WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:03.940 I think a lot of you believe that God loves you, 00:00:03.980 --> 00:00:06.339 but I don't think many of you think He really 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:09.039 likes you. The fact of the matter is, is we can 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.039 intellectually believe that God loves us, but 00:00:12.039 --> 00:00:14.679 not have a sense that He's for us. You want to 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:16.960 experience the goodness of God? Stay with me. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:24.359 Thanks for listening to this edition of Living 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:27.370 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We are an international 00:00:27.370 --> 00:00:30.429 teaching and discipleship ministry that encourages 00:00:30.429 --> 00:00:32.890 and equips Christians to live like Christians. 00:00:33.289 --> 00:00:35.270 Well, have you ever felt like God is disappointed 00:00:35.270 --> 00:00:37.990 in you or he's eagerly waiting for you to mess 00:00:37.990 --> 00:00:41.070 up so he can punish you? Well, today, Chip utterly 00:00:41.070 --> 00:00:44.109 dispels that myth as he continues his series, 00:00:44.289 --> 00:00:47.270 The Real God. There's a lot to get to, so let's 00:00:47.270 --> 00:00:49.530 join Chip for part two of his talk, The Goodness 00:00:49.530 --> 00:00:52.369 of God. If you have a Bible, you'll be back in 00:00:52.369 --> 00:00:57.950 Psalm chapter 84. How has God revealed his goodness? 00:00:58.130 --> 00:01:00.750 It's one thing. I can tell you if you actually 00:01:00.750 --> 00:01:03.950 come to believe that from your head down to your 00:01:03.950 --> 00:01:07.629 heart, obedience will be completely different. 00:01:08.310 --> 00:01:10.790 Trusting him becomes completely different. The 00:01:10.790 --> 00:01:13.890 fear of the future, we always have some, it'll 00:01:13.890 --> 00:01:16.530 begin to dissipate. Because if God has your best 00:01:16.530 --> 00:01:18.810 and he's sovereign and he's control and he's 00:01:18.810 --> 00:01:22.010 an all wise God and he's for you and he's leaning 00:01:22.010 --> 00:01:24.489 forward on the throne to bless your life and 00:01:24.489 --> 00:01:26.810 to help you and give you the very best. Well, 00:01:26.870 --> 00:01:30.250 then whatever he says is the, well, that's what 00:01:30.250 --> 00:01:32.349 I want to do. Now, by the way, it doesn't mean 00:01:32.349 --> 00:01:34.290 that you don't have some emotional fear. Doesn't 00:01:34.290 --> 00:01:37.549 mean the front end might be really hard, but 00:01:37.549 --> 00:01:39.430 it means that you trust his promises because 00:01:39.430 --> 00:01:42.450 he's a good God. He's revealed it to us in three 00:01:42.450 --> 00:01:46.209 ways. And let me encourage you to. To let these 00:01:46.209 --> 00:01:48.430 ways sink in and begin to practice them in a 00:01:48.430 --> 00:01:50.250 new way. Because you've got to do some things 00:01:50.250 --> 00:01:54.349 to move. I believe God's good to hear. First, 00:01:54.349 --> 00:01:59.390 it's through natural blessings. Psalm 145, 7 00:01:59.390 --> 00:02:01.870 -9 says, They celebrate your abundant goodness 00:02:01.870 --> 00:02:05.590 and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The 00:02:05.590 --> 00:02:09.009 Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger 00:02:09.009 --> 00:02:14.669 and rich in love. The Lord is good to all. He 00:02:14.669 --> 00:02:18.870 has compassion on all he's made. Does the all 00:02:18.870 --> 00:02:25.650 include you? He's good to all. This little phrase 00:02:25.650 --> 00:02:29.409 is repeated all through the Old Testament. He's 00:02:29.409 --> 00:02:34.169 gracious, compassionate, abounding, multiplying, 00:02:34.349 --> 00:02:38.370 exponentially available. loving kindness. The 00:02:38.370 --> 00:02:42.530 word is hesed. It's a steadfast, loyal, commitment, 00:02:42.669 --> 00:02:47.710 love to give you the best. That's how God is 00:02:47.710 --> 00:02:51.990 with his creation. Later in the same Psalm, verse 00:02:51.990 --> 00:02:55.370 16 says, you open your hand and satisfy the desires 00:02:55.370 --> 00:02:57.770 of every living thing. The Lord is righteous 00:02:57.770 --> 00:03:01.229 in all his ways and faithful in all that he does. 00:03:01.810 --> 00:03:05.030 And here's what I'd say is pause to look around. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.840 We get so busy, so focused. Just observe people. 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:12.340 Observe people at a restaurant. Observe people 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:15.280 walking on the streets now. The whole world does 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:19.259 this. A family sitting together in a restaurant. 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:22.539 There's four phones out. When's the last time? 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:26.000 I'm serious. When's the last time you saw a sunset? 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:30.020 You. When's the last time you saw a sunrise? 00:03:31.949 --> 00:03:34.789 When's the last time I'm going to take a walk 00:03:34.789 --> 00:03:37.610 and God has displayed his goodness and his glory. 00:03:37.770 --> 00:03:39.909 When's the last time you took a walk in nature? 00:03:40.650 --> 00:03:42.629 When's the last time you said, I don't need to 00:03:42.629 --> 00:03:46.229 be in a hurry? When's the last time in the traffic 00:03:46.229 --> 00:03:48.169 and the hustle and the bustle instead of, let's 00:03:48.169 --> 00:03:50.030 see, if I go here, I go here. If I get off this 00:03:50.030 --> 00:03:51.689 ramp, then I get over here. Then I cut across 00:03:51.689 --> 00:03:53.349 here. Gosh, I'm going to save two minutes and 00:03:53.349 --> 00:03:56.650 add all this stress to my life. That you said, 00:03:56.689 --> 00:03:59.509 maybe I'll just get in a slow lane. And put on 00:03:59.509 --> 00:04:02.129 a song about the glory of God and realize all 00:04:02.129 --> 00:04:03.909 these other crazy people that are commuting, 00:04:04.009 --> 00:04:07.810 I'm just not going to be a part of that. When's 00:04:07.810 --> 00:04:10.569 the last time you went to a park or even the 00:04:10.569 --> 00:04:13.270 mall at one of the little playgrounds and you 00:04:13.270 --> 00:04:18.509 just sat down and you watch kids play? And this 00:04:18.509 --> 00:04:22.970 is the innocence. They're not worried. They're 00:04:22.970 --> 00:04:24.810 not stressful. They're not going, I wonder what 00:04:24.810 --> 00:04:27.800 I'll wear tomorrow. Or I wonder if there's gonna 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.819 be any food tonight. Or, you know, I wonder what 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:32.800 profession I'm gonna have when I grow up. They're 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:36.540 just having fun. When's the last time you remembered 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:40.220 and you just held a brand new baby in your arms 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:44.680 and just thought, this is miraculous. This is 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.420 amazing. Where I live, I can drive about 30 minutes 00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:52.500 and just park in front of the ocean and just 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:54.759 kind of watch those waves come in. Watch the 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:57.910 waves come in. There's something good about being 00:04:57.910 --> 00:05:01.370 small sometimes. You're just one little person. 