Daring Faith | Are You Ready for a Miracle?
Understanding How To Get Ready For Miracles In Your Life
James Greer
Oct 2, 2022 28m
This week, Pastor James Greer talks about how to get ready for miracles that are coming. He will share principles that will help you prepare yourself spiritually, mentally, and physically. Are you ready? Video recorded at Pineville, Louisiana.
TranscriptionmessageRegarding Grammar:
This is a transcription of the sermon. People speak differently than they write, and there are common colloquialisms in this transcript that sound good when spoken, and look like bad grammar when written.
This is a transcription of the sermon. People speak differently than they write, and there are common colloquialisms in this transcript that sound good when spoken, and look like bad grammar when written.
James Greer: [00:00:00] We're going to continue our series on the Daring Faith. And I'll tell you, three things happen when you stretch your faith that I want you to remember. You're either stretching your faith or you're straining your faith. Also, by the way, those people I told y'all last week you could have a Promise book and I didn't have any. They're back at the kiosk today, if you want some, anyway. Okay, So anyway, when you strain your face, you drain your faith and you can be saved. But you don't believe and you're not acting on God's promises. You're not saying rewards and God's not doing a lot in your house, but when you're saved and you stretch your faith, three things happen. Number one, you get to experience a supernatural energy. 1 Corinthians tells us this. Now about the spiritual gifts. Say, if you use your spiritual gifts, you stretch your faith. Amen. The special endowment of supernatural energy, brother. And I don't want you to be misinformed. God says there's one thing I want to know. If you stretch your faith, you get to experience supernatural energy. Amen. That's number one. Number two, if you stretch your faith, you get the supernatural power to be on fire for God. Let's list for this on labor unto weariness, striving with all the superhuman energy which he might kill. That works within me. In other words, he said, I might put me on fire for working for God. So not only supernatural energy, it's mean.
James Greer: [00:01:39] He'll light me on fire with a supernatural power. So, number one, you've got a supernatural energy. Number two, you get a supernatural power. And number three, you get supernatural answers to prayer. And that's fantastic. Amen. So we want to stretch our faith. I'm not going to read the whole thing. But Sampson, he had just killed a thousand men with a jaw of a donkey. And he said, I'm thirsty. And he said, and he prayed to the Lord. And what the Lord did was later on he opened the ground and water came out. That was a miracle. Amen. So what I want you to know is when you do allowing God to stretch your faith, you get at least three things supernatural injuries, supernatural power and supernatural answered prayer. Amen. So God wants to stretch your faith. One of the simple ways you can stretch your faith. You still get these cards inside. You can stretch your faith. You can invite somebody. You have invite cards. Wouldn't it be something? To get to Heaven. And you've never invited somebody to come to church. Oh, Jesus. We make it easy for you. Number two. Pray for somebody that's lost or invite somebody to loss. You got invite cards. Number three, ask God to do something impossible or do a miracle in your life. I'm doing that right now. It's fantastic. God's in the miracle working business. We'll be preaching on that today. Wouldn't you like God to do a miracle in your life? In fact, I'll give you a heads up.
James Greer: [00:03:11] You got to know what you'd like for him to do. And then number three. Either number four, get into a small group or start a journey on the go group. That's just where you meet outside the church and you discuss and pray about things. And don't forget, y'all got the new little wordless book inside that you can scan it. And I'm going through the plan of Salvation. So let's get started today. How do you get ready for a miracle? But really more today. It's going to be there. There's three reasons we're doing daring faith. You do realize everything God does in your life. He does it by grace, through faith, everything. But number one, number one, without faith, it's impossible to please God and receive his rewards. That's number one. Now, we've talked about that a little bit, so we're not going to spend a whole lot of time there. Now, my faith is a substance of things, hope for and evidence, things not seen. Substance is God's Word. Faith has substance. It's God's Word. Faith is simply believing in acting and obeying God's Word or seeing things from God's point of view. And then the Bible says in Hebrews 11:12, it says this. 11:6 I mean. But without faith, it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a what reward or what is he? That's right.
