1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,600 Welcome to Walk in the Truth podcast. 2 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,720 How do we know where to find answers to the toughest questions in life? 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:22,160 While the simplest answer is the Bible, where do we start this search and how do we discover 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,160 this truth? 5 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:30,280 Today, in this teaching podcast, John Metter, lead pastor of Cross City Church, takes a 6 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:42,360 specific text of the Bible and helps us find truth for the life we're searching for. 7 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,960 I am so glad that you're here today and I ask you to take your Bible and turn to the 8 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,920 book of Galatians today, Galatians chapter 2. 9 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:54,720 I'm going to talk about one verse in the whole message today, Galatians chapter 2, verse 10 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,160 20. 11 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,360 How do I live this life? 12 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:03,240 You know, over the last few weeks we've been asking some pretty important but pretty basic 13 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:04,240 questions. 14 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:10,040 A couple of weeks ago I asked the question, who am I and who are you? 15 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,160 And we looked at Romans chapter 14 to answer that question of who we are from the perspective 16 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,520 of Jesus Christ himself. 17 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,240 Last week, the why question is what we dealt with, with Philippians 1, 21, one of those 18 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:26,320 great passages of scripture that talks about the why that we're here on the planet. 19 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:29,120 And this week we're asking the question, how do I live this life? 20 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,440 That's Galatians chapter 2, verse 20. 21 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,640 You know, you direct your life every day based on the questions and the answers that come 22 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:40,400 from those questions when they're basic questions like who am I and why am I here and how can 23 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:41,960 I live this life? 24 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:45,960 But this is probably one of my favorite messages that I've ever preached before, simply because 25 00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:52,720 I've preached it probably six or seven times over the last 20 years or so, because I think 26 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,880 it's such a basic explanation of how you live the Christian life. 27 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,560 You know, it's a supernatural life, it's an abundant life, it's an incredible life, but 28 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,840 sometimes as Christians we lose sight of how is it that we actually live this life? 29 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,360 What is it that makes the difference day in and day out? 30 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,560 Or how is it that I can live life in such a way that's different from what I was before 31 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:18,240 I came to faith in Christ and different from the way the rest of the world is? 32 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,960 What does the Bible say about how that life is lived? 33 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,760 Well, I found the answers all in one single verse, Galatians chapter 2, verse 20. 34 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:32,040 I'm going to ask you to stand as I read that verse today, Galatians chapter 2, verse 20, 35 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:37,000 and I will have it on the screen as well, but you also have a way to find the page number. 36 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,800 It will be on the screens as well if you have a Bible that's in your seat back or you find 37 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,720 it at the doorways when you come in. 38 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,760 Galatians chapter 2, verse 20. 39 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:52,320 Paul is writing about the Christian life and he's really harkening back to his personal 40 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:57,920 conversion experience, his salvation moment, 10 years before, and he's explaining it. 41 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:00,720 And here's what he says about that life in verse 20. 42 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:07,320 He said, I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ 43 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:08,320 lives in me. 44 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:13,280 I have been crucified, which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God 45 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,080 who loved me and gave himself up for me. 46 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,800 Now that's the bulk of all I'm going to share today, just that verse there. 47 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,080 So I'm going to read it twice, all right? 48 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,440 Instead of a long passage read once, I'm going to take a short passage and read it twice 49 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:28,600 because I want this to sink in. 50 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:33,040 By the end of the message today, hopefully you'll be able to see and remember each phrase 51 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:34,040 of this text. 52 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:40,960 It says again, I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but 53 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,920 Christ lives in me. 54 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:48,240 And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved 55 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,360 me and gave himself up for me. 56 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:53,360 Let's pray together. 57 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,360 Father, I want to thank you so much for this verse and for the power and the truth that's 58 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:58,360 in it. 59 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,480 And Lord, for the explanation of how we live this life you called us to, I pray today that 60 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:09,000 every person in this room will grasp the power and the truth of these words. 61 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,840 We ask this in Jesus' name. 62 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:11,840 And everybody said amen. 63 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:12,840 Amen. 64 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:18,320 Go ahead and have a seat if you would. 65 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:23,760 You know, Jesus talks so much about life that you've got to ask questions and you've got 66 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:30,520 to find out why he talks so much about life here on the planet and how we live that life. 67 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:35,000 You know, Jesus wasn't here just to talk about heaven, even though he spoke widely about 68 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:36,000 heaven. 69 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,400 We have so many descriptions of what heaven looks like and what it will be like that we 70 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,560 can have a great anticipation for that day. 71 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:47,360 But Jesus also came to bring us a different kind of life here and now. 72 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:53,360 He didn't just call us to be saved for eternity and skip the years between the day we came 73 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,240 to faith in Christ and the day eternity began with us. 74 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,080 He came to give us a different kind of life here and now. 75 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,320 Sometimes we get frustrated with why am I not any more different than I was a year ago 76 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:12,120 or two years ago and why do I struggle sometimes with trusting God and allowing God to do all 77 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,800 these powerful things that he wants to do in my life? 78 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,040 And I think the answer is going to be found in this verse that we looked at today. 