Participants: Sherwin Jack
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR001039
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01:00 If you truly believe that God is love let me hear you say Amen
01:04 Ahhh let's try it again. Do you really believe that God is love? 01:08 Let me hear you say Praise the Lord 01:10 Praise the Lord! 01:12 Oh I know that you believe God is love 01:14 This entire book is telling us the story about how much 01:18 God loves you and me, Amen. 01:21 And this morning we can rejoice in knowing that God is love 01:24 that we are loved and that God has saved us to serve others 01:30 and in the process of serving we are sharing the love of God 01:34 and the plan that He has for each and every one of us. 01:38 Bow your heads with me this morning 01:40 as we open the Word of God that God will speak to us. 01:44 Eternal Father we thank You this morning for the blessings 01:49 of this Your Holy Sabbath Day. We thank you for the song 01:54 of praise that reminds us that truly God is love. 01:59 And Father this morning we pray for these 02:02 who are worshipping with us, the church family, the friends 02:05 who have come to worship with us today, we ask for them 02:08 a special blessing that they will see and hear and experience 02:13 that precious love that has been given to us in Your Son 02:18 and our Savior Jesus Christ, and Father we pray that as we hear 02:22 Your Word we will not be hearers only but doers of the Word 02:26 Father it is to this end we pray in Jesus' name, Amen. 02:31 Over the last several years I've come to have a particular burden 02:39 as it relates to us, the people of God. 02:42 I have been to schools for evangelism, I have preached 02:48 around the world but I've finally come to realize that the 02:52 greatest evangelists are not those of us who've been trained 02:56 and those of us who are in full time ministry and those of us 03:00 who have the credentials and degrees and all of that. 03:03 The greatest evangelists are YOU the people of God. 03:08 Because God has saved you for one purpose. That is to glorify 03:14 Jesus Christ through worshipping Him and through service 03:18 for your fellow man. I like the theme that we have 03:22 Saved to what everybody? Saved for, saved for service. Amen. 03:30 I've often said we've not been saved to sit but saved to serve. 03:34 That God has called us out of the world to send us back 03:39 into the world with the glorious message of the soon coming 03:43 of His son and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 03:46 And so today, I want to focus the message today 03:49 on a very simple theme and the topic is Tell Your Story. 03:53 I've been sharing that theme with the workshops 03:56 we've been doing yesterday and then again tomorrow 04:00 Tell Your Story. Go with me to Mark, chapter 5. 04:07 The Gospel of Mark, chapter 5. 04:10 It is a message I like to share because it embodies the 04:16 heart of what it means to tell your story, 04:21 how important it is. Mark chapter 5. 04:25 If we look at the context of Mark 5 what we discover is that 04:32 Jesus made a very perilous journey across the sea 04:36 of Galilee. And we know in the process of this journey 04:41 Jesus encountered a terrible storm. 04:44 Well in the midst of the storm Jesus was asleep. 04:47 And I'm just amazed that the disciples being that they were 04:51 fishermen no doubt they had been through many storms before 04:55 and this storm started off probably just another storm but 04:59 soon they realized that there was more to this storm 05:03 than they had encountered before. 05:06 They probably tried all that they knew how to do 05:09 and yet the Bible says, the boat was filling up. 05:12 And somebody remembered that Jesus was on board. 05:15 And they cried out to Him Master don't you care we are perishing? 05:20 And the Bible tells us that Jesus arose and calmed the storm 05:24 And the Bible says they were astonished that even the winds 05:29 and the waves obeyed His voice. As I survey the Bible 05:33 here is what I discovered. The winds obey His voice 05:36 the waves obey His voice, the ravens obey His voice 05:40 the only part of God's creation that God has difficulty 05:45 with is you and me. Those who are made in the image of God. 05:49 We seem to have a problem listening to and obeying 05:53 the Word of God. The Bible tells us the Jesus came on land 05:58 and He encountered another storm in the person of the demoniac. 06:04 You know every time I study these men a little laughter 06:08 comes into my soul and into my spirit because these men 06:11 were isolated and relegated to living among the tombs. 06:16 The living dead among the physical dead. 06:20 I imagine that their names had long been taken off 06:24 of those who need visitation from the church. 