WEBVTT 00:00:09.940 --> 00:00:12.300 Thank you for listening to this message from 00:00:12.300 --> 00:00:18.420 Lifehouse Church. Well, good morning everybody. 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:22.359 How are we doing this morning? Awesome. Living 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:25.359 and active, just like the Word of God. Very good, 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:28.039 very good. Well, if you don't know me already, 00:00:28.140 --> 00:00:30.120 my name is Eric. I am the Next Steps Pastor here 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:32.399 at Lifehouse. And we are in the middle of a series. 00:00:32.939 --> 00:00:37.020 Anybody know what that series was? Salty, not 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:41.500 sodium, but salty acronym. So last week, Pastor 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:44.479 Kip started us off and it's start a conversation. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.579 This week, it will be ask a question. So conversation, 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:54.960 right? Without conversation, we can't invite 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.579 people to know Jesus. We can't talk to them about 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:00.240 Jesus. A conversation must be started. And how 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:03.460 we do that is by asking a question. If there's 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:05.060 no questions in the middle of a conversation, 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:06.859 how do we know that's not really a conversation? 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:09.879 It ends pretty fast, right? You ever been to 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:12.640 those one -sided conversations where you're just 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:15.780 getting unloaded on? Yeah. Questions need to 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:19.700 be asked. It all starts with asking a question. 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:22.500 It's the power of a question that gives us the 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:26.280 opening that we need to give and to bring the 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.239 reality of Jesus into another person's heart. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.319 A couple years ago now, Abby and I, my wife Abby, 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.500 bought a house, our first house. And if you know 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:37.900 anything about going through the process of buying 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:39.579 a house, it can be an emotional roller coaster. 00:01:40.539 --> 00:01:42.620 Each time you have an interest in a house, you 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:44.219 think it's the right one, and then just this 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:46.540 one thing you find out about it, it's wrong. 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:48.840 So there's a lot of questions. It's a process 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:51.659 you have to go through. Questions like, is the 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:53.900 roof okay? Is it in good condition? How old is 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:55.959 it? When were the windows last replaced? How 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:58.780 old is the HVAC? Are there termites? Is it any 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:02.700 infestation? Was it taken well care of? Is the 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:07.019 insulation sufficient for all seasons? Maybe 00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:09.360 you visit a house and you ask your spouse, hey, 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:11.659 what do you think? And they say, meh, it's not 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:18.460 for me. That's asking how I know. I thought it 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:22.120 was a good house. But it started with a question. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.620 We had to ask the historical questions. We had 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:27.599 to ask the functional question. Is it working? 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:30.460 We had to ask ourselves, can we make it better? 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.060 A question is what got us into these houses to 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:39.009 begin with. Asking questions gave us more clarity 00:02:39.009 --> 00:02:42.310 and understanding in what was available to us 00:02:42.310 --> 00:02:45.509 and what we could potentially be living in. Asking 00:02:45.509 --> 00:02:47.849 questions gave us these opportunities to open 00:02:47.849 --> 00:02:50.449 up the doors to these houses and see what was 00:02:50.449 --> 00:02:53.509 on the inside of them. And Jesus taught that 00:02:53.509 --> 00:02:56.930 if we would ask, it would be given to us. And 00:02:56.930 --> 00:02:59.590 eventually the door would be opened. Ask and 00:02:59.590 --> 00:03:00.949 it will be given to you, he said. Seek and you 00:03:00.949 --> 00:03:02.750 will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. 00:03:02.789 --> 00:03:06.719 For everyone who asks. and he who seeks finds, 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:10.120 and to him who knocks it will be opened. When 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:14.360 we ask questions, we receive answers. If you 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:17.099 ask me a question and I didn't respond to you, 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:19.460 how many would think that would be rude or abnormal, 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:22.180 right? I just blankly stare at you. I don't answer 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:26.780 you. Questions demand an answer. That's how it 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:30.259 goes. The search for a house required questions. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.939 If we never asked the questions, we wouldn't 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:35.479 have gotten very far. If we didn't ask the questions, 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:38.159 we would not have experienced the diversity of 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:40.639 houses, the character, the feel, the new features. