Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / There’s a Lad Here - 9/2/26 - Meadows Baptist Church Missions Conference - Bro. Gary Crisp

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There’s a Lad Here - 9/2/26 - Meadows Baptist Church Missions Conference - Bro. Gary Crisp · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

0:02
Welcome to [music] the podcast of
0:04
Meadows Baptist Church of Walnut Cove,
0:07
North Carolina. We're so glad [music]
0:09
you joined us today. If you enjoy
0:11
today's message, be sure to subscribe,
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[music] follow, and share with your
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friends. Now, let's join Pastor [music]
0:18
Charlie Branch with a word from God.
0:27
Amen. Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed it
0:30
and uh thank the Lord for everything
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that he's done. And I do hope and pray
0:35
that something has been said or done
0:37
been a help to you these days. And um
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if if anybody's got any help, I promise
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you it was him that did it. Amen. And uh
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and I'm glad he's able to.
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>> Nothing that we have need of that he
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can't help us with. And I'm thankful for
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that. Amen. Take your Bibles tonight.
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Let's go to the book of John. John
1:00
chapter number six this evening. John
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chapter number six. While you're turning
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appreciate brother Todd McKon.
1:10
I'm going I'm going to behave not say
1:12
say nothing mean or anything of that
1:14
nature. He probably would if he was up
1:16
here, but uh I'm not going to do him
1:18
that way.
1:20
I appreciate him more than he knows.
1:22
Dear friend of mine. Uh but he uh he
1:26
does as much for Prayer Baptist Missions
1:28
as probably anybody else does. And I
1:30
appreciate him. I appreciate him and his
1:32
ministry and what he what he does. I I'd
1:35
like to think that he he drove all the
1:38
way back from Robinsville out here just
1:40
to hear me preach. But um I know better
1:43
than that. Some grandb babies there.
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What brought him back? Amen. But uh
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I appreciate it anyway. Amen. John
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chapter number six tonight. Sure has
1:56
been good to be with you. I hope that uh
1:58
you'll take everything that the Lord's
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done these days and carry it on in the
2:02
future and um continue to grow from it
2:07
and and let God continue to work on your
2:10
hearts.
2:12
Uh we passed out the faith promise cards
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just a little while ago. Let me say
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something about them real quickly. Uh,
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that's another thing that you won't find
2:21
necessarily in the scripture.
2:24
Just because something's not in there
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don't mean it's not
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good to use or nothing wrong with it.
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Uh, somebody came up to me one time
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trying to bring an accusation about
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something that I said that wasn't
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actually
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the word wasn't actually in the book. I
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tell you what it was. It's the rapture.
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I preached about the rapture. And he
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said, "You know, the rapture ain't in
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there."
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>> I said, "Well, that's true. The word
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rapture, R A P T U R E, that that's not
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in your King James Bible, but uh caught
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up together
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>> is what rapture is."
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>> I looked at him and I said, "Listen, I
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got to ask you a question. You got a
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problem with the word Bible?"
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>> He said, "Not at all." I said, "It ain't
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in there."
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>> Just because something ain't right there
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record, I mean, that don't mean there
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something wrong with it. So
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those those cards are a good tool, a
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real good tool.
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>> And um trust that you'll be praying
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about that.
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>> Uh [snorts] he's passed them out to you.
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Take it somewhere and pray about it. And
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a little challenge here. Leave the
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calculator out of it.
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>> Yes.
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>> There's nothing faith about it. If we
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budget it and take the calculator and
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figure it up and what we can after after
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all the bills are paid and the groceries
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are bought and if there's anything left,
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we'll put that down for our faith
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promise. No, why don't you trust the
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Lord? Ask him about it and let him uh
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let him guide you in that. Amen. I'll
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probably say a little bit more about
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that in the message tonight. John
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chapter number six,
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I'll begin reading in verse number one
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tonight. The Bible said, "After these
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things, Jesus went over the Sea of
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Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias,
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and a great multitude followed him bes
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because they saw his miracles, which he
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did on them that were diseased." And
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Jesus went up into a mountain, and there
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he sat with his disciples. And the
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Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
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When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and
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saw a great company come unto him, he
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saith unto Philillip, when shall we buy
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bread that these may eat? This he said
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to prove him, for he himself knew what
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he would do?
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Philip answered him, 200 penny worth of
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bread is not sufficient for them, that
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every one of them may take a little. One
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of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's
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brother, saith unto him,"There
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is a lad here which hath five barley
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loaves and two small fishes. But what
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are they among so many?" And Jesus said,
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"Make the men sit down." Now there was
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much grass in the place. So the men sat
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down in number, about 5,000.
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Jesus took the loaves, and when he had
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given thanks, he distributed to the
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disciples. and the disciples to them
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that were set down. And likewise of the
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fishes as much as they would. When they
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were filled, he said unto his disciples,
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"Gather up the fragments that remained,
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that nothing be lost." Therefore, they
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gathered them together, and filled 12
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baskets with the fragments of the five
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barley loaves, which remained over and
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above unto them that had eaten. And then
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those men when they had seen the miracle
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that Jesus did said, "This is of a truth
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that prophet that should come into the
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world." Let's pray. Father, thank you
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again for this great privilege you've
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given us to be here, not only tonight,
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but Lord, these services since Sunday
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morning. It sure has been a blessing to
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me. And I'm grateful for the
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opportunity. Lord, thank you for Brother
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Charlie and Sister Abby and the kids.
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And thank you for this church and each
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family, each one that makes up this
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congregation. I pray rich blessings upon
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them. Lord, I'm excited about what
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you're doing here and what lies ahead
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for your people at Meadows Baptist
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Church. God, give them a greater vision,
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Lord, than they've ever had before.
