1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,900 He is glorious. 2 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:13,780 Behold the one who has come to life. 3 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:15,740 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 4 00:00:15,740 --> 00:00:17,780 To get connected or to give online, 5 00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:23,680 you can go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,660 If at any time during this message 7 00:00:25,660 --> 00:00:28,300 you feel called to make a change in your life, 8 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:33,060 text changeme to 970-00. 9 00:00:33,060 --> 00:00:35,060 Thank you and enjoy the message. 10 00:00:35,060 --> 00:00:37,540 This morning you picked the right gathering. 11 00:00:37,540 --> 00:00:38,700 You know why? 12 00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:40,980 Because the heat is working. 13 00:00:40,980 --> 00:00:43,640 During our first gathering there was no heat, 14 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,020 so it happened to be 52 degrees when I walked in here. 15 00:00:47,020 --> 00:00:52,960 I am not up on making heat work, so we just kind of went with it. 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,960 But thank you, John Mueller, for fixing our heat 17 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,040 so that our second service people can 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,220 be warm and snugly. 19 00:00:59,220 --> 00:01:01,940 Thank you, John. 20 00:01:01,940 --> 00:01:03,300 So welcome to HCV. 21 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:04,580 If it's your first time here, we are 22 00:01:04,580 --> 00:01:05,580 thankful that you're here. 23 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:06,660 Thank you for being our guest. 24 00:01:06,660 --> 00:01:08,080 If you're joining us from home, thank you 25 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:09,780 for welcoming us into your space. 26 00:01:09,780 --> 00:01:11,620 Just a couple additional announcements. 27 00:01:11,620 --> 00:01:15,140 If you got baptized, we have your baptism certificates 28 00:01:15,140 --> 00:01:16,300 at the Welcome Hub. 29 00:01:16,300 --> 00:01:20,420 Please stop by and grab them on your way out. 30 00:01:20,420 --> 00:01:22,660 Last week was our group du jour. 31 00:01:22,660 --> 00:01:26,860 Some of you went, but our group leaders all did soups. 32 00:01:26,860 --> 00:01:30,700 As a means to feed you as an appetizer for your lunch. 33 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:32,660 And we have two winners. 34 00:01:32,660 --> 00:01:36,420 Our first place winner, our grand champion, was Lance. 35 00:01:36,420 --> 00:01:36,920 OK? 36 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,180 So can we give him a lanc- there he is. 37 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:42,460 Let me just preface by saying that Lance 38 00:01:42,460 --> 00:01:45,460 is one of our youth leaders, and he may or may not 39 00:01:45,460 --> 00:01:47,220 have had the middle school vote. 40 00:01:47,220 --> 00:01:47,860 OK? 41 00:01:47,860 --> 00:01:52,100 So yes, he did win grand champion questionable. 42 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:54,220 OK? 43 00:01:54,220 --> 00:01:58,620 Our People's Choice Award goes to my wife, Jessica, 44 00:01:58,620 --> 00:02:00,660 for her shrimp chowder. 45 00:02:00,660 --> 00:02:02,380 All right? 46 00:02:02,380 --> 00:02:06,380 Dairy free, gluten free, as healthy as you can be. 47 00:02:06,380 --> 00:02:07,820 I had two bowls last night. 48 00:02:07,820 --> 00:02:10,260 She made some for me for the Ravens game. 49 00:02:10,260 --> 00:02:11,100 It's delicious. 50 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:13,520 If you want the recipe, talk to her. 51 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,420 You may or may not get it correctly, 52 00:02:15,420 --> 00:02:17,100 because she doesn't follow one. 53 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:17,600 OK? 54 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:23,020 She just kind of makes it up, which is a wonderful thing. 55 00:02:23,020 --> 00:02:25,340 So Jess and I were watching a concert on Friday night 56 00:02:25,340 --> 00:02:27,900 on the TV, just chilling and relaxing. 57 00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:29,220 And at the beginning of the concert, 58 00:02:29,220 --> 00:02:34,900 a band used an audio clip from Charlie Chapman's final movie 59 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:38,100 called The Final Speech from the Great Director. 60 00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:41,740 This was actually the only movie that Chapman ever 61 00:02:41,740 --> 00:02:43,700 made with audio. 62 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,420 And in this movie, he says this. 63 00:02:46,420 --> 00:02:50,260 In the 17th chapter of St. Luke, it is written, 64 00:02:50,260 --> 00:02:54,660 the kingdom of God is within man, not one man, 65 00:02:54,660 --> 00:02:58,180 nor a group of men, but in everyone. 66 00:02:58,180 --> 00:03:02,260 In you, you, the people, have the power, the power 67 00:03:02,260 --> 00:03:05,780 to create machines, the power to create happiness. 68 00:03:05,780 --> 00:03:09,300 You, the people, have the power to make this life free 69 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:14,820 and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. 70 00:03:14,820 --> 00:03:17,380 Powerful words that I want you to reflect on. 71 00:03:17,380 --> 00:03:19,180 But before we move on, look at your neighbor 72 00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:21,340 and say, the kingdom of God is within you. 73 00:03:24,660 --> 00:03:28,220 See, we say that often here at HCV. 74 00:03:28,220 --> 00:03:32,180 But for so many people, they're not quite sure what that means. 75 00:03:32,180 --> 00:03:34,780 So that's the adventure we're going on this morning. 76 00:03:34,780 --> 00:03:37,780 Now, I want to take you back in a time machine to the 80s. 77 00:03:37,780 --> 00:03:40,700 When I was growing up, I always looked forward 78 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:45,460 to Friday nights because that was the best night for TV shows. 79 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:49,700 On Friday nights, we had Knight Rider and Dukes of Hazzard. 80 00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:51,020 OK? 81 00:03:51,020 --> 00:03:52,140 Woo, you know it. 82 00:03:52,140 --> 00:03:52,660 You know? 83 00:03:52,660 --> 00:03:55,940 So some of you are thinking, I don't know what a Knight Rider is. 84 00:03:55,940 --> 00:03:58,300 And I have no idea what a Duke of Hazzard is. 85 00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:02,300 But just do a Google search, you'll quickly learn. 86 00:04:02,300 --> 00:04:05,100 And the cool thing about watching Friday night TV for me 87 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:07,980 was it didn't matter when you turned it on. 88 00:04:07,980 --> 00:04:10,420 I could have turned it on 30 minutes late. 89 00:04:10,420 --> 00:04:13,380 I was immediately into the show watching it, 90 00:04:13,380 --> 00:04:16,420 excited for all that was going to happen. 91 00:04:16,420 --> 00:04:20,060 Now, one problem that I quickly discovered about my Friday nights 92 00:04:20,060 --> 00:04:25,500 is that back then, I believed that if I turned the TV off 93 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:29,100 because I had to go somewhere or my mom was taking me somewhere 94 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:33,020 or something was just happening, that when I returned to the TV 95 00:04:33,020 --> 00:04:37,620 an hour or two later, it would be there. 96 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:40,900 To which now we know it wasn't. 97 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:44,140 So I was very disappointed over and over again. 98 00:04:44,140 --> 00:04:45,980 Fast forward to today. 99 00:04:45,980 --> 00:04:50,780 We now have on demand TV. 100 00:04:50,780 --> 00:04:54,540 It's as if what I dreamed of as a young person 101 00:04:54,540 --> 00:04:59,260 actually now has become a reality and my kids are spoiled. 102 00:04:59,260 --> 00:04:59,780 Right? 103 00:04:59,780 --> 00:05:03,900 My kids now have the ability to log into Disney+, 104 00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:08,860 watch any show, any movie, whenever they want with a click of a button. 105 00:05:08,860 --> 00:05:12,340 And we all know that with on demand TV, 106 00:05:12,340 --> 00:05:15,540 we can hit pause if we want to get a snack, 107 00:05:15,540 --> 00:05:16,900 if we want to go to the bathroom. 108 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:20,580 And you know, for me back in the 80s, that was a commercial break. 109 00:05:20,580 --> 00:05:21,300 Right? 110 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:25,300 Now you just pause it, move on and do what you want. 111 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:31,300 Truth is, on demand content has transformed the way we receive content. 112 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:34,260 We can watch anything we want, any time we want. 113 00:05:34,260 --> 00:05:39,380 We're no longer relegated to broadcast schedules. 114 00:05:39,380 --> 00:05:39,900 OK? 115 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:45,380 How many of you are thankful for Netflix and Hulu and Amazon Prime 116 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:49,420 and dare I say, Peacock? 117 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:52,620 Now, some of you are upset with Peacock 118 00:05:52,620 --> 00:05:56,780 because just last weekend during the NFL's Wild Card weekend, 119 00:05:56,780 --> 00:06:01,340 Peacock had the most streamed live event ever 120 00:06:01,340 --> 00:06:03,660 in the history of the United States. 