Standalone Sermons • Dr. Sam John

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Good morning. I want to welcome you to Willow Ridge Church. We're so glad that each and every

one of you are here, that you chose to worship with us. If you're a first-time guest, we would

love it if you do us one small favor. You'll see there's a QR code on the back of the chair in front

of you. If you could scan that at some point in time during the service, you can do it right now.

You can do it in between. You can do it at the very end. We'd love for you to scan that. Let us know

that you're here so that we can answer any questions, minister to you in any way that we possibly can.

And then at the end of the service, I'll be back in the back here with my wife at our

connections table. We'd love for you to stop by there so that we can formally meet you, learn your

name. Thank you for being here. And again, and invite you back to worship with us if you desire.

Well, today, if you're a first-time guest, if you're a long-time guest, if you're a church member,

today is going to be a definite treat for you. Pastor Sam John is here with us all the way from India.

Aaron and I had the opportunity with them toward the end of this week to get away with Sam and Susan

and to head down to one of our favorite cities in the entire world, Aaron and I's Beaufort, South

Carolina. We love it. We took him out to Harbor Island. Susan, Sam's allergic to shrimp, so pray for

him. He didn't get to experience that. Susan got to experience a shrimp burger with me. And if you've

ever been to the shrimp shack over there, you know how delicious those were in just a wonderful time.

But it was neat as we would travel through and go through different shops as you're, you know,

tourists looking around for different things. People would say, well, where are you from? And in Harbor

Island, you know, it's not one of those international destinations. And so they would look at us like,

well, we're from, you know, Lexington, South Carolina, right up from the road. And then Sam and Susan would

say, we're from India. And the look on their face was like, ooh. So I don't know if you came here this

with your expectation, but you're going to be blessed as Sam opens and teaches from God's word.

I do want to say this to you. Sam has written a book. And so Lights in the Forgotten Places,

A Memoir of Grace, Calling, and the Unreached. And we as a church have purchased some of these books.

And we have, we will have them at the back at the connections table as well. And so if you want to

come by and get one of these, you are more than welcome to. I would ask for right now, we'll possibly

have some more available in the future. But for right now, if we could grab one of these per family

unit, that would be fantastic and pass out around the family and enjoy. And it'll be a wonderful,

a different perspective into understanding the ministry that has taken place, the ministry that

has taken place in all that God is working and all that God is doing. You know, when you, one of the

joys that I appreciate about my friendship with the John family is when we get together, we get to have

opportunities where, where we talk and learn from one another about the cultures that we find ourselves

living in. And, and India and the United States are drastically different in a lot of ways.

In fact, I said to them, like, we're going to go to the beach. And so we took them to the beach and

we do at the beach what probably a lot of you do at the beach, which is nothing, right? We got chairs and a

tent out and we took it down to the beach and we set it up and we sat there for four to five hours and

we read, we took naps, we did nothing. And I, and I asked them toward the end of the day of, of Sam and

Susan, they're very busy, very active. I said, well, what do you think about coming to the beach? And they

say, we now know what Americans mean when they say they're going to go sit out on the beach.

And then Sam said, and I think I could get used to this, you know, um, but, but, but there's,

there's a lot of differences between India and the United States. And I, I think that is what makes

our friendship and our partnership beautiful. But, but there's also a lot that is very similar.

And while, while, while sin and depravity manifests itself in different ways and means,

as we've been looking at the book of Daniel,

we see Daniel, a man of God come from an un, from a rebellious people into an ungodly culture.

In this week, whether you found yourself in India or you find yourself in the United States,

we're reminded of the ungodly culture that we find ourself in and the evil that is sin.

Sometimes, when we walk through seasons like this,

whether it be in our home, in our homes, in our towns, in our communities, or in our nation,

we look for a lot of things.

We look for answers.

We look for news.

We look for justice.

One of my favorite words in the Bible is a word that's used often,

especially in the Old Testament.

It's the word remember.

God calls His people

in their greatest moments

of defeat,

perceived defeat,

their greatest moments of victory,

their greatest moments of sorrow,

their greatest moments of joy

to remember.

