Here's Pastor Alan Wright with today's blessing, a biblical faith-filled vision for your life. Receive today's blessing from Luke 2. I bless you to see what you believe. God wanted the shepherds not only to believe in Jesus, He wanted them to see Him up close. For real.
You need not go on feelings, but it is delightful to feel what you're going on.
So I bless the eyes of your heart to see Christ up close. You too are invited to the manger to behold him. And with shepherd-like joy, may you return to your world, glorifying and praising God for all that you've seen and heard, which is just as you've been told in his word. If seeing is believing, then I bless you to see Jesus with fresh eyes today. Pastor, author, and Bible teacher Alan Wright.
Do some really hard and impressive things. Obey these hard rules. And then, on the other side of it, there may be a blessing. That's never been the heart of God. That's never been what it meant.
It's always instead Met. I want to bless you. Every fiber of my being wants to bless you. This is the way a father feels about his children. And so I'm giving you the way to walk in it.
That's Pastor Alan Wright. Welcome to another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light. I am Daniel Britt. Excited for you to hear the teaching today in our series, Empowered, as presented at Renolda Church in North Carolina. If you're not able to stay with us throughout the entire program, I want to make sure you know how to get our special resource right now.
As you listen to today's message, go deeper as we send you today's special offer. Contact us at pastorallen.org. That's pastorallen.org. or call 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program.
But now let's get started with today's teaching. Here is Pastor Alan Wright. You could try to toss and turn and go back to sleep, but. you wouldn't be able to because it just stays there. And you've discovered There's nothing to do except get up and in love and compassion and mercy.
Just pray it through for that person. until you come to a place of peace. God stirs the compassion and the bowels and the depths of our being Because what he's doing is he's allowing us to experience his own love for people. I think we only get it. in these episodes, in these moments, in these moments of time.
If you felt that intensity of love all the time that was his love. It'd almost just be unbearable. But he'll let you experience sometimes. I was always fascinated by Catherine Kuhlman. Healing evangelists of The 1960s and 70s.
Anybody ever see any of her videos? Catherine Kuhlman, she was a An eccentric person, to say the least. She wore these long flowing dresses with, what do you call those things hanging down from the arms that look like wings or something. And she spoke very deliberately. And she flowed around on the stage.
And so some people thought, well, that's just a kook, you know? I mean, what is that? There were so many. 100% verifiably documented healings in her meetings. That I don't know that we've ever been able to put a number on it.
I wish I had known personally Dolores Winder. I didn't know her personally, and I feel like I should have because she was in our denomination, and she went around and started speaking to churches and leaders. But I had a number of dear friends who were very close friends with her. She had a point in her life where she had so many debilitating diseases that her body was literally in a full cast. And they they took her to Catherine Kuhlman meeting and she didn't want to go and she had no faith and she didn't want any prayer.
And she went, and in the middle of it, you just got to go look her up and hear her tell her testimony. Her whole body just started burning in the middle of the meeting, just so hot, and they had to cut the cast off of her. And by the end of the meeting, she was 100% healed and stayed that way for a long life. And this kind of thing just happened all the time in Catherine Goldman meetings. I can't validate this, so I don't want to say I know for sure, but there are many, many reports of people that just drove past the auditoriums where.
She was having a meeting and people were healed. And I talked to one of our elders after this morning service. He said his wife drugged him to a Catherine Kuhlman meeting in Pennsylvania. And he said, and he was skeptical of the whole thing, and that he got somewhere near her and he fell over like a tree. He just, the power of God, this stuff was happening at Catherine Kuhlman's meetings.
And the reason I bring this up is because there was something I heard her say one time. that I'll never forget. And I think this is what God was honoring in her ministry. She said, when I pray for people, I feel so much love for them. that I know I would gladly die for them.
Now she didn't need to die for them. Jesus did. But the love in her heart, that's what she felt. This is what Jesus felt. at every moment of ministry.
What? A heart. I can't explain why some people are not healed and some are. I can't explain why you might have been praying about something and it hadn't yet happened. I can't explain, but I can say.
What a heart. to heal. And what a surprise. I never really thought so much about how surprising Jesus is until I read Phil Yancey's wonderful book, The Jesus I Never Knew. One of my Top 50 books that I love, maybe 25.
I love that book. An early chapter, he said: if you were just to observe Jesus and think about The first thing you might think of is really surprising.
So many things about his life. But this story highlights all these surprises. Like everything he does seems to be like the opposite of what anybody expected. You first heard Lazarus was sick. Everybody assumed he'd drop everything, rushed to Bethany, but instead.
He waited. Two days. And he said, the text says, because he loved him, he waited two days. That's not the way we think of things. working.