121 00:06:03,660 --> 00:06:09,460 23 million viewers set a record to watch the Kansas City Chiefs 122 00:06:09,460 --> 00:06:11,620 defeat the Miami Dolphins. 123 00:06:11,620 --> 00:06:18,740 The point, on demand TV, on demand services is where we are now. 124 00:06:18,740 --> 00:06:23,420 And it has changed the way we watch TV, movies or live sporting events. 125 00:06:23,420 --> 00:06:27,740 Heck, it's even changed the way I share with our community of faith. 126 00:06:27,740 --> 00:06:32,340 Every single Sunday, we have nearly 300 people 127 00:06:32,340 --> 00:06:35,060 watching our online content, right? 128 00:06:35,060 --> 00:06:38,420 Or the following week on YouTube, Instagram. 129 00:06:38,420 --> 00:06:41,060 And now, did I mention TikTok? 130 00:06:41,060 --> 00:06:44,380 Thank you, Lily, for going into the TikTok world 131 00:06:44,380 --> 00:06:49,500 because there are thousands of people that will watch this content. 132 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:54,460 And we believe it will point them to Jesus, which is the point, right? 133 00:06:54,460 --> 00:06:58,980 I can no longer be shallow and just talk to those of you gathered here. 134 00:06:58,980 --> 00:07:03,580 I now have to look into cameras and think about who is watching 135 00:07:03,580 --> 00:07:08,700 not only now, but later, because it has to go broader 136 00:07:08,700 --> 00:07:12,380 because of the on-demand audience. 137 00:07:12,380 --> 00:07:18,420 On demand, dare I say, is the premise for the Book of Acts in the early church. 138 00:07:18,420 --> 00:07:22,540 See, Jesus, he's making this transition to show his disciples 139 00:07:22,540 --> 00:07:27,740 that they need his power on earth on demand, right? 140 00:07:27,740 --> 00:07:31,540 Before Jesus returned to heaven and then sent his Holy Spirit 141 00:07:31,540 --> 00:07:33,980 to fill his followers in Acts chapter 2, 142 00:07:33,980 --> 00:07:40,100 most of the miracles that we read about is relegated to Jesus' earthly body. 143 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:43,900 Heck, there's a reason the disciples didn't want Jesus to leave 144 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:47,700 after he spent 40 days with them in his resurrected body. 145 00:07:47,700 --> 00:07:49,980 Remember, Jesus was crucified, right? 146 00:07:49,980 --> 00:07:54,500 He died, he was buried, and then rose from the dead three days later. 147 00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:58,860 And then in his resurrected body, spent time with his disciples. 148 00:07:58,860 --> 00:08:03,260 Then Jesus says to them, no, it's better that I go away. 149 00:08:03,260 --> 00:08:08,060 In fact, it's good if I go away because when I go away, 150 00:08:08,060 --> 00:08:10,140 I'm going to leave you with the Holy Spirit. 151 00:08:10,140 --> 00:08:13,180 I don't want miracles to be relegated just to me. 152 00:08:13,180 --> 00:08:19,100 No, Jesus wants his power working in you and through you. 153 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:21,980 And when his power works in you and through you, 154 00:08:21,980 --> 00:08:26,900 then people can experience breakthroughs on demand. 155 00:08:26,900 --> 00:08:30,340 People can experience healing on demand. 156 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:32,820 They can get restoration on demand. 157 00:08:32,820 --> 00:08:36,940 They can experience forgiveness on demand. 158 00:08:36,940 --> 00:08:41,220 See, Jesus said to his disciples, I am leaving you with a power 159 00:08:41,220 --> 00:08:44,940 that when you walk by someone that is hurting or broken, 160 00:08:44,940 --> 00:08:47,060 you don't have to go and find Jesus. 161 00:08:47,060 --> 00:08:48,620 You don't have to bring Jesus back. 162 00:08:48,620 --> 00:08:53,580 No, you waited on me in the upper room, now you're filled with the Spirit. 163 00:08:53,580 --> 00:08:55,220 Give it away. 164 00:08:55,220 --> 00:08:58,980 Now the disciples, they can lay their hands on the sick. 165 00:08:58,980 --> 00:08:59,780 Because why? 166 00:08:59,780 --> 00:09:04,020 Because Jesus no longer has to be present for the miracles to happen. 167 00:09:04,020 --> 00:09:08,140 And his power can now work through you and me on demand 168 00:09:08,140 --> 00:09:11,140 to release his healing power on this earth. 169 00:09:11,140 --> 00:09:15,540 And this was what is happening in the text that God put on my heart for today 170 00:09:15,540 --> 00:09:17,820 as we continue our 21 days to freedom. 171 00:09:17,820 --> 00:09:22,660 Thus far in week one, we were challenged to get out of the crowd 172 00:09:22,660 --> 00:09:26,620 and to be a disciple and start following Jesus this year. 173 00:09:26,620 --> 00:09:29,460 Last year, we walked away from shame and guilt 174 00:09:29,460 --> 00:09:31,460 as we discussed the book of Leviticus. 175 00:09:31,460 --> 00:09:32,460 That was fun, right? 176 00:09:32,460 --> 00:09:33,580 Everyone nod. 177 00:09:33,580 --> 00:09:36,540 Did everyone learn a little bit about Leviticus? 178 00:09:36,540 --> 00:09:39,780 If you missed any of those two talks, you can go back to YouTube, of course, 179 00:09:39,780 --> 00:09:43,300 and listen in on demand. 180 00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:45,580 Today, we find Peter and John, 181 00:09:45,580 --> 00:09:48,460 they're in the middle of a huge paradigm shift 182 00:09:48,460 --> 00:09:54,060 where they are now understanding Jesus is not just doing stuff for us, 183 00:09:54,060 --> 00:09:56,500 he is now doing stuff through us, 184 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:59,700 and we get to experience the kingdom of God, 185 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:01,740 which leads us to our first thought. 186 00:10:01,740 --> 00:10:07,260 See, Peter and John discerned the crippled beggar needed healing. 187 00:10:07,260 --> 00:10:10,500 So here we go, we're going to jump in, Acts chapter three, verses one through four. 188 00:10:10,500 --> 00:10:13,580 Peter and John went to the temple one afternoon. 189 00:10:13,580 --> 00:10:14,420 I love how it is. 190 00:10:14,420 --> 00:10:17,780 Remember, one day, one afternoon, anything can happen 191 00:10:17,780 --> 00:10:20,660 to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. 192 00:10:20,660 --> 00:10:25,900 As they approached the temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. 193 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:28,340 Each day, he was put beside the temple gate, 194 00:10:28,340 --> 00:10:30,100 the one called the beautiful gate, 195 00:10:30,100 --> 00:10:33,460 so he could beg from the people going into the temple. 196 00:10:33,460 --> 00:10:37,740 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 197 00:10:37,740 --> 00:10:41,180 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, 198 00:10:41,180 --> 00:10:49,980 look at us, so Peter and John stopped and perceived this man needed something. 199 00:10:49,980 --> 00:10:53,300 And not only did he need something, he needed a miracle. 200 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:57,980 And quite often, God wants to perform a miracle through us, 201 00:10:57,980 --> 00:11:03,220 and we simply have to perceive or discern what he is doing. 202 00:11:03,220 --> 00:11:04,420 What does that mean for us? 203 00:11:04,420 --> 00:11:11,260 We have to stop being so busy that we can't stop and pause and ask God 204 00:11:11,260 --> 00:11:12,940 what he wants to do through us. 205 00:11:12,940 --> 00:11:14,860 Because if you think about your daily lives, 206 00:11:14,860 --> 00:11:17,500 we're going from one place to the next, we're on our errands, 207 00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:20,020 we're on our schedules, we've got to keep up with them. 208 00:11:20,020 --> 00:11:24,580 We forget that, wait a minute, I have the power of God living inside of me. 209 00:11:24,580 --> 00:11:26,460 What if he wants to use me today? 210 00:11:26,460 --> 00:11:30,180 One person said that if the enemy can't get you to sin, 211 00:11:30,180 --> 00:11:33,500 he will just keep you busy. 212 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:36,220 And we hear it all the time when we're talking with friends 213 00:11:36,220 --> 00:11:38,500 that we haven't seen for a while in church. 214 00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:40,700 Oh, sorry, Chris, I've been meaning to come back. 215 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:43,780 I've just been busy since the holidays. 216 00:11:43,780 --> 00:11:46,900 Or when we're talking to individuals about joining a serve team, 217 00:11:46,900 --> 00:11:48,460 like today is team up. 218 00:11:48,460 --> 00:11:50,860 You can meet with Jess and learn about all of our teams 219 00:11:50,860 --> 00:11:53,820 here on Sunday mornings and become a part of those teams. 220 00:11:53,820 --> 00:11:55,180 But what do we constantly hear? 221 00:11:55,180 --> 00:11:59,900 Oh, I can't really serve right now, I'm just busy. 222 00:11:59,900 --> 00:12:02,020 I have a lot of things happening in my life. 223 00:12:02,020 --> 00:12:04,980 Or if we talk about groups, our groups have started, 224 00:12:04,980 --> 00:12:08,900 our weekly growth groups, we challenge you to be in a group, 225 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:10,060 find a group that fits you. 226 00:12:10,060 --> 00:12:15,060 Oh, Chris, I just don't have an extra night, I'm too busy. 227 00:12:16,380 --> 00:12:19,860 See, there's nothing like sin or busyness 228 00:12:19,860 --> 00:12:21,820 that will break our connection to God. 229 00:12:22,820 --> 00:12:27,540 And unfortunately, it's one or the other for the church. 230 00:12:27,540 --> 00:12:30,460 And it's the same thing when it comes to being used by God. 231 00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:34,620 We can become so busy scrolling on our social media pages 232 00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:37,420 that we miss out on the opportunities for God to use us 233 00:12:37,420 --> 00:12:39,660 as a conduit for his kingdom. 234 00:12:39,660 --> 00:12:40,980 What did Peter and John do? 235 00:12:40,980 --> 00:12:45,900 They stopped, they paused, and they discerned. 