00:05:01.410 --> 00:05:05.689 I'm just one little person. You're so valuable 00:05:05.689 --> 00:05:08.470 on the one hand, and take this the right way, 00:05:08.529 --> 00:05:14.550 you're not all that important. You know? And 00:05:14.550 --> 00:05:17.310 yet, left to myself, I can start to feel like 00:05:17.310 --> 00:05:19.689 the whole world is dependent on me and every 00:05:19.689 --> 00:05:23.470 decision and every issue and all this. If you 00:05:23.470 --> 00:05:27.160 don't... bask in the goodness of God in the natural 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:30.480 surroundings, then unconsciously we will become 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.160 the center and the focus and you'll believe life 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:35.540 is about pressure and productivity and getting 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:39.339 things done. And there's a place for that, but 00:05:39.339 --> 00:05:42.560 the place for that is, Tozer's great words, it's 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:46.319 living under a sky that's friendly and knowing 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:48.660 that this God, though exalted in majesty and 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:53.589 power, is eager to be friends with you. That 00:05:53.589 --> 00:05:56.870 even for some of you, if you're like me, we are 00:05:56.870 --> 00:06:00.029 so productive oriented. If I'm not praying and 00:06:00.029 --> 00:06:03.170 talking and interceding, it's like even when 00:06:03.170 --> 00:06:04.709 I'm with God, I've got to get something done. 00:06:05.470 --> 00:06:10.149 Anybody like that? Have you ever just been listening 00:06:10.149 --> 00:06:13.670 to a song, or this morning I put Chris Tomlin 00:06:13.670 --> 00:06:16.050 on just various songs, and a couple came up that, 00:06:16.129 --> 00:06:19.949 my son wrote that song. My son wrote that song. 00:06:20.149 --> 00:06:22.810 And I just thought. I got to adopt that boy. 00:06:23.089 --> 00:06:26.230 Man, that kid was, we went through, and it was 00:06:26.230 --> 00:06:32.029 like, oh, God. David says, this one thing I will 00:06:32.029 --> 00:06:36.689 do that I will seek to behold the beauty of the 00:06:36.689 --> 00:06:40.009 Lord. Literally, the word is the delightfulness, 00:06:40.069 --> 00:06:43.959 to meditate in his temple. That there's part 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:46.079 of the goodness of God you just have to stop. 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:48.680 And I wrote a couple things down here. I wrote 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:51.579 for health, for food, for love, for people, for 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:54.819 beauty, for life, for air, for opportunity, for 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:57.720 the talents, for the education that you have, 00:06:57.899 --> 00:07:00.579 for the opportunities God's given you, that you 00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:04.319 live in this country. One of the things I do, 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:08.180 I lose perspective often. I seem to be... I have 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.639 a lot of issues, but I think God uses my issues 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:12.579 because when I share them, it seems like you 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:14.459 guys have them too, which makes me feel really 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:17.959 better. This was a Friday night about three weeks 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:20.480 ago, and it was 9 p .m., and I wrote in my journal, 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:23.279 I rarely if ever write at night, but I'm much 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:25.439 at peace and very, very thankful. After another 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.699 very intense week and two nights with just a 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:30.720 few hours sleep, the Lord my shepherd had me 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:32.939 lie down in green pastures, and he restored my 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:36.389 soul. I restored all my work. My sermon outline's 00:07:36.389 --> 00:07:38.689 done. I interviewed a new CFO candidate who I 00:07:38.689 --> 00:07:41.490 think's the right one. I met with a fellow pastor, 00:07:41.689 --> 00:07:43.670 Steve, and it was such encouraging to share at 00:07:43.670 --> 00:07:46.889 a very deep level. I laid out all my issues in 00:07:46.889 --> 00:07:49.970 his wise counsel. I went and swam and did my 00:07:49.970 --> 00:07:53.089 workout and didn't count the laps but tried to 00:07:53.089 --> 00:07:57.670 enjoy the process. My son, Ryan, just dropped 00:07:57.670 --> 00:07:59.769 by to pick up his kids and came to my office. 00:07:59.790 --> 00:08:03.629 We had a blast. He asked me how I was doing and 00:08:03.629 --> 00:08:06.649 how my back was, and I shared pretty honestly. 00:08:06.689 --> 00:08:09.910 He started to tear up. I thought, to have a son 00:08:09.910 --> 00:08:13.649 with that kind of compassion. I fell asleep and 00:08:13.649 --> 00:08:16.829 had his boys over that night. I slept at the 00:08:16.829 --> 00:08:18.970 bottom of the bed. My grandson fell asleep in 00:08:18.970 --> 00:08:24.089 my arms. God, thank you. Thank you. Those are 00:08:24.089 --> 00:08:29.370 little things. But God reveals his goodness through 00:08:29.370 --> 00:08:32.710 natural blessings. The second way. He reveals 00:08:32.710 --> 00:08:35.129 his goodness is through deliverances. And I'm 00:08:35.129 --> 00:08:37.149 going to ask you to turn to Psalm 107. It's a 00:08:37.149 --> 00:08:40.110 very long Psalm. I want you to study it, but 00:08:40.110 --> 00:08:41.809 I'm going to give you the structure of the Psalm. 00:08:41.909 --> 00:08:45.070 It is the classic passage on the goodness of 00:08:45.070 --> 00:08:47.889 God in the Old Testament. The Psalm will open 00:08:47.889 --> 00:08:50.509 with a call to honor God's goodness. And then 00:08:50.509 --> 00:08:52.309 what you're going to see are there are four specific 00:08:52.309 --> 00:08:56.639 vignettes. And the author is going to say vignette 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.580 number one, vignette number two, vignette number 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:01.320 three, vignette number four. In each one of these 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:04.460 vignettes, people find themselves in an impossible 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:08.000 situation. They're desperate. In three of the 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.419 four, they're in an impossible situation because 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:13.000 of their own doing, their own sin. In the fourth 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.320 one, God sovereignly seems to be working to some 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.940 sailors. So there's a vignette, talks about a 00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:20.980 situation, it's really bad, it's impossible. 