1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 2: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: gives your perspective to see God as moving in your life. 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 3: Enjoy the message slipped our hands together for a moment. 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 3: Let's have a prayer of consecration as we head into 8 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 3: a new year together as a church family. Jesus, it's 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 3: your name we exalt today. We exalt you in our lives. 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 3: As we head into a new year. We just re 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 3: establish in our own hearts today that Jesus, you are 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 3: our priority, You are our desire, You. 13 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: Are our one ambition. 14 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 3: I don't know what this year holds, whether it's hills, 15 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 3: whether it's valleys, but I know that you go with me, 16 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 3: and that you go before me. So we head into 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 3: this new year, we thank you God that, oh the 18 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 3: weapons might be formed against us, they will not prosper 19 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 3: or prevail. I thank you that surely goodness and mercy 20 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 3: will follow me all the days of my life, and 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 3: I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. 22 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 3: Thank you for your abiding presence. Thank you for your 23 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 3: strength this year. 24 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: Thank you for a spirit of perseverance falling on your people. 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 3: God. 26 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: Thank you Lord that is we orient our hearts towards you. 27 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 3: We will see your kingdom come. Your will be done 28 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 3: here on earth as it is in heaven. We honor you, Lord. 29 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 3: We give you our hearts, we give you our lives. 30 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 3: It's in your name we pray. 31 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: Amen. Amen. Well, Happy New Year, everybody. 32 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 3: It feels good to start out the year in worship, 33 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 3: doesn't it. If I haven't got a chance to meet you. 34 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 3: My name is Jonathan. I know we have so many 35 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 3: new people here today. 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: My name is Jonathan. I'm one of the pastors here. 37 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: And let me show you a picture of my family 38 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: real quick, they'll throw it up there. 39 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: It's my wife, Anna and our three kids. And we've 40 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 3: been a part of this church for thirteen years now. 41 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: And for us it's such a joy to be able 42 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: to be a. 43 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 3: Part of this church family, this church community, and to 44 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 3: be under the incredible leadership of our pastor. Can we 45 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 3: thank the Lord for our pastor? And you know, not 46 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 3: too long ago after I preached recently, someone came up 47 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 3: to me and they said, man, I really enjoyed the 48 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 3: sermon you preach. 49 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: I said, thank you so much. 50 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 3: And then what they said next, They said it like 51 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: it was the big accomplishment. They said, you know, I 52 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 3: used to get so upset when Pastor Stephen wasn't preaching, 53 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 3: And they said, but now I've decided when he's not preaching, 54 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna thank God that he's getting to rest 55 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 3: his voice. And I didn't really know how to take that, 56 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 3: but let's get in on it together, and let's thank 57 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 3: God that our pastor is getting to rest his voice. 58 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: Listen weekend of Hoory Kidding. 59 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 3: He's probably writing a brand new song for us to 60 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 3: say right now. But I'm really excited about what the 61 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 3: Lord has given me to share with you today on 62 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 3: the cusp of this new year. And we're gonna look 63 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 3: at a scripture from Acts three that I think has 64 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 3: several implications for us today, but we'll also set the 65 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 3: tone for us. We're gonna read our scripture. You can 66 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 3: stay standing for just a moment and then we'll get 67 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 3: to sit down after that. It's optional, but Acts Chapter three, 68 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 3: One day, everybody say one day. I won't have you 69 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 3: repeat every two words, but just to fuel along the way, 70 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 3: everyone say. One day, Peter and John were going up 71 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 3: to the temple at the time of prayer at three 72 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from 73 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 3: birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, 74 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: where he was put every day to beg from those 75 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 3: going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and 76 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 3: John about the enter, he asked them for money. Peter 77 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 3: looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, 78 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 3: look at us. So the man gave him. Gave them 79 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 3: his attention, expecting to get something from them. Everyone say, expecting. 80 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 3: Then Peter said, silver or gold. 81 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: I do not have. 82 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: But what I do have, I give you in the 83 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 3: name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk Taking him by 84 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the 85 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 3: man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his 86 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 3: feet and he began to walk. Then he went with 87 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 3: them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. 88 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 3: Did anyone walking to church like that today? Walking and 89 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 3: jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him 90 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 3: walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same 91 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 3: man who used to sit begging at the temple Gate 92 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 3: called beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement 93 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 3: what had happened to him. My title for today is 94 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 3: Expecting change. Expecting change, go ahead and grab a seat. 95 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 3: I thought that would be a good title for your 96 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:19,119 Speaker 3: first Sunday of a new year. Anyone expecting change going 97 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 3: into this year? Now, I know that there's probably sixty 98 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: percent of you that when it comes to a new 99 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 3: year you roll your eyes at the thought of new 100 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 3: year's resolutions. You're like, it's January fourth, and already most 101 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 3: people have already failed at the things that they set 102 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 3: out to do this year, and so this is not 103 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 3: a new Year's resolution message. Don't worry even though there's 104 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 3: others of you who who I mean? This is like 105 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 3: your favorite time of the year. You've already had an 106 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 3: off site with your spouse, You've reflected on the prior year, 107 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 3: You've set your budget, all your vacations planned, every date night, 108 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 3: all your workouts. 109 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: You've got all locked in. 110 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 3: Anybody like that, You're just so excited for a new 111 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 3: year and the possibility of change. No one, Okay, cool, 112 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,119 Speaker 3: we're talking to a cynical church today. 