06:26 But the Bible says that these men recognized who Jesus was 06:32 and the story goes on that Jesus then healed the men 06:37 cast out the demons and then as we read the Bible 06:40 the Bible tells us here in verse 19 of Mark chapter 5 06:47 'Howbeit Jesus suffered him not but said unto him, 06:52 go home to thy friends and tell how great things the Lord 06:57 hath done for thee.' In other words Jesus was telling this man 07:01 go home and tell your story. No one can tell your story 07:07 about what Christ has done in your life and what Jesus means 07:11 to you except you. You are the author of your story. 07:16 And someone needs to know what Jesus Christ has done 07:21 in your life. The Bible tells us that then Jesus in verse 21 07:26 And Jesus passed over again by ship unto the other side 07:30 much people gathered unto Him and He was nigh unto the sea. 07:35 And behold there came one of the rulers of the synagogue 07:41 Jairus by name and when he saw Him he fell at His feet. 07:46 I know we've read this passage many times before. 07:50 But somehow the impact of this scene seems to have faded 07:56 from our minds. Jairus was of the elite class of those 08:02 religious leaders of the day. The Bible said he was a ruler. 08:05 And by its very nature the mission and ministry of Christ 08:11 was in opposition to what the established religious leaders 08:15 of the day believed it ought to be. The Bible tell us that 08:20 Jairus had a problem. Jairus had an issue. And he besought Him 08:26 greatly, verse 23 Mark chapter 5 And he besought Him greatly 08:31 saying, my little daughter lieth at the point of death 08:35 I pray Thee come, lay Thy hands on her that she may be healed 08:40 and she shall live. It is interesting how Jairus 08:44 approaches Jesus. He comes running to Him and pleading 08:48 Jesus do something, my daughter lies at the point of death. 08:53 And the Bible says then he proceeds to instruct Jesus 08:57 as to what He ought to do. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? 09:00 It sounds like the way we often pray. We tell God what we desire 09:05 we tell God what we want but then we tell Him how to fix 09:09 the problem. Can I help you right now? 09:12 Jesus knows what we need. Jesus knows better than you 09:19 and better than me what we truly need from Him. 09:22 The Bible tells us that Jairus was at the point of desperation. 09:28 Then the Bible tells us as we continue to read the story 09:32 that Jesus went with him. Now notice that he said to Jesus 09:40 come to my house, lay Your hands on my daughter 09:44 and she shall recover. Could it be that Jairus heard what 09:50 Jesus may have done for someone else? That the method of healing 09:54 and restoration was that Jesus had laid His hands on the blind 09:59 and they recovered and laid His hands on those who were sick 10:02 and they were healed. And Jairus limited God to one method 10:06 and one mode of healing and restoration. 10:09 Can I say to you this morning that God has a thousand ways 10:12 in which to meet our needs. And sometimes we limit God 10:17 by our own limited understanding and perspective as to who He is. 10:23 But notice what the Bible tells us. The Bible tells us 10:26 that Jesus went with him and much people followed 10:30 and thronged Him, and a certain woman which had an issue 10:35 of blood 12 years had suffered many things of many physicians 10:41 and spent all that she had and was nothing better 10:46 but grew worse. And when she heard of Jesus she came 10:51 in behind the press and touched His garment for she said 10:55 if I may but touch His clothes I shall be made whole. 11:00 Notice the different approaches of these 2 seekers 11:04 of Jesus Christ. Notice the status and standing 11:08 of both of these individuals. If you read the text 11:13 as it ought to be read, both Jairus and the woman 11:17 with the issue of blood, they both had issues. 11:20 Matter of fact, I daresay today that all of us 11:23 sitting here this morning, we all have issues. 11:26 And friends if you don't believe that, then that's your issue. 11:30 All of us have issues. Some of us it's our attitude, some of us 11:38 it's not feeling good about ourselves, some of us 11:40 feeling too much of ourselves. Some of us, it's a spirit of 11:44 self righteousness, it's a spirit of entitlement. 11:47 But all of us have issues, why? Because the Bible says 11:52 that we are all born in sin and shapen in what? iniquity. 11:56 All of us have deficits and shortcomings. 