1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,440 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:23,060 To get connected or to give online go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 3 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:27,360 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,840 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:31,840 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:39,160 Hey good morning Hub City and welcome to Digital Hub City Vineyard for our first ever live 7 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:43,200 stream only Sunday morning gathering. 8 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,720 We're so glad that you're here, that you're joining us and that you're watching us online. 9 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:54,600 Now I know for all of us this past week has kind of turned our lives upside down if you 10 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:55,600 will. 11 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:02,320 This is Rhett shared, we're living in unprecedented times, times that we have never seen or experienced 12 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:03,320 before. 13 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:10,360 I was listening to a podcast on Friday actually and Ed Stetzer was just referring to the simple 14 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:16,640 truth that we thought 9-11 was big for many of us and it changed our lives and our understanding 15 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:17,760 of the world. 16 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:24,560 This is going to just make 9-11 just seem small in terms of our understanding and our 17 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,680 world view that is coming towards us. 18 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,640 So I want to encourage you that we've been praying for you all week. 19 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:38,660 We have been trying to reach out and to connect with you and to encourage you in any way possible. 20 00:01:38,660 --> 00:01:45,280 Now also in that podcast Ed Stetzer shared that in times like these, in times of fear 21 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:52,160 and doubt and negativity and sickness and disease, the church or Christians have always 22 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,520 been known to run towards the fire. 23 00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:00,760 Now hear me out, I'm not telling any of you nor am I asking our staff or our community 24 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:08,440 of faith to be irresponsible when it comes to the coronavirus and the sickness that's 25 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:13,800 spreading around the world and within our country, but I am saying that as a community 26 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,320 of faith and as people in our relationship with Jesus, we are called to be a light to 27 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:19,480 the world. 28 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:25,840 And that means we need to be smart in terms of our keeping social distancing, making sure 29 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,340 that we're being sanitary, but that doesn't mean we can't visit our neighbors. 30 00:02:30,340 --> 00:02:34,880 We can't knock on a door, we can't send a text or make a phone call to check in on people 31 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:40,640 that we know could be vulnerable or could be living in fear or could be questioning 32 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:42,440 why this is all happening. 33 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:48,240 And it's a great opportunity for us to be the church, to be the hands and feet of Jesus 34 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:53,160 and to really reach out and connect with our community and make a difference. 35 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,800 Now for those of you that are part of our community of faith, we are doing the best 36 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,360 we can to stay connected with you. 37 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:08,480 For example, on Mondays and Fridays, Steve Wilcox is setting up digital Zoom hangouts 38 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:15,200 for all of our teenagers at 7 p.m. every night on Monday and Friday so that they can connect 39 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,360 together, have a lesson, pray together and worship together. 40 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:24,800 This coming Wednesday here at our building in our parking lot from 5 to 7, we're going 41 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,600 to have drive-through prayer. 42 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,240 That's right, hop in your car, head on out to the vineyard. 43 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,480 That doesn't mean you're going to get out or go in the building, but you can drive through 44 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:34,480 our parking lot. 45 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:41,500 We will have people set up to greet you, to hear your prayer requests and to pray for 46 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:45,680 any needs that you or your friends or your family may have. 47 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,920 So again, I want to encourage you, if you're looking to get out, that's a great way to 48 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:55,360 get out and let others know if they need prayer or they want to connect in, that they're invited 49 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,440 to come and be a part of that on Wednesday nights. 50 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:04,920 And not only that, but we're going to really just take our social media to a new level. 51 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:10,400 We're going to create different Facebook Live Hangouts during the day, in the evenings. 52 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:16,640 We're going to encourage our groups to remain connected in our Zoom chat rooms. 53 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,560 And the most important thing through this is we need to know if you have a need. 54 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,700 We need to remain connected with one another through phone, through text, through email, 55 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:31,120 so that if something arises, if you need something in your life, that we want to be there for 56 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,120 you. 57 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,400 We want to be the church. 58 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,880 As far as the community, what are we doing in the community? 59 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:41,880 We're connecting with different community leaders, accessing needs that are in our community 60 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,680 and seeing where we can plug in and make a difference. 61 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,240 We are going to encourage and support all of the healthcare workers that are in our 62 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:54,600 church and that are working 24-7, literally, in the hospitals. 63 00:04:54,600 --> 00:05:00,600 We're going to be blessing them and sending them encouraging letters and words. 64 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,880 And it's just different ways that we can really plug into our community. 65 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,840 And if there are needs, we're going to put them out there so that if you feel you can 66 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:14,240 volunteer or you want to serve, jump on board and be a part of what God is doing. 67 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:19,800 So moving forward here, you know, I was really praying about how to continue this talk this 68 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:26,000 morning, and I really felt prompted by God to complete our Live Like Jesus series. 69 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,960 And it's one of those things where when you're in a crisis like this, you want to suddenly 70 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:35,400 just speak right to the crisis, but then I began to think, what better way to make a 71 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,000 difference in our community than to simply live like Jesus? 72 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:44,320 So we're going to conclude that series this morning with a simple talk called Jesus in 73 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:50,400 Me, and we're going to look at how God is actually alive in each and every one of us. 74 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,280 And I just want to open in prayer this morning and invite the Holy Spirit to overwhelm you 75 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:55,280 in love. 76 00:05:55,280 --> 00:06:00,120 And invite your presence and your peace into each and every living room, God. 77 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:05,600 God, we just thank you for each and every person that is joining us, that may still 78 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:11,500 be sitting in their PJs, God, and just experiencing church in a different way. 79 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:14,880 We just ask, God, that you would unite us, that you would bring us together, that we 80 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,640 are watching online. 81 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:22,080 We know without a doubt that you are in our midst. 