Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / He Has Done All Things Well | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

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He Has Done All Things Well | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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  So much to give Thanks to God for so much.
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  What a good God we serve. I invite you to come with me to
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  the Book of Books in Mark Chapter 7.
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  Please meet me in your Bibles. It's always an honor and a
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  privilege to be in the House of God with you in Mark Chapter 7.
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  Please meet me in verse 31. I will wait for you.
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  I will not rush ahead. Mark 7:30.
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  One and follow with me, not just with your eyes.
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  But. With your heart, then he.
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  Returned from the region of tire and went through.
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  Side on to the sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapilis.
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  And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech
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  impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
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  And taking him aside from the crowd, privately, he put his
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  fingers. Into his ears.
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  And after spitting. Touched his tongue, and looking
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  up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, if a fafa that is be
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  opened, and his ears were opened and his.
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  Tongue was released and he spoke plainly, and Jesus charged.
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  Them to tell no one. But the more he charged them,
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  the more. Zealously, they proclaimed it.
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  And they were astonished beyond. Measure saying he has done.
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  All things well. He even makes the death here and
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  the mute speak. Lord, give liberty to the
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  delivery of this word. Let there be unction, let there
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  be reverence, let there be freedom from any confusion or.
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  Intrusion of thoughts. We pray, Lord, that this would
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  be. A powerful time for your word is
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  powerful. Or may it melt our hearts.
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  May it sanctify our minds are. Every part of who we are, we.
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  Pray would be in alignment with you according to this text.
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  And Lord we realize that apart from the spirits grace this will
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  be futile. But with him there can be life
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  and we pray that life would be known in this time.
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  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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  There is a remarkable statement in this short excerpt that I
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  just read to you and I'm not sure if you caught it.
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  Maybe you have. But I want you again to turn
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  your. Eyes to the last part of verse.
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  37 And focus with me on the first few words that this crowd
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  exclaimed in light of a miracle that Christ performed yet again,
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  it says. Here and they were astonished.
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  Beyond measure saying. He has done all things well, if
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  there is anything that you take from this message.
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  If there is only one. Thing that you can leave.
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  This place with let it. Be this marvelous declaration.
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  He has done all things well. He has done all things well.
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  That was the response of. The people, when they learn of
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  this glorious grace that Jesus bestowed upon this very poor
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  man. But it wasn't just the immediate
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  response, it was a unanimous conclusion that the.
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  People have made about. The ministry of Jesus thus far.
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  All the reports that they've heard, all the things that.
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  They have witnessed. Brought them to.
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  This moment where they said he has done all things well and we.
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  Could take it further, can't we? We should take it further
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  because all things means all things, not some things,
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  everything. What has he done?
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  Well, does any create has any created?
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  He's done it. Well, his.
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  Creation. Not just his creation of this
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  world, I'm not sure how many of us would be confident enough to
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  say that he has created. Me Well.
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  He has done all things well. His creation.
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  What about his? Provision.
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  Has he not done it well? Has he not been sufficient?
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  Has he not been? Faithful.
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  What about his permission, what he has sovereignly?
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  Allowed in your life what he has given to you, though in the
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  package that seemed to be. Sorrowful and dark and
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  questionable in. Hindsight, you look.
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  Back. And you realize if it had not
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  been for my affliction, I would not have kept his precepts.
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  What about his direction in your life?
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  Though not always clear. Though not always with an
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  audible. Voice if at all.
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  But here you are. God has brought you, and you see
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  it exactly where you need to be. Through his direction, through
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  his. Protection and how about his
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  salvation? Everything that he has ever.
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  Done. He has done well, he has.
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  Never done anything halfheartedly, he has never
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  been. Misdirected.
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  He has never made a wrong calculation and.
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  Certainly he has. Never, ever.
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  Failed. He has done.
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  All things. Well, remember that.
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  Don't just. Remember the reference I?
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  Encourage you to inscribe it. On the trophy case of all of
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  God's past mercies in your life. More than that, would you please
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  etch it on your heart? Would you etch those words?
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  He has done all things well in order to prepare you for the
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  times in which you will be. Challenged and your trust in the
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  goodness of God he has. Done all things well.
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  Would that be a statement prepared in your mouth?
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  To share it with great conviction to those who might
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  doubt or question the Lordship. Of Jesus Christ He has done all
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  things well, and what we see here is an example of just that
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  in this specific testimony of a blind and a mute man.
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  Who received from the? Hands of this gracious God, and
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  when you. Consider Matthew's account of
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  this story. You will quickly.
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  Learn that this story is important.
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  That God had put. It in this gospel account for a
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  specific reason, and I want you to see that with.
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  Your own eyes in Matthew 15 go to Matthew 15 very.
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  Quickly and come to verse 29 at this point Matthew is following
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  with Mark here chronologically. So what we're going to see in
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  Matthew is what we're seeing here at this point of Jesus
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  ministry in Mark Chapter 7. But notice what Matthew does
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  with this season of Christ. Ministry by the Sea.
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  Of Galilee, Matthew 15 verse 29. Jesus.
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  Went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee.
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  And he. Went up on the mountain.
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  And sat. Down there, and great crowds
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  came to him, bringing with him the lame, the blind, the
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  crippled, the mute, and many others.
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  And they put them at his feet, and he healed them so that the
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  crowd wondered. When they saw the mute.
