Participants: John Lomacang, John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL100011
00:01 Hello friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:03 and sit back as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this addition of "House Calls." 00:22 Welcome to another edition of House Calls, 00:25 exciting program we have in store for you today. 00:26 We are so glad that you decided to join us. 00:28 My name is, Pastor John Stanton, 00:30 and with me in the studio is, Pastor C.A. Murray. 00:33 Pastor Murray, great to have you here again. 00:34 Good to be here, I don't get to do this quite enough 00:36 as I would like to, but it's always get to share 00:39 the living room dare I say with you. 00:42 There we go and its always a blessing to have you here, 00:44 I will say that, because it really I mean it, 00:46 it's been a joy any time you have had a chance 00:49 to do this program here with me so. 00:51 Fine, thank you. Yeah. 00:53 We have a program that is just a single program on, 00:57 well, we've titled it "Lessons in Faith." 01:00 And I think that you will learn something from this, 01:03 I certainly did as I dived into the story in God's word. 01:08 Before I was doing it, as I was creating a sermon actually. 01:12 And it just, it jumped out at me so much in my own life, 01:15 you know, those are sermons that God's puts together 01:17 for you that really mean more to the preacher 01:19 than it does to those been preached to. 01:21 This is one of those and so I just thought 01:23 I would pull this together 01:24 and kind of share some things with you all. 01:26 But thank you for joining with us today. 01:28 Here we want to make sure that we start off 01:30 by going to the Lord in prayer. 01:32 So would you lead us? 01:33 I'll be glad to do so. 01:34 Gracious Father, again we come to you 01:36 with thankful hearts with grateful hearts, 01:39 so much to be thankful for including the top of the list 01:44 is the death of Your Son, in Him we live, move, 01:48 have our being and we thankful, 01:49 we're thankful for an opportunity to join hands 01:53 with you at the greatest work ever given 01:55 to the frail hand of men and women 01:56 and that is sharing the love of Christ with the dying world. 02:00 And so today, we ask that Your spirit 02:02 would again surround us and fill us 02:04 as we seek only to lift up Jesus 02:07 and let Him be seen of men and women. 02:09 Securing the knowledge that Christ is coming soon 02:12 and that we must be prepared for that grand 02:14 and awful day and we thank you in Jesus name, amen. 02:18 Amen, and as we depend upon on this program. 02:23 We depend upon our listeners 02:25 and our viewers to sending questions. 02:27 We're gonna cover some of those questions today. 02:29 They are good ones as usual 02:30 and we just want to invite you to continue to send those 02:33 in either by regular mail to 3ABN at House Calls 02:38 or care of House Calls or you can send it to 02:42 House Calls directly by email, 02:44 it's housecalls@3abn.org housecalls@3abn.org 02:49 send your emails, your questions in by e-mail. 02:52 We will make sure, we do our best to get to those 02:55 as we're doing here today, a couple, 02:57 a few questions that are very good. 03:00 We try to group them into subjects 03:02 that I think more people are asking. 03:05 There are some ones out there that are really lengthy 03:08 and then it will cover a lot of topic 03:09 or topic that we can really go into 03:13 and cover on the program specially when a lot people 03:16 really gonna asking that question, 03:17 but we have some that we have repeated questions on, 03:20 we like to get to those. 03:23 Pastor Murray, you want to go ahead and start this off. 03:24 Okay, I've got a question from Linda, 03:31 and it says, hello, the subject of no marriages or birth 03:37 will be in the time of the thousand years with Christ. 03:41 I'm wondering if there will be marriages or births 03:44 in the new earth. 03:45 Thank you so very much for answering and God bless. 03:48 Well, let's go pastor to Matthew 22 verse 30. 03:56 There are many, many statements about, 03:58 about have any knowledge the Bible does say, 04:01 Eye has not seen, ear nor heard, 04:03 neither has entered into the heart of man, 04:05 what God has, the things that God has prepared. 04:07 So God hasn't given us verse by verse by verse by verse-- 04:12 an outline of what's going to happen. 04:13 But we have some very broad brush strokes. 04:15 What are the things we know and we have to trust them 04:17 that is going to be better than what we have here. 04:20 Whatever you, whatever we got, 04:21 it's going to be far superior to that, 04:24 they are not going to get old and slow down. 04:27 But as pertains marriage and these kinds of things 04:32 verse 30 of Chapter 22 Book of Matthew 04:35 "For in the resurrection they neither marry 04:38 nor are given in marriage, 04:40 but I like the angels of God in heaven." 04:44 So it, let us know that this marrying 04:49 and divorce and those kind of things 04:53 not going to happen anymore, praise the Lord. 04:57 And we're gonna be like the angels as it were, 04:59 you know, there is going to be a higher order 05:01 of it says, if I had to say. 05:05 Trust in God, that whatever is best will be there. 05:12 You know, we can get so hung up on the things 05:15 that we know and see here on planet earth. 05:18 But what are very best pales in comparison 05:21 to what's gonna be there in heaven, 05:23 plus the Bible says no good thing will God, 05:25 will God withhold from them that fear Him. 05:28 And if that is true about this earth, 05:30 then it's certainly must be true about heaven. 05:33 We're gonna get heaven's very, very best 05:35 and be able to enjoy that throughout all eternity, yeah. 05:39 You know, and it's not like 05:41 there will not be marriage per say, 05:45 because this question often comes from someone 05:48 who really has a desire to have a family. 05:51 And maybe with a husband 05:54 or with a wife be able to have children, 05:56 and raise those children. Yeah. 05:59 Obviously if there was never ending birth of children 06:02 and generation after generation, 06:04 then you get to a point we're living forever 06:05 that this earth can hold everybody anymore, 06:07 but so that's a common sense answer. 06:11 But I think that as far as marriage is concerned, 06:13 obviously the marriages we have now will continue to exist, 06:17 because God is a God of oneness 06:20 and He is--the marriage relationship is blessed by Him 06:23 and that's--he won't just eradicate that. 06:25 So, you know, that's one answer I would have, 06:29 obviously Jesus is our husbandman as well. 06:32 So for each person they actually 06:33 are married to their Savior. 06:35 And let me tell you if, I mean, you may be living 06:38 on this earth for eternity, 06:40 but this isn't the only place you're gonna be, 06:42 you're gonna be spending a lot of time doing a lot of things 06:44 to serve the Lord and in ministering to others 06:47 and it is going to be a blessing I think. 06:50 Sometimes we can really get confined 06:52 into thinking about one aspect 06:53 and missing that potentially in the kingdom to come, 06:57 but whatever God has, I like the way you've said it, 06:59 is going to more than make up for anything 07:02 that we have now in here. 07:04 Yeah, this term marrying, given marriage is usually 07:08 used as I'm running it through my mind pejoratively 07:12 as sort of a worldly pursuit of marrying, 07:15 breaking down marriage, marry somebody else break it down, 07:18 I say, break it on divorce, 07:20 you know, it sort of running in and out of relationships. 