1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:12,725 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hey, I want to tell you a story 2 00:00:12,885 --> 00:00:16,445 Speaker 1: about the world famous actor Kelsey Grammar that I don't 3 00:00:16,485 --> 00:00:25,405 Speaker 1: think you've heard yet. You know, Kelsey Grammar is one 4 00:00:25,405 --> 00:00:29,245 Speaker 1: of the greatest actors alive today, and I had the 5 00:00:29,245 --> 00:00:33,525 Speaker 1: privilege of getting to know him on the set of Jesus' Revolution, 6 00:00:33,765 --> 00:00:35,965 Speaker 1: which of course told the story of the last great 7 00:00:36,405 --> 00:00:41,245 Speaker 1: spiritual awakening in America. And Kelsey played the role of 8 00:00:41,525 --> 00:00:45,485 Speaker 1: Chuck Smith. So when you're shooting a film, you spent 9 00:00:45,565 --> 00:00:48,205 Speaker 1: a lot of time waiting, so we would sit around 10 00:00:48,325 --> 00:00:51,565 Speaker 1: and talk about a lot of things, and I asked him, 11 00:00:51,644 --> 00:00:55,485 Speaker 1: why did you take the role of Chuck Smith, Because he, 12 00:00:55,565 --> 00:00:59,885 Speaker 1: of course is well known for being Frasier on Cheers 13 00:01:00,045 --> 00:01:04,165 Speaker 1: and on his own spinoff show that was extremely successfully 14 00:01:04,245 --> 00:01:07,845 Speaker 1: as the Emmys on to prove it. But I asked him, 15 00:01:07,885 --> 00:01:10,165 Speaker 1: why did you play this role of Chuck Smith? And 16 00:01:10,205 --> 00:01:12,045 Speaker 1: he told me that he was at a stage in 17 00:01:12,125 --> 00:01:16,205 Speaker 1: his life where he wanted to do something meaningful, something 18 00:01:16,245 --> 00:01:20,645 Speaker 1: that would impact people's lives, and he was offering a 19 00:01:20,685 --> 00:01:24,045 Speaker 1: prayerp to God that something would come his way. In 20 00:01:24,125 --> 00:01:27,804 Speaker 1: the next day, the script for Jesus' Revolution arrived and 21 00:01:27,845 --> 00:01:30,205 Speaker 1: he read it and knew that he needed to play 22 00:01:30,245 --> 00:01:33,045 Speaker 1: that role of Chuck Smith, and I think he did 23 00:01:33,125 --> 00:01:36,645 Speaker 1: a masterful job. You know, Kelsey did not try to 24 00:01:36,725 --> 00:01:41,605 Speaker 1: imitate Chuck's mannerisms and timber of voice, but he just 25 00:01:41,685 --> 00:01:43,685 Speaker 1: did it in his own way. It was more of 26 00:01:43,725 --> 00:01:47,525 Speaker 1: an interpretation. And so I invited him to the Harvest 27 00:01:47,525 --> 00:01:52,005 Speaker 1: Crusade and he came to it with his family. So 28 00:01:52,485 --> 00:01:56,565 Speaker 1: here's now the story I alluded to earlier. I said, 29 00:01:56,645 --> 00:01:59,525 Speaker 1: I want to tell you something about Kelsey you probably 30 00:01:59,645 --> 00:02:05,365 Speaker 1: don't know. Kelsey recently did this interview with Raymond Arroyo, 31 00:02:06,045 --> 00:02:09,605 Speaker 1: and Raymond asked Kelsey about something he wrote about in 32 00:02:09,645 --> 00:02:12,045 Speaker 1: his book. Now, let me give you a little background. 33 00:02:12,645 --> 00:02:16,765 Speaker 1: Kelsey wrote a book about his sister Karen. His sister 34 00:02:17,005 --> 00:02:23,125 Speaker 1: was tragically murdered and Kelsey, the older brother, was living 35 00:02:23,165 --> 00:02:25,245 Speaker 1: in another state at the time. But he said, I 36 00:02:25,285 --> 00:02:28,245 Speaker 1: should have stopped it somehow, because I'm the older brother. 37 00:02:28,325 --> 00:02:32,325 Speaker 1: Of course that wasn't possible. But throughout his entire life 38 00:02:32,365 --> 00:02:36,765 Speaker 1: and into his adulthood, this has haunted Kelsey, this tragic 39 00:02:37,325 --> 00:02:42,245 Speaker 1: death of his beloved sister. But in his book about Karen, 40 00:02:42,845 --> 00:02:46,685 Speaker 1: he talks about this event that happened to him on 41 00:02:46,765 --> 00:02:50,925 Speaker 1: a baseball field. Well, it happened to be the Harvest Crusade. 42 00:02:51,325 --> 00:02:54,685 Speaker 1: I'll let Kelsey tell you this story. Now, there was 43 00:02:54,725 --> 00:02:57,085 Speaker 1: a scene I read somewhere where you were in a 44 00:02:57,605 --> 00:03:01,685 Speaker 1: baseball field and you asked God, where was he? 45 00:03:01,925 --> 00:03:06,565 Speaker 2: Right right? This was after I did Jesus Revolution. Greg 46 00:03:06,605 --> 00:03:09,205 Speaker 2: Glory invited me to come to what he calls the 47 00:03:09,245 --> 00:03:11,725 Speaker 2: Harvest thing that they do, which is a big it 48 00:03:11,885 --> 00:03:15,845 Speaker 2: just in the Angel Stadium. It's kind of ironic. It 49 00:03:15,885 --> 00:03:18,405 Speaker 2: was Faith, my daughter Faith, who said let's go down, 50 00:03:18,765 --> 00:03:20,365 Speaker 2: you know, when he did the call to come down 51 00:03:20,365 --> 00:03:22,485 Speaker 2: and declare you know I like you In my life, 52 00:03:23,045 --> 00:03:24,925 Speaker 2: I've called it my limping faith. I always had a 53 00:03:24,925 --> 00:03:26,845 Speaker 2: limping faith. I always did. It was still there. It 54 00:03:26,885 --> 00:03:28,965 Speaker 2: was always there, or whatever it was that I first 55 00:03:29,285 --> 00:03:31,885 Speaker 2: heard in my voice when it was I was a child, whatever. 56 00:03:31,885 --> 00:03:35,045 Speaker 2: I was going to Sunday school and I just said, 57 00:03:35,045 --> 00:03:42,885 Speaker 2: so where were you? What was going on? And after 58 00:03:43,205 --> 00:03:45,485 Speaker 2: a few minutes I just hurt a little. You know, 59 00:03:46,045 --> 00:03:50,565 Speaker 2: I was right there, and that is what I didn't understand. 60 00:03:50,605 --> 00:03:52,765 Speaker 2: And then it happened a couple more times as I 61 00:03:52,765 --> 00:03:55,125 Speaker 2: was writing a book, like a conversation sitting on a 62 00:03:55,125 --> 00:03:59,925 Speaker 2: plane and the voice basically said, touching, it's time for 63 00:03:59,965 --> 00:04:00,605 Speaker 2: you to give it up. 64 00:04:03,325 --> 00:04:05,005 Speaker 1: Karen's voice of God's. 65 00:04:04,805 --> 00:04:09,925 Speaker 2: God, Jesus, Jesus, and I said, no, it's okay. I've 66 00:04:09,925 --> 00:04:12,525 Speaker 2: carried it this long. I'm sti't handle it. It's mine. 67 00:04:12,965 --> 00:04:14,085 Speaker 2: And I said, no, it's mine. 68 00:04:15,085 --> 00:04:18,325 Speaker 1: So Kelsey Grammar indeed did go down in that field 69 00:04:18,365 --> 00:04:21,525 Speaker 1: with his daughter. He prayed that prayer along with thousands 70 00:04:21,565 --> 00:04:24,685 Speaker 1: of people, to ask Christ to come into his life. 71 00:04:24,765 --> 00:04:27,405 Speaker 1: He was given a new Believer's Bible. When we went 72 00:04:27,445 --> 00:04:31,125 Speaker 1: over to his home, it was prominently displayed on the 73 00:04:31,205 --> 00:04:34,925 Speaker 1: table in his front room. So throughout the years, in 74 00:04:34,965 --> 00:04:38,605 Speaker 1: these Harvest crusades, we've been able to reach thousands and 75 00:04:38,765 --> 00:04:42,485 Speaker 1: thousands of people. And for all those people that pray 76 00:04:42,565 --> 00:04:45,565 Speaker 1: that prayer to ask Christ into their life, we pray 77 00:04:45,765 --> 00:04:49,245 Speaker 1: that the Gospel will take root in their hearts and 78 00:04:49,285 --> 00:04:52,045 Speaker 1: that they will continue to follow the Lord, because you 79 00:04:52,165 --> 00:04:55,725 Speaker 1: never know who will respond and be a person you've 80 00:04:55,725 --> 00:04:59,165 Speaker 1: never heard of before, or it could be someone like 81 00:04:59,285 --> 00:05:03,485 Speaker 1: Kelsey Grammar. So have you ever been talking with someone 82 00:05:03,565 --> 00:05:06,565 Speaker 1: you know on your phone and the call gets dropped, 83 00:05:06,605 --> 00:05:09,005 Speaker 1: but you don't know the call has been dropped, so 84 00:05:09,005 --> 00:05:11,805 Speaker 1: you're still talking away you don't hear anything, but you 85 00:05:12,045 --> 00:05:15,284 Speaker 1: just assume they're listening. Then you realize they've been gone 86 00:05:15,285 --> 00:05:18,245 Speaker 1: for a while, maybe even a few minutes, or even worse. 