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  Speaking the crippled healthy, the lame walking and the blind
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  seeing. And they glorified the God of
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  Israel. So Matthew's version is very
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  general, and Matthew tells us that there are many more,
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  possibly hundreds, thousands of people who are healed.
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  But when you read Mark's. Version he hones in he.
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  Zooms into one of those healings out of the many.
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  Clearly there is something about this particular encounter that
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  the Holy Spirit wants us to. Learn there are some gleanings.
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  In here that are absolutely vital for our instruction and I
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  believe the best way. Perfectly preparing this message
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  is to divide our thoughts. Divide our thoughts as
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  meticulously as possible. If we want to know what it is
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  that the Lord has to say to us through this text, and consider
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  with me #1 the. Region where the healing took.
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  Place the. Region where the healing took.
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  Place and from there look at the request.
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  For the healing and. Then from there we would look at
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  the method. Of the healing and then.
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  From there, we would look at the instructions after the healing.
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  And lastly, we will conclude. With the remarks about the
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  healing the region of the. Healing Mark was more specific.
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  He said that it was not just by the sea of Galley, it was in the
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  region of the Decapilis. The capitalist is just a word
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  that means 10 cities and it was heavily populated by gentiles.
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  And there is more to that than just Jesus having extra crumbs
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  in his pocket to give to. Gentiles concerning his.
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  Power and mercy. Remember, right before this
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  there was a Lebanese woman. Or one Syrian by birth.
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  In the southern region of Lebanon, who received mercy from
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  Jesus concerning her daughter. But that mercy now spills over
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  into the Decapilis, and now these other Gentiles are
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  receiving a touch from the Lord. But here's.
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  What's so interesting is. This the first time that.
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  We read of the Decapilis. In the book of Mark.
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  If you've been with us, somebody nodded and said no, you're
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  right, this. Isn't the first time.
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  That the Decapilis has been made known to.
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  Us and I want you to see where was first mentioned and you will
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  see how this is so. Significant.
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  Go to Mark chapter 5. This is where Jesus does.
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  Another powerful demonstration of His Grace, and it wasn't.
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  For a blind man, it wasn't for a deaf man, it wasn't for a
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  crippled man. It was for a man who had 10.
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  Thousands of demons living inside of him, nobody knows the
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  exact. Number It could have been two,
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  could have been three, but there were thousands of demons living
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  inside of this man. And Jesus delivered him.
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  And this man was right in his own mind, and he was rightly
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  clothed and we're told there. That after he was touched by
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  Christ, he comes to Christ, He says, Would you let me travel
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  with you? Please don't leave me here.
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  I want to go with you where you go.
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  I know there's some extra room on that boat.
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  Please let me come. And in Matthew 519 you see
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  Christ's response. And he did not permit him, but
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  said to him, go home to your friends.
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  And tell them how much the Lord has done for.
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  You. And how he has had mercy on you.
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  And he went away and began to proclaim into the capitalists
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  how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone marveled, Lord
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  says, you can't come with me. I need you to be an evangelist.
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  And so go to the Decaplis. Go to those ten cities and
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  proclaim to them what you just experienced.
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  And here we. Are two chapters.
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  Later, Jesus visited the capitalists and there are
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  thousands of people waiting for him.
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  I want you to think about that for a moment.
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  One man's testimony stirred the hearts of 10 cities.
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  One man's testimony. It was an undeniable testimony.
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  It was a profound testimony. It was.
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  It was incredible. But the the.
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  Point is more than just the man's testimony, because we
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  might not be that encouraged with that I wasn't filled.
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  With 10 thousands of demons. That's not something that I can
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  really share without lying. I grew up in the church and I
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  love the Lord as early as I can imagine.
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  What does this have to do with me in terms of inspiration?
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  Well, it goes deeper than his testimony.
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  It has. More to do with his.
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  Submission to the wisdom of God than anything.
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  Else, what was his initial desire after he was?
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  Restored by Christ, Please let me go with you.
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  That was his. Dream so to.
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  Speak. That was his hope.
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  That was his greatest desire. And what happened?
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  Christ denied it. No, you can't come with me.
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  And you know. What didn't happen?
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  His zeal. Wasn't dampened.
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  He wasn't offended. And began to question the.
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  Kindness of God and his providential leading He didn't.
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  Pull back from serving the. Lord, because he didn't really
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  get what he wanted. He chose to obey regardless.
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  He chose to serve him. Regardless.
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  He chose to go where he told him to go.
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  Though he may not have understood it immediately.
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  And so it's more than just a man's.
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  Testimony. It was his.
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  Willingness to trust. In God's leading and here's the
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  point for you and I. What will you do?
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  When the Lord does not. Give you what you want, as holy
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  as it might seem, as great. As it might seem as.
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  Good as it might seem, will you in some form of payback become
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  bitter and say, well, Lord, if you're not going to answer my.
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  Cry after I've been faithful. For this long, then, I'm not
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  going to give you what you want. You may not say it out rightly,
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  but maybe in your. Actions maybe in your devotion.
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  And what you have to understand is that on the other side of you
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  willing to say, OK, Lord, if this is where you want me to be,
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  if this is who you've called me to be, if this is where I'm
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  supposed to be an endure. Then I will do it.
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  Maybe on the other side of. That there are blessings that
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  you can't even. Imagine.
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  Take that from this truth. Here's a man who thought the
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  best thing was for him to be with Jesus and Jesus.
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  I know better than you. Going to the.
