1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,000
I'm going to be reading one verse of scripture this afternoon found in 1st Timothy chapter 2 and verse 5

2
00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,840
1st Timothy chapter 2 and verse 5 as you're going there church

3
00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:16,480
I want to thank you all of you on behalf of my family my wife and I for the

4
00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:23,900
Just the outpouring of love and appreciation last Sunday at pastors day. So God bless you. Thank you so much for

5
00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:28,820
For doing that and we love you and I hope you receive that you receive it. Amen

6
00:00:28,820 --> 00:00:33,920
We love you in return and we thank you for taking that time out. It really

7
00:00:34,460 --> 00:00:37,660
It's always special. So I want to today

8
00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:44,260
Focus just on this one verse the Bible says for there is one God and one

9
00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:46,700
mediator

10
00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:48,460
between God and

11
00:00:48,460 --> 00:00:49,700
men

12
00:00:49,700 --> 00:00:51,700
the man Christ

13
00:00:52,420 --> 00:00:53,540
Jesus

14
00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:57,700
The man Christ Jesus amen in Jesus someone say in Jesus name

15
00:00:57,700 --> 00:01:02,820
Amen, you can be seated in the presence of God. I'm gonna hold my title just for a moment a few years ago

16
00:01:03,580 --> 00:01:05,580
while on vacation in

17
00:01:06,020 --> 00:01:08,020
Porto Vallarta, Praise God

18
00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:12,980
We were driving through the old town and if you've ever been there in the old town

19
00:01:12,980 --> 00:01:19,740
There's these cobblestone streets and it's really bumpy and as we were driving through along the way we happened to drive

20
00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:25,020
Over an unusual bridge that caught my attention

21
00:01:25,020 --> 00:01:27,500
This small bridge was unusual

22
00:01:28,380 --> 00:01:30,380
because of its sidewalk on

23
00:01:31,140 --> 00:01:33,140
one end of the bridge is

24
00:01:33,940 --> 00:01:38,580
a ramp which is it's perfect for anyone who is

25
00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:41,420
on a wheelchair or

26
00:01:42,380 --> 00:01:44,380
has trouble walking and

27
00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:50,420
It's perfect for them. It's a smooth and really nicely paved ramp

28
00:01:50,420 --> 00:01:55,180
that goes all the way up to the top of the bridge but

29
00:01:55,820 --> 00:01:59,820
You you better be healed by the time you get to the top of the bridge

30
00:02:00,540 --> 00:02:05,260
Because in order to get down on the other side you have to walk down about 30 stairs

31
00:02:06,820 --> 00:02:09,180
There's no ramp on the other side of the bridge

32
00:02:11,060 --> 00:02:15,620
I'm not sure what the builders had in mind, but they certainly had a lot of faith. I think

33
00:02:16,700 --> 00:02:17,700
in fact the local

34
00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:20,700
It's called the miracle bridge

35
00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:22,700
because

36
00:02:22,700 --> 00:02:28,700
if you can't walk it basically takes a miracle to get on the other side of the bridge

37
00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:33,700
And I thought to myself that'd be a perfect spot for a healing service right there, huh?

38
00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:36,700
You come up in your wheelchair, but you're gonna leave walking

39
00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:46,700
Not about that and in any case that miracle bridge it reminded me of the scripture that I read

40
00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,700
today a

41
00:02:49,700 --> 00:02:52,700
A mediator is a bridge. I'm gonna say bridge

42
00:02:53,700 --> 00:03:00,700
A mediator is a bridge. It's something or someone that brings two points together and that's who Jesus is

43
00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:04,700
He came to bridge the gap between

44
00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:07,700
God and man

45
00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:10,700
He came to be the real

46
00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:15,700
miracle bridge because someone say amen

47
00:03:15,700 --> 00:03:23,700
I want to borrow that that that that name of that bridge for the title of today's message because

48
00:03:23,700 --> 00:03:29,700
when I saw that bridge that day it reminded me of what Jesus came to do that

49
00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:34,700
He provides a ramp for us to get to him. He provides a way

50
00:03:34,700 --> 00:03:42,700
To come to him with our problems with our sin with our dysfunctions our hangups and our issues

51
00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:50,700
But he doesn't leave us that way because by the time we get to the other side we ought to be changed and different

52
00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:53,700
To never be the same again

53
00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:59,700
Now you cannot talk about bridges until you first talk about gaps

54
00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:04,700
Gaps are separations. They are voids between two

55
00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:07,700
Disconnected points

56
00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:11,700
Chasms between two unreachable places

57
00:04:12,700 --> 00:04:17,700
In the physical world gaps created by canyons bodies of water

