Feb 20, 2022 Sunday Worship Service (Roy)

Put that song out for you Okies. Okay, because we got a bunch of storms coming. Okay, get ready for it, but there will be a place where there is no clouds.

How do you follow that?

Roy. If you wanted to take a few more practice steps up here if you need to. Let's go to our Heavenly Father and pray.

I love you. Father in Heaven. We Are. Again, grateful to be here today. and, father, we know that we live in a world that Right now is filled with chaos.

There's so much confusion. And there seems to be desperation in the part of many Souls.

Many are worrying.

Run the precipice of perhaps War.

So, much illness.

There's so much hate. The mistreatment of people. By the way, we pray. Flat Tender Mercies. If I do, we pray for that piece. That peace, that surpasses all understanding.

And we prayed. Through the loving. Care that you will be with each person here today. Other that you bless them. Give them good. Health bless their families.

Bless us all with. With a renewed enthusiasm.

May we all come to know? That. We're not here alone.

We have one another. And above all, father. We know that you have said you would never leave us nor forsake us and father were thankful for that promise. And father were grateful for. The word that we can preach that we can teach. And father help us all to put our trust in you. And then we all realize. The significance of that life-changing word you have provided for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

I can remember my football coach telling the team that the program was getting better and better. We started out. Losing. But over the years we got better and we became Champions. Now remember that last year, the coach saying, you know. We stand on the shoulders of all those who played in this program. So we think about the hardship in the pain and the struggle and the practice, and that's true. Every sports team every business, every Foundation, every cause every program stands on the shoulders of the people of the past. And right now our congregations going to be celebrating 100 years of service in this community. 100 years. Think about that. So we to stand on the shoulders of those Saints, those Christians who began meeting for 100 years ago. And so, we stand today because of them. We're still continuing and that's something to be proud of. Pride in a good way and in a good sense and maybe a hundred years from now because of what we do today. And because of what we do in 2 years because of what we doing 10 years and twenty years that a hundred years from now, this congregation might still be going. Only wish that it will we pray that it will and we know that as long as God's word is in our heart, the church will continue. And we need to know that. So, as we get it to her text today, John chapter 5. After spending some time, in Galilee. Jesus is now making his way to Jerusalem. And we do read a bit about that and John 5:1 and he's making his way to Jerusalem for one of the feasts when I told exactly what this fief is, but we could make a good educated guess that it was the Passover based upon the information that we do find. But he's expected to make his way to Jerusalem for that Feast the same way, all the Jews throughout history made their way to Jerusalem for the three great feasts. Remember, the Jews were required to come to Jerusalem, 3 times a year. One was for Passover. And then 7 weeks later was Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. And then in the Autumn time would be the Feast of Tabernacles Feast of booths. They might call it. And so those were the three great feasts. And now, Jesus is Entering this town in on the Sabbath. In fact, the entire chapter of John chapter 5 takes place on the Sabbath. And it's quite interesting to know as we studying our Bible class this morning. What does Sabbath meant to the Jews, especially to the leaders of the Jews? But it was, certainly something that was. Reminds us of a rest. The Sabbath was a day of rest. God, rested on the seventh day. and if you been with us in our Bible classes on Wednesday night, brother Roy's, been leading us, and we've been talking about this rest that the Hebrews writer talks about and Hebrews chapter 3, Hebrews chapter 4, And it's this racks that we are waiting for right now. Write the rest of entering into heaven. The rest of being with Jesus. It's so every think about this rest, you think about the Sabbath and we think about what that day was for. The Sabbath was kind of like a mini Festival that pointed to those three. Great feast days.

And so those three great feast days, they would gather to worship. Gather, the praise. And remember especially for the Exodus, how they left bondage in Egypt and how God LED them into freedom.

But mommy, come to the Sabbath. That's primarily what they're doing. They're doing the same thing. They're remembering the goodness of God on that particular day. They're worshiping God. They're praising God and they're giving God all the glory and that's what Sabbath was about. So as we think about what's taking place on a Sabbath? We think about the fact that this ain't working. There it is. I think about invalid. Who here knows that word? Have you ever heard the word invalid? Right. Look at that, work closely.