87 00:05:18,605 --> 00:05:21,485 Speaker 1: You call somebody and they won't pick up. You know, 88 00:05:21,885 --> 00:05:24,285 Speaker 1: I can tell you when my wife calls, I always 89 00:05:24,365 --> 00:05:27,525 Speaker 1: take the call. The same is true for my grandchildren 90 00:05:27,765 --> 00:05:29,765 Speaker 1: if they called, even if I'm in the middle of 91 00:05:29,805 --> 00:05:32,685 Speaker 1: a meeting, I will take the call. But here's what 92 00:05:32,845 --> 00:05:36,765 Speaker 1: really gets me. You're texting someone and they just ghost you. 93 00:05:36,765 --> 00:05:40,165 Speaker 1: You know, you're having this conversation, You're going back and forth, 94 00:05:40,285 --> 00:05:42,725 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, they just ghost you. They're gone, 95 00:05:42,925 --> 00:05:46,525 Speaker 1: they're gone with the win and you're still texting Hello, Hello, 96 00:05:46,645 --> 00:05:49,405 Speaker 1: and that's the end of the conversation. Now, I will 97 00:05:49,445 --> 00:05:52,844 Speaker 1: admit that I've been involved in some of those group texts, 98 00:05:52,885 --> 00:05:55,205 Speaker 1: you know, where a bunch of people are opining and 99 00:05:55,245 --> 00:05:59,005 Speaker 1: the phone just keeps beeping, beeping, beeping. Finally I leave 100 00:05:59,085 --> 00:06:02,844 Speaker 1: the conversation because I just don't care anymore. You know, 101 00:06:03,005 --> 00:06:06,885 Speaker 1: technology is so interesting because we're more connected than ever, 102 00:06:06,965 --> 00:06:10,685 Speaker 1: but in many ways we've never been more disconnected. Well, 103 00:06:10,725 --> 00:06:13,485 Speaker 1: I want to apply that to prayer. For a moment. Sometimes, 104 00:06:14,125 --> 00:06:17,925 Speaker 1: you know, you're praying and it seems as though God 105 00:06:18,165 --> 00:06:22,365 Speaker 1: isn't listening, or sometimes they wonder does God even pick 106 00:06:22,485 --> 00:06:26,165 Speaker 1: up when I call. Here's something that surprised me. Even 107 00:06:26,205 --> 00:06:30,845 Speaker 1: though church attendance has declined over the years, sixty one 108 00:06:30,925 --> 00:06:35,485 Speaker 1: percent of Americans say they still pray, and those who 109 00:06:35,525 --> 00:06:39,965 Speaker 1: pray average about eighteen minutes a day. At three point 110 00:06:40,125 --> 00:06:44,725 Speaker 1: seven billion minutes of prayer happening daily across our country. 111 00:06:44,845 --> 00:06:49,404 Speaker 1: People are praying, they are calling out to God. It 112 00:06:49,565 --> 00:06:53,405 Speaker 1: sometimes it feels like our calls or our prayers, if 113 00:06:53,405 --> 00:06:57,685 Speaker 1: you will, are going straight to voicemail. So here's my question. 114 00:06:58,285 --> 00:07:02,525 Speaker 1: Is there a faith that actually gets the attention of Heaven. 115 00:07:02,645 --> 00:07:05,165 Speaker 1: The answer is yes, and it's found in the story 116 00:07:05,525 --> 00:07:08,365 Speaker 1: and the Gospel of Luke that honestly kind of blew 117 00:07:08,445 --> 00:07:12,165 Speaker 1: my mind when I studied it recently, because the person 118 00:07:12,285 --> 00:07:16,685 Speaker 1: who impresses Jesus in this story is not a religious person. 119 00:07:16,845 --> 00:07:20,485 Speaker 1: It's not a church person, it's not a Jewish person. 120 00:07:20,965 --> 00:07:24,165 Speaker 1: It's a non believer. And not just a non believer, 121 00:07:24,445 --> 00:07:29,965 Speaker 1: it's a full blown pagan who said something that absolutely 122 00:07:30,365 --> 00:07:34,925 Speaker 1: amazed Jesus of this God that I'm talking about. This 123 00:07:35,085 --> 00:07:38,485 Speaker 1: Roman centurion, he wasn't a religious leader, he wasn't one 124 00:07:38,485 --> 00:07:42,925 Speaker 1: of the disciples of Jesus. He was basically a Roman soldier, 125 00:07:43,245 --> 00:07:46,285 Speaker 1: as I said, a centurion. Let me say something that 126 00:07:46,365 --> 00:07:51,325 Speaker 1: might surprise you. Everybody has and lives by some form 127 00:07:51,685 --> 00:07:55,365 Speaker 1: of faith. Even an atheist has faith. Now they don't 128 00:07:55,445 --> 00:07:58,645 Speaker 1: have faith in God, but they have faith in someone 129 00:07:59,045 --> 00:08:01,485 Speaker 1: or something. But we all have faith. It might be 130 00:08:01,485 --> 00:08:03,925 Speaker 1: a weak faith, it might be a strong faith, but 131 00:08:04,085 --> 00:08:07,725 Speaker 1: everyone has faith. Now there's a kind of faith that 132 00:08:07,765 --> 00:08:10,605 Speaker 1: moves mountains, and there's a kind of faith that barely 133 00:08:10,965 --> 00:08:14,125 Speaker 1: moves us out of bed. This man, he had the 134 00:08:14,205 --> 00:08:18,405 Speaker 1: kind of faith that moved Jesus himself. So here's the story. 135 00:08:18,525 --> 00:08:23,045 Speaker 1: Jesus goes into Copernium and there's this Roman centurion who 136 00:08:23,125 --> 00:08:26,005 Speaker 1: was a servant who's dying, And the text says this 137 00:08:26,205 --> 00:08:30,125 Speaker 1: servant was dear to him, which is actually quite unusual 138 00:08:30,205 --> 00:08:35,845 Speaker 1: because Romans treated their slaves as mere objects. But this 139 00:08:36,085 --> 00:08:39,845 Speaker 1: Roman leader had a real affection for this young man 140 00:08:39,925 --> 00:08:43,804 Speaker 1: that had grown very sick. So he sent some Jewish 141 00:08:43,845 --> 00:08:48,125 Speaker 1: elders to find Jesus. And here's what's remarkable. These Jewish 142 00:08:48,165 --> 00:08:52,885 Speaker 1: leaders actually vouch for this Roman centurion. They tell Jesus, 143 00:08:52,965 --> 00:08:56,645 Speaker 1: if anyone deserves your help, he does. He loves our people, 144 00:08:56,845 --> 00:09:00,645 Speaker 1: and he even build us a synagogue. A Roman centurion 145 00:09:00,685 --> 00:09:04,805 Speaker 1: building a Jewish synagogue. That's like a barbecue pitmaster funding 146 00:09:04,845 --> 00:09:08,564 Speaker 1: a v in restaurant. Right, it doesn't happen, but this 147 00:09:08,605 --> 00:09:12,085 Speaker 1: guy was different. So Jesus is heading toward his house, 148 00:09:12,285 --> 00:09:15,565 Speaker 1: but before he gets there, the centurion sends friends with 149 00:09:15,725 --> 00:09:19,205 Speaker 1: a message where he says, Lord, don't trouble yourself. I'm 150 00:09:19,205 --> 00:09:22,245 Speaker 1: not worthy of such an honor. I'm not even worthy 151 00:09:22,325 --> 00:09:25,085 Speaker 1: for you to come meet me. Just say the word. 152 00:09:25,165 --> 00:09:27,925 Speaker 1: From where you are, my servant will be healed. Then 153 00:09:27,925 --> 00:09:31,245 Speaker 1: he explains why. Look, I'm a guy who has authority. 154 00:09:31,725 --> 00:09:35,525 Speaker 1: I understand how it works. I'm under authority. I'm in authority. 155 00:09:35,765 --> 00:09:38,045 Speaker 1: I have soldiers under me. I say hey, you go, 156 00:09:38,125 --> 00:09:40,605 Speaker 1: and they go. And I say to another you come, 157 00:09:40,645 --> 00:09:43,485 Speaker 1: and they come. And when someone with real authority speaks, 158 00:09:43,525 --> 00:09:47,125 Speaker 1: things happen. Now here's where it gets interesting. Luke says, 159 00:09:47,365 --> 00:09:52,125 Speaker 1: when Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He was amazed. 