James Greer: [00:04:43] Of those who diligently seek him. So when we stretch your faith, we're helping you diligently seek it. So number one reason we want you to please God and receive rewards. But number two is this. What we're doing that's not by faith is sin. Romans 14:23 says is for whatever is not from faith is sin. Now, really, if you don't learn to read the Bible in context, though, you'll think everything I'm doing is sin. And sometimes that's true. But I want to give you some insights about this first. One insight is Romans 14:17 because you've got to know what the Kingdom of God is, because sometimes you'll be reading the Bible and it'll say, these people will not receive the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom. It says the Kingdom of God. There's Christians that are not in. There's Christians that are not enjoying the kingdom of God. You're safe, but you're not enjoying the Kingdom of God for the Kingdom of God. It's not eating and drinking. It's not what you eat, drink, but it's righteousness. And it's peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. So the Kingdom of God is righteousness. When you're right with God and you're right with others, you can have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here's a wonderful insight. Many times lack of joy is a relationship problem. Ooh, that is good, brother Jason. I write that down. Many times lack of joy. It's a relationship problem. Okay, here's another word.
James Greer: [00:06:30] Romans 14:22 to 23. It gets to gets to the thing, but it's in the context first 22. Do you have faith? Amen. Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself or herself and what they approved. No words. God says. I want you to be happy. I don't want you going around condemning yourself, condemning yourself, condemning yourself. But what he's saying is, what I want you to do is go around doing what God's called you to do, enjoy what he's doing. Listen, if you're condemning, you, don't condemn yourself if you're doing what's right, if you're doing what's wrong. Stop doing it. I mean, but I've known people that have asked God to forgive them and ask God to forgive them. They've done something in the past and they're still just going around living a condemned life. God said, Hey, there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ. Amen. But when you're in Christ, you're saved, but you're allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. So don't go and condemn in yourself. And if you're condemning yourself because you're in sin, stop sinning. All right. Verse 23, it says, But he who doubts is condemning if he eats. Because he does not eat from faith. You all condemn yourself when you eat? Sometimes I need to. Starting Monday. I will start watching what I eat now. But back then they were worried sometimes you would take meat and you would offer it to idle.
James Greer: [00:08:14] So some people say, Hey, I can eat meat. Some people said I didn't. For whatever is not from faith as sin. So. But he said, Listen, I want you to be happy. I don't want you to go around condemning yourself. And then then he says. It's teaching you something real important here. Listen, let me go over it again. Let me teach you something that most people never understood. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat from faith for whatever he is, not from faith is sin. If you read the next verse, it says this verse 21 and let me tell you. Yeah, let me give you Romans 14:21 and I'll give it to you in context. It is good neither to eat meat. Lord of drink wine. Put him in the same context. Don't raise your hands in here if you've been eating meat. Nor do anything about which your brothers stumble and is offended and made weak. In other words, what God's saying? Listen, there are some things you need to do in private and some things it's okay to do in public. There's some things you need to do in private, because if you did them in public, it would cause your brother to stumble. In other words, he says it's it is good news to eat meat. Now. Eating meat today is socially acceptable. Amen. Everybody that eats meat 90% of time. This is not going to offend anybody.
James Greer: [00:09:55] Some of y'all is going to offend them if we don't eat meat. But some people would be offended if you drink wine. Not at our church. Too many. But. But some people would. I hope that's not live. It is. Sorry. Oh, well. But it's true. Don't egg me on, Tim. There's a church up north. Almost said it was 12 stoners I know better. And he was preaching. He has preached it for a men's conference. And he said, okay, all the men we're going to meet until this little town. He said, All the men, unless you're on. Have a or previous drinking problem. We want you to come, but we don't want you to do this. We're going to all meet in this town. And what we're going to do is we're going to have a beer and smoke a cigar. And he's preaching this from the pulpit. And I'm going, Oh, my God. We're going to have a beer, we're going to have a cigar, and then we're going to go on this great men's retreat. And I'm going to preach the word the. I heard that dude preach. They said he had 1200 men that came from all over and he preached unbelievable. He preached God's Word. The house came down. If you said that down here. Some people, a few people will get offended. I mean. Anyway, Y'all get the point. Okay, let's get the point anyway. And so what are you saying? Is this Do your best not to offend your brother by what you do.
James Greer: [00:11:49] That's what he was saying. It's not what you do. Don't offend them if you can help it, You know. So the second reason. Is that we don't want to be living in sin. We want to live by faith, not by sin. Amen. Romans 1:17 says the judge shall live by what faith? Let me tell you how you live by faith real quick. Two or three things. Living my faith. Quick. Living and walking by faith means living in a way that you show you have. You confidently believe in God's promise and purpose for your life. When you're living by faith, you're living in a way that you confidently believe God's promise and purpose for your life. So therefore, you keep your mind on God's power, promises and not the problem. It tells you that. And Isaiah 26:3, it said you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on him because he trust in you. Amen. So, man, you got to control your mind. Trust in the Lord forever. For Yah the Lord is everlasting. He is your strength. So that's how you walk in the Lord. That's how you live by faith. You. You trust His promises, his purpose, his power over the problems. I mean. And then remember, remember, miracles come by faith. I told you this last week, but I want to go one more time real quick. According to your faith, let it be unto to you.