58
00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:25,700
Mad made spaces make it nearly impossible to reach your destination without a bridge

59
00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:30,700
We need bridges often time to reach where we want to go in this world

60
00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:38,700
Sometimes it's impossible to get where you want to go or you have to double or triple the time to get there

61
00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:45,700
So bridges provide very necessary means of getting where we need to go

62
00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:48,700
And I want to tell you today that it's the same in the spirit world

63
00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:57,700
Now without a bridge there are certain gaps and gulfs that make it impossible for us to reach our spiritual destinations

64
00:04:58,700 --> 00:05:07,700
And as we think about this today as we think about gaps and gulfs and wide divides that could possibly exist between

65
00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:13,700
Where we are in a metaphorical sense in a spiritual sense and where we need to go

66
00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:21,700
It could feel like an impossibility. It could feel like we are without hope or that will possibly never arrive where we believe we are destined to be

67
00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:30,700
And today I want you to think about two very important colossal gaps to focus on today in particular

68
00:05:31,700 --> 00:05:34,700
And those two would be sin and shame

69
00:05:34,700 --> 00:05:46,700
These are two gaps that I want us to consider this afternoon as it relates to our own lives and as it relates to where it is that God wants us to go

70
00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:50,700
How many of you want to go where God wants you to go? Amen

71
00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:59,700
God has a plan for all of us but these two gaps, these two gaps are the same

72
00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:13,700
God has a plan for all of us but these two gaps, these two divides, these two voids can make it virtually impossible to reach our destination in God

73
00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:22,700
And so if you would allow me for a few moments I want to get into this and I know that there may be bits and parts of this message that are very simple

74
00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:31,700
But I come with a simple message, a simple gospel message today for somebody who needs to get over these gulfs in your life

75
00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:44,700
Sin and shame go hand in hand. In fact they are satans one to punch and they typically will appear together in concert wherever there is sin

76
00:06:45,700 --> 00:06:50,700
More often than not there is shame. It accompanies it often times

77
00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:59,700
What Satan loves to do is he loves to tempt us into sin and then it leaves us inevitably in a state of shame

78
00:07:00,700 --> 00:07:10,700
Feeling ashamed, feeling exposed and broken, wanting to hide. This is what happens when sin enters our life or what happens when we fall

79
00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:19,700
This is exactly what happened with Adam and Eve when they fell into sin in the Garden of Eden and in the aftermath

80
00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:30,700
They like all of us needed a bridge to get back to where they belonged with God both physically and emotionally, every aspect of their life

81
00:07:30,700 --> 00:07:44,700
But ultimately and most importantly spiritually there was a great divide that occurred, a great chasm between God and his beloved creation Adam and Eve

82
00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:50,700
And ever since then sin has a way of separating us

83
00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:58,700
But I want to thank God today because God did not leave us helpless because somebody give God some praise today

84
00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:03,700
Amen, I said God did not leave us helpless

85
00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:10,700
But why don't we deal with these two gaps today? Because I want to help somebody understand

86
00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:19,700
I want to help clear the fog and give someone clarity about these gaps that can occur in our life

87
00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:24,700
But let's first talk about the gap of sin. Let's talk about this gap today

88
00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:28,700
And I'm just going to deal with these two, of sin and shame

89
00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:37,700
But since the fall of man, man's widest gap is sin

90
00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:47,700
Which entered the world when Adam disobeyed God by eating of the dream of knowledge of good and evil

91
00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:53,700
And from that point on sin continued to separate us from God

92
00:08:54,700 --> 00:09:02,700
It continued to divide man from his creator, God who is holy, sinless and righteous

93
00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:06,700
Isaiah writes these words in Isaiah 59 and verse 2

94
00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:10,700
But your iniquities have separated you from your God

95
00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:14,700
And your sins have hidden his face from you

96
00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:19,700
One thing you need to understand about sin today, among all the things that it does

97
00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:24,700
Its primary effect in our life is that it separates us from God

98
00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:30,700
It separates us from fellowship, from relationship with God

99
00:09:31,700 --> 00:09:35,700
This is what sin does, it creates a void of space between us and God

100
00:09:36,700 --> 00:09:39,700
It puts us on opposite ends of the spectrum

101
00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:47,700
And I want you to understand today that there are no earthly bridges that can offer us a bridge

102
00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:51,700
That can offer us a way of getting to God

103
00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:58,700
There is no religion, there is no philosophy, there are no good deeds that you can do

104
00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,700
That can possibly span the gap between you and God

105
00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:11,700
There is nothing available to us in this world, nothing available to us within the intellect of man

106
00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:18,700
Within any aspect of life that could possibly bridge that gap between us and God

107
00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:20,700
That gap that's called sin