07:23 We know that will not exist in heaven this running, 07:26 you know, I get tired, I'd go to somebody else 07:28 is running in our relationships will not exist. 07:31 So in that context, it will not exist, 07:32 there will be stable relationships, 07:35 eternal relationships in heaven, 07:37 but this jumping back and forth and that kind of thing 07:38 and I'm tired or I've seen somebody else better over here 07:42 kind of thing that will not be in heaven. 07:45 Yeah, and praise the Lord. Praise the Lord indeed. 07:49 Here is the question from Ivona. 07:52 And she says here, she has been watching some videos 07:57 and things and in House Calls from, 08:02 it looks like YouTube actually there is some stuff 08:04 that we put up there on YouTube. 08:06 And she says, here on one of the programs, 08:08 a point was made about the second coming of Jesus. 08:10 I don't fully understand it, 08:12 but I'd be glad if you can enlarge on that point. 08:14 As the Bible said, the second coming of Jesus, 08:16 at that time there will be two groups, 08:19 those who belong to God 08:20 and those who don't belong to God. 08:23 And she says, the truth is in the Bible 08:26 it seems--it says that there are some 08:29 who pretend to know Jesus, 08:31 but Jesus rejects them when He returns. 08:34 And so is it possible really for people 08:36 to pretend to know Jesus and use His name 08:38 and do all these things and does God listen to them 08:41 when they're doing those things, 08:42 anyway there's just a general questions 08:44 here about the second coming of what the Lord will find 08:47 when he returns to the earth. 08:49 Of course there is all that text that we've read 08:51 several times that when the Lord comes again, 08:53 will He really find, or will He find faith on the earth. 08:56 Yes. That's really what He is looking for, 08:58 those who believe in Him. 09:00 But there are other aspects of faith 09:01 that are so important for us to realize 09:04 and that is, you know, faith as far as 09:07 relationship is concerned, knowing the Lord 09:10 and that word knowing in the Bible is very intimate word, 09:14 it's a oneness, it's a coming together to really know 09:17 and to have a relationship with 09:19 and, you know, I've always said that if, 09:21 you know, I married Rochelle, 09:23 and we exchanged vows and we were pronounced married 09:28 and we went away from that wedding 09:30 and I said hey, we'll see you tomorrow 09:32 and I jumped in my car and went to my house 09:34 and she went to hers and I called her the next day 09:36 and said hey, you want to get together? 09:38 It just wouldn't quite work. No. 09:39 And I don't think she would accept it nor would I. 09:42 But, you know, marriage as well as 09:47 us being married to God to Jesus, our Savior, 09:51 has everything to do with a deep intimate relationship. 09:56 And so when Jesus pronounces 09:59 and this is found in Matthew Chapter 7. 10:01 When Jesus pronounces upon those 10:03 who are doing all these things in Jesus name, 10:08 He pronounces a judgment on them he says this, 10:11 let me just read it here 10:13 "Many will say to Me in that day" 10:15 from verse 22 of Matthew 7 "Lord, Lord, 10:18 have we not prophesied in Your name, 10:19 cast out demons in Your name, 10:21 and done many wonders in Your name?' 10:23 And then I will declare to them, Jesus says 10:25 'I never knew you, depart from Me, 10:28 you who practice lawlessness!" 10:30 So they are many in the world today 10:33 that are taking God's name. Yes. 10:36 Upon their lips, upon their mind, 10:38 upon everything they do, 10:40 but they don't really know Jesus. 10:43 And that is a problem. Yes. 10:45 Because the works that they are doing, 10:48 they and others are seeing the results, 10:52 so things are happening. 10:54 But it's not Jesus, who is doing them. 10:56 Yes, yes, yeah. And this is one of the huge 11:00 issues that Jesus had with the people 11:02 during His first advent. He says, 11:04 you people seek a sign, you want me to do miracles, 11:07 you want me to prove that I'm God through these things 11:09 that I do and that's not what I'm about. 11:13 And Jesus again when He comes back the second time, 11:15 you know, who is going to be doing the miracles? 11:18 Although Jesus will be doing some miracles. 11:20 But the one who does them for show 11:22 is going to be the enemy Satan himself 11:25 claiming to be Christ himself. True. 11:27 And so that's why, it is so important to know God 11:31 as far as the relationship and just let Him take care of. 11:35 The experience we have in salvation 11:37 and saving us on that day that He comes to take us home. 11:42 Very, very powerful and very, very important and 11:45 very, very necessary. There is so much counterfeit 11:48 so much around today that can sort of lead us off track. 11:52 We need to make sure that we're focus and centered. 11:54 Yeah, you know, there are some just some scriptures here 11:56 with regard to the second coming. 11:58 Why we call it the second coming in John 14:1-3, 12:02 He promised his disciples "I will come again." 12:04 Again, yes. That means another time, 12:06 a second time, because that was His first. 12:09 Hebrews 9:28 talks about Him coming a second time, okay. 12:15 First Thessalonians 4:15 to 17 is description 12:18 of that event of Christ coming that second time. 12:22 Also several references in the Bible 12:24 talking about the day of the Lord 12:27 or the day of Christ all referring to the second coming 12:32 and so there is definitely not only scriptural support, 12:36 but there is-its clear, 12:38 clearly in the Bible it support that Jesus 12:42 literally will come in a visible way. 12:44 In a audible way and to the point where the world 12:49 all of us at one time will see Him 12:51 coming in the clouds of glory. 12:53 Amen, amen. Yeah, He is coming in very public, 12:56 left very public, coming back very, very public. 12:58 Now slipping in one night under the shadow of darkness. 13:01 That's right. Well, In fact when He comes 13:03 there will be no darkness, it will all be light. 13:05 I sense some concern here I think, you know, am I, 13:10 if I'm serving God in the way that I don't really know Him 13:13 and all of sudden I'm surprise when He gets here 13:16 that I don't know. I don't believe 13:19 there is going to be a real surprise. 13:21 I think the evidence here in Matthew 7 13:24 even when they talk about, you know, 13:26 we've done all these things in your name, 13:28 how could you not take us home with you. 13:30 I don't really think they're surprised, 13:32 I think they're just trying to talk Him into it. 13:34 And so there is something about our relationship with Jesus 13:40 that when we are in that relationship we know it, 13:43 and that the evidence is, there is a spiritual inside 13:48 that we all have when we are not 13:50 in a right relationship with Christ. True. 13:52 So that He lets us know that 13:53 we need to open our hearts more to Him. 13:56 So I don't think anybody is gonna be surprised. 13:58 Ooh, what you mean, I didn't know You. 14:00 I think He lets us know those things ahead of time. 14:03 Yeah, and I think all of the ways 14:06 that the Holy Spirit pleads with us and tracks us down 14:09 and gives us opportunities. 14:12 I think people know when they're rejecting 14:14 and you may not know every individual case, 14:17 but if there is this consistent turning way from Lord, 14:19 you know, the bent of your life, you know, 14:22 so then if you are not among the redeemed, 14:26 well, I don't think its gonna be a total 180 degree surprise. 