12:00 The Bible says in the beginning God made us all of the dust of 12:04 the earth. But some people believe that they are better 12:07 than others because they were made of gold dust! 12:09 My brothers and sisters we're made from the dust of the earth 12:14 and all of us stand in need of the saving blood of our Lord 12:18 and Savior Jesus Christ. Now notice in the text 12:22 the Bible doesn't say explicitly but implicitly Jairus 12:26 being a man of wealth and power and position no doubt in my mind 12:33 that he had utilized all of his resources in order to bring 12:38 healing to his daughter and the Bible says now she was at the 12:42 point of death. Listen to what the Bible says 12:47 When she heard that Jesus came, she came behind in the press 12:54 and touched His garment for she said, if I only touch Him. 12:57 Notice, Jairus' approach was to be instructive, 13:02 to tell Jesus what He ought to do. This woman on the other hand 13:06 did not seek an audience with Jesus, all she said, 13:10 if I can get just close enough to Him to touch Him 13:15 I know that everything is going to be alright! 13:18 Notice in both cases Jesus accepted both for who they were. 13:24 And for their approach to Him. Straightaway the Bible tells us 13:29 the fountain of her blood dried up and she felt in her body 13:35 that she was healed of the plague. 13:38 There are some interesting similarities 13:41 and some differences in Jairus and the woman. 13:44 Let me highlight just a few of them. 13:47 First of all Jairus is named. The woman is unnamed. 13:53 The Bible tells us that Jairus was a man of power, prestige 13:58 and position. This woman was the lowliest of all that dwelt 14:03 because the Bible tells us she had an issue. 14:06 Jairus was a leader of the synagogue, this woman was not 14:10 even allowed to enter into the synagogue because her condition 14:15 rendered her unclean and unfit to dwell among the people of God 14:19 One of the sad things that I've discovered in ministry is that 14:24 there are a lot of people some- times who want to come to church 14:27 they want to fellowship but you know what their problem is? 14:30 They're scared of the saints! There are people who have not 14:34 been in church for 4 months and 5 months and 8 months 14:37 and they want to come back to church but they're afraid 14:40 because they don't want to be interrogated when they return. 14:43 and so they stay away. The Bible tells us 14:48 that Jairus was a man of power and prestige. Notice if you will 14:56 Jairus' daughter was 12 years old. The woman with the issue 15:03 of blood had suffered for 12 long years. It appeared 15:08 from the text that where Jairus had the benefit and blessing 15:12 of celebrating the joy of having his daughter for 12 years 15:17 this woman's issue began almost at the same time. 15:21 12 years of suffering, 12 years of celebration 15:25 and yet the Bible tells us that they're now at the same place 15:28 where they both needed the intervention and ministry 15:32 of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus now 15:38 is on His way to the home of Jairus with the purpose 15:44 and intent of doing something wonderful for Jairus. 15:50 But the Bible tells us that the woman in the crowd came up 15:55 behind the press, touched the hem of His garment 15:59 and the Bible says, and this verse is so powerful 16:02 that Jesus felt that power had gone out of Him. 16:08 The Word of God says, Jesus cried out 'who touched Me'? 16:13 Who touched me? And the church members said 16:17 Lord, don't you see the crowd? 16:19 Don't you see all of these people thronging you 16:23 and you ask, who touched me? But Jesus was speaking 16:27 not just of physical touch but a spiritual connection 16:31 that was made by an act of faith. 16:34 This woman is one that I admire greatly. Notice the progression 16:41 of her standing and stature. And it's instructive for us. 16:46 The longer we spend time with Jesus, the more we grow 16:52 into the person that Jesus has come to make us into, notice 16:58 she begins as a woman with an issue of blood. 17:01 The Bible tells us that Jesus stopped in His tracks 17:07 and cried out, 'who touched me?' 17:10 My friends this woman did not count on this event. 17:16 Listen to what the Bible says, 'and straightaway, verse 29 17:22 her blood was dried up and she felt within her body 17:27 she knew that something had happened to her. 17:30 for 12 long years she spent her entire life savings 17:36 she withdrew all the money that she had and placed that money 17:41 in the hands of physicians that were not able to bring about 17:46 the desired healing. There's some lessons there for us. 17:50 There are some important lessons there for you and for me. 17:54 Only Jesus can do for us what our hearts desire. 18:00 Only Jesus can heal us of all the afflictions of life. 18:06 Only Christ can provide the remedy for the malady that sin 18:11 has brought into our lives. But the story gets even more serious 18:16 The Bible says Jesus looked around and said 'who touched me' 18:21 She did not count on this. In her mind, in her spirit 18:29 her thoughts were to come behind the press on hands and knees 18:34 and touch the hem of His garment and slip away quietly 18:38 into the crowd. But Jesus had a greater purpose. 18:42 Jesus had a greater desire. Jesus had healed her body 18:49 But now Jesus wants to offer her more than just physical healing. 