Episode 4
Conversations with Jesus pt 2
Takeaways:
- In this episode of Freedom Through Faith, we explore the profound compassion of Jesus for those in need, emphasizing his willingness to heal and restore without hesitation.
- The teachings of Jesus reveal not only divine authority but also a model of kindness and mercy that serves as a guide for our interactions with others.
- A significant theme discussed is the importance of faith and action; true faith manifests itself through tangible actions, reflecting our beliefs in daily life.
- We are reminded that Jesus's ministry extended to the marginalized and rejected, indicating that his love and grace are available to all, regardless of their societal status.
- The podcast highlights the necessity of remaining vigilant and spiritually prepared for the unexpected return of Jesus, emphasizing a life lived in faith and devotion.
- Concluding remarks stress the importance of aligning our beliefs and actions with the teachings of Jesus, which serves as a foundation for living a life of purpose and faith.
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Transcript
Welcome to Freedom Through Faith.
Speaker A:Prepare to be blessed.
Speaker A:As pastor and teacher, Robert Thibodeau leads us into the anointed study of the word of God, teaching and empowering you how to impact your world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching you how to receive the blessings and provisions of God and how to walk through this life with freedom through faith.
Speaker A:And now, here's Pastor Robert Thibodeau.
Speaker B:Hello, everyone, everywhere.
Speaker B:Pastor Bob Thibodeau here.
Speaker B:Welcome to Freedom Through Faith.
Speaker B:Glory to God.
Speaker B:We're so blessed that you're joining us here today.
Speaker B:I'm blessed every time we get together around the word of God.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:I look forward to this each and every.
Speaker B:Every week.
Speaker B:Hallelujah.
Speaker B:Oh, praise God.
Speaker B:We got a lot to go into today as we're going to continue our conversations with Jesus study today.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:This is just an exciting, exciting time, I guess you could say.
Speaker B:We're going to do a deep dive into this.
Speaker B:Anyway, let's go to Lord with a word of prayer so we can get started in today's Bible study.
Speaker B:Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you.
Speaker B:We praise you for your word.
Speaker B:We praise you for the technology you have made available so that we can share your word with the world.
Speaker B:Praise God all through the power of the Internet.
Speaker B:Father, it's our prayer this day that the Holy Spirit would lead, guide, and direct this conversation as you see fit.
Speaker B:And that someone, somewhere this day would receive Jesus as their savior as a result of this broadcast, whether live or on a recording.
Speaker B:And, Father, we give you all honor, all glory, all praise at all times, and all things in Jesus name.
Speaker B:Amen and amen.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:Hallelujah.
Speaker B:Oh, boy.
Speaker B:I tell you, if you have your Bibles, get them out.
Speaker B:We're going to start off in Matthew, chapter eight.
Speaker B:Let me put it like that, all right?
Speaker B:Because folks, Jesus, we're talking about.
Speaker B:What did Jesus say here?
Speaker B:And let me just say this.
Speaker B:Jesus did not keep people at a distance, okay?
Speaker B:He met them where they were at.
Speaker B:He listened, he responded, he healed.
Speaker B:And when people called out, he answered.
Speaker B:He didn't approach the hurting with hesitation or skepticism.
Speaker B:He came in with action.
Speaker B:He didn't assess their worthiness.
Speaker B:He saw their need and he met their needs.
Speaker B:If there's any question about whether or not God cares, well, basically, the conversations Jesus had settle it.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:He didn't ignore suffering.
Speaker C:He didn't.
Speaker B:He didn't make excuses.
Speaker B:He never brushed aside the wheat.
Speaker B:He met lepers face to face.
Speaker B:He stopped for the blind.
Speaker B:He walked into spaces where others would not go.
Speaker B:His words, his actions, they carry authority, but they also carry kindness.
Speaker B:And if there's any doubt about how we should be living, his words give clarity in that regards, too.
Speaker B:If we ever wonder whether he's willing to help, his responses prove that he is.
Speaker B:His words, not assumptions, not traditions.
Speaker B:They define his heart, don't they?
Speaker B:I mean, his actions.
Speaker B:His actions, not the opinions of others.
Speaker B:His actions show his purpose.
Speaker B:If we want to understand how to treat people, we have to return to what Jesus said.
Speaker B:If we want to know whether faith moves him, look at how he answered those who believe.
Speaker B:When the sick begged for healing, when the weary sought rest, when the condemned needed mercy, his words reveal God's will in those matters.
Speaker B:Jesus didn't just speak truth, he lived it.
Speaker B:Every conversation, every conversation held weight.
Speaker B:Every response set an example.
Speaker B:If we say we follow him.
Speaker B:If you tell people you're a follower of Jesus, well, if it's true, then we need to listen to what Jesus said, and then we need to do it as he did it.
Speaker B:His words were not mere suggestions.
Speaker B:His conversations were not random thoughts, folks.
Speaker B:They were instructions.
Speaker B:Instructions, corrections, demonstrations of God's love in action.
Speaker B:And that's why I said last time, if you want to know the answer to what would Jesus do in this situation?
Speaker B:Remember that trend several years ago?
Speaker B:It was so popular.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Well, if you want to know what Jesus did, WWJD, you need to find out what WDAY WDJs, what did Jesus say?
Speaker B:And think about it like this.
Speaker B:If you are in any type of supervisory position at work or in your job, maybe you have your own business or whatever, and you have to leave for an extended period of time.
Speaker B:Say you're going to a conference for a week and you leave instructions for your subordinates.
Speaker C:All right?
Speaker B:This is what you need to do on a daily basis while I'm gone.
Speaker B:And if this should happen, this is how you need to react.
Speaker B:You need to do this xyz.
Speaker B:But if this should happen, then you need to do this over here as well, okay?
Speaker B:And you need to do it quickly, you know, just like abc, right?
Speaker B:In order make sure it happens.
Speaker B:Then while you're gone, if something does happen, you hope your subordinates don't just throw in the towel and say, well, when the boss gets back next week, he can handle it.
Speaker B:No, you hope.
Speaker B:You hope that they'll stop and say, okay, what did the boss say we need to do when this happens?
Speaker B:And then, oh, yeah, he said we should do this.
Speaker B:And then they do it, right?
Speaker B:Hello, Am I right?
Speaker B:At least nod your head yes.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Well, it should be the same way with the word of God, right?
Speaker B:So if you want the answer to what would Jesus do?
Speaker B:Look no further than what did Jesus say?
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:What did he say we should do?