14:30 I agree with you that there is going to be, 14:32 because God provides for us so many opportunities 14:34 to get right with Him. 14:36 He introduces Himself to us in so many ways 14:38 and introduction can be a river car crash where your car 14:42 was mangled and you got up and walked away. 14:44 You know, those kinds of things, 14:46 and I think when we look back over our lives. 14:50 The things we're going to see is the multiplicity of ways, 14:54 that God try to insert Himself into our life 14:58 flows our experience and for those who are not, 15:01 who are not finally saved, how we've rejected those 15:04 and we shall remember, He said, 15:05 no I'm doing this, I don't want to do that. 15:07 Right, right. So I guess the end 15:09 to whole conclusion of the, the moral of that story 15:12 is to make sure that you are 15:13 in that relationship with Christ. 15:14 You are letting Him lead in. Yes. 15:16 And you are being, you are following 15:17 what He reveals to you through the spirit in the word of God. 15:22 Thank you for that question. 15:24 I have a question, and it's a rather lengthy one, 15:29 the answer won't be, won't be quite as long. 15:33 She says let me first say, I love this program, 15:35 I watch it whenever possible. 15:38 Though right now, I have very heavy burden 15:40 that I can't seem to get lifted. 15:43 I have been married for three years to the most loving 15:45 caring, wonderful husband and father 15:49 that anyone will pray for. 15:51 The position is that I've never been 15:54 physically attracted nor do I love him. 15:57 I've experienced those feelings in the past 16:00 and in past relationships where actually I find myself 16:02 attracted to someone that I work with right now. 16:07 This is in fact the second time during my three year marriage 16:10 that I have, I've had those feelings for other men. 16:13 I'm talking about butterflies in my stomach, 16:16 heart racings, skipping upbeat, 16:18 when I hear this man's voice or see his face. 16:21 It drives me crazy that I can't feel 16:23 those things for my own husband. 16:25 In fact every little thing he does irritates me 16:29 and I'm constantly shouting at him 16:31 or criticizing him and I hate that. 16:35 My husband knows how I feel 16:37 and we both have shared quite a few tears over this. 16:40 I just don't know what to do? 16:42 Why do I find myself attracted to other men 16:46 and not my spouse? I have prayed about this 16:48 for number of years even sort prayer 16:51 from 3ABN prayer warriors, so far nothing has happened. 16:55 We have a four-month-old son 16:56 which complicates matters further. 16:59 I wish I could just disappear. 17:01 I've already had an affair two years ago 17:05 and have fantasized about being with other men also. 17:10 I honestly feel, I'm at my wits end? 17:14 And there is some other things don't know where to turn, 17:18 she says maybe Christians and I supposed to feel passion 17:21 and desire for the spouses. 17:22 I'm just so depressed about this in the back of mind, 17:26 I'm hoping my husband will take the courage and leave, 17:29 so I don't feel so guilty. 17:31 So, we've got pretty complicated kind of deal here. 17:35 A number of things, obviously Satan is at work 17:40 and I need to tell our writer, 17:45 our viewer what I said this 17:48 once to our friend who was in the same situation. 17:52 And I told them, in fact they were actually getting ready 17:55 to consummate an affair. 17:57 They had made a date to meet at certain hotel. 18:00 And I told her, there is no corner of heaven 18:03 that co-signs what you're doing? 18:06 Once you have given your vows to your spouse 18:10 in the presence of God, 18:13 that's what you've signed on for, 18:16 I use that terminology. 18:18 The fact that Satan plans thoughts in your mind 18:22 and that you entertain those thoughts is not licensed 18:26 for following through on those thoughts. 18:29 Yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah, you know, 18:31 where I'm going, I'm in Second Corinthians 10 18:34 and I'm gonna pick it up at verse 4, 18:37 because we are dealing with some super natural 18:41 kinds of things that are going on here too. 18:42 You know, devil is playing games with our mind. 18:46 So we're in verse 4, Second Corinthians 10 18:50 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 18:53 but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 18:57 casting down arguments and every high things 19:00 that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, 19:02 bringing every thought into captivity 19:05 to the obedience of Christ." 19:11 What I think she is dealing with John is 19:14 an attack of the enemy that is, 19:19 I'm gonna use the term playing games with her mind. 19:22 But again, because Satan plans a thought, 19:25 it doesn't mean we have to entertain that thought. 19:30 We have to replace it with another thought. 19:35 I found that fighting against the devil is not the way to go. 19:43 Surrender to Christ is how you fight. 19:46 You let Christ to fight. 19:48 What our dear viewer needs to do is surrender 19:54 her life for thought, life her imagination to Jesus. 19:59 Rather than trying to not think about other guys. 20:04 Focus on a loving relationship with Christ. 20:07 See the one thing if she said, my husband beats me, 20:10 my husband is mean to me, my husband is a, is a rat. 20:15 She says, "I've been married to the most loving, 20:18 caring, wonderful husband and father 20:21 that any woman could pray for." So, she has a got a good man. 20:27 Trust God and even ask God for love for her husband, 20:31 because these, these other things are demonic insertions 20:36 into her life that are gonna destroy not only this marriage, 20:41 but any hope that she would have for a future marriage 20:44 if she doesn't deal with this. 20:46 And that's what I was going to say, 20:47 even this guy that she is looking at down the road, 20:52 if she gets rid of her first husband. Yeah. 20:54 And goes with this new guy, they're going to be, 20:57 there's going to be a time where the haaa, 20:59 the heartbeat and the palpitations 21:02 and all the things that go with, 21:04 you know, an intense feeling goes away. 21:08 And she is now going to--she would then 21:10 face the same issue she is facing today. 21:13 Pricisely. And if--if you're always chasing an emotion, 21:18 if you're always chasing a feeling, 21:19 if you're always chasing for that experience, 21:22 you know of intimacy in a whether 21:25 even with the sexual perspective too, 21:28 it is going to in marriage you're going to face with 21:33 what is normal everyday life. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 21:37 And learning that before you ruin the one 21:39 you're in is really key. 21:41 And I think the text you read is really good. 21:44 This is a stronghold. It is, yeah. 21:47 The devil has a stronghold right now. 21:49 He knows this area is strong. We all have them. 21:52 I mean, you know we're talking about this one specifically, 21:55 but all of us had those areas in our life 21:58 that the devil knows we struggle with the most. 22:00 And he works it and he works it and he works it 22:03 and he is working it with her for all he has got, 22:07 and she is continuing to go and succumb to that. 22:11 Yes. And there is God, 22:12 the only way that she can break that 22:14 stronghold is to cry out to God. 22:17 Give these thoughts to Him and say, "Lord, 22:19 I know You can break down the stronghold, 22:21 I can't do it, I'm not going 22:22 where I need to go in these thoughts. 