236 00:12:45,900 --> 00:12:49,180 But then I began to notice the timeline 237 00:12:49,180 --> 00:12:51,340 and geography of this miracle. 238 00:12:51,340 --> 00:12:53,780 So please keep in mind that when we are introduced 239 00:12:53,780 --> 00:12:56,540 to this lame man, we don't get his name. 240 00:12:56,540 --> 00:13:00,380 All we learn is that he was lame from birth, right? 241 00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:03,420 And then in Acts 4 22, we learn this, 242 00:13:03,420 --> 00:13:05,580 for this miraculous sign, the healing of a man 243 00:13:05,580 --> 00:13:10,580 who had been lame for more than 40 years. 244 00:13:10,780 --> 00:13:14,340 Now think about that, 40 years is a long time. 245 00:13:14,340 --> 00:13:16,660 And some of you are thinking, okay, Chris, 246 00:13:16,660 --> 00:13:18,180 why is this important? 247 00:13:18,180 --> 00:13:21,260 Well, it's important because this miracle 248 00:13:21,260 --> 00:13:25,660 didn't happen long after Jesus ascended back to heaven. 249 00:13:25,660 --> 00:13:29,340 So if this lame man had been by the temple 250 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:32,700 for nearly 40 years, and every single day we read 251 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:35,700 that he had been dropped at the temple gate, 252 00:13:35,700 --> 00:13:38,580 friends, it's highly plausible and almost inevitable 253 00:13:38,580 --> 00:13:43,420 that Jesus himself walked by this guy 254 00:13:43,420 --> 00:13:46,980 while he was begging at the temple gate. 255 00:13:46,980 --> 00:13:51,540 I mean, if Jesus walked by him and yet never healed him, 256 00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:54,780 doesn't it make you think, well, why? 257 00:13:54,780 --> 00:13:58,340 Jesus, why didn't you heal this man? 258 00:13:58,340 --> 00:14:01,580 And the answer to that question is quite simple. 259 00:14:01,580 --> 00:14:04,900 We don't know, I don't know. 260 00:14:04,900 --> 00:14:07,220 It simply speaks to the reality that healing 261 00:14:07,220 --> 00:14:09,380 is a sovereign work of God. 262 00:14:09,380 --> 00:14:11,740 It's a sovereign work of God, and I can't explain 263 00:14:11,740 --> 00:14:14,500 why Jesus didn't choose to heal this man, 264 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:17,660 but we read in the scriptures that another man 265 00:14:17,660 --> 00:14:20,980 that was lying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years 266 00:14:20,980 --> 00:14:22,380 was healed. 267 00:14:22,380 --> 00:14:25,460 See, I don't know why God chose to heal that man 268 00:14:25,460 --> 00:14:29,500 in Bethesda and not this man at the gate called Beautiful. 269 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:31,380 I don't know why today there are some people 270 00:14:31,380 --> 00:14:34,060 that receive their healing while on earth, 271 00:14:34,060 --> 00:14:37,020 but still others that don't get their healing 272 00:14:37,020 --> 00:14:40,060 until God takes them home and to be in heaven. 273 00:14:40,060 --> 00:14:43,340 We don't know, and what we point to is 274 00:14:43,340 --> 00:14:47,180 it's God's sovereign work. 275 00:14:47,180 --> 00:14:49,420 I do know, however, it's my responsibility 276 00:14:49,420 --> 00:14:52,420 to believe that God is a healer 277 00:14:52,420 --> 00:14:56,260 and to know that his will is to heal. 278 00:14:56,260 --> 00:14:59,580 I do know it's my responsibility to lay hands on the sick 279 00:14:59,580 --> 00:15:02,460 and to pray bold prayers for them to be healed. 280 00:15:02,460 --> 00:15:03,780 That's on me. 281 00:15:03,780 --> 00:15:05,940 That's a choice that I need to make. 282 00:15:05,940 --> 00:15:08,700 But I don't know why Jesus didn't heal this lame man 283 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:10,820 at the temple gate. 284 00:15:12,060 --> 00:15:15,300 I say that because someone here this morning 285 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:17,460 is wrestling with a simple question, 286 00:15:17,460 --> 00:15:19,580 that you may or may not get an answer to 287 00:15:19,580 --> 00:15:20,980 until you get to heaven, 288 00:15:20,980 --> 00:15:23,940 as to why some people are healed here on earth 289 00:15:23,940 --> 00:15:25,140 and others don't get healed 290 00:15:25,140 --> 00:15:27,300 until they enter the kingdom of God. 291 00:15:27,300 --> 00:15:29,620 Now another thought that I had is, 292 00:15:29,620 --> 00:15:33,260 maybe the reason this man didn't get his healing 293 00:15:33,260 --> 00:15:35,460 is because Jesus walked by him and said, 294 00:15:36,820 --> 00:15:39,420 that healing is a job for John and Peter. 295 00:15:40,540 --> 00:15:41,460 That's their job. 296 00:15:41,460 --> 00:15:43,380 That's their responsibility. 297 00:15:43,380 --> 00:15:45,620 Peter and John are gonna come later 298 00:15:45,620 --> 00:15:48,100 and I'm gonna let them take care of this man 299 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:50,660 because they don't even know that I'm about to die 300 00:15:50,660 --> 00:15:52,820 on the cross, get up from the grave, 301 00:15:52,820 --> 00:15:55,140 fill them with the spirit, 302 00:15:55,140 --> 00:15:58,020 and then I'm expecting them to notice 303 00:15:58,020 --> 00:16:00,500 this man sitting at the temple gate. 304 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:04,620 So here you go, sir, I'll drop a few coins in your cup, 305 00:16:04,620 --> 00:16:07,500 but the healing you're expecting is gonna come later. 306 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:08,620 Could that be why? 307 00:16:09,460 --> 00:16:11,180 See, all of a sudden, Peter and John, 308 00:16:11,180 --> 00:16:13,620 they roll up on this man in need of healing. 309 00:16:13,620 --> 00:16:14,460 What do they do? 310 00:16:14,460 --> 00:16:16,420 They perceive, they discern, 311 00:16:16,420 --> 00:16:19,740 wait, wait, wait, I'm supposed to do this. 312 00:16:19,740 --> 00:16:21,220 This is what I'm called to do. 313 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:24,380 Peter and John then, remember, 314 00:16:24,380 --> 00:16:28,820 experience the first miracle of the New Testament church 315 00:16:28,820 --> 00:16:31,060 and they do it together, 316 00:16:31,060 --> 00:16:33,020 which leads us to our next thought. 317 00:16:33,020 --> 00:16:38,020 God used polar opposites to perform this miracle. 318 00:16:38,540 --> 00:16:39,940 Peter and John looked at him intently 319 00:16:39,940 --> 00:16:41,540 and Peter said, look at us. 320 00:16:41,540 --> 00:16:44,020 The lame man looked at them eagerly expecting some money, 321 00:16:44,020 --> 00:16:46,260 but Peter said, I don't have any silver or gold for you, 322 00:16:46,260 --> 00:16:48,820 but I'll give you what I have in the name of Jesus. 323 00:16:48,820 --> 00:16:52,660 The Nazarene get up and walk. 324 00:16:52,660 --> 00:16:55,500 See, Peter and John are nothing like one another. 325 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:57,540 They're completely opposite. 326 00:16:57,540 --> 00:16:59,940 I mean, for example, just two examples 327 00:16:59,940 --> 00:17:01,660 that jump off the page of scriptures, 328 00:17:01,660 --> 00:17:04,420 Peter is a cusser, John is a cuddler. 329 00:17:05,580 --> 00:17:08,940 Two completely different people, right? 330 00:17:08,940 --> 00:17:11,820 When Peter is being challenged by a young girl 331 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:14,180 and those gathered around the fire, 332 00:17:14,180 --> 00:17:16,540 remember, oh, you're a follower of Jesus. 333 00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:18,380 Now he began to cuss. 334 00:17:18,380 --> 00:17:19,980 He began to tell him, I'm not a follower. 335 00:17:19,980 --> 00:17:23,700 Peter swore, the scriptures say in Mark 14, 336 00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:25,540 I curse on me if I'm lying. 337 00:17:25,540 --> 00:17:28,220 I don't know this man you're talking about, right? 338 00:17:28,220 --> 00:17:31,340 So he gets up in him and said, no, I'm not. 339 00:17:31,340 --> 00:17:32,860 Get away from me. 340 00:17:32,860 --> 00:17:34,060 He's a cusser. 341 00:17:34,060 --> 00:17:35,780 John, who's John? 342 00:17:35,780 --> 00:17:38,940 He's a dude that always has his head on Jesus' chest. 343 00:17:38,940 --> 00:17:43,260 John 13, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved or esteemed 344 00:17:43,260 --> 00:17:46,060 was leaning against Jesus' chest. 345 00:17:46,060 --> 00:17:48,860 He was a disciple that Jesus loved, we learn. 346 00:17:48,860 --> 00:17:50,820 They were complete opposites. 347 00:17:50,820 --> 00:17:51,820 Who was Peter? 348 00:17:51,820 --> 00:17:55,220 He was the guy that speaks before he thinks, right? 349 00:17:55,220 --> 00:17:56,060 Everyone nods. 350 00:17:56,060 --> 00:17:57,860 We all know someone like that, right? 351 00:17:57,860 --> 00:18:00,540 They say something, oh, my bad, I shouldn't have said that. 352 00:18:00,540 --> 00:18:01,380 Right, my bad. 353 00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:04,020 Now John, John is pensive. 354 00:18:04,020 --> 00:18:06,100 He's careful with his words. 355 00:18:06,100 --> 00:18:08,660 So if you look at these two, they're complete opposites. 356 00:18:08,660 --> 00:18:09,940 Yet what does God do? 357 00:18:09,940 --> 00:18:13,260 He brings them together to perform the first miracle 358 00:18:13,260 --> 00:18:14,700 in the New Testament church. 359 00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:15,860 Why? 360 00:18:15,860 --> 00:18:18,300 Because this is a picture of the church. 361 00:18:18,300 --> 00:18:20,900 This is how the church operates. 362 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:24,860 Shallow people only look at the differences between us 363 00:18:24,860 --> 00:18:26,860 as points for division. 364 00:18:26,860 --> 00:18:29,340 Deeper people, deeper people understand, 365 00:18:29,340 --> 00:18:31,860 hey, you might not think like I do. 366 00:18:31,860 --> 00:18:34,700 You might not even vote like I do. 367 00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:37,020 But we can all agree to disagree. 