18:54 So Jesus said, 'who touched me'. Listen to what the Bible says 18:59 And the woman, verse 33, the woman fearing and trembling 19:05 and knowing what was done in her came and fell down before Him 19:10 and told Him all the truth. Jesus realized 19:16 that had the woman simply slipped away into the crowd 19:20 she would've left there believing that the healing 19:24 was in the HEM and not in the HIM 19:29 Jesus wanted her to understand that the true source of healing 19:34 was not in the touching of His garment 19:36 but was in the faith she placed in Him 19:39 as the divine Son of God and healer of mankind. 19:43 But the Bible says she was afraid. Why was she afraid? 19:47 Understand, that a woman in her condition was forbidden by law 19:55 to make contact with a Rabbi. What she had done 20:00 was equal to a capital offense. For rendering the Rabbi unclean 20:06 she could've been taken out and stoned, but the Bible said 20:10 that Jesus wanted to do some thing more for her 20:13 than simply healing her body. 20:15 Yes, Jesus is interested in her our being. 20:19 The Bible tells us in third John Beloved I wish above all things 20:24 that thou prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospers 20:30 Jesus is not just interested in healing us physically 20:34 Jesus came so that He can heal us spiritually 20:38 that the disease of sin that brings not only physical death 20:42 but eventually will bring spiritual death 20:45 that is His mission, that is His purpose 20:47 and for that reason He came. 20:49 The Bible tells us that this woman began with a purpose, 20:54 a purpose to be healed. And I like the fact 21:00 that no matter how many obstacles Satan raised 21:03 in her path, she kept going. One doctor disappointed her 21:08 she looked in the yellow pages and she found another doctor. 21:11 This doctor failed her and she left Brisbane 21:14 and went to Melbourne. She couldn't find a doctor in 21:17 Melbourne so she took a long drive across west gong to Perth 21:21 And she couldn't find a doctor there and she came back 21:24 and she went to the north country. 21:25 This was a woman with purpose. 21:29 But more than purpose, she had perseverance. 21:32 I want to say to you today church family 21:34 that if we're going to make heaven our home 21:37 we must make heaven our singular purpose. 21:42 But more than purpose we must have perseverance. 21:47 Because the enemy of your soul and the enemy of my soul 21:51 he's going to place obstacles in our paths to cause us to 21:57 to become discouraged, to cause us to doubt, to cause us 22:02 to become disillusioned but the Bible says this woman continued 22:06 to persevere. So now Jesus calls her out. 22:10 She didn't count on that. In her mind 'I just want to go get my 22:14 healing and slip away and go home. Just like we do 22:18 every Sabbath. We come to church we get our sermon and our song 22:22 and we slip away back to our homes. 22:25 But the Bible says, and our theme says 22:28 We are saved for what everybody? For service. 22:33 The thing that I like about Jesus and admire about Jesus 22:39 is that He knows what we need. 22:41 Can you now imagine, if you will, see Pastor 22:46 I have an imagination that sometimes is a little crazy 22:50 and so I'm thinking in my mind right now 22:53 What is Jairus thinking right now? 22:56 Can't you not see the look on his face? Jesus hurry up 23:01 let's go, my daughter is about to die. 23:05 But Jesus is spending time with this woman, why? 23:09 Because Jesus knew and Jesus had been listening 23:13 to the conversation at the home of Jairus. 23:16 In that very moment as Jesus was dialoguing with the woman 23:22 with the issue who had now been healed and restored 23:26 the messengers were on their way from Jairus' house 23:30 and when they arrived, they said to Jairus 23:33 Trouble not the master any further, your daughter is dead. 23:37 Please understand. The woman who had an issue 23:44 that Jesus called out and told her entire story 23:49 her testimony was to strengthen Jairus for the message 23:54 that he was about to receive. Her testimony, about 12 years 24:00 of searching, 12 years of dis- appointment, 12 years 24:03 of obstacles, 12 years of having to pursue and persevere 24:08 and finally she found herself at the feet of Jesus 24:12 and she was healed. There's a song that says 24:15 It is no secret what God can do What He's done for others 24:20 He will do for you. Notice if you will, Jairus was not given 24:27 opportunity to respond to the message and the messengers 24:32 Listen to what Jesus said to Jairus, the Bible tells us 24:37 verse 36, 'As soon as Jesus heard the words that were spoken 24:44 He said unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid 24:49 only believe. Be not doubting, only believe. 