1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,080 Welcome to Logan City Christian Church podcast where we bring God's Word to you weekly. 2 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:17,600 We pray that what you hear will bring clarity to your situation and open doors in your life. 3 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:18,600 Enjoy the message. 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,520 Worship the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords together. 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,520 What a privilege that we have this morning. 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,520 Thank you, praise and worship team. 7 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,520 We just appreciate you guys so much. 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,520 Praise the Lord, hallelujah. 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:32,520 God is good. 10 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,520 We have a few birthdays today. 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,520 I know Sophie's up the back there with her birthday today. 12 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:38,520 But happy birthday. 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,520 Who else is it today that you mentioned to me? 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,520 It's your birthday. 15 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,520 Mike tomorrow and the others have chickened out. 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:47,520 That's okay. 17 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,520 Happy birthday guys. 18 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:57,520 I'd just like to welcome Ross and Donna, missionaries, China, Myanmar, Thailand. 19 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,520 That's enough. 20 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,520 Praise the Lord. 21 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:02,520 You're welcome. 22 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:03,520 So welcome guys. 23 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:04,520 Lovely to have you with us today. 24 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:06,520 And praise the Lord. 25 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,520 Yes, you've noticed that Tony and Ross are back. 26 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,520 It was a bit of an effort on my part. 27 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,520 I went searching high and low through the scrub in the outback. 28 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,520 And I found them hiding in the middle of nowhere. 29 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,520 And Ross was under a tree in a camp chair reading a book. 30 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,520 And Tony was over the sand hill joining the indigenous folk doing a corroborate. 31 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,520 Brother, you were really, really good. 32 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:28,520 But I got them back. 33 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:29,520 So here they are. 34 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:30,520 Welcome back guys. 35 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:31,520 It's great to have you today. 36 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,520 Back with us. 37 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:37,520 And of course, everything was all true that I said. 38 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,520 Yes. 39 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:44,520 Someone asked me this morning or showed me a message that they're getting into shape. 40 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,520 And they said, pity the shape is like a potato. 41 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,520 But anyway, it's all good. 42 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,520 Father, we thank you. 43 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,520 We thank you for this wonderful day that we have. 44 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,520 And Lord, your presence that's with us this morning. 45 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:07,520 Holy Spirit, I ask that you would move through me to deliver this word that you placed in my spirit. 46 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:13,520 And I know like I know that as you stir faith inside of us, 47 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:21,520 as you have said to me this morning that there are going to be miracles take place in the house of God today and healings. 48 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,520 And we thank you for it. 49 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:33,520 And Lord, in advance, we we acknowledge you that it's you that it's you Almighty God and not us. 50 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:39,520 But Father God, today we are so grateful for you. 51 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:43,520 In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus today, 52 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:49,520 very simple message that I've often found the simple ones can be the most effective. 53 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,520 And today is faith and fear. 54 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,520 Faith and fear. 55 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,520 Now, initially at the surface, we might think, yeah, faith and fear, I understand. 56 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,520 And they're not friends. 57 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:04,520 They're enemies. 58 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,520 And I get that. 59 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,520 But let's have a look as we go a little bit deeper today. 60 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:15,520 There have been a series of messages come from this pulpit over the past few months on faith. 61 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:23,520 And we had a really good one again from Pastor Rowley recently and faith without it, it's impossible to please God. 62 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:28,520 And so faith is a very important part of our Christian walk. 63 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:35,520 And so you might be thinking, oh, well, the pastors doing these messages on faith is is he preaching what he's going through? 64 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,520 And sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. 65 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:45,520 It's a time when we receive that impression from the Lord and we follow his impressions. 66 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:52,520 But I guess we all go through tests and trials and times of need, you know, whether there be relationship issues, 67 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:59,520 whether it be need for healing, whatever it might be, our faith in God is so vital. 68 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:08,520 And to make sure that our faith is intact and that we we're not discouraged and fear is not trying to encroach on our faith walk. 69 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:18,520 But for some time, I've had this knowing in my spirit and I've shared it on a number of occasions that 70 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:24,520 and I think a lot of us know this already, that there are hard times coming to the Christian church. 71 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,520 I don't want to be a prophet of doom. 72 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,520 I don't want to sound to be discouraging. 73 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:40,520 But the fact is, is that the Bible makes it very clear that these days are coming and it's no good for us as people. 74 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:46,520 I'm not saying you're doing this, but if we stick our head in the sand and know that hard times are coming 75 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:51,520 and then all of a sudden when the hard times are upon us, it's like right in the middle of the storm. 76 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,520 I've got to start building my faith in God. 77 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,520 And what do I do? 78 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:08,520 And now is the time today is the day that we we really try to walk in the depths of faith in Christ and trusting in God. 79 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,520 And so these days are coming without a doubt. 80 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,520 And I believe person, you know, personal belief. 81 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,520 I know others, other ministers believe the same. 82 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:25,520 What I'm about to share is that the in the Book of Revelation, Chapter three, you have the two last churches that are mentioned. 83 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:30,520 There's the Church of Philadelphia and there's the Laodicean Church. 