1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,900 He's glorious. 2 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:13,780 Behold the one who has come for us. 3 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:15,740 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 4 00:00:15,740 --> 00:00:17,780 To get connected or to give online, 5 00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:23,680 you can go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,660 If at any time during this message 7 00:00:25,660 --> 00:00:28,300 you feel called to make a change in your life, 8 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:33,060 text changeme to 970-00. 9 00:00:33,060 --> 00:00:34,900 Thank you and enjoy the message. 10 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:36,900 We always love Mike on the mic, right? 11 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:37,900 It's so good to see you. 12 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:39,240 We're glad you're joining us. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:40,900 If you're watching from home, 14 00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:43,040 thanks for welcoming us into your space. 15 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,940 I just want to reiterate what Mike said. 16 00:00:45,940 --> 00:00:47,840 We're just thankful for all of you 17 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,880 that participated at the Reach Coal Weather Shelter 18 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,120 with us this past week. 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:53,980 Can you give yourselves a hand? 20 00:00:53,980 --> 00:00:57,580 Thank you. Just hundreds of hours 21 00:00:57,580 --> 00:01:00,020 serving those that are less fortunate than us. 22 00:01:00,020 --> 00:01:01,820 I know that Jess and I had a great time 23 00:01:01,820 --> 00:01:06,500 doing Taco Tuesday on Tuesday with all the residents 24 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:09,000 and of course everyone that volunteered. 25 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,660 We had the best tacos of our lives. 26 00:01:10,660 --> 00:01:11,660 Weren't they pretty good, Charlie? 27 00:01:11,660 --> 00:01:12,540 I believe you're there. 28 00:01:12,540 --> 00:01:13,400 Yeah. 29 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,240 So next year if you missed out, 30 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,200 be sure to sign up and participate. 31 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,080 Now for many of you, 32 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,740 I'm sure you've seen this before. 33 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:27,740 Someone in the end zone at a major sporting event, 34 00:01:29,180 --> 00:01:33,180 I learned that it's very prevalent on WWE and SmackDown, 35 00:01:34,380 --> 00:01:36,620 right, people in the stands. 36 00:01:36,620 --> 00:01:38,160 I haven't watched for years. 37 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:39,620 I used to be a Hulk Hogan fan, 38 00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:41,860 but you know, that was when I was 12. 39 00:01:41,860 --> 00:01:44,160 So if you're still watching as an adult, 40 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,500 I'm not really sure how to feel about that, 41 00:01:46,500 --> 00:01:47,760 but that's okay. 42 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,800 But you know and have seen it before, 43 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,740 John 3 16. 44 00:01:54,740 --> 00:01:58,500 And if you've experienced any part of the Bible, 45 00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:03,520 you probably know that this verse, if you will, 46 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,120 is very prevalent and powerful 47 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,620 in terms of its gospel message. 48 00:02:11,620 --> 00:02:13,260 I wanna share it with you. 49 00:02:13,260 --> 00:02:15,800 For God so loved the world 50 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,960 that he gave his one and only son, 51 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,360 that whoever believes in him shall not perish, 52 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,560 but have eternal life. 53 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,240 And just think about it. 54 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,100 For God so loved the world, 55 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:31,280 God didn't merely like the world, 56 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,040 he loved the world. 57 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,240 He loved it so much that he created you. 58 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:37,440 He made a way for you 59 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,940 and desired a forever relationship with you. 60 00:02:42,460 --> 00:02:44,220 He gave his one and only son. 61 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,060 Because of this immense love for the world, 62 00:02:48,060 --> 00:02:51,420 he gave generously, he gave sacrificially, 63 00:02:51,420 --> 00:02:55,100 his only son because it's only through his death, 64 00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:56,400 burial and resurrection 65 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,760 that we can experience this eternal life. 66 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,660 That whoever believes in him. 67 00:03:01,660 --> 00:03:05,500 See, it's not enough to know that Jesus existed 68 00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:08,300 as a real historical person. 69 00:03:08,300 --> 00:03:11,480 I mean, did you know that James 2 19 reminds us 70 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,280 that even the demons believe, 71 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,080 in fact, not only do they believe, 72 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:18,880 but they tremble in terror. 73 00:03:20,060 --> 00:03:24,360 See, believing in Jesus means we choose to trust him 74 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:25,760 as Lord of our lives. 75 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,700 Shall not perish, but have eternal life. 76 00:03:30,660 --> 00:03:32,400 We cannot earn our salvation, 77 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,440 but we can trust the one who saves us. 78 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,080 God created us for eternity, 79 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,840 but he also gave us the ability to choose. 80 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,280 And eternity isn't something in the distant future, 81 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,020 it's not when we die, it's in motion right now. 82 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,580 See, we currently live in a culture 83 00:03:54,580 --> 00:03:58,760 where certainty is seen as arrogance 84 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,960 and doubt or ignorance is seen as humility. 85 00:04:04,300 --> 00:04:06,940 I mean, that's the culture we live in. 86 00:04:06,940 --> 00:04:09,040 That if you are certain, you are sure, 87 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,100 you are confident of something that you believe in, 88 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:15,500 oh, well then you're arrogant. 89 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:20,500 But if you're ignorant or perpetually in doubt, 90 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:22,640 then you're in humble. 91 00:04:24,180 --> 00:04:26,580 I mean, doubt has become a virtue, 92 00:04:27,940 --> 00:04:30,840 when in reality, it doesn't mean that you're humble at all. 93 00:04:34,220 --> 00:04:36,860 Now, I would say that it could be true to a certain extent 94 00:04:36,860 --> 00:04:40,320 because there's some things that we should hold on to 95 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,520 very loosely and not be very confident about. 96 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,660 However, I believe we should be confident about, 97 00:04:46,660 --> 00:04:48,840 according to the scripture, truth. 98 00:04:49,940 --> 00:04:52,740 We should be confident about truth. 99 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,200 And to be confident about truth is not arrogance, 100 00:04:58,740 --> 00:05:03,740 it's having confidence in truth that just makes sense. 101 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,580 So the question today is, 102 00:05:07,580 --> 00:05:09,420 do you know the truth? 