WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:02.879 I've overcome the world. 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:05.200 It's imperative that you grasp what's being said here. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.800 He's not saying I persevered, it was hard, I pushed through. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:11.279 He's not saying it's like the Iron Man triad come on. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:14.400 At the very end, I was struggling, but I got to the finish line. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:16.239 No, he's saying I won. 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:23.839 This podcast is the ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:28.879 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit GrandParkway.org. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:32.640 Let's pray together. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:39.039 God thanks again that we get to be reminded today that our heart was made by God for treasure. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.640 Our heart finds its treasure, then our life begins to make sense. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.759 Some of us struggle with the addiction we struggle with because our heart is yet to find its treasure. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:55.679 So we have to self-medicate the anxiety and the unsettledness of settling for trinkets when we were made for treasure. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:59.520 And so, God, just kind of uh magnify the treasure today. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:01.840 Our confession, God, is that you're the treasure. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:03.439 We're not the treasure. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:04.799 You're the treasure. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:08.239 You're that thing of highest value, the greatest price. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:14.000 So it's it's necessary that we sacrifice whatever necessary to experience that, to get that. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:18.560 And so, Holy Spirit, speak to us today by your spirit and from your word, God. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:22.159 Say something that has our name on it and say it in a way that we understand it. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:25.120 We didn't come here to get beat up today in the name of religion. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.159 We came here to get set free because of a relationship. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:29.680 This is our desire, God. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:30.799 Make it our experience. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:31.519 We ask for it. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:32.400 In Jesus' name. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:34.319 And everyone said, Amen. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:34.799 Amen. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:36.159 You could have a seat if you've got a Bible. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:39.359 I invite you to take it and open up to John chapter 16. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:41.760 If you don't have a Bible, there's one on your on your row there. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:43.200 I'm on page 903. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:47.519 If you don't have a Bible personally and you'd like one, just take that one with you. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.439 It's not shoplifting, it's a gift. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:50.159 Amen. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:52.159 We'll gladly replace those. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:56.480 Uh just don't be like the lady that one December said, Hey, I'm gonna give my family Bibles. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.079 Can I take 15 of these? 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:00.000 Uh not making that up. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:05.519 And I just said, on behalf of your family, let me just go ahead and tell you they do not want a Bible for Christmas. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:07.519 I mean, that's just free. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:14.400 Uh but but I mean, take them if you want to, but don't give them as gifts, like Christmas gifts, because especially if they're kids, oh yeah, they're 15. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.360 Some of them are 15 and 12, they're gonna hate you. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.759 You're that ant that gives bad gifts. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:25.280 But anyway, if you don't have a Bible, you're like, hey, I'd like to start reading the Bible, I'd like to follow along with you, take it with you today, okay? 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:26.159 We'll get some other ones. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:31.120 I want to talk to you uh this morning about the simple God who allows you to suffer to suffer. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:33.439 The simple God who allows you to suffer. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.000 Now, what I mean, I'm not insulting God when I say simple. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.000 Let me give you a couple pictures up here on the stage. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.199 Picture over here on this side, right here, there's just one big box. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.319 It's like five feet by five feet by five feet, one big box. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:48.639 When I say God's a simple, the simple God, what I mean is that God is a simple being. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.000 Uh he's just the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:57.439 There's a consistency to his nature, and therefore there's a consistency to what he does, okay? 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:11.199 Versus a complex being on this side over here, I'd be like, I had a thousand shoeboxes, and I stacked them ten by ten by ten tall, and it's big, kind of a looks like a huge Jenga game, okay? 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.599 Uh, and if you're not careful, anybody know what Jenga is? 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:14.479 Can I see Jenga? 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:15.360 Yes, Jenga? 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:24.879 My favorite thing to do is to go to a restaurant where they have adult Jenga, which is a bunch of two by fours they cut off over in the bar section, and people get a few drinks in them and then try to play Jenga. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:27.520 That is like free that's better than a movie to me. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:34.560 But anyway, God is not like uh He's not like this because what happens is we start playing Jenga with the nature of God. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:44.400 We remove God's holiness, we remove his wrath, and pretty soon all we're left is this tottering pile of lukewarm love and affection for everybody and everything. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:50.479 This God doesn't hate anything, he's for everybody, and whatever you want to do, he's like, man, I bless that. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:51.039 Go ahead. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:04:03.199 But the Bible says that God's a simple being, he's not complex, he's not a bunch of one-off attributes or character, character traits all kind of glued together with this big zip tie of love, not at all. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:07.919 He's a simple being, and he allows us to suffer. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:11.840 Uh we'll get you say, Well, that's I don't want to hear that. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:13.599 Uh, neither do I a lot of times. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:22.079 But when you hear it from the Bible, hot out of the mouth of God Himself, when it happens, because in this world you are gonna face hardship, okay? 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:30.560 Christianity is not an escape from hardship, it is an explanation for it without you and I spitting a bit and just giving up, okay? 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:37.839 John chapter 16, verse 25, the Bible says this I've said these things to you in figures of speech, Jesus says. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:43.279 And the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:48.639 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:53.920 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I am come from God. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:58.959 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:04.319 His disciples said, Ah, now you're speaking plainly and not using figurative speech. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:08.319 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.279 This is why we believe that you came from God. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:14.000 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:19.279 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.720 You will leave me alone. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:23.279 Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:27.680 I have said these things to you that it that in me you may have peace. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:32.000 In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:37.439 Now, what does the Bible say to us today under this heading of the simple God who allows you to suffer? 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:39.680 There's three things I want to say from the text this morning. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:43.040 First one is simply this there is a hiddenness to God. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:44.800 There is a hiddenness to God. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:45.839 It's verse 25. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.839 Jesus says, I've said these things to you in figures of speech, the hour. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:53.279 Mark those two words in your mind or in your notes or in your Bible. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:59.839 The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:06.639 Now, all the uh it doesn't, unless you understand what Jesus means by the hour, he approached time differently. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:09.519 All through the gospels, he says, My hour is not yet come. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.120 People will take up rocks to kill him. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:15.120 And the Bible says that Jesus walked right through the crowd and no one laid a hand on him. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:21.279 And the only way he explains it was to say, My hour is not yet come, because Jesus had a different understanding of time. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:23.839 We have a chronological understanding of time. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:25.759 It's the Greek word chronos for us. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.000 Time just kind of chronologically moves along. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.160 This happened, then this happened, then this happened. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:35.120 Jesus has a kairos understanding of time, which means time fills up. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:36.079 It doesn't run out. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:38.240 You ever hear the phrase, they ran out of time? 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:39.920 Jesus doesn't run out of time. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:44.399 His time, that's why it says in the fullness of time, he was born of a virgin. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:45.759 And so time fills up. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:50.160 And so all through the Gospels, Jesus is talking and he says, My hour's not yet come. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.759 My hour's not yet come. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:57.600 This is this conversation that we're reading in chapter 16 started back in chapter 14. 00:06:57.680 --> 00:06:59.199 It's called the last discourse. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:09.839 It's the last time Jesus talks privately to his disciples, and he's just kind of unpacking because the closer he gets to the cross, to the hour, then the more clearly he speaks. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:16.319 Because up to this point, he's kind of spoken in a way, he's kind of demonstrated what I'm calling the hiddenness of God. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:33.920 He's not being gamey, he's not playing keep away, uh, but it can only be understood from the perspective of these two words, because all of Jesus' life and ministry, if not seen through those two words, the hour, this thing that's filling up that Jesus is coming to, then you think, why is Jesus saying things like this? 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:41.439 I mean, he speaks in these parables, these enigmatic, cryptic, veiled sayings for which the meaning's not immediately apparent. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:43.360 Hang on a second, hang on a second. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:48.399 These enigmatic, cryptic veiled sayings for which the meaning is not immediately apparent. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.600 Yeah, my wife talks in parables too, by the way. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.079 Yeah, I was like, whoa, I just had a moment there. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:04.879 Uh no, because people were like, Jesus, I mean, come on, if he wants a bigger following, you're smart people, if Jesus wants people to understand a bigger following, why didn't he just say it plainly? 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:08.720 Bless you. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:13.279 Did you watch a democratic uh debate a couple weeks ago or last week or whatever? 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.079 They had a lady on there, had a mic drop moment, Kamala Harris. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.120 She's, you know, the people didn't turn in to watch a watch a food fight. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.279 They turned in to watch us put food on their table. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:24.319 And I looked at my wife and said, that's gonna be tweeted all over America. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:28.959 Now she's all popular because politicians right now, I think there's 37 running for the Democratic Party. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:30.240 I know like 25. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.440 Uh they're all saying whatever they got to say uh to get elected. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:36.480 Jesus didn't come to be elected, he came as king. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:41.120 Okay, so we serve a uh uh a king that men did not elect, therefore they cannot dethrone. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.200 They can pass all the laws they want to. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.919 They're not gonna dethrone God who is king, okay? 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.840 Uh just file that away. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.879 And so Jesus says, you know, hey, uh, the hour. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:54.240 And so the closer he gets, he doesn't want to surface following. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.480 He's not like a politician, I want your vote. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.799 No, no, he says, I want your understanding. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:10.559 Because the more you understand, the deeper your life is, and the more your life reflects the character and the nature of God, which is this simple being, not this complex being, like we're playing jingle with the nature of God. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.679 No, no, no, no, no. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:14.159 The hiddenness of God is seen in three areas. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:16.080 Number one, it's seen in his teaching. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.039 In his teaching, when Jesus would talk, he used parables. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.879 Uh, like here's a chapter in the Bible. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:25.360 If you're ever bored, you're like, I got time to read one chapter in the Bible, read Matthew chapter 13. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:33.440 Jesus uses seven parables to explain what he was about and what Christianity was, what the kingdom of God, the reign and rule of God was like. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:35.600 In chapter 13, he says this. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.399 The disciples do, uh, Matthew 13, verse 10. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:42.480 Then his disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:49.200 And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:10:02.320 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but the one who who has the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:08.960 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:15.360 He gets to the end of chapter 13, and he says, This the Bible says, All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.159 Indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.799 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:26.480 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:32.720 Now, when I say the hiddenness of God is demonstrated in his teaching, again, look at me, beloved, Jesus is not playing keep away. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:41.759 He's not saying this is for the uber smart people, only the people that take AP uh trigonometry and AP chemistry and blah, blah, blah, and all this kind of stuff. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:49.039 Matter of fact, uh, if you want to read another interesting chapter in the Bible, Luke chapter 7, it records a story of what's called the sinful woman. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:52.240 There's a party, there's these Pharisees, they're the religious jerks. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:57.919 They had a party and they invite Jesus to dinner, and Jesus is reclining at the table, having dinner in Luke 7. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.399 And the Bible says that a woman of the city, a sinner, showed up. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:06.080 Now, when the Bible says she's a woman of the city, you know what that means? 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:10.320 That means she's been passed around more than a bong at a fog hat concert, okay? 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.559 She's a woman of the city, all right? 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.320 And then the Bible says she's a sinner. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:15.679 And you're kind of like, What? 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:17.039 Y'all like, who's fog hat? 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.600 Passed around like a bong in a Jimmy Buffett concert. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:20.399 How about that? 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:21.600 Even better. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:22.960 And so she shows up. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.000 Now, why do I say that? 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:24.559 Look at me. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:25.600 Don't send me emails. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.919 I'm not mocking this lady, I'm not making light of her. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:31.600 Christianity is not for smart people, it's for willing people. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.360 This woman crashes the party. 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.200 She's just heard Jesus teach at the temple. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:37.759 He talked about forgiveness, and she got it. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.200 She understood it, okay? 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.240 This is the woman that men have abused her entire life. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:46.879 She's been trafficked, taken advantage of, used, and then thrown to the wayside. 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:48.320 She's standing on the periphery. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:53.679 She hears Jesus talk about forgiveness and love and all this stuff that's available in God. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.799 She can't help herself. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:12:10.159 She goes home, digs under her bed, gets out this box of this gnarred, this fragrant scented uh perfume, and she shows up where Jesus is and she just uh begins to pour it out on him and washes feet with her hair. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.360 She can't help herself. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:18.240 And the people in the room are kind of like, well, if he was a they're thinking to themselves, if he was a prophet, he would know what kind of woman this is that's touching him. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:21.039 And Jesus knows what they're thinking. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.279 That's why you should read the Bible. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:28.320 It says right there in Luke chapter 7, and Jesus, knowing what they were thinking, said, Hey Simon, I want to tell you a story. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.399 Oh, yes, Lord, tell me a story. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.559 I just think Jesus is like, what? 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:34.000 What a schmuck. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:34.480 Okay. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:35.919 I'm gonna tell you a story. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:36.720 Here's a story. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:41.360 One guy owed me, owed another guy$50,000, and one guy owed$5,000. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:42.000 I mean$5. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.840 Both of them got forgiven. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.440 Which one do you think is more grateful? 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.759 And goes, well, of course the guy that owed$50,000. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:53.679 And then Jesus points to the woman and says, See, this behavior only makes sense because she's been forgiven much. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:55.440 Not a smart woman. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:13:02.000 Never took an AP course in her life, didn't go to college, had been abused most of her life. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.360 So Christianity is not. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:10.720 So when I say the hiddenness of God, it's not like if you're here today, God's kind of going, You're closer, you're closer, warmer, warmer, hot, hot, oh, you're buried. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.320 I'm just kidding, your ice cold. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.480 No, it's not the God of the Bible. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:15.759 It's not keep away. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:17.919 He just didn't want to surface following. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:21.679 He didn't want people following him for because they want relief from their life. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.000 He wants people following him because they want truth. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:24.480 Okay? 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:27.279 The first place you see the hiddenness of God is in his teaching. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:29.039 Second place is in his healing. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.759 In his healing, here's another chapter if you're just bored sometime. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:34.159 Want to read one chapter, Mark chapter 5. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.159 It's a great, great chapter in the Bible. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.679 There's got him Jarius. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:39.679 He's kind of a leader in his community. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:42.320 He comes to Jesus and says, Hey, my daughter's dying. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.200 Can you come heal her? 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.840 And Jesus is like, Yes, be glad to do that. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:52.799 But on the way to this, to where to his house where his daughter's laying dying, uh, he there's a crowd of people. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:55.679 I mean, it it's like a 90s hip-hop video, okay? 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.120 There's just people everywhere. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:05.200 And all of a sudden, I mean, the disciples are around, people are crowding around, they can hardly walk, and all of a sudden Jesus just stops and says, Hey, somebody touched me. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.720 I need to know who touched me. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:09.360 And the disciples are like, Are you kidding us, okay? 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:11.440 Everybody's touching you, okay? 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.559 You have ruined this. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:17.039 We can't go to McDonald's, okay, and get a happy meal because everybody's after you. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:22.000 And Jesus is like, No, somebody touched me because I felt power come out from me. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.279 Don't you want to say that at least once before you die? 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:30.399 Hey, kids, don't touch me because power will come out from me and heal your stupidity. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.919 Keep your distance. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.639 No, read it in the Bible, Mark chapter 5. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.639 Jesus stops and he says, Oh, Thomas, I tough. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.679 They're like, everyone touched me. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.039 No, power came out from me. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:48.159 And then the Bible says this this woman, by the way, the person that touched him was a woman that had been hemorrhaging internally for 12 years. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.840 I mean, she bled from first grade till she graduated. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.519 She touches Jesus' garment, the hem of his cup. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:58.960 And the Bible says this, he there's a crowd of people that couldn't say who. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.080 And then the Bible says the woman knowing what had happened to her. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.679 Look at me, this is free. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.720 You do not have an encounter with God and forget about it. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:09.600 I ask people all the time, hey, are you a Christian? 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.720 Do you have a relationship with Christ? 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.679 Well, I don't know. 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:13.200 That means no. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:20.559 You don't have an encounter where the power of God comes out and changes your life, and you go, I don't know. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.399 I prayed a prayer when I was 14. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:28.159 My parents walked me down to the front of a Baptist church, and it was awkward, but we got a free Starbucks gift card. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:36.480 The woman could not hide the fact that the power of God had been resourced and received in her life. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:38.240 And Jesus is like, relax, lady. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:39.279 No one's gonna take it back. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.720 I just wanted to meet you. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.879 This is just on the way to heal the lady. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:44.080 Can you imagine Jarius is? 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:46.639 I mean, Jarius, his daughter's dying. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.960 He's like, hello, can we speed this along? 