Sunday Morning Worship Service
by Anthony McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: John 20:19-31

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/anthony-mccool--sunday-morning-worship-service-26
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of John, chapter 20. And I I kicked around the idea of uh just picking out a a couple verses for this because it's I guess 12 verses and that can that can seem kind of lengthy, but I I don't think it would do justice to the text uh to uh to leave anything out. and and obviously God's word is uh every every single word every single line is is imperative and necessary. Uh but we we take portions of scripture at times and uh different thoughts but I I feel like in the the passage that we're going to look at that it it would not do justice not to read these 12 verses. So, if you if you would just um and I would invite you as as as we look at these at as we look at these verses, normally I kind of uh read it out and you you kind of look at it as well, but if if you would really tell my classes, if you'd lock in, if if you would really just just every single word here because it's uh it's so important uh to see what takes place through the duration of this text. And it's a a passage that probably all >> >> uh fairly familiar with. So begin reading at verse 19 in chapter 20 of the Gospel of John. Then the same day at evening and you can you can go ahead and be done playing because I'm going to maybe take a some time going through this. But I I promise I I'll make it up on the the back end. I'll be short on that. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, fear of the religious leaders, they were locked away. same evening the resurrection came Jesus and he stood in the midst and saith unto them peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his signs. And then were the disciples glad. They were in fear. They were locked away. They were uh thinking that the the same thing that happened to Jesus was going to happen to them. And I know we see these disciples uh that uh that now uh line the ceilings of cathedrals and are on our stained glass and we look at them as such mighty and powerful individuals without fear. But in this particular circumstance, they had the doors locked. They were hiding. They were shut away. And Jesus appears unto them and shows him the scars, proving that it's him. And it says, "The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." Then said Jesus to them again, "Peace be unto you. As my father hath sent me, even so I send you, send I you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." And this was a glimpse of the things to come and a foreshadowing to Pentecost. And when we get to Pentecost, we see the the fire and the wind and the rejoicing of everyone assembled together. And not the lower room, but the upper room. And there's all of these hints and shades of authority and power. But in this particular situation, again, let me reiterate, they were locked away, hiding. But we see Jesus meeting them and breathing his spirit on them in a very intimate way. He said, "Whosoever sins ye remmit, they are remitted unto them. And whosoever sins you retain, they are retained." And then we get to verse 24. Okay, so disciples locked away hiding. Jesus appears to them. They're glad. It gives them peace. And then we get to verse 24. But Thomas, one of the twel called Ditimus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Lord, Thomas." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see his hands, the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." And after eight days again disciples were within, and Thomas this time was with them. Then came Jesus. We see the same thing. The doors being shut and he stood in the midst and says the same words, "Peace be unto you." Then saith he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. AND BE NOT FAITHLESS, THOMAS, but believing." And Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my God." And I'm not sure the King James version or any translation honestly could possibly do the justice that Thomas felt in terms of his worship toward Jesus in that particular moment because it wasn't a golf clap on the side or it wasn't a job well done. BUT HE FELL down in worship and said, "MY LORD AND MY GOD." And man, if we could just stop right there and put the exclamation point on it, I could preach a lot of different sermons about I'm not going to believe until you show up, Jesus. And I'm not going to do this or that until I see the proof. And we could go off in a lot of different directions. And you know, that would be powerful in a particular season. But the text goes on. Verse 29, Jesus saith unto him, Thomas. Thomas is shouting. He's weeping. He's dancing. Thomas, BECAUSE THOU HAST SEEN ME, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. and