James Greer: [00:13:22] According to Who's faith? Your faith. Let it be unto you. I said it last week. I'll repeat it again. Because the only person who can limit what God does in your life is you. Hey, some of y'all listen. Last week. Praise God. Amen. Y'all didn't forget. Amen. So what the key is, is. Is stop blaming others. In your life. What's going on? Blaming people, places and things and start claiming God's promises. Stop blaming and start claiming. Blaming is just refusing correction or refusing your personal responsibility. Third, third, third. Reason. We want you to see God working miracles in your life. We want to see God working miracles in your personal life. And Matthew 15:28, it says this way, and Jesus answered and said under her. Oh, woman This woman was cool, man. She was begging for her daughter, begging for her daughter, begging for a daughter. And Jesus said, Hey, man, you know, it really wasn't time for the Gentiles yet. And she finally said, Hey, hey, well, how about there's even crumbs for dogs? And Jesus looks at her and Jesus said to her, Oh, woman, Great. Is your faith. She'd been pasturing Jesus. She wouldn't let him go. You know why she wouldn't let it go? She had such great faith. She knew if Jesus spoke the word, her daughter would be healed. And he looked at her and said, okay, great. Is your faith let it be to you as you desire.
James Greer: [00:14:54] She had this unbelievable desire and faith that if Jesus would say something, even the crumbs from her table would heal her daughter, and her daughter was healed that very hour. Amen. She had tried everything else. She knew nothing else would help. She begged Jesus. Jesus said, Hey, my time. He would. He had come to the Jews at that time. He said, I hadn't really come to the Gentiles, but he was going to. And she just kept on and on and on and on. And she spoke up to Jesus and she said, Jesus, even the dolls get the crumbs from the tables. And Jesus said, Man, great is your faith, lady. So, lady, sometimes it's worth pestering people. Really what she did was she said, Hey. I know I cannot do it on my own. I've tried everything else in the world. But I absolutely believe there's nothing too hard for Jesus. There's another woman in the Bible that thought the same thing. And she said in Mark 5:25. Now a certain woman. I think that he didn't put her name there because this could have been when you get through, you're going to find out it could have been any of us. Had a flow of blood. For 12 years. That's a long time to suffer a man. It had suffered many things. And I want to talk about that in a minute. For many physicians. And she had spent all that she had. It was no better.
James Greer: [00:16:32] In fact, it grew worse. It sounds like she'd gone from doctor to doctor. It wasn't getting better. It's getting worse and worse and worse. And she said she had suffered many things already. She suffered financially because she was broke. She suffered physically because the doctors could not heal her. She suffered emotionally because of the flow of blood. She was considered unclean. You ready? For 12 years, Nobody could touch her. How would you like to go round that now? For me, that would be horrible, because I'm a hugger. I could not be hugged and I could not hug anybody else. If I hugged them, they would be considered unclean. She suffered spiritually because they wouldn't allow her to come in the temple and worship. She suffered many things. And it just got worse. And worse. But she heard something. She heard about Jesus. And guess what? Today? You're hearing about Jesus. And she came behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. I'm telling you what the wonderful thing today is. You've got the great opportunity to hear about Jesus and you got a great opportunity to stretch your faith. Amen. And then she said, If only I may touch his clothes, I would be made well. I mean, she tried everything else, but now she said, Hey, I spent my money. I've tried everything. Isn't she a whole lot like us? Sometimes we do everything else in the world. And then we finally said, Why don't we try? Jesus.
James Greer: [00:18:14] I got an idea. Don't wait that long. If you've got a problem, why don't you try Jesus today? Amen. And Emily? The fountain of her blood was dried up. And she felt in her body that she was healed of her. What affliction? Say affliction? Because I want you to remember that she was afflicted and it was dried up from her affliction. And Jesus immediately knowing himself, that power had gone out from him. See, power goes out when you're preaching and when you're healing. Whatever happens, turn around to the crowd and said, Who touched my clothes? Now, really, let me ask you a question. Do y'all think he knew who touched him? Yes, he did. Of course he knew who touched it. He was going to have her publicly acknowledge who and how she was healed. This lady had been living 12 years in shame and as an outcast, she now was going to be free physically, emotionally, spiritually. You already. Finally, she is going to be free publicly. How would you like to be an outcast for 12 years? And Gia said, Hey, babe, stand up. He didn't say babe, but he told her to stand up. And now the whole crowds were there. And they want it. It wasn't just for her. It was for them. They hadn't been able to come around or they hadn't been out of touch or they hadn't been able to hug her. Can you imagine what that must have been like to hug people after 12 years? So finally, God, Jesus was freeing her publicly, but his disciple said to him, You see, all the multitude thronged you and you're saying, Who touch me? Yeah.
