 203 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,240 Was it a group of people that stirred the waters? 204 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,280 Was it the devil who stirred the waters? 205 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:10,960 Was it God who stirred the waters? 206 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,560 Or was it just the big farce? But I can. 207 00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:22,120 Tell you this, a swimming pool in a five star hotel will not 208 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,840 allow cripples, lame, mute and the degradation of society. 209 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,040 To come and hang around it because that. 210 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:33,480 Pool is for the mummies from Moycliffe and the. 211 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:42,520 Beauties from Boardwalk that was an exclusive pool that had a. 212 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:44,320 Conduit that flowed underneath it. 213 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:49,320 To a pool called the Pagan Pool, where the invalids and the 214 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:54,520 cripples, and the blind and the degraded of society lived. 215 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,120 Like all of us. Before we met Christ. 216 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,720 Because. We don't have access to the top 217 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,680 pool because we all. Want to be. 218 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:04,840 Part of the inner society, but we all end up around this pool. 219 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,640 Hoping that when the. Waters stir. 220 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,120 We can. Dive in so that. 221 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,640 Maybe we might be accepted into the inner. 222 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:16,800 Core of the crowd and underneath this was a conduit and they got 223 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,960 those people to pay rent at the bottom of that swimming pool and 224 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,400 they would pay. Rent for their little. 225 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,520 Spot and the guy who controlled the sluice gates and the guy who 226 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,000 was on the side of the pool would be in cahoots. 227 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,880 And he said at. 8:00 tomorrow morning I'm opening the sluice 228 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,920 gate and as he opened the sluice gates the water would go down, 229 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:39,720 the water would stir. A non sick man would climb in 230 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:47,200 and say I'm healed. And for 38 years, that man stood 231 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,080 at the. Side of that hoax thinking that. 232 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,400 If I get in there they will be healing friends. 233 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:00,400 Where is your hope because. Sometimes for 38 years you place 234 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,960 it in a man or in a marriage. Or or in finances, or in a 235 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,240 business or in a. Scheme or in a. 236 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:14,000 School or in an education or in AI can tell you this every hope. 237 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:18,800 That is not in Christ will not get you into the pool in time. 238 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,600 And we read. Later in John chapter. 239 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,320 Seven, it says within here, say within here, take your belly. 240 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,400 Within here, within here, within here, say within here, within 241 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,640 here will flow rivers of living. Water Friends. 242 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,400 We don't have to. Try and get into the pool. 243 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:44,080 The pool. Is already in US, and as we sit 244 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,760 and wait, we. Realize that we are not. 245 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:48,520 In competition. With one another. 246 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,080 We all. Have the pool. 247 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,240 And when the pool bubbles and me and the pool bubbles. 248 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,640 And Jess and the. Pool Bubbles and Matt and the. 249 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,720 Pool, Bubbles and Thomas, and then Sarah and Laura and my 250 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,560 sister. Belinda and my wife when the 251 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,160 pool bubbles. We start to become a community 252 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,600 of healing. And when we share our gifts, 253 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,280 what you did to me for me today, Matt, it's one of the most 254 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,240 honouring things that's ever done. 255 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,480 For me in in 40 years to. Bring my son up is one of the 256 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,840 most honouring things. And so the pool is inside of you 257 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:19,720 and you're taking my son. The pool is and now we're 258 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:21,800 sitting together and people are saying what does it mean for a 259 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:23,520 father and a son? To work together does. 260 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,960 That make sense friends, you don't have to try. 261 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,240 And get your crippledness to the. 262 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,800 Pool. The pool is already inside of 263 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,360 you. Does that make sense? 264 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,480 The second question I want to ask is who are your people? 265 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,800 Who are your people? You know when. 266 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,080 You hang around invalids. And cripples and blind people 267 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,200 for too long. You start thinking like a 268 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,040 cripple and an invalid and a blind. 