Speaker B:Again, I want to encourage you.
Speaker B:Let me bring this up.
Speaker B:Hopefully it's in there.
Speaker B:I want to encourage you here.
Speaker B:There we go.
Speaker B:To get a copy of Reverend Terry Christian's great book, what Did Jesus Say?
Speaker B:I mean, this book, I'm telling you, this is the book that really got me looking closely at what we're talking about today.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:And folks, you know, Pastor Bob, I don't normally encourage you to go out and buy something when I'm doing these teachings.
Speaker B:It is so important that you understand the answer to, you know, so many of the things plaguing society today that, you know, simply the words of Jesus.
Speaker B:I mean, that would.
Speaker B:The red letter words, folks.
Speaker B:I mean, the answers are right there.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:I'll put the link for you in the show notes or comment section of whatever platform you're watching this on right now.
Speaker B:But you need to get your own copy of this great book.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:And the truth of the matter is Jesus himself gave us the answers.
Speaker B:And Reverend Terry Christian composed them so that they'd be in one easy to find spot in this book.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, he tells me, he said, I didn't write the book, I just composed it.
Speaker B:Jesus is the one that wrote it.
Speaker B:And that is absolutely true.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:All right, so get your own copy of that book.
Speaker B:That way you'll see the power of what I'm talking about here.
Speaker B:Now let's get jump back into this.
Speaker B:Today we're going to look at what Jesus said to those who are desperate for healing, those who showed faith, those who needed rest, those who were caught in the web of religious legalism.
Speaker B:And his words cut through all of the uncertainty.
Speaker B:I mean, his answers left absolutely no room for doubt.
Speaker B:If he said it, we should follow it.
Speaker B:If he did it, we model it.
Speaker B:If he promised it, we need to believe it.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Don't shut me down.
Speaker B:I'm preaching.
Speaker B:Good already.
Speaker B:First I want to look at his willingness to heal and to restore.
Speaker B:To do that, we can look over at Matthew, chapter eight.
Speaker B:Have your Bibles turn over there.
Speaker B:Matthew, chapter eight.
Speaker B:Praise the Lord.
Speaker B:And we're going to look at verses two and through seven.
Speaker B:He says here, behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, lord, if you will, you can make me clean right I mean, here's this man suffering from leprosy.
Speaker B:He knelt before Jesus and said, lord, if you're willing to, you can make me clean.
Speaker B:He didn't question Jesus power, only his willingness to use that power.
Speaker B:And the response was immediate.
Speaker B:Oh, I'm willing.
Speaker B:Be thou clean.
Speaker B:I mean, with those words, the man was instantly healed.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker B:Later on, we see a Roman centurion approach Jesus and you know, he's pleading for his servant, a Jewish servant who is paralyzed and suffering.
Speaker B:Without hesitation, Jesus said, I'll come heal him.
Speaker B:The centurion, he demonstrated deep faith here, right?
Speaker B:Believing Jesus didn't even need to be physically present to perform a miracle.
Speaker B:He knew someone who had and operated under authority.
Speaker B:I mean, he.
Speaker B:He knew what that looked like, and he recognized it in Jesus.
Speaker B:He told Jesus, you don't have to come.
Speaker B:I'm not worthy that you should come under my roof.
Speaker B:Just speak the word of my servant to be healed.
Speaker B:This so impressed Jesus.
Speaker B:He declared the servant healed from a distance and also put everyone else on notice, too.
Speaker B:He said, I have not found such great faith like this in all of Israel.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:In another instance, two blind men were follow, follow Jesus.
Speaker B:I don't know if they followed him, but he was passing by the area.
Speaker C:Anyway.
Speaker B:They came to Jesus, right?
Speaker B:They'd heard maybe through other friends of theirs, that.
Speaker B:That Jesus had healed the blind folk.
Speaker B:I mean, praise God.
Speaker B:And they heard Jesus.
Speaker C:They.
Speaker B:They came to Jesus crying out, have mercy on a son of David.
Speaker B:Have mercy on us, son of David.
Speaker B:Jesus did not act immediately.
Speaker B:Think about that.
Speaker B:He asked, do you believe I'm able to do this?
Speaker B:Their response was simple, yes, Lord.
Speaker B:And he touched their eyes.
Speaker B:And then what did he say?
Speaker B:According to your faith, let it be done unto you.
Speaker B:According to however you believe, let it be done unto you.
Speaker B:And the Bible says they immediately receive their sight.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:I want to take a moment to look at that encounter because this is important now.
Speaker C:We're not gonna.
Speaker B:I'm not gonna take the time to go turn here and read it, but second Samuel, chapter seven, verses 12 and 13.
Speaker B:I mean, you can read it.
Speaker B:It says, when your days are complete, you lie down with your fathers.
Speaker B:I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you.
Speaker B:In other words, the lineage, right?
Speaker B:He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Speaker B:Your house, your kingdom shall endure before me forever, David, and your throne shall be established forever.
Speaker B:Now, the Jews understood this descendant to be God's Messiah.
Speaker B:And even though they could not see, these blind men recognized only from what they heard about Jesus that this Jesus is David's long awaited Messiah, long awaited descendant that the Jews have been waiting for.
Speaker B:The blind guys recognized it and they were proclaiming Jesus as such in front of the Jericho crowd.
Speaker B:And the matter of fact, let me stop right there for a second.
Speaker B:Jesus is the Greek translation of Joshua, you know, which is, you know, the English translation of Yeshua.
Speaker B:Put it like that.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker B:Joshua.
Speaker B:Moses's Joshua, right?
Speaker B:Followed Moses, crossed the Jordan River.
Speaker B:Amen with me so far.
Speaker B:What did he do?
Speaker B:He went to Jericho.
Speaker B:Jesus baptized in the Jordan River.
Speaker B:Now we can read.
Speaker B:He's going to Jericho.
Speaker B:I mean, think about this.
Speaker B:The Holy Spirit just showed this.
Speaker B:But I, I'm like, here Jesus is.
Speaker B:They're the long awaited Messiah coming from the Jordan, you know, we understand he went to the wilderness, but he's on his way to Jericho.
Speaker B:One translation says on the outskirts of Jericho.
Speaker B:Another one says he's leaving Jerry.
Speaker B:Anyway, he's at Jericho just like Moses's Joshua was.
Speaker B:Anyway, here we go.
Speaker B:The crowd was bothered by these blind guys calling out for Jesus, right?
