When Grace Found Me by Pastor Claude Whittaker (LIVE SERMON)

When Grace Found Me by Pastor Claude Whittaker recorded live at Deeper Life Ministries located in Salisbury, Maryland.

Transcript

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Give the Lord a hand clap and take your seat. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen. Hallelujah. When grace found me. When grace found me. The Bible records an incident in the Bible where a man needed God's grace. The Bible says in uh John 5 and verse 1 that there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went to Jerusalem. Now there were three feasts that all the men had to bring their families up to Jerusalem. One was the Passover, and two was uh the tabernacle feast or boost, and then the third was a man of Pentecost. And so they went up to, the Bible doesn't describe here what feast that it really was. But we know those three feasts were mandated to come to Jerusalem. And uh the Bible says they're at Jerusalem by the sheep market. There was a pool. Now, the sheep market means the sheep gate. It always blows my mind that the Lord is intentional. The sheep gate or the sheep market was where they brought sheep into the temple to the outer court where they were washed and prepared for the sacrifice. Here comes Jesus walking through that same gate because he's the Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world. And so he goes through that gate because he will later be crucified for your sins and mine. And then he had purpose. How many know the Lord has purpose? He doesn't do anything without purpose. So he walks through the sheep gate. Glory to God. Let me tell you something. Before we get done, uh y'all, y'all feel a little stiff in here. Before we get done, we're gonna get rid of that spirit of stiffness. Glory to God. Yes, I feel somebody wants to move. Because somebody needs something from the Lord. Do me a favor. If you need something from God, just slip your hand up in the air and say, I need something from God. I really need something from God. Okay. All right. We've got the right people in the right church. I'm in the right place. Y'all in the right place, okay. And so uh the Bible says that he went through that sheep market. There was a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue uh Beth Bethseda. Bethseda, meaning the house of grace. So that means the house of grace. And uh in this place, thank you, Bosteve, in this place were people laying beside this pool. And uh they were impotent folk. Some of them couldn't move, they couldn't uh get around. There were people that were blinded, couldn't see. There were people that were halt, they were withered, but they were waiting on something. So in this pool were people with all types of conditions, but there's no condition that God can't heal, that God can't deliver you from, and no condition that the Lord won't help you from. I don't care what the doctor told you, I don't care what the people told you, there is nothing that God cannot deliver you from. There is not a thing that the Lord cannot do. So these people were in their condition, and they were waiting for the moving of the water in their condition, but waiting. Can't move, but waiting with expectation. I don't know who I'm talking to right now, but somebody came with expectation. Knowing that if God would get involved with your situation, then you know that everything will be alright, hurting, but waiting, heartbroken, but waiting, in despair, but waiting, broke, but waiting, waiting on God to do something. I want to know is anybody really waiting on God to do something. I'm not waiting on God to do something tomorrow, I'm waiting on God to do something today. Somebody say today, I'm waiting on God to move today, today, in my current condition. I don't have it all together, but I'm waiting on something. The Bible says that they were waiting on the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season and he troubled the water. Now the angel didn't just go on his own volition. Angels are created being that go at God's bidding. And so God took the angel to go down and trouble the water. And uh at a certain season, the water would get troubled, and uh, whosoever then first after the trouble of the water stepped in and was made whole of whatever disease that they had. And so they waited on the water. And when they saw the water moving now, it blows my mind. Because some of them were halt, some of them were made, some of them were blinded, some of them, amen, were withered, but somebody was waiting for God to do something. Now, it's important now because it couldn't be the first, the second, or third, because you had to be the first. And the first that got in the water, that first person was made whole. You see, that would fix a lot of people. Because a lot of times in church, people sit back and wait for somebody else to do something. But I didn't come today to sit back and wait for anybody to do anything. I come to get something from God. Anybody really come to get something from God? I need about three of me that really came to get something from God. Yes, I need about three of you that really came to get something from God. Do me a favor, speak to your neighbor, so don't watch me. Because I'm getting ready to move. Because I feel the move of the spirit in this place. Somebody say hallelujah. I came to get something from the Lord. You really don't know my condition. You can sit in the ball you want, but when the word comes to move, I'm gonna move. I need somebody to give a look at a seven snake and a hand clap of praise. I feel like moving. Anybody feel like moving? I feel like moving. Brother Marcus, I feel like moving. Glory. Hallelujah. I feel God now. I feel God now. I'm alright now because I feel God now. I feel like moving. My miracle is not predicated upon you moving. My miracle is predicated upon me moving. As a result, the Bible says there was everybody that needs something. But there was only one person that would get it in that certain season. I want today to be my season. Y'all gonna make me preach