WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.200 25 years ago today, this church family allowed 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:08.759 me to become the pastor of this church on April 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:14.320 Fool's Day. That's noteworthy to me. Can you 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:17.480 imagine a congregation voting for somebody to 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:19.920 be their pastor? And the vote was very strong. 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:23.980 In fact, it was unanimous. And then they're thinking, 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:28.420 that guy's probably a pastor. I didn't know anything 00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:32.840 about pastoring. April Fool's Day. And so as 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.820 some of you recall, and I will just share a few 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:38.759 things, I'm trying to build a case for how powerful 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:42.320 the cross is, and I think you'll see that pretty 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:46.259 soon. This is not just nostalgia, but as some 00:00:46.259 --> 00:00:49.380 of you may recall, after I'd been here for five 00:00:49.380 --> 00:00:51.939 years or so, I said, well, that would be about 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:55.850 someone in kindergarten. So if you're expecting 00:00:55.850 --> 00:00:59.609 a good pastor, just know your pastor is in kindergarten. 00:01:00.049 --> 00:01:03.630 And so you go on through there. After 18 years 00:01:03.630 --> 00:01:07.849 or so, I graduated high school as far as pastoring 00:01:07.849 --> 00:01:10.530 goes. In fact, I would assume I got left back 00:01:10.530 --> 00:01:14.409 a couple of years. so probably closer to 20 when 00:01:14.409 --> 00:01:18.250 I graduated. And, of course, there are some vocations 00:01:18.250 --> 00:01:21.209 where you can get out into the world after high 00:01:21.209 --> 00:01:24.109 school, and some people do very well. But there 00:01:24.109 --> 00:01:27.829 are also some ways of working that you've got 00:01:27.829 --> 00:01:30.730 to go for a lot more education. I have found 00:01:30.730 --> 00:01:34.569 that to be the case for pastoring. You are always 00:01:34.569 --> 00:01:37.950 learning. And I feel like I have more to learn 00:01:37.950 --> 00:01:42.049 today than I ever have before because the world 00:01:42.049 --> 00:01:46.069 has changed dramatically in the last 25 years. 00:01:46.230 --> 00:01:51.030 So as much as I am celebrating 25 years and thankful, 00:01:51.189 --> 00:01:54.549 I'm also aware that I'm just getting started. 00:01:55.129 --> 00:01:58.310 Tragically, I probably only have about 10 years 00:01:58.310 --> 00:02:01.069 left if the Lord tarries, so I hope those next 00:02:01.069 --> 00:02:04.239 10 years are really good years. The Bible says 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:06.939 we're only promised 70 years, so that's just 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:10.020 the way it goes. And so we've got to do our best 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:12.719 while the Lord blesses us. But I want you to 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:15.340 consider, and this is a little bit personal, 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:17.819 but I think right now you can latch a hold of 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:21.580 it in your own life. I want you to consider the 00:02:21.580 --> 00:02:25.120 many changes that have happened in our world 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:29.919 in just the last 25 years. Do you know when I 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:33.129 was starting as pastor in this church, There 00:02:33.129 --> 00:02:39.669 were no iPhones. Now, some young people just 00:02:39.669 --> 00:02:43.110 passed out. They can't imagine a world without 00:02:43.110 --> 00:02:46.150 iPhones. The iPhone didn't come in until about 00:02:46.150 --> 00:02:55.770 2007. No Facebook. No YouTube. No Instagram. 00:02:57.110 --> 00:03:00.050 No TikTok. Most of you don't know what that is. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:07.340 No Netflix streaming. How could anybody survive 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:13.250 in a world without Netflix? iPhone 2007, Facebook 00:03:13.250 --> 00:03:21.229 2004, YouTube 2005, Netflix 2007, Instagram 2010, 00:03:21.610 --> 00:03:26.610 and TikTok in 2016. And whether you are someone 00:03:26.610 --> 00:03:30.930 that is engaged in any of those activities or 00:03:30.930 --> 00:03:34.349 apps or you just use your phone as a phone, there's 00:03:34.349 --> 00:03:37.270 probably two people in the crowd this size that 00:03:37.270 --> 00:03:40.349 still use your phone for just a phone. But the 00:03:40.349 --> 00:03:45.310 reality is over the last 25 years, everything 00:03:45.310 --> 00:03:50.669 competing for our attention didn't exist 25 years 00:03:50.669 --> 00:03:54.949 ago. And so I am so thankful for the privilege 00:03:54.949 --> 00:03:59.250 to say that 25 years ago, there were people that 00:03:59.250 --> 00:04:03.090 gave me the opportunity to serve. And I'm grateful 00:04:03.090 --> 00:04:06.310 for all of that. But I'm thankful that there's 00:04:06.310 --> 00:04:09.590 still a few people here. Because the way our 00:04:09.590 --> 00:04:12.830 world is going and all of the things that pull 00:04:12.830 --> 00:04:16.790 for our attention and our time and all the rest, 00:04:16.850 --> 00:04:20.129 it is amazing that there's still people that 00:04:20.129 --> 00:04:24.089 find time for church and find time for worship 00:04:24.089 --> 00:04:28.110 and find time for prayer and find time for Bible 00:04:28.110 --> 00:04:31.310 study. I'm going to show you in just a moment 00:04:31.310 --> 00:04:35.319 that you're a rare breed. You're a rare breed 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:38.579 in this world. You need to know it's a big deal 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:42.300 that you still look to the cross and you still 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:45.800 feel like everything that Jesus purchased with 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:50.300 his blood was so valuable that you're going to 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:55.220 give yourself to him with all your heart. It's 00:04:55.220 --> 00:04:59.079 not that people have rejected God. It's just 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:02.480 that there are so many other voices that have 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.240 replaced God. And it has come into our culture 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:09.560 to such a degree that even if you're never on 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:14.459 TikTok, or that'll be the first time I say that, 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:17.480 but not the last time. And we hope you're on 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.779 TikTok, to be honest with you. That's a message 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:24.449 for another day. But if you aren't even on TikTok 00:05:24.449 --> 00:05:27.170 and if you even aren't on YouTube and you don't 00:05:27.170 --> 00:05:30.990 even know what Netflix is, all of us have been 00:05:30.990 --> 00:05:34.970 pulled by this culture into every single direction 00:05:34.970 --> 00:05:38.709 and distraction. And if we're not careful, we 00:05:38.709 --> 00:05:42.589 fail to realize what a miracle it is that we're 00:05:42.589 --> 00:05:46.399 all still listening for the voice of God. He 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:50.319 said, my sheep know my voice, and a stranger 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:54.360 they will not follow. It's a big deal that people 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:58.740 are still listening for the voice of God. And 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:02.399 I testify in preparation of communion that it's 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.040 the cross that makes the difference in all of 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:12.180 our lives. In 1999, 70 % of Americans belonged 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:14.860 to the church. That was just a couple of years 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:20.920 before I became pastor, 2001. So in 1999, 70 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:26.399 % of Americans belonged to church. In 2020, only 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:31.769 47%. belong to church. So those distractions 00:06:31.769 --> 00:06:36.629 have taken a toll. Those voices have taken a 00:06:36.629 --> 00:06:40.329 toll. That does not mean that people are evil. 00:06:40.410 --> 00:06:43.230 It does not mean that people don't believe in 00:06:43.230 --> 00:06:46.509 God. But we need to take notice that if you're 00:06:46.509 --> 00:06:50.050 ever going to cling to the cross, now is the 00:06:50.050 --> 00:06:54.370 time