Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / They Sought Means - 8/30/26 - Meadows Baptist Church Missions Conference - Bro. Gary Crisp

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They Sought Means - 8/30/26 - Meadows Baptist Church Missions Conference - Bro. Gary Crisp · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

0:02
Welcome to [music] the podcast of
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Meadows Baptist Church of Walnut Cove,
0:07
North Carolina. We're so glad [music]
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you joined us today. If you enjoy
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today's message, be sure to subscribe,
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[music] follow, and share with your
0:15
friends. Now, let's join Pastor [music]
0:18
Charlie Branch with a word from God.
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Glad I can say it's well with my soul
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this morning. Amen.
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And I trust it is with yours as well.
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>> If it's not be good news it can be
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before the day is over. Amen.
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Take your Bibles this morning. Let's go
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to the book of Luke.
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Luke chapter number five this morning.
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Luke chapter number five. Trust that you
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have been praying and ask you that you
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continue to pray for the services. Pray
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for us. Pray for the Lord's will to be
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done. And I truly am honored and excited
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about what the Lord has in store for us
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these few days. It'll go by real quick.
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I promise you that. And uh I ask you if
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you will this morning to prove me wrong.
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It seems like that um especially in this
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day and time that we're living in, the
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least attended meetings that we'll have
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as a church is usually a missions
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meeting.
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Whatever the reason might be, I'm not
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real sure. I think a lot of people have
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a mindset that it's going to be all
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about money.
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>> And I I will say this, it's not going to
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be all about money.
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>> If that's your perception of missions,
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you've got the wrong perception.
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>> It really it really is all about souls
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is what it's all about.
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>> And that that's really what the church
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ought to be interested in is souls.
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>> And so it's not going to be all about
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money. Uh, but I'd ask you to prove me
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wrong and um, show me this week that
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this church ain't going to be like all
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the other churches that uh, this this
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meeting be well attended. Amen. That'd
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be a blessing. And I I believe that it
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will be. But uh, you pray for us and
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pray the Lord's will be done. And ask
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him specifically to speak to your heart
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these days about what your job is,
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what's your role in reaching the world
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with the gospel. Say, "Well, preacher, I
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I'm not a missionary. I'm not even a
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preacher. I I don't even teach Sunday
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school. You mean I've got a job. I have
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a role in reaching the world with the
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gospel. Sure you do.
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>> If you're part of the New Testament
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church, you have a responsibility just
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like the missionary has a responsibility
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to reach the world with the gospel. And
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so pray these days and find out, ask the
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Lord, what's my position? What's my role
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in reaching the world with the gospel?
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And if you'll ask him that, he'll show
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you.
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>> He'll tell you. I want to be involved in
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it, don't you?
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>> Yes.
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>> And so, uh, ask the Lord what he'd have
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you to do in the area of missions. And I
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promise you, he'll reveal to you. He'll
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speak to you these days. Amen. Luke
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chapter number five. And, uh, we, Jenny
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and I were talking on the way over to
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church this morning. It It's hard to
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believe that Miss Abby is now a pastor's
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wife. and um got these beautiful babies
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and u being used of the Lord like she is
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and and um just it just reminded Jeannie
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and I we getting old and so u it seems
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like just a few days ago Jeannie was
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teaching her in kindergarten
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and we had a Christian school so we
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didn't have a whole lot of staff and so
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Jenny was her kindergarten teacher, her
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first grade teacher, her second grade
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teacher and stayed stayed with her for
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quite some time and thank the Lord for
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the good memories and and so thankful
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how God has used Miss Abby and now
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brother Charlie might mildly for the
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Lord. Y'all got a good pastor. I hope
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you know that.
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>> Amen. And I trust that you're behind him
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110%
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and that you pray for him on a regular
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basis. And a lot of churches are looking
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for a pastor this morning. And I'll be
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honest with you, there's not many out
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there uh to look for. And so God's been
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good to you and give you a good pastor.
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Does he do everything exactly like you'd
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like him to? Probably not.
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And do you agree with everything that he
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might say and or do? Good chance. Maybe
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not. But he's your man of God. That's
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right.
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>> And the scripture said, the Lord said, I
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will give you pastors according to mine
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heart. And God has given you a pastor
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from his heart
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>> uh to be the leader of this flock. And
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you, your family, and your children need
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him.
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>> Amen.
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>> In this day and hour like you've never
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needed them before. You say, "Preacher,
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uh, this church really needs me." I
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don't know about that, but I will say
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this. you really need this church
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>> and you need this pastor. And so, um,
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I'm excited that he's here and doing
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great things for God. Hadn't forgot your
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grace gracefulness a year ago when we
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had the mission school here. Y'all was
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such a great host and we appreciate
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that. Amen. It's 25 till 12. I'll quit
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rambling and um, we'll give you a
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thought this morning and we'll see what
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the Lord does. Amen. Luke chapter number
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five. Find verse number 17 with me. Luke
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chapter number five. And we'll begin
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reading in verse number 17. The Bible
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said, "It came to pass on a certain day
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as he was teaching
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that there were Pharisees and doctors of
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the law sitting by which were come out
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of every town of Galilee and Judea and
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Jerusalem.
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And the power of the Lord was present to
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heal them. And behold, men brought in a
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bed a man which was taken with a pausy.
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They sought means to bring him in and to
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lay him before him. And when they could
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not find by what way they might bring
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him in because of the multitude,
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they went upon the housetop and led him
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down through the tiling which is with
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his couch into the midst before Jesus.
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And when he saw their faith, he said
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unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven
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thee. The scribes and Pharisees began to
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reason, saying, "Who is this which
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speaketh blasphemies?
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Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But
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when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he
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answered and said unto them, "What
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reason ye in your hearts?" Whether is
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easier to say, "Thy sins be forgiven
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thee," or to say, "Rise up and walk."
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But that ye may know that the Son of Man
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hath power upon earth to forgive sins.
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And he said to the sick of the Pauly, I
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say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy
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couch, and go into thine house. And
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immediately he rose up before them, and
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took up that that whereon he lay, and
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departed to his own house, glorifying
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God.
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They were all amazed and they glorified
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God and were filled with fear saying,
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"We have seen strange things today."