many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that believing ye might have life through his name. I want to preach to you for a few moments this morning about turning your doubt into a shout. And we'll get right into it. We gather on Sundays, sing songs. We proclaim the resurrection, lifting up songs of victory, celebrating an empty grave outside of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. Yet, when we go home and on our drive, we pass by cemeteries that are still full. We preach that Christ is risen and he is risen indeed. But the hurt and the pain from a lost loved one still lingers as they remain buried. We declare that sin has been defeated. But if you look around and maybe I was going to say read the newspaper, but I'm not sure people get printed newspapers anymore. Open that app on your iPad or turn the news on or scroll through your social media feeds and you see the news from not only in our nation but from around the world. I don't think it's uh interpretive gymnastics to say that the world doesn't seem to be getting any better. And really, in a lot of ways, it seems to be unraveling around us. And we announce peace, yet situations arise and fear still stalks our home. Oh, we testify. And I'm not talking about any of us being hypocritical, but we we we testify to joy to others and sometimes get in the vehicle once we're in the privacy of our car and maybe we're with our spouse and that grief just comes back and lingers just a little more in our bones. And we sing it with conviction and it's one of my favorite songs. If you never do anything else, you've already done enough. Oh man, that's a great song. Man, that's good. And that's true. That's good theology. And I did kind of hit that note a little bit. I'll be looking for my name in planning center. But I don't know about you, that's good theology, and it's all true. IF HE NEVER DOES ONE MORE THING, he's done enough. But when I'm singing that song, yeah, we can praise and we can rejoice and let's go and let's run around, but uh true transparency after I sing that verse, I'm like, God, I believe that and it's true, but if you don't mind, I wouldn't mind if you did one more thing in this situation. I wouldn't MIND IF YOU SHOWED UP one more time. I think I have the faith and I'm singing that out. But you know, if if YOU WOULD INTERVENE IN THIS SITUATION, I'd be okay with it. AND IF WE'RE HONEST, DEEPLY HONEST, there are moments when our faith feels fragile. Moments when prayers FEEL UNANSWERED, MOMENTS WHEN heaven feels silent, moments when belief feels more like endurance than confidence. And then in those moments, something rises up that we perceive and sounds fairly spiritual, but it's actually deeply human. GOD, I need a miracle. God, I need a sign. GOD, SHOW ME SOMETHING. PROVE YOURSELF TO ME. And when God does something, when he answers a prayer, when he opens a door, when he provides or delivers, FOR A MOMENT, OUR FAITH FEELS STRONG. But then time passes and the emotions fades and the season changes and that miracle just becomes a memory. And once again, the soul whispers, I need another miracle. I I need I need you to prove yourself to me again. And let me say clearly, there's nothing wrong with signs and miracles and wonders. You the Bible's filled with them. He did them to prove his power. And he says these signs shall follow those. And I and I believe in the supernatural. And I believe in the miraculous. And I believe in miracles, signs and wonders. Scriptures full of them. God still moves in that way without question, undoubtedly. But the issue is that is when it's a condition for which when God's word is alive in our life or I only believe if you'll do XY Z. And Pastor Whitley, if you if you haven't been here on our our midweek services as he goes through uh the book of uh is it one of the John's. Okay. Uh all all three of them. Uh if you haven't been here while he's doing that, maybe I need to pay even more attention. No, I'm just kidding. Uh I'm preaching from John, so I'm like, is that John 2? I don't know. Never mind. Let's go. If you haven't been here over midweek, you need to get in the archives and you need to to listen to the the teaching about he he talked about as pastor he went to preach for that uh was looking for signs everywhere and everywhere he stepped he was saying, "Oh, there's a devil there." And just this just bad theology really and a bad outlook on on on life. And um we we can I've been around uh preachers before and pastors before that maybe don't talk to all that often and they and they see you and they're just like, "Praise the Lord, Pastor Anthony." Yeah. Oh no, God is moving in Knoxville. And I'm like, "Huh?" Like what are you sick? You're It's like this preacher voice type thing. I guess it's more spiritual when you communicate like that. And I'm just like, maybe you