March 12, 2017

When you guys in the front yard in the spit sound, okay, not that I intentionally spit on anybody but you're close enough where I might happen. I hate to tell you that I liked it as close as I can to folks and I would have put some I know something there so I don't get tied down to this and I won't be much tied down. This is my next time. Okay, if I can be a little feedback you okay test tasting 1 2 3 tasty running together. I mean literally journeying together. I want to watch that, cuz I made a promise when I'm going to finish today is my friend the chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts and we can Johnson before I should have devotion with Cole Swindell. You said these football players think about the game that you little distracted he said, so I just want to remind you it don't have to be long to be strong. Okay. So I promise this morning will be strong but not to be okay if they are men. All right. We are going to journey together few Matthew chapter 9. Okay, if you got your Bible open the Bible to get a few Bible you may want to because This passage change my life that can high school. It really did and set me on the course that I am on to this very day and just repeat this after me. He saw he saw get some more time he saw. everyone matters Jose together he saw everyone matters. That is the gist of this passage. Okay, it wasn't the entire gospel message. But this passage is what really changed me and motivated me to be who I am today as a father as a husband as I'm trying to be a man of God the best I can be and literally plugging in every day that live the adventure the gods called us all to call the Christian Life. All right, so I ask you a quick question. Here's a good Sunday school question. Are you ready? Get your Sunday school hats on here we go. Ok, does everyone matter to God you say? Yes, does everyone matter to Jesus you said is everybody matter to the holy spirit? So as a follower of Jesus does everybody matter to you? And that's so enthusiastic. Then there's everyone matter to you. Okay, you know what? It's interesting without the help of the Holy Spirit and how the help of God in Christ in his model. All that is a nice sentiment that could go on a bumper sticker that everybody matters to Christ. If you aren't engaging in prayer in the problem with the church's we've become a prayer with people in some ways. That's really what Jesus is unfolding Forest In this passage, but I would tell you a story before I get to that. Okay story. This is true story happened a few years ago. I was working in the inner city of Indianapolis rehab in the house and had a bunch of college students work with me or we have in this house together and we were just finishing things up look like rain was coming. So I basically said everybody way because sometimes it's better have few people to finish job when you get a moment like that. So I was on the roof with another Christian friend of mine and we're finishing the ritual and the record last few pieces and then I heard his horse riffic sound of I like a car crash in love you heard a car crash ever happened between the tires squealing and then the the metal just mashing the night. I heard screaming of a woman for help to the top of the ridge on top of the first litter then looked across the street and there's a car that hit a telephone pole and a guy had pulled a woman at the front seat in he had her by her hair but yours but your long that long and had a closed fist look like fighting scene about six to eight guys were there doing nothing. They had their videos their cameras out and they're shooting it like this. I forgot that they were doing that. I'm standing there and I look I said come on Gordon because we're we're going to stop this so I came down the ladder. I came across and all I have is my tool belt, but it did have a framing hammer. I did most holy spirit thing a man can do that possible point is I'm running full speed this towards this guy. I said Hey You Punk get your hands off her the framing hammer in my hand. I'm running full speed and he jumps up and takes off. The bottom line is a thing. I won't tell you how gruesome it looked when I got there. He was playing the killer. That's the bottom line the story it was hideous. There was a little baby and a half old baby and I talked about it baby in the backseat of the car screaming. There's about desert people stand there. Now at this point guys, there was any females there was an interesting doing nothing and I got her got with her got the police there got an ambulance the whole nine yards. Add turn Lucas guy said you guys ought to be ashamed of yourself. Why get home that night? A Madrina was still going in the funny few hours later. And that's open the trunk of my car and my next door neighbor has guy who built. Our aim is my house as my wife a build a build our house and his father and a lie his Brides Fallen lock him over to Jason is out of town his son his husband of next door. Neighbor said he's going to this conference he meant to ask before you left. Would you mind if he stops and looks me what's happening with it? You know I said, I don't know I guess the drill and so kind of my system with a little sick to my stomach and I told him what happened. He looked Migos. You should have done that. What is that guy that had a gun? What was he had a knife and he turned around and killed you and your boys just leave your boys. I looked in on someone that kind of money you think your second gift shop did I do the right thing in the first place? And I don't have to feel bad about what I did I go Rich came over here. What's what was you needed to know? Ya ya. Ya Jason downtown conference for 2 weeks and he meant to ask you before you left. Would you mind if we put number one on her speed dial on her phone your number cuz that guy it's in the neighborhood has been prowling. They haven't found him yet just in case she heard something funny. You can finishing you aware that your next-door cuz her and the kids get a little extra protection you and I looked at him. I said rich. What has a gun? What is have a nice? Where's that going to leave a Meehan are boys. I wish I can say I was that quick on my feet. I didn't say that. I did think it honest to God. I did think it. Don't take it something like I was a leader in the church that was serving. He broke my heart.