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Lord, give them a greater burden, Lord,
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than they've ever carried before. and
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help them to reach, Lord, farther with
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the gospel than they've ever reached
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before. Lord, I ask you now as we stand
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and look into the word of God, would you
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please help us, God? Would you touch me
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Aresh once again? And God, give me
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liberty to preach and whatever you do,
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Lord. We'll try. We'll try our best,
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God, to thank you for it and give you
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every bit of the glory, Lord, for it's
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in Jesus name we pray. And amen. And
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we're looking at some familiar scripture
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to most of you tonight here in John
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chapter number six. The miracle of
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feeding the multitude.
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When I look at this text and I look at a
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couple other parallel texts, I I see
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that this is one of the greatest
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miracles that Jesus ever did while he's
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here on earth. Brother Todd and I have
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talked about this many times and he
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actually gave me a couple couple of
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these thoughts. So I'll give credit
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where
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but there's a couple of reasons why I
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would believe that this is one of the
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greatest miracles that Jesus ever did.
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First
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of all, the miracle was with more people
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than any other miracle Jesus did.
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>> We're told in the text is about 5,000
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men. Another writer said 5,000 men plus
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women and children. And somebody a whole
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lot smarter than me said there could
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have easily been 15 to 20,000.
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One even said there could have been as
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many as 40,000
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people gathered there together and
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watched what Christ did that day.
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the greatest multitude
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watched the greatest miracle that that
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one of the greatest miracles that Jesus
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ever did and it had an effect. Verse 14
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said then those men when they seen the
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miracle when they saw the miracle that
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Jesus did said of a truth this is that
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prophet that should come into the world.
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Another thing about this miracle outside
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of the resurrection of Christ, this is
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the only other miracle that all four
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gospel writers gives their account of
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all four of them. This one and the
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resurrection is the only two miracles
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that all four writers told us about.
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That says something. But then here's
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probably one of the greatest reasons
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that I would believe this is one of the
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greatest miracles is that where most
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miracles that Jesus did were simply
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miracles of restoration.
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>> When he gave sight back to the blind, he
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restored their vision.
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>> Even when he raised the dead, he's
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restoring life.
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>> But this is not a miracle of
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restoration. This is actually a miracle
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of creation.
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He going to make fish that's never swam
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in the water.
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>> Yeah.
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>> He makes bread that's never been in an
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oven.
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>> Only God can create. Amen.
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>> And when I saw this, I happened to
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notice a little detail that has proven
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to be a great help to me and I hope that
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it'll be a help to you. I saw in this
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great miracle that Jesus did.
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I saw where a lad
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got to be a part of what God did.
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>> He didn't just watch what God did. He
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got to participate
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in what God did. I want to ask you a
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question. Are you interested tonight in
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being a part of what God is doing?
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>> Now, somebody's going to think or say,
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"But preacher, God's not doing much."
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>> I beg to differ with you.
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>> I believe God's at work as much today as
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he's ever been at work. And there are
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places around the world tonight where
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God's still doing some big things.
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>> And I think we're telling on ourselves
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if we say that God is not doing much
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where we are.
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>> I'll ask you, is God doing anything
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where you are?
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>> If the answer is no or not much, it's
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probably not his fault.
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I read where Jesus was in Nazareth and
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the Bible is clear. It said he did not
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do many mighty works there. He didn't do
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much in Nazareth. He did some big things
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in other places, but not in Nazareth.
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Why did he not do much in Nazareth?
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Wasn't his fault.
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>> It was because of their unbelief.
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If God is not doing anything big where
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you are, it could be our fault
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>> in our unbelief.
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>> I want to go out of this this year. I
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want to go out of my life believing that
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God is still on the throne and God's
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still able. Amen.
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>> Amen.
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>> Amen. He's still able to do big things.
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>> And if God's going to do something,
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wouldn't wouldn't you like to be a part
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of it? Surely you would. We've got by
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far too many spectators that just want
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to watch
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>> and not too many people wanting to
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participate in being a part.
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>> Amen. We don't need no more spectators.
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We need some participants.
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>> This little lad didn't get to just
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spectate. He got to participate. Amen.
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Yes.
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>> I started looking at this lad and if he
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could have a part in what God did that
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day, surely
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surely we could have a part of what
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God's doing in this day.
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>> Amen. A lad,
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I thought they got to be some help in
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this. And I found some. The first place
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I looked, I I love to do word studies. I
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I'm not good at it, but I like to try. I
12:47
I listened to years to to uh some men
12:51
that could take a word and dissect it
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and and bring out truths and nuggets
12:56
that would feed your soul. And I I've
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tried that a few times and I've just I
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don't do very well, but I thought I'd
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give it a shot here. So, I looked at the
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word lad. I thought maybe there's
13:07
something in that. And so, the first
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place I went to, I just I went to the
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English dictionary. I thought maybe
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there's something there. And uh the
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English definition of the word lad,
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y'all ready?
13:20
Small child.
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I thought, well, I don't see nothing in
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that. So, I'll go to the Greek. Got my
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concordance out and I started looking it
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up and and here's the Greek word
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pedarian.
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You know what it means?
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Small child.
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I I didn't get much help there. So, I
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gave up on the word and I started
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looking at the boy. When I started
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looking at him, I found a few things
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that helped me. First of all, I noticed
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this about him. He is little.
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It's a given, isn't it? But now, don't
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give up just yet. I'm not thinking about
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stature
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>> or size or age.
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I notice some other things about him
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that tells me he's little. He's little
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in the fact that first of all, he's
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unnamed.
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>> Yeah.
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>> We don't know what his name is. He had
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one.
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His mama or somebody gave him one just
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like you was given one.
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>> I'd say there's a good chance the Lord
14:28
knowed what his name was.
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>> But we don't know what his name is.
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>> I'll be honest with you, that that kind
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of helped me right there. Here's
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somebody that got to be a part of what
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God did that didn't have a big name.
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>> That wasn't well known.
14:50
>> Amen. You don't have to have a big name.
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You don't have to be well known to be a
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part of what God
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>> is doing. As a matter of fact, if we
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ain't careful, we get too concerned
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about building up our name
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>> and not his name.