84 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:39,520 And I believe according to how it's written and the structure of it in the Greek is that these are the two last churches that are going to be present 85 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,520 and running parallel at the same time in the end. 86 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:53,520 There's going to be a church that is holy, blameless, doing the right thing, yet so persecuted, boycotted, you know, from society and really struggling. 87 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,520 But Jesus was saying this was the church. 88 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,520 That's the one that he really bled and died for. 89 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,520 That's the model of the church. 90 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:08,520 And yet running parallel to it is the Laodicean Church, that the church that Jesus said that it was a lukewarm church. 91 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,520 And he said to them, he'd rather they be hot or cold. 92 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:17,520 If not, he's going to spew them out of his mouth, which in other words, was saying it was making the body sick. 93 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:29,520 So these two, I believe, run parallel and we're seeing such persecution coming to the Christian church already, to Christians now, 94 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:39,520 that it seems to be a foreign thing or a strange thing that if a Christian today stands up and voices what the Bible says and believes that whatever it might be, 95 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,520 you say, no, this is what God says in his word. 96 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:50,520 It's like you're the strange one and I want to encourage you today, church, that hold on to your convictions, hold on to your faith, 97 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:55,520 hold on to what the Word of God says because if you don't, who's going to? 98 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,520 And there's a whole world out there that needs to hear the truth. 99 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:08,520 Truth is something today that seems to be falling by the wayside and not much value accredited to truth. 100 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:19,520 And at times, truth, when it's told, can reveal the falseness that's out there. 101 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:24,520 And sometimes some people don't want that to be exposed or to be revealed. 102 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:32,520 Whatever it might be, Jesus actually says in Matthew chapter five, he said, you're the salt of the earth. 103 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,520 Don't lose your saltiness. 104 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,520 Don't lose it. 105 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,520 Don't lose that saltiness. 106 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,520 He said, you're the light of the world. 107 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,520 Don't turn your light off. 108 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:53,520 And so we today, our saltiness and our light is based upon the truth of God's Word. 109 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:59,520 And I believe that the hour we're living in and where we're heading as a Christian church, 110 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:03,520 it's going to be so much more noticeable than we've seen today. 111 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,520 I don't know if it's going to come progressively, if it's going to be suddenly. 112 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,520 I really don't know, but it's happening. 113 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,520 I'd like to turn to Matthew chapter eight, verse 23, from verse 23. 114 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:19,520 Matthew chapter eight, from verse 23 to 27. 115 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:25,520 And we have the count here where Jesus gets on the boat with his disciples and a storm blows up. 116 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:33,520 And something really incredible is said here that I believe is just so in line with what the message is this morning. 117 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,520 So I'm going to read from verse 23 of Matthew chapter eight. 118 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:42,520 Now, when he got into the boat, into a boat, his disciples followed him. 119 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:49,520 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. 120 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,520 Have you ever been there? 121 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,520 You know, it says here that, you know, they got into a boat. 122 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,520 He got into a boat and they were with him. 123 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:10,520 And sometimes we can step out into a venture with Christ, heading in a direction and knowing that it's right, 124 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,520 knowing we're with Christ and knowing we're doing the right thing. 125 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:24,520 And all of a sudden, some of the greatest storms blow up and try and stop you. 126 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,520 And this is what happens. 127 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,520 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea. 128 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,520 So the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep. 129 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,520 You ever thought that times, Jesus, where are you? 130 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:44,520 He's in the boat with you. 131 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:53,520 And if he's in the boat with us, which he is, no matter what we're going through, we're going to be OK. 132 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,520 We're going to be OK. 133 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:02,520 Then his disciples came to him and awoke him saying, would you have woken Jesus up? 134 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,520 I'll be the first to put my hand. 135 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,520 I would have been the first there. 136 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:11,520 You ever been in a boat where the seas are really rough? 137 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:20,520 I'm talking really rough and you're out at sea and you're not sure whether you're going to get back. 138 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:26,520 It can be a frightening thing because the sea shows no mercy. 139 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:30,520 And what the devil stirs up in life, he shows no mercy. 140 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,520 The devil is cruel. 141 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:33,520 The devil is a murderer. 142 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:35,520 He's a liar. 143 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,520 He just wants to steal, kill and destroy. 144 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,520 And he has nothing good for us. 145 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:45,520 But the person who's asleep in our boat, he's amazing. 146 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:54,520 He's the son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the one who bled and died for us and purchased our salvation. 147 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:59,520 The one who has total authority over all the works of darkness. 148 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,520 He's with you. 149 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:06,520 And so they wake Jesus up, Lord, save us. 150 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,520 We are perishing. 151 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,520 But Jesus said to them, why are you fearful? 152 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:17,520 Are you a little faith? 153 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,520 It's like, if that was me in the boat, what am I going to do? 154 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,520 Are you serious? Have a look around. 155 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:29,520 Why am I fearful? 156 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,520 Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. 157 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,520 And there was a great calm. 158 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:42,520 So the men marveled, saying, who can this be that even the winds and the sea obey him? 159 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:52,520 I believe this was one of their first revelations that Jesus was different to everybody else, that even the seas and the wind obey him. 160 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:59,520 That later in their ministry realized, as they would have looked back to say, of course, the wind and waves obey him. 161 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,520 He's the creator of the universe. 