103 00:05:10,980 --> 00:05:14,780 Can we be confident that we know the truth 104 00:05:14,780 --> 00:05:18,460 about something more important than anything 105 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,300 any of us will deal with this coming week? 106 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:26,160 And that reality is eternal life. 107 00:05:27,260 --> 00:05:30,600 Can we know the truth of what it means 108 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,800 to have a relationship with God 109 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:37,800 and to have one that extends beyond the grave? 110 00:05:38,980 --> 00:05:40,220 See, for the last two weeks, 111 00:05:40,220 --> 00:05:44,080 we've been discussing John's letter in 1 John 112 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,120 to the believers in the early church 113 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,420 in our series Love Letters. 114 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:52,020 Thus far in week one, we looked at Jesus' extravagant love. 115 00:05:53,420 --> 00:05:58,440 Last week, we discussed what it means to be a child of God. 116 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:03,440 And today, we will be looking at kingdom confidence. 117 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:07,780 And listen, as I was praying for all of you this week, 118 00:06:07,780 --> 00:06:09,320 those of you watching online, 119 00:06:11,580 --> 00:06:14,960 God just kind of quickened my spirit to share with you 120 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,220 that these words I'm about to share 121 00:06:18,220 --> 00:06:20,220 could change your whole outlook on life. 122 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:25,940 Could literally give you a relationship with God 123 00:06:25,940 --> 00:06:28,840 you thought you could never have before. 124 00:06:31,540 --> 00:06:34,500 See, we must realize that John is writing this letter 125 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:39,520 to a specific situation that was happening in a church 126 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,640 to a specific group of Jesus followers. 127 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,520 That's how we read the Bible. 128 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,460 Otherwise, we take it out of context. 129 00:06:46,420 --> 00:06:48,820 And within this church that the letter is being written to, 130 00:06:48,820 --> 00:06:50,220 there was a group of people 131 00:06:50,220 --> 00:06:53,100 that had began to walk away from the church. 132 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:56,460 They were abandoning the faith. 133 00:06:56,460 --> 00:06:59,700 They had changed their minds about Jesus, who he was, 134 00:06:59,700 --> 00:07:01,940 and the historic teachings of the faith. 135 00:07:02,940 --> 00:07:06,340 The followers that remained behind in the church 136 00:07:06,340 --> 00:07:07,180 were shocked. 137 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,840 They were shaken by this, and they had become anxious, 138 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,180 and were beginning to doubt themselves 139 00:07:14,180 --> 00:07:18,180 about whether or not they were believing truth. 140 00:07:18,180 --> 00:07:23,200 And listen, I'm not saying there's anything wrong 141 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:24,020 with doubting. 142 00:07:24,020 --> 00:07:25,960 All of us walk through doubt 143 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:27,760 when it comes to our faith journey. 144 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,260 It's just a part of being human. 145 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:33,440 But I want you to realize that John's goal 146 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,240 in writing this letter, and his goal for us this morning, 147 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,140 is to stir up a renewed confidence. 148 00:07:41,580 --> 00:07:45,580 His goal is a renewed confidence, not condemnation. 149 00:07:45,580 --> 00:07:50,580 He desires to reassure those wavering believers 150 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,320 that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. 151 00:07:55,060 --> 00:07:58,000 That he is, in fact, the real deal, 152 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,500 and the choice they made to follow him 153 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:02,900 leads to eternal life. 154 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,800 And he goes on to say, look, 155 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,800 you have the evidence in your very own lives 156 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,780 that truth is real. 157 00:08:15,780 --> 00:08:18,320 And I want us all to hear that God loves us, 158 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,080 and he wants us to tear down any false confidence 159 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:23,880 that we build on our own. 160 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,760 He wants to replace it with a truth from the gospel, 161 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,500 that we develop a kingdom confidence 162 00:08:34,500 --> 00:08:36,200 that we can all stand on. 163 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,740 A kingdom confidence that we can all stand on 164 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:44,200 as we walk through this thing called life, 165 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,900 which leads us to our first truth this morning. 166 00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:49,240 God is love. 167 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:52,820 1 John 4, 8 and verse 16 says, 168 00:08:52,820 --> 00:08:55,520 but anyone who does not love does not know God for, 169 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,620 notice what John says, God is love. 170 00:08:58,620 --> 00:09:01,620 And then in verse 16, we know how much God loves us, 171 00:09:01,620 --> 00:09:03,320 and we have put our trust in his love. 172 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,300 God is love, and all who live in love live in God, 173 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:08,460 and God lives in them. 174 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:13,500 I mean, from 1 John 4, 7 to 1 John 5, 5, 175 00:09:13,500 --> 00:09:18,500 the word love, love, love is recorded 32 times. 176 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:21,840 It almost sounds like a broken record, 177 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,040 like John is just constantly repeating love. 178 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:26,880 And what he's trying to get us to see is 179 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,960 a relationship with Jesus is a life of love. 180 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,360 It's a love relationship with God. 181 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,520 And John just keeps hitting this over and over and over again 182 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,560 from different angles, from different perspectives. 183 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:44,940 And the primary truth that dominates everything 184 00:09:44,940 --> 00:09:48,900 the Bible is teaching us is this, God is love. 185 00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:51,680 He is love. 186 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:57,140 I just read verse 8 and 16, and John says it outright. 187 00:09:57,140 --> 00:10:02,160 It's a pretty powerful statement to say someone is love. 188 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,860 For example, it's like saying Chris is love. 189 00:10:06,860 --> 00:10:09,620 It's like saying Chris was synonymous with love. 190 00:10:09,620 --> 00:10:13,160 Chris is perfectly loving, and we all know that's not true. 191 00:10:14,740 --> 00:10:18,060 I'm not always loving in every way, I'm not love. 192 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:22,200 You could not make the statement that Chris is love. 193 00:10:23,140 --> 00:10:25,140 But we can say God is love. 194 00:10:25,140 --> 00:10:30,140 Supernatural love exists eternally in God, 195 00:10:30,140 --> 00:10:33,140 and it finds its existence in him. 196 00:10:34,140 --> 00:10:37,620 It's in his nature to love, and it always has been. 197 00:10:38,420 --> 00:10:41,380 I mean, before time began, before the world was even created, 198 00:10:41,380 --> 00:10:43,460 God was love. 199 00:10:44,660 --> 00:10:47,820 I mean, we've seen it all over 1 John. 200 00:10:47,820 --> 00:10:51,700 John is constantly writing about the trinitarian nature 201 00:10:51,700 --> 00:10:56,700 of God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. 202 00:10:57,500 --> 00:11:01,580 I mean, before man or woman or anything else was even created, 203 00:11:01,580 --> 00:11:04,140 God was loving in and of himself. 204 00:11:04,140 --> 00:11:06,380 It's the nature of that community. 205 00:11:07,420 --> 00:11:09,420 It's who he is. 206 00:11:09,420 --> 00:11:12,820 Kind of like the sun, the sun gives us light. 