82 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:26,960 So God, I just ask that these words be your words, not mine, and that you would change 83 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,120 our lives in Jesus' name. 84 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:30,120 Amen. 85 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,960 So for the last four weeks, we've been in this series, Live Like Jesus, and it's been 86 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,720 a great journey so far. 87 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,680 Three weeks ago, I kicked this series off with just a simple talk on the gospel, the three 88 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:46,920 in one gospel, and how we look at creation and what Jesus did and now what that means 89 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:47,920 for us. 90 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:54,840 Two weeks ago, John had a challenging talk on dead to sin and alive to God, and last 91 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:58,800 week I continued this series with a talk on renewing the mind. 92 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:03,600 And just like I said earlier, today I just want to speak to Jesus in me. 93 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,200 You know, God is alive in you. 94 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:12,040 And when you hear those words quite often, many of us question, well, what does that 95 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:13,040 mean? 96 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:17,480 And it's almost as if we separate those simple truths and we kind of put, yeah, I know that 97 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,960 God is in me, but we kind of put it up there on a shelf somewhere and we don't really apply 98 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:29,680 it to our heart or our spirit because we don't really understand the power behind that truth, 99 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,440 which leads us very simply to our first thought this morning. 100 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,520 And our first thought is this. 101 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,800 Let me get to it there. 102 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,920 Jesus' followers are alive to God. 103 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:47,640 Now in the book of Romans, chapter six, we read the first thing that Paul really asks 104 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,280 us to do in the book of Romans. 105 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:56,720 The first five full chapters, he is telling us about Jesus and the history and what Jesus' 106 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,520 death and his resurrection meant. 107 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,880 And suddenly in chapter six, verse 11, he says these words. 108 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:10,000 So you should also consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God 109 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,080 through Christ Jesus. 110 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:16,920 Now almost everything that we've talked to in the past three weeks up to this point has 111 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:21,520 been focusing on that truth, dead to sin, that we have a new identity, that we're a 112 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,360 new creation, that we are dead to sin. 113 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:29,520 But now suddenly Paul takes it a step further and he challenges us and he says, no, don't 114 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:35,960 just focus on those things, but embrace the reality that you're alive to God. 115 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:40,560 Now, some of you are sitting there in your couches looking at him and saying, well, Chris, 116 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:41,560 what does that mean? 117 00:08:41,560 --> 00:08:46,680 Well, Paul writes these words in Ephesians chapter two, verses one through five. 118 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:53,200 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins, but because of his great 119 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:59,600 love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we are dead 120 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:04,880 in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved. 121 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:12,360 Now when it says dead, dead is defined as no longer living, complete or absolute. 122 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:18,360 And Paul is saying when a person is not in a relationship with Jesus, they're dead. 123 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,880 They are not living with meaning, they're not living with purpose, they're not living 124 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,460 their true identity. 125 00:09:24,460 --> 00:09:30,000 But once a relationship with Jesus begins, then suddenly life begins and we truly are 126 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,680 alive. 127 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:36,080 Now last Tuesday, many of you know was St. Patrick's Day. 128 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:41,600 And when we think of St. Patrick's Day, quite often our mind goes to shamrocks and leprechauns. 129 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:47,520 And for some of you, you think green beer and it almost has become this drunken festival 130 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:54,080 to remember the Irish, when in reality, the opposite is true. 131 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,160 This whole holiday was created around this man named Patrick. 132 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,880 And I just want to share a little bit of his story with you. 133 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:08,320 Patrick was born in late 300 AD in Britain to a Christian family and he grew up in a 134 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,920 very positive home environment. 135 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:17,080 But however, when he was a teenager, he was kidnapped and he was sold into slavery and 136 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:26,800 he was sold to a Jewish, not a Jewish, excuse me, an Irish, I can't think of the name, an 137 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:32,160 Irish Druid, who at that time was a religious person. 138 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:38,320 And basically he became a sheep herder throughout his teenage years for six years. 139 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,320 He was a sheep herder. 140 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:46,220 And as he was living this life of slavery, he was able to, after six years, sneak away 141 00:10:46,220 --> 00:10:48,240 and hop on a ship. 142 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,440 And he literally was hiding on a ship that began a journey to his freedom where he was 143 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:57,000 eventually reunited with his family back in Britain. 144 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:02,680 Now as time passed, he had a passion and a desire to want to pursue becoming a priest 145 00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:07,880 and he actually went to school and began to learn about the Bible and was trained in what 146 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,320 it meant to follow Jesus. 147 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:14,400 And one evening while he was in school, he had this dream. 148 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:20,400 And in this dream, there was literally this man that handed him a piece of paper and on 149 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:25,600 this piece of paper was written a letter from the Irish people and the Irish people were 150 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:32,240 pleading to Patrick to return to the land that he was a slave so that he could introduce 151 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:33,920 Jesus to them. 152 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:40,120 And Patrick was so overwhelmed with the dream that he literally dropped out of school and 153 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:45,840 then set a course within his life to move back to the land where he was at one time 154 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,840 a slave in captivity and he began to introduce them to Jesus. 155 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:56,640 And just like I said earlier, it's a holiday because Patrick single-handedly introduced 156 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:03,760 an entire country to Jesus, transformed an entire people group. 157 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,560 And when we just sit there and think about the power of that, many of us sit there and 158 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:10,320 think, well, I could never do that. 159 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,600 And how could a person do that? 160 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:13,600 Well, this is how. 161 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:18,880 Because he was close to Jesus and he was so close to Jesus that the Jesus within him began 162 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,160 to use him to perform many signs and wonders. 163 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,200 In fact, it is written about him. 164 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,560 Listen to this testimony about his life. 165 00:12:26,560 --> 00:12:34,240 For the blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb, the lunatic, the leprous, the epileptic, 166 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:40,120 all who labored under any disease, did he in the name of the Holy Trinity restore unto 167 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,300 the power of their limbs and unto entire health? 