368 00:18:37,020 --> 00:18:42,020 Let's connect on the fact that people need to experience God. 369 00:18:42,260 --> 00:18:45,300 And let's focus on that point. 370 00:18:45,300 --> 00:18:47,300 People need to be restored. 371 00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:50,900 Let's connect on the fact that the name of Jesus 372 00:18:50,900 --> 00:18:53,660 should be praised and preached with power. 373 00:18:53,660 --> 00:18:54,940 I mean, you know you're a shallower 374 00:18:54,940 --> 00:18:57,020 if you're only looking for the differences 375 00:18:57,020 --> 00:18:59,500 in other people as a point of division. 376 00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:02,660 But you know there's depth in your walk with God. 377 00:19:02,660 --> 00:19:03,820 When you look at each other and say, 378 00:19:03,820 --> 00:19:05,940 hey, I don't agree with you on that, 379 00:19:05,940 --> 00:19:08,980 but let's go worship and praise God together at HCV. 380 00:19:08,980 --> 00:19:10,820 Right, let's go and do it together. 381 00:19:10,820 --> 00:19:14,660 Deep people know how to work together with others 382 00:19:14,660 --> 00:19:16,580 even when they disagree. 383 00:19:16,580 --> 00:19:17,980 I mean, think about 1 Corinthians 12. 384 00:19:17,980 --> 00:19:18,980 Let's read it together. 385 00:19:18,980 --> 00:19:21,860 But our bodies have many parts. 386 00:19:21,860 --> 00:19:24,900 And God has put each part just where he wants it. 387 00:19:24,900 --> 00:19:27,460 How strange a body would be if it had only one part. 388 00:19:27,460 --> 00:19:30,020 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 389 00:19:30,020 --> 00:19:32,220 The eye can never say to the hand, I don't need you. 390 00:19:32,220 --> 00:19:34,700 The head can't say to the feet, I don't need you. 391 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:36,580 And you're saying, well, what's that have to do with the church? 392 00:19:36,580 --> 00:19:40,820 The point is the body is described like our bodies. 393 00:19:40,820 --> 00:19:43,540 There's all these different operating systems. 394 00:19:43,540 --> 00:19:48,540 We are all working together to make the kingdom of God, 395 00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:53,140 to see the kingdom of a God invade the tri-state area. 396 00:19:53,140 --> 00:19:55,340 So we should not be at all shocked 397 00:19:55,340 --> 00:19:57,660 that the first miracle of the New Testament church 398 00:19:57,660 --> 00:20:00,900 is between Peter and John. 399 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:02,580 I mean, we all need a Peter 400 00:20:02,580 --> 00:20:06,660 because he is the one that will say what no one else will say. 401 00:20:06,660 --> 00:20:08,100 Right, he's just that guy. 402 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:10,100 I mean, you may be sitting beside a Peter right now. 403 00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:11,740 Don't look at him, okay? 404 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:15,580 We all need a Peter, right? 405 00:20:15,580 --> 00:20:18,500 Because sometimes you need someone that just, 406 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,780 will come right out and look at someone and say, you're rude. 407 00:20:22,740 --> 00:20:24,300 I mean, what were you thinking? 408 00:20:25,220 --> 00:20:28,980 There's someone hating on you, you're just mean, change. 409 00:20:28,980 --> 00:20:30,700 There's nothing wrong with that. 410 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,140 But sometimes we need a John. 411 00:20:34,140 --> 00:20:35,100 And what's a John say? 412 00:20:35,100 --> 00:20:37,820 A John says, hey, hey, hey brother, 413 00:20:37,820 --> 00:20:39,540 God's not done with you yet. 414 00:20:39,540 --> 00:20:43,820 Let's get back up and let's just keep moving forward. 415 00:20:43,820 --> 00:20:46,740 The point, the church needs both. 416 00:20:46,740 --> 00:20:48,260 And there's a chance that later, 417 00:20:48,260 --> 00:20:51,580 some of you are gonna be staring at me with evil eyes, 418 00:20:51,580 --> 00:20:53,660 not liking what I'm challenging you to do. 419 00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:56,180 So just nod and just say, 420 00:20:56,180 --> 00:20:59,020 Chris may or may not challenge you later 421 00:20:59,020 --> 00:21:01,700 because the church needs both. 422 00:21:01,700 --> 00:21:04,380 I believe that was the compassion of John 423 00:21:04,380 --> 00:21:05,980 that noticed this man, 424 00:21:05,980 --> 00:21:08,860 but it took the courage of Peter to say, 425 00:21:08,860 --> 00:21:10,820 you're not getting money from me today, 426 00:21:10,820 --> 00:21:12,820 I have something more for you, 427 00:21:12,820 --> 00:21:15,140 which leads us to our next thought. 428 00:21:15,140 --> 00:21:18,740 See, trauma triggers hopelessness. 429 00:21:18,740 --> 00:21:21,460 Trauma triggers hopelessness. 430 00:21:21,460 --> 00:21:23,780 Remember this man, sitting by the temple gate, 431 00:21:23,780 --> 00:21:25,780 he's lame from birth, 432 00:21:25,780 --> 00:21:30,780 which speaks to the trauma in his life that just happened. 433 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:31,900 Right? 434 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,180 He didn't make bad mistakes. 435 00:21:34,180 --> 00:21:38,780 He didn't want to be physically unable to walk. 436 00:21:38,780 --> 00:21:41,300 It was just the cards that he was dealt. 437 00:21:41,300 --> 00:21:44,060 And we all have those, right? 438 00:21:44,060 --> 00:21:46,620 It's not your bad mistakes, it's not your bad choices. 439 00:21:46,620 --> 00:21:49,860 The things that just happened to us, right? 440 00:21:49,860 --> 00:21:52,260 The father that was not there for you. 441 00:21:52,260 --> 00:21:55,420 The mother that never gave you any validation. 442 00:21:55,420 --> 00:21:57,380 The siblings that mistreated you. 443 00:21:57,380 --> 00:22:01,220 The abuse, the neglect, the divorce, the illness. 444 00:22:01,220 --> 00:22:02,060 Right? 445 00:22:02,060 --> 00:22:05,140 All of us, I believe gathered here are watching online. 446 00:22:05,140 --> 00:22:07,300 We could pass the mic around 447 00:22:07,300 --> 00:22:09,660 and share about the things from birth 448 00:22:09,660 --> 00:22:13,860 that we didn't pick, we didn't want, we didn't deserve. 449 00:22:13,860 --> 00:22:15,780 And if we think about those things, 450 00:22:15,780 --> 00:22:18,540 that could rack up a massive counseling bill. 451 00:22:18,540 --> 00:22:24,540 So we could talk about how this man was lame from birth. 452 00:22:24,780 --> 00:22:27,380 I mean, the Bible, Acts 3, 2, 453 00:22:27,380 --> 00:22:30,140 as he approached the temple, a man lame from birth 454 00:22:30,140 --> 00:22:31,260 was being carried in. 455 00:22:31,260 --> 00:22:33,100 Each day he was put aside at the temple gate. 456 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:36,140 Think about it, he couldn't even walk, he's being carried in. 457 00:22:36,140 --> 00:22:40,980 So he could beg from the people going into the temple. 458 00:22:40,980 --> 00:22:42,780 So he was dealt those cards, 459 00:22:42,780 --> 00:22:44,460 but we also can talk about his behavior. 460 00:22:44,460 --> 00:22:46,540 Notice what is his behavior, he's what? 461 00:22:46,540 --> 00:22:47,380 Begging. 462 00:22:47,380 --> 00:22:48,780 Begging. 463 00:22:48,780 --> 00:22:52,860 The behavior of begging is a byproduct of being lame. 464 00:22:52,860 --> 00:22:53,740 In this culture, 465 00:22:53,740 --> 00:22:56,380 when a person doesn't have mobility in their legs, 466 00:22:56,380 --> 00:22:58,860 they can't just go out and get a job. 467 00:22:58,860 --> 00:23:00,700 There's no job for them. 468 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:03,260 Peter and John looks at him intently, 469 00:23:03,260 --> 00:23:06,820 Peter says, look at us. 470 00:23:06,820 --> 00:23:08,660 See, there's even more. 471 00:23:08,660 --> 00:23:11,420 In between the trauma and the behavior, 472 00:23:11,420 --> 00:23:14,780 there's something much deeper that everyone avoids, 473 00:23:14,780 --> 00:23:16,780 it's the mentality. 474 00:23:16,780 --> 00:23:20,220 See, there's the psychology of hopelessness. 475 00:23:20,220 --> 00:23:22,620 In between the trauma of his legs 476 00:23:22,620 --> 00:23:24,700 and the behavior of his begging 477 00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:27,420 is the psychology of hopelessness. 478 00:23:27,420 --> 00:23:29,020 And hear me out, 479 00:23:29,020 --> 00:23:32,940 if the enemy is after anything, he's after your hope. 480 00:23:33,860 --> 00:23:36,580 He wants us to reach a point in our lives 481 00:23:36,580 --> 00:23:38,860 where we wake up and say things like, 482 00:23:38,860 --> 00:23:40,500 this is not ever gonna get better. 483 00:23:41,460 --> 00:23:44,900 This will never change 484 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:47,020 because the day we lose our hope, 485 00:23:47,020 --> 00:23:48,900 we might as well lose our legs. 486 00:23:48,900 --> 00:23:51,380 In fact, I would rather have a person who is lame 487 00:23:51,380 --> 00:23:54,100 but has hope that a person that has full mobility 488 00:23:54,100 --> 00:23:57,660 of their body but has lost all their hope. 489 00:23:57,660 --> 00:23:58,500 How do I know that? 490 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:01,820 Because there's people from the disabled community 491 00:24:03,060 --> 00:24:06,020 that are competing in Olympic sports. 492 00:24:06,020 --> 00:24:09,860 There's disabled individuals that play basketball. 493 00:24:09,860 --> 00:24:14,860 There's disabled individuals that climb Mount Everest. 494 00:24:14,980 --> 00:24:19,980 Nothing can stop them because they have hope. 495 00:24:20,140 --> 00:24:23,780 But if a person loses hope, they've lost everything. 496 00:24:23,780 --> 00:24:27,380 See, in between the behavior of begging 497 00:24:27,380 --> 00:24:32,380 and the trauma of his legs is the psychology of hopelessness. 