207 00:11:13,820 --> 00:11:16,820 Fire gives us heat. 208 00:11:16,820 --> 00:11:21,820 God loves because he is love. 209 00:11:24,660 --> 00:11:28,660 Supernatural love exists eternally in him, 210 00:11:29,660 --> 00:11:31,460 which leads us to our next truth. 211 00:11:32,660 --> 00:11:36,660 This supernatural love flows from God. 212 00:11:37,940 --> 00:11:39,940 See, it even gets better. 213 00:11:39,940 --> 00:11:41,740 1 John 4, 7 and 10, dear friends, 214 00:11:41,740 --> 00:11:43,140 let us continue to love one another, 215 00:11:43,140 --> 00:11:46,980 for love comes from God. 216 00:11:46,980 --> 00:11:49,740 Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 217 00:11:49,740 --> 00:11:53,740 This is real love, not that we loved God, 218 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:57,340 but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice 219 00:11:57,340 --> 00:11:58,740 to take away our sins. 220 00:11:59,460 --> 00:12:03,460 News flash, love doesn't start with us. 221 00:12:04,460 --> 00:12:06,460 Love starts with God. 222 00:12:06,460 --> 00:12:10,460 Verse 10 says this is real love. 223 00:12:10,460 --> 00:12:14,460 Real love, real love. 224 00:12:14,460 --> 00:12:17,460 It starts with him, not with us. 225 00:12:17,460 --> 00:12:19,620 In love, he sent his Son for what? 226 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:21,300 A sacrifice for our sins. 227 00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:23,900 Remember the word we learned over the last two weeks, 228 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:25,340 propitiation. 229 00:12:27,060 --> 00:12:30,900 And that sacrifice had to happen because we are not loving. 230 00:12:31,860 --> 00:12:35,500 We are naturally sinners in rebellion to God, 231 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:37,620 turning away from God. 232 00:12:37,620 --> 00:12:41,740 None of us have been loving toward God. 233 00:12:41,740 --> 00:12:43,660 If anything, we've been defiant. 234 00:12:44,620 --> 00:12:48,260 The primary problem in every single one of our lives 235 00:12:48,260 --> 00:12:52,460 is that we consistently turn away from God 236 00:12:52,460 --> 00:12:53,620 instead of loving God. 237 00:12:55,340 --> 00:12:57,820 So it's really good news that supernatural love 238 00:12:57,820 --> 00:12:59,900 doesn't start with us. 239 00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:01,820 Rebellion starts with us. 240 00:13:03,140 --> 00:13:06,180 And this makes God's love totally different 241 00:13:06,180 --> 00:13:10,660 from the way we, from the way humanity thinks about love. 242 00:13:12,140 --> 00:13:16,100 I mean, this week I was reflecting on the different people 243 00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:17,180 that I love the most, 244 00:13:17,180 --> 00:13:19,700 specifically my wife Jessica and my kids. 245 00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:21,580 And I was thinking about Jessica 246 00:13:21,580 --> 00:13:24,900 because we started a marriage course this past Friday. 247 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:28,900 And on Wednesday, her and I did it together at home 248 00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:32,220 to prepare ourselves for what was about to be shared. 249 00:13:32,220 --> 00:13:35,300 And one of the questions that we had to reflect on is 250 00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:39,300 think back to when you first met your spouse, 251 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:40,900 the first time that you saw her. 252 00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:45,100 And as I thought back and reflected on it, 253 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:46,500 I looked at her and said, 254 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:49,100 I fell in love with you the first time that we met. 255 00:13:52,580 --> 00:13:53,420 You know why? 256 00:13:56,620 --> 00:13:58,900 Because I thought she was beautiful. 257 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:02,100 I was attracted first to her beauty on the outside 258 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:03,140 and then the inside. 259 00:14:03,140 --> 00:14:05,340 I'll be honest, I fell totally in love with her. 260 00:14:06,220 --> 00:14:07,820 She would be the one that would lead me 261 00:14:07,820 --> 00:14:11,540 into a relationship with Jesus to experience this new life. 262 00:14:11,540 --> 00:14:14,300 And then once I began this journey, 263 00:14:14,300 --> 00:14:17,940 I then realized that God wanted her and I to be together. 264 00:14:19,260 --> 00:14:22,540 She, however, did not see it that way. 265 00:14:22,540 --> 00:14:27,540 It took some time for her to realize how special I was. 266 00:14:30,540 --> 00:14:31,940 And she'll even today. 267 00:14:31,940 --> 00:14:33,340 And she'll even today say, 268 00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:35,940 yes, you're very special, Chris. 269 00:14:39,340 --> 00:14:42,140 Therefore, I had to learn to love her 270 00:14:42,140 --> 00:14:45,340 without her loving me in return 271 00:14:45,340 --> 00:14:47,340 simply because I thought she was special. 272 00:14:48,460 --> 00:14:52,020 See, my love for her has grown ever since. 273 00:14:52,020 --> 00:14:56,140 We celebrated 26 years of marriage this past summer. 274 00:14:56,140 --> 00:14:59,940 Thank you. 275 00:14:59,940 --> 00:15:02,740 We've known one another for 28 years. 276 00:15:02,740 --> 00:15:06,340 And the more we get to know each other, the better it gets. 277 00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:10,140 My love for her was prompted by her beauty 278 00:15:11,220 --> 00:15:14,140 and it had nothing to do with her love for me. 279 00:15:14,140 --> 00:15:17,220 But after 26 years of marriage, the more she loves me, 280 00:15:17,220 --> 00:15:19,340 the more I love her. 281 00:15:20,740 --> 00:15:23,660 But listen, that's the way it works 282 00:15:25,020 --> 00:15:26,540 in a marriage relationship. 283 00:15:26,540 --> 00:15:29,940 It's not the way a relationship with God works. 284 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:34,140 I mean, Jess and I have a very healthy relationship, 285 00:15:34,140 --> 00:15:36,340 but love in our relationship 286 00:15:37,340 --> 00:15:40,740 has no comparison to a love relationship with God. 287 00:15:42,740 --> 00:15:44,540 In our relationship with God, 288 00:15:44,540 --> 00:15:47,540 love flows completely from where? 289 00:15:47,540 --> 00:15:48,340 From Him. 290 00:15:49,740 --> 00:15:54,340 In our sinful nature, there's nothing in us that loves God. 291 00:15:54,340 --> 00:15:56,940 We are prone to defy God. 292 00:15:56,940 --> 00:15:58,740 We don't want to desire Him. 293 00:15:58,740 --> 00:16:00,540 We're not drawn to Him. 294 00:16:01,940 --> 00:16:04,940 In our sin nature, we have a tendency to turn away. 295 00:16:06,940 --> 00:16:10,940 In our lives, we desire so many other things 296 00:16:10,940 --> 00:16:14,740 that we think are better in this world than God. 297 00:16:14,740 --> 00:16:18,740 But yet, He keeps loving us. 298 00:16:20,340 --> 00:16:24,140 Even when we're totally unlovable, God loved us. 299 00:16:25,540 --> 00:16:26,540 I mean, I don't know about you, 300 00:16:26,540 --> 00:16:28,540 but that's pretty awesome to think about. 301 00:16:30,540 --> 00:16:33,140 I mean, I talk with people all the time who say, 302 00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:36,540 look, Chris, all the things I've done in my life, 303 00:16:36,540 --> 00:16:38,940 there's no way God could love me. 304 00:16:38,940 --> 00:16:41,140 I mean, I've been through a lot of things, 305 00:16:41,140 --> 00:16:43,340 but I've never been in love with anyone. 306 00:16:43,340 --> 00:16:45,740 There's no way God could love me. 307 00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:51,740 Truth is, that's a lie, 308 00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:54,740 because love starts with Him. 309 00:16:55,740 --> 00:16:58,940 There is no sin in you that's greater than God's love for you. 310 00:17:00,340 --> 00:17:03,140 And this is good news for a bunch of people 311 00:17:03,140 --> 00:17:05,140 who don't have it all together. 312 00:17:07,940 --> 00:17:11,540 There's no sin in you greater than God's love for you. 313 00:17:11,540 --> 00:17:13,940 It's a totally different way to think. 