1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 Well, hallelujah. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 They do that on purpose. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Amen. 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:16,000 Mmm. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Yeah, it's tempting. 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,000 But I better preach this morning. 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,000 I'll leave the singing to Tim Hill. 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Well, hallelujah. 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 I do have a word from the Lord, I think, for us this morning. 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,000 If you'll turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 10, 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,000 I'm just going to read a couple passages of scripture here. 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:50,000 This message came about a week and a half ago, Sister Katharine, 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,000 actually, after our anniversary went up to 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 the mountains for just a couple days. 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,000 We'd ridden through Cades Cove with all the traffic. 16 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,000 And, yeah, 17 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,000 I think I could have walked it quicker than we drove it. 18 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,000 And we were discussing walking through there, driving through there, I said, 19 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000 you know, we can get off Lower River Road and see some of this stuff. 20 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,000 I understand the amazement of people that don't get to see it all the time, 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000 but you and I, amen, we're clothed with the beauty of the Lord. 22 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,000 It's all around us. 23 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,000 And after the little bear came by the car and we got to see him, 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,000 he went on his way, we came out and driving through and 25 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000 was headed back over to Pigeon Forge and the thought came to me. 26 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,000 We were just, you know how conversation just 27 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,000 addles on and rambles and we got off on the 28 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,000 political dilemma of our day. 29 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,000 The thought came, I told such guys, you know, all people 30 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,000 are looking for, they're just looking for a way out. 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,000 And when I said that, hair stood up on my arm and 32 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,000 cold chills went up my back. And I've been 33 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,000 waiting for two weeks to get to try 34 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,000 and share this word with you. I don't know how long it's going to take me, maybe short. 35 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,000 You wish. 36 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,000 It may not be, but we're just going to see what the Spirit of the Lord 37 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,000 says to us through this passage and that thought today. Amen. 38 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,000 First Corinthians 10, 39 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000 look at verse 12. 40 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000 Wherefore let him that thinketh he stand, take he 41 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,000 lest he fall. There hath no temptation 42 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,000 taken you, but such as is common to men. 43 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,000 But God is faithful. 44 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,000 Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are 45 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,000 able, but 46 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,000 will with the temptation also make a way 47 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 to escape that you may be able 48 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000 to bear it. Looking for 49 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,000 a way out. Father, I love you today. 50 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,000 Thank you so much for your goodness and grace and the touch of your Spirit. 51 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,000 Lord, I thank you for our worshiping people. It took us a little bit this morning, but 52 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,000 we told ourselves to get up and praise you and we did. 53 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,000 And you've honored their praise because your word declares that 54 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,000 where your people praise you there, you'll be with them and you have and you've been 55 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,000 here and are here. And I ask now you help us. Help me Lord today 56 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,000 just to share my heart and what you've placed in it. And Lord, we that got 57 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 the ears to hear, we're going to hear what you're trying to say to us. 58 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000 And Lord, encourage us through the power of your word in Christ's name. 59 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,000 And everybody's saying, hey man, ask your neighbor, are you looking for a way out? 60 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,000 That little phrase 61 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000 has been around for quite some time. In reading and 62 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,000 looking at it, 63 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,000 in the boxing world, in the MMA world, 64 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,000 it meant that a fighter was 65 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,000 trying to get out before it was finished. 66 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,000 And for them, it's really not a very positive term. 67 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,000 And as I said, we're looking today at our 68 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,000 nation. I hope and pray that you're concerned about your nation. 69 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,000 Amen. As your pastor, 70 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,000 I do not use this podium as a political forum. 71 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:50,000 But as the church of the living God, we cannot be 72 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,000 non-political because we're in this world. 73 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,000 We're not of it. Amen. The instructions of the 74 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,000 word of God are to pray for those who rule over us. 75 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,000 The instruction of the word of God, he calls his kings to rise and he 76 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000 brings them down. Amen. So our 77 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,000 involvement, and I spoke to some the other day, they were talking about, well I just don't know if I can 78 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,000 vote for that man. I said, well just between me and you, I'm not voting for 79 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,000 that man. 80 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000 That's not, sometimes it's not what you're voting for 81 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,000 as much as what you're voting against. 