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>> Amen. Hey, listen. It's Wednesday night.
15:10
got the meetings right now over with.
15:12
And when this thing closes out and you
15:14
don't know nothing about me, you've
15:16
missed nothing.
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>> But if this thing's closed out and you
15:19
don't know more know more about Jesus
15:20
than what you did, we in bad shape.
15:23
>> It ain't about me. It's all about him.
15:26
Amen.
15:27
>> He's little in the fact that he's
15:28
unnamed. But then watch this. Also
15:31
notice he's little in the fact that for
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the most part he's unnoticed.
15:36
>> Yeah. I mentioned that all four writers
15:39
gave their account of what happened that
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day. Of course, under the inspiration of
15:43
the Holy Ghost. So, I flipped back and I
15:46
read Matthew's account of what happened
15:48
that day. And and Matthew don't mention
15:52
anything about a lad. Nothing.
15:57
So, I flipped over and I read Mark's
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account.
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Mark don't mention anything about a lad.
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I read Luke's account.
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Luke don't mention anything about a lad.
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John is the only one that gives us any
16:17
idea where the bread and the fish came
16:20
from.
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Only one. Now, y'all with me?
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>> Oh, we're doing good tonight. It's only
16:27
about 12 minutes till 8. Y'all okay.
16:33
These men wrote as they were inspired.
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>> You agree with that?
16:39
>> That book's Holy Ghost inspired.
16:43
>> But usually when God inspired these men
16:47
to pin down, there are some exceptions,
16:50
but usually when he inspired these men
16:52
to pin down, they pinned down what they
16:55
saw,
16:57
what they heard, what they witnessed.
17:01
And with that in mind, there's a good
17:03
chance Matthew never saw the lad.
17:08
There's a good chance Mark and Luke
17:11
wasn't there that day.
17:13
>> That's a different text. That's a
17:15
different thought for a different time.
17:17
>> But they wasn't there that day. But
17:19
whoever informed them, whether it was
17:22
Peter telling Mark or even if it was the
17:25
Holy Ghost,
17:27
>> they didn't see fit to tell Mark about
17:29
the lad.
17:33
>> Luke,
17:34
according to Luke chapter 1, he probably
17:36
got most his information from
17:38
eyewitnesses
17:40
and of course the Holy Ghost. But nobody
17:43
mentioned to Luke anything about no lad.
17:46
>> I think he would have pinned it down.
17:48
John's the only one. That shouldn't be
17:51
surprising.
17:53
Usually where Jesus is right there's
17:54
where John is. Amen. And so there's a
17:58
good chance that nobody noticed him.
18:01
Maybe except John did.
18:04
>> It helps me in the fact that nobody has
18:06
to know what you're doing
18:09
>> to be a part of what God's doing.
18:13
>> You don't have to be in the spotlight.
18:15
You don't have to be the main
18:17
attraction. and everybody's attention be
18:19
on you, you can still be a part of what
18:22
God's doing and be in the background and
18:25
for the most part be unnoticed. However,
18:28
even though you may be unnoticed by man,
18:31
you'll never go unnoticed by God. AMEN.
18:34
AND THAT'S the one that matters. We're
18:37
not trying to impress man. We're not
18:40
trying to say, "Hey, look at me. Look
18:42
what I'M DOING. HERE'S MY PART. THIS
18:44
WOULDN'T EVER HAPPEN if it wasn't for
18:46
me." NO, WE WANT ALL EYES ON HIM. AMEN.
18:49
AND IF ALL EYES ARE ON HIM,
18:53
>> people going to get some mail.
18:55
>> Amen.
18:56
>> Here's somebody got to be a part of what
18:58
God did. That was number one, unnamed.
19:01
Number two, unnoticed. I noticed this
19:04
about him. He's little in the fact that
19:06
not only he's unnamed and unnoticed, but
19:09
here's somebody got to be a part of what
19:10
God did that was unnumbered.
19:16
Help [snorts] me out here, church. Let's
19:17
see if we can picture the scene. Great
19:19
multitudes gathered together. I mean,
19:21
there's literally thousands of people
19:23
there. Many of them's there for the
19:25
wrong reason. They're hoping to catch a
19:27
glimpse of a miracle. They're wanting to
19:29
see a performance, but regardless of why
19:32
they're there, they're there. Jesus
19:34
wants to feed them. He asked the
19:37
question, "When shall we buy bread that
19:40
these may eat?" I don't know who all is
19:43
exactly around them, but we know
19:45
Philillip's there.
19:46
>> Yeah.
19:47
>> And they look out over the crowd. My
19:50
what a crowd is gathered.
19:53
>> And they sum up the need. They decide
19:57
there's about, listen, 5,000
20:01
men.
20:03
[crying]
20:05
Men. When they summed up the size of the
20:08
crowd, when they summed up the need,
20:11
they counted the men.
20:15
>> He's a lad.
20:17
Watch this. Here's somebody that got to
20:20
be a part of what God did that day that
20:22
didn't even count.
20:24
>> Yeah.
20:27
>> I'm going to change that wording around
20:29
a little bit and see if this will help
20:30
you even a little more. Here's somebody
20:32
got to be a part of what God did that
20:33
day. That was no count. Yeah.
20:37
>> Amen.
20:38
>> Let me help you right here. You've been
20:40
wondering since Sunday. I'm going to
20:42
help you. You're looking at one tonight.
20:45
That's no count.
20:48
>> Amen. I really ought to be in hell.
20:51
>> Amen.
20:53
>> Nothing. Absolutely nothing good about
20:56
me except him.
20:59
>> Amen. And I want to be honest with you
21:01
and please don't let me hurt your
21:02
feelings. But you know who I'm looking
21:04
at tonight? I'm looking at a bunch of no
21:07
counts.
21:08
>> AMEN. YES, EVEN YOU. Every one of us
21:11
ought to be in hell tonight. A bunch of
21:13
no counts gathered here at Meadows
21:15
BAPTIST CHURCH. BUT WHAT A BLESSING.