24:58 It's interesting. What Jairus went to Jesus that morning 25:05 seeking was healing. What Jesus had in mind for Jairus 25:10 was a resurrection! It's amazing how we settle for so little 25:16 when God wants to give us so much. 25:19 It's amazing that we settle for just being church members 25:23 when Jesus has saved us and called us to become disciples. 25:27 You know friends, I blame myself and I blame us as pastors 25:31 to some degree because we have somewhat misread the gospel 25:35 commission. The gospel commission says 25:39 Go ye into all the world and make disciples 25:42 not church members, but disciples. 25:48 It is true that we become part of the body 25:53 but the focus of the mission and the message 25:56 that Jesus has entrusted to us is that we go into the world 26:01 with the purpose and with the singular goal 26:04 of making men and women disciples. 26:07 So the question then is, what is a disciple? I'm glad you asked. 26:10 Let me give you a very simple definition that works for me. 26:17 A disciple is a reproducing Christian. That works for me. 26:27 It means that at the moment that I've become saved 26:31 I also become indebted to the unsaved. 26:36 If Jesus Christ has saved my soul, Ellen White says, 26:42 No sooner than one becomes, I'm paraphrasing 26:46 No sooner than one becomes a child of God 26:51 there springs up within that individual a desire 26:55 to see others saved. And so it troubles me that 27:01 upwards of 80% of us who name the name of Jesus 27:07 who are members of the church of the living God, 27:10 remnant church of the living God will spend our entire lives 27:15 in the church and never lead another person to Jesus Christ. 27:20 Something is wrong! Somehow we have misread the instructions. 27:26 We have been saved for service. 27:32 But I understand the root of the problem. Because for too long 27:39 evangelism was a program. It's something we did for a few weeks 27:46 during the year and then we went back to having church. 27:49 I shared it with a few earlier this week 27:53 maybe about 3 or 4 years ago, 27:55 our leaders at the General Conference declared 27:58 This is the year of Evangelism. I thought about it 28:03 and then I got angry. My anger stemmed from the fact 28:10 that I began to ask myself if this year 28:13 is the year of Evangelism, what was last year? 28:18 I thought maybe I missed the meeting when they 28:22 told us what last year was. My brothers and sisters 28:27 every waking moment, every moment that breath 28:31 is in our bodies, every waking moment that blood is cruising 28:35 through our veins, that is a moment for evangelism. 28:38 And the way we evangelize is not just with the 28:42 trainers and the specialists, we need them. 28:45 But evangelism takes place every day at work we're evangelizing 28:51 because we're showing up on time 28:54 and we're giving a full day's work for a full day of pay. 28:58 Hello? That's evangelism. 29:02 Evangelism is holding the door open when the person behind you 29:08 maybe a few steps away and it will take a few moments of 29:11 your time to just stand there and hold the door open. 29:14 That's evangelism. Because you are demonstrating 29:18 a love, a kindness and a sense of compassion 29:22 for those around you. Evangelism is telling your story. 29:27 The woman told her story about what she had been through 29:32 and how coming to Jesus Christ she finally received 29:37 what her heart had desired. She told her story. And her story 29:45 enabled and empowered Jairus to follow Jesus to his house 29:52 after hearing that his daughter was dead. 29:55 Now friends, it takes perseverance, 29:59 it takes perspective and it takes a sense of not giving up 30:07 until we have received from God that which our hearts desire 30:13 but more than that, that which God desires us to have! 30:18 I remember few years ago when I started post graduate studies 30:23 at a school in Rochester, NY 30:27 I had done all my writing and research 30:31 And when I got to my defense, I ran into a committee that 30:36 was hostile. I couldn't figure out why. 30:39 And after the interview they told me, well you know 30:48 you did some good work but there are several things 30:50 that we want you to fix, to correct. 30:52 It will take about another 3-4 months 30:54 for you to complete this and come back. 30:58 But those were the days when I was still not 31:02 as mature in Christ and some of the old me surfaced 31:06 and I said, I'm not correcting anything 31:08 And I took my dissertation and my paper work and I went home 31:12 And the dissertation sat there for four years. 