160 00:09:52,445 --> 00:09:54,765 Speaker 1: He turned to the crowd and said, I haven't seen 161 00:09:54,845 --> 00:09:58,005 Speaker 1: faith like this in all of Israel. So here's what 162 00:09:58,125 --> 00:10:02,725 Speaker 1: it comes down to. A pagan Roman soldier understood something 163 00:10:02,765 --> 00:10:08,365 Speaker 1: about Jesus at the religious elite completely missed. Let's understand 164 00:10:08,365 --> 00:10:11,765 Speaker 1: who these Roman centurions were. They were the real deal. 165 00:10:12,365 --> 00:10:17,085 Speaker 1: A Roman centurion would command around one hundred soldiers, and 166 00:10:17,125 --> 00:10:20,684 Speaker 1: they formed the backbone of the Roman army. A full 167 00:10:20,925 --> 00:10:24,965 Speaker 1: legion of Roman soldiers was six thousand men with sixty 168 00:10:25,125 --> 00:10:30,125 Speaker 1: centurions leading them. Ancient historians ascribed them as natural leaders, 169 00:10:30,365 --> 00:10:34,324 Speaker 1: knowing for their steadiness and dependability in battle. These guys 170 00:10:34,325 --> 00:10:37,765 Speaker 1: weren't desk jockeys. They led from the front, which means 171 00:10:37,925 --> 00:10:42,005 Speaker 1: they had a high mortality rate. So when a centurion spoke, 172 00:10:42,285 --> 00:10:46,605 Speaker 1: people listen. Now, this is fascinating. This centurion mentioned in 173 00:10:46,645 --> 00:10:50,285 Speaker 1: the Bible is portrayed positively. And did you know that 174 00:10:50,525 --> 00:10:55,085 Speaker 1: every centurion mentioned in the Bible is portrayed in a 175 00:10:55,165 --> 00:10:59,485 Speaker 1: positive way, like the centurion at the Cross who declared 176 00:10:59,525 --> 00:11:02,045 Speaker 1: that Jesus was the son of God, or like the 177 00:11:02,125 --> 00:11:07,165 Speaker 1: Roman centurion Cornelius in the Book of Acshuac became a believer. 178 00:11:07,885 --> 00:11:10,525 Speaker 1: So this centurion that we're talking about in Luke chapter 179 00:11:10,685 --> 00:11:15,965 Speaker 1: seven is worshiping all the false gods of Rome, Jupiter, Mars, 180 00:11:16,165 --> 00:11:20,045 Speaker 1: and Caesar himself. But yet he had the insight to 181 00:11:20,165 --> 00:11:26,205 Speaker 1: recognize there was something different about Jesus. How is it 182 00:11:26,245 --> 00:11:30,405 Speaker 1: that this Roman centurion had this insight that others seem 183 00:11:30,605 --> 00:11:35,565 Speaker 1: to not have? Bottom line, Sometimes non believers have a 184 00:11:35,605 --> 00:11:39,405 Speaker 1: greater insight into what it means to follow Christ than 185 00:11:39,445 --> 00:11:42,245 Speaker 1: some believers have. Let me illustrate from my own life. 186 00:11:43,325 --> 00:11:45,684 Speaker 1: Not long after I became a Christian and I had 187 00:11:45,685 --> 00:11:48,845 Speaker 1: started pastoring and we had started our church, I went 188 00:11:48,885 --> 00:11:52,125 Speaker 1: out to lunch at a favorite pizza spot of mine 189 00:11:52,525 --> 00:11:56,285 Speaker 1: in Newport Beach with a musician friend. And as we 190 00:11:56,365 --> 00:11:58,965 Speaker 1: sat down at the table, I looked over at the 191 00:11:59,005 --> 00:12:00,885 Speaker 1: table next to me, and there was a guy there 192 00:12:01,165 --> 00:12:04,765 Speaker 1: that I recognized from elementary school. His name was Paul. 193 00:12:04,965 --> 00:12:07,645 Speaker 1: You know some people don't change with the passing of time, 194 00:12:07,725 --> 00:12:11,205 Speaker 1: they just get bigger. Well, this guy looked exactly like 195 00:12:11,285 --> 00:12:14,125 Speaker 1: he looked in elementary school. He said, excuse me, is 196 00:12:14,165 --> 00:12:17,125 Speaker 1: your name Paul? He says, yes, who are you? I said, 197 00:12:17,165 --> 00:12:20,005 Speaker 1: I'm Greg Laurie. Now, the reason he didn't recognize me 198 00:12:20,685 --> 00:12:23,205 Speaker 1: is I'd grown my hair out really long and I 199 00:12:23,245 --> 00:12:25,685 Speaker 1: had a full beard. And he goes, Greg, I hardly 200 00:12:25,725 --> 00:12:28,725 Speaker 1: recognized you with the long hair and the beard. I said, oh, yeah, Paul, 201 00:12:28,965 --> 00:12:31,684 Speaker 1: I've changed a lot. I didn't just grow my hair 202 00:12:31,725 --> 00:12:35,485 Speaker 1: out long. I've become a Christian. Well he was surprised 203 00:12:35,525 --> 00:12:38,845 Speaker 1: because he said, Greg, you were always a prankster. You 204 00:12:38,925 --> 00:12:42,085 Speaker 1: were always getting in trouble in class. You were always 205 00:12:42,165 --> 00:12:46,245 Speaker 1: being sent to the principal's office for discipline. That's really surprising. 206 00:12:46,245 --> 00:12:48,405 Speaker 1: And I said, yeah, you know what else, Paul, I'm 207 00:12:48,405 --> 00:12:51,245 Speaker 1: not only a Christian, I'm a pastor of a church. 208 00:12:51,285 --> 00:12:54,324 Speaker 1: He's probably thinking, who are they giving churches to these days? 209 00:12:54,325 --> 00:12:57,445 Speaker 1: This is insane. Greg Laurie, the pastor of a church. 210 00:12:57,685 --> 00:13:00,365 Speaker 1: So I tell him about chrisis changed my life. I'm 211 00:13:00,405 --> 00:13:02,885 Speaker 1: not the same person I used to be. And we 212 00:13:03,005 --> 00:13:05,605 Speaker 1: ender our conversation and I thought, well, I just I's 213 00:13:05,605 --> 00:13:09,045 Speaker 1: pray that's a seed sown in Paul's heart. Well, meanwhile, 214 00:13:09,125 --> 00:13:11,765 Speaker 1: our pizza came. Now my friend had gone to the restroom, 215 00:13:11,765 --> 00:13:14,165 Speaker 1: and I had a devious thought. Wouldn't it be funny? 216 00:13:14,205 --> 00:13:17,245 Speaker 1: I thought it, take those red pepper flakes and pour 217 00:13:17,365 --> 00:13:19,445 Speaker 1: them on his side of the pizza. So when he 218 00:13:19,525 --> 00:13:22,005 Speaker 1: came back from the restroom and he'd been into it, 219 00:13:22,205 --> 00:13:24,685 Speaker 1: his mouth would be on fire. So I proceed to 220 00:13:24,685 --> 00:13:27,405 Speaker 1: pour the red pepper flakes on the side of the pizza, 221 00:13:27,485 --> 00:13:30,045 Speaker 1: and I forgot about Paul, who I'd just been sharing 222 00:13:30,085 --> 00:13:33,765 Speaker 1: the Gospel with, and I heard him say, haven't changed much, 223 00:13:33,765 --> 00:13:38,365 Speaker 1: have you? Greg? Oh busted tard when a unbeliever calls 224 00:13:38,365 --> 00:13:41,525 Speaker 1: you out, and it's even worse when they're right. Well, 225 00:13:41,605 --> 00:13:46,204 Speaker 1: sometimes non believers have greater insights into what the Gospel 226 00:13:46,325 --> 00:13:49,965 Speaker 1: is and who Jesus is than some believers have. Illustration 227 00:13:50,125 --> 00:13:54,845 Speaker 1: from the Bible. You remember, after Jesus had been crucified. Hey, 228 00:13:55,005 --> 00:13:58,085 Speaker 1: remember the deceiver, that's what they call Jesus. So remember 229 00:13:58,125 --> 00:14:01,444 Speaker 1: that deceiver said that he would rise again from the dead. 230 00:14:01,765 --> 00:14:04,445 Speaker 1: Maybe we should post a couple of guards just in 231 00:14:04,565 --> 00:14:09,005 Speaker 1: case something happens. Well, none of the believers seemed to 232 00:14:09,085 --> 00:14:12,605 Speaker 1: be waiting for his resurrection, but the non believers seemed 233 00:14:12,645 --> 00:14:16,725 Speaker 1: to be ready. You see that believers were devastated after 234 00:14:16,845 --> 00:14:20,565 Speaker 1: Jesus had been crucified. Remember those two disciples on the 235 00:14:20,565 --> 00:14:24,205 Speaker 1: Emmaus road and Jesus joined them in conversation, but they 236 00:14:24,245 --> 00:14:26,965 Speaker 1: didn't know it was Jesus, and he asked them would 237 00:14:26,965 --> 00:14:31,845 Speaker 1: have been happening lately? And they started telling Jesus about Jesus. 