168 00:12:43,300 --> 00:12:47,320 And in these good deeds was he daily practiced. 169 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,440 Now think about that for a second. 170 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:54,680 We read about all these healings there and every day he was doing that. 171 00:12:54,680 --> 00:13:02,720 Thirty and three dead men, some of whom had been many years buried, did this great reviver 172 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:08,600 raise from the dead as above we have more fully recorded. 173 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:09,960 Now think about that for a second. 174 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,960 I pray for people all the time and believe in healings and miracles, but this man was 175 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,880 praying for people that had been dead for years. 176 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,000 Now when I think about people that had been dead for years, I think about skeletons and 177 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:26,640 bones and this man, Patrick, was praying for them to come back to life. 178 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,760 And you see, this man lived a life of prayer. 179 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:34,520 It was said about his life that he would pray the 150 Psalms every day and that he would 180 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,280 walk from village to village, town to town praying. 181 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:44,000 And as he was walking and praying, he would stop and heal someone and then just continue 182 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,880 on and continue praying. 183 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:48,520 And you say, well, Chris, why did he pray so much? 184 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,880 Because he had to. 185 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:57,920 The country that he was sharing Jesus with was full of witches and druids and warlocks 186 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:02,160 and it was darkness and they were praying against him and he was the light. 187 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,800 So he was forced to be a man of constant prayer. 188 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:10,880 And one of his prayers that he would travel from village to village in and be praying 189 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:17,800 is actually recorded and is called St. Patrick's Breastplate and listen to a few of the words. 190 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:23,960 Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me. 191 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,520 Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left. 192 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,960 Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who 193 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:35,600 thinks of me. 194 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,800 Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me. 195 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:43,720 Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. 196 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:49,520 See, you see, it's just a powerful testimony that Patrick believed and had the identity 197 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,320 that Jesus was alive in him. 198 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:59,480 And God desires that we live in that same truth in our own lives, which moves us to 199 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:00,480 our next thought. 200 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,240 You see, Jesus unites humanity and divinity. 201 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:11,440 Now, I literally want you to picture a uniting, a coming together, meaning that we are alive 202 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:13,360 to a relationship with God. 203 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:18,920 Now, the identity story, what I'm referring to, how we see ourselves in view of God loving 204 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:26,200 on us, is just completely intertwined with how we have a relationship with God. 205 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:30,320 If we don't understand how much God loves us, that we are a part of his family, that 206 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:35,720 we have a new identity, then we may be in a relationship with God, but it's not going 207 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,080 to be what God desires. 208 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:44,320 See, it is possible to be in a relationship with God and not understand our true identity. 209 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:48,560 A person that is living this way would kind of sound like this when they pray, God, I 210 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,200 thank you for putting up with me. 211 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:59,120 God, I thank you that you are good and amazing and that you're all powerful, and I know I'm 212 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:03,240 a disappointment and I let you down, but will you hear me? 213 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,600 Do you hear those words? 214 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:10,800 It's almost this negative impression of self rather than trusting in who we are in our 215 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,040 relationship with God. 216 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:18,120 And there's a disconnect between the identity and the relationship. 217 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,240 But here's the challenge. 218 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,960 Here's the challenge that we have to understand. 219 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:29,360 Have you ever been in a relationship with a person that just simply doesn't like you? 220 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,800 And if you have, if you've been in a relationship with a person that doesn't like you, what's 221 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:33,800 that like? 222 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:39,040 You know, a person that's just kind of putting up with you and going through the motions 223 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:46,240 and doesn't really love you or extend grace to you and mercy to you, it's not a good thing. 224 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:50,800 And for a lot of people that are relationship with God, that's how they view God. 225 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:57,720 They view God as this overbearing father, if you will, that's just waiting for us to 226 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,600 mess up because we have this inward thinking in our heart that we're no good and that we're 227 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:03,600 a disappointment. 228 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:09,280 Again, it's not God's best. 229 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,760 God desires that we live transformed lives. 230 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:18,000 In Galatians 2.20, he says this, my old self has been crucified with Christ. 231 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,520 Paul is challenging us that it's no longer you. 232 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:25,520 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 233 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:31,280 So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself 234 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:32,800 for me. 235 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:38,880 So when we're in a relationship with Jesus, Paul writes, he is living inside of us. 236 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:44,320 So simply stated, if Jesus is living inside of us, do you believe that God loves his son? 237 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,360 Of course he does. 238 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:53,760 Of course God loves Jesus and how Jesus walked out and followed and took the actions to restore 239 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:55,080 the relationship. 240 00:17:55,080 --> 00:18:00,580 God loves his son and Jesus shares this story of the prodigal son in Luke 15.20. 241 00:18:00,580 --> 00:18:05,080 So he returned home to his father and while he was still a long way off, his father saw 242 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,080 him coming filled with love and compassion. 243 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:13,840 He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 244 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,880 See that is our new identity. 245 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:23,660 See our new identity is being welcomed into God's family and when we understand that identity, 246 00:18:23,660 --> 00:18:26,320 that transforms the way we live. 247 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:31,960 That transforms our ability to be able to see ourselves as a person that's in relationship 248 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,240 with Jesus, but it goes a step further. 249 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,620 He is alive inside of us and suddenly our prayers change. 250 00:18:38,620 --> 00:18:41,560 Our communication with God changes. 251 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:48,040 God thank you for making me a special son or a special daughter that you love. 252 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,400 And it's not anything that I have to do. 253 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,360 It's not actions that I have to take. 254 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:55,800 You just love me as I am. 255 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:56,800 And why? 256 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,280 Because I was created in his image. 