31:14 And one day, it's like the voice of God said, Son 31:18 you need to finish. And so what I did, I discarded that 31:26 entire four years of work and started the whole process 31:30 all over again. Now let me caution you 31:34 and tell those of you who maybe in like situation 31:36 don't do that. Don't let your pride 31:41 don't let your self sufficiency get in the way 31:46 do the corrections and what you can do in 3 or 4 months 31:52 it will save you 4 years of having to go through this 31:55 who process all over again. Listen to the voice of God 32:00 Surrender and submit to Him and what you can't do 32:05 God will do in a very short time 32:08 So they're in the home of Jairus As they approach the house 32:13 the mourners, the paid mourners are there. 32:17 And the Bible tells us that they're weeping and wailing 32:21 and Jesus stepped in, I like the way Jesus operates 32:24 He comes in and says, What's happening here? 32:26 What's all the fuss? She's not dead, she's only asleep. 32:36 And notice what happens, the people who were just mourning 32:39 and wailing and weeping now they're laughing. 32:42 Watch what Jesus did. This is instructive 32:48 for the church of the living God. The Bible says 32:52 Jesus asked them to leave. 32:56 Because what Jesus was about to do, they were not privileged 33:06 by their lack of faith in who He was to witness 33:11 This is a serious and sobering point. 33:14 God is about to do something special, something very unique 33:22 among His people. But there are those who may have to leave. 33:27 So that what God needs to do will not be hindered by unbelief 33:35 and skepticism. There are things God wants to do in our hearts 33:41 personally, but He is not able to do it until there are things 33:46 in our lives that we must throw out, and put out and cast out. 33:51 I don't know what it is for you but I know what it is for me. 33:56 I don't know what may be in your life that may be hindering God 34:02 from doing in you and through you the work that God 34:07 has saved you to do. The Bible tells us that not only 34:17 did the woman have an issue but Jairus had an issue. 34:22 Jairus' issue was that he only sought Jesus as a great healer. 34:30 But he did not understand that what Jesus came to do 34:34 was not limited to physical healing and restoration 34:38 but what Jesus came to do was to restore us in spirit. 34:43 To renew our hearts, to help us have a greater appreciation 34:48 for who the Father is and what He has done for us on Calvary. 34:54 My brothers and sisters, Jairus began his journey 35:00 in seeking Jesus for one thing. That is he wanted his daughter 35:07 to be healed. But what Jesus had in mind was not limited 35:14 to just a healing. Jesus had resurrection in mind. 35:20 Some of us are not at a place now in our spiritual journey 35:28 in terms of where God wants us to be. 35:34 Some of us have come in, we've sat down and we've taken in 35:39 and we're good members, we're faithful, we attend every week 35:42 we give our offerings, we support the church 35:45 But that is not what God has primarily saved you to do. 35:51 God has saved you so that in turn He can use you 35:57 your witness, your testimony, your story to be a source 36:02 of encouragement and empowerment to others. 36:06 My brothers and sisters, no one can tell your story but you. 36:11 No one can have the impact on your friends, on your husband 36:15 on your wife, but you. We go back to the story we began with. 36:21 The man whose life was control- ed by these demonic spirits 36:28 Jesus healed him and he said Lord, I want to go with you. 36:34 I wonder why he didn't want to go home. 36:37 I wonder why he did not want to go back to his former church. 36:41 When he was healed and restored he had one desire. 36:47 One thought occupied his mind. One overwhelming desire 36:53 consumed his life. One passion he had and that is why 36:57 he wanted to be with Jesus. He wanted to go where He went. 37:02 He wanted to follow Him. Jesus says, Go home. 37:06 And tell your story about what the Lord has done for you 37:12 And you know what the Bible says? He obeyed. 37:15 He went home and began to tell his story, and the Bible says 37:21 all who heard him were amazed. 37:25 My brothers and sisters, today there are people 37:28 who will not come to know Jesus until you tell your story. 37:34 There are people who waiting for you 37:38 to share what Christ means to you. 37:43 And today God is calling you to stand up 37:47 and to tell what He has done in your life. 37:53 And my brothers and sisters, when we allow the Spirit of God 37:58 to use us, to share our story, there is no telling 38:03 the extent of good that we can do 38:06 for the building up of the Kingdom. 38:08 Jairus had an issue, what was his issue? 38:13 He only saw Jesus as a healer of the body. 38:18 Jesus had more in store for Jairus. 