And you know what they're called to remember?

His faithfulness.

His faithfulness.

And so this morning,

before I pray,

and before Sam comes to

share God's word,

I want us to remember something from the truth of God's word.

I want us to remember a time that has not yet come,

but a time that God promises will come.

That when we're surrounded by the death and destruction of this world,

and it will happen again and again and again,

that we will remember

that there will come a time

for everyone who is in Christ

where a time will be different.

In Revelation 21,

John shares the beauty of the prophecy

given by God to him

to share with the people of God.

It says,

then I saw a new heaven

and a new earth

for the first heaven

and the first earth

had passed away

and the sea was no more.

And I saw your holy city,

new Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven

from God,

prepared as a bride

adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice

from the throne saying,

Behold,

the dwelling place of God

is with man.

He will dwell with them

and they will be his people

and God himself

will be with them

as their God.

Will you close your eyes with me

as I'll read this verse

and then we'll go to prayer.

You will wipe away

every tear

from their eyes

and death shall be no more.

Neither shall there be mourning

nor crying

nor pain anymore

for the former things

have passed away.

God, we come to you this morning

and God, we praise you

for who you are.

For what you have done

and Lord, for what you are going to do.

God, as we search for answers,

God, as we look for solutions,

God, as we look for solutions,

could we come back to Jesus?

And in God, in a world

that is broken,

God, may we be people of compassion,

may we be people of compassion,

of truth,

of love,

of grace,

and mercy.

God, I thank you that your word

rings true

in India

and in the U.S.

and in every corner of the world.

God, may you be made known

and Lord, may you be glorified.

God, as our brother Sam

comes to share

from your word this morning,

God, may you give him the words

to speak.

Lord, may your Holy Spirit

convict our hearts

and may all that is done

and said

be to the glory of your name.

And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Would y'all join me

in welcoming my friend,

Sam John.

Thank you.

Thank you, brother.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Thank you for the warm welcome

this morning.

And we just,

Susan and I are so glad

and so thankful

that we are here.

And for possibly

the first time

in the United States

we have experienced

what real vacation is

and how it should be.

And one of the things

that I really like

on my vacation

is just sit

before the nature.

Sometimes in India,

long time ago

we went out there

to the hills

where we had

the beautiful view

of the Himalayas

and we got a room

out there

so I just sat down

on the balcony

of our hotel

and I had a book

in my hand

and the nature

over there

I was it.

And Susan

and the rest of the family

went out to explore

the nature

and guess what?

That's exactly

what I got to do.

Susan and Pastor Bo

and Aaron

went out to explore

the ocean

or the beach front

and I sat down there

with my book

and I enjoyed it.

Thank you so much

Pastor Bo

for carrying us

taking us

me and Susan

along

and allowing us

to intrude

into your privacy.

Thank you for that

and thank you church

for standing with us

always.

We really rejoice

and are so grateful

to all of you

your love

your support

and your willingness

to come alongside us

put your arms around us

and tell us

we're not alone.

We appreciate that.

It really means a lot

to us.

On a personal front

I just want to give you

joyful news

of Susan and me

becoming graduates now

we've promoted now

from just being parents

now we're parents

in law

so our older son

Stephen

God

allowed him

to find a beautiful

Northern Irish girl

and he got married

on the 5th of August

and we thank God

for his provisions

and we were all able

to be there

and on our way

over here

we witnessed

a beautiful wedding.

I appreciate your prayer

on behalf of Stephen

and Emma

that they would establish

a godly home

where Christ is honored

and their beats

of their heart

would be for missions

for the expansion

of the kingdom

of the Lord.

Our younger son

Simon

has also

finished his

physical therapy

and he still has

a few months

of internship.

He's looking forward

to serving the Lord

wherever God

has him

wherever God

wants to take him

and we rejoice

along with our family

for what God

has done.

You know

as Pastor Bo

was talking about

sin

so many things

were going on

in my mind

it is a problem

it is a problem

be it in India

or in Pakistan

or in China

Russia

United States

Europe

anywhere

sin is the problem.

some of you

are aware of it

some of you

perhaps are not

but this is a fact

which you need to know

because you have

a couple from India

that you support

that you love.