James Greer: [00:20:07] Jesus. The whole crowd can be here and he can know who you are. He looked around to see her, who had touched this, done this thing. But the woman fearfully and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell before him and told him the whole truth. Guess what? You might as well tell him the truth if you're here today because he knows it anyway. And he said to her daughter. You're. Faye has made you well. Go in peace. Be healed of your affliction. Affliction is a thing that has been that you've been suffering from suffering shame and pain. That's affliction, suffering, shame and pain. This upon your life. Maybe it's been continued upon your life. And Jesus immediately healed her from it. Jesus doesn't want you to live in shame. He doesn't want you to live in and suffering like that. She had tried doctor doctors, She spent all her money. She couldn't do it, and no other thing can do it. And the same is true. There are some things in your life that only Jesus Christ could do. The flow was a type of what drained her life. What if there's something in your life this drain in you and drain you and drain you and you're tired of you going over and over and over.
James Greer: [00:21:33] You're lonely, you feel separate, you feel desperate. And then there's one more example, and we're going to get ready to close. So Jesus stood still. He commanded him and he brought him to him. And when he had come there, he asked him this question. Here's Jesus question to you. What do you want me to do for you? If Jesus was here today and he asked you, What do you want me to do for you? And Lord, he said, receive my slight. Do you know what you'd say? Do you even know? And Jesus said, Receive your sight. Why your faith is made. You will. You know, sometimes I think we're one ask away from a miracle. James says you have not because you ask not as we get ready to close. I want to tell you something. Every one of us here is probably some type of that woman that had issue of blood because her affliction was a type number one of a financial problem. She's been all she had. I guarantee you, some of you had financial problems and you tried everything you could. And today you want to try it Jesus’ way. I think that's good. So, hey, how does Jesus say we should be doing it? He's got an answer for you. So it's a physical problem. She went from doctor to doctor and she got worse. I've seen that happen so many times here recently. I'm about to.
James Greer: [00:23:18] I don't know what. She went to Jesus. He was he was the answer. He. To care for financial needs or physical needs. She had a terrible emotional need. I felt like there was nobody in her life because there was not. See, when you're right with Christ, you might be alone, but you're never lonely. You can have such a relationship with him. Sometimes you want to be alone where you can be with him. And her life changed like that. I would imagine some of the people in the crowd probably hugged her. I don't know that for a fact. But I think she was touched because that's what Jesus had her stand up. He said, Hey, she's clean now. If it had been at our church, everybody would have clapped. Everybody hugged her. But some of y'all here maybe feel like you've lived in shame or there's something in your past and God wants to forgive you. Maybe you're lonely. Maybe you feel separated, and God says, Hey, I don't want you to live like that. I want to take care of your emotionally, or at least try Academy, body, soul and spirit. And so they said, maybe today's the day to do that. She had a terrible spiritual need. See, I can't wait to come to church. I know there's some people just don't want to come. I can't wait. It's the highlight of my whole week. My whole week comes to a climax. They wouldn't let her walk in the door.
James Greer: [00:24:59] And she couldn't watch online back then. And so she couldn't even come to church. So she didn't have a spiritual need. There's something about the Bible says for two or three together. Together. There he is also. So he's here. She had come to the point that she wasn't worried about the crowds. She said, I'm going to push my way through or hide my way or scoot my way through till I can touch the hero's garment. You know what I thought? I thought about every single Sunday. Give an invitation. And we have counselors that come to the front. I just wonder how many times. The gods place something on your heart. And you're worried about the crowd. So you didn't come? And so maybe you weren't touched by Jesus. Maybe you just needed somebody emotional person, somebody else to pray with you and pray for you. And so I'm going to I'm going to ask you to stand and I'm going to pray for you, but I'm going to pray that you really let Jesus have his way in your life. He might not be here physically. But he is here spiritually. God, I just thank you for today. I think that you are here. I think that you can meet physical, financial, emotional and spiritual needs. I think this one was such a great example of how she finally came to the point She wasn't worried about the crowd. I pray for those here today, maybe that she touched some area in their life, God, that they're not worried about the crowd.