162 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,520 That the creation obeys the creator. 163 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:18,520 And how much more with that revelation than when we are going through a test or a trial, when we focus on the very fact of who Jesus is and that he is with us. 164 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,520 And that we are in the same mind, heart, for your communion. 165 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,520 It was awesome. 166 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,520 That Jesus is with us. 167 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:29,520 He doesn't lack any power. 168 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,520 He doesn't lack any authority. 169 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:40,520 And when a crisis comes their way, it's not like there's a crisis board meeting in heaven. 170 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,520 That God and Jesus are together. 171 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,520 What are we going to do? 172 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,520 Oh, it looks like it's all over. 173 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,520 God is still on the throne. 174 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,520 No one's going to move God off the throne. 175 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,520 God hasn't abdicated the throne. 176 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,520 There has not been an election where God lost the election. 177 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,520 God is still on the throne and he's there forevermore. 178 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:05,520 So we can be assured of this very one thing that God's always going to be there. 179 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,520 Jesus is always going to be with us. 180 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:15,520 So it's our focus then that possibly needs to shift. 181 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:19,520 But he says, why are you fearful? 182 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,520 You owe you of little faith. 183 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,520 That word little faith. 184 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:29,520 I'm not a Greek scholar, but I'll give it a crack. 185 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:31,520 Oligopistos. 186 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:36,520 Oligos means small and pistos means faith. 187 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:44,520 And what it means is faith that lacks confidence to trust or trusts little. 188 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:52,520 Its main meaning is undeveloped faith as opposed to outright unbelief or distrust. 189 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:56,520 So in other words, I believe Jesus used this as an object lesson to say, 190 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:01,520 hey, come on, guys, you're going to get through this and you're going to need to learn this for the rest of your ministry. 191 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,520 Because I'm not going to be here much longer. 192 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,520 And what I'm teaching you, you're going to need to know. 193 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:12,520 For when I'm not here, you are going to be the main man to lead other people into the kingdom 194 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,520 and train people just like I'm training you. 195 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:20,520 So Jesus was saying to them, guys, there's a big difference between faith and fear. 196 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,520 And he said to them, you have undeveloped faith, but you still have faith. 197 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:32,520 And I think that's what happens with us today is that sometimes we can allow fear to really challenge us to the point 198 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:37,520 that we feel what's the point in progressing any further. 199 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:44,520 Why don't I just surrender and just do what I know I can do just to get by? 200 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,520 Make heaven, but know God's called you to do amazing things. 201 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:55,520 God saved very ordinary people to do extraordinary things. 202 00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:02,520 And so this faith, this undeveloped faith, sometimes as and probably not maybe all the times 203 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:08,520 as Reinhardt had mentioned this morning in communion, that it's the tests and the trials 204 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:13,520 that challenge us to grow in the faith, to develop undeveloped faith. 205 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,520 And so counted all joy. 206 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:16,520 Praise the Lord. 207 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:21,520 I want to shift now to Mark chapter five, verse 30 from verse 35. 208 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,520 An incredible story here, something that was not a story. 209 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,520 It's an account of what really happened. 210 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:33,520 And I'd like to read from verse 35 of Mark chapter five. 211 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:39,520 And while he was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, 212 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,520 Your daughter is dead. 213 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,520 Why trouble the teacher any further? 214 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:53,520 And as soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, 215 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:58,520 Do not be afraid, only believe. 216 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:04,520 Do not be afraid, only believe. 217 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:09,520 And he permitted no one to follow him except Peter, James and John, the brother of James. 218 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:18,520 Then he came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 219 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:24,520 And when he came in, he said to them, Why make this commotion and weep? 220 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,520 The child is not dead, but sleeping. 221 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,520 And they ridiculed him. 222 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:40,520 But when he put them all outside, he took the father and the mother of the child and those who were with him and entered where the child was lying. 223 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:52,520 Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, Talitha, which is translated little girl, I say to you, arise. 224 00:16:52,520 --> 00:17:03,520 Immediately, the girl arose and walked, but she was 12 years of age, and they were overcome with great amazement. 225 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:11,520 But he commanded them strictly that no one should know it and said that something should be given her to eat. 226 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:17,520 Let me now include the beginning of this story. 227 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:24,520 J. Iris, the ruler of the synagogue, his daughter was dying. 228 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,520 So he went and found Jesus. 229 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:35,520 And he didn't have to work too hard to find him because there was a massive crowd wherever Jesus was. 230 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,520 So look for the crowd. 231 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,520 You'll find Jesus. 232 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:46,520 And as he gets there, he finds Jesus and he says, My daughter is near death. 233 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,520 Let me read it exactly what he says. 234 00:17:48,520 --> 00:18:00,520 Verse 23, and he begged him earnestly, saying, My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her that she may be healed and she will live. 235 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,520 And Jesus went with him. 236 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:12,520 But on the way that Jesus, when he left that crowd, that's when the lady with the issue of blood touched his clothes. 237 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,520 And Jesus perceived the power went out of him. 238 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,520 And he said, Who touched me? 239 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,520 And the disciples are saying, Really? 240 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:23,520 Look at the people around you. 241 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:24,520 You're being thronged. 