In valid, in other words, you're not valid. That's what this man was that we just read about in John chapter 5. This man happened to be a disabled person. Perhaps paralyzed. And he's done that way for 38 years. And the people cast them aside as if he was a leper. Which was another Castaway? These types of people were the dregs of society. People look the other way. When they approach to. And so, a person that is invalid. Is one who was incapacitated by a chronic illness disability or injury? Some people today that happened has happened to their many people that, you know, although perhaps got hurt on the job and they can no longer work. Perhaps people were born in a particular way, but which makes it difficult for them to take part in any Workforce. But these are the types of people that were frowned upon. Looked. Down upon. And called invalid. They're not proper. They're not normal.

And so on this particular day, Jesus shows up and I want to read from John chapter 5, John chapter 52 getting in verse 1, I take a look at what Jesus has to say and what Jesus Does?

After this, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, there isn't Jerusalem by the Sheep gate pool, which is called in Hebrew the first up, having five porches. In these layer, great multitude of sick. Blind lame paralyzed. Waiting for the moving of the water, for an angel, went down at certain time to the pool and stirred up the water.

In the grifters, What's called the subjunctive mood and the subjunctive mood. Is that which is, it's a Mite or a maybe? It's all the idiom that is being used. Here is really to show us. This was part and parcel what people thought about this pool of water. That they felt it was a little bit mysterious because of the way it would Bubble Up. And so some people would say hello must be an angel coming to stir the water. And you remember, centuries ago when the Spaniards came to this country, especially into Florida. They were looking for the Fountain of Youth? Write the Fountain of Youth, and they saw that if you laid in those warm Waters, why you would turn young again, the Fountain of Youth, you know, and Arkansas. There's a place called Hot Springs. And many, many years ago, people would go there thinking that the water in the hot springs would heal them. And so this is no different. Then what's going on here? People had old legends about the angel stirring, the water. Now. There's a fellow here, again this invalid? This man who's not proper this man who was invalid? This matter has a cast away from society. He's been coming to this pool for 38 years.

And I just wonder. If he's ever been in the water. When do that?

But he said on this particular day, he saying, listen, nobody has put me in the water. And so I'm not getting the help that I think I need. And so Jesus comes along and he does the exact thing that the water is supposed to do to this man. Without even doing a thing. He says, get up and take off your mat. And that was it. The guy was here. There was no dancing engine Tatian. There was no specific repetition of thought or words. He just said, get up and take your man. The man got up and he want. And so we find here that Jesus did not think that this person was invalid. Do you think about that Jesus shows up at this particular location? Any picture of this one, man? Just think about all the people who were there. Jesus doesn't heal with everybody. But he comes to this one, man. Any Hills? Because he knows his condition. He knows he's been this way for 38 years. And just think about how far we've come along. What's, when it comes to paralysis that say. Now you think about a man, who was paralyzed back in the day, the days of Christ, how that would be. and of course, you know, what happens, when someone paralyzed I can't go to the bathroom like you and I can't Their clothes need to be changed. I need to be moved it around. They didn't have wheelchairs. It all of that. And so people would like to avoid those kind of people in Jesus understood that. This one is a bit of compassion on the part of Christ. Because this man is probably on the other side of the water. Where everyone else is not? Because no one wants to come there, this particular man. And so we find here Jesus, having a reference of compassion and showing the man who he is. Y'all notice this, however, notice he says, get up. Get up. Now. That's a word that's in reference to Resurrection. You know, there's a saying that goes that's been going on for centuries and that's we're getting ready for the great getting up day. Right? That's the great. Resurrection Day. This has reference to that Resurrection, but I want you to also consider this fact. This man did not have faith. I know I just was at this very moment. But later, he would. But not at the time that he was healed. A lot of people today. They say, well, you can't be healed without having faith. And so you see the faith healers on TV? They're phony. They're fake. And a m l. Try to heal people in just a few months ago, where they were exposed for the fraud that they were. And the person who was paralyzed. Was made aware of the fact that the preachers cans were on that person's forehead and nothing happened. Nothing happened. The person wasn't healed immediately. The person wasn't healed in an hour or two. The person wasn't even healed a week later. The person wasn't healed. And so the church. was exposed because people had cameras videos and recordings audio recordings of what to place and they expose that it was but the thing about it is, many people in the religious world will tell you that. If you do not have safe, you can't be healed. That particular congregation at church. They put out a newsletter saying, well, this individual just simply did not have faith enough to be healed. Imagine that. And so, as we think about the idea that this guy had no faith in Jesus Christ, when Jesus raised the dead, the dead do not have faith in Jesus Christ. It proves to us. That one did not need to have faith in Jesus Christ for him to heal them. But the thing about here are some occasions where Jesus said this requires faith on your part. But not always and this is one of those situations and so we're talking about a resurrection. We're talking about something that's new. And of course Resurrection is a Latin word. Reis r m or racer gire. It means to rise again. Get up again, and we come to this idea found in Colossians chapter 3 verses 1 through 4. Nora says since then you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is sitting seated. At the right hand of God. Do I have and yellow there raised with Christ raised with Christ? What does that mean? Well within the context we go back to chapter 2. Inverse 12, pairs with Paul says, having been buried with him in baptism. And which you were also raised with him through your. Now. Here's a an instance where they threw in the word your But the word that is used is the word love. The definite articles up. So in which you were also raised with him through the faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead, set, your mind on things above, not on Earthly things for you died. And your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