21:17
HE'LL LET A BUNCH OF NO COUNTS HAVE A
21:20
LITTLE part in what he's doing. I say
21:23
bless the Lord for that. Amen.
21:25
>> Amen.
21:26
>> Here's what gets me every time I think
21:28
of it. God could have created beings to
21:32
do his will.
21:34
>> Yeah, that's right.
21:35
>> He could have created angels or some
21:39
other
21:40
>> perfect being that would not stumble,
21:43
that would not struggle, that would not
21:46
stutter. He could create something that
21:48
would do everything he did perfectly.
21:52
>> But he didn't do it. He let a bunch like
21:55
me and you
21:57
>> have the privilege,
21:59
>> have the honor of being a part of what
22:03
God is doing. Amen.
22:06
>> He'll let somebody like us have a part.
22:10
>> No count. I I looked at the lad and I
22:13
noticed that he's little. But I
22:16
continued looking and I saw a few other
22:18
things. I think this one's real
22:20
important. I happened to look at him and
22:22
I noticed this about him. Not only is he
22:24
little, he's listening.
22:26
>> Yeah.
22:28
>> Had to be.
22:31
>> Had to be. Again, let's see if we can
22:32
picture the scene. The multitudes
22:35
gathered. Notice this. Nobody's
22:38
preaching.
22:39
Nobody's teaching. Nobody's praying.
22:43
Nobody is demanding attention.
22:47
What's fixing to happen? They're fixing
22:49
to have a meal together. Is that right?
22:51
>> Yes.
22:52
Next time y'all get together for a
22:54
church meal, I want I want you to do
22:56
something. I want you to notice the
22:58
children.
23:00
Notice the youngans. I seen some tonight
23:03
down there this evening.
23:06
>> Children's always been children.
23:08
Regardless of centuries or time frame or
23:12
location, kids are kids.
23:15
>> They've always just been kids. That day
23:17
would have been no different if we'd
23:19
looked out over the crowd and seen all
23:20
these thousands of people. They'd been a
23:23
group of kids back yonder. They'd been a
23:24
group of kids back yonder. They'd been
23:26
playing and doing their little thing.
23:31
But if we can look real carefully right
23:33
there around where Jesus is,
23:36
he's asked the question, "When shall we
23:39
buy bread that these may eat?"
23:43
It don't look like a long period of time
23:46
until Andrew is going to come with the
23:49
lad
23:50
and he's going to say there's a lad here
23:53
which have five barley loaves and two
23:56
small fishes.
24:00
I'm concerned. I'm I'm interested. How
24:03
did that lad know that the Lord's
24:06
looking for bread?
24:09
How?
24:11
I don't think an announcement has been
24:13
made. Anybody have bread?
24:17
I don't think that happened. He's
24:19
talking to his disciples. They're having
24:21
a conversation. When shall we buy bread
24:23
that these me? Philip said, why 200
24:26
penny worth wouldn't be sufficient for
24:28
everybody just have a little bit? Here
24:30
comes Andrew.
24:32
Now, here's a lad that had to be close
24:38
enough to Jesus
24:40
to hear the Lord speak.
24:43
>> And because he's close enough to hear
24:45
the Lord speak, that's how he gets to be
24:49
a part of what God did that day.
24:53
>> He heard the Lord mention bread. Why?
24:56
He's got something with him. What's he
24:58
got? He looks, he's got some bread. Now,
25:02
the ideal would have been take that to
25:04
Jesus, would it not?
25:06
>> For some reason, it looks like he
25:07
couldn't get to Jesus. He does the next
25:10
best thing. He goes to one of his
25:11
disciples and it's, "Oh, Andrew, I can
25:14
almost see it. See if you can see it
25:15
with me. Excuse me, sir."
25:18
I don't want to give Andrew a bad rap.
25:19
He might have he might have said
25:20
something like this. "Not now, boy.
25:22
We're busy."
25:23
It's way us adults can be, ain't we? But
25:26
he's persistent. Excuse me, sir. What is
25:28
it, boy? I got some bread.
25:34
How much you got?
25:36
>> I got five barley loaves.
25:42
I'm amazed to be honest with you. I
25:44
really am. I'm amazed. Brother Todd
25:46
Andrew even brought him to Jesus.
25:49
>> I shouldn't be. Andrew is always
25:51
bringing somebody to Jesus. Amen. He's
25:54
one brought Peter to Jesus.
25:56
But he brings him to Jesus.
26:00
How do he know to offer his bread?
26:03
He had to be listening. Had to be close
26:06
enough to Jesus to hear what Jesus said.
26:11
Because of that, he got to be a part of
26:13
what God did that day. This is vital.
26:15
Y'all with me? I'm going to quit here in
26:17
a few minutes. But if you don't get
26:19
nothing else I say tonight, listen to
26:21
this question. It's it's important. How
26:24
close are you to Jesus tonight?
26:28
>> How close are you?
26:31
Listen, I commend you for being in
26:33
church on a Wednesday night. Some of you
26:36
come in here from work and you're tired
26:39
and um you really would like to be at
26:41
home and relaxing, getting ready to go
26:44
to bed, got to get up early in the
26:45
morning. I commend you for being at
26:47
church tonight. I really do. Thank you
26:49
for coming. But just because you're in
26:51
church on a Wednesday night, that really
26:52
don't mean you're really close to Jesus.
26:56
>> That's right.
26:57
>> We know how to put the show on, don't
26:59
we?
27:00
>> We know how to act the part.
27:02
>> Can I be honest with y'all? Y'all ain't
27:04
going y'all ain't going to have no
27:05
confidence in me. And that's really
27:06
okay. You don't need no confidence in
27:08
me.
27:10
But I've got up I've got up to preach
27:12
before,
27:13
but Charlie, I'm just being honest.
27:15
That's all right.