82 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:34,000 Now I'm not really concerned about your political affiliations today. 83 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,000 I'm concerned about the affiliation that we have with God. 84 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,000 And I know that God is concerned about this nation. Amen. 85 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,000 And so we're going to see 86 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,000 what is on the mind of God concerning this nation in November. 87 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,000 And if it goes one way, you better buckle down your 88 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:58,000 hatches and hang on honey because there's some stuff about 89 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,000 to come and we're going to need this word today. Amen. 90 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,000 We're going to need it. I'm just giving you a little encouragement 91 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,000 and fore-back. It's not what you're voting for as much as what you're voting against. 92 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,000 Amen. So just put that down in your prayer 93 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,000 list and pray over it. So that's where we are today. 94 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,000 I don't know about you, but politically I'm looking for a way of 95 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:26,000 escape. I'm thinking over 300 million people and this is the best we 96 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,000 can do. I can see a few people in this room that can do better than what we got. 97 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,000 I'm just saying. Put Danelle up there. She can 98 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:38,000 do this. I vote for her. 99 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,000 Because I know what she stands for. 100 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,000 We better get our 101 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,000 hatches battened down church. Because we're going to 102 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,000 be looking for a way out. We're going to be looking for an escape. 103 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,000 Now as Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, they was one of the most 104 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,000 difficult churches I think that he had to 105 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,000 keep his hand on. He had to keep a tight rein on them. 106 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Simply because of where they were and what went on in their city and what they were called out 107 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,000 of. They needed a continual word to encourage them to 108 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,000 remain faithful and to stay faithful. That's what Paul is writing 109 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:22,000 and telling them now. He said, look, let him that thinks he stands 110 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,000 take heed lest he fall. Pay attention to your relationship with God. 111 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,000 You haven't arrived until we've arrived. 112 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,000 Amen. And the moment we start to take ease and the moment we start to 113 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,000 let up, the enemy will seize us and he will surround you. 114 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,000 Because you've separated yourself and you set yourself aside, you're not 115 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,000 praying like you should. You're not in the word like you should. You're not in the church house 116 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,000 like you should. And before you know it, the enemy's got you cut off. He's got you 117 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,000 surrounded and he's ready to take you for everything you're worth. 118 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,000 And when a man thinks he's standing strong, be very careful. 119 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,000 Because you're just about to go down. The scripture talks about the prideful heart 120 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,000 and the prideful spirit. A haughty spirit goes before destruction and pride 121 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,000 before a fall. So we have to maintain our humility for the 122 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Lord and we've got to maintain our fervor in service to him. 123 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,000 So he said, whoever let him take heed if he thinks he's standing. 124 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,000 There have no temptation that is coming against you that isn't common to 125 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,000 you. It's not uncommon what is going on in your life. 126 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,000 Mankind at some point, somewhere along the way, someone 127 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,000 has faced the exact thing that you are facing. 128 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,000 So when the devil tries to single you out and tell you that you are all alone 129 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,000 and God has forsaken you and left you to your trial, left you to your affliction 130 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,000 and left you with his temptation, he is a lie. Say that with me, the devil 131 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:50,000 is a lie. Because it's not uncommon what has come 132 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,000 against you and what is coming to destroy you and what is coming to take you out. 133 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,000 It's not uncommon. Thank God that he's on the throne. Amen. 134 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,000 Thank God this is the part I love, that God is faithful. 135 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,000 The temptation is coming against you. It's not uncommon. But know 136 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,000 this church, God is faithful. Amen. 137 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,000 God is faithful. He had to tell you that before he's not going to let 138 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,000 more come on you than you can bear up under. He had to let you know that 139 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,000 before he would tell you that he's going to make a way for you to escape. 140 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,000 So when we begin to think about this thought and this thing 141 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,000 this looking for the way out, it literally means by which 142 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,000 a predicament, the means by which a predicament, a dilemma, a 143 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,000 situation may be solved or avoided. 144 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,000 And many today are looking for a way out. But I'm here to share with you this 145 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,000 morning, there's some things in life that you cannot avoid. There's some 146 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,000 situations that you simply can't get away from. So one man put it 147 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,000 this way, the way out is through. Amen. The way out 148 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,000 is through. And I love that statement. The way out is through. If you're 149 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,000 looking for a way out, it's through. Whatever your dilemma is, whatever 150 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,000 the situation, whatever the predicament is, you got to go through it. Amen. 151 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,000 But thank God we don't go through it alone. We've not been left 152 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,000 to go through it alone. We've not been left to go through it without 153 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,000 the situation. God has given us a word to go through it with. When he said 154 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,000 look, there's nothing coming against you that hasn't come against someone else 155 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000 and God is faithful in the middle of your dilemma, 156 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,000 in the middle of your predicament, in the middle of your situation. Never forget 157 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,000 that God is faithful. He's not going to forsake you. 158 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,000 He's not going to let you down. You may have to walk through it, but he's not going to let you 159 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:42,000 walk through it alone. And the way out is the way through. 