WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.200 This is the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:11.599 All right, good morning, church family. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:16.160 If you are a guest with us this morning, we are really grateful that you are here. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:17.359 Let me introduce myself. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:18.879 My name is Jason Smith. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:22.559 I have the awesome privilege of being the pastor here at First Baptist Bernie. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:31.039 Church family, turn with me in your Bibles to Mark chapter 7 as we continue our walkthrough, our sermon series in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:36.799 If you do not have a Bible, there is a Bible in the uh rack in front of you. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.719 You can keep that Bible. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:45.359 We place that there for you so that you can have a copy of God's word as a gift from us to you, okay? 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:46.000 Keep that. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:47.039 We would love that. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:50.079 Wasn't that baptism amazing this morning? 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:51.119 It was great. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:51.679 It was great. 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:53.840 You can give a hand clap of praise. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:00.399 So awesome to see just lives and families changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:01.039 Amen. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:01.600 Amen. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:03.840 Hold your spot in Mark chapter 7. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:13.359 So on May 18th, 1980, an earthquake triggered the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.239 Helens in Washington State. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:27.760 Traveling at more than 300 miles an hour, the blast devastated nearly 250 square miles in a matter of minutes. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:32.239 Trees were flattened, ecosystems drowned. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.359 Fifty-seven people lost their lives. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:50.879 Superheated gas and debris swept across the landscape, killing almost everything on the surface and burying beneath volcanic material all along the ground. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:56.079 It was gray, barren, lifeless. 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:04.239 One could stand there in the aftermath and wonder, how could anything ever live here again? 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.000 But then something remarkable happened. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:19.039 Within just a few weeks, scientists began to discover that amidst all that devastation, signs of life began to return. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:27.919 Spiders, scavenging beetles, plants that had survived beneath the soil and the snow. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:37.599 And before long, that landscape of gray ash and fallen trees, tender shoots began to appear. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:45.280 And that little patch of green says that, you see, there is hope beyond the devastation. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.280 Restoration on the other side. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:56.800 Friend, that's the picture that I want in our mind as we turn to Mark's gospel this morning. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:09.759 Because for the last several chapters, okay, we've watched Jesus walk through the world that is devastated by sin, demons, disease, death. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:17.120 But everywhere that Jesus goes, we see that the world is not the way that it is supposed to be. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:23.919 But everywhere, green begins to appear. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:30.000 Demons flee, the sick are healed, the dead are raised. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:43.520 And this morning, Jesus is going to take us somewhere unexpected, outside of Israel, into Gentile territory. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:54.000 And what we're going to see when we get there is that the restoration is spilling over beyond Israel's borders, even to those outside. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:59.680 So listen, as I read in Mark chapter 7, beginning in verse 24. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:06.159 Jesus got up and he went away from there to the region of Tyre. 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:12.879 And when he had entered a house, he wanted no one to know of it, yet he could not escape notice. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:22.319 But after hearing of him, a woman whose little little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at his feet. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:33.360 Now the woman was a Gentile of Syrophoenician race, and she kept asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:44.240 And he was saying to her, Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:53.279 But she answered and said to him, Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:57.839 And he said to her, Because of this answer, go. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:02.000 The demon has gone out of your daughter. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:08.000 And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:19.279 Again he went out from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee within the region of the Decapolis. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:28.720 They brought to him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored him to lay hands on him. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:35.360 Jesus took him aside from the crowd by himself and put his fingers into his ears. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:48.560 And after spitting, he touched his tongue with the saliva, and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, he said to him, Ephatha, that is, be opened. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:56.639 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.360 And he gave them orders not to tell anyone. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:04.319 But the more he ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:09.600 And they were utterly astonished, saying, He has done all things well. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:24.240 Heavenly Father, as we come to your word this morning, God, we say that we love you. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:30.160 We say that we long to be near you and to be taught by you. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:38.480 We long to have your heartbeat, Jesus, because here in this passage, you pursue the lost. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:41.920 You pursue those that are outside. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:49.279 And Father, we want to be those type of people because you pursued us when we were outside. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:54.720 When we were lost, you came and you found us, and we rejoice in that truth. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:02.959 And so, Father, teach us and stir our hearts this morning for those that are yet to come in to your fold. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.040 We love you, and we pray all of this in Jesus' name. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:08.000 Amen. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:31.120 Recall where we were the last time we were in Mark, because Jesus was charged by Pharisees who came all the way from Jerusalem to meet him, and they look at his disciples and they charge Jesus and his disciples that you are unclean because you do not hold to our ritual hand washings. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:46.000 Now, immediately, and Mark wants you to feel that, immediately it seems like Jesus leaves that argument and goes directly into Gentile territory. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.720 Jesus got up and he went away from there to the region of Tyre. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:08:04.639 Like Elijah, he's leaving Israel to enter a territory with a long history of paganism and pride and prophetic judgment. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.800 But Jesus isn't coming to bring judgment. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:17.199 After his lengthy travels, we are given one singular account. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:22.399 A woman whose daughter is demon-possessed. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:29.199 And she's so desperate that she finds Jesus and falls at his feet. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.879 Mark gives us very specific details. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:42.480 He does not want us to miss the fact that she is a Gentile woman of Syrophoenician descent. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:51.200 Now that is from the same region as Queen Jezebel and Baal worship. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:56.000 And her daughter has an unclean spirit. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:01.840 You have to ask yourself, how long have they lived in this torment? 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:07.200 You see, Mark wants us to understand something about this woman. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.000 She has no religious pedigree. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.960 She didn't grow up in Israel. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:18.320 She's from the wrong place, and her family is a mess. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:24.559 And yet when she hears that Jesus is near, she runs to him. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:30.960 Friend, Jesus came for someone like you. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:42.000 You may feel like you're an outsider at church, but you are not an outsider to the mercy of Jesus Christ. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:47.200 Now this woman does the only thing that she knows to do. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:54.879 She keeps on asking him to help her daughter. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:01.039 But then Jesus gives us a very unexpected answer. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:11.120 Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:21.600 Now, before you spiral in disgust, I need to make sure you understand exactly what Jesus said. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:31.360 First, the word that Jesus uses for dogs is not the wild scavenger kind of roam the street type dog. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:36.000 No, it's the dog, it's a small dog in the home, a pet. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:45.200 But you rightfully say, well, okay, but he is still calling one group children and the other dogs. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:47.679 That is correct. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:56.879 Israel had received the covenants and the promises, and through Israel the Messiah came. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:05.759 That's why Paul will later say the gospel is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:15.600 But don't miss one other very important word that Jesus says: Let the children be satisfied first. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.399 First. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:22.399 He doesn't say the Gentiles will never eat. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:25.840 He says, Let the children eat first. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:31.519 Which means the Gentiles are going to eat. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:36.159 You see, the nations were always part of God's plan. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:42.639 Now Jesus' response could have greatly discouraged this woman, right? 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:49.039 Jesus says the Messiah has come and Israel must be fed first. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.759 You must wait your turn. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.320 But she isn't deterred. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.000 She isn't discouraged. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:00.879 In fact, she responds with courageous faith. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.639 Watch what she says. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.320 Yes, Lord. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:10.720 But even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.679 Do you see what she does? 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:18.240 She humbly accepts Jesus' categories. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.840 Yes, Lord. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.240 She doesn't argue that she is one of the children. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:29.120 She doesn't try and take Israel's place at the table. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:34.559 But she also understands something else about Jesus. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:54.080 That there is so much goodness in him, so much mercy, that there is so much power that she doesn't need to take anything away from the children, that there is enough for her too. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:58.720 Even the crumbs are enough. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.559 Jesus, I don't need the whole loaf. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:11.840 I believe that there is enough power in even one crumb from your table to set my daughter free. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.879 Now that's faith. 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:21.440 And Matthew tells us that Jesus marvels at her faith. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:24.799 Oh woman, your faith is great. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:30.879 And then he says to her, Because you have responded in this way, go. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:35.039 The demon has left your daughter. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:37.200 And that's it. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.279 Jesus doesn't go to her home. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:45.440 He doesn't lay his hands on her daughter. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:49.600 He doesn't even need to be in proximity to the demon. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:59.759 No, rather, from miles away, Jesus simply speaks, and Satan must let her go. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:09.919 You see, the blessing of God's kingdom is beginning to spill over to the nations. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:15.919 Now hold on to that thought, and I want you to look at this map with me. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:16.960 Okay? 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:23.360 Because we're told that Jesus next goes to Decapolis. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:29.440 But he doesn't just go straight from Tyre to there, right? 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:36.320 Instead, we're told he goes to Sidon and then to Decopolis. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.960 He doesn't take a direct route. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:49.440 This is very odd, but when you pay attention to it, you realize that his entire journey is through Gentile territory. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:15:09.919 So then after describing this remarkable journey, Mark slows everything down because as he gets back to Decapolis, there is one Gentile man, a man who cannot hear and can barely speak. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:17.440 Jesus took him aside from the crowd by himself and put his fingers into his ears. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.559 And after spitting, he touched his tongue with the saliva. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:29.360 And after look, and he looked up into heaven, and with a deep sigh he said to him, Ephatha, that is, be open. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:37.919 Now, what I want us to notice is how demonstrative Jesus is with this miracle. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.759 Think about it. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.720 He just cast out a demon from miles away. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:45.840 Okay? 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:49.360 He doesn't need to do any of this. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:54.639 He takes the man away from the crowd. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.279 Imagine being this man. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:58.399 Okay? 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:06.639 Think about how incredibly personal this is because he cannot hear what Jesus is saying. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.399 And so Jesus looks him right in the eyes. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:18.080 And like a doctor who's diagnosing where the problem is, Jesus sticks his finger in his ears. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:23.440 You can barely speak, and Jesus touches your tongue. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:35.919 Jesus looks to heaven and with a deep sigh, not in frustration with the man, but but caring and feeling the weight of the brokenness. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:44.320 Standing before him, Jesus looks out up to heaven and says, be open. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:50.799 Friend, do not miss the tenderness of Jesus here. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:07.440 And yet he is never too powerful to be personal. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.880 He's never too powerful to be personal. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:17.759 He communicates to this man in a way that he understands. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:21.839 Because he touches the very places that are broken. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:32.799 And in verse 35, we're told, and his ears were opened, and the implement of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:39.839 Now, church, I need to show you something about the way that Mark ends this whole section. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:53.039 Because 700 years before Jesus ever opened this man's ears, the prophet Isaiah told us that this day would come. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.839 Listen to Isaiah 35. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.680 It's going to be on the screen. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:02.559 It says, strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:07.200 Say to those with fearful hearts, be strong, do not fear. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.200 Your God will come. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:13.599 He will come with vengeance, with divine retribution. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.079 He will come to save you. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:24.480 Then the eyes of the blind will be open, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:31.759 And he will, and the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.079 Did you hear it? 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:47.920 Isaiah said there was coming a day when the ears of the deaf would be open, and the tongue that could barely speak would shout for joy. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:52.799 In church, that's exactly what Jesus did. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:19:05.599 In fact, Mark uses an incredibly rare word to describe the man's speech impediment, and that's the same Greek word in the translation of Isaiah 35. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:09.279 You see, Mark doesn't want us to miss it. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:16.960 He is pointing backwards and saying, Jesus is fulfilling Isaiah 35. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:24.640 But what did Isaiah say it would mean when this started happening? 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.440 What did Isaiah say the meaning of that was? 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:32.559 Behold, your God will come. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:41.440 He will come to save you, and then the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:48.160 See, I Isaiah didn't only predict that there's going to come a day when a deaf person's going to hear. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.200 No, no, no, no. 