108
00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:23,700
Paul illustrates this impossible separation

109
00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:26,700
When he writes in Romans 3, 23

110
00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:29,700
He said for all, someone say for all

111
00:10:29,700 --> 00:10:35,700
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

112
00:10:36,700 --> 00:10:40,700
We all have fallen short of his glory, amen

113
00:10:41,700 --> 00:10:47,700
I said we all have fallen short of his glory and are left on a cliff with no way of getting to God

114
00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:56,700
No way of possibly reaching him, no way of possibly earning our inheritance in heaven

115
00:10:56,700 --> 00:11:03,700
No way of bridging that gap, of making up that hedge throughout the Old Testament

116
00:11:04,700 --> 00:11:15,700
God, he instituted various means, various sacrificial substitutes and systems in order to atone for the sins of his people

117
00:11:16,700 --> 00:11:18,700
Which I don't have the time to get into today

118
00:11:18,700 --> 00:11:28,700
But you can read about it, various ways and sacraments and systems of animal sacrifice and blood atonement

119
00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:33,700
To provide a temporary means of man approaching God

120
00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:37,700
But it was never a permanent fix, it was never a perfect fix

121
00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:45,700
It was simply a type in a shadow, it was simply a temporary measure until a more perfect sacrifice came

122
00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:54,700
His name is Jesus Christ who would come to ultimately atone and reconcile the world back to God, amen

123
00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:58,700
And it was only Jesus who could do this for us

124
00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:03,700
No other means, no other way, I want to paint this picture for you today

125
00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:08,700
Because possibly there is somebody today who thinks somewhere in the corner of your mind

126
00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:13,700
That through your own inventions and through your own good words and through your own righteousness

127
00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:16,700
And through your own good behavior and through your own efforts

128
00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:25,700
And through the ways of man and through the philosophies of man and through science or through medicine or through psychology

129
00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:30,700
Or all these things that possibly it could bridge this great dysfunction in our life

130
00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:38,700
This depraved state that we are in and get us to God or get us to some kind of euphoric state

131
00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:45,700
Some kind of salvation but you need to know that there is nothing, this side of eternity

132
00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:53,700
There is nothing man made that could ever bridge that gap and get us from where we are to where God is

133
00:12:54,700 --> 00:13:01,700
So therefore God said his only begotten Son that he might dwell among us and we will behold his very face

134
00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:08,700
And he might be that heavenly bridge, amen somebody to get us to God

135
00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:12,700
Can you clap your hands today and give God some praise

136
00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:21,700
Paul gives us a clear picture of this miracle bridge of salvation when he writes in Romans 6 and verse 23

137
00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:33,700
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

138
00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:43,700
This is one of my favorite passages of scripture this one verse because you know you can share the whole gospel just with this one verse right here

139
00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:49,700
If you are looking for a verse to share the gospel with someone I just gave you one right here

140
00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:54,700
This actually explains really in one verse the whole gospel right here

141
00:13:55,700 --> 00:14:02,700
For the wages of sin is death now in this verse we can break it up into two parts

142
00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:08,700
And the first part is the gap the wages of sin someone say wages

143
00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:17,700
Now what is a wage a wage is a payment that you earn in exchange for your work

144
00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:24,700
Just like your employer pays you a wage right it's what you earn that's a wage it's a payment

145
00:14:25,700 --> 00:14:31,700
And the wage or the payment the payment of sin now what is sin

146
00:14:32,700 --> 00:14:38,700
Sin is any thought word or lifestyle displeasing to God

147
00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:48,700
Any thought word or lifestyle that is contrary to God's nature contrary to who God is

148
00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:54,700
It's contrary to what his word says and it's displeasing to him

149
00:14:55,700 --> 00:15:01,700
But it's not just what you do or think because some might say well I think I've been a pretty good person most of my life

150
00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:07,700
I don't think I'm a sinner well the Bible teaches us that we are all born in sin

151
00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:16,700
So even from the moment that you first came into this world David wrote that he was born in sin and iniquity was I shaped

152
00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:21,700
So sin is not just an action or a thought sin is a state of being

153
00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:26,700
Sin is how you are born it's in your human DNA

154
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:32,700
So whether we like it or not that's what we deserve so the wages of sin are excuse me that that's the

155
00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:39,700
That's that's how it is so the wages of sin he goes on to say is death amen

156
00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:44,700
What is death death is eternal separation from God

157
00:15:45,700 --> 00:15:51,700
So the wages the payment of sin is eternal separation from God

158
00:15:51,700 --> 00:15:55,700
A life of sin could only lead you to death

159
00:15:56,700 --> 00:16:04,700
Are you hearing what I'm saying today a life of sin could the wages of sin the only payment you could expect the only reward