314 00:17:15,340 --> 00:17:19,740 God's love for you is not in any way dependent on you. 315 00:17:19,740 --> 00:17:23,140 God never says, I love you, Tom, if. 316 00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:29,740 Hey, Susan, I love you because God never does that. 317 00:17:31,340 --> 00:17:33,340 God doesn't love you because of what you do, 318 00:17:33,340 --> 00:17:35,140 it's because of who He is. 319 00:17:35,140 --> 00:17:38,340 We are totally free from any and every attempt 320 00:17:38,340 --> 00:17:40,740 to earn more love from God. 321 00:17:40,740 --> 00:17:43,740 God will never love you any less than He does right now, 322 00:17:43,740 --> 00:17:46,940 and He will never love you any more than He does right now. 323 00:17:46,940 --> 00:17:51,140 He loves you supernaturally, and it flows from Him. 324 00:17:53,340 --> 00:17:55,140 I mean, just let that sink in. 325 00:17:58,140 --> 00:18:01,140 In a world, in a culture, 326 00:18:01,140 --> 00:18:07,140 where all kinds of people simply love those that are lovable, 327 00:18:08,340 --> 00:18:11,340 in a world where all kinds of people will say, 328 00:18:11,340 --> 00:18:15,540 well, I love you if you will do this, and if you will do that, 329 00:18:16,740 --> 00:18:19,740 when things aren't going very well, where's that love go? 330 00:18:21,140 --> 00:18:22,140 Out the door. 331 00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:26,740 In many of our lives, people have loved God, 332 00:18:26,740 --> 00:18:29,140 and they've loved Him, and they've loved Him, 333 00:18:29,140 --> 00:18:31,940 in many of our lives, people have loved us for a little while, 334 00:18:31,940 --> 00:18:34,340 and then they're gone. 335 00:18:36,540 --> 00:18:40,340 Husbands who stopped loving their wives, 336 00:18:40,340 --> 00:18:43,940 wives who can't stand their husbands, 337 00:18:45,740 --> 00:18:47,740 parents who have left your home, 338 00:18:49,940 --> 00:18:51,940 who have loved you but then aren't there anymore, 339 00:18:51,940 --> 00:18:55,140 children who rebel against their parents. 340 00:18:55,140 --> 00:18:59,140 In a world of unpredictable, especially unpredictable love, 341 00:18:59,140 --> 00:19:03,140 the nature of God is 100% predictable and 100% dependable. 342 00:19:03,140 --> 00:19:06,740 Let me tell you this morning, He is love. 343 00:19:10,140 --> 00:19:14,740 Supernatural love exists eternally in the Trinity. 344 00:19:14,740 --> 00:19:17,740 The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father, 345 00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:19,740 the Father and Son love the Spirit, 346 00:19:19,740 --> 00:19:23,740 and it's this beautiful circle of community and love. 347 00:19:23,740 --> 00:19:26,740 Now you gotta see this. 348 00:19:26,740 --> 00:19:30,740 Remember, listen to the prayer that Jesus prayed 349 00:19:30,740 --> 00:19:33,740 as He was about to go to the cross, recorded by John, 350 00:19:33,740 --> 00:19:36,740 in his gospel in chapter 17, verse 26. 351 00:19:36,740 --> 00:19:41,740 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. 352 00:19:42,740 --> 00:19:47,740 Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them. 353 00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:51,740 Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them. 354 00:19:54,740 --> 00:19:55,740 I'm gonna read it again, 355 00:19:55,740 --> 00:19:57,740 because I think it's important for you to hear. 356 00:19:58,740 --> 00:20:02,740 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. 357 00:20:02,740 --> 00:20:06,740 Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them. 358 00:20:06,740 --> 00:20:11,740 Jesus just prayed that the love of the Father, right, 359 00:20:11,740 --> 00:20:14,740 that He has for the Son would be in those 360 00:20:14,740 --> 00:20:17,740 that are in relationship with Him. 361 00:20:17,740 --> 00:20:19,740 Think about that. 362 00:20:19,740 --> 00:20:23,740 How much does God the Father love God the Son Jesus? 363 00:20:25,740 --> 00:20:30,740 He loves Him perfectly, fully, completely, unimaginably. 364 00:20:30,740 --> 00:20:31,740 It's otherworldly. 365 00:20:31,740 --> 00:20:36,740 Our minds can't even comprehend that type of love. 366 00:20:36,740 --> 00:20:40,740 You can't get any greater than the Father loving the Son. 367 00:20:40,740 --> 00:20:44,740 This is the same love God has for His sons and daughters. 368 00:20:49,740 --> 00:20:51,740 That's something to celebrate. 369 00:20:53,740 --> 00:20:57,740 God loves you like He loves Jesus' Son. 370 00:20:57,740 --> 00:21:03,740 And this means that if God the Father's love for the Son is in all of us, 371 00:21:03,740 --> 00:21:08,740 then we have that kind of love, right? 372 00:21:08,740 --> 00:21:12,740 And can experience that kind of love on a daily basis. 373 00:21:12,740 --> 00:21:14,740 The whole picture is this. 374 00:21:14,740 --> 00:21:20,740 God has invited all of us, all those in a relationship with Him, 375 00:21:20,740 --> 00:21:24,740 into this Trinitarian fellowship of love, 376 00:21:24,740 --> 00:21:29,740 which is what John has been teaching to us throughout the whole letter. 377 00:21:29,740 --> 00:21:32,740 I mean, he starts the letter, 1 John 1.3. 378 00:21:32,740 --> 00:21:38,740 Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus. 379 00:21:38,740 --> 00:21:41,740 It's a love relationship. 380 00:21:41,740 --> 00:21:44,740 And now we are in the middle of this thing. 381 00:21:44,740 --> 00:21:48,740 And they're loving on us and sharing with us. 382 00:21:48,740 --> 00:21:53,740 So I just want you to imagine right now, right where you're sitting, 383 00:21:53,740 --> 00:22:02,740 you have the ability to know the supernaturally loving God is your Father. 384 00:22:02,740 --> 00:22:06,740 Right now, right where you're sitting in your seat, 385 00:22:06,740 --> 00:22:10,740 you are a son or a daughter of God. 386 00:22:12,740 --> 00:22:15,740 And all this happens through a loving relationship with Jesus. 387 00:22:15,740 --> 00:22:18,740 See, Jesus is now our life. 388 00:22:18,740 --> 00:22:21,740 He's not a part of our lives. 389 00:22:21,740 --> 00:22:23,740 That's what being in a relationship with Jesus is. 390 00:22:23,740 --> 00:22:25,740 He is our life. 391 00:22:25,740 --> 00:22:28,740 He is not a part of our lives on Sundays. 392 00:22:28,740 --> 00:22:30,740 Can I step on your toes a second? 393 00:22:30,740 --> 00:22:35,740 See, there's too many people that put Jesus in a box. 394 00:22:35,740 --> 00:22:39,740 Oh yeah, I love Jesus on Sunday. 395 00:22:39,740 --> 00:22:44,740 Oh yeah, I love Jesus when I'm worshiping. 396 00:22:44,740 --> 00:22:47,740 But then on Monday, oh, I'm back to work. 397 00:22:47,740 --> 00:22:49,740 Oh, I got to get my kids to sports. 398 00:22:49,740 --> 00:22:52,740 Oh, I got to take care of my family. 399 00:22:52,740 --> 00:22:54,740 Oh, wait a minute, I got to exercise. 400 00:22:54,740 --> 00:22:56,740 Oh, I got school, Chris. 401 00:22:56,740 --> 00:23:00,740 Oh, but Sunday's coming and I'll get back to Jesus on Sunday. 402 00:23:00,740 --> 00:23:03,740 No! 403 00:23:03,740 --> 00:23:09,740 Like if that's your outlook, it's wrong. 404 00:23:09,740 --> 00:23:11,740 Jesus is your life. 405 00:23:11,740 --> 00:23:13,740 He's your everything. 406 00:23:13,740 --> 00:23:15,740 That's what it means to be a follower of Jesus. 407 00:23:15,740 --> 00:23:17,740 Galatians 2.20, my old self. 408 00:23:17,740 --> 00:23:21,740 This is one of my life verses has been crucified with Christ. 409 00:23:21,740 --> 00:23:23,740 It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 410 00:23:23,740 --> 00:23:27,740 So I live in this earthly body by trusting the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 411 00:23:27,740 --> 00:23:31,740 He's my life. 412 00:23:31,740 --> 00:23:35,740 So if you're in a relationship with Jesus, 413 00:23:35,740 --> 00:23:46,740 you live by faith in Him, believing in Him, and trusting that Jesus is in control every single day. 414 00:23:46,740 --> 00:23:51,740 He's in control of your joy, your happiness, your needs, your finances. 415 00:23:51,740 --> 00:23:56,740 He's the one in control. 416 00:23:56,740 --> 00:24:00,740 And so many people, they get frustrated and stressed out and overwhelmed, 417 00:24:00,740 --> 00:24:08,740 and they don't feel right because they want to take control back. 418 00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:14,740 1 John 4, 17-18, and as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. 419 00:24:14,740 --> 00:24:17,740 So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence 420 00:24:17,740 --> 00:24:20,740 because we live in Jesus here in this world. 421 00:24:20,740 --> 00:24:24,740 Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. 422 00:24:24,740 --> 00:24:27,740 If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, 423 00:24:27,740 --> 00:24:33,740 and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. 424 00:24:33,740 --> 00:24:36,740 So John is saying we have nothing to fear before God our Father. 425 00:24:36,740 --> 00:24:40,740 We are forgiven of our sins, and there's too many followers of Jesus 426 00:24:40,740 --> 00:24:49,740 that live with feelings of shame, regret, doubt, anger, insecurities, even fear of God 427 00:24:49,740 --> 00:24:51,740 because they don't know truth. 428 00:24:51,740 --> 00:24:56,740 They're not confident in the truth, and they're hesitant to go before God 429 00:24:56,740 --> 00:25:00,740 because they're convinced that God the Father is disappointed in them. 430 00:25:00,740 --> 00:25:05,740 And if that's you, it's a lie. 431 00:25:05,740 --> 00:25:12,740 If you're hesitant to go into His presence to pray, 432 00:25:12,740 --> 00:25:15,740 then you're not confident in your faith. 433 00:25:15,740 --> 00:25:23,740 Because remember what the Bible told us, as Jesus is, so also we are. 434 00:25:23,740 --> 00:25:28,740 Did Jesus ever hesitate to go into the presence of God the Father? 