John Chapter 20:24-31

The power of Jesus changes lives. We watched this beautiful transformation of a man going from Dallas to man being convinced and that's the thing that we all need to be on our path of being convinced. And as were convinced go from doubting to believing the faith. The following to serve, to walk that path and following Jesus power God to changing God can change right God can change our lives to make a little more personal. I can change my life.

God can change what how did he do it well in part, look what happened. Jesus showed up and Thomas always wounds, so may I encourage you this morning. The Savior welcome to cross the bridge with David Vicki David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Jesus is not simply a historical figure that we memorize facts about Jesus has the power to change our lives today.

Pastor David explains this life-giving power as he continues in the Gospel of John, chapter 22 of his teaching that you might be the verse 24 now Thomas called the twin, one of the 12, was not with them when Jesus came. At this point, Jesus is our China showed up to the upper room where we think is Thomas wasn't there. Don't don't read quickly passes it wasn't with them.

Wow, is that because the disciples at this point were a fracture group. They were afraid they were, we would say freaked out in today's terms, they were worried some of them weren't there anymore that that the sacred college of the 12 if you will, as it's been called, disbanded, they thought it was done to Thomas wasn't there and notice to that. What was their condition when Jesus showed up the first time MSS they're scared their hot older brother worry Jesus comes right in the midst loved one to bring you comfort you so often we tell we fly right got straighten up you gotta do this you gotta do that when you get it all sorted out income to God or when you when you get it all together.

When you clean up your act or a year we usually think we ended that become part of a relationship with the Lord God begins the changes after we come to see we we introduce this concept into the church that this is what good people do on Sunday morning. We all get together. We talk about people who are bad. That's not Bible and we tell people you know whenever you quit doing this and quit doing that and then you get in church and in that and then will if you're struggling is the place to be. You come to God. God begins to clean you up. Sometimes it happens all at once.

Usually takes more time. This process Jesus invites us on the process.

He doesn't wait till we get it all together just like he appeared to these guys when they were shaken up the life lesson here, Jesus will come to us right where we are as we are so glad you can be in the middle of the silliest stupidest thing you've ever done this a Jesus, help me please and he'll help you will be there comfort that it doesn't help different than it was in our thinking because so many of us have tried to change ourselves and did work that it never forget.

I was a backslidden Christian I came back to the Lord and when I came back to the Lord a couple things fell away real quickly been involved in in rock 'n' roll music and stuff, so I immediately quit a lot of those things the drink in the doing cocaine and various other than the sender drugs. It still struggled with smoking marijuana. To be honest I don't don't you all know, but I had just got back in the church and the guy was. I just knew when I share this with that he was just going to hammer me and then yell at me and stuff and I answer. I sure as the book and I had a problem. Joan weekends still smoke dope. Sometimes he said just keep coming to church to fellowship in God will change.

I did not expect an answer. I thought the guy was still like it because you been smoking that I'm sorry for displaying so you never do. I don't raise my voice and summer just totally freaked out.

But see I didn't have it together and needed help. And guess what he was right.

Just a few weeks after that man said you need to do this anymore. I found what I was looking for God to work in my heart and in my life.

He came to me right where I wasn't in that dark time, and in when you have those dark times in those uncertain moments in that darkest hour, hope will walk into your life and his name is Jesus. I'm so glad that he walks in right where we are. Verse 25 the other disciples said to him, we have seen the Lord say said to them, unless I see in his hands, the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side.

I will not believe man is an interesting study in and you can tell them that the Milky Way contains all the stars and planets in all these different things and help believe you, but you put up assignments as wet paint needs got touch.

There's something in this things like this in an is kinda sad that we now label Thomas doubting Thomas will get to that moment but let's take a real quick look at Thomas less understand who this Thomas guy is because most of us really don't. I don't think we understand Thomas exactly we need to understand.

To do this you're going to have to take off your religious glasses if you will see what the Bible has to say about Thomas because we we think these pictures of the disciples that sometimes are very accurate.

To be honest we think of them as superhuman men know they were men who were gifted supernaturally. The remember struggles like us Scripture paints a picture of Thomas. If you remember week working to go back to the story of Lazarus for just a moment if you remember the disciples and Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick. Jesus said something about him sleep and everybody got kinda confused though met in John 11 verse seven.

The Knights is then after this he said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again.

Lazarus was in Judea. Verse eight the disciples said to him, Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone you and are you going there again so they are thinking Jesus is suffering from short-term memory or something and he's got the beer a month. That's the place they wanted to kill you, Jesus.

