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