Can I Get a Witness?

John 1:19–34 is held up as a lens for identity, witness, and hope. The account of John the Baptist is used to show how Israel’s search for self-understanding finds its answer in Christ: not in clever human solutions, not in recycled heroes, but in the One who was before all things. The narrative exposes common missteps—claiming salvific authority for oneself, mistaking imitators for the presence of God, or speaking in churchly jargon that never reaches the lost—and replaces them with a simple, urgent call to point others to Jesus. Jesus is presented as the Lamb who takes away sin, the anointed one on whom the Spirit comes and remains, and the decisive climax of God’s saving work across Exodus, Passover, and the sacrificial system.

Practical guidance flows from theology: witnesses are to know their story, trim the church-speak, and create multiple “on-ramps” so people can meet the gospel where they are. Listening carefully to questions and clarifying what people actually mean becomes part of faithful witness. Attention is also given to pastoral care—an exhortation to pray for mental health needs, to bear one another’s burdens, and to show the compassion of God who kneels beside the fearful rather than shaming them.

The piece stresses both comfort and realism. Jesus’ greatness means hope in suffering, not a promise of trouble-free life; the gospel produces transformation that can be sudden or slow, but always demands humility and dependence on the Spirit. Believers are charged to evaluate identity in light of Christ, to let less of self make room for more of Jesus, and to live as witnesses—clear, winsome, and grounded in the reality that the Spirit given at conversion does not abandon God’s people. The closing benediction sends listeners into the world with a pastoral plea: be ready to tell the story of how Jesus has transformed life, to pray urgently for those in need, and to embody the Lamb’s mercy until the day of final reconciliation.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Identity rooted in who Jesus is True self-understanding flows from recognizing Christ’s primacy, not from cultural labels or past roles. When identity is measured by Jesus—his preexistence, anointing, and work—personal worth is received rather than manufactured, and the temptation to perform or to pretend loses power. This reorientation frees ministry from self-aggrandizement and aligns mission with God’s purposes. [50:15]
• 2. Be an intentional, winsome witness Witnessing requires listening before speaking, crafting stories with multiple “on‑ramps,” and avoiding insider language that blocks entrance to the gospel. Intentionality means tailoring the invitation to where people actually are, not where the church is comfortable, so conversion becomes plausible rather than puzzling. A good witness points consistently to Jesus, not to personal theories or programs. [68:15]
• 3. Jesus is greater than fear God meets fear with compassion, not shame—inviting people to lay anxieties down and hear truth that replaces the liar’s accusations. The greatness of Christ brings perspective: suffering does not nullify God’s purpose, and ultimate hope rests in One who wins through death and resurrection. This assurance allows courageous vulnerability and sustained prayer for those struggling. [30:03]
• 4. The Spirit comes and remains The gift of the Holy Spirit inaugurates a new era: the anointed one bore permanent presence, and believers receive a Spirit who does not depart. This doctrine shapes pastoral expectation—growth is formed in the power already given, so the prayer often becomes not for more presence but for less self and greater awareness of the presence. The Spirit equips and sustains witness until Christ’s return. [64:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:09] - Morning announcements and humor
• [13:05] - Scheduling and communication updates
• [18:24] - Worship: victory in Jesus
• [24:49] - Obedience illustrated: Jericho
• [30:03] - Fear addressed with compassion
• [35:10] - True worship: Spirit and truth
• [49:37] - Call to witness and identity crisis
• [50:15] - John the Baptist: who am I not?