435 00:25:28,740 --> 00:25:32,740 No, He ran to it. 436 00:25:32,740 --> 00:25:42,740 Was Jesus ever distant from God the Father? 437 00:25:42,740 --> 00:25:50,740 No, Jesus loves the Father, and He knows the Father and His welcome in His presence. 438 00:25:50,740 --> 00:25:56,740 There's no shame in Jesus, there's no regret, there's no doubt, there's no fear. 439 00:25:56,740 --> 00:25:59,740 And if you're in a relationship with Jesus, Jesus is your life. 440 00:25:59,740 --> 00:26:06,740 You're in Him, and you don't have to stand in shame before the Father. 441 00:26:06,740 --> 00:26:11,740 You know why? Because your shame is covered by the blood of Jesus. 442 00:26:11,740 --> 00:26:19,740 And because of His broken body, you are now the righteousness of God, as He is so you are. 443 00:26:19,740 --> 00:26:23,740 And He calls us to obey and honor God. 444 00:26:23,740 --> 00:26:29,740 But know and live in the reality that you are loved by God, and you have nothing to fear. 445 00:26:29,740 --> 00:26:33,740 You can stand in confidence, which leads us to our next truth. 446 00:26:33,740 --> 00:26:39,740 Gospel confidence grows from truth, friends. You've got to get to know the Bible. 447 00:26:39,740 --> 00:26:46,740 1 John 5, for every child of God defeats the evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 448 00:26:46,740 --> 00:26:48,740 And who can win this battle against the world? 449 00:26:48,740 --> 00:26:56,740 Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by His baptism in water, 450 00:26:56,740 --> 00:27:02,740 and by shedding His blood on the cross, not by water only, but by water and blood. 451 00:27:02,740 --> 00:27:06,740 And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with this testimony. 452 00:27:06,740 --> 00:27:11,740 So John is reminding the church that the Gospel is truth. 453 00:27:11,740 --> 00:27:16,740 Eight times John uses the word testimony between verses 6 and 11. 454 00:27:16,740 --> 00:27:24,740 This testimony, if you will, is from God, and He's announcing that Jesus is the Son of God, 455 00:27:24,740 --> 00:27:27,740 and that eternal life is experienced through Him. 456 00:27:27,740 --> 00:27:31,740 Thus, the reason so many people do this. 457 00:27:31,740 --> 00:27:34,740 John 3, 16. 458 00:27:34,740 --> 00:27:36,740 You are loved. 459 00:27:36,740 --> 00:27:43,740 God loved the whole world, specifically you personally. 460 00:27:43,740 --> 00:27:51,740 And He's supporting this truth by writing about historical events in Jesus' life when He references water, blood, and Spirit. 461 00:27:51,740 --> 00:27:57,740 See, many followers read these sections of verses and they get confused. 462 00:27:57,740 --> 00:28:00,740 What the heck is this guy talking about? 463 00:28:00,740 --> 00:28:06,740 See, God has confirmed the truth of the Gospel through historical events. 464 00:28:06,740 --> 00:28:09,740 Remember, who is John writing to? 465 00:28:09,740 --> 00:28:13,740 There were false teachers denying the deity of Jesus. 466 00:28:13,740 --> 00:28:16,740 They claimed that Jesus was only human. 467 00:28:16,740 --> 00:28:24,740 He was not the Son of God and that God used Him during His ministry only and then left before He died. 468 00:28:24,740 --> 00:28:30,740 John is dismantling those lies with truth. 469 00:28:30,740 --> 00:28:33,740 His first reference, of course, is Jesus' baptism. 470 00:28:33,740 --> 00:28:38,740 When he writes, Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by His baptism in water. 471 00:28:38,740 --> 00:28:45,740 Many of us know in Matthew 3, 13, then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 472 00:28:45,740 --> 00:28:48,740 As Jesus is being baptized, what happens? 473 00:28:48,740 --> 00:28:54,740 He comes up out of the water, the dove descends, and a voice is heard. 474 00:28:54,740 --> 00:29:00,740 This is my beloved Son who brings me great joy. 475 00:29:00,740 --> 00:29:06,740 God is testifying that Jesus' baptism, that Jesus is the Son of God. 476 00:29:06,740 --> 00:29:11,740 The second historical event, number two, is Jesus' death. 477 00:29:11,740 --> 00:29:16,740 That is what John is referring to when he says by shedding His blood on the cross. 478 00:29:16,740 --> 00:29:24,740 Of course, many of us know that Jesus established communion before He died in Matthew 26, 28. 479 00:29:24,740 --> 00:29:26,740 Notice what he says. 480 00:29:26,740 --> 00:29:30,740 And He, Jesus, took a cup of wine, gave thanks to God for it. 481 00:29:30,740 --> 00:29:33,740 He gave it to them and said, each of you drink from it. 482 00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:37,740 And it is God which confirms the covenant between God and His people. 483 00:29:37,740 --> 00:29:41,740 It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 484 00:29:41,740 --> 00:29:47,740 Jesus' death was not a simple Roman execution. 485 00:29:47,740 --> 00:29:50,740 He was accomplishing the work that God sent Him to do. 486 00:29:50,740 --> 00:29:55,740 Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice and the only acceptable payment for what? 487 00:29:55,740 --> 00:29:58,740 Sins. He died on the cross. 488 00:29:58,740 --> 00:30:02,740 These events are similar to how our bank accounts work. 489 00:30:02,740 --> 00:30:04,740 You might think, what? Chris, where are you going there? 490 00:30:04,740 --> 00:30:07,740 Now, I know many of you have never had any financial hiccups. 491 00:30:07,740 --> 00:30:11,740 So just let this blow over your mind because I know you've never been in a position 492 00:30:11,740 --> 00:30:14,740 to understand how your bank account works. 493 00:30:14,740 --> 00:30:20,740 Of course, many of us know that there's pending transactions and cleared transactions. 494 00:30:20,740 --> 00:30:24,740 And there's a very distinctive difference between the two, true or false. 495 00:30:24,740 --> 00:30:26,740 Okay, thank you. Yes. 496 00:30:26,740 --> 00:30:31,740 We have to be very careful to pay attention to the two different transactions 497 00:30:31,740 --> 00:30:33,740 that some are pending, of course. 498 00:30:33,740 --> 00:30:39,740 And those pending transactions mean you can't spend that money. 499 00:30:39,740 --> 00:30:43,740 And if you do spend that money that's pending, what happens? 500 00:30:43,740 --> 00:30:49,740 Either the check bounces or you're literally standing at the checkout aisle 501 00:30:49,740 --> 00:30:56,740 and you break out your bank card and you tap and it says insufficient funds. 502 00:30:56,740 --> 00:31:01,740 To which you go, oh, I used the wrong card and you pull out your other card. 503 00:31:01,740 --> 00:31:05,740 So I know you're laughing. I know you've all done it. 504 00:31:05,740 --> 00:31:07,740 Be honest. 505 00:31:10,740 --> 00:31:14,740 When a transaction is cleared, it means it's true. 506 00:31:14,740 --> 00:31:17,740 Right? It means it's true. 507 00:31:17,740 --> 00:31:24,740 When Jesus died, all of his claims and promises were pending. 508 00:31:24,740 --> 00:31:29,740 Imagine the heartache and the pain that the disciples were experiencing 509 00:31:29,740 --> 00:31:34,740 for three days as the pending transaction was waiting to happen. 510 00:31:34,740 --> 00:31:41,740 Was Jesus crazy? Was his teachings false? Were the miracles made up? 511 00:31:41,740 --> 00:31:44,740 How could this be happening? 512 00:31:44,740 --> 00:31:49,740 But three days later when Jesus rode from the grave, the check cleared. 513 00:31:49,740 --> 00:31:53,740 And it was paid in full. 514 00:31:53,740 --> 00:31:56,740 Publicly demonstrating that he was God. 515 00:31:56,740 --> 00:32:01,740 Publicly demonstrating that his sacrificial death paid the price for our sins, friends. 516 00:32:01,740 --> 00:32:04,740 That's good news. 517 00:32:04,740 --> 00:32:07,740 And when Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death, 518 00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:12,740 not only did they receive divine proof that he was God and forgiven, 519 00:32:12,740 --> 00:32:15,740 but they also received the promise. 520 00:32:15,740 --> 00:32:18,740 Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, which leads us to our fourth truth. 521 00:32:18,740 --> 00:32:21,740 This is good stuff, isn't it? 522 00:32:21,740 --> 00:32:24,740 Man, this is good stuff. 523 00:32:24,740 --> 00:32:28,740 Everyone just nod. I'm learning something today. 524 00:32:28,740 --> 00:32:34,740 Gospel confidence is daily revealed by the Holy Spirit. 525 00:32:34,740 --> 00:32:39,740 See, the good news about this truth is that we get to encounter this daily. 526 00:32:39,740 --> 00:32:44,740 First John 5, 6 through 12 in the Spirit, who is truth confirms it with his testimony. 527 00:32:44,740 --> 00:32:47,740 So we have these three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood. 528 00:32:47,740 --> 00:32:49,740 And they all three agree. 529 00:32:49,740 --> 00:32:55,740 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. 530 00:32:55,740 --> 00:32:58,740 And God is testified about his son. 531 00:32:58,740 --> 00:33:02,740 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. 