160 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,000 It's on the other side of your predicament. 161 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,000 So how many times throughout scripture do we see people in predicaments, 162 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:54,000 various situations and various dilemmas, and that God 163 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,000 was faithful over their dilemma and that he provided 164 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,000 a way of escape. I love that. He said I'm not going to let more 165 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:06,000 come on you than you can bear, but in the process of the temptation 166 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,000 he's going to make a way for you to escape. 167 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,000 I found something. Remember that there is a way 168 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,000 and there's the way. And what you and I want is the way, 169 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,000 not just any way, because there will be options that present themselves 170 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,000 in every predicament. There will be options that show up in every situation, 171 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,000 every trial, every affliction. There will be options that pop themselves up. 172 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:34,000 But that's not what we're looking for. We're looking for the way, the way 173 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,000 of escape, the way that God is going to open up before you. That's the 174 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,000 one I'm looking for. I've looked over my life and I've had some 175 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,000 thought processing over predicaments and I've seen options that have 176 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:50,000 come up, but I wouldn't just take the option. I wanted the way that 177 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:54,000 God had. Amen? And that's the faithful way. The way that God will present 178 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,000 before you will always be the way that determines 179 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,000 your faith. The only way you're going to get through the escape 180 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,000 is you're going to have to trust God who's faithful. It's not just any 181 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,000 way. He's going to open before you a way that requires 182 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,000 you to believe in who He is. And by virtue of 183 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,000 that, I'm telling you, it's not always the easy way, 184 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,000 but it is His way. It's the way that He is determined 185 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,000 that you escape, get away from, and are released from the predicament 186 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:30,000 and situation that is in your heart. I know that doesn't encourage us a whole 187 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,000 lot, but the way out and the way through may be a little more 188 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,000 difficult than the way in which you're standing, but that's okay because 189 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,000 it's God who opens the access to the way out. And if God 190 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,000 opens the way of access out, then God will provide 191 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,000 for you everything you need. 192 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,000 Too many times we find ourselves looking for 193 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,000 the way out. And we, 194 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,000 any deer hunters in the house, know that deers take the least path of 195 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:06,000 resistance to get to where they want to go. They're going to find 196 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:10,000 if you'll cut a trail, they'll walk a trail. Just to keep from going through 197 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,000 the thick. Sounds like us a little bit, doesn't it? 198 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,000 Sometimes the devil will go through and cut away that seems like the right 199 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,000 way, but it's the easy way. And then God's got a way over here 200 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,000 that looks like it may be through some thick. It may be through a wilderness. It may be 201 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,000 over a mountain, hello. It may be over a sea. It may be over 202 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:34,000 a raging river. And that's not the, what worse 203 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,000 the way out here. It's the way of faith. Hear me, child of God, 204 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,000 if we're going to make it through, it'll only be because of the faith that we have 205 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,000 in God who is faithful. He's not going to present to us always 206 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,000 the easy way because where, if we just take the easy 207 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,000 way out, where then do we require the grace and the strength 208 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:58,000 and the power of God? Give me the power of God over the easy 209 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:02,000 way any day because I have found that in the wilderness of the 210 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:06,000 wandering, I have never been forsaken. I have found in the way 211 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:10,000 of the wilderness, he's always provided for me. What I simply 212 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:14,000 have to do is trust him and live for him because he 213 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:18,000 is faithful. 214 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,000 The way will always require faith. 215 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,000 The psalmist said in 71 and 2, deliver me in thy righteousness 216 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,000 and cause me to escape. 217 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,000 Incline thine ear unto me and save me. 218 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Cause me to escape. 219 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:42,000 There are multiple times the word escape is used 220 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,000 in scripture. The theme for you and I not to be 221 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,000 bound and to be trapped is God's idea for you and I. 222 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,000 That's his plan. That's the plan that he has for you. That's the plan 223 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,000 that he has for me. That's the plan that he has for us. It's not, he gets 224 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,000 no glory out of you being trapped. Oh, come on somebody. 