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:53.119 He said, Your God is coming to you. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:20:00.079 And when he comes, the broken creation will begin to be restored. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:07.440 But I need to tell you what happens immediately before this passage in Isaiah 35. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:12.559 I need to describe to you the devastation of Isaiah 34. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:18.160 Because in Isaiah 34, God's judgment has fallen. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.519 The land is desolate. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:29.039 It's gray and barren and devastated. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:33.359 But then you turn one page to Isaiah 35, and what does it say? 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:44.000 It says that in the desert, in the wilderness, they will rejoice and they will shout for joy at the blossom, at the growth that's coming up. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:48.160 You see, green begins pushing through the ashes. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:54.400 Isaiah says that that judgment will not be the final word. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:00.000 That God is coming to restore that which sin has ruined. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:08.079 And then 700 years later, a Gentile daughter who's tormented by an unclean spirit is set free. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:11.519 And you say, that's green. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.440 That's pushing up. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:20.160 A man who can't hear, suddenly he hears the voice of Jesus. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:24.079 That's green, that's pushing up. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:30.960 A tongue that can barely speak begins praising Jesus. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:36.480 That's green in the midst of the desert. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.759 But church. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:43.279 Where is all of this happening? 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:48.799 Because it's not in Jerusalem. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.920 It's not in the temple. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.799 It's in Gentile territory, isn't it? 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.839 You see, remember what the woman said? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.880 To Jesus? 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:03.839 Or sorry, you remember what Jesus told the woman? 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:06.960 Let the children be satisfied first. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.680 But she didn't wait passively, did she? 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:18.640 She didn't sit back and go, well, I guess that's no, no, no, no. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:25.039 She believed that there was more than enough bread for her to. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.440 And she was right. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.920 That the blessing is spilling over. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:36.000 And that's what Mark wants us to see. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.119 That's why look at where Jesus goes. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:41.920 He goes outside of Israel. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:47.920 And he seeks a desperate mother whose daughter is tormented by a demon. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.839 He seeks a death man. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:50.480 Why? 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.519 Because he came to save them too. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.720 He came to save them too. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:08.480 You see, when Jesus goes to the cross, he will not merely die to redeem people from Israel. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:20.480 He will purchase himself a people from every tribe, every tongue, every nation. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:24.720 People like this desperate mother. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.920 People like this deaf man. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.279 And people like you. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:37.359 Friend, maybe that's you this morning. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:45.119 You sit in church, but you still feel like you're on the outside. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:49.359 Maybe you didn't grow up in church. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:55.279 Maybe you think everyone knows the Bible better than you. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:07.200 Maybe your life has been marked by things that make you wonder whether someone like you could ever belong to God. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.079 Hear me. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:15.759 Jesus came for someone like you. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:28.880 And the fact that you are hearing the good news this morning means that the crumbs have made it all the way to you. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:35.519 And the question is, how are you going to respond to them? 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:57.519 Now, church family, those of us that have tasted that good bread, the question is, is do we have the heart of Jesus for those that are still on the outside? 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:02.799 I want you to think about the contrast that Mark has given us, right? 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:10.000 The Pharisees traveled from Jerusalem to Jesus to argue about who was unclean. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:14.000 And when that conversation ends, what does Jesus do? 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:26.319 He gets up, he travels into Gentile territory to the unclean to bring mercy, to bring hope, to bring restoration. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:38.480 But oh, how easily the religious self-righteousness produces isolation. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:43.599 Stay away from those people. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.799 Their lives are a mess. 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.440 They don't believe what we believe. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:54.400 They don't live like we live. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.119 But do you see the heart of Jesus? 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:05.680 You see, the gospel is so good that it overflows. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:08.400 It spills over. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.720 It moves toward the outsider. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:18.960 It brings the good news into hopeless places. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:27.680 And so, beloved, the question for you is: is that reflected in my life? 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:35.920 Has the mercy that came looking for me made me merciful towards them? 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:41.599 Do I actually know people who are far from God? 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.160 And do I pray for them? 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.720 And do I invite them into my home? 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.200 And do I speak to them about Jesus? 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:51.680 And do I move towards them? 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:59.920 Or have I slowly built a Christian life where I never have to encounter them? 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:09.519 Do you guys remember back in Mark chapter 5, the last time that Jesus was in the Decopolis? 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.920 Do you remember? 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:19.279 Because the account was the man who was possessed by the legion of demons. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.200 Do you remember? 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:30.079 And after Jesus cast out the demons into the pigs, the whole community wanted nothing to do with Jesus. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:33.920 They begged Jesus, get in the boat and get out of here. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:40.160 But the man who had been set free, he wanted to come with Jesus too, didn't he? 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.720 And what did Jesus say? 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.680 He says, uh, listen. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:48.079 Go home. 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:56.400 And you go and tell everyone you meet, everyone who will listen what the Lord has done for you. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.720 You go tell. 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:04.720 So now that Jesus comes back to this region, what do we find? 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:13.359 We find as soon as Jesus enters that they are bringing to him the broken. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:18.160 They are coming out to meet Jesus. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:22.880 Church, that's our job. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:26.079 That's our job. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.119 Right? 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:34.960 It's not our job to heal the deaf ear or to loosen the mute tongue. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:38.799 It's not even our job to restore lives. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:42.880 It's our job to bring them to Jesus. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:54.480 It's our job to share what He has done for us and to bring them to the one that can do the same thing, change their lives. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.839 Will you pray with me? 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:00.799 Our Heavenly Father. 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:04.880 King Jesus, there is no one like you. 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:10.160 Jesus, you found us and you pursued us. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:28.240 When the scripture says, while we were your enemies, while we were fighting against you, you died on the cross, you loved us, and you sent your spirit to pursue us and to open our eyes to the truth of your love. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:48.079 Father, I pray right now, everyone under the sound of my voice, if there is anyone here that does not know you as Lord and Savior, King Jesus, I pray that today that they would hear the good news, that they would know that you pursue them. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:52.720 Right now, through your spirit, you are calling them to yourself. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:30:06.799 And Father, I pray that they would hear this good news and that they would fall down and repent of their sins, that they would realize there is there is no other name given under heaven by which men must be saved. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:23.839 And Jesus, I pray for us as believers that our hearts would be stirred up for the outsider. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:30.799 For those that are not in here right now. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:48.160 Maybe they think differently than us, maybe they vote differently than us, maybe they've experienced so much different about life, and they they don't function in our circles. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:58.480 Father, I pray that this passage stirs our heart as a church and as individuals to go. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:11.839 To be so mindful of those that you have given us relationship with at work in our neighborhood, those around us. 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:25.680 And Jesus, that we would be bold and courageous because your love and mercy for us spills over. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:34.880 Spills over and pursues those who are on the outside. 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:40.559 We pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:49.200 Church family, the praise team is gonna come lead us in two songs of response. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:54.160 As always, we give time for you to respond to the Lord. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:32:01.599 However, the Spirit of God has moved in your heart, you must be obedient in your response. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:04.160 I can never tell you what that looks like. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:08.240 I can encourage you to do it. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:16.640 You can sit there, you can fill out one of those response pads and list out things that you know you need to do this week. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.839 You can stand and you can sing in faith. 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:23.359 We'll have ministers down here at the front who would love to pray with you. 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:36.000 But let us let God's word stir us up to faith and to obedience. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:36.880 Right? 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:40.880 We can't hear this message and be like, yeah, that was a good one, let's go eat, right? 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.519 No. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:47.200 We must be stirred up to faith and obedience. 00:32:47.440 --> 00:33:04.559 Would you stand with the