And they said Whatever you do, don't go back to Judea. They're going to kill you there. He said, let's go to Judea. He got there and He said, let's take the stone away. And they said, he's been there four days.
There's an aroma. The Old King James Version says it best. He stinketh. I always like to think of it. When you read a story in the Bible, where's Jesus?
And where are we? Let you think about that. We're more like Lazarus. He stinketh. Anyway.
After this honest line from the Bible, then there's this other thing that happens. You see it just throughout the story. We didn't get to it today, but The religious leaders are all like, just stop doing so many miracles. And instead he's like, I'm just going to do my best miracle in front of you. He just keeps surprising you.
Aren't you glad? That Jesus doesn't limit himself. By simply responding to the limited perspective of all the mortals around him. That when he has a better way. and a better plan, He is not unduly influenced.
by those who have a lesser plan that they think is the better one. I like the word inscrutable. I think it means like it's hard to understand in a wonderful way. The inscrutable ways of God. What a surprise.
Like one like a miracle story That is. Just full of surprise after surprise. It's not the way. You know, you draw it up. What a heart.
of Jesus. What a surprise. Everything in this story. of Lazarus. Such a surprise.
And then this, what a way to be blessed. I mean, I'm talking about Lazarus. You know, from the beginning, In one sense, you could read the Bible like God is saying. If you obey, you'll be blessed. You could read this like a theme that goes throughout.
In Eden, God told Adam and Eve, if you'll... not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden. And obey my word on this, then you'll be blessed. You'll stay blessed. Through Moses, he told Israel, I put before you today blessing and curse.
If you. Choose obedience, you'll be blessed. He told Joshua, Don't let my law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, and you will prosper and succeed. The psalmist said, Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
He'll be like a tree that's planted next to the water and bears its fruit in season. You'll be blessed. Even a woman shouted to Jesus. Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you. And Jesus replied Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
So, do you see this kind of theme like obey? and be blessed. And so because of this, And because there's something in the sin nature that defaults. to legalism. and defaults to shame.
We tend to think that it's like this. Do some really hard and impressive things, obey these hard rules. And then on the other side of it, There may be a blessing. That's never been the heart of God. That's never been what it meant.
It's always instead of Matt. I want to bless you. Every fiber of my being wants to bless you. This is the way a father feels about his children. And so I'm giving you the way to walk in it.
I was thinking back when. Years ago we were in a different house and we had a hot tub at that house. It came with the house. When we bought the house, They wanted to take the hot tub with them, and I negotiated hard. to keep the hot tub because I knew my nature is that I would never I'd be too cheap and I'd never buy a hot tub on my own and I'd feel guilty about buying a luxury anyway.
So I said, if I don't negotiate for it now, I'll never have it. And we kept a hot tub. I loved that hot tub. I would sit in there, my back would be aching, I'd get in the hot tub. I loved the hot tub.
I got so many sermon seeds and revelation and talked to God in that hot tub. I loved the hot top.
So I remember one time and Abby was pretty young. She loved that hot tub. She learned to swim in it. I mean, like, she was two. I mean, she was like swimming across that hot tub.
And I was like, Abby, I want to get in a hot tub. I said, but the water's all fouled up. I hadn't been taking care of it lately. And she said, Can you drain it? I said, Yeah, but it takes a long time to drain.
And I want to get in it now. My back's a little bit stiff. I'd like to get in it now. And so I decided that I would get a bucket and handbale the water out of it so I could put all new water in. It's 450 gallons.
I got a gallon bucket. It's literally making my back hurt just to think about what just doing this. 450 times of bailing the water out. And by the time, like, but I'm like, but it's gonna be, I'm gonna be so blessed once I get this done. It's going to be so wonderful to sit in this hot tub.
And all the while my back's hurting worse and worse the whole time, like bailing and bailing it and bailing it. Until by the time that I was done, Man, my back really was hurting then. I really did need the hot tub. And my daughter, who from the time she was little, she was always just a little snarky. And she could see into things like this.
And so I got the water going, got it all heated up, and I'm like, you know. Boy, the hot tub's ready, Abby. And she kind of looked at me, holding my back all stiff. She said, yeah, in the nick of time, too. But I brought it on myself, you know?
She kind of added, I looked at her and she said, Wouldn't it maybe have been better just to have?
Some muddy water in a hot tub, and your back not hurt and not get in, then to go all to that just so then you had to have it to heal you afterwards. And I'm like, point well taken. Have often Think that that's what we got this idea. He gave us these commands, obey. Obey.
Obey. And one day, when you've shown that you will obey, Then hell bless you. It's not the heart of God. It's never what he meant. In fact, the Bible says His commands are not burdensome.
In fact My mentor, Dudley Hall, helped me see inside. of all of his commands. There's a promise. If he said, take up your mat and walk. Inside the command.
was the promise. of healing. If he said, stretch forth your withered hand inside the command. was the healing. And so on that day He said roll that stone away And in a loud voice said, Lazarus.