532 00:33:02,740 --> 00:33:06,740 Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar 533 00:33:06,740 --> 00:33:09,740 because they don't believe what God has testified about his son. 534 00:33:09,740 --> 00:33:12,740 And this is what God has testified. 535 00:33:12,740 --> 00:33:16,740 He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. 536 00:33:16,740 --> 00:33:22,740 Whoever has the son has life, whoever does not have God's son does not have life. 537 00:33:22,740 --> 00:33:26,740 God is confirming the truth of the Gospel. 538 00:33:26,740 --> 00:33:30,740 Historically, it is baptism and it is death and resurrection, 539 00:33:30,740 --> 00:33:40,740 but also the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit that God continues to confirm within us every single day. 540 00:33:40,740 --> 00:33:44,740 Not just historically or in the past, but presently in us. 541 00:33:44,740 --> 00:33:51,740 Because we read in Romans chapter 8, for his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. 542 00:33:51,740 --> 00:33:53,740 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. 543 00:33:53,740 --> 00:33:56,740 In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of his glory. 544 00:33:56,740 --> 00:34:01,740 But if we are to share his glory, we also must share his suffering. 545 00:34:01,740 --> 00:34:05,740 That's the ongoing work of the Spirit in us. 546 00:34:05,740 --> 00:34:09,740 We are God's testimonies. 547 00:34:09,740 --> 00:34:10,740 Think about that. 548 00:34:10,740 --> 00:34:15,740 Your life has now become a reflection of God's love to the world. 549 00:34:15,740 --> 00:34:20,740 We have faith that is rooted in actual historical events. 550 00:34:20,740 --> 00:34:23,740 This isn't mythology here. This is history. 551 00:34:23,740 --> 00:34:29,740 There was a man named Jesus who was born into our world and lived a real life. 552 00:34:29,740 --> 00:34:37,740 He died. He was risen from the dead with real people giving testimony to meeting the risen Savior of the world. 553 00:34:37,740 --> 00:34:44,740 God now continues that work in us through the Holy Spirit to reveal the love relationship he has for us. 554 00:34:44,740 --> 00:34:49,740 This is truth that we can stand on with confidence. 555 00:34:49,740 --> 00:34:58,740 And see every person gathered in this room, every person watching online is now being given the opportunity to receive the good news. 556 00:34:58,740 --> 00:35:01,740 Or reject it. 557 00:35:01,740 --> 00:35:05,740 Whether we will trust this testimony of God or reject it. 558 00:35:05,740 --> 00:35:12,740 Notice, whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the Son, have God's Son does not have life. 559 00:35:12,740 --> 00:35:17,740 I mean, this is amazing to think about, but eternal life hinges on faith in Jesus. 560 00:35:17,740 --> 00:35:24,740 Developing an ongoing loving relationship with God's Son is the key to kingdom confidence. 561 00:35:24,740 --> 00:35:28,740 You know why? It changes the way we live. It changes the way we think. 562 00:35:28,740 --> 00:35:32,740 It changes our total outlook on life. 563 00:35:32,740 --> 00:35:37,740 All of us can have this confidence in three simple ways. 564 00:35:37,740 --> 00:35:43,740 John continues to say, stand on your confidence, which leads us to action step number one. 565 00:35:43,740 --> 00:35:47,740 We can have confidence that God hears us. 566 00:35:47,740 --> 00:35:55,740 John continues in verses 14 to 15 of chapter five, and we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 567 00:35:55,740 --> 00:36:00,740 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 568 00:36:00,740 --> 00:36:05,740 God hears us. God hears his children. 569 00:36:05,740 --> 00:36:10,740 I have several children. I specifically have one that's four years old. 570 00:36:10,740 --> 00:36:19,740 And my youngest son named Phoenix has this incredible ability to keep talking even when I'm ignoring him. 571 00:36:19,740 --> 00:36:24,740 Phoenix loves to watch TV shows. 572 00:36:24,740 --> 00:36:26,740 He loves it. 573 00:36:26,740 --> 00:36:33,740 He's very familiar with TV because I believe that he may be an ADD child like his father. 574 00:36:33,740 --> 00:36:38,740 OK, so TV calms us down. 575 00:36:38,740 --> 00:36:45,740 Phoenix will continue to ask for permission to watch TV shows, even though Jess and I have said no 10 times. 576 00:36:45,740 --> 00:36:49,740 And after a certain point, him continuing to ask, can I watch a show? 577 00:36:49,740 --> 00:36:52,740 Can I watch a show now? Can I watch a show in five minutes? 578 00:36:52,740 --> 00:36:54,740 If I clean my toys up, can I watch a show? 579 00:36:54,740 --> 00:36:56,740 Can I please watch a show? 580 00:36:56,740 --> 00:37:00,740 Even though he keeps asking, guess what? We're not listening. 581 00:37:00,740 --> 00:37:05,740 Even though I audibly hear him, I'm not going to grant his request. 582 00:37:05,740 --> 00:37:11,740 And see, unfortunately, there's too many followers of Jesus to believe that's how God is. 583 00:37:11,740 --> 00:37:16,740 And this is not what John is saying. 584 00:37:16,740 --> 00:37:20,740 God not only hears us, he also answers our prayers. 585 00:37:20,740 --> 00:37:23,740 But see, the problem for many followers of Jesus is this. 586 00:37:23,740 --> 00:37:28,740 God doesn't necessarily answer our prayers the way we want him to answer them. 587 00:37:28,740 --> 00:37:33,740 So therefore we think, oh, we are not answering them. 588 00:37:33,740 --> 00:37:35,740 Yet in Psalm 4.3 we read, 589 00:37:35,740 --> 00:37:38,740 You can be sure of this, the Lord set apart the godly for himself. 590 00:37:38,740 --> 00:37:41,740 The Lord will answer when I call to him. 591 00:37:41,740 --> 00:37:48,740 We can be confident as sons and daughters of God that when we cry out to God, he hears us. 592 00:37:48,740 --> 00:37:50,740 That's our inheritance. 593 00:37:50,740 --> 00:37:56,740 As children of God, we are given the ability to go before the God of the universe and make requests. 594 00:37:56,740 --> 00:38:00,740 Now we are not to go before God begrudgingly, but with confidence. 595 00:38:00,740 --> 00:38:02,740 We learned that in Hebrews chapter 4. 596 00:38:02,740 --> 00:38:07,740 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 597 00:38:07,740 --> 00:38:12,740 There we will receive his mercy and his grace to help us when we need it most. 598 00:38:12,740 --> 00:38:15,740 But we must focus on what John wrote. 599 00:38:15,740 --> 00:38:20,740 Our requests must be those that please him. 600 00:38:20,740 --> 00:38:24,740 See, God has revealed to us his plans, his purposes to us, 601 00:38:24,740 --> 00:38:29,740 to every single one of us gathered and watching online throughout the Bible. 602 00:38:29,740 --> 00:38:33,740 And our requests to God must be made on those truths. 603 00:38:33,740 --> 00:38:36,740 This is when we walk in confidence. 604 00:38:36,740 --> 00:38:42,740 Our prayers cannot be based on whether or not God answers how we think he should answer them. 605 00:38:42,740 --> 00:38:50,740 We have to trust that his ways are much better than my way. 606 00:38:50,740 --> 00:38:52,740 Think about this. 607 00:38:52,740 --> 00:38:56,740 Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was about to go to the cross. 608 00:38:56,740 --> 00:39:01,740 Not my will be done, but yours. 609 00:39:01,740 --> 00:39:08,740 In order for us to confidently pray this way, we have to want what God wants more than what we want. 610 00:39:08,740 --> 00:39:12,740 What pleases God has to be our heart's desires. 611 00:39:12,740 --> 00:39:15,740 And don't get me wrong. Hear me out. 612 00:39:15,740 --> 00:39:18,740 God cares about every detail of your life. 613 00:39:18,740 --> 00:39:21,740 He cares about your desires, your needs, your worries. 614 00:39:21,740 --> 00:39:23,740 He cares about your dreams. 615 00:39:23,740 --> 00:39:26,740 He cares about your children. He cares about your marriage. 616 00:39:26,740 --> 00:39:29,740 But if this dominates our prayer life, 617 00:39:29,740 --> 00:39:33,740 then we'll be missing out on what God is inviting us into. 618 00:39:33,740 --> 00:39:35,740 There's so much more. 619 00:39:35,740 --> 00:39:41,740 John is pointing their attention, he's pointing the church's attention to the needs around them. 620 00:39:41,740 --> 00:39:44,740 Look how he continues, 1 John 5, 6, and he's 17. 621 00:39:44,740 --> 00:39:48,740 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray. 622 00:39:48,740 --> 00:39:50,740 And God will give that person life. 623 00:39:50,740 --> 00:39:55,740 But there is a sin that leads to death, and I'm not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 624 00:39:55,740 --> 00:39:59,740 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. 625 00:39:59,740 --> 00:40:02,740 Now hear me again, confusion. 626 00:40:02,740 --> 00:40:06,740 John is not referencing a particular sin here. 627 00:40:06,740 --> 00:40:08,740 Remember the context. 628 00:40:08,740 --> 00:40:14,740 Jesus followers are watching other members of their church family abandon the truth. 