00:09:22.090 --> 00:09:24.850 Then the process, and each one is the same. They 00:09:24.850 --> 00:09:26.809 cry out to the Lord in the midst of their desperation, 00:09:27.049 --> 00:09:29.370 in the midst of their trouble, and then God delivers, 00:09:29.649 --> 00:09:32.450 delivers, delivers. And then there's a repeating 00:09:32.450 --> 00:09:35.169 phrase that says, let them give thanks to the 00:09:35.169 --> 00:09:39.330 Lord for He is good. And then vignette, vignette, 00:09:39.330 --> 00:09:41.830 vignette. It's really powerful. Have you got 00:09:41.830 --> 00:09:44.860 it? Psalm 107, look at verses 1 and 2. He says, 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:46.700 O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:50.179 his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed 00:09:50.179 --> 00:09:52.980 of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:55.490 trouble. Now he's going to give four pictures 00:09:55.490 --> 00:09:57.750 of trouble. Look at verse four. Some wandered 00:09:57.750 --> 00:10:00.210 in the desert waste, finding no way to a city 00:10:00.210 --> 00:10:02.549 to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their souls 00:10:02.549 --> 00:10:04.690 fainted within them. They cried to the Lord in 00:10:04.690 --> 00:10:06.570 their trouble. He delivered them from their distress. 00:10:06.830 --> 00:10:08.690 He led them by the straight way till they reached 00:10:08.690 --> 00:10:11.129 a city to dwell in. Let them give thanks to the 00:10:11.129 --> 00:10:13.289 Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous 00:10:13.289 --> 00:10:15.529 work to the children of men. For he satisfies 00:10:15.529 --> 00:10:17.909 the longing of the soul, the hungry soul he fills 00:10:17.909 --> 00:10:20.950 with goodness. Vignette number two, some sat 00:10:20.950 --> 00:10:23.029 in darkness and shadow of death, prisoners in 00:10:23.029 --> 00:10:25.370 affliction and in irons, for they rebelled against 00:10:25.370 --> 00:10:27.070 the word of the Lord and he spurned the counsel 00:10:27.070 --> 00:10:30.250 of the Most High. So he bowed their heads with 00:10:30.250 --> 00:10:33.210 hard labor and they fell. With none to help them, 00:10:33.250 --> 00:10:35.070 they cried to the Lord in their trouble. He delivered 00:10:35.070 --> 00:10:37.049 them from their distress. He brought them out 00:10:37.049 --> 00:10:38.929 of darkness and out of the shadow of death, and 00:10:38.929 --> 00:10:41.190 he burst their bonds. Let them give thanks to 00:10:41.190 --> 00:10:43.409 the Lord for his steadfast love. His wondrous 00:10:43.409 --> 00:10:45.889 works for the children of men. He shatters the 00:10:45.889 --> 00:10:47.769 doors of bronze. He's talking about breaking 00:10:47.769 --> 00:10:51.299 through judgment. 17. Some were fools through 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:53.179 sinful ways, and because of their iniquities, 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:55.919 affliction, and we'll find out it becomes physical 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.820 affliction. He delivers them, verse 21, let them 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:00.840 give thanks to the Lord for his wondrous works. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.860 Skipping down to verse 23, some went down to 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:06.200 the sea in ships, doing business on the great 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:08.120 waters. They saw the deeds of the Lord for his 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.379 wondrous works in the deep. He commanded and 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:12.980 raised up a stormy wind. He lifted up the waves 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:15.820 of the sea, and then the sailors cry out on their 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:19.429 distress. God delivers them. Verse 31, let them 00:11:19.429 --> 00:11:21.929 give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love, 00:11:21.990 --> 00:11:25.669 his wondrous works to men. And then notice he 00:11:25.669 --> 00:11:29.149 will begin and say, let them extol his congregation 00:11:29.149 --> 00:11:32.230 of the people, the praise of the assembly of 00:11:32.230 --> 00:11:35.250 the elders. And then verse 33 to the end of the 00:11:35.250 --> 00:11:38.990 chapter, he's going to reach back and take the 00:11:38.990 --> 00:11:41.850 deliverances of God historically. Because this 00:11:41.850 --> 00:11:45.289 psalm is written to a group of people who have 00:11:45.289 --> 00:11:47.429 missed God's goodness and they're focusing on 00:11:47.429 --> 00:11:49.669 circumstances and their lives aren't working. 00:11:49.809 --> 00:11:53.070 And the only way it's to pull back our perspective 00:11:53.070 --> 00:11:55.850 and to realize, oh, in the midst of our trouble 00:11:55.850 --> 00:11:59.970 in the past, one of the ways that God expresses 00:11:59.970 --> 00:12:04.230 his goodness is he delivers us. He reaches in 00:12:04.230 --> 00:12:07.600 and delivers us when we don't deserve it. The 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.779 first three times, it's because of their sin. 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:11.960 In fact, in your notes, I put a little summary. 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:15.120 He rescues us from our enemies. He rescues us 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.759 when we're spiritually adrift. He rescues us 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:20.500 from the shadow of death. He heals our diseases. 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.919 He saves us in the storms of life. And then notice 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.000 at the very end, after he highlights these big 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:29.500 moments in Israel's history, when they were in 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:32.240 the desert, when he delivered them from the enemies. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:36.940 Verse 43, whoever is wise. By the way, in biblical 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:39.019 literature, the word wise, especially in the 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:42.600 Old Testament, it's not intellectual. Wisdom, 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.440 book of Proverbs, or even New Testament, book 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:48.559 of James, wisdom is understanding how God designed 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:52.379 life to work. It's a skill. And it's following 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:55.919 that. So this is the pattern or the path of God 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:58.159 says, this is how relationships work. Wisdom 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.820 is, I'm going to follow that path. Wisdom is, 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:03.740 this is how God designed money to work in our 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:06.460 life. I'm going to follow that path. Wisdom is, 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:08.639 when I've made a mistake, here's the path for 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.639 reconciliation and forgiveness. I'll follow that 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:15.019 path. So he's saying, let him who's wise attend 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:19.080 to these things. Let them consider. Let them 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.889 ponder. The steadfast love, that's our word, 00:13:22.909 --> 00:13:27.649 loving kindness of the Lord. Can I ask you to 00:13:27.649 --> 00:13:30.389 do just a quick glance in your rear view mirror, 00:13:30.529 --> 00:13:36.429 in your memory bank? When has God delivered you 00:13:36.429 --> 00:13:41.750 or delivered someone you love? Anybody been in 00:13:41.750 --> 00:13:44.169 just a horrendous situation? Maybe you did something 00:13:44.169 --> 00:13:47.450 really terrible. Anybody had one of your kids 00:13:47.450 --> 00:13:49.149 in the hospital and you begged God for their 00:13:49.149 --> 00:13:52.960 life? And he delivered. Anybody here been through 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:57.960 cancer? You're here. Anybody here been upside 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:01.919 down financially? Anybody here had a moment in 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:05.399 your marriage that you just thought, you know, 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:08.220 I get the covenant stuff. This person makes me 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:19.299 so crazy. Divorce is not an option, but. And 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:22.679 you just, you grit your teeth and say, God, I 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:26.559 want to learn to love this person. And he delivered 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:32.220 you. See, that's God's goodness. It's his mercy. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:37.519 I thought back in my little life, I thought, 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:40.179 I think I was the most arrogant person that I'd 00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:44.740 ever met. And it was all rooted in insecurity. 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:47.279 But the only way I knew growing up. Was just 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:50.500 to act like the tough guy and recruit the tallest, 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:53.879 biggest guy on the team to be my enforcer. Because 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:57.600 I'm kind of small. And my mouth and my arrogance 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:01.759 and my insecurity. And I just look back. God 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:05.200 delivered me. Now, I still have arrogance, but 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:09.340 at least it's not the big, ugly kind. I mean, 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:12.100 you've got to stop and look back and say, wait 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.799 a second. The God who did that, you think he 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:17.070 can handle this big one? Right? That you're facing. 00:15:18.950 --> 00:15:21.690 I had a very, very troubled marriage. We both 00:15:21.690 --> 00:15:25.629 came from alcoholic backgrounds. My wife was 00:15:25.629 --> 00:15:29.210 a stuffer and I was a talker. We couldn't communicate. 00:15:29.289 --> 00:15:31.850 We couldn't resolve anger. And I praise God for 00:15:31.850 --> 00:15:38.009 Christian counseling. Even at $95 an hour. It's 00:15:38.009 --> 00:15:40.090 a lot of money when you're making $1 ,000 a month. 00:15:41.070 --> 00:15:43.789 And you're in seminary preparing to teach people 00:15:43.789 --> 00:15:48.240 about God and marriage. You know the hardest 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:51.940 part? I can vividly remember going into the Meyer 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:55.000 Minereth Clinic and sitting down and waiting 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.139 for our time and just praying that no one came 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:02.639 through that door that knew me. That's how arrogant 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:06.820 I was. I was so concerned about what other people 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:10.960 would think. And now I look back and think, you 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:13.980 know, we did 12 sessions. I have no idea where 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:17.659 we got the money. And a few years later, we needed 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.600 to tune up and went back and sat down with someone. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.919 You know when you get stuck? But God delivers. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.679 I'm so glad I didn't bail out. So glad we didn't 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:30.480 bail out. So glad. I can't imagine. Is it perfect? 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:35.440 Of course not. She's still married to me. And 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.340 you laugh, but I mean, you know, I've got idiosyncrasies 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:41.059 that are off the chart. I'm intense off the chart. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.840 You know, I would not want to live with me, but 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:47.360 I'm so glad she does. And it's better and deeper 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:52.139 in every, I mean, emotionally, friendship, sexually, 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:55.460 every, believe me, you name an area, we've struggled. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:57.539 And when I say we struggled, I don't mean like, 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:59.059 oh, it was a little problem. It was a problem. 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:06.279 And God delivered. I think of one of my sons 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:09.700 in ICU and we didn't think he'd live. I think 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:13.049 of one of my other sons in a 27. hour labor that 00:17:13.049 --> 00:17:15.369 we didn't think he was going to make it. And 00:17:15.369 --> 00:17:19.289 we just begged God. I remember six years of going 00:17:19.289 --> 00:17:22.829 through cancer with my wife and driving every 00:17:22.829 --> 00:17:25.990 day to Stanford after the surgery and thinking, 00:17:26.029 --> 00:17:31.869 is this what I get? And God delivered. Just think. 