242 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,520 There are people everywhere and you're saying, Who touched you? 243 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:33,520 But let me say, church, there's a difference between touching somebody and there's a difference between touching somebody. 244 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:37,520 And what happened with this lady? 245 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:46,520 This woman knew that if I can just touch the hem of his garment, I will be healed. 246 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:47,520 And she just touched it. 247 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,520 And Jesus felt it. 248 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:53,520 I could only imagine what Jairus was thinking. 249 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:59,520 Come on, my daughter is dying and let's get this thing happening. 250 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:10,520 And right at that point, when they start moving on, Jairus's servants come and said, Don't bother the master anymore. 251 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:15,520 Your daughter is dead. 252 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:22,520 I want to pick up on verse 36 because this is so, so important. 253 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,520 Your daughter is dead. 254 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:32,520 Before Jairus had a chance to respond, Jesus intersected that conversation. 255 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,520 He cut it off at the pass. 256 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:47,520 And Jesus says, as it says here in verse 36, as soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid, only believe. 257 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,520 And so he if you can see it, here he is standing there. 258 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:55,520 They're just about to go to lay hands on the daughter so she will live. 259 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,520 And just as they're about to go, his hopes are high. 260 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:04,520 The rulers servants come and said, Don't bother the master anymore for your daughter is dead. 261 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:11,520 And Jesus immediately says to him, Do not be afraid, only believe. 262 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:15,520 Now, why did Jesus use the word, Do not be afraid? 263 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:24,520 Because I believe throughout scripture, Jesus teaches a lot about how fear will erode or undermine or insulate faith. 264 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:36,520 And so we can have the fear of death, fear of failure, fear of whatever it might be. 265 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:41,520 So Jesus is saying to him, Jairus. 266 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:45,520 What's going on? 267 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:50,520 You initially found me. 268 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:57,520 And you said to me, Come and lay hands on my daughter so that she will. 269 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:58,520 Let me read it. 270 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:06,520 Verse 23, let lay hands on her so she may be healed and she will live. 271 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:11,520 I can imagine it's like Jesus, Jairus, you found me in the crowd. 272 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,520 You had a message from God. 273 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:19,520 What stirred in your spirit that you came to me, that you knew to come to me, that everything was good. 274 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:20,520 What is it? 275 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:28,520 What is it with us that at times when something doesn't work out or we get a bad report from a doctor, whatever it might be, 276 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:35,520 it's the first thing that comes to us that is like, Oh, Jesus, if you could, I'm believing for a healing. 277 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,520 If you could touch me, lay your hands, the same sort of thing. 278 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:40,520 Is that true? 279 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,520 And so our first port of call is Jesus. 280 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,520 Well, it should be. 281 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,520 It should be. 282 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:55,520 See, God had birthed into Jairus's heart a measure of faith. 283 00:21:55,520 --> 00:22:01,520 And I believe that God would have stirred up something he'd already heard or something he'd already seen. 284 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,520 Now, people in the region knew about Jesus. 285 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:05,520 How do you know that? 286 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:06,520 Look at the crowds that followed him. 287 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:10,520 They knew Jesus was the popular person in town. 288 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,520 People were drawn to him. 289 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,520 He was attractive, not just looks. 290 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,520 It was who he is, who he was and who he is and what he was doing. 291 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,520 People were looking for this. 292 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:33,520 So the thing is today for us, that faith that God had birthed in us, that inner persuasion, 293 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:40,520 that confidence in God drives us to the feet of Jesus. 294 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:54,520 But the devil knows that if we stay there, that we will get our victory and the devil loses. 295 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:04,520 That word afraid, do not be afraid, the Greek word phobeo, where we get our word phobios from, 296 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:09,520 it means to fear, to withdraw, to avoid. 297 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,520 And I've got a good example for this. 298 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:19,520 A couple of weeks ago, school holidays, I had Andre and Naomi, two of my grandchildren, with me at home. 299 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:24,520 And we walked up the back paddock and it was early in the morning, well reasonably early, 300 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:26,520 and there are cobwebs everywhere. 301 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:31,520 So we get a stick and we're knocking down cobwebs along the track and that sort of thing. 302 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:37,520 We're having a good old chat and all of a sudden, Andre screams, 303 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:59,520 Granddad, you've got a spider on your arm. And I looked, the spider is about this big. 304 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:05,520 It's like he was already preparing the eulogy from the funeral. 305 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:10,520 He's going to die, Granddad. 306 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:15,520 And then Naomi started, she said, Granddad, it's climbing up your arm, 307 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:19,520 but it's stuck in your long hairs on your arm. 308 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:24,520 And I'm listening to this thinking, my goodness, this is so entertaining. 309 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:30,520 I love it. So I let that spider climb all around the place and they're standing back and Andre says, 310 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:35,520 Granddad, he's got a stickler, I can hit it for you, Granddad. 311 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:42,520 It could have been worse, the spider could have been on my head. 312 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:56,520 But yet I see his heart was that he was fearful for me because his fear of spiders was trying to be transferred onto me. 313 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:03,520 And it nearly worked at first because when he said, Spider, I was expecting like, hmm. 314 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:12,520 And if it was like, hmm, hit it son, beat it, murder that thing. 315 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:17,520 But when it was little, you know, I have a little prayer shed that I built up the back. 316 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,520 And there was one night, it was early hours in the morning. 317 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:28,520 And I just at that time, a little candle burning and I could hear this scratching noise like something moving. 318 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:32,520 I thought, what is that? So I got my phone and I put the torch on. 319 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,520 And I'm kidding, anyone ever seen the bird eating spider before? 