WEBVTT 00:00:07.880 --> 00:00:11.099 Hey guys, this is Tracy. If at any time you'd 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:15.019 like to connect with HCV, go to hcv .church forward 00:00:15.019 --> 00:00:18.100 slash connect. If you feel called to give, go 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:21.980 to hcv .church forward slash give. And if at 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:23.920 any time you feel called to make a change in 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.399 your life, text change me to 970 -00. Enjoy the 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:33.920 message. Good morning, everyone. So good to see 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.600 you. I'm excited to announce that two weeks in 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:39.880 a row I get to do announcements for you. So I'm 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:42.679 getting used to this. No Sky Bible, no announcements, 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:45.399 but I'll do my best. If you're joining us from 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:47.579 home, thank you for welcoming us into your space. 00:00:48.380 --> 00:00:51.560 Just real quickly, today is Team Up. If you're 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:53.140 looking to learn about all the teams here in 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:56.399 our community, stop by the family room directly 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.280 after this gathering. Kelsey will be there to 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.960 share with you opportunities to serve and to 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:05.269 get... plugged in. HCV softball spring sign -ups 00:01:05.269 --> 00:01:08.769 are today out by the praying hands. You can see 00:01:08.769 --> 00:01:11.650 Frank out there to sign up and be a part of a 00:01:11.650 --> 00:01:14.109 competitive team or a co -ed team, whichever 00:01:14.109 --> 00:01:17.709 is your choice. And on February 15th, which is 00:01:17.709 --> 00:01:21.030 next Sunday, we're doing a free family matinee 00:01:21.030 --> 00:01:24.290 movie. during the afternoon. And we're also going 00:01:24.290 --> 00:01:27.170 to couple that with compassion letters. We're 00:01:27.170 --> 00:01:28.730 going to write compassion letters. So if you're 00:01:28.730 --> 00:01:31.629 sponsoring a compassion child, join us for lunch 00:01:31.629 --> 00:01:34.450 and to write letters and a free matinee movie 00:01:34.450 --> 00:01:40.030 to those. children. If you happen to read my 00:01:40.030 --> 00:01:45.090 email, you heard last week that we have the opportunity 00:01:45.090 --> 00:01:47.930 to build a balcony here in our auditorium. We're 00:01:47.930 --> 00:01:50.109 moving forward with drawings and architecture 00:01:50.109 --> 00:01:53.510 now. Hope to have that built by summer. And I 00:01:53.510 --> 00:01:56.790 had a partner reach out to me on Thursday and 00:01:56.790 --> 00:01:59.430 he said, hey Chris, I believe in what HTV is 00:01:59.430 --> 00:02:02.689 doing. Seats are being filled. I'm 100 % behind. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:06.840 Your call to not only add a parking lot, which 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:09.539 we already did, but to build a balcony. I want 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:12.879 to challenge other partners in our church that 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:16.800 if 200 people gave $1 ,000, it would pay for 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:23.099 everything. I now have $2 ,000. So, yeah, please. 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:28.889 I only need 198 more people to write. $1 ,000 00:02:28.889 --> 00:02:33.050 check, of which I'm going to actually do that 00:02:33.050 --> 00:02:35.930 myself, because this morning during our first 00:02:35.930 --> 00:02:39.629 gathering, I actually started sharing into my 00:02:39.629 --> 00:02:42.610 weekly talk, and Steve wandered out here with 00:02:42.610 --> 00:02:47.009 my wife and stopped me right in my tracks. And 00:02:47.009 --> 00:02:49.990 during the first gathering, he gave me, literally 00:02:49.990 --> 00:02:56.419 gave me, as a gift, a brand new Jeep. Yeah, it's 00:02:56.419 --> 00:02:58.199 not brand new. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:00.599 like fresh off the lot or anything. But to me, 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:05.479 it's brand new because my Jeep is falling apart, 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:11.030 wobbling down the road. So yeah, it's kind of 00:03:11.030 --> 00:03:13.770 overwhelming, but I just want to shout out to 00:03:13.770 --> 00:03:16.750 anybody that had a part in that. It just kind 00:03:16.750 --> 00:03:20.250 of is overwhelming and humbling and really puts 00:03:20.250 --> 00:03:23.409 you in a state of gratitude. And I believe it's 00:03:23.409 --> 00:03:25.210 just God's way of challenging me to give back 00:03:25.210 --> 00:03:28.069 to his kingdom because it's forcefully advancing. 00:03:29.009 --> 00:03:31.710 So I just want to welcome the Holy Spirit, if 00:03:31.710 --> 00:03:33.889 that's okay. He's already here, as we all know. 00:03:34.150 --> 00:03:36.830 But can I just mention that when we pray that 00:03:36.830 --> 00:03:39.330 prayer, come Holy Spirit, it's not that we're 00:03:39.330 --> 00:03:42.229 inviting God to enter this room. He already is 00:03:42.229 --> 00:03:46.330 here. We're just activating our hearts and our 00:03:46.330 --> 00:03:49.550 spirits to come alive and to recognize and welcome 00:03:49.550 --> 00:03:51.909 him in so he can transform us because that's 00:03:51.909 --> 00:03:54.689 what he wants to do. Amen? So Holy Spirit, come. 00:03:55.310 --> 00:03:58.030 God, I just pray that you would silence distractions 00:03:58.030 --> 00:04:01.389 and that, God, you would open our minds, our 00:04:01.389 --> 00:04:05.050 ears, and our hearts to receive all that you 00:04:05.050 --> 00:04:08.229 have for us, God. Change us, transform us today. 00:04:08.590 --> 00:04:13.169 In Jesus' name, amen. So all of you know we live 00:04:13.169 --> 00:04:16.689 in a world that is always looking for more. Your 00:04:16.689 --> 00:04:19.470 phone is never fast enough, it's never new enough, 00:04:19.550 --> 00:04:23.319 so they release a new one every six months. Your 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.379 TV is never big enough. I mean, walk into Sam's, 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:29.000 you can now purchase a TV as big as your living 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.879 room wall. I mean, just in time for the game, 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:35.980 of course. We used to make fun of the movie Super 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.959 Size Me or the documentary. Now, when it comes 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:42.319 to food portions, it's just called Tuesday, right? 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:46.199 Everything around us, everything within our culture 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:50.990 says, you need more to be satisfied. You need 00:04:50.990 --> 00:04:53.730 more success, more money, more followers, more 00:04:53.730 --> 00:04:58.089 upgrades, more stuff, more coffee, which I agree 00:04:58.089 --> 00:05:01.430 with, but that's a whole other different story. 