160
00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:11,700
If you want to call it that the only thing you can expect to receive living a life of sin is death

161
00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:15,700
What is death eternal separation from God

162
00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:25,700
This leaves us on an impossible cliff this leaves us on a cliff of eternal sorrow and hopelessness

163
00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:33,700
However, I've got good news for you today the verse doesn't end there because the second part says

164
00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:43,700
But the gift of God someone say but the devil thought he had me but God

165
00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:46,700
God amen the devil thought it was hopeless

166
00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:52,700
But God sin thought it had a grip on me but someone say but

167
00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:56,700
But God had an answer hey amen

168
00:16:57,700 --> 00:17:02,700
I once was lost but now I'm found I once was blind

169
00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:07,700
But now I see my life was over

170
00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:14,700
But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus

171
00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:24,700
It seemed like all hope was lost it seemed like sin would have put us in an impossible situation

172
00:17:25,700 --> 00:17:30,700
But God for God so loved the world

173
00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:38,700
Hallelujah that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish

174
00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:41,700
But have everlasting life

175
00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:45,700
Oh praise God for that amen

176
00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:52,700
The miracle bridge over the gap of sin is forgiveness someone say forgiveness

177
00:17:52,700 --> 00:18:05,700
And that bridge of forgiveness was paved by the blood of Jesus and the cross that he died on for you and I

178
00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:17,700
This bridge hallelujah is the only bridge it is the only way you've got to understand Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life

179
00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:26,700
He says no one comes to the father except through me hallelujah there is no other way amen

180
00:18:27,700 --> 00:18:35,700
Amen somebody am I preaching the truth today I said there is no other way there is no other way Jesus said I am the way

181
00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:45,700
I am the bridge if you're looking for a bridge to make heaven your home look no further because the Jesus that I preach today

182
00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:53,700
Is that miracle bridge to get you through those gates and to make heaven your everlasting home

183
00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:58,700
Come on let's give God some praise right now hallelujah

184
00:19:01,700 --> 00:19:06,700
You know I know this is really simple but sometimes we got to make it plain

185
00:19:07,700 --> 00:19:11,700
We got to make it simple we got to call sin what it is

186
00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:19,700
And I think one of us or all of us need to understand that this bridge of salvation is a two-way street

187
00:19:20,700 --> 00:19:26,700
Come on can I talk about this a little bit now it's a two-way street everything that I'm talking about

188
00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:33,700
Everything that I'm saying this bridge that I'm offering you is a two-way street in order to cross this bridge

189
00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:37,700
You are gonna have to repent of your sins

190
00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:46,700
Amen if you don't repent of your sin then you will stay on your side of the gap

191
00:19:47,700 --> 00:19:54,700
You will stay on your side of the bridge and if you don't make heaven your home and you spend an eternity in hell

192
00:19:55,700 --> 00:20:01,700
It won't be God's fault because he already drew the bridge and it's up to you to repent

193
00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:09,700
Wow pastor that's kind of extreme are you saying I'm going to hell yes you're going to hell if you do not cross the bridge

194
00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:15,700
That Jesus lived I know that's not popular I know we're not supposed to say that now in the year 2023

195
00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:24,700
But this preacher has a responsibility to tell you that you got to repent this is what the Bible says

196
00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:33,700
Acts 238 shows us how to cross that bridge the Bible says then Peter said unto them

197
00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:42,700
Repent someone say repent he said repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ

198
00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:50,700
For the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

199
00:20:50,700 --> 00:20:57,700
If you want to cross that bridge and get over your sin then you've got to repent of your sins

200
00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:04,700
Get out of that lifestyle get out of that thinking get out of that living get out of that ungodliness

201
00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:10,700
Get out of that debauchery get out of that ungodly relationship get out of that my God get out of that sin

202
00:21:11,700 --> 00:21:17,700
Get out of that backwards thinking and cross the bridge and God will meet you right there

203
00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:24,700
Hallelujah and just like that miracle bridge that I saw in Puerto Vallarta. Amen

204
00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:32,700
It's got a ramp on one side. You know how easy God is making it for you today. He built a ramp

205
00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:40,700
It's so easy we make it harder than what it is all you got to do is take a step of faith and say what God has for me

206
00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:47,700
Is greater than where I've been I'm tired of being stuck on this side. I want this eternal promise

207
00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:52,700
And so therefore I'm willing to turn away from sin. I'm willing to put my past behind me

208
00:21:53,700 --> 00:22:01,700
I'm willing to cross this bridge and accept this gift of eternal salvation so that I can spend eternity with Jesus

209
00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:11,700
Across that bridge amen, and if you haven't been baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of this and then consider this your official