320 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:45,520 You seen them? My Lord. They could wear boots. These things are huge. 321 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:50,520 I mean, to eat, to catch birds and eat them, they're a big spider. 322 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,520 And it's the first time I saw one of these in real life. 323 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,520 And I thought, well, here is a test here. 324 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:06,520 I built this prayer shed and Spider, you're not welcome here because I'm having a good time with the Lord. 325 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,520 And I was thinking, but how am I going to get rid of it? 326 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:13,520 I didn't want to kill it so that I know what I'll do. 327 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:23,520 So I went back down to the house and I got a container and I thought, I'll put the container over it and then slide the, you know, the piece of paper under it. 328 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:27,520 All in control. Not a problem. 329 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:32,520 So I get this container and the container wasn't big enough. 330 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:36,520 Unbelievable. It was a big spider. 331 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:42,520 So I thought, what I'll do, I'll get a stick and I'll flick it out the door. 332 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:49,520 And that's when I realized that bird eating spiders can jump. 333 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:55,520 And I flicked it with a stick and it jumped right at me, landed on my clothes. 334 00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:03,520 Have you ever done a spider dance as a kid? 335 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:09,520 Let me tell you, I did the spider boogaloo. 336 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:15,520 I would have won any dance competition. 337 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,520 And you just don't know where that thing is. 338 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:27,520 But my understanding is that, and before that, that bird eating spiders are not really venomous. 339 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:35,520 So I came to my senses and was quite pleased to know that it was only the Lord that was watching. 340 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:39,520 So I got over that hurdle very quickly. 341 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:52,520 But my second one was to convince myself that even if this spider still is clawed onto me somewhere, I'm not going to die. 342 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,520 It's just ringing true to anybody today. 343 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:04,520 If you're challenging, you're being challenged in an area in life, we need to challenge that fear. 344 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,520 So I went back into the prayer shed. 345 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:13,520 I said, Lord, I feel like a real goose right now, but that's okay. 346 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:15,520 I think a lot of people would have. 347 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:21,520 But where is the spider? 348 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,520 And the spider was still there in the shed. 349 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,520 It didn't even do anything. 350 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:30,520 What's my point in all of this? 351 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,520 What's it? Arachnophobia is a fear of spiders. 352 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,520 Yeah. 353 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,520 I didn't ever think that I had that. 354 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:40,520 I never thought that I did. 355 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:47,520 But when you're placed in a situation as such, you learn things about yourself that you never knew before. 356 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:59,520 And it took me months to get over that because sometimes you feel something there that's not there. 357 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,520 But there's nothing there. 358 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:07,520 You feel something brush your leg and you're just jittery. 359 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:09,520 I can see some of you shaking your head. 360 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,520 You're going, yeah, I've been there. 361 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,520 Being there, done that. 362 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,520 But this fear is exactly what it does. 363 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:22,520 That fear stopped me from progressing with my time with the Lord. 364 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:30,520 And my whole focus was focused on this fear of spiders and this spider is going to kill me. 365 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:44,520 And often, how often does the devil cause things or things that happen in our lives like the spider to cause fear in our life? 366 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:46,520 Spiders. 367 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,520 Horrible things. 368 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:55,520 When I get to heaven, one of the things I'm going to ask God is why did you make mosquitoes? 369 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,520 Why did you make flies? 370 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:03,520 Why did you make spiders? 371 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:10,520 But as soon as the word was spoken, Jesus immediately, he cut through. 372 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:19,520 Before Jairus could respond, he said, Jairus, don't fear, only believe. 373 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:27,520 When we hear a report, we've got to cut it off and don't fear, only believe. 374 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,520 Now, why is it saying only believe? 375 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:31,520 What did Jesus just say? 376 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:33,520 Don't fear, believe. 377 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:40,520 Only believe means that there are so many other combinations that we could come up with. 378 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,520 Don't fear. 379 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:51,520 The only thing that we are instructed to do, the only thing, the one thing on its own, separate from anything else, is to believe. 380 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,520 To just believe. 381 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:58,520 Are you with me this morning? 382 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:11,520 So it seems to me as soon as a bad report came that his daughter had died, Jesus knew he wanted to help Jairus' faith to not fear. 383 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,520 And then Jairus walked with Jesus. 384 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,520 They went to the house. 385 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:20,520 The people were mocking Jesus when he said that the girl is not dead. 386 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:21,520 She's just sleeping. 387 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:23,520 He got rid of the negativity. 388 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:28,520 Sometimes we have to deal with negativity. 389 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:33,520 Some people are very positive and very creative and very, you know, full of faith. 390 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:36,520 Some people are not. 391 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:43,520 And it's going to be extremely difficult for you that if you all believe in God for a miracle or a breakthrough to be around people, 392 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,520 God doesn't do that anymore. 393 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:48,520 God doesn't heal anymore. 394 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:55,520 It's like Patrick said this morning, does God still, does God operate in healing without a license to heal? 395 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:57,520 God's creator. 396 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:02,520 He can do whatever he likes and he doesn't need anybody's permission. 397 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:09,520 And the end of the story is, is that Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead. 398 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:11,520 What was the thing that Jesus dealt with first? 399 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:12,520 Fear. 400 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,520 Faith and fear. 401 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,520 Faith and fear. 402 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:20,520 Praise the Lord. 403 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:27,520 Don't allow fear to withdraw you from your position of faith. 