to let your life be focused on the reality 00:06:54.370 --> 00:06:58.980 that there is a Savior. His name is Jesus. And 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:03.740 I'm going to give my life to him because he gave 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:07.879 his life for me. And so while the church membership 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:13.480 across America has declined about 33%, Heaven 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:18.759 View has grown by over 150%. So thank you for 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.779 serving. Thank you for coming. Thank you for 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:26.329 loving each other and others. It's a big deal 00:07:26.329 --> 00:07:30.319 in the world that we live in. that you have remained 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:34.339 focused on the cross. I don't think God's finished 00:07:34.339 --> 00:07:36.800 with the church. I don't think God's finished 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:40.759 with this church. I think God has a plan for 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:44.699 the church in these last days. He said, Thou 00:07:44.699 --> 00:07:48.220 art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:52.259 church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:56.160 against it. I think the only reason why God could 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.329 call someone to pastor a church that's never 00:07:59.329 --> 00:08:03.209 pastored before is because he's not relying just 00:08:03.209 --> 00:08:06.970 on that person. He's relying on what he can do 00:08:06.970 --> 00:08:11.149 for people that will say, here I am, Lord. I'm 00:08:11.149 --> 00:08:13.970 going to cling to the cross. I'm going to give 00:08:13.970 --> 00:08:19.569 my life in service to your will. And people are 00:08:19.569 --> 00:08:22.689 hungry for something in these last days. People 00:08:22.689 --> 00:08:26.110 are searching for something in these last days. 00:08:26.209 --> 00:08:29.670 I am part of the church that Jesus purchased 00:08:29.670 --> 00:08:33.669 with his own blood. And so even though the world 00:08:33.669 --> 00:08:37.230 has changed dramatically, I believe that God 00:08:37.230 --> 00:08:40.710 is still looking to his church to be praying, 00:08:41.029 --> 00:08:44.409 to be giving, to be serving. We had outreach 00:08:44.409 --> 00:08:46.669 Saturday. It was probably one of the biggest 00:08:46.669 --> 00:08:49.909 crowds in. You know why? Because there's people 00:08:49.909 --> 00:08:53.769 in the sanctuary that realize the church is still 00:08:53.769 --> 00:08:57.090 the church. We've got a work to do. There's still 00:08:57.090 --> 00:09:00.330 a Savior that went to the cross. And so we're 00:09:00.330 --> 00:09:04.730 going to give our lives to serving Him. I cling 00:09:04.730 --> 00:09:07.730 to this promise from the Lord. I've said it before. 00:09:07.850 --> 00:09:10.769 I like to say it every now and then so you don't 00:09:10.769 --> 00:09:13.250 think I've forgotten. And I like to make sure 00:09:13.250 --> 00:09:17.570 he knows that I have not forgotten either. God 00:09:17.570 --> 00:09:22.330 has promised us a much bigger building with many 00:09:22.330 --> 00:09:26.049 more people that are hungry for him. And I'm 00:09:26.049 --> 00:09:28.169 here to tell you today, if we're going to celebrate 00:09:28.169 --> 00:09:32.350 that promise, it's because we cling to the cross. 00:09:33.580 --> 00:09:37.659 that Jesus died for every single person on the 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:40.960 planet, everybody you and I might see at the 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:44.000 market, anybody you work with or go to school 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.000 with. No wonder he's given us a promise like 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:50.679 that because he shed his blood that whomsoever 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:55.000 will could come into the family of God. Anybody 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.019 raise your hand for just a moment and say, Jesus, 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:02.220 thank you for saving me and thank you for using 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:08.330 me. to reach somebody else. Praise the name of 00:10:08.330 --> 00:10:14.929 the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. The world 00:10:14.929 --> 00:10:22.350 has changed dramatically in just 25 years. But 00:10:22.350 --> 00:10:27.029 truth has not changed. God has not changed. And 00:10:27.029 --> 00:10:30.500 his plan for his church has not changed. It may 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:33.700 change the way we do certain things. But you 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:39.820 know what? He's still God. He's still God. His 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:43.710 word still works. Sometimes we start to think 00:10:43.710 --> 00:10:46.370 that if we change enough things and maybe we'll 00:10:46.370 --> 00:10:48.889 be able to be more attractive to people. Can 00:10:48.889 --> 00:10:51.929 I tell you something? If the cross is not enough 00:10:51.929 --> 00:10:56.110 to rescue the perishing, nothing we do to polish 00:10:56.110 --> 00:10:58.610 up the church is going to make a difference. 00:10:58.669 --> 00:11:01.169 We might get a crowd, but we're not going to 00:11:01.169 --> 00:11:04.389 get disciples. I say we just cling to the cross. 00:11:04.649 --> 00:11:07.450 And if anybody has anything good to say about 00:11:07.450 --> 00:11:11.519 our church, let's point them to the cross. whole 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.980 lot of bad to say about our church. Let's just 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:17.539 get to the cross ourselves and say, Jesus, I 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:21.019 want the power of the blood to work in me and 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:24.000 through me because if we're going to be the church 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:27.080 that you have called us to be, it's going to 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:31.740 be because of the cross. Praise the name of the 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:38.639 Lord. So April Fool's Day, 25 years later. and 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:42.440 attention spans are so much shorter, and people 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:44.919 are fragmented in their thoughts, and identity 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:49.980 is shaped digitally, and truth is crowdsourced. 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:52.399 You know what that means? If you want to believe 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.340 something's true, There's a tendency to go on 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:58.500 social media and just follow after the largest 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:01.860 opinion or the loudest opinion, and so truth 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:06.220 is crowdsourced. There is a reduced depth in 00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:09.639 spiritual disciplines because so many things 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:12.220 are pulling at us. In other words, it's harder 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:14.639 to pray. It's harder to read your Bible. It's 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:18.279 harder to seek the Lord and be in church faithfully. 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:21.940 Why? Because there's so much that pulls at us. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:26.360 Discipled not by the church or by the pastor 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:30.279 or even by the Bible. We are discipled by algorithms 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:34.600 and influencers and viral narratives. We are 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:38.440 discipled by podcasts. I'm telling you, we need 00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:41.200 to get back in the Bible. We need to get back 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:44.559 in a place of prayer and say, Jesus, I know for 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:48.360 25 years the world is being pulled away from 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.059 the basics of the Bible, but I'm not going to 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:54.600 find my identity. in the world. I'm not going 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:58.100 to get formed spiritually by the world. I'm going 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:01.039 to get in the word of God and I'm going to become 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:05.559 what God wants me to be. Praise the name of the 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:10.179 Lord. Can you imagine, can you imagine that in 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:16.379 our day, identity is formed by the internet? 