Sunday Service

In The Book of Mark and such a unique section and I've been encouraged by this week. So let's read Mark chapter 11 verse 29

as soon as they left the synagogue they went into Simon and Andrew's house with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was lying in bed with fever. And they told him about her and once him Jesus. So we went to her took her by the hand and raised her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them.

When evening came after the sunset they began to bring him all those who are sick and do those who are demon possessed. In the whole town was assembled at the door. And he healed many who were sick various diseases and drove out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak because they knew him.

I want to think about the topic of leaving synagogue and going home. Leaving church and going home.

Because when we leave church often, we are encouraged by the brothers and sisters something about having the word of God spoken and you get the fellowship around and speak the word that you need to take home you seen those words that hopefully it goes through the week and there's a level of which you're glad. You have the word of God speaking into your life you ever wonder how to people who are just going through and and do not have that kind of built up by the Lord without being sucked in to the chaos.

Often times many of us are burdened by those family members that we see have that same perspective.

if you're like me and You and I suck some of you have had spoken we've spoken together about praying for lost family members and what a burden that is when you when you have people that you love with all your heart. And yet they do not have the kind of peace that we speak about here. You just go. I wish I could wring your neck. And get your attention shaking by the collar and and say you don't have to live like this. Jesus wants to come home to you once to come to your house. He wants he wants you to have this kind of peace and innerspring who he wants to rescue you from your sin and give you more than he wants to give you a solid Place switched me all of my challenges.

Their continual blessings with abiding in him. We talked about some of those verses before. When Jesus said I am the vine and you are the branches. If you abide in me and my word abides in you, then you will bear much fruit. But listen to this he says apart from me you can do nothing. Can we see what that gets us in life? We we see self-help books that try to motivate you into a better reality. But we do hear some of the language of karma utilizing Karma and good things happen to you because of the good things that you've done and that's just not

there is there is no Karma.

There is there are the principles of God looks over you the karma doesn't.

And God gives you his blessings the blessings flow.

is what we look for and so we we have those family members that I just hope and pray that God begins to tap them on the shoulder and their hearts to him but many Many do not think of church that way. They think of her chest the place of slavery. the place of Burden the place of bondage many will say to us, you know religion has all these wars are fought in their name. There's plenty of fights the start because of lack of religion. And we're not really talking about religion or are we talkin about Transformations inside out?

I think quite a bit about in that parallel to the Old Testament story of God's Rescue of his people out of Egypt. God went to Moses and said her deprive my people and now I'm sending you I want you to go and get my people out of Egypt and I'm going with you.

And of course Moses as well, who am I and God turns it around. It says no. No. No, who are you? Who am I? I'm the one that's going to rescue my people out of Egypt. I just want you along for the ride so you can record it. You're going to be my spokesperson. God's people came out of Egypt and in what should have been at least a couple of months maybe up to three months Journey out of Egypt and into the promised land in the 40 years. Think with me about those four years. Cuz that was that was 40 years not because they were lost if you ever had the idea that got people just got lost then missed the story the story of why they had to spend 40 years in Egypt was too so that they would get the slavery because God does not invite slaves into his promise. God wants free people into his promises. God had to get the mindset of people who would live on their own live and rebellion and trade one slave master Pharaoh for another slave master.

And God says I want you to learn to hear me. I want you to learn to trust me. And so that's what I can compare this generation. People who have not yet learned to trust here God in in him. is freedom they were not free simply because they got out of they were free when they finally began to trust God and anger in his promises. In the same is true for any of us.

We want Jesus to come home from church with us. Go to those family members that may or may not be at our direct home. But those that are close to us too far from God far from the promises. very familiar with a life of slavery Now listen you see in the story Simon Andrew brought James and John. And Jesus home with it.

I want to take that pick that part out. And for us to get the idea that we need invite Jesus home with us. Wait a second Ray. I know some of the scripture and we talked about it before doesn't Jesus go everywhere than I do. Well, that's that is true. He goes everywhere that we do apart from me. You can do nothing and and and when Jesus gave the The the Great Commission he said he would be with us always very ends of the Earth and so he does go with us, but there's something about the the invitation that that I want us to pick up on in John chapter 14.