269 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:08,200 Person, and I'm not talking. Physically I'm talking mentally, 270 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,200 I'm talking politically, I'm talking spiritually, I'm talking 271 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,400 emotionally, I'm talking sexually. 272 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:16,560 This is what? It says in Acts chapter 6. 273 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:20,920 In those days when the. Number of disciples. 274 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,600 Increasing the Grecian Jews among them complained against 275 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,800 their brave Jews because their widows were being overlooked in 276 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,760 the daily distribution of food. This is a growing church. 277 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,320 We've got some clearing weakness, so the 12. 278 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:33,560 Gathered all the disciples together. 279 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,760 And said it would not be right for us to neglect the ministry 280 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,960 of the Word of God in order to wait on tables. 281 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:40,880 Brothers Choose. Seven men from among. 282 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:41,720 You who are. Known to be. 283 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,640 Full of. The Spirit and Wisdom. 284 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,200 We will turn this. Responsibility over to them and 285 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,400 we'll give our attention to prayer in the ministry of the of 286 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,200 the Word. This proposal pleased. 287 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,000 The whole group, they chose Stephen, a man full of. 288 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,200 Faith and of the. Holy Spirit you can take. 289 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,840 Take it off. There's there's a complaint 290 00:16:57,840 --> 00:16:59,880 taking place. There's a group of. 291 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:03,600 People that are complaining, you know how they fixed it? 292 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,720 They put somebody at their table that was full. 293 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:11,119 Of the Spirit, full of hope, full of faith, full of wisdom, 294 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,960 you. Cannot hang around with negative 295 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,359 people because. You're going to go. 296 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:18,520 Down. And you're going to. 297 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:24,680 Cripple yourself and it's the. Problem with Alcoholics 298 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,880 Anonymous? Alcoholics Anonymous? 299 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:27,960 I know they do. Unbelievable. 300 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,880 Work and I know some. Of you are part of it, but the 301 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,200 problem with Alcoholics Anonymous is you hang around 302 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:33,760 other people. Who've got alcohol problems? 303 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,440 You need to hang around people. That don't have alcohol problems 304 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:41,720 and the problem. With fatherlessness. 305 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,440 Is that they're all. You know the gangs we see on the 306 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,720 street, friends? Those gangs exist in the church 307 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,640 because there's more chance you've got a surviving on the 308 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,040 ship because they don't have fathers. 309 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,520 And so they form these little gangs and those gangs start 310 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:58,600 smashing car windows at robots. But the gang starts just because 311 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,560 they don't have fathers. And so they form a gang because 312 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:01,960 there's more chance of surviving. 313 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:05,040 And so we form these gangs within our communities Rotary 314 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,480 Club, hoping that we can survive together. 315 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,080 You cannot have dinner with. Unless there is a. 316 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,960 Man or woman of faith present. Otherwise, you will allow the 317 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,880 brokenness of your life to dictate. 318 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:22,040 The conversation. And Jesus had to come into that 319 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,360 guy and say, hey, do you want to get? 320 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:27,000 It's 38 years. I've led and I've spoken next to 321 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,880 my neighbor for 38 years and he's got a problem with his leg. 322 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,320 And my other neighbor's got a problem with their eyes. 323 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,280 And this lady's got a problem with this. 324 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:35,960 And it's just like you just talk. 325 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:41,440 Yourself into a hole. Let me ask you this, who's your 326 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,000 people? Who's your people? 327 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,600 This is what it says in one. Corinthians 15 do not be misled 328 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:54,840 bad company corrupts good character and if you hang. 329 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,280 Around with the wrong. People for too long it deeply 330 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,640 effects you, and I believe the people we hang around effects 331 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,880 our inheritance and our future. I. 332 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,800 Want to hang around people that speak into my life, that speak 333 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:12,040 into my future? Are you with me, friends? 