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Let's pray. Father, we're truly grateful
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for this privilege you've given us to
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come this way this morning. I'm asking
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you, Lord, for help and for leadership
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and guidance throughout not only this
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morning's service, but Lord, for the
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rest of this meeting. Please help us,
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Lord. And God, do in our hearts, do in
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our midst what only God can do.
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Please speak and touch every heart that
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that is here and that will come. And
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Lord, bless this church mightily. Lord,
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bless this dear pastor and his family.
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[snorts]
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Stir our hearts, Lord, in ways that
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you've not stirred maybe in many years.
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Lord, I ask you if we stand here this
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morning that you'd touch us for freshes
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and give us liberty to preach. Whatever
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you do, we'll try our very best to thank
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you for it. And Lord, we'll praise you,
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give you every bit of the glory, Lord,
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for it's in Jesus precious name that we
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pray. And amen.
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Bible tells us that it came to pass on a
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certain day that Jesus was in a place
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and he's teaching.
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Scripture also tells us that the power
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of the Lord was present to heal them.
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It also mentions that the Pharisees and
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the doctors of the law were sitting by.
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They've come out of every town and
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village from Galilee, Judea, and even
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Jerusalem. If you know anything about
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the area, it's a good distance from
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Jerusalem to Galilee. And so people has
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literally come from everywhere
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to see to hear Christ as he is teaching.
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Now many of them are there probably for
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the wrong reasons but yet they are
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there. They've gathered together.
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And through this text and Matthew and
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Mark's account, we'll know that they're
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they're in a house. He's in some sort of
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a dwelling place as he is teaching. The
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crowds have came and they're standing in
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the windows and the doorways and
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everywhere listening to Christ. And
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obviously he is he's healing some.
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I don't know how long he is there and
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how well it got announced that he was
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going to be there, but there was some in
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the community knew of a person that had
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a great need for Christ.
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Probably more than acquaintance. It's
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probably a friend of theirs that has
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taken the pausy took with a pausy. Pauly
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is a paralysis.
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This man is bedridden. He's has no
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ability within himself to get up and go
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to Jesus himself.
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And so they there are these friends of
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his then that have heard that Christ is
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close by.
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They no doubt have heard the
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possibilities that what Christ could do
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and what he might could do for this
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friend of theirs with a pausy. So they
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get together
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and they go to get him and take him to
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Jesus.
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There's a statement made in the text
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here in Luke chapter number five that I
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really want you to focus on for a few
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minutes this morning as I try to share
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my heart with you. It's in verse number
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18. The Bible said, "Behold, men brought
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in a bed, a man which was taken with a
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pausy." And notice this next phrase,
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"and they sought means [snorts]
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to bring him in." What does that mean?
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They they looked
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they sought a way that they might get
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him to Christ.
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With that in mind, let me show you a few
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things about the text. First of all, we
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see that there is an individual. There
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is somebody
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that is helpless
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and hopeless.
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>> This is literally the some facts about
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the fallen. We have people maybe even in
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our area that is helpless
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>> and hopeless.
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>> This gentleman because of the pausy that
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he has, he cannot do anything from for
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himself. I'm not sure if it's just from
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the waist down or from the chest down or
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from the neck down. I'm not real sure,
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but he has a pausy and he's unable to go
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himself to get to Jesus. So, somebody
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somebody tries to get him to Jesus. I do
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understand Jesus could have went to him,
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but instead of waiting for the
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possibility of Jesus coming to him, they
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go get him and take him to Jesus.
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>> Several years ago, I don't want to get
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too caught up in stories. I don't have
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time this morning, but in the 1700s,
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there was not much missions efforts
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taking place at all. According to
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history, there's really not much. I'm
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talking about even from the days of the
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scripture until the 1700s, very little
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history is recorded about any missions
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efforts. We are sure that somebody's
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telling somebody about Jesus because it
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continued and it survived until the
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1700s.
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>> Thank God somebody was telling somebody.
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>> The story kept kept God preserved it.
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We'll say it that way. But in the 1700s,
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there was a popular opinion throughout
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churches
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that it was God's responsibility
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alone to save the lost.
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There was a young man that had been
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called to preach. His name, you've
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probably heard it before, his name was
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William Kerry. He was called to preach.
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He was a brilliant young man. He was a
13:28
student of the scripture and he prayed
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and he prayed and he prayed and he said
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this. He said, "The more I read my Bible
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and the more I pray, the more I'm
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convinced that it's the church's
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responsibility
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to take the gospel to the heathen."
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Well, that was a very unpopular opinion
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in the 1700s.
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And in those days, he was a he was from
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England. And in those days
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there was a preachers fellowship. They
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called it something different, but it
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was a preachers fellowship where some
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preachers would get together and they
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they'd uh discuss topics and things of
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that nature. And so William Kerry became
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associated with some of those preachers
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and they invited him to one of their
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meetings. And so he came to the meeting,
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met the gentleman there at the preachers
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fellowship and they had a pretty good
14:21
time together. And the oldest guy, he
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was kindly moderating things. He said,
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"We have a young man amongst us this
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morning." He said, "I I think for the
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next meeting that this young man,
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Brother Carrie, would be the one that
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would give us the topic of discussion
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for our next meeting."
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Brother Carrie automatically knew what
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he wanted to discuss. something God
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really burdened his heart that it was a
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church's job to take the gospel to the
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heathen or get the heathen to Christ.
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So the next meeting comes and William
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Kerry studied and prepared and he's
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ready to introduce the topic of it's
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going to be missions. They just didn't
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know it at the time. But he said, "I
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prayed and I've studied and the more I
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pray and the more I study," he said,
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"the more I believe it's our
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responsibility to take the gospel to the
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heathen."
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The older preacher that moderated the
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things, he he spoke up quickly and he
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said, "What we have here is a prime
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example of youth and enthusiasm without
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knowledge." He said, "If it's God's will
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that he save the heathen, God can save
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the heathen without us."
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shot him down real quickly. He did not
15:37
let that deter him. He was convinced
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through prayer and the word of God that
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it was our responsibility.
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>> It's our job to get the gospel to the
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heathen and the heathen to Christ.
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I'm glad that they could have waited for
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Jesus to go to him, but instead of
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waiting on that, they went and got him
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and took him to Jesus. How many of you
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believe it might have been the fact that
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Jesus never made it to where this man
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with a pausy was?