I want to read.

That one more time. I go back to this over and over again. Cuz I love this passage. I feel like that it's one of the secrets of the Kingdom. That that God was revealing in his son. Jesus. Listen to Jesus word. Beginning first 20 it says in that day, you will know that I am in my father and that you are in me and that I am in you listen to this the one who has my Commandments. Where has my commands and keeps them he is the one who loved me. And the one who loves me. Will Be Loved by my father I also will love him and will reveal myself to him. That word is the word manifest. Jesus wants to manifest really show up in our circumstances. He wants to go home with us. And in fact Judas in the next verse it says that Jude has not Judas Iscariot, but the other one said do you mean you're going to show yourself to us and not to the rest of the world? And in Jesus says if anyone loves me, he will keep my word my father will love him and we will come and make our home.

There is a powerful it was invitation. The Jesus wants to come home with us in bodies obedience. And when you go home and you take his word with you, then he goes home. He's at home.

And I hope that you are close to his word. but second in verse 31, there's an invitation.

Verse verse 30, of course. They told him about her at 1 so this is a picture of prayer to me. Here is Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever and immediately they say Jesus. Let me tell you about what we're going to find when we get home.

When you don't have a plan. When you don't have a plan.

Just tell Jesus. If the scripture says they told him. Beethoven When you don't have everything figured out just tell Jesus. In fact, I get pretty good at telling Jesus what to do, but sometimes it's more appropriate just to tell Jesus. He often has a better plan than I ever will. If you're concerned about those family members. If you're worried about what's going on how you're going to address these things gone? Let me just tell you what's going on. Would you work something out? It is a perfect picture of prayer and in fact in John 16:24. Jesus teaching about prayer and he says until now you've asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy may be complete. has powerful

Well, Jesus must not mean that we can ask him or whatever we want.

I read that one more time until now you've asked nothing in my name ask and you will receive so that your joy may be complete. Jesus cares about your joy And just tell him. When you go home from church. Take obedience with you. And pray just tell him what you're concerned about. That is a beautiful prayer. We have to we have to reclaim the tool a prayer in a physical world. We act so much like the world around us. All we have is material world around. But instead we have to use spiritual Tools in a physical world. And it's time to start telling Jesus when we get home.

Listen to what Jesus does because they're such compassion that he has now burst 31, so he went to her took her by the hand and raised her up. the fever left her and she began to serve them. Jesus Peter did not tell her tell it tell Jesus what to do, but Jesus knew what to do. He just look through her by the hand. I love the two parts that happened once the fever left her and she began to serve. We're all familiar with what with what fever feels like it when it finally breaks and when fever breaks you don't feel like doing that much to you. She didn't work through the pain. I don't think I think we have a picture of grace and mercy.

Mercy Mercy in that The Fever left but Grace that she was given strength. When Jesus reaches down and he looks us up he gives us both Mercy. and Grace

he can do more than we can ask or imagine. And that's what we asking for. ask

ask him

some of us have asked long enough to begin to grow cynical. And that can be hard. But the scripture does say keep on asking. Keep on seeking. And keep on knocking. It's not that God is reluctant. Is there when we are persistent we show a trust in him if we ever lose our trust in Our Hope.

Then I don't know what we'll have left. I guess cynicism.

But ask him. Let him answer the question the way that he wants to answer maybe he will lift him up by the hand and give them exactly what you're looking for. Maybe he'll do what you want more than you can ask or or imagine the very Son of God guest in our house. Doesn't that sound wonderful. Pray and telling your your concern now, there's another part of this story and it's that last part. It seems like there's a real division between what happens with a listing of Peterson and for her to begin sir in a recovered state. But then the afternoon goes by they enjoy their time together that you eat together and then time for a new date again. This is what we're really looking for is the end of Sabbath. Because Jewish people aren't able to do anything on the side. No work no real travel. You can't call someone else to work. What you do is is you just wait for Sabbath the end and when the first three stars appear in the sky been Sabbath over in the whole town shows on the door cuz Jesus is there an hour? That is a powerful picture. Jesus Takes everybody that comes fine heels various diseases and people who are stricken with with unclean spirits.