00:05:01.990 --> 00:05:05.329 But here's the strange thing. Even when people 00:05:05.329 --> 00:05:10.269 get more, they often still feel empty. You can 00:05:10.269 --> 00:05:13.079 have the newest phone, the nicest house. You 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.519 can have a packed schedule, a refrigerator that 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:18.959 tells you what food you need in it, but then 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:20.819 you open the doors and think, there's nothing 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:23.839 to eat in here. And deep down, there's still 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:28.040 that quiet question, that small voice with inside 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:32.439 of us that says, is this all there is? There 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:35.500 must be more. And humanity has been asking that 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:38.279 question for thousands of years, searching for 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:41.079 meaning, searching for peace, searching for something, 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.980 for someone. Who can truly fill the emptiness, 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:49.279 the void, if you will, inside our hearts? Many 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.279 people think the answer is more religion, more 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:55.680 rules, more effort, more trying to be a better 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:59.720 person. But the message that we read about in 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:03.500 the Bible is that the kingdom of God has something 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:06.800 much better. The Bible doesn't say you need more 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:10.519 things. It says you need the right person. which 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:14.000 leads us to our first thought this morning. The 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:19.120 fullness of God lives in Jesus. Colossians 1, 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:24.560 verse 19, Paul writes, For God, in all his fullness, 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:29.660 was pleased to live in Christ. Now notice, please, 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:33.379 Paul does not say some of God lives in Jesus. 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:37.540 He says all the fullness of God dwells in him. 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:41.720 Therefore, this means Jesus is not just a prophet. 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:45.620 He's not just a teacher. He's not a partial reflection 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:50.279 of God. Jesus is God revealed in human form. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.920 God coming to earth. The Gospel of John confirms 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:58.319 this truth. John 1, verse 14 says, The Word became 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:04.240 human and made his home among us. And I find 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.680 it interesting. God didn't send us a letter. 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:10.939 He didn't. Send an email or text us. God literally 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:14.300 came himself. Colossians chapter 2 verse 9 says, 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:19.180 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:21.639 a human body. Now some of you may be thinking, 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:23.899 well, why does this truth even matter, Chris? 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.160 Well, if Jesus carries the fullness of God, then 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:32.160 his words are God's words to us. When Jesus speaks, 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.930 the kingdom of God speaks. That's why the storms 00:07:35.930 --> 00:07:39.250 obeyed him, demons fled, the dead were raised, 00:07:39.449 --> 00:07:45.350 and hearts were transformed. Jesus' love is God's 00:07:45.350 --> 00:07:48.230 love. When Jesus touched lepers, forgave sinners, 00:07:48.430 --> 00:07:51.670 welcomed the broken, come as you are, we were 00:07:51.670 --> 00:07:54.250 literally seeing the heart of God in action. 00:07:54.889 --> 00:07:58.790 His actions on the cross is fully sufficient, 00:07:59.029 --> 00:08:03.050 fully pays for everything, because Jesus is fully 00:08:03.050 --> 00:08:05.740 God and fully man. Therefore, his death on the 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:11.379 cross has the complete final power to save. Nothing 00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:14.839 needs to be added. No ritual, no law, no custom, 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.899 no human effort can improve or change what Jesus 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:21.500 did. And please don't miss this truth. If we 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:24.420 remember from our talk last week, Paul was writing 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:27.160 a letter to a church that he never met. He didn't 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.920 start the church, but he was asked to send a 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.700 letter to encourage them because they started 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:36.570 off passionate. Their faith was full. They were 00:08:36.570 --> 00:08:39.370 reaching other people. They were growing in their 00:08:39.370 --> 00:08:41.970 relationship with God. And then they allowed 00:08:41.970 --> 00:08:43.990 their faith to be influenced by their culture. 00:08:44.309 --> 00:08:47.769 And all the world began to flood in to this church. 00:08:48.730 --> 00:08:51.350 False teachings began to infiltrate the church. 00:08:51.509 --> 00:08:54.309 The first was Gnosticism, which said you need 00:08:54.309 --> 00:08:58.309 a secret spiritual knowledge for salvation. It's 00:08:58.309 --> 00:09:02.090 this deep ultra -spirituality that downplayed 00:09:02.090 --> 00:09:05.309 the full divinity of Jesus. meaning that he was 00:09:05.309 --> 00:09:08.590 not fully God. It seemed kind of right, but it 00:09:08.590 --> 00:09:11.210 was a little off, but it kind of just crept in 00:09:11.210 --> 00:09:13.830 there, and it took the focus off of Jesus. You 00:09:13.830 --> 00:09:18.590 know what it placed it on? Humanity. We don't 00:09:18.590 --> 00:09:22.389 need Jesus. We can hear from God. We can receive 00:09:22.389 --> 00:09:25.149 revelation from God without Jesus' sacrifice 00:09:25.149 --> 00:09:29.129 on the cross. And friends, we have to still guard 00:09:29.129 --> 00:09:32.330 against that today. Hyper -spiritual Christianity 00:09:32.330 --> 00:09:36.509 can take the focus off of Jesus and place it 00:09:36.509 --> 00:09:39.190 on leaders and others that only hear from God. 00:09:40.690 --> 00:09:43.830 Then there was legalism, which said you need 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:48.389 these extra rules that you had to follow in order 00:09:48.389 --> 00:09:50.549 to be in a relationship with God. Strict dietary 00:09:50.549 --> 00:09:54.970 plans, Sabbath keeping, earning God's favor over 00:09:54.970 --> 00:09:58.250 faith in Jesus. And again, it still happens today. 00:09:59.529 --> 00:10:02.149 Rules keeping and religiosity is everywhere. 00:10:02.929 --> 00:10:05.809 Next there was asceticism, which was a harsh 00:10:05.809 --> 00:10:09.330 self -denial of punishing their bodies and cutting 00:10:09.330 --> 00:10:12.730 their bodies, trying to earn salvation. And again, 00:10:12.769 --> 00:10:15.509 notice all of these is works -based religion 00:10:15.509 --> 00:10:20.049 that was creeping into the church. The last one 00:10:20.049 --> 00:10:23.350 was synchronism, which was a mixing of different 00:10:23.350 --> 00:10:26.190 religions and philosophies with Jesus and his 00:10:26.190 --> 00:10:29.399 teachings. I mean, unfortunately, many people 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:32.379 in church today still do that. They read their 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:35.379 daily horoscope. They play with tarot cards. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.600 They invite mysticism into their midst to couple 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.799 it with the Bible. Friends, that's not God's 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:44.919 best. That's opening yourself up to the demonic, 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:48.659 and it's in control in your life. There is one 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:53.820 source for truth, and his name is Jesus. It's 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:56.799 not other religions. It's not our political system. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:59.080 It's not social media. It's not self -help and 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:03.019 inspiration. It's Jesus and Jesus only. And the 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:07.340 whole point of the series this week that we are 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:10.440 calling Check Up is to put our focus back on 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:12.700 what is most important. To search our hearts, 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:18.960 to check our hearts is our focus on Jesus. Paul 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:21.379 answered this clearly, and he says, you don't 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:24.500 need more than Jesus because Jesus is the fullness 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:28.480 of God. He is everything, which leads us to discuss, 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:32.460 so if this is true, how do we live this victorious 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:36.940 life in Jesus? See, Paul desires that we continue 00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:39.899 to walk in victory with Jesus, and that happens 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:43.539 when we are first going all in with Jesus. That's 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:45.559 step number one. Colossians chapter two, verse 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:49.419 six, Paul writes, and now, Just as you accepted 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:52.159 Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:55.659 to follow him. See, church, we have to realize 00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:59.279 the only way we can continue to follow Jesus 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:03.740 is to start following Jesus. It's like the person 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:07.039 that drives to the gym, drives around the gym 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.919 but couldn't find a parking place close enough 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:11.139 and still says, yeah, I went to the gym today. 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:17.659 Did you really? Or the person that buys a book, 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.940 it's going to change their life, their whole 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:23.580 outlook on life, but they don't read it. It's 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:26.139 like attending a Sunday gathering. Oh, I come 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:30.379 to experience grace. I need to experience grace. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.840 And yes, we can experience grace, but if it becomes 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:36.919 a box checked, then the house of miracles is 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:40.080 not a house of miracles. So ask yourself this 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:44.179 morning, have you actually started a relationship 00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:47.519 with Jesus? And that is what Paul is challenging 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:50.820 us with today. Just as you accepted Christ Jesus 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:53.840 as your Lord, you must then continue to follow 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:56.799 him. But notice, Paul says, you have to start 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:59.419 it. It has to be there, and then you continue 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:03.840 it. To be saved means that we have received or 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:08.519 accepted Jesus. Accepted means to actively take 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:12.600 hold of. It's a sense, if you will, of personal 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.129 commitment. It's taking hold of what Jesus gave 00:13:16.129 --> 00:13:18.649 us and then applying it to our life. And listen, 00:13:18.830 --> 00:13:21.850 it's not that your grandma received it. It's 00:13:21.850 --> 00:13:23.789 not that your wife believes it. It's not that 00:13:23.789 --> 00:13:27.210 your family wants to go to church. It's personally 00:13:27.210 --> 00:13:32.710 receiving Jesus. So ask yourself as you receive 00:13:32.710 --> 00:13:35.929 Jesus as Lord. And that's a personal response. 00:13:35.990 --> 00:13:39.370 That's between you and God. And it's a free gift 00:13:39.370 --> 00:13:42.629 that he offers to us and to everyone everywhere. 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:45.480 And then when you give your life to Jesus, you're 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:48.960 saying, I'm receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:52.019 of my life. I am now under his control. I am 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:55.620 no longer under my control. John writes it this 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:59.120 way in John 1, 12. But to all who believed him, 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.620 noticed, and accepted him, grabbed a hold of 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:04.340 him, he gave the right to become children of 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:08.379 God. See, when we accept the gift, when we accept 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:12.669 Jesus, we become a son or daughter of God. It's 00:14:12.669 --> 00:14:14.809 not about having good intentions or being a good 00:14:14.809 --> 00:14:16.970 person. I hear it all the time. Chris, I want 00:14:16.970 --> 00:14:18.929 to be a better person. I want to be a better 00:14:18.929 --> 00:14:20.870 father. I want to be a better spouse. I want 00:14:20.870 --> 00:14:24.110 to be a successful business owner. I want to 00:14:24.110 --> 00:14:25.909 make a difference in the world. I want to, I 00:14:25.909 --> 00:14:29.309 want to, I want to. Well, listen, to be a follower 00:14:29.309 --> 00:14:32.929 of Jesus means we submit to the sovereignty of 00:14:32.929 --> 00:14:35.950 Jesus over every area of our life. So therefore, 00:14:35.990 --> 00:14:38.649 all the things that we want now has to go through 00:14:38.649 --> 00:14:42.539 Jesus. If you want to be a better spouse, check 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:44.620 your relationship with Jesus. If you want to 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:47.379 be a better business owner, check your relationship 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:50.419 with Jesus. Our minds, our hearts, our desires, 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:54.039 our goals are all under new management. This 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:58.960 life, my life, is all about Jesus. I mean, kind 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.159 of think about that restaurant that you checked 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:04.200 out one time and it was awful. You whirled in, 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:07.139 the food's terrible, overcooked, a steak you 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:11.259 didn't want, you sent it back. They comped your 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:13.759 meal, but you said to yourself, as you left, 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:16.980 I'll never go back again. But then six months 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.940 later, you see a sign above the door, and it 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:22.240 says, under new management. You roll in. You 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:25.519 check it out. Man, the server's great. Food was 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.379 delicious. You're like, wow, this is incredible. 