James Greer: [00:26:47] They're not worried about the crowd. Maybe they need to be. Save, like make sure they're going to Heaven. I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose on the third day. Maybe they're here. They need to be safe, delivered from a problem they're going through. Maybe they need to fall through in public baptism like so many of them did Sunday and Wednesday, and maybe is a baby or you are sprinkled now you want to go through the death and resurrection. Maybe you were baptized and you really weren't saved and now you know what you're doing. Maybe you want to do it. Maybe you just never been baptized at all. And today's the day. You want to do that. Maybe you want to join this church. Maybe you need somebody else to pray with you and pray for you. Maybe you just need that emotional need met your you're blessed to be able to come in the house of the Lord and you're blessed to have counselors here to pray with you and pray for you. I pray that you don't let the crowd stop you and worry about you. In fact, God, I find Satan through the power and the blood of Jesus Christ. And I pray that you could have your will and your way in every single person's life here today. And I pray in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Recorded in Pineville, Louisiana.
James Greer: [00:01:39] He'll light me on fire with a supernatural power. So, number one, you've got a supernatural energy. Number two, you get a supernatural power. And number three, you get supernatural answers to prayer. And that's fantastic. Amen. So we want to stretch our faith. I'm not going to read the whole thing. But Sampson, he had just killed a thousand men with a jaw of a donkey. And he said, I'm thirsty. And he said, and he prayed to the Lord. And what the Lord did was later on he opened the ground and water came out. That was a miracle. Amen. So what I want you to know is when you do allowing God to stretch your faith, you get at least three things supernatural injuries, supernatural power and supernatural answered prayer. Amen. So God wants to stretch your faith. One of the simple ways you can stretch your faith. You still get these cards inside. You can stretch your faith. You can invite somebody. You have invite cards. Wouldn't it be something? To get to Heaven. And you've never invited somebody to come to church. Oh, Jesus. We make it easy for you. Number two. Pray for somebody that's lost or invite somebody to loss. You got invite cards. Number three, ask God to do something impossible or do a miracle in your life. I'm doing that right now. It's fantastic. God's in the miracle working business. We'll be preaching on that today. Wouldn't you like God to do a miracle in your life? In fact, I'll give you a heads up.
James Greer: [00:03:11] You got to know what you'd like for him to do. And then number three. Either number four, get into a small group or start a journey on the go group. That's just where you meet outside the church and you discuss and pray about things. And don't forget, y'all got the new little wordless book inside that you can scan it. And I'm going through the plan of Salvation. So let's get started today. How do you get ready for a miracle? But really more today. It's going to be there. There's three reasons we're doing daring faith. You do realize everything God does in your life. He does it by grace, through faith, everything. But number one, number one, without faith, it's impossible to please God and receive his rewards. That's number one. Now, we've talked about that a little bit, so we're not going to spend a whole lot of time there. Now, my faith is a substance of things, hope for and evidence, things not seen. Substance is God's Word. Faith has substance. It's God's Word. Faith is simply believing in acting and obeying God's Word or seeing things from God's point of view. And then the Bible says in Hebrews 11:12, it says this. 11:6 I mean. But without faith, it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a what reward or what is he? That's right.
James Greer: [00:04:43] Of those who diligently seek him. So when we stretch your faith, we're helping you diligently seek it. So number one reason we want you to please God and receive rewards. But number two is this. What we're doing that's not by faith is sin. Romans 14:23 says is for whatever is not from faith is sin. Now, really, if you don't learn to read the Bible in context, though, you'll think everything I'm doing is sin. And sometimes that's true. But I want to give you some insights about this first. One insight is Romans 14:17 because you've got to know what the Kingdom of God is, because sometimes you'll be reading the Bible and it'll say, these people will not receive the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom. It says the Kingdom of God. There's Christians that are not in. There's Christians that are not enjoying the kingdom of God. You're safe, but you're not enjoying the Kingdom of God for the Kingdom of God. It's not eating and drinking. It's not what you eat, drink, but it's righteousness. And it's peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. So the Kingdom of God is righteousness. When you're right with God and you're right with others, you can have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here's a wonderful insight. Many times lack of joy is a relationship problem. Ooh, that is good, brother Jason. I write that down. Many times lack of joy. It's a relationship problem. Okay, here's another word.