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:21.850 Let me explain that. 25 years ago, It mattered 00:13:21.850 --> 00:13:25.169 what grandma thought. It mattered what mom and 00:13:25.169 --> 00:13:28.090 dad thought. It mattered what pastor thought. 00:13:28.570 --> 00:13:31.289 That's how we discovered as young people who 00:13:31.289 --> 00:13:35.470 we were and what God called us to be. But all 00:13:35.470 --> 00:13:38.190 of you are aware that now there's quite a move 00:13:38.190 --> 00:13:41.409 against children and young people being influenced 00:13:41.409 --> 00:13:45.409 by their parents. Who are your parents to confirm 00:13:45.409 --> 00:13:49.580 your sexual identity? Who are they? No, no, no, 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:53.139 no, no. Your identity is now informed by the 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:57.019 Internet and by social media and by social influencers. 00:13:57.259 --> 00:14:00.919 And so that formation that was so valuable 25 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:04.360 years ago, people would be in church. People 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:07.179 would be in prayer. People would be in their 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:10.419 Bible. All of that has been stripped away. I 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:12.799 just want to say thank you for sticking it out. 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:15.559 Thank you for still being here. Thank you for 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:17.940 still reading your Bible. Thank you for still 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:21.019 praying, trying to pray every day. Thank you 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:25.179 for still realizing my identity is in the cross. 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:29.440 Who I am was purchased by the blood of Jesus. 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:32.899 In fact, we still believe that we are bought 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:37.080 with a price. So we live to glorify God. We heard 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:41.159 it today. We are his sheep. We do what he calls 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:45.480 us to do. Why? Because we recognize our identity 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:50.620 is now. Not formed by the internet. Praise God. 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:55.539 Praise God. But the world has changed. We now 00:14:55.539 --> 00:15:00.100 believe in terms of our culture. That our identity 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:06.940 is defined by our internal feelings. And not 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:13.320 by external authority. Think about that. What 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:17.519 I feel I am. is the best indicator of what I 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:21.100 am. I'm not trying to be unkind because some 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:24.919 people are being devastated by these philosophies. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.440 And so I'm going to make a statement just to 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:31.820 let you know that's how real it is, but please 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:35.100 don't take it as unkind. There are places right 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:38.700 now, schools, where if you identify as a cat, 00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:41.480 they'll have a kitty litter box for you in the 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:44.909 restroom. so that you can be who you feel you 00:15:44.909 --> 00:15:50.039 are. That's what all of this technology and philosophy 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:53.899 has done to shape our identity. I'm just saying, 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:57.320 mom and dad, if you still have any influence 00:15:57.320 --> 00:16:00.919 over your sons and daughters, thank God for the 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:04.519 cross. Thank God for the blood. Grandma, grandpa, 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.840 if your kids and grandkids will still look to 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:11.279 you and say, tell me about Jesus. Tell me about 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.860 how to find the will of God for my life. And 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:16.279 you can point them towards the Bible. You can 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:19.179 point them towards a prayer room. You can point 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:22.100 them towards a pastor. You've done something 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:28.139 supernatural in these last days. Praise the name 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:33.200 of the Lord. Because in the last 25 years, America 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:35.980 has not simply become more resistant to God. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:40.820 We have become more independent from God. I got 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:44.440 church and God all figured out. So now I live 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:49.820 my own life. And I may frequent the church or 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:53.059 God in some form or fashion when it's convenient. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.919 But that's not how I determine who I am and what 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:00.799 I'm going to be. That's the spirit of our world. 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:06.740 Just a few shifts in the philosophy of our culture 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:11.440 over the last 25 years. We have moved from an 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:17.009 emphasis. on authority to an emphasis on autonomy. 00:17:18.190 --> 00:17:22.589 So that means back in the day, 25 years ago, 00:17:22.670 --> 00:17:27.109 we used to say, what is true? But now we say, 00:17:27.309 --> 00:17:31.849 what feels true to me? That's the spirit of our 00:17:31.849 --> 00:17:35.869 age. Sometimes we become elevated in our spirituality, 00:17:36.029 --> 00:17:39.630 and as we drift away from the church, We think, 00:17:39.630 --> 00:17:42.569 man, I have really tapped into some higher understanding 00:17:42.569 --> 00:17:45.569 of how to walk with God. What you've tapped into 00:17:45.569 --> 00:17:48.430 is the philosophy of this world. I don't have 00:17:48.430 --> 00:17:51.130 to cling to the truth of the Word of God. I don't 00:17:51.130 --> 00:17:54.089 have to worry about spiritual authority. Autonomy 00:17:54.089 --> 00:17:57.269 is now the true indicator of my spirituality 00:17:57.269 --> 00:18:00.789 as long as I'm doing what feels right to me. 00:18:02.269 --> 00:18:05.809 Oh, we need the cross in this generation. We 00:18:05.809 --> 00:18:08.190 need a revelation of the blood that was shed. 00:18:08.450 --> 00:18:12.049 We need to know that life is not how I feel about 00:18:12.049 --> 00:18:15.089 it. Life is what the Bible says about it. And 00:18:15.089 --> 00:18:18.170 I've got to find a way to find my way back to 00:18:18.170 --> 00:18:22.069 the cross. Oh, Jesus, when I take the bread and 00:18:22.069 --> 00:18:25.490 when I drink the cup, give me a fresh revelation 00:18:25.490 --> 00:18:31.130 of the cross. Some of you that live for God over 00:18:31.130 --> 00:18:35.730 25 years, you will absolutely understand. This 00:18:35.730 --> 00:18:43.670 next statement. We have moved 25 years ago from 00:18:43.670 --> 00:18:51.109 duty to now desire. What does that mean? 25 years 00:18:51.109 --> 00:18:57.150 ago, we were responsibility driven. Now, we are 00:18:57.150 --> 00:19:01.089 emotionally driven. 25 years ago, you get all 00:19:01.089 --> 00:19:03.009 kinds of people to sign up for Martha ministry. 00:19:03.690 --> 00:19:06.930 Because it's just their responsibility. Now if 00:19:06.930 --> 00:19:10.730 I feel like serving, I'll serve. But if I don't 00:19:10.730 --> 00:19:13.829 feel like serving, I'm not driven by duty, I'm 00:19:13.829 --> 00:19:16.819 driven by desire. And that's the spirit of our 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:18.819 world. And we need to be careful because when 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:21.920 you look to the cross, that is not an idea that's 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.059 perpetuated by the cross. That's a philosophy 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:27.900 that has crept into the world, maybe into the 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:31.220 church over the last 25 years. And so it's no 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:34.079 longer what we need to do. It's what we want 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:37.700 to do. That is not the spirit of the scripture 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:42.799 that says, I must decrease so that he can increase. 