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  Decapolis And he goes. And revival breaks out.
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  What if he had said no, But he said I thought you were.
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  Kind and merciful. What's this?
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  Well, thanks for the healing, but I'm going to go my way.
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  What if? What if?
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  And it's so sad. Over the years, I've seen
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  Christian. Shrivel up and become sour.
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  Because they've made desperate pleas to God, and God hasn't
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  realized it for them, and they're nowhere to be found.
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  Who knows? What God could have done through
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  them, they said. Well Lord, if you don't give me
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  what I think is best for me, I will still serve you regardless
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  and or what blessings he has in mind for those who trust and
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  obey the region of the healing. This man prepared others to meet
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  Christ. But now?
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  We come to the request of the healing mark zooms in.
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  And verse 32. And we see here that.
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  They brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech
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  impediment. And they begged him.
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  Here's more begging. They begged him to lay his hand
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  on him. Who are the they?
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  We don't know. But whoever they are clearly are
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  people who love this man. They love this man enough to
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  take the time out of their day. To make the effort to cross.
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  Through the chaotic crowd. And to present to Jesus someone
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  who is in a desperate condition, they brought him to Christ.
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  You know when it comes. To bringing people to Christ,
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  there is energy involved. There's sacrifice involved.
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  There is effort involved, and sometimes it may seem demanding.
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  But no matter how demanding it is, it is our primary calling
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  among many other callings. And it's amazing how so many
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  temptations flood our hearts in the pursuit of witnessing to the
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  loss, right. It's incredible how much?
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  Encourages us to do just the opposite, and I'm one of them.
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  I can attest to those temptations.
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  For some, it's fear. We're just terrified of the idea
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  of confronting or. Communicating or sharing others
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  it's it's a sense of. Unworthiness I I just don't feel
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  like my life is. Holy enough in order.
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  To be a representative Christ. And then there are others.
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  If the honest St. is honest, that the thing that tempts them
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  the most to reserve their witness is their schedule, their
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  schedule. And I want to.
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  Re encourage you here right I want to realign.
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  This is the point of coming to church, we we remind.
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  Ourselves through singing and preaching.
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  Why I'm here? Why it is that I?
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  Have been left here on earth and not rapture the moment I confess
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  Christ. No matter what our personal
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  projects are, no matter how ambitious they are.
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  No matter how. Much they promise.
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  You know it, don't you? Nothing is more rewarding than
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  knowing you planted the seed of the gospel in the heart of a
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  receptive person. Nothing.
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  Nothing. And here are these friends.
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  Who willingly, intentionally took this man?
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  Who? Who was probably very.
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  Disoriented, being deaf, who had no.
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  Ability to share what he. Desired at least with his
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  tongue. And they said we're bringing you
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  to Christ. They loved him by bringing him
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  to Christ. And more than that, then they
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  begged Christ that that's a picture of intercession.
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  We're going to ask Christ on your behalf to do something in
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  your life. But there's more than just the
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  bringing. There's more than just the
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  begging. There is the specific request.
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  That they made that is worthy of our meditation.
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  What did they ask Jesus to do for the man?
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  Put your hands on him. Christ, lay your hands on him.
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  That that doesn't seem like an outlandish thing, That that's
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  something that they probably witnessed with their own eyes.
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  Maybe they saw Christ, according to Matthew, do it with hundreds
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  of others. And so they just knew what they
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  saw. They just.
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  Interpret it as out. Christ does things.
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  What would you lay your hands on him Now we might just read pass
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  through that say well that. That just something that's
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  obvious. Right until you look at verse
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  30. Three, and see how Christ
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  answers their plea. Does he lay hands on him, and
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  taking him aside from the crowd, privately he put his fingers
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  into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue and.
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  Looking up to heaven, he sighed. That's not the same of laying
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  hands on him. That's not.
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  That's very elaborate. Very different.
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  Might be even very curious. And so these men.
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  Came to Jesus. Asking for a specific.
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  Method and Christ had another method in mind.
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  And I think this is important for us to consider.
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  You saying why? Because if we're not.
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  Careful and our. Petitioning to Christ, and our
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  seeking of Christ and our waiting of Christ.
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  We might have. A list of things that we believe
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  Christ should do and how he should do it, and when he
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  doesn't, if you're not prepared to realize that he's sovereign.
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  You might set. Yourself up for disappointment?
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  Do you remember naming the Syrian?
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  Maybe you don't naming the Syrian was.
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  Littered with leprosy, he hears of a man in Israel who can heal
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  the sick who is in tune with God, Elijah the prophet.
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  So he comes to Elijah's house after he was directed by the
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  government. And when he arrives there,
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  Elijah doesn't even come out to say hi to the guy he sends a
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  messenger out the front door to. Give him instructions.
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  Like, talk about disrespect. At least in the eyes of a man
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  who deserved who thought he deserved.
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  Respect. He sends a message.
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  That's like a politician coming over to your house, knocking on
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  your door, asking for your attendance and you.
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  Send out somebody else to deal with them.
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  That's what, Elijah. Does.
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  Why? Is he rude?
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  No, he he's trying to highlight his pride.
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  And it was highlighted because the instruction that Elijah gave
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  to this man, you know it well, OK, if you want to be healed.
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  And verse ten of Second Kings 5 going washing the Jordan 7
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  times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.
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  Simple, straightforward, just like the gospel.