Come out. And Lazarus obeyed. I think that's what obedience is. I think it is the marvelous, miraculous, Invitation to blessedness. In Christ Jesus, And we in our deepest spirit respond.
Walk in this. I was talking to someone who said Maybe Maybe Lazarus was Somehow, spiritually able to hear Jesus say this, and maybe he did have a choice. Like, maybe he's one of those people that. Says, I saw heaven and it looked so good. I didn't know if I wanted to stay on earth.
Maybe he had a choice. I don't know. But when he came out And Jesus said, unbind him and let him go. And everybody's gasping and celebrating.
Now their tears are turned to tears for joy. What you see on display is something that is absolutely beautiful and utterly ironic. Because did you notice that everybody in the story? seem to know what Jesus ought to do. Send word to Jesus and tell him the one he loves is sick.
So they all already haven't come. He said, He loved him, so he decided to stay two days longer. What? They said, don't go to Judea. They said, Master, if you'd been here, he wouldn't have died.
Don't roll the stone away. Everybody in this story. thinks they really do know what Jesus ought to do. And everybody's got a nice plan for how the healing should unfold. The only person in the whole story who's not telling Jesus what he ought to do.
is the dead man. R. A. Torrey was one of the great preachers and teachers on the Holy Spirit's power, and he. Wrote, if anyone asks, What's the one thing I can do in order to discover everything that God has for me?
The answer is very simple: surrender absolutely to God. And say to him, Heavenly Father, from now on I have no will of my own. Let your will be done in me, through me, by me, regarding me in all things. I put myself unreservedly in your hands. Please do whatever you desire with me.
And listen to this line from R. A. Torrey: absolute surrender to God is the secret of blessedness and power. And it's kind of ironic, but Lazarus was the one who was absolutely surrendered to God. Yeah.
So, I don't know. Maybe you can identify with Lazarus. Maybe something inside of you feels lifeless. you're in a good position for God to heal. Healing doesn't come by Bailing, bailing, and proving something to God so that maybe on the other side He'll bless you.
It's not bail and be blessed. It's just... Believe. And be blessed. Beloved.
Jesus Loves. to heal. And that's the gospel. Pastor Alan Wright, our good news message, healing power from the series Empowered. Please stay with us.
Pastor Alan is back here in the studio sharing a parting good news closing thought for the day in just a moment. Alan Wright Ministries is more than just a daily radio broadcast. Here are Daniel and Pastor Alan explaining another layer. Pastor Alan, we love putting resources into the hands of believers and those who are looking for ways to improve their life through the good news of the gospel. And those resources show up in a variety of ways.
One of the coolest ways I think though is every day a resource called the Daily Blessing pops in my email inbox. And what a way to start our day. This is absolutely free. It's the best way to start your day or to. Pillow your head at night.
Put this down into your heart, the sound of a blessing. And by that, we mean a positive biblical vision spoken in faith over your life that helps shape your identity for who you really are. And with it, fuels you for a positive future that God has intended. It's a world that's real quick to curse. You don't have to go very long into your day before somebody is ready to speak negative things over you.
We need the true word of God spoken over our life. And so, Daniel, I write a daily blessing every day and would love to send it. All you have to do is just give us your email at pastorallen.org and we'll get you signed up and start including you. PastorAllen.org is your next step. Simply drop by on your phone, tablet, or computer today.
That's pastorallen.org and be blessed with a fresh word from the Lord today. Back here in the studio with Pastor Alan at the conclusion of today's teaching. Healing power. And I think these are all truths, right? The Lord wants you to be healed and whole.
And also true is the Lord is going to work in his own timing and in his own mysterious ways. And all of those things can be true at the same time. And we just have to trust. I would like to maybe conclude it with this. Imagine Jesus calling Lazarus come out.
Yeah.
What did Lazarus do to contribute to his healing? Yeah.
Nothing. Except he He was mysteriously. and miraculously responsive. to the healing call of Jesus.
So That's my word. If you need healing, I'd like to. speak it forth in like a Lazarus moment and it's like Healing come forth. You know, or maybe it's peace. Arise.
Or Relationship be mended. And there's a way in which something inside of you, even as I'm saying those words, can be. responding and receiving. It's the heart of God to heal. He wants us to pray for healing, and he wants us to remember it's by his power, not ours.
So you just receive it. Yeah.
Thanks for listening today. Visit us online at pastorallen.org or call 877-544-4860. That's 877-544-4860. If you only caught part of today's teaching, not only can you listen again online, but also get a daily email devotional that matches today's teaching delivered right to your email inbox free. Find out more about these and other resources at pastorallen.org.
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