John Chapter 20:15-19

Dear heard his voice.

I don't necessarily mean audibly if you ever heard his voice that still small voice speaking to his if you asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins, you probably have because at some point in your life. The Lord said to come to me and tell me you're sorry for yourself before that still small voice and then later only hear that still small voice as the Lord calls you to serve him as he calls everyone of us to serve, maybe remember those moments, like when you're when I was playing as a small child in the summer be outside playing in a and I want to hear a voice and a bit familiar voice, but then I'd have to stand still to listen hear the voice I would realize it was my mom or my dad called me calling me to be filled and to be lapsed welcome to cross the bridge with David Vicki David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina in this life filled with dizziness and promotion.

It's important to make sure we have quiet time with the Lord today. Pastor David explains the origins of the time as he continues in the Gospel of John, chapter 20. Now here's David McGee with part four of the teaching is verse 15 of John chapter 20 Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping whom are you seeking she's supposing him to be the gardener's attempt surveys carried away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away verse 16 Jesus said to her.

Mary, she turned and said to him rabbit and I which is to say, teacher, this is interesting because, well, let me give you a context will not appear in verse 16.

John explains what Rathbone I mean switches is fairly obvious I think to us that it's a version of the word rabbi J this is interesting because we can learn something from the fact that John explain what it was once because this is a common Hebrew word, a common Aramaic word so the only reason he would've been explaining what this meant was for the benefit of the Greek people. The great people who work Hebrew and really had been following the Lord are knowing the Lord or no in the Hebrew Scriptures. John explains them what John wanted everybody to know John wanted to explain to the people who had been religious and he wanted to explain to the people that weren't religious is a good model in there for us because often you know we we use terms that you understand confused people coming if you were brought up in a Christian home and some modicum stances. They were you washed in the blood. You know you don't think so. You know, so we need watch these words are: Christian these Christian needs because it's almost like a language we speak all or only nobody else understands. Be careful of using those words because people don't understand and use them.

Explain but she addresses him as Rathbone. I asked is interesting to me when I is more intense than just rabbi rabbi would be teacher Rathbone I is more master. This is a teacher in following this is master Jesus said to her. Mary look at who Jesus spoke to spent time with the Bible.

It's it's illuminating. Jesus is referred to as the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament you usually that's in a different kind of time pending on your Bible… Can capitalize or something so special word in the Hebrew angel of the Lord is an indication it's probably Jesus speaking in the Hebrew Scripture speaking in the Old Testament you see that with Hagar Hagar, who had been used in kind of abuse by Abraham and Sarah Jesus came as the angel of the Lord spoke to her and then the New Testament you see in John chapter 40 C. The woman at the well beat up by life.

Her mates and fairly serious mistakes. Jesus spent time with her and then she went and told other people about Jesus. You look at John chapter 8 and you find.

I know that commentaries and Bible headings and all that label her as the adulterous woman. I refuse to use that label we call her here. The forgiven woman see if if you've been set free.

You don't have to wear those labels anymore do you understand that and it's weird that we were referred to her as an adulterous woman and NUS activity. If you there something in your past that Jesus has forgiven you up. Let it go.

Let it go. Don't don't say hey I'm David I'm an alcoholic, junkie on this on that you been set free from all that you don't have to use those labels and then we see Mary Magdalene here.

If you've ever been told she was a prostitute that is outside of what Scripture says.

Scripture says she was demon possessed Scripture say she was beat up by life and this is who Jesus is speaking to the amazing who uses and she recognizes his voice, she turned to him why she turned to him because I associate been turned away. She turned to him to see him and you know what that's important for us to realize while because we get distracted we look at other things. Even now you know there's people in here and you're thinking about anything about… Sat there. I know I mean you're thinking about maybe bills you got to pay your what you having for lunch or whatever you know but during this time, we need to be looking to Jesus turning and seeing Jesus. And when he said Mary she knew why because the sheep know his voice. Have you ever heard his voice that I don't necessarily mean audibly.

But if you ever heard his voice that still small voice of the Lord speaking to his if you asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins, you probably have because at some point in your life. The Lord said Manny you need to come to me you need to tell me you're sorry for your sins.

You've heard that still small voice and then later on here that still small voice as the Lord calls you to serve him as he calls everyone of us to serve. Maybe you remember those moments, like when you're when I was playing as a small child in the summer of the outside playing in the and I want to hear a voice should be a familiar voice. But then I have to stand still to listen to hear the voice and I would realize it was my mom or my dad called me home for dinner. They were calling me to be filled and to be blast and understanding happens all the time here. Maybe the Lord's even calling your name. This morning Connie home to be filled to be blessed.

But if you're so busy might have a hard time hearing him speak to you first life lessons. Be sure to have quiet time with the Lord. Be sure to have quiet time with the Lord now when I say that meet again upset where you sat in an understand what I say seek the Lord and some people go seek the Lord, what is it me, spending quiet time with the Lord. Some people read the passage about you know, spending time in your prayer closet and I think they literally need to go into a closet. When asked when I talk about clock time with the Lord. Let me explain. And I'm not talking about you carving out three or four hours a day for prayer. If you can do that.