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>> So, they go to him and they get him and
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take him to Christ. He's helpless and
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he's hopeless. Let me say something
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about this this gentleman. I I I don't
16:18
know a name. Wish we had a name to call
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him. He's just a man with a pausy. I I
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guess for name's sake, we'll call him
16:25
old Joe this morning. Here's old Joe.
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He's laying here in a bed. He's
16:28
helpless. He's hopeless. But I'll say
16:30
this about Joe. Life hadn't been too
16:33
kind to him, but at least he's got some
16:35
friends.
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>> He's got somebody that cares about him.
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>> That's a blessing right there. It
16:46
probably, brother Charlie started with
16:47
one. I just can't help but believe it's
16:51
Mark tells us in the the account of this
16:54
event that he was born of four. That
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means he was carried by four. And so,
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uh, there's four guys that get together
17:02
and go gets him, but it probably the
17:04
burden probably or the thought probably
17:06
started with one of them. Don't you
17:07
guess? And somebody that cared about old
17:11
Joe laying over there in the bed
17:13
helpless and hopeless. And not only did
17:15
he care about Joe, he knew about Jesus.
17:19
>> Amen.
17:21
>> He knew here here's an opportunity.
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Jesus ain't too far away. Don't know how
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long he's going to be here. Don't know
17:30
how long the window will be open. And
17:33
oh, Joe over there really needs a Lord.
17:36
And if he could have done it by himself,
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I'd say this guy would have went and got
17:40
Joe by himself and drug him over there
17:42
to Jesus.
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It's going to be hard to do it by
17:45
himself. So probably what he did,
17:48
Brother Charlie, he probably said, "I
17:50
I'm going to recruit me some help.
17:53
I can't carry him by myself." And so he
17:55
probably went to one and said, I don't
17:58
know if you've heard or not, but Jesus
17:59
is over here and and if you know
18:01
anything about Jesus, he's able to heal.
18:06
>> He probably even believed he's son of
18:07
God. I'm not real sure about that, but
18:09
he knew this, he could heal.
18:12
>> He said, "No, Joe, over here with a
18:13
policy. I'd love to get him to Jesus and
18:17
see what Jesus could do for him."
18:21
>> I can't get him there by myself. Would
18:22
you help me? Well, this obviously one of
18:26
them said, "I'll I'll help you."
18:28
And then he ends up getting two more
18:30
alongside and he's got four friends now
18:35
that's willing to put forth a little
18:36
effort and go pick up old Joe and try to
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carry him to Jesus. He's blessed, didn't
18:43
he? Have somebody care about him like
18:45
that?
18:46
>> I want to ask you, you reckon you had
18:48
anybody in your life? I'm hoping you're
18:50
saved this morning. You've been to
18:52
Jesus.
18:52
>> Amen. And there's a good chance if
18:55
you're sitting here on a Baptist church
18:56
pew on a Sunday morning saved by the
18:58
grace of God, you probably had somebody
19:00
back through yonder in the days gone by
19:02
that cared about you.
19:05
>> It might just been mom and daddy that
19:07
drug you house of God. It might have
19:09
been a mama or papa or somebody like
19:12
that. Maybe it's just a older lady that
19:15
taught Sunday school like like Sister
19:18
Gibbs or SOME SOMETHING. I DON'T
19:20
Somebody cared about you. Amen. It might
19:24
have been that you was incarcerated and
19:26
had somebody came by your jail cell,
19:30
>> told you about Jesus. I don't know, but
19:32
somebody cared. This guy had somebody
19:34
that cared.
19:36
Four friends, we see we see the facts
19:39
about the fallen. We just see the favor
19:41
of some friends. Then think with this
19:43
with me, the fellowship of the four.
19:45
They get together and they got one.
19:48
Talking about that purpose this morning.
19:49
Sunday just go. They've got a purpose.
19:52
What's our purpose? We're going to get
19:54
Joe to Jesus.
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>> We can't heal him,
19:58
but we know somebody that can.
20:01
>> And we're going to do everything we can
20:03
to get him to the one that can help him.
20:06
Okay. They said, "Well, when we going?
20:08
Sooner the better. I don't know how long
20:10
Jesus going to be there. Let's just go
20:12
now." So, they get together and they
20:14
they go to get old Joe. Amen. Four of
20:17
them. I don't know how it might have
20:19
played out. They knock on his door.
20:21
Probably had a caretaker there. Don't
20:23
you guess? Somebody trying to take care
20:25
of him. Told him why he's here. I don't
20:28
know if Joe was excited or he may have
20:30
not heard about Jesus. He may not have
20:32
believed that Jesus could heal. He might
20:34
have been one of them like some of you
20:36
were. Well, I I've heard that he could
20:38
do it for others, but he probably
20:39
wouldn't do it for me.
20:41
>> I've heard that before, too, hadn't you?
20:43
I don't know what Joe's attitude was,
20:46
but these four friends, one gets on one
20:50
corner, one gets on the other corner,
20:52
the other two get on the other two
20:53
corners, and they pick him up.
20:55
[clears throat]
20:56
>> His couch or his bed, called two or
20:59
three different things in two or three
21:00
different places. But they begin to
21:02
carry him to Jesus. Y'all with me?
21:07
>> Not real sure how far they got to carry.
21:09
There's a burden involved in this. They
21:12
got to carry their load. Might have been
21:14
one stronger than the other, but four
21:16
together was able to do the job.
21:19
>> They put him on their shoulder and
21:21
they're carrying. They carry a Joe. At
21:24
least one in that crowd's pretty
21:25
excited. He's the one that might have
21:27
initiated this thing. He said, "Joe,
21:29
boy, I can't wait for you to see Jesus.
21:32
I I can I can already see it. I can see
21:34
you walking away from after when he gets
21:37
through with you."
21:39
They probably a couple of doubters in
21:40
the crowd, but regardless, they're
21:42
carrying old Joe to Jesus.
21:45
I don't know how far they carry him, but
21:47
they come around the corner
21:50
and the house is just right there where
21:52
the Lord is. They come around the corner
21:55
and they see a crowd has gathered. the
22:00
multitude. The the scripture says in one
22:02
place the press
22:05
>> and there's a crowd there and they get
22:08
there and they they they head toward the
22:10
door. Now I'm just thinking now a little
22:12
bit of this speculation so bear with me
22:14
but common sense would say don't you
22:16
guess they tried to get through the
22:17
door. Excuse me. Pardon us. We got
22:21
somebody really that needs the Lord.
