0:00 [Music] Do you wish to get well? Do you know who says that? And to whom? You can shout it out if you know it. Do you wish to be to you? Do you wish to 0:19 get well? Jesus says it to the paralyzed man. Very good. So turn with me to John chapter 5. Verse 6. John 5:6. John 5:6. A man was 0:36 there who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there, he knew that he had all already been a long time in that condition. And he said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" What are the two possible answers for 0:56 that question? Yes or no? Yes. Um, but listen to this man's answer to that question. The six sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when 1:16 the water is stirred up. But while I am coming, another one steps out steps down before me." And so he doesn't get healed because someone always gets in there before I do. And so I was having this question that uh that I had. 1:35 Many of us may have come to these meetings or for a conference and I had this experience in the past where I'd come for a conference and I would believe that this is the time that everything is going to change. If you read up a little earlier actually if you 1:52 read from the beginning here Roman I mean sorry John chapter 5:2 now there in is in Jerusalem by the sheepgate a pool which is called in Hebrew Bethesda having five porticos verse three in these lay a multitude of those who were 2:08 sick blind lame and withered waiting for the moving of the waters. Verse four. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the waters. Whoever then went first after the stirring of the water 2:25 stepped in was made well from whatever disease which he was afflicted. And for me as well, I'd come for a conference and at that conference, I believe that's the time where it's going to stir up. This is the stirring at 2:40 which things are going to change for my life. I'd come back and kind of like this man it would fade away. And as I think about that, I was thinking, could it be possible that there are others who have the same 2:59 experience I did? going for a meeting on Sunday, getting encouraged, and then by Sunday afternoon already discouraged, looking forward or not looking forward to what the week has, the things that they're possibly going to see, failures, discouragement, 3:18 anxieties, difficult relationships, and I was thinking, is that God's will for us? Is it God's will that God leaves us in this cycle of going and getting stirred up on a Sunday 3:35 or in a conference and then going back to our ordinary lives? So I have this question. Do you believe the life that Jesus spoke about is possible? It's an important question for each one of us to answer. Whether you're 3:53 young or old, do you believe every single word that Jesus said that would be possible is true? And I'll give you an example. Do you believe that Jesus who said do not lust with your eyes believed that that such a life was 4:12 possible? Or was he just saying that? What do you think? Do you believe that he believed that you could live a life where your eyes did not control you? that where where you don't get angry with anybody, 4:29 where you're not anxious. Do you believe all that what Jesus promised a life that we could have was true? Or do you think it was not true? He just said those things, but it was not possible. 4:45 If you think it's a yes that every single thing that Jesus said that we could experience in our life is true, raise your hand. Since all of us believe that, I don't 5:03 think I have to ask you the other option. So, very good. I also believe and it was neat to see you know who were the first ones to raise their hands. It was the little children. The little children raised their hands first saying 5:19 yes I believe that what God has spoken is true. Everything he has promised. So when we come for these conferences, for these Sunday meetings, it's not to leave us where we go back into that cycle of failure over and over again. 5:43 And so if you look at this man, he was always looking for a stirring. He was waiting for that opportunity, that one time where the stirring would be just right, where he stepped in at the right time. Do you know how many years 5:57 he was trying? It was 38 years of trying over and over again. Maybe it's this time. This is the meeting that I'm going to step in first. And he sees somebody else going away from the conference or from the meeting. 6:15 Oh, I was healed. My life has changed. And he's looking there and saying, I wish I was him. And I wish my life changed like his. and year after year and that's why when Jesus asked him do you want to be well instead of saying yes I want to be well 6:32 he gave all the reasons why it was not possible for him to be well and for each one of us we might be there as well Jesus is asking the same question I believe to each one of us do you want to be well do you want to come out of this life of 6:51 endless failure your on your own abilities and your own strength. It says here in uh Romans chapter 8 and this is a picture of this life for us today. Romans 8:12. 