cuz I stood there and I thought the one thing that I know that I know about Jesus what brought me into the fold myself and the outside looking in Is I matter to him? And the best in the mess I've made in my life. Keep it straightened out cuz I matter to him. And I thought to myself and I do believe in the Holy Spirit talking to me that day miss a message. I've tried to carry to the church. Is if that woman on the street doesn't matter as much as her own family. the nobody matters that

Adidas my voice later took Ali Luke, he was a little older and Joel that time.

on the street today cuz I was leaving the day he said I have a dad who's a man who's the hero that wasn't looking for that answer, but it said that that young voice speaking back to me gave me the confidence. I did the right thing. I don't tell you something I think about seat. Listen, Jesus what he saw it with me. He saw what did he see? Everyone matters. Stay with me again. Everyone matters. He saw everyone matters. That's the heart of God. That's what brought me to Christ you guys. Religiosity, you know. He's doing church as usual did not bring me to Christ. What brought me the crisis everyone matters and when you need to put yourself in a place to help somebody. It's an adventure get your adrenaline going not the God's calling you to save somebody in the inner city streets of Lexington from meeting today. But he's calling you to something. More likely, you already know what that something is and who that somebody is the gods wants you to connect with and go after Matthew night. I was going to be a real quick overview this okay. This is what he did he saw and he saw a need any metal need verses 1 through 8. You looks to buy what you want, but I'm really going to focus in Eunice Orion verse 35, but he says that Jesus went through all the towns and Villages teaching in the synagogues proclaim the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness Matthew chapter 4 where Jesus came in the city and had a heart for the city and wept over the city or he went and Galilee in other words. He saw my needs and he met him pretty logical thing to do would be the Son of God, huh? I love this verse 1 through 8. He healed and forgive a crippled man who broke a man to every acid written off. Have you seen somebody who is be a paralytic in this? For someone who's broken themselves and you seen other people in the culture maybe even in the church who written them off Jesus he saw cuz everybody matters, he healed the sky and put the church people the church ladies of their day got around Jesus and chastising and said he was even linked up with Will who the Devil Himself because he saw a need any metal. There's something wrong there verses 9 through 13, Jesus knew that Matthew who's hanging out with a bunch of corrupt tax gatherers and was one himself had potential and he does look Cinemas. He passed him verses 9 through 13 says follow me and Jesus did next thing, you know, they're having a barbecue at Nancy's house on the grill ready to Jesus just gave him a sense of hope and direction and you challenged his life. Guess what the Church of the day was sitting around going to look at that. Look at that he eats with you. Sinners tax gatherers have across the back doors. They're walking out. Have a great week eating with Sinners and tax gatherers. Cuz Jesus is called to go out. He says in that context. I didn't call you to reach the healthy. He said I called you to reach you the sick. Listen spiritual doctor, you know doctor doctor doctor as we walk out of here. Our challenge is to keep the whole idea what he saw that every matters. The people is right in front of you going to go after that's what he did verses 14 through 17, Jesus all the time of the law was passed the new wineskins do what it takes to package the gospel, which is the new wine of Christ to the next Generations Next Generation. They talked about this whole idea of the new wineskins. So when you think about what God conduces church and I'm excited for you towards the history of this church is built on it weird to be going with Robbie's leadership the rest of the team that I met with last night. Wineskins are cat. What is you want us to do to connect with people and let God do what he does. Best tell you will hear him if we're listening. Okay, that's what he did in that context was time for the new Grace the new one the Christ to come out of us do whatever it takes to make that happen. If Isis change the wineskins don't fall in love the wineskins. I want to be a great problem. This place gets so packed that somebody can sit in your your favorite wineskin few and you have to move.