334 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,280 And when you're in trouble, you should run to the church, and 335 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,440 you should hear at least. Somebody here preaching against? 336 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,200 The spirit of this? Age which is a. 337 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,080 Negative. Divisive. 338 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,160 Do not say another word about our government. 339 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,480 Until you have spent 1000 days. Praying for them like. 340 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,000 The Bible says spend 1000 days. Paying for I'm opposing. 341 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,560 Spend 1000 days praying for him before you criticize them again. 342 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,400 Get before because the Bible says we must pray for those in. 343 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,320 Authority. Not criticize them. 344 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:46,440 Pray for them. Pray. 345 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,760 For them, bless him. Trust God for them. 346 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:54,360 Amen. Who are your people? 347 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,840 Who are your people? #3. 348 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:05,560 Do you want to get well? Do you want to get well? 349 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,160 I was reminded. Of a story. 350 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,760 When I preached this last time in the tent, maybe 7 or 8 years 351 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:15,560 ago, I preached. This chapter of Scripture. 352 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,960 I was busy preaching and I don't, I don't think I get 353 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,960 crossed often in the pulpit, but I just stopped because I've been 354 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,360 driving along husband and road and and Solomon Mcclungu and 355 00:20:26,360 --> 00:20:28,600 there was a man there who had elephant. 356 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,720 Titus. Which was a very Soylent foot. 357 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,760 His foot used to come up like this and his toes were on the 358 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,440 top. He was a very disabled. 359 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,400 Man, and I remember. Preaching the Scripture and I 360 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,520 said I wish, I wish the orthopaedic surgeons in this 361 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:46,280 church would just say, God here on my hands, I give them to you, 362 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,800 Lord God to serve the city. And I was a little bit agitated 363 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:56,200 and I finished the service and the people were talking. 364 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,520 And there was a very. Handsome man and a beautiful 365 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,960 wife. Sitting in a chair, I could see 366 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:05,120 a very distinguished man and I said hi, my name is Rory. 367 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:07,160 He told me his name and I said can I help you Sir? 368 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:13,160 He said I'm an orthopaedic surgeon and he said I. 369 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:20,160 Would like to give my hands to. God, it was one of my holy 370 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:21,680 moments. It's one of the moments that 371 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:26,320 defines my time. At 3 CI he then went to that. 372 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:27,960 Man on the side of the road and he said. 373 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,320 Do you want to get well? And the man said. 374 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:35,120 No, I. Don't, because my money comes 375 00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:37,960 from my begging and this is what draws. 376 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:44,720 Attention to my plight. And so the question I ask you 377 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,440 today, friends, is do you want to get well? 378 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,800 You know I have, I have a. Issue in my brain I get 379 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,360 headaches and I realized. This I have a real. 380 00:21:56,360 --> 00:22:00,120 Issue a medical issue? But what the devil does is he? 381 00:22:00,120 --> 00:22:02,600 Jumps onto that issue, so you have a sickness. 382 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,960 And you have what I call. The spirit of infirmity. 383 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:11,680 It's when the devil distorts the sickness and and what happens. 384 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,840 If you have a long term illness. You don't just have your. 385 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:15,680 Illness. You have this. 386 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,760 Thing called the. Spirit of infirmity. 387 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:20,280 And it does. Two things it. 388 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:25,520 Sets the temperature of every conversation and it becomes the 389 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,680 centerpiece. It draws an enormous amount of 390 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,600 attention. And so if you don't have a dad. 391 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,000 It sets the temperature and it draws attention. 392 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,000 Let me ask you this. Are you ill? 393 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:39,560 Do you have a? Disability. 394 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,440 Are there parts of your life that need healing? 