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:44.180 Just like how questions got us inside of the 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:47.020 house, asking questions can bring us into other 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:52.259 people's hearts. Make sense? Asking questions 00:03:52.259 --> 00:03:54.780 can bring us into other people's hearts. So if 00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:57.139 we're going to introduce Jesus to people, then 00:03:57.139 --> 00:03:59.659 we must understand that asking a question is 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:02.569 what gives us the open door. We need to bring 00:04:02.569 --> 00:04:06.430 the reality of Jesus into people's lives. Our 00:04:06.430 --> 00:04:08.169 main passage today is going to be in John chapter 00:04:08.169 --> 00:04:11.530 5, starting with verse 1. So as you flip there, 00:04:11.729 --> 00:04:14.310 we're just going to pray. So Father, we just 00:04:14.310 --> 00:04:16.209 thank you for this gathering today, Lord. We 00:04:16.209 --> 00:04:18.629 thank you that we're all here under one name 00:04:18.629 --> 00:04:20.829 under heaven, and that is the name of Jesus Christ. 00:04:21.370 --> 00:04:24.649 And Lord, let this gathering be one where hearts 00:04:24.649 --> 00:04:27.939 are renewed, open. in receiving of your word 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:30.839 today, that Lord, they may abide in you. And 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:33.439 as you walk with them, as you talk with them, 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:35.259 as you speak into their very being, Lord, that 00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:38.920 you would lend power into their lives to be witnesses 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:45.279 in the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. So verse one, 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:48.740 after this, there was a feast of the Jews and 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:52.000 Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.759 by the sheep gate, a pool, which is called in 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:59.339 Hebrew, Bethesda. Having five porches, in these 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:02.160 lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:04.779 lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the 00:05:04.779 --> 00:05:07.519 water. For an angel went down at a certain time 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.939 into the pool and stirred up the water. Then 00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:12.519 whoever stepped in first after the stirring of 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:14.779 the water was made well of whatever disease he 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:17.040 had. And now a certain man was there who had 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:20.399 an infirmity of 38 years. When Jesus saw him 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:44.350 lying there, So in this passage, right, there 00:05:44.350 --> 00:05:48.939 is a... It says a great multitude of people, 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:52.399 and not just people, people that are sick, lame, 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:58.120 paralyzed, blind, a great multitude of them. 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:01.019 So at one point or another, this is the place 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:03.920 where people that were in this type of condition 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:10.819 went. It formed a community of sick people. You 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:13.129 know what makes a community? It's a group of 00:06:13.129 --> 00:06:15.649 people that have a common heart, mind, and purpose, 00:06:15.850 --> 00:06:19.250 right? In this case, it was them. They needed 00:06:19.250 --> 00:06:24.089 healing. They were eagerly anticipating that 00:06:24.089 --> 00:06:27.649 healing. Because once the water moved, it meant 00:06:27.649 --> 00:06:30.410 that they could finally walk again, that they 00:06:30.410 --> 00:06:36.069 could finally see again. There's a problem, though. 00:06:37.410 --> 00:06:39.529 Because even though they all have this common 00:06:39.529 --> 00:06:43.129 goal of healing, Only one can get healed at a 00:06:43.129 --> 00:06:45.990 time. And it's the first person to the pool that 00:06:45.990 --> 00:06:52.490 steps into it. Now, it might have been pretty 00:06:52.490 --> 00:06:55.009 difficult for them to go to this pool, right? 00:06:55.209 --> 00:06:56.769 It's kind of hard to get to a pool if you can't 00:06:56.769 --> 00:06:59.449 walk. Kind of hard to get to a pool if you can't 00:06:59.449 --> 00:07:03.389 see. Or if you're just really weak. So we could 00:07:03.389 --> 00:07:06.970 probably say that they needed help. They needed 00:07:06.970 --> 00:07:11.550 help to this pool. If you didn't have family 00:07:11.550 --> 00:07:13.730 or close friends, it was that much harder for 00:07:13.730 --> 00:07:16.709 you because they're the ones that more than likely 00:07:16.709 --> 00:07:18.170 were the ones helping you to get your healing. 00:07:18.930 --> 00:07:22.550 But one day, one day, Jesus walks into the community 00:07:22.550 --> 00:07:24.790 of sick people, a community where people needed 00:07:24.790 --> 00:07:26.910 healing, and yet Jesus, led by the Spirit of 00:07:26.910 --> 00:07:30.069 God, comes up to this one man, one man among 00:07:30.069 --> 00:07:33.170 thousands maybe, and he asks them that question, 00:07:33.370 --> 00:07:36.250 do you want to be made well? So I don't know 00:07:36.250 --> 00:07:37.750 about you, but that seems like a pretty silly 00:07:37.750 --> 00:07:40.519 question to ask a sick person. Hey, do you want 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:43.120 to feel better? Are you doing okay right now? 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:48.399 Is the cough too much? No, do you want to be 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:50.819 made well? Yes, I would love to feel well right 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:59.500 now. So why? If it's such a given that he would 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:02.500 want to feel better, to be healed, why ask that 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:07.319 question? I believe it gave him. an open door 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:09.839 into this man's heart. It opened a door to have 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:14.560 a real conversation that is bedridden and unable 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:17.779 to move himself. So asking the question invites 00:08:17.779 --> 00:08:22.220 others to have a real conversation. We all desire 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:27.540 real conversations in our life. We all desire 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:30.540 to have a sense of community where we can have 00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:32.799 real conversations, but it's hard to have a real 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.200 conversation. if no one is taking initiative 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.960 in asking a question. And unfortunately, in today's 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.659 culture, it's more common to walk past somebody 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:45.419 and not talk to them. No questions are being 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:49.019 asked. Real questions are about helping people 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:53.379 discover and bring to awareness