00:17:32.250 --> 00:17:38.829 Just think. Ask yourself. Has our lives gotten 00:17:38.829 --> 00:17:44.210 so distracted with stuff and trivia and so focused 00:17:44.210 --> 00:17:46.670 on the future and what about and what about and 00:17:46.670 --> 00:17:48.829 what about and what about and this unconscious 00:17:48.829 --> 00:17:51.809 desire to control and to manipulate and thinking 00:17:51.809 --> 00:17:54.750 in our little humanness we can determine outcomes. 00:17:55.109 --> 00:17:58.829 What would happen if you started to look at the 00:17:58.829 --> 00:18:01.630 natural blessings and you begin to think and 00:18:01.630 --> 00:18:05.750 write and ponder, if he delivered, here's my, 00:18:05.750 --> 00:18:09.460 here's my, I'm pretty logical. If He delivered 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:15.440 in all those areas, whatever is in the windshield 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:18.480 of my life that feels painful, overwhelming, 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:22.579 confusing, and creates fear in my heart, I can 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.200 at least look in the rearview mirror and say, 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:28.680 that God is with me, and that God's out there. 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:32.680 So all my question is, okay, I don't get it emotionally, 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:36.519 but I'm going to trust you. I'm going to stay 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:40.539 on the path. There's a path or there's a way 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:43.339 that seems right to men, but it ends in death. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:48.559 And there's a path that's the Lord's that is 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.059 fullness of joy, where his pleasures are forever. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:56.099 The third and most profound way for sure is God 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:58.440 has demonstrated his goodness through his son. 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:03.640 Jesus is the proof of God's goodness. And I love 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:05.819 it. It's his goodness before we did anything. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.119 It's not a cause and effect. There certainly 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:12.180 is a clear relationship in scripture between 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:15.680 the blessings of God and obedience and the discipline 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:18.400 of God and disobedience. But even the discipline 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.940 of God is out of his goodness and out of his 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:23.339 love. He disciplines not because he's mad or 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:26.420 punishing us. All of the just wrath and punishment 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:29.180 of God was placed on Christ at the cross. If 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:31.660 you're a son or a daughter, he may discipline 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:33.960 you and bring you through very difficult times, 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.900 but it's out of his heart of goodness and love 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:39.700 to give you the best. You're listening to Living 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:42.420 on the Edge. We'll return you to Chip's message 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:44.880 in just a minute. But let me quickly share with 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:47.400 you, God has called us to do incredible ministry 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:50.660 work all around the world. And when you regularly 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:53.019 give to Living on the Edge, you're a part of 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:56.000 what we do. So consider becoming a monthly partner 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:01.500 today. Then visit livingontheedge .org. We appreciate 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:04.519 your generous support. Well, with that, here's 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:08.660 Chip. Whenever you're discouraged, whenever you 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:11.940 wonder if God is good, there is a historical 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:17.019 moment. The cross is the greatest revelation 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:21.680 of the goodness of God in the universe. The cross. 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:25.359 why we were yet sinners, not when you cleaned 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:27.900 up your act, not when you did better, not when 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:31.119 you didn't have problems, why you and me were 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:34.279 rebels. And we could have been far from God and 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:37.299 angry at God, or we could be a rebel being passively 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:40.079 indifferent, thinking we don't need him. Both 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:43.859 is rebellion. In that moment, in that state, 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:48.559 Christ demonstrated his love for you. He died 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:53.059 in your place. It's the proof. Of God's goodness. 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:58.700 Jesus is the guarantee of future goodness. The 00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:02.420 proof of present goodness is the cross. The guarantee 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:07.359 of future goodness is the cross. He who did not 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:11.420 spare his own son, but delivered him up, literally, 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:14.920 or over for us all, how will he not also with 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:18.599 him freely give us all things? It's called a 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:21.960 priori logic. In other words, if someone would 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:26.599 forgive a $5 million debt, you think you could 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:28.119 trust him if you went out to lunch and said, 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.140 oh gosh, you know, I don't have my wallet. Oh 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:32.740 my gosh, you think he'll pay for it? In other 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:37.240 words, if God has demonstrated his love through 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:41.640 the cross, how will he not with him? He's loved 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:43.779 you, he's rescued you, he's paid for you. How 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:46.720 will he not with him? Give you wisdom to be in 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.000 the right relationship. Give you direction for 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.359 the right job. Give you grace in the midst of 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:55.700 a difficult situation. Psalm 84, 11 was the promise. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:22:01.400 But this verse, Romans 8, 32, was why I turned 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:04.980 from a path that was wrong, got on the exit ramp 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:08.859 of repentance, and turned around and got on God's 00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:14.720 path. I was in college. And I had been a Christian 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:19.680 about three years, and I knew Jesus was Lord, 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:22.259 but he wasn't my Lord. I knew I was in a relationship 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.700 that was wrong, and I couldn't trust God. And 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:26.059 a young couple that had been a Christian about 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:28.940 nine months or a year, it was a small school, 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:31.079 3 ,000 or 4 ,000, out in the middle of nowhere, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:33.400 had like a red church, a white church, and a 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:37.039 bar, not even a gas station. And you couldn't 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.799 get anything decent to eat. So when you're a 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.339 college student and a young couple says, would 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.799 you like to come to our house for dinner? It's 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:47.160 like, yes. And so we, I'll never forget it. And 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:49.019 so they were new Christians. And looking back, 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:51.000 they were very poor and they had a little farm. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:54.500 I mean, picture Norman Rockwell, old barn, you 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:57.980 know, reddish, rusted door, white farmhouse, 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:01.000 very simple. I think it's cool and vintage now. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.119 But remember the tables that are plastic on top 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:06.420 and with the curved legs that are steel. And 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:08.599 then when you sat on the thing, you stuck to 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:11.930 them. They didn't have doors. They took a little 00:23:11.930 --> 00:23:14.910 wire and they put a sheet because they didn't 00:23:14.910 --> 00:23:17.049 have doors. I think they only had like two, three 00:23:17.049 --> 00:23:19.710 rooms in the house. And they invited me over 00:23:19.710 --> 00:23:21.289 in a home -cooked meal. Of course, they had a 00:23:21.289 --> 00:23:25.710 garden. And they were really old, like 28 or 00:23:25.710 --> 00:23:29.250 30. And, you know, like when you're 19, they're 00:23:29.250 --> 00:23:31.289 completely over it. I mean, they're still romance, 00:23:31.410 --> 00:23:35.069 people that old, you know. And we talked around 00:23:35.069 --> 00:23:37.769 the table and I watched how these two people 00:23:37.769 --> 00:23:41.599 looked at each other. And there was this gleam 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:44.019 and this love, and she just reached over and 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:47.799 kind of touched his hand, and like a married 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:50.539 couple, really, really in love. And then he said, 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:53.460 excuse me, we're going to have ice cream and 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:56.000 apple pie that she's made, and we'll be right 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.799 back, but we're doing something new with our 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:00.359 kids. And they had like a... five -year -old, 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.700 four -year -old, maybe a two -year -old. And 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:05.380 so they went over and I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:08.200 but it's a sheet. And so you could sort of see 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:10.240 through the sheet and a little single bed and 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:13.720 all four of them got down like this and they 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:16.779 all held hands and they taught the little kids 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:20.619 a tiny little prayer. Dear Jesus, thank you for 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:23.599 today. Thank you for mommy. Thank you for daddy. 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:26.500 Thank you that you died for us. And then the 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:29.160 husband prayed and You know, it was, you know, 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:31.500 not all that long. And then they came back in 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:34.279 and they sat down at the table and I had great 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:37.700 apple pie and had a green little Volkswagen at 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:39.900 the time. And the roads are real windy in West 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:43.480 Virginia. So I came to our campus and it was 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:45.740 called Bartell Hill. And it was just straight 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:49.200 down and I lived in the dorm, Bartell. And I 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:51.299 can still remember I was having a talk with God. 