James Greer: [00:06:30] Romans 14:22 to 23. It gets to gets to the thing, but it's in the context first 22. Do you have faith? Amen. Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself or herself and what they approved. No words. God says. I want you to be happy. I don't want you going around condemning yourself, condemning yourself, condemning yourself. But what he's saying is, what I want you to do is go around doing what God's called you to do, enjoy what he's doing. Listen, if you're condemning, you, don't condemn yourself if you're doing what's right, if you're doing what's wrong. Stop doing it. I mean, but I've known people that have asked God to forgive them and ask God to forgive them. They've done something in the past and they're still just going around living a condemned life. God said, Hey, there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ. Amen. But when you're in Christ, you're saved, but you're allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. So don't go and condemn in yourself. And if you're condemning yourself because you're in sin, stop sinning. All right. Verse 23, it says, But he who doubts is condemning if he eats. Because he does not eat from faith. You all condemn yourself when you eat? Sometimes I need to. Starting Monday. I will start watching what I eat now. But back then they were worried sometimes you would take meat and you would offer it to idle.
James Greer: [00:08:14] So some people say, Hey, I can eat meat. Some people said I didn't. For whatever is not from faith as sin. So. But he said, Listen, I want you to be happy. I don't want you to go around condemning yourself. And then then he says. It's teaching you something real important here. Listen, let me go over it again. Let me teach you something that most people never understood. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat from faith for whatever he is, not from faith is sin. If you read the next verse, it says this verse 21 and let me tell you. Yeah, let me give you Romans 14:21 and I'll give it to you in context. It is good neither to eat meat. Lord of drink wine. Put him in the same context. Don't raise your hands in here if you've been eating meat. Nor do anything about which your brothers stumble and is offended and made weak. In other words, what God's saying? Listen, there are some things you need to do in private and some things it's okay to do in public. There's some things you need to do in private, because if you did them in public, it would cause your brother to stumble. In other words, he says it's it is good news to eat meat. Now. Eating meat today is socially acceptable. Amen. Everybody that eats meat 90% of time. This is not going to offend anybody.
James Greer: [00:09:55] Some of y'all is going to offend them if we don't eat meat. But some people would be offended if you drink wine. Not at our church. Too many. But. But some people would. I hope that's not live. It is. Sorry. Oh, well. But it's true. Don't egg me on, Tim. There's a church up north. Almost said it was 12 stoners I know better. And he was preaching. He has preached it for a men's conference. And he said, okay, all the men we're going to meet until this little town. He said, All the men, unless you're on. Have a or previous drinking problem. We want you to come, but we don't want you to do this. We're going to all meet in this town. And what we're going to do is we're going to have a beer and smoke a cigar. And he's preaching this from the pulpit. And I'm going, Oh, my God. We're going to have a beer, we're going to have a cigar, and then we're going to go on this great men's retreat. And I'm going to preach the word the. I heard that dude preach. They said he had 1200 men that came from all over and he preached unbelievable. He preached God's Word. The house came down. If you said that down here. Some people, a few people will get offended. I mean. Anyway, Y'all get the point. Okay, let's get the point anyway. And so what are you saying? Is this Do your best not to offend your brother by what you do.
James Greer: [00:11:49] That's what he was saying. It's not what you do. Don't offend them if you can help it, You know. So the second reason. Is that we don't want to be living in sin. We want to live by faith, not by sin. Amen. Romans 1:17 says the judge shall live by what faith? Let me tell you how you live by faith real quick. Two or three things. Living my faith. Quick. Living and walking by faith means living in a way that you show you have. You confidently believe in God's promise and purpose for your life. When you're living by faith, you're living in a way that you confidently believe God's promise and purpose for your life. So therefore, you keep your mind on God's power, promises and not the problem. It tells you that. And Isaiah 26:3, it said you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on him because he trust in you. Amen. So, man, you got to control your mind. Trust in the Lord forever. For Yah the Lord is everlasting. He is your strength. So that's how you walk in the Lord. That's how you live by faith. You. You trust His promises, his purpose, his power over the problems. I mean. And then remember, remember, miracles come by faith. I told you this last week, but I want to go one more time real quick. According to your faith, let it be unto to you.
James Greer: [00:13:22] According to Who's faith? Your faith. Let it be unto you. I said it last week. I'll repeat it again. Because the only person who can limit what God does in your life is you. Hey, some of y'all listen. Last week. Praise God. Amen. Y'all didn't forget. Amen. So what the key is, is. Is stop blaming others. In your life. What's going on? Blaming people, places and things and start claiming God's promises. Stop blaming and start claiming. Blaming is just refusing correction or refusing your personal responsibility. Third, third, third. Reason. We want you to see God working miracles in your life. We want to see God working miracles in your personal life. And Matthew 15:28, it says this way, and Jesus answered and said under her. Oh, woman This woman was cool, man. She was begging for her daughter, begging for her daughter, begging for a daughter. And Jesus said, Hey, man, you know, it really wasn't time for the Gentiles yet. And she finally said, Hey, hey, well, how about there's even crumbs for dogs? And Jesus looks at her and Jesus said to her, Oh, woman, Great. Is your faith. She'd been pasturing Jesus. She wouldn't let him go. You know why she wouldn't let it go? She had such great faith. She knew if Jesus spoke the word, her daughter would be healed. And he looked at her and said, okay, great. Is your faith let it be to you as you desire.