22:23
Would you let us in? Nobody's moving.
22:27
Nobody's moving.
22:28
Four of these men get together with the
22:31
same purpose. They work as partners.
22:35
Amen. And and here they are with a plan.
22:39
Here they are trying to do what needs to
22:42
be done and they run into a problem. So
22:45
we see now the frustrations that they
22:48
face. They get there and they can't get
22:50
him into Jesus.
22:53
Now
22:55
here's what I really want you to think
22:56
about this.
22:58
They have tried, have they not?
23:01
>> Yeah.
23:02
>> They've done more than anybody else have
23:04
done for Joe.
23:06
>> They've really put forth a great effort.
23:08
And may we applaud them on their effort.
23:11
>> Well, they've done they tried.
23:14
I can almost imagine for at least one or
23:16
two of them, they might have said,
23:17
"Well, Joe, man, we tried."
23:19
>> Yeah,
23:20
>> we tried.
23:22
I guess we'll have to take him back to
23:24
the house and maybe there'll be another
23:26
opportunity.
23:28
Maybe there'll be another day. Maybe we
23:30
can get Jesus to go to Joe's house. I
23:33
don't know. But we we tried. We tried.
23:36
And they could have easily turned around
23:39
and took him back home because they
23:41
couldn't get through the press.
23:43
>> Right.
23:44
>> That's what a lot of us would have done
23:46
>> if we'd done anything.
23:48
>> Yeah.
23:49
>> Tell it, preacher. Tell it. That's a big
23:51
if.
23:52
>> Yeah.
23:52
>> If we done anything, we could have
23:54
patted oursel on the shoulder. Boy, we
23:56
put forth a good effort today, didn't
23:58
we? We really tried to get old Joe to
24:00
Jesus. Feel good about Lord. Did you see
24:03
what we did? We carried him a half a
24:05
mile.
24:07
Surely there'll be a reward for that.
24:10
They could have felt real good about
24:11
themselves and took old Joe back to the
24:14
house. But Joe would have still been in
24:16
the bed. He'd still been with a pausy.
24:19
He'd still been in the same shape,
24:20
helpless and hopeless
24:23
>> even though they tried. Again, I commend
24:26
their effort. Thankful they tried. And
24:29
some of you been trying to get somebody
24:31
to Jesus. Let me commend your effort.
24:34
Have you passed out any gospel tracks
24:35
lately?
24:37
If you have, I appreciate that. You're
24:40
doing something. That's more than some's
24:42
doing. Some ain't doing nothing.
24:44
>> Amen.
24:47
Maybe maybe you're here. Maybe you've
24:48
not passed out any tracks, but you said,
24:49
"Preacher, I've been praying for the
24:51
lost." Well, I appreciate that. Uh, I
24:55
covet prayers and and if if you're like
24:59
me, you believe prayer works.
25:00
>> Amen.
25:01
>> Amen. I appreciate you praying.
25:04
>> We can commend you for that and applaud
25:06
your efforts for taking some time and
25:08
praying.
25:10
>> But I'm glad they some every now and
25:12
then ain't satisfied with just saying a
25:14
prayer.
25:14
>> Amen.
25:16
I'm glad there's some that ain't just
25:18
going to stop and just say, "I've handed
25:21
out a gospel track."
25:22
>> Preacher.
25:23
>> Amen.
25:25
>> The statement that I mentioned in the
25:27
beginning, they sought means [snorts]
25:32
they wasn't satisfied with just an
25:34
unsuccessful effort.
25:36
>> Yeah.
25:37
>> I'm going to be honest, some of you in
25:39
here this morning, I I even heard a
25:41
prayer request this morning about
25:43
praying for my lost loved ones.
25:45
Hey, some of you been praying for a
25:46
while for somebody lost.
25:49
>> I appreciate Don't stop praying.
25:51
>> Prayer does work. It really does. But
25:55
don't be satisfied just praying.
25:58
That's a big effort now. Well, I Sunday
26:00
morning I requested prayer for my lost
26:02
family. That's wonderful. Let's do a
26:04
little more than that.
26:05
>> Amen. Let's let's seek means
26:10
maybe maybe you've been inviting them to
26:13
church and you've invited them time and
26:15
time again and it's been unsuccessful.
26:18
They just don't want nothing to do with
26:19
it. I appreciate you inviting them.
26:22
Maybe you've been persistent. You've
26:24
been inviting them, inviting them and
26:26
inviting them. It's just not working. I
26:28
appreciate that. Let's don't quit yet.
26:32
Let's don't give up. Let's don't be
26:33
satisfied. Say, "Well, I've been
26:34
inviting them." We can feel pretty good
26:36
about oursel. We invited some people to
26:38
church this week. That's wonderful.
26:40
That's wonderful. Now, it's not worked
26:43
yet, though. They still lost. Is that
26:46
not right?
26:47
>> They still lost. Well,
26:50
>> may maybe pass out a go hand them a
26:53
gospel trap. Maybe maybe take them a CD
26:55
of one of the church services where
26:57
brother Charlie was used mightily of the
26:58
Lord to preach a salvation message. Take
27:01
them. Wonderful. I appreciate that. But
27:04
are they saved yet?
27:06
>> If they still not saved, let's keep
27:09
looking for another way.
27:11
>> Amen.
27:12
>> I can see a couple of them's ready to
27:14
take Joe back home, but one of them
27:15
said, "Now, wait a minute, fellas. I'm
27:18
not satisfied yet. He He's still in the
27:20
bed.
27:21
>> Yeah,
27:22
>> he's still helpless. Matter of fact,
27:24
right now, he's still hopeless. Even
27:26
though we've carried him here,
27:29
we ain't got him Jesus yet." What are
27:32
you going to do? I don't know. Let me
27:33
think about it. I'm going to look for a
27:35
way salt means.
27:38
>> Yeah,
27:38
>> I can see them lay the bed down. Lay the
27:41
couch down. Joe might have said
27:43
something like this. I appreciate the
27:44
effort, fellers, but just take me back
27:46
home. That one said, "Not yet.
27:50
>> Not yet." What are you going to do?
27:51
Don't you guess he walked around the
27:53
house?
27:54
>> Probably see if there's a back door.
27:56
Let's see if there's a window we can get
27:58
through.