7:14 So brethren, we are not under obligation not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. For verse 13, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must you must die. This endless cycle of going and failing 7:36 and living in sin, that's not God's will for us. And this man's life's experience was that and he almost gave up hope. Is there anything else possible than this life of defeat constantly? Turn with me to 7:58 second Kings 2 Kings chapter 7. another group of people just like this man. 2 Kings 7:3. Now there were four 8:15 leperous men at the entrance of the gate and they said to one another, "Why do we sit here until we die?" They are they have leprosy. They're standing out of the gate. Inside the gate is a is a they have a siege. That means nobody can bring food in and 8:34 nobody can go out. And so they're all starving. And so they say in verse four, if we say we will enter the city, then the famine that is in the city and we will die there, and if we sit here, we will die also. Now therefore, come and let us go 8:53 over to the camp of the Armenians. If they spare us, we will live. And if they kill us, we will but die. So if we go in the city, we'll die. If we sit here, we'll die. If we go to the Armenians, we'll die. Unless they spare 9:10 us and then we'll live. And so you can see this hopeless case. No matter where they they are, inside, outside, or where they stayed, they were going to die. That's the hopelessness. And I see that our lives as well. No matter how much we hear on a Sunday 9:28 or a conference, unless something happens, we could be like this. And I remember times in my own life, Lord, what's the point? I go to these conferences. I go to Sunday meetings and my life is not 9:45 any different. And that's why I believe that today also there may be people like that here in our midst. Nobody else knows but you know when you go home the thoughts that are coming 10:04 even now. What's this week going to look like? Is it going to be any different? Verse 5. They arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Armenians. When they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Armenians, behold, there was no one 10:20 there. Verse 6, for the Lord had caused the army of the Armenians to hear a sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they could said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired 10:34 against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to come against us." Verse 7. Therefore, they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents, their horses, their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, 10:48 and they fled for their life. So, you can see that God had made a promise to Elisha that the next day that this famine would be gone. And there was a man who said, "Even if God were to open up the windows of heaven, 11:05 could this be?" And Elisha said to him, "You will see God's promises take place, but you will not taste of it." And he's wondering, "How can God changed this famine, something impossible, to something where the windows of heaven 11:24 are opened up?" But did it happen? Did it happen? It did happen. God's word will always come true. his promises will always be fulfilled. And so they go in there and you can see how God was working behind the scenes 11:43 to make sure his promises came true. And these four lepers who had no hope in life went there to get the surprise of their life. They saw this is what happens. The lepers came to the outskirts of the camp. They entered one tent. They ate 12:01 and drank and carried there the silver and the gold and the clothes and went and hid them. And they returned and entered another tent, carried from there also and went and hid them. Would they have ever imagined that they would be eating and drinking 12:20 when the previous day they were starving? They would have never imagined having gold and silver, tent after tent, everything free. Such abundance. But God did it in their lives. He 12:39 completely changed these four lepers lives to be something that they could never imagine possible. Verse N. And they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is the day of good news, but we are keeping 12:57 silent. If we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household. And this is how I see it. When I go to those conferences and those church meetings, I hear that these wonderful 13:17 words and I say that must be true for a few of these people here. Maybe for the one who's speaking, maybe it's true for them. But I don't know if this is true for me. I don't know if that such a life is possible. And I feel like these four lepers 13:36 who's gone and see all these treasures and said, you know what, it is true. There are treasures here. And going back and telling, I didn't earn these treasures. I just happened to be God had mercy on me and helped me find this treasure. And all 13:53 I'm doing is telling you there's treasures. There's a life that God has for each one of us. Not like that man at the Bethesda constantly going looking for a stirring, but a permanent healing 14:13 where his life is changed forever. And that's the life that God is calling us. In Hebrews, it calls it the indestructible life. That's what God wants to give each one of us. And when I think about this, if that man 14:31 out of his own effort one day got healed, what would he think? He would say, "You know what? After 38 years, I finally worked hard enough. Look at how I was able to be healed on my own effort. Who would get the glory if he healed? He got 14:51 healed by his own self-effort. He would get the glory. But when God healed him after he tried for 38 years of failing, who gets the glory? God does. 15:08 And when I think about Lord, why do people have to go through this 38 years experience of failing over and over again without hope like those four lepers and like this man. And I believe this is one of the reasons 15:26 is when God does a miracle in your life, you'll know for sure it wasn't because of anything you did, but God had mercy on you and did did a miracle in your life and you would give him the glory. For each of you, young and old, I 15:44 believe God wants this life for each one of us. I believe it's somewhere in Acts where the angel says, "Go and proclaim this life to everyone." And that's what we must do. First experience it for ourselves that God is true. Let everyone else be a liar, but 16:03 God is true. Experience this life for oursel and then proclaim it to others as well. And that's why I see what it says in 1 Corinthians 4:7. When we talk about this life, is it something that we can get on 16:22 our own strength? 