225 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,000 He gets no glory out of you being bound and 226 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,000 unchanged but his glory is received when you and I walk through in 227 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:14,000 liberty. His glory is elevated when you and I trust him 228 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:18,000 and know that by his strife we are healed and that 229 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:22,000 by his authority we have authority over what is before 230 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,000 us and he gets glory when you and I lift up our heads 231 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,000 and square our shoulders back and look at the path through the most difficult journey 232 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,000 but it's the door that he opened. It's the way that he's opened and we 233 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,000 enter in that way. It's nonetheless like Moses 234 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,000 when he's getting ready to leave Egypt. It's nonetheless like 235 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,000 Jacob as he is on his journey to escape from his brother 236 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,000 Esau but God is calling him back toward his dilemma. 237 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:54,000 God is moving Jacob back toward his predicament. 238 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,000 God has called him back to where his situation was 239 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,000 and if you'll go and look in Genesis 32 you'll 240 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:06,000 see Jacob in a very tight spot looking for a 241 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,000 way out. He's making his way back. 242 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,000 His family's grown. Herdsmen have grown. 243 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:18,000 His herds are large and God is calling him 244 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,000 back home and he's at the river the night of 245 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,000 before his crossing. He divides his family 246 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,000 his holdings into two bands. 247 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,000 He separates them because he's looking for a way out and this is what Jacob 248 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,000 actually said. He divides his company so that if 249 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:42,000 one is attacked one could escape. 250 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:46,000 In other words if Esau sets out and attacks his family he 251 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,000 won't get us all. There's at least hope to escape 252 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,000 so he sends the first group over. He sends presents out 253 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,000 and stuff to honor Esau and to let him know. 254 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,000 This is what Jacob told us. When you come up to him you present to him the 255 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,000 gifts that I'm giving and you tell him that your brother Jacob and his family 256 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,000 they are coming up behind us. If you run into him before we do 257 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,000 you tell him I'm coming. You tell him I'm on my way and I'm bringing more 258 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,000 gifts behind me because we want to honor my brother Esau 259 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,000 and it would be in that night, that night, the very night that he sent the first 260 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,000 band over that the angel of the Lord would come and he would wrestle with him 261 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,000 throughout the night and it would be the morning that he determined there is a 262 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:34,000 way out because the blessing of the Lord is about to be put 263 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:38,000 upon Jacob. I'm here to tell somebody you feel like you're wrestling 264 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:42,000 all night long but the dawning of the day 265 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,000 is coming and the way of escape is coming to you. He's 266 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,000 about to make a way. 267 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,000 The hand of the Lord is about to bless you. 268 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,000 Don't stop now. It's not the easy way. 269 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,000 The easy way would have been to stay with Laban 270 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,000 away from Esau but God 271 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,000 don't always keep you away. He wants you to go through. 272 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,000 So what does he do? He opens the 273 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,000 door of escape 274 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:22,000 and you get right to where he's called you to 275 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,000 and it's not the easy way. That was not easy for 276 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,000 Jacob to do. You can hear as you can feel 277 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,000 as you read the text there in 278 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,000 Genesis 32, the struggle as the author pens 279 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:42,000 the struggle that was in Jacob 280 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,000 to separate his family and his holdings. You could hear 281 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:50,000 how it was agonizing to him. Should the one 282 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:54,000 be attacked then one could escape. 283 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,000 How do you pick? 284 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,000 Sometimes you and I are forced to 285 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,000 make some choices that aren't very pleasant are they? 286 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,000 That wasn't a pleasant choice for Jacob but it was a choice he made 287 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,000 because he's endeavoring to spare his family 288 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,000 so that one might escape. Moses had the same encounter 289 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,000 in Exodus 14. After the plagues have been unleashed 290 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:26,000 upon Pharaoh in Egypt he's finally driving 291 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,000 the children of Israel out. They're making their 292 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,000 journey. God hardens Pharaoh's heart 293 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,000 causes him to rise up again, get his chariots 294 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,000 and get in pursuit of the children of Israel. 295 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:46,000 So here is Moses the man of God leading God's 296 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,000 people toward the promise that has been made. 297 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,000 So he makes his way to a very 298 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:58,000 difficult portion of land. Look what Pharaoh 299 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,000 says about where they are. As he 300 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,000 encounters Moses and Israel. Verse 3 Exodus 14 301 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,000 he says they are entangled 302 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,000 in the land. Pharaoh knew 303 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,000 the geography of his holding in kingdom. 