238 00:14:32,325 --> 00:14:37,685 Speaker 1: These two disciples were discouraged and disappointed and disoriented, and 239 00:14:37,765 --> 00:14:41,725 Speaker 1: they said, we had hoped he was the one past tense. 240 00:14:42,045 --> 00:14:44,605 Speaker 1: The hope was gone. So the nun believers are in 241 00:14:44,685 --> 00:14:49,285 Speaker 1: effect preparing for his resurrection, where the believers are devastated 242 00:14:49,685 --> 00:14:52,605 Speaker 1: by doubt. This reminds me of a story of an 243 00:14:52,605 --> 00:14:55,965 Speaker 1: event that happened in a little town. I read a 244 00:14:56,005 --> 00:14:58,445 Speaker 1: story about a bar that was built in Texas right 245 00:14:58,565 --> 00:15:01,805 Speaker 1: next door to a church. The church started a campaign 246 00:15:01,845 --> 00:15:06,325 Speaker 1: with petitions and prayers to stop it, but us right 247 00:15:06,405 --> 00:15:08,845 Speaker 1: up until a week before the opening of the bar 248 00:15:09,165 --> 00:15:12,445 Speaker 1: when lightning struck it and it burned to the ground. 249 00:15:12,965 --> 00:15:16,045 Speaker 1: So the bar owner sued the church, saying they were 250 00:15:16,125 --> 00:15:21,005 Speaker 1: responsible because of their prayers. The church denied any responsibility 251 00:15:21,245 --> 00:15:24,565 Speaker 1: and any connection between their prayers and the fire, so 252 00:15:24,725 --> 00:15:28,205 Speaker 1: went to court. So the judgment through everything and said, look, 253 00:15:28,285 --> 00:15:30,365 Speaker 1: I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but 254 00:15:30,405 --> 00:15:33,165 Speaker 1: it appears from this paperwork that we have a bar 255 00:15:33,285 --> 00:15:36,165 Speaker 1: owner who believes in the power of prayer and an 256 00:15:36,445 --> 00:15:41,565 Speaker 1: entire church congregation that does not not interesting. So let's 257 00:15:41,605 --> 00:15:45,045 Speaker 1: come back to why Jesus was amazed by the statement 258 00:15:45,525 --> 00:15:48,685 Speaker 1: of this Roman centurion. Did you know there are only 259 00:15:48,765 --> 00:15:53,565 Speaker 1: two times in the Bible where Jesus was amazed. One 260 00:15:53,605 --> 00:15:56,725 Speaker 1: of those times is in the story I've already mentioned 261 00:15:56,925 --> 00:16:00,645 Speaker 1: with the Roman Centurion's faith. And the other time Jesus 262 00:16:00,765 --> 00:16:05,365 Speaker 1: was amazed was in his hometown of Nazareth. Now, remember 263 00:16:05,645 --> 00:16:09,485 Speaker 1: Jesus was raised in Nazareth. Remember he spent the first 264 00:16:09,885 --> 00:16:12,925 Speaker 1: thirty years of his life for the most part, in 265 00:16:13,205 --> 00:16:17,085 Speaker 1: and around Nazareth. The people in that city knew him 266 00:16:17,285 --> 00:16:20,685 Speaker 1: very well. So now our Lord has started his public 267 00:16:20,765 --> 00:16:24,045 Speaker 1: ministry and he returns to Nazareth. He had already done 268 00:16:24,045 --> 00:16:27,005 Speaker 1: a bunch of miracles prior to this outside of Nazareth, 269 00:16:27,045 --> 00:16:32,845 Speaker 1: so he's coming back to his hometown. The hometown hero returns, 270 00:16:33,125 --> 00:16:37,605 Speaker 1: He goes into the synagogue, he reads from Isaiah sixty one. 271 00:16:37,725 --> 00:16:40,845 Speaker 1: That's where the reading happened to be that day where 272 00:16:41,005 --> 00:16:45,165 Speaker 1: Isaiah says, really speaking prophetically of the Messiah, the spirit 273 00:16:45,205 --> 00:16:48,725 Speaker 1: of the Lord is upon me, and I've come to 274 00:16:48,765 --> 00:16:52,525 Speaker 1: preach the Gospel to the poor and heal the broken hearted. 275 00:16:52,805 --> 00:16:56,005 Speaker 1: And Jesus reads the rest of the passage, and he 276 00:16:56,565 --> 00:17:00,445 Speaker 1: closes the book and he says, this verse has been 277 00:17:00,485 --> 00:17:04,764 Speaker 1: fulfilled this day. In other words, he was plainly declaring 278 00:17:05,085 --> 00:17:08,884 Speaker 1: that he he was the Messiah. They did not like that. 279 00:17:09,325 --> 00:17:13,365 Speaker 1: The people in Nazareth were not receptive to that. So 280 00:17:13,405 --> 00:17:17,004 Speaker 1: the gospel tells us Jesus did a few miracles there, 281 00:17:17,044 --> 00:17:20,445 Speaker 1: but not as many as he would normally do because 282 00:17:20,524 --> 00:17:24,445 Speaker 1: of their unbelief. So here's the second time where Jesus 283 00:17:24,524 --> 00:17:29,484 Speaker 1: was amazed. He was amazed by their unbelief. Why because 284 00:17:29,524 --> 00:17:32,884 Speaker 1: they had seen Jesus. They knew who he was. He 285 00:17:33,044 --> 00:17:37,324 Speaker 1: lived in their community, they saw him grow up. They 286 00:17:37,405 --> 00:17:40,204 Speaker 1: knew his siblings. Yes, Jesus had siblings, by the way, 287 00:17:40,365 --> 00:17:44,164 Speaker 1: Mary and Joseph had other children. And Jesus was the 288 00:17:44,205 --> 00:17:48,804 Speaker 1: perfect example. He was the model son, the ultimate citizen, 289 00:17:48,965 --> 00:17:51,725 Speaker 1: the guy you could always ask for a favor from. 290 00:17:51,844 --> 00:17:55,324 Speaker 1: He worked in his carpenter shop with his father. He 291 00:17:55,564 --> 00:17:59,564 Speaker 1: was the perfect example. And yet when he begins to 292 00:17:59,604 --> 00:18:03,764 Speaker 1: declare his messiah ship and even his performing miracles, they 293 00:18:03,844 --> 00:18:07,404 Speaker 1: refused to believe. And it even gets worse. They wanted 294 00:18:07,445 --> 00:18:09,884 Speaker 1: to kill him. They took him to the edge of 295 00:18:09,925 --> 00:18:12,524 Speaker 1: a cliff and were going to push him off, and 296 00:18:12,564 --> 00:18:17,004 Speaker 1: the Bible says Jesus walked right through the midst of them. Wow. 297 00:18:17,764 --> 00:18:22,125 Speaker 1: So two times Jesus was amazed. Once by the people 298 00:18:22,165 --> 00:18:25,524 Speaker 1: who should have known better, people who had witnessed his 299 00:18:25,645 --> 00:18:29,885 Speaker 1: perfect example and should have believed in him, And also 300 00:18:30,244 --> 00:18:33,205 Speaker 1: by the faith of a pagan guy who seemed to 301 00:18:33,244 --> 00:18:38,564 Speaker 1: have more insight than believers had. So, coming back to 302 00:18:38,645 --> 00:18:44,524 Speaker 1: something I mentioned earlier, everybody has faith. Everybody effectively worships. 303 00:18:44,685 --> 00:18:52,044 Speaker 1: Republicans worship, Democrats worship, independence, worship, Christians worship, Atheists worship 304 00:18:52,365 --> 00:18:54,284 Speaker 1: He said, Greg, you're wrong. They didn't worship God. I 305 00:18:54,324 --> 00:18:57,965 Speaker 1: didn't say they worship God. I said everyone worships someone 306 00:18:58,125 --> 00:19:04,124 Speaker 1: or something. Everyone has faith in something or some one. Honestly, 307 00:19:04,524 --> 00:19:06,885 Speaker 1: I think it takes more faith to be an atheist 308 00:19:06,885 --> 00:19:09,925 Speaker 1: and it takes to be a Christian. Now we throw 309 00:19:09,965 --> 00:19:13,604 Speaker 1: the word faith around a lot, but what is faith exactly? 