79 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:23,520 But before we get there, I want to spend a few moments talking about life as Jesus saw 80 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:24,520 it. 81 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,080 Let me give you some words of Jesus. 82 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:31,600 John chapter 10 verse 10, Jesus is speaking about the thief that comes to rob and kill 83 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:32,600 and destroy. 84 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:38,320 But then he contrasts that with that thief by saying, I've come that they may have life 85 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,000 and have it abundantly. 86 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,040 It's that abundant life we're going to talk about today. 87 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,360 He didn't just say I came that you might live a little while longer until eternity, but 88 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:52,640 I've come that you have a quality of life, a supernatural element of life that I can only 89 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,680 call abundant life. 90 00:05:55,680 --> 00:06:02,000 Or Jesus in John chapter 11 verse 25, when Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus, 91 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:08,000 of course, Jesus command to Lazarus come forth and he came out and he went on from that moment 92 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,440 and said, I am the resurrection in life. 93 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,760 Not only referring to eternal life forever and ever, but the fact that he, when he's 94 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,480 in our lives, is the resurrection in life for us. 95 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,040 And then in the big stone that we have in front of our commons area is John chapter 96 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:24,040 14 verse 6. 97 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,800 I'm so glad it's there because when people come into this building, they're going to 98 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,640 know where we stand and what we believe. 99 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:36,000 And people that come into this building for various kinds of events, school events, local 100 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,000 community events. 101 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,280 And of course, when you come to worship the Lord, I want you to see these words on that 102 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:42,920 stone as you walk in that front door. 103 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,040 I am the way and the truth and the life. 104 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,880 No one comes to the Father but through me. 105 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,660 That's a different kind of life. 106 00:06:51,660 --> 00:06:57,080 Not just eternal life, but while here on the planet, the quality of life, the abundant 107 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:03,680 life, the supernatural life, Jesus promises that to us and yet we often struggle on how 108 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:04,680 we do that. 109 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:10,000 Well today I want to give you three decisions that you and I can make and three decisions 110 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:15,200 that Paul actually made that allows us to have this abundant life, this supernatural 111 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,800 life in a way that he intends for us to have. 112 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,180 You know, decision making is a really, really big deal in your life. 113 00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:23,180 It's a really big deal. 114 00:07:23,180 --> 00:07:27,760 I mean, we often talk about when we talk about our marriages, we often say, at least we should 115 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,760 say and I've said this before, the best decision I ever made short of my salvation was to marry 116 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,880 my wife, Kim, 46 years ago. 117 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,360 By the way, last week I said something about our marriage and I said we've been married 118 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:45,120 47 years apparently because when I got home, she said, we have not yet been married 47 119 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:46,680 years. 120 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,840 And my thought was, well, we're going to get there, aren't we? 121 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,160 I mean, aren't we going to get there? 122 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,240 She was just real precise, that's all. 123 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:54,840 Best decision I ever made in my life. 124 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:59,680 Sometimes we say, the best decision I ever made in my life was to move in this direction 125 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,200 or to take this job or to buy this house. 126 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,920 Decision making is a big part of our lives. 127 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,060 You make once for all kinds of decisions. 128 00:08:08,060 --> 00:08:10,360 You make day by day kinds of decisions. 129 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:15,160 You even make moment by moment decisions and those decisions alter the direction of your 130 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:16,160 life. 131 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:17,840 Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. 132 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:22,280 But what I want to talk to you about today are the decisions that you can make day in 133 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:28,080 and day out that you have the life Jesus is talking about. 134 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,420 And the first decision is the once for all decision. 135 00:08:31,420 --> 00:08:33,640 The once for all decision. 136 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,880 Notice the first part of Galatians chapter 2 verse 20. 137 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:40,080 You need to keep your text open to that verse throughout this message because we're going 138 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:41,880 to go back to this verse over and over again. 139 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,920 We're going to walk through it phrase by phrase. 140 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:50,880 Paul said, I have been crucified with Christ. 141 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:58,160 Now Paul is talking about a past event that he made or that he made a decision about sometime 142 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:59,160 in the past. 143 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:00,720 And we'll talk about that in just a moment. 144 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,920 But if you know Paul's conversion experience, you know it happened on a highway. 145 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,520 It happened on the road to Damascus. 146 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:13,320 Paul whom we know as Saul before he came to faith in Jesus was a religious person, a member 147 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,840 of the Sanhedrin and he had a zeal for God as Paul later said in the book of Romans, 148 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:19,480 but not in accordance to knowledge. 149 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:24,800 In other words, he had a zeal that surpassed his understanding of who God was and what 150 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,160 God was asking of him. 151 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:33,320 In fact, this man who was known as Saul was so far off track that he was religious but 152 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,960 angry and frustrated to the point of being a religious terrorist. 