27:59
>> Amen. I mean, listen. Boy, he's taking
28:02
it a little far, don't you think?
28:06
>> Tell it, preacher.
28:07
>> What's he doing now? What? Look, he he
28:09
going up on the roof. What What in the
28:12
world's he I don't know if there was a
28:14
ladder. I don't know if there's steps.
28:15
It could have been steps that led up to
28:17
the roof. I understand that, but I'm not
28:19
real sure. But he's going up on the
28:20
roof. Watch him. What's he doing? He's
28:24
seeking means.
28:27
He trying to find a way. Amen. He gets
28:31
up there on the roof. Watch this. He's
28:33
up there doing something like this.
28:35
Now, what's he doing? I can I can hear
28:38
him say something like this. Fella, come
28:41
up here and help me a minute. What are
28:43
you doing? I'm going to tear the roof
28:45
apart.
28:47
Oh, don't you reckon that upset
28:48
somebody?
28:50
We can't do that. I mean, listen, that's
28:54
going to cost something.
28:56
>> Yeah. Amen.
28:57
>> Yeah.
28:59
>> He's ignoring what they're saying, but
29:01
they're saying, "Listen, somebody going
29:03
to have to build this back. Somebody's
29:05
going to have to pay for it."
29:08
>> They don't care. He reaching in. The
29:11
Bible said in Mark's account that they
29:14
broke it up.
29:15
>> Yes.
29:16
>> Here in Luke's account said they they
29:19
removed the tiling. I like what Mark
29:21
said. They broke it.
29:23
>> Amen. He he gets down there and he
29:25
starts tearing a roof apart and somebody
29:28
man, somebody going to have to pay for
29:30
this. Don't you know this going to be
29:31
expensive? Don't you know this going to
29:33
cost something? Y'all with me?
29:37
>> Well, it may cost something. But for
29:40
that one down on his knees tearing that
29:42
roof apart, oh, Joe's worth it.
29:45
>> Amen.
29:46
>> Amen. Oh, I want you to get a hold of
29:48
that. Oh, Joe's worth it. He's worth the
29:52
expense. He's worth the effort. He's
29:54
worth everything that we can do. JESUS
29:57
IS RIGHT THERE. AND ALL WE GOT TO DO IS
30:00
FIND A WAY TO get him to him.
30:03
>> Oh my. Let me say about at least for one
30:05
of them. Maybe all four of them said
30:07
they. So it may have been all four of
30:09
them together down on all fours tearing
30:12
that roof apart. But they really cared
30:14
about Joe. Don't you guess? Yes,
30:16
>> they really There's no doubt in my mind
30:19
that these four guys cared about him.
30:23
You got some lost family.
30:26
>> I got to ask you this, and please don't
30:27
get mad at me. I think it's something we
30:30
ought to look at. Do we really care
30:31
about them?
30:34
>> Do we really Well, preacher, didn't you
30:36
hear me ask prayer? I appreciate that.
30:39
And it's obvious you do care, but how
30:41
much do you care?
30:44
>> How much do you care? You willing to
30:46
take it beyond asking prayer for them?
30:49
You willing to do take it to another
30:52
level?
30:54
Hand them something to read, ask them
30:56
again. Call them again. You willing to
30:59
go pick them up? Whether you talking
31:02
about running buses, and you made them a
31:04
statement this morning, if we bring in
31:07
bus kids,
31:09
I think I'm all right here. Y'all don't
31:11
know me too well. I don't think you'll
31:13
run me off yet,
31:16
but if we bring in bus kids, now let me
31:19
say this real quickly. I if there had
31:22
been buses in Robinsville in the 70s,
31:25
I'd been a bus kid. I didn't have nobody
31:28
take me to church. I enjoyed going. I
31:31
just never had nobody take me. Mom and
31:33
daddy was all about making a living and
31:35
church wasn't on the agenda. They
31:37
regretted that later in life. But when I
31:40
was a kid,
31:42
they didn't take me church. I'd have
31:44
been a bus kid. There was nobody running
31:47
no buses.
31:49
If you bring in bus kids, let me tell
31:51
you what they going to do, y'all. Okay,
31:54
>> it's about 2 minutes after 12. I'm going
31:56
to try to hurry up and quit. I hope you
31:58
didn't turn me off two minutes ago. Give
32:00
me Give me a little grace, will you?
32:02
Just a little grace.
32:05
Let me tell you what they going to. If
32:06
you bring in bus kids, they liable to
32:08
track mud in your clean church.
32:11
>> They liable to and they going to be some
32:13
of them had took a bath in a while and
32:14
ain't going to smell real good.
32:16
>> Amen. And I tell you what, if you give
32:18
them some candy or something, you know
32:20
what they going to do? They going to
32:21
leave candy wrappers everywhere.
32:24
>> And and somebody going to have to clean
32:26
that up. Yes, sir.
32:28
>> And and they liable to ruin something.
32:32
Y'all with me?
32:33
liable to. I'm talking about they might
32:36
tire up something and it have to be
32:37
replaced and stuff ain't cheap this damn
32:40
time. It's going to cost something. But
32:43
let me ask you, do do we really care?
32:48
Do we care more
32:51
about the roof than we do, Joe?
32:54
>> Tell it, preacher. Tell it.
32:55
>> Do we?
32:58
>> Oh, help me now.
33:01
These fellas didn't care near as much
33:03
about that roof as they cared for Joe.
33:07
>> Somebody said, "I'll put it back. I'll
33:09
build it back myself. I'll pay the
33:11
price. I'll gather the lumber or the
33:14
seammen or whatever needs to be done.
33:16
I'll gather the I'll take care of it.
33:18
But I want to get Joe to Jesus. And if
33:20
this is the way we can do it, let's go
33:23
ahead and do it." Amen.
33:24
>> They salt means can't you see Jesus is
33:27
down there somewhere inside and he's a
33:30
teaching and about that time there's
33:32
some dust starts falling from the
33:34
ceiling.
33:36
>> Can you can you see that these little
33:38
particles and it starts falling and it
33:39
gets and and about that time there's a
33:42
little ray of light comes down through a
33:44
hole that they've got started in that
33:47
roof. little light comes down and then
33:49
all eyes now they they take their eyes
33:52
off of Jesus and they watching the
33:54
ceiling up there. What in the world's
33:55
going on?