the reality of 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:57.809 God. It's about asking questions that we... that 00:08:57.809 --> 00:09:00.409 some are ashamed or afraid to talk about. Like, 00:09:00.409 --> 00:09:03.330 how is it that sin can affect me so deeply? How 00:09:03.330 --> 00:09:06.009 can I feel so confused and discouraged and lonely 00:09:06.009 --> 00:09:09.929 all the time? How is it that I have this shame 00:09:09.929 --> 00:09:15.169 on me? But it's also understanding that Jesus 00:09:15.169 --> 00:09:18.049 is greater than sin, and people aren't meant 00:09:18.049 --> 00:09:20.289 to stay there. But that's where the conversation 00:09:20.289 --> 00:09:26.250 starts. Jesus is the realest fact. A real conversation 00:09:26.250 --> 00:09:29.190 is one that is immersed in all that is true and 00:09:29.190 --> 00:09:32.909 authentic. Colossians says this, since you have 00:09:32.909 --> 00:09:36.129 been raised to new life in Christ, set your sights 00:09:36.129 --> 00:09:38.210 on the realities of heaven where Christ sits 00:09:38.210 --> 00:09:40.909 in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think 00:09:40.909 --> 00:09:43.490 about the things of heaven and not the things 00:09:43.490 --> 00:09:45.730 of earth. For you died to this life and your 00:09:45.730 --> 00:09:48.590 real life is hidden with Christ in God. Real 00:09:48.590 --> 00:09:52.269 life in Christ equals real life answers. God 00:09:52.269 --> 00:09:55.230 determines what is real. And heaven is the ultimate 00:09:55.230 --> 00:09:58.049 display of what is real, true, and authentic. 00:09:58.889 --> 00:10:02.690 Amen? When Jesus asked the man the question, 00:10:02.889 --> 00:10:05.350 do you want to be well? He was trying to shift 00:10:05.350 --> 00:10:08.149 this man's perspective from a deceptive earthly 00:10:08.149 --> 00:10:10.909 knowledge to that of a heavenly knowledge, a 00:10:10.909 --> 00:10:14.070 heavenly reality. Heaven, Jesus, was engaging 00:10:14.070 --> 00:10:17.490 with this man, engaging with earth, and earth 00:10:17.490 --> 00:10:21.370 wanted to be like heaven. everything that is 00:10:21.370 --> 00:10:23.990 in the word of God is something we can use to 00:10:23.990 --> 00:10:27.710 ask a question to people, to bring God back in 00:10:27.710 --> 00:10:30.769 the conversation because his word shows us all 00:10:30.769 --> 00:10:34.649 that is true. Jesus prayed, right? Jesus prayed 00:10:34.649 --> 00:10:38.629 that the word, that they would be made clean 00:10:38.629 --> 00:10:41.669 and holy by your truth. Teach them your word, 00:10:41.690 --> 00:10:46.289 he says, which is truth. The word of God determines 00:10:46.289 --> 00:10:49.230 what is real by what it teaches. In humanity, 00:10:49.899 --> 00:10:55.059 is longing for whatever is real now. I was in 00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:58.100 a situation a while back ago at work, and on 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:00.240 this day, it had been a long, hot, humid day, 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:04.399 and this person got really upset because they 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:09.059 felt betrayed by a co -worker because their expectation 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:12.519 was that they should be helping them help do 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:16.360 their job. And she voiced that to him, and the 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:19.399 other person didn't take it very well. And as 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:21.259 a matter of fact, he became bitter towards them. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.720 And I talked to her afterwards. And between the 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:27.419 frustration on her face and the venting to me, 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:31.639 I let her talk and waited until she was finished. 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:35.480 And I asked her the question, do you forgive 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:39.159 them? Right? No words necessary. Just one question. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:42.440 Do you forgive them? And they said, oh, Eric, 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:45.379 why should I forgive them? I mean, I can forgive 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.899 them, but I'm not going to forget what they did 00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:50.450 to me. And I said to them, well, then you haven't 00:11:50.450 --> 00:11:54.289 forgiven them. She said, what do you mean? I 00:11:54.289 --> 00:11:56.309 said, God does not remember our trespasses against 00:11:56.309 --> 00:11:59.389 him once we ask for forgiveness. Matter of fact, 00:11:59.409 --> 00:12:02.509 he was on the cross and he pleaded with the father 00:12:02.509 --> 00:12:04.669 to forgive them because they don't understand 00:12:04.669 --> 00:12:08.730 what they're doing right now. He didn't say, 00:12:08.769 --> 00:12:10.669 father, I forgive them, but I won't forget this. 00:12:13.669 --> 00:12:17.409 Humanity put Jesus on the cross to die. And he 00:12:17.409 --> 00:12:19.889 still forgave us completely. Doesn't remember 00:12:19.889 --> 00:12:23.470 it. She said, I hadn't really realized that before. 00:12:24.610 --> 00:12:27.590 I will go over and make it right with him. So 00:12:27.590 --> 00:12:30.450 you see, asking the question, do you forgive 00:12:30.450 --> 00:12:33.950 him? Opened up the door to where the reality 00:12:33.950 --> 00:12:37.690 of Jesus was. It was brought straight into her 00:12:37.690 --> 00:12:41.509 heart. It was a heavenly answer. Heaven engaged 00:12:41.509 --> 00:12:43.669 with earth and earth wanted to be like heaven. 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:46.720 The word of God shows us what is real and true. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:51.279 But 2 Timothy 3 .16 says, all scripture is inspired 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:54.480 by God and is useful to teach us what is true 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.419 and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. 00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:58.840 It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:02.600 us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:08.100 and equip people to do every good work. So if 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:11.120 it's equipping us, By teaching us what is real, 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:14.220 we can be equipped with a question to ask people. 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:18.200 Because we know Jesus. We know what is true and 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:22.200 real. Knowing the word allows us to ask good 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:24.340 questions that invite Jesus into the conversation. 