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:54.559 And then they get to his house, and then Jesus takes Peter, James, and John into the room where the dead girl was. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.360 Now look at me. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.759 Be careful who you let into your inner circle. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.840 This is bonus round material. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:05.519 Your life will be more affected by the people you choose to be close friends with than most decisions you make. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.559 It's always Peter, James, and John. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.120 It's here. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.960 Jesus takes them into the bedroom with this girl. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.399 By the way, she's dead now. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.639 Jesus didn't get there in time. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:20.720 I mean, on the way, when he shows up, he says to the people, Why are you making such a commotion and weeping? 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:25.519 The child is not dead, but sleeping, and the people laugh in his face. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.799 And Jesus takes Peter, James, and John. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:33.840 By the way, it's the same three people he takes into uh that they go up on the Mount of Transfiguration with him. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:40.399 It's the same three people that go into the Garden of Gethsemane where he's gonna pour out his heart and get raw and honest with his father. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:43.840 You gotta ask yourself today, who's your Peter, James, and John? 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:45.759 Who are the people you call? 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:53.519 When you need someone to shoot straight with you and love you enough to tell you the truth, or love you enough to bruise you now instead of watch you bleed later. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.440 This is what happens. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.120 Mark chapter 5, verse 41. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:02.960 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, Talatha Kumai, which means little girl, I say to you, arise. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:09.359 And immediately the girl got up and began walking, for she was 12 years of age, and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.799 Get this next sentence. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:15.920 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this and told them to give her something to eat. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.880 What? 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.119 He strictly charged them. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.640 He strictly charged them that no one should know this. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:27.279 It'd be like you going to lunch today after church, and your waiter hobbles over to you and like, what's wrong with you? 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:33.680 Like, I've got a deformity, I was born with it, my hip, the sockets messed up, and my knees crooked, and my ankles frozen. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.200 And you're like, hang on just a second. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:38.160 Let me just let me just touch your hand, and the power of God's gonna heal you. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.839 And wham, that guy gets healed. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:45.839 And then you get on the PA in the restaurant and go, uh, attention, everyone, at BJ's brew house, the power of God just healed a man. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:48.000 Let's keep this on the down low, amen. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:54.640 I mean, your kids will be getting their phone out, like, shut up! My dad just healed somebody. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.400 Let me get my boyfriend here. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:03.920 And yet, get this in a culture in which people post on social media what they had for lunch. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.960 Yeah, you do? 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.839 Just had waivos, range, arrows. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.599 Who cares? 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.400 Nobody. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:22.400 In this kind of culture, Jesus would heal people and then go, don't tell anybody. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:22.960 Why? 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.680 Because there's a hiddenness to God. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.279 There's a hiddenness. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:31.200 He doesn't want response, he wants understanding. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:36.160 Here's the third way it manifests itself in his identity, in his teaching, in his healing, in his identity. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.920 This is uh Matthew 16. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.960 The Bible says this. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:45.039 Now, when Jesus came to the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:50.079 And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.240 He said to them, But who do you say I am? 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.440 Simon Peter replied, You're the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:19:07.920 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon, son of Barjona, for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father who's in heaven, and I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I'll build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:16.079 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:19.119 And then again, here's this killer last sentence. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:24.160 He says, and then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.319 Why does he do that? 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.519 It's referred to in theological circles as the messianic secret. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.319 Why? 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.480 Because Jesus does not just want a following, he wants an understanding. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:43.279 You have to ask yourself, and I have to ask myself today, do I just want to follow Jesus or do I want to understand Jesus? 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:49.680 Because you can follow on the surface, but there will come a point where it gets hard, it gets personal. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.680 As I like to say, it gets sticky. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:56.000 I had to say somebody in counseling just recently, it's getting sticky up in here. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:57.920 You see, you still want to do this? 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:07.680 It's like, yeah, yeah, okay, okay, because this is where we fit, we find out and figure out who really knows Jesus and who just kind of follows as long as it's fun. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.319 Because following Jesus ain't always fun. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.680 Well, I I don't know what you mean. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:19.759 Again, all of this can only be understood against the backdrop of the hour. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.720 The hour. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:23.200 Jesus is moving towards this time. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:26.720 And the closer he gets to the cross, the more plainly he speaks. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:29.519 His hiddenness gives way to revelation. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:32.480 And so the first thing the Bible tells us is there's a hiddenness to God. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.799 And this is why I told you God's a simple being. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:38.079 Here's the second thing the text tells us that God is accessible. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.200 Like, what? 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.440 He said he was hidden, but he's accessible. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.160 Yeah, yeah. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.119 Same God. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.960 He doesn't lay down one to take up the other. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.960 We're not playing jingo with the nature of God and pulling out the shoeboxes we don't like. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:50.480 No, he's accessible. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.519 What do you mean? 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.440 Look at verse 26 and 27. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:59.519 In that day, Jesus says, You will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.680 Pay attention to that phrase, beloved. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:05.039 I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:11.440 For the Father Himself loves you because you have loved me and believed that I am come from God. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.480 See, this access requires no intermediaries. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.480 No one has to talk to God on your behalf. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.599 This is what Jesus says himself says right here in these two verses. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:28.880 He's saying, Hey, you're not a bunch of second-class dirty sinners who need someone more spiritual than you to speak to God on your behalf because God is accessible. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:34.559 That means you do not need me to pray for you because my prayers are somehow more powerful than yours. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.759 No, they're not. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:40.319 If all you know how to pray is, God, I am sucking wind right now. 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.279 Please help. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.720 God is like, whoa, yes, I understand that. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.559 He said, Well, how do you know? 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:56.000 Because again, Luke 17, there's a story of this religious weasel, this Pharisee who who prayed long, flowery prayers with big words, made everybody in the room feel stupid. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:02.319 And then there's a real sinner, a publican, this tax collector, this This guy that's just scum of the earth, sorry. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:06.559 He's like runs payday loans and cheats people at the pawn shop. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:12.000 And the Pharisee, the professional Christian, prays, Oh Lord, I think I'm not like other men. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:19.119 I tithe of all that I possess and I give and I help the poor and I donate blood and I help all ages across the street. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.000 I'm awesome. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:22.319 Thank you, God, for making me awesome. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:30.000 And then the sinner wouldn't even look up to heaven. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:34.000 He just beat his chest and he's like, God, who are we kidding here? 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.400 I'm a piece of work on my best day. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.480 I'm more of a godly mess than a godly man. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:40.079 I can't even look up to heaven. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:43.440 And Jesus says, that guy went down justified. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.599 That guy walked away right with God while the religious weasel was over here drowned in his big words. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:51.119 And why do I tell you that? 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:53.039 Because God is accessible. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.319 He's accessible. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:56.480 There's a hiddenness to him that he's accessible. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.759 There's two consequences to you not believing that God is accessible. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.319 Number one, you'll never know how much God loves you. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:05.599 And number two, you'll never experience the priesthood of all believers. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.119 Let me unpack both those statements. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.960 What do you mean you'll never know how much God loves you? 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:13.680 Any religious belief that uses intermediaries is placing someone above Jesus. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:18.799 They're putting someone in a place that Jesus said he himself is not willing to occupy. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:31.759 Now he intercedes for us at the right hand of God, but he says right here, right here, in that day, verse 26, you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:40.319 If you've been taught or told that you got to go to God through somebody else, you'll never know that God how much God loves you or that he even does love you. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:48.160 But Jesus says right here that God loves you and he loves you because you love me and because you believe in me. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:55.839 So if you're trying to relate to God through a bunch of intermediaries, be they people or saints or whatever, you'll never know how much God loves you. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:59.759 You'll only know what these people need from you and want from you. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:03.839 This also nullifies the priesthood of all believers. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:06.559 You'll never experience the priesthood of all believers. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:09.279 Now, you say, What are you talking about? 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.160 Just stick with me. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:16.240