210
00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:18,700
Invitation that God wants to save your soul, but it's a two-way someone say it's a two-way street

211
00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:24,700
You got to meet them there and like that bridge I saw if you'll just walk up that ramp

212
00:22:24,700 --> 00:22:30,700
You might you're gonna walk up you will walk up broken you will walk up in you will walk up with sin

213
00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:34,700
You will walk up with problem by the time you get to the top. Oh

214
00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:40,700
Hallelujah something's gonna happen. God's gonna change you God's gonna renew you God's gonna bless you

215
00:22:41,700 --> 00:22:43,700
And you'll be able to walk on your own two feet. Amen

216
00:22:45,700 --> 00:22:47,700
So this is the message of the gospel

217
00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:52,700
This is the message that we need to preach this is the message that we need to live and by the way

218
00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:56,700
Even after you've been baptized and born again of the water in the spirit

219
00:22:56,700 --> 00:23:00,700
We fall short of the glory of God and if you have found yourself in sin

220
00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:05,700
If you have if you find yourself living living living the wrong life

221
00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:11,700
I can tell you today that God is just if we confess our sins first John 1 6 6

222
00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:18,700
First John 1 6 said if we confess our sins God is faithful and just amen somebody to forgive us

223
00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:24,700
Of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteous come on somebody give God some praise

224
00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:31,700
There is hope for you today you don't have to stay on that side. You don't have to stay there

225
00:23:33,700 --> 00:23:38,700
So the gap of sin there's a miracle bridge you can cross today. Amen

226
00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:41,700
And then there's another gap. I told you there was two

227
00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:46,700
And the next gap is the gap of shame someone say shame

228
00:23:46,700 --> 00:23:51,700
Now first of all I need to say something

229
00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:55,700
I need to say that not all shame is bad

230
00:23:56,700 --> 00:24:01,700
You know not all shame is bad. I know that for the most part we think it's a bad thing and I'm going to get there in a moment

231
00:24:02,700 --> 00:24:06,700
But I think there's sometimes we need shame because without a sense of guilt and shame

232
00:24:07,700 --> 00:24:09,700
I don't think we would feel remorse for being in our sins

233
00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:12,700
And feel the need to regret

234
00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:20,700
Or excuse me I need to repent I think shame sometimes helps us recognize our need to change

235
00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:26,700
That type of shame is a good thing and I think some people could use a lot more of it

236
00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:29,700
Because some people don't have any shame

237
00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:33,700
Hallelujah you liked me about five minutes ago but I don't know if you don't like me now

238
00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:40,700
Some shame is good. Somebody say sometimes it's good

239
00:24:40,700 --> 00:24:42,700
Sometimes it's good

240
00:24:43,700 --> 00:24:46,700
A little bit of shame can help get right with God

241
00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:49,700
So that's a little commercial right there

242
00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:57,700
However the shame that I think I need to deal with right now is the one that even after God has forgiven you

243
00:24:59,700 --> 00:25:05,700
Even after you have experienced his mercy even after he has shown you grace

244
00:25:05,700 --> 00:25:11,700
Still it seems because of shame you pull away from him

245
00:25:12,700 --> 00:25:14,700
Even after that

246
00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:18,700
And this kind of shame is what drives people away from God

247
00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:24,700
This kind of shame is what drove Adam and Eve to hide from the presence of the Lord

248
00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:27,700
After they fell

249
00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:29,700
They hid from God

250
00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:35,700
They hid from God and they culled themselves with fig leaves that they had sowed together

251
00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:39,700
Let's read in Genesis 3.8

252
00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:44,700
I'll be just a few more moments but this is important I need to get through this point today

253
00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:53,700
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day

254
00:25:53,700 --> 00:26:01,700
Now let me just pause there if God didn't love them and if God hadn't already showed them mercy

255
00:26:02,700 --> 00:26:06,700
I guarantee he wouldn't be walking in the garden looking for them in the cool of the day

256
00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:10,700
If God cuts you off believe me you'll know you've been cut off

257
00:26:11,700 --> 00:26:13,700
But he's coming looking for you

258
00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:19,700
And the very fact that he comes looking for you is a sign that it's not over

259
00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:21,700
Amen

260
00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:26,700
It's a sign that his grace and his mercy is still available

261
00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:28,700
Hallelujah

262
00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:31,700
So he's walking in the cool of the day and you know what he's looking for?