395 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:43,560 Yes, they are. Do you want to get well? 396 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:47,280 If you do, you must remember this. 397 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,760 You are no longer going to be the center of attention, you're 398 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,680 not going to be allowed to beg, and you cannot control the 399 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:58,040 conversation. Amen. 400 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:02,840 Let's just put those 4. Areas up relation you want to 401 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:06,720 get well relationally a lot of relational cripples. 402 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,080 Lots. Been friends with them for 58 403 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:18,680 years. The reason we exist is not just 404 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,840 for the good times. We've had a couple of bad times. 405 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:25,120 We're business partners. The times we sit and make 406 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:28,920 business decisions, I'm strong. So I override and so phone me, 407 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,640 say hey ro, I don't think that was right. 408 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:36,040 Sorry sis, OK, but I repent. I receive it. 409 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:41,920 Relationship stays intact. You're prepared to do that. 410 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,840 You want to get well from your relationships. 411 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,560 I've gotten 2 airplanes this week to fix relationships. 412 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,920 Not mine, other people's. The only way you can fix the 413 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:55,360 relationship is by humbling yourself. 414 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,800 Do you want to get well or do you want that to be the 415 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:03,120 defining, crippling, invalid status of your life while you go 416 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:05,600 around and poison everybody about somebody else? 417 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:12,240 Or do you want to get well and emotional? 418 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:18,280 We have this thing now called micro bullying. 419 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,120 I want to tell you micro bullying will be here till the 420 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:26,800 end of the time because men and women want to control each 421 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,080 other. So you're going to have to 422 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:34,080 decide to put your faith in Christ or to be a victim of 423 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:38,480 micro bullying for the rest of your life, or to actually get 424 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,320 healed and say Christ is enough. And if they tell me I'm dumb, 425 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:47,880 I'm stupid, I'm an idiot, I don't do my work in time, I'm 426 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,560 fat, I'm thin, I'm too thin, I'm too fat, I'm too loud, I'm too. 427 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:54,960 Then I've got to go back to the scripture and say Jesus walked 428 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,400 into my life and he said you're my son and that's enough. 429 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,640 And whatever the micro bully or the macro bully says, my 430 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,360 emotions will stay intact because what God says is says 431 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:07,200 with a big. S overrides the. 432 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,240 Little S the Spirit overrides the spirit. 433 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:11,520 But let me ask you this question. 434 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:13,960 Do you want to get well because life's not fair? 435 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:18,600 Life's not fair, or you're going to sit at the side of the pool 436 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,680 having negative conversations with the others while you're 437 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,240 waiting for some bubbling brook bottom butt to rise up so that 438 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,120 you can miraculously just get healed. 439 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:42,480 Amen. Financial financial cripples. 440 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:48,080 I've realized this. You can heal people financially 441 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:52,320 by giving them money, but when that money's finished, they're 442 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,440 broken again. You give them more money and 443 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,280 they break again. Unless you teach them how to 444 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,640 participate in God's financial platen, which is different to 445 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:03,280 the world's pattern of buying and selling. 446 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,000 It's a pattern of sowing and reaping, and unless they take 447 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:06,800 that. Money you give them. 448 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,000 And put a little bit into the ground, they'll never reap A 449 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,960 crop. And SO2 Corinthians chapter 8 450 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,280 says he was rich. But for our sake, he. 451 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:18,320 Became poor so that you might be rich. 452 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:21,120 On the cross there was an exchange. 453 00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:23,400 Between poverty and riches, I don't believe everybody should 454 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:24,440 be rich. I don't believe the New 455 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:26,520 Testament talks about prosperity. 456 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:27,880 I don't think pastors should be rich. 457 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:33,480 Some can be if God blesses them, but rich is not the issue. 458 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,960 The issue is the ability to have a job to get out of poverty. 459 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:38,760 To supply for your. Family. 