Speaker B:Some people in, in the crowd just told the two men to shut up, Stop making such a fuss.
Speaker B:Be quiet.
Speaker B:These people may have been trying to hear maybe what Jesus was going to be saying.
Speaker B:And the blind men's shouting made it difficult for them to hear.
Speaker B:Whatever the case may be, the blind men were not debtored at all.
Speaker B:They cried out all the more, Son of David, the Messiah, have mercy on us now.
Speaker B:Jesus.
Speaker B:Willingness to heal was never in question.
Speaker B:The only variable anyone had, the only variable that seemed to be in place was faith.
Speaker B:Those who believed received.
Speaker B:Those who hesitated missed their moment.
Speaker B:He never turned away the sick.
Speaker B:He did not place conditions on his mercy.
Speaker B:When people came, Jesus responded.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:If Jesus was willing then, and he never changes because he's God, God never changes then.
Speaker B:He's willing now.
Speaker B:His power never faded away.
Speaker B:His compassion did not change.
Speaker B:We, when we come to Jesus, we have to believe he will respond.
Speaker B:Because faith is not about convincing God to act.
Speaker B:It's about believing.
Speaker B:He already wants to act.
Speaker B:He already desires to act.
Speaker B:He's just waiting for an open door from us.
Speaker B:Just as Jesus touched the leper, commended the centurion and restored the blind, he's still answering us today, but we have to believe it and act on it and stand with him about it.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:Don't shut me down.
Speaker B:I'm preaching good already.
Speaker B:Let's look at Mark, chapter 2, verses 3 through 11.
Speaker B:Again, you turn over there.
Speaker B:I'm just going to keep on preaching because of the time.
Speaker B:But here was a paralyzed man laying helpless, unable to reach Jesus on his own.
Speaker B:And his friends hearing about Jesus, they had faith.
Speaker B:If we can get him to Jesus, I'm gonna call him Joe.
Speaker B:We'll just call him Joe.
Speaker B:If we could get Joe to Jesus, Jesus will heal, right?
Speaker B:So they put him on a litter.
Speaker B:That's what the military calls it, but stretcher, whatever you want to call it.
Speaker B:Anyway, they put him on his litter and they're carrying him to see Jesus.
Speaker B:But there's a big crowd there.
Speaker B:And Jesus scripture says he was in the house.
Speaker B:So he's in this house and the people know he's there.
Speaker B:And let's just say the whole town is outside, right?
Speaker B:There's maybe a thousand people surrounding this house, hoping that, you know, Jesus touched me and heal my headache and, you know, heal my broken arm and whatever the case may be, right?
Speaker B:The crowd was thick.
Speaker B:The way to the house was blocked.
Speaker B:The door, there is no way they could get by the door.
Speaker B:All right, maybe they had, you know, let's use a reference you might be familiar with, Disney World.
Speaker B:All right, you know, everybody wants to go on this ride.
Speaker B:And you're just gonna pass through in front of Jesus.
Speaker B:He'll play, you know, think about the, the old healing lines with like Billy Graham or Oral Roberts.
Speaker B:You know, they walk up, he'd lay hands on you, pray, move on, next person, right?
Speaker B:Maybe that's what Jesus was doing here.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:The Bible's not clear on it, but I'm just saying they were standing outside that house for a reason.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:That's where I'm gonna leave it at.
Speaker B:But just like at Disney World, you know, you're standing in line.
Speaker B:Oh, man, this is a long line.
Speaker B:Keep moving forward, moving forward, moving forward.
Speaker B:Now you get this sign says 45 minute wait from this point here.
Speaker B:You already been in line for 45 minutes.
Speaker B:But anyway, you're still waiting, you know, moving forward.
Speaker B:Finally you're there.
Speaker B:Well, I think it was this way here.
Speaker B:And they couldn't get into the line.
Speaker B:The crowds crowd them out.
Speaker B:So these guys come up with a plan.
Speaker B:They climb up on the roof, tore open a section of the roof and lowered Jesus or lower their buddy Joe down inside.
Speaker B:They took action because they believed Jesus could change everything about Joe's situation.
Speaker B:Now as I was reading this, getting ready for today, I imagined I was the homeowner.
Speaker B:Now stick with me here he is so excited to Have Jesus in his house as a guest.
Speaker B:And like I said, probably half the town or more surrounding the house, everyone hoping at least just to catch a glimpse of this guy named Jesus.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:But here's what happens.
Speaker B:Jesus inside, delivering his teaching or whatever he was doing.
Speaker B:Then all of a sudden, this dust particles and stuff, pieces of stuff start falling from the ceiling.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker B:And, you know, the.
Speaker B:Everybody think about this.
Speaker B:You're sitting here in this situation, and all of a sudden this stuff starts falling through.
Speaker B:And everybody, including Jesus, looks up to see what's happening.
Speaker B:That's a natural reaction, right?
Speaker B:Hey, man, if you were there, that's what you'd be doing, too.
Speaker B:And they see this roof being taken apart.
Speaker B:Notice, though, nobody moves to stop them, probably.
Speaker B:And this is just, you know, Pastor Bob speaking here.
Speaker B:Everyone was just in shock, including the homeowner.
Speaker B:Scripture doesn't say, but he's probably thinking.
Speaker B:And again, put it like this.
Speaker B:If this was happening in my house, I'd probably be asking myself, where's my gun?
Speaker B:I gotta put a stop to this.
Speaker B:They're tearing my house up.
Speaker B:I'm gonna stop this right now.
Speaker B:Don't shut me down.
Speaker B:I'm preaching.
Speaker B:Good.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:Well, Brother Bob, that.
Speaker B:I'm just telling you my thoughts.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:You're tearing up my house.
Speaker B:I'm going to stop this.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker B:You know, you'd be thinking the same thing.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:If it was your house, you wouldn't want it tore up either, right?
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B:Well, probably before those thoughts could be taken from, I guess you could say thoughts to action on the homeowner's park, these guys on the rough start lowering down a man on a stretcher.
Speaker B:So it gets even weirder.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker B:And all of a sudden, before the homeowner can speak, anything that's going to bring this situation to, let's just say, a different outcome, okay.
Speaker B:I'll just leave it at that.
Speaker B:But it would definitely be an outcome where if Jesus had not immediately quenched the thoughts of the homeowner, that, you know, that like that I would have been.
Speaker B:Having probably been.
Speaker B:I'd have.
Speaker B:You'd probably been on.
Speaker B:I'd have put it on the evening news that night.