310 00:19:13,925 --> 00:19:17,244 Speaker 1: I think we make it overly mystical. But the fact 311 00:19:17,365 --> 00:19:20,164 Speaker 1: is we use faith each and every day, don't we. 312 00:19:20,764 --> 00:19:23,325 Speaker 1: I mean, don't you think it's an active faith. When 313 00:19:23,324 --> 00:19:26,885 Speaker 1: you go into a restaurant and order food, you're believing 314 00:19:26,965 --> 00:19:30,124 Speaker 1: that that server is going to follow health standards and 315 00:19:30,804 --> 00:19:33,684 Speaker 1: do it in a proper way where you won't be poisoned. 316 00:19:34,445 --> 00:19:38,044 Speaker 1: You go to a hospital and you give permission to 317 00:19:38,125 --> 00:19:40,965 Speaker 1: a surgeon to do an operation on you, or you 318 00:19:41,004 --> 00:19:43,565 Speaker 1: go to a pharmacist and you expect that they're going 319 00:19:43,604 --> 00:19:46,324 Speaker 1: to put the right pills in the right bottle. Or 320 00:19:46,365 --> 00:19:50,004 Speaker 1: how about this, You pourt a seven forty seven without 321 00:19:50,125 --> 00:19:54,764 Speaker 1: understanding aerodynamics and you're trusting that despite the takeoff weight 322 00:19:54,804 --> 00:19:58,524 Speaker 1: of what nine hundred thousand pounds, that baby's going to fly. 323 00:19:59,044 --> 00:20:02,525 Speaker 1: So here's my point. We put faith in pharmacists and 324 00:20:02,645 --> 00:20:06,085 Speaker 1: pilots and surgeons. But then when someone say says have 325 00:20:06,125 --> 00:20:08,605 Speaker 1: faith in God, we say, are you crazy? And there's 326 00:20:08,645 --> 00:20:13,044 Speaker 1: no way, there's no safer place to put your faith 327 00:20:13,324 --> 00:20:16,884 Speaker 1: than in God himself. There's three things we need to 328 00:20:16,965 --> 00:20:20,564 Speaker 1: know about real faith, real faith that can turn into 329 00:20:21,165 --> 00:20:26,445 Speaker 1: amazing faith. First of all, faith is belief plus action. 330 00:20:27,205 --> 00:20:30,725 Speaker 1: In other words, I might just agree with something intellectually, 331 00:20:30,804 --> 00:20:36,165 Speaker 1: that's not necessarily faith. James says, the demons believe in tremble. 332 00:20:36,244 --> 00:20:40,164 Speaker 1: In other words, the demons fallen angels have a certain 333 00:20:40,244 --> 00:20:44,045 Speaker 1: form of faith that's not trusting in God, but they 334 00:20:44,084 --> 00:20:48,284 Speaker 1: acknowledge the reality of something. So it's more than just 335 00:20:48,365 --> 00:20:52,605 Speaker 1: believing something that's true. Faith does things. That's number two. 336 00:20:53,165 --> 00:20:55,405 Speaker 1: You do things when you have faith. I mean, look 337 00:20:55,405 --> 00:20:58,725 Speaker 1: at Hubres eleven. It's been called the Hall of Faith, 338 00:20:59,205 --> 00:21:02,084 Speaker 1: and it's just filled with exploits of godly men and 339 00:21:02,125 --> 00:21:06,484 Speaker 1: women that take bold steps of faith and trust in God. 340 00:21:06,925 --> 00:21:11,085 Speaker 1: They're in Hubres eleven. We read that Able offered Noah 341 00:21:11,524 --> 00:21:16,564 Speaker 1: prepared Moses shows. In other words, they did things with 342 00:21:16,604 --> 00:21:19,844 Speaker 1: their faith. A faith with no works is a faith 343 00:21:19,885 --> 00:21:23,605 Speaker 1: that doesn't work. Faith well that works is dead. That's 344 00:21:23,645 --> 00:21:26,685 Speaker 1: what the Bible says. Faith isn't meant to be put 345 00:21:26,764 --> 00:21:30,244 Speaker 1: into a display case where we just admire it. It's 346 00:21:30,284 --> 00:21:32,565 Speaker 1: meant to be used. It's sort of like people who 347 00:21:32,564 --> 00:21:35,964 Speaker 1: buy these beautiful four wheel drive vehicles, and you know, 348 00:21:36,004 --> 00:21:38,084 Speaker 1: they trick them out and they put all these extra 349 00:21:38,645 --> 00:21:41,085 Speaker 1: lights on them and they're raised up in their big 350 00:21:41,125 --> 00:21:44,965 Speaker 1: gnarly wheels and tires, but they never take them out 351 00:21:45,004 --> 00:21:47,845 Speaker 1: into the dirt the place they're meant to go. They 352 00:21:48,004 --> 00:21:51,484 Speaker 1: just drive them from car wash to car wash and 353 00:21:51,725 --> 00:21:54,925 Speaker 1: talk about what their vehicle can do. That's what some 354 00:21:54,925 --> 00:21:58,244 Speaker 1: people do with faith. They talk about faith, they admire faith, 355 00:21:58,484 --> 00:22:00,764 Speaker 1: but they don't use their faith. You need to get 356 00:22:00,804 --> 00:22:04,685 Speaker 1: your faith dirty, you need to apply your faith. Everything 357 00:22:04,725 --> 00:22:08,484 Speaker 1: in our relationship with God is done through faith. So 358 00:22:08,604 --> 00:22:12,525 Speaker 1: the apostle Paul says we're saved by grace through faith, 359 00:22:12,804 --> 00:22:15,404 Speaker 1: But then he said that just shall live by faith. 360 00:22:15,484 --> 00:22:20,445 Speaker 1: So we live by and apply our faith every single day. 361 00:22:20,725 --> 00:22:23,924 Speaker 1: So number three, faith can make the difference between something 362 00:22:24,365 --> 00:22:27,564 Speaker 1: happening and non happening. God is the one who works, 363 00:22:27,725 --> 00:22:31,124 Speaker 1: but he often chooses to work through humans living and 364 00:22:31,205 --> 00:22:34,684 Speaker 1: operating by faith. For instance, he could have parted the 365 00:22:34,725 --> 00:22:38,284 Speaker 1: red seas sovereignly from heaven, but he told Moses to 366 00:22:38,445 --> 00:22:42,004 Speaker 1: raise that stuff up. He could have dropped fire around 367 00:22:42,044 --> 00:22:45,164 Speaker 1: the altar with Elijah and the prophets of Bale, but 368 00:22:45,284 --> 00:22:50,725 Speaker 1: he told Elijah to pray. Jesus could have healed everyone everywhere, 369 00:22:51,004 --> 00:22:54,125 Speaker 1: but he didn't. He responded to people who reached out 370 00:22:54,165 --> 00:22:58,244 Speaker 1: to him, like that man named Bartimaeus who heard Jesus 371 00:22:58,405 --> 00:23:01,484 Speaker 1: was coming, and he cried out, Jesus, son of David, 372 00:23:01,524 --> 00:23:04,764 Speaker 1: have mercy on me. And they said, Bartimeus, pipe down, 373 00:23:05,004 --> 00:23:08,804 Speaker 1: don't Jesus, And he cried out even louder, And guess 374 00:23:08,804 --> 00:23:13,165 Speaker 1: what happened. Jesus stopped and touched him and healed him. 375 00:23:13,445 --> 00:23:16,124 Speaker 1: Or there's that woman who had that medical condition that 376 00:23:16,244 --> 00:23:19,645 Speaker 1: caused her to bleed continuously, and she had spent all 377 00:23:19,645 --> 00:23:22,804 Speaker 1: of her money on doctors, and she reasoned, if I 378 00:23:22,844 --> 00:23:25,805 Speaker 1: can touch the hem of his garment, I will be healed. 379 00:23:26,004 --> 00:23:29,165 Speaker 1: And sure enough, when Jesus made his way by her, 380 00:23:29,484 --> 00:23:32,924 Speaker 1: she reached out her hand touched his garment, and the 381 00:23:32,965 --> 00:23:36,444 Speaker 1: healing power of God was released in her life. Why 382 00:23:36,645 --> 00:23:40,764 Speaker 1: because she applied her faith. So maybe there's something you 383 00:23:40,925 --> 00:23:44,124 Speaker 1: need God to do for you. Maybe you need his 384 00:23:44,324 --> 00:23:46,885 Speaker 1: touch in your life. Here's what you need to do. 385 00:23:47,484 --> 00:23:51,124 Speaker 1: Pray about it. Jesus is asking. It shall be given 386 00:23:51,205 --> 00:23:54,884 Speaker 1: unto you seeking, you shall find, knock and the doors 387 00:23:54,925 --> 00:23:58,084 Speaker 1: shall be open. And in the original language that can 388 00:23:58,165 --> 00:24:02,764 Speaker 1: be translated keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. And the 389 00:24:02,804 --> 00:24:07,084 Speaker 1: Bible also tells us you have not because you ask not. 390 00:24:07,524 --> 00:24:11,004 Speaker 1: So back to the centurion. He had faith and he 391 00:24:11,084 --> 00:24:15,845 Speaker 1: applied his faith, and Jesus was amazed by it. He said, 392 00:24:15,925 --> 00:24:18,045 Speaker 1: I want to show you the other side of this 393 00:24:18,645 --> 00:24:22,364 Speaker 1: same chapter Luke chapter seven, but a completely different situation. 