22:24 I'm giving it to You, please take these things away, 22:27 and cleanse me from them." And the Lord will do it. 22:30 Yeah, see the stronghold is developing an appetite 22:33 for what you don't have. 22:35 And when, I think your point is very important 22:38 when you get the next one, 22:40 you're still gonna want somebody else, 22:41 because that's a stronghold, 22:42 its dissatisfaction where you're. 22:45 Before you get married, 22:47 your goal is to get what you want. Right. 22:49 You see something, you get what you want. 22:51 Once you get married your goal is to want what you got. 22:55 You know, and that it's important 22:59 that you make that shift. Yeah. 23:01 Because you, you've got what you want, 23:04 now you got a want what you got. 23:06 And you said, he is a good man. 23:08 If he, if he is indeed a good man then concentrate 23:12 on being a good wife and disabuse yourself 23:15 of those other fantasies. 23:16 Don't allow your mind to ruminate over 23:19 even when a thought comes in, take it captive, 23:21 get rid of it, and don't, don't spend time there 23:25 because a thought presupposes an action. That's right. 23:29 An action becomes a habit, a habit becomes a lifestyle. 23:33 So, you're moving into an area that you certainly 23:37 don't want to go in because there is no, 23:38 there is no end to it. Cut if off now while you can, 23:41 stay with the man who God has given you 23:44 and who you've said is a good man, 23:46 and bring your thoughts into captivity 23:48 and don't follow through on any of those thoughts. 23:51 James, Chapter 1, Verse 14, each one is tempted 23:55 when he's drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 23:59 Then when desire is conceive and I would say, 24:02 it's already conceived here, it gives birth to sin. 24:06 Now, here is where you don't want to go 24:07 and sin when it is full grown brings forth death. 24:11 At some point in your life you've got to make the decision 24:13 that you want Jesus more than you want these other men. 24:17 You want Jesus more than you want the sin 24:20 and that has to be a deterrent. 24:23 Because if, if having Jesus and having eternal life 24:26 is not a deterrent for what you've here, 24:28 that's temporary, I don't know what is. 24:30 Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll always be dissatisfied, 24:33 if you can't find satisfaction in Christ. 24:35 Precisely, and the canvass upon which 24:38 this is being played is bigger than just your home 24:41 or just your husband and your wife. 24:43 There is alienation of relationship with Jesus Christ. 24:47 You know, you can't be in Christ and have these things. 24:50 So now since the spirit is not in charge of life, 24:53 Satan is, and he will take you anywhere 24:55 he wants and take you, you've no buttress, 24:58 no bulwark, no defense against him, 25:00 because you surrender that relationship with Christ 25:03 for the one of something which is illicit, 25:06 which you should not have. 25:08 So, you're really putting yourself on very, 25:10 very shaky ground and playing with your eternal salvation. 25:14 It's more than just this husband, 25:15 or even this child, or even your life, 25:18 we're talking about your, 25:19 your future not only in this life, 25:22 but in the world to come with Jesus Christ. 25:24 You don't want to jeopardize those things over an illusion 25:27 that Satan is putting before your eyes. 25:29 That's right, that's right. 25:30 Good points, good points, good counsel. 25:32 Alright, the last question real quick here, 25:34 it is a short one. Do you know, 25:37 that dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible?" 25:40 Is this manifested in Job or any other books? 25:44 You know, there are couple of words in the Bible, 25:46 in the book of Job's specifically 25:49 that some have scribed to dinosaurs. 25:52 One is Leviathan. Leviathan sure. 25:54 The other one is Behemoth. Those two some had us, 25:58 you know believed at least that they may be 26:01 talking about dinosaurs there. 26:03 Leviathan seemed to be more serpent like, 26:05 because it talks about, you know, 26:06 he's even the ability to go into water and other things. 26:09 Behemoth, it is a bigger description, 26:11 a longer description of Behemoth, 26:12 that really seems to be, to me least what I would 26:15 typically think of as a dinosaur. 26:18 And so if you would like any further description of that 26:20 how the Bible speaks of dinosaurs, 26:22 I believe it's probably very accurate. 26:25 Look up, how it describes Behemoth 26:26 in Job Chapter 40 verses 15 to 24. 26:29 I'll just mention the text 26:30 and they can go take a look at it there. 26:32 But it looks to be that, that is probably 26:35 where it most closely resembles dinosaur, 26:39 of course, the word dinosaur did not exist back then so, 26:42 it's a modern term that we use to describe those animals so. 26:45 Thank you very much for your questions. 26:46 We appreciate how you send those in 26:49 faithfully from week to week. 26:50 We want you to encourage you to continue 26:52 to send those into House Calls at 3abn.org. 26:55 that's housecalls@3abn.org. Thank you and continuing send, 27:00 continue sending in those good questions, 27:01 we appreciate that. Amen. 27:03 The topic today, "A lesson in Faith." 27:08 It is one story that has varying perspectives, aspects, 27:14 emotion, all kinds of things gonna wrapped up in it. 27:18 And it is found in Luke Chapter 8, 27:22 if you turn with us there, if you've your Bibles 27:24 and I hope you've your Bibles. 27:26 If you're sitting in front of House Calls 27:28 without your Bible can be very challenging, 27:30 because that's what we do a lot of searching 27:32 through is our Bibles. So if you go to Luke Chapter 8, 27:36 we're gonna see a story of a man named Jairus. 27:40 J-A-I-R-U-S, and all we know really 27:44 about him is that he is a leader of 27:48 one of the authority figures in the synagogue. 27:53 And here we have, it describes him very little except as such 27:59 but it does describe his situation, 28:02 which is very dire here and we're going to pick up 28:05 the story in Luke 8 starting with Verse 41. 28:09 And it says "There a man, 28:12 and behold there came a man named Jairus, 28:16 and he was a ruler of synagogue and he fell down 28:19 at Jesus feet and begged him to come to his house. 28:23 For he had only one daughter about 12 years of age 28:28 and she was dying, 28:30 but as he went the multitudes thronged him. 28:34 "Now, as we talk, as we look at this story 28:38 and the different things that happened along this road 28:40 to his daughter being healed by Christ. 28:44 You know, I want to do it in a certain way, pastor. 28:47 I want to think, I want to read ourselves into the story. 28:51 Okay. I want you to put yourself in the story, 28:54 put yourself in Jairus' shoes, because you're gonna see 28:57 some things here that I think can apply to your own life 29:00 at least I found that in applying to my life 29:02 and my walk, my personal walk of faith with Jesus, 29:05 and I learned so much from that. 29:07 And so the first thing is I ask you to do that, 29:10 the first thing I want you to do is imagine. 29:13 you're a leader, you're looked up to, 29:16 people look at you as may be someone the stable, 29:20 not only in the family, but in the synagogue, 29:22 and here now you're anxious. 29:25 You're at wits end, your daughter is dying, 29:27 you don't know what to do, but you've heard of Jesus. 29:30 Yes. And how many of us find ourselves in those situations 29:35 where you know what life to us has been fairly common, 29:37 fairly simple, but all of a sudden something happens. 29:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, 29:44 I always look at how the Bible introduces the character 29:47 and it brings him on as a ruler. 