You know something that's going to move your cheese little bit spiritually so to speak, you know, God wants us to be a people cuz he saw everybody matters where people of new wineskins cuz when are the new wind Christ cuz it's always relevant 18226. I love this had been sick for 12 years. 12 years and she comes up with you heard of stories about Jesus what you been doing all through Galilee she is when you get close to me, she said in her heart. Can you imagine this heart of Faith? She said if I can just get close to help me and Jesus senses into this in the spirit and she Reach Out touch his clothes and guess what you turn around sit or sister your faith has healed you. You said free from that moment. Just getting close to Christ because why he saw and everyone mattered in the same context a brief father. I know if you ever lost a child or lost a close loved when I left my best friend to cancer few years ago. When you stomach is near and dear to you, it's a very brief moment and guess what was a religious leader in this context didn't go to his church, but he's so to speak in that context came to Jesus. He said I know you can sealer. And that's where Jesus is on his way. When he healed this woman even six for 12 years and he walks in the place who said she's not dead and guess what the church crowd. Did they laughed at him? They laughed at Jesus Jesus. I'm sure. Don't say politely dismissed him. He's my looking said get the heck out of here cuz he walked up and he saw the temple was a mess all kinds of livestock in animals and people profiteering in the temple and he looked at you so mad. He goes my father's house as what the House of Prayer but you've made it or what but then receives so Jesus.

What kind of weaving it together his Apostles look at him? He's look cycles and said she's cleared that house if you want his designated for something.

The church in American do business as usual as much like the church that Jesus was dealing with in this time because they didn't see he saw everyone matters. That is the priority. It's not the color of the carpets know where the carpet stain Wright stained. That's not I'm not picking any issues here. I'm sure I mean no one's told me that Rob is not told me I'm just saying it's always funny to me why is coming from it's not come from the holy spirit's coming from but we got to keep the place. Nice. We got to be good stewards of God's house. I want to be a good Steward of people. understand. Things people That's why the church has become a sleeping giant in age that needs to the hope of Christ more than anything. Okay. I'm with you in this battle. I have to re-up every single day pray this prayer 27th and 30 for Jesus store decide to blind man who are totally written off. I don't even have lost your sight for any. Time. I lost my voice and it's tough for a preacher at once. I lost my voice on Easter on Easter stuff all the time with a whiteboard something. I don't know if you've ever lost your sight. But these two guys who live their life without their site over there.

In Jesus Took time for them. He stopped and now he did he do that. They got chastise again for healing these guys and these guys who said no don't play that yet. Just keep yourself and you know those guys did They went told everybody. Can you imagine if you're totally blind if something went to out the whole land where he come from and told them okay what he had done cuz you know what Jesus saw everyone matters and he didn't let the people try to conform to what they were supposed to do appropriately. He's mad that need everyone matters to God. That is Genesis. 1:27 says you and I Jesus knew that it is very clear John 3:16. Godsil. What love what the world know? Who is that exempt? Anybody won matters is what's John 3:16 is trying to get across this and John Matthew 19:19.