257 00:18:58,280 --> 00:18:59,280 Think about it. 258 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:04,460 A few weeks ago I discussed how we were created in God's image and when God created us, he 259 00:19:04,460 --> 00:19:05,460 said what? 260 00:19:05,460 --> 00:19:08,000 It is good. 261 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,120 And see when we are in that relationship with Jesus, with God living inside of us, you know 262 00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:13,120 what he says to you? 263 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:15,160 He says it is good. 264 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:16,880 You are good. 265 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,280 You are special. 266 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:19,880 You are loved. 267 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:23,960 I have joy connecting with you and being with you. 268 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,480 I want and long to be with you. 269 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:33,440 And see when Jesus died on the cross, our sins were paid for once and it's over. 270 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,920 We don't have to continually beat ourselves up over mistakes and choices that we've made. 271 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,440 Whether in the past or in the future, we make them. 272 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:45,600 It's simply about seeking forgiveness and then walking away from it and continuing to 273 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:51,940 be the son or the daughter that God created us to be because you are good. 274 00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:55,840 This is what God is speaking over us this morning. 275 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:57,600 That he loves you. 276 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,400 That he desires to connect with you. 277 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:04,680 That Jesus' actions brought together, think about it, divinity and humanity. 278 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:11,880 Have you ever been invited to go out for coffee or lunch with someone and immediately when 279 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,920 you sit down or you are ordering coffee, they look at you and say, I got this one. 280 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,560 I want to take care of this one. 281 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,160 I'll pay for it. 282 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:23,040 And if you are anything like me, sometimes I sit down to the table and I begin to look 283 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:27,920 at the menu and I find something that I like or I want to order a coffee that I really, 284 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,680 really want and that I like but it's so expensive, I feel guilty wanting to order it. 285 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:34,120 Have you ever been that way? 286 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:39,120 I know I feel that way quite often and it's that guilt in thinking that, oh, it's just 287 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:40,120 too expensive. 288 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:41,280 I don't want to put a burden on them. 289 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:42,280 But think about it. 290 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,060 That person said, I got it. 291 00:20:45,060 --> 00:20:48,900 We are robbing that person of generosity. 292 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:54,200 We are robbing that person of their ability to want to be generous to us. 293 00:20:54,200 --> 00:21:00,720 Have you ever thought that if we live with the wrong identity that we're actually robbing 294 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,600 God of the opportunity to be generous with us? 295 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:06,440 After all, Jesus did say, ask for anything. 296 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:10,680 If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it. 297 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:16,000 But so often, when our identity isn't as it should be as a son or a daughter that's loved 298 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:21,360 that he desires to be with, that we're full of joy, we're not going to ask God to do miraculous 299 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:23,120 things and to be generous. 300 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:26,880 We're going to think that we just got to go to him seeking forgiveness rather than praying 301 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,880 for healings and miracles and signs and wonders. 302 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,640 But see, that's what God desires. 303 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:39,760 He desires that we're overwhelmed with his love for us and that we are so in love with 304 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:48,400 him that we ask for things that seem impossible but are possible, which moves us to our next 305 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,240 thought. 306 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:55,080 Jesus followers are alive because God lives in them. 307 00:21:55,080 --> 00:22:00,400 So think about it, we're alive to relationship and we're alive to the reality that God lives 308 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:01,640 in us. 309 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:07,760 Jesus, by his actions on the cross, destroyed everything in us that was blocking God from 310 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:08,760 coming in. 311 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:09,760 I mean, think about it. 312 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:14,640 He now calls us the temple of the Holy Spirit, meaning he lives inside of us. 313 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:19,080 In 1 Corinthians 6, 17, Paul writes these words, but the person who is joined to the 314 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:22,400 Lord is one spirit with him. 315 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:28,120 And see, so often when it comes to God, we have this understanding that I have a spirit 316 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:31,840 and there's the Holy Spirit and they're two separate entities. 317 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:36,360 Well, there's me, the spirit that's in me, and then there's the Holy Spirit. 318 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:40,920 And sometimes even when I pray, come Holy Spirit, that's almost the wrong prayer because 319 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,880 the Holy Spirit's already in there. 320 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:48,800 When we say come Holy Spirit, we mean come amongst us, be amongst us so we can sense 321 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:49,800 his presence. 322 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,840 We have to come inside of us because he's already there and that's what Paul is trying 323 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:53,840 to tell us. 324 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,880 Paul is actually referencing marriage. 325 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,600 And when he says there, who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. 326 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:05,840 He's representing the relationship between husband and wife and that when they come together, 327 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,040 the two will become one. 328 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,200 And in that joining, they will not be separated. 329 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:16,440 Paul is writing, that's the same relationship that we have with God. 330 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:21,440 That his spirit living inside of us is two becoming one and that suddenly we're partnered 331 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,800 together to what make a difference in the world. 332 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,860 And we remain connected to God through faith. 333 00:23:28,860 --> 00:23:34,800 God moves inside of us and Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 13, 5, do you not realize 334 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,440 that Jesus is in you? 335 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:43,280 I mean, he's challenging us that no longer is humanity and God like oil and water. 336 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:44,280 Think about oil and water. 337 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:48,080 See, people that work on cars, it's like oil and water when you pour them together, they 338 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:49,200 completely separate. 339 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,120 There's no joining. 340 00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:57,240 And a lot of people believe that that's God and man, but that's not what Paul is saying. 341 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,300 He's challenging us with a simple question. 342 00:23:59,300 --> 00:24:01,800 Don't you know that Jesus is in you? 343 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:06,560 And not only is he in you, but he wants to use you and partner with you to change the 344 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:07,560 world. 345 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,600 Friends, we're living in a crisis. 346 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:16,920 And there's no greater time than now that we don't recognize and realize that Jesus 347 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:22,040 is living inside of us so that we can partner with him to make a difference to our neighbors, 348 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:23,520 our friends, our community. 