29:50 So, this is someone who is accustomed 29:52 to having people defer to him a little bit. 29:57 When I need something, I get it done. 29:59 I'm accustomed to having people around me 30:02 who facilitate my needs. 30:04 Now, I'm in need and it's not something 30:09 I can snap my finger and get done. 30:12 Also the doctors have dealt with this already 30:14 or he has just gone to doctor and gotten it fixed, 30:16 so this is beyond something that, 30:18 that perhaps even the physicians can deal with, 30:20 so I'm constrained now to go to the one person 30:24 who can help me and, of course, that is Jesus. 30:28 But, I can even get single treatment from Him, 30:32 because there is all kinds of people around. 30:34 And my ruler ship status doesn't help me here, 30:36 because those people and-- so I've got to sort of get 30:39 in line with everybody else. Yeah. 30:41 And wait my turn, so he is frustrated, 30:43 you know, there's anxiety and stress here 30:46 because he has got a burden, 30:47 he is used to getting it done quickly 30:49 and now he has got a wait on getting his burden done, 30:51 but that's the way Jesus is, 30:52 you know sometimes He make you wait. 30:54 And he has got to be kicking himself a little bit too, 30:56 because he could have come to Jesus before. 30:58 He is waited, He has put that off 31:00 and how often I put these things off in my own life. 31:02 You know, in trying to solve the problem, 31:04 you figure all the way to do it. 31:05 All of a sudden the thought comes. Yeah. 31:07 Why I haven't, why I haven't gone to Jesus yet? 31:09 Yeah. Why I haven't prayed to Him? 31:12 And I'm even as a pastor, I can get so caught up quickly 31:15 in the situation that I forget to go to Jesus first. 31:19 And so here this man, you know he sees, 31:21 He is thronged, he sees this multitude around Jesus' knees, 31:24 he has got to be kicking himself, 31:25 because I could have found Him yesterday 31:27 or maybe a day before, a little earlier if He can really help, 31:30 He could have helped even easier, 31:31 more easier at least little easier 31:33 than without all the multitudes and he is coming up 31:36 trying to get Jesus' attention and what happens. 31:41 Finally is this multitude is thronged, is around him. 31:44 But verse 43 says, 31:47 "That a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, 31:51 who had spent all her livelihood on physicians 31:53 and could not be healed by any, 31:55 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. 32:00 And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 32:03 And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" 32:06 When all denied it, Peter and those who are with him said, 32:09 "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, 32:11 and You say, 'Who touched Me? 32:13 But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, 32:15 for I perceived power going out from Me. 32:18 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, 32:21 she came trembling and falling down before Him, 32:23 she declared to Him in the presence of all the people 32:26 the reason she had touched Him 32:27 and how she was healed immediately. 32:29 And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer 32:32 your faith has made you well. Go in peace." 32:36 Now, I'm not inserting myself in the woman shoes, 32:39 because we're talking about Jairus here. 32:43 But this has to be a little, a little anxious. 32:46 He has got still be a little more anxious now 32:48 because He is stopping to take time with this woman. 32:52 Now culturally, the woman gets the last of everything, right. 32:57 Very true. Not only are the multitudes thronging Him 32:59 and there are people who want things from him, 33:01 there is this woman, come on she has been bleeding 33:03 for how many years my daughter is dying 33:05 and He is stopping to help her. 33:06 Yeah, yeah, His miracle is interrupted, 33:08 because the Bible does say, Christ turned to go with him. 33:12 Yes. As they're going so he gets little, 33:15 hey, He is coming, He is coming, 33:16 all of sudden the brakes are put on 33:18 and here comes this woman out of nowhere 33:20 and Christ stops to not only heal, 33:23 but turn it into a kind of a testimony meeting. 33:25 You know this is, this soften the road, 33:28 meanwhile, while we're concentrating 33:30 and praising God for this woman being healed. 33:31 This guys has got a daughter that's back home 33:34 very, very ill and Christ is asking questions 33:37 and getting stuff from His disciples, 33:39 and who touched Me and Master everybody is around You, 33:42 what do you mean, who touched You. 33:43 There is this long run off conversation and Jairus is back, 33:46 I can see him just sort of you know tapping his foot, 33:49 like okay, remember me, do, go along with a kid, 33:52 I got this child here. 33:54 We need to get on down the road, but Christ stops him 33:57 and Jairus' is king of put on hold for just a moment 33:59 while Christ takes up care of something else. 34:01 And then the neat thing here is, Jairus is put on hold, 34:04 but I think Jesus has a reason for it. 34:06 I do too, yes. 34:08 There's a reason why Jairus has to sit here 34:10 and wait and watch because it seems to be 34:12 that all the things that the woman needed Jairus needs. 34:16 True. Everything that the woman needed about her life 34:20 that had been going on for years, 12 years. 34:25 His daughter needs in an instant. Yeah. 34:27 And he is now seeing what the power is that comes 34:31 from this Jesus that he is trying to get to his home. 34:34 And what's interesting, John, we don't see 34:36 any great faith statement from Jairus. 34:39 I think he knows, he is in the presence 34:40 of someone who can help, 34:42 but there is no great statement of faith. 34:44 We don't have any great statement. 34:46 We know, we are dealing with a ruler 34:48 and someone who is used to getting things done, 34:51 but there is no great surrender statement 34:53 or statement of faith. 34:55 But Jairus now has to stand and witness what true faith is, 34:58 because this woman was all faith. 35:00 Right. You know, see if I can touch, 35:02 I'll be healed, and of course, Christ commends that great faith 35:05 so Jairus is forced to watch 35:07 what a real grasp or touch of faith he is in. 35:11 I'm sure that Jairus, who started with Jesus 35:14 and the Jairus post this woman, is a different guy, 35:17 because he is seeing something 35:18 very, very powerful with his own eyes. 35:20 And that is, that is so key 35:22 because as I think about my own life even, 35:25 how many times does having to wait. 35:28 Instead of destroy my faith, build my faith. 35:31 You know, initially we would think having to wait 35:34 would just tear us down. Yeah. 35:36 But it's not that way with God. 35:38 When we wait, our faith we tend to dig in 35:42 and that's why when Revelation talks about 35:44 the faith of Jesus, it's Him giving us, 35:48 inserting His faith in the place of our weakness, 35:51 as we wait and building us to the point 35:53 where we can receive something by faith, 35:56 where before we didn't have a faith to receive it. 35:58 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 35:59 I think the fact that he witnessed this 36:02 in for tune it faith in and there are some indications, 36:05 a folk kind of knew this woman situation, 36:09 as she is slipping through the crowd 36:10 and then Christ stops them to see, 36:12 sort of part, that sea of people sort of part. 36:16 Jairus has an opportunity to really reflect on faith 36:21 and the answer to faith and the response of faith, 36:24 all in the context that hey, if this is anybody else, 36:28 I had this done hours ago. Right. 