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:45.720 That is not the spirit behind. the scripture 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:50.240 that says, not my will but thine be done. That's 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:53.180 why we look to the cross. That's why we stay 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:56.319 in a church that focuses on the cross because 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.839 every now and then we can be challenged. Whether 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:02.140 I like it or not, I'm going to be obedient. I'm 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:04.220 going to be prayerful. I'm going to be submitted. 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:07.160 I'm going to be involved. Whether I feel like 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:09.579 it or not, I'm going to do what God has called 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:15.369 me to do. Praise the name of the Lord. We have 00:20:15.369 --> 00:20:20.750 moved in the last 25 years from what sociologists 00:20:20.750 --> 00:20:27.410 call truth to narrative. And 25 years ago, it 00:20:27.410 --> 00:20:32.430 mattered what truth was. It was valued. But now, 00:20:32.450 --> 00:20:36.650 our personal story is prioritized. Well, you 00:20:36.650 --> 00:20:38.690 don't know what I've been through, so you don't 00:20:38.690 --> 00:20:41.509 know why I am the way I am. If you're not sensitive 00:20:41.509 --> 00:20:44.269 to that. You're not going to be able to help 00:20:44.269 --> 00:20:47.950 me. So truth is not the point. What really matters 00:20:47.950 --> 00:20:53.650 is my story. And thank God that at the cross, 00:20:53.789 --> 00:20:58.269 our story intersects with his story. But oh, 00:20:58.529 --> 00:21:01.630 I tell you right now, there are churches that 00:21:01.630 --> 00:21:05.299 used to be filled. that now are mostly empty 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:08.579 because the spirit of the world has crept into 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:11.380 the church. People have begun to believe that 00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:13.500 these philosophies, because they're a little 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.599 bit newer, they're a little bit more appealing 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:18.160 to the flesh, well, let's just go that direction. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:21.400 It does not last. The only church that's going 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:24.839 to last is the church that clings to the cross. 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:27.680 The only Christian that's going to last is the 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:31.480 Christian that clings to the cross. 25 years 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:34.079 have passed. I've learned a little bit, and I've 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:36.539 got a whole lot more to learn, but I can tell 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:38.960 you right now, you can pick out of the crowd 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:42.640 the people that are living near to the cross. 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:45.759 You can pick out of the crowd the people that 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:48.900 have said, though none go with me, still I will 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:51.619 follow. I know it sounds old -fashioned, but 00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:54.440 when you take the bread, when you drink the cup, 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:57.839 could you ask the Lord, cleanse my mind from 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.140 every philosophy that is of this world, connect 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:06.599 with the cross. Let me connect with the cross. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:12.359 We have moved from submission to self -expression. 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:16.019 Submission is viewed as a weakness in our culture. 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:19.839 If you are just submitted, then you're just a 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:23.819 weak person. But if you are someone that is self 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:27.079 -expressive, in other words, you serve the Lord 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:30.660 on your own terms, what we would call self -directed 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:33.839 Christianity. You know what we call that in our 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:39.839 day? Authenticity. What a deception. I can move 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:42.640 away from any accountability. I can move around 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.119 from any submission to authority and say I'm 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.380 just being authentic. I want to get in the cross. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:51.440 I want to get in the cross. And I want to get 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.720 in the Bible. And I want to say, my goodness, 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:57.059 you know, 25 years ago or 40 years ago or 50 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:59.660 years ago, I know it sounds crazy, but if it 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:02.859 was good for grandpa, it's good enough for me. 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:05.339 I know that sounds crazy. I know people don't 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:07.160 believe in that. If it was good for Paul and 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:09.519 Silas, it's good. Come on, that's the way they 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:12.140 used to believe back then. Some of us were raised 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.619 by people that believed that. And it served us 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:18.880 pretty well. to raise our kids and our grandkids 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.859 with all these philosophies that have been spewed 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:24.920 out by the technology of our generation. I'm 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:28.579 just saying let's get back to the cross. Let's 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:32.220 get back to saying Jesus I want to stay submitted 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:36.859 to your will and to your way. Praise the name 00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:41.380 of the Lord. All of these changes. All of these 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:45.210 changes. can make old -time religion seem kind 00:23:45.210 --> 00:23:49.990 of foolish. All of these changes can make the 00:23:49.990 --> 00:23:55.410 Bible seem quite irrelevant. All of these changes 00:23:55.410 --> 00:24:01.349 can make the church seem unnecessary. And here's 00:24:01.349 --> 00:24:08.250 what blows me away. God allows it to be so. This 00:24:08.250 --> 00:24:11.309 is not his first tango with the wisdom of this 00:24:11.309 --> 00:24:15.660 world. This is not his first attempt to save 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:18.700 people that thought they could be more sophisticated 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:22.880 and that would get them closer to God. That didn't 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:26.680 start with us. That started a long time ago. 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:30.740 In fact, in the time of Jesus Christ, the whole 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:34.039 world was sucked into Greek philosophy. They 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:37.279 were sucked into all of these things that still 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:41.119 chase themselves around in our day. And the response 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.000 of God to all of this is found in our scripture 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:47.180 passage that I read at the beginning of this 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:49.420 message. I want to read it from the New Living 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:52.420 Translation because it makes it so simple to 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:56.680 understand. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 18. The 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:02.960 message of the cross is foolish to those who 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:06.740 are headed for destruction. But we who are being 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:13.200 saved know it is the very power of God. As scripture 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:18.900 says, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:22.039 discard the intelligence of the intelligent. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:25.640 So where does that leave the philosophers, the 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:28.480 scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:33.559 God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:36.839 How'd he do it? Well, since God in his wisdom 00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:40.880 saw to it that the world would never know him 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:44.940 through human wisdom, he has used our foolish 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:51.650 preaching to save those who believe. Preaching 00:25:51.650 --> 00:25:56.549 seems like a fool's errand, but it is still the 00:25:56.549 --> 00:26:00.210 Father's answer for a world that needs to be 00:26:00.210 --> 00:26:04.269 saved. The church seems like a fool's errand, 00:26:04.410 --> 00:26:08.329 but it is still the Father's answer for the body 00:26:08.329 --> 00:26:13.069 of Christ on the earth. The cross seems like 00:26:13.069 --> 00:26:17.809 a fool's errand, but it is still the Father's 00:26:17.809 --> 00:26:22.119 answer. Could you close your eyes and just thank 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:25.359 the Lord for the cross. Thank the Lord for the 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:28.710 church. Thank the Lord for every opportunity 00:26:28.710 --> 00:26:32.170 we have to hear the preaching of the Word of 00:26:32.170 --> 00:26:35.950 God. I know that preaching now seems so foolish. 00:26:36.009 --> 00:26:40.369 I know it's been undermined by all of these philosophies, 00:26:40.410 --> 00:26:43.690 but God has chosen through the foolishness of 00:26:43.690 --> 00:26:47.150 preaching to save them that believe. I wonder 00:26:47.150 --> 00:26:50.029 if you could say, Jesus, thank you for helping 00:26:50.029 --> 00:26:55.049 me believe. Thank you for helping me believe. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:27:02.920 You say in Jesus' name. I love to preach about 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:08.680 the cross on April Fool's Day. I love it because, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:11.720 you know, the devil was pretty fooled by the 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:15.720 cross. This passage from 1 Corinthians 2, I won't 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:17.400 read the whole passage, but I want to point out 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:20.740 a few things because we see Satan in this passage. 00:27:21.630 --> 00:27:24.150 1 Corinthians 2, verse 2, for I determined, Paul 00:27:24.150 --> 00:27:28.210 said, not to know anything among you except Jesus 00:27:28.210 --> 00:27:31.630 Christ and him crucified. Verse 5, that your 00:27:31.630 --> 00:27:35.950 faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but 00:27:35.950 --> 00:27:39.910 in the power of God. And he speaks of the wisdom 00:27:39.910 --> 00:27:43.490 of God, and he says, we speak the wisdom of God 00:27:43.490 --> 00:27:47.589 in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained 00:27:47.589 --> 00:27:52.259 before the ages for our glory. Here's Satan right 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:55.599 in here, verse 8. Which none of the rulers of 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:59.480 this age knew, for had they known, they would 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:04.619 not have crucified the Lord of glory. I believe 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:09.039 that satanic forces were behind every attempt 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:12.859 to grab a hold of Jesus Christ and put him on 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:16.380 that cross. There was this sense from the devil 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:20.900 that if I can defeat him, if I can destroy him, 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:25.220 I'm going to win the day. April Fool's Day, devil. 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:28.859 You thought the cross was your greatest victory, 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:32.519 but it was your greatest defeat because Jesus 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:36.450 said in Revelation, I am he who lives and was 00:28:36.450 --> 00:28:40.430 dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. 00:28:40.549 --> 00:28:45.630 And I have the keys of Hades and of death. Come 00:28:45.630 --> 00:28:49.289 on, the message of the cross is foolishness to 00:28:49.289 --> 00:28:52.390 those who are perishing. But to those who are 00:28:52.390 --> 00:28:56.150 saved, we look to the cross and we're reminded 00:28:56.150 --> 00:28:59.930 I was going to die. I was on my way to hell. 00:29:00.049 --> 00:29:04.299 But Jesus died in my place. And so when the devil 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:07.240 thought he was winning, he became the biggest 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:11.019 loser because there at the cross, through his 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:15.000 death, through his sacrifice, he paid the price 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:20.559 for my salvation. Praise the name of the Lord. 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:24.200 You may be seated. No matter how crazy the world 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:28.299 gets, the cross still works because the blood 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:31.480 still works. No matter how scary Satan gets, 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:35.200 The cross still works because the blood still 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:38.460 works. Your worst day can be your best day because 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:41.279 of the cross. If you'll just cling to the cross. 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:43.740 Because how many of you know, even in suffering, 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:47.140 he uses that to draw you nearer to him. There's 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:48.920 some things you know about your relationship 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:52.220 with God that can only be born out of suffering, 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:55.119 out of taking up your cross. Don't run from the 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:58.680 cross. Run to the cross and recognize the cross 00:29:58.680 --> 00:30:02.720 still proves that God has a plan for my life. 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:06.579 On my worst day, I'm going to cling to the old 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:08.980 rugged cross when everything else around me Around 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:11.720 me doesn't make sense, and not just you and I, 00:30:11.859 --> 00:30:15.619 but God has a plan for every man, every woman, 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:20.119 every boy, every girl, because God was in Christ 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:24.759 reconciling the world unto himself. It may sound 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:29.039 crazy, but that's the way that Jesus chose to 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.720 save us all. When we take the bread, when we 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:35.960 drink the cup, let's celebrate. Let's remember 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:41.390 it's the cross. It's the blood that makes a difference 00:30:41.390 --> 00:30:46.869 in our lives. Using the cross to bring salvation 00:30:46.869 --> 00:30:51.410 to a lost world. It seems like a fool's errand. 00:30:51.470 --> 00:30:56.450 That's crazy. Why that way? My goodness. Our 00:30:56.450 --> 00:31:01.009 Savior was so humiliated. Our Savior was so persecuted. 00:31:01.470 --> 00:31:06.369 Our Savior was so reviled. And our Savior was 00:31:06.369 --> 00:31:09.990 so crucified. And that's how you're going to 00:31:09.990 --> 00:31:14.630 save us? It's not a fool's errand. It's our Father's 00:31:14.630 --> 00:31:18.509 answer. Because God came to this earth as a man. 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:21.599 Because there's only one mediator between God 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:25.180 and man. That is the man, Christ Jesus. God couldn't 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:28.279 die for our sins because you can't kill God. 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:32.799 But as a man, he could open those arms wide on 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:35.720 that cross. And with every nail that pierced 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:38.940 his body and the spear in his side and the crown 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:42.599 of thorns upon his head, it looked like a fool's 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:45.940 errand. But it was our God's answer to every 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:49.559 sin, every circumstance. that separates from 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:53.900 God even to this day. Our hope is in the cross. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:58.240 The world is unraveling. Let's cling to the cross. 00:31:58.539 --> 00:32:01.759 People are searching for satisfaction. Let's 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:05.359 lead them to the cross. Loneliness is increasing 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:08.359 even though we have a gazillion followers on 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:11.880 social media. Let's meet people at the cross 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:16.160 and let's meet Jesus at the cross because people 00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:19.539 still need a purpose for getting up in the morning. 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:23.680 Let's let them know the best life is living for 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:29.799 Jesus, living for the cross. Praise God. So we 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:34.660 take the bread, we drink the cup, and we remember 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:39.500 our Father's answer has always been the cross 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:44.259 as the musicians come. The Bible says in John 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:48.990 chapter 3, As Moses lifted up the serpent in 00:32:48.990 --> 00:32:52.789 the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be 00:32:52.789 --> 00:32:56.789 lifted up, that whoever believes in him should 00:32:56.789 --> 00:33:00.089 not perish but have eternal life. What was that 00:33:00.089 --> 00:33:03.349 lifting up? That was Jesus Christ. being lifted 00:33:03.349 --> 00:33:07.210 up on the cross. Why? For God so loved the world 00:33:07.210 --> 00:33:11.349 that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever 00:33:11.349 --> 00:33:15.650 believes in him should not perish but have everlasting 00:33:15.650 --> 00:33:19.410 life. I know it looks like a fool's errand, but 00:33:19.410 --> 00:33:22.170 it's our Father's answer. If you're here today 00:33:22.170 --> 00:33:25.349 and you have put your faith in Jesus, I want 00:33:25.349 --> 00:33:28.309 you to cling to the cross, repent of your sins, 00:33:28.490 --> 00:33:32.180 be baptized by immersion in Jesus' name. We got 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:34.940 the water ready. We even have robes so you can 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:37.940 get baptized here tonight. Why? Because when 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:40.640 you repent, you're identifying with the death 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:43.819 of Jesus. And when you're baptized, you're immersed. 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:47.579 It's as if you're buried in water. You are identifying 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:51.380 with the burial of Jesus Christ. And then when 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:54.700 he fills you with his spirit, you are connecting 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:58.140 with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. 00:33:58.339 --> 00:34:01.559 I know it looks like a fool's errand. In this 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:07.960 crazy world. But 25 years ago, it was the only 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:12.659 answer. And many, many years before that, it 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:18.460 was the only answer. And I ask you, please don't 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:23.260 drift away from the cross. We read the famous 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:29.619 story of the prodigal son. We know he took every 00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:35.130 blessing. every revelation, everything that he 00:34:35.130 --> 00:34:38.630 had gained from his father. He said, I want what's 00:34:38.630 --> 00:34:42.329 mine. I'm out. I'm leaving the father's house. 00:34:43.449 --> 00:34:46.829 I'm going to do it my way. What did the father 00:34:46.829 --> 00:34:49.889 do? I know it sounds like a fool's errand, but 00:34:49.889 --> 00:34:54.309 every day he went to the edge of the house, maybe 00:34:54.309 --> 00:34:57.349 even to the edge of the city, and said, maybe 00:34:57.349 --> 00:35:01.739 today my boy's coming home. Maybe today he'll 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:04.840 come to himself. It looks like a fool's errand. 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:08.639 Come on, Dad. You know, when he took that inheritance 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:11.559 from you in that culture, he was literally saying, 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:17.840 I wish you were dead. And here you are, standing 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:21.260 at the edge of the gates of the city, thinking 00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:26.099 he's coming home today. Oh, what a fool. It wasn't 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:29.099 a fool's errand. It was the father's answer. 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:33.559 That's all it was. Yeah, we know the boy may 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:37.639 never come to himself. We know that son may never 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:41.699 come back home. But my goodness, every child 00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:45.739 that returns to the father when he sees the cross, 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:49.340 it's a big welcome home. It don't matter what 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:51.519 you've done. It don't matter where you've been. 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:54.239 It doesn't matter that you walked away from God 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:56.619 or you walked away from the church. When you 00:35:56.619 --> 00:36:02.019 come back home, welcome home. That's the Father's 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:06.780 answer, and it has not changed. Praise the name 00:36:06.780 --> 00:36:09.539 of the Lord. We don't do a lot of running after 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:13.360 people that leave the Father's house because 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:19.000 until they come to themselves. It's just futility. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:23.920 In fact, some of you would have a real hard time 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:26.940 with a scripture that says sometimes you've got 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:30.960 to give somebody up, even to Satan, that they 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:33.320 might be saved. We don't believe in that. You 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:35.500 know why? Because the philosophies of this world, 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:40.900 we cling to them instead of the cross. Oh, I'm 00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:43.460 telling you. when somebody comes to themselves, 00:36:43.739 --> 00:36:46.960 when somebody makes it back home to the Father's 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:50.900 house. Oh, my God, let's get the robe. Let's 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:54.460 kill the fatted calf. Let's throw a party. Why? 00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:59.340 Because that's always been the Father's answer. 00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:03.440 Always been. Let's take the bread. Let's drink 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:07.860 the cup. Let's remember the cross today. Brother 00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:11.210 Mark has helped us. with some elders that are 00:37:11.210 --> 00:37:13.170 going to get us ready for communion. I want them 00:37:13.170 --> 00:37:17.289 to come take their places right now. I came across 00:37:17.289 --> 00:37:21.269 a passage about the cross today. It's just about 00:37:21.269 --> 00:37:27.070 six verses. When I read it, it just screamed 00:37:27.070 --> 00:37:32.010 at me. Man, if you didn't believe in the cross, 00:37:32.389 --> 00:37:37.449 you would think this is so foolish. But you know 00:37:37.449 --> 00:37:42.250 what? It was God's answer thousands of years 00:37:42.250 --> 00:37:47.269 ago, and it's still God's answer today. Isaiah 00:37:47.269 --> 00:37:52.809 53, who has believed our message? To whom has 00:37:52.809 --> 00:37:57.789 the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant 00:37:57.789 --> 00:38:00.949 grew up in the Lord's presence, like a tender 00:38:00.949 --> 00:38:04.909 green shoot, like a root in a dry ground. And 00:38:04.909 --> 00:38:07.190 this is the part that kind of catches my attention. 