You probably gifted as an intercessor, so please pray for me and leadership. Your but most of us don't have that gifting and intercourse. Pastors are so gifted people up in this area and in it comes like this you have done this before but it comes like this you know I was praying for you this morning was about 6 AM I was in the fourth hour of my prayers just want to encourage you guys and praying for Nancy. What did you just hear the pray for four hours, then your eyes are on me and are you encourage Teresa and her going rate for four hours.

I can't do this. I there's just no way.

Now the reality is I struggle like everybody else does to take time to pray. I know, but I wasn't like immaculately conceived or something. I mean I'm struggling with the same things that you will perhaps make similar things can we say that in and having that clock time is one of those things. But here's what I found constant communion with God is what were supposed to be doing. In other words he can guide you as you get ready go encouraging what I thank you that I get to speak of this brother I Lord I thank you for talking to sister. Lord I thank you.

I've got to confront my child. I think you that I have a child to confirm Jesse's little one second prayers. That's not what we think of when we talk about praying in quantum those. It's interesting is very interesting in light of what Jesus and Jesus said, don't do like the heathen do another bunch of words that are vain repetition and yet what have we done some appraisal on your spiritual those quick prayers and being in constant communion with God. That's what Paul who was a completed your messianic Jew, or whatever phrase you want. That's what he was, when he should pray without ceasing him he might go quit your job quit sleeping at night and pray without ceasing, staying in a constant attitude of prayer. So have that quiet time. Psalm 46 tenses. Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am God see when you pray, here's what even if it's 1/32 prayer and I encourage you to have a set aside… Don't get me but also encourages thing constant communion with the Lord, not just on Sunday morning. Be still and know that I'm God. And when you pray, what you doing you're looking to the Lord and that's what were supposed to be doing Hebrews 12 twos is looking under Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Looking to Jesus Mary will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a couple seconds here to pray for some cities in our listening audience. Specifically, Southlake, Sun Valley to Noble Wells Winnemucca Nevada and also Cape May, New Jersey, Farmington, New Mexico, Lord, we thank you for the people tuning in. In the cities. We pray that you report your Holy Spirit out that you feel people with the faith to say yes to what you want to do in our life. People who are downtrodden the full despair. I pray that that would turn to hope and trust in you. Jesus got up, pray for those in leadership positions in these communities that you would give them wisdom and discernment that they would look to your word for advice and counsel and answers on how to lead low. We prayed that they would get plugged in church and received from biblical authority and direction. Lord I pray that many people get plugged in churches they begin serving and looking for opportunities to use the gifts that you've given them to be a blessing to other people in the same way they've been blessed in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 17 Jesus said to her do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my father, go to my brother and then say to them. I am ascending to my father and your father and to my God and your God would also verse this is in speaking of his ascension. This I do not believe, is speaking of the first time he's going to the father after his death. Speaking of his ascension in the sense that with that which is common in the book of acts is final ascension where he doesn't come back and in bodily form and reason that's important is because there's cults out there would like to play with this first and then there's people that get really weird about the do not cling to me thing and you can read commentaries. All these theories and the hypothesis I think is a very simple explanation of even seeing real Pentecostal people get what you can't touch me I'm in the spirit right now and out of sight. Awareness is that's not what Jesus was saying Jesus was given an adult in the do, don't cling to me. Do go tell. But it's interesting and it's good stuff. There's a time for worship, no doubt about it, were gathered here together we worship and there it would work in here worshiping manners. Nothing like that little but there's a time to go until in her life should be a balance of both things she could just go in and telling and you're not worshiping there's problem if you're just worshiping and you're not going and telling there's a problem.

See, as followers of Jesus we need to be doing a mention for believers. Believe disciples do what disciples do the thing do things as they follow the Lord and they tell people understand what to tell people about Jesus or to invite him the church and you know we have the cards that have been made to make that easier. They got the map on the back. Got contact information even have.

You are invited on the front of the card. I keep those cards with me all the time why sometimes I can verbally invite somebody and sometimes I don't get the chance. And so I leave a card on the restaurant table or whatever but we need to be telling people, and ranchers in their go well not really gifted at telling people I don't think anybody's really gifted told people to be in that one-on-one sense of the word limit, explain, maybe you should just get really nervous about talking semi-about the Lord gas line to know what's weird. I'm sure this was, I don't get nervous before I get up at praying I prepare myself for a commodity. I don't get nervous, but when I'm one-on-one with minor restaurant or gas station or grocery store there is that part of me that's like you don't have to do when I feel that I don't respond to that I respond what Jesus told me to do just told me to tell people to guess what I step over my fear in the monthly that's what we have to do what would've they don't get saved is not your business, business guy didn't tell you to go save people duty now. He told you to go tell people see this is the trap we fall into. If you share your faith and talk about Jesus in order for people to get saved.

Obviously that's ultimately go but let's understand the motivation is that your motivation for sharing the Lord with somebody what are you going to do when people get saved some of you've gone through this, you share your faith so that people get say first person does get saved you shared again next worst thing is next person share they don't get save you lots don't have the gift of evangelism. Jesus gives the increase in that what he told us. God gives the increase were supposed to tell whether that person comes to the Lord that point or not. None of our business and the average American hears a gospel seven times before respond, you don't know your number one or number seven God's in charge of that old gratefully's in charge of an indigent freedom now ensure why because you no longer like this vacuum cleaner sales.