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:53.579 God, that's what I want. I mean, that's what 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:56.589 I really want someday. And I just heard the Holy 00:24:56.589 --> 00:24:58.269 Spirit whisper, Chip, I'd love to give you that, 00:24:58.349 --> 00:25:04.789 but it's on my terms, not yours. And I said, 00:25:04.809 --> 00:25:07.309 well, I just can't believe that if I give up 00:25:07.309 --> 00:25:09.190 this girl that you have someone better for me. 00:25:10.049 --> 00:25:12.170 And I was with a group that was big into Scripture 00:25:12.170 --> 00:25:14.769 memory, but I was not very big at sticking with 00:25:14.769 --> 00:25:18.450 the group. So I was slow, but I just started 00:25:18.450 --> 00:25:23.009 memorizing Scripture. And Romans 8 .32, as I'm 00:25:23.009 --> 00:25:24.869 in the middle of that hill, Came to my mind. 00:25:24.930 --> 00:25:26.250 I mean, just like out of the blue. I didn't know 00:25:26.250 --> 00:25:29.450 the Holy Spirit did this stuff. Chip, he that 00:25:29.450 --> 00:25:32.410 spared not his own son, but delivered him up 00:25:32.410 --> 00:25:35.250 for us all, how will he not with him freely give 00:25:35.250 --> 00:25:39.250 us all things? And, you know, I don't know why. 00:25:39.589 --> 00:25:42.529 Intellectually, it went, oh, so you're willing 00:25:42.529 --> 00:25:44.210 to die for me? You could actually get me the 00:25:44.210 --> 00:25:47.410 right wife? And I got to the bottom of the hill, 00:25:47.569 --> 00:25:51.069 and Jesus was the Lord of my life. Not because 00:25:51.069 --> 00:25:53.480 I... was stronger and not because I made some 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:57.259 big commitment. It's because God is good. There's 00:25:57.259 --> 00:26:00.099 three very specific responses and we'll wrap 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:03.400 up our time. Response number one is for those 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.539 of you, you have an intellectual relationship 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:08.400 with God and, but the fact of the matter is, 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.380 is that if I ask you, do you know for certain 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:12.119 that if you died today, you would spend eternity 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:15.069 with the Lord Jesus because of his? Death on 00:26:15.069 --> 00:26:17.269 the cross and you receiving that free gift of 00:26:17.269 --> 00:26:19.890 God. And is he a vital living part of your life? 00:26:19.950 --> 00:26:22.250 You just, you know, just you and me with coffee. 00:26:22.349 --> 00:26:24.609 You look me in the eye and go, nah, I'm not sure. 00:26:24.730 --> 00:26:28.269 I don't know. This is for you. Repent and receive 00:26:28.269 --> 00:26:32.950 the greatest gift ever of eternal life. Romans 00:26:32.950 --> 00:26:35.930 2, 4 says that it is God's kindness and his goodness, 00:26:35.970 --> 00:26:38.589 his forbearance and patience that leads us to 00:26:38.589 --> 00:26:42.500 repentance. God has been so good and so kind 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:44.740 and done so much in your life. It's all been 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:47.279 to say, would you come and let me give you the 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.579 best gift ever? You can't earn it. I want to 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:51.880 forgive your sin. I want to come into your life 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:54.140 and I want to change your life. And I want you 00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:56.619 to become my son or my daughter. And if you have 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:59.240 never done that right now, I would just turn 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.259 Ingram off because what he says doesn't matter. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.819 And in my heart of hearts, I would say, almighty 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:07.240 God, I had no idea you were so good. I had no 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:09.819 idea you loved me so much. I want to turn from 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:12.480 my sin. And in the empty hands of faith, I ask 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.859 you to forgive me based on Jesus' work on the 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:18.039 cross and resurrection and come into my life 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:20.880 right now. And he will. And then tell someone 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:24.119 and we'll help you get on the new path. Second 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:26.940 is surrender your life and future fully to the 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:30.619 Lordship of Christ. This is God's will. God's 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:32.000 will is not you're a little bit better moral 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.519 person and you try really hard and go to religious 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:38.839 services. God's will is that I urge you, brothers, 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:41.880 in view of God's mercy, rooted in his goodness, 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.640 that you offer your body as a living and holy 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:48.480 sacrifice, pleasing to God. That is your spiritual 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:51.000 service of worship. What God wants is not your 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:53.940 money. What God wants is not your religious activity. 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:58.799 He wants you. Lock, stock, and barrel. He wants 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:02.099 you. And what that will do is that will reorient 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:04.380 your time. It'll reorient your life. It'll reorient 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:06.400 your money. But it will be out of a love relationship, 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:09.240 not trying to earn His favor. If you've never 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:13.140 fully surrendered, He brought you on this day 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:16.259 from your heart of hearts to bow your knee and 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:19.920 say, Lord, I want to tell you I'm afraid. But 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:24.400 on this day, at this place, I offer myself. All 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:26.990 that I am, all that I have, all that I'll ever 00:28:26.990 --> 00:28:30.450 be. You have full rights to my life. I'm signing 00:28:30.450 --> 00:28:33.289 the bottom of a check. I'm ushering it underneath 00:28:33.289 --> 00:28:35.990 the throne room of God. You fill in the top, 00:28:36.190 --> 00:28:40.410 whatever. Time, energy, money, future, location. 00:28:41.589 --> 00:28:44.869 You call the shots and I'll obey because it's 00:28:44.869 --> 00:28:48.089 the best and wisest plan because you love me, 00:28:48.170 --> 00:28:50.130 you're good, you're all -knowing, and you're 00:28:50.130 --> 00:28:52.869 all -wise. And finally, I would just encourage 00:28:52.869 --> 00:28:54.769 those of you who say, you know, I'm a believer 00:28:54.769 --> 00:28:58.690 and I've surrendered. Claim God's promise that 00:28:58.690 --> 00:29:01.630 you'll never miss out on any good thing. Because 00:29:01.630 --> 00:29:04.470 you lose it, don't you? Just because you've surrendered 00:29:04.470 --> 00:29:05.849 doesn't mean you don't fear that you're going 00:29:05.849 --> 00:29:09.789 to miss out, that you aren't tempted. Claim today, 00:29:09.950 --> 00:29:15.809 Lord God, you are my son. You are my shield. 00:29:16.029 --> 00:29:19.990 You're my grace. You're my glory. No good thing. 