36:30 But now I've got to wait here 36:31 and just put my trust in Jesus that when He gets around to it, 36:36 first my daughter will still be alive 36:38 and that she will be healed, 36:40 and that things are going to be all right. 36:41 So his faith, what little faith he may have 36:43 is really being tested now, 36:45 because he dos not get an immediate response. 36:47 Right. Yeah. 36:49 Now, someone else is looking on here too, 36:51 and that's the enemy. Yes. 36:53 And he sees that Jairus is needing that faith 36:58 and Jesus is beginning to give it to him. 37:01 And so right when that happens 37:03 and Jairus is seeing the possibilities here 37:05 and his faith is being strengthen, even though 37:07 he is having to wait, he is little anxious still. 37:09 We see something happen here 37:12 and we get back to the story of Jairus in Verse 49, 37:15 "While He was still speaking" that's Jesus. Yes. 37:18 "someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, 37:21 saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. 37:24 Do not trouble the Teacher." Yeah. 37:28 So, right when you need that faith the most 37:31 and we're holding on, but is going little longer 37:34 than its supposed to, the enemy steps 37:35 and then says Jesus isn't gonna respond. 37:38 Don't bother Him, it's going to work. 37:40 Think of the rains, the constellation of emotions, 37:44 the fact that this woman is touches 37:46 and is immediately healed and Christ makes, 37:48 let's say a big deal about this. 37:51 His faith must have said, ha, ha, He can do this, 37:54 He can do this, this is gonna happen. 37:55 And just as you say, just as things 37:57 are beginning to percolate in his system, 37:59 someone comes with the bad news, 38:01 don't bother Him, well, she is dead. 38:03 From the mountain top right down 38:06 to the depths of the valley. 38:07 Yeah, yeah, Christ had let us stay 38:09 there too long, praise God. 38:12 In fact, Jesus comes to the rescue, 38:14 because He knows what the enemy is trying to do 38:16 through this bad report. Verse 50, when Jesus heard it. 38:20 Now as Jesus is paying attention to Jairus, 38:22 He is knowing what his experience is 38:26 and He is hearing this report given to Jairus, 38:28 it's not given to Jesus, but he overhears it and he says, 38:32 "Do not be afraid Jairus, only belief 38:36 and she will be made well. Yeah. 38:38 So He is focused on this woman, 38:40 but he hadn't forgot about Jairus. 38:42 You know, Jairus may be thinking what this is, 38:44 God totally focused on this little lady, 38:47 I had got a situation here, and that's say something that 38:49 that there is enough Jesus in heaven 38:52 to deal with John Stanton and C.A. Murray. 38:55 You know, and everybody else that comes on to Him. 38:58 With our now problem. Yes, precisely. 39:00 He can fully give you His attention 39:03 and fully give me His attention, 39:05 that's the kind of God we serve. 39:06 Wow, wow. And it goes on, 39:08 I mean, this story just continues, 39:10 there is so much depth to it. 39:12 Jesus continues on now to walk with Jairus, 39:14 even though I'm sure Jairus is little bit discouraged. 39:16 She is already dead. He knows that now. 39:19 And it says that "When he came into the house, 39:23 this is Jesus, He permitted no one to go in except 39:26 Peter, James, and John and the father 39:29 and the mother of the girl. 39:31 Now all the people wept and mourned for her, 39:34 but he said do not weep, she is not dead, but sleeping, 39:38 and they ridiculed him knowing that she was dead. 39:43 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand 39:46 and called saying, "Little girl arise." 39:49 Now before we get to that actual resurrection, 39:52 we're seeing some insight here into Jairus' home. 39:55 And I think, He made the statement before 39:58 that He didn't make a big statement of faith. 40:01 This isn't a man that has a lot of faith in Jesus. 40:05 And his house is showing it, because they're mourning, 40:09 it's over, write the books, close them up, 40:13 she is dead, nothing is going to bring her back. 40:16 They are wailing, there seems to be 40:17 no faith in God of any type. 40:20 And it's probably that just the experience of their home. 40:23 And there is no record of him saying, wait Jesus is here. 40:27 You know, He is sort of just goes 40:28 along with everything that's going on. 40:30 So you're dealing with the person 40:32 who if He has any faith is very, very small 40:35 and yet He is a ruler in a synagogue. 40:37 This is someone that, that people look up to, 40:40 someone who is incharge of the service, 40:42 but we get some insight 40:44 into what's going on in his own heart, 40:45 the emptiness in his own life. 40:47 And this of course is a test now 40:50 that will either make him or break him, right. 40:53 As far as his own faith is concerned. 40:55 We had a question earlier. 40:57 You remember about those who did things in his name 41:00 but Jesus says, I depart from me, I never knew you. 41:04 I think this experience with Jesus, 41:05 he is getting to know Jesus. 41:08 And his family does not know Jesus. 41:12 Nor did he know him before he got to Jesus. 41:15 And so what we're seeing here as he is getting to know Jesus 41:17 and the response of the family is very indicative 41:23 of maybe those who proclaim God's name in the last days. 41:28 But don't really have an experience, 41:31 or deep knowledge, 41:32 or intimate relationship with God, yeah, yeah, yeah. 41:34 And their faith is nothing for them. 41:36 I mean these folks are Jews, they're Jewish. 41:40 They know about God they've been taught by God, 41:41 they've been taught in a synagogues, in the schools. 41:44 They know that what God is capable of, 41:47 they read those stories, yet there is no practice of it. 41:49 Precisely and I think its interesting Jesus has 41:52 and could have healed 41:53 in the presence of all that negativity. 41:55 He chose not to, you know, He put them all outside. 41:59 I don't want to be surrounded by all of this unbelief. 42:03 He chose not to, in this particular instance. 42:05 There were times when He healed 42:06 in the presence of unbelievers. 42:08 Folk who weren't quite convinced? 42:10 But He chose not to in this particular time. 42:11 He took a small group Peter, James John, 42:14 who all have issues themselves, that's right. 42:17 And mother and father went in 42:19 and close the door, yeah, just that group. 42:21 and it doesn't say much about mother. 42:24 But mom needs this experience too. 42:26 I think so, yes. 42:28 And it doesn't surprise us, 42:29 because husband and wife are one. 42:30 And Jesus wants that experience for both of them. 42:34 But He comes into the room, it says here 42:36 and He says to the little girl "Arise." 42:39 And in verse 55 it says, "With spirit return 42:42 and she arose immediately." 42:44 There was no hesitation. 42:46 And He commanded that she be given something to eat 42:49 and her parents were astonished, 42:51 still they're still not in a faith to get them to say-- 42:55 Oh, I knew that would happen. 42:58 They were still shocked this is amazing they think. 43:03 And He, but He charged them 43:04 to tell no one what had happened. 43:07 But this, before we get to that, 43:09 the astonishment part here shouldn't, 43:12 it should surprise us that they were astonished, 43:14 because what had Jairus just experienced with the woman. 43:17 Right, yeah, yeah, he just. 43:19 I mean, He didn't reach out to the woman, 43:20 the woman reached out to Him and she was healed. 