If you sell vacuums on editing that is slim but you know what the old adage you know if you know all the doors (put my foot in the door is be careful guys because what you can do is slam the door shut. For the next person who might be number seven.

That's why we share our faith.

That's why we told people and you know what there's opportunities to tell people here talked about that last week.

There's lots of opportunities to serve here and to share with people and were supposed to be doing supposed to be doing the life lesson here is a follower of Jesus always has places to go and people to see one of my often prayers this is Lord give me divine interruptions today. If you go to a restaurant and the waitress or waiter is really struggling your foods like there might be a reason for and the reason is not necessarily for you to yell at the waiter or waitress. So how you see you have a tough day.

Can I pray for sure. And now they're thinking you're in for a later something is a cool thing that there's okay and then value just our client. I've done that people are because they're not expecting you to prune a restaurant really is an opportunity to share the good news with somebody that needs to hear what school together so many awesome deep think he calls him brothers go tell the others. Are you aware of what's going on with the brothers at this point. The brothers have disbanded.

They left in the garden the cotton in the upper room one is denied him, yet he still calls him brothers and what is he say go tell them what to eat when he think he still not going to go tell them I'm alive. Jesus is alive to understand what ever travel whatever tribulation you go through Jesus is alive. It's gonna be okay.

What did he not say it's interesting because you cannot beat sometimes you get as much or even more out of what Jesus didn't say what he did say what that means. If he didn't say go tell them what scoundrels left me hanging in the garden. I'm looking for and I'm mad he didn't say that you realize sometimes at the good news we share with people you write Scannell got looking for in his mad the promises it's the goodness of God that brings people to repentance. If you wonder why don't do the fire and brimstone thing and through bottles of people I just don't think that creates a lot of fruit.

I've never seen a create fruit in my life. Jesus had this opportunity, but he didn't say that ischemic all is forgiven. You guys can be restored. Heaven's gates are open to anybody. Whosoever will, called the good news. Verse 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord that he had spoken these things to Mary was obedient why Mary that's I don't know Jesus I'm worshiping right now.

Just let me worship.

She would've been disobedient while there was a time to worship north of town to do and there's a balance between these two things part of worship I believe is serving, that's just what disciples we guess we talk about it a lot, you know why because of this misconception that happens in the American church that 5% of churches was to serve the other 95% may take that one step further and understand if you if you're here for the first or second time you're still making the decision to here's what happened in especially in the American church we've gotten into thinking that the people sit down here. Customers you're not customers are supposed to be servants. Where did we get that I'm a customer and all write down what I don't like about you about this church, all you can do that and take your time and your energy to do that, or you can help us and join with us in reaching people that don't yet know the goodness that's where I would rather spend my time and energy.

Mary went and did and what you understand. Mary was one of the first evangelist she's I don't how it messes with your theology, but that's just told her to go tell people that's what she's doing. She's going to tell people what about the resurrection. First Corinthians 1512 says now Christ is preached, that he is been raised from the dead, some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead, but there's no resurrection of the dead in Christ is not risen Christ is not risen. Their preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. I used to say somehow saying anymore and if you say please stop. Well, you know, even if even if Christianity is not real. Jesus didn't raise from the dead.

It just helps you live a better life here.

I'd rather be wrong about that SL Paul said positive is all this is false. Preaching is empty and the phases empty. You know I gotta do is look at places that now reject the resurrection of Jesus Christ. See the truth of churches and say well there's no real resurrection of the dead and the preaching is empty. The phases empty the resurrection changes everything were not following somebody who died in a moment of valor or scandal or heroic act response to my the God and didn't stay dead to understand that the tomb is empty he's not there.

He is alive. He is risen, seen all these other religions and stop all these people are following dead people there deadly state dead. I will follow dead got Jesus's old and that's who I'm following resurrection changes everything.

What is your biggest foe in your life will be death, it will be death. But guess what you can have the victory. What Jesus be death year following the one and only God who beat death. He died, he did state, I mean we we just were so familiar with that we don't think about the content of what that saying were following Jesus the son of God who when he died didn't stay dead and that there's no more fear of death we can walk in victory. Verse 19 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, peace be with you and notices his first day of the week that they would be Sunday. This is an interesting thing the Jewish people had been meeting on Saturday.

It was their Shabbat sat from this day forward the Christian church which was comprised mostly of Jewish people for the first 50 years of from this point forward worship happened on Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus change the day the church meets for ever you know why we meet here on Sunday because of this verse and unexplained to assist for fear of the Jews over the disciples they were Jewish. Okay, so it would probably be more exacting to say the Jewish leaders who had executed Jesus and and why were they afraid to say something things can happen that they were not. These are these great superheroes of the faith that we never think have a struggle there hiding in the room. This is important, what with the first things peace being with you. Peace be unto you. Jesus said it was the first thing he said to the design, print, do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations Springer just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

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Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners day you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues to verse by verse in the Gospel of John