404 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:33,520 That inner convincing that God has birthed in us is there for a reason. 405 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,520 And God is like he births in us. 406 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:37,520 I am your God. 407 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,520 I am the God that heals you. 408 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,520 By the stripes of Jesus, you were healed. 409 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,520 Okay, so we get that. 410 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:47,520 We get that. 411 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:54,520 But fear can try and insulate that from our spirit to receive that, to believe it. 412 00:32:54,520 --> 00:33:00,520 Do not fear, only believe. 413 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:10,520 Second Timothy 1, 7, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind. 414 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:14,520 Now this can be interpreted two different ways. 415 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:21,520 The most common one is that God has not given us a spirit, like a demonic spirit of fear, 416 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:25,520 a demonic spirit of fear that comes to terrorize. 417 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:31,520 I'm not so certain that that's what the right usage of that for this scripture is. 418 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:39,520 What I believe what it's speaking about is God hasn't created in your spirit, your spirit man to be fearful. 419 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:43,520 You were not created with a fearful spirit. 420 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:49,520 But life and circumstances in life, the things that we have been through in life, for some of us, 421 00:33:49,520 --> 00:34:02,520 we've been through some terrifying ordeals, experiences in life and can condition as spirit man that the first reaction to anything is fear. 422 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,520 Because it becomes our disposition. 423 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:10,520 It's our experience and God saying, Hey, I haven't given that to you. 424 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:14,520 I haven't given your spirit man was never created to be fearful. 425 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:20,520 It was created to be faithful, filled of faith. 426 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:28,520 So whichever one, you know, they fear and faith, they want this place in our life. 427 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:35,520 But if we follow fear, fear will take us so far away from faith in God. 428 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:41,520 But faith has the ability to totally extinguish fear. 429 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:50,520 Amen. A ship never sinks because of the water that's around it. 430 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:58,520 A ship only sinks when that water around it gets in it. 431 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:09,520 And there can be fearful circumstances around about us. 432 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:11,520 And we can be OK. 433 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:24,520 But if we start to start to allow fear to come into our ship, into our life, our boat, our life will start to take on fear. 434 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:31,520 And it's the fear that will sink that person or that ship, both analogies together. 435 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,520 Does that make sense? 436 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:38,520 So there can be fear surrounding you on every side. 437 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:47,520 But if we are filled with faith that we know that God is with us, we have nothing to fear. 438 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:53,520 As Reinhard said, Emmanuel, God with us, God with us, what more do we need? 439 00:35:53,520 --> 00:36:00,520 So never let the fear that's around you get inside you and weigh you down and sink your life. 440 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:10,520 Circumstances may look very, very grim at times, but don't allow the scenarios of impossibilities to be truth. 441 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:15,520 Allow God's word to be true in our life. 442 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,520 Amen. 443 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:25,520 Fear is going to try and contain us and inhibit us in our walk of God and to hinder us from our faith in God. 444 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:31,520 But, you know, listen to this, fear will give you all the reasons why it won't work. 445 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,520 Fear will give you all the reasons why you won't be healed. 446 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:41,520 Fear will give you all the reasons why, you know, whatever you believe in God for is not going to come about. 447 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:45,520 But faith gives you all the reasons why it will work. 448 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:46,520 That's what faith does. 449 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:53,520 Fear causes us to play it safe at times where faith enables us to walk on water. 450 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:56,520 There the differences are so far apart. 451 00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:57,520 Fear is from the devil. 452 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,520 Faith is from God. 453 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:01,520 And there's a war that goes on at times. 454 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:07,520 Here's a quote that says, you cannot wish for both strong character and an easy life. 455 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:11,520 The price of each is the other. 456 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:13,520 Isn't that good? 457 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:14,520 I'll read it again. 458 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:19,520 You cannot wish for both strong character and an easy life. 459 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:25,520 The price of each other, sorry, the price of each is the other. 460 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:31,520 In other words, if Lord, I want you to build strong character in my life, well, guess what? 461 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,520 Things are going to get tough. 462 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:34,520 You're going to face some challenges. 463 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,520 And those challenges are going to cause you to grow. 464 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:43,520 But if you want an easy life, you're going to avoid the challenges so they don't work together. 465 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:48,520 Jesus said to Jairus, only believe nothing else, not another thing, nothing. 466 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:50,520 He said, just believe, just believe. 467 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:53,520 So what does believe mean? 468 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:54,520 It means to believe. 469 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,520 It means to have faith and trust. 470 00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:59,520 But this is what it means. 471 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:00,520 Have a listen to this. 472 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:06,520 In this particular scripture, it has another meaning that goes deeper. 473 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:08,520 You listening? 474 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:14,520 It's used of persuading one's self. 475 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:16,520 Now, that is interesting. 476 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,520 I'm going to try and break that down a little. 477 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:24,520 But it means it's used of persuading one's self. 478 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:30,520 It's talking about human believing. 479 00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:38,520 It speaks about with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord also. 480 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:47,520 However, this clearly defines a personal role for the person that is believing God for something, 481 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,520 that there is a persuading of one's self. 482 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:53,520 So what does this look like? 483 00:38:53,520 --> 00:39:00,520 Well, we know that faith, that God in birth's faith into each and every one of us. 484 00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:03,520 And so it's an inner persuasion. 