394 00:24:22,885 --> 00:24:27,085 Speaker 1: So on one hand, we've got this powerful, wealthy centurion 395 00:24:27,645 --> 00:24:31,004 Speaker 1: who has this amazing faith. But right after this story 396 00:24:31,044 --> 00:24:34,564 Speaker 1: we meet a woman who basically has nothing. Her husband 397 00:24:34,645 --> 00:24:39,044 Speaker 1: has died, she's a widow, and now her only son 398 00:24:39,205 --> 00:24:43,244 Speaker 1: has died. As well, she's known as the widow of Nane. 399 00:24:43,844 --> 00:24:48,324 Speaker 1: So after he touches the centurion servant and heals him, 400 00:24:48,564 --> 00:24:52,244 Speaker 1: he's walking toward a village called Nane with his disciples 401 00:24:52,284 --> 00:24:55,605 Speaker 1: and a large crowd is following. As they approached the gate, 402 00:24:55,645 --> 00:24:59,484 Speaker 1: they run into this funeral procession that mends you of 403 00:24:59,604 --> 00:25:01,804 Speaker 1: something that happened on the one time I went to 404 00:25:01,885 --> 00:25:05,364 Speaker 1: visit New Orleans. You know, you see the movies that 405 00:25:05,604 --> 00:25:08,644 Speaker 1: have scenes from that famous city, and you'll see the 406 00:25:08,685 --> 00:25:12,804 Speaker 1: funeral processions they have there with a brass band maybe playing. 407 00:25:12,804 --> 00:25:15,604 Speaker 1: When the saints go marching in in a casket and 408 00:25:15,645 --> 00:25:18,125 Speaker 1: they're taking a person to be buried, I thought, does 409 00:25:18,125 --> 00:25:21,365 Speaker 1: that really happen? It actually happened. We had that very 410 00:25:21,445 --> 00:25:24,605 Speaker 1: procession go down the street in front of us and 411 00:25:24,685 --> 00:25:27,404 Speaker 1: we watched it. So that's similar to the scene before 412 00:25:27,445 --> 00:25:30,845 Speaker 1: us in Luke seven. Here we have a funeral procession. 413 00:25:31,604 --> 00:25:34,885 Speaker 1: The people would be crying out loudly. They literally would 414 00:25:34,965 --> 00:25:40,604 Speaker 1: hire professional whalers to play their musical instruments and to 415 00:25:40,804 --> 00:25:44,124 Speaker 1: cry out in despair. So it's a very sad scene, 416 00:25:44,804 --> 00:25:49,604 Speaker 1: a funeral procession with a young boy in a casket 417 00:25:50,125 --> 00:25:54,725 Speaker 1: and they're walking along and Jesus comes into contact with 418 00:25:54,764 --> 00:25:57,644 Speaker 1: this Now he could have kept walking, but there was 419 00:25:57,685 --> 00:26:01,445 Speaker 1: something deeply moving about this. To our Lord. He looks 420 00:26:01,484 --> 00:26:05,725 Speaker 1: at this woman in this culture. She had no future. 421 00:26:05,804 --> 00:26:09,084 Speaker 1: She had no husband to take care of her or 422 00:26:09,125 --> 00:26:12,844 Speaker 1: provide for her. She had no son to watch out 423 00:26:12,885 --> 00:26:17,164 Speaker 1: for her. There was just grief. This was devastation. This 424 00:26:17,405 --> 00:26:21,445 Speaker 1: was the worst day of this woman's entire life. That 425 00:26:21,524 --> 00:26:25,365 Speaker 1: turned out to be her best day. Why because Jesus 426 00:26:25,405 --> 00:26:28,284 Speaker 1: steps into the scene. He looks at her, and the 427 00:26:28,324 --> 00:26:32,764 Speaker 1: Bible says, his heart overflowed with compassion, and he says 428 00:26:32,804 --> 00:26:36,445 Speaker 1: to her, don't cry. Then he does something shocking. He 429 00:26:36,524 --> 00:26:39,325 Speaker 1: goes over and touches the coffin. Now you're not supposed 430 00:26:39,324 --> 00:26:43,085 Speaker 1: to do that as a religious Jew, but Jesus could 431 00:26:43,125 --> 00:26:46,445 Speaker 1: do it because that dead boy was about to come 432 00:26:46,685 --> 00:26:51,244 Speaker 1: alive again. He touches the coff and everyone freezes. He says, 433 00:26:51,284 --> 00:26:54,565 Speaker 1: young man, I say to you, get up. The dead 434 00:26:54,604 --> 00:26:58,284 Speaker 1: boy sat up and started talking, and Looke says, Jesus 435 00:26:58,365 --> 00:27:01,404 Speaker 1: gave him back to his mother. Is that not a 436 00:27:01,405 --> 00:27:04,445 Speaker 1: beautiful story? Here's what I love about putting these two 437 00:27:04,484 --> 00:27:07,044 Speaker 1: stories side by side. On one hand, you have the 438 00:27:07,165 --> 00:27:11,965 Speaker 1: powerful centurion who had rank, influence, resources, and you have 439 00:27:12,044 --> 00:27:15,965 Speaker 1: the widow who had nothing. The centurion he reached out 440 00:27:16,004 --> 00:27:20,004 Speaker 1: to Jesus, but Jesus reached out to the woman. She 441 00:27:20,125 --> 00:27:23,124 Speaker 1: didn't even ask for anything, she didn't even know who 442 00:27:23,205 --> 00:27:26,805 Speaker 1: he was. But both found what they needed from Jesus. 443 00:27:27,645 --> 00:27:30,844 Speaker 1: This is the nature of God. Thesamus wrote that the 444 00:27:30,885 --> 00:27:34,764 Speaker 1: Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding 445 00:27:34,844 --> 00:27:40,044 Speaker 1: and loving kindness. God loves us, and God cares about 446 00:27:40,324 --> 00:27:44,084 Speaker 1: what we care about. You know, sometimes people say the 447 00:27:44,125 --> 00:27:47,284 Speaker 1: God of the Old Testament is harsh and judgmental, but 448 00:27:47,405 --> 00:27:50,044 Speaker 1: the God of the New Testament is loving and kind. 449 00:27:50,084 --> 00:27:52,644 Speaker 1: That's another way of saying I don't read the Bible, 450 00:27:52,725 --> 00:27:55,445 Speaker 1: and I don't know what I'm talking about. Because if 451 00:27:55,484 --> 00:27:59,004 Speaker 1: you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, you see 452 00:27:59,044 --> 00:28:02,125 Speaker 1: he is the same God. He's a loving God, He's 453 00:28:02,165 --> 00:28:05,764 Speaker 1: a compassionate God. He is a righteous God, is a 454 00:28:06,044 --> 00:28:10,045 Speaker 1: just God. Here's an Old Testament example of the compassion 455 00:28:10,165 --> 00:28:13,844 Speaker 1: of God. Remember when God told Jonah the prophet, to 456 00:28:13,925 --> 00:28:17,804 Speaker 1: go preach to the people of Nineveh, and Jonah flatley refused. 457 00:28:17,885 --> 00:28:21,085 Speaker 1: You know where that is because the people in Nineveh, 458 00:28:21,445 --> 00:28:25,644 Speaker 1: they drank hater eight. They were the avowed enemies of Israel. 