• [61:25] - Jesus as the Lamb of God
• [64:24] - The Spirit comes and remains
• [68:15] - Practical tips for sharing faith
• [77:19] - Closing charge and benediction

{'input_documents': [Document(metadata={'source': "00:04"}, page_content="of the goodness of God. Good morning. We're working good this week. Last you know, first of the year, things don't work. Second week of the year, they work a little bit better, but it is good to have you, this cool morning outside. As you know in here with boiler heat, once it gets on, it doesn't shut off. So, you know, some of you are like, I'm finally feel comfortable, [11:09] and sorry. You're you're, you know, she's gonna be fanning herself all the time. So, you know, Lacey, no talking back there. You'll make it hotter. Sue, you can explain that to her later. Lacey, I love you, and I'm kidding. Hot air when we talk? [11:36] Okay. Okay. I just I'm I'm looking, but She is. I'm in trouble. I'll hear about it later. Don't worry. A couple announcements as we get started this morning, teenagers. If you know teenagers, tonight is the night forty eight. Correct? Or what's our final count count, miss Lisa? 40,000. [11:59] You know? And that's just counting teenagers. That's not men and women. You know? What with with helpers and adults, how many do you have? We have about probably around 10 to 12 adults. So 60 different people starting,"), Document(metadata={'source': "12:17"}, page_content="this afternoon with that. So I hope you have already started praying. I hope you will, continue to pray, for tonight and, through the day tomorrow. So if you wake up at 03:00 in the morning, that's god's way of telling you to pray for the lock in. [12:26] And if you stay awake at 03:00 in the morning, feel free to stop by. The doors will be locked, but we can let you in, and you can kinda be the second or third or fourth shift, whichever whichever one we are on. Milkshakes at three. So if you wake up with a hankering for milkshakes at 03:00 in the morning, we are the place. Chad's almost ready to wake up at that point in time to come for a milkshake. Send your deputies. Tell them at 03:00AM in the morning. Can you imagine that all those deputies out and having that? Aw. We can't. Hey. We won't have to worry about anything from three to seven if that's the case. You know? [13:05] So no, but note that. Note there is no mobile pantry tomorrow, but it will be the following Monday, the twenty sixth. So if you normally take part of that, it is not tomorrow. It is going to be on the twenty sixth with that. On the back table, [13:29] some behind Ron McCammy, some over here, the annual report is out. It is also available in your app. So if you are an app person, I would really encourage everyone to get this, and I can walk you through some of it. It is there. You can download it. You can read it. If you skip past the first 16 pages, there'll be a quick read."), Document(metadata={'source': "13:59"}, page_content="Then my report for Larry and others like Larry, I added pictures this year. So you can just, Larry, look at the pictures, and you'll be able to see some of it. [14:00] What about one paragraph? And 16 pic. We're not quite at that ratio yet. Maybe next year, Larry. I'll have a special annual report, Larry's annual report. It'll just be pictures [14:24] and maybe a pop up picture book for Larry. That's too much work. It's not worth it. Sorry. But it is there. And so, you know, hopefully, you will pick it up and take a look. I'm gonna apologize in advance. Some of my report is probably a little disconnected, and that's because I got interruptions every time I was finishing a paragraph. [14:45] And then I had to remember what I was trying to say in that paragraph. After I printed everything, I realized I probably missed a whole lot. So but it is there. We will discuss that. Those of you on federation, we have a meetings this week at the church of God at 7PM. You see there's a copy on the black white table in the back, update contact information. Do not take that copy of the directory, but if something needs to change. If you don't want your information there, what I'm gonna ask is you make sure we have your information in the office, a phone number, cell phone that is good for you, [15:28]"), Document(metadata={'source': "15:30"}, page_content="and a email. One of the things we're working on this year is helping to communicate effectively with you all and, how to do that. We have about five to six different systems all in place, and we're we gotta consolidate that. It's just, it's a little much. [15:47] And so, please do that. Just note that one of the things we will do is start texting. During this year, the phone number you will get a text from as of right now is an 833 number. We'll clearly identify the first time of the month that it is the church. But if you get that, it is not spam. But just note that is coming. [16:10] It is one of the capabilities we have that we haven't really used, but we're gonna, try to do that, this, year. So just, note that you see ABW is putting together love boxes in February, [16:24] and we will need any of that information. So please see Barb,"), Document(metadata={'source': "16:34"}, page_content="for Addresses. I need addresses. For addresses. Yes. And then, also, if you wanna, they will be putting out a list of things they need, for that. [16:44] Any other announcements for the good of this group? Lita? Okay. Tuesday morning, bible study, ladies, is canceled, due to the predicted cold temperatures. And, so please note that. Lida will be reaching out to you as well, but [17:09] please know that. Any others? I won't be here tomorrow. Oh, yeah. Shannon won't be here tomorrow or Tuesday. No. You're not gonna be here during office hours tomorrow. She will not I'm just, you will not. Do you hear me? [17:34] She's gonna be helping with the kids, so she will not be there. I will be here regardless, with that. But, yes, she will not be here Tuesday. Something