498 00:24:32,620 --> 00:24:35,500 And I wanna ask you a simple question today. 499 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:39,340 Have you gone deeper and simply asked yourself, 500 00:24:39,340 --> 00:24:43,660 what is the mindset behind my behavior? 501 00:24:43,660 --> 00:24:46,500 Why do I do the things that I do? 502 00:24:46,500 --> 00:24:49,900 See, people don't have a problem talking about their trauma. 503 00:24:49,900 --> 00:24:51,740 This is a word that needs to be redefined, 504 00:24:51,740 --> 00:24:53,940 in my opinion, within our culture. 505 00:24:53,940 --> 00:24:57,540 Because there are people that experience trauma every day 506 00:24:57,540 --> 00:25:02,020 while others, because a person walked into a church 507 00:25:02,020 --> 00:25:05,780 and they didn't get smiled at, oh, that's trauma. 508 00:25:05,780 --> 00:25:08,220 That's not trauma, sorry. 509 00:25:08,220 --> 00:25:11,060 It's just, you were not noticed, I'm sorry. 510 00:25:11,060 --> 00:25:13,620 Forgive us, but that's not trauma. 511 00:25:14,500 --> 00:25:16,540 But there's those of you gathered here this morning 512 00:25:16,540 --> 00:25:19,340 and watching online that have experienced trauma 513 00:25:19,340 --> 00:25:22,540 in your life and I'm in no way trying to belittle it. 514 00:25:22,540 --> 00:25:26,140 I'm just trying to say we have to spend time on it 515 00:25:26,140 --> 00:25:28,260 and look at it so that we can understand it. 516 00:25:28,260 --> 00:25:31,980 Because in the church, we like talking about our traumas 517 00:25:31,980 --> 00:25:34,340 and we spend a lot of time talking about behaviors. 518 00:25:34,340 --> 00:25:38,060 I mean, for many of you, if you grew up in church, 519 00:25:38,060 --> 00:25:40,020 when you were in youth group, all you ever heard was, 520 00:25:40,020 --> 00:25:45,020 stop it, stop doing that, stop talking out loud, 521 00:25:45,260 --> 00:25:46,540 stop acting out. 522 00:25:47,460 --> 00:25:50,620 But when is someone gonna say, well, wait a minute, 523 00:25:50,620 --> 00:25:54,500 let's address the psychology and the mentality 524 00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:56,260 that is behind the behavior. 525 00:25:56,260 --> 00:25:58,020 What is the psychology of this man 526 00:25:58,020 --> 00:26:01,060 that is begging by the temple gate? 527 00:26:01,060 --> 00:26:02,500 It's hopelessness. 528 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:06,060 He's lost all of his hope, how do I know that? 529 00:26:06,060 --> 00:26:08,980 He stopped looking up. 530 00:26:10,260 --> 00:26:12,820 Think about it, a lot of us miss this part of the text. 531 00:26:12,820 --> 00:26:15,420 The Bible says that Peter and John walked by him, 532 00:26:15,420 --> 00:26:19,180 he asked them for money, that's the behavior of begging. 533 00:26:19,180 --> 00:26:22,420 But then the Bible also says the first thing 534 00:26:22,420 --> 00:26:25,220 Peter and John say to this man is not get up and walk, 535 00:26:25,220 --> 00:26:28,620 be healed, the first thing they say is what? 536 00:26:28,620 --> 00:26:29,460 Look at us. 537 00:26:31,060 --> 00:26:34,860 So we ask them for money and the first thing they say 538 00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:39,860 is look at us, which means he was begging for money 539 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:41,220 looking down. 540 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:47,500 Help please, help the poor, help the disabled. 541 00:26:49,860 --> 00:26:53,340 All he had to look forward to was change 542 00:26:53,340 --> 00:26:55,860 hitting the bottom of his cup. 543 00:26:56,780 --> 00:27:00,460 He's lost all hope. 544 00:27:00,460 --> 00:27:03,500 And when a person has been stuck in a position for so long, 545 00:27:03,500 --> 00:27:04,740 how long for this man? 546 00:27:04,740 --> 00:27:09,020 Since birth, his physicality will show 547 00:27:09,020 --> 00:27:11,380 his psychology or his outlook. 548 00:27:11,380 --> 00:27:13,620 This man doesn't even look up anymore 549 00:27:13,620 --> 00:27:15,820 to see who's putting money in the cup. 550 00:27:15,820 --> 00:27:18,260 Thank you, thank you. 551 00:27:19,540 --> 00:27:23,340 He just listens and when change hits the bottom, 552 00:27:24,380 --> 00:27:27,780 thank you, he has nothing to look forward to. 553 00:27:28,740 --> 00:27:31,340 Proverbs 13, 12 tells us this, 554 00:27:31,340 --> 00:27:35,140 hope deferred makes the heart sick. 555 00:27:35,140 --> 00:27:38,620 See this man had a sick heart. 556 00:27:38,620 --> 00:27:43,620 Till one day Peter and John, they stop 557 00:27:44,180 --> 00:27:45,740 and what do they do? 558 00:27:45,740 --> 00:27:50,740 They look at him and that alone shows the power of a look. 559 00:27:50,740 --> 00:27:52,740 No wonder they said look at us. 560 00:27:52,740 --> 00:27:56,420 What dare I say the first miracle in this encounter 561 00:27:57,380 --> 00:27:58,940 is that this man looked at them. 562 00:27:58,940 --> 00:28:01,020 That was the first miracle. 563 00:28:01,020 --> 00:28:03,380 After years of having his head down, 564 00:28:03,380 --> 00:28:06,180 he had a little bit of faith 565 00:28:06,180 --> 00:28:09,340 that he could look up and look them in the eyes. 566 00:28:10,860 --> 00:28:12,300 Friends, we're always gonna move 567 00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:14,380 in the direction we're looking. 568 00:28:14,380 --> 00:28:16,540 So before dealing with your legs, 569 00:28:17,380 --> 00:28:19,580 let's start with your focus. 570 00:28:19,580 --> 00:28:22,020 Let's start with your outlook 571 00:28:22,020 --> 00:28:24,460 and lift your head towards God. 572 00:28:25,460 --> 00:28:26,940 I don't know who I'm speaking to today, 573 00:28:26,940 --> 00:28:30,260 but God highlighted these verses 574 00:28:30,260 --> 00:28:32,740 to tell you it's time to look up. 575 00:28:33,940 --> 00:28:37,900 It's time to take your focus off your struggles, 576 00:28:38,940 --> 00:28:42,300 off your predicament, off your choices, 577 00:28:42,300 --> 00:28:46,740 off your negativity, off your why always me attitude 578 00:28:46,740 --> 00:28:50,620 and look up for what God has for you. 579 00:28:50,620 --> 00:28:53,740 Start looking up again. 580 00:28:53,740 --> 00:28:56,740 Start believing, start hoping, start believing 581 00:28:56,740 --> 00:28:58,300 and start trusting. 582 00:28:58,300 --> 00:28:59,980 This man, he looked up 583 00:29:00,860 --> 00:29:03,300 and it poses the question for all of us, 584 00:29:03,300 --> 00:29:04,660 what are you looking for? 585 00:29:05,820 --> 00:29:08,540 Because in our society, in our culture, 586 00:29:08,540 --> 00:29:10,940 whatever you're looking for, you're gonna find it 587 00:29:11,820 --> 00:29:13,700 and you're gonna walk in it. 588 00:29:13,700 --> 00:29:15,460 For example, if you're looking for something 589 00:29:15,460 --> 00:29:17,660 that is wrong with your spouse, 590 00:29:17,660 --> 00:29:18,700 you're gonna find it. 591 00:29:19,660 --> 00:29:20,940 You're always gonna find it. 592 00:29:20,940 --> 00:29:23,300 If you're looking for a way out, 593 00:29:23,300 --> 00:29:25,340 for a way to divorce him or her, 594 00:29:25,340 --> 00:29:26,860 you're always gonna find it. 595 00:29:26,860 --> 00:29:29,420 I mean, you can even blame it on how he or she 596 00:29:29,420 --> 00:29:31,300 puts the toilet paper on the roll. 597 00:29:31,300 --> 00:29:33,180 Well, I like it being pulled down, 598 00:29:33,180 --> 00:29:34,140 they wanna pull it up. 599 00:29:34,140 --> 00:29:35,740 Who cares? 600 00:29:35,740 --> 00:29:40,620 The point, if you're looking for a reason, you'll find it. 601 00:29:40,620 --> 00:29:43,500 And no wonder Peter and John worked this miracle 602 00:29:43,500 --> 00:29:44,540 because what were they doing? 603 00:29:44,540 --> 00:29:47,740 They were looking to give away 604 00:29:47,740 --> 00:29:51,100 what they had encountered in the upper room. 605 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:54,580 They were looking to give away this godly power 606 00:29:54,580 --> 00:29:59,420 so that everyone could experience freedom. 607 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:03,060 Everyone was just walking by this man. 608 00:30:03,060 --> 00:30:04,100 Help, please. 609 00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:10,740 Peter and John stopped and made eye contact. 610 00:30:10,740 --> 00:30:14,980 It's all about where we look and what we're looking for, 611 00:30:14,980 --> 00:30:17,100 which leads us to our next thought. 612 00:30:17,100 --> 00:30:21,340 See, sometimes miracles are preceded by disappointment. 613 00:30:21,340 --> 00:30:23,180 So notice Acts 3, 3 and 5 through 6. 614 00:30:23,180 --> 00:30:25,100 He saw Peter and John about to enter. 615 00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:26,180 He asked them for some money. 616 00:30:26,180 --> 00:30:28,700 Again, back to the beggar, he wanted some money. 617 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:30,740 The lame man looked up at them eagerly, 618 00:30:30,740 --> 00:30:32,900 expecting some what? 619 00:30:32,900 --> 00:30:33,980 Money. 620 00:30:33,980 --> 00:30:37,900 Notice this man was expecting money. 621 00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:40,660 And we say all this, I don't know about you, 622 00:30:40,660 --> 00:30:44,260 but don't we say this all the time within our culture. 623 00:30:44,260 --> 00:30:47,420 If I just had a little extra money, 624 00:30:47,420 --> 00:30:51,740 if I just had a little more money, just a few more dollars, 625 00:30:51,740 --> 00:30:54,500 is that really what we need? 626 00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:56,420 Or do we need to learn to live on a budget? 627 00:30:58,420 --> 00:31:00,500 Do we really need a little bit more money? 628 00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:04,420 Do we, oh God, I could just use a little more money, really? 