27:17
And I know how to go through the motions
27:19
and do the outline. And I know when to
27:22
lift my voice up. And I know when to
27:25
calm it down.
27:27
>> I've done that before. And I've been
27:29
feeling like I so far away from Jesus.
27:32
>> Tell it preacher.
27:35
>> Y'all ever get like that?
27:37
>> Help me now. Don't tell me I'm the only
27:40
one.
27:41
>> Surely I'm not the only one.
27:44
>> And we know how to do it. and make it
27:47
look good on the outside. So, just
27:49
because you're here tonight, that really
27:51
don't mean you're real close to Jesus.
27:53
But listen to me carefully. If you want
27:55
to be a part of what God's doing, you've
27:57
got to get close to him.
28:00
>> Think of all the voices that day.
28:02
There's there 15 20,000 people there.
28:05
Think of all the noise. Out of all the
28:08
noise. Out of all the voices, he heard
28:11
the right one.
28:13
>> He heard the master's voice. Amen.
28:16
>> And because he heard the master's voice,
28:18
here we are talking about him, preaching
28:21
about him 2,000 plus years later, he got
28:24
to be a part of what God did that day.
28:27
>> All of hell, all of the world is pulling
28:29
at you, trying to get you away from God,
28:32
trying to get you away from Jesus. I'm
28:34
telling you, it's a constant struggle.
28:36
It's a constant battle to try to stay
28:38
close to the Lord. Is it not?
28:41
>> Oh, help me now. IT'S IT'S HARD
28:43
SOMETIME. AND ALL YOU GOT TO do is just
28:45
quit trying. And you don't have to get
28:48
out in the world. You don't have to
28:49
start cussing. You don't have to START
28:51
DRINKING. JUST QUIT TRYING TO STAY CLOSE
28:53
TO HIM. And you know what you're going
28:54
to find? You're going to find you've
28:56
drifted.
28:57
>> Yeah.
28:58
>> You've gotten away from God. You didn't
29:00
mean to. You didn't want to. But here
29:03
you are now. It seems like God's a
29:05
million miles away. If if that's the
29:07
case, I can tell you who didn't move.
29:09
>> Yeah.
29:12
>> That's right. I know who didn't move.
29:14
>> It's me and you. That's right. It's
29:16
>> me and you. I'm just telling you though,
29:18
if we want to be a part of what God's
29:20
doing, we got to get close to him.
29:24
>> I challenge the church, get close to
29:26
you, preacher.
29:28
>> I challenge families, get close to one
29:30
another.
29:31
>> But please don't neglect the fact you
29:33
better get close to Jesus.
29:36
>> We need to be close to him. That little
29:38
lad had to be right up there near where
29:40
Jesus was. He wasn't playing back yonder
29:43
in the back somewhere. He had to be real
29:45
close
29:47
>> because he was close. Heard the Lord's
29:49
voice. He knew how he could be a part of
29:53
what God was doing. I have people ask
29:56
me, "Preacher, how do I know what God
29:58
would have me to do?" Got to get close
30:00
and hear his voice.
30:01
>> Yeah.
30:02
>> Amen.
30:02
>> Amen. I wish I could shout out some
30:04
orders. You know what I'd do? I'd send
30:06
this couple to Africa. I'd send this
30:08
couple to China. I that's my voice. You
30:12
don't need to hear my voice.
30:13
>> That's right.
30:14
>> When I'm preaching, I guess, but the
30:17
voice you're needing to hear is his.
30:18
>> Yeah.
30:18
>> Yes, sir.
30:19
>> He was listening. Little He's listening.
30:23
I got to give you this one. It's only 3
30:25
after 8, y'all. Okay, sir.
30:26
>> Brother Todd's going home tonight. He
30:28
said, "Don't preach long."
30:31
Oh, I'm trying, preacher. I'm trying.
30:35
He's little. He's listening and he's
30:38
limited.
30:42
Oh my.
30:44
If that been me, put yourself right here
30:47
with me. Lord's looking for bread.
30:51
I got some bread.
30:54
One, two, three, five.
30:58
I got five barley loaves. We got to
31:01
understand something about barley
31:02
loaves. Barley was a poor man's grain.
31:06
Yes.
31:06
>> Barley bread's a poor man's bread. One
31:09
preacher said it like this and he's
31:11
accurate. He said basically what he's
31:13
got five crackers.
31:15
>> This wasn't big loaves of bread like
31:17
your mama made. Got five crackers.
31:22
The Lord's looking for bread. If that
31:24
had been me, Brian, I think I know what
31:27
I would have done.
31:29
Too embarrassed to offer such a little
31:31
bit when the need's so great. I'd looked
31:35
in there and I'd probably hid that
31:36
behind me. I would have said, "Good
31:38
luck."
31:40
What would you have done?
31:42
I mean, so little.
31:44
The need is so great. What good's my
31:48
little bit going to do? It's not going
31:51
to change anything. I'll just keep it.
31:57
Oh my. But see, here's the key. in the
32:02
lad in the lad's hands in the lad's bag
32:05
or box or basket or whatever he had. You
32:08
know what that was? Five barley loaves.
32:11
That's what it was.
32:14
If Andrew touched it, you know what it
32:16
was when he got a hold of it? Five
32:19
barley loaves.
32:21
But when it got in Jesus hands,
32:25
>> it ain't five loaves no more.
32:27
>> You know what it is now? When Jesus gets
32:29
a hold of it, it's enough.
32:32
>> Amen. It's enough. Oh, wait a minute.
32:36
Now, they going to take up 12 baskets of
32:38
leftovers. So, I guess it's not just
32:41
enough. When it got IN JESUS' HANDS,
32:43
IT'S more than enough.
32:45
>> Amen.
32:47
>> And what little we've got in our hands.
32:49
That's all it is. IT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE
32:51
GOT. BUT IF WE CAN GET IT IN HIS HANDS,
32:54
IT BECOMES more than enough
32:57
>> when he gets a hold of
33:00
>> he's he's limited. He don't have much.