153 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:44,320 And he would prosecute and persecute members of the way, that is those who began to follow 154 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,160 Jesus Christ. 155 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,960 Until that day he had a personal encounter on the road to Damascus. 156 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:56,120 And Jesus said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 157 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,240 And of course, if you read the book of Acts, you'll see that account of his testimony 158 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,160 three separate times as he told it over and over and again. 159 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:08,160 But a personal encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus helped him understand 160 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:12,280 that he was wrong, that he was needy, he was moving the wrong direction, he was actually 161 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,200 hostile toward and living against God. 162 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:23,360 And God convicted Paul on that day and he personally believed the Lord that day. 163 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,960 And even though God from before the foundation of the world knew that he would reach out 164 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:32,680 and touch Saul's life, Saul didn't know it until that day and he made a once for all 165 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:34,840 decision to put his faith and trust in Jesus. 166 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:39,040 And the reason we know that is because everything he did from that day on was different from 167 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,040 what it was before. 168 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:44,880 He became a follower of Christ so much to the point that they renamed him Paul and we 169 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,960 know him as the Apostle Paul. 170 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:54,640 God always makes this personal to you before you make this once for all decision. 171 00:10:54,640 --> 00:11:00,000 He always becomes very real to you, more than a character in a book, more than a historical 172 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,960 figure, more than a famous religious leader that people talk about all the time. 173 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,520 Jesus becomes extremely personal to you when you come to the place of putting your faith 174 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,640 and trust in him. 175 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,400 Because you're not committing your life and you're not trusting in someone who's a religious 176 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:17,400 figure. 177 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,240 You're not trusting someone that's a historical figure. 178 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,040 You're not trusting someone that you don't know. 179 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,560 It's a personal encounter. 180 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:30,240 One of my favorite stories that I heard some years ago when I was in seminary actually 181 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,760 was a friend of mine whose name was Johnson Lee. 182 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:33,760 He was from Korea. 183 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:35,240 And he came over. 184 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:42,920 I had to find a new life here and in his struggles he was seeking out who God was. 185 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,320 And Johnson Lee tells me this story. 186 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:50,280 He said one day I was driving from Dallas, Fort Worth area to Oklahoma City and just 187 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:55,160 as I got towards Oklahoma City he said I'd been debating about whether Jesus was real. 188 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,360 I'd been debating about how I was to commit my life and what I was supposed to do with 189 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:00,360 my life. 190 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:05,040 And I came to a sign that said Johnson Road, the exit just ahead. 191 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,440 At that moment I saw that sign. 192 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:08,440 I wasn't getting off there. 193 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:12,920 I was going on towards Oklahoma City but the Lord spoke to me and said Johnson, I'm here 194 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,840 to meet you at this intersection. 195 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:20,840 And he said I pulled off the highway, I parked the car and I had a personal encounter with 196 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:22,560 Jesus Christ that changed my life. 197 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:26,640 From Johnson Road, Johnson Lee came to know Jesus. 198 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:31,600 Now it may not be that you come to know Christ on a road named after you or named the same 199 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:37,600 name as you but reality is somehow Jesus makes himself real to you. 200 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:42,400 Where you can put your faith and trust and confidence in him and make the wants for all 201 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:43,400 decision. 202 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:49,280 And what Paul is saying now ten years after that when he writes to the church at Galatia 203 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,920 he's saying I have been crucified with Christ. 204 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:57,100 He's referring to that once for all decision on the road to Damascus. 205 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:58,600 And now it's past ten. 206 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,720 Something happened to me on that road to Damascus and I'm defining it for you right now. 207 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,560 I was crucified with Christ. 208 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:07,760 I have been crucified with Christ. 209 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:16,680 Literally the wording in the original language would read I have been co-crucified with Christ. 210 00:13:16,680 --> 00:13:21,800 But in the sense of the thief on the cross who was next to Jesus but in the sense of 211 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:27,080 Paul said he was in Christ when Christ died on the cross. 212 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,520 I have been co-crucified with Christ. 213 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:33,880 What happened to the cross that makes that so powerful? 214 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,380 Well it was about Jesus laying his life down. 215 00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:41,920 And Jesus laying his life down not only for the sins of all mankind but for you and for 216 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:46,840 me and for Paul and for Johnson Lee and for everyone else in this room that has come to 217 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,160 faith in Jesus. 218 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,440 In John chapter 10 verse 11 Jesus said I'm the good shepherd. 219 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:56,240 I'm the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 220 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:01,040 Or in John chapter 15 verse 13 Jesus said greater love has no man than this and he laid 221 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,160 down his life for his friends. 222 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:09,920 A personal act of sacrifice so that you and I could have a personal relationship with 223 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,240 God through Jesus Christ. 224 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:18,160 Of course if you know me one of my favorite passages is Isaiah 56 verse or 53 verse 6 225 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,200 which talks about the personal sacrifice Jesus made for us. 226 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,000 All of us like sheep have gone astray. 