43:24 And you would think that he will be saying, 43:26 wow, okay, yeah, I expected something like that. 43:30 It shows how sometimes you can be so steeped in tradition 43:33 and so steeped in your own history, 43:36 that the evidences of the love of Christ 43:39 don't quite compute right at the second you know. 43:42 And I'm sure down the road, I'd certainly pray 43:45 because we don't get a long term view of this story 43:48 that seeing that child grow up 43:50 and fellowshipping with her and watching her. 43:53 Every time she laughed or giggle, 43:55 you have to be taken back to the Christ raise, 43:58 because even though the parents are told, 44:01 don't tell anybody, do you think 44:02 the story leaked out, I believe so. 44:04 Because you had a large who may, 44:07 who knew she was dead, 44:08 but same people who ridiculed Him, 44:09 when He says you're sleeping, they knew. 44:11 And I'm sure they were the first one to publish 44:13 this story that this young girl 44:16 that was dead was raised by Jesus Christ. 44:19 The other part of the astonishment 44:20 also could be tied to the fact 44:23 that he is the ruler of the synagogue 44:24 and he knew what were people saying about Jesus. 44:27 See so he, he has heard the stories of this false teacher 44:32 as far as they're concerned 44:33 and he doesn't think it's possible, 44:36 but he was so desperate that he went to Him any way. 44:39 Yeah desperation, I suppose send you a long way 44:43 when you need something 44:44 you can't get it at any place else, 44:45 you go to the one person who can give it to you. 44:48 And so, you know, he is astonished 44:49 at just you know what happened 44:51 and I'm sure was capable of bearing testimony. 44:54 But Jesus says, don't tell anyone 44:58 and I grapple with that one. 45:00 Yeah, so do I, yeah, yeah. 45:02 Why not tell everyone, Yeah. 45:05 And it stuck me that it's possible 45:08 and in not, you know in this case it would be 45:10 different than every situation it's little different. 45:12 But it's possible that this family 45:14 was not ready to witness for Christ yet. 45:16 It could very well be. 45:17 And just similar to even the disciples, 45:20 they had to go and wait in the upper room 45:23 for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them, 45:25 to give them that ability to witness before they witnessed, 45:28 that something similar was happening here, 45:30 that Jesus was saying, you know what, 45:32 right now you might do more harm than you will good. 45:37 Keep this to yourself and He knew that over time 45:40 of course that their strength would be all they need 45:42 have that right witness but Sometimes I do think 45:46 that we run ahead of God, in our witness, yeah. 45:49 And you know I can think to in my past I was very, 45:55 when I was young, very dogmatic about my faith. 45:59 I mean, I knew I was right, you're wrong. 46:02 There is no offensive, that's about it, 46:03 let me tell you about what I know 46:05 and if you don't accept it, so what. 46:08 And that kind of dogmatism really turn people off. 46:11 Oh, yes, very much so, I see that now. 46:14 Fortunately, it didn't last very long. 46:15 In the way it humbled me. 46:17 But you know here it is this ruler of the synagogue 46:20 and He could have entered into a lot of debates 46:22 and disputes with the other rulers who were there, 46:24 who were denouncing Christ. 46:26 The time for him to witness just wasn't there. 46:31 And Jesus was saying wait. 46:34 Yeah, we have this sort of parenthetical 46:38 insertion He appears 46:40 He is a ruler of the ethnic synagogue, 46:42 Christ does a marvelou work in his life. 46:45 But we don't get any statement 46:47 of overwhelming transforming faith. 46:50 We don't see he and his whole household believe. 46:53 We don't see where he became one of most 46:56 vocal advocates for the kingdom of Christ. 46:58 We don't, we just have 46:59 this wonderful little miracle story 47:03 of the fellow who is the leader, 47:05 who Christ does an extraordinary kindness for. 47:10 And he is shocked and astonished, 47:13 but there is no response listed 47:16 of a great move of faith 47:18 in response to this healing, its not there. 47:20 The woman caught in adulatory, 47:23 much more dramatic experience, 47:26 that's where you got this two stories sort of 47:28 right up against each other. 47:30 One a dramatic faith experience one a resurrection 47:36 an incredible act of mercy by Jesus Christ. 47:41 But there is no great response, 47:43 just we're astonished 47:45 and we sort of press on with their lives. 47:47 Its interesting how those two stories 47:49 are kind of just goes one with the other. 47:50 Yeah and its God ordained. 47:53 He designed that these would go together, 47:55 because one helped the other, yes. 47:58 And sometimes we need help. 47:59 Why do we have testimony time? 48:01 Why do, why is it good that the people of God say so? 48:05 When God does good for them, 48:06 it's because it helps others along in their walk of faith 48:10 to see that Jesus does work this way. 48:12 Amen. not only for others, 48:14 but he can work that way for me. 48:16 And as we start to think about this, 48:19 you know, we're gonna be closing this program out. 48:20 What are some of the things that we can 48:22 learn from this story about our own life? 48:24 And each one of you who are 48:26 watching or listening to this program, 48:28 I'm sure have your own experiences of faith 48:32 and I think one of the first things I took 48:34 from this story is that Jesus has me on a road. 48:40 I'm on a program and He knows where I am at, 48:44 He has given me a measure of faith, 48:45 but that faith I'm sure it started out is very weak. 48:50 And over time He has worked, He has been patient. 48:53 He has been very kind and He has given to me things 48:55 I do not deserve as this man did not deserve, yeah. 48:59 To have this incredible miracle, right. 49:02 But Jesus in His mercy, in His love, His great love 49:08 knew that by showing this love to Jairus and his wife 49:14 and the daughter that He would gain a soul. 49:19 you know, John started me too, 49:21 John, is that Christ responds to our need, not our goodness. 49:27 The only thing that really commends us 49:29 to Him is our great need. 49:33 There is nothing to say that Jairus was a great follower, 49:38 or great believer, or even a great practitioner. 49:41 He is just a ruler, He is in charge, but we don't know 49:44 how that played out in his everyday life. 49:46 So he doesn't have a pedigree to commend him to Christ. 49:50 All he has got is this need. 49:52 He has got a daughter 49:53 who is sick at the point of death. 49:56 Nobody can help her and that's the deck he has, 49:59 that's what he has been dealt with. 50:01 And so he brings that to Jesus 50:02 and that's enough to get Jesus say, 50:04 I'm coming to your house right now. 50:06 You know, so when I go to Jesus, 50:07 I don't have to be flowery, I don't have to be important. 50:11 None of that impresses Christ, all I got is this need. 50:14 And that's what He wants and a little tiny bit of faith, 50:18 just a little bit of faith. 50:20 And I take that to Him and He honors that faith. 50:24 And He says I'll go to your house 50:26 and I'll take care of the situation. 50:28 And I think time and time again we see that is, 50:30 that is Jesus at work, yeah, yeah. 50:32 Because my faith isn't always strong, 50:38 sometimes it's very strong, but it's strong 50:40 because of what Jesus has done 50:42 in that program of strengthening my faith. 50:45 Yeah. Until that day 50:46 that He finishes it finally. 50:48 But here I think what He wanted the way He, 50:51 the reason He was able to work is because of faith first. 