304 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,000 He knew where they were. He knew there were mountains on both 305 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:26,000 sides of them. He knew the Red Sea was before them and he was coming 306 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,000 up behind them. I will take advantage and attack them 307 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,000 why because they're in the place of hardship. They're 308 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,000 in between a rock and a hard place with nowhere else to go 309 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:42,000 and I am going to get them and I'm going to bring them back. 310 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,000 But little does Pharaoh understand that God had 311 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,000 directed their pathway through the hardship to the 312 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:54,000 rock of the hard place to the sea that was before them so that 313 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,000 he would be glorified. I wish somebody would go home and look 314 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,000 in a mirror and say you are where you are so that God may 315 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,000 be glorified. 316 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,000 Oh I think I'm going 317 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:14,000 straight to the bathroom when I get home. 318 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,000 I just preached myself a good 319 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,000 shout hallelujah. You go look at yourself 320 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 and you say you are where you are by divine direction and divine 321 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,000 plan. You are where God wants you so that he 322 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:34,000 gets glory. 323 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,000 Looking for the way out. 324 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:42,000 The children of Israel said you brought us out here to die. 325 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:46,000 They're murmuring, complaining, griping at 326 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,000 Moses. You brought us out here. We could have died in Egypt. We didn't have 327 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,000 to come all the way out here to die. 328 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,000 He's getting aggravated. 329 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,000 He begins to shout at my socks down. That's aggravating. 330 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,000 I need to 331 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:10,000 hock him up. I'm going to throw this 332 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,000 pair away. They stretched. Hello, come on somebody. 333 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,000 You hang in here with me. I told that brown sire I was preaching to 334 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,000 yesterday. I said look, I didn't come here to give you 335 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,000 theological exploit. I'm not here to talk about 336 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,000 hermeneutics and all that stuff. I said you're just going to get me today. I was talking 337 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,000 to a bunch of men. I'm preaching to a bunch of men. I'm preaching to y'all today. 338 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:38,000 My socks fell down. I'm sorry. 339 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,000 I'm fighting my britches. 340 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,000 The last thing I need is my socks. 341 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:50,000 I'm 342 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:54,000 telling you I'm heading home. I'm going to look in the mirror. 343 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,000 We are where we are. You are where you are. If the steps of a good man are ordered 344 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,000 of the Lord, can I tell you you're not in the middle of a mistake? 345 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,000 God doesn't make mistakes. You're divinely 346 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:10,000 appointed for the trouble that you're looking at. You're divinely appointed 347 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:14,000 for the affliction that's on your body. You're divinely 348 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,000 appointed for the trouble that you're looking at. 349 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:22,000 So lift up your head. Talk to your soul. Get up 350 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:26,000 and praise the Lord. He has ordered my 351 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,000 steps. Stop looking for any way out. 352 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,000 Fat man's getting hot. 353 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,000 I 354 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:50,000 just about quit right there. 355 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,000 Youngin, you are facing what you're facing. 356 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:58,000 No strange matter to God. No strange 357 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:02,000 matter. He knows where you are. He knows whether 358 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,000 you're entangled in the land and what's going on in your body. It's okay. 359 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,000 It ain't uncommon 360 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:14,000 somebody else has laid out jerking in church somewhere before. 361 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,000 Don't be embarrassed, honey. You can't help it. 362 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,000 Hello. 363 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,000 We put on way too many airs anyhow. 364 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,000 Hello. 365 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,000 I just appreciate you keeping on coming. 366 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,000 A lot of folks said, yeah, you let them tell you 367 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:44,000 you've got epilepsy or something. Whether they even know what you got or not. 368 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:48,000 And it hits you in church. I didn't know she had the one last week. 369 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,000 I was keyed in on the preacher. 370 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,000 It ain't caught God by surprise. 371 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,000 It ain't caught God by surprise. 372 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:08,000 What we're dealing with 373 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:12,000 ain't caught God by surprise. If our steps 374 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:16,000 are ordered, we are where we are destined to 375 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:20,000 be. And I'm not looking for 376 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,000 the easy way out. There's only one option. That's 377 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:28,000 his option. I'm looking for the way. 378 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:32,000 Not just any old way. The way of escape 379 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:36,000 that he opens for me. Pharaoh says they are entangled in the land. 380 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,000 Moses is entreating the 381 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,000 aggravation of the people as they're whining about where they are. 382 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:48,000 He goes to the 383 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,000 Lord. The Lord says, what you got in your hand? Well, I got 384 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,000 this staff. You mean the one that 385 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,000 I had you cast down and it turned into a serpent? 