227 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:30,040 Each of us to our own way but the Lord had caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. 228 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:34,360 I love to tell the story of this passage like this. 229 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,200 Let's just say for just a moment that this is God up in eternity and he's looking down 230 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,000 upon heaven let's just let this hand represent your life. 231 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:46,320 And let's also let this book that I have in my hand represent a record book of your life 232 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,600 and we'll put it right on you because you're responsible for all the sins and all the good 233 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,680 things and bad things in your life and it's on you. 234 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:58,320 Now let's let this hand represent God coming in the flesh in the form of Jesus Christ. 235 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:02,680 He walked and lived this perfect life on this planet and died on the cross. 236 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,360 Isaiah 53 verse 6 simply says all of us like sheep have gone astray. 237 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:08,160 Each and every one of us have done that. 238 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:13,400 Each of us to our own way the scripture says but God laid on him on Christ the sin of us 239 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:14,400 all. 240 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:20,760 And what that says is that our sin is no longer on us but on Christ and he paid for our sins 241 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,000 and he purchased for us the salvation that we have. 242 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,440 He dealt with our sins in every way. 243 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,640 And not only did he deal with it but he rose again the third day and stands at the right 244 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:34,640 hand of the Father and calls us to a walk with him after our sins have been removed 245 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:35,920 and forgiven. 246 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:36,920 Are you grateful for that? 247 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,800 Are you grateful for what happened on the cross? 248 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:48,640 So what happened on the cross was that Paul said I have been crucified with Christ. 249 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,620 I was there when Jesus Christ died. 250 00:15:51,620 --> 00:15:53,340 He saw me. 251 00:15:53,340 --> 00:15:56,640 Even though he died long before I was born he saw me. 252 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,280 He knew me. 253 00:15:58,280 --> 00:15:59,720 The same thing is true of you. 254 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:04,360 What was true of Saul who became Paul is true of Jonathan Lee. 255 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:09,320 He became a believer in Jesus true of you when you put your faith and trust in Jesus 256 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:10,320 Christ. 257 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,760 You see what happens theologically is this. 258 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,800 Positionally Christ died for us. 259 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:24,440 Experientially it takes effect when we accept his death in our place. 260 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,620 He died positionally two thousand years ago. 261 00:16:27,620 --> 00:16:32,180 He died positionally ten years before Paul put his faith in Christ. 262 00:16:32,180 --> 00:16:38,480 But practically it takes effect when we look to Christ and put our trust and faith in him. 263 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:45,660 That's why Paul says I have been crucified with Christ like the execution of a will. 264 00:16:45,660 --> 00:16:47,540 It's written at one moment. 265 00:16:47,540 --> 00:16:49,520 It's enacted at another time. 266 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,160 And the death of the one who wrote the will makes it available for all who would come 267 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,960 and receive the benefits of that will. 268 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,760 And that's what Jesus Christ did when he died on the cross. 269 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:04,480 So here's Paul talking about what Jesus did on the cross and putting himself in that same 270 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:05,480 place. 271 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:10,680 I have been crucified with Christ. 272 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,760 Now I want you to look at the image of a cross for just a few moments. 273 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,200 And I want you to think about a person who's nailed to the cross. 274 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:24,120 In this case it's a likeness of the person of Jesus Christ. 275 00:17:24,120 --> 00:17:29,320 But when you look at the cross notice that the man is only facing in one direction. 276 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,480 Notice that he's not going back. 277 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,680 And notice that he has no further plans. 278 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:40,200 Now of course Jesus Christ superseded all that. 279 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:45,080 But when you come to that once for all decision where you give your life to Jesus Christ, 280 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,160 you've been crucified with him. 281 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,680 And you're only facing in one direction. 282 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,040 And you're not going to turn back. 283 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:56,560 You have no further plans except the plans that he gives you. 284 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,680 That's what it means to be crucified with Christ. 285 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:04,720 And sometimes God puts us in a process that prepares us like Paul was in a process that 286 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,680 prepared him for that moment of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. 287 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,720 And sometimes it's pretty frustrating. 288 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,440 Before we come to Christ we may have to face a lot of failure and a lot of heartbreak and 289 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:20,120 a lot of disillusionment and a lot of disappointment in our own lives or our religion or something 290 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:21,120 else. 291 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:23,800 But at some point we become so empty and so hungry. 292 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:29,440 At some point we become so distant from any idea of where we need to be or who we are 293 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:30,960 that we're actually desperate. 294 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,240 Just like Paul was on the road to Damascus. 295 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:38,920 And when he reveals himself to us we're ready for that once for all decision which says, 296 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,920 I see that you died on the cross for me. 297 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,920 I see that you loved me enough to give me this eternal life. 298 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:45,880 I will give my life to you. 299 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,440 I have been crucified with Christ. 300 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,440 Amen. 301 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,160 Amen. 302 00:18:55,160 --> 00:19:01,960 Until you say surrender, until you say I give up, then you've not been crucified with Christ. 303 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:07,800 So Paul says there's a once for all decision that every person needs to make and that once 304 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,880 for all decision for him is phrased, I have been crucified with Christ. 