In India

they are now

vastly marketing

cow urine.

they say

they say

that it is

a very holy

drink

and you can

drink it

and have

the peace

inner peace

that

only that

urine can give.

During COVID

they also marketed

cow dung

you could apply it

on your body

and

stay away from COVID.

I don't know

how many people

died

with cow dung

but

the term

holy cow

I came across

over here

in the United States

and

when a bunch

of young people

gathered together

and they said

holy cow

and I said

really?

Is it as holy

as it is in India?

But in India

it is holy

and therefore

I've said often

for me to enjoy

my cow

on my plate

I need to come

over here to

Lexington.

I enjoy it.

I mean they've got

the best

and the most

wonderful cows

on the plate.

Those poor people

do not know

what they're missing

out on.

So

with all that

thing that is

happening over there

we come over here

and we are in

for surprise.

One of the things

that fascinates

Susan

is as we drive

through the roads

are all these

beautiful churches

churches

with those

wonderful steeples

and a cross

up on the top

of that church.

It just fascinates

us because

that's a big

no-no in India

and right now

it's even worse.

We just cannot

have a church

that can boast

of that being

a church building

you know

and so we

always take

pictures and all

that

and so proudly

show it to our

folks back in India

but as we

walked around

we found out

something

very

drastically

crazy going on

over here

in the United

States

where the

children are

allowed to

get up

and be cats

or be dogs

or be whatever

they feel like

you are

what you feel

like.

Strange.

Really strange

and you know

I don't know

whether I am

doing the right

thing by saying

it out or not

but coming

from India

me and Susan

found it really

really very funny

and wondering

where a country

that boasts

of being a

developed country

can go that

far.

And down there

in India

we were laughing

at our folks

drinking cow

urine

and applying

cow dung

and we come

away and find

all that strange

and crazy

things going

on over here.

The heart

of the problem

is in the

heart of man

and that needs

a radical change.

No amount

of psychology

no amount

of good

positive thinking

will take care

of that.

Only Christ

will.

Only Christ

can.

And the need

that is in

United States

over here

right now

or in India

or in anywhere

in the world

is that Christ

be preached.

The gospel

be preached.

People need

to know

Jesus.

The one

who changed

me

the one

who changed

you

is the only

one who can

change anybody.

And when Christ

starts reigning

and ruling

in our lives

that's when

we are able

to differentiate

between the day

and the night.

But folks

there are

forces

that try

and

will force

you to keep

your mouth shut

from proclaiming

the truth.

That's what

is happening

all the world

over.

And this

morning

as I stand

up to share

what God

has in my

heart

I was initially

thinking about

talking to all

of you

but as I

stand over here

right now

I think I'm

going to change.

Instead of

me talking

to you

I'm going

to talk

to myself

and I'm

going to

talk to

myself

I'm going

to preach

to myself

audibly

so that you

can also

listen to

what I'm

preaching

to myself

and if

the Spirit

of God

talks to

you

you may

respond to

him

and

surrender

your lives

as per

whatever the

needs is.

