Refuel Throwback: "I've Got Better Days Ahead" Pastor Reginald W. Sharpe Jr. October 26, 2022

5:38 why I'm shouting, and why I'm praising God. Pastor Sharp said this was too much for him today. Y'all, you know, everybody back in the building first time. He said it's just too much. So he asked me to come in this place. And if you want to know who I am, you have to open your Bibles to Acts chapter 3. yeah yeah that's me Acts chapter 3 they don't tell you my name because people have a bad habit of always judging you by how you look and what you don't have Acts chapter 3 round verse 2 3 you're going to say something about that was a lame man who was crippled in both feet and daily they had to carry me and lay me by the gate called beautiful.

6:33 But I'm in my verse 8 now. I'm a long way from verse 2. Verse 2 I was laying but if you go down in your Bible Acts chapter 3 verse 8 I'm leaping. in verse 2 I was sorrowful but oh in verse 8 I'm shouting and I know you don't understand somebody walk out here on stage looking like this you don't even understand because you see my joy but you don't know my journey you see my adoration but you don't see my complication and God has been real good to me I've come a long way from verse 2 I'm over in verse 8 and if you happen to read Acts chapter 4 verse 22 it's going to tell you how old I am I'm older than 40 years old it's been 19 months I ain't been in the sanctuary in 19 months church been closed now in 19 months I don't know when pastor is going to open back up listen I don't feel bad for none of y'all because for all of my life over 40 years I've never been able to go in the temple because of my ailment.

7:48 Y'all haven't been in church in what, 19 months? I hadn't been in in 40 years because there was systemic disenfranchisement. There was discrimination that kept me out. I've been lame in both my feet. I've been crippled. My ankles and my feet never worked. Never was I able to play t-ball as a little boy. Never was I able to join the marching band in school. Never have I been able to race down the street with my friends. Never have I ever had a chance to play kickball. I've been carried wherever I've gone.

8:25 And you think I feel bad because y'all ain't been in church in 19 months. And you gonna look at me for shouting? No, I'm just glad God has brought me places that I know I did not bring myself. Is there anybody in the sanctuary? who understands God's just been better to you than you were able to be to yourself. And they would lay me by the gate, called beautiful, outside of the temple because Leviticus, according to Leviticus, if you were crippled, if you were blind, if you were maimed, if you had a withered hand, you were not treated like everybody else. It's systemic oppression. You see that? I didn't control how I was born, But there was evil in the system that left me at the gate. And don't just judge me because we still leave people at the gate. We leave our youth at the gate.

9:20 We leave young men at the gate. We leave members of the LGBTQIA community at the gate. Anybody who doesn't look like us, we leave them outside at the gate. And we may occasionally. Go on my little change. We don't really pay attention to the humanity of people like we should. I'm out there at the gate. No, no, no, no, and I know I'm not by myself. I know I'm not by myself. I know I'm not by myself because I'm not the only person that was at a beautiful place with an ugly situation. The gate was called beautiful.

10:02 It wasn't that beautiful. I saw it every day. It wasn't that beautiful. But they called it beautiful because it was a bronze gate, according to the historian Josephus, who was around in that time. He said that the gate was about 75 feet high, and it was bronze, and they called it a beautiful gate. But I experienced some ugly stuff in what was supposed to be a beautiful situation. Lean up. Have you ever been there? where you were experiencing something that was ugly in a place that was supposed to be beautiful. It was supposed to be a beautiful relationship, but it got ugly. You're supposed to have beautiful friendships, but it turned ugly. You're supposed to meet beautiful people at church. but have you ever been treated ugly in a beautiful place?

10:55 I laid there. I laid there, and that was in my verse 2. That was in my verse 3. I was begging. That's all I could do. They carried me there at the time of prayer. It's in the text. Just read it. Acts chapter 3, verse 1 through 8, and they laid me there every day around the time of prayer, and the Jews would pray at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., and at this point, One day I met some preachers that were headed to the gate. Headed to the gate, but also headed through the gate. And I believe their names were Peter and John. But I'm so happy because this morning, God has changed my life. And I'm jumping and I'm happy. And I'm like some of y'all. You didn't need any music today. You were your own music. You really didn't know what was going to happen when you got in here. You're just so glad that God got you in here that you're going to let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

11:52 And then some folk got the nerve to ask, does it take all of that? If you didn't pick me up, you can't shut me up. If you don't know my full story, stop hating on my glory. If you don't know the verses and the chapters of my life when I didn't know how I would stand myself back up. don't you get mad when I start verse 8 jumping and leaping and praising God can I tell you why I'm so happy I thank God for your pastor for not preaching today I'm so glad he let me come I know the text doesn't tell you my name but can I tell you my name my name is Donterius Yeah. And I'm so happy today that your pastor, Pastor Reginald Wayne Sharp Jr., he was just installed, but he said he didn't feel like preaching today. And he asked me to come, and I'm just so happy to be here with you.