305 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,920 The second decision that's so important to your life is what I would call the daily decision, 306 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,600 the day by day decision. 307 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:27,040 You notice the second part of Galatians 2 verse 20 says this, it is no longer I who 308 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:31,840 live but Christ lives in me. 309 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:36,480 You notice that Paul says the I is removed out of my life. 310 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,680 It's no longer I who lives, the I is gone. 311 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:40,680 Where's the I? 312 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:44,640 The I was crucified with Christ, put to death. 313 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:49,520 Now it's true that when we come to faith in Jesus, past acts of sin and the effects of 314 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,240 sin are done away with. 315 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,120 Once you come to Christ, you are forgiven forevermore. 316 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:57,120 Somebody say amen. 317 00:19:57,120 --> 00:19:59,120 Amen goes right there, right Richard? 318 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:00,120 Amen. 319 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:03,280 Sin is dealt with completely. 320 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:04,440 Judgment is dealt with completely. 321 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:09,460 The separation that was existing between yourself and God is completely removed when you make 322 00:20:09,460 --> 00:20:14,400 the once for all decision to put your faith in Jesus Christ. 323 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:15,400 Sin is removed. 324 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:20,600 There is therefore now no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. 325 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,520 Shame is gone. 326 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:27,040 All those things are gone when you put your faith in Jesus. 327 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:32,120 Paul said it like this in Galatians chapter 3 verse 3 for you have died and your life 328 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:36,920 now is hidden with Christ in God. 329 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,960 But here's what most of us don't know. 330 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:44,080 And here's what most of us need to be reminded of when it comes to the daily decision to 331 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:45,960 live for Christ. 332 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:47,720 It's true that I've been crucified with Christ. 333 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,840 It's true that all those bad things have been removed. 334 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:57,040 But day by day I also need to remember that I have been set free from sin. 335 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,560 I've been set free from sin. 336 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:05,760 In Romans chapter 6 verse 6, Paul makes this explanation of what happens to salvation. 337 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,080 It's powerful and most of us miss this. 338 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,760 I'm going to explain something to you today that I believe is a key for us knowing what 339 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,740 it means to walk by faith. 340 00:21:13,740 --> 00:21:19,720 He says knowing this that our old self was crucified with him in order that our body 341 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:29,400 of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. 342 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,800 You see that phrase done away with? 343 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:40,080 In the original language that word refers to something being neutralized or disengaged. 344 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:47,360 You know when I died with Christ on the cross I kept the old body that I had. 345 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:51,040 I mean I had the same personality I had before then, the same body I had before then, the 346 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:56,340 same desires I had before then, the same thoughts, the same temptations that I had before I came 347 00:21:56,340 --> 00:21:57,340 to Christ. 348 00:21:57,340 --> 00:22:01,880 But what's changed is my body of sin has been neutralized, disengaged. 349 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,400 What is that supposed to mean? 350 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,200 Here's what it means. 351 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:10,960 Some of you know that I have an old pickup truck that I love very much. 352 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:19,200 1992 Ford F-150 4x4, 4 inch lift, 5 speed, two tone blue. 353 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:20,200 It's gorgeous. 354 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,520 I mean I bought it for $1300 about 8 years ago and been spending all my time trying to 355 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,560 renovate that truck and man I love that truck. 356 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:32,040 In fact it's got 220,000 miles on it, the original engine and the engine and transmission 357 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,680 work great except for one little thing. 358 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,760 When I'm driving that truck and coming off the highway and I downshift the third gear 359 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:46,560 and I take my foot off the gas, sometimes the third gear pops out of gear into neutral 360 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:51,480 and no matter how I push on the gas it will not go forward again until I re-engage the 361 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:52,480 transmission. 362 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:59,000 In other words the power of that engine will not move it forward because the transmission 363 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,840 is disengaged. 364 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:02,760 I'm going somewhere with this. 365 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:07,720 When you came to faith in Christ you may still have the same temptations in front of you. 366 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,520 You may still have the same thoughts you had before. 367 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,880 You may have the same tendencies or addictions even that you had before but now because of 368 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:20,480 the cross the power of those things have been disengaged from your life and no matter how 369 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:26,040 powerful it is it will not propel you forward unless you allow it to. 370 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:30,680 In other words all this is so that you would no longer be slaves to sin. 371 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:35,240 I'm saying all this to help you know you can make a day to day decision to continue to 372 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:40,440 live for Christ and everything that was needed at the cross to give you that power is available 373 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:44,280 for you day by day by day. 374 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:49,080 Sin that you did yesterday you don't have to do today because of the power of the cross. 375 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:53,280 Sin that engulfed you before you came to Christ you do not have to live that way because of 376 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:54,920 the power of the cross. 377 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,080 It's done away with. 378 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:01,040 It means sin can't master us anymore. 379 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,520 It means that sin can't overwhelm us anymore. 380 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,080 It means no matter what your mind wants no matter what your body wants you do not have 381 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:13,920 to give in to the acts of sin that you've been saved from and delivered from. 382 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:20,160 Some years ago Major Ian Thomas writing about the Christ life which is a term that used 383 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:26,120 to describe no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me make this statement. 