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:32.440 That's our life. We are now under new management. 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:36.659 It's better. It's improved, and it's full of 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:41.039 abundance. But hear me out. We can't partially 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:45.720 surrender and expect total transformation. We 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.419 can't have one foot in the world and one foot 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:50.759 in the church. You have to go all in every single 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:54.259 day of the week, not just on Sundays. Have you 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:57.000 gone all in with Jesus? And Paul tells us and 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:00.700 leads us to our next step. Then we grow. We continue. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:05.200 Colossians 2 .7, let your roots grow down into 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:07.990 him and let your lives be built on him. then 00:16:07.990 --> 00:16:09.889 your faith will grow strong in the truth you 00:16:09.889 --> 00:16:14.370 were taught. Don't settle for a check -the -box 00:16:14.370 --> 00:16:16.610 relationship with Jesus. And you say, Chris, 00:16:16.649 --> 00:16:18.789 what does that mean? I heard Rhett share it, 00:16:18.789 --> 00:16:21.129 now I'm hearing you share it. Well, a check -the 00:16:21.129 --> 00:16:24.250 -box relationship with Jesus means when tragedy 00:16:24.250 --> 00:16:28.049 happens, oh, I'm sprinting to God. The verse 00:16:28.049 --> 00:16:30.029 of the day is the extent of your Bible reading 00:16:30.029 --> 00:16:33.090 and study. You may show up to Sunday gatherings, 00:16:33.269 --> 00:16:35.049 but you're not serving, you're not committed 00:16:35.049 --> 00:16:39.269 to HCV. And Paul is challenging us, go deep with 00:16:39.269 --> 00:16:43.330 God. That is where life change happens. That 00:16:43.330 --> 00:16:45.929 is what Paul means when he says to continue to 00:16:45.929 --> 00:16:48.730 follow Jesus. He says, press in, pursue, take 00:16:48.730 --> 00:16:52.409 hold of. One decision to receive Jesus saves 00:16:52.409 --> 00:16:55.610 us, sets us on a path to experience the kingdom 00:16:55.610 --> 00:16:59.850 of God, but it's a daily decision to follow Jesus 00:16:59.850 --> 00:17:03.629 that changes us. And all of us have issues that 00:17:03.629 --> 00:17:06.900 need worked out. We all have attitudes and behaviors 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:09.640 that need changed. We all have pain and trauma 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:12.440 from our past that needs healed. And Paul says, 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:16.200 okay, start. Start with Jesus and then continue 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.740 to allow God to change your life. And that happens, 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.619 and he says it in three different ways. It happens 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:22.799 when we're rooted. What does rooted mean? It 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.380 means I'm reading the Bible. I'm deep in the 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:28.000 Bible. It's not just the verse of the day. It's 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.640 knowing God's truth. and then speaking it over 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:34.759 our life. It's reading God's truth and applying 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:37.799 it to our life. It's knowing God's voice when 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:41.480 he speaks to us, and then allowing that choice 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:46.819 or that truth to change our life. A .W. Tozer 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:49.799 says it this way, A shallow faith withers in 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.940 the storm, but a rooted faith grows stronger. 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:57.619 Stay planted in Christ, and you'll bear fruit. 00:17:58.490 --> 00:18:01.029 So just ask yourself this morning, are you bearing 00:18:01.029 --> 00:18:05.289 fruit? Are you frustrated? Are you tired of just 00:18:05.289 --> 00:18:08.170 walking through religious motions? Well, my challenge 00:18:08.170 --> 00:18:10.569 to you is get rooted. Dive into the Bible because 00:18:10.569 --> 00:18:13.349 Hebrew 4 .12 tells us the word of God is alive 00:18:13.349 --> 00:18:16.490 and powerful. It's sharper than the sharpest 00:18:16.490 --> 00:18:18.349 two -edged sword cut between soul and spirit, 00:18:18.410 --> 00:18:22.029 between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost 00:18:22.029 --> 00:18:26.109 thoughts and desires. It reveals our hearts to 00:18:26.109 --> 00:18:29.599 us. And see, we have to learn to live our life 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:33.819 based on this book, based on the Bible, because 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:37.180 I desire my life to reflect his truth. And that 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:39.500 happens, right, when we're rooted, when we're 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:42.200 connected in with God, which Paul says we need 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:45.660 to do next. We're connected. I'm connected to 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:49.440 the Holy Spirit and to others. That's what it's 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:52.579 all about. I live in community with others for 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.619 support and encouragement. Church, we need each 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:58.259 other. We need to know people. And if you feel 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:00.619 weak today, if you feel like you're not enough, 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:02.900 if you feel like God doesn't love you, let's 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:05.160 pause. Look around the room. Don't look at me. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.140 Look around the room. Make eye contact with somebody 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:09.740 else, please. I don't like being on center stage. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:17.220 Now see, we gather because we're now a family. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:20.539 So I want to remind you, you are not alone. And 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:22.920 not only are you not alone, we're part of a winning 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:26.160 team. It doesn't matter who wins tonight. It 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.680 doesn't matter if it's the Seahawks or the, who's 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:34.759 that other team in there? Or the Patriots. Just 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:37.859 kidding, Patriots fans. One of them are going 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:40.920 to lose. But everyone in here that's in a relationship 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:44.400 with Jesus wins. We're on a winning team, Matthew 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.940 11, 12. From the time John the Baptist began 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:50.039 preaching until now, the kingdom of heaven has 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:53.640 been forcefully advancing. forcefully advancing. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:55.599 As you read through the book of Revelation, you 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:59.440 quickly learn we win. Therefore, when we fall 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:02.240 down, look around. There's someone there to pick 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.859 us up with prayer and encouragement and love. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.779 That's how the church works. That's how we support 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:11.180 one another. That's how we go and change the 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:13.160 world because I believe our community of faith 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:16.380 is called to change the world. I was welcoming 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:18.400 many of you at the door and I looked to my left 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:22.599 and... Holy cow, I got 300 pairs of shoes and 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:31.519 I needed 30. Stephen said, don't worry, Isaac 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.519 can just give all the shoes to the other schools 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:36.039 and then we'll have a whole leg of teams. I'm 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:39.450 like, okay, maybe. But the point is, we're changing 00:20:39.450 --> 00:20:42.390 the world. Ephesians 6, 18. Pray in the Spirit 00:20:42.390 --> 00:20:44.869 at all times and on every occasion, but it doesn't 00:20:44.869 --> 00:20:48.170 end there. It says, stay alert and be persistent 00:20:48.170 --> 00:20:50.130 in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 00:20:50.210 --> 00:20:53.509 We're called to pray for one another. And that's 00:20:53.509 --> 00:20:55.890 why growth groups and being a part of a team 00:20:55.890 --> 00:20:58.369 are so important in our community of faith. You 00:20:58.369 --> 00:21:00.849 get connected with someone. And listen, I want 00:21:00.849 --> 00:21:03.569 to challenge you. If you're in a place where 00:21:03.569 --> 00:21:05.549 you're feeling down or lonely or disconnected, 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.779 You're sitting around people. I guarantee if 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.460 you tap them on the shoulder, they will pray 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:13.319 with you. They will agree with you in prayer, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:15.740 believing that God will change your life. And 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.779 then Paul says that we're strengthened in our 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:21.319 faith. And we're strengthened in our faith when 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:24.279 we trust God through difficult times. I mean, 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.400 there isn't a day that goes by that we don't 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:29.539 experience trouble. How do I know that? Well, 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:32.440 Jesus told us that we would. He said, in this 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:34.839 world, you're going to have trouble. But take 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:37.279 heart, I have overcome the world. In other words, 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:40.940 I will strengthen you. See, God doesn't cause 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:43.619 the storms and the struggles in our life or the 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:48.119 temptation, but he does use those storms to change 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:52.779 us. He does use those trials to build our faith 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:55.980 and to make us stronger. And if you're here today 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:59.880 and you're struggling, get prayer. Receive it. 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.920 Believe that God's going to overwhelm and change 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.220 your life. James 1, 2. Dear brothers and sisters, 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:09.500 when troubles of any kind come your way, consider 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:12.900 it an opportunity. Are you ready? For great joy. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:16.680 Now notice it doesn't just say joy. It doesn't 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:21.180 just say smile. It says great joy. And great 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:24.059 joy only happens when we learn to practice our 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.180 third step. Paul says, church, we need to be 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:30.160 grateful. Colossians 2 .7. And you will overflow 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:34.640 with thankfulness. In other words, you'll continue 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:37.880 to be grateful. You'll have an attitude of gratitude 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:41.000 as you move forward, as you continue in the faith, 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:44.740 as you experience all that God has for you throughout 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:47.660 the rest of this life. And I want to challenge 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:51.000 you. Don't look around at all the negativity 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.519 happening in our world today. Be informed, yes. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:57.019 I'm not saying stick your head in the sand. Be 00:22:57.019 --> 00:23:00.579 informed, but don't be distracted by fear and 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:05.009 division. Be a person that brings change. Don't 00:23:05.009 --> 00:23:07.309 focus on social media and its band of followers 00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:10.750 and haters. Don't focus on what you don't have. 00:23:11.170 --> 00:23:15.809 Be grateful for the provision. Change your perspective. 00:23:16.430 --> 00:23:21.450 And focus. Focus on what God gives us every single 00:23:21.450 --> 00:23:24.289 day. My wife and I were laughing here. I'm given 00:23:24.289 --> 00:23:27.589 a vehicle. And in her and I, we look at each 00:23:27.589 --> 00:23:30.329 other and we feel guilty. We literally feel guilty 00:23:30.329 --> 00:23:32.849 about it. I feel upset. I feel like I don't deserve 00:23:32.849 --> 00:23:35.230 it. And we begin to think, well, why do we feel 00:23:35.230 --> 00:23:38.509 that way? Because for those that give a lot, 00:23:38.630 --> 00:23:41.769 it's hard to receive. And we think we don't need 00:23:41.769 --> 00:23:44.049 to receive and we can constantly give, but we 00:23:44.049 --> 00:23:45.910 need to learn to receive too because God wants 00:23:45.910 --> 00:23:56.150 to bless us. And gratitude allows for us to walk 00:23:56.150 --> 00:23:59.130 in God's will for our life. And some of you think, 00:23:59.230 --> 00:24:01.509 well, Chris, I don't know God's will for my life. 00:24:01.529 --> 00:24:03.569 What is God's will for my life? 1 Thessalonians 00:24:03.569 --> 00:24:06.829 5 .18, I got a quick answer for you. Be thankful 00:24:06.829 --> 00:24:12.069 in all circumstances. Everyone say all. For this 00:24:12.069 --> 00:24:15.150 is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 00:24:15.829 --> 00:24:17.329 So you want to know God's will for your life? 00:24:17.390 --> 00:24:20.609 Be thankful. In the good days, the bad days, 00:24:20.769 --> 00:24:23.890 what you do have and don't have, be grateful. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:28.119 Walk in gratitude. It doesn't matter the current 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:30.940 season of life you're in. But Chris, it's difficult. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.599 It's not a good season. Be grateful. Chris, I'm 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:37.819 lonely. Be grateful. Chris, it's negative 10. 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:42.440 I'm depressed. It's cold. Be grateful. Be grateful. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:45.680 I agree. I can't stand it. I walked out of my 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:47.400 son's basketball game yesterday. I said, I'm 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:50.500 moving to Florida. This is ridiculous. Right? 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:54.700 That's not gratitude. But this morning, Right? 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.619 If you need a little encouragement when it comes 00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:58.940 to weather, find Phoenix and have him sing you 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:01.180 the weather song. Your whole outlook will be 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:04.240 changed. We sung it all the way here to our Sunday 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:08.779 gatherings and I was smiling the whole way. Gratitude 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:13.059 is not dictated by my circumstances, by your 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:16.160 circumstances. Church, it's a decision that I 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.539 make despite my circumstances. And through my 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:22.420 gratitude, it fuels my life to keep pursuing 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:25.730 the purpose. of God in my life. So I want to 00:25:25.730 --> 00:25:27.930 encourage you, challenge you, continue, don't 00:25:27.930 --> 00:25:31.849 quit. Be grateful because the fullness of God 00:25:31.849 --> 00:25:38.809 lived in Jesus, which means good news. Our fourth 00:25:38.809 --> 00:25:42.089 and final step. We now all can walk in the fullness 00:25:42.089 --> 00:25:46.130 of God. We can walk in that same fullness. How 00:25:46.130 --> 00:25:48.250 do I know that? Paul writes in Colossians 2, 00:25:48.309 --> 00:25:52.059 9 through 10, for in Christ, Lives all the fullness 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:56.240 of God in a human body. There it is. So, church, 00:25:56.440 --> 00:26:00.359 you also are complete through your union with 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:03.140 Christ, who is the head over every ruler and 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:04.279 authority. And you're like, well, Chris, that 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.319 doesn't say full. Listen to the NIV translation. 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:10.160 For in Christ, all the fullness of God lives 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:13.160 in bodily form. And in Christ, you have been 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:16.640 brought to fullness. In other words, we are now 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:20.190 full. When we pray for more peace or more power 00:26:20.190 --> 00:26:23.410 or more joy or more purpose, Paul intends us, 00:26:23.470 --> 00:26:26.630 yes, pray for it, because God never intended 00:26:26.630 --> 00:26:31.549 for you and I to live half full lives. He certainly 00:26:31.549 --> 00:26:33.529 didn't come, Jesus didn't come to make us more 00:26:33.529 --> 00:26:37.069 religious. He came to make us full. Remember 00:26:37.069 --> 00:26:39.289 what Jesus said in John 10, 10, I've come that 00:26:39.289 --> 00:26:41.890 they may have life and have it more abundantly. 00:26:42.369 --> 00:26:47.180 That's full. And Paul declares, Now think about 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:50.380 this, that all the fullness of God, so what that 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:53.900 means is his power, his authority, his wisdom, 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:58.900 his holiness, his love, it dwells in Jesus. Not 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:01.779 part of God, not a portion of God, all that fullness 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:05.420 is in Jesus. That means when we look at Jesus, 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:08.700 we see everything God wants us to know about 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:12.039 himself. Everything. And if we want that fullness, 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:15.640 don't look inward. Don't look outward. Don't 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:19.059 look around at culture. Look to Jesus. You know 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:23.339 why? Because you and I are complete in him. Being 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:26.119 in that relationship, we have a victorious life 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:29.160 to live when we're what? When we're pursuing 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:32.579 it. When we're desiring it. When we say, God, 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:36.079 I want more abundance. Colossians 2 .10 doesn't 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.980 say you will be complete someday. It says you 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:42.019 are complete right now. It's not about getting 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:45.269 there. It's about... living it right now. And 00:27:45.269 --> 00:27:49.410 the word complete is defined as lacking nothing, 00:27:49.509 --> 00:27:55.109 fully supplied, and brought to wholeness. And 00:27:55.109 --> 00:27:58.170 see, God's love for us and our value is not based 00:27:58.170 --> 00:28:00.910 on our performance or our past or our position 00:28:00.910 --> 00:28:04.670 or our money and our possessions. Fullness and 00:28:04.670 --> 00:28:08.309 completeness flows from our relationship with 00:28:08.309 --> 00:28:11.119 Jesus. See, when God looks at us, he doesn't 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:13.640 see what's missing. He doesn't see our brokenness. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:16.500 He sees Jesus. He sees us complete and full. 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:19.579 And walking in fullness is different from having 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:22.460 access to fullness, which I believe many followers 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:26.500 of Jesus, right? They don't walk in it. They 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:29.339 don't activate it. They have it. They possess 00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:33.180 it, but they don't walk in it. Why? Because we 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:35.980 live from feelings instead of faith. If we're 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:38.200 feeling good, then we're all on fire for Jesus. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:40.579 But if we're depressed and having a bad day, 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:44.279 tell me about your life then. We listen to fear 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:47.039 instead of truth. We allow past wounds to define 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:50.880 our present identity. And Paul says, stop. Stop. 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:53.960 Continue. And now, just as you accepted Jesus 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:56.980 as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 00:28:57.740 --> 00:29:00.619 And walking in fullness, it requires alignment. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:05.640 Aligning our mind with his truth. We have to 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:08.279 read the Bible. We have to apply that Bible to 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:10.480 our life. We have to align our heart and our 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:13.480 spirit with the Holy Spirit, with this Holy Spirit. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:17.539 Right, we pray, come Holy Spirit, direct my steps 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:20.799 today. And listen, tonight, six o 'clock, part 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:23.940 two of our Holy Spirit class. I'll be sharing 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:27.480 about the Holy Spirit and me. And some of you 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:29.339 think, well, I missed last week. Doesn't matter. 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:33.220 Come anyway. If you're desiring more, if you're 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:35.640 looking for abundance, six o 'clock right here. 00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:38.339 Why? Because I want to grow closer to Jesus. 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:41.039 I want to be on the winning team and pursue and 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:45.700 desire more. The same way you were saved by faith 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:49.900 is the same way that we walk in fullness. Fullness 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:53.579 flows from our relationship, flows from that 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:56.160 connection. It's not from religion. Religion 00:29:56.160 --> 00:30:00.619 says do more. Jesus says, abide in me, John 15, 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:05.109 4. Remain in me, and I'll remain in you. For 00:30:05.109 --> 00:30:07.109 a branch cannot produce fruit if it's severed 00:30:07.109 --> 00:30:09.450 from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless 00:30:09.450 --> 00:30:12.990 you remain in me. See, fullness is the fruit 00:30:12.990 --> 00:30:16.130 of remaining connected to Jesus. It's not striving. 00:30:17.109 --> 00:30:19.490 Right? We don't chase down peace. I want more 00:30:19.490 --> 00:30:23.069 peace. We remain, and we let peace flow through 00:30:23.069 --> 00:30:27.450 us. We don't force joy. We don't fake joy. We 00:30:27.450 --> 00:30:30.630 remain. We remain connected, and we let joy rise 00:30:30.630 --> 00:30:33.809 up within us. You can't manufacture the power 00:30:33.809 --> 00:30:35.740 of God. Otherwise, you're going to be pushing 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:38.900 people over. No, we remain, and then the power 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:41.759 of the Holy Spirit rests on us and fills us with 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:44.480 his presence. See, when we stay connected to 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:48.380 Jesus, fullness becomes our lifestyle. It's not 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.920 just a moment. It's not a one -time decision. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:53.380 It's an everyday decision living a victorious 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:56.799 life. Remember, Paul said, you are also complete 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:59.559 through your union with Christ, who is head over 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:02.779 every ruler and authority. You know what that 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:06.250 means? That means fear doesn't control you in 00:31:06.250 --> 00:31:09.190 Jesus' name. That means sin doesn't dominate 00:31:09.190 --> 00:31:13.210 you in Jesus' name. That means the enemy won't 00:31:13.210 --> 00:31:16.710 tempt you beyond your ability to sustain in Jesus' 00:31:16.910 --> 00:31:21.730 name. Your past doesn't define you. You are a 00:31:21.730 --> 00:31:25.170 new creation. You don't fight for victory. Church, 00:31:25.250 --> 00:31:28.569 we walk in victory. And God's fullness equips 00:31:28.569 --> 00:31:32.349 you to live boldly, deeply. It allows you to 00:31:32.349 --> 00:31:36.490 forgive freely and to stand firmly. By the way, 00:31:36.509 --> 00:31:38.990 this Friday, for those of you who don't know, 00:31:39.130 --> 00:31:41.650 those men out there, Valentine's Day Saturday. 00:31:43.269 --> 00:31:46.569 Just a little hint, I'm helping you out. Friday, 00:31:46.569 --> 00:31:48.049 we're going to go wave flowers in the square. 00:31:48.150 --> 00:31:50.250 We're going to be bold. We're going to get out 00:31:50.250 --> 00:31:52.390 in the square. Oh, I hear it's going to be a 00:31:52.390 --> 00:31:55.460 heat wave at like 40 degrees. Shoot, I'm wearing 00:31:55.460 --> 00:32:00.000 shorts. But we're going to be in the square. 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:01.759 We're going to give away 400 or 500 flowers. 00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:03.539 If you'd like to join us, we'll meet here at 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:06.000 11, put cards on them, and then go to the square 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.359 at 12 and give away hundreds of flowers. Why? 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.900 So that we can share God's love in a practical 00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:14.380 way. See, God never called us to survive. He 00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:18.200 called us to thrive, to walk in fullness. And 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:20.680 remember, it wasn't someday. It wasn't tomorrow 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:23.119 or next year. You don't have to be. It's right 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:26.569 now. You don't have to be perfect. Right? You 00:32:26.569 --> 00:32:30.829 don't have to be just this perfect Christian. 00:32:31.049 --> 00:32:33.410 You're complete. Just as you are. You're filled. 00:32:33.529 --> 00:32:36.529 You're empowered. Like embrace that. Live in 00:32:36.529 --> 00:32:40.549 that. Ephesians 3 .19. May you experience the 00:32:40.549 --> 00:32:43.470 love of Christ. Though it is too great to fully 00:32:43.470 --> 00:32:47.150 understand. Then you will be made complete with 00:32:47.150 --> 00:32:49.250 all the fullness of life and power that comes 00:32:49.250 --> 00:32:52.089 from God. A promise that Paul says for you to 00:32:52.089 --> 00:32:56.180 walk in. Now it's not ironic that Rhett was wearing 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:59.819 a sweatshirt that said Psalm 23. Because it just 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:04.599 so happens that Psalm 23 doesn't say, hey, my 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:07.119 cup is half full. Does anyone know what Psalm 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:15.279 23 says? It says, my cup runs over. My cup overflows. 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:18.160 And we need to be reminded that God's intention 00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:22.170 was never for us just to get by. It wasn't for 00:33:22.170 --> 00:33:24.970 us to live lives that was half full. It was for 00:33:24.970 --> 00:33:28.730 us to overflow. But we must remember, church, 00:33:28.990 --> 00:33:33.230 when we overflow, we have to overflow with the 00:33:33.230 --> 00:33:36.150 right source. Because many of us, unfortunately, 00:33:36.690 --> 00:33:41.670 we're allowing our minds, our hearts, our attitudes 00:33:41.670 --> 00:33:46.059 to be dictated by Facebook. And social media 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:51.140 and the news and music and resources that no 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:55.380 longer allow us to focus on Jesus. We get distracted. 