459 00:28:26,004 --> 00:28:28,604 Speaker 1: And Jonah reason, if I go to Nineveh and preach 460 00:28:28,685 --> 00:28:32,244 Speaker 1: to those people, God, being as compassionate and kind as 461 00:28:32,244 --> 00:28:35,085 Speaker 1: he is, is going to spare them, and then we'll 462 00:28:35,084 --> 00:28:37,284 Speaker 1: still have this enemy to deal with. But if I 463 00:28:37,365 --> 00:28:39,884 Speaker 1: don't go to Nineveh, but in fact I get in 464 00:28:39,885 --> 00:28:43,165 Speaker 1: a book going in the opposite direction, God will not 465 00:28:43,245 --> 00:28:45,765 Speaker 1: spare them, and he will in fact judge them. And 466 00:28:45,844 --> 00:28:48,965 Speaker 1: that's exactly what Jonah did. But you know the story, 467 00:28:49,165 --> 00:28:52,165 Speaker 1: maybe you don't. But Jonah got in a vote and 468 00:28:52,485 --> 00:28:55,405 Speaker 1: he was running from God effectively in a great storm 469 00:28:55,485 --> 00:28:58,805 Speaker 1: came and everybody called out to their various gods, and 470 00:28:59,084 --> 00:29:01,965 Speaker 1: the sailors on board the vote realized it was Jonah 471 00:29:02,084 --> 00:29:05,405 Speaker 1: who was responsible for the storm, because he ultimately told them, 472 00:29:05,685 --> 00:29:07,725 Speaker 1: and they threw him overboard, and of course he was 473 00:29:07,765 --> 00:29:10,565 Speaker 1: swallowed by the great fish maybe it was a whale, 474 00:29:10,765 --> 00:29:14,124 Speaker 1: and he was regurgitated on the shores of Ninevah. It 475 00:29:14,205 --> 00:29:16,404 Speaker 1: was Ninevah or bust for Jonah. He was gonna go 476 00:29:16,405 --> 00:29:18,844 Speaker 1: there if he wanted to or not. I've summed it 477 00:29:18,925 --> 00:29:23,565 Speaker 1: up this way. God said, go. Jonah said no. God said, oh, 478 00:29:23,604 --> 00:29:27,245 Speaker 1: God will always have the last word. So Jonah reluctantly 479 00:29:27,525 --> 00:29:33,405 Speaker 1: goes to Ninevah barfed out of the whale, righteous and regurgitated, 480 00:29:33,925 --> 00:29:36,845 Speaker 1: and he tells that people forty days that Ninevah will 481 00:29:36,844 --> 00:29:40,884 Speaker 1: be overthrown, and incredibly that people were repent and turned 482 00:29:40,885 --> 00:29:45,125 Speaker 1: to God. Instead of rejoicing, Jonah is ticked off. He's 483 00:29:45,285 --> 00:29:49,084 Speaker 1: angry at God. Why because Jonah says, Lord, I knew 484 00:29:49,205 --> 00:29:53,405 Speaker 1: you would do this, because you're a gracious and compassionate God, 485 00:29:53,925 --> 00:29:56,805 Speaker 1: like that's a bad thing when it's really the best thing. 486 00:29:57,285 --> 00:30:00,885 Speaker 1: Jesus reached out to this woman because he was touched 487 00:30:01,084 --> 00:30:05,404 Speaker 1: with compassion for her. You know, sometimes God just intervened 488 00:30:05,565 --> 00:30:08,604 Speaker 1: in our situations. Maybe we reached out to him and 489 00:30:08,645 --> 00:30:11,844 Speaker 1: we prayed and have emphasized how important faith is and 490 00:30:11,885 --> 00:30:13,844 Speaker 1: why we need to ask and seek the Lord and 491 00:30:13,885 --> 00:30:18,525 Speaker 1: pray about things. But sometimes God just sovereignly intervenes, and 492 00:30:18,565 --> 00:30:21,445 Speaker 1: that's what he did in this story. And I think 493 00:30:21,485 --> 00:30:24,604 Speaker 1: this story is important also because on one hand, we 494 00:30:25,604 --> 00:30:28,645 Speaker 1: have the centurion servant healed, and that's a glorious thing, 495 00:30:29,325 --> 00:30:32,005 Speaker 1: but then we have a young boy who died who's 496 00:30:32,125 --> 00:30:35,565 Speaker 1: raised from the dead. Well, that's great, but what about 497 00:30:35,604 --> 00:30:38,084 Speaker 1: those of us who have lost loved ones who weren't 498 00:30:38,445 --> 00:30:42,405 Speaker 1: raised from the dead. They're gone, But are they really gone? 499 00:30:43,125 --> 00:30:46,124 Speaker 1: If they died in faith, they're not gone. You know. 500 00:30:46,245 --> 00:30:48,965 Speaker 1: Sometimes they'll say, well I lost my loved one. They're 501 00:30:49,005 --> 00:30:52,285 Speaker 1: not lost if you know where they are. Our son 502 00:30:52,365 --> 00:30:54,965 Speaker 1: went to be with the Lord sixteen years ago in 503 00:30:55,045 --> 00:30:59,045 Speaker 1: a tragic automobile accident. I never say we lost him 504 00:30:59,245 --> 00:31:01,924 Speaker 1: because I know where he is, and I know that 505 00:31:02,005 --> 00:31:04,925 Speaker 1: I will see him again, and I know that he's 506 00:31:05,005 --> 00:31:07,404 Speaker 1: not just a part of my past, he is also 507 00:31:07,485 --> 00:31:10,645 Speaker 1: a part of my future. Let me say a word 508 00:31:10,805 --> 00:31:13,325 Speaker 1: to all of you who have lost loved ones. You're 509 00:31:13,365 --> 00:31:16,644 Speaker 1: going to be reunited if they died in faith in 510 00:31:16,765 --> 00:31:19,644 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is going to happen in an event that 511 00:31:19,805 --> 00:31:23,725 Speaker 1: is called the rapture of the Church. Here's what it says. 512 00:31:23,805 --> 00:31:27,925 Speaker 1: In the Bible and first Thessalonians for seventeen. It says 513 00:31:27,965 --> 00:31:31,285 Speaker 1: that dead will rise first, and we were dur a 514 00:31:31,405 --> 00:31:34,965 Speaker 1: live and remaining shall be caught together with them in 515 00:31:35,005 --> 00:31:40,245 Speaker 1: the clouds. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. You know. 516 00:31:40,525 --> 00:31:45,164 Speaker 1: The rapture, as it's called, has become controversial to some 517 00:31:45,525 --> 00:31:49,245 Speaker 1: in recent days. Some have said, well, you won't find 518 00:31:49,565 --> 00:31:52,525 Speaker 1: the rapture in the Bible. It was invented by a 519 00:31:52,565 --> 00:31:55,485 Speaker 1: guy named Jan Darby in the nineteenth century. Let me 520 00:31:55,485 --> 00:31:58,684 Speaker 1: address that just for a moment. Yes, it's true that 521 00:31:58,765 --> 00:32:02,445 Speaker 1: a man named Jan Darby popularized the teaching of the 522 00:32:02,525 --> 00:32:06,404 Speaker 1: rapture in the nineteenth century. But the fact is the 523 00:32:06,445 --> 00:32:10,725 Speaker 1: Apostle Paul taught the rapture. Ads did the Apostle Peter, 524 00:32:11,245 --> 00:32:16,844 Speaker 1: as did the Apostle John. Jesus himself even referred to it. Understand, 525 00:32:16,844 --> 00:32:20,005 Speaker 1: the word rapture is from a Latin word rapturists, going 526 00:32:20,045 --> 00:32:23,565 Speaker 1: back to first Thessalonians four seventeen. It says we'll be 527 00:32:23,685 --> 00:32:27,685 Speaker 1: caught up. That's from the Greek word harpazzo, which means 528 00:32:27,685 --> 00:32:33,125 Speaker 1: to be taken forcibly, to be taken quickly. So that 529 00:32:33,205 --> 00:32:37,845 Speaker 1: word is translated into the Latin word rapturists, which translates 530 00:32:37,885 --> 00:32:40,405 Speaker 1: to the word rapture. Look, I don't care what you 531 00:32:40,565 --> 00:32:43,885 Speaker 1: call it. Call it the harpuzzo, call it the rapture, 532 00:32:44,205 --> 00:32:47,245 Speaker 1: call it the great Escape. Here's what the Bible says. 533 00:32:47,765 --> 00:32:49,884 Speaker 1: People are going to be caught up in a moment, 534 00:32:50,005 --> 00:32:52,725 Speaker 1: in the twinkling of an eye, in the presence of 535 00:32:52,805 --> 00:32:55,645 Speaker 1: the Lord. And as far as I can see, this 536 00:32:55,685 --> 00:32:58,805 Speaker 1: event can happen at any time. It was taught by 537 00:32:58,805 --> 00:33:02,685 Speaker 1: the Apostles and by early church fathers and the first, second, 538 00:33:03,045 --> 00:33:06,245 Speaker 1: and third century and onward. So I won't let anyone 539 00:33:06,285 --> 00:33:08,845 Speaker 1: tell you that the rapture is not in the Bible. 540 00:33:09,084 --> 00:33:11,364 Speaker 1: The event is there. The question is when is it? 541 00:33:12,045 --> 00:33:14,685 Speaker 1: And the answer is no, one knows. No one knows 542 00:33:14,725 --> 00:33:17,245 Speaker 1: the dear or the hour. I know when. This second 543 00:33:17,285 --> 00:33:21,005 Speaker 1: coming is. The second coming of Christ happens at the 544 00:33:21,165 --> 00:33:24,965 Speaker 1: end of the tribulation period at the Battle of Armegeddon. 545 00:33:25,125 --> 00:33:29,844 Speaker 1: Christ comes back again and establishes his kingdom on earth. 