James Greer: [00:14:54] She had this unbelievable desire and faith that if Jesus would say something, even the crumbs from her table would heal her daughter, and her daughter was healed that very hour. Amen. She had tried everything else. She knew nothing else would help. She begged Jesus. Jesus said, Hey, my time. He would. He had come to the Jews at that time. He said, I hadn't really come to the Gentiles, but he was going to. And she just kept on and on and on and on. And she spoke up to Jesus and she said, Jesus, even the dolls get the crumbs from the tables. And Jesus said, Man, great is your faith, lady. So, lady, sometimes it's worth pestering people. Really what she did was she said, Hey. I know I cannot do it on my own. I've tried everything else in the world. But I absolutely believe there's nothing too hard for Jesus. There's another woman in the Bible that thought the same thing. And she said in Mark 5:25. Now a certain woman. I think that he didn't put her name there because this could have been when you get through, you're going to find out it could have been any of us. Had a flow of blood. For 12 years. That's a long time to suffer a man. It had suffered many things. And I want to talk about that in a minute. For many physicians. And she had spent all that she had. It was no better.
James Greer: [00:16:32] In fact, it grew worse. It sounds like she'd gone from doctor to doctor. It wasn't getting better. It's getting worse and worse and worse. And she said she had suffered many things already. She suffered financially because she was broke. She suffered physically because the doctors could not heal her. She suffered emotionally because of the flow of blood. She was considered unclean. You ready? For 12 years, Nobody could touch her. How would you like to go round that now? For me, that would be horrible, because I'm a hugger. I could not be hugged and I could not hug anybody else. If I hugged them, they would be considered unclean. She suffered spiritually because they wouldn't allow her to come in the temple and worship. She suffered many things. And it just got worse. And worse. But she heard something. She heard about Jesus. And guess what? Today? You're hearing about Jesus. And she came behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. I'm telling you what the wonderful thing today is. You've got the great opportunity to hear about Jesus and you got a great opportunity to stretch your faith. Amen. And then she said, If only I may touch his clothes, I would be made well. I mean, she tried everything else, but now she said, Hey, I spent my money. I've tried everything. Isn't she a whole lot like us? Sometimes we do everything else in the world. And then we finally said, Why don't we try? Jesus.
James Greer: [00:18:14] I got an idea. Don't wait that long. If you've got a problem, why don't you try Jesus today? Amen. And Emily? The fountain of her blood was dried up. And she felt in her body that she was healed of her. What affliction? Say affliction? Because I want you to remember that she was afflicted and it was dried up from her affliction. And Jesus immediately knowing himself, that power had gone out from him. See, power goes out when you're preaching and when you're healing. Whatever happens, turn around to the crowd and said, Who touched my clothes? Now, really, let me ask you a question. Do y'all think he knew who touched him? Yes, he did. Of course he knew who touched it. He was going to have her publicly acknowledge who and how she was healed. This lady had been living 12 years in shame and as an outcast, she now was going to be free physically, emotionally, spiritually. You already. Finally, she is going to be free publicly. How would you like to be an outcast for 12 years? And Gia said, Hey, babe, stand up. He didn't say babe, but he told her to stand up. And now the whole crowds were there. And they want it. It wasn't just for her. It was for them. They hadn't been able to come around or they hadn't been out of touch or they hadn't been able to hug her. Can you imagine what that must have been like to hug people after 12 years? So finally, God, Jesus was freeing her publicly, but his disciple said to him, You see, all the multitude thronged you and you're saying, Who touch me? Yeah.
James Greer: [00:20:07] Jesus. The whole crowd can be here and he can know who you are. He looked around to see her, who had touched this, done this thing. But the woman fearfully and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell before him and told him the whole truth. Guess what? You might as well tell him the truth if you're here today because he knows it anyway. And he said to her daughter. You're. Faye has made you well. Go in peace. Be healed of your affliction. Affliction is a thing that has been that you've been suffering from suffering shame and pain. That's affliction, suffering, shame and pain. This upon your life. Maybe it's been continued upon your life. And Jesus immediately healed her from it. Jesus doesn't want you to live in shame. He doesn't want you to live in and suffering like that. She had tried doctor doctors, She spent all her money. She couldn't do it, and no other thing can do it. And the same is true. There are some things in your life that only Jesus Christ could do. The flow was a type of what drained her life. What if there's something in your life this drain in you and drain you and drain you and you're tired of you going over and over and over.