386 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,000 Yeah, that's the one. Oh, you mean the one that swallowed all them other ones up? 387 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:08,000 And when you took it by the tail, it become your staff again? 388 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:12,000 That's the one. Well, hold that out. 389 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:16,000 You tell that bunch, I can see God getting 390 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:20,000 frustrated with us sometimes. I'm just glad he don't get fully mad. 391 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,000 You tell them to stand 392 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:28,000 still. How many remember telling you youngins to stand still? 393 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:32,000 Now, when I said stand still, I meant still. 394 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:36,000 I didn't mean a foot over here and three feet back there. If I put you 395 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:40,000 that's where I want you to be when I come back for you. 396 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:44,000 In the lab 397 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:48,000 training world, the first command that is taught is sit. 398 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:52,000 I've been over to the dog 399 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:56,000 trainers and new owners come in and they ask 400 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:00,000 Brian, what's the command for stay? He said sit. 401 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:04,000 I can see this confused look on their face. 402 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:08,000 Well, how's that? Sit means sit till you're told here. 403 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:12,000 Stand still 404 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:16,000 means to put your foot planted and don't move 405 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:20,000 until I tell you to move. 406 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,000 You tell them to stand still and see 407 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,000 the salvation of the Lord. Now, I'm going to preach right here. Are you ready? 408 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:32,000 Some of you wiggling around way too much. You're here, you're 409 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:36,000 there, you're yawning, you're everywhere but where he's told you to stand still 410 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,000 at. You're not going to see it. You're not going to see 411 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,000 what he's about to do and you're running all over tarnation trying to find it. 412 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,000 He said stand still if you want to see my salvation, which 413 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,000 is my deliverance, which is my liberation, which is my provision. 414 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,000 If you want to see the way out, then you've got to stand 415 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,000 yourself still. Too many people in and out serving 416 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:04,000 God today, back in the bar smoking and doing all this other junk. The next day 417 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:08,000 I'm here to tell you purify yourself, put your feet 418 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,000 flattened firm and see the way out. 419 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:16,000 Now, stretch 420 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:20,000 that rod out, Moses, and feel the cool 421 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:24,000 breeze. Whoo! Now, look 422 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:28,000 I don't know how long it took for a seed to stand at 423 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:32,000 attention, but it was taking long enough 424 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,000 that the army of Pharaoh was getting a little closer. 425 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,000 A little too close for comfort, if you will. There's a bunch of 426 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,000 folk got to walk over. Thankfully it wasn't 427 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:48,000 muddy and mucky. It was dry. 428 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:52,000 You'll catch that later. 429 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,000 So much so 430 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,000 that God bought them a little time to get all the way over. 431 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:04,000 You need to go read it. It's powerful. You know there's some amazing things in 432 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:08,000 scripture if you'll read it. 433 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:12,000 You see these mission groups, it's got 434 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,000 a lot of people in the village, pick crew on the side of their little trailers, they go around and do the work. 435 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:20,000 They got that from this occasion. 436 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,000 Because see, God sent an angel out of that cloud 437 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,000 everybody remember the cloud that they were following by day 438 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,000 that lit up, illuminated in a pillar of fire at night? 439 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,000 Well, He sent an angel out of that cloud. 440 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:40,000 He went down and took off all 441 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:44,000 of the wheels of the chariots. 442 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:48,000 Go read it. So that they drug in the sand. 443 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,000 Bought them a little time. 444 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:56,000 He has to buy you and I a little time to get our mind made up to see if we're going to walk through. 445 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,000 Well, if we get out there and it'll 446 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,000 fall in on us. No. 447 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:08,000 Not if He told it to stand up. 448 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,000 Because you see, the Red Sea has more obedience than most of us got. 449 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:16,000 That sea would still be standing today. 450 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Had He not gave it command when they finally drug them chariots in 451 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:24,000 if the Lord hadn't commanded the Red Sea to go back 452 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:28,000 to its borders, it would still be standing. You talking about a marvel 453 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:32,000 for humanity. Where are you going? I think I'm going to see 454 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:36,000 the water that's standing in attention. 455 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:40,000 If you and I, it's the 456 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:44,000 faith walk. The way is a faith way 457 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:48,000 when He opens the way, you got to know He's 458 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:52,000 got enough to keep it open until you get through. 