460 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,840 But if you don't participate in God's ways, you'll continue to 461 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,040 be a cripple, looking for handouts, standing at the side 462 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,440 of the pool, waiting for the waters to move. 463 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:55,120 Amen, You say? Rory, What? 464 00:26:55,120 --> 00:26:56,760 OK. Last point, the two points. 465 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:58,560 Is it? Rules. 466 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,760 Or is it relational? Is it rules or relationships? 467 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:09,760 Every Sunday I walk in here with a cup of coffee and every single 468 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:11,400 Sunday somebody at the door says to me. 469 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:18,320 You can't take coffee into the auditorium, I say. 470 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,000 That's. Exactly the reason. 471 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:27,120 I'm taking it in, you say. What should you say? 472 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:29,240 I can see some of you looking at me thinking I'm going to write 473 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,600 you a letter about your hair, your hat and your bottom butt 474 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:36,160 and now you can include my coffee. 475 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,360 I can see some of your face and get what I do on purpose. 476 00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:43,680 I worship with my coffee like this while I'm irritating people 477 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,400 to the core. I think it's not right. 478 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:48,960 I know it's not right. It's wrong. 479 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,320 I know it's wrong. It's not a good example. 480 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,000 I know it's. Not a good example. 481 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:55,880 But I do it anyway just to. Irritate you? 482 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,000 Why? Good morning, Rory. 483 00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:03,960 Good morning. How are you? 484 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:05,560 I'm fine. How's your week? 485 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,120 It's awesome. Hey, Rory. 486 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,360 You know coffee? Yeah, we don't. 487 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:11,520 Like it in the. Auditorium. 488 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:13,320 Why? Because we're trying to. 489 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,200 Create a space. That's not dirty. 490 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:17,840 So that. People are not affected by a bad 491 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,200 environment so that they can. Have access to a redemptive God 492 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:22,720 who can possibly heal them. Oh. 493 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:26,760 Is that the reason? Or or if you can take coffee 494 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:28,240 then I can. Also take coffee. 495 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,320 Oh, so we're going to both? Be rule Breakers. 496 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:40,000 Now that's a stupid example, but the reality is we are more 497 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,680 interested in the rule than we are in the relationship and 498 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:46,200 Jesus. Healed him on the Sabbath 499 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,200 because he said. Are you more interested? 500 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,320 In the oak carrying. His mat or you more interested 501 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:57,400 in the fact that he's healed? Guys, we do this because of 502 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:00,400 people. We do this because of people. 503 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:08,520 Be gracious with each other. Be gracious with each other and 504 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:23,670 close your eyes. When Jesus saw him lying there 505 00:29:25,870 --> 00:29:29,390 and learned that he had been in this condition physical, 506 00:29:29,390 --> 00:29:38,350 emotional, sexual, relational, financial for a long time, he 507 00:29:38,470 --> 00:29:45,480 asked him, Do you want to get well, Sir? 508 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:50,400 The invalid replied, I have no one to help me into the pool 509 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:58,400 When the water is stirred while I'm trying to get in, someone 510 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:04,080 else goes down ahead of me. Then Jesus said to him, Get up, 511 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:10,320 pick up your mat and walk at once. 512 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:15,640 The man was cured. He picked up his mat and he 513 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:17,480 walked with your eyes. Closed. 514 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,320 If you want Jesus to start a healing process in your life 515 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,480 today, sexual, emotional, relational, financial, I want to 516 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:30,920 say to you, get up your mat, pick up your mat, get up, pick 517 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:39,960 up your mat and walk, walk. Out. 518 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:51,850 Get in your car and drive home. Can I have someone on the piano? 519 00:30:56,570 --> 00:31:01,450 Today's the end. Today's the end of the emotional 520 00:31:01,450 --> 00:31:03,210 crippleness. Today's the end of the sexual 521 00:31:03,210 --> 00:31:04,650 crippleness. Today's the End. 522 00:31:06,730 --> 00:31:10,370 Because the. Bubbling Brook, the butt glass 523 00:31:10,370 --> 00:31:12,650 of Christ, the Vorum butt of Jesus. 524 00:31:13,490 --> 00:31:15,890 It's going to be unlocked deep inside of your heart. 525 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:27,400 Don't stay for coffee. Maybe you don't even want to get 526 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:28,640 in your car. Just go and walk around the 527 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:33,040 property. I say to you, get up, take your 528 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:33,800 mats and walk.