349 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:29,040 Again, being wise, not running into the fire using, you know, being unsanitary and being 350 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:33,320 too close to people, but being wise in how we pray for people and share with people who 351 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:38,320 Jesus is and what he's done in our lives and giving people hope in the midst of fear. 352 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:44,240 We have all that ability because we're joined with God and he is living inside of us. 353 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:49,600 Kind of like, think about it this way, kind of like my kids wanting to help on house projects. 354 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:54,760 I have a lot of kids, as you know, and recently we remodeled the first floor of our house 355 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:59,120 and the remodel happened and Jess said, oh, we'll save money. 356 00:24:59,120 --> 00:25:00,800 We'll paint the whole first floor. 357 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:01,800 We got it covered. 358 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:06,080 We got plenty of people, you know, and immediately I looked at her and thought, how am I going 359 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:07,080 to paint the whole first floor? 360 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,040 Oh, we're all going to do it. 361 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,040 And when she said we're all going to do it, you know what that means? 362 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:12,920 That means all the kids too. 363 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:18,880 And being a perfectionist, when you have young kids getting ready to paint the first floor, 364 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,040 you're thinking this is never going to work. 365 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:22,680 Of course, I took care of all the ceilings. 366 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:25,880 They took care of the walls and I'm watching them roll the walls and I'm thinking that 367 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:27,140 is so wrong. 368 00:25:27,140 --> 00:25:28,400 That's not right. 369 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:30,480 I'm going to have to go back and repaint it. 370 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:31,920 All this is a waste of time. 371 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:33,400 Why didn't I just do it all myself? 372 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:38,200 Now, I know you never thought that way about your kids when they ask you to want to help 373 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:39,200 with things. 374 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,320 And I know you never thought that way. 375 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,800 But what if I said this? 376 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:47,040 Did you see my thinking and my kids, oh, they're doing it wrong. 377 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:48,040 I'm going to have to go back. 378 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:52,040 A lot of times that's how we think about God. 379 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:53,800 You know, it's almost like God is up there. 380 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:54,800 He's all powerful. 381 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:59,120 He's all knowing and he's so busy doing all of his God stuff. 382 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:02,400 And how is he ever going to worry about me or take care? 383 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,160 No, that's the wrong thinking. 384 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:13,640 We when we are partnered together with God, literally become God to people. 385 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,880 We become God for people. 386 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:20,720 We have his spirit living inside of us to give away to others. 387 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,520 We take on a whole new identity. 388 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:29,520 Now the early church was much more in touch with this reality than many of us are now. 389 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:34,640 And I just want you to listen to some of the theologians from the early church. 390 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:39,760 Now these men that I'm going to read about, they would be considered the hall of fame 391 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:41,320 of Christianity. 392 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:47,160 Clement of Alexandria, who lived from 150 to 215 AD, wrote this. 393 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:54,120 He who obeys the Lord and follows the prophecy given through him becomes a God, lowercase 394 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:58,280 G, while still moving about in the flesh. 395 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:04,360 Now what I want you to hear, well Chris, does that mean I'm not like a God, like we're going 396 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:05,360 to become God? 397 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:15,600 But no, we represent God, lowercase G. Athanasius, 296 to 373 AD, this is the theologian that 398 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,800 literally wrote about, excuse me, the doctrine of the Trinity. 399 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:26,400 He wrote, the word was made flesh in order that we might be made gods, lowercase G. Just 400 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:33,400 as the Lord became a man, so also we are deified through his flesh and inherit everlasting 401 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:34,400 life. 402 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:43,000 Augustine, 354 to 430 AD wrote this, to make human beings gods, he who was God was made 403 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,000 man. 404 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:50,160 And you say to me, well Chris, that seems like a whole new idea. 405 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,800 It's what the Bible says to us. 406 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:53,800 Think about it. 407 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:55,000 We become alive to God. 408 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,160 Jesus is living inside of us. 409 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,880 First Corinthians 3, 4, think about this. 410 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:06,000 When one says, I follow Paul, and another says, I follow Apollos, aren't you merely 411 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,240 being human beings? 412 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:12,840 See, Paul was addressing the church, it was split in the different factions of which teacher 413 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:17,120 they should follow, and Paul said, why are you acting like human beings? 414 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:19,800 And that's what I say to you this morning. 415 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:23,040 Why are we acting like human beings? 416 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,280 We have God inside of us. 417 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:31,960 And Paul is challenging us to live this way each and every day. 418 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:39,640 For example, I was reflecting on the simple truth of, I've had this new found joy of running 419 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,240 on the towpath, which I share about regularly. 420 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,900 Many of you know I like to get out and run several days a week. 421 00:28:44,900 --> 00:28:50,000 And I'll be honest with you, two, three years ago, if I would have said those words, I wouldn't 422 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:51,320 have thought it was me. 423 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,920 I hated running, despised running, didn't even want to get close to it. 424 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,560 Now I love the gym, but I didn't want to get out and run. 425 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:04,360 But now I go run three, four, five, six, ten miles, and I so enjoy it. 426 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:09,400 What if those of you that like to run, those of you that like to fish, or be outside, or 427 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,360 hike, or whatever it may be, it doesn't be that you have to be in the run for God group, 428 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:20,160 what if we began to develop an understanding that we like to be out so much because God 429 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,920 sees his creation through our eyes? 430 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:28,920 What if suddenly this joy that we have to be outside and to be free, to see animals, 431 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:34,200 to be birds, to be running, to be in nature, what if there's so much joy in that that we 432 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:39,640 want to be out there doing those things because God sees his creation through our eyes? 433 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:45,180 That's a whole new revelation that suddenly not only can we adopt, but we can live and 434 00:29:45,180 --> 00:29:47,320 take everywhere we go. 435 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:51,920 That Jesus is alive in us. 436 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,440 And think about it, Paul says, consider yourselves dead to sin. 437 00:29:55,440 --> 00:30:02,680 He's saying, in your mind, consider yourselves dead to sin, meaning where you set your attention 438 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,520 is what you're going to believe. 