What a day. He cleanses them they walk away whole and those who speak about Jesus he silences and it's a memorable night These Are Spiritual answers again for physical problems.

I do want to come back and make this applicable for you. And I it's it's Peter smothering. Look at the first thing that she does after the fever leaves and her strength is regain. She begins to serve. I'm talking to a group of people who have been lifted up. Her personally themself many of you have asked Christ in to forgive sin. 2 take the sickness that is sin and remove it. And it's gone in Christ Jesus. And not only doesn't take away Dad, but he restore strength the Holy Spirit comes into Ellis. Give us power to live out what he wants us to live in. He doesn't tell us to be obedient to live. He gives spiritual gifts.

spiritual gifts in which to serve and when he does he empowers those he doesn't ask you to do anything that doesn't get power and energy for and when he does we get to serve in history that he provide. What is the Lord rescue you from you or hear you not invited Christ in to save you from your sins. I want you to picture yourself a lot. Like Peter's mother-in-law. What you need is to have him lift you up forgive you of your sins to make you clean. If you've never done that. It's not enough to hear about Jesus. It's it's responding Lord. Forgive me of my sins come in and dwell me remove my sins far. Is it from the East and West and let me walk in your powerful spirit?

He's inviting you if he's taking you by the hand and lifting you up. He not only takes away your sin, but he empowers you to live. And she serves that's the last part that I want to speak to you about. It's not over when he stands you up and strength. How do you serve it? How do you serve and how has he called you to sir? And what is obedience look like for you?

There's a great story about. former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and she is an amazing woman herself. She took a break from her diplomatic responsibilities to serve family that she was close to me. And she made a rare appearance as a Pianist for someone who was singing. In fact, there was a young lady who had pulmonary hypertension and it was a specific event that was going to take place at the Kennedy Center. And this was a fatal disease the often a fatal disease before the person who had it. and charity, listen to this name charity Sunshine the granddaughter of representative Tom Lantos from California told the story of her granddaughter of his granddaughter that we had this terrible illness and and so she decided to accompany him as a child Condoleezza Rice one.

All kinds of awards and began to read music when she was 3 years old became quite an accomplished pianist herself and planned on a career as a professional piano at the University of Colorado where she was learning piano. She decided to go into international relations instead. I'm glad she did served our country well,

And even her name you can tell they come from she comes from a very musical family. Her first name is a variation Allegan musical term. con condo casa Which means plays with sweetness? Play with sweetness is written above Mom and Dad's. Attention, but named their daughter Condoleezza. Well At the at the concert Lantos introduce rice as a warm-hearted friend and then recalled the story about when she first told her he first told her about his granddaughter and what she was suffering and what she was going to have to go through and ears. Your eyes and this is what she said. Let's have a concert and I'll accompany her. And she began to serve. Condoleezza Rice is an amazing picture of someone who serves

I want us to pick up that same thing to the degree to which the Lord is taking you by the hand. And lifted you up and removed your sickness. And giving you string. respond service Would you go out with me and pray? Father we thank you so much for your word. It is a story about Jesus and his power over spiritual world and its interaction with the physical world.

God we know that there are all kinds of needs around us. And we sometimes organized we plan we strategize and put things in place by things all of that in order to relieve I need the God we would be remiss if we didn't also come and pray and say Lord. We just want to tell you we want to tell you about the need in our community. It is lost without Hope just as we were but God we don't want to leave it. on the side of the road Just bearing for itself. We don't we don't receive salvation as a gift to ourselves without turning back in and then utilizing the gifts that you've given us and wished her stand us to our feet strengthen us and then God you provide the answer to the world around us and we pray for vacation bible school this week. We pray that spiritual answers will come for family that are looking for physical Solutions. God would you do more than we can ask or imagine? Just as we have new families this year. Because of vacation bible school because you mercifully invited families up grab them by the hands-free from from their sin to walking power God. We don't get know some people that we might even meet tonight. And so we pray for Spiritual answers for those families. Until we get to rejoice. Together even a year from now.

God stand us to our feed in Christ. Give us the strength and which two to serve and love and love completely God. You are the answer that we need in Jesus name. Amen.