485 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,520 It's a knowing like we know, like we know, like we know. 486 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:06,520 This is God. 487 00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:07,520 This is his word. 488 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:08,520 This is what he's saying. 489 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,520 This is the direction that I've got. 490 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:12,520 And we're only halfway there. 491 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:21,520 The second half is only believe, in other words, that we need to begin to persuade ourself. 492 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:23,520 This is what Jesus is saying. 493 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:25,520 Only believe. 494 00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:29,520 Our focus is this. 495 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:40,520 For me, I need to look at the circumstance and find the scriptures that relate to that circumstance 496 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:48,520 and take those scriptures and read those scriptures and allow them to come alive in me 497 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:56,520 because that will in itself persuade me deeply as a human being. 498 00:39:56,520 --> 00:40:00,520 So there's a persuasion that works on two parts. 499 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:05,520 There is an inner persuasion that God births into us. 500 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:14,520 Then we have the responsibility to be persuaded within ourself that what God is doing is right and we follow it. 501 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,520 Is that making sense? 502 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:17,520 Yeah. 503 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:29,520 So in context to this scripture, believing, it's a believing that leads to the and conjunction with the in-birthing faith of God. 504 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:35,520 It's a human believing in a divine persuasion. 505 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:37,520 Can I say that again? 506 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:43,520 It's a human believing in a divine persuasion. 507 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:48,520 That's what Jesus was saying to Jairus. 508 00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:51,520 He said, you just don't fear. 509 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:53,520 It's going to cut it all off. 510 00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:55,520 Only believe. 511 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:57,520 Only believe. 512 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:05,520 I believe one of the greatest assets any true Christian can have is simply to trust God at His Word. 513 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:06,520 Trust Him at His Word. 514 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:09,520 And I know it can be hard. 515 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:20,520 I know that there are times that we believe in God for what the Word is saying and we seem to be seeing everything else but anyone ever been there before. 516 00:41:20,520 --> 00:41:22,520 But it's not the end of the story. 517 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:25,520 It's not the end of the road. 518 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:28,520 We don't stop believing. 519 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:32,520 We don't stop trusting God. 520 00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:43,520 Whatever the future holds, it's our absolute trust in God and belief in what He says is absolute and true that God is trustworthy. 521 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:45,520 So what are you believing God for today? 522 00:41:45,520 --> 00:41:48,520 You believe in God, you're needing God for a miracle today. 523 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:50,520 You're believing for that? 524 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:51,520 Is there sickness in your body? 525 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:54,520 Trust God at His Word. 526 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:59,520 So what is His Word to trust God for His healing? 527 00:41:59,520 --> 00:42:02,520 If we don't know it, then we won't be able to believe it. 528 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:05,520 If we don't believe it, we won't experience it. 529 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:12,520 In 1 Peter 2 24, by His stripes you were healed. 530 00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:17,520 Now God has, I think it's Exodus 15 26, that I am the Lord God who heals you. 531 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:23,520 There's so many scriptures that God has promised healing for us. 532 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:28,520 Now God has put it in His Word, placed it in His Word for a reason, it's for us. 533 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:32,520 Because He knew that at some stage we may need it. 534 00:42:32,520 --> 00:42:39,520 So God has said to us that by the stripes of Jesus that you were healed. 535 00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:50,520 It doesn't mean a lot to a person who was not ill, but it means everything to a person that may have received a bad report. 536 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:56,520 So what do we do with the scripture as such? 537 00:42:56,520 --> 00:43:02,520 If we read it like the courier mail, it's not going to do much good for us. 538 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:06,520 And we don't read it for the sake of reading it. 539 00:43:06,520 --> 00:43:10,520 And do we understand that this is God's promise? I'm sure we do. 540 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:20,520 God's promise to me, He's saying this is for your healing, only believe. 541 00:43:20,520 --> 00:43:31,520 Nothing else. That God, He gave His Word, His promise by the stripes of His Son Jesus. 542 00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:37,520 I've provided healing for you in the atonement. It's yours. 543 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:45,520 Take it. But faith will rise up, but fear will come and challenge it. 544 00:43:45,520 --> 00:43:50,520 That's why Jesus cut that off, that bad report straight away to Jairus. 545 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,520 He intersected that conversation. 546 00:43:53,520 --> 00:44:01,520 He said, do not fear, only believe. Jairus got his breakthrough. 547 00:44:01,520 --> 00:44:07,520 So what do we do? We speak it, we believe it. Let faith arise and overcome. 548 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:11,520 So, you know, we speak it, we believe it. Let faith arise. 549 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:16,520 If you're going through a situation, what would be relationally or whatever, financially, 550 00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:21,520 find the Scriptures in God's Holy Word and write them down. 551 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:27,520 And every day make that our assignment that this is my road to freedom and healing. 552 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:30,520 This is my road to restoration and a family. 553 00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:35,520 And we take those Scriptures and they become our bread, our daily bread. 554 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:41,520 And we begin to speak them and speak it and believe it and confess it and speak it 555 00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:45,520 and believe it and confess it and speak it, believe it and confess it and keep doing it 556 00:44:45,520 --> 00:44:48,520 and doing it and doing it and doing it. 557 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:54,520 Something that happens is that we ourselves, this inner personal persuasion lines up 558 00:44:54,520 --> 00:45:00,520 and believes God's Word. There's an agreement that takes place in our spirit. 559 00:45:00,520 --> 00:45:05,520 Now, fear cannot exist in that place. 560 00:45:05,520 --> 00:45:12,520 And every time that we begin to confess and believe and to speak the Word of God, 561 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:19,520 faith arises inside of us even so much more to the point that there's this strength inside of us. 562 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:25,520 I know, like I know, like I know, like I know God has got this. He's bringing me through. 563 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:30,520 I have nothing to fear that I can get on with my life. I still have a future. 564 00:45:30,520 --> 00:45:34,520 I still have a hope that God is going to get me through this. 565 00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:40,520 But I believe that I need to bind that fear that's trying to cause doubt into my life 566 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:44,520 to saying to me that you're not going to get your heal, you're not going to get your breakthrough, 567 00:45:44,520 --> 00:45:48,520 you're not going to have whatever it is. No, in the name of Jesus, 568 00:45:48,520 --> 00:45:52,520 there's a time that that inner persuasion in us needs to really rise up and say, 569 00:45:52,520 --> 00:45:56,520 no, I'm going to believe God at His Word. I don't care what I'm seeing. 