38:21 Jesus wanted Jairus to under- stand that He was not simply 38:26 a healer but He was none other than the Lord 38:29 and Savior of the world. I believe today that this 38:35 encounter Jairus had with Jesus placed him in a place where 38:40 as his life and his journey continued 38:43 he reflected on what Christ had done for him. 38:47 My brothers and sisters today, Evangelism is simply 38:53 you telling a friend, and you telling a friend 38:56 and you inviting a friend, and you telling them 38:59 what Jesus Christ has come to mean in your life. 39:03 I can testify today that the reason I'm doing what I do 39:09 is because I realize how gracious and how good God 39:16 has been to me. Last night I shared a little bit of my story 39:23 that it took me an entire year from the point where God 39:29 was clearly speaking to me. And I allowed fear to creep in 39:36 I allowed the enemy to whisper into my ear 'not right now' 39:39 'you have more time' and the next year that I spent 39:45 was a year of pain and turmoil, a year of regret 39:50 and remorse because I turned away from the moment 39:56 when God was speaking to me. 39:59 My brothers and sisters, we're here this morning and I know 40:02 that God is speaking to some of you this morning 40:04 I don't know what your issues are, like the woman 40:08 your issue maybe that you need physical healing and restoration 40:13 The God I serve is able and available to restore 40:18 broken bodies. But more than that He wants to do something 40:24 to restore our souls. It is His desire, His aim, His purpose 40:30 to bring not only physical healing but spiritual healing 40:34 and restoration. Last night we talked about baptism. 40:39 What it means. It's an experience that we have 40:44 with the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is the outward 40:49 manifestation of what the Spirit of God has already done 40:53 on the inside. That's what baptism is. 40:56 It's declaring publicly to the world that Jesus Christ 41:01 has come into my life and a change has come over me. 41:06 And now I want to live the rest of my life in service to Him. 41:11 Tell your story. There are people who are waiting to hear 41:17 what God has done for you. There are people who are waiting 41:21 to hear what God is willing to do in and through your life. 41:26 As the musician comes, I am going to share with you a story. 41:30 Many years ago, Elder E E Cleveland, some of you may know 41:37 who Elder E E Cleveland is, he's deceased now. 41:39 But I believe he was probably the singular greatest evangelist 41:43 that this church has ever produced. Tens of thousands of 41:49 men and women are rejoicing in Jesus Christ today 41:52 because of his ministry. He went to a town 41:57 and he spent several weeks, back in those days 42:01 evangelists held meetings for two months, and 3 months. 42:08 I don't know how they did it. After 3 weeks I'm spent! 42:13 And night after night he preached with all of his 42:20 God given power and there was a family that attended, but 42:24 they did not make their decision A few months later the pastor 42:34 of the church decided that he was going to run an evangelistic 42:36 meeting and the pastor was not really an evangelist. 42:40 And some of the members said Pastor are you sure 42:43 you want to do this? They were being kind. But the pastor said 42:51 God has spoken to me and I'm going to do this meeting. 42:54 And the pastor ran the meeting and he only baptized 42:58 about 4-5 people. Can you hear church members now, 43:03 pastor, we told you... But one of the families 43:08 that were baptized were the parents of Barry Black 43:14 Do you know who Barry Black is? Barry Black is the chaplain 43:21 of the Senate of the United States. 43:26 Barry Black rose through the ranks of the US Navy 43:29 and became the Chief of Chaplains. 43:32 His ministry has brought into the family of God 43:37 thousands of individuals. Because one man 43:43 against the odds and without the full support of even his own 43:49 church family decided to do what God told him to do 43:52 and as a result, one family came into the church 43:56 but through that family God has blessed tens of thousands 44:00 of people. Tell your story. Some of you may have been 44:08 sick and hospitalized. The reason you were hospitalized? 44:11 Is not because God doesn't care. But there was a nurse, or 44:16 a doctor that needed to under- stand and see how a child of God 44:21 holds fast to the Master even in sickness 44:27 and in the face of death. You know what I've learned? 44:30 In my own life? And it's a model I live by. 44:35 That not everything that happens to you is about you. 44:41 Joseph said it, 'you meant it for evil, 44:48 but God sent me here to Egypt, from the pit to the prison 44:54 to the palace, God sent me here to prepare the way for you' 45:02 Not everything that happens to you is about you. 45:06 Tell your story. You know friend of mine, one of the things 45:12 that we as Christians need to learn how to do 45:14 is to wait on the Lord. To trust Him. When He speaks we move. 45:20 A story that is very meaningful to me, my wife may have heard it 45:26 3 or 4 times but she'll hear it one more time today. 45:28 Because it is such a powerful and moving story 45:34 about waiting on God and moving when God moves. 