384 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,920 He said I can't do it referring to the Christian life. 385 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:30,560 I can't do it. 386 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,720 He never said I could. 387 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:34,520 He can do it. 388 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:35,760 He always said he would. 389 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:42,560 In other words I don't have the power to live the Christian life by myself but Christ lives 390 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:43,560 in me now. 391 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:50,000 And since Christ lives in me now I can do this through him. 392 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:54,160 Many of you know I played basketball in college and growing up my favorite basketball player 393 00:24:54,160 --> 00:25:01,880 was Dr. Julius Irving otherwise known as Dr. J. Man what a basketball player that guy was. 394 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,440 Not only was he a great basketball player he was a great jumper, great leaper and some 395 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,560 of the moves he made were unbelievable. 396 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:11,480 So I wanted to be like Dr. J. I know I was never going to be Dr. J but I wanted to be 397 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:16,080 like Dr. J. I would practice his moves that I saw on television. 398 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,760 Before we had YouTube tutorials and before we had all these things I would just watch 399 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,320 a movie made and I would memorize it in my mind. 400 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:26,640 I would go on the basketball court and try to do that amazing palming of the basketball 401 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,720 taking it behind the backboard back around and putting it in the goal. 402 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:36,360 No matter how hard I tried to do that I never was able to accomplish anything close to Dr. 403 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:37,360 J. 404 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:39,520 One day my dad watched me do that over and over. 405 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,720 He said son the only way that's ever going to happen is if Dr. J came and lived inside 406 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:44,720 your body. 407 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:45,720 That's the only way. 408 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:50,920 And he was right. 409 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:54,640 The only way I can live the Christ life is if Christ comes and lives inside my body which 410 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,880 He has done in the power of the Holy Spirit. 411 00:25:57,880 --> 00:25:59,640 That's how you do that. 412 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,600 You don't do that because you're good at living the Christian life. 413 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,600 You don't do that because you practice living the Christian life. 414 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:10,280 You do that because you've made a dirty decision to be indwelt and be filled up with the Holy 415 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,920 Spirit Christ in you. 416 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:17,160 That's why Paul said Christ in you is the hope of glory. 417 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:21,520 That's how you glorify God by allowing Jesus Christ to dwell in your life. 418 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:27,080 So you have to have that dirty decision where you know I can be my worst enemy. 419 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,880 But the best thing that ever happened to me was I have been crucified with Christ and 420 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:35,680 it's no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. 421 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,440 Some of you have heard of Dr. J. 422 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,960 Harold Smith a previous pastor of a church I pastored in Tennessee and he was a colorful 423 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:43,960 character. 424 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,280 He pastored in Fort Smith Arkansas. 425 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:53,520 J. Harold Smith was popular because he kind of said things like they were. 426 00:26:53,520 --> 00:27:02,560 And one night he had a full page ad taken out in the Fort Smith Arkansas newspaper. 427 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,000 Because he was a controversial character and because he sometimes had people that opposed 428 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,520 him then what he said in this newspaper ad was pretty tantalizing. 429 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:15,760 He said on Sunday evening at a certain day he said I'm going to name the name of my biggest 430 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,560 enemy since I've moved to Fort Smith. 431 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,120 Some of you know I've had a lot of controversy he said. 432 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:24,720 Some of you know I've had a lot of enemies but I'm going to name the biggest enemy I've 433 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,560 ever faced while at Fort Smith Arkansas. 434 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,920 Of course on that Sunday night everybody showed up because everybody wanted to know who is 435 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,360 that enemy. 436 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:38,600 Packed house and he said the man who is my biggest enemy is in the room tonight I'm going 437 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:42,440 to name him and everybody kind of set off the edge of their seats and looked around 438 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,560 and thought maybe it's that guy or that guy. 439 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:51,000 But finally Dr. J. Harold Smith said the biggest enemy I have is J. Harold Smith naming himself 440 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,760 putting his hand on his chest. 441 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:59,120 He said but when I learn to die to myself that's when Christ lives through me. 442 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:03,400 And when you learn that you have a big enemy in your life and it's not outside of you but 443 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,040 it's inside of you and you die to that. 444 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:12,200 And the greatest one in your life Jesus Christ can live in you and live through you. 445 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:14,840 You see that's the Christ life. 446 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,120 That's the Spirit-filled life. 447 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:21,240 That's the empowered life because you're no longer living for yourself. 448 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:26,720 In Romans chapter 5 verse 10 Paul says this for if while we were yet enemies we were reconciled 449 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:32,280 to God through the death of His Son much more have Him been reconciled that is after what 450 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:37,760 He did on the cross have Him been reconciled we shall be saved by His life. 451 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:43,120 We are redeemed from His death but we are saved day by day by His life the fact that 452 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,760 He's alive and He's not on the cross anymore. 453 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:46,760 Where is He? 454 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:47,760 He's in your life. 455 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:52,520 He's in your heart when you put your faith and your trust in Jesus Christ. 456 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:57,080 The daily decision to get up and say today I'm not going to live for me I'm going to 457 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,080 live for Christ. 