Let's not go back there so you know I feel like they gotta remind them of that few verses later, John 1114 then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him. Then Thomas was called the twin, said to his fellow disciples, let us also go, that we may die with him now. I've read some commentaries. That said, oh, what a noble thing. Thomas said there will wait a minute, let's look to the character of Thomas as we have this passage written now and understand. That was probably not the concept but that statement they said, Jesus went back to Judaism.

Judea stones that stones bad their bonus don't want and then in the midst that Jesus known and I were going back to Judea and I think Thomas said something like this program. Let's just all go.I mean that is that is more statement by this been thinking it was a noble thing now again you know if you if you take off your religious glasses and see the reality. So no, Thomas, was this man who was always certain of what the Lord was doing and why really. Okay. That concept is not scriptural me show you another example. John 14 verse one.

This is the upper room. This is at the end of the three years of Jesus and Jesus is laying everything out. This is this is the end. John 14 one.

Don't be troubled you trust God now trusting me. There are many rooms in my father's home and I'm going to prepare a place for you if this were not so, I would tell you plainly when everything is ready I'll come and get you so you will always be with me where I am in you know where I'm going and how to get there.

Verse five.

No, we don't know. Lord Thomas that we have any where you're going sacking we know the way to Thomas was always certain what God was doing and where was going don't think so that's inconsistent with Scripture now. Yes, I think a twisted form of encouragement in this because I sometimes don't know what God is doing and where he is going to have to ask him just like Thomas did the Thomas like this about Thomas wasn't afraid to be real.

He just said what everybody else was thinking they were all probably sit there going forward. We what we have no idea what you're talking about and it was Thomas who spoke up early were gone when we don't have as we can probably and that is a reality that you know what we need in our lives. It's a weird dynamic that in the church today. It's a place where you can't be real. I think we lost is this, of all places should be the place where we can be real or we can be honest and say I don't know what's going on. I'm not sure and understand in the world plant it's helpful to keep your guard up in here helpful. Let your guard down in your relationship with the Lord one can see somebody else's probably struggle with the same thing your struggle and somehow will take encouragement if you say I have the same problem or I used to have the same problem or that were more open and transparent before one another.

I think we can learn a lesson from Thomason to see the world looks on into a sad degree they think will your Christian your believer even doing this for a while, you got it all together now know that one day in heaven all have it all together until then walking this road just like you see Thomas wanted to believe he wanted to know that the last three years had been wasted. He wanted to know that Jesus was resurrected again and you want. We know that from one word in this verse, Thomas says in less I see in less King James of think it's except he wanted to believe the man in Mark nine. Lord I do believe, help my doubt. I want to believe. And if I can see these things. I believe we need that same help we need to believe we we need to believe as individuals, and we need to believe is a body about Jesus will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown want to take just a minute to pray for a few cities in our listening audience. Specifically, Gallup, New Mexico, and Las Cruces Potala's Rothwell Tularosa and Binghamton, New York and Oswego God, we thank you for these listening in the cities right now. We pray that you would pour your spirit out on them or that they would have faith to trust you and what you want to do in our life. We pray, if there's people follow who have yet to put their trust in you that today would be the day today would say yes to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for them. We pray for those in leadership positions that you would anoint them that you give them wisdom and discernment, Lord, that they would look to your Bible for answers and formed their conclusions. Accordingly, we pray that you port your spirit out on the cities in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 26 and after eight days. His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them while Thomas was on the Thomas wanted to believe Jesus came the doors be and should shut and stood in the midst, and said, peace to you.

So again the peace thing was important to then he said the Thomas reach your finger here, and look at my hands and reach your hand here, and put it into my side.

Do not be unbelieving, but believing what you know when Thomas Edison verse 25 Jesus wasn't there but he knew exactly what Thomason said and understand that God is everywhere.

He's everywhere he hears you he sees you. It's called omnipresent is the big theological term, but it is means God is everywhere and he shows up and notice what he doesn't show up ago were sent Thomas I got to talk to him and say that I got a new name for him. He didn't do that we've done that in a sad, yet another commentary on what we name the people in the Bible outing. Thomas just like we call the forgiven woman.

The adulterous woman we come up with all these weird names doubting Thomas know Thomas wanted to believe he wanted to believe he wanted to see. He wanted to know he want to experience the reality of Jesus and perhaps you look at this and go out. I wish I could experience the reality of Jesus.

Just look around you right now and you can see the reality of Jesus in the lives of the people here.

There's so many awesome God stories you start talking to people and asking them where they came from and what God is done you can hear all kinds of awesome stores. If people who were bound up in religion for 40 years and never knew Jesus as their Savior. People who are addicted to crack for 15 years and now are drug-free. There's always God stories right here face of Jesus the faces of his people so you do have some proof around you don't wish for the proof you don't have examine the proof you do have examine the claims of Jesus in the Bible examine the lives not just a few. That's a God thing is what the Lord is still system be unbelieving, but believing.