33:57
>> And then a finger comes through that
33:59
hole and then a hand comes through and
34:01
they they're tearing the roof apart. Now
34:04
listen, it wasn't no little hole. They
34:07
going to lower him down on his bed.
34:10
>> THEY TORE A BIG OLD HOLE OUT OF THAT
34:12
ROOF.
34:14
OH, they just watch. What in the world?
34:17
Oh, Joe's just laying there.
34:20
Wow. Can't believe somebody care about
34:22
me like that.
34:24
>> Tore that roof apart. I believe that's
34:27
good, fellas. We can get him down now.
34:28
And they got ropes or whatever it might
34:30
have been. One on each corner. And they
34:33
started lowering old Joe down. Y'all see
34:35
that? Here he comes.
34:40
Right there in front of Jesus.
34:43
>> Wow.
34:45
Now they've done all they can do.
34:49
They've done all they can do. He's He's
34:52
before the Lord. Did it work?
34:56
Well, I want you to notice something. We
34:57
see the frustrations that they faced.
35:00
Notice the faith of these friends.
35:03
The Bible says clearly here in the text
35:06
when he saw when the Lord saw not Joe's
35:10
faith
35:13
said when he saw their faith
35:18
>> verse 19 when they could not find but
35:19
what way might bring men because the
35:21
multitude they went up on the housetop
35:22
let him down through the tiling with the
35:24
couch in the midst before Jesus and when
35:26
he saw their faith he said unto Joe him
35:32
man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
35:37
Said when he saw their faith,
35:40
huh? I wonder if my faith has ever been
35:46
the result of somebody else getting
35:47
saved,
35:50
their faith. Now, now listen, salvation,
35:54
we understand, for by grace are you
35:56
saved through faith.
35:58
Salvation is the sinner's faith in the
36:01
Lord Jesus. We understand that, right?
36:03
>> But here in this in this text,
36:06
somebody's else's faith had a direct
36:09
impact on somebody else getting saved.
36:12
>> Amen. Oh, help us, Lord.
36:14
>> Amen. Now, I've been preaching this as
36:17
an individual thing with you and your
36:20
lost loved ones, your lost friends, your
36:22
lost neighbors. But listen, there's a
36:25
world out there that's lost.
36:28
>> Amen.
36:29
I understand we care about our family,
36:32
don't you? You ain't lost loved ones,
36:35
relatives.
36:36
>> Surely you care about them. Hey, if you
36:39
can't care about them, we're going to
36:40
have a real hard time getting you to
36:42
care about the Chinese.
36:43
>> Yeah. Amen.
36:45
>> Surely you care about your loved ones
36:48
and then them friends of yours. How
36:50
about some co-workers?
36:52
How about some schoolmates? There's a
36:54
good chance right now of some of your
36:56
neighbors, some of your friends,
36:58
co-workers, schoolmates, if they died
37:00
today, they going to be some of them
37:01
split hell wide open. Y'all know that,
37:03
don't you? Do do we really do we really
37:06
care about them?
37:09
I'm going to say this. If we're really
37:10
saved and where we need to be with the
37:11
Lord, we don't just care for just
37:13
friends and relatives and co-workers and
37:17
schoolmates. We care about the Chinese.
37:20
We care about the African. We care about
37:23
the Hindu. We care about we care about
37:26
all of them all around the world that
37:29
needs to be saved. And so while we're
37:31
trying to win Joe,
37:34
we ought to be seeking means of how we
37:37
can get somebody halfway around the
37:38
world to Jesus.
37:41
>> Somebody said, "Preacher, I'd really
37:42
like to be able to give more to
37:43
missions. Would you
37:46
seek means
37:48
find a way if you really want it bad
37:50
enough, you'll find a way." Ain't going
37:53
to be some old old country boys in here.
37:55
I am in the country, ain't I?
37:57
>> I didn't see no skyscrapers coming in. I
38:00
think we're country folk. There going to
38:02
be some old country boy here that really
38:03
likes hunting. And you've had your mind
38:07
set on that new rifle.
38:10
I know how we are. We really want it bad
38:13
enough. Y'all help me right here. We
38:15
find a way, won't we? Amen. Bassboat.
38:20
I don't know. I have no idea who's got a
38:22
bass boat. So don't say I ain't been
38:24
talking to preacher. You really want it
38:26
bad enough. I know how we are.
38:30
We'll find a way, won't we? Ladies,
38:35
you know how to manipulate that husband.
38:39
You know how to do it. And if you really
38:41
want it bad enough, they've ran it on
38:44
sale down at the mall in Winston Salem.
38:47
And if you really want, you'll find a
38:48
way, won't you? HEY, IF WE REALLY WANT
38:52
THEM SAVED, IF WE REALLY WANT THEM saved
38:54
enough, we'll find a way. They sought.
38:59
They sought means. If you really want to
39:01
see your family get saved, you'll find a
39:03
way. You won't be satisfied just
39:06
requesting prayer. You won't be
39:08
satisfied just inviting them to church.
39:12
Say, "Preacher, I've been invited. It
39:13
ain't worked yet." You ain't satisfied
39:14
then, are you? Amen. Find a way. Don't
39:18
give up. Put forth some effort. Might
39:22
cost a little bit. Might might be a
39:24
heavier burden to carry. Find a way.
39:28
Amen. Fi, I'm not getting out of bounds
39:32
here. I'm not talking about compromising
39:33
scripture. Find a way. Amen.
39:38
[snorts]
39:38
Some churches are doing things that's
39:41
not normal trying to get lost people in.
39:44
>> Yeah.
39:45
>> Okay.
39:45
>> I'm not for compromise. I'm not for
39:48
changing music. I'm not going to change
39:50
my Bible. Y'all with me? Some things I'm
39:53
not going to do. But we better be
39:55
careful about criticizing another church
39:57
for trying something that we've not
39:58
tried yet.
40:00
>> At least they're doing something.
40:02
>> They're trying to find a way to get them
40:06
to Jesus or Jesus to them. So before we
40:11
start looking at everybody else and what
40:12
they're doing or not doing, what are we
40:14
doing?
40:16
>> What are we not doing? If we really want
40:19
the world to get saved, we'll find a
40:22
way. We really want to give more to
40:23
missions. We'll find a way. Y'all with
40:27
me?
40:28
>> We really want to get them to Jesus.