439 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:09,120 So where we set our attention, if we focus that we're dead to sin and that we're alive 440 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:14,440 to God, that Jesus is living inside of us, suddenly that reality, that truth becomes 441 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,080 real to you and I. 442 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:23,640 That God is alive inside of you and suddenly that mission from God changes. 443 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:29,600 And when I talk about this crisis and it's spreading and we need to be wise, yes, it's 444 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:34,600 true, we need to be wise, but we also need to be making a difference because people need 445 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:43,720 to hear about the hope of Jesus and the relationship with him that is available to everyone. 446 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:48,800 And see when we are pursuing a relationship with him and allowing him to use us and not 447 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,280 only use us, but be the hands and feet of Jesus with others and making a difference 448 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:56,640 in other people's lives, people see God in us. 449 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,680 And that's what the early church fathers were talking about when they say we become gods. 450 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:10,320 Not that we are a god, but that they see God in us and they want a part of what we have. 451 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,960 I want to challenge you this week to just do something different. 452 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:18,400 I know we are all doing church differently, we are in our living rooms, we are separated, 453 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,320 we are not gathering, but I want to challenge you to do something this week. 454 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:27,760 Every morning that you get yourself ready, every morning that you prepare to go out and 455 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:31,920 go into the world, it doesn't matter what your routine is, do your same routine. 456 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:37,400 But before you walk away from that mirror, I want you to stare into your bathroom mirror 457 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,440 and I want you to look for God in you. 458 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:46,400 I want you to look deep into that mirror and begin to look on and reflect on where is God 459 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:47,680 in me. 460 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:52,280 Because I believe that if we begin to do that every day, we will begin to cultivate that 461 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:58,440 simple truth that he is alive in us and then suddenly that changes our outlook on mission. 462 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,560 That we want to serve our neighbors, that we want to call and encourage people, that 463 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:09,340 we want to do our best to reach out and give hope to others because he is alive inside 464 00:32:09,340 --> 00:32:12,080 of us, but notice what I said, it is from the inside out. 465 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:18,960 We have to find God living inside of us so that we ultimately can go out and be the people, 466 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:23,560 be the church, be the hands and feet of Jesus for others. 467 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:27,320 So living from the inside out, four simple steps I want to give you this morning. 468 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:33,720 Living from the inside out and the first is this, we simply have to live by faith. 469 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:37,120 Romans 1, 16-17 we read these words. 470 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,480 For I am not ashamed of this good news about Christ. 471 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:45,280 It is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes. 472 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:47,660 The Jew first and also the Gentile. 473 00:32:47,660 --> 00:32:52,500 This good news tells us how God makes us right in his sight. 474 00:32:52,500 --> 00:32:56,920 This is accomplished from start to finish as scriptures say it is through faith that 475 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:59,780 a righteous person has life. 476 00:32:59,780 --> 00:33:06,640 In other words, dependence on God, faith becomes a natural part of our everyday lives. 477 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:12,800 See, many of us turn to God when there is a need, when there is a crisis, when there 478 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:16,560 is fear, when there is doubt, that is when we turn to God. 479 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:23,760 But see, faith, when we talk about live by faith, Paul is challenging us in those words 480 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:28,320 that it is not turning to God in crisis, it is turning to God every day and allowing his 481 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:30,760 spirit to come alive inside of us. 482 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:36,880 And it is recognizing that he is alive inside of us so that we can go and live our lives 483 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:37,880 every day. 484 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:41,920 Not going to him when there is a big need, but going to him every day in the good, the 485 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:49,640 bad, the ups, the downs, celebrating, having joy as we live by faith. 486 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,520 Next we live with confidence. 487 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,160 Now I am no way talking about arrogance. 488 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,480 Because you know Jesus challenges us to be humble, the first shall be last. 489 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,920 I am in no way talking about arrogance. 490 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,000 There's a big difference between arrogance and confidence. 491 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,560 Hebrews 11, 1, we read these words. 492 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:13,040 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for is the evidence of things we cannot see. 493 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:18,080 And when this verse says the reality of what we hope for, it's the effect, the result of 494 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:20,360 faith that brings about confidence. 495 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:25,520 The reality of what we hope for, that there's a new heaven, that we're going to spend eternity 496 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:32,240 with God, that the kingdom of God has come to earth, living inside of us, that is confidence. 497 00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:33,600 And that is hope. 498 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:39,720 Now when it says the evidence of things we cannot see, that's not confidence, that's 499 00:34:39,720 --> 00:34:40,720 perception. 500 00:34:40,720 --> 00:34:46,640 When the confidence of faith that the kingdom of God is here, and that reality of God living 501 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:53,080 inside of us becomes real to us, becomes reality in our hearts, then our perceptions change 502 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,800 when presented with difficulties. 503 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,120 Look at Hebrews 11, 7. 504 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:04,560 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. 505 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:11,280 Now listen, he obeyed God who warned him about things that had never happened before. 506 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,920 Sound familiar? 507 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,480 The coronavirus has never happened before. 508 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:17,480 It's new. 509 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:23,960 Hebrews 11, 13, all these people died still believing what God had promised them. 510 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:30,660 They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it from a distance and welcomed it. 511 00:35:30,660 --> 00:35:32,560 You see that confidence. 512 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:36,880 You see these heroes of the faith that we're reading about in Hebrews, it was all about 513 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:40,760 their confidence in knowing what God was calling them to do. 514 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:46,480 Hebrews 11, 27, it was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's 515 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:54,600 anger, he kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 516 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,600 See that's the assurance, that's the heart assurance that brings about confidence in 517 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:03,440 our ability to walk out our relationship with Jesus, which moves us to our next step. 518 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,440 You got to live in truth. 