113 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: That's amazing, Oh good. 114 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 3: But there is even though I know there's a part 115 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 3: of us that goes, what's so different about December thirty 116 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 3: first to January first? 117 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: It's just a change on the calendar. 118 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 3: And yet there's something about transitions in our life that 119 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:19,559 Speaker 3: create a sense of expectation or even anticipation for change 120 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 3: to happen in our life. Often God will use external 121 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 3: transition to bring about internal change in our lives. So 122 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: even though you're heading into a new year and some 123 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 3: of your I don't know what's going to be different 124 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 3: from this year to next, there is a sense of optimism, 125 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 3: let's say, in the atmosphere even today, that maybe something 126 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 3: could be different as we head into a new year. Now, 127 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 3: new year's resolutions, that's that's one thing. If you're trying 128 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 3: to lose weight this year or set up an emergency fund, 129 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 3: that's amazing. You can come up with your plan and 130 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 3: set your goals. But what I want to talk to 131 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 3: you about today is less about those those type of 132 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 3: changes that you need to see happen in your life 133 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 3: and that you want to work towards this year. I 134 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 3: want to talk to you more so about the God 135 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 3: changes that you need to see happen in your life. 136 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: As we ended last year. 137 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 3: Many people in our church participated in our year on offering. 138 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: Once again, thank you to everyone who is a part 139 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 3: of our trust in God offering this year, and as 140 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 3: part of that process, we ask everyone in our church 141 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 3: to write down a word that represents what they're believing 142 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 3: God for as we head into a new year, and 143 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 3: as our staff was praying over those words, there wasn't 144 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 3: a single word that I saw that looked like a 145 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 3: new year's resolution. 146 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: I didn't see go to the gym eat more vegetables. 147 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 3: I saw words like restoration. I saw words like healing. 148 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 3: I saw words like forgiveness. These aren't ordinary changes. These 149 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 3: are God changes. These are things that can only happen 150 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 3: in our life when God begins. 151 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: To create change in us. 152 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 3: So I love the story of this man in Acts, 153 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 3: and I was drawn to it because on this ordinary day, 154 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 3: an ordinary day. Remember, Luke starts out, Luke, who wrote 155 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 3: the who wrote the Book of Acts, and the Gospel 156 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 3: of Luke starts off by. 157 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: Painting this as just a day like any other day. 158 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 3: This is not December thirty first, This is not January first. 159 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 3: This is not Peter's birthday, This is not the man's birthday. 160 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 3: It's not Christmas, it's not Easter. It's an ordinary day, 161 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 3: and yet something extraordinary happens in the middle of an 162 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 3: ordinary day. How many believe that God can do something 163 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 3: extraordinary on an ordinary day. Everything about his language is 164 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: indicating that there's nothing special about today. One day, Peter 165 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,719 Speaker 3: and John are going to the temple. They're going at 166 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 3: the time of prayer. This would have been part of 167 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 3: their custom. This is just what they do. And then 168 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 3: it tells us that there is a man who every day, 169 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 3: every day was put out by the temple gates to 170 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 3: beg for money. It's an ordinary day, and yet something 171 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 3: so profound happens to this man on this day, This 172 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 3: man who was lame. Luke later tells us that who's 173 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 3: about forty years old. But all his life, this was 174 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 3: his routine wake up in the morning. And I don't 175 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 3: know who took him to the gates, whether it is 176 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 3: his parents or whether it's for his friends, but someone 177 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 3: took him and set him outside that gate, and day 178 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 3: after day. 179 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: He would sit there and beg for money. 180 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: And yet something happens on this day that changed this 181 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 3: man's life forever. Now, when you come to church, it's 182 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 3: so important that you come in with a level of 183 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 3: expectation that God could do. 184 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: Something in your life today. 185 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 3: Sometimes we get in the habit of treating it like, Oh, 186 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 3: it's just another Sunday, I'm going to hear some worship songs, 187 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 3: I'm gonna hear a message. But what if you came 188 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 3: in with the expectation and belief that today God could 189 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 3: do something in your life that would change you for 190 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 3: the rest of your life. Anybody believed that anything is 191 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 3: possible with God today. Now, as I read about this 192 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 3: man's miracle, the question and the tension for me of 193 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 3: why I kept going back to this passage is I 194 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 3: think it's so amazing that as he meets Peter and 195 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: he meets John, and that his legs are strengthened, and 196 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 3: he jumps and he leaps and he praises God. I 197 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 3: want to celebrate the miracle that happened and in his life. 198 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 3: But the question that brings up in me is why now, 199 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 3: after forty years of waking up day after day, why now, 200 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 3: why did God choose to heal them this day? Even pastorally, 201 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: I wonder that a lot. It's amazing what I get 202 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 3: to see God do in the lives of the people 203 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 3: of this church. And when someone lets me know that 204 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 3: God set them free from PTSD or God set them 205 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 3: free from a pornography addiction, I'm the first one to 206 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 3: celebrate and praise God for what he's done. When someone 207 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 3: tells me how God completely restored their marriage after all 208 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 3: kinds of betrayal. I want to praise God, jump, leap, 209 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 3: praise God with them for what He's done. But in 210 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 3: the back of my mind sometimes I'm asking the question 211 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 3: why now? And maybe you found yourself in that place too, 212 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 3: where you're like God, I'm so thankful after all these 213 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 3: years of being single, you finally brought a man into 214 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 3: my life. But God, why now? Why now? What was 215 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 3: it about today? What was it about this one that 216 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 3: led to this man being changed? And so look at 217 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 3: the story with me, says day after day, every day 218 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 3: he was put at the temple to beg from those 219 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 3: going into the temple courts, and he sees Peter and 220 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 3: John and he asked them for money. Peter looks at him, 221 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 3: as did John, and look at this in verse five. 222 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 3: So the man gave him, gave them his attention, expecting 223 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 3: to get something from them. But he's not expecting a 224 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 3: healing that day. He's just expecting some money, he's just 225 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 3: expecting change, and yet what he got was so much 226 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 3: greater than even what he was expecting. Now, I wonder 227 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 3: if there was ever a point in this man's life 228 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 3: where he was expecting a miracle. 