I have

been

thinking

mostly

about

the

book

of

Job

a

book

that

most of

you

many

of

you

have

probably

gone

through

beautiful book

that talks

about

various

stages

various

colors

of life

especially

the life

of a

person

who is

really

trying

hard

to do

everything

right

to please

God

and yet

things do

not go

their way

things

become

upside down

I don't

know your

case

but I've

been through

recently

quite a bit

of

the

times

so as I

come to

chapter 1

of the

book of

Job

well before

going there

just want to

tell you

something else

that God

is really

doing a

good

great work

in India

many of

you were

down there

in India

and have

been closely

associated

with our

school

Christian

school

over there

we now

you know

we have

400

children

it's not

a big

school

but

400

approximately

400

kids

are there

right now

and

as I

would just

go on

the top

roof

of our

school

right next

to it

was a

slum

area

where

across

our

street

there's

a big

community

how do

you call

that

a big

colony

we say

apartment

complex

coming up

Pastor Bo

will probably

explain to you

probably

properly

but you

know all

those people

who work

over there

the laborers

they live

there

it's a

small piece

of ground

there

and I

would say

possibly

about

five to

eight hundred

people

live there

in a

ground

that can

just hold

about

60 to

80 people

or 100

people

and as I

was walking

up and down

I saw

little kids

walking

doing nothing

during the

time when the

school was

on

and I

saw them

moving

aimlessly

playing

wallowing in

the mud

and doing

nothing

and I

said

Lord

I don't

know why

you

exposed

these

kids

to

me

but I

wish

I wish

we could

bring them

to the

school

and as I

was talking

to the

Lord

another

thought

struck me

I said

you know

if they

come to

the school

not only

would they

be open

for the

seeds of

the gospel

to be

sown

in their

hearts

but that

could open

us

a door

for us

to reach

that slum

area

with the

greatest

message

the world

has ever

known

Jesus

saves

and I

said

Lord

if that

is a

possibility

will you

please

show it

to us

we want

to do

that

now

this is

a time

and an

age

where

especially

in

Jaipur

you go

out and

reach

anyone

who's

not a

Christian

especially

if you

want to

reach

out

to

Hindus

you know

there

is a

law

that

is

in

place

the

anti-conversion

law

which

demands

that any

gospel

exchange

presentation

has to

be in

the

presence

of

the

magistrate

and

if

we

do

that

we

are

going

to

break

the

law

and

so

I

said

Lord

please

show

the

way

how

do

we

do

this

we

want

to

do

this

I

want

to

do

this

and

I

shared

this

with

our

folks

at

our

team

one

of

them

a

couple

volunteered

they

said

we

will

do

and

he

started

moving

now

we

went

there

reached

out

to

the

homes

we

asked

those

parents

to

send

the

kids

to

our

school

and

they

said

we

will

not

be

able

to

afford

it

I

said

you

don't

have

to

afford

it

send

them

the

school

is

right

there

we

will

do

what

we

can

to

teach

your

children

how

they

come

they

learn

how

to

read

they

learn

how

to

write

and

Mayank

along

with

his

wife

teach

them

how

to

sing

and

guess

what

they

learn

choruses

they

learn

the

songs

and

they

are

taught

the

Bible

verses

and

that's

one

of

the

wonderful

ways

the

Lord

is

doing

now

what

happens

in the

future

I

do

not

know

I

don't

want

to

know

all

I

want

to

know

all

I

want

to

do

is

let

Christ

be

known

long

time

ago

my

father

said

son

we

don't

fight

for

victory

we

fight

from

the

victory

which

Christ

has

already

won

on

the

cross

of

Calvary

yes

there

is

a

battle

we

are

in

the

battle

ground

there

will

be

attacks

from

the

enemy

there

will

be

forts

that

would

be

won

by

all

of

us

but

we

are

not

fighting

for

victory

we're

fighting

from

the

victory

now

in

the

event

of

this

battle

there

are

times

when

you

get

hit

as

a

good

soldier

of

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

do

not

run

away

from

the

battle

ground

even

if

in

the

event

of

you

getting

hit

you

try

to

fall

up

front

gain

another

six

feet

of

ground

that

I

thought

was

a

wonderful

piece

of

advice

a

very

wise

piece

of

advice

and

in

the

midst

of

all

those

laws

and

I'm

going

to