50:55 But first of all like you said need, 50:58 Jairus came to Him. 51:01 And how many times does the devil use this tactic of, 51:07 you are not good enough to go to Jesus. 51:09 Oh yes, yeah. 51:11 You better clean yourself up first, yeah. 51:14 You know, you better, you better get good. 51:17 You know you get rid of the smoking 51:19 and the drinking and you get rid of this 51:21 and that in your life 51:22 and then maybe Jesus will listen to you. 51:23 A trick of the enemy. 51:25 And I'm sure that Jairus had some of that thought, 51:28 that if I go to Jesus, 51:29 here I'm a ruler of the synagogue. 51:31 All my friends can't stand Him. 51:33 What is He going to think of me? yeah. 51:34 He might tell me get lost. 51:37 And that is I'm sure it dealt with some of the enemy 51:40 or the enemy I'm sure He does. 51:42 He uses in some of our lives or situations 51:44 that he will try very hard 51:47 to get you not to go to Jesus with your need. 51:51 And so what I learned from this story 51:52 and what maybe I'm hoping you will learn 51:54 from this story is that you need to go to Jesus 51:56 with that need regardless of what the enemy is telling you. 51:59 Regardless of how you think, 52:01 how you feel, Jesus will work 52:03 because you go to Him with your need 52:05 Amen, amen, and I'm so glad that the Bible says that, 52:09 "He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." 52:12 You know with just a little hope, a little flicker. 52:16 He is not going to cast out when you get there, 52:17 you'll find open arms waiting for you. 52:19 And that's encouraging, 52:20 because all of us have different needs 52:23 and all of us have different places where we are. 52:25 But we know, if we can get to Jesus, 52:27 if we can turn to Jesus, 52:28 we're gonna find a welcome voice 52:31 and help for our problem. 52:33 You know, as a preacher you try 52:35 and decide or you think more 52:39 about what's going on around the story. 52:41 You know, we talked about Jairus. 52:42 Little about Jesus, 52:44 You know what He is doing in this whole thing, 52:45 we talked a little bit about the woman. 52:47 Of course, she was a woman of faith. 52:50 And that had brought her to that point 52:52 where she could be healed by the touch of His garment. 52:54 But there are others involved here, 52:56 I mean there is a multitude, there's the disciples. 53:01 What are the disciples learning from all this? 53:03 Yeah, yeah, you know and in those three, 53:06 in particular who were such strong personalities you know. 53:11 Yeah the strong as described as the strongest personality. 53:14 Yes yeah the bunch. 53:15 Though they have particular three, 53:16 and he takes them in with Him. 53:19 There're so many levels 53:20 you got the people at Jairus household. 53:22 You got the person that came with a message real 53:24 and they don't bother teacher. 53:25 Who called them teacher by the way. 53:26 Not savior, not healer just 53:28 don't bother a teacher daughter is dead. 53:31 So there're many levels of people 53:32 who're being impacted by the gospel 53:34 and the power of Jesus Christ in this story. 53:36 Yeah and then the incredible thing here is 53:41 I think I don't know exactly 53:42 how many times I never counted. 53:44 But where they were four times or three or four times 53:47 that he resurrected someone back to life. 53:50 We know there's Lazarus, where's this girl. 53:54 There was the son of the woman 53:55 that was in that procession. 53:59 Of course, Jesus Himself 54:00 but I'm thinking of who Jesus resurrected. 54:02 So this did not happen often, no. 54:05 Which lends to why you know he was astonished. 54:09 Imagine what the people who're veiling will think it about. 54:12 Now here it is his daughter. 54:14 Oh she is dead and the daughter 54:15 comes running out to play up to she is, yeah. 54:19 I mean you got to be kidding me. 54:21 And they knew she was dead have been, 54:23 they were certain because the ridicule factor, 54:26 we know that they knew that she was dead. 54:29 And now she up playing around 54:31 and all of the that give her something to eat, you know. 54:34 You know what there's a lesson here life resumes. 54:36 Yes, yes, life then goes on. 54:39 It's not like the lord teaches us in life's experiences. 54:43 He doesn't set us over on this platform 54:45 and gives us some book knowledge 54:46 and then test us and all those things 54:48 and then says okay well done you are ready. 54:49 Yeah, but we in life He teaches us 54:52 in life's lessons and we go back to life. 54:55 Yeah, and it just, it happens. 54:57 and Christ prepares you through His blesses 54:59 and miracles for service in this life. 55:02 He doesn't say lets build three Tabernacles here. 55:04 Let's erect a statue to this miracle. 55:06 Give him some need and lets press on. 55:07 You know, very, very mundane 55:11 sort of circumstances that follow in the way. 55:13 Yet a great miracle was done, 55:15 and I'm sure and I pray not knowing 55:18 the Osborne in that Jairus and his wife and his family 55:21 and his household were never the same after that. 55:23 Even though we get no further enlightment 55:26 after their life after that, 55:28 when Christ comes in and He does a miracle, 55:30 that magnitude things have to change. 55:33 Yeah, now later on we know that, 55:35 and I mention Lazarus was raised from the dead. 55:38 That was another public resurrection, very public. 55:41 In fact, I've-- of all the miracles 55:45 that was probably the one that sealed Jesus death. 55:50 At least in the minds of-- Yes, yes, yes, yes. 55:52 the leaders and Jairus being one of the leaders 55:56 of the synagogue, I'm sure 55:58 when that story surface that came to Him 56:00 whether he was there or not. 56:02 I mention that maybe he wasn't there. 56:04 But when his friend said, you know what Jesus did now. 56:07 You are right after four days Jairus is thinking, 56:11 well, he waited to get to my daughter. 56:14 After four days Jesus calls Lazarus to come forth 56:19 and he lives again, yeah. 56:22 And Jairus is thinking there, oh he did with my daughter. 56:25 So the faith I think you've mention that 56:28 they were never the same, 56:29 but their faith probably strengthened. 56:31 As they continued to hear the stories about Jesus 56:34 which is one of the reasons why on House Calls, 56:36 we spent time studying the word of God. 56:40 From week to week and hope to impart some of that faith. 56:44 Nor we will implant the seed, because it already there, 56:47 I guess not plant the seed is probably 56:49 even the word water that seed a little bit 56:51 But to strengthen you in your walk 56:53 with Christ to know that not only does He love you, 56:56 He cares for you, He has got a plan 56:59 for your life to build and strengthen that faith, 57:01 but there is some incredible things 57:02 that you can't even comprehend 57:04 that He has in store for your life. 57:06 That verse about, eye has seen, 57:07 no ear has heard, no one has even 57:09 entered in the heart what God has prepared for us. 57:12 That there is no context it indicates 57:14 that they are talking about heaven. 57:16 That is talking about what He has planned for your life. 57:18 Yes, yes, yes, for your life 57:20 God has a plan you cannot even comprehend 57:23 and it is definitely in growing 57:25 and sustaining your faith. 57:26 So my prayer is that this story 57:27 has encouraged you in your faith today 57:30 and with your walk with Jesus would be 57:31 all that much stronger, because of that faith 57:34 and His love for you, See you next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17