about Dan having surgery and needing a driver. You could just ride in an ambulance."), Document(metadata={'source': "17:51"}, page_content="Actually said that. No. You know how bad that would be coming up 75 in an ambulance where you feel every single bump? I realize you're on pain meds, and you won't be feeling much, but, whoo, [18:00] that ain't something. Alright. We have digressed even further. Any other announcements for the good of this group? Alright. Well, let us, start worshiping, through song this morning as we are reminded we have a victory. We are not defeated, but our victory is not in ourselves. It is in who Christ is. So if you are able, please stand as we begin our worship through songs this morning as we sing hymn three fifty three, victory in Jesus. [18:24] And we have victory because he is a a god that fights our battles. That sometimes the thing we need to do is just submit to well, every time, we need to submit to him in this, and we need to, though, be willing to do what he asked. Can you imagine at Jericho, the to the amazement of the Israelites when when they were told by God, walk around and just walk for seven days. [24:49] And then at one point in time, you're just gonna cry, and the battle will be won. Sometimes we want Jericho walls to fall, but we don't wanna walk around them first. We wanna fight them our ways, but we need to remember the battle belongs to our lord and to who he says he is, and he can make the mountains move for us even yet today. See, sometimes it's hard to do this [29:34]"), Document(metadata={'source': "29:38"}, page_content="because you're not sure what's gonna happen. And sometimes it's it's hard to lay our fears at the feet of somebody because maybe we don't know who we are without that fear, or we're afraid they'll look down on us and say, yeah. You're right. That's pretty dumb of you to be afraid of that. Don't you know who I am? But see, don't have a God that shames us. Amen. We have a God that will kneel down and say, look at me, my child. I can take that fear, [30:03] and I can tell you the truth of that fear, and he will put us on a different path, but we will only hear those when we are willing to let him speak to our fears. The fear is a liar that will tell us we're not worthy. Jesus will bend down to say, you may not feel worthy, but I died for you. My worth is imputed, [30:26] given to you. And so we were reminded that fear is a liar as we continue to worship, as we listen to the spirit of truth that says there's someone who's great enough, big enough to handle whatever you're facing today, and he will change you if you will allow it. As we'll learn in the gospel of John, one time Jesus was asked, where do we worship? And Jesus didn't ask where he didn't answer where to worship. He said, true worship worships in spirit and in truth. [35:10] And the truth is, for God so loved the world, he came"), Document(metadata={'source': "35:16"}, page_content="so that any and all who would call upon his name shall be given the right to be children of God. You may be seated this morning. Kids, you may head downstairs. And as we go to prayer, one special one that I know of to add to list, Carol Wilkins. [35:43] She is in Cleveland or in that area right now. Her brother passed away, and those services are today. So, please pray for Carol and, [36:00] her family at that at this time, and she is coming back, right, Lita, today? One of her tomorrow, one of her kids. She's not driving. Neither is Bob driving up there. Okay? So but note that. And then I'm just gonna put a a little bit of a bug in your ear or a plea. We need to be praying for the mental health of all those we know. [36:24] You know, this time of year, my phone rings quite heavily as people's lives have fallen apart, and, we do not have enough mental health practitioners to meet our current need, let alone the need we project."), Document(metadata={'source': "36:45"}, page_content="And, only because I see these things, [36:47] many, many of our first responders are calling not to physical issues anymore, to mental health issues, from teenagers to adults to veterans. [37:02] So be praying for that, and I will just tell you, don't be afraid to reach out and just ask somebody, how are you doing? That can go a long way, with that. But any teacher in our school districts will know the mental health needs are skyrocketing there. You know? And, [37:23] I know Shelly works with some of the mental health needs in a different way in our nursing homes. I mean, it's not just one age range, guys. It's all over. And, we, as the people of God, need to be serious praying not just for the spiritual needs and the physical needs of people in our world, but the emotional and mental needs of our world. And, you know, so just my little soapbox. I will step down from that, [37:52]"), Document(metadata={'source': "37:54"}, page_content="but don't just please be urgent in prayer for those things. What updates or additions do we have on this list? Dave, how about your dad? K. And he does know Jesus, so this will be just a change of address. [38:12] Great for him, not for us, but, we will continue to pray for that time. Dan has surgery on Tuesday in Cincinnati, so pray for him and Shannon as she drives him to and from. The Mechanicsburg School, the student who passed away last Sunday, that funeral is tomorrow. And so, please, as we know all too well on the gram, when one student dies, it it it there's ripple effects for weeks and weeks within a district, [38:44] there. Becky, it's good to see you, and we continue to pray for you as well as your mom. Others? Marilyn. So Sally Lacey had a hysterectomy on Friday, so, I'm assuming she's at home recovering? Yeah. K. Good. [39:03] Daniel? K. Yep. So"), Document(metadata={'source': "39:20"}, page_content="he's home, but tell a teenager that you'll feel normal in about a month. And Devin, because I also know Devin not just from Daniel, he's a very active kid. And so