459 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:56,000 No matter how amazing it may appear, 460 00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:00,000 you have to know that He's got enough to keep it 461 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:04,000 open until you get through. 462 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,000 And you know the 463 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,000 agnostics argue, well, it was only ankle deep 464 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:16,000 where they crossed. Okay, I'll go with ankle deep. 465 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,000 You tell me, what was it, 600 chariots? 466 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:24,000 An army? You tell me 467 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:28,000 how horses and chariot men drowned 468 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:32,000 in ankle deep water. You explain that one, I'll go with you. 469 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:36,000 Ankle deep. 470 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:40,000 Okay. Right? 471 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:44,000 They still hadn't found them chariots. 472 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:48,000 Why? Because look, when God does something, 473 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:52,000 He does it all the way. He didn't just halfway 474 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:56,000 do anything. I got to keep going. My Lord, this got long enough out. 475 00:31:56,000 --> 00:32:00,000 Looking for a way. 476 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:04,000 The woman with the issue of blood, Mark 5. 477 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:08,000 Spent all she had, seen every doctor in town. 478 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:12,000 The scripture said, grew none the better, but grew worse. 479 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:16,000 Spent all, finally flat, busted and disgusted. 480 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,000 Looking for a way out. 481 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:24,000 Looking for a way out of her situation. Heard 482 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:28,000 that Jesus was coming to town. 483 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,000 And then confessed to herself. 484 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,000 If I can just touch the hem of His garment, 485 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:40,000 I won't be made whole. 486 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:44,000 That's my way. 487 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:48,000 That's my way. Can I tell you today, it's still our way. 488 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:52,000 His declaration, I am the way, 489 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:56,000 the truth and the life. No man come with Him to the Father, 490 00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:00,000 but by me, He is the way. There is 491 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:04,000 no other way. So at some point in our situation, 492 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:08,000 when we've done all we can physically do, 493 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:12,000 we have to turn to the way. 494 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:16,000 He'll make 495 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,000 a way. He did, and He sent the way. 496 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:24,000 For you and I. 497 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:28,000 It's not uncommon what we are dealing with. 498 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:32,000 It may be uncommon to us. 499 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:36,000 How many of you are dealing with some things you've never dealt with before? 500 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,000 Kind of strange, like, it's like, man, I've never been here before. 501 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:44,000 But that doesn't mean Brian hadn't been there. 502 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:48,000 Brother Jeff hadn't been there, you know. 503 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,000 Courtney, you may have been there. I haven't been there. 504 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:56,000 But somebody's been there. 505 00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,000 And by virtue of them being there as a child of God, 506 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:04,000 He got them out. 507 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:08,000 Because if He got them out, that means 508 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:12,000 He's going to get me out. He's going to get you out. 509 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:16,000 Because thankfully He's no respecter of persons. 510 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:20,000 Hello! And He executes judgment upon our enemies. 511 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:24,000 So, vengeance belongs to Him. 512 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:28,000 And if He vindicated you, 513 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:32,000 my faith is beginning to soar. Because He loves me 514 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:36,000 more than He does you. 515 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:40,000 At least that's what I tell myself. Hopefully you're telling yourself 516 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:50,000 the same thing. Because I know how much He loves me. 517 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:54,000 You just said He's no respecter of persons. 518 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:58,000 That was sarcasm at its best. 519 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,000 How much did He love us? 520 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,000 He sent His Son. 521 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:10,000 The whosoever 522 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:14,000 would believe in Him. Would not what? 523 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:18,000 Well, if we're not going to perish in eternity, you surely don't think 524 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:22,000 He's going to let you perish here. 525 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:30,000 Her issue was taken care of. 526 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:34,000 Was it the easy way? No. 527 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:38,000 It was the only way. 528 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:42,000 Was it easy for her to get to Jesus? I don't think so. She'd been sick for 12 years. 529 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:46,000 Anemic. 530 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:50,000 Losing blood for 12 years. 531 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:54,000 And we've read various occasions 532 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:58,000 where multitudes, hundreds, thousands 533 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:02,000 surrounded Him trying to get close to Him. 534 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:06,000 And this weak, frail, 535 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:10,000 tired, hello, 536 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:14,000 how many of you get tired, 537 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:18,000 came in behind Him. 538 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:22,000 Let your mind wrap around, stand, wait a minute, I'm going to hush 539 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:26,000 after this. I think there's more, but I'm going to stop. Afraid I'm going to lose you here. 540 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:30,000 Can you imagine 541 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:34,000 the extra effort 542 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:38,000 to get to Him from behind? 543 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:42,000 Have you ever tried to walk against 544 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:46,000 a large crowd? 