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  Repent and believe. Nothing complicated, nothing
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  philosophical, nothing sophisticated, Just go to the
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  foot of the cross, repent and believe.
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  And what happened to this man? Name it he.
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  Was offended. Let me read to you his response
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  in verse 11 and 2nd Kings 5 But Naman was angry and went away,
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  saying, Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me
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  and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave
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  his hand over the place and cure the leper.
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  I I wanted something more honorable than this, more showy
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  than this. More sophisticated in this I had
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  an expectation and it wasn't realized.
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  And he became angry and he almost missed out on the
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  blessing. If it wasn't for.
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  A servant who reminded him. And how does that work for us?
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  I think it works in many ways. Lord, I want to serve you.
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  I want to serve you in this way, and I want to serve you at this
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  time, and I want to serve you with this kind of an influence,
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  and I want to serve you with this kind of people, and I want
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  to serve you at this capacity, with these kind of giftings and
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  the Lord. Is pleased to use.
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  You and I. But then he gives you a ministry
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  that he wants you to have. Will you be like naming?
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  Behold, I thought. Lord, at this point of my life,
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  let me just check. Here my blueprint for my
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  existence at this point I would like to have this kind of a
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  spouse, this kind of a house, this amount of.
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  Kids, this kind of. Region this kind of property
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  taxes. This kind of church, a church
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  that preaches. Well, and does things well.
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  Doesn't get involved in my business and.
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  I have all these things, Lord, that I have in mind.
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  Here you go and the. Lord is pleased to provide for
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  you. But then in his.
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  Providence, When he brings you where you're at, does it meet
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  your expectations? And if it doesn't, will you be
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  like naming? Behold, I thought.
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  Here are these men, they said. Lord, would you place your hands
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  on him? And he honored their faith.
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  You see the point that I'm trying to drive into your soul?
• 20:41
  Is not that. Trusting in God means that you
• 20:43
  should expect less. Than what you hope for.
• 20:46
  It's to believe that he is better than what you prayed for.
• 20:50
  It's to realize that he will honor your faith and he will do
• 20:52
  above and beyond what you. Expected or imagined?
• 20:55
  No matter. How much you think that?
• 20:57
  It is the way it should be. Christ comes and.
• 21:02
  He brings this man privately. He honored their faith.
• 21:05
  He didn't. Scold them.
• 21:06
  Notice that because. We should be specific.
• 21:08
  In our request. We should seek, we should ask,
• 21:10
  we should knock, but we should also have the faith enough to.
• 21:14
  Believe that if it does not come in the specific way that we had
• 21:17
  imagined, that His sovereignty is greater than mine.
• 21:20
  And so this man comes. Helplessly, Jesus brings him
• 21:24
  privately, which transitions us perfectly into the next thought.
• 21:28
  Not just the region of the healing, not just the request
• 21:31
  for the healing, but the method of the healing.
• 21:33
  You read it. Jesus takes him.
• 21:36
  He doesn't want to make this show in front of people.
• 21:40
  He doesn't want to advertise this man.
• 21:42
  He has enough attention. And so he pulls him.
• 21:45
  Aside, he looks at him. And maybe the the friends that
• 21:48
  came with the man. Look from a distance and they
• 21:50
  said OK, it shouldn't take too long.
• 21:53
  And Jesus sticks his fingers in his ears and he spits and takes
• 21:57
  some of his saliva and he places it on his tongue.
• 22:01
  And then more than that, we're told by Mark, very
• 22:03
  descriptively, that he looks up to heaven.
• 22:08
  He sighs. He uses an Aramaic word that
• 22:12
  simply says it means be opened and the man was healed.
• 22:18
  That's not the method that they had thought.
• 22:20
  Christ has different methods. Be careful of comparing.
• 22:25
  Your life. Because the way he provides for.
• 22:27
  You the way he uses, you the way he leads.
• 22:29
  You may have some overlap with other people, but it is often
• 22:32
  very. Unique.
• 22:34
  It's very unique. I mean, just think about the way
• 22:37
  people were saved in this very room.
• 22:39
  Some of you heard a preacher in person.
• 22:42
  And that's how God got your attention.
• 22:44
  Some of you receive a tract while you went to the mall.
• 22:47
  Some of you read your Bible privately.
• 22:49
  In your own room. Some of you got saved through a
• 22:53
  podcast, others through miraculously.
• 22:55
  TikTok, TikTok. I've been hearing that TikTok,
• 22:58
  TikTok, TikTok, TikTok of all places.
• 23:02
  Some of you through Divine. Healing God has different ways
• 23:08
  of working and we see here that he proves that and in the case
• 23:12
  of this. Healing.
• 23:13
  It was very unique. And for a glorious reason, why
• 23:17
  couldn't he have just said a word I.
• 23:19
  Would have saved a lot more time.
• 23:21
  Why didn't he do? What Naman would have imagined.
• 23:23
  Just waved his hand and this man's ears could have popped
• 23:28
  open and his tongue could have been loosened.
• 23:30
  Why this complicated and technical procedure?
• 23:36
  It's no accident. You should know that by now.
• 23:41
  I think that what Christ is doing at this time with this
• 23:44
  specific man is. Showcasing what we've seen in.
• 23:47
  Christ and many of his healings. A deep personal concern and care
• 23:55
  oozing. Out of a place of compassion,
• 23:58
  here's this man again, Death unable.
• 24:01
  To speak, unable to really. Speak for himself and in the
• 24:07
  natural. Sense, not really knowing
• 24:09
  what's. Happening.