229 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: It wasn't this day. 230 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 3: But I wonder maybe if in his teenage years he 231 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 3: had days where he would just wake up in the 232 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 3: morning and try to wiggle his toes, wondering, maybe things 233 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 3: will be different from me today. Maybe today I won't 234 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 3: have to call my friends and ask them to. 235 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: Take me to the gate. 236 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 3: But some of us get stuck in a condition for 237 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 3: so long that it becomes our reality in such a 238 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 3: way that when it comes to our relationship with God, 239 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 3: we've even given up on expecting anything to change. And 240 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 3: yet I'm so thankful that God is a God who 241 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 3: exceeds our expectations. There's this phrase I picked up somewhere 242 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 3: that I used to say that God will often meet 243 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 3: you at the level of your expectation. And I would 244 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 3: love to say that coming into church because and on 245 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: one hand, it means that that if I come into 246 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 3: church just expecting it to be an ordinary day or 247 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 3: the message was okay, then I'll often. 248 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: That's what I'll experience. 249 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 3: And so it say God will often meet you at 250 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 3: the level of your expectation. If you come into church 251 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 3: with an open heart and an open mind, if you 252 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 3: come in expecting that through the Holy Spirit, God will 253 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 3: speak to you, often that's the very thing you receive. 254 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 3: And Yet when I think about that statement, I couldn't 255 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 3: be more wrong, because when I look back over my life, 256 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 3: I'm so grateful that God did not meet me at 257 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 3: the level of my expectation. I'm so grateful that time 258 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 3: and time again God has done exceedingly more than I 259 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 3: could ever ask or imagine. 260 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: Is that anyone's testimony? 261 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 3: Like you didn't expect to even be alive today. You 262 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 3: didn't expect to be where you are. You didn't expect 263 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 3: to be blessed with this family, blessed with this purpose. 264 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 3: You certainly didn't expect that you would be in church 265 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty six. 266 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: But how many you want to praise God that he 267 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,479 Speaker 1: did more than you could ever expect or imagine. 268 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 3: So He's expecting to get some change from them, and 269 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 3: instead Peter speaks to him, and it's so swaggy the 270 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 3: way Peter does it in the name of Jesus, get 271 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 3: up and walk and look at this. Taking him by 272 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 3: the right hand, he jumped up and instantly the man's 273 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 3: feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet 274 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: and he began to walk. And this is key. It 275 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 3: says that he went with them into the temple courts. 276 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 3: That's a key detail because all this all his life, 277 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 3: he was not allowed to go into the temple. Every 278 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 3: single day of his forty years, he was sat down 279 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 3: outside of the temple gates. His condition prohibited from prohibited 280 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 3: him from going into the temple. 281 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: And yet when God heals. 282 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 3: His condition that day, not only does he jump and 283 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 3: walk and praise God, but it says that he went 284 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 3: into the temple. I want you to know that when 285 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 3: God brings about a change in your life, it's not 286 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 3: just to fix you. 287 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: It's to restore you. 288 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 3: Because him going into the temple is significant because it 289 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 3: represents him being restored to worship with God and restored 290 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 3: into community with others. The things that God wants to 291 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 3: bring in your bring about in your life, the changes 292 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 3: that God wants to do on a deep level, they're 293 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 3: not just meant to fix your condition. To make you 294 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 3: feel better or to alleviate your pain temporarily. They're meant 295 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 3: to restore you in worship and restore you in community. 296 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 3: That's this most significant change that happens to this man. 297 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 3: He goes into the temple, and as he's in there, 298 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 3: everybody reckon as the man who look at this used to. 299 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: Sit at the gate called beautiful. 300 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 3: I love that language, because y'all this just happened to him. 301 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 3: This just happened to him. And yet they're already calling 302 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 3: him the man who used to sit. That's like you 303 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 3: introducing your husband to someone in the lobby after church 304 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 3: and say, oh, this is Frank who used to have 305 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 3: road rage, and. 306 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: They're like, what are you talking about? I just saw 307 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: him getting angry in the parking lot on the way in. 308 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 3: It wasn't all that long ago. No, No, he used 309 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 3: to have road rage. He's a changed man because he 310 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 3: was a church and God touched him and he changed 311 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 3: the man who used to sit. And they're filled with 312 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 3: wonder and amazement because they recognize them. This guy for 313 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 3: forty years has been sitting at this gate, and isn't 314 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: that the same guy? Now he's walking, he's leaping, he's jumping, 315 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 3: he's praising God, and they're filled with wonder and amazement. 316 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: Look what God does in their life because of what 317 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 3: He's done in this man's life. God heals him, but 318 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 3: he fills them with wonder and amazement. When when a 319 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 3: God change happens in your life, it creates wonder. 