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:28.240 Jesus asked the lame man a good question. It 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:30.940 was something that seemed pretty obvious by human 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:33.879 standards. But Jesus wanted to discuss the reality 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:36.139 of heaven to him, which is where he would find 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:39.100 his healing. So when was the last time that we 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:41.519 asked somebody a question based off of scripture, 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:44.159 not based off what we thought or what this person 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:46.940 thought or what the news said, but off of scripture? 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:50.679 What is the Holy Spirit trying to get into your 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:54.919 spirit to make real and active, to ask somebody 00:13:54.919 --> 00:14:00.139 a question, to bring Jesus into it? When we ask 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:01.919 that question, the doors of their hearts are 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:06.480 infused with the truth of Jesus. So are we praying 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:10.580 for opportunities to ask others questions? Maybe 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.519 it's somebody at work, a family member, or someone 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:15.940 at the store, so that they can engage in a real 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:18.740 conversation, so that they can engage with a 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:23.460 real Jesus. Amen? Questions are special, though. 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:26.299 They're special in that the way that if we do 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:30.080 not ask them, we stay on the course that we've 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.440 always been on. Right? If you don't question 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:35.929 something, nothing changes. This lame man had 00:14:35.929 --> 00:14:40.029 never gotten asked that question of, hey, maybe 00:14:40.029 --> 00:14:43.230 this isn't working. It's been 38 years. Perhaps 00:14:43.230 --> 00:14:46.330 we could try something different, right? No, 00:14:46.450 --> 00:14:48.110 no, I'm going to keep going. This is going to 00:14:48.110 --> 00:14:54.169 work. But when Jesus came on the scene asking 00:14:54.169 --> 00:14:57.409 a question, the lame man proved to be challenged 00:14:57.409 --> 00:15:01.159 in what he was putting his hope in. So questions 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:04.080 also challenge what we are currently believing, 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:08.039 what we are currently putting our hope in. And 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.820 we all have something that we put our hope in. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.659 If you didn't have hope in something when you 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:15.580 woke up, you wouldn't even get out of bed. But 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:19.080 hope is what ignites the desire to get to the 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:22.139 destination we want to be at. If we have hope 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.720 in something, then we will go to where we believe 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:29.179 that something will be. The caution is that The 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:32.840 stuff we hope for may be real and genuine, but 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:35.720 the methods we pursue to make that hope a reality 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:41.659 can be contradictory to God's word. We can hope 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:45.139 for a secure future and chase wealth at the expense 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:50.259 of integrity, family, or rest. We can hope for 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:52.779 purpose and meaning, but use the method of self 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:56.139 -promotion or image building instead of serving 00:15:56.139 --> 00:16:00.049 where God calls us. We can compromise morals 00:16:00.049 --> 00:16:02.690 in order to maintain a sense of love and belonging. 00:16:03.230 --> 00:16:07.090 All of these, the hope is genuine and it's real, 00:16:07.230 --> 00:16:10.669 but the methods are not God's heart or plan for 00:16:10.669 --> 00:16:14.450 us to meet those needs. One day, this layman 00:16:14.450 --> 00:16:17.850 was given hope by somebody, word on the street, 00:16:18.070 --> 00:16:21.730 a rumor down the road, hey, that pool over there 00:16:21.730 --> 00:16:25.200 has healing powers. the angel of the Lord will 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.860 come down one of these days. We don't know when, 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.559 but if you just wait there, eventually it'll 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:32.039 come and it will heal you. Oh man, that's incredible. 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:35.080 Like, I can't even move, but that's amazing. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:39.179 I need somebody to help me. He's got hope now. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.559 Hope for healing, because before, probably didn't. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:47.700 He's got hope. He believes that he can do it. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:50.639 When that angel shows up for the very first time, 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:55.190 when he sees that, He is all go. Nothing's going 00:16:55.190 --> 00:16:58.169 to stop him. Rules go out the window. His opportunity 00:16:58.169 --> 00:17:02.029 comes. He doesn't get there in time. The opportunity 00:17:02.029 --> 00:17:04.670 comes again. Someone gets in front of him. The 00:17:04.670 --> 00:17:07.069 opportunity comes again. He gets pushed out of 00:17:07.069 --> 00:17:13.829 the way. So on, so forth for 38 years. Each time 00:17:13.829 --> 00:17:16.309 he deals with the same disappointment, the same 00:17:16.309 --> 00:17:18.730 discouragement. It's like someone keeps knocking 00:17:18.730 --> 00:17:20.869 on the door, but he never gets there on time 00:17:20.869 --> 00:17:24.509 to meet them. They are gone by the time he gets 00:17:24.509 --> 00:17:27.869 there. This repeated cycle of having hope and 00:17:27.869 --> 00:17:30.829 falling short goes on for 38 years. Do y 'all 00:17:30.829 --> 00:17:35.990 know what the definition of insanity is? I can 00:17:35.990 --> 00:17:39.529 kind of hear it. Doing the same thing over and 00:17:39.529 --> 00:17:42.049 over and over again and expecting a different 00:17:42.049 --> 00:17:46.809 result, right? This is insanity. This man is 00:17:46.809 --> 00:17:49.730 doing the same thing over and over again, getting 00:17:49.730 --> 00:17:53.880 the same results for 38 years. Never once, at 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:56.240 least it's not recorded, he didn't question this 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:59.380 method. No one asked him, do you really think 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:01.359 this is the answer that we should be putting 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:05.339 our hope in right now? Matter of fact, God was 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:09.099 never in the equation. This seemed to be a religious 00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:13.359 superstition of the day, and he was devoted to 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:17.599 it. Again, his hope is real and strong, but it's 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:20.579 not in the right thing. This is what Jesus challenges 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:22.460 when he walks up and asks, do you want to be 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:25.640 made well? And what this man placed his hope 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:28.140 in rises to the surface. Here's what he says. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:30.359 The sick man answered him, sir, I have no man 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.140 to put me into the pool when the water is stirred 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:35.119 up. But while I am coming, another steps down 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:39.140 before me. So Jesus challenged him where the 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:40.880 man, where he was putting his hope. It was at 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.500 this moment of asking, do you want to be made 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:44.980 well? That the lame man starts to think, well, 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:48.160 well, you know, maybe I can't get well this way. 00:18:48.650 --> 00:18:51.130 I've tried getting to the pool for 38 years now, 00:18:51.289 --> 00:18:53.789 and I always fall short. I've waited for somebody 00:18:53.789 --> 00:18:57.869 to help me. No one's helping me. So yes, I do 00:18:57.869 --> 00:19:00.490 want to be made well. But is there another way? 00:19:01.470 --> 00:19:03.970 Where else could my hope go to be made well? 00:19:06.970 --> 00:19:10.069 The question Jesus asked challenged him, changed 00:19:10.069 --> 00:19:11.849 his perspective from expecting to get his healing 00:19:11.849 --> 00:19:14.309 from people or things into the Lord himself. 00:19:15.910 --> 00:19:21.700 Amen? What he waited 38 years for happened in 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:25.000 an instant. People often place their hope in 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.500 broken systems, things that worked at one time, 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:30.279 but over time it just doesn't work anymore. Sometimes 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:32.299 we're in denial that something isn't working 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:35.319 when it's supposed to, like relationships, a 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:39.559 job, a family dynamic, maybe our phones. Piece 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:45.670 of trash. When our hope is on default, And in 00:19:45.670 --> 00:19:48.269 the wrong things, it's a good sign we're putting 00:19:48.269 --> 00:19:51.890 a Band -Aid on and not getting healing. We can 00:19:51.890 --> 00:19:54.670 rationalize our broken methods to be working 00:19:54.670 --> 00:19:57.890 in its own way. But the bottom line is, it's 00:19:57.890 --> 00:19:59.609 about surrendering your hope into Jesus Christ. 00:20:01.029 --> 00:20:04.809 Amen? We do not always realize it when we're 00:20:04.809 --> 00:20:07.630 putting our hope in the wrong place. That is 00:20:07.630 --> 00:20:11.170 why asking a real question can challenge where 00:20:11.170 --> 00:20:13.430 you have put it and bring it back to the Lord. 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:16.460 A question can challenge what people currently 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:19.680 place their hope in. It's not about finding people 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:21.779 out. It's not about having all the right answers, 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:25.079 but it's about seeing how we can redirect their 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:29.640 hope and their focus to the one true God. Do 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:32.779 you want to have a sense of purpose? Do you want 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.579 to have a good, healthy family and community? 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:37.119 Do you want to have a sense of love and belonging? 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:39.420 These are all things that human beings want. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:43.839 It's a given. It's a yes. But what are their 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:49.440 methods of getting that? Because it starts with 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:54.839 Jesus. Hope is to be placed in Jesus. In him 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:58.380 is wholeness. In him is healing. He is the one 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:00.660 that gives us all a hope and a purpose in this 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:02.660 life. Amen. Everybody should be saying amen there. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:05.799 He wrote our story long before we ever knew our 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:11.099 story. And the people that are out there who 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:13.440 don't know Jesus yet, they have a story too. 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:16.500 They have a hope too, but they don't know where 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:22.259 to put it. So what if we tried by asking the 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:24.960 questions to help challenge their methods? Asking 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.980 questions like, do you want to have peace? Do 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:29.400 you want to know your purpose? That is something 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:32.599 they may already know, but at least it opens 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:36.500 the door for them to meet Jesus. The anticipation 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:40.210 of this lame man was out of all... Knowing that 00:21:40.210 --> 00:21:42.230 he would have been there trying for 38 years, 00:21:42.390 --> 00:21:46.309 and it wasn't working, and Jesus was right in 00:21:46.309 --> 00:21:49.150 front of him. Maybe for the first time in this 00:21:49.150 --> 00:21:51.309 guy's lifetime, do you want to be made well? 00:21:53.009 --> 00:21:55.829 If this person was asking, then clearly they 00:21:55.829 --> 00:22:00.910 wanted help. I think what happened next completely 00:22:00.910 --> 00:22:03.730 surprised the lame man. I think when Jesus asked 00:22:03.730 --> 00:22:05.789 him that question, he's like, finally, I'm going 00:22:05.789 --> 00:22:09.009 to get some kind of lift into this pool. But 00:22:09.009 --> 00:22:14.809 that's not what happened. What