should switch to menthol or something. But it's like uh but just just kind of these these things that uh maybe try to edify the self and in instead of really, you know, the reliance on God's word and and what he's he's doing. Now, I was in a service one time and uh the the the the gentleman preached a tremendous theologically, in my opinion, sound sermon, but then he he got to this point, I guess, to to double down on some of the testimonies that he had mentioned. He he said he was talking to a young man on the phone and he was like, "Okay." And he's like, "I have" He said, "I have never heard somebody have the gift of prophecy like this young man did." And I'm like, All right. Uh and then then he said he he began to describe the color of leather of the chair I was sitting in and began to describe the seat arm and the buttons on that chair. And I'm like the guy next to me is like what do you think about that? I more like I wish he would ask him if the Broncos are going to cover today or something like that. you know, it's just but just just stuff that, you know, trying to to rely on these kind of uh these signs, you know, or it makes me more spiritual or uh I'm God there's some I need some type of supernatural out ofthe-box thing to take place to keep my faith alive. And Pastor Whitley told us Wednesday night that how do I know God's presence is here with us? it's, oh, it's because I felt goosebumps. And that's that's that's not a that's not a great way to to measure God's spirit and God's presence in in your house. And uh cuz um and I'll say this, a few few years ago, I was at a uh I was at a a Tennessee football game, okay? Tennessee football game. And it was the end of the third quarter and Tennessee had the lead. Everybody's rejoicing now. And at the end of the third quarter, from that transition to the third quarter to the fourth quarter, there was a man kind of caddyy quartered to my eye right here, one row in front of me, but just kind of to my left. and he had the most beautiful of mullets that I have ever seen in my life. And right here, I was a little bit jealous. It was either natural or it was freshly permed and just a beautiful stash that wrapped all the way around. And the song came over the loudspeaker with a 100,000 people. I got rice cooking in the microwave. I got a three-day beard. Nobody's going to sing the rest of it with me. I don't plan to shave. And it it's a great day to be alive and I looked over. Amen. The gospel of uh Travis Trit, I guess. I looked over and that man just had crocodile tears coming out of his eyes. I think he had goosebumps, Pastor Nate. But FAC, I I let you all down because I know in that moment I could have stepped right there and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." And I think I think he would have got it. Now, as the game went on and the the lead choked away, th those crocodile tears dried up quite a bit and there were some other words that were coming out of his mouth that might have not been edifying a strong spiritual walk. But the point is, you you can't rely on your emotions to determine the presence of God in your life. Now, yes, we are creatures of emotion and that's that's not some type of statement to prevent us from displaying our emotion for the goodness of God in our life. And you know that, but but that's not that's not going to sustain us. Uh goosebumps to goosebump or some kind of demanding a sign to sign because he said his word IS FOREVER SETTLED in heaven. And this is what I need to have a relationship with him. And y'all know that. That's that's good theology. It's good theology. There's a subtle danger when signs become conditions. When faith becomes a contract that we hand to GOD AND SAY, "I'LL BELIEVE YOU, GOD, if you'll do this." And at that point, faith no longer trusts God. It it tests him. And then that's when our that's where our text meets us today. Because in John 20, we meet a man who is not necessarily cynical. And it's not that he's rebellious or evil, but he's honest and he's WOUNDED AND HE'S DEMANDING PROOF. And his name is Thomas. John tells us it's the evening of the resurrection day. The disciples are gathered together behind locked doors as we read in our passage. That's not because they're celebrating, it's because they're afraid. And in the moment, not seemingly bold men that that we see, as I mentioned earlier, they these aren't the courageous uh disciples THAT COURAGEOUS APOSTLES THAT LINE THE STAINED GLASS OF OUR CATHEDRALS. They're frightened followers trying to survive the aftermath of the trauma. And suddenly without knocking without explanation through the locked door Jesus stands in the midst of them. And his first words are not a rebuke not correction and not disappointment but he says peace be unto you. Peace be to the men who are locked away. And Jesus shows them his wounds not