458 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:05,480 Paul said for I've been crucified with Christ therefore it is no longer I who live but Christ 459 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:06,480 lives in me. 460 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:12,640 And then the next part of this passage says the life that I now live in the flesh I live 461 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,000 by faith in the Son of God. 462 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,560 And that's what I call the moment by moment decision. 463 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:24,040 The moment by moment decision means that not only have I made a once for all decision to 464 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:28,880 follow Christ not only a day by day determination to die to self so that Christ can live in 465 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:36,200 me but moment by moment trust Him by faith for how to live this life. 466 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:40,240 Look at what Paul says in that first line the life I now live. 467 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:45,680 I used to live one way but now at this point I'm living a completely different way not 468 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:49,080 as a religious performer not through my self effort. 469 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:54,040 I was zealous but in the wrong direction but the life that I now live is not a new leaf 470 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:58,620 it's not a new chapter of life it's a brand new life it's not Paul anymore it's no longer 471 00:29:58,620 --> 00:30:03,240 I who live but it's Christ who lives in me. 472 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:08,640 You said the life that I now live in the flesh in other words I've got the same body on the 473 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,000 outside but I'm very different on the inside. 474 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,920 If some of you were hoping that you would look different after you came to Jesus I hate 475 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:20,040 to disappoint you it's a real bummer but if you were ugly before you came to Christ you're 476 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,720 gonna be ugly now too after you come to Christ. 477 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,880 It won't make you taller or shorter it won't make you skinnier or stronger. 478 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,800 The coming to faith in Jesus Christ means you're brand new on the inside. 479 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:39,120 It's not plastic surgery it's heart surgery where he transforms us from the inside out 480 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:43,800 and that's what Paul's talking about in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 if any man 481 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:48,800 is in Christ he's a new creature the old things passed away behold new things have come I 482 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:54,760 look the same Paul said I to you might seem the same but inside I'm a completely different 483 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:59,200 person and that lets me live a completely different way. 484 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:07,600 The life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. 485 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:13,640 I want you to zero in on what I'm about to say this is going to be important for us. 486 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,360 What does it mean to live by faith in the Son of God? 487 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:20,800 He's describing this life that's different from what he was before. 488 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:25,520 He's been crucified with Christ it's no longer he who lives but Christ who lives in him and 489 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:32,160 now he's going to explain how he lives this now life in the flesh by faith in the Son 490 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:33,640 of God. 491 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:38,640 Faith is the key that gets you places that you can't go without faith. 492 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:44,360 Faith is the key that allows you to move into ways of behaving ways of thinking ways of 493 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:50,400 dealing with temptation way of speaking ways of handling what happens to you that you can't 494 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:55,200 get in without the key. 495 00:31:55,200 --> 00:32:00,120 Recently we finished our Generations project in November of 21 and one of our staff members 496 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,760 Chris McElroy came up to me one day and gave me a master key a really large key and he 497 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:09,400 said faster now you have a key to every room in the house every room in the building. 498 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,400 That's pretty powerful right there I can go in any room I want to if it's locked or not 499 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,080 doesn't matter it's a master key it gets me everywhere. 500 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:20,080 Let me just tell you something the key of faith in your life gets you everywhere you 501 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:24,320 need to be and gives you everything you need to have to live the Christian life but it's 502 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:29,440 the key of faith and you've got to use the key to get in. 503 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,360 It's not that God has locked these things away from you it's not that he has held back 504 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:38,720 power from you it's that you haven't exercised the faith that says I believe what he said 505 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:43,980 and therefore I'm going to walk in that power the key of faith. 506 00:32:43,980 --> 00:32:47,040 He said I live this by faith in the Son of God. 507 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:56,320 Let me define this faith is a moment by moment decision not to take matters into my own hands 508 00:32:56,320 --> 00:32:58,840 but to yield my life to Christ. 509 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:05,440 You see it doesn't work unless you make a decision not to take matters in your own hands. 510 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:09,000 You can say all day long well I want to yield to Christ I want to yield to Christ and then 511 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:13,200 you take matters in your own hands because you're still capable of you still have a body 512 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,120 you still have feelings you have thoughts in the brain you're just like you were before 513 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:22,840 except you have a new heart and a new allegiance to the Lord. 514 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:27,040 So faith is that moment by moment decision not to take matters into my own hands but 515 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:29,400 to yield my life to Christ. 516 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:35,440 In other words you have come to the place don't miss this where you believe him more 517 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,000 than you believe you. 518 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:42,400 Where you believe what he says about your situation than you believe your feelings. 519 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:46,960 Where you believe what he says rather than what somebody else says or whether you thought 520 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:49,000 what you thought about something. 521 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:55,640 A few years ago we were doing an interview with a lady in our church in Tennessee and 522 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:59,680 she had a phenomenal way of expressing her faith it was just one of those one of those 523 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,600 people that just knew how to express their faith in a way that was so powerful. 524 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:08,080 I said we were doing a video of her talking about how she walked by faith and she said 525 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:11,360 some things that were quite quite amazing. 