1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,380 Hello, I am Gavyn. I am the tech director and I'm one of the leaders in the men's 2 00:00:07,380 --> 00:00:14,440 ministry. So if you want to help with tech, come find me. But today I 3 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:20,520 was asked to share a message on God's holiness and then you know obviously in 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:25,700 relation to Thanksgiving. You know this week we're being intentionally thankful. 5 00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:32,000 We're thankful for family, friends, material things, but you know ultimately 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:37,320 we're thankful for God. You know he's the number one thing we can be 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,520 thankful for. He's given us those things, the family, friends, you know material 8 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:49,440 things. He's given us salvation. He loves us, but ultimately it's because he is. So 9 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:56,160 God himself is worthy of praise just based on who he is, his character, before 10 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:02,580 even all the things he's done for us. You know people can deserve praise or you 11 00:01:02,580 --> 00:01:07,240 know glory from things that they've done or they can deserve praise just for 12 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:12,160 being great awesome people and their character and you know all those 13 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:18,760 attributes. There's a you know in the in the scripture we see important you know 14 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:25,360 repetition of moments that occur. There's times when people have visions or their 15 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,740 spirits have actually entered heaven and we see this this cool repetition of God 16 00:01:29,740 --> 00:01:35,440 and his holiness. In Isaiah 6 we read that Isaiah has a vision where God's in 17 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:40,080 a throne high above the temple and his just the hem of his robe fills the 18 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:46,080 temple. You see you know a sign of his glory and around him a cherubim and they 19 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:50,480 actually sit they they declare while Isaiah is seeing this vision, holy holy 20 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:56,360 holy is the Lord of armies his glory fills the whole earth. Then the 21 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:02,240 foundations of the temple shook and the temple was filled with smoke. On top of 22 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,080 that Isaiah hears this great awesome message you know the temple shakes and 23 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:12,960 he gets filled with dread. We'll touch on that a little bit later but you know 24 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:18,840 the first thing that those cherubim the angels say is how holy God is. Then they 25 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,280 declare his glory throughout the earth. It's kind of similar to talking about 26 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:28,640 Pastor Nathan saying you know Pastor Nathan is a good God-fearing pastor. He's 27 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:33,720 obedient to Christ and also he pastors our church and has influenced many 28 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:39,840 lives. You know starting with the person as as their character is important 29 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,280 because then that shapes the rest of the message. Similarly with God you know he's 30 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,920 this all-powerful all-knowing being starting with what his character is and 31 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:53,520 who he is really shapes what you know that power means what that knowledge 32 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:59,080 means. You know on the contrary if I was talking about Pastor Nathan I say Pastor 33 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:04,520 Nathan is an evil lazy pastor but he pastors our church and he's influenced 34 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:09,360 many. You know the second half means something completely different. So 35 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:15,680 you know if God were unholy not even evil but just unholy think of like the 36 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,720 Greek gods they kind of selfish. They're sometimes good they're sometimes bad. You 37 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,480 know you'd kind of lose all sense of hope all sense of peace because you're 38 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,640 just kind of like oh I hope I please this God. I hope they keep their promises. I 39 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:34,600 hope I don't anger them. And then on top of that the world doesn't have anything 40 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,080 to give us hope. When we're trusting in money all that really leads to is greed 41 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:45,400 and anxiety. If you're trusting in power results in the same thing. And on top of 42 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:51,120 that with an unholy God you know that idea of our God has made great promises 43 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,960 like with the flood and we can trust that you know our we're not going to be 44 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,840 wiped out again by the flood. With an unholy God they could just decide I'm 45 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,440 gonna start over with the universe just because I don't like you guys and we 46 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:08,080 can't really do anything about that. So hope is definitely one of those things 47 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:12,760 that I feel that unbelievers just kind of lack you know the real sense of hope 48 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,680 that we can trust in that we have. That time when like you're going through 49 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:21,400 crazy trials and you can still go like I don't care. The worst that can happen is 50 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:26,800 I die. Whereas for them it's more I've got 80 years hopefully I make a name for 51 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,760 myself hopefully I get enough money to pass on to my kids but that's really it. 52 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,520 When evil happens they just go huh evil happens. I can't really change anything 53 