Verse 28 Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord and my God. Thomas wanted to believe, and he did believe, and he said my Lord and my God for all the struggles, Thomas hit a home run on the island. Any Thomas was changed. What change Thomas.

Well, Jesus showed up and he handed him a track any letting know that he was no intention what happened it was the presence of Jesus.

You showed up if you showed Jesus showed up Thomas was changed in recent I can do the impossible. God can change any situation and any person and anybody do you really understand that we really grab a hold of that.

Do you understand that family members and friends and the people who manner just so whacked out and troubled right now and you look at him and you go all.

There's just no way. Guess what, there is a way. There is God can change people. The life lesson here. The power of Jesus changes life.

The power of Jesus changes lives.

We watched this beautiful transformation of a man going from doubt to man being convinced and that's the thing that we all need to be on our path of being convinced. And as were convinced go from doubting to believing the faith. The following to serve in the make to walk that path and following Jesus power God can change anybody. God can change lives.

God can change our lives to make a little more personal. I can change my life on to say that with me. God can change my life and believe it.

Believe it. I've seen it in you guys have seen in my own life and people around me.

God can change your life. What how to be doing well in part, look what happened. Jesus showed up and Thomas all his wounds, saws, wounds may encourage you this morning to consider the wounds of the Savior see there's no real answer that we have for what happened on the cross except what Jesus told us that he came to die for our sins. He came to die for years since he made such a graphic demonstration of his love for you and that it becomes irresistible. He showed you, he's proven his love torture and that kind of love begs a response. Verse 29 Jesus said to him Thomas because you've seen me, you believe Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed were blessed this morning while because many of us have believed Jesus, and I don't I don't know of any of you ever thought that you saw physical manifestation of Jesus. It you have would love to hear from you, but I think for most of us yeah I can say that we've not seen a physical manifestation of Jesus. Yet many of us believe you know what that means were blast blast. According to the words of Jesus. Please notice what Jesus didn't say Thomas said my Lord and my God. Jesus didn't say all Thomas get up from there you're just getting carried away with this whole thing. I'm just a good man.

I'm just a good teacher. Just a man, just a man who died in didn't stay dead even say that he accepted the adoration and the worship of Thomas as my Lord my God wasn't worth his some people say that we came up with the fact that Jesus is God all throughout the Bible. Here Thomas proclaims that Jesus exempted.

He says my Lord my God and Jesus doesn't correct them. Verse 30 and truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you may all argue about the whole film stars Robert but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name.

Now understand let's talk about Jesus and Christ remember because some people we think Jesus Christ is his name is his name is Jesus. That's a Greek form Jesus is the Greek word we take from the Hebrew word Joshua which you might hear me pray sometimes in the name of Joshua. Our English word for Joshua is Joshua the same name Joshua in the English yes you in the Hebrew Jesus in the Greek that's his name Christ is his title is from the record Christos or the anointed one to be Christ in English Crisco in Greek or Mysia. The Messiah in Hebrew so that's why the Scripture sometimes say Jesus the Christ Jesus the anointed one, Jesus the Messiah that says so that you could know Jesus is the Christ, he is the Christos. He is the Mysia the Maasai son of God and that believing you may have life in this day do you have life. I never forget when the when I had my first child Ashley and and we interweave that would take her to the beach this will be really cool, you know, if you get to play in the ocean. This company's comfy awesome. You know, because we love the beach.

We love the way she's gonna love them to you know big to do for some reason we decide to go to Outer Banks which is like five or six hours away so probably nothing to do with her to Europe with anyone week so we get down there is a big moment in, put her out on the beach and and she you know she goes up to the water just barely puts her toe and about, wave came in, she turned around and she ran the other way and never wanted to see the ocean again for like a year to church variance with Lord put your toe in bail and you don't have life.

It's not just the sense of eternal life. That's not just what Jesus is talking about. He's talking about a fullness of life happens here an abundant life that happens here and now you have to if you're just existing. You don't have it. If you don't get excited about the aspect of coming to worship and coming to hear about the Bible.

Some things a little wrong. We decided about the Lord we get excited about learning about him and you know what that's biblical they would set I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart and into his courts with praise. Do you have this life is not need to go a little deeper with the Lord. He doesn't say here that this is present, the bottles presented so that you can get something sorted out and figured out and start flying right life and living that life is do you have life friend. 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 not 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 to congratulations bring you 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. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. 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 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 he continues to verse by verse in the Gospel of John