12:46 Because I came out here shouting, and you were looking at me. Did it? Does it take all of that? Does he have to jump like that? I mean, he looked a little busted. Who is this? Well, can I tell you why I'm so happy? Can I tell you why I'm so happy? No, no, no. Don't fool me. Y'all said this is your first time in church in 19 months. Can I tell you why I'm so happy? Number one, I've had some people who cared. Oh, I'm so glad that over 40 years I've never been able to walk. I've never been able to stand on my own. And yet, for the last couple of years of my life, every day, the text says they carried me and laid me by the gate. You missed it. I had people who were gracious enough, compassionate enough that carried me and laid me by the gate. And then when I got there on this particular day and I met these two preachers named Peter and John, they looked me in the eye and gave me something that I never had before.

13:50 I'm so glad that God put people along my route that cared for me. And there's some of you in the room who think you brought yourself this far. There's some people in the room who every day you wake up thinking you're a self-made man, a self-made woman. There's no such thing as a self-made man, self-made woman. We are all, all the people who poured in our lives that helped us get where we are. somebody should not just praise God for God but you ought to praise God for the people God used to bring you to where you are right now you ought to thank God for a grandmama who prayed and an uncle and an auntie who stood in the gap and a mentor and a church member who called you in the right way a prayer warrior that got your number and checked on you somebody take a few minutes and thank God for people who genuinely care am I the only somebody who's been carried through some seasons. There have been some seasons I didn't have the strength to stand.

14:50 I didn't have the strength to walk, but some friends and some family and some generous religious people just carried me through it. And can I tell you, can I tell you, can I tell you, it's a wonderful thing when people really are Christians and don't just say they're Christians because true Christians exhibit the hallmark of compassion. Yeah, that's how, you know, even Jesus said over there in the New Testament. He said something like this, and they will know you belong to me by how you love. I know you can shout, but why you so nasty? I know you've been rushing to get in church, but why don't anybody at your job know that you are a believer? Why don't your family members know that you're a believer? Pastor Jenkins, you ain't the only one that got a watch. Somebody gave me one when I got in church too, but before the watch showed up and before my riches showed up and my strength was renewed I gotta thank God for people who care you ever heard an ambulance ride by and you prayed a selfish prayer and you said Lord don't let it be any of my family that's the worst thing you can pray as a believer because whoever it is that person matters to somebody and you ought to say God even if they're not related to me touch them you ought to have some compassion when you see people struggling and suffering and grieving and down and out don't look down on them today because it could be yours tomorrow the nerve of you to judge a young woman who got pregnant or a young man who lost his way and the truth is but for the grace of God wait it could have been your daughter could have been your son and instead of you judging them I just need 30 right through here and I make 31 who can say God I don't have time to judge anybody because I'm so glad you have given me grace.

16:38 So I got to share grace because I've received grace. I've been given compassion. So I got to pass compassion. And when somebody has helped you, it's your responsibility to help somebody. Tell somebody around you, I have people who care. Oh, but it's not just people who care. The ones that carried me and Peter and John who stopped and looked at me. I met some power that cured.

17:06 I had people who cared, but I had some power that cured. What do you mean, Shaw? What do you mean? I'm sorry, that ain't my name. My name is Dontarius. What do you mean, Dontarius? Well, one day I was by the gate laying there, minding my own business. And I'm down. Now see, I can stand up now, but I ain't always been there. The way you see me now, it ain't always been like this. People ought to stop judging. Because they really don't know how far you've come.

17:39 I wasn't always standing. I wasn't always singing, he done more than I ever expected. No, I was laying there at the gate with my little sign. Help, please. I know y'all going to church. Anybody got some change? Anybody got some change? Anybody got some change? And you're going to believe it. Church folks, some of them walk right by me.

18:11 People on their way to worship forgot to do the work. They were so caught up in church work, they forgot to do the work of the church. But I did. Every now and then, I had my little cup, had my little sign, and one day, one day these preachers walked up. And then, to my surprise, I said, y'all got some money? It's right in the text. Acts chapter 3, verse 2, verse 3, verse 4. I said, y'all got some money? And then the preachers told me they broke. One of them looked at me, I think his name was Peter, somebody, Reverend Peter, Bishop Peter, I don't know. Apostle Peter, you know all these names, I don't get all that stuff, but all these names, all these titles. He said, silver and gold have I none. I said, well, you can go on.