James Greer: [00:21:33] You're lonely, you feel separate, you feel desperate. And then there's one more example, and we're going to get ready to close. So Jesus stood still. He commanded him and he brought him to him. And when he had come there, he asked him this question. Here's Jesus question to you. What do you want me to do for you? If Jesus was here today and he asked you, What do you want me to do for you? And Lord, he said, receive my slight. Do you know what you'd say? Do you even know? And Jesus said, Receive your sight. Why your faith is made. You will. You know, sometimes I think we're one ask away from a miracle. James says you have not because you ask not as we get ready to close. I want to tell you something. Every one of us here is probably some type of that woman that had issue of blood because her affliction was a type number one of a financial problem. She's been all she had. I guarantee you, some of you had financial problems and you tried everything you could. And today you want to try it Jesus’ way. I think that's good. So, hey, how does Jesus say we should be doing it? He's got an answer for you. So it's a physical problem. She went from doctor to doctor and she got worse. I've seen that happen so many times here recently. I'm about to.
James Greer: [00:23:18] I don't know what. She went to Jesus. He was he was the answer. He. To care for financial needs or physical needs. She had a terrible emotional need. I felt like there was nobody in her life because there was not. See, when you're right with Christ, you might be alone, but you're never lonely. You can have such a relationship with him. Sometimes you want to be alone where you can be with him. And her life changed like that. I would imagine some of the people in the crowd probably hugged her. I don't know that for a fact. But I think she was touched because that's what Jesus had her stand up. He said, Hey, she's clean now. If it had been at our church, everybody would have clapped. Everybody hugged her. But some of y'all here maybe feel like you've lived in shame or there's something in your past and God wants to forgive you. Maybe you're lonely. Maybe you feel separated, and God says, Hey, I don't want you to live like that. I want to take care of your emotionally, or at least try Academy, body, soul and spirit. And so they said, maybe today's the day to do that. She had a terrible spiritual need. See, I can't wait to come to church. I know there's some people just don't want to come. I can't wait. It's the highlight of my whole week. My whole week comes to a climax. They wouldn't let her walk in the door.
James Greer: [00:24:59] And she couldn't watch online back then. And so she couldn't even come to church. So she didn't have a spiritual need. There's something about the Bible says for two or three together. Together. There he is also. So he's here. She had come to the point that she wasn't worried about the crowds. She said, I'm going to push my way through or hide my way or scoot my way through till I can touch the hero's garment. You know what I thought? I thought about every single Sunday. Give an invitation. And we have counselors that come to the front. I just wonder how many times. The gods place something on your heart. And you're worried about the crowd. So you didn't come? And so maybe you weren't touched by Jesus. Maybe you just needed somebody emotional person, somebody else to pray with you and pray for you. And so I'm going to I'm going to ask you to stand and I'm going to pray for you, but I'm going to pray that you really let Jesus have his way in your life. He might not be here physically. But he is here spiritually. God, I just thank you for today. I think that you are here. I think that you can meet physical, financial, emotional and spiritual needs. I think this one was such a great example of how she finally came to the point She wasn't worried about the crowd. I pray for those here today, maybe that she touched some area in their life, God, that they're not worried about the crowd.
James Greer: [00:26:47] They're not worried about the crowd. Maybe they need to be. Save, like make sure they're going to Heaven. I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose on the third day. Maybe they're here. They need to be safe, delivered from a problem they're going through. Maybe they need to fall through in public baptism like so many of them did Sunday and Wednesday, and maybe is a baby or you are sprinkled now you want to go through the death and resurrection. Maybe you were baptized and you really weren't saved and now you know what you're doing. Maybe you want to do it. Maybe you just never been baptized at all. And today's the day. You want to do that. Maybe you want to join this church. Maybe you need somebody else to pray with you and pray for you. Maybe you just need that emotional need met your you're blessed to be able to come in the house of the Lord and you're blessed to have counselors here to pray with you and pray for you. I pray that you don't let the crowd stop you and worry about you. In fact, God, I find Satan through the power and the blood of Jesus Christ. And I pray that you could have your will and your way in every single person's life here today. And I pray in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Recorded in Pineville, Louisiana.
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