629 00:31:04,420 --> 00:31:05,900 Or do we just need a little healing 630 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:07,860 so that we're not so insecure 631 00:31:07,860 --> 00:31:10,300 that we spend money on things that we don't need 632 00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:13,060 to validate us in front of our friends and family 633 00:31:13,060 --> 00:31:14,980 so they believe that we're well off? 634 00:31:17,100 --> 00:31:20,180 See, this man was expecting money. 635 00:31:20,180 --> 00:31:23,460 Someone sees him, acknowledges him, he looks up, 636 00:31:23,460 --> 00:31:24,900 and what does he expect? 637 00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:27,220 He expects money. 638 00:31:28,180 --> 00:31:29,820 But Peter says this, 639 00:31:29,820 --> 00:31:32,340 I don't have any silver or gold for you. 640 00:31:33,220 --> 00:31:35,460 Imagine the disappointment. 641 00:31:35,460 --> 00:31:38,060 I mean, this man was thinking, yes, this is a haul, 642 00:31:38,060 --> 00:31:39,500 I'm gonna get a lot of money. 643 00:31:39,500 --> 00:31:43,020 He looks up, Peter says, I don't have any silver or gold. 644 00:31:43,660 --> 00:31:45,580 That's disappointment. 645 00:31:45,580 --> 00:31:47,980 Imagine the disappointment and hearing those words, 646 00:31:47,980 --> 00:31:52,980 not even knowing his disappointment 647 00:31:52,980 --> 00:31:55,940 was gonna be preceded by the greatest miracle 648 00:31:55,940 --> 00:31:57,260 he will ever experience. 649 00:31:58,260 --> 00:31:59,940 See, sometimes our greatest miracle 650 00:31:59,940 --> 00:32:02,180 is preceded by our greatest disappointment. 651 00:32:03,020 --> 00:32:05,420 Sometimes it's after the bankruptcy 652 00:32:05,420 --> 00:32:07,860 that you receive the idea for a new business. 653 00:32:07,860 --> 00:32:09,740 Sometimes it's after you get fired 654 00:32:09,740 --> 00:32:13,260 that you actually become a manager instead of the employee. 655 00:32:13,260 --> 00:32:15,900 Sometimes it's after the person that breaks your heart 656 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:18,260 that you actually get to meet the one 657 00:32:18,260 --> 00:32:20,580 that you were created to be with. 658 00:32:20,580 --> 00:32:25,580 My point, don't give up just because you got disappointed. 659 00:32:26,620 --> 00:32:28,780 And I think about this room that we're in, 660 00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:31,460 you know, the House of Miracles 661 00:32:31,460 --> 00:32:35,300 that we've been in for this Easter will be four years. 662 00:32:35,300 --> 00:32:39,740 And I thought back this week about just being in this room. 663 00:32:39,740 --> 00:32:42,060 You know, it was about eight years ago or so 664 00:32:42,060 --> 00:32:45,980 that we began to pray over on Bauer Avenue 665 00:32:45,980 --> 00:32:48,660 about a property, a building, 666 00:32:48,660 --> 00:32:51,100 because we were growing and we knew Dollar General 667 00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:52,340 was gonna build this new building. 668 00:32:52,340 --> 00:32:53,780 We knew we were gonna have any parking 669 00:32:53,780 --> 00:32:55,420 and we're already out of parking here, I'm sorry, 670 00:32:55,420 --> 00:32:56,580 but we're working on that. 671 00:32:58,580 --> 00:33:00,380 So we began to pray about, okay, God, 672 00:33:00,380 --> 00:33:01,780 we need to find a building. 673 00:33:01,780 --> 00:33:02,780 We need to find a property. 674 00:33:02,780 --> 00:33:04,380 We need to do something here. 675 00:33:04,380 --> 00:33:07,780 And we visited property after property after property 676 00:33:07,780 --> 00:33:09,500 after property for those of you who've been here 677 00:33:09,500 --> 00:33:12,100 for long ago and for those years ago, 678 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:15,220 you know that we were looking here and there and everywhere. 679 00:33:15,220 --> 00:33:18,700 And it seems that everywhere we went, it was no. 680 00:33:19,620 --> 00:33:21,180 Constantly no. 681 00:33:21,180 --> 00:33:22,900 But we had a generous church. 682 00:33:22,900 --> 00:33:25,020 And being a generous church, we started a building fund. 683 00:33:25,020 --> 00:33:27,420 We started this building fund, started collecting money 684 00:33:27,420 --> 00:33:30,460 and adding to the building fund to the point that 685 00:33:30,460 --> 00:33:33,460 even though we were getting no, no, no, this isn't it, 686 00:33:33,460 --> 00:33:36,620 this isn't it, the building fund grew to the point 687 00:33:36,620 --> 00:33:38,300 that when I got a random Facebook message, 688 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:40,980 I needed to go and talk to the leaders of this church, 689 00:33:42,300 --> 00:33:44,900 Church of the Holy Trinity, and I met with them 690 00:33:44,900 --> 00:33:48,100 and we prayed over six months and they voted unanimously 691 00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:49,220 to sell us their property. 692 00:33:49,220 --> 00:33:51,700 We took all that money that we had received 693 00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:53,820 all those no's with and we put it in their hand 694 00:33:53,820 --> 00:33:55,140 and we bought it. 695 00:33:57,380 --> 00:34:01,180 My point, in this journey to be in this room, 696 00:34:01,180 --> 00:34:04,300 we experienced a lot of disappointments, 697 00:34:04,300 --> 00:34:06,860 but those disappointments grew us 698 00:34:06,860 --> 00:34:10,660 with faith that we're able to buy a property 699 00:34:10,660 --> 00:34:15,660 and now own a property and watch the kingdom of God grow. 700 00:34:15,660 --> 00:34:17,700 We have to keep walking by faith. 701 00:34:17,700 --> 00:34:19,700 We have to keep trusting. 702 00:34:19,700 --> 00:34:24,260 What if our greatest miracles are on the other side 703 00:34:25,460 --> 00:34:26,780 of our disappointments? 704 00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:31,460 But I'll give you what I have, Peter says, 705 00:34:31,460 --> 00:34:35,460 in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up, 706 00:34:35,460 --> 00:34:38,820 and get up and walk. 707 00:34:38,820 --> 00:34:40,940 See, we can only give what we have 708 00:34:40,940 --> 00:34:43,340 and what did Peter and John do? 709 00:34:43,340 --> 00:34:45,260 They used the name. 710 00:34:45,260 --> 00:34:48,580 They used the name that's above every other name, 711 00:34:48,580 --> 00:34:50,260 that's greater than any other name 712 00:34:50,260 --> 00:34:52,420 and has the power to heal and deliver. 713 00:34:52,420 --> 00:34:55,420 There is power, we sung about this morning 714 00:34:55,420 --> 00:34:59,180 in the name of Jesus, which leads us to our final fall. 715 00:34:59,180 --> 00:35:03,660 See, Peter and John were connected to the kingdom power. 716 00:35:03,660 --> 00:35:08,460 See, there's power in our connection to that name. 717 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:13,180 And dare I say, can we go a little deeper? 718 00:35:13,180 --> 00:35:17,500 See, the name Jesus only has power 719 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:19,860 to the degree that we're connected to it. 720 00:35:19,860 --> 00:35:23,300 See, Peter and John, they weren't shallow followers. 721 00:35:23,300 --> 00:35:24,700 They were his disciples. 722 00:35:24,700 --> 00:35:26,860 They were his followers for three years. 723 00:35:26,860 --> 00:35:29,340 They left everything, job, family, friends. 724 00:35:29,340 --> 00:35:30,940 They were connected to the name 725 00:35:30,940 --> 00:35:34,180 and said they knew it's power. 726 00:35:34,180 --> 00:35:37,060 We have to realize it's more than just saying 727 00:35:37,060 --> 00:35:40,380 the name of Jesus and then praying once every four months. 728 00:35:41,460 --> 00:35:43,620 It's more than just saying the name of Jesus 729 00:35:43,620 --> 00:35:45,500 and then choosing to read the Bible, 730 00:35:47,140 --> 00:35:48,020 once a month. 731 00:35:49,020 --> 00:35:51,220 We have to be connected. 732 00:35:51,220 --> 00:35:52,660 Right, I think about my air fryer. 733 00:35:52,660 --> 00:35:53,980 I love my air fryer. 734 00:35:53,980 --> 00:35:55,220 It's wonderful. 735 00:35:55,220 --> 00:35:58,820 It cooks things so I hear really well. 736 00:35:58,820 --> 00:35:59,780 It's powerful. 737 00:35:59,780 --> 00:36:03,180 In fact, it only takes eight minutes to cook my food, 738 00:36:04,140 --> 00:36:06,340 but it has to be what? 739 00:36:06,340 --> 00:36:09,740 Plugged in in order for it to work. 740 00:36:09,740 --> 00:36:12,900 Same goes for our relationship with God. 741 00:36:12,900 --> 00:36:14,660 Acts 3, 6 to 8, but Peter said, 742 00:36:14,660 --> 00:36:15,900 I don't have any silver or gold, 743 00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:18,420 but I'll give you what I have in the name of Jesus Christ. 744 00:36:18,420 --> 00:36:19,980 The Nazarene get up and walk. 745 00:36:19,980 --> 00:36:22,220 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 746 00:36:22,220 --> 00:36:26,660 Why did he say Nazarene? 747 00:36:27,580 --> 00:36:29,220 I mean, that's a specific city, 748 00:36:29,220 --> 00:36:31,940 but why not Jesus Christ of Bethlehem? 749 00:36:33,180 --> 00:36:34,940 That's where he was born. 750 00:36:34,940 --> 00:36:38,020 Why not Jesus Christ of Capernaum? 751 00:36:38,020 --> 00:36:40,380 That's where a lot of his miracles were. 752 00:36:40,380 --> 00:36:42,660 Why in the name of Jesus Christ, 753 00:36:42,660 --> 00:36:44,100 the Nazarene get up and walk? 754 00:36:45,060 --> 00:36:48,660 Well, maybe, just maybe it has something to do 755 00:36:48,660 --> 00:36:50,140 with the fact that the word Nazarene 756 00:36:50,140 --> 00:36:52,340 comes from the Greek word nasser, 757 00:36:52,340 --> 00:36:55,980 which actually means branch or sprout. 758 00:36:56,940 --> 00:36:58,940 And the imagery actually is of a stump 759 00:36:58,940 --> 00:37:01,740 that had been cut down, a massive tree. 760 00:37:01,740 --> 00:37:03,540 It was cut all the way down to the stump. 761 00:37:03,540 --> 00:37:04,500 There was no hope. 762 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:06,860 Nothing could be done with it. 763 00:37:06,860 --> 00:37:09,620 But if you return to it after six months, 764 00:37:09,620 --> 00:37:11,980 what do you see growing up out of the stump? 