629 00:40:14,740 --> 00:40:16,740 They're rejecting the gospel. 630 00:40:16,740 --> 00:40:20,740 And John is saying there are two kinds of sin, two categories of sin. 631 00:40:20,740 --> 00:40:22,740 Everyone sins. 632 00:40:22,740 --> 00:40:25,740 All wrongdoing is sin. 633 00:40:25,740 --> 00:40:31,740 But there are those that repent and trust in Jesus, and that sin does not lead to death. 634 00:40:31,740 --> 00:40:35,740 They will not face eternal judgment because they are what? Forgiven. 635 00:40:35,740 --> 00:40:43,740 But there are those who sin but refuse to trust in Jesus, and that sin leads to death. 636 00:40:43,740 --> 00:40:48,740 This is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 637 00:40:48,740 --> 00:40:55,740 Theologian John Stott calls it this way, a deliberate open-eyed rejection of known truth. 638 00:40:55,740 --> 00:40:59,740 People who reject the only way to experience eternal life. 639 00:40:59,740 --> 00:41:04,740 And John is saying there is a point of no return in a person's heart. 640 00:41:04,740 --> 00:41:12,740 When a person's heart becomes so hardened that they simply will not receive the grace of God, 641 00:41:12,740 --> 00:41:15,740 then they will stand in judgment. 642 00:41:15,740 --> 00:41:18,740 And here's the reality, friends. 643 00:41:18,740 --> 00:41:21,740 We have family members, friends, coworkers, classmates, 644 00:41:21,740 --> 00:41:25,740 many people within our sphere of influence that are not walking an abundant life, 645 00:41:25,740 --> 00:41:28,740 and our hearts should break for them. 646 00:41:28,740 --> 00:41:31,740 We need to pray for God to intervene. 647 00:41:31,740 --> 00:41:38,740 And so often, see, the problem, church, is when we read verses 14 to 15 to ask for anything, 648 00:41:38,740 --> 00:41:43,740 the first thing we think about when we hear ask for anything is our needs. 649 00:41:43,740 --> 00:41:46,740 Because we're selfish. 650 00:41:46,740 --> 00:41:51,740 And John is challenging us to see all the needs around us. 651 00:41:51,740 --> 00:41:55,740 Pray for the needs that are in our sphere of influence. 652 00:41:55,740 --> 00:41:59,740 Pray for the church that is being persecuted around the world. 653 00:41:59,740 --> 00:42:02,740 We just learned that two months ago. 654 00:42:02,740 --> 00:42:08,740 Pray for women and children caught up in sex trafficking that they would experience freedom. 655 00:42:08,740 --> 00:42:10,740 Don't judge Joe Biden. 656 00:42:10,740 --> 00:42:21,740 Pray for him because the Bible tells us to. 657 00:42:21,740 --> 00:42:23,740 Well, that's between you and God. 658 00:42:23,740 --> 00:42:27,740 Last time I checked, I believe Jesus said that if there's any unforgiveness in your heart, 659 00:42:27,740 --> 00:42:32,740 you might want to go to him because you're not forgiven until you forgive. 660 00:42:32,740 --> 00:42:34,740 Simple statement. 661 00:42:34,740 --> 00:42:39,740 If God answered all your prayers over the last seven days, 662 00:42:39,740 --> 00:42:46,740 would anything in the world change or just your world? 663 00:42:46,740 --> 00:42:52,740 See, God has invited us to pray bold, world-changing prayers, 664 00:42:52,740 --> 00:42:54,740 which leads us to our next step. 665 00:42:54,740 --> 00:42:58,740 We can have confidence that God transformed us. 666 00:42:58,740 --> 00:43:00,740 1 John 5, 18-19. 667 00:43:00,740 --> 00:43:03,740 We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, 668 00:43:03,740 --> 00:43:07,740 for God's Son holds them securely and the evil one cannot touch them. 669 00:43:07,740 --> 00:43:12,740 We know that we are children of God and the world around us is under control of the evil one. 670 00:43:12,740 --> 00:43:13,740 Here's the reality. 671 00:43:13,740 --> 00:43:18,740 If you're in a relationship with Jesus daily, you face opposition from three forces. 672 00:43:18,740 --> 00:43:22,740 Satan, the world, and your flesh. 673 00:43:22,740 --> 00:43:23,740 The Bible is clear. 674 00:43:23,740 --> 00:43:26,740 There is a coordinated effort to pull us away from God. 675 00:43:26,740 --> 00:43:31,740 The devil uses the world system, which we know is set against God, 676 00:43:31,740 --> 00:43:37,740 in rebellion to God, and our flesh, so that we turn away from God. 677 00:43:37,740 --> 00:43:43,740 He uses those three things to tempt us away from Jesus, to destroy our what? 678 00:43:43,740 --> 00:43:44,740 Confidence. 679 00:43:44,740 --> 00:43:45,740 But John gives us hope. 680 00:43:45,740 --> 00:43:49,740 He says God's children do not make a practice of sinning. 681 00:43:49,740 --> 00:43:54,740 He's reminding us that it's all about our direction. 682 00:43:54,740 --> 00:43:55,740 You're never going to be perfect. 683 00:43:55,740 --> 00:43:57,740 It's not about perfection. 684 00:43:57,740 --> 00:43:58,740 You're going to make mistakes. 685 00:43:58,740 --> 00:44:00,740 You're going to say the wrong thing every single day. 686 00:44:00,740 --> 00:44:04,740 But are you moving towards Jesus or away? 687 00:44:04,740 --> 00:44:10,740 And I believe if you're standing still, you're moving away. 688 00:44:10,740 --> 00:44:12,740 When we believe in Jesus, we are transformed. 689 00:44:12,740 --> 00:44:13,740 We are born again. 690 00:44:13,740 --> 00:44:15,740 We are new creations. 691 00:44:15,740 --> 00:44:18,740 We have a whole new mind, a whole new outlook, a whole new lifestyle. 692 00:44:18,740 --> 00:44:24,740 And as the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out, who are we to look more like? 693 00:44:24,740 --> 00:44:27,740 Jesus. 694 00:44:27,740 --> 00:44:30,740 But what about the temptation, Chris? 695 00:44:30,740 --> 00:44:31,740 It's so overwhelming. 696 00:44:31,740 --> 00:44:35,740 What about when I feel trapped in sin? 697 00:44:35,740 --> 00:44:39,740 Have confidence that Satan cannot overpower you. 698 00:44:39,740 --> 00:44:45,740 Because the Bible says, and what we just read, Jesus sustains us and empowers us to overcome. 699 00:44:45,740 --> 00:44:50,740 We just read that Jesus holds us securely and Satan cannot touch them. 700 00:44:50,740 --> 00:44:55,740 Now, so many of us, when we think about touch, we think about a little touch. 701 00:44:55,740 --> 00:45:01,740 That word touch in the Hebrew means to tackle. 702 00:45:01,740 --> 00:45:07,740 I want you to think about a Ray Lewis head on tackle that you wouldn't win. 703 00:45:07,740 --> 00:45:15,740 Even if you are a Steelers fan, you're going to be hit the ground hard. 704 00:45:15,740 --> 00:45:20,740 But if you're in a relationship with Jesus, notice what it says. 705 00:45:20,740 --> 00:45:22,740 Jesus holds you securely. 706 00:45:22,740 --> 00:45:26,740 You will not be overpowered. 707 00:45:26,740 --> 00:45:30,740 You're not going to be tackled because you're brand new. 708 00:45:30,740 --> 00:45:34,740 You're transformed. 709 00:45:34,740 --> 00:45:39,740 Augustine was a fourth century bishop, pastoring in North Africa. 710 00:45:39,740 --> 00:45:42,740 There's a story told about him that goes like this. 711 00:45:42,740 --> 00:45:50,740 Before meeting Jesus, Augustine lived a very sexually immoral life, always visiting prostitutes in the area. 712 00:45:50,740 --> 00:45:54,740 He was walking down the street one day after he was in a relationship with Jesus. 713 00:45:54,740 --> 00:45:59,740 And one of his former mistresses was working the same street that he was walking down. 714 00:45:59,740 --> 00:46:04,740 The prostitute quickly began to run towards him when Augustine saw her. 715 00:46:04,740 --> 00:46:10,740 He stopped, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction. 716 00:46:10,740 --> 00:46:17,740 She was surprised and called out, Augustine, it is I. 717 00:46:17,740 --> 00:46:20,740 Augustine responded as he continued to walk the other way. 718 00:46:20,740 --> 00:46:24,740 Yes, but it is not I. 719 00:46:24,740 --> 00:46:30,740 The point, temptation comes knocking every single day. 720 00:46:30,740 --> 00:46:35,740 Don't be surprised. 721 00:46:35,740 --> 00:46:43,740 Augustine was simply responding to that temptation by saying, no. 722 00:46:43,740 --> 00:46:47,740 I have a new identity and a power that overcomes temptation. 723 00:46:47,740 --> 00:46:52,740 I'm not the same person I used to be when I was enjoying sin. 724 00:46:52,740 --> 00:46:55,740 Jesus follower, you have victory over sin. 725 00:46:55,740 --> 00:47:03,740 You don't have to be enslaved to jealousy or greed or materialism or anger or addiction or sexual immorality. 726 00:47:03,740 --> 00:47:06,740 You can be born again. 727 00:47:06,740 --> 00:47:13,740 And you have a supernatural power inside of you that overcomes the power of the enemy. 728 00:47:13,740 --> 00:47:16,740 You don't have to be enslaved to sin anymore. 729 00:47:16,740 --> 00:47:24,740 In Romans 6, we know that our old sinful lives have been crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. 730 00:47:24,740 --> 00:47:26,740 We are no longer slaves to sin. 731 00:47:26,740 --> 00:47:33,740 For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin, which leads us to our final truth. 