33:06
If I had given anything,
33:09
I probably wouldn't have. If id given
33:13
anything,
33:14
think I might know what I might have
33:17
done. He's little. He's listening. He's
33:21
limited. Got another one for you
33:23
already. I don't like this word, but
33:25
we'll use it anyway. He's liberal.
33:30
>> I ain't talking about he's in con
33:31
convictions and I'm not talking about
33:33
his political party.
33:35
I
33:35
>> I believe the little fella gave
33:37
everything he had. What do y'all think?
33:40
>> Brother Jonathan, if that been me and
33:42
I'd give anything, I know what I might
33:44
have done. See if y'all with me. I'd
33:47
looked in there and I'd seen five loaves
33:49
and two small fishes. Here's my
33:51
thinking,
33:53
man. I might get hungry after a while.
33:56
>> I tell you what I'll do. I'll give him
33:58
three loaves and one fish.
34:00
>> Yeah.
34:01
>> That way after a while,
34:05
I've got two crackers. I can put a
34:06
sardine between and I'll have me a
34:08
snack.
34:09
>> Amen.
34:12
Let [snorts] me throw out something
34:13
here. I if he'd only given three loaves
34:16
and one fish,
34:18
would he not have gave more than anybody
34:19
else?
34:20
>> Yeah.
34:23
>> And you'll never convince me he's the
34:26
only one that had anything to offer.
34:28
>> Yeah.
34:28
>> You'll never convince me of that.
34:30
>> What makes you say that? They're going
34:32
to take up 12 baskets of leftovers.
34:35
Right.
34:36
>> Y'all help me.
34:37
>> What was in them baskets?
34:41
Don't tell me people showed up with
34:43
empty baskets. There's some others in
34:46
that crowd that had something to eat,
34:47
too.
34:48
>> Yeah, right.
34:49
>> They just didn't offer it.
34:51
>> If he'd only given three loaves and one
34:53
fish, he gave more than anybody else.
34:55
>> Let me ask you another question. Would
34:57
it have hindered God?
34:58
>> No.
34:59
>> No. He could have worked with three
35:01
loaves and one fish just as good as he
35:04
worked with five loaves and two fishes.
35:07
>> Wouldn't have entered God. But if
35:09
there's anybody glad he went ahead and
35:11
gave everything, I think that little
35:12
fell was.
35:15
>> Let's see if we can watch it unfold out
35:18
here. And
35:20
he he gives it Andrew takes him to the
35:23
Lord as a lad here. He's got five barley
35:24
loaves, too. I really wish Andrew had
35:26
just stopped with that statement. He had
35:28
to throw his two cents in. He said, "But
35:30
what are they amongst so many?" Lord
35:32
didn't rebuke. The Lord didn't say
35:34
anything. He just he took what the Lord
35:36
lad gave, did he not? It's in the Lord's
35:39
hands. Now, watch what the Lord did. He
35:41
bowed and gave thanks for it. Did he
35:44
not? I wonder if I've ever given God
35:47
anything that he gave thanks for.
35:51
He gives thanks for it and then he I
35:54
don't know if it's I don't know if it's
35:56
a bag or what's it a basket?
36:00
He reaches into it, does he not? He
36:03
said, "There's much grass in the place."
36:05
said, "Have the men sit down."
36:08
That took a while. 15, 20,000, maybe up
36:11
to 40,000 people getting them to sit
36:13
down. Hey, everybody sit down. Everybody
36:15
sit down. That took a while. And then
36:18
he's going to reach in and give
36:19
something. He going to give the
36:20
disciples, right? Going to use the
36:22
disciples, distribute this. He reaches
36:25
in. He pulls it out and he gives it to
36:27
the Hey, ladies, help me here just a
36:29
minute.
36:30
How long is it going to take to feed
36:36
15, 20,000, maybe as even many as 40,000
36:40
people? How long is it going to take
36:42
coming from one source to feed a crowd
36:45
that size?
36:48
He reaches in, he pulls out, and he
36:50
gives to a disciple, does he not? that
36:54
disciple takes it and he's going to
36:56
deliver it to one of those that is sat
36:59
down, right?
37:02
>> I guess all all the disciples got
37:05
involved, I'm assuming. So, they're
37:07
standing there in line and Jesus is
37:09
reaching in and pulling it out and
37:11
giving it to another one. Now, the lad
37:14
obviously has faded into the background.
37:19
That's what it looks like. He's faded
37:21
off into the But you know this about
37:23
him, don't you? He's still watching.
37:28
The Lord's reaching into what he gave.
37:30
Oh, bless the Lord. He's watching the
37:33
Lord reach into what he gave and he's
37:36
pulling from it and he giving it to a
37:38
disciple. He reaches back in and he's
37:42
pulling from it and he gives it to
37:44
another disciple. Y'all with me?
37:47
>> Hang on now. Amen.
37:49
>> 10 minutes have gone by. That lad's
37:53
still watching and he's and the Lord's
37:56
reaching in and pulling it out, right?
38:01
20 minutes have gone by. The lad's still
38:03
watching. Lord's reaching in and pulling
38:06
out. He's scratching his head. He says,
38:09
"I didn't know there's that much in
38:11
there." And the Lord's 30 minutes later,
38:14
he's still reaching in.
38:16
Y'all getting this?
38:18
>> Could it be an hour has gone by? He's
38:21
still watching God reach in and pull it
38:25
out. Reach in. I don't know. Two hours
38:28
could have went by. He's still watching
38:31
God. It's all came from what he gave.
38:37
>> My my and then guess what happens in a
38:40
few moments? Here comes a disciple
38:44
and he's bringing something to the lad
38:47
and the lad gets to partake as they all
38:51
going to be full. That includes that lad
38:53
too.
38:53
>> Yeah,
38:54
>> I thought about this, brother Todd. It's
38:56
possible
38:58
five loaves and two small fishes might
39:00
have not have filled the lad.