765 00:37:13,260 --> 00:37:14,100 A sprout. 766 00:37:15,140 --> 00:37:20,140 Every stump will try to grow again. 767 00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:22,740 See, maybe Peter was letting this man know 768 00:37:22,740 --> 00:37:25,460 that although he had been down for 40 years 769 00:37:25,460 --> 00:37:28,900 since his birth, there was hope. 770 00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:33,700 They thought Jesus was down and out 771 00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:36,700 when they hung him on a cross and buried him in a tomb. 772 00:37:36,700 --> 00:37:39,340 But we know and can celebrate that three days later, 773 00:37:39,340 --> 00:37:41,500 he rose from the grave. 774 00:37:41,500 --> 00:37:42,500 And I wanna encourage you, 775 00:37:42,500 --> 00:37:44,980 don't let anyone ever tell you it's over. 776 00:37:46,060 --> 00:37:48,500 It's not over till God says it's over 777 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:53,500 because the kingdom of God can be experienced on demand. 778 00:37:53,500 --> 00:37:56,900 And this is the year that God is challenging 779 00:37:56,900 --> 00:38:00,580 our community of faith to step out, to be bold. 780 00:38:00,580 --> 00:38:02,500 Because then we read, Peter took the lame man 781 00:38:02,500 --> 00:38:03,900 by the right hand, helped him up. 782 00:38:03,900 --> 00:38:06,340 As he did, the man's feet and ankles 783 00:38:06,340 --> 00:38:07,820 were instantly healed in strength. 784 00:38:07,820 --> 00:38:10,860 And he jumped up, stood to his feet, and began to what? 785 00:38:10,860 --> 00:38:11,860 Walk. 786 00:38:11,860 --> 00:38:14,140 Then walking, leaping, and praising God, 787 00:38:14,140 --> 00:38:16,540 he went into the temple with them. 788 00:38:16,540 --> 00:38:18,580 And my question to you this morning is, 789 00:38:18,580 --> 00:38:19,980 who are you helping up? 790 00:38:19,980 --> 00:38:24,980 The kingdom of God causes us to be very uncomfortable. 791 00:38:25,860 --> 00:38:27,860 And God is challenging us, HCV, 792 00:38:27,860 --> 00:38:29,780 to get outside of our comfort zones 793 00:38:29,780 --> 00:38:31,740 and believe that God is gonna use you, 794 00:38:31,740 --> 00:38:34,060 not just today in this gathering, 795 00:38:34,060 --> 00:38:36,900 but tomorrow while you go to work. 796 00:38:36,900 --> 00:38:38,900 Tomorrow while you go to Walmart. 797 00:38:38,900 --> 00:38:42,660 Tomorrow while you visit your family, 798 00:38:42,660 --> 00:38:44,980 which leads us to our action steps. 799 00:38:44,980 --> 00:38:47,220 Partnering with God. 800 00:38:47,220 --> 00:38:50,300 Five simple steps in partnering with God this morning. 801 00:38:50,300 --> 00:38:51,340 And the first is this. 802 00:38:52,340 --> 00:38:55,740 Church, we need to believe in the miraculous. 803 00:38:55,740 --> 00:38:58,660 Peter and John, notice they went to the temple one afternoon. 804 00:38:58,660 --> 00:39:00,220 What were they going for? 805 00:39:00,220 --> 00:39:02,020 They were going to pray. 806 00:39:02,020 --> 00:39:03,020 That's what they were going for. 807 00:39:03,020 --> 00:39:04,940 They were going to pray. 808 00:39:04,940 --> 00:39:07,020 But yet the man that they were about to encounter, 809 00:39:07,020 --> 00:39:10,900 he was born lame, he was lying beside the entrance way. 810 00:39:10,900 --> 00:39:13,140 Right, the trauma produced the behavior of what? 811 00:39:13,140 --> 00:39:13,980 Begging. 812 00:39:13,980 --> 00:39:16,020 He was begging with his head down, 813 00:39:16,020 --> 00:39:17,860 he had no hope. 814 00:39:17,860 --> 00:39:21,100 And the one thing that we have control over is our hope. 815 00:39:21,100 --> 00:39:23,260 And I want to encourage you. 816 00:39:23,260 --> 00:39:25,420 Change your outlook. 817 00:39:25,420 --> 00:39:28,300 Look forward, see people for who they are. 818 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:31,220 Be on mission for God. 819 00:39:31,220 --> 00:39:33,300 How do we know that Peter and John were on mission? 820 00:39:33,300 --> 00:39:36,620 Because they were charged by Jesus in Mark 16 821 00:39:36,620 --> 00:39:37,460 with these words. 822 00:39:37,460 --> 00:39:40,260 He told them, go into all the world 823 00:39:40,260 --> 00:39:42,020 and preach the good news to everyone. 824 00:39:42,020 --> 00:39:44,980 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe 825 00:39:44,980 --> 00:39:46,700 they will cast out demons in my name, 826 00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:48,620 they will speak in new languages, 827 00:39:48,620 --> 00:39:50,620 they will be able to place their hands on the sick 828 00:39:50,620 --> 00:39:52,220 and they will be healed. 829 00:39:52,220 --> 00:39:53,580 God challenges us. 830 00:39:53,580 --> 00:39:56,260 If you're following him, do the same today. 831 00:39:56,260 --> 00:39:57,500 That's your charge. 832 00:39:57,500 --> 00:40:00,900 You can be used by God because we are now 833 00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:02,060 filled with the Spirit. 834 00:40:02,060 --> 00:40:03,820 Acts two on the day of Pentecost. 835 00:40:03,820 --> 00:40:06,740 All the believers are meeting together in one place. 836 00:40:06,740 --> 00:40:08,260 Suddenly there was a sound from heaven 837 00:40:08,260 --> 00:40:09,780 like the roaring of a mighty windstorm 838 00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:12,180 that filled the house while they were sitting. 839 00:40:12,180 --> 00:40:13,620 Then what looked like flames 840 00:40:13,620 --> 00:40:16,100 or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them 841 00:40:16,100 --> 00:40:18,900 and everyone present was filled with the Spirit. 842 00:40:18,900 --> 00:40:20,460 It's not us. 843 00:40:20,460 --> 00:40:23,900 For those of you who say, God, I can't do this. 844 00:40:23,900 --> 00:40:26,500 Chris, I can't go out and do these things good. 845 00:40:26,500 --> 00:40:30,020 Keep saying that because it's God in you. 846 00:40:30,020 --> 00:40:33,100 You get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit use you, 847 00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:34,860 which leads us to our next step. 848 00:40:34,860 --> 00:40:37,020 We first have to believe in the miraculous. 849 00:40:37,020 --> 00:40:39,020 Number two, we need to pay attention. 850 00:40:39,020 --> 00:40:41,220 As he approached the temple, a man laying from birth 851 00:40:41,220 --> 00:40:44,300 was being carried in each day. He was put beside the temple gate 852 00:40:44,300 --> 00:40:46,820 so he could beg from the people going in. 853 00:40:46,820 --> 00:40:48,580 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, 854 00:40:48,580 --> 00:40:50,300 he asked them for some money. 855 00:40:50,300 --> 00:40:53,020 Peter and John looked. 856 00:40:53,020 --> 00:40:55,420 They were paying attention. 857 00:40:55,420 --> 00:40:57,540 The Holy Spirit highlighted for both of them 858 00:40:57,540 --> 00:40:59,900 that this is your guy. 859 00:40:59,900 --> 00:41:01,860 And I want to ask you a simple question. 860 00:41:01,860 --> 00:41:05,380 Do you daily pay attention to the Holy Spirit speaking? 861 00:41:05,380 --> 00:41:06,780 Do you give him room to speak? 862 00:41:06,780 --> 00:41:09,180 Do you wake up and say, Holy Spirit, guide my day. 863 00:41:09,180 --> 00:41:12,260 Lead me today. When you go to work, when you go to school, 864 00:41:12,260 --> 00:41:14,460 when you're running errands, 865 00:41:14,460 --> 00:41:18,500 we cannot limit God to Sunday morning gatherings. 866 00:41:18,500 --> 00:41:21,340 I believe that God wants to use the church more on Monday 867 00:41:21,340 --> 00:41:24,380 through Saturday than it does on Sunday. Why? 868 00:41:24,380 --> 00:41:27,380 Because out there is where the meat is. 869 00:41:27,380 --> 00:41:30,500 The meat is on the streets, right? 870 00:41:30,500 --> 00:41:33,100 It's out there where the people have needs. 871 00:41:33,100 --> 00:41:37,500 We can't allow our schedules and our busyness to slow us down. 872 00:41:37,500 --> 00:41:39,420 And I want to challenge you to pay attention 873 00:41:39,420 --> 00:41:40,580 which leads us to our next step. 874 00:41:40,580 --> 00:41:45,580 So we got believe, pay attention, release life. 875 00:41:46,060 --> 00:41:47,980 Peter and John looked at him intently, 876 00:41:47,980 --> 00:41:49,900 and Peter said, look at us. 877 00:41:49,900 --> 00:41:52,300 The man looked at him eagerly expecting some money, 878 00:41:52,300 --> 00:41:54,580 but Peter said, I don't have any silver or gold for you, 879 00:41:54,580 --> 00:41:55,900 but I'll give you what I have. 880 00:41:55,900 --> 00:41:59,580 In the name of Jesus, get up and walk. 881 00:41:59,580 --> 00:42:03,420 And do we simply make eye contact with others? 882 00:42:03,420 --> 00:42:05,900 Do you realize the first miracle in this encounter 883 00:42:05,900 --> 00:42:09,900 was Peter and John making eye contact with this beggar 884 00:42:09,900 --> 00:42:12,900 to acknowledge that he was a person? 885 00:42:12,900 --> 00:42:16,380 It's just simply acknowledging that people are real. 886 00:42:16,380 --> 00:42:18,500 Do we make people feel appreciated and loved 887 00:42:18,500 --> 00:42:19,900 with our words of life? 888 00:42:19,900 --> 00:42:22,300 Do we point others to Jesus with our actions, 889 00:42:22,300 --> 00:42:24,100 words, and our prayers? 890 00:42:24,100 --> 00:42:26,500 And my question to you, all of you is, 891 00:42:27,300 --> 00:42:29,500 what would your family say about you? 892 00:42:29,500 --> 00:42:31,900 Do they see you doing that? 893 00:42:31,900 --> 00:42:34,500 Or is it just something you hear and they're like, 894 00:42:34,500 --> 00:42:37,300 it's just something you hear and then forget? 895 00:42:38,100 --> 00:42:39,420 Which leads us to our next step. 896 00:42:39,420 --> 00:42:40,260 You gotta serve. 897 00:42:40,260 --> 00:42:42,740 Notice Peter took the lame man by the rain hand, 898 00:42:42,740 --> 00:42:43,580 helped him up. 899 00:42:43,580 --> 00:42:44,900 I love this. 900 00:42:44,900 --> 00:42:46,900 And as he did, the man's feet and ankles 901 00:42:46,900 --> 00:42:49,700 were instantly healed and strengthened. 