in here. I want today to be my season. Now I I I'm telling talk to the person next to you. Say, I'm not gonna talk to you too much after this. Because it's getting ready to get serious in here. It's getting ready to get don't take it wrong. I love you. But it's getting ready to get serious in here now. I really need something from the Lord. I really need something from God. My emotions need healing. My mind needs healing. My body needs healing. My heart needs healing. My finances need healing. Yes, I need something from the Lord. The Bible said there was a certain man there. I don't know. There were five porches. I don't know why Jesus went to this porch. I don't know. Maybe it was the man's season. I don't know. But is it your season today? It's my season to get my healing. It's my season to get my deliverance. It's my season to get my breakthrough. It's my season to see God do something great for my life. It's my season, amen, to live a life that's pleasing. It's my season. Yes. The Bible says 38 years. He was stuck. But when Jesus saw him, he knew that he had been a long time in that case. When grace found him, listen to me. When grace found him, he was not perfect. He was had infirmities and he had it for a long time. The length of your condition does not stop God from being able to give you the victory. I know when you were a child, they hurt you. And you've been holding on to it for a long time. But God said he wants to heal you on today. I know the divorce broke you. But you don't have to live in yesterday. You can get the victory on today. I know what they did to you wasn't fair. But God is able to give you the victory. If you come with expectation that I need something from the Lord. My season to be free. My season to walk in the power and the authority of God. It's my season. You've got to personalize that thing. And you've got to say it's my season. Amen. Jesus saw him and knew that he had been down a long time in that case. Your case is no worse than anybody else's case. He's better than a lawyer in a courtroom. A doctor in the hospital. He can solve your case. It's based upon whose report are you going to believe? I'm going to believe the report of the Lord. That he was wounded for my transgression. He was bruised for my iniquities. The chastisement of his peace was upon me. And by his strife I am healed. I am healed. Not words, but I am healed. Yes. Glory. Healed folk talk different. Healed folk act different. Healed folk worship different. What about healed worshipers that didn't hear this morning? What they did to you didn't destroy you. It made you stronger in the Lord. It didn't take you out. It brought you closer to God. And to God be the glory. Yes. I feel something in the room. I feel something in the room. Jesus saw him in his condition. And said to him, Do you want to be made whole? You're broken. Life is broken. People have broken you. Situations have broken you. But do you really want to be made whole? That's the question he asked the man. Do you want to be made whole? I have the ability to make you whole. Grace found the man. And Grace has the ability to make you whole. Not based upon your goodness, but based upon his goodness. How many know the Lord is really good? Here's what the man said. The man answered him. Now, had it been me, he said you want me made whole, I'd say, Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. You got to understand this man's condition has been a long time. Some of us have been going through things for years, and people didn't think we could get free. But grace freed us. Yes. I have no man when the water is troubled to put me in the pool, but while I'm coming, good God Almighty. Another step is down before me. He says, When the water is troubled, the first person in is going to get the healing. And in my 38 years of impactsy and my struggle, every time I see the water moving, I keep coming. But somebody is moving a little bit faster than I am. And they step in the water and they get theirs and I don't get mine. For 38 years I watched other people get blessed. For 38 years, I was dependent upon somebody else to help me get what I needed. His faith was in people, but not in the Lord Jesus Christ. For 38 years, I watched other people get their deliverance. For 38 years, I watched other people get their healing. For 38 years, I watched other people be happy. For 38 years, they kept stepping over me. And the Lord came to him and said, You'd have to wait another day. For your deliverance is here right now. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. For 38 years, they told you you be nothing. For a long time they said you couldn't get that habit. For a long time they said your past would keep coming up in front of your face. But when grace found you, grace made you whole. Oh, somebody shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Grace. Yes. Yes. No one will show grace and mercy to the impotent man. For 38 years, everybody was out to get theirs. No one took the time to say you go first. That's why I say when you feel the water troubling, you got to come get yours. In the name of the Lord Jesus. 38 years. Can you imagine? Some of y'all in this room ain't even 38 years old yet. Some of y'all a little bit older. Long time. You've been dealing with that for a long time. Seemed like forever. And every time you think somebody's gonna help you, they don't help you. They were literally stepping over and by the man. But listen to this. But he said, while I'm coming. So in his frailty, he kept on coming. He kept on coming. You can't go to church one Sunday. I'm gonna get ready to preach now. You got to keep on coming. You got to keep on coming. You got to keep on coming? You got to keep on coming. Till God gives you the victory. Then after He gives you the victory, you got to keep on coming. You got to keep on coming. You got to keep on coming. In his con you imagine, in his condition being halt in me, and other folk stepping over him by him for 38 years. I watched you get blessed. I watched you get healed. Jill. I watched you. I watched you get yours.