It says love your neighbor as what. That didn't forget you have taken care of yourself. If you don't know, I'm trying to get back on a regimen of exercise and eating right and I know so I'm speaking to myself. Okay for the fact is we do a pretty good job taking care of ourselves. It's pretty clear mandate. Love your neighbor as yourself and who's your neighbor? That's what Jesus talks about this next year versus K interesting the enough. Converse 36, so when he saw the crowds and then it's just the fact of look in the rearview mirror all those things. I just talked to you about from vs142 verse 34 when he saw the crowds he had compassion on because they were harassed in the Greek means we read and help us in the Greek means Castaway. Have you ever been really tired? Audi commercial for you, I would like to give you this energy drink if you'll drink it this week. If you've been really tired it will give you six hours of energy like that. I mean if you've been the point where you really poured yourself out My son was a lot of people's last week Adidas Lifting me my oldest son not till he goes, I'm just people doubt that I'm just give out you don't listen in this context when you have been worried and poured out and then you don't think anybody cares you're if you're been there cuz I've been there but really poured myself out and then no one gets around me to help me in that context and then goes on to say the whole idea of helpless your cast away because honestly like a sheep without a shepherd. Now you're tired. But you feel like you're lost you have you ever been there? It's the craziest thing. I don't know. Any Christian is really worth their salt at some point doesn't get wore out because Paul said just want to be a drink-offering de Porres. I was at so in that context. You're going to be like that. But if you don't have strength of other people around you being a community with and understanding a guy who's for you to pour back into you through his word through his holy spirit. You're going to think this is it you're going to give up aren't you? Paul says do not grow weary. What and doing good. That's why we got to keep looking back to the father except Jesus did so that we can see like he saw the air mattress and stay on that course cuz if you don't You're going to give that will take some the First Wok. Send causes you to give up. If you're insane in some way and you need to get delivered from that come talk to Robbie can talk to me talk to whoever you want to talk to at the end service today. Send will make you blind you sync your doing life on your own. That's why you stay helpless and harassed because you keep trying to laugh in your own and you were never intended to life on your own Genesis 3 through says it's not good for man to be what alone we agreed to be the body of Christ. And I know they get to the end. You're some kind of watching myself for a little bit while I start sweating. I know I'm getting into it, but I want to tell you. Comic book store is now a wind things down. Okay, Jim Elliot, you always hear the stories about Jim Elliot quotes that you always here quick your this one your Gmail. It was the missionary before his buddies went down to Ecuador these guys Learn to Fly Like Bush Pilots, which I think will be absolutely a blast and they're trying to reach the sun reached tribe in Ecuador with their airplane and they heard of these guys were savagely kill anybody who walks in their territory and they thought let's try to make friends first, you know, do you know the story the drop the Rope had a bucket in it and we learn to orbit this little Bush pilot airplane and they would give stuffed him GIF Steubenville friendship with another relationship. So they finally land to start sharing the gospel these guys in a few days. Thanks turn around and they were all butchered and murdered by these guys. As you know, the story story. Did Jim Elliott's wife and his family back. Nick States Sun actually baptized of the man who murdered his dad. The phrase rice hear from Jim Elliot is a he is no fool who gives what he cannot gain? I cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. That's a great one. But this is one it's a little less known that I love you. Think about this trying to see that was Jesus season the world. He says everywhere. You are be all there in that great. You are be all there was a study this came up last 6 weeks is talking about the effect. These phones are having on our culture. It's at the secular study. It's not done by Christians talking about it's damaging relationships between husband and wives and kids talking to their mom and dad and have seen some of the specialty younger guys for your frontal lobes are completely developed it chemistry. Why's there's things that being released they think it's damaging your your development because of such a commitment to this screen and looking at the screen. I'm not down on technology Anna down cell phones what I'm saying is It's causing us not to be where we are everywhere. You are be all there. That's what Jesus pray this prayer. He said pray to the Lord of the Harvest look down the last versus okay. I got a couple really destroyed and I cannot lie on you cuz it's right. What time to do that I don't have time to do that. But I love this whole idea.

Where it says don't get mad myself the last U-verse r i c. It's not there. We can I find Mount notes this what Jesus said to his disciples it help you and I see is what he saw that red matters got to have a prayer life. We going to have this as our new Norm has a parallax is this disciples? The Harvest is plentiful talking about the field in front of us, but the workers are few asked the Lord of the Harvest at 4 to send out the workers into his Harvest field at the Millennials are leaving the church in droves because they see the church being someplace that's archaic. It's not living the faith. They want to see a need me to delete CM mide me to need that becomes our new normal. This becomes are tanu prayer and I'll get the very end. I think it's up there. There is this becomes our new for I don't know if you like the movie Elf. I like it. I like the first time I saw that I've seen a dozen times since and I see every Christmas now since everybody else was working in the department store and talk about how singing Christmas carols with his favorites but his boss said make your new favorite work. Okay, because okay. Okay. Okay make this your new favorite prayer. I promise you if you pray this for like I've been doing since I've been a teenager God will help you see what he saw every day if people say to me all the time. How do you win so many people to Christ? I pray this prayer that really comes out of Matthew 9:2 God help me see the people you put in front of me. That's the field. That's the Harvest feel okay and give me the wisdom to know what to do sit with me God help me see the people you put in front of me and give me the wisdom to know what to do because he will He flat-out. Will it say when a story about my 94 year old mom? Okay, then we will run down together to close our time together. My mom 94 years old doesn't get out very often these cool little stroller cart things, you know that has a chair in front of it you flip it over. It's got a little drunk in it and she puts anything and everything in their categorized, you know, and she always has a very careful when you fold like his old stuff once a dump out when you put in the trunk. So she wanted to go to Kroger's Krogers in her favorite Kroger's not the Marshalls close to her house. She wants to go to her favorite Kroger's where she fears that shot. We walk in there and she's a little stroll the car thing with the handbrake man. She come around the corner to the veggie owl. And people started wave my mom to go ahead Elizabeth. How you doing? My mom's 94. She was 91 this time we do this. And she's waving like he's on a parade tour. Do you know how she comes around and has become around the veggie roll. I see a girl walking towards me who is very curvaceous and I'm a pastor type. So I know I try to look straight ahead in that the right or left of the three did some thinking what she was wearing was not covering up a whole lot and it was tight and she was courageous but she had this long dress on it was because of the slits. So when she walked obaby, I'm just looking Beyond this kid to kid probably 2 years old, maybe a little older but not the vegetables there in Krogers. And I'm just looking at the Gaylord help me get my mind. Look Beyond and my mom with her little stroller car thing. She looks over to comes up and she sees this little boy. And she looks like she goes off your little boy is so beautiful. It's girl itchy is all tatted up and she's posting that she had metal hanging out here. She has stuff going to come around here. And I mean everywhere you look skin to expose yourself hats. She was what it's on baby. Here we go.