519 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:11,420 Second Peter 1, verses 3 through 4 says, by his divine power, God has given us everything 520 00:36:11,420 --> 00:36:13,820 we need for living a godly life. 521 00:36:13,820 --> 00:36:19,000 We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself 522 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,040 by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 523 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:27,760 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. 524 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:32,580 These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's 525 00:36:32,580 --> 00:36:35,580 corruption caused by human desires. 526 00:36:35,580 --> 00:36:41,920 What Peter is saying to us is everything we need has been given to us through our growing 527 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:44,240 relationship with God. 528 00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:50,760 As our relationship with him grows, we take on God's very nature and we get to experience 529 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:58,760 all the new joy and passion and excitement that it means to be alive in God. 530 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:02,460 And it's not the human nature, right? 531 00:37:02,460 --> 00:37:04,880 It's the godly nature living inside of us. 532 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:08,780 We have to believe that truth because when we believe about the godly nature living inside 533 00:37:08,780 --> 00:37:13,200 of us, what comes out are godly attributes, which is what we want the world to see. 534 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:20,680 That's the divinity that people see coming out of us that they then want to connect with. 535 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:23,640 And finally, we have to live in a new reality. 536 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:25,640 And you say, well, Chris, what is this new reality? 537 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:32,720 Listen to Romans 8, 38 to 39, and I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love. 538 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:37,320 Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons nor fears for today nor worries about 539 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:42,400 tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. 540 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,400 No power in the sky above or in the earth below. 541 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:50,600 Indeed, nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is 542 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:54,440 revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 543 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:55,840 So think about that. 544 00:37:55,840 --> 00:38:00,280 The love of God is revealed in Jesus, right? 545 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:05,560 His death on the cross, he took on all of our past mistakes, our choices, our future 546 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:08,120 sins so that we can what? be connected with God. 547 00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:11,880 He turned everything that blocked God from living inside of us. 548 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:15,640 He took it all in himself so that we can be connected to God. 549 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:20,200 So that means that nothing cuts us off from God's love, that you are loved, that God is 550 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:24,920 living inside of you, and he desires to continue to draw close to you. 551 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:27,840 Now don't get me wrong, we may let ourselves get distracted. 552 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:33,680 We may struggle to stay connected with God at different times, but nothing is going to 553 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:36,280 separate you from God's love. 554 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:42,600 So whatever situation we're facing, and we're all in this together, we're all facing having 555 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:50,080 to not connect with other people and social distancing and living online for six to eight 556 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:51,080 weeks. 557 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:55,260 Friends, we're preparing for six to eight weeks of this so that we can respect those 558 00:38:55,260 --> 00:38:59,600 in authority over us, so that we can be healthy, so that we can look for opportunities to serve 559 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:01,440 you and serve our community. 560 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:03,880 And it's just a new reality, but does that steal our joy? 561 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:06,660 No, because God is living inside of us. 562 00:39:06,660 --> 00:39:12,720 That's the different struggles, that's the different temptations, that's the pitfalls 563 00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:19,520 that happen in life, but we don't have to allow those things to pull us away from God. 564 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:21,760 We don't have to live with fear or doubt or negativity. 565 00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:27,320 No, we can live with hope and joy and peace in the midst of all those things because God 566 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,440 is alive inside of us. 567 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:35,280 So God prompted me to close with communion this week. 568 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:36,280 And I was really praying about it. 569 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:41,000 I was like, God, why are you, we're not together, how are we going to be able to break bread? 570 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:42,000 And he challenged me. 571 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:47,800 He said, there's no greater way to recognize that God is alive inside of us than by sharing 572 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:48,800 communion together. 573 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:54,280 I mean, listen to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11, 23 to 25. 574 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:57,540 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. 575 00:39:57,540 --> 00:40:01,240 On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God 576 00:40:01,240 --> 00:40:03,160 for it. 577 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:06,480 He broke it in pieces and said, this is my body which is given for you. 578 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:08,900 Do this in remembrance of me. 579 00:40:08,900 --> 00:40:13,240 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper saying this cup is the new covenant 580 00:40:13,240 --> 00:40:17,200 between God and his people and agreement confirmed by his blood. 581 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:21,840 Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it. 582 00:40:21,840 --> 00:40:28,480 Now friends, we practice communion at HCV corporately together once a month. 583 00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:35,600 You know, when we gather every first Sunday of the month, we share in communion together. 584 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:37,300 But you can practice it more regularly. 585 00:40:37,300 --> 00:40:38,640 You can practice it every Sunday. 586 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:40,840 You can practice it every day of the week. 587 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:46,500 In fact, God prompted me when I was studying on communion a little bit and the connection 588 00:40:46,500 --> 00:40:50,900 that it means to us that I can take communion every day with my family and that I should 589 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:52,760 every morning as we start the day. 590 00:40:52,760 --> 00:40:54,880 You say, well Chris, why would I do that? 591 00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:56,560 Think about it. 592 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:57,720 I have my elements here. 593 00:40:57,720 --> 00:41:00,520 If you have your elements, you can grab them. 594 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:05,600 Jesus starts by talking about eating bread. 595 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:11,400 He talks about the bread representing his actions, his broken body, the actions that 596 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:13,960 he took in order for what? 597 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:17,080 His actions means that God comes alive inside of us. 598 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:19,000 Now think about it for a second. 599 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:24,560 This is important because this whole separation thing, this whole separation with God began 600 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:25,560 with what? 601 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:26,560 Eating. 602 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:27,560 Right? 603 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,360 The eating of the apple. 604 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,080 And Jesus is redeeming that. 605 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:40,880 He's saying, no, by the eating of this bread representing my body, suddenly you come into 606 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:41,880 relationship. 607 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:45,680 He was renewing it. 608 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:50,480 And the cup of wine, he says, this wine is my shed blood which is shed for you and for 609 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:52,720 many for the sins of the world. 610 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:59,760 And you have to realize that in Jesus' time, wine was drank regularly because water just 611 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:01,360 was unclean. 