320 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: And other people, if it's possible for. 321 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 3: Him, I wonder what God could do for me, And 322 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 3: they're filled with wonder and amazement because look at that 323 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 3: this man who had just been sitting there instantly his 324 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 3: feet and ankles became strong instantly. And as I thought 325 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 3: about that word, I thought, man, it must have been 326 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 3: so amazing for everyone to see this man who had 327 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 3: just been sitting there lame suddenly walking. And yet for 328 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 3: this man, this miracle is anything but sudden. It's been 329 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 3: forty years, and often the God changes that happened in 330 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 3: your life will look sudden to other people. But for you, 331 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, all the labor and all the 332 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: prayer and all the tears you cried to get to 333 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 3: this place, and so other people are filled with wonder 334 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 3: and amazement. Look what God has done in your life, 335 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 3: and it looks so easy to them. And yet you know, 336 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 3: all the petitions, is when you went before God's saying, God, 337 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 3: can you do something about my situation? 338 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: God, can you help me right now? 339 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,679 Speaker 3: And so it was sudden to them, but it was 340 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 3: slow to him, And it brought back up that question 341 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 3: in my mind. 342 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: So why now, forty years, day. 343 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 3: After day this man is put by the temple gates 344 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,719 Speaker 3: to beg for money. It was just his way of surviving. 345 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 3: Day after day he was placed there begging. And yet 346 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 3: on this ordinary day something happens in his life that 347 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 3: changes him forever. Why today? And I sat there with 348 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 3: this question looking for some deep answer, you know, something 349 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 3: beyond just oh, well in God's timing, because how many 350 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 3: you know when you're really wrestling with something, When you've 351 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 3: been chained up and bound by something for so long, 352 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 3: the last thing you want to hear as you're working 353 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 3: to get free is just, oh, in God's timing. I 354 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 3: want to be able to trust. 355 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: God's timing, but that's not the thing I want to 356 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: hear all the time. 357 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 3: And so I'm looking at this passage going what was 358 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 3: different about today? One day, every day time of prayer? 359 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 3: One day, every day time of prayer? What was different 360 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 3: about today? That led to this God change in this 361 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 3: man's life. And the answer is right on the surface. 362 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 3: What was different about today he met Peter. That's what 363 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 3: was different about today he met Peter. 364 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: And y'all, the man's not the only one changing. Peter's 365 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 1: changing too. 366 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 3: And I realized that as Luke writes this story, the 367 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 3: man who was healed, that was lame from birth, he's 368 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 3: not even the main character. 369 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: Peter is. 370 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 3: And Luke is trying to get us to see that 371 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: Peter is changing, as there's a whole bunch of transition happening. 372 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: Let me give you some context. 373 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 3: Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke, where he recorded the 374 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 3: words and deeds that Jesus did on the earth, and 375 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 3: then he continues his Gospel of Luke with the Book 376 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,719 Speaker 3: of Acts. Acts Chapter one starts out with Jesus, who 377 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 3: is resurrected from the dead ascending into heaven. So Luke's 378 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 3: trying to get you to see there's a God change happening. Jesus, 379 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 3: who had been doing ministry on earth for three years 380 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 3: has now resurrected and ascended to the Father. 381 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: That's Acts Chapter one. Acts Chapter two. 382 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 3: There's another God change that happened as the apostles. The 383 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 3: people who had been with Jesus during his earthly ministry 384 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 3: are in an upper room in Jerusalem praying. God sends 385 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 3: the spirit, the Holy Spirit, and it falls on them 386 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 3: like tongues of fire, and the church begins that day. 387 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 3: In Acts chapter two, y'all, that's a god change. God 388 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 3: is saying, although Jesus in his physical body has ascended 389 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 3: into heaven, Luke wants us to know that the ministry 390 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 3: of Jesus is now continuing, but it continues through his church. 391 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 3: And then in Acts chapter three, where we are, Luke 392 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 3: is trying to get you to see that not only 393 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 3: is there so much change happening, but as the way 394 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 3: God is working in the. 395 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: Earth is changing, he's changing. 396 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 3: Peter two, the Peter we read about in Acts chapter three, y'all, 397 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 3: if you read about him and the. 398 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: Gospels, this is not the same Peter. This Peter in 399 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: the name. 400 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: Of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk. But y'all, it wasn't 401 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 3: too long ago. Right now he's healing people, but not 402 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 3: too long ago he was cutting off someone's. 403 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: Ear with a sword. How many you know this is 404 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: not the same Peter. 405 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 3: This Peter here who's boldly declaring who Jesus is and 406 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 3: what he's done. 407 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: Not too long ago, just weeks earlier. 408 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 3: Was keeping his distance as Jesus went to the cross, 409 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 3: and even denying that he knew him. This is not 410 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 3: the same Peter. He's somewhere between fishermen Peter and Saint Peter. 411 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 3: He's not there yet, but he's certainly not who he 412 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 3: used to be. 413 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: And a miracle takes place. 414 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 3: In this man's life because God is changing. Peter is 415 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 3: going through a God change right now. I want to 416 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 3: show you a few things that are changing in peter life. 417 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: The first one is this. 418 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 3: It says that Peter looked straight at him, as did John. 419 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 3: Then Peter said, look at us. So the man gave 420 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 3: him his attention, expecting to get something from him. It's 421 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 3: amazing to me that before the man gave Peter his attention, 422 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 3: Peter gave him his. 423 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: Peter's changing because Peter had a. 424 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 3: Tendency, if you read about his life, to always be 425 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 3: caught up in what he was doing, always be caught 426 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 3: up in his agenda, always be focused on what's in 427 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 3: it for Peter. Right now, and it's amazing that is 428 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 3: Peter is doing his thing, going up to the temple 429 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 3: to pray. It was the right thing to do. It 430 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 3: was on his calendar for the day. I'm going to 431 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 3: the temple to pray. It's amazing that Peter, as God 432 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 3: is changing him, stops to see someone in their condition 433 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 3: who needed help. The fact that Peter saw him is incredible. 