40:29
We'll find a way. We won't be satisfied
40:33
until Joe is before Jesus. Their faith
40:37
was recognized.
40:39
Their faith was reasonable.
40:42
>> Let me ask you, do you not think Jesus
40:44
can save a sinner?
40:47
>> What about the old boy that's on drugs?
40:52
He's a nuisance to the community.
40:55
Y'all know who I'm talking about.
40:57
Y'all got him.
41:00
I I'll say this. My wife can testify. We
41:02
got one across the road from us.
41:06
I'm going to be honest with you. My
41:07
flesh, I'd like to buy him out just so
41:10
we could get rid of him.
41:14
Don't look at me with them big
41:16
self-righteous eyes.
41:19
>> I mean, my flesh. I I I thought about
41:22
maybe I make him an offer on his house
41:24
just so he'd leave. I That's That's
41:26
horrible, ain't it?
41:28
But if I really want him saved bad
41:30
enough,
41:31
I believe Jesus can fix him.
41:33
>> That's right.
41:35
>> He ain't met one yet that he can't fix.
41:39
>> Amen. I don't care what they look like.
41:42
I don't care what they hooked on. I
41:43
don't care what they've been doing. I
41:45
don't care how dirty their mouth is.
41:47
They ain't been one yet he can't fix.
41:49
>> Amen. It's reasonable to believe. No
41:51
matter who it is, if we can get them to
41:54
Jesus,
41:55
>> Jesus can fix them.
41:57
>> Amen. Their faith was recognized. Their
41:59
faith was reasonable. And their faith
42:01
was rewarded.
42:03
>> I can almost see it now. I'm done. But I
42:06
can almost see he they listened. They
42:08
heard the Lord say, "Thy sins be
42:10
forgiven thee." And Pharisees and
42:12
doctors of the law, they're thinking,
42:15
they ain't even said nothing. But the
42:16
Lord knowed their thoughts.
42:18
>> He rebuked them. He said, "Is it easier
42:20
to say, thy sins be forgiven thee? Rise
42:22
up and walk." But I said that so that
42:24
you might know that the son of man hath
42:25
power on earth forgive sins. And he
42:28
looks at him and says, "Take up your bed
42:29
and walk."
42:30
Amen. And they got to watch God
42:33
transform that boy and make a difference
42:37
in his life. I can almost see them,
42:38
Brother Charlie. They up there
42:40
high-fiving. Amen. THEIR FAITH WAS
42:43
REWARDED. IT WORKED. You talking about a
42:45
blessing. It's almost as good as you
42:47
when you get saved as when one that
42:49
you've prayed for, you've worked with,
42:52
you've talked to, you've tried
42:54
everything, and finally they'll come to
42:57
Jesus. Man,
43:00
>> I I don't see why ain't some high-fiving
43:02
going on the house of God. Amen.
43:05
>> Works. If we can just get them to Jesus,
43:08
>> they sought
43:10
means what are you doing?
43:13
This week I want challenge you look for
43:15
a way
43:17
be real real sad if we just focus on the
43:20
world and forget about our neighbors
43:23
and be real sad. So we're focusing on
43:26
our neighbors. Let's don't forget about
43:28
the world. Let's find a way. Let's find
43:31
a way to do more.
43:34
Go more. Give more. Whatever it might
43:37
be. If we want it bad enough,
43:39
we'll find a way. Heads are bowed, eyes
43:42
are closed. I'm done. I wonder if
43:44
there'd be one here this morning on a
43:46
Sunday morning that came to church. And
43:49
maybe you've been the one they've been
43:50
working on. Maybe you're the one they've
43:54
been inviting.
43:56
Maybe you're the one they've been
43:57
praying for.
43:59
Maybe you've got a mama just won't give
44:01
up on you.
44:03
Maybe you've got a a mama that just will
44:06
not give up on you.
44:09
Maybe they there's a Sunday school
44:11
teacher. They somebody goes down to
44:12
church. Maybe they're here this morning
44:14
and they just have not given up on you.
44:17
Maybe you're the one. Maybe you're Joe.
44:21
Maybe you're helpless and hopeless this
44:23
morning. Here you are. Well, I wished I
44:27
could save you. I wished I could touch
44:29
you and make your life different and
44:30
better, but I can't.
44:33
And them the ones the ones that's been
44:35
trying to get you here, they can't.
44:37
They've done all they can do. I got good
44:40
news for you. He's still here this
44:42
morning. He's here today. He He may not
44:46
be in physically in body. He ain't lost
44:49
no power. He was able to heal then. He's
44:52
able to heal now. He was able to save
44:54
then. He's able to save now. He's able
44:56
to forgive sin then. He's still able to
44:59
forgive sin now. Maybe it's you. I
45:02
wonder if you'd let me pray for you a
45:04
little extra prayer. Would that be one
45:06
just slip up your hand? said, "Preacher,
45:07
won't you pray for me? I'm I'm I'm not
45:09
saved.
45:11
I'm the one that needs Jesus." Preacher,
45:14
would you please pray for me? Would you
45:15
let me do that real quickly? Just slip
45:17
up your hand. Let me see [music] that.
45:19
I'm not going to come to you. I ain't
45:20
going to embarrass you. I just want to
45:22
say a little extra prayer for you this
45:23
morning. [music] I see that hand. God
45:25
bless your heart. Wonder if there'd be
45:26
another preacher. Please pray for me.
45:28
I'm not saved yet. [music]
45:30
Please pray for me. Anybody? Would there
45:32
be another one? Would there be one more?
45:35
Preacher, I'm [music] not saved. Please
45:37
pray for me. Anybody else? Anybody else?
45:42
All right, let me ask this. How many of
45:44
you knows a Joe?
45:47
Maybe a Jane. I'm not sure. But there's
45:50
somebody in your family. There's
45:52
somebody in your neighborhood. [music]
45:54
There's somebody down at the workplace.
45:56
There's somebody at school that you're
45:58
you're concerned about them. If they die
46:00
right now in the shape they're in,
46:03
you're pretty sure they probably going
46:04
to split hell wide open. You don't want
46:06
[music] that, do you? How many of you
46:07
got somebody like that? You'd say,
46:08
"Preacher, help me pray for them." Would
46:10
you slip up your hand? [music] I see
46:12
hands all over the church house this
46:13
morning. I I got to ask you, now I don't
46:16
mean this in a bad way, but can I
46:17
[music] ask you, do you really care for
46:19
them? Do you really do you really care?