1 Corinthians 4:7. What do you have that you did not receive? What did you have that you did not receive? And for everyone who enters into this 16:40 life, that will be their testimony as well. Lord, I could not earn this. It was something I freely received from you. And I see in the in in the lives of a couple of these people like Samson, if 16:59 you turn with me to Samson, not Samson, Judges chapter 14, there's no book called Samson. Judges chapter 14 verse 5 and 6. Then Samson went down with his father and mother and he came 17:18 as far as the vineyards of Timna and behold a young lion came roaring towards him. Verse six, the spirit of the Lord came upon mightily so that he tore up tore him up as one tears a young goat. 17:37 Though he had nothing in his hand, but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. The spirit, verse six, the spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily so that he tore him up as one tears a young goat. How did Samson 17:56 destroy that young lion? Was it in his own strength or was it by the power of God's Holy Spirit? You can shout it out. It was by the power of God's Holy Spirit. 18:14 Without God's Holy Spirit, what would have happened? The lion would have ate him up. I don't think he would have been able to have a chance against that young lion. But with God's Holy Spirit, he could tear that young lion as if it was a young goat. 18:31 And today with the lust in our flesh, like that lion, the lust in our flesh, the lust of the eyes comes like a roaring lion. You might say, "Let me stand up against 18:49 it." But I believe your testimony will be the same as Samson. Without the Holy Spirit, the lion would eat you up, eat us all up. But with the power of God's Holy Spirit, that lust will have no opportunity to overcome us. It says in 19:08 Romans 8 8:13, "But through the Holy Spirit, put to death the deeds of the flesh." And that's a promise that God has given us, not in our own strength, but through the Holy Spirit, just like what Samson did to that lion. 19:23 No lust can overcome us if we are under the power of God's Holy Spirit. And so when anybody asks to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the question is why? Why do you want to be filled with God's Holy Spirit? 19:40 For Samson, it was to tear up lions. For me, I don't want to tear up lines. I don't want to give in to any lust in the flesh, whether it's with my eyes, with my tongue, anything. I don't want any lust to rule over me. 20:00 I want God's Holy Spirit's power to enable me to put to death every lust there is. And that's the life that God has promised each one of us. So if you would ask, so if you turn with 20:16 me to Judges chapter 16:E1 16, Judges 16:E1 16, this is his testimony. It came about when Delilah, Judges 16:16, pressed him daily with her words and urged him that his soul was 20:35 annoyed to death. Verse 17. So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, "A razor has never come to my head. For I have been a Nazerite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me." Listen 20:53 to this. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man. The moment God leaves me, I will become like every any ordinary man. You saw me 21:13 defeat a thousand people, soldiers coming against me. That was easy because God's Holy Spirit was upon me. The lion I could tear apart because God's Holy Spirit is upon me. But the secret lies in God's Holy Spirit 21:32 being upon me. the moment God departs from me, I'll become like any other ordinary man. And it goes on verse 18, when Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, the secret, the secret of 21:50 overcoming lust is here. Delilah found the secret once told her all that was in his heart. She sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, saying, "Come once more, for he has told me that all that was in his heart." Then the lords of the 22:07 Philistines came up to her and brought her money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees and called for a man, and he had come shave off all seven locks of his hair. So all she needed was a barber to take 22:25 this mighty man down. And look at this. This one who had defeated a thousand and tore a lion. Look at what happened. Then she began to afflict him, Delilah. And his strength left him. This is probably one of the 22:44 saddest verses in the entire Bible. Verse 20. She said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson." And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." 23:02 But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. This man who was so mighty. Now look at him. Verse 29. 21. Then the Philistines seized seized him and gouged out his eyes and then brought him down to Gaza, 23:20 bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison. Verse 28, 22. However, his hair began to grow. Did he ever imagine that this man who could destroy so much would one day being eyes plucked out grinding round 23:37 and round. It was such a sad thing to see. What we see in Samson is probably the lives of many people here. Maybe it's not lust. Maybe it's anger. 23:57 Maybe it's bitterness. You have a grudge against somebody that you've not forgiven. Week after week going around in that cycle, waiting for the stirring to happen. 24:17 The Lord has a better way. Be filled with his Holy Spirit. If you read Daniel, turn with me to Daniel chapter 2:30. Another man as well 24:34 who recognized that without God, he was an ordinary man. Verse 30, Daniel chapter 2 30. But as for me, the mystery has not been revealed to me. for any wisdom residing in me more than any other living man. 24:54 God's Holy Spirit, if he's upon me, I'll tell you the dreams and visions. But if God's not with me, I'll be like every ordinary man. If you turn with me to Acts, John, Peter 25:10 and John, after they healed the man in verse 11, Acts chapter 3, verse 11, when the man was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. Verse 12, 25:28 but when Peter saw this and all of these people amazed at Peter and John, this is what he says to them. Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you gaze at gaze at us? As if by our own power or 25:46 piety, we had made him walk. It's not because I am religious or I'm spiritual or because of any power in me that this man is healed. But it's because of God. Without God, I'm nothing. Without his 26:05 Holy Spirit, I'm nothing. But with his Holy Spirit, I'm not an ordinary man. And so, how do we receive God's Holy Spirit? A young person during the 26:24 conference was asking me the question, "How do I know that I'm filled with God's Holy Spirit?" And now I wanted you to turn with me to Leviticus chapter 1. Leviticus chapter 1. 26:43 There was something called the burnt offering that they used to offer where they would take a a bull and you can read with me Leviticus 1:3. If his offering is a burnt offering, then from his herd he shall offer it a 27:01 male without defect. He shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting that he may be accepted before the Lord. He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering that he may be accepted for him and make atonement on his 27:17 behalf. Thus he shall slay the young bull before the Lord. And it goes on verse six, he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. The sons of Aaron shall put this on the altar, arrange the wood. Verse 9, it 27:37 says towards the end of verse verse 9, "And this offering by fire is a soothing aroma to the Lord." Among all the different offerings, this was one offering where everything would be put on there and burnt. And before they burnt it, they had to 27:57 cut up each part of it and put it on the altar there. And if God accepted this offering, there was a sign that would come. And if you turn with me to Leviticus 9, 28:15 turn with me to Leviticus chapter 9, a few pages to the right. Verse 23. Moreover, Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 28:33 Verse 24. Then what happened? Then fire came down from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat from the altar. And when the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. And so, how did I know if God had 28:51 accepted my offering? If the fire came down and fell, I knew without a shadow of doubt that God had accepted it. He saw every single piece of that offering and he knew that I gave it up on the altar. And if you turn with me to First Kings 29:11 chapter 18, First Kings chapter 18. First Kings 18:e 36. Again, an offering. You see verse 36. At the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came up 29:29 near and said, "Oh Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and is and Israel. Today let it be known you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and I have done all these things at your word. Verse 37. Answer me, O Lord. Answer me 29:45 that the people may know that you are oh Lord our God and that I and that you have turned their heart back again. Verse 38. And the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and 30:04 licked up the water was that was there in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, "The Lord, he is God. The Lord, he is God." And again the proof that God accepted that 30:20 offering was that fire came down for us too today. How will we know that God has accepted? And this is something that we find in Romans chap 12. Turn with me to Romans 12. 30:37 Romans chapter 12 verse one. Therefore, I urge you, my brothers, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. That means every single piece of that sacrifice. And this is what I told the 30:57 Lord. Lord, just like they put that bull on that altar, they cut it up and put each piece there. Today, this morning, Lord, I want to put every piece of my body, my eyes, 31:15 whatever I see today, Lord, I want to make sure that these are eyes are pleasing to you. Whether it's on my computer, whether it's what I read, whatever I see as I'm walking through this life, these eyes, they've laid, they've been laid on that 31:31 altar. I take my tongue. I don't want to say anything uncristlike, angry, nothing. I put that on the altar. My attitudes, Lord, all these attitudes towards every 31:49 single person. I don't have a wrong attitude towards any person. I put that on the altar. My ambitions, my motives, my thoughts, put that on the altar. what I think about other people. Put that on the altar. 32:09 And Lord, if you're pleased with this altar, with this sacrifice, everything that I put it, one thing I ask, Lord, just like you put fire from heaven on Moses and Aaron's burnt offering, just like you put your fire 32:28 when Elijah called on fire on his burnt offering and accepted it. And just like that, Lord, like it says here, present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Just 32:45 like that, Lord, do it for me as well, Lord. If I put everything on this altar, Lord, and you accepted it, let the proof be that you fill me, Lord, with your Holy Spirit, Lord, and fire. It says 33:01 that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Lord who accepted and proved that he accepted Elijah's offering, Moses offering, and Aaron's offering. Lord, 33:19 accept my offering today, Lord, by sending the fire of your Holy Spirit upon my life, Lord. And today today also like it says in Acts chapter 2 when they were all gathered there. 33:37 Acts chapter 2 verse one. And when the day of Pentecost had come and they were all gathered in one place. Verse two. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent crutching wind and it filled the whole house where they were. 33:55 And verse three. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves. And they rested on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them 34:13 utterance. Over and over again, when God saw an offering that he was pleased with, a burnt offering that he accepted it, the fire came down and their lives were never the same again. Is this promised for you and your 34:32 children? Yes. Every single one of us. And so we could go back with a stirring today. Oh, I got a stirring this morning. And go back But I hope not. I hope we would not go 34:48 back with the stirring. I hope that we'll meet with Jesus just like that man at the pool. Yes, he got healed, but he met with Jesus afterwards. It's interesting if you turn with me to 35:07 John chapter 20. John chapter 20. Verse 14. When she had seen, this is Mary Magdalene had 204. She had said this, she turned 35:24 around and saw Jesus standing there and did not know it was Jesus. Verse 15, Jesus said to her,"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried 35:41 him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him away." If she had gone back thinking that Jesus was the gardener, what would have happened? She would have gone back home sad, weeping, her life not been changed 35:58 at all. But thankfully she didn't go back knowing Jesus as a gardener who couldn't help her. Then Jesus said to her, "Mary." And she turned around and said in Hebrew, "Raboni," which means teacher. Verse 17, Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to me, 36:18 for I've not ascended to the Father, but go tell my brethren, I ascend to my father, your father, and my God, and your God." Verse 18, Mary Magdalene came announcing to the disciples, I have seen the Lord. May you also see the Lord today as well. 36:37 Not as stirring in this meeting, but you meet with the Lord. Lord, I don't want to see you just as a gardener. I want to see you as the risen Lord. We sang a song, take my life as an offering. You remember we sang that song. 36:55 That's what we're We sang it, but did we mean it? I believe if we mean it. Maybe we didn't mean it when we sang it, but we can mean it now. Saying, "Lord, take every single part of my life. I may have not meant it then, but I mean it now. And may the 37:14 proof of it be your Holy Spirit falls upon my life. No lust, no sin will overpower me. for the men who were walking on the road to Emmas. If you turn with me to Luke chapter 2, 37:31 I'm sorry, Luke 24. Luke 24:1 17 verse 16, verse 15. Luke 24:15. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from 37:51 recognizing him. Verse 17. And he said to them, "What are these words that you're exchanging with one another as you're walking?" And they said, stood still and looked and looking sad. Verse 18, one of them laid Cleopus answered 38:05 and said, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem unaware of these things? Are you just a visitor? And as they walked, it says in verse 27, they began beginning then beginning with Moses with all of the prophets, he 38:22 explained to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures. Verse 28. 28. And when they approached the village where they were going, he acted as though they were he was going further. He said, "I'm going further." 38:40 And he was testing them. Verse 29. But they urged him, saying, "Stay with us for it's getting towards evening and the day is now nearly over." So they went and stayed to he So he went in to stay with them. Verse 30, when he had 38:54 reclined at the table, he took bread and blessed it, and breaking it, he began giving it to them. Verse 31, their eyes were opened and they recognized him and they vanished from their sight. They couldn't recognize him. Throughout 39:12 that journey, they heard wonderful words. And it says here, verse 45, as he was speaking to us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures, wasn't our hearts burning within us? So they got a stirring. They heard God's word and it was burning 39:31 within them. Lord, you spoke to us. But was that good enough? No. It would have just been another visitor that they met. But because they urged him and they said, "Jesus, stay with us." Just like Mary clung on to him, these also they said, "No, I 39:49 don't want a stirring message. I want you to meet with me." And because of that, their eyes were open to see Jesus. Again, you remember the time where he's on the 40:05 shore and the disciples go out fishing. And after they even catch the fish, after a while, John says, "It's the Lord." He recognized him. 40:22 And today also the only one John said, "If you come to me to baptize you with water, I'll baptize you with water. But one thing I can do and only Jesus can do for you is baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." May this day not be a day of stirring, 40:42 but where we meet with the Lord, where we left all of the things in the altar, and the God who answered by fire in the days of Elijah, in the days of Moses and Aaron, will answer by fire through his holy spirit. Take ordinary words, 40:57 stirrings, and fill us Lord with the Holy Spirit. May he do that in each of our lives. Do not go what the first question I asked. Do you believe this life that Jesus spoke of is true and is meant for each one of us? And that which the kids 41:15 raised up their hands first saying, "Yes, I believe God what he said is true. This life is for us. May it truly be true in our lives." Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that this would not be a stirring. Lord, I pray Lord that you would meet with 41:32 every single one from the youngest to the oldest. Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit will fall upon each one of us. Lord, the same thing that they did, Lord, by putting every part on the altar and then you answered by fire. Answer, 41:49 Lord, today also with your Holy Spirit and fire. I pray our lives will never be the same again, Lord. I pray that you would approve and accept our offering today and answer by our fire this day forth 42:04 in Jesus name. Amen. [Music]