• 24:11
  We don't know how long he was deaf for.
• 24:14
  And so you can just imagine these friends.
• 24:15
  Trying to communicate with him, We're taking you.
• 24:18
  And here he is just going along with them.
• 24:20
  And they come before this. Jesus, did he see it?
• 24:23
  Did he himself see him perform miracles?
• 24:25
  We don't know. But here he is before Christ,
• 24:28
  not knowing what is about to take place.
• 24:32
  And it could be that when Christ comes to this man and using his
• 24:36
  hands and signaling to him in this way, he is in essence
• 24:40
  communicating to him. In other words.
• 24:43
  This is Jesus using sign language to meet this man where
• 24:49
  he was at. This is Jesus coming to this man
• 24:55
  and placing his fingers in his. Ears to say, I know where the
• 24:59
  problem. Is placing his finger with.
• 25:02
  His saliva on his tongue to say I know that you cannot speak.
• 25:07
  Looking up to heaven right before him to show I I'm showing
• 25:10
  you where the. Source of this power comes from.
• 25:14
  And even Mark giving us the exact.
• 25:16
  Words of Jesus at this time. We have reason to believe that
• 25:20
  this man could read lips. And so, as Jesus says, be.
• 25:25
  Opened, this man would also see the authority of Jesus.
• 25:29
  Christ. And so you have these friends
• 25:32
  begging Jesus, would you lay your hands on him?
• 25:37
  And here's Christ in his mercy and grace, going above and
• 25:40
  beyond what they've even asked? I will heal him, but I want to
• 25:44
  show him that I am deeply. Concerned for him, and I care
• 25:48
  for him as an individual, as a person.
• 25:50
  I realize his condition at this time.
• 25:52
  And so let me take him away from the crowd and give him my full
• 25:55
  undivided attention. And let me place my hands in
• 25:58
  these ways and perform these gestures so he knows what is
• 26:01
  about to take place. So his faith can be encouraged,
• 26:04
  so he is aware of why he is here and why I am here.
• 26:10
  This is Christ showing that he cares.
• 26:17
  And would you know it, this is Christ performing this.
• 26:19
  Kind of a miracle. Of all the Gospels in the Gospel
• 26:21
  of Mark. I hope you didn't.
• 26:22
  Forget what the theme of Mark is concerning Jesus, the perfect
• 26:26
  servant of God, the perfect minister.
• 26:30
  And here's Jesus ministering to this man.
• 26:33
  And it's no. Wonder why this account is?
• 26:35
  Provided under Mark's authorship.
• 26:38
  It's for our instruction as well.
• 26:39
  Yeah, this is unique to Christ's authority anointing in power.
• 26:43
  But his model as a as a servant serving people, you know what
• 26:46
  Jesus is doing here. He's meeting this man at his
• 26:48
  level of understanding. He's willing to take the time to
• 26:54
  convey in the language that he might have understood the most,
• 27:00
  because Jesus doesn't see ministry as some drivethru
• 27:03
  experience. Jesus doesn't minister here out
• 27:07
  of compulsion, and he never does.
• 27:11
  Jesus' heart is in what he does. No matter how weary his bones
• 27:15
  were, no matter how much the demands were on his flesh at
• 27:19
  this time, he gives his full attention, and he speaks to a
• 27:22
  man in the language that he would have known most.
• 27:26
  I was reading this thinking about this laying in bed last
• 27:29
  night, and I and I said, Lord, give me the wisdom, please.
• 27:36
  And give me the. Grace and the patience to know
• 27:39
  how to convey your truth. Help me be mindful.
• 27:44
  Help me be patient. And understanding that every
• 27:49
  single. Person has a different condition
• 27:53
  and not one method works the same for all.
• 27:56
  Help me understand. That if I'm going to.
• 27:59
  Reach people. There's a grace that I need to
• 28:01
  exercise an awareness that needs to be implemented in order to be
• 28:06
  most effective. I hope you leave with that truth
• 28:10
  in your. Heart.
• 28:13
  There are people. Who are broken in different
• 28:15
  ways. And it's not that we compromise
• 28:18
  in order to minister and disciple them, but it does
• 28:20
  require an attentiveness and A and a willingness to be able to
• 28:25
  meet them at their level, meet them at their level, and help
• 28:30
  them to grow in the revelation of the goodness of God.
• 28:35
  So here's Christ, fingers in his ears, touching his tongue.
• 28:38
  Looking up to heaven wording with his mouth so that this man
• 28:44
  could see and understand what was about to take place.
• 28:48
  That his heart would be comforted, that his faith would
• 28:50
  arise, and Christ would be glorified.
• 28:54
  The method of the healing. What a wonderful master we
• 28:58
  serve. But notice now after the method,
• 29:01
  the instructions. Verse 35.
• 29:05
  And his ears were open, his tongue was released, and he
• 29:08
  spoke plainly. You know what's so significant
• 29:10
  about speaking plainly? The word they're.
• 29:12
  Plainly is that he became fluent in the language.
• 29:16
  It could be that this the man didn't even know how he he
• 29:19
  didn't know anything, right? People debate whether he was
• 29:21
  born deaf or not, but he. Couldn't speak.
• 29:23
  And the miracle? Is that it?
• 29:25
  Passed through all the need for therapy, all the need for
• 29:29
  sitting in a room with a tutor to learn how to speak and he was
• 29:32
  able to communicate right away. It was a complete restoration.