732 00:47:33,740 --> 00:47:37,740 I'm sorry, our final step. 733 00:47:37,740 --> 00:47:41,740 We can have a confidence that we have a relationship with God. 734 00:47:41,740 --> 00:47:46,740 And we know that the Son of God has come and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. 735 00:47:46,740 --> 00:47:51,740 And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ. 736 00:47:51,740 --> 00:47:54,740 He is the only true God and he is eternal life. 737 00:47:54,740 --> 00:48:00,740 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts. 738 00:48:00,740 --> 00:48:05,740 See, if you're in a relationship with Jesus and you're here this morning or you're watching online, 739 00:48:05,740 --> 00:48:10,740 or maybe you're here this morning and you're searching and you're not sure you believe at all, 740 00:48:10,740 --> 00:48:19,740 John is saying, don't put your trust in anything that this world has to offer. 741 00:48:19,740 --> 00:48:23,740 Don't allow anything to become a substitute for God. 742 00:48:23,740 --> 00:48:28,740 Anything that replaces God in your life, you need to deal with it and get rid of it. 743 00:48:28,740 --> 00:48:34,740 And you say, well, Chris, how do I know if I'm placing a higher value on something that's in my life? 744 00:48:34,740 --> 00:48:42,740 Well, do you have a higher value about your possessions or your careers or your addictions? 745 00:48:42,740 --> 00:48:48,740 I don't know. Do they take priority over your relationship with God? 746 00:48:48,740 --> 00:48:52,740 And John is saying, don't replace God with fake gods. That's what he's saying. 747 00:48:52,740 --> 00:48:56,740 Because the real God is pursuing us and loves us. 748 00:48:56,740 --> 00:49:00,740 And Jesus has come into this world to what? Destroy the works of the enemy. 749 00:49:00,740 --> 00:49:05,740 Jesus came so that we may know him and have a relationship with him. 750 00:49:05,740 --> 00:49:09,740 But not just know about him, but know him personally. 751 00:49:09,740 --> 00:49:20,740 And who is Jesus? Was he simply an exemplary human being like secular humanist belief? 752 00:49:20,740 --> 00:49:25,740 Was he just a prophet from God like the Muslims believe? 753 00:49:25,740 --> 00:49:34,740 Was he just an inferior created mini God like the Jehovah's Witnesses believe on another planet? 754 00:49:34,740 --> 00:49:44,740 No. John, remember who's writing this? God, John, saw him, touched him, listened to him, walked with him, 755 00:49:44,740 --> 00:49:51,740 put his head on his chest, says that Jesus was the true God and he is eternal life. 756 00:49:51,740 --> 00:49:55,740 That's who he is. Remember the purpose for John writing this letter. 757 00:49:55,740 --> 00:50:01,740 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. 758 00:50:01,740 --> 00:50:04,740 What is that? Confidence. 759 00:50:04,740 --> 00:50:08,740 And listen to how John defines eternal life in his gospel account. 760 00:50:08,740 --> 00:50:12,740 John 17, 3, for you have given him authority over everyone. 761 00:50:12,740 --> 00:50:15,740 He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 762 00:50:15,740 --> 00:50:24,740 And this is the way to have eternal life, to know you, the only true God in Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 763 00:50:24,740 --> 00:50:30,740 Eternal life is not about the number and quality of days here on this earth. 764 00:50:30,740 --> 00:50:36,740 Eternal life is about abundance. It's about communion with God. 765 00:50:36,740 --> 00:50:43,740 It's about a relationship with God that overwhelms you to the point that it doesn't become religious activity. 766 00:50:43,740 --> 00:50:51,740 If you believe church is a bunch of religious activity, then you're not in a love relationship with God. 767 00:50:51,740 --> 00:50:57,740 The essence of eternal life is a daily relationship with Jesus. 768 00:50:57,740 --> 00:51:02,740 And I want to encourage you, God is not a distant being that cannot be reached. 769 00:51:02,740 --> 00:51:08,740 You know how I know that? He came to us so that we can connect with him. 770 00:51:08,740 --> 00:51:19,740 He came to us. And God desires to know you personally by experiencing his love. 771 00:51:19,740 --> 00:51:27,740 I was leading a celebration of life this past Monday and we closed the service with the hymn, Amazing Grace. 772 00:51:27,740 --> 00:51:32,740 As I listened to the words being sung, I literally began to weep. 773 00:51:32,740 --> 00:51:41,740 Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 774 00:51:41,740 --> 00:51:51,740 I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind, but now I see. 775 00:51:51,740 --> 00:51:59,740 And see, listen, that was a celebration of life that was celebratory. You want to know why? 776 00:51:59,740 --> 00:52:07,740 Because we celebrated the life of a 93 year old mother that loved Jesus. 777 00:52:07,740 --> 00:52:15,740 And her desire was to leave behind a legacy for her children to walk in. 778 00:52:15,740 --> 00:52:25,740 To leave behind a legacy of Jesus followers that will change this world. 779 00:52:25,740 --> 00:52:29,740 What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? 780 00:52:29,740 --> 00:52:35,740 Because see, if you're not leaving behind a legacy that is pointing others to Jesus, 781 00:52:35,740 --> 00:52:49,740 then you're not standing in kingdom confidence. Will you stand with me? 782 00:52:49,740 --> 00:53:00,740 Listen, I purposely did not plan how to close this gathering 783 00:53:00,740 --> 00:53:12,740 because I felt like the truths that were going to be shared were more than enough to change lives today. 784 00:53:12,740 --> 00:53:22,740 God loves you, and that should take on a completely different context in your life now. 785 00:53:22,740 --> 00:53:26,740 He loves you because He is love. 786 00:53:26,740 --> 00:53:35,740 And He comes to us in our brokenness, in our weakness, and desires just to connect with us personally 787 00:53:35,740 --> 00:53:42,740 so that we can then go and connect with others. Amen? 788 00:53:42,740 --> 00:53:48,740 So here's what I want to challenge you to do. 789 00:53:48,740 --> 00:53:53,740 If there's a ceiling in your relationship with God, meaning is there a sin, 790 00:53:53,740 --> 00:54:00,740 is there something that's preventing you from fully experiencing the love of the Father? 791 00:54:00,740 --> 00:54:05,740 Lay it down today. Get rid of it. 792 00:54:05,740 --> 00:54:11,740 The Bible uses the word repent. We've made it a negative term, and what does it mean? 793 00:54:11,740 --> 00:54:16,740 Just turn away from it. Lay it down. 794 00:54:16,740 --> 00:54:21,740 And allow God to restore that connection and overwhelm you with His love, 795 00:54:21,740 --> 00:54:27,740 because I tell you, you'll never experience anything else in this world that's like it. 796 00:54:27,740 --> 00:54:31,740 And He's inviting you to change. 797 00:54:31,740 --> 00:54:37,740 So Holy Spirit, come. Reveal to us, God. Reveal to us. 798 00:54:37,740 --> 00:54:45,740 Anything that's not allowing us to experience your love this morning. 799 00:54:45,740 --> 00:54:51,740 And God, we just choose as an act of our will to lay it down before you. 800 00:54:51,740 --> 00:54:57,740 We love you, and we're thankful for your love in this place. 801 00:54:57,740 --> 00:55:00,740 Holy Spirit, just blow through this room. 802 00:55:00,740 --> 00:55:06,740 I just pray you surround each and every heart with your love and your workings. 803 00:55:06,740 --> 00:55:13,740 I just pray that every heart gathered here this morning recognizes that you are here. 804 00:55:13,740 --> 00:55:17,740 In Jesus' name, Amen. 805 00:55:17,740 --> 00:55:23,740 So listen, there was a word given this morning for this gathering specifically. 806 00:55:23,740 --> 00:55:29,740 If you are having heart issues or some type of heart condition, we want to pray for you this morning. 807 00:55:29,740 --> 00:55:32,740 Our prayer team will be here on my right. 808 00:55:32,740 --> 00:55:41,740 All you have to do is make your way up and receive prayer, because we believe that God wants to heal you today. 809 00:55:41,740 --> 00:55:44,740 We believe that He still works and moves in your life. 810 00:55:44,740 --> 00:55:49,740 Before we go, I want to pray a simple prayer, because I can't have a gathering like this. 811 00:55:49,740 --> 00:55:56,740 I can't share truths like this without the opportunity to begin that relationship. Amen. 812 00:55:56,740 --> 00:56:06,740 So let's pray together. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of doubt, shame, regret, sin. Change me. 813 00:56:06,740 --> 00:56:16,740 I believe you're God's Son. I believe you died for me. Make me new. Set me free. 814 00:56:16,740 --> 00:56:27,740 Fill me with your Spirit. Help me to serve others. In Jesus' name, Amen. 815 00:56:27,740 --> 00:56:32,740 Listen, text me, call me, hug me. Let me know that you're in that relationship. 816 00:56:32,740 --> 00:56:39,740 I want to see you baptized on Good Friday. Okay, we continue and close our series next week. 817 00:56:39,740 --> 00:56:46,740 Looking at 1 John 2 and 3. I'm going to that door. Please let me wait and get there so I can say goodbye. 818 00:56:46,740 --> 00:57:02,740 Thank you for joining us online. God bless you guys.