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:58.400 And what are we really overflowing, church? What 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:02.220 are we overflowing? We're overflowing junk. And 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:05.160 everybody that comes in contact with us suddenly 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:08.400 is experiencing junk. And our hearts are now 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:12.199 stained with the stains of the world. And you 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:14.599 wonder, I want to be a better husband, but I 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:17.199 yell at my wife. What are you filling your life 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:19.500 with? Because if you're filling your life with 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:21.480 Jesus, something will change because your heart 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:24.679 will change. Because Jesus tells us that when 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:29.320 we overflow with him and his power, what happens? 00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:34.420 The goodness overflows. And therefore, our heart 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:41.019 is not stained. It's still clean and pure. Do 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:46.639 you desire to walk in God's fullness today? And 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:49.539 it's all just a choice that we live with, not 00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:52.239 just on Sunday. But listen, tomorrow morning, 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:55.800 the alarm's going to go off. What's your attitude 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:58.400 going to be? Is it going to be an attitude of 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:00.780 gratitude? Or is it going to be an attitude of 00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:03.219 negativity and doubt and frustration? Because, 00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:08.579 oh, it's Monday. And you all know what I'm talking 00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:16.940 about. Will you stand with me? So I have a simple 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:21.739 invitation for all of us today. It's a question 00:35:21.739 --> 00:35:26.360 that I want to pose to you. Do you desire to 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:30.260 walk in fullness? And if you desire to walk in 00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:33.019 fullness, I just want you to say, yes, Chris, 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:35.019 I want that. I want it. Just put your hand up 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:38.260 if you want some fullness. Yes. You see the hands, 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:42.090 God, Holy Spirit come. Well up within our people. 00:35:43.590 --> 00:35:45.530 Overwhelm us with your love, your grace, and 00:35:45.530 --> 00:35:47.349 your mercy. But more importantly, God, empower 00:35:47.349 --> 00:35:51.210 us with your fullness. We already have it. We 00:35:51.210 --> 00:35:55.650 already have access to it. Transform our minds, 00:35:55.670 --> 00:35:58.190 our hearts, and our attitudes today, God. Let 00:35:58.190 --> 00:36:01.730 us embrace your truth, your goodness. And God, 00:36:01.769 --> 00:36:04.989 as we walk in fullness, may we be a people that 00:36:04.989 --> 00:36:08.559 truly make a difference in this world. Use us 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:13.639 now, God. Empower us in Jesus' name. Amen. Now 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:15.739 you may be here and you may be distant, far from 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:19.179 God. I challenged all of you today. A relationship 00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:21.900 with Jesus is personal. It's not about the person 00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:23.739 beside you. It's not about your family. It's 00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:26.280 not about your friends. It's not about some girl 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:30.340 you're pursuing. It's a personal choice between 00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:33.639 you and God. We pray it every week here. And 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:35.599 here's the reality. It's an invitation for you 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:38.219 to come home. Come home to a relationship with 00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:40.260 God that will transform your life and give you 00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:43.420 the ability to walk in fullness. The fullness 00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:45.960 that God offers. And we're all going to pray 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:47.800 with you. We're not going to single you out, 00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:49.699 make you come forward. We're going to invite 00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:53.380 you to join our family here at HCV. Let's all 00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:58.139 pray together. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of 00:36:58.139 --> 00:37:04.599 doubt, shame, regret, sin. Change me. I believe. 00:37:05.289 --> 00:37:09.269 You're God's son. I believe you died for me. 00:37:09.849 --> 00:37:15.449 I believe you're alive today. Forgive me. Transform 00:37:15.449 --> 00:37:20.090 me. Fill me with your spirit. Help me, God, to 00:37:20.090 --> 00:37:24.710 serve others. In Jesus' name, amen. So if you 00:37:24.710 --> 00:37:26.309 prayed that prayer for the first time, listen, 00:37:26.449 --> 00:37:29.789 see me, hug me, text me, do something so I can 00:37:29.789 --> 00:37:32.719 give you some next steps. There were several 00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:34.519 words of knowledge I want to share with all of 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:37.559 you before I get to my door to say goodbye. You 00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:40.139 have pain in the upper part of your back near 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:44.440 your neck. You have left hip pain. You have issues 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:47.300 with the lower part of your stomach that's not 00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:50.920 allowing you to eat correctly. You have pain 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:54.860 in both your knees. You have constant pain in 00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:59.000 the back part of one of your heels. Or you're 00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:02.190 struggling with seasonal depression. If any of 00:38:02.190 --> 00:38:04.489 those are you, our prayer team will be on my 00:38:04.489 --> 00:38:07.750 left and my right, both sides. As everyone leaves, 00:38:07.929 --> 00:38:09.510 you make your way up front because we believe 00:38:09.510 --> 00:38:12.349 God wants to miraculously heal you. I appreciate 00:38:12.349 --> 00:38:15.190 each and every one of you. Checkup continues 00:38:15.190 --> 00:38:18.909 next week as we continue on in our series, Searching 00:38:18.909 --> 00:38:21.349 Our Heart. God bless you guys. Have a great week. 00:38:26.440 --> 00:38:29.980 Cut off my lifetime. I was stuck up in that grind. 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:32.280 Not knowing you gave your life for mine. You're 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:35.000 the one turn water into wine. Please fix my heart 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:35.679 and things inside.