263
00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:32,700
His walking partner

264
00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:34,700
He's looking for Adam

265
00:26:35,700 --> 00:26:36,700
But here's what happens

266
00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:42,700
It says that Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees

267
00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:44,700
Someone say trees

268
00:26:46,700 --> 00:26:47,700
Say it again say trees

269
00:26:47,700 --> 00:26:50,700
They hid among the trees of the garden

270
00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:59,700
Now the reason why I had to repeat those words is because I want to approach this from a different angle than maybe what we're used to

271
00:27:00,700 --> 00:27:07,700
When we look at the story and when we study what happened at the fall and God's plan of redemption here

272
00:27:08,700 --> 00:27:12,700
And what Adam and Eve did to try to substitute or cover themselves

273
00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:16,700
We focus on the fig leaves and rightly so

274
00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:20,700
But I'm interested not in what they covered themselves

275
00:27:20,700 --> 00:27:22,700
But I'm also interested in where they hid

276
00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:26,700
They hid among the trees

277
00:27:27,700 --> 00:27:29,700
Now this stuck out to me

278
00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:33,700
It stuck out to me for a few reasons

279
00:27:36,700 --> 00:27:38,700
It stuck out to me because you got to remember

280
00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:47,700
Their whole problem got started because they chose to eat from the wrong tree

281
00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:56,700
Everything about their situation and the predicament that they were in

282
00:27:57,700 --> 00:28:05,700
They were in that predicament because they chose it revolved around choosing to eat from the wrong tree

283
00:28:05,700 --> 00:28:07,700
So think about that

284
00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:15,700
Tree then the two trees that got put in the garden represents decisions

285
00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:18,700
Alright it represents a choice

286
00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:20,700
Someone say decisions

287
00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:25,700
It represents the trees in the garden represent decisions

288
00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:30,700
It's a choice and obviously they made the wrong choice

289
00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:32,700
Let me tell you something

290
00:28:32,700 --> 00:28:35,700
When people want to hide

291
00:28:36,700 --> 00:28:41,700
They don't barricade themselves in their bedroom, lock the door, and put the sofa behind the door

292
00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:44,700
When people want to hide

293
00:28:45,700 --> 00:28:46,700
I'll tell you where they hide

294
00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:49,700
They hide in their decisions

295
00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:52,700
I'm going to help you today

296
00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:55,700
The trees represent decisions

297
00:28:56,700 --> 00:29:00,700
They got themselves in their predicament because they made the wrong choice

298
00:29:00,700 --> 00:29:03,700
So when God came looking for them in their shame

299
00:29:04,700 --> 00:29:06,700
They hid themselves back in the trees

300
00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:11,700
They hid themselves in practically a forest

301
00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:16,700
And they hid themselves in this place because of shame

302
00:29:17,700 --> 00:29:19,700
They hid in there in their shame

303
00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:28,700
And what people do today is they hide in their decisions that put more obstacles between them and God

304
00:29:28,700 --> 00:29:29,700
Let me tell you something

305
00:29:30,700 --> 00:29:34,700
The truth is 90% of our lives are a choice

306
00:29:37,700 --> 00:29:38,700
I'm getting to the point now

307
00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:41,700
First of all, I'm getting tired of hearing people's excuses for one

308
00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:45,700
You better bring up the piano player, my God

309
00:29:47,700 --> 00:29:50,700
I'm here to tell you that 90% is a choice

310
00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:53,700
I understand you couldn't choose where you were born

311
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:55,700
I understand you couldn't choose the family you were born into

312
00:29:55,700 --> 00:29:58,700
I understand you couldn't choose a lot of things, color of the skin, color of your eyes

313
00:29:59,700 --> 00:30:00,700
There are certain things you just couldn't choose

314
00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:02,700
I understand that you might have been a victim

315
00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:04,700
There might have been certain things that you had no control over

316
00:30:05,700 --> 00:30:09,700
But after that, most of your life is the result of the choices that you make

317
00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:17,700
So don't tell me that it's this or that that it's out of your control

318
00:30:18,700 --> 00:30:21,700
If you want to be here at church, then it's your choice to be here

319
00:30:21,700 --> 00:30:24,700
Your choice to be here

320
00:30:25,700 --> 00:30:26,700
Uh oh, I might want to cut the livestream, brother

321
00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,700
Someone say he's a choice

322
00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:36,700
We don't like hearing that it's a choice

323
00:30:37,700 --> 00:30:38,700
I'll tell you why we don't like hearing that it's a choice

324
00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:43,700
Because once we hear that it's actually a choice, then it puts the responsibility on us

325
00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:47,700
We can't blame people for where we're at

326
00:30:47,700 --> 00:30:50,700
We can't say, well I'm just here because what?