• 29:39
  And so this man was able to put sentences together, to
• 29:42
  understand verbs, to to give speech right in that moment.
• 29:49
  And then Jesus does something. Remarkable verse 36, he charged
• 29:53
  them. To tell no one, Lord, the guy.
• 30:00
  The guy just started to speak and you're telling him not to
• 30:02
  speak. We feel the same way sometimes.
• 30:09
  Don't worry about the commands of Christ and our natural
• 30:11
  thinking. It doesn't make sense.
• 30:14
  He charged them, not just. The men, but his friends, I'm
• 30:16
  sure they. Were fully aware of what?
• 30:18
  Just happened. Don't say anything to anybody.
• 30:23
  Not one. Soul charge is a very.
• 30:26
  Strong word sternly commanded them.
• 30:29
  Now one person should hear about this.
• 30:33
  And hear what we see in the second part of.
• 30:35
  Verse 36 the. More zealously, they proclaimed
• 30:38
  it. The more he charged them.
• 30:41
  The more zealously they proclaimed it.
• 30:45
  Can you imagine that? The Lord more than once telling.
• 30:48
  Don't say a word. And the more he said no, the
• 30:52
  more they were. Wanting to do, it does.
• 30:54
  That sound familiar to a specific.
• 30:56
  Demographic in life, yeah. We get facial hair, we get
• 31:02
  taller, we. Get wrinkles and some of us
• 31:05
  still act like children don't okay.
• 31:13
  And the moment he turned his back.
• 31:14
  Go, go, go, go, go. Tell as many people as you can.
• 31:18
  Why? Is the Lord asking not Lord?
• 31:21
  Don't you want people to be exposed to your power, Your
• 31:24
  unmatched mercy? And we've explored this, haven't
• 31:28
  we before? But it's here again, And it's
• 31:31
  here again to remind us and to teach us and to because we're
• 31:34
  creatures of. Repetition to solidify this
• 31:36
  truth. Why is Jesus saying no?
• 31:40
  And we've touched on this, so let me remind you 2.
• 31:42
  Reasons at least. From the human standpoint of why
• 31:46
  they. Would do it though.
• 31:47
  He said no. The first one is something that
• 31:50
  we kind of see plainly. They were excited.
• 31:51
  How can you hold it in? This man couldn't hear, he
• 31:55
  couldn't speak, and now he can formulate sentences.
• 31:59
  You're asking us not to say anything, Lord, we love you, but
• 32:03
  come on. And so here they are, exploding
• 32:07
  with exuberance and. They go to the streets and they
• 32:11
  proclaim this good news at the expense of obedience, and it's a
• 32:18
  lesson for us to remember that. Often times you were here Friday
• 32:21
  and some of. You were here Friday.
• 32:23
  That emotions can often lead us into disobedience.
• 32:28
  That we can be emotionally invested in something to the
• 32:30
  degree. That it steers us away.
• 32:32
  From Christ's clear commands and we looked.
• 32:35
  At that this Friday with Saul, Saul slaughtered.
• 32:38
  The Gibianites and the Gibianites.
• 32:40
  Were protected people among the Israelites through a covenant.
• 32:44
  They were to never be harmed for the rest of their.
• 32:46
  Days and yet. Saul It says there in Second
• 32:49
  Samuel 21 verse two that out of his zeal for the.
• 32:53
  People of Israel and Judah. He slayed them.
• 32:57
  His zeal, he felt very. Strongly about this cause, even
• 33:01
  at the expense of. A covenant that was made.
• 33:05
  And so let me repeat what I said.
• 33:07
  Friday that there is a. Culture now.
• 33:11
  That we're in, that is more and more.
• 33:13
  Permitting absolutely, almost everything.
• 33:16
  As long as you feel strongly about it.
• 33:19
  You'd be made to know what you do in counseling sessions.
• 33:22
  And all you're trying to deal with, really, is people who feel
• 33:24
  strongly. About something, though, it is
• 33:26
  plainly wrong. And so these.
• 33:30
  People felt very strongly about telling others of what Jesus
• 33:34
  did, though. Jesus command was as plain as
• 33:36
  can be don't do it. But we were excited about it.
• 33:41
  And that. Excitement can lead us.
• 33:43
  Into sin and sometimes lack of excitement can lead us into.
• 33:46
  Sin, the presence of certain. Feelings.
• 33:49
  The absence of certain. Feelings should never determine.
• 33:52
  The driving seat of your devotion to the Lord.
• 33:57
  Or maybe it's something else. Maybe it wasn't the.
• 34:00
  Sheer emotion of it, maybe. It was the human wisdom element
• 34:04
  of it and. So here's Jesus, who just does
• 34:07
  this awesome thing. And the people hear.
• 34:09
  From him, right after tell. No one.
• 34:12
  And I'm sure some of them thought really no one.
• 34:18
  Lord, we love you. We're so grateful for what you
• 34:21
  just did here. But telling no one doesn't.
• 34:26
  Really help your cause. We heard some of your teaching.
• 34:30
  We heard. Some of your claims and there
• 34:31
  are other people who are a little.
• 34:32
  Confused about who you are? Wouldn't this help?
• 34:35
  You wouldn't. This give less ammunition to the
• 34:40
  spiritual leaders. Who try to?
• 34:42
  Accuse you of such. And such let us.