to shame them but to reassure them. And there's a a whole other sermon there about the glorified body of Christ is not absent from the scars of humanity. But it it's the representation that reconciliation has taken place and HE'S STILL IN THE GLORIFIED BODY EVEN THOUGH HE has the scars. That's a whole other story. AND THE DISCIPLES REJOICE. IT SAYS THEY'RE GLAD. BUT ONE DISCIPLE is missing. And we could preach a whole another sermon about but but don't miss when the doors are open when we're GATHERING TOGETHER CUZ THAT COULD BE THE TIME THAT JESUS MOVES AND HIS HIS SPIRIT JUST COMES OVER AND THAT'S THAT'S WHEN YOU COULD RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE. THAT THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE AND TEACH AND AND MAKING SURE WE'RE FAITHFUL TO THE HOUSE OF GOD BECAUSE THAT COULD BE THE TIME THAT'S A WHOLE other sermon too. But somebody's missing. John tells us that his name is Thomas also called Ditimus. The term Thomas and Ditimus both mean twin. The name Thomas Tama or Teoma is a transliteration of the Aramaic word for twin. And Ditimus is the Greek name translation, the literal Greek translation of the word twin. AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE THE NAME Thomas in the Gospel of John, it reiterates and doubles down, PUN INTENDED, OF BOTH OF THESE NAMES representing him as twin. And some believe Thomas may have had a literal twin, BUT THE BIBLE NEVER confirms this. Others have suggested that John's mention of Ditimus serves as a literary purpose rather than a biographical one. In a gospel, especially the Gospel of John, rich with symbolism, the unnamed twin may function as a mirror, an invitation for the reader to see themselves in Thomas struggle. an invitation some 2,000 years later for a congregation to read this text AND SAY TO THEMSELVES, I AM A WHOLE LOT LIKE THOMAS. In literature and art, the twin or this mirror is a powerful device used for self-examination rather than mere observation. from. You can look at it from fairy tales like Snow White where the mirror exposes hidden pride and truth or beauty and the beast where reflection signals inner transformation. MIRRORS REVEAL WHAT CHARACTERS often resist in seeing themselves. Poetry and modern music, the man, the woman in the mirror echo this theme. The mirror confronts the reader, this twin or listener with moral honesty and personal responsibility. It it doesn't shine on everyone else's faults or everyone else's fears or everyone else's doubts or everyone ELSE'S CYNICISM, BUT IT LOOKS YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE AND BEGS AND ASKS THE QUESTION. IT DOESN'T OFTEN IT DOESN'T OFFER COMFORT. IT IT IT demands introspection and exposes fear and doubt. And it's a literary symbol. The mirror collapses distance between the character and the audience, quietly asking not not who are they, but who am I? And many theologians, historians suggest that John put this literary device in there so that as we read about the accounts of Thomas, that we see ourselves through the eyes of Thomas because he is a lot like us. Whether historical or symbolic, the effect is the same. And Thomas gives voice to the questions many believers carry but rarely confess. So if you would allow the literary latitude to view this text as Thomas being a reflection of you and when the others disciples tell him we have seen the Lord Thomas rejects their secondhand faith. He says, "Except I shall see his hands, the print of the nails, put my finger in the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." This is not casual doubt, but it's conditional belief. Thomas does not suggest that, oh, I struggle to believe. Or maybe God, if you could come one more time, I would really appreciate it. But if we are all honest, every one of us have prayed that prayer. God, if you'll heal them, then I'll truly do this. And I'll I'll truly believe if you'll he'll heal them. IF YOU'LL IF YOU'LL FIX THIS, THEN THEN I WILL TRULY BE ON FIRE FOR YOU. AND I'LL TRUST YOU, GOD. IF YOU'LL SHOW ME SOMETHING IN THIS UNIMAGINABLE CIRCUMSTANCE, something undeniable, then that's going to be the point when I truly follow. Thomas wants visible proof, tangible evidence of faith that rests on sight to feel emotion, senses. And John does something brilliant in his writing. He lets Thomas speak for us. For centuries, artists have been fascinated by this moment. Paintings of what is now referred to as doubting Thomas fill museums and cathedrals. And Jesus standing still, Thomas reaching forward, finger extended, probing into the side of Christ. And in many of these paintings, Thomas looks hesitant, almost reluctant, like a man shocked by the reality of what he just demanded. The other disciples stand around him watching because they had already seen it. AND THESE PAINTINGS CAPTURE SOMETHING TIMELESS. It's humanity. It's