he's missing a lot, and to tell him to wait, I don't know a lot of adults that are okay waiting, but, you know, we we do. Others? [39:40] Teresa Mabry is better. Yes. Teresa Mabry is is better. Joyce did mention that today. So, Barb. And what would k. [40:40] And what's the last name? Veters. Veters. Veters. So Tom and Bertie Vetters, many of you will know who they are. He has, lots of health issues, including a pretty bad infection, and Bertie, his wife, [40:57] has dementia and, everything that goes with that."), Document(metadata={'source': "41:07"}, page_content="Sue. Yes. Good. We will continue to pray with that. Jennifer. [41:28] Ronald Jones, which is, Jennifer's father-in-law, Mark's father, had knee replacement and home recovering. [41:53] And many others of you not many others of you, but some of you will be having surgeries. I know, Ron, you're in a week from Tuesday, and then you'll you'll be back dancing with us and running the aisles. That's what I'm praying for. So if you're not, I don't know about you, but that's what I'm praying for. And I know, Patty Hershberger has a date for her, surgery. March 16. March 16. [42:19] Barb, do you have a date yet? You go to the doctor soon, though, for that. Right? February 2. February 2. That's soon. Kinda Jesus soon, not my soon, but, you know okay. You what was Patty's surgery date? March 16. K. Jennifer, then I'll [42:44]"), Document(metadata={'source': "43:00"}, page_content="Yeah. I know she was feeling better than not, and Karen your aunt Karen requested that online as well. So but I'm glad you said it because I saw it, but I didn't get to it. So, Nancy, you had K. Yeah. He's probably watching us. Which surgery is he having tomorrow? He is having for a. [43:30] Okay. So Rich Cook, who's on our list there, has surgery for a hiatal hernia tomorrow, so we we rejoice he can have that, you know, with the fall and everything. [43:53] Did I anybody else? Yes. Nope. You gotta double check. Alright. Well, Calvin is gonna come up and and, lead us in prayer this morning. So, Calvin, [44:16] come and do so."), Document(metadata={'source': "47:31"}, page_content="Well, open your Bibles, if you haven't already, to the gospel of John as we continue in this series that were started last week. [47:39] And, you know, looking at, what it means, to follow Jesus and and reminding [47:50] ourselves of who he is and then what he calls us to do. Jeff, you you remember the question you asked me last Sunday when I started my message? Yeah. What was it? What? Did you preach on ten years ago? That's exactly right. See, he remembered. Alright. Larry, did you remember what I preached on ten years ago? Fill us in. [48:15] So, you know, I did. And, what we we we talked about on that very first Sunday when I was with you all as your new senior pastor ten years ago, think of that. Some of you have been around. Praise you for your perseverance and your faithfulness through much suffering. Some of you are new,"), Document(metadata={'source': "48:46"}, page_content="but the words wouldn't be much different. The title of that message was the mission of the church, and we looked at the great passage in Matthew 28 [48:49] where Jesus says, you will be my witnesses as you go out and make disciples. And so this morning, titled my message, can I get a witness? Now, look around, and we're all pretty white here. [49:13] K? And the African American church, when I visited them, man, I I love my brothers and sisters of that culture because if the pastor was to say, can I get a witness? You know what they would hear? Somebody would be talking back to him. And somebody may step up and say, I got a story about Jesus. And we may need to do that around here, but I wanna challenge you, in these times that what the gospel of John [49:37] and the scripture says is, we, as God's people today, are to share our story and be a witness of who Jesus is. And part of that is because we, as a nation in particular, but in many other ways, are in the middle of an identity crisis. Who [50:00]"), Document(metadata={'source': "50:01"}, page_content="are we? And if we're not careful, we can get sucked into that. But we have a better identity, and John one nineteen through, 34 is gonna help teach us some of that. [50:15] What I love about this passage is if you've studied the gospel of John, you know there are at least seven times where Jesus uses an I am statement, claiming what John says here in these, words in verse 30 when he says, a man comes after me. A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. And when Jesus in the gospel of John says, I am, he's not just saying this statement of I am a pastor. He's saying, I am exodus three, the god of exodus of the burning bush. I am who I am. [50:54] But here in John one, we hear even more important, the I am not statements of John. The nation of Israel in that time was in an identity crisis. Who were they gonna be? What did it mean to live in relationship with God? What did it mean to try to be faithful? [51:10] What does it mean to to to not be in charge anymore?"), Document(metadata={'source': "51:23"}, page_content="And they were looking for an identity. I believe this. [51:28] We must evaluate ourselves and our identity in light of who Jesus is. I don't get to determine that on my own. And so look with me as we see this in in John chapter nine. Some religious leaders in Jerusalem went out to ask John the Baptist, who are [51:52] you? We live in a world where people will ask us, who are you? And his first I am not statement, verse 20, I am not the messiah. As one writer I read, even yet this morning, [52:11] mentioned, you know, how many times have we heard either through sports world? I just read an article about a quarterback"), Document(metadata={'source': "52:25"}, page_content="who just weeks earlier said, I'm I'm staying put, and then two weeks later said, nope. I'm leaving. Or a politician who has said, I'm not interested in that office. And then