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,520 about that. And then there's also people who kind of believe in a in a higher 54 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:44,360 power is just out there. Sometimes they do nice things for me if I'm good maybe 55 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:49,140 they'll do something nice for me. But with God with who he is it really 56 00:04:49,140 --> 00:04:53,760 changes you know the praise that we give him the honor that he deserves the glory 57 00:04:53,760 --> 00:05:02,280 that he deserves. There's another moment in Revelation where we John tells us 58 00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:08,600 about a time where his spirit actually entered heaven. Revelation 4. His spirit 59 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,960 enters heaven and he sees this great throne room. God sitting on the throne 60 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,000 there's these 24 elders and thrones around him and then there's also these 61 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,520 four angels with covered in eyes they have animal-like appearances kind of 62 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:27,320 crazy but constantly day and night they are praising God in verse 8 saying holy 63 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:33,600 holy holy Lord God the Almighty who was who is and who is to come. The response 64 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,920 of those elders around God at that moment is they just fall at his feet 65 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,180 they cast their crowns at his feet you know giving all glory to God and they 66 00:05:41,180 --> 00:05:46,920 say in verse 11 our Lord and God you are worthy to receive glory and honor and 67 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:52,080 power because you have created all things and by your will they exist and 68 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:56,960 were created. You know those those elders really understood what's what those 69 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:02,480 angels were saying you know holy holy holy Lord God Almighty and their instant 70 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:07,280 response is going any glory I could have received that's all yours God that's all 71 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:12,080 you don't even think about me you know you know talking to humans in that sense 72 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:17,520 but don't even I don't even deserve any glory it's all God's you know it's it's 73 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:23,920 God's holiness really is ultimately what makes him worthy of praise and glory. An 74 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:29,680 example of a human you know giving God praise we can read from David or hear 75 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,760 from David you know a man after God's own heart just that reality that God's 76 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:40,600 holiness just results in us praising him and at times trembling. I'm gonna read 77 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:45,280 Psalms 99 if anyone wants to open up it's gonna read through the whole Psalms 78 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:49,200 it's a great Psalms about God in his holiness and then our response to that 79 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:56,640 the world's response to that. So in verse 1 the Lord reigns let the people's 80 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:02,560 tremble he is enthroned between the cherubim let the earth quake the Lord 81 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:09,360 is great in Zion he is exalted above all the peoples let them praise your great 82 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:16,920 and on spiring name he is holy the mighty King loves justice you have 83 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,400 established fairness you have administered justice and righteousness 84 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:28,320 in Jacob exalt the Lord our God bow and worship at his footstool he is holy 85 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:33,080 Moses and Aaron were among the his priests Samuel also was among these 86 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:38,460 calling on his name they called to the Lord and he answered them he spoke to 87 00:07:38,460 --> 00:07:42,680 them in a pillar of cloud they kept his decrees and the statutes he gave them 88 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:49,000 Lord our God you answered them you were forgiving God to them but an avenger of 89 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:54,920 their sinful actions exalt the Lord our God bow and worship at his holy mountain 90 00:07:54,920 --> 00:08:00,680 for the Lord our God is holy you know David's really getting the picture in 91 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,800 verse 1 he's telling them you know let the people tremble let the earthquake 92 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:10,160 let them praise your great and on spiring name because he is holy you know 93 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:15,640 God's holiness really should arouse that praise and it should bring force 94 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:23,040 trembling just the power of that that idea that God Almighty is holy nothing 95 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,920 compared to what we ever see we don't see any people we don't see any things 96 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:35,480 that are even like perfect in that in that aspect just holy like God and it 97 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,920 really is one of those things where it's like praising God is one of the most 98 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,520 important things we do it's probably one of the one of the biggest reasons we 99 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:48,480 were created is just to praise God to share that loving relationship with him 100 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:53,040 it's one of the things it's like other than you know leading someone to 101 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:59,520 salvation which is mostly God's doing it's one of the most like important 102 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:05,040 things compared to raising children compared to just fellow shipping it's 103 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,440 God you know he's the most important so why not why isn't pleasing him the most 104 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:14,560 important thing in our life we're often too focused on our troubles on our day 105 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:18,680 to day problems and we're not really focused on eternity and our