612 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:05,640 So they would actually practice communion, the drinking of the wine daily. 613 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:07,320 And again, what does that wine represent? 614 00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:14,000 It represents the covenant, the partnering, the coming together of divinity and humanity 615 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:19,000 so that the two become one and ultimately we can transform the world. 616 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:21,360 And just powerful. 617 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:28,040 So just as Paul shared, if you have your elements, if each of you could take your bread on the 618 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:29,040 night he was betrayed. 619 00:42:29,040 --> 00:42:30,520 He just took bread and broke it. 620 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:33,000 And he said, this is my body which is broken for you. 621 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:39,800 Take it and do it in remembrance of me. 622 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:47,880 Likewise, after supper, Jesus took wine and he said, this is my blood which is shed for 623 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:50,040 you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. 624 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:53,040 Drink it often, friends. 625 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:59,040 And do it in remembrance of me. 626 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:03,920 So let's pray together. 627 00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:05,960 Jesus. 628 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:11,320 We just thank you for truth. 629 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:19,600 We just thank you, God, for the reality of you living inside of us. 630 00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:25,920 God my prayer is that this new reality that daily we can look in that mirror and look 631 00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:29,760 for God living inside of us. 632 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:35,520 Transform our hearts and our minds to a new understanding, God. 633 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:42,960 That it's not some impossible task that we have to do or that God calls us to the impossible. 634 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:49,080 He wants us to the impossible because it's possible with Him living inside of us. 635 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:58,520 So God, just as we learned about Patrick changing the entire country, God, may we do the same. 636 00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:06,360 May we be a people, God, that become active in our communities with those that are living 637 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:08,060 in fear and doubt and negativity. 638 00:44:08,060 --> 00:44:11,120 May we bring hope and light to the world, God. 639 00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:16,760 And God, not in our own strength, not being overwhelmed with negativity, but being hopeful 640 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:21,440 that you're alive inside of us. 641 00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:29,840 And that by you living inside of us, you desire we go and bring about change in Jesus name. 642 00:44:29,840 --> 00:44:33,240 And we all said, amen, amen. 643 00:44:33,240 --> 00:44:34,880 Hey, hey. 644 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:37,280 Hey, how are you? 645 00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:38,280 Miss Jessica? 646 00:44:38,280 --> 00:44:39,280 I'm great. 647 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:40,280 What is this? 648 00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:43,280 I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. 649 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:44,280 Oh, thank you. 650 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:51,760 I love you so much, and these flowers are like from spring, and God loves us so much 651 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:52,760 to be with spring people. 652 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:53,760 And you also, you can share toilet paper. 653 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:54,760 He gave us toilet paper. 654 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:58,000 I love Patrick so much, and I love all of you guys so much. 655 00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:03,000 And I wanted to tell you before we left this morning how much we love you and how important 656 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:04,000 you are. 657 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:08,320 And just like these flowers, they're so precious, and each and every one of you are so precious 658 00:45:08,320 --> 00:45:09,320 to us. 659 00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:11,640 You are so precious to our hearts. 660 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:15,920 And when I read the Bible, I read that God is love. 661 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:16,920 God is love. 662 00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:20,560 And just like Pastor Chris said today, when God is living inside of us, we can share his 663 00:45:20,560 --> 00:45:21,900 love with each other. 664 00:45:21,900 --> 00:45:26,120 And I want to let all the boys and girls know at home and all the parents know how much 665 00:45:26,120 --> 00:45:29,000 we love them and how much God loves them. 666 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:30,720 And parents, you can do it. 667 00:45:30,720 --> 00:45:32,740 You have Jesus living inside of you. 668 00:45:32,740 --> 00:45:37,920 So no matter if the schedule's changed, if your kids are changed, you have the confident 669 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:43,120 hope that Jesus is living inside of you, and you have what it takes to pastor your kids. 670 00:45:43,120 --> 00:45:46,080 You have what it takes to be an example of God to them. 671 00:45:46,080 --> 00:45:50,360 You have what it takes to just love on your neighbors and love on your family. 672 00:45:50,360 --> 00:45:52,880 So kids, love your parents. 673 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:54,520 Parents, love your kids. 674 00:45:54,520 --> 00:45:57,040 And we just want you to know that we're here for you. 675 00:45:57,040 --> 00:45:58,040 We have got a Facebook page. 676 00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:00,040 We've got our HCV Kids Facebook page. 677 00:46:00,040 --> 00:46:01,520 Parents, please join in. 678 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:04,240 We've got plenty of resources and information. 679 00:46:04,240 --> 00:46:06,480 If you need us, the office is open. 680 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:08,720 The office hours are open, just call, leave a message. 681 00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:12,440 We'd love to pray for you because we love people. 682 00:46:12,440 --> 00:46:17,600 We love God, and we're embracing God in this time, and we're going to embrace you no matter 683 00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:19,800 how small your need is or how big it is. 684 00:46:19,800 --> 00:46:21,740 Just let us know, okay? 685 00:46:21,740 --> 00:46:26,240 And right after this message, right after we get off of online here, I've got the kids, 686 00:46:26,240 --> 00:46:30,400 all your messages, all your Sunday services, everything's going to come up online. 687 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:32,600 You can watch the videos at home with your family. 688 00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:35,200 And families, just share Jesus' love together. 689 00:46:35,200 --> 00:46:38,160 This week, my kids and I, we kind of took a little mini vacation. 690 00:46:38,160 --> 00:46:40,240 I decided not to home school. 691 00:46:40,240 --> 00:46:43,600 I am a teacher, but I was saying, hey, let's just have a little vacation. 692 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:48,880 But what we did every day is we had a devotional with God, and we prayed for each other. 693 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:51,960 Monday was Nolan's day, and we prayed for him. 694 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:54,720 Tuesday was Zoe's day, and we prayed for her. 695 00:46:54,720 --> 00:46:57,360 Wednesday's day was Lily's day, and we prayed for her. 696 00:46:57,360 --> 00:47:00,500 Thursday was Trinity's day, and we prayed for her. 697 00:47:00,500 --> 00:47:02,920 And Friday was Mr. Chris's day, and we prayed for him. 698 00:47:02,920 --> 00:47:06,400 And what we did is we prayed encouraging words for one another. 699 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:09,520 And so I pray that for you that you would encourage each other as a family. 700 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:11,640 You would see the good in each other. 701 00:47:11,640 --> 00:47:16,160 There's good in every single person because you're all part of the family of God. 702 00:47:16,160 --> 00:47:17,960 So just have a great week. 703 00:47:17,960 --> 00:47:18,960 We love you. 704 00:47:18,960 --> 00:47:21,080 We look forward to hanging out with you online. 705 00:47:21,080 --> 00:47:24,560 And please, let us know anything we can do to help. 706 00:47:24,560 --> 00:47:25,560 In Jesus' name, amen. 707 00:47:25,560 --> 00:47:30,480 Hey, and if you have extra toilet paper, put some flowers in it and go visit your neighbors. 708 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:31,480 That's right. 709 00:47:31,480 --> 00:47:32,480 God bless. 710 00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:33,480 Mm. 711 00:47:33,480 --> 00:47:34,480 Let's go. 712 00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:35,480 There's no impossible. 713 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:42,240 Oh, I believe that you are working now. 714 00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:45,320 Pour it out. 715 00:47:45,320 --> 00:48:06,320 Oh, pour it out.