546 00:33:30,125 --> 00:33:32,645 Speaker 1: So that's going to be at that point in time. 547 00:33:32,685 --> 00:33:35,525 Speaker 1: But the Rapture, it could happen at any moment. That's 548 00:33:35,565 --> 00:33:39,205 Speaker 1: why we need to watch and be ready, all right. 549 00:33:39,285 --> 00:33:42,525 Speaker 1: So enclosing, let's come back to the story of that 550 00:33:42,604 --> 00:33:47,525 Speaker 1: centurion again. Here's a powerful, wealthy man, the very Pride 551 00:33:47,525 --> 00:33:51,084 Speaker 1: of Rome, who worshiped all these false deities. But it 552 00:33:51,245 --> 00:33:54,845 Speaker 1: left him cold and had left him empty. Then he 553 00:33:54,844 --> 00:33:58,525 Speaker 1: heard about Jesus and he demonstrated the kind of faith 554 00:33:58,645 --> 00:34:02,924 Speaker 1: that makes God stop and take notice. Contrasting with the 555 00:34:02,965 --> 00:34:05,805 Speaker 1: people of Natareth, they've grown up with Jesus as they 556 00:34:05,844 --> 00:34:09,645 Speaker 1: had observed him. He lived a perfect life there for 557 00:34:09,725 --> 00:34:12,924 Speaker 1: thirty years. I mean, think about this, thirty years. It's 558 00:34:12,965 --> 00:34:16,725 Speaker 1: amazing to me that the entire earthly ministry of Jesus 559 00:34:17,125 --> 00:34:21,565 Speaker 1: lasted for three years. Why didn't it last for fifteen 560 00:34:21,645 --> 00:34:25,045 Speaker 1: years or twenty years? Why only three years? I don't 561 00:34:25,085 --> 00:34:27,885 Speaker 1: know that I can answer. But here's what's incredible. He 562 00:34:28,005 --> 00:34:32,725 Speaker 1: lived thirty years among the people of Nazareth preparing for 563 00:34:32,805 --> 00:34:37,605 Speaker 1: this moment when he would start his ministry, perform his miracles, 564 00:34:37,885 --> 00:34:42,445 Speaker 1: give his teachings, die on the cross, rise from the dead. 565 00:34:43,325 --> 00:34:47,285 Speaker 1: Why so we could know that we follow a God 566 00:34:47,405 --> 00:34:50,325 Speaker 1: who knows what it's like to walk in our shoes. 567 00:34:50,965 --> 00:34:55,285 Speaker 1: Jesus lived our lives, He breathed our air, he faced 568 00:34:55,405 --> 00:34:59,844 Speaker 1: our challenges and temptations. He lived our lives, and then 569 00:35:00,005 --> 00:35:04,165 Speaker 1: he died our death. But those people of Nazareth, they 570 00:35:04,165 --> 00:35:07,365 Speaker 1: couldn't get past the fact that he was the carpenter's kid. 571 00:35:07,845 --> 00:35:10,765 Speaker 1: They couldn't get past the fact that they knew him 572 00:35:10,925 --> 00:35:13,245 Speaker 1: when he was still a boy. But that boy was 573 00:35:13,285 --> 00:35:18,285 Speaker 1: God among us. God had a face. That boy was 574 00:35:18,405 --> 00:35:23,365 Speaker 1: God in human form. Here's something to think about. Church 575 00:35:23,485 --> 00:35:26,765 Speaker 1: can be a dangerous place. I say, what, greg God, 576 00:35:26,765 --> 00:35:30,285 Speaker 1: Why would you say that? Because every time you hear 577 00:35:30,365 --> 00:35:33,565 Speaker 1: the Gospel and you don't respond in the affirmative, your 578 00:35:33,605 --> 00:35:37,485 Speaker 1: heart can potentially get harder. The Bible says he who 579 00:35:37,525 --> 00:35:40,525 Speaker 1: has often reproved hardens his heart and he will be 580 00:35:40,605 --> 00:35:44,205 Speaker 1: cut off, and that without remedy. So right now I've 581 00:35:44,205 --> 00:35:46,205 Speaker 1: shared a little bit of the gospel with you, and 582 00:35:46,285 --> 00:35:48,965 Speaker 1: let me just define it. I say, gospel. What is 583 00:35:48,965 --> 00:35:51,725 Speaker 1: the gospel? It means good news. Here's the good news. 584 00:35:51,965 --> 00:35:54,525 Speaker 1: There's a God in heaven who loves you. Here's the 585 00:35:54,565 --> 00:35:59,285 Speaker 1: bad news. You're a sinner separated from God. Here's the 586 00:35:59,325 --> 00:36:02,844 Speaker 1: good news. God sent his son Jesus Christ to die 587 00:36:02,845 --> 00:36:05,205 Speaker 1: in the cross for our sin and pay for those 588 00:36:05,205 --> 00:36:08,245 Speaker 1: sins and rise again from the dead. Here's the good news. 589 00:36:08,405 --> 00:36:11,005 Speaker 1: If you will turn from your sin and put your 590 00:36:11,045 --> 00:36:14,565 Speaker 1: faith in Jesus, he will forgive you and you can 591 00:36:14,605 --> 00:36:16,685 Speaker 1: know that you will go to heaven when you die, 592 00:36:16,765 --> 00:36:19,925 Speaker 1: and you will find the meaning and purpose of life. 593 00:36:20,085 --> 00:36:22,085 Speaker 1: What do you need to do? You need to put 594 00:36:22,085 --> 00:36:26,125 Speaker 1: your faith in Christ. What kind of faith do you have? 595 00:36:26,125 --> 00:36:29,405 Speaker 1: Have you put your faith in him? Yet? I encourage 596 00:36:29,405 --> 00:36:33,125 Speaker 1: you to do it right here, right now. Maybe you've 597 00:36:33,165 --> 00:36:36,205 Speaker 1: never asked Jesus to come into your life. Maybe you've 598 00:36:36,205 --> 00:36:39,245 Speaker 1: never asked him to forgive you of your sin. Maybe 599 00:36:39,285 --> 00:36:41,405 Speaker 1: you're not sure that you will go to heaven when 600 00:36:41,485 --> 00:36:43,765 Speaker 1: you die. Do you want to get that resolved? Do 601 00:36:43,805 --> 00:36:46,364 Speaker 1: you want Christ to come into your life? If so, 602 00:36:46,845 --> 00:36:49,965 Speaker 1: I want you to pray a prayer with me. I'll 603 00:36:50,045 --> 00:36:52,285 Speaker 1: lead you in this prayer. You could pray it out 604 00:36:52,325 --> 00:36:55,085 Speaker 1: loud after me if you like. But if you pray 605 00:36:55,125 --> 00:36:58,005 Speaker 1: this prayer and mean it, God in Heaven will hear you, 606 00:36:58,685 --> 00:37:02,485 Speaker 1: just as he heard that centurion man and answer this 607 00:37:02,605 --> 00:37:06,245 Speaker 1: prayer and healed the servant. God will hear your prayer 608 00:37:06,805 --> 00:37:09,725 Speaker 1: and forgive you of your sins. If you want Jesus 609 00:37:09,725 --> 00:37:13,485 Speaker 1: to come into your life, just pray this with me. Pray, 610 00:37:13,525 --> 00:37:17,285 Speaker 1: Lord Jesus, and know that I'm a sinner, but I 611 00:37:17,325 --> 00:37:20,285 Speaker 1: know that you're the savior who died on the cross 612 00:37:20,365 --> 00:37:24,045 Speaker 1: for my sin and rose again from the dead. I 613 00:37:24,245 --> 00:37:27,645 Speaker 1: churn now from my sin, and I choose to follow 614 00:37:27,685 --> 00:37:33,205 Speaker 1: you from this moment forward. In Jesus' name. I pray, Amen, 615 00:37:34,325 --> 00:37:37,005 Speaker 1: did you just pray that prayer? I want you to 616 00:37:37,085 --> 00:37:40,325 Speaker 1: know that if you did, God heard you, and Christ 617 00:37:40,325 --> 00:37:43,965 Speaker 1: has answered it, and Christ has come to live in 618 00:37:44,045 --> 00:37:47,444 Speaker 1: your heart. Listen. I want to send you a special gift. 619 00:37:47,525 --> 00:37:51,085 Speaker 1: It's free. It's called the New Believer's Bible. It's an 620 00:37:51,245 --> 00:37:55,205 Speaker 1: edition of the New Testament, the New Living Translation, along 621 00:37:55,245 --> 00:37:57,845 Speaker 1: with hundreds and hundreds of notes that I wrote that 622 00:37:57,965 --> 00:38:01,404 Speaker 1: will encourage you in this commitment or recommitment you've made 623 00:38:01,805 --> 00:38:05,844 Speaker 1: to follow Christ. Order your copy of the New Belief's 624 00:38:05,925 --> 00:38:08,725 Speaker 1: Bible and we would love to send it to you. 625 00:38:09,365 --> 00:38:12,805 Speaker 1: And I pray that your faith continues to grow in 626 00:38:12,885 --> 00:38:16,285 Speaker 1: the days ahead. Hey, God bless thanks for being a 627 00:38:16,325 --> 00:38:17,405 Speaker 1: part of this podcast.