What does hard look on this girl's face just kind of soften and she said her shoulders back. You think my voice is beautiful.

Light up for boys boys with the best as you really think so makes me and I'm standing here. My mom is Sharon hope with this guy 20 something. I don't know what's going on why she was in a hurry. Obviously. She wasn't happy. She wasn't happy with her kid and the kids and I look at my mom my mom's to let you know that she can little kids not smiling and the price you said, you know what I see the love of God in some different ways. My children my boys used to fight with each other to make up to the grace of God. She stood there. cuz she saw but everybody matters It's all how you in this girl that I was looking Beyond I guess a truth that's looking beyond for good reason for 3, but I said go. Everyone matters hears our prayer. Okay what I want you do this time. That's why I had left on the PowerPoint. Is this I want you to insert your name this time. And set it to say God help me so you got help deep, okay. God help Dean see the people you put in front of me. Have give me the wisdom to do but I should do something God mean ever call you like you did my day to save somebody from being Beat to Death in the streets. But I know you know, there's somebody gots already put in front of you. Or will put in front of you. Turn to that feel this before this week. So pray that with me. Okay, you have to close your eyes. Just say your name. Okay, God help Dean see the people you put in front of me and give me the wisdom to know what to do father. May that be our new favorite our new norm and I pray that everybody would take a nap every morning. We'll get her in the knees of the can or next to the bed. It was in the first waking say this prayer. Lord that we will be a people who pray to the Lord Lord of the Harvest that you are Is there people all around us? We needed to see and experience the hope that you put inside of us help us to never treat. Our faith is fire insurance that we got ours. But I want to be part of the adventure you've called us to to always share and look for the person that's harassed and helpless and outside looking into the things of your grace to your son. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

Can you imagine how your life your family your neighborhood our city might change as we take to heart what Dean has shared with us. If we believe the good news in Christ his great love for us is great forgiveness for us. And we let that shape the way we see others and we let that shape the way we treat others that we see them and that we ask God to give us the wisdom to know what to do for them how to how to love them how to care for them that would I would change the world.

If you walk to grocery stores. Or the hallways of your employer or your own hallways at home with that sort of spirit Lord. Help me see people with your eyes and give me the wisdom to do for them what I need to do. Where is spend a few moments in prayer now? The worship team is going to sing a song. He can be a time of decision for some if you have a decision on your heart. You can come play with me. I'll be in the back so you won't be on display in front of everybody. You can kind of slipped to the back and I'll answer any questions you have pray with you pray for you will also have Folks at the front and the back that are simply prayer warriors. If you've got a burden or concern on your heart, you can come to them during this time. So as they sing this song There's a chance for us to reflect on and pray that prayer that that Dean gave to us Lord. Give us give us the eyes to see other people you put in front of us and the wisdom to do for them what he wants us to do. So, let's let's spend this time during the song As we sing this song. They'll be those prayer a decision opportunities both in the front and the back, please.