00:38:08.010 --> 00:38:12.530 There was nothing beautiful or majestic about 00:38:12.530 --> 00:38:18.469 his appearance. Nothing to attract us to him. 00:38:19.809 --> 00:38:23.369 Until you've experienced the cross, you have 00:38:23.369 --> 00:38:26.510 to look at how God came to earth as a baby and 00:38:26.510 --> 00:38:30.610 then grew up to be a man. And you have to say, 00:38:30.750 --> 00:38:35.110 if he really wanted to save everybody, why didn't 00:38:35.110 --> 00:38:38.760 he come as a king? with a royal entourage of 00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:42.360 angelic hosts, and he could ride into the big 00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:46.579 city and say, it's the king, it's God. Oh, you 00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:51.139 would have saved everybody. That's what our flesh 00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:57.460 wants. That's not the answer of the Father. He 00:38:57.460 --> 00:39:00.960 said when they looked at him, there was no beauty 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:05.260 that they should desire him. Just a fool's errand. 00:39:05.929 --> 00:39:08.349 But look what was happening. Verse 3, he was 00:39:08.349 --> 00:39:13.610 despised and rejected. A man of sorrows acquainted 00:39:13.610 --> 00:39:18.150 with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him 00:39:18.150 --> 00:39:23.150 and we looked the other way. He was despised 00:39:23.150 --> 00:39:29.170 and we did not care. Just a fool's errand. But 00:39:29.170 --> 00:39:32.449 it was the father's answer. Because the next 00:39:32.449 --> 00:39:36.110 verse says, Yet it was for our weaknesses he 00:39:36.110 --> 00:39:39.110 carried. It was our sorrows that weighed him 00:39:39.110 --> 00:39:42.170 down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment 00:39:42.170 --> 00:39:44.929 from God, a punishment for his own sins. But 00:39:44.929 --> 00:39:47.949 no, that's not what it was. He was pierced for 00:39:47.949 --> 00:39:51.570 our rebellion. He was crushed for our sins. He 00:39:51.570 --> 00:39:54.730 was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped 00:39:54.730 --> 00:39:59.150 so we could be healed. It looked like a fool's 00:39:59.150 --> 00:40:02.769 errand, but it was the Father's answer. It's 00:40:02.769 --> 00:40:04.829 not going to be popular. It's not going to make 00:40:04.829 --> 00:40:08.449 sense. It's not the way the who's who would have 00:40:08.449 --> 00:40:12.429 done it. But it's the way he did it. It's the 00:40:12.429 --> 00:40:16.349 way he set up his kingdom that we would glory 00:40:16.349 --> 00:40:21.750 in the cross. Any good thing that happens, any 00:40:21.750 --> 00:40:24.849 miracle that happens, we wouldn't point to all 00:40:24.849 --> 00:40:28.369 the polish. We wouldn't point to all the prestige. 00:40:29.469 --> 00:40:32.590 We would look to the cross. Look to the cross. 00:40:33.570 --> 00:40:37.750 We look to the cross. All of us like sheep have 00:40:37.750 --> 00:40:41.269 strayed. All of us like sheep have strayed away. 00:40:41.969 --> 00:40:47.090 We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet 00:40:47.090 --> 00:40:53.630 the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. It looks 00:40:53.630 --> 00:40:57.250 like a fool's errand, but it's God's answer for 00:40:57.250 --> 00:41:00.070 every single one of us. Right where you're seated, 00:41:00.170 --> 00:41:03.210 would you take a moment? And in your own way 00:41:03.210 --> 00:41:05.190 of talking to the Lord, would you just cling 00:41:05.190 --> 00:41:08.090 to the cross? You know what the scripture says, 00:41:08.250 --> 00:41:10.469 that before we take the bread and drink the cup, 00:41:10.530 --> 00:41:13.929 we should examine ourselves. We read about drinking 00:41:13.929 --> 00:41:16.349 unworthily and we don't want to do that. So how 00:41:16.349 --> 00:41:18.969 do we protect ourselves? We just put ourselves 00:41:18.969 --> 00:41:23.989 on the cross. Jesus, empty me of this world's 00:41:23.989 --> 00:41:28.300 philosophy. Empty me. of the philosophy that 00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:32.559 appeals to my flesh. Empty me to every thought 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:37.619 that exalts itself against the knowledge of God 00:41:37.619 --> 00:41:43.559 as I see in Jesus Christ. Oh, God, you have challenged 00:41:43.559 --> 00:41:48.760 me. Let this mind be in us that was in Christ 00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:52.559 Jesus. And so as we get ready to take the bread 00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:57.159 and drink the cup, Lord, search our hearts. Search 00:41:57.159 --> 00:42:01.840 our hearts. Search our hearts, God, and cleanse 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:07.320 us, prepare us to remember the cross today, to 00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:11.119 remember the cross today, and to see it as our 00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:16.199 answer for any sin, for any circumstance, for 00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:19.360 any sickness, Lord, when I take that bread and 00:42:19.360 --> 00:42:22.670 drink that cup. I'm running to the cross, and 00:42:22.670 --> 00:42:26.110 I'm expecting the power of God. I'm expecting 00:42:26.110 --> 00:42:29.530 the supernatural. I'm expecting the hand of the 00:42:29.530 --> 00:42:33.789 Lord. I'm expecting you to meet me in communion 00:42:33.789 --> 00:42:38.750 today, Lord, that I might enjoy every promise 00:42:38.750 --> 00:42:42.929 that you have for me. Would you just take another 00:42:42.929 --> 00:42:45.170 moment before we do anything else and just... 00:42:45.690 --> 00:42:47.670 as you have responded to the presence of the 00:42:47.670 --> 00:42:50.869 Lord. If you have gone through repentance, then 00:42:50.869 --> 00:42:52.989 turn it into praise. If you're still letting 00:42:52.989 --> 00:42:55.949 the Lord challenge you, then just yield to his 00:42:55.949 --> 00:42:58.869 spirit. This is such an important part of communion 00:42:58.869 --> 00:43:02.329 here. Jesus, when I take that bread, when I drink 00:43:02.329 --> 00:43:05.710 that cup, I want it to be with a heart that is 00:43:05.710 --> 00:44:32.699 tuned in to your presence, to the cross. all 00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:34.840 across this sanctuary, we could stand and just 00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:37.980 raise our hands and thank the Lord for the cross. 00:44:38.679 --> 00:44:42.159 Thank the Lord for his blood that was shed. Thank 00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:44.699 the Lord for the message of the cross that we 00:44:44.699 --> 00:44:48.260 find in the pages of scripture, prophecies that 00:44:48.260 --> 00:44:50.500 leap out of the Old Testament that point the 00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:53.960 way to Jesus, the life and the gospels that we 00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:56.820 read about his love and his plan and his purpose, 00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:59.920 even some of those challenging portions of the 00:44:59.920 --> 00:45:03.059 epistles. that speak to how we live and how we 00:45:03.059 --> 00:45:06.440 think. Oh, Jesus, all of it is wrapped up in 00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:09.119 the cross. I don't want just the cup and the 00:45:09.119 --> 00:45:11.400 bread and a little bit of form of godliness. 00:45:11.500 --> 00:45:13.320 I don't want just a little church attendance 00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:20.440 every now and then. I want the cross. In the 00:45:20.440 --> 00:45:36.000 name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus. 00:45:37.199 --> 00:45:43.239 Thank you, Jesus. I wonder if all across this 00:45:43.239 --> 00:45:45.940 sanctuary, right where you're standing, you could 00:45:45.940 --> 00:45:48.039 just pray in the spirit for just a few moments. 00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:51.500 There's a miracle coming to us tonight. There's 00:45:51.500 --> 00:45:54.380 a revelation coming to us tonight. There's a 00:45:54.380 --> 00:45:57.039 connection and a communion coming to us tonight. 00:45:58.019 --> 00:46:01.760 Almighty God, you are in this place. And you 00:46:01.760 --> 00:46:05.159 are giving us an opportunity to take the bread 00:46:05.159 --> 00:46:08.300 and drink the cup and cling to the cross, Lord. 00:46:08.659 --> 00:46:11.739 Oh, God, thank you for changing our thinking. 00:46:11.960 --> 00:46:15.039 Thank you for changing our perspective. Thank 00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:18.719 you for changing our priorities. Oh, we want 00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:22.500 a glory in the cross, God. We want to embrace 00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:29.820 the cross, Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus 00:46:29.820 --> 00:46:34.449 Christ. Can you say in Jesus' name? I know we 00:46:34.449 --> 00:46:36.889 have quite a crowd here this evening, and I want 00:46:36.889 --> 00:46:38.989 to make sure, because there could be people here, 00:46:39.130 --> 00:46:41.670 that you're new to Heaven View or you've never 00:46:41.670 --> 00:46:45.130 been here for a communion service. Please know 00:46:45.130 --> 00:46:47.909 that if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, 00:46:48.050 --> 00:46:50.210 whether you consider yourself a member of this 00:46:50.210 --> 00:46:52.389 church or not, we want you to receive communion. 