What was Paul saying?

Will knowing this get up Christian, get up be resurrected and if you've been resurrected spiritually, remain resurrected. Again, don't go back to that old man. You've been made new the Bible tells us when this happens. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus, right? All things have become new in Christ Jesus. According to Paul. Answers for you died. You've turned from the old man, you turn from the old way of living. And Paul says, that's the concept of dying. Now. If you died to the old ways, there has to be a resurrection spiritually. Spiritually. Speaking. There is It's only five things, John 5:24. Jesus makes that very common. He says the words that I have speak to you if you believe in them and me you will have passed from Death unto life. There it is. There's a resurrection with the power of God's word. We've been talkin about member at Hebrews 4:12 and Powerful sharper than any two-edged sword to its active.

It cuts to the soul, it cuts to the both joints and a separation of joints and Marrow. That's what happened on the day of Pentecost, folks. Men and Brethren. What shall we do? The Bible tells us they were cut to the heart. How By the words that Peter preached the word that Peter preached God gave him the word to preach and within that particular teaching of those words and those words were given to the people and those words are vehicles of thought. There are signs of ideas. That's what words are. When someone gives you a word, says a word. There's a certain image that comes to our minds about that were.

I have a book by an author Greek writer, and he talks about the word pictures of the Greek language, a beautiful book, because it exposes the beautiful language of the koine Greek. The very language that are Bibles written in, at least the New Testament. And the koine Greek has these words with these images that you can see. Well, even like in Latin Sue Garrett. To rise again. That's where we get the word Resurrection from until to rise again. What brings us an imagination? It gives us a f*** something to think about and that's what words are for and these words caused us. To respond to the words. Is that those words when preached, they're powerful because they come from God thing influence us, the influence are mine that influence our heart and you, hey there either respond in a positive way. What do you respond in a negative way? I just like, on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 people 3,000 people responded in a positive way to the preaching of Peter words that he spoke. But just think about all the other people who were together there that day, some 500,000 people were more and out of that whole throng of people. Only 3,000. We say only 3,000 we're begging for one on occasions. But three thousand Souls responded in a positive way while the majority responded in a negative way. And so we find here that we have to set our mind on things above. Not on Earthly things. And so we find that's how we become spiritual. That's how we become. Devoted followers of Jesus Christ. When we're constantly setting your mind on things above on spiritual things, on spiritual things. And so the resurrection me, if we get up, we get up.

Colossians chapter 3, beginning verse five, it says, put the death therefore whatever, belongs to your Earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity lust, evil desires greed, which is idolatry because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived, but now you also, you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these anger, rage malice slander and filthy language from your lips. It seems to me. Christ requires after conversion, growth spiritual growth. That is something that is a necessity. So, although Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, does not mean, will automatically forgiven of our sins.