902 00:42:49,700 --> 00:42:53,260 So he released his life with his words, right? 903 00:42:53,260 --> 00:42:55,780 Made eye contact, released his life with his words, 904 00:42:55,780 --> 00:43:00,780 and then he took the time to reach down and help him up. 905 00:43:00,900 --> 00:43:04,180 I believe this was another step of faith 906 00:43:04,180 --> 00:43:09,180 that Peter took so the miraculous can happen, right? 907 00:43:09,700 --> 00:43:11,780 And I believe, unfortunately, within the church, 908 00:43:11,780 --> 00:43:14,100 and I've done this before, just being honest, 909 00:43:14,100 --> 00:43:17,540 there are times when we get asked to pray for others 910 00:43:17,540 --> 00:43:20,260 and we pray for them so that they feel loved 911 00:43:20,260 --> 00:43:23,260 and loved on and received. 912 00:43:23,260 --> 00:43:24,460 Like if someone looks at you and says, 913 00:43:24,460 --> 00:43:25,300 hey, will you pray for me? 914 00:43:25,300 --> 00:43:27,300 Of course we'll pray for them. 915 00:43:27,300 --> 00:43:29,500 We're in church, we're supposed to, 916 00:43:29,500 --> 00:43:33,260 but we don't pray like God can move mountains. 917 00:43:33,260 --> 00:43:35,020 We just kind of pray. 918 00:43:35,020 --> 00:43:37,020 And God wants to raise our expectancy 919 00:43:37,020 --> 00:43:40,340 so that we believe the mountains will actually happen, 920 00:43:40,340 --> 00:43:42,180 that God would release healing and restoration 921 00:43:42,180 --> 00:43:45,580 and forgiveness and miraculous through you and me. 922 00:43:46,540 --> 00:43:48,740 Which leads us to our final step we need to celebrate. 923 00:43:48,740 --> 00:43:52,460 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 924 00:43:52,460 --> 00:43:54,220 When they realized he was the lame beggar 925 00:43:54,220 --> 00:43:58,460 they had been at the gate, they were absolutely astounded. 926 00:43:58,460 --> 00:44:00,380 They all rushed out in the amazement of silence, 927 00:44:00,380 --> 00:44:03,340 the man was holding tight, Peter and John. 928 00:44:03,340 --> 00:44:06,980 The people recognized the beggar. 929 00:44:06,980 --> 00:44:10,260 The man used to sit at the entrance and what beg? 930 00:44:10,260 --> 00:44:13,780 And this has proved that God doesn't waste your pain. 931 00:44:13,780 --> 00:44:16,540 Every one of those 40 years of that man sitting 932 00:44:16,540 --> 00:44:20,660 by the temple gate, right, was just a part of him 933 00:44:20,660 --> 00:44:23,340 expressing his love for God so that others 934 00:44:23,340 --> 00:44:26,220 would be drawn into a relationship with God. 935 00:44:26,220 --> 00:44:28,260 Because see, I believe your greatest shame 936 00:44:28,260 --> 00:44:31,020 can become your greatest platform to declare 937 00:44:31,020 --> 00:44:32,900 the goodness of God in your life. 938 00:44:32,900 --> 00:44:34,540 It's all about our what? 939 00:44:34,540 --> 00:44:36,420 Our outlook. 940 00:44:36,420 --> 00:44:39,180 How are you looking today? 941 00:44:39,180 --> 00:44:42,580 What do you believe God wants to do in your life? 942 00:44:42,580 --> 00:44:43,780 Will you stand with me? 943 00:44:44,860 --> 00:44:47,780 Okay, remember a few statements ago I said, 944 00:44:47,780 --> 00:44:49,580 oh, some of you are gonna be upset with me, 945 00:44:49,580 --> 00:44:51,180 well now's your time, okay? 946 00:44:52,020 --> 00:44:53,300 Okay, so here's what we're gonna do. 947 00:44:53,300 --> 00:44:55,220 I was working out Thursday morning, 948 00:44:55,220 --> 00:44:57,700 listening to worship music and God spoke to me 949 00:44:57,700 --> 00:45:00,980 about how I'm supposed to close this gathering, okay? 950 00:45:00,980 --> 00:45:03,060 So here's what we're gonna do. 951 00:45:03,060 --> 00:45:05,300 You're in a row, right? 952 00:45:05,300 --> 00:45:08,980 So my front row, turn around and face the next row. 953 00:45:09,820 --> 00:45:12,060 There you go, right? 954 00:45:12,060 --> 00:45:14,260 Third row, turn around. 955 00:45:15,860 --> 00:45:17,300 You see what we're doing? 956 00:45:18,540 --> 00:45:20,660 Find people. 957 00:45:20,660 --> 00:45:23,540 Turn around, turn around, turn around. 958 00:45:23,540 --> 00:45:27,660 I want everyone paired up, everyone praying for somebody, 959 00:45:27,660 --> 00:45:31,340 ask, introduce yourself, hi, I'm Chris. 960 00:45:31,340 --> 00:45:33,900 How could I pray for you? 961 00:45:33,900 --> 00:45:35,860 Everyone is praying. 962 00:45:47,620 --> 00:45:49,380 You can do it. 963 00:45:49,380 --> 00:45:50,500 Step out. 964 00:45:50,500 --> 00:45:56,140 Prayer is talking to God, that's all. 965 00:46:06,460 --> 00:46:07,900 Come Holy Spirit. 966 00:46:07,900 --> 00:46:10,420 Move in this place, God. 967 00:46:11,780 --> 00:46:13,740 Change lives. 968 00:46:13,740 --> 00:46:18,020 Allow your boldness, your hope, your meaning, 969 00:46:18,020 --> 00:46:20,020 your love to come forth. 970 00:46:20,020 --> 00:46:21,020 Come forth, God. 971 00:46:22,100 --> 00:46:25,900 Give people the ability to connect with you, 972 00:46:25,900 --> 00:46:27,620 to experience you. 973 00:46:28,820 --> 00:46:30,700 May they step out in faith, God. 974 00:46:31,740 --> 00:46:34,900 May the words that they speak be your words. 975 00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:37,100 May healing come. 976 00:46:37,100 --> 00:46:38,420 May your will be done. 977 00:46:40,900 --> 00:46:43,020 May lives be transformed. 978 00:46:44,500 --> 00:46:46,740 May the miraculous come forth. 979 00:46:46,740 --> 00:46:48,700 I speak to broken bodies. 980 00:46:50,220 --> 00:46:53,580 I speak to images and outlooks on life. 981 00:46:55,180 --> 00:46:57,700 That God, you would transform people 982 00:46:57,700 --> 00:47:00,220 and you would allow your love to come. 983 00:47:00,220 --> 00:47:02,580 That your will would be done, God. 984 00:47:02,580 --> 00:47:06,060 Your will come, your kingdom come on earth 985 00:47:06,060 --> 00:47:07,740 as it is in heaven. 986 00:47:09,860 --> 00:47:12,140 May you hear our prayers, God. 987 00:47:12,140 --> 00:47:14,220 May you move in this place. 988 00:47:14,220 --> 00:47:19,220 May people be challenged and changed. 989 00:47:19,220 --> 00:47:21,340 May relationships with you grow 990 00:47:21,340 --> 00:47:24,180 and be astonished and fortified. 991 00:47:24,180 --> 00:47:27,740 I'm thankful, God, for moving in this place, 992 00:47:27,740 --> 00:47:31,740 for changing lives, for setting people free. 993 00:47:33,140 --> 00:47:34,380 Come Holy Spirit. 994 00:47:35,540 --> 00:47:38,460 Change us now, God, in Jesus' name. 995 00:47:38,460 --> 00:47:40,740 Amen, okay, finish up. 996 00:47:40,740 --> 00:47:45,740 Finish up, finish up and come back to me. 997 00:47:47,740 --> 00:47:48,580 Finish up. 998 00:47:51,140 --> 00:47:52,540 Give me an amen. 999 00:47:53,540 --> 00:47:55,580 There we go, all right, now. 1000 00:47:56,580 --> 00:47:58,940 I didn't release anyone, don't be leaving. 1001 00:47:59,980 --> 00:48:01,140 Bring it back. 1002 00:48:02,580 --> 00:48:04,460 Bring it back, all right. 1003 00:48:06,020 --> 00:48:08,540 Okay, I'm gonna take a few more. 1004 00:48:08,540 --> 00:48:12,820 Okay, hear me out, listen. 1005 00:48:14,260 --> 00:48:15,180 Thank you. 1006 00:48:16,380 --> 00:48:19,100 Now I said this during our first gathering. 1007 00:48:19,100 --> 00:48:23,460 Some of you, when I asked you to do this, 1008 00:48:23,460 --> 00:48:25,980 you looked at me like a ravaging dog 1009 00:48:25,980 --> 00:48:28,740 ready to take me down, okay. 1010 00:48:28,740 --> 00:48:30,260 I saw your faces. 1011 00:48:32,780 --> 00:48:34,180 I don't care. 1012 00:48:35,020 --> 00:48:37,700 Because if you can't pray here, 1013 00:48:37,700 --> 00:48:40,220 you're never gonna pray out there. 1014 00:48:40,220 --> 00:48:42,060 True or false? 1015 00:48:42,060 --> 00:48:46,220 We've got to come to a place of being comfortable enough 1016 00:48:46,220 --> 00:48:47,620 to pray for one another. 1017 00:48:47,620 --> 00:48:51,740 Chances are you met someone new, good. 1018 00:48:51,740 --> 00:48:54,180 Now you can pray for them the rest of the week, 1019 00:48:54,180 --> 00:48:55,900 whatever it is that you were praying for. 1020 00:48:55,900 --> 00:48:58,820 My point is, get outside of your comfort zone. 1021 00:48:58,820 --> 00:49:01,900 That's what God's calling us to do this year. 1022 00:49:01,900 --> 00:49:03,860 To be bold followers that's willing 1023 00:49:03,860 --> 00:49:05,700 to proclaim the kingdom of God, 1024 00:49:05,700 --> 00:49:08,140 not just on Sunday mornings at HCV, 1025 00:49:08,140 --> 00:49:10,700 but everywhere we go praying for the sick, 1026 00:49:10,700 --> 00:49:12,180 believing for the miraculous, 1027 00:49:12,180 --> 00:49:14,380 because I believe when we do that, 1028 00:49:14,380 --> 00:49:16,940 the kingdom of God comes. 1029 00:49:16,940 --> 00:49:19,100 What did Jesus teach us to pray? 1030 00:49:19,100 --> 00:49:23,540 May your kingdom come, may your will be done 1031 00:49:23,540 --> 00:49:26,260 on earth as it is in heaven. 1032 00:49:26,260 --> 00:49:27,900 Amen? 1033 00:49:27,900 --> 00:49:30,380 All right, now listen, we're almost done. 1034 00:49:30,380 --> 00:49:31,220 Almost done. 1035 00:49:31,220 --> 00:49:36,220 If you're not in a relationship with Jesus, okay? 1036 00:49:37,900 --> 00:49:40,540 And you haven't made that choice yet, 1037 00:49:40,540 --> 00:49:43,860 my prayer team, our prayer team will be right up front here. 1038 00:49:43,860 --> 00:49:45,460 Let everyone leave. 1039 00:49:46,500 --> 00:49:51,500 Then you quietly come up and pray that simple prayer. 1040 00:49:51,580 --> 00:49:55,020 Step out in faith and allow God to change your life 1041 00:49:55,020 --> 00:49:56,660 because he wants to. 1042 00:49:56,660 --> 00:49:59,780 And then give me a hug on your way out, okay? 1043 00:49:59,780 --> 00:50:02,220 Thank you for joining us online, God bless you. 1044 00:50:02,220 --> 00:50:04,900 The King of glory's here. 1045 00:50:04,900 --> 00:50:06,260 Come and behold, 1046 00:50:06,260 --> 00:50:27,260 the King of glory's here.