434 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 3: It lets me know that Peter is changing, because that's 435 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 3: not like Peter. 436 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: Now. 437 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 3: When the scripture says that he saw him, it's an 438 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 3: echo to when the scripture uses the word saw, it's 439 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 3: an indication of It means he was filled with compassion 440 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 3: and a sense of responsibility. 441 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: Y'all. 442 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: This is Peter who would say, Hey, tell the little 443 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 3: children to get away from Jesus. 444 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: I'm spending time with them. 445 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 3: He's now filled with compassion and a sense of responsibility. 446 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 3: Like when Jesus was about to heal, about to raise 447 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 3: a little boy from the dead, it says that he 448 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 3: saw his mother and his heart went out for him. 449 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 3: Jesus saw people and had compassion, And after three years 450 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 3: of being of Jesus and not always getting it, now 451 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 3: Peter is changing, and as he's going to the temple, he. 452 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: Sees this man. 453 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 3: Now every day thousands of people would have walked past 454 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 3: this man, and many of them would have given him 455 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 3: money as they went to the temple the worship. Part 456 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 3: of their worship was giving alms to the poor, so 457 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 3: there would have been beggars all around the temple and 458 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 3: people as they would walk to the temple, they would 459 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 3: walk past them and maybe throw them some money. They 460 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 3: would look past them, but they wouldn't look at them. 461 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 3: What's different about this is that Peter stops and he 462 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:13,239 Speaker 3: sees the man. He gives him his attention instead of 463 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:18,719 Speaker 3: just giving him money. This isn't transactional, it's relational. And 464 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 3: one of the ways that I know God is changing 465 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 3: me in my life is when I begin. 466 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 1: To see people, see people. Not get so caught. 467 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 3: Up in my world and what I have to do 468 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 3: and what I think should happen. But I want God 469 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 3: to give me eyes to see people for where they are, 470 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 3: and that he would fill me with compassion. I'm so 471 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 3: glad Tad's sitting in church today. You're always in church, 472 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 3: but I was glad you're here today. One of the 473 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 3: things I love about Tad is this is one of 474 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 3: the things I admire about Tad because Katie, when we 475 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 3: do baptisms as a church, and there's sometimes hundreds of 476 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 3: people lining outside the tank waiting to get baptized. You 477 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:56,920 Speaker 3: can see them kind of shaky, tears in their eyes 478 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 3: at such a big and special moment for them. I 479 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 3: love watching your husband because he has a way of 480 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 3: seeing people. And Tad will walk through the line and 481 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 3: stop and talk to each person and pray for every 482 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 3: single person being baptized. 483 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: That day because he's a changed man. God saw him 484 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 1: and now he sees others. I wonder what. 485 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 3: I wonder what God might do through you if you 486 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 3: become a person who has eyes to see people who 487 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 3: are in need. That was a prayer I had for 488 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 3: a year. I'd wake up every day it was simply 489 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 3: went like this, God help me see Christ in others 490 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 3: that they might see Christ in me. God help me 491 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 3: see Christ in others that they might see Christ in me. 492 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 3: See Peter, he's not seeing like he used to see. 493 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 3: He's seeing like Jesus. He's noticing people in their need, 494 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 3: in their condition, and he senses not only compassion, not 495 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 3: just I feel for them, but I have a sense 496 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 3: of responsibility to do something about it. And look what 497 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 3: happens next. Not only does Peter see him. But Peter 498 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 3: then says, silver or gold I do not have. If 499 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 3: anyone had an excuse just to walk by this man 500 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 3: that day, it was Peter because he did not have 501 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 3: what the man was asking for. 502 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: He didn't have silver or gold. 503 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 3: And as this man is asking for money, Peter could 504 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 3: have just been nope, gone on his way. 505 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:20,640 Speaker 1: But he stops and. 506 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 3: He says, silver or gold I do not have, but 507 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 3: look at this, But what I do have I give 508 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 3: to you. I know Peter is changing because most of 509 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 3: his life Peter operated from a place of scarcity. Like 510 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 3: when crowds of people were waiting around to hear Jesus, 511 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 3: Peter's the one saying send the crowds away so they 512 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 3: can get something to eat, because he himself was hungry. 513 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 3: Peter had a way of just thinking about being protective. 514 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: And yet here he is in this scenario. 515 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 3: I know God is changing him because he says, I 516 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 3: don't have what you're asking for, but what I do have, 517 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 3: I want to give it to you. I know God 518 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 3: is changing me when I begin to give more than 519 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 3: what people ask for. If you can get this idea 520 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 3: in your heart, I really believe it will unlock your 521 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 3: ministry this year and the things that God wants to 522 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 3: do through your life. So many of us live our 523 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 3: lives going well, if someone asked for it. 524 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: I'll give it to them. 525 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,640 Speaker 3: But something fundamentally shifts in the way that God can 526 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 3: use you when you stop limiting your ministry by what 527 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 3: people are asking for and you begin to look at God, 528 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 3: what have you already given me in my life that 529 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 3: I can give to be a blessing and make a 530 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 3: difference in someone's life. Because you have to realize people 531 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 3: will rarely ask you for what they actually need. They 532 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 3: just ask you for what they want. This man, he 533 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,919 Speaker 3: wasn't asking for healing, he was asking for money. 