39:01
>> Yeah, that's right.
39:03
>> But I guarantee you this. Whatever one
39:05
of them disciples brought him was enough
39:06
to fill his belly.
39:09
>> Amen.
39:10
They all going to get filled
39:14
off [snorts] of this
39:16
and then they're going to take up 12
39:19
baskets of leftovers.
39:22
12 of them. Here's the question. You've
39:26
heard it before. It's been debated by
39:28
the smartest. What they do with them 12
39:31
baskets of leftovers?
39:34
I got some good ideals and a hero of
39:37
mine preached it a certain way and I
39:40
just say amen. One said there's 12
39:43
baskets, 12 disciples. There's a good
39:45
chance that each disciple left with a
39:47
basket. Might have. I don't know. But
39:50
I'm going throw a biblical
39:53
a biblical thought in here with it.
39:55
Think on this. You can't outgive God.
39:58
That's right.
39:59
>> That's a principle, is it not?
40:01
>> You can't outgive God. And with that in
40:03
mind,
40:04
>> there's a chance that that little lad
40:07
had to have some help carrying his lunch
40:09
back home.
40:10
>> Amen.
40:13
>> You ain't going to outgive God.
40:15
>> Amen.
40:19
>> All because a little lad
40:23
was close enough to Jesus to hear Jesus
40:27
say he's looking for bread and he gave
40:30
what he had.
40:33
Got one more and I'm done. It's 13 after
40:37
8. We're doing okay. I think
40:40
>> I noticed one other thing about him. Not
40:42
only is he little listening, limited,
40:44
liberal, I noticed this. He's loved.
40:48
>> Yeah,
40:49
>> that little fella's loved. What do you
40:51
mean, preacher? Just wondering where'd
40:54
he get them loaves and fishes? I don't
40:57
think he's the fisherman.
41:00
I don't think he's the cook. I think
41:02
somebody cared about that little fell
41:04
and they gave something to him. What do
41:06
y'all think? All he's doing is going to
41:09
take what's been given him. He going to
41:11
give it to God.
41:12
>> Yeah.
41:14
>> God going to do a miracle with it. The
41:16
key to all of this, I believe this is
41:18
the key.
41:21
He was close enough to hear the voice of
41:24
God.
41:26
>> You got faith promise cards.
41:29
Y'all with me? I'm done. You got faith
41:31
promise cards. I want to challenge you.
41:34
Get close to the Lord and listen to him
41:37
speak.
41:39
>> Just listen for him.
41:41
Second Corinthians, we didn't go that
41:43
far. 2 Corinthians chapter nine
41:47
tells us that we should purpose in our
41:50
heart what we should give.
41:54
This don't come on a calculator or on a
41:57
paper. This comes from our heart. You
42:00
and God work this out in your heart. You
42:03
listen to him. And whatever he tells
42:06
you, that's what you need to do. Got a
42:09
message. I ain't going to preach it, but
42:11
I got a message out of John 2 where
42:13
Mary, remember when they ran out of
42:14
wine?
42:16
I ain't going to tell you the whole
42:17
story. You remember it. Bottom line, she
42:19
looks at some servants over there and
42:21
here's what Mary said. Whatsoever he
42:24
saith unto you, do it.
42:26
>> I'm gonna tell you what Mary said.
42:28
Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
42:32
>> Yeah.
42:32
>> You want to be a part of what God's
42:33
doing? Listen for him. If you'll listen,
42:37
I'll guarantee you. You got to get close
42:40
to if you'll listen, he'll speak.
42:43
>> Sure.
42:43
>> He'll speak and you can find out what
42:45
you can do. And you can watch what God
42:49
does. Amen.
42:51
That's one of the most exciting parts of
42:53
the story. He got to watch what God did
42:56
with what he gave. Say, "Preacher, how
42:58
do we watch?" How about prayer letters?
43:00
>> Yeah.
43:01
>> That's a good way to get to watch what
43:03
God does
43:04
>> with what you gave. If you want to be a
43:07
part of what God's doing, you can one
43:10
two things you really need to focus on.
43:13
Are you little enough? And will you get
43:15
close enough to listen? I think some
43:18
people's too big for God. Slad
43:23
was little enough to be used.
43:24
>> Sure.
43:25
>> And he got close enough to God and he
43:27
heard the voice of God. Father, we love
43:30
you. We want to thank you for giving us
43:33
the privilege of getting to be a part of
43:37
what you're doing. And I'm so thankful,
43:39
God, you're still doing.
43:42
Help us to have the faith. Help us to
43:45
believe that God, you'll even do big
43:47
things here.
43:49
I know you can and I know you want to.
43:52
I'm going to believe that you will. Help
43:54
us to all believe that. And then Lord,
43:57
when you are doing something, God, give
43:58
us the desire to be a part of it. We
44:02
don't want to just watch you do
44:03
something. We want to participate in it.
44:06
Will you let us have a part God? I know
44:08
you will. If we'll get close enough to
44:10
you that we can hear your voice, we can
44:14
be a part of what God's doing. have your
44:17
way in our hearts and we'll thank you
44:18
for it. Jesus name. Heads are still
44:21
bowed, eyes are still closed. I just
44:23
want to ask something real quickly.
44:26
I didn't preach salvation tonight. I
44:27
understand. But if you're here and
44:28
you're not saved, tonight be a wonderful
44:31
[music] night to come and make this God
44:33
your savior.
44:35
Let me ask [music] this.
44:37
Only you can answer it. I don't I don't
44:39
even know if your spouse can answer this
44:41
one for you. I I don't think your
44:43
children, [music] they might have an
44:45
ideal, but I want to ask you this. How
44:48
close are you to Jesus [music] tonight?
44:51
How close are you? You You know,
44:56
you know,
44:58
you may have everybody else [music]
45:00
fooled, but you know, are you close
45:03
enough that if he speaks,
45:07
he ain't always in the thunder. He ain't
45:10
always in the earthquake. It's usually
45:12
[music] that little still small voice.