570 00:45:56,520 --> 00:46:01,520 I don't care what the report says. I'm trusting in my God. Praise God for doctors. 571 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:04,520 Praise God for psychiatrists. Praise God for all these people. 572 00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:08,520 But God Himself may have a totally different direction when it comes to healing. 573 00:46:08,520 --> 00:46:19,520 Absolutely. God is God. Amen. 574 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:23,520 You need a financial breakthrough. Trust God. 575 00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:29,520 If you're suffering under persecution, trust God. 576 00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:35,520 You won't be the first and you certainly won't be the last to experience it. 577 00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:40,520 You need peace in your life. Trust God. Trust God. 578 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:45,520 If we need peace in our life, there's only one way peace will come, and that's through Jesus Christ. 579 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:50,520 It's the only way. The Prince of Peace. 580 00:46:50,520 --> 00:46:56,520 I don't know where everybody is at today, the Lord Jesus Christ, 581 00:46:56,520 --> 00:47:00,520 but I'd like to give everyone an opportunity and those watching online today, 582 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:04,520 that if you have never received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, 583 00:47:04,520 --> 00:47:10,520 that today can be the first day the rest of your life to make this decision, 584 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:17,520 to enjoy the peace of God, to enjoy the blessings of salvation. 585 00:47:17,520 --> 00:47:23,520 There's an incredible passage of Scripture that says in John chapter 14, verse 6, 586 00:47:23,520 --> 00:47:29,520 Jesus said, I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. 587 00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:33,520 And no man comes to the Father but by Him. 588 00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:37,520 But today we're hearing it being said a little bit different. 589 00:47:37,520 --> 00:47:43,520 People are thinking that Jesus is a way, that He's a truth, 590 00:47:43,520 --> 00:47:47,520 and that He's a life, and that I can pick and choose whichever one I want 591 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:51,520 because all roads lead to Rome, that everything leads to heaven. 592 00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:54,520 No, it doesn't. 593 00:47:54,520 --> 00:47:57,520 I heard someone say, in fact I read it on a church billboard, 594 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:07,520 reservations for eternity, smoking or non-smoking. 595 00:48:07,520 --> 00:48:13,520 You see, people don't end up in heaven by accident, it's by choice. 596 00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:20,520 People choose. People choose. 597 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:26,520 Looking around here this morning, I believe that we are the ones, those here today are saved. 598 00:48:26,520 --> 00:48:30,520 But I really want to make this very clear. 599 00:48:30,520 --> 00:48:34,520 Like the Laodicean church, the Christians, they were going to church, 600 00:48:34,520 --> 00:48:38,520 they thought they were serving God and Jesus was saying, 601 00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:41,520 the problem is guys, you can't see. 602 00:48:41,520 --> 00:48:48,520 You've wandered so far from the truth that you don't even know what truth is anymore. 603 00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:53,520 And here's a good test for the Christian today. 604 00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:57,520 Does truth offend us? 605 00:48:57,520 --> 00:49:02,520 Or does truth comfort us? 606 00:49:02,520 --> 00:49:07,520 We are finding today that many pastors around the world 607 00:49:07,520 --> 00:49:12,520 are being challenged for speaking truth. 608 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:20,520 When it comes to morality issues, when it comes to character issues, 609 00:49:20,520 --> 00:49:28,520 that people are trying to silence truth from the pulpits. 610 00:49:28,520 --> 00:49:34,520 That's not a new thing, but it's getting to the point that it's so obvious. 611 00:49:34,520 --> 00:49:37,520 It's the truth that makes us free. 612 00:49:37,520 --> 00:49:39,520 It's nothing else. 613 00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:45,520 It's the truth of God's Word that makes us free. 614 00:49:45,520 --> 00:49:48,520 And the beauty of that is, is that if you've been made free, 615 00:49:48,520 --> 00:49:53,520 that's who you are, you are free. 616 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:57,520 That's who you become. 617 00:49:57,520 --> 00:49:59,520 I just want to do two things. 618 00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:04,520 One, just quickly, pray a very simple prayer, 619 00:50:04,520 --> 00:50:07,520 similar to what I prayed some 30 years ago. 620 00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:11,520 And if you here today may have missed it, you know, I said before, 621 00:50:11,520 --> 00:50:14,520 I think everyone here said, maybe not everyone is. 622 00:50:14,520 --> 00:50:16,520 I don't want to assume that. 623 00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:21,520 But those of you watching online, I would encourage you to really consider this 624 00:50:21,520 --> 00:50:26,520 and pray this prayer to receive Christ into your life. 625 00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:28,520 It would be the best thing that you ever do. 626 00:50:28,520 --> 00:50:30,520 Could we pray together? Would you repeat after me? 627 00:50:30,520 --> 00:50:35,520 Now, this prayer is just the beginning of many steps to come. 628 00:50:35,520 --> 00:50:37,520 This is not the end result. 629 00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:38,520 This is the beginning. 630 00:50:38,520 --> 00:50:41,520 This is you coming into the kingdom of God. 631 00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:45,520 Discipleship is a very important part of our Christian walk. 632 00:50:45,520 --> 00:50:51,520 That someone mature in the things of God leads us and teaches us the ways of God. 633 00:50:51,520 --> 00:50:53,520 That is vitally important. 634 00:50:53,520 --> 00:50:54,520 But would you pray with me? 635 00:50:54,520 --> 00:51:02,520 Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. 636 00:51:02,520 --> 00:51:08,520 I believe in my heart and I confess with my mouth 637 00:51:08,520 --> 00:51:13,520 that you, Jesus, are the Son of God. 638 00:51:13,520 --> 00:51:15,520 You died for me. 639 00:51:15,520 --> 00:51:20,520 God, you raised him from the dead for me. 640 00:51:20,520 --> 00:51:26,520 This day, I turn away from everything that is wrong 641 00:51:26,520 --> 00:51:34,520 and I turn to you, Jesus, and I ask that you would save me. 642 00:51:34,520 --> 00:51:40,520 This day, I receive you, Jesus, as my Lord and Savior. 643 00:51:40,520 --> 00:51:42,520 Amen. 644 00:51:42,520 --> 00:51:47,520 Now, if anyone here this morning that you've prayed that prayer for the first time 645 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:51,520 or you've made a recommitment today, would you just raise your hand very quickly? 646 00:51:51,520 --> 00:51:53,520 Would you just put your hand just straight up? 647 00:51:53,520 --> 00:51:55,520 Just don't hesitate. 648 00:51:55,520 --> 00:51:56,520 Just let me see that hand. 649 00:51:56,520 --> 00:51:58,520 I'm not going to call you out the front or anything like that. 650 00:51:58,520 --> 00:52:01,520 Just acknowledge that before the Lord. 651 00:52:01,520 --> 00:52:05,520 And if you're watching online and you've made that commitment this morning, 652 00:52:05,520 --> 00:52:08,520 why don't you contact us with the information on the screen 653 00:52:08,520 --> 00:52:14,520 and we'd love to get in touch with you to help you walk on these very first important steps as a Christian. 654 00:52:14,520 --> 00:52:18,520 As I close, I'd like to leave the altar open. 655 00:52:18,520 --> 00:52:22,520 If there's anyone that needs prayer for anything, anything in their life, 656 00:52:22,520 --> 00:52:25,520 regardless what it is, regardless. 657 00:52:25,520 --> 00:52:30,520 I sense the Spirit of God just so ready to lunge if you like, 658 00:52:30,520 --> 00:52:34,520 to heal and to deliver people and to bless people this morning. 659 00:52:34,520 --> 00:52:37,520 If that's you, please come forward and I'd love to pray for you. 660 00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:42,520 And if that's you coming forward, why not be in an agreement already 661 00:52:42,520 --> 00:52:47,520 that when we come together as a church, we're going to pray, we're going to believe God. 662 00:52:47,520 --> 00:52:50,520 Here it is. Here it comes. Here it is right now. 663 00:52:50,520 --> 00:52:54,520 In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. 664 00:53:00,520 --> 00:53:01,520 Thank you for joining us. 665 00:53:01,520 --> 00:53:04,520 We pray God's richest blessing on your life. 666 00:53:04,520 --> 00:53:09,520 If you haven't already, make sure to join us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. 667 00:53:09,520 --> 00:53:13,520 You can also find us at LoganCityChristianChurch.com. 668 00:53:13,520 --> 00:53:35,520 See you next week.