what? Two months later, I am interested in that office. [52:31] You know, Sophie, that was quite the look over there. You thought I didn't see, did you? Sophie, I love you. Yeah. She rolled her eyes. But how refreshing would it be if someone just said, no. I'm not interested and actually stood by that? [52:53] Or or be were person people of integrity that went on, and and John the Baptist says, I'm not him. Now we can do a lot of great good, but we need to understand we are not the messiah and the savior of people. We go around acting like that sometimes. And sometimes people will put you in a situation where, well, you're the expert. You know what I ought to do. Resist at all costs. Here's why. Because if they think you're the savior, they're not gonna see Jesus. [53:32] And if Hannah tells me to do something and it doesn't work, guess what I'm gonna do, Hannah? Try it again. No. I'm gonna blame you. Then I might try again, but I'm still gonna blame you. And it may not have been anything Hannah said. And John the Baptist is saying, I'm not he. [53:54]"), Document(metadata={'source': "53:59"}, page_content="And then people may go, well, what about this? Are you and they ask him a series of questions. Are you Elijah? Now this is where it gets interesting because in the, Matthew, Mark, Luke, we read that Jesus said that John was Elijah. So do we have a contradiction? I'm gonna say no. Because here's what I think John the Baptist is saying. People thought Elijah if you read Elijah and kings, he's one of the only people who's never really died that we know of. [54:25] God took him up in a chariot of fire. Man, I wanna go out that way. That's called going out in a blaze of glory. Okay? I mean, can you imagine the story you all would tell if all of a sudden there was a chariot of fire that took me up while I was preaching? Now, Vernon's may have quite a few more funerals to do as some of you have heart attacks if that happened. You know? But but so the thought was, okay. He never really died, so when the messiah comes, we are gonna have a reincarnated [54:52] Elijah. And John's saying, I ain't no reincarnation of anybody. I am not physically him. [55:09] May I say this, and I learned this from one of my professors many years ago in grad school. Don't be a second rate me or anyone else."), Document(metadata={'source': "55:21"}, page_content="Be a first rate you in Christ. You are not Ron Clutter. Amen? Right, Sue? [55:29] Alright. You are not Larry Smith. Amen? Amen. See? That's right. That's right. You are not a Barb McDonald. Oh, we want we kinda wanna be a little bit like that maybe. But we're not a Barb McDonald. You God has created you to be who you are in him. [55:41] And John the Baptist says, you're not gonna pigeonhole me in anybody else's situation. I'm my own witness to who Jesus is. Okay? So if you're not him, are you the great prophet? [56:06] Because this was even more vague. This was one of those no one knew exactly who, but there was a promise in Deuteronomy where there was coming a time when another prophet, just like Moses, greatness. There was there was, like, hierarchy of prophets."), Document(metadata={'source': "56:26"}, page_content="K? Jeremiah was probably down low because they took care of him. You know, Isaiah's a little higher. Ezekiel. Oh, they kinda liked Ezekiel because he said good things about him, about what was gonna happen. Then you would go Elijah, [56:30] and the best of the best of the best was Moses. Why? Because Moses gave us the law. Moses gave us the name of God. I am who I am. What does that mean? I don't know, but he gave us that. And and John the Baptist says, I am not here. [56:57] Our world is gonna try to squeeze you into a mold, resist at all cost. And then finally, when they the world gets so caught up in trying to figure out who we are, and we don't give them the right answer, they're finally gonna just say, well, fine. Tell me, who are you? And John the Baptist quotes Isaiah, I'm a voice of one calling in the wilderness. Make straight the paths. When Isaiah predicted that and he prophesied that, the whole idea was becoming there was gonna become one, but his job was to point to someone greater, [57:30] to take the focus off of what people thought to one greater. And John says, look, there's one who comes that I'm not even worthy to untie the sandals. Verse 27. Think about that for a minute. John was saying when he understood and understands who the messiah [58:05]"), Document(metadata={'source': "58:07"}, page_content="is, he's not worthy to be a slave to do the most menious meaningless and menial task. Now he wasn't an impostor syndrome, and he wasn't, thinking less of him. He was just thinking so great of Jesus. [58:21] Do you think so great of Jesus? Jesus is greater than us. Does that mean life will be easy? No. I mean, we sing the song, if if god is for us, who can be against us? What's the answer to that? Everyone. [58:40] And talk to our brothers and sisters in different parts of the world. And who is against them? Everyone. There are Christians in Africa today that I'm certain were martyred only because they believe Jesus is greater than themselves. And so this that wasn't a promise. Sometimes we'll read that, and someone will say, well, have have no fear. If God is for you, nothing bad can happen against you. Baloney. And we're having that Wednesday night. We'll fry it for you too. K? Baloney. Everyone can be against you, but when you understand how great Jesus is, if they kill the body, it doesn't matter because he's the one who raised from the dead. [59:16] Can I get an amen? Amen. And if he raised from the dead, he can raise you from the dead. Amen? Amen. And if you don't believe that's true, there's a story there's actually a couple of them. There's a story in the gospel of John about Lazarus who was in the grave so much, he started to stink. Listen. We I've smelled some pretty awful things recently."), Document(metadata={'source': "59:47"}, page_content="I