relationship 106 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:27,100 with the an eternal being all-powerful being who loves us you know it's if we 107 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:30,860 wanted to really be focused on that I think there's that there's that teaching 108 00:09:30,860 --> 00:09:34,480 in the Bible you know pray without ceasing and sometimes you kind of go 109 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,440 like yeah what does that mean how am I gonna talk to someone all day if I'm 110 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,520 just like most of the time I'm just driving for work and then I get to a 111 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,760 customer and I work on a machine or something but if I'm just starting my 112 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:51,600 prayer with how holy God is with how amazing he is I could do that all day if 113 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:57,520 it edifies me brings me joy brings him joy just a win-win there and then on 114 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:02,000 top of that now that I have that mindset of how amazing God is the rest of my 115 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,200 prayer is just you know it's already in the right mindset it's already put me in 116 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,160 the right position it's definitely put him in the right position of holy holy 117 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:16,480 above all and you know that that there is one way to just worship God all day 118 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:22,960 throughout my life in verse 4 and 5 David said the mighty King loves justice 119 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:29,160 he enacts fairness and he administers righteousness because he is holy you 120 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:33,160 know these are things that our spirit should long for that are that we should 121 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:38,840 really be thriving for you know justice fairness righteousness but it's 122 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,720 definitely something that our flesh dreads and tries to get away from you 123 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,400 know we got our secret pleasures our secret sins that we want to hold on to 124 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,960 but you know when you're when you're really feeding your spirit that's 125 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:55,040 something that you're gonna be focusing on it's all these all these attributes 126 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:59,560 when our hearts are aligned with God these things will fill us with joy and 127 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:05,600 just praise you know there's that idea of like when say you hear that Hitler 128 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,600 dies you're like yes that's good he was a terrible man the things he did were 129 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:14,160 terrible justice was enacted that's something that you know God feels too 130 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:21,200 when justice is enacted then in verse 8 God forgives Moses and Aaron but he's 131 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:26,800 also avenging their sinful actions because he is holy our response to God's 132 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:32,200 holiness should be unending praise but also trembling you know praise knowing 133 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:37,960 that God's promises will never fail his promises of salvation his second coming 134 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,880 you know promises of unending joy and no sorrow in heaven those are awesome 135 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:48,640 amazing things but you know we should also be fearful because we got to know 136 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:53,960 that justice will be enacted on our sins and the sins of our loved ones God you 137 00:11:53,960 --> 00:12:00,320 know God is holy he is just he can't reside with sin we can't have a you know 138 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,520 a true real deep relationship with him if we're holding on to sin you know 139 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,640 before you're saved you're you know everything you do is just filthy rags 140 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:12,200 but it's it's the Holy Spirit who's transforming us and actually making what 141 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:18,680 what we do matters so you know on that on that note of comparing ourselves to 142 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:23,280 God the next speaker will be John and he'll be talking about our depravity in 143 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:28,760 comparison to God and his holy nature but for now we'll worship we'll worship 144 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:36,840 God's holy name how we all doing good good sorry gonna mess up your thing here 145 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:41,160 all right for those of you who don't know me my name is John I am the men's 146 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:46,440 ministry leader here at Hosanna it's a pleasure to be here tonight and to give 147 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:52,520 this very depressing message not really well it is it could be very depressing 148 00:12:52,520 --> 00:13:01,560 no I was asked to give the message on sin man's depravity the low fault the 149 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:09,600 lowly sinful nature now sin has corrupted every single part of nature 150 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:18,480 every single thing since the fall in Genesis 3 every part of man every part 151 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:25,680 of woman has been corrupted by sin everything that was created by God has 152 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:33,760 been corrupted by sin Genesis tells us that because of the fall the ground was 153 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:41,800 cursed the cursed ground caused and produced thorns and thistles intense 154 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:49,000 labor pains were to be upon the woman giving birth and the pain would be very 155 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:56,240 very bad and the Bible does say that we will eat the bread by the sweat of our 156 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:02,920 brow meaning we're gonna have to work really hard for our food it won't be 157 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:15,400 easy sin has darkened our minds how so selfishness pride deceit all has entered 158 