happened was Jesus 00:22:14.809 --> 00:22:18.910 gave a command that required a response. That 00:22:18.910 --> 00:22:21.890 response would lead to his healing. So for this 00:22:21.890 --> 00:22:24.950 reason, the spirit of God is always wanting to 00:22:24.950 --> 00:22:27.730 minister and convince lost souls of their need 00:22:27.730 --> 00:22:30.769 for a savior that can take away all their sins. 00:22:31.589 --> 00:22:33.710 If we listen to God and ask the questions he 00:22:33.710 --> 00:22:38.720 gives us, our question can lead to... a faith 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:42.819 decision that brings life change. So asking a 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:46.619 question can lead to a faith decision. A decision 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:49.660 made in faith is one that says, I have heard 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:51.940 from God, I have made a decision to do whatever 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:54.460 he says, whether that's convenient or inconvenient, 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:58.299 rational or irrational, favorable or unfavorable 00:22:58.299 --> 00:23:01.940 to me. That's what faith does. It does it anyway. 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:05.299 But asking a question can often wipe away what 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:07.940 people hold on to. and beckons them to respond 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:11.180 and hold on in faith what God is speaking to 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:15.480 them. The lame man asked a question. What a wonderful 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:18.900 question it was, was asked a question by Jesus. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:22.420 Do you want to be made well? In short, he says, 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:25.859 yes, I do, but I can't. No one is helping me. 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:32.380 Jesus gave that command, and it acted as a helping 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:36.180 force, a helping hand for him to stand up, for 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:38.779 the first time perhaps in his entire life. When 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:41.779 Jesus gives a command, how many of you know that 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:44.619 it holds the same kind of power that created 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:46.819 the universe, that one word could create the 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:50.240 universe all over again? So Jesus gave that command, 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:54.339 and the person responded due to the power that 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:57.480 was just given to him. It required a decision. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.759 God never supersedes human beings' free will. 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:03.660 He can't just zap somebody and everything is 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:13.009 all better. to come into agreement. Just as he 00:24:13.009 --> 00:24:15.150 had responded to the water being moved by the 00:24:15.150 --> 00:24:19.430 water, so now the Holy Spirit is stirring in 00:24:19.430 --> 00:24:23.990 his heart to get up and walk. He did as Jesus 00:24:23.990 --> 00:24:26.130 commanded and he stood up into a new life in 00:24:26.130 --> 00:24:28.670 Jesus Christ. This was the opportunity Jesus' 00:24:28.809 --> 00:24:31.750 question provided because Jesus asked a question. 00:24:32.670 --> 00:24:36.019 He gave this man an opportunity. to act on the 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:40.079 decision of faith that would make him well. He 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.940 could have kept his faith in the pool. He could 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:45.519 have kept going on. Hey, 38 years is nothing. 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:51.759 What's the year 39? What took 38 years was now 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:54.819 an instant because he decided to listen to the 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:58.859 word of God and respond to it. He was just going 00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:00.799 through the same emotional disappointment over 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:03.660 and over again. But this one question allowed... 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:07.000 faith to rise up in his heart. And he stood up 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.779 and he walked. And as a result, he experienced 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:12.299 the freedom that is only found in the name of 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:18.140 Jesus. Asking a question opens the door for people 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:20.559 to experience Jesus' life and resurrection power. 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:24.079 But oftentimes we try to harden our own strength 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:26.900 to reach the lost. We don't always let the Holy 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:29.240 Spirit guide us, giving us the words to speak. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:34.240 Allow us to have a word for somebody that faith 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.559 may rise up in their being as well. That demonstration 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:43.039 of simple trust in the word of God is what allows 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:49.440 us to reach people. Jesus asked a question. He 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.960 didn't put pressure on himself, but he did put 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:55.000 his dependence on the Holy Spirit and what to 00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:00.019 say and what to ask. And as a result, Jesus... 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:03.720 Jesus' words to them were spirit and life. What 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:06.500 was now dead became alive. A dead circumstance 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:09.940 became a thriving circumstance. Freedom was a 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:14.400 result. Asking that question is what opens the 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:16.400 door for the reality of Jesus to be a thing in 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:19.180 somebody's life, to enter into their being. If 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:22.740 we give answers apart from asking other questions, 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:27.259 you're talking to a closed door. Questions open 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:30.420 doors. but answers up with unprovoked questions 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:33.039 is talking to a closed door. Does that make sense? 