526 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:18,520 She said I've learned that my day to day existence with Christ has a lot to do with asking a 527 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:23,040 question when I come to a place of difficulty. 528 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:30,600 She said when I get angry when I get fearful when I get frustrated when someone disappoints 529 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:39,520 me I ask this question what is it I'm not trusting Christ for that makes me feel this 530 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:41,320 way. 531 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:46,600 When I have a tendency to make the wrong decisions I ask myself what I'm not trusting Him for 532 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:53,440 that I think I need to take into my own hands that decision-making power. 533 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:59,480 She went on and on and she kept saying in every aspect of life when I take a step back 534 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:04,580 from me and start to trust Him with those moment by moment decisions that's when He 535 00:35:04,580 --> 00:35:09,880 gives me the power to do what He really wants me to do. 536 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:14,940 The life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God just trusting Him 537 00:35:14,940 --> 00:35:19,760 more than I trust me trusting His Word more than I trust anything else that's how you 538 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:22,480 walk moment by moment with Him. 539 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:29,720 That's what it means in Proverbs where it says trust in the Lord with all your heart 540 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:36,160 and lean not on your own understanding acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your 541 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:39,400 pathway straight. 542 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:44,720 I live by faith in the Son of God why would I do that why would I yield to Him moment 543 00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:49,560 by moment why would I have that dependence on Him why would I do that and look at the 544 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:58,760 last line I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself up for me why 545 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:04,400 would I make those decisions because the Jesus who went before me in death and resurrection 546 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:11,800 calls me to follow Him and this is the way I follow Him the one who loves me the most. 547 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:16,720 I can promise you this you will never be loved like Jesus has loved you. 548 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:21,800 You will never have anyone in your life who cares the most about your best interest in 549 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:26,960 Jesus you will never ever have anybody that can go before you like Jesus can go before 550 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:31,280 you you will never have anybody in your life that has more wisdom than Jesus Christ has 551 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:37,440 for your life therefore why not make the moment by moment decision that says I live by faith 552 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:43,800 in the Son of God who loved me and who gave Himself up for me. 553 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:48,000 Someone said like this we spend a lot of energy remembering our sin and our failures that 554 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:53,280 Jesus spent a lot of love saying we could forget and leave all that old stuff behind 555 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:58,960 and say I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live but Christ who 556 00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:04,280 lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God 557 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:09,720 who loved me and who gave Himself up for me. 558 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:14,800 That's how you live the Christian life with His power. 559 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:20,080 Just a few moments I'm going to ask you to respond to decisions today we've been talking 560 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:22,080 about decisions haven't we? 561 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:27,120 The once for all decision the daily decision the moment by moment decision you probably 562 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:32,020 need to make one of those decisions in your life today if you've never made the once for 563 00:37:32,020 --> 00:37:36,680 all decision let me tell you we would love to help you push your faith and trust in Jesus 564 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,200 Christ to be your Lord and your Savior. 565 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:43,620 We have decision stations that are positioned at the back of our services and worship centers 566 00:37:43,620 --> 00:37:49,200 you leave today you can see someone standing behind that desk and you can see that banner 567 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:54,920 that says decision station stop by and say I need to make a decision today. 568 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:59,160 Maybe you need to make a daily decision when you wake up in the morning in the middle of 569 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:02,920 the morning when you wake up and you think about your day say you know today I'm going 570 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:07,680 to yield myself to the God who loves me and who gave Himself up for me. 571 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:12,360 And then in the heat of the moment the moment by moment decisions that say I'm going to 572 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:19,240 back off and I'm not going to respond to my fear to my panic I'm going to trust Him and 573 00:38:19,240 --> 00:38:20,920 what He says. 574 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,320 Watch what God does with that. 575 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:25,560 Secondly we would love for you to stop by the decision station. 576 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:29,220 Second invite is if you're a guest today we would love for you to come to the guest reception 577 00:38:29,220 --> 00:38:32,800 center just outside the center exit doors here across the hallway. 578 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:36,520 I'll be there personally to greet you and appreciate you being here today. 579 00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:41,240 Thirdly come back next week it's going to be a phenomenal week as we answer one more 580 00:38:41,240 --> 00:38:45,240 critical question that very few people ask and I'm going to answer it next week I'm going 581 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:47,440 to tell you next week what it is as well. 582 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:51,200 Let's stand together as we have a word of prayer. 583 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:59,120 Lord I am so grateful today that we have a how in living the Christian life that is tied 584 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:01,120 completely to You. 585 00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:06,680 I thank You so much that Jesus is alive and in us. 586 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:09,200 Thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit. 587 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:12,880 Thank You for Paul's testimony that helps us know how he lived this life and how we 588 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:13,880 can live it. 589 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:19,240 Father today help us make those decisions day by day once for all and moment by moment 590 00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:20,880 to follow You. 591 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:22,360 Be with every person in this room today. 592 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:26,520 I pray that what's been said today would be personal to them and their heart and their 593 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:28,400 circumstance and their situation. 594 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:32,400 Lord be with them this week in a special way in Jesus name. 595 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:52,360 Amen.