helped clean out our our refrigerator. There were things that stinketh much in that refrigerator. Don't judge us. [59:55] It's everywhere. Because I bet it's in your refrigerator too. Worse. It's right. Well, I I think I told you. I got a rule in our house. If the food I'm eating has more hair than me, I'm not eating it. That's a rule that says, uh-uh. That ain't right. Now we don't have much of that anymore because we're we're trying. We're trying to be. But when I realized that Jesus can do even greater, I'm not worried about if you stole me this morning. All I'm gonna tell you is do it well enough to send me to Jesus. I'll put in a good word for you. And this isn't this doesn't mean I'm looking to leave life early, [01:00:30] but when we truly understand who Jesus is and what he does, we are willing to say, look, it ain't about me, and if if he's for me, you can't do anything that matters that much. And I'll just say this. I also have a girl at home who's nine going on 19. She's done much worse to me than you all ever could. [01:00:58] Alright? I love her dearly. Alright? So see if there we go. So we read that John is saying Jesus is greater, but let's also look at what John says, who Jesus is. He says in verse 29, the next day John saw Jesus"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:01:18"}, page_content="coming toward him and said, look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I think I mentioned this at Christmas Eve. One way of understanding this verse is this would be my translation [01:01:25] from studying it some, look, the lamb of the God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the true Passover lamb. [01:01:43] Now there is debate. Which lamb did John the Baptist mean? Which lamb would the Jews think of? I believe I believe it's the Passover lamb primarily, but it's not just a one size fits all. I mean, because John is Jesus John, the the gospel writer John has taken us all the way back to the beginning in the prologue, the first verses we talked about last week. He's bringing us into Exodus now saying, here's the one. Whether he's the the Passover lamb, the Exodus lamb, or the daily sacrificial lamb, can I tell you something? Jesus is all those things and much more. Whichever lamb the Jews were thinking, [01:02:20] Jesus was surpassing even that. But let me ask you this. In your identity, do you believe you need to be saved, or do you think you got it all put together? Because if you think you all you you got it all put together, [01:02:41]"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:02:46"}, page_content="you're not gonna ask for help. You're not. And sometimes, when I work with people, is not those who don't know Jesus who think they're that don't think they're messed up. It's those who do know Jesus sometimes think they really don't need much help anymore because they know Jesus. Listen. We all need help. See? Sue knows me. She knows I need help. [01:03:08] You said it's Paul. Yeah. She bet she concludes me. That includes me. It includes her. It includes all of us. And this allows us then to have this understanding and this empathy with people of, I'm not better than you. I may not sin like you. I may not be where you are, but I'm in the need of a savior too. [01:03:30] And here's how I know my savior. Jesus is the true lamb of God. He then goes on to say that he received this this special revelation. [01:03:45] And anytime you read somebody and they talk about special revelation, it means when God speaks, typically,"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:03:54"}, page_content="in relation to who Jesus is. There's this idea of general revelation, which all have, that's creation tells us God. There is a creator God that you can know. Everyone gets that. [01:04:06] Not everyone understands the special revelation of who Jesus is, but John tells us even more. John said, this I I was given this word. I didn't know who he was, but I was given this word that the man on whom you see the spirit come down and remain on is the one [01:04:24] who will also baptize with the holy spirit. I have seen and I can witness that Jesus is God's chosen one. Jesus is the anointed one the spirit never leaves. That's why he can also give us the spirit [01:04:49] because it didn't ever leave. In the Old Testament, you had the spirit of God that would come on people, but typically very short period of time and then would leave. What we see in the beginning of the gospel of John, Jesus institutes a new era where you can receive the holy spirit and never have to ask for it again and again and again. I believe"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:05:18"}, page_content="that the scripture teaches that when you confess Jesus as Lord and come to know Jesus as your savior, you are given the Holy Spirit at that moment in time, and the Holy Spirit never leaves you. [01:05:28] If you're truly one of God's, it never leaves you. Our prayer is not give me more of the spirit. The prayer probably ought to be, Lord, make less of me so I'm aware of the spirit that's already in me. And and here, Jesus was the first. Can you imagine what that's like? When John realized for the first time, here is my hope. [01:05:55] No wonder he can give a testimony. My hope is fulfilled in him. What about you? Where do you need to? What is your story? [01:06:10] Where has Jesus shown you who he is, and who will you share? How will you evaluate yourself this day in light of who Jesus is? Do you look to him for help and his people that he gives knowledge and wisdom? [01:06:32]"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:06:38"}, page_content="Do you realize that he is God's anointed one? And so he can anoint you? Do you believe he is the lamb of God that takes away your sin and mine? Do you believe he's the Messiah? Is that gonna make life just all of a sudden great? [01:07:01] No. I mean, Dan, I wish. I mean, we could try this. I I wish that I could just pray over your ankle today, and you wouldn't even need surgery Tuesday. I'd be okay with that too. Can I promise that? No. Because I'm not Jesus. [01:07:19] But can I tell you something? There is very viable evidence in other worlds, not other worlds, other countries when the gospel is proclaimed and they say bring us the sick and the and the blind and and they're healed. Verifiable by medical experts, not just people like me that want it to happen. K? And it's normally not those what we think of. Some of you all are old enough. You know, the Benny Hens and those where you're slaying in the spirit, and if you don't fall quick enough, they push harder. [01:07:41] Not that stuff. But if I believe what scripture says about who Jesus is, if Jesus wants to do that, guess what Jesus can do?"