45:15
If he speaks tonight, are you close
45:17
enough to hear him?
45:19
I tell you what you [music] want ought
45:20
to want to do. Lord, help me get as
45:22
close to you as I can. I want to be able
45:25
to hear your voice. With all the noise
45:28
tonight, with all the voices,
45:31
God, help us [music] get close enough to
45:32
hear yours.
45:34
We want to be a part of what you're
45:35
doing. God,
45:37
help us to get close. Help [music] us to
45:40
listen. Help us to listen. Let's all
45:43
stand. Something's already came. I' I'd
45:46
[music] encourage you tonight. You might
45:47
even bring that faith promise card with
45:49
you. Bring it to an altar. Lord, I want
45:52
to hear your voice.
45:54
Speak to [music] me, Lord. Help me be
45:57
close enough to you. You might want to
45:59
tell God you're sorry for drifting.
46:01
You might want to just [music] downright
46:04
apologize. Lord, I'm I'm sorry that life
46:07
has just gotten so hectic. I just
46:10
drifted [music] away from you.
46:12
Crawl your way back close to him again.
46:16
I'd [music] say probably bunch of us
46:18
ought to do that. Help us, Lord. Get
46:20
close to you.
46:22
>> And then when [music] we do, Lord, speak
46:24
to me. Let me hear your voice. Ain't no
46:28
greater voice to hear than his. I say
46:31
this, ain't no greater sound than to
46:33
hear his voice when God [music] speaks
46:36
to us.
46:38
Somebody told me not long ago said,
46:39
"Preacher, it's been months since I've
46:40
heard the voice of God. [music] That's a
46:42
sad place to be in.
46:45
Sad place to be in. Help us, Lord. Get
46:48
close enough to hear your voice. And
46:50
then when we hear it, let's be [music]
46:52
obedient to it. Do exactly what he bids
46:57
us. We can be a part of what God's doing
47:00
right here in 2026. [music]
47:04
We can be involved.
47:07
Involved in what God's doing.
47:26
Amen. Amen. These praying tonight were
47:28
no hurry. [music] No hurry tonight. Take
47:30
all the time you need.
47:34
[music]
47:36
Effective prayer is a patient thing.
47:40
Father
47:42
Lord, I want to say thank you tonight.
47:45
Thank you for the word of God that's
47:47
been shared.
47:49
Lord, I thank you for the man of God
47:52
taking time [music] to be with us this
47:54
week and to help us. And Lord, we have
47:58
been helped. I have been helped. I've
48:00
been stirred. I've been challenged.
48:02
And God, I know that you have challenged
48:04
our church.
48:06
God, I pray number one tonight, Lord, if
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there's somebody here tonight and
48:10
they're not saved, I pray, Lord, that
48:12
you'd save them before they leave this
48:13
place. God, that's the need of the hour.
48:15
That's the cry of missions, Lord, that
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[music] sinners would come to know you.
48:20
Lord, can't think of a better way to end
48:21
a missions conference.
48:24
But Lord, I pray number two tonight,
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Father, that we would take these truths
48:28
as your church. Lord, I know that we
48:31
call ourselves Meta's Baptist Church.
48:33
But Lord, I know that we are your
48:35
church.
48:36
And uh Lord, I pray that you would help
48:39
us, Lord, to [music] embrace,
48:41
God, the fact that our little bit is
48:44
enough when you take it. And [music]
48:47
when we give it to you, Lord, it'll be
48:49
enough and more than enough.
48:51
And God, as we spend the next few days,
48:54
Lord, praying earnestly praying, Father,
48:57
over these faith promise cards, Lord, as
49:00
it is the lifeline for our missions work
49:03
here at Medas. Lord, I pray that you
49:05
would help us, Lord, to God to pray and
49:08
stay until we hear your voice.
49:12
Lord, the old men of God used to say
49:13
that we get a hold of the horns of the
49:15
altar and stay until we know we prayed
49:17
through. And God, I pray that you would
49:20
help us to do that, Lord, to take time,
49:22
Lord, to make it a priority over the
49:24
next few days, Lord, to purpose in our
49:27
heart, Lord. you told us in the word of
49:29
God, not grudgingly nor necessity,
49:33
Lord, to be cheerful in our giving.
49:36
Lord, I ask you that you would give us
49:37
the strength, [music]
49:39
the obedient heart of faith to do that.
49:42
Lord, I pray for every need tonight,
49:44
Lord. Every every heart, every burden.
49:46
Well, I pray for maybe that one, Lord,
49:48
that's been here tonight. Maybe they
49:49
couldn't enjoy the service for some
49:51
burden they have. God, I pray tonight,
49:53
Lord, that the word of God would break
49:55
through that burden. Lord, you'd remind
49:57
them that you're enough.
50:00
That you're enough, Lord, for whatever
50:01
they're lacking. And God, would you help
50:03
us all, Lord, to be obedient to the word
50:05
of God? Well, we give you thanks for
50:06
what you do cuz you're wonderful and we
50:09
love you. [music] We give you praise.
50:12
Lord, I stand amazed
50:15
all that you've done. But Lord, who you
50:16
are, the fact you take out time, stop by
50:19
our way. Lord, I love you and I thank
50:22
you tonight and I ask it all in Jesus
50:24
name. Amen.
50:26
Thank you for joining our service
50:28
[music] today. We'd love it if you'd
50:30
join us in person the next time you are
50:32
able at Meadows Baptist Church. Our
50:35
[music] physical address is 2988 Stewart
50:38
Road in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Our
50:41
service times are Sunday school at 10:00
50:44
a.m., Sunday [music] morning worship at
50:46
11:00 a.m., Sunday evening worship at
50:48
6:00 p.m., [music] and Wednesday evening
50:50
Bible study at 700 p.m. For more
50:53
information, visit us at
50:55
meadowsbaptisturch.com. [music]
50:57
Thanks again for tuning in.