• 34:45
  Assist you in this. You're great in so many ways,
• 34:50
  but in this area, Lord, I think you need a little help.
• 34:53
  We'll go and do it anyway. And again, this is a reflection
• 34:59
  of human nature. You have people who love.
• 35:02
  Christ, you have people who who who love components of who he.
• 35:06
  Is and what he has done. But there are some parts in his
• 35:09
  word that don't seem to. Help his cause in this day of
• 35:13
  age. And so it's clear, it's playing,
• 35:17
  It's obvious, but this might push people away.
• 35:21
  From Jesus and so let's. Tweak it a little bit.
• 35:26
  Let's skip over it. Let's reinterpret it.
• 35:30
  Christ means well, and maybe this meant something at some
• 35:33
  time, but for now this doesn't apply.
• 35:36
  So, Lord, we know what you're saying, but we're here to.
• 35:40
  Help. This is why we're seeing the
• 35:43
  nominations fall apart. This is why we're seeing
• 35:47
  different churches invite things because their intentions might
• 35:50
  be just like these. People we're trying to aid,
• 35:53
  we're we're trying to assist. When in reality, in Christ's
• 35:57
  wisdom, he knew that this was going to bring more harm than
• 35:59
  anything. Else.
• 36:02
  So what's the take away from this?
• 36:03
  With these instructions, it's very simple.
• 36:06
  Whatever, he says, just trust it.
• 36:09
  Okay. Just trust it, no matter what,
• 36:11
  he says. No matter how your feelings
• 36:13
  attest to it, no matter how much you think that it is
• 36:16
  counterintuitive. Just trust his word.
• 36:20
  You'll never go wrong and more importantly, your honor the one
• 36:23
  that matters most. They don't.
• 36:26
  They were zealously running in the other direction, and with
• 36:31
  that, quick. Disappointment, we said.
• 36:32
  We see some. Kind of light.
• 36:35
  At verse 37 with the remarks. About the healing.
• 36:38
  They were. Astonished beyond measure,
• 36:39
  saying he has done all things well.
• 36:44
  If you don't believe that now, precious St. if you're attempted
• 36:48
  to doubt that, there is a day coming where you will be
• 36:52
  glorified and you will look back, and despite all the pain
• 36:56
  and all the strange providential leadings, you can look back and
• 37:01
  you'll say he's done all things well.
• 37:03
  That day's coming. I'm encouraging you.
• 37:05
  I'm encouraging your little faith today.
• 37:07
  That they will come. He's done all things well.
• 37:10
  He even makes the death here and the mute speak.
• 37:15
  Now here's what's fascinating. The word mute here is not the
• 37:20
  same word that Mark uses when he narrates the request for the
• 37:25
  healing. What was the specific request
• 37:28
  and what was the? Diagnosis according to Mark,
• 37:30
  verse 32. Again, look with your Bibles.
• 37:32
  And they brought to him a man who was deaf.
• 37:35
  And had a speech impediment. Do you see those collection of
• 37:39
  words there had a speech impediment in the.
• 37:44
  Greek. That's one word.
• 37:47
  It's one word in the Greek. And this one word in the Greek
• 37:51
  is actually only found. Here in this place, in all of
• 37:54
  the New Testament, mute is a different.
• 37:57
  Word the word in the Greek here. Which is Mogo lalos is actually.
• 38:03
  A very simple definition, very difficult to speak.
• 38:06
  That's all it means. But it's a rare word, and Mark
• 38:09
  chooses to use it to describe this man's ailment.
• 38:16
  And you think, well, why? Why didn't you just go with what
• 38:18
  the word? The people used and here's
• 38:21
  what's so fascinating it is. The only word that is.
• 38:24
  Found in the New Testament in the Greek language.
• 38:26
  But there is one other. Place in all of the Bible that
• 38:30
  this word is used. It's actually in the Old
• 38:32
  Testament. You think?
• 38:34
  Hold on. The Old Testament was written
• 38:36
  in. Hebrew, you're right.
• 38:38
  But there was a Greek version written of the Hebrew scripture.
• 38:41
  It's called the Septugent that was compiled 2 to 300 years
• 38:45
  before. Christ and it was a.
• 38:46
  Translation of the Hebrew scriptures that was very
• 38:49
  available at this time in history with Jesus and the
• 38:53
  disciples and so in all of the Bible if you go with the Greek
• 38:59
  version of the Hebrew scriptures.
• 39:01
  You would realize that this Greek word that Mark uses is not
• 39:04
  just found here, it's actually found somewhere else, a total of
• 39:08
  two times that it is mentioned. And when you realize where it is
• 39:12
  mentioned, that you also realize why.
• 39:15
  Mark used it. Do you know where it was used?
• 39:20
  I'll tell you where it's used in the book of Isaiah.
• 39:24
  Go to Isaiah with me very quickly and go to chapter 35 and
• 39:27
  allow. Me to read a few.
• 39:28
  Verses. Isaiah 35 will begin in verse 3.
• 39:43
  This is a prophecy. And it's a.
• 39:47
  Prophecy of a specific era. And here's what the prophecy
• 39:51
  says. Strengthen the weak hands and
• 39:54
  make. Firm the.
• 39:55
  Feeble knees, say to those who have an anxious heart.
• 39:59
  Be strong. Fear not.
• 40:02
  Behold your God will. Come with vengeance with the.
• 40:05
  Recompass of God he will. Come and save you.
• 40:08
  Verse five, then the. Eyes of the blind.