545 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:50,000 You could part your way, and they'll kindly do this, right? They just go out and go around you. 546 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:54,000 Doesn't work that way when you're coming up from behind. 547 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,000 You've got to work hard. 548 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:02,000 It's more difficult to come from behind 549 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:06,000 than it is from the front end. 550 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:10,000 The flow's going away from you. You don't have the help 551 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,000 of the flow. 552 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:18,000 She really had to exert all that she had left. 553 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:22,000 In my mind, I can almost see her with that last 554 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:26,000 ounce of strength. 555 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:30,000 The reason she didn't get a handful of his robe, because she couldn't get close 556 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:34,000 enough. It was that last 557 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:38,000 desperate lunge. 558 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:42,000 My God. 559 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:46,000 She touched the Hymn. 560 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:50,000 Then there was a 561 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:54,000 pile up on Jericho Avenue. 562 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:58,000 Because He stopped. 563 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:02,000 Let your mind wrap around the scene. 564 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:06,000 Can you see that crowd? They're all reaching 565 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:10,000 Jesus. 566 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:14,000 Then He just cold turkey stops. 567 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:18,000 Looks at the disciples and says, 568 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,000 who touched me? 569 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:26,000 No one after this much time being with Him, they 570 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:30,000 ought to understood what He was saying. 571 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:34,000 But like us, what do you mean 572 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:38,000 who touched you? 573 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:42,000 I don't know. He said, no, no, no, no. 574 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:46,000 Virtue had come out of me. 575 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:50,000 Somebody didn't touch me for what they want. 576 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:54,000 Somebody 577 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:58,000 has touched me for what they need. 578 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:02,000 It come out of me and I don't know who it is. 579 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:06,000 Are you looking for a way out? 580 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:10,000 Are you looking for the way out? 581 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:14,000 Come reach forth and let His virtue touch you 582 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:18,000 this morning. Let Him touch you. 583 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:22,000 You may feel like this is it. This is all I've got. 584 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:26,000 I don't have anything left. 585 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,000 I've got to touch Him. If that's you, come on. 586 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:34,000 Come on. 587 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:38,000 I'm not going to be here all day waiting on you either. You know what you need. 588 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:42,000 Come on up, darling. We've got to have Him. We've got to touch Him. 589 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:46,000 We've got to touch Him. 590 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:50,000 We're not looking for the A way. We're looking for the E way. 591 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:54,000 We've got to touch Him. 592 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:58,000 Some of you have got to touch Him. 593 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:02,000 You feel like you're at that Red Sea and mountains all around 594 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:06,000 and the devil breathing down your neck. 595 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:10,000 We've got to position ourselves so that we can stand and see 596 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:14,000 His salvation. 597 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:18,000 His deliverance. 598 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:22,000 Quit frailing around and focus 599 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:26,000 so that we can see Him. 600 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:30,000 Quit wrestling with our dilemma and wrestling with our problem. 601 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:34,000 Trying to figure out the predicament on our own. 602 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:38,000 Let God do it. Let God do it. 603 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:42,000 You're where you are. 604 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:46,000 He's led you there. 605 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:50,000 He's not going to allow more to come on you 606 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:54,000 than you can bear up under. 607 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,000 Look here, child. He knows the level of our faith. 608 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:02,000 Wouldn't He be a very mean, obstinate God? 609 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:06,000 Wouldn't He be if He knew what your level was 610 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:10,000 and just grinned while the weight surpassed it? 611 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:14,000 That's not the God you and I serve. 612 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:18,000 The God you and I serve is faithful. 613 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:22,000 He's faithful. What does that mean? 614 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:26,000 That means you're going to make it. You are going to make it. 615 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:30,000 We're going to survive it. 616 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:34,000 We may have to get in the wilderness. 617 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:38,000 We may have to walk through a sea. 618 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:42,000 We may have to push our way through. 619 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,000 But when we touch Him, 620 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:50,000 better yet, when He touches us, 621 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:54,000 stretch your hands this way. Some of these folks need some prayer warriors behind them. 622 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:58,000 Some of you are full of faith. Would you come and let's stand with one another? 623 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:02,000 I know we're all facing dilemmas of some kind or another. 624 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:06,000 Amen? 625 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:10,000 Or some kind of strife, some kind of struggle. 626 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:14,000 So if you would just take a few moments where you are 627 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:18,000 and pray for one another. 628 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:22,000 Father, in the name of Jesus, I need to see it. 629 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:26,000 I need to see that way out. 630 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:36,000 Amen.