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:37.759 It will not enter their hearts unless they're 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:41.599 asked to open up. Paul said this, I have been 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.920 crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:46.720 live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:49.779 I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:52.259 son of God who loved me and gave himself for 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:55.859 me. That is what we want every person in this 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:58.380 world to declare. That is no longer they who 00:26:58.380 --> 00:27:00.500 live, but it's Christ living in them. And they 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:06.440 now live by faith in the son of God. Zach and 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:10.779 the wish team, if you'd come up. You know what 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:13.740 a good question to ask for any circumstance. 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:16.299 Like I can't, I have a hard time thinking of 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:18.519 a circumstance where this would be a bad question. 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:24.460 And it's, how can I pray for you? Right? Prayer. 00:27:25.679 --> 00:27:31.000 Prayer opens doors. Prayer, everybody, I mean, 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:34.279 I tell people all the time, if I feel led to 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.599 pray for somebody and they're like, no, no, no, 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.980 I can't do that. I said, the worst thing that 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:41.059 can happen is nothing. So why not? Right? It's 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:43.019 an open door for heaven to invade their heart. 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:49.920 Now with that open door, the spirit is giving 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.079 provision into their heart. stirring in new things 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:55.460 in them. And these new things just need a response 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:58.660 by them. A decision inspired by the faith of 00:27:58.660 --> 00:28:01.420 God's spirit working in them. He is awakening 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:03.819 their senses to the reality of Jesus Christ. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:06.900 We shouldn't be timid to impart faith into another 00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:09.259 person because come on, sometimes we don't have 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:11.740 faith, but we need each other to impart faith 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:15.119 into one another, right? Believers believe and 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:17.359 our belief actually gets other people to believe 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:27.200 in Jesus. Ultimately, it'll be up to them to 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:30.119 stand up and walk in the name of Jesus, into 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:34.059 his freedom, into his truth. That's up to them. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:36.700 But if you would just believe and ask them a 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:39.740 question, the door of their hearts would be opened 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:43.940 up to believe. Jesus did not send us out into 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:46.980 the world as children without power. He gave 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:50.079 us authority to preach the good news and share 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:53.160 this gospel with everyone. Jesus stated to the 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:57.700 disciples, as the Father has sent me, so I also 00:28:57.700 --> 00:29:04.460 send you. Right? Just as Jesus was sent to die 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:07.880 for mankind's sins, just as Jesus was sent to 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:09.960 minister to the lost, heal the brokenhearted, 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:13.640 and save them from their sins, we are also on 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:17.400 mission to do that as well. Not by our own authority, 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:20.039 but the Lord's authority. He gave us authority 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:22.460 for a specific assignment, for a specific task. 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:29.880 We're finishing what he started. Too many people 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:33.059 out there who are just going through the motions 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:35.660 of what people have told them what to do and 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:39.740 what to be in this life. If they get a bad hand, 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:43.539 that's just life. But guess what? It's not working. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:47.710 Even though they have a genuine hope. What they 00:29:47.710 --> 00:29:50.269 are doing is not giving them that sense of purpose 00:29:50.269 --> 00:29:52.789 and belonging, that sense of fulfillment and 00:29:52.789 --> 00:29:55.650 peace. Many people do not know what is real, 00:29:55.769 --> 00:29:58.970 but they live in what they think is real every 00:29:58.970 --> 00:30:02.430 day as they go through life hurting. But Jesus 00:30:02.430 --> 00:30:05.690 is the realest thing. He determines what is real 00:30:05.690 --> 00:30:08.970 and important. He alone has the words of eternal 00:30:08.970 --> 00:30:12.750 life. He alone can teach us the truth. And knowing 00:30:12.750 --> 00:30:16.579 Jesus allows us to ask good questions. good questions 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:19.160 because we have a good, good father that knows 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:21.119 how to answer our questions when we have them. 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:27.519 These questions are going to invite people into 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:33.539 the life and truth that Jesus embodies. People 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:39.420 live day by day with hope, but in methods that 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:42.599 prove to be empty and void. Yet over and over 00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:44.720 again, they do not get the results they have 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:48.269 labored. so hard for? How are people going to 00:30:48.269 --> 00:30:51.410 know their hope is in the wrong thing? How are 00:30:51.410 --> 00:30:54.789 they going to know what is real? How are they 00:30:54.789 --> 00:30:57.289 going to be able to make a decision of faith? 