• 40:10
  Shall be opened and the. Ears of the deaf unstopped, then
• 40:14
  shall the layman leap like a deer.
• 40:16
  And the tongue of the mute sing for.
• 40:19
  Joy for waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in
• 40:24
  the desert for the. Tongue of the mute sing for joy.
• 40:32
  And so if you had a Greek version of the Hebrew
• 40:34
  scriptures. And you saw Mark's letter.
• 40:37
  And you? Read that word there.
• 40:40
  For speech impediment. You would look back at Isaiah
• 40:43
  and realize. That he uses the very same word
• 40:46
  that the prophet used. So you see.
• 40:50
  Why Mark used it now, right? To show that Jesus is the
• 40:54
  fulfillment of what is being said here, though partially.
• 40:57
  Why do I say partially? Because what Isaiah is depicting
• 41:00
  and describing here concerns the millennial reign of Christ.
• 41:03
  He describes what will happen to the.
• 41:05
  Universe itself, namely what will happen with.
• 41:08
  Us who are creating in the image of God and what we see here with
• 41:12
  Mark and Jesus miracle being performed is a preview of what's
• 41:15
  going to happen when he does rule and reign on the earth
• 41:17
  forever. And so Jesus here gives us a
• 41:22
  taste of what the world. Will be like.
• 41:27
  When he exercises his governance in the nations.
• 41:31
  When he comes to rule from that throne in Jerusalem, what will
• 41:34
  take? Place in the lives of so many,
• 41:36
  not just one or two. It will be even greater.
• 41:39
  Than his days here on earth 2000 years ago and Mark wants you to
• 41:44
  get a sample of it. And Mark wants you to realize
• 41:47
  that this Jesus is who Isaiah spoke about.
• 41:50
  And this Jesus. Will.
• 41:51
  Fully realize all that Isaiah spoke about in this text when he
• 41:55
  comes again. When he comes again be opened.
• 42:04
  And it was opened. And they said he has done great
• 42:07
  things, He has done all things well, I want to let you know I'm
• 42:14
  closing as we prefer prepare to partake in the table that yet
• 42:18
  again we have another testimony that Christ can do the
• 42:22
  impossible. And if you just come, if you, if
• 42:29
  you just let go and allow yourself to come to the foot of
• 42:32
  the cross, wonders can take place in your life.
• 42:38
  I want to speak to the person here who does not know Jesus
• 42:41
  Christ. You have not opened your life to
• 42:43
  him yet. You haven't.
• 42:45
  You've heard about him, but you're spiritually deaf.
• 42:50
  And your mouth. You can't find yourself.
• 42:52
  With your mouth to proclaim the glories of God.
• 42:54
  You Can't Sing about it. You can't testify about it.
• 42:58
  You haven't tasted it in one moment.
• 43:03
  Christ can change it. He can.
• 43:06
  He can actually change you in this very setting, right here,
• 43:09
  right now. And maybe one or two friends
• 43:12
  have brought you in love. And though they might have.
• 43:15
  Been nervous because they understand that.
• 43:18
  Sometimes from this pulpit, things can get a little intense.
• 43:22
  But they brought you in love. Not to meet with a preacher, not
• 43:25
  to meet with some musicians, but to meet with the living Christ.
• 43:29
  Do you? Realize that that person.
• 43:31
  Loves you. More importantly, do you realize
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  the love of Christ to bring you at this moment and to receive
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  him? And maybe you're in this place
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  and you're a believer already, but you're a disappointed
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  Christian. You had expectations.
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  Before you even dare to question, please take the time
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  to ask yourself, Am I here because of my own sin and
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  foolishness? If you are, if you are, Christ
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  is still willing to forgive you and still willing to restore you
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  and do incredible things in you and through you.
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  But if you believe wholeheartedly, well, I've tried
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  to walk in as much obedience as I can, and yet still here I am
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  with a mess. With an absolute mess, I've made
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  these specific prayer requests and they have not come.
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  In fact, it seems like the opposite is experienced.
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  Realize that if you are honest before the Lord, if you're
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  broken before the Lord, he has something in mind for you.
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  Through this, it may not make sense.
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  The method may not make sense, just like the ear thing and the
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  tongue thing and all of that. You may not understand it, but
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  he's doing something you don't get.
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  You just want him to lay hands, but he has something more
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  because he knows more. Trust in him today.
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  Let your heart be renewed and trust in him today.
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  I want you to leave this place for you to be able to say he has
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  done all things well. He will do all things well.
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  And that's what we pray. Lord, in this time of
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  meditation, we trust in you. And the feebleness of our faith.
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  We trust in you and the strength of our devotion.
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  We rehearse our trust in you and Lord.
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  As we come to this table. We reflect upon what really
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  matters the most, the salvation of our souls, that despite the
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  temporal trials and pain, we have eternal life.
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  And there is a time coming, like Isaiah foretold, Where there.
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  Will be no more tears. There will be no more handicap.
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  There'll be no more sorrow. There'll be no more.
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  Fear looking over our shoulder. To see who will fail us next.
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  There is a time coming where all of that will be removed and you
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  will be the object of our desire, our love and our joy.
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  And we come to this table to remember that you will feast
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  with us one day. And so, Lord, please help us
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  reflect, selfexamine to repent, to be cleanse of all
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  unrighteousness, so that we may come in a worthy manner in your
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  presence. In Jesus name we pray.
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  Amen.