534 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: An example in my life, my friend Levi's here today. 535 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:46,479 Speaker 1: I didn't tell him I was going to use him 536 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:48,439 Speaker 1: as an example. But when we were getting to know 537 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 1: each other, we'd. 538 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 3: Hung out a couple times through a mutual friend, and 539 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 3: one day that friend of ours, he pulls me aside privately, 540 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,680 Speaker 3: I've never told you this, and he said, he said, leave, 541 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 3: I wants to go to church with you so bad. 542 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 3: I said what, And two things came through my mind. 543 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 3: I said, all the times we've hung out, he's never 544 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 3: asked me about going to church. 545 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: What's up with that? And second of all, it's a church. 546 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 3: He doesn't need a special invite to come. 547 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 1: If he wants to come, you can just come. 548 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 3: You don't need an invite from the campus pastor to 549 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 3: show up here. But I thought about it. I said, 550 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 3: he said, no, he really wants to go with you. 551 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,199 Speaker 3: I bet if you ask him, he'll come. And so 552 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 3: on his encouragement, I invited Levi to church and guess 553 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 3: what he came. 554 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: Now, this isn't a dramatic story. 555 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 3: He already had a relationship with Christ, but he was 556 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 3: outside of Christian community and he didn't have a place 557 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 3: of regular worship. And I knew that, and I knew that, 558 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 3: and I knew I had what he needed, but I 559 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 3: never offered it because he never asked. And I wonder 560 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 3: if there are people in your life who need what 561 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,199 Speaker 3: you have but you are withholding it because you're waiting 562 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 3: for them. 563 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: To ask you. 564 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 3: And I wonder, well, you're assuming, well, if they wanted 565 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 3: to come to church with me, if they wanted me 566 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 3: to pray with them, they would ask. 567 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:03,719 Speaker 1: And they're going I don't get it. I know they 568 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: love their church, they talk about. 569 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 3: It all the time they post the messages, they're always 570 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 3: playing the worship song. I wonder how they love their 571 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,400 Speaker 3: church so much, and yet they've never asked me to come. 572 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 3: My dad's here today, so I want to use him 573 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 3: as an example, and it's it's a good one. 574 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: Too, okay. 575 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 3: But so often when I call my dad to talk 576 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 3: to him, talk to him, he'll tell me how he 577 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:25,879 Speaker 3: got the minister to someone, how he. 578 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 1: Got to pray with someone, whether that's. 579 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 3: Praying for someone in an employee at his office who 580 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 3: got a cancer diagnosis, or someone at the gym who's 581 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 3: going through a divorce. 582 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: And he always call me with these stories, I got 583 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: to pray for so and so. They're going through this, 584 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: they're going through that. 585 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 3: And I was always wondering, why are so many people 586 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 3: asking my dad. 587 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: To pray for him pray pray for them. 588 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 3: Because, y'all, I'm a pastor, and people don't even ask 589 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 3: me to pray for them as. 590 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: Often as they ask him. 591 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 3: Time after time he tells me these stories, and then 592 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 3: I realize, no one's asking him to pray with them. 593 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: No one's asked asking him to pray with them. But 594 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: somewhere along. 595 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 3: The way, he decided to be intentional with what God 596 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 3: has given him, and instead of waiting for someone to ask, 597 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 3: he decided to give. 598 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: So when someone said I just. 599 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 3: Got a diagnosis, he knows he can't heal their cancer, 600 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 3: but he gave what he had. Can I pray for 601 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 3: you When someone's going through a divorce. He knows I 602 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 3: don't know how to fix your marriage right now. 603 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 1: But can I pray for you? He gave what he had. 604 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 3: And I want to let you know, brothers and sisters, 605 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 3: that God has given you so much. And what God 606 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 3: has done in your life is not just meant for you, 607 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 3: It's meant for other people around you. There are people 608 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 3: in your world who need the peace you have, who 609 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 3: need the joy you have, who need the hope you have, 610 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 3: who need the strength you have, and God has given 611 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 3: it to you. God has changed you so that you 612 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 3: can give it to them. Peter says, silver or gold, 613 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 3: I don't have. What I do have, I give to you. 614 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 3: He gave the man something so much greater than what 615 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 3: he asked for. 616 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: And that's my heart for. 617 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,239 Speaker 3: This year, not only for myself, but for all of us. 618 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 3: As a truth, what would this city look like if 619 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 3: we became a people who did not wait to be asked, 620 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 3: but decided that we're gonna freely give what God has 621 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 3: given us. 622 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: He gave what he had. 623 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 3: Look at this last thing that's changing in Peter's life, 624 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 3: and it shows up in this powerful statement he says next, 625 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 3: in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 626 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: Walk, y'all. This is a change for Peter too. 627 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 3: Now, sometimes when we read these stories, it's easy for 628 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 3: us to kind of strip. 629 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: The humanity out of it. 630 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 3: Sometimes Peter sounds so bold, in the name of Jesus 631 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 3: Christ of Nazareth, Walk, But I wonder do you think 632 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 3: maybe underneath the surface Peter's heart was racing a little bit. 633 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 3: Do you think maybe, as he said in the Name 634 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 3: of Jesus Christ, walk, that his voice go a little 635 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 3: bit shaky, wondering, Man, I've seen Jesus do miracles before. 636 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: But what if this doesn't work. There's all these people around. 637 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 3: What if I say, get up in the name of 638 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 3: Jesus and this man can't. What if it doesn't work, 639 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 3: What if he can't walk? Worse, what if I set 640 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 3: him up to hope again and it doesn't work. I 641 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 3: wonder if Peter was feeling a little bit anxious as 642 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 3: he walked past this man and decided that day I'm. 643 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: Going to pray for his healing. 