the twin. IT'S THE REFLECTION. IT'S US STANDING BEFORE GOD WITH A CONTRACT IN OUR HANDS SAYING, "I'm not going to believe >> unless you do this as though we have some kind of authority or power to God's owes it to us to prove something to us." And we read the text eight days later and Jesus comes again. And in the Bible and in biblical numeric, the number eight has special significance. It means new beginnings, resurrection and regeneration. Another literary device by John representing a fresh start after completion. The doors are locked again. The disciples are gathered again. And at this time, Thomas is present. Jesus wastes no time. And he LOOKS DIRECTLY AT THOMAS AND REPEATS THOSE SAME WORDS BACK to him. Reach hither THY FINGER AND BEHOLD MY HANDS AND REACH HITHER THY HAND AND THRUST IT INTO MY SIDE. BE NOT FAITHLESS BUT BELIEVING THOMAS. AND THOMAS RESPONDS TO THE GREATEST CONFESSION IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. AND HE SEES THIS AND SAYS, "My Lord and my God." AND DOUBT IN THAT MOMENT collapses into worship. And I get TO MY TITLE NOW. DOUBT TURNS into a shout and that's convenient that it rhymes AND IT'S SO GREAT. BUT YES, AND WE REJOICE AND IT'S IT'S FANTASTIC. AND NOT TO BE THE buzzkill here. Not to temper your should have just stopped right there. If the man if the musicians and praise we could have just gone ahead and had THE ALTAR CALL MY MY LORD AND MY GOD. Speaking of musicians and singers, you but then Jesus says Thomas Ditimus twin because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. And I almost I I've been looking at this entire passage for a few weeks and I almost didn't preach it because I'm just kind of like, well, I know the pragmatic purpose and the and the the foundation of, you know, framework for faith and trusting in God's word. And it's like we know that. And uh I don't I don't know where to go from there. Once I get to that point, it's like Thomas is shouting and rejoicing and Jesus said, "You saw me cause you believe. Blessed are those that believe and don't see me." And it was kind. And I've wrestled with this for lack of a better terms. And one of my greatest concerns as as a preacher is not necessarily saying something new or or clever or impressive, but I I do want to the the highest concern is making sure what I tell you is true. And one of my greatest fears is misinterpreting a text or misrepresenting the gospel. you know, aside from the salvific implications, you know, and you know, feeding the people of God and, you know, our eternal pilgrimage to our heavenly home. Aside from telling you something like that, it'd be pretty embarrassing, right? And go home like, "Yeah, that's not what that says, but thanks for playing." And I've struggled with this passage because everything I've said about it that we've say about it is accurate. It's sound theology, systematic theology. It's a faithful extrapolation of the words of Jesus. I looked at the translations and like Elder Johnny James used to say, I know a little Greek. He's 5'2. Uh, no offense to any tall impaired Athenians, but I I I've looked at the other translations. AND WHEN JESUS SAYS, "THOMAS, BECAUSE THOU HAS SEEN ME, THOU HAS BELIEVED, BLESSED are they have not seen and yet have believed." HE'S HE'S ESTABLISHING A A SOLID PRAGMATIC FRAMEWORK FOR OUR relationship with him. It's not irritation. It's not firmst. It's that Jesus isn't angry, but he's clear. There is a greater blessing than believing by sight. And I've preached that thus far today. I hope some somebody say that's good preaching. Just make me feel better. Somebody. Okay. Not everybody at once. Good theology. Faith anchored in signs will always demand another sign. That's sound theology. That's good. FAITH ANCHORED IN MIRACLES will always need a new miracle. That's it's true. Faith anchored by faith anchored in trust. Faith born out of encounter. Surrender in the spirit. That's what's going to endure. his his word never fails. It will never perish. So, I'm like, let me look at Thomas a little more closely. Uh, and because he does get a bit of a bad rap here, you know, eternally known as the doubter and the skeptic, because nine chapters earlier when Jesus went to Bethany to heal Lazarus, Thomas was telling the disciples, "Those people in that town want to kill Jesus, and we ought to go WITH HIM SO THAT WE DIE WITH HIM." That's doubting Thomas. HE'S NOT A COWARD. HE HE'S not a quitter. AND AT THE LAST SUPPER, Jesus is talking about heaven. And he's going away TO PREPARE A PLACE. And he's he's talking very figuratively. And And Thomas, like a a lot of us, not not as polished as the as John the writer. But Thomas is unpolished. And he's he's unpoetic, but he's painfully honest. AND HE'S LIKE, "HEY, JESUS, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, but we don't know where you're going. So, how can we know the way?" Again, this is that twin. This is that reflection of us. He asked the questions that others are thinking but won't say out loud. And then in John 20, our passage, we find him as a skeptic because the testimony of 10 trusted friends is, you know, apparently not good enough. You know, uh the the guy he was going to lay his life down for with him that, you know, he witnessed the resurrection OF A DEAD BODY. APPARENTLY, THAT EVIDENCE WASN'T GOOD enough in this moment. grief had hallowed out his his certainty. And he now demands proof. And yes, my theology still stands. It's good theology. It's accurate theology. WE CAN DEBATE AND FIGHT ABOUT IT AFTER IT'S OVER IF YOU DISAGREE. IT'S IT'S GOOD. SOLID. ROCK SOLID. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing." THAT FRAMEWORK OF FAITH IS real and necessary. I WOULD TELL ANYONE I'M COUNSELING, THE GREATEST MIRACLE IS NOT SEEING THE SCARS. THE GREATEST MIRACLE IS RECEIVING NEW LIFE. AND WE REJOICE OVER THAT. THAT'S TRUE. THAT'S GOOD THEOLOGY. THAT'S GOOD PREACHING. SOMEBODY SAY IT AGAIN. >> Thank you. That was I feel a lot better now. The Bible says if you Jesus if you said if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off, pluck it out, it's better to get into heaven blind or one leg, one foot. That's how important trusting in God is. What happens in this world don't is is peanuts compared to GETTING INTO HEAVEN. I believe that FOREVER, OH LORD, THY WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN. THAT'S WHERE WE PLACE OUR TRUST. I'M NOT LED FROM SIGN TO sign and and and DEMANDING A A MIRACLE JUST TO UH YEAH I BELIEVE that we believe that I know the spirit does not come to satisfy our curiosity. IT IT COMES TO TRANSFORM HEARTS. YOU CAN'T live a LIFE OF FAITH SET ON CONDITIONS. Stand with me. And that is sound good Bible teaching. Not cuz it's me, but it it's that's it's read it. That's good teaching. That's good theology to take a hold of. It's accurate. The ex Jesus of this text is grounded. And even though the framework of faith, if I laid it out, is exactly what Jesus is establishing. However, I am left with only one response. After going through this text line by line, interpreting it in the languages of antiquity in which it was written, looking at other Bible commentaries, listening to other sermons, reading it over and over and over and over again. I am left with one conclusion and I can only come to this result. that we that you serve a God who just can't help himself. I have come to ONE CONCLUSION THAT THE GOD I SERVE WILL NOT FIT PERFECTLY INSIDE of my neatly packed THEOLOGICAL BOX. I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE SERVE A GOD WHO WILL STILL SHOW UP AND ENTER IN THROUGH THE DOORS THAT WE'VE LOCKED AND MEET US RIGHT where we ARE. WE SERVE A GOD WHO IN HIS FOLLOWERS ARE HIDING BEHIND LOCKED DOORS. HE STILL KNOWS HOW TO BREAK INTO THE ROOM. WE STILL SERVE A GOD WHO WHEN YOU'RE FEARFUL, EVEN THOUGH IF YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ELSE, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE ENOUGH, HE JUST CAN'T HELP HIMSELF. HE'S GOING TO SPEAK PEACE INTO YOUR LIFE. WE STILL SERVE A GOD WHO WILL PLACE HIS SPIRIT IN THE DARK rooms of your life. Even though he's DONE ENOUGH, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT THE FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK OF FAITH, even though I have faith and trust in his WORD AND THAT MY FAITH IS NOT BUILT UPON MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLES, I BELIEVE and I know we STILL SERVE A GOD WHO WILL STILL MEET you right where you're at and he'll still perform a miracle in your life. Now, my my theology is solid. But theology is is rock solid. But we serve a God who won't fit into a box. We serve a God who didn't have to show up for Thomas, but he did. We serve a God who didn't have to show proof to Thomas, but he did. We serve a God who didn't have to come one more time when Thomas missed it, but he did. And I want you to know today, if you felt like you missed it the first time, he's going to show up again. If your faith has a lot of uncertainty, God Jesus is going to meet you right where you're at this morning. And I want you to know today, he can still step into the room that you've locked yourself in. He can still reveal himself to you in the darkest hour. He can meet you in your questions. He can meet you in your mess. He can meet you in your grief. He can meet you in your fear. He can come. And I believe anybody that comes today with those questions, with that perceived doubt, with that flesh of humanity, I believe you're going to walk away saying, "My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God." I wonder if somebody would say that across this house. My Lord and my God. >> My Lord. Miracle >> and my God. Open doors. After open doors, here it comes. So get