327
00:30:51,700 --> 00:30:53,700
Because you made a choice

328
00:30:54,700 --> 00:30:58,700
And what I've come to understand is that the root cause of these kinds of decisions

329
00:30:59,700 --> 00:31:03,700
That put more obstacles between them and God at the root of it is shame

330
00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:06,700
At the root of it is somebody who doesn't feel like they're worthy

331
00:31:07,700 --> 00:31:09,700
At the root of it is somebody who doesn't feel like they belong

332
00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:13,700
And what they do is they make it harder and harder for God to touch them

333
00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:16,700
They make it harder and harder to be committed

334
00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:19,700
Make it harder and harder to find the healing that they need

335
00:31:20,700 --> 00:31:21,700
Hear me today, the growth that they need

336
00:31:22,700 --> 00:31:24,700
They make it harder and harder to grow spiritually

337
00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:28,700
To grow emotionally, to be the person, to be the man or the woman of God

338
00:31:29,700 --> 00:31:33,700
That God has called them to be and they hide among the trees

339
00:31:35,700 --> 00:31:38,700
And there are people today under the sound of my voice

340
00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:41,700
There are people today in this world, Christians and saints

341
00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:44,700
That are hiding among the trees and I'm looking for them

342
00:31:45,700 --> 00:31:49,700
And God is looking for them, come on up here and I'm serious this time

343
00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:52,700
And we're looking for them

344
00:31:53,700 --> 00:31:56,700
They're in the forest, they're in the trees

345
00:31:57,700 --> 00:32:00,700
I want to ask what trees have you been hiding in?

346
00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:10,700
What trees have you been hiding in?

347
00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:13,700
Oh God, hallelujah Jesus

348
00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:18,700
The reason they hide behind those decisions

349
00:32:19,700 --> 00:32:23,700
I think in many cases it's shame

350
00:32:24,700 --> 00:32:25,700
You don't think you're worthy

351
00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:28,700
You don't think, oh God

352
00:32:28,700 --> 00:32:32,700
You don't think that God wants you

353
00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:36,700
You don't think that your presence matters

354
00:32:39,700 --> 00:32:41,700
You don't think the church needs you

355
00:32:43,700 --> 00:32:45,700
You don't think your love does

356
00:32:47,700 --> 00:32:50,700
You don't think that you matter

357
00:32:50,700 --> 00:32:56,700
Like Adam and Eve, you hide among the trees

358
00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:02,700
A million excuses among the wrong people

359
00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:05,700
Among the wrong places

360
00:33:06,700 --> 00:33:07,700
We're going to tell you today

361
00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:11,700
God loves you so much, you know what he does?

362
00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:14,700
He walks towards the trees

363
00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:21,700
And then he extends a bridge

364
00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:25,700
And said, I know you think I forgot about you

365
00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:32,700
I know you think, Jesus, that there was no coming back

366
00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,700
I know you think that you messed up too bad this time

367
00:33:37,700 --> 00:33:38,700
I know you think that you're not loved

368
00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:40,700
I know you think that it's over

369
00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:45,700
But Adam and Eve, I need you to know that I have provided a bridge

370
00:33:48,700 --> 00:33:52,700
And by the way, this bridge is also a tree

371
00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:55,700
It's a wooden bridge

372
00:33:56,700 --> 00:33:58,700
It's Calvary's tree

373
00:33:59,700 --> 00:34:00,700
Oh my Lord

374
00:34:01,700 --> 00:34:02,700
My God

375
00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:05,700
You can get out of the woods of shame

376
00:34:05,700 --> 00:34:10,700
If you simply walk on the wood of that cross

377
00:34:11,700 --> 00:34:13,700
And say, oh my God

378
00:34:14,700 --> 00:34:16,700
The bridge has already been drawn

379
00:34:17,700 --> 00:34:20,700
All I've got to do is step out in faith

380
00:34:21,700 --> 00:34:22,700
Peter summed it up this way

381
00:34:23,700 --> 00:34:26,700
He said, he himself, as I close, he himself bore

382
00:34:27,700 --> 00:34:29,700
Our sins and his own body on a tree

383
00:34:29,700 --> 00:34:36,700
That we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness

384
00:34:37,700 --> 00:34:38,700
By whose stripes you were healed

385
00:34:39,700 --> 00:34:40,700
I invite you to stand with me today, church

386
00:34:41,700 --> 00:34:43,700
Hallelujah, God

387
00:34:44,700 --> 00:34:46,700
I stand before you today

388
00:34:48,700 --> 00:34:50,700
I stand before you as

389
00:34:53,700 --> 00:34:54,700
Hallelujah

390
00:34:54,700 --> 00:34:56,700
Hallelujah

391
00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:03,700
If you can just imagine, I stand before you as someone who is offering a bridge

392
00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:06,700
This is your ticket back