19:00 Because you about broke as me. It's space down here, Doc. I thought y'all were wealthy and rich and handsome. He said, silver and gold have a nun. I said, come on down. I got another sign. But then he said something else. He said, but such as I have.

19:21 I perked up then. I said, what you got? You ain't got no money, so what do you have? He said, such as I have, I give to you. in the name of God. of Jesus of Nazareth. Y'all, I can't describe what happened, but when he said the name Jesus, something went through my body. It was a power that I had never encountered before, and when he said Jesus of Nazareth, that connected with me because one day the question was asked, can anything good come from Nazareth? And the fact that I was introduced to this name and the man was from Nazareth, which was a little inconsequential village off to the side. And God was going to let Jesus come bless me. And he was from Nazareth, which was a place that was really nowhere.

20:20 I'm so glad he was from nowhere because I was from nowhere. And there's something about that name. I can't describe it to this day. He said in the name of Jesus Get up and walk And for 40 years My feet were crippled My ankles were crippled For 40 years my feet were crippled My ankles were crippled I could not stand on my own All I could do was beg But something happened When he dropped that name See, there's some name droppers in here, but y'all be dropping the wrong name. You know, I know such and such. You know, I ain't been in Chicago a long time. Pastor just flew me in just yesterday. But I have figured out in the time I've been here, Chicago love to drop some names. This is a who do you know city and a who know you city. And if they don't know you and you know them, you don't really know nobody.

21:16 but I got a name that I love to drop now because if I drop the right name your situation can turn around if you drop the right name your health can be restored if you drop the right name you might just have a few dollars in the bank but you'll look like a millionaire I want to know is there anybody who's ever had to drop the name of Jesus there's some power in that name there's some healing in that name there's some deliverance in that name you didn't make it through a pandemic because of your name but when you got real low and you couldn't sleep and you were struggling with your mental health and grieving because of the loss of a loved one there was a name i wish i had some witnesses up in here somebody online just right there is a name i love to hear i love to sing his word it sounds like music in my ear the sweetest name on earth oh how i love jesus what a friend i know you can't touch anybody we're still in a pandemic but just have high five three people around you and say i got a name for you that'll shift every atmosphere i've got a name for you that'll put money back in the bank.

22:38 Peace back in your mind. Joy back in your heart. Strength back in your crippled places. Jesus! I dare you to call his name Jesus. There's power in that name. Call his name. There's healing in that name. Call his name. There's strength in that name. Call his name. Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Prince of Peace. Rose of Sharon. Lily of the valley, bright and morning star, way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, came nobody, doom and light. So if you catch me leaping, it's because I know how powerful. And then, y'all, they didn't just give me the name Jesus, but they exhibited the nature of Jesus. Because the text says they reached out their hand and helped pull me up.

23:46 Some people may not hear his name, but they are watching your nature. and when you can't call his name and when you're doubting if that name still has power God will let somebody show you his name And I need you all to remember as you walk down these streets of Chicago and as you all get back in the church, don't just say you're a Christian. Act like one. Love like one. Forgive like one. Look poor people in the eyes like one. Stop just treating people good who got titles and who got red ties and who called reverend. Everybody in this room is a child of God. And God will use some unlikely people to bless your life. Tell somebody around you, I have his name, but I also have his nature.

24:45 Yeah, yeah, there's some power in that name. There's some power in that name. But the power is not just in you verbalizing it. It's in you actualizing it. I have some people who care. I met some power that cured. But can I give you one more for free? My problem got changed. As soon as they said his name. I still can't describe it, but my feet straightened up. The foot bone Connected to the ankle bone Ankle bone Connected to leg bone Leg bone Connected to knee bone Knee bone Connected to thigh bone Thigh bone Connected to hip bone Hip bone connected to my backbone.

26:05 Backbone connected to my neck bone. Neck bone connected to my head bone. The only thing God strengthened was my feet and my ankles. But God can do something little that makes a big difference. Somebody in this room has a shout that you've been waiting to get out and it's not because you live in a mansion. It's because your lights and your water are still on in your apartment. It's not that you drive a Maybach. It's not that you purchase a Lamborghini in the pandemic. It's that your Toyota, your Lexus, and your Ford still allow gas and the wheels still roll. You ought to thank God for little blessings. That you're still in your right mind. That the bullet missed your baby. That the COVID didn't kill you. Somebody ought to thank God for you didn't come up in here to look cute. You ought to thank God your ankles are stronger. Somebody put it in the chat online. My ankles are getting stronger. My ankles are getting stronger. God may not change everything, but he can change a little thing that makes a big difference.