talk

to

you

about

it

a

little

more

and

showing

off

in

those

dark

and

needy

lands

of

ours

we

also

started

a

ministry

amongst

the

Sindhi

community

of

Jaipur

now

Sindhi

is

considered

as

one of

the

people

group

in

Hinduism

and

we

started

reaching

out

to

them

and

there

is

a

house

church

that

has

been

established

and

we

are

able

to

go

out

there

reach

out

to

them

there

is

a

small

community

of

people

that

gather

and

guess

what

while

being

on

that

Beaufort

island

I

got

some

pictures

and

the

pictures

was

of

our

co-worker

baptizing

them

and

I

look

at

that

picture

and

I

said

brother

Sushil

you

not

not

only

are

putting

your

life

to

the

danger

you

are

putting

me

as

well

and

I

asked

Pastor

Bo

how

do

you

deal

with

people

who

put

your

life

to

danger

without

knowing

the

context

he

started

giving me

a

big

lecture

on

that

and

that

was

all

good

it

was

very

nice

and

I

hope

to

apply

10%

of

that

in

this

particular

case

but

I

tell

you

he's

a

great

teacher

and

I

think

you're

all

blessed

to

have

a

pastor

like

him

who

cares

for

you

who's

got

a

heart

that

beats

for

all

of

you

and

you

know

we

just

praise

God

for

men

and

women

of

God

who

are

there

to

serve

the

Lord

Job

chapter

one

and

let

me

read

out

verse

six

to

verse

eight

now

there

was a

day

when

the

sons

of

God

came

to

present

themselves

before

the

Lord

and

Satan

came

also

among

them

the

Lord

said

unto

Satan

whence

camest

thou

whence

comest

thou

then

Satan

answered

the

Lord

and

said

from

going

to

and

fro

in

the

earth

and

from

walking

up

and

down

in

it

sounds

like

an

evangelist

and

the

Lord

said

unto

Satan

has

thou

considered

my

servant

Job

that

there

is

none

like

him

in

the

earth

a

perfect

and

an

upright

man

one

that

fears

God

and

escheweth

evil

what

fascinates

me over

here is

what

God

has to

talk

about

Job

Job

is

introduced

by God

himself

as

blameless

upright

God

fearing

and the

one who

turns

from

evil

now

you

got

to

remember

that

these

are

the

words

of

God

not

Job's

wife's

words

or not

Job's

mother's

words

or not

even the

PR agent

of Job

it is

God

who

talks to

the devil

and says

look

my servant

and I

have

faith

in him

it is

one thing

for us

to say

that we

have

faith

and

trust

in

God

but

at

times

I've

been

thinking

when

God

looks

down

at

my

life

can

you

look

at

me

and

have

faith

in

me

have

trust

in

me

that

makes

this

Mr.

Job

way

apart

than

you

and

me

and

look

at

Satan's

challenge

verse

9

Satan

answered

the

Lord

and

said

did

God

that

Job

fear

God

for

not

does

Job

fear

God

for

nothing

in

other

words

that

word

nothing

in

Hebrew

implies

out

of

favor

or

implying

an

ulterior

motive

Satan

just

cannot

comprehend

anyone

serving

God

without

personal

benefit

so

the

real

theme

I

believe

of the

book

of Job

is not

primarily

why

do

the

righteous

suffer

but

rather

it

should

be

why

do

people

serve

God

why

do

people

serve

God

will

we

serve

God

for

nothing

let

me

ask

myself

this

question

why

am

I

serving

God

is

there

an

impending

blessing

or

is

there

an

impending

prosperity

that I

desire

out of

God

or a

special

favor

from

God

that I

am

serving

him

that I

am

loving

him

or

that I

am

following

him

so the

central

question

that needs

to be put

up before

all of

us

is

why

do

you

serve

God

Sam

why

do

you

serve

God

do

you

serve

God

for

blessings

for

protection

prosperity

Sam

what

if

God

doesn't

give

you

all

that

things

if

God

doesn't

bless

you

would

you

still

serve

him

is

God

enough

is

God

himself

still

enough

for

your

praises

for

your

blessing

and

as I

read

this

you

know

there

are

so

many

questions

in

this

book

of

Job

that

is

thrown

up

but

I

would

like

to

talk

to

myself

and

bring

these

three

questions

mainly

to

try

and

see

and

have

a

little

heart

surgery

done

in

my

life

before

all

of

you

have

never

been

to

a

surgery

theater

most

of

you

are

if

you're

not

a

doctor

and

like

to

see

what

is

there

in

my

heart

and

I

would

expect

that

from

you

as

well

question

number

one

that

I

want

to

put

forward

before

myself

and

all

of

you