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:08:00"}, page_content="Whatever he wants to do. And I'm not him, but he has given me the power of the holy spirit to say, some of us, we need to submit to him, and when that happens, life will transform. Maybe slowly, but then we have to share it with others. [01:08:15] Be a witness for Jesus. Ten years ago, my message was all about being a witness for Jesus. Guess what has not changed? The mission of the church. We still have to be a witness for Jesus because people aren't gonna find it on their own. We didn't find it on our own. [01:08:38] We people are gonna look inside and try to find it in themselves, and Jesus says, look to me. Be a witness for Jesus. And in so doing, we must learn to communicate effectively with them. [01:08:56] What might that mean? The gospel of John is an effective communication of the gospel for the world it was written in. Why does John say, I'm I'm"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:09:14"}, page_content="not Elijah? One, he understood [01:09:15] what they were asking him. They were asking if he was a reincarnation of the great prophet. Absolutely not. To communicate the gospel effectively, you gotta slowly work with people to understand what they're even asking without going to the question. In a world of talking heads and noise, we cannot try to compete with those who are already shouting. [01:09:40] But one on one, you can. Listen to people. Don't assume you understand what they're asking. Don't assume. And then lead them to the one. When he says, look, the lamb of God, [01:10:01] for you and I, we're so used to that. We read it all the time. We know the whole story. But for John, the gospel of John and the Jews, that was quite a statement that they also understood. Would you be willing to be less so Jesus can be greater? God's [01:10:29]"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:10:30"}, page_content="chosen one. This was loaded for them too. But we have to learn how to communicate that well with others. Sometimes that will mean we have to be aware of when we we sound too churchy. You know? We throw things around like Jesus, holy spirit, bible. [01:10:51] You know, we have a whole world that has not grown up in church. They they may not they they may not know what that means. Great commission, those of you who've been around, they you know what that meant when I said it. Others of you are like, what do you mean? What what's a commission? Josiah, what's a commission? Exactly. Here's all that was. Jesus said, this is your mission. I'm sending you out to do this. Does that make sense? [01:11:23] Yeah. But if we don't and and we could say, well, why don't they know? Doesn't matter why they don't know. My job is to effectively try to help them see that and make that choice. How will you effectively communicate the gospel? Try not to use too churchy of words because they don't know what that means. Okay? They don't. [01:11:49] That's a good thing. You say, why? Because"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:11:56"}, page_content="because they don't have to unlearn in order to learn. You know, I think of our teachers, and I'll wrap it up. How hard would it be to teach two plus two is four if the person has learned years and years and years that two plus two is five? [01:12:05] Carol, can you imagine what that would be like? No. You probably just wanna go teach the speaker right here two plus two is four. It'd be easier. K? We get to show them. Now I'm gonna challenge you. Are you being a witness for the gospel that's scripture or your own version of it? K? [01:12:34] There's something we gotta be careful with. Can I get a witness? Do know your story well enough to share it? Are you can you make your story and when I work with people that are looking to share their healing story clinically, [01:12:56] I talk all the time about becoming I 75, not always work on yourself, though that's appropriate too, but you gotta have a lot of on ramps at different places. And does your story about Jesus have a lot of on ramps at different places?"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:13:19"}, page_content="Maybe it's at the beginning when you realized you needed hope because life was terrible. [01:13:22] Maybe it's later when you realized, you know what? I've come to have a deeper meaning on on who Jesus is. Those are two different on ramps. K? In our county to the west of us, 25 A has, I think, at least three on ramps to I 75, maybe four. You know? You got one North Of Sydney. You got one in Pickwa, and then you got one South Of Pickwa. [01:13:47] And I think there's another one. K? When because you gotta listen where people are and bring them in where they are to the story of God, not where you want them to be. If I'm trying to, if I were trying to teach Jonita how to get on to I 75, never gonna happen. Okay? That's why I'm using this story. I can't try to bring her all the way down to Hamilton, Ohio where I know where I 75 gets on at. [01:14:16] I gotta go, okay. Where's the closest way for her to get there? And bring her that way. I bring her a different route than I bring