393
00:35:08,700 --> 00:35:10,700
To get back to where you belong and God

394
00:35:11,700 --> 00:35:13,700
To, hmm, Jesus

395
00:35:15,700 --> 00:35:18,700
To be saved from your sins

396
00:35:20,700 --> 00:35:21,700
I'm going to invite you right there where you are

397
00:35:21,700 --> 00:35:22,700
If you would just close your eyes

398
00:35:22,700 --> 00:35:24,700
I'd just feel the presence of God in this place

399
00:35:25,700 --> 00:35:27,700
I feel in my heart right now

400
00:35:28,700 --> 00:35:30,700
I feel in my spirit that God is dealing with somebody today

401
00:35:31,700 --> 00:35:34,700
God's dealing with somebody right now

402
00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:39,700
Someone is right on the edge

403
00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:41,700
You're on the edge of the cliff

404
00:35:42,700 --> 00:35:44,700
You're on the edge of the gap

405
00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:50,700
I want you to imagine right now that there is a bridge

406
00:35:51,700 --> 00:35:53,700
And that bridge is the cross

407
00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:56,700
And that's what I've come to preach today

408
00:35:57,700 --> 00:35:59,700
I've come to preach about that cross

409
00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:01,700
That living bridge

410
00:36:02,700 --> 00:36:04,700
That if you want what I'm offering you today

411
00:36:05,700 --> 00:36:06,700
Which is eternal life

412
00:36:07,700 --> 00:36:09,700
Then consider this an open door

413
00:36:10,700 --> 00:36:12,700
Consider this your invitation

414
00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:13,700
Oh, hallelujah

415
00:36:14,700 --> 00:36:16,700
I wonder if we can just worship the Lord for a moment

416
00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:18,700
I feel there is somebody right now that's right there

417
00:36:19,700 --> 00:36:20,700
Hallelujah, Jesus

418
00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:22,700
God loves you today

419
00:36:23,700 --> 00:36:25,700
And God doesn't want you to be damned

420
00:36:26,700 --> 00:36:31,700
God doesn't want you to miss out on this eternal opportunity

421
00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:33,700
This great reward that we have

422
00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:37,700
You see the Lord put this message on my heart this week

423
00:36:38,700 --> 00:36:40,700
Because God loves somebody today

424
00:36:40,700 --> 00:36:41,700
God wants somebody today

425
00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:44,700
God's trying to reach somebody

426
00:36:45,700 --> 00:36:47,700
God wants you to know that he's got a plan for you

427
00:36:48,700 --> 00:36:50,700
That he wants to save you from your sins

428
00:36:51,700 --> 00:36:53,700
All you've got to do is repent

429
00:36:54,700 --> 00:36:55,700
All you've got to do is repent to them

430
00:36:56,700 --> 00:36:57,700
And invite the praise to him if you can come on up

431
00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:00,700
And then I want to just open this altar up this afternoon

432
00:37:01,700 --> 00:37:04,700
Because if there is somebody today that you need to walk across that bridge

433
00:37:05,700 --> 00:37:06,700
And get over your sin

434
00:37:07,700 --> 00:37:08,700
Or get over your shame

435
00:37:08,700 --> 00:37:13,700
You need to take this invitation seriously today

436
00:37:14,700 --> 00:37:16,700
You need to take this invitation seriously

437
00:37:17,700 --> 00:37:21,700
You need to take this invitation like your life, like your future

438
00:37:22,700 --> 00:37:23,700
Depends on it

439
00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:26,700
So I'm going to pray for you right now

440
00:37:27,700 --> 00:37:28,700
Father in the name of Jesus

441
00:37:29,700 --> 00:37:30,700
God, I come before you at this very hour

442
00:37:31,700 --> 00:37:32,700
Lord, I thank you Lord for what you've done

443
00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:34,700
God, I thank you for your word

444
00:37:35,700 --> 00:37:36,700
I thank you, God

445
00:37:36,700 --> 00:37:41,700
For the bridge that you came to this earth to draw

446
00:37:43,700 --> 00:37:45,700
When we couldn't get to you, Lord, you came to us

447
00:37:47,700 --> 00:37:50,700
And God, today you sent me here

448
00:37:53,700 --> 00:37:55,700
You brought me to this place, God

449
00:37:56,700 --> 00:37:57,700
To preach this simple message to somebody

450
00:37:58,700 --> 00:38:00,700
God, because you know that someone's life

451
00:38:01,700 --> 00:38:02,700
Someone's destiny, someone's soul

452
00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:05,700
Is hanging in the balance, God

453
00:38:06,700 --> 00:38:07,700
And I pray right now, God

454
00:38:07,700 --> 00:38:32,700
In the name of Jesus that you would stir their hearts, Lord