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But when I was crawling, I heard the water.

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That means how did the blind people get to the water? Even the blind people were beating him. Because they could hear it troubling. And they get into the water. Because they needed something from God. You like that, didn't you? 38 years. Somebody getting theirs and you not getting yours. But it kept on coming. You got to keep on trying. You got to do what you can do. And then let the Lord do the rest. For they that come to God must first believe that He is God and that He is the reward to them that diligently seek Him. Tell somebody you got to keep on coming. If you're going to get what you need from God, you got to keep on coming. Keep on coming till you get your healing. Keep on coming till you get your deliverance. Keep on coming till you get the house that you want. Keep on coming till you get the husband that you want. Keep on coming till you get the wife that you want. I don't know what you want, but keep on coming.

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Yes.

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You gotta keep on coming. I'm almost done. Y'all wearing me up. I've been up since 129. I want to sleep at 129, 1.30 a.m. But to God be the glory. It is something about the Holy Ghost. It'll take a tart old body and make it alive. Now, some of y'all went to bed at 8 o'clock, some of y'all at 8 o'clock, some of y'all went to bed at 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, some of y'all went to bed at 12 o'clock. And me and my wife got in bed. Late, and Brother Daniel said to me so late. But here we are giving God glory. Something about the Spirit of God. Now, some of y'all got plenty of rest. And y'all look like y'all sitting back eating popcorn. But you've got to keep on coming. You've got to keep on lifting up God and telling God, God, I'm dependent upon you. Now, the man says, I'm trying to get it, but someone's stepping over me. Jesus tells the man, Rise up. Rise, take up your bed and walk. You talking about the water. You're talking about your misfortune. You're talking about what man's not doing for you. How they're taking over. Jesus, just get up.

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Just as simple as that.

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Just get up. You're your own biggest problem. I'm preaching somebody. And you're living in yesteryear. And what folk haven't done or what they've done to you. All you got to do is just get up from where you're at. Get up from that position. Get up from that pain. Get up from that disappointment. Get it up from that hurt. Get up from that anguish. And keep on coming to the house of God. Somebody get up. Get it up. Get the woman of God. Get it up. Oh y'all, you're on tough and hit them. You skin with your kid, yes, and get up. Yum, kidding up the woman. The devil can hold you. Get up! Let me walk your mother. Come on, let me walk your mother. You just might as well lift your hands and give him God the glory. Hallelujah! Get up! The Bible says immediately! Not like y'all! Immediately! The man got up! Some of y'all over here must be the ones that were deaf. Get up! Immediately. The man was made whole as an act of faith to the word of the Lord. Grace found him in his condition. And grace made him whole. Get up from that condition. So I went back. No, get up! A righteous man falls seven times. But he gets back up. There's no failure in getting back up. The failure is staying down there. You've been dealing with this for a long time. Get up from your condition. Get up from your pity party. Get up from your sorrow and serve the Lord with gladness. The Bible says immediately the man was made whole. Took up his bed and walked. Took up his bed and walked. Y'all can be seated. Amen. We'll try it again in a minute. Immediately, not yesterday, not next week. But immediately. That's how faith works. Immediately. When faith collides with the word of God, something immediately happens. Let me say that again. When faith collides with the word of God, something immediately happens. When you believe God and take his word, and he gave the man instruction. Get up. Take up your bed. That bed was something he was familiar with. That bed was that thing that he was holding on to. He said, get rid of that thing. Take it up. You don't need that no more. Get up and walk. Listen to me now. The man, good God Almighty. The man walked away from his problem. And you can walk away from yours by the grace of God. And by the power of God. Listen to me. You got to be able to follow the instruction. I got some Bible for you. A wise man, he instructed and he changes.