ready for another one cuz another one is on the way. Miracle. >> Oh, I missed him. My friends got the blessing, but I missed him. There was a season that I could have had it, but I missed him. Oh no. Oh no. He's going to show up again. >> Oh, he's going to show up again. >> Another one. Bring your humanity. Bring your questions. Oh, bring your uncertainty. And we serve a Jesus who just can't help himself when his followers need him. When they cry out for him, he he can't help it. He can't help but to show up. And if you told the sun when to rise and he did, he will again. And if you told the storm to be still, and he did be aware, be aware of those around. >> My Lord and my God, >> my Lord and my God, my Lord and my God. When he did, he will again. And if he told the chains when the bra, he will again. >> Oh, he what my expectations are. He was in my box. Got to put him in again. He can't help himself to show up. He can't help himself to provide. He can't help himself to heal. He can't help himself to prove himself to you. >> Oh yeah. Did you ever do anything else? You've done enough. But the God we serve is not done working. He's not done moving. He's still doing. He's still doing. He's still moving. He's still working. And he is on the way. Miracle after miracle. He'll pour that Holy Spirit on you. His spirit in you. Those darkest places, those darkest moments, you shut everyone out. But Jesus, you can't shut him down. He hears your cries. He hears your demands. He hears the desires of your heart. And he's going to meet you right where you are. That doesn't mean you're where you need to be. That doesn't mean that's your final destination. But he's going to show up and meet you where you are. >> And he did. He will again. And if you told the B come alive and he did he will again if he told the star run away and he did he will again if he told the gra let him go and he did he will again and again and again and again and again and again and Yeah. Heat. Cuz they ch now Jesus you change everything. >> I just feel in my spirit there's still some people out there that need to make that make that declaration. Just say, "My Lord and my God, would you surrender to him right now? Oh, you've been running long enough. You've been asking a lot of questions. You've got a lot of uncertainty in in our humanity. You're absolutely justified because of the circumstances in your life. I can't possibly imagine. But if you get into God's word, if you'll have trust in him, I believe if you'll get on your knees and you'll surrender and say, "My Lord and my God, my Lord and my God, my Lord and my God," he's going to meet you right where you are. He's going to show up. He's going to provide. He's going to deliver. He's going to give direction. He's going to give vision. He's going to bring peace. He's going to bring peace to your situation. He won't fit in my box. He won't fit in my theology. It's sound. It's good preaching. But I don't know what Jesus is going to do. I don't know what he can do for you. I I I don't know. I don't know. I can only tell you. But I believe Jesus can do some amazing things in your life. Some prayers you stop praying. Some people you gave up once. Jesus won't fit in my box. He cannot help himself. He can't help himself. Somebody remember that today and this week that the God you serve, he can't help himself but deliver and provide and show up for you. All you will come here now everything Jesus >> >> Jesus, you change everything. Change and they really can. And if he told the B come alive and he did he will again. And if he told the stone roll away and again he will again. And if you hold the grave, let it come and again. He will again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. Cuz another one is on the way. Miracle after miracle. Open door after open door. Mirales. So be ready for another one cuz another one is on the way. Miracle after miracle. Open door after open door. So get ready for another one. >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Could you just take a moment and receive what the Lord has sent us today? Take just a moment. and say, "Lord, I want to receive this message into my spirit. There's some things that need to be turned to a shout today." Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you for your direction, Lord. I thank you. I praise you. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen and amen. First Apostolic Church, we are blessed beyond measure with the word. And I pray that you will receive and act upon the word. Let it minister to you. Again, to all of our guests, if this is your first time to be with us, honored to have you worshiping with us. Please join us tonight. Prayer time at 6, our main evangelistic service at 6:30. Would you greet your brothers and sisters in the precious name of Jesus? You are dismissed in Jesus name.