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:25.319 ever will I miss out on as I walk uprightly before 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:32.440 you. Before we go any farther today, I want you 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:34.960 to pause. I don't care what you're doing. You 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.660 might be on the treadmill. You might be sitting 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:39.059 at the kitchen table. You might be out running. 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:41.759 You might be riding in your car, but you need 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:45.359 to pause right now and think about what the scripture, 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:50.180 what God just said. If you find yourself outside 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:52.680 of Christ. And what I mean by that is you do 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:56.319 not have 100 % certainty that if you would die 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:58.660 at this moment, you would be ushered into heaven. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.200 You realize that God has been good. He's been 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:03.920 kind. He's been speaking to your heart and you've 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:06.579 never turned from your sin and received him as 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:09.619 your savior. You need to do that right now. It 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:12.660 is the kindness, the goodness of God that leads 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:15.480 to this change of mind. He loves you so much. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:18.680 He died for you. He rose from the dead. He has 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:21.460 a gift for you that begins this minute on this 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:24.380 day of a brand new life. And so let me just, 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:26.079 if you have not done that and you're not sure 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:29.240 how, right now with me, pray this, Lord Jesus, 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:33.380 I need you. I believe today that you died in 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:36.980 my place for my sin and rose from the dead. Lord, 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:40.859 I trust in you and you alone for eternal life. 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:44.680 And I ask you to come into my life, cleanse me, 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:48.880 forgive me, make me your son. Make me your daughter. 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:52.099 What I want you to know is that is called being 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:54.960 born a second time or being born spiritually. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:57.700 Or you may have heard being born again. Just 00:30:57.700 --> 00:31:00.799 like every person requires a physical birth to 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.779 have physical life, every person requires a spiritual 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:07.240 birth to have spiritual life. And I've just led 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:10.980 you in a prayer of repentance where Jesus promised 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:13.599 that as you open the door of your heart, he promises, 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:37.579 I will come in. Or by visiting livingontheedge 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:40.720 .org, then clicking the New Believers button. 00:31:41.210 --> 00:31:45.609 That's livingontheedge .org or call 888 -333 00:31:45.609 --> 00:31:49.650 -6003. Let us help you get started in your faith 00:31:49.650 --> 00:31:52.150 journey. Now, Chip, I wanted to give you another 00:31:52.150 --> 00:31:54.630 minute or so to talk to another group of people 00:31:54.630 --> 00:31:56.849 who listened intently to what you taught today. 00:31:57.170 --> 00:31:59.789 Dave, I appreciate that. I also want to say a 00:31:59.789 --> 00:32:02.390 word to many, many of you who thought to yourself, 00:32:02.670 --> 00:32:05.089 well, I've taken that step. Christ lives in me. 00:32:05.309 --> 00:32:08.069 And when I talked about his lordship, when I 00:32:08.069 --> 00:32:11.390 talked about absolute surrender, You know what? 00:32:11.410 --> 00:32:13.910 There's a job or a person or a girlfriend or 00:32:13.910 --> 00:32:17.410 a boyfriend or money or the future. And God brought 00:32:17.410 --> 00:32:19.869 things to your mind. And I will tell you that 00:32:19.869 --> 00:32:24.390 the dramatic, dramatic change that happens in 00:32:24.390 --> 00:32:26.950 followers of Christ is when they come to God 00:32:26.950 --> 00:32:28.869 and say, I really do believe you're a sun and 00:32:28.869 --> 00:32:31.329 a shield. I really believe you give grace and 00:32:31.329 --> 00:32:33.970 glory. And I so believe you would never withhold 00:32:33.970 --> 00:32:36.450 any good thing from me. I want you to know that 00:32:36.450 --> 00:32:39.490 today, all that I am, all that I have, I surrender. 00:32:40.349 --> 00:32:42.490 And I mean it. And if you're not a little afraid, 00:32:42.650 --> 00:32:45.089 then you don't get it. OK, we're all a little 00:32:45.089 --> 00:32:48.769 afraid. But I just I just got to tell you, I've 00:32:48.769 --> 00:32:50.690 watched people who've been Christian five years, 00:32:50.809 --> 00:32:53.710 10 years, 25 years, never surrender. And when 00:32:53.710 --> 00:32:57.450 they do, the floodgates of heaven open. They 00:32:57.450 --> 00:33:00.410 experience power like never before. And usually 00:33:00.410 --> 00:33:02.809 some difficulty early on. You'll get tested. 00:33:02.950 --> 00:33:06.309 We love you. God loves you. Surrender to him 00:33:06.309 --> 00:33:09.539 today. Incredible encouragement, Chip. So if 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:11.700 you're looking for some practical help to recommit 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:14.359 your life to Jesus, check out Chip's book, True 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:17.460 Spirituality. Through this resource, he walks 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:20.480 through Romans chapter 12, unpacking how to become 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:23.539 a genuine follower of Christ. To get your copy 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:26.460 of True Spirituality, or to order a couple of 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:28.519 copies for you and a friend to go through together, 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:32.240 go to special offers at livingontheedge .org 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:35.210 or the Chip Ingram app. If you are ready to completely 00:33:35.210 --> 00:33:38.210 surrender your life to Jesus, this tool will 00:33:38.210 --> 00:33:40.470 help you. Well, from all of us here, I'm Dave 00:33:40.470 --> 00:33:42.609 Drewy, thanking you for listening to this edition 00:33:42.609 --> 00:33:45.269 of Living on the Edge, and I hope you'll join 00:33:45.269 --> 00:33:46.230 us again next time.