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But a fool never changes.

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Listen to me now. My assignment today. My assignment today is to tell you you don't have to stay in your condition. Grace is here to give you enough strength to get up and to walk away. Grace is here. His grace is sufficient. For his strength is made perfect in our weakness. The Lord asked me to say this. For all of you who have experienced hurt and pain. Disappointment that left you paralyzed. Kept you from moving. Kept you in a vulnerable position. And you watched everybody else get there. You still waiting on yours. The Lord told me to remind you. That man sat there, and only the person that went in that water first was healed. But the Lord told me to remind you that the first shall be last. And the last shall be first in the name of the Lord. The first shall be last, and the last, they counted you out. And God's getting ready to move the direction. Oh, glory to God. I got this to do and I got to go. Come here, Brother Steve. Brother Steve, Sister Kaya, Sister Amanda. Come here real quickly. Which one do you want to be? The blind man? You can turn that way and see. I'm the internet. But 38 years. 38 years. The man in the back watching in front of me. Don't walk in both eating. 38 years. But I'm still coming. I'm still coming. I'm still coming. I'm still I'm watching you get yours. But I'm still coming. Then all of a sudden, God shifted the thing. And when it turned around, the last becomes first, and the first becomes last. Oh God, you're ready to bless somebody in her old today. Yeah, you got to get up from where you're at. Your time is today. Hallelujah. Tell somebody my time is today. Just like this. My time is today. Yes. God has to push the order. And I was the comedy button of the money. To get something from God. I told you it's your season. You blessed. Now God has shifted that thing. You're first to be blessed. First to get the anointing. First to get the blessing. First to get set free. Oh, I wish I had free to really believe that on today. Glory to God. And immediately the man, the woman, was made whole. Took up the bed and walked. That same day was the Sabbath. Yes, he switched the order. The man didn't have to wait for the trouble of the water. Watch this. He who sent the angel to trouble the water is now showed up in human flesh. It is God in Christ. What can come the world back to him? And he was given grace for grace. The grace of God. When grace found you. Do you remember where you were at when Grace found you? The same grace that found you is the same grace that can help somebody else. None of us deserve it. It's only by grace are we saved. Through faith. And not of ourselves, it's a gift from God. He gives you the gift of faith to believe on him in the name of the Lord. I don't know how many of you are hurting. I don't know what the devil has done to impede your progress. But the Lord just shifted. And you're the first person in line for something from God. Amen. Who needs something from God? Hallelujah. The Lord saw him. And the Lord sees you in your situation. You know, the main thing that the enemy does, the devil does, he'll tell you that God don't see, God don't care, and God don't know. The devil is a liar. The Lord sees you. And he asks him, Do you want to be made whole? He knows. He knows you're hurting right now. He knows this word is for you. That's why he gave it to me. God is getting to shift you. From the back to the front. Jesus told the man to get up. So y'all already up. Get up! From where you're at. Don't you know that God just shifted the order? You don't have to walk behind nobody. You don't have to wait for no man to do anything for you. God will do it all for you. All you got to do is get up. Am I right about it? All you got to do is get up. He knows that you're hurting. He knows that you're disappointed. He knows that you're strong. Can you imagine that man crawling? And then somebody steps in and gets there and they shouting. He got the crawl back. But he kept on coming. Persistent. Today is your season. Those of you I want to come to the altar. I want to touch your bridge. Today is your season.