00:46:52.829 --> 00:46:55.889 It's not about our church. It's about the cross. 00:46:56.670 --> 00:46:59.130 So be aware of that today. Please be aware of 00:46:59.130 --> 00:47:00.989 that. And if you brought young people or children 00:47:00.989 --> 00:47:05.010 with you, but you know they understand what this 00:47:05.010 --> 00:47:08.389 is about, then you can give them the courage 00:47:08.389 --> 00:47:10.590 and confidence to take the bread and drink the 00:47:10.590 --> 00:47:13.849 cup. We encourage you to do that tonight. We 00:47:13.849 --> 00:47:17.289 encourage you to do that tonight. And so whether 00:47:17.289 --> 00:47:20.110 you're a guest or whether you're maybe a small 00:47:20.110 --> 00:47:23.250 or younger child, We want you to know that if 00:47:23.250 --> 00:47:25.070 you understand what's going on and if you have 00:47:25.070 --> 00:47:28.650 put your faith in Jesus, oh, let's all draw near 00:47:28.650 --> 00:47:31.769 to the cross. Amen. What we like to do as we 00:47:31.769 --> 00:47:34.269 begin to sing in just a moment, there's several 00:47:34.269 --> 00:47:36.730 stations here. Actually, one here, two in the 00:47:36.730 --> 00:47:39.969 center, and one on the side over here. Just choose 00:47:39.969 --> 00:47:43.849 the aisle that seems to be moving quicker. Come 00:47:43.849 --> 00:47:46.710 and take the bread, take the cup, and press in 00:47:46.710 --> 00:47:49.110 along the sides, along the front as best you 00:47:49.110 --> 00:47:52.630 can. Just hold the bread and the cup until everybody 00:47:52.630 --> 00:47:54.710 has come up, and then we'll pray, we'll read 00:47:54.710 --> 00:47:57.130 Scripture, we'll receive communion together. 00:47:57.170 --> 00:47:59.510 It will take a few moments for everybody to move. 00:47:59.769 --> 00:48:02.090 So while you're up here, just worship the Lord. 00:48:02.210 --> 00:48:06.349 Just draw nearer to Him. We believe that supernatural 00:48:06.349 --> 00:48:09.989 miracles can happen here tonight because of the 00:48:09.989 --> 00:48:12.909 cross, because of the blood. Just begin to come. 00:48:13.050 --> 00:48:16.170 Whatever aisle is closest to you, just begin 00:48:16.170 --> 00:48:20.360 to come. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. 00:50:08.079 --> 00:50:09.880 center section if some of y 'all want to move 00:50:09.880 --> 00:52:59.760 over towards the center have a situation in your 00:52:59.760 --> 00:53:02.679 life that you know only the cross can take care 00:53:02.679 --> 00:53:04.739 of that, would you just begin to thank the Lord 00:53:04.739 --> 00:53:08.440 for the power of the blood flowing into your 00:53:08.440 --> 00:53:11.920 situation instantly. Let's believe the Lord for 00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:17.179 instant, instant miracles today. For I have received 00:53:17.179 --> 00:53:19.800 of the Lord that which also I delivered unto 00:53:19.800 --> 00:53:23.400 you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which 00:53:23.400 --> 00:53:26.670 he was betrayed, he took bread. And when he had 00:53:26.670 --> 00:53:29.550 given thanks, he break it and said, take, eat, 00:53:29.590 --> 00:53:32.869 this is my body, which is broken for you, this 00:53:32.869 --> 00:53:36.010 do in remembrance of me. Lord Jesus, thank you 00:53:36.010 --> 00:53:39.650 for your broken body. Thank you for every sacrifice 00:53:39.650 --> 00:53:43.230 you made so that you could stand in our place. 00:53:43.949 --> 00:53:46.429 Thank you, Lord, that we have the privilege of 00:53:46.429 --> 00:53:49.110 being a part of your body in the earth in these 00:53:49.110 --> 00:53:52.309 last days. The privilege of being a part of your 00:53:52.309 --> 00:53:55.960 church around the world, God. And we know it 00:53:55.960 --> 00:53:59.199 was because of the price that you paid. Thank 00:53:59.199 --> 00:54:02.539 you for your body that was broken for us and 00:54:02.539 --> 00:54:05.659 the privilege we have to be in your body in these 00:54:05.659 --> 00:54:09.320 last days. We honor you for it, Lord, in Jesus' 00:54:09.500 --> 00:54:19.019 name. Let's take the bread together. After the 00:54:19.019 --> 00:54:21.820 same manner also he took the cup when he had 00:54:21.820 --> 00:54:24.969 supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament 00:54:24.969 --> 00:54:28.889 in my blood. This do ye as oft as you drink it 00:54:28.889 --> 00:54:32.150 in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat 00:54:32.150 --> 00:54:35.170 this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the 00:54:35.170 --> 00:54:38.550 Lord's death till he come. Lord Jesus, thank 00:54:38.550 --> 00:54:41.769 you for your blood that was shed for me and for 00:54:41.769 --> 00:54:45.630 each one of us. Thank you for the cross, for 00:54:45.630 --> 00:54:48.849 the agony, Lord of Gethsemane, for the crown 00:54:48.849 --> 00:54:52.530 upon your head. The crown of thorns, the spear 00:54:52.530 --> 00:54:55.730 that ripped through your side. Nails in your 00:54:55.730 --> 00:54:59.150 hands and your feet, Lord. The way you were whipped 00:54:59.150 --> 00:55:02.929 and bruised and beaten for my sin, Lord. And 00:55:02.929 --> 00:55:05.789 then the reality that it was through those stripes 00:55:05.789 --> 00:55:10.050 that you have given me access to healing. Physical 00:55:10.050 --> 00:55:13.130 and spiritual and emotional healing, Lord, even 00:55:13.130 --> 00:55:16.989 in this place today. Salvation, oh God, I know 00:55:16.989 --> 00:55:21.360 it was the blood that saved me. Thank you for 00:55:21.360 --> 00:55:25.500 it now in Jesus' name. Let's drink from the cup 00:55:25.500 --> 00:55:32.400 together. Thank you, Jesus. I wonder if you could 00:55:32.400 --> 00:55:35.579 just begin to thank the Lord for his blood. And 00:55:35.579 --> 00:55:37.699 if you need anything in your life or in your 00:55:37.699 --> 00:55:40.199 family, just begin to thank the Lord for it. 00:55:40.519 --> 00:55:43.079 Thank the Lord for it. If you're struggling with 00:55:43.079 --> 00:55:46.880 a sickness, just thank the Lord that he has purchased 00:55:46.880 --> 00:55:50.780 your healing with his blood. If there is another 00:55:50.780 --> 00:55:54.579 circumstance or some sort of addiction or struggle 00:55:54.579 --> 00:55:58.059 of any kind of issue, just give it to the Lord 00:55:58.059 --> 00:56:01.159 right now and say, thank you, Jesus. By your 00:56:01.159 --> 00:56:04.400 stripes, Lord, I am healed. Because of your blood, 00:56:04.659 --> 00:56:09.800 Jesus, I am healed. In the name of Jesus, if 00:56:09.800 --> 00:56:13.059 you feel shame or there's some sort of sin that 00:56:13.059 --> 00:56:15.679 seems to have you tripped up, would you thank 00:56:15.679 --> 00:56:18.280 the Lord for the blood that covers that sin? 00:56:19.079 --> 00:56:22.239 You've taken time over and over again to bring 00:56:22.239 --> 00:56:25.280 it to the Lord. And just let Jesus know today, 00:56:25.400 --> 00:56:28.719 I can turn from that tonight. I can move in a 00:56:28.719 --> 00:56:31.780 different direction because the blood covers 00:56:31.780 --> 00:56:36.420 me. The blood still has power. In the name of 00:56:36.420 --> 00:56:40.519 Jesus Christ, God, by the authority of your word 00:56:40.519 --> 00:56:44.539 and by the power of your shed blood, we pray 00:56:44.539 --> 00:56:47.559 a blessing, Lord, upon every person that's here. 00:56:48.139 --> 00:56:51.599 every family represented, all of our guests that 00:56:51.599 --> 00:56:55.239 have come, every life, God, every life, God, 00:56:55.260 --> 00:56:59.840 in the name of Jesus Christ. I wonder if a brother 00:56:59.840 --> 00:57:03.199 can find a brother, a sister can find a sister, 00:57:03.360 --> 00:57:06.179 and you can just thank the Lord for the power 00:57:06.179 --> 00:57:09.159 of the blood that is working in their lives, 00:57:09.360 --> 00:57:13.099 for the power of the blood that is ministering 00:57:13.099 --> 00:57:16.869 to them and through them. Thank you, thank you, 00:57:16.889 --> 00:57:20.250 brothers and sisters and church family for being 00:57:20.250 --> 00:57:23.889 led by the Spirit right now. Thank you, thank 00:57:23.889 --> 00:57:27.269 you, heaven view and guests for being led by 00:57:27.269 --> 00:57:30.769 the Spirit right now. There is power in the blood. 00:57:31.070 --> 00:57:34.610 There is power in the blood. There is healing 00:57:34.610 --> 00:57:38.329 in the blood. There's salvation through the blood. 00:57:40.090 --> 00:57:52.849 In the name of the Lord Jesus. right now, wherever 00:57:52.849 --> 01:04:49.900 there is anxiety. this great church. Intercede 01:04:49.900 --> 01:04:53.360 for our students. Intercede right where you're 01:04:53.360 --> 01:04:55.380 standing. You don't have to go to anybody, but 01:04:55.380 --> 01:04:58.679 intercede right now. Could you pray in the name 01:04:58.679 --> 01:05:02.059 of Jesus, the Lord rebuke every unclean spirit 01:05:02.059 --> 01:05:04.800 that would attack our sons and daughters.