There's something that we still must do that's on this essity that's grow to spiritually grow. If we don't, we stunt the growth. We don't grow as we are. But Christ expects us to grow and to change. We can't be like the people we were the day we were baptized. We need to be someone different than the day that we were baptized. We need to have changed. We need to be more christ-like everyday and so our progression naturally as Paul says Reaching to the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ. Jesus. That's what Paul was talking about. He said, listen, we have the word of God. You have to obtain a certain level that I need to be. I have not attained that level yet. That's what, that's good news for you. And me, if the Apostle Paul of all people could say, he still needs to grow, we too need to grow. We need to rely upon God's word. Yes, but you also may need to make an application. And that's the point that Jesus makes to this gentleman. After he's healed, you remember, he tells the gentleman go and sin, no more. Now, Jesus was not expecting him to be a perfect individual is not expecting him to be sinless, but he is expecting him to do the best you can and avoiding sin to doing the best. He can in following Jesus Christ, you know, I know the world frowns upon that. I know your, your workmates and your schoolmates, they don't like you being good. Right, that's just not right, you know Peter talks about that in his letter. He says those who used to run with. They will call you or think of you being peculiar people. Peculiar. What is so peculiar about being like Jesus? Well, because the rest of the world is in the hands of another individual Satan. and so that's why there is just ended T between good and evil, there is just between the seed that is Christ and a scene that came from Satan and we read about that in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 so, he says, And let not filthy language flow from your lips. Do not lie to each other. Since you have taken off your old self. Some translations, say old man, with its practices and have put on the new cell for the noon, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator. What's Paul saying?

You've been resurrected spiritually, speaking in Christ Jesus Christ. As a forwarded, you this newness of life and you could become new because you are a new creation in Christ. Jesus asked us to move forward, not backward. We need to cut the ties with the past. We need to cut the ties with the old man at the spring forward to the new, there's a new Verizon for each person. There's a new horizon for each Christian. There is no hope for each person. That's what Jesus brings. And I hope that's what you're looking for. Because that's the only way it can be found. And that's the only way that Jesus presented this option. Song Colossians chapter 3. Beginning verse 15 and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to, it's also, you were called in one body and be thankful. Your hearts. Let the rule of God, let that be in your heart. How is that going to happen through God's word? When you allow God's word to rule and Reign your heart. You can't help us think what David said in Psalm 119 verse 11, when he said the word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. The war was in his heart. The very same way that Jesus had the word in his heart when he was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness and every time I would throw his way, he would say it is written. I can't do that. It's written why? I can't do that. And so when you allow God's word to ruin to rain your heart and your mind, you're allowing God to rule and reign in your heart. In mind. He's just too, which also you were called in one body and that one body is the church. The one body, the church and be thankful. Thankful always be thankful for the condition that Jesus Christ made you a conditional renewal f****** edition of newness. And then he says here's here's how it's all done. Let the word of Christ well in you richly in all wisdom. I wonder. What that man did after he was healed. When Jesus told him to sin, no more. I wonder if he went to the temple. I wonder if he went to the synagogue and began studying God's word opening those pages of the Bible as it were in, finding out, the intimacy is related to God, finding out the love and the grace and the mercy, that's the word of God, God. But that's the only way you can find those things is through the word of God. So, when we find that the word of God is dwelling in us. We find that there is a relationship like no other. It's a relationship that God desires of you, but it oughta be relationship that we desire with him. Imagine I just a relationship that is filled with love as filled with compassion. That is filled with Mercy. Have you ever been in a relationship where there is no Grace where there's no mercy? Where there's no forgiveness lot of marriages. And that way a lot of relationships in that way. Lot of families, go through terminal because of such Concepts.

But the relationship we have with Jesus reconciling us all back to the father. He says, that's the relationship above all relationships that we look forward to because it's that relationship that provides us the grace that we need every day. And so, Having a resurrection begins exactly where Jesus said it would begin. And that is he that believes and is baptized shall be saved a person at that. Moment will have passed from Death unto life. The spirit gives life, Jesus gives life, but we learn over and over again. That is the word of God that gives life. And we learned that it's the gospel. That is the power of God to Salvation for everybody. There. We find everyone is on equal footing. Everyone has access to the same gospel and it's through that gospel. And only that gospel that salvation is granted to one who is going to believe and submit to the Lord. You can do that this morning. You can put Jesus Christ on a baptism. If you so desire, perhaps you've done that but you haven't had a relationship that perhaps she wants. You might But Jesus is here, and he still saying I still desire that relationship with you come and make things new. Well together, we stand and sing.