Speaker C:I mean.
Speaker B:I mean, I could see the headlines right now.
Speaker B:Big national preacher visiting a home in our town tonight turns violent as people start to tear up the owner's roof.
Speaker B:And he opens fire.
Speaker B:Free shot, mug of people injured.
Speaker B:In the chaos that follows, news at 11.
Speaker B:I mean.
Speaker B:I mean, that'd be something like that.
Speaker B:Don't look at me at that tone of voice, you know, you probably get mad too and do something dumb like that.
Speaker B:Glory to God.
Speaker B:Anyway, where was I, Lord?
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Jesus saw these guys faith as they're lowering their buddy down inside.
Speaker B:Not just the mass, but the faith of the.
Speaker B:Of his friends, right?
Speaker B:So before healing his body, he spoke to something a lot deeper.
Speaker B:He said, son, your sins are forgiven.
Speaker B:That ticked off the religious leaders in the room.
Speaker B:Think about, well, I'm not going to go down that road right now.
Speaker B:Let's just say they were not pleased with what he just said.
Speaker B:At first they were shocked.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Then they were outraged.
Speaker B:Forgiving sins.
Speaker B:Who does this guy think he.
Speaker B:Only God can forgive sins.
Speaker B:Jesus, knowing their thoughts, responded, well, what's easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or to say, get up, take your mat and walk.
Speaker B:Then to prove his authority to do this, he told the man, get up, take up your mat, go home.
Speaker B:Instantly, says the Bible, says instantly, the man was healed.
Speaker B:And Jesus did this so quickly, the religious leaders couldn't answer.
Speaker B:They couldn't stop it.
Speaker B:It was already done.
Speaker B:Now, there was a testimony that the whole town's witnessing.
Speaker B:Man, that spread like wildfire.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Now, I've been involved in some churches where, let me just say, they act just like those religious leaders.
Speaker B:Who's this guy think he is, asking if anybody needs prayer for healing to come forward, Right?
Speaker B:Who does he think he is, telling folks that Jesus can heal them if they'll only believe it?
Speaker B:Who's he think he is?
Speaker B:I've heard it, folks.
Speaker B:I've experienced it.
Speaker B:I've been run out of more churches.
Speaker B:Well, there's only a couple I've actually been run out of.
Speaker B:But dozens upon dozens upon dozens where I've never been invited back, let's put it like that.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:So this type of mentality is still going on today in churches all across the nation, probably around the world.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Are you still there?
Speaker C:Amen, man.
Speaker B:Sure got quiet all of a sudden.
Speaker B:Yep, that's Pastor Bob jumping all up and down in those spiritual toes again, just making people mad.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:And if that's you, I got one response.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Maybe you need to get mad.
Speaker B:Maybe, just maybe, the Holy Spirit's bringing that spirit of conviction on you right now because of your high and mighty attitude for someone who walks by faith and not by sight.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Holy Spirit just whispered in my ear, you made your point.
Speaker B:Move on.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Holy Spirit.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker B:Faith is not just personal.
Speaker B:It's not just for you.
Speaker B:Faith can be shared.
Speaker B:The faith of the man's friends moved Jesus to take action.
Speaker B:They didn't let obstacles stop them.
Speaker B:The crowd could not stop them.
Speaker B:The roof could not stop them.
Speaker B:They knew if they can get their friend in front of Jesus, he'd be healed instantly.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Their belief, their faith, their faith that Jesus had the power to heal led them to push forward.
Speaker B:And because of that, their friend walked away from that house.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:When we refuse to back down in faith, Jesus responds in faith.
Speaker B:True faith does not just ask.
Speaker B:True faith will always, always, always involve some type of action on our part.
Speaker B:That's probably why so many churches are hurting today.
Speaker B:No action?
Speaker B:Oh, they go through the motions.
Speaker B:They try to act all good and stuff like that, but no actions.
Speaker B:What did James say, brother of Jesus?
Speaker B:What did James say in chapter two?
Speaker B:Faith without what works is what?
Speaker B:Dead.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Faith without works is dead.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B:In fact, if you want, let's turn over there.
Speaker B:James, chapter two.
Speaker B:Praise the Lord.
Speaker B:I want you to lay your eyes on this.
Speaker B:Hallelujah.
Speaker B:Where are you at?
Speaker B:Here, James.
Speaker B:Come on, boy.
Speaker B:There he is.
Speaker B:James, chapter two.
Speaker B:We'll look.
Speaker B:Verses 14 to 26.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B:What does it profit my brother?
Speaker B:Though a man says he has faith and does not have works, can faith save him?
Speaker B:If a brother or sister is naked, destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled.
Speaker B:Notwithstanding you don't give them those things which are needful for the body, what does it profit them?
Speaker B:Even so, faith, if it does not have works, is dead being alone.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:A man says, you have faith, I have works.
Speaker B:Show me your faith without your works.
Speaker B:I'll show you my faith by my works.
Speaker B:Do you believe there is one God?
Speaker B:You do well, the devils also believe and tremble.
Speaker B:But what do you think, O vain man, that faith, though it works, is dead?
Speaker B:Was not that Abraham our father justified by his works when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Speaker B:Do you see then, how faith worked with his works, and by works his faith was made perfect.
Speaker B:Now, look at this in verse 26.
Speaker B:I'll just drop down there where he says, here.
Speaker B:For as the body without the spirits dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Speaker B:Now, let me just ask you right now, how many dead churches are out there?
Speaker B:How many churches do you see that have, like five cars or something in a parking lot?
Speaker B:How many churches want to do more work for the Lord but Can't.
Speaker B:They either don't have the people or they don't have the finances.
Speaker B:Folks, here's an example.
Speaker B:When I was growing up, most church parking lots were overflowing on Sunday morning and were about half full on Wednesday nights.
Speaker B:Not only that, there were no sports games on television until like 3pm in the afternoon on Sunday.
Speaker B:All liquor stores were closed.
Speaker B:Almost all convenience stores were closed on Sunday.
Speaker B:Almost all.
Speaker B:Almost all grocery stores were closed until like, 1pm or something like that.
Speaker B:Why?
Speaker B:Because people wanted to go to church.
Speaker B:They knew their stores would be empty on those days until after people got out of church.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Well, today we see how things have changed.
Speaker B:There's only a few churches in town where the parking lot is full on Sunday morning, but most aren't even close to being full.
Speaker B:Why?
Speaker B:Why?