45:39 That woman thought she found Jesus? No. Jesus placed Himself 45:45 where she could have access to Him. Jairus thought that he 45:49 happened to stumble on to Jesus? No. Jesus went to where he was 45:53 so that He could make Himself available. 45:56 Little boy went to the store with his mother. 46:01 And while he was in the grocery store he was picking off 46:05 the milk, the butter and the cheese and being very attentive 46:09 to his mom. They filled up the grocery carts 46:12 went to the cashier. The little boy had a thought in his heart 46:17 that if I was good today and did all that mom wanted me to do 46:21 that at the end of it all, mom would have enough money left 46:26 to buy me some candy. The cashier rang up and mom 46:32 had no money left over for candy Little boy was sad 46:37 and discouraged. You could see his head hanging low 46:40 His countenance revealed his disappointment. 46:43 The store owner was looking on. And he saw 46:50 the look of disappointment on the little boy's face 46:53 and he came over to the little boy and said, little boy 46:55 do you want some candy? Little boy said Uh Huh 46:58 He said reach into the jar and take some candy. 47:03 The little boy said mmm mmm. He said, but little boy 47:07 didn't you say you wanted some candy? He says uh huh 47:10 He said, well reach in there and take some candy. 47:13 Little boy said mmm mmm. The store owner opened the jar 47:18 reached in, took out some candy and gave it to the little boy. 47:22 He put some in his pocket, he put one in his mouth 47:25 and he walked out the store with a smile on his face. 47:28 But his mother was troubled because she said, Son 47:33 didn't you come with me today because you wanted some candy 47:38 He said, Uh huh. Didn't the man tell you to reach in there 47:43 and get some candy? He said Uh huh. 47:46 She said well why didn't you obey and take the candy 47:49 when he told you? He looked up at his Mom and he smiled 47:53 He said, Mom I knew that his hands was bigger than my hands! 47:58 My brothers and sisters today, God's hands 48:11 the hands of Jesus that was nailed to the cross 48:16 is bigger than your problem and my problem. There is nothing 48:21 that we desire from Him or of Him that His hands cannot supply 48:27 And today what Jesus is asking for you and for me 48:31 is to wait on Him and to follow Him. 48:34 And I believe that this witness ministry that has been conducted 48:39 and it's such a beautiful thing to see young people 48:42 young men and women leading out, praising God 48:47 inviting friends to come. Today we want to invite you 48:51 to do something for Jesus. Not for me, not for the pastor 48:58 not for the church, but some thing for Jesus. 49:01 Last night we talked about baptism. 49:04 And it's a public expression of what Jesus has already done 49:10 in your heart. Several of you have already indicated 49:16 the desire to be baptized. So here's what we want to do. 49:20 I want to pray again with you and for you. 49:22 Those of you who came last night to the front and stood 49:26 and said, Yes God has spoken and I have made up my mind 49:30 to follow Jesus. We want you to stand where you are. 49:33 Come on, those of you who stood last night You wanna be baptized 49:37 You wanna give your heart to the Lord, you made up your mind 49:40 that nothing will come between you and Christ. 49:43 You know that Jesus Christ died to save you 49:46 We wanna pray with you again. 49:49 I want you to do what you did again last night 49:51 to encourage others to come. So those of you who are standing 49:56 would you come and I'm going to ask Pastor Zeny 49:58 to come and join me here at the front. Those of you 50:02 that stood last night. Those of you whom God is speaking to 50:07 right now, that you know that your life is incomplete 50:12 and the only way to experience that fullness of joy 50:18 is to surrender and submit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 50:21 And He's inviting you to do so right now. 50:24 So those of you who are standing please come again and stand 50:27 in front. Step out and come. We just want you to come. 50:30 Get close. The pastor is here we want to pray with you again 50:33 But there are some others here today that God has been speaking 50:36 to you. You need to make a decision right here, right now 50:40 today. Because whatever healing you need, Jesus said 50:45 I am the one that can bring that healing and restoration. 50:50 Is there someone else that would like to come? 50:53 You wanna give your heart to Jesus Christ. 50:56 You know that Jesus loves you. He died for you. 51:00 And right here, right now today He's calling for you 51:03 to come and to give your life to Him. 51:08 He wants to fill your life with joy, with purpose. 51:12 He wants to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. |
Revised 2015-04-15