644 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 3: Maybe he was a little bit anxious, or the old 645 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 3: Peter certainly would have been arrogant. 646 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: You know, Peter had a way of just doing things 647 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: his way. I know what's best. 648 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 3: But whether it's insecurity or conceitedness, it's all self consciousness. 649 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 3: And one of the changes that God wants to bring 650 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 3: about in our life is taking us from being self 651 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 3: conscious to Christ conscious. When he says in the name 652 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 3: of Jesus, this is not just like a formality like 653 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 3: what you pray at the end of giving a blessing 654 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 3: over your food, thank you for these carrots, thank you 655 00:31:57,520 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 3: for this chicken. 656 00:31:58,080 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: Bless it to our bodies. In the name of Jesus. 657 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: Me no, no, no. 658 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 3: When he says in the name of Jesus, it means 659 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 3: that it's in reference. It means that he is walking 660 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 3: in the identity of Jesus, the power of Jesus, and 661 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 3: the authority of Jesus. 662 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: So as Peter. 663 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 3: Stands before this man, this is a change for Peter 664 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 3: because for once in his life, he's not trying to 665 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 3: do it in his own strength. He's doing it in 666 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 3: the strength and in the name, and in the authority 667 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 3: and in the power of Jesus. 668 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 1: Some of us talk. 669 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 3: Ourselves out of being used by God because we're going, 670 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 3: how can I give someone advice on how to fix 671 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 3: a relationship when there's people I'm afraid to pick up 672 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 3: the phone and call. 673 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: How am I going to talk to someone. 674 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:45,480 Speaker 3: About their addiction when I've got this plank in my 675 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 3: own eye? 676 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: And so we. 677 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 3: Disqualify ourselves from being used by God because we think, 678 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 3: how can God use someone like me? But the reality 679 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 3: is that if you are in Christ, it has nothing 680 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 3: to do with your worst days or your best days. 681 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: When you stand up in front of someone. 682 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,719 Speaker 3: To minister or to be used, you're not doing it 683 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 3: in your name. 684 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:07,000 Speaker 1: You're doing it. 685 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 3: In the name of Jesus. Do you have his power, 686 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 3: you have his authority, You're doing it in his name, y'all. 687 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:19,920 Speaker 3: Yesterday Anna said to me, she said, do you try to. 688 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 1: Be nicer to me before you preach? 689 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 3: I think she said to you being so nice lately, 690 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 3: it's like I need to come up here with a 691 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 3: clear conscience. And uh, I said, in my head, I thought, well, 692 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 3: it's better than the alternative, right, because not too long ago. 693 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,959 Speaker 1: I used to be so mean before I preached. Wouldn't 694 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 1: that be mean? 695 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 3: I can't believe I'm telling them this right now. And honestly, 696 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 3: for a long time, it was the pressure and the 697 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 3: anxiety I would feel around preaching, because I would I 698 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 3: would think, what do I have to say? What do 699 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 3: I have authority to speak on? Who am I to 700 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:57,320 Speaker 3: stand up there and talk to people? And through the 701 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 3: work of God in my life, something that began to 702 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:03,160 Speaker 3: shift where all that anxiety started to go away, because 703 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 3: I realize it's not me standing here that when God 704 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:10,120 Speaker 3: gives me an opportunity to minister, I'm not doing it, 705 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:13,439 Speaker 3: as Jonathan josephs, I'm here to minister in the name 706 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 3: of Jesus. So it's not about what I have to say. 707 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 1: It's about what he has to say. 708 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:25,839 Speaker 3: And it's not about my worthiness whether I was mean 709 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:27,440 Speaker 3: or whether I was nice. But I'm glad I'm being 710 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 3: nice now. It's not about that. It's about what he's done. 711 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,560 Speaker 3: It's about what he did. Peter looks at the man 712 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 3: and says, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 713 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 3: walk and instantly the man's healed and he gets to 714 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 3: his feet and he's jumping, and he's leaping, and he's 715 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 3: praising God because on this ordinary day something changed. 716 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:54,120 Speaker 1: He met Peter, and Peter's a changed man. 717 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 3: There are things that God will do in your life 718 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:01,280 Speaker 3: that aren't just meant for you, They're meant for other people. 719 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 3: To God changes you so that he can change others. 720 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 1: And look at this. 721 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 3: As people are standing looking at this man in wonder 722 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 3: and amazement, it says that a bunch of people start 723 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 3: to come together, the words getting out about what has happened. 724 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:17,520 Speaker 1: And in verse twelve, look what Peter says. 725 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:20,600 Speaker 3: When Peter saw this, he said to the crowd, he 726 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 3: uses every miracle as an opportunity to declare the gospel. 727 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 3: When Peter saw this, he said to them, fellow Israelites, 728 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 3: why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at 729 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,399 Speaker 3: us as if it's by our own power or godliness? 730 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 1: We had made this man walk. 731 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 3: Look at verse sixteen by faith in the name of Jesus, 732 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,880 Speaker 3: this man whom you see and know, was made strong. 733 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 3: It is in Jesus's name and the faith that comes 734 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 3: through him that has completely healed him. As you all 735 00:35:55,680 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 3: can see, it is in Jesus's name and the faith 736 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:04,120 Speaker 3: that comes through him. Peter said, what are you looking 737 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 3: at us for? It's not by our power, it's not 738 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 3: by might. It's by the power of Jesus that this 739 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,440 Speaker 3: man can walk not only Jesus's name, but he says 740 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,840 Speaker 3: by faith in the name of Jesus. Now the question 741 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 3: is whose faith? Whose faith in Jesus healed this man? 742 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:27,240 Speaker 3: This man never asked to be healed, was in his faith. 743 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 3: There's no indication this man even knew who Jesus was. 744 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 3: It was in his faith. So whose faith in Jesus? Peters? Peters, 745 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:46,280 Speaker 3: your faith isn't just meant to change you. Your faith 746 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 3: is meant to change others. And some of us are 747 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 3: in the habit of just, you know, come to church 748 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:01,839 Speaker 3: when we need something from God. 749 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:03,880 Speaker 1: I got to get to church today. I need encouragement, 750 00:37:04,239 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 1: I need strength. 