Speaker B:I just let that hang there.
Speaker B:That's not the point of today's teaching.
Speaker B:The Holy Spirit brought it out, so I just think I brought it out to you.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:If you're offended by that, maybe, just maybe, that word was meant for you.
Speaker B:Or if you're a church pastor in that condition, maybe it was meant for you and your church pastor.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker C:Stepped on them.
Speaker B:Don't get mad at me for speaking the truth, all right?
Speaker B:Don't write me your nasty letters.
Speaker B:I won't read them anyway.
Speaker B:I recommend you go before the Lord and ask him, Lord, was that message for me anyway?
Speaker B:Okay, let's continue.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:Where'd I leave off?
Speaker B:Oh, faith is not personal.
Speaker B:These guys use their faith to get their friend in front of Jesus.
Speaker B:And Jesus seen their faith and said something that was more needful than healing to the.
Speaker B:The paralyzed man.
Speaker B:He said, your sins are forgiven.
Speaker B:Now, that statement, like I said, really messed up the minds of those religious scholars.
Speaker B:They went back to their cemetery trading.
Speaker B:I mean, seminary training, reason.
Speaker B:Who's this guy think he is, God?
Speaker B:He thinks he's God.
Speaker B:Only God can forgive sins.
Speaker B:This guy's committing blasphemy.
Speaker B:We need to do something.
Speaker B:And Jesus, he knew their thoughts.
Speaker B:That's why he said what's easier to say.
Speaker B:Notice he specifically used the word say.
Speaker B:I might.
Speaker B:I don't have time to jump into Mark 11, 23 and 24 today, but we will.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker B:But he never gives them a chance to respond.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:He just turns to the man on stretcher.
Speaker B:He says, what's easier to say?
Speaker B:Your sins are forgiven or just to tell him, get up, take up your bed and go home?
Speaker B:But just to prove to you, he says, he turns and speaks to the boy on the stretcher, Old Joe laying there.
Speaker B:The Joe, get up, take up your mat and go home.
Speaker B:And the man responds and does what Jesus says.
Speaker B:Probably rejoicing on the way out the door, too, telling everybody, is he going out the door, I'm healed.
Speaker B:I'm healed.
Speaker B:The whole crowd's going wild.
Speaker B:You know, like a touchdown has just been scored and the whole stadium's erupting.
Speaker B:And those preachers are sitting there laying, how, what are we gonna do now?
Speaker B:I mean, his response, Jesus response is important.
Speaker B:He did not say, well, now, you know, Jesus, I know you're wanting to heal me, but I've been like this for 12 years, and all the doctors told me my spine has been severed and there's just nothing can be done about it.
Speaker B:You don't have.
Speaker B:I'm not expecting to walk out of here, but if you just help relieve some of this pain.
Speaker B:No, he didn't say that to Jesus.
Speaker B:He didn't try and reason naturally with Jesus.
Speaker B:He just did what Jesus told him to do.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:His response is what's important, right?
Speaker B:He didn't say, you know, Jesus, I've been like this for a long time.
Speaker B:You know, doctors say he just did what Jesus said to do.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:Somebody just got that aha moment right there.
Speaker B:Now, want to move on?
Speaker B:I want you to look at.
Speaker B:It's going to be close, but we're going to give it our best shot, Lord.
Speaker B:Next, I want to talk about Jesus.
Speaker B:Compassion for the rejected and the outcast of society.
Speaker B:You can read about this in Matthew 26, Mark, chapter 2.
Speaker B:But Jesus's ministry was not limited to the religious elite or those who appeared righteous by outward standards.
Speaker B:He intentionally.
Speaker B:Hear me now, hear me now, what I'm saying.
Speaker B:He intentionally spent time with those whom society basically had cast aside.
Speaker B:The sinners, the broken, the despised.
Speaker B:His actions, his actions sent a message that God's mercy was not reserved only for the privileged, but it extended to all who would receive.
Speaker B:Didn't matter if you were born on the other side of the tracks or lived in a palace.
Speaker B:You were all equal in God's eyes.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:There was a woman who approached Jesus while he was reclining at the table he's just kicked back, enjoying some downtime with his friends, having a bite to eat.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:How many of you show your hands here?
Speaker B:How many of you?
Speaker B:Have you ever been at a barbecue with friends and family just to relax and enjoy the day?
Speaker B:Well, that's what's going on here with Jesus and his Disciples, they're just kicked back, having a meal.
Speaker B:And this woman just walks up.
Speaker B:You got to picture this with me now as she approaches the table, while everyone's just sitting there having a conversation, getting a bite to eat.
Speaker B:She just walks right up to the table.
Speaker B:And it's not a table.
Speaker B:It's not a picnic table like you see up in the park, you know, where there's table and benches there.
Speaker B:Remember, this is the Jewish culture.
Speaker B:It's kind of anyone who's ever been in the Orient or maybe, you know, ate at an Oriental restaurant, a traditional one, right?
Speaker B:The tables are about 8 inches, 10 inches high.
Speaker B:And you're sitting on the floor around the table, okay, that.
Speaker B:It's a table like that.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:That's the type of table that they're at here.
Speaker B:And they're kind of in a semi reclining position.
Speaker B:This woman just walks up, interrupting the conversation.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, disciples are probably interested in what Jesus has to say and he's teaching him.
Speaker B:She just walks up and interrupts the conversation.
Speaker B:And every head in the table turns and looks at her like, you know, what do you want?
Speaker B:Type thing, right?
Speaker B:And they're like, you know, can we help you?
Speaker B:What do you want?
Speaker B:You get the picture?
Speaker B:Okay, I got a setup for you.
Speaker B:Get the picture.
Speaker B:Well, she brought with her this alabaster jar of expensive perfume.
Speaker B:And she opens it.
Speaker B:Now this, I've done studies on this, you know, this is a very expensive perfume.
Speaker B:Usually equivalent to a whole year's wages, right?
Speaker B:And if not more, the jar to be sealed.
Speaker B:It's for her wedding.
Speaker B:That's what she's reserved for, to anoint her and all that good stuff for the wedding preparations and stuff.
Speaker B:But she doesn't do that.
Speaker B:She opens it here.
Speaker B:She doesn't ask, she just starts pouring it on Jesus's head.
Speaker B:She doesn't say, jesus, could I just pour some of this on you?
Speaker B:She didn't ask.
Speaker B:Bible says she didn't ask.
Speaker B:She just opened it up, which immediately, you know, this gonna make this aroma and, and the room.