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:25,360 our hearts because of sin Jesus said in mark 7 for from within out of people's 159 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:32,840 hearts come evil thoughts sexual immoralities thefts murders adulteries 160 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:41,920 greed evil actions deceit self-indulgence envy slander pride and 161 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:51,120 foolishness all these evil things come from within and defile a person so we 162 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:57,480 can learn a lot from mark 7 but sin has affected the way that we think of 163 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:05,120 others sin has affected our our thinking so much to the point that it becomes 164 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:11,480 pointless because it's a part of it's apart from Christ sin is completely 165 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:20,640 separated sin is nowhere near Christ we think selfishly about our time we think 166 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:27,240 selfishly about so much of everything that we have when somebody asks us for 167 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:32,400 help for any type of thing the first thing we think or the third first thing 168 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:39,560 we ask ourselves is what do I get out of this now just imagine if Christ did that 169 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,920 every time we would sin we would do something and Christ would say what do I 170 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:48,680 get out of that that's the selfishness that we have in our hearts because of 171 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:53,560 the sin now it's not bad to have your own time now it's not bad to have your 172 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,600 own time with your family and all that but it's the selfishness the first 173 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:03,480 thought that comes to our heart that corrupts our mind and it just continues 174 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:10,440 to fill our hearts all the sin now some have said that the that the fall into 175 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:19,120 sin has destroyed our capacity to reason meaning we don't think correctly because 176 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:25,440 we let sin well sin already entered our heart but we don't think correctly 177 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:33,600 because sin is what is leading us sin is it's destroying it destroys every single 178 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:39,520 one of us now sin has set our wills over God's wills what does that mean sin has 179 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:47,240 caused us to want to set our morality over God's morality we think God well we 180 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:52,000 say God you know what we know what we're doing here you could sit this one out 181 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:58,120 that's the sin because we think we're better than God we think we can do 182 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:06,000 things before God now the world says the Christians shouldn't judge the LGBTQ 183 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:12,800 community because God says not to judge well that's the world putting its own 184 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:18,600 will in front of God's because it's so sinful it's filled with sin they're 185 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:24,920 putting their own standard in front of God now as Christians we do the same 186 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:30,240 thing when we're sinning we're trying to hide it we're trying to to keep in the 187 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,200 darkness we're trying to make sure nobody finds out the things that we're 188 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:39,000 doing but as soon as somebody does and they call us out what do we say you 189 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:45,800 can't judge us only God can judge us but God is a loving God right we're putting 190 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:55,160 our will in front of God's will that's what sin causes sin causes us to love 191 00:17:55,160 --> 00:18:03,040 the wrong things and to fail to love what is good the corrupt the corruptness 192 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:11,960 of the sin is what makes us bad now sin has made us unable to fully please God 193 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:18,000 in his sight meaning we cannot fully please God because we are just full of 194 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:23,320 sin we are sinners we are dead in our sins it's like Gavin was saying is we're 195 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:29,160 so full of our sin that no matter what good we do oh well I'm nice to this 196 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:37,080 person well that is just filthy rags those acts are just like filthy rags we 197 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:42,780 being born into iniquity and in sin especially from the time when we're 198 00:18:42,780 --> 00:18:47,960 babies the Bible does say that we're in the womb we're evil how many of you guys 199 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:52,680 have seen a baby steal a piece of candy or steal a toy I've seen it countless 200 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:58,920 times is it the fact that we taught them to do that or is it the fact that they 201 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:04,080 were born into sin they naturally would do it without even thinking and that's 202 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:13,100 the type of thing that we see and as us being older we are held captive by a 203 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:21,360 love for sin the unfortunate thing is we love sin and we do not seek God because 204 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:27,440 our sin loves darkness we love the darkness and those who are in flesh 205 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:33,120 cannot please God so for continuing in our flesh and we continue to do all the 206 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:37,560 sins that we're doing and we don't try to repent and turn it's not pleasing to 207 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:44,320 God it's just hurting God but because of our sin nature it is impossible to save 208 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:49,960 ourselves to do so we would need a sovereign grace of God's salvation I'm 209 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:55,360 not here to teach him