00:30:58.009 --> 00:31:01.670 It can only start with asking a question, a question 00:31:01.670 --> 00:31:04.990 imbued by the Spirit of God, to reintroduce Jesus 00:31:04.990 --> 00:31:09.950 to people. If we know Jesus, we can engage with 00:31:09.950 --> 00:31:13.690 others by asking them questions. If Jesus uses 00:31:13.690 --> 00:31:16.990 a question to get somebody healed, surely his 00:31:16.990 --> 00:31:19.329 sons and daughters can do the same thing. They 00:31:19.329 --> 00:31:22.130 can ask a question that can provide healing into 00:31:22.130 --> 00:31:26.710 their spirits. What an amazing opportunity we 00:31:26.710 --> 00:31:30.390 have as a church body to reach out to people 00:31:30.390 --> 00:31:33.609 and ask a question, to be on this privilege of 00:31:33.609 --> 00:31:38.609 a mission to reach the lost, to give people the 00:31:38.609 --> 00:31:42.839 answer that is in Jesus' name. Believe it or 00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:45.960 not, we are a part of his plan. We are a part 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:49.460 of his plan of outreach, of lost souls. Are you 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:51.839 willing to be sent by God today? Are you willing 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:54.839 to ask a question to whoever he sends you to? 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:59.119 If yes, God will use your willing heart to bring 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:02.380 the reality of Jesus into a person's heart. And 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:06.859 let me say this, you do not need a degree to 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:10.700 preach the gospel. You do not need a degree to 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:16.259 share the good news. You do not need that. But 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:20.299 the Holy Spirit will give you 100 degrees of 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:23.740 power to win a lost soul into his kingdom. Amen. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:26.099 He is the one that qualifies you. He is your 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:28.819 degree. He can turn up the heat and change a 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:31.940 human heart. So here is my question to you. Are 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:34.420 you ready to be and willing to be used by the 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:37.829 Holy Spirit? Are you willing to listen? Are you 00:32:37.829 --> 00:32:41.250 willing to hear the question that he has for 00:32:41.250 --> 00:32:44.690 the person in front of you? Maybe it's, hey, 00:32:44.869 --> 00:32:48.430 how are you really doing today? Maybe it's, how 00:32:48.430 --> 00:32:52.789 can I pray for you? Maybe it's, hey, I've been 00:32:52.789 --> 00:32:55.849 kind of struggling with my purpose. Like, what 00:32:55.849 --> 00:32:58.950 do you think your purpose is? Because once we 00:32:58.950 --> 00:33:01.630 get them into the flock, into the reality of 00:33:01.630 --> 00:33:05.680 Jesus, clarity and understanding happens. We 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:07.500 don't always have the answers, but if we seek 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:10.319 him first, he'll give us the answers. He'll give 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:16.579 us what we need according to his will. You guys 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:23.079 doing right back there? Say the person next to 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:29.400 you, are you ready? Are you ready? Oh yeah, there 00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:33.119 we go. So I'm gonna pray and we're gonna go into 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.750 a song. And just allow the Lord to just minister 00:33:36.750 --> 00:33:40.630 to your heart. There's never a moment in time 00:33:40.630 --> 00:33:43.250 where you feel more alive than when you're doing 00:33:43.250 --> 00:33:51.029 the will of God. I think sometimes we're walking, 00:33:51.109 --> 00:33:55.049 but we're not really living. I think sometimes 00:33:55.049 --> 00:33:58.549 we get caught up in our own mess and we forget 00:33:58.549 --> 00:34:01.869 what it's like to truly live. And it all goes 00:34:01.869 --> 00:34:05.079 back to what Jesus said last. Go, therefore, 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:11.219 and make disciples of all nations. So, Father, 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:13.360 we thank you. We thank you for the privilege, 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:22.239 Lord, of knowing you. We thank you just for the 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:26.500 honor it means to be in your presence, that this 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:32.550 broken world was paid for by you, Lord. that 00:34:32.550 --> 00:34:34.690 your royal blood was spilled out for our mankind, 00:34:34.849 --> 00:34:39.389 that we may enter into the joy of the Lord. Oh, 00:34:39.469 --> 00:34:43.989 God. God, let that joy burst forth in our hearts 00:34:43.989 --> 00:34:51.489 now. God, as we seek your face, as we seek your 00:34:51.489 --> 00:34:59.630 heart, God, give us understanding of your will, 00:34:59.690 --> 00:35:03.909 Lord, that, We don't have to have all the answers, 00:35:04.090 --> 00:35:08.510 but Lord, if we can just ask a question, according 00:35:08.510 --> 00:35:12.670 to your will, according to the human heart, where 00:35:12.670 --> 00:35:16.389 they're placing their hope, God, use us, send 00:35:16.389 --> 00:35:21.369 us to be that vessel of redirecting their path, 00:35:21.510 --> 00:35:26.369 a path of darkness into a path of marvelous light. 00:35:27.989 --> 00:35:32.579 And God, if there's anybody here that is, still 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:37.159 fearful or afraid or just not sure what that 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:41.099 next step is. Lord, burst courage and boldness 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:44.199 into their being, Lord. Just remind them that 00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:46.739 their life is not their own. Their life belongs 00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:51.980 in eternity. Eternity with you. So what could 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:57.980 faze us? You are with us, and boy, are you with 00:35:57.980 --> 00:36:00.099 us. Never do we have to doubt that you're with 00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:05.730 us. You're here in our midst now. Lord, we've 00:36:05.730 --> 00:36:13.230 received your word. Let heaven come. Let heaven 00:36:13.230 --> 00:36:19.489 come. We thank you, Lord. In your matchless name 00:36:19.489 --> 00:36:32.929 we pray. to this message from Lifehouse Church. 00:36:33.469 --> 00:36:36.269 We pray that you were impacted powerfully by 00:36:36.269 --> 00:36:39.110 this message. If you have been personally affected 00:36:39.110 --> 00:36:41.650 by our ministry and you would like to partner 00:36:41.650 --> 00:36:44.909 with us as we love God, love people every day, 00:36:45.030 --> 00:36:50.750 visit our website at www .lifehousecog .com.