Speaker B:And, you know, this starts pouring it over Jesus and he doesn't jump up.
Speaker B:What are you doing, woman?
Speaker B:He didn't.
Speaker B:He sits there and allows it.
Speaker B:Now the disciples are getting a little mad here.
Speaker B:They're getting indignant.
Speaker B:I have a feeling they were not probably that indignant at first.
Speaker B:They were just kind of shocked.
Speaker B:And then he says, what are you doing?
Speaker B:You know, I'm sure that the disciples closest to Jesus probably immediately tried to, you know, stop her to, you know, to protect Jesus.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker B:And I'm sure he motioned for them.
Speaker B:Just stay there.
Speaker B:Remain quiet.
Speaker B:Why do I think that?
Speaker B:Because none of the disciples said anything negative to her.
Speaker B:At least not that's recorded until the Bible says they said, wait a minute.
Speaker B:Once they realized what it was and probably how expensive it was, maybe they knew the smell, I don't know.
Speaker B:But they said, why all this waste?
Speaker B:This perfume could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.
Speaker B:Now, let me just ask you.
Speaker B:Bible doesn't say says disciples.
Speaker B:But who does that sound like would ask such a question in that setting?
Speaker B:All 12 or just one?
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Now, there may have been a couple that joined in.
Speaker B:I have a feeling was Judas that initiated that portion of the conversation.
Speaker B:And there's probably some other disciples that joined in.
Speaker B:Not because they believed that.
Speaker B:They were just kind of still in shock about what had just happened.
Speaker B:And they were more or less, let's call it teaming up with their initial reaction before being shut down by Jesus.
Speaker B:So when the Bible says they, I'm sure that's why it's they and not just he, Judas.
Speaker B:But anyway, they viewed her act as unnecessary, right?
Speaker B:Extravagant, right?
Speaker B:But Jesus corrected them, didn't he said, why are you bothering this woman?
Speaker B:She has just done a beautiful thing for me.
Speaker B:He saw what they did not.
Speaker B:This wasn't wasted.
Speaker B:It was worship.
Speaker B:She was not trying to make a scene.
Speaker B:She was honoring Jesus.
Speaker B:Jesus did not measure her by the world's standards.
Speaker B:He saw her heart.
Speaker B:He saw her devotion.
Speaker B:And because of her love and devotion, he defended her.
Speaker B:He defended her.
Speaker B:His response demonstrated that worship is about the heart, the appearance.
Speaker B:Jesus showed the same compassion to those who were considered unworthy.
Speaker B:The religious leaders questioned why he ate with sinners and tax collectors.
Speaker B:He answered, the healthy don't need a doctor.
Speaker B:It's the sick that needs them.
Speaker B:I've not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Speaker B:Jesus never avoided those who were seen as failures.
Speaker B:He sought them out.
Speaker B:He called them.
Speaker B:He received them with open arms.
Speaker B:He didn't lower the standard of righteousness at all.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:But he offered grace to those who were missing it, but were willing to change.
Speaker B:Now, if Jesus embraced the rejected, so should we.
Speaker B:If he defended the broken, so should we.
Speaker B:True faith doesn't look down on those who struggle.
Speaker B:It reaches out to them, offers a helping hand.
Speaker B:Jesus did not justify their sin, but he did not refuse to engage with sinners.
Speaker B:In fact, he often would seek them out from amongst the crowd.
Speaker B:When I was at Jerry Savelle's Bible school.
Speaker B:Part of his testimony was how he first started off in ministry.
Speaker B:He go downtown and witness to the drunk stumbling out of the bar, sit down with him on the curb, witness to him about Jesus.
Speaker B:He weds so many people doing that out on the streets, outside the bars as they came out.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:That's basically what Jesus is doing.
Speaker B:He'd meet them where they were at.
Speaker B:He just have a conversation with them.
Speaker B:He didn't tell them, you realize that you're going to hell unless you receive me.
Speaker B:No, he never said that.
Speaker B:Not to them as he witnessed to them.
Speaker B:If they responded, they'd be blessed.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Think about the wealthy tax collector.
Speaker B:Remember Zacchaeus?
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:I mean, here he was despised by society.
Speaker B:He just wanted to see Jesus.
Speaker B:You know, everyone been talking about him.
Speaker B:He wasn't expecting anything.
Speaker B:He just wanted to see him.
Speaker B:Jesus seen him, said, come down, I'm gonna have lunch at your house today.
Speaker B:Oh man, that made Zacchaeus day.
Speaker B:And as Jesus is ministering in Zacchaeus Jesus ministry in Zacchaeus house, at his presence, Zacchaeus heart changed.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker C:Remember that.
Speaker B:He goes, I'm going to pay back everybody and I'm going to do this, that the other thing.
Speaker B:And Jesus said, today, salvation has come to your house.
Speaker B:Glory to God.
Speaker B:But Jesus conversations always brought transformation.
Speaker B:His words brought life.
Speaker B:If we follow him, we have to live according to what he said.
Speaker B:We have to do what he did.
Speaker B:We have to offer grace without compromising the truth, without condemning people about it.
Speaker B:We cannot add to his words.
Speaker B:Let me say that again.
Speaker B:We cannot add to his words.
Speaker B:We can apply his words.
Speaker B:And in one way, that's what I'm doing here today.
Speaker B:In another way, the disciples did the same thing when they wrote down what life was like walking and talking with Jesus during his earthly ministry.
Speaker B:I went over before the importance of eyewitness testimonies.
Speaker B:I'm not going to go and rehash all of that.
Speaker B:But their testimony of the things Jesus said, the things Jesus did, that's considered first hand evidence.
Speaker B:We must hold that in special recognition.
Speaker B:And we do.
Speaker B:They're in the gospels.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:In the Bible.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B: can use these Same words from: Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:There's no difference in time or space with that.
Speaker B:Here's another example of what that's like in the natural.
Speaker B:Consider the Constitution of the United States of America, folks.
Speaker B:That baby has been around a long, long time.
Speaker B:But yet, if there's a legal challenge brought in society, what's the gold standard by which ultimate judgment is made?
Speaker B:The Constitution, Is this constitutional?
Speaker B:That's the question that gets asked.
Speaker B:Well, who makes the determination if it's constitutional or not?
Speaker B:I know I am asking some hard questions for those who may not have grown up when you actually had to take history classes in school instead of, you know, gender awareness or affirmation classes and all that other crap.