751 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 3: And as long as you look at your faith that way, 752 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:09,239 Speaker 3: as if it's just for you to help you get 753 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:13,000 Speaker 3: through and to help you get by, you always limit 754 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 3: what God can do through your life. But what if 755 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 3: you decided that, hey, I'm coming to church anyway, because 756 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 3: even though I might not have a need today, maybe 757 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 3: there's someone else coming to church that needs a touch 758 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,560 Speaker 3: from God, and maybe God has given me what they need. 759 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 3: Your faith isn't just meant to change you, It's meant 760 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,640 Speaker 3: to change the people around you. And Luke goes on 761 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 3: to say that there were many many people who place their. 762 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 1: Faith in Jesus that day. 763 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,880 Speaker 3: People's lives were changed because God changed that man. 764 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,880 Speaker 1: But God changed that man because he changed Peter. 765 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:53,520 Speaker 3: And I see this year being different for you because 766 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 3: I know all of us have things in our life 767 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:57,399 Speaker 3: that we're saying, God, just help me believe. I want 768 00:37:57,440 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 3: to expect you. I want to have expectation, and I 769 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:01,799 Speaker 3: want to have faith. I want to have hope, I 770 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 3: want to have trust. There are things in my life 771 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:05,319 Speaker 3: that I want to see God change. But I have 772 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:07,919 Speaker 3: to remember too that some of the things that God 773 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,160 Speaker 3: wants to change in my life aren't just meant for me. 774 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:13,640 Speaker 3: It's because God has blessed me to be a blessing. 775 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:17,319 Speaker 3: God changes me so that he can change others. I 776 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:20,680 Speaker 3: need eyes to see, I need open hands to give 777 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 3: what He's given me. 778 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 1: And I don't do it in my own strength. I 779 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:25,560 Speaker 1: do it in the name of Jesus. 780 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 3: I see this year being a year where you go 781 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 3: from just coming to God like Peter used to do. 782 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,319 Speaker 3: So much of Peter's life was following Jesus because of 783 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:36,680 Speaker 3: what was in it for him. 784 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:38,320 Speaker 1: And now Peter's changing. 785 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:42,759 Speaker 3: Peter's changing and he sees his purpose in life not 786 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:45,440 Speaker 3: just knowing Jesus for his own sake, but for the 787 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 3: sake of others. I see this changing in your life 788 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,480 Speaker 3: this year. I see you coming to church not just 789 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,680 Speaker 3: to receive but to give. I see you praying for 790 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 3: people out in the lobby after church because you saw 791 00:38:56,320 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 3: an orange Bible in their hands and you said, I 792 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:00,439 Speaker 3: can pray for them, I can give I'm a word 793 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,240 Speaker 3: of encouragement. I see you looking at someone in worship 794 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:05,360 Speaker 3: and God giving a scripture on your heart, and you 795 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:07,239 Speaker 3: going up to them and being a blessing to them. 796 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:10,880 Speaker 3: Because your faith is not just for you. God changes 797 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:15,839 Speaker 3: you so that he can change others. So I want 798 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:19,880 Speaker 3: to close by just praying over you a prayer of 799 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:24,040 Speaker 3: activation today as we head into this new year, that 800 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:25,880 Speaker 3: this would be a year that not only do you 801 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,319 Speaker 3: see God changes in your own life, but that God 802 00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 3: would change people through you as well. 803 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:44,359 Speaker 1: Can you stand to your feet hm? Hm, and let's 804 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:44,840 Speaker 1: do it like this. 805 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,280 Speaker 3: Let's put our hand on the shoulder of someone around 806 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:51,680 Speaker 3: us right now, and in the spirit of this message. 807 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:54,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pray and you're gonna repeat after me. 808 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:57,239 Speaker 3: And I haven't planned this out, so there's not like 809 00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:58,399 Speaker 3: a nice cadence to it. 810 00:39:58,480 --> 00:39:59,840 Speaker 1: Just you just gotta go with me. 811 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 3: But you're going to pray for the person on your 812 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:05,959 Speaker 3: right and on your left because you have been given 813 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,400 Speaker 3: the spirit of God and you are in Christ. The 814 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:10,840 Speaker 3: Bible says that the prayers of the righteous are powerful 815 00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:14,840 Speaker 3: and effective, and God is getting ready to do incredible 816 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:17,719 Speaker 3: things in our church this year. God is getting ready 817 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:20,000 Speaker 3: to do amazing things in your life, things that will 818 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 3: exceed your wildness imagination. But it's not just what He 819 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 3: wants to do in you, it's what He wants to 820 00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 3: do through you. So with your hand on the shoulders 821 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,400 Speaker 3: of the people next to you, do your best to 822 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:34,960 Speaker 3: flow with me as we say this prayer together. 823 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:36,440 Speaker 1: Okay, say Father, I. 824 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:38,040 Speaker 3: Thank you for the person on my right and on 825 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:38,560 Speaker 3: my left. 826 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:43,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for what you've done in. 827 00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:49,400 Speaker 3: Them, thank you for what you're going to do in them. 828 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:51,000 Speaker 3: And I thank you for what you want to do 829 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:55,719 Speaker 3: through them. I pray that you would give them boldness 830 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 3: this year, I pray that you would open up their 831 00:40:59,520 --> 00:41:06,239 Speaker 3: eyes to say, see the opportunities that you're giving them to 832 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:13,799 Speaker 3: make a difference for your glory, Strengthen them, increase their expectation, 833 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:18,839 Speaker 3: stir up their faith, that we would see you move 834 00:41:20,320 --> 00:41:21,200 Speaker 3: like never before. 835 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:28,919 Speaker 1: We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Let's 836 00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:36,799 Speaker 1: give God a praise. Thank you for joining us. 837 00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:39,560 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 838 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:43,120 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 839 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 840 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:50,000 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 841 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:53,840 Speaker 2: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 842 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:56,160 Speaker 2: You can share it with your friends. You can click 843 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:58,440 Speaker 2: the share button, take a screenshot and share it on 844 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:01,319 Speaker 2: your social stories and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks 845 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:02,120 Speaker 2: again for listening. 846 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:02,759 Speaker 1: God bless you.