on that one I'm here to give the negative message of sin 210 00:19:55,360 --> 00:20:03,680 we do need a Savior with how sinful we are how much sin is filled in our hearts 211 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:11,080 we need mercy with how dead to our sins we are we are dead to our sins and we 212 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:18,080 deserve death we deserve all the wrath that God has put before all of us 213 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:26,080 because we are so lowly sinful people who are selfish prideful evil people we 214 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:33,080 deserve death the scriptures say for the wages of sin is death and death is 215 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:38,880 exactly what we will get that is a promise that we will one day face death 216 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:45,440 well you again you guys might say I'm a good person I love my family I'm a good 217 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:50,960 neighbor I treat people with respect great we all fall short of the glory of 218 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:58,600 God because of our sin our righteous acts are like that of filthy rags but 219 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:03,880 because of our depraved nature we naturally reject Jesus Christ in his 220 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:10,600 gospel we are foolish sinners who by nature would rather do what we want than 221 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:16,800 to do what our Creator wants us to do the man we would rather listen to 222 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:23,680 ourselves than listen to the man that died rose again three days later and was 223 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:32,200 resurrected we would much rather listen to ourselves some might say I didn't 224 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:37,960 physically see Jesus raised from the dead therefore I do not believe you're a 225 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:42,920 fool what does the evidence say what is the evidence point to I wasn't there 226 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:47,680 when Jesus was healed when he when he healed the sick when he raised the dead 227 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:52,840 cool it's foolishness what does the evidence say the evidence says that 228 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:58,440 we're all sinners and we deserve death this man died for our sins there is a 229 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:06,440 way that seems right to a man but its end is the way to death if we continue 230 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:13,640 in the way of the sinful flesh it will lead to death and separation of God if 231 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:19,240 we do not want to choose God God will let us willingly choose the other way 232 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:25,680 God will not go against us God has given us free will to do what we want and 233 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:31,880 unfortunately a lot have chosen to reject Christ and to live in their sins 234 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:39,240 we just would much rather our personal self over Christ now the total the 235 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:45,720 totally depraved man is shown in Romans chapter 3 there's six ways that we can 236 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:52,080 see the depraved lowly sinful man the first one is no one is without sin every 237 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:58,240 single one of us has sin no one can escape sin number two is no one seeks 238 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:07,280 after God number three there is no one who is good no not one number four the 239 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:12,520 sinful man's speech is corrupted by sin everything that we say and everything 240 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:18,520 that we do is all corrupted by sin the sinful man's actions are corrupted by sin 241 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:24,120 everything we do physically is all corrupted by sin and the sinful man has 242 00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:31,200 no fear of God the only way we can be forgiven is by mercy by grace and by 243 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:38,200 salvation through one man Revelation 21 8 says but the cowards faithless 244 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:46,960 detestable murderers sexually immoral sorcerers idolaters and all liars their 245 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,760 share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second 246 00:23:51,760 --> 00:24:00,120 death as sinners we deserve all of that we deserve to be put in the lake of fire 247 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:07,080 our hearts are so evil so corrupt we do not fear God naturally what does that 248 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:13,640 mean we have every action that we do we do not fear God we don't think of what 249 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:19,600 God would want us to do we just do it therefore we don't we don't fear God we 250 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:25,280 have gotten so far into our sin we don't even have the fear of God in our hearts 251 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:29,680 now if you guys are wondering what the fear of God is the fear of God is an 252 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:35,880 Old Testament expression for respect and reverence for God and is the beginning 253 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:42,360 of all knowledge but since we are so sinful and full of sin we do not even 254 00:24:42,360 --> 00:24:53,640 fear God we produce deceit damage and destruction as sinners we love darkness 255 00:24:53,640 --> 00:25:00,160 rather than light because our works are evil now I'm sure we all know who Joseph 256 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,200 Stalin is I'm sure you guys have heard this story a billion times when Joseph 257 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:10,880 Stalin was on his deathbed it was said that he he was he just sat up raised his 258 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:19,840 fist to the heavens and just lay back down he was doing that to curse God now 259 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:25,280 Stalin was very evil he had a five-year plan called the godless five-year plan 260 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:32,080 now that plan was supposed to do away with religion and put in all the 261 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:40,840 atheistic science now Joseph