Speaker B:All right?
Speaker B:But for those of you who were not taught proper school subjects like history, the answer on what is or is not constitutional is determined by the Supreme Court.
Speaker B:Okay?
Speaker B:And you go look up the laws that were interpreted according to the Constitution that are over 200 years old.
Speaker B:These, some of these are still on the books today.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Just because times change does not mean the underlying law needs to change.
Speaker B:It may be amended from time to time.
Speaker B:But the underlying principle is the same.
Speaker B:Well, it's the same way with preaching and teaching what Jesus said and did.
Speaker B:You take what he said and then you did and then what he did and then apply that standard to everything else.
Speaker B:What did Jesus say?
Speaker B:What did Jesus do?
Speaker B:It does not matter if anyone.
Speaker B:It doesn't matter what the Apostle Paul taught.
Speaker B:I mean, he taught his stuff using that same standard, right?
Speaker B:What did Jesus say?
Speaker B:What did Jesus do?
Speaker B:So when Paul put together all his writings, that's what he was doing.
Speaker B:Telling you what Jesus said, telling what Jesus did and interpreting that based upon his training, knowledge and experience with the Old Testament, where he said Jesus fulfilled this.
Speaker B:This is what this means.
Speaker B:When he referenced this, that was referencing this back in the altar.
Speaker B:So that's what that's all about.
Speaker B:Okay, now listen to me now.
Speaker B:Hear me.
Speaker B:Hear Pastor Bob for a second.
Speaker B:The Apostle Paul's writings do not hear me now.
Speaker B:They do not add, to, supersede, diminish or change what Jesus taught or said.
Speaker B:If they did, that would be unbiblical.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Don't shut me down.
Speaker B:I'm preaching.
Speaker C:Good.
Speaker B:Paul's teachings must line up with what Jesus said and did.
Speaker B:Just because, just because some so called religious scholar says otherwise.
Speaker B:That does not change nor alter what Jesus said or meant.
Speaker B:If anybody, folks, hear me now.
Speaker B:If anybody, your pastor, your teacher, your, a court of law, or your mailman tells you otherwise, they are wrong.
Speaker B:And probably will have to answer for their own error to Jesus, ultimately.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:I don't want to be in their shoes for doing that.
Speaker B:And I'm sure you don't want to be so in their shoes either.
Speaker B:So if you hear someone taking a quote from, you know, elsewhere in the Bible and then trying to turn something Jesus said on its side with a different meaning, run, or better yet, just quote what Jesus said back to him, that's probably.
Speaker B:That'd probably be, yes, sir.
Speaker B:Thank you, Jesus.
Speaker B:That's probably the better response, you know, if they say, well, now you know, I'm educated at the XYZ Seminary, and I've studied all this out.
Speaker B:Paul was a religious scholar, and he said it means this, that, and the other thing, and that counteracts this, you know, what did Jesus say?
Speaker B:He just said it.
Speaker B:But this is what Paul interpreted, what it actually means, really my response, and it should be yours, too, because someone who says something so stupid like that says, well, sir, either you and your schooling are right and G or Jesus is right.
Speaker B:It can't be both ways.
Speaker B:So I pick Jesus, which means you're wrong.
Speaker B:And as they try to tell you how lost you are, how wrong you are, just ask them, okay, well, I may be wrong.
Speaker B:Show me.
Speaker B:Please show me where Jesus said that.
Speaker C:I bet they can't.
Speaker B:Which takes us to Jesus's call to watchfulness and readiness.
Speaker B:Matthew's chapter Matthew, chapter 24, 42, 46.
Speaker B:I'm looking at the clock here.
Speaker B:We don't have time to go read it, so I'll just tell you what it says.
Speaker B:Jesus did not leave his followers unaware of the times to come, the times we're living in.
Speaker B:He spoke directly about the need to be watchful and ready, warning that his return would be sudden and what unexpected.
Speaker B:Therefore, keep watch, he said, because you don't know the hour or day when your Lord will come.
Speaker B:Now, people have been speculating about the exact timing of his return for centuries, but Jesus made it clear.
Speaker B:Nobody knows the day or hour, not even me, the Son.
Speaker B:Only God knows.
Speaker B:His emphasis then was not on predicting a date, but on being ready, spiritually prepared at all times.
Speaker B:This warning was not for unbelievers alone.
Speaker B:It was for his followers, too.
Speaker B:That's you and me.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:He expected his disciples to remain vigilant, living in a way that would reflect their faith rather than becoming complacent.
Speaker B:Jesus described a faithful servant as one whom the master finds what Doing his will when he returns.
Speaker B:The unfaithful servant.
Speaker B:Ho, ho, ho.
Speaker B:The unfaithful servant, on the other hand, assumes the Master's delay and lives the way he wants, looking out for number one himself.
Speaker B:The consequences for that servant are severe.
Speaker B:Jesus was not speaking figuratively here, folks.
Speaker B:He was making a point about the seriousness of maintaining a state of readiness.
Speaker B:You know, back when I was in the military, serving up near the DMZ in Korea, demilitarized zone between north and South Korea, we knew our mission was real life.
Speaker B:We didn't just train to understand the basics.
Speaker B:We trained knowing we could be called into a battle that would take place in a matter of minutes, not hours or days.
Speaker B:And to evaluate that level of preparedness, higher headquarters had evaluation teams.
Speaker B:You know, battalion had their own team, brigade had their own team, etc.
Speaker B:And, you know, at least once a month, I would say sometimes more, the battalion or even a brigade team would show up unannounced.
Speaker B:They just drive up, just disperse themselves to the different equipment to evaluate our reactions, which, you know, my job was in radars.
Speaker B:We were an air defense unit, so we had radars and missiles.
Speaker B:And the chief evalier would just walk into the control van, wouldn't say hello or anything, just walk in, say, blazing skies.
Speaker B:Now, whoever is in the van had the responsibility to get everybody running by blowing that siren.
Speaker B:Right from the moment the evaluator said blazing skies, he had a stopwatch.
Speaker B:We had 15 minutes to have missile ready lights in that van.
Speaker B:Now, those evaluations were for three purposes.
Speaker B:One, make sure we knew what to do if we needed to react in an emergency situation like that.
Speaker B:Two, make sure the equipment was always in a state of readiness.
Speaker B:And three, to report our readiness to higher authorities, which impacted the battalion, the brigade, I Corps, all their readiness ratings and all that.
Speaker B:So if you had someone in the van who was new, and as a section chief, was my responsibility to teach them what was required if they ever had that situation.