my mother. My mother has an understanding down there. She'd been down there all her life, basically. You and I, when we want to share the gospel, gotta know where people need to be brought on in the story of God. Can [01:14:45]"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:14:49"}, page_content="you craft your story in that way? Pray about that. The Lord will do, but remember this, Jesus is greater [01:14:59] than everything. When you're anxious, Jesus is greater than your anxiety. When you're afraid, Jesus is greater than your fear. When you think you're all that in a bag of chips, Jesus is greater than you. When you fail, and you will fail. [01:15:19] When you fall on your face, Jesus is greater than your sin. He's not gonna leave you in your sin, and he will say, go and sin no more, but he will also say, I'm I'm greater than that. Jesus is greater than your job, your IRA, your church. He is greater than you. Trust him [01:15:42] in all those ways, and I think you will find life"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:15:49"}, page_content="because Jesus says, I have come that you may have life and have it to the fullness. May you and I be a witness [01:15:59] this day. So the question should never actually be, can I get a witness? Question should be, who are you gonna witness to? Not beat them over the head with the Bible. [01:16:12] K? Bring them into the story. Take time. We want it quick. True conversion to Jesus ain't quick. [01:16:23] The times when it was quick, it was normally painful. I'm thinking of Paul and Saul. K? His was a quick conversion. He I would argue, actually, he had a lot to work up to that, but it wasn't always pretty. Alright? He was blind for days. I don't wanna be blind for days. Alright? But"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:16:45"}, page_content='go quickly go to Jesus [01:16:46] and be that witness. Or I could say it this way, you are a witness for Jesus every day. Which version of him are you showing? Are you showing the one who is the lamb of God, the hope of the world, [01:17:04] or are you showing somebody else? May you and I be faithful as John the Baptist was faithful to proclaim who we are not because of who he is. And may you know the grace of Jesus is with you always [01:17:19] to the very end. Let us pray. Father God, thank you for this time. Lord, I ask that you would do the work that only you could do. Lord, that you would show us who you are in such a way that we go, I want more of that and less of me. Lord, show us the story that you have crafted in our lives and those who need to hear it. And may we be faithful [01:17:46]'), Document(metadata={'source': "01:17:49"}, page_content="when the world will try to say we are something we are not to be able to say, no. I'm not he. I'm not that. This is who I am. And may that always be in relation to who you are. For it is by your grace, we are your children. [01:18:06] And by your grace, we are your witness. And by your grace, you will sustain us until you give us our notice of change of address when we will see you face to face. Oh, what a day that will be. And so we can walk confidently in this world knowing you have called us to do a mission, [01:18:26] to be a witness for you today, tomorrow, and until you come again. Lord, we thank you, and we love you, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. If you are able, please stand as we sing hymn five thirty nine, my faith looks up to thee, talking about who Jesus is. And if you need to respond, please do so this day. I'm gonna have, [01:21:36] pastor Paul and Sue. They're gonna be praying over Becky for her mental health and well-being. We as a church know that's important. We're not gonna pray necessarily over her, but we're gonna be praying for you. But I've equipped these two because they know they've been in that front line"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:21:52"}, page_content="with that. But I wanna encourage you. If you need someone to pray, find someone around you who can pray. Be praying for our youth tonight. I think about 09:00, we're gonna have a worship service here. And so I would encourage you, pray the Holy Spirit upon this place. I'll be preaching out of Luke 15, [01:22:07] how Jesus goes and finds the lost, and how Jesus, when we turn to him, he runs. I don't know if our teenagers know we have a God that runs, and not after us in a way of, I'm gonna get you, but runs to embrace us when we turn. Pray. [01:22:26] Pray. Pray. And then there were we had a donation unexpectedly this week of a bunch of bread items downstairs. Take them, please. They're all at date or past date. There may be a little bit mowed on some of those. Give them to chickens if you have chickens. Find somebody's neighbors to give a chicken too if they eat they eat the stuff. K? But please go down and and take that. But know this, [01:22:50] the Lord is with you as you go from this. Will you receive this benediction and blessing? And now we, who have come to be called children of God because Jesus says you are mine, may we go out in light and in truth and in grace and hope,"), Document(metadata={'source': "01:23:09"}, page_content="sharing our story, Lord, of how you have transformed our lives for you. [01:23:12] And, Lord, if we're in need of transformation, may we turn to you. Lord, I ask that you would heal the sick among us, that you would help the lame to leap with joy, that you would bind the brokenhearted, that the bruised reed of mental and emotional needs [01:23:30] would be bound up and anointed with your healing oil. And may those who are lost be found, and may those who need to come you as lord and savior, may this day the work of salvation begin in their life as we go out fitted with the gospel of peace [01:23:48] that is their hope. We pray this in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit, and all of god's people said, amen. May you go in peace this day.")], 'output_text': ''}