46:22
How much [music] do you care for them?
46:25
Do you care for them enough to come to
46:26
this altar and mention their name one
46:28
time, more time? Do you care that much?
46:31
Would you take it a step even beyond
46:33
that? Would you give them another call?
46:36
Would you go by and invite them one more
46:38
time? Do you care that much?
46:41
Well, if you care that much, would you
46:43
would you try to go a little farther? If
46:44
that's not worked, would you hand them a
46:46
gospel track? Would you would you give
46:48
them your testimony? Would you do
46:50
something else? Would you try something
46:52
else? Do you care that much? How much
46:55
[music] do you care? Let's don't be
46:57
satisfied till we get them to Jesus.
47:00
Let's don't give up. Let's don't give
47:03
[music] up. Let's find a way. Let's seek
47:07
means. Do we care about the world?
47:10
Would we like to do more? [music] Would
47:12
we like to give more?
47:15
If we really care, we would. Let's find
47:18
a way. Let's seek means. Let's [music]
47:20
all stand. Some's done come. You mind
47:23
the Lord this morning? Mind the Lord.
47:25
Well, if I was old Joe, I sure wish
47:27
somebody care about me enough to at
47:29
least [music] call my name out in
47:30
prayer.
47:32
At least call my name out in prayer.
47:36
I was old Joe. I wish somebody care
47:38
enough come by and [music] see me.
47:42
I was old Joe. I wish somebody care
47:43
enough come by and get me.
47:47
Help us [music] to care. They salt.
47:51
They salt means Charlie. [music]
47:58
>> [music]
48:05
>> Some are praying, every head still
48:07
bound.
48:14
[music] The miracle that
48:19
in that text I think we miss a lot of
48:21
times is the fact that Jesus can be
48:23
found.
48:34
cannot say, neither my ear heavy that I
48:36
cannot hear. [music]
48:38
The truth is,
48:40
if we're his body,
48:45
[music]
48:46
if there's a failure, it's on our part.
48:48
Church,
48:51
preacher, people aren't getting saved
48:53
like they used to. Well, we're not going
48:56
like they used to go.
48:59
[music]
49:00
We're not praying like they used to
49:01
pray. Preacher, times have changed.
49:04
Well, God's not changed.
49:06
[music]
49:07
Sinners ain't changed. Sinners are still
49:09
sinners. They're still lost. You say
49:12
they're harder to reach in this day and
49:13
time. Well, I won't disagree with you on
49:15
that. But I'll tell you this, friend.
49:18
[music] The hardest part is is that we
49:21
as the children of God are failing.
49:24
We are failing. And if that message
49:27
[music] didn't touch your heart this
49:28
morning, I pity you.
49:31
God help us. Every single one of us know
49:34
that person he was talking about.
49:36
[music]
49:38
And they're not too far away. But I'll
49:39
tell you this, Jesus is closer than they
49:42
are. You say, "How is that, preacher?"
49:43
Well, if he if you're saved by the grace
49:45
of God, he lives on the inside of you.
49:51
Father, I pray in Jesus name.
49:56
Lord, for that lost sinner here today,
49:58
God, you know where they're at.
50:00
Lord, you know what's needed in their
50:02
life. I pray God that [music] they'd be
50:04
saved today. Lord, I pray for every name
50:08
that's been called out on this altar.
50:10
Some have been called out from their
50:11
pews. Lord, you know every name of every
50:14
individual. [music] Lord, I pray for the
50:16
ones this morning, God, who are not
50:18
burdened enough to come. [music] I pray
50:20
you deal with their heart. God, would
50:23
you break our hearts for the lost,
50:26
[music] God? Not that we would just do
50:28
what we can, but Lord, we would go
50:30
beyond and do what we think we cannot
50:32
[music] do,
50:35
Lord, cuz I realize it's going to take
50:36
effort.
50:39
And Lord, that's worth doing right. And
50:41
would you please God give us a urgency,
50:45
a fervor, Lord, that we've not had,
50:48
God, I pray, Father, Lord, that even as
50:50
we leave this place today, God, that if
50:52
you've laid it on somebody's heart to go
50:54
see somebody, I pray they'd do that.
50:56
[music]
50:57
Lord, I pray that you would put the
50:58
thoughts out of their mind, Lord, that
51:00
would say that's too radical or that's
51:02
unreasonable. Lord, [music] Lord, we
51:04
could be in your presence forever before
51:06
this day is up. Lord, I don't know when.
51:09
I don't this may be the last altar call
51:11
that's given at Meadows Baptist Church.
51:14
Lord, you may come Lord at any moment.
51:16
We believe that. We believe you are
51:18
coming at any moment. And God, would you
51:21
help us to be urgent, Lord, help us to
51:24
do this on purpose
51:27
because Lord, you called us to.
51:31
And Joe needs us. [music] Lord, I sure
51:33
love you. Thank you for the message
51:34
today. Thank you for using the man of
51:37
God. And I thank you, Lord, for everyone
51:39
that's come and prayed on this altar. I
51:40
pray they'd receive a blessing. But
51:42
Lord, I pray they wouldn't stop at this
51:43
altar. But God, they'd take that burden
51:46
with them, Lord, and they'd go to that
51:47
person that you've laid on their heart.
51:49
Lord, I ask you, God, you would give us
51:51
grace remainder of this meeting. I pray
51:54
all your will would be accomplished.
51:55
God, I know you want to do great things.
51:58
Help us to do our part, whatever that
52:00
is. Help us to do whatever it takes.
52:03
Lord, I sure love you. Thank you for
52:06
first loving me. God, we ask all this in
52:09
Jesus name. The church said,
52:11
>> "Amen."
52:11
>> Amen.
52:12
>> Thank you for joining our service
52:14
[music] today. We'd love it if you'd
52:16
join us in person the next time you are
52:18
able at Meadows Baptist Church. Our
52:21
[music] physical address is 2988 Stewart
52:24
Road in Walnut Cove, [music] North
52:26
Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
52:29
school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday [music]
52:31
morning worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday
52:33
evening worship at 6:00 p.m., and
52:36
Wednesday evening Bible study at 700
52:38
p.m. For more [music] information, visit
52:41
us at meadowsbaptisturch.com.
52:43
Thanks again for tuning in.