Speaker B:One time we had a new guy and he was brand new.
Speaker B:He was just basically learning the way.
Speaker B:And the person who was on van watch, who knew what was going on, had to go to the bathroom.
Speaker B:So he said, hey, come here.
Speaker B:Just sit here and I'll be back in a couple minutes.
Speaker B:I gotta go use the restroom.
Speaker B:Okay?
Speaker B:Normally, 99.9% of the time it wouldn't been a big deal, but it just so happened, while the one person was gone, the evaluation team showed up.
Speaker B:The chief walked in, said blazing skies, and the private sitting there, okay, he had been briefed on what to do about 10 evaluators, not telling.
Speaker B:He was just Sitting there looking at his watch.
Speaker B:And the regular guy showed up about 10 minutes later.
Speaker B:And needless to say, we failed that evaluation.
Speaker B:Then the whole crew spent the next week restricted to tax site instead of leaving after a 24 hour shift until the evaluation team came back out to test us again.
Speaker B:One time I went into the van, it was about 2:00', clock, 2:30 in the morning, something like that.
Speaker B:Because we always had to do our checks before.
Speaker B:I'm not going to go into details for security purposes, but before the morning twilight time would come.
Speaker B:It took us a couple hours do all our checks.
Speaker B:We had to have time, something was wrong to adjust it.
Speaker B:So I go in about 2:30, have the van watch go down, wake up the crew and maintenance and all that.
Speaker B:So they get running their local checks.
Speaker B:Then we do the integrated checks while they're out waking people up.
Speaker B:I was watching the radar screen and suddenly there were indications of several aircraft in North Korea were heading south.
Speaker B:I called it in, it was verified again.
Speaker B:Let's just say they double checked my discovery there and verified it.
Speaker B:And then I received a message that took us to battle stations.
Speaker B:Now in all my years up to that time, I had never been taken to battle stations, but we were that morning.
Speaker B:And all I can say was that was so cool.
Speaker B:We didn't have to fire a missile, but we watched as the air force came up, intercepted the North Korea fighters, they turned tail and ran back home.
Speaker B:But what happened came out later in Stars and Stripes that the North Koreans were responding to one of their submarines being attacked by the South Korean navy as they were trying to drop off some spies and stuff over by Incheon.
Speaker B:Usually you know that's what would happen, but anyway, there's a big write up in the Stars and Stripes newspaper.
Speaker B:They explained it and then it said it was the closest the peninsula had been to all out war since the armistice was set side.
Speaker B:And it was an alert air defense unit which had spotted the incoming aircraft.
Speaker B:Man, I made copies of that, sent a whole home.
Speaker B:Tell me that was me.
Speaker B:That was me, right?
Speaker B:Now why did I share all of that?
Speaker B:I don't remember.
Speaker B:Anyways, it wasn't in my note.
Speaker B:Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:I got it.
Speaker B:You got all that for free?
Speaker B:But the reason was because Jesus needs us to remain vigilant at all times, right?
Speaker B:His message remains just as urgent today.
Speaker B:Many people focus on signs and events, trying to piece together a timeline.
Speaker B:Jesus said preparedness is not about calculation, it's about devotion.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Being ready does not mean living in fear.
Speaker B:It means walking in righteousness.
Speaker B:Every day means keeping our hearts aligned with him, rejecting distractions and standing with him firm in faith.
Speaker B:Jesus was clear about all this, right?
Speaker B:He doesn't want us to be caught off guard.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:When he comes back, we don't want to shrink back in shame, but stand confidently before Him.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Thank you, Jesus.
Speaker B:Hallelujah.
Speaker B:Now man, we're almost out of time.
Speaker B:As we get ready to close today, let's do a quick review of everything we went over.
Speaker B:I mean, throw it as ministry.
Speaker B:Jesus had conversations that revealed divine truth, corrected misunderstandings, set the standard for how his followers should live.
Speaker B:Every word he spoke was aligned with God's will, and every response he gave was intentional.
Speaker B:If we ever question what he believed or what we should be believing.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Well, we need to look at that.
Speaker B:We need to remember that Jesus conversations demonstrated compassion, healing and faith.
Speaker B:He willingly touched lepers.
Speaker B:He restored the blind, reaffirmed those who reached out to him.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:So when this study of his conversations remind us that following Jesus means listening to his words and putting them into action.
Speaker B:If we truly believe he's the Word made flesh and he is right, we have to measure everything.
Speaker B:Our doctrines, our choices, our responses against one standard.
Speaker B:What's that?
Speaker B:Standard?
Speaker B:Simple.
Speaker B:What did Jesus say?
Speaker B:That's the only way to walk in truth and remain in alignment with God's will.
Speaker B:Not based on your pastor or me or anyone else.
Speaker B:What anyone else says, only focus on what did Jesus say.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:We're all out of time for today.
Speaker B:If you've never asked Jesus to be your Lord, this is a good time to do so.
Speaker B:Just pray this prayer with me right now.
Speaker B:Father, in Jesus name, I thank you for this word.
Speaker B:I thank you for what Jesus taught.
Speaker B:I thank you and praise you Jesus for all that you accomplished now.
Speaker B:Lord, I ask by your Holy Spirit to lead, guide, direct my life, order my steps that I may serve you from this point forward.
Speaker B:And I give you all honor, glory and praise in Jesus name.
Speaker B:Hallelujah.
Speaker B:Now, if you want to order a copy of Reverend Terry Christian's amazing book, what Did Jesus Say?
Speaker B:I'll put the links down below in the comments or the show notes, wherever you're watching this on.
Speaker C:Amen.
Speaker B:Praise God.
Speaker B:It's been good.
Speaker B:I enjoyed this teaching today.
Speaker B:I hope you did as well.
Speaker B:We're all out of time for today.
Speaker B:Till next time.
Speaker B:Pastor Bob reminding you to be blessed.
Speaker A:You have just heard a message of encouragement from anointed pastor and teacher Robert Thibodeau.
Speaker A:With Freedom Through Faith Ministries in Baltimore, Maryland.
Speaker A:For more information on the Freedom Through Faith Ministries or to invite Pastor Thibodeau to your church, please Visit our website, www.ftftfm.org.
Speaker A:that's FTFM for Freedom through Faith Ministries.
Speaker A:Again, that's ftfm.org until next time.
Speaker A:When we gather together around the Word of God, be blessed and remember, we serve an awesome God.