Stalin did not fear God just because Joseph 262 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,640 Stalin did not fear God does not mean that he will escape the consequences of 263 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:52,460 his sins because the one who sows to his flesh will heap destruction from the 264 00:25:52,460 --> 00:26:00,480 flesh those who practice sin are slaves to sin we are all sinners cannot save 265 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,680 ourselves we cannot save ourselves through our own will we need someone 266 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:14,440 greater someone holier someone who has mercy for all of us our hearts are the 267 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:20,120 root of the problem of sin because we are so sinful in nature we deserve death 268 00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:29,480 we deserve punishment we see the effects of sin every single day all of nature we 269 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:37,880 see the effects of sin in our when we see sickness when we see somebody going 270 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:44,120 through sicknesses that's an effect of sin when somebody's dying slowly dying 271 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:51,040 of any type of disease sickness cancer that's the effect of sin now it doesn't 272 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,960 mean that it's oh well it's okay because God's gonna deal with it no it's still 273 00:26:54,960 --> 00:27:02,320 painful to see but the fact that we are all sinners and we need a Savior but I 274 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,480 won't give you guys that message I won't ruin it because we have Cedric doing it 275 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,640 but I just want to pray out and then we'll go ahead and continue worship 276 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:13,120 Lord I just thank you so much for this time Lord I just pray that you just open 277 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:19,240 our hearts and open our minds Lord any sin that is causing us to just turn away 278 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,680 from you Lord I just pray that we just break from that and just follow you Lord 279 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:28,200 I just pray that we fall at your feet every single day worshiping you without 280 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,840 even thinking without even doing anything I pray that we wake up and just 281 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:36,560 praise you Lord I pray that we just continue to repent from our sins that 282 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:41,680 we're doing Lord fill us with your spirit and continue to bless us Lord and 283 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:48,160 show us that our heart is so evil that we need a Savior and show those who 284 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:53,480 don't even know you Lord that they are sinners too that they also need a Savior 285 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:59,360 there's nothing they can do that can save them father please please bless 286 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:04,320 those who are giving the gospel to those and just to continue to point that there 287 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,920 are sinners who need to be saved and we do have a Savior Lord thank you so much 288 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:15,640 in Jesus precious name we pray amen good evening church so my name is Cedric 289 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:20,760 Evans and if you don't know who I am I lead the young adults ministry here at 290 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:27,800 Hosanna yeah yeah if you are 18 and between the ages of 18 and 29 I have a 291 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:33,960 great place for you to join so my message that I have been blessed to share 292 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:40,200 is gonna be a little bit more uplifting than John's but we're thankful for his 293 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:47,720 message so it's talking about God's mercy and when we talk about God's mercy 294 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:54,400 it's more than just one person saying to another person you know what you did 295 00:28:54,400 --> 00:29:01,400 this wrong I forgive you water under the bridge let's move on it's so much more 296 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:05,440 than that because in the Christian faith when we talk about mercy what we're 297 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:10,360 actually talking about is the gift of God's undeserved kindness and 298 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:18,520 compassion as in to say there is nothing that we in ourselves have done that 299 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:25,240 warrants God giving us the compassion or kindness that is owed to us as in 300 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:31,800 there's nothing that we can point to and say because of this God you should treat 301 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:40,200 me in this way but rather God is saying I'm going to treat you in this way even 302 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:47,640 though you don't deserve it God showing us mercy and God showing us 303 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:53,680 mercy is one of those pivotal areas within Christianity I like to say as to 304 00:29:53,680 --> 00:30:00,420 why we are thankful why are we so thankful about Christ why are we so 305 00:30:00,420 --> 00:30:09,240 thankful about salvation and everything else that God has provided for us so 306 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:14,560 just now we've heard from John we've heard about the message of sin and how 307 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:20,640 it's more or less just about corrupted every aspect of life every aspect that 308 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:26,720 God intended to be beautiful and how mankind ourselves we really dropped the 309 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:32,320 ball on this one we have committed many many sins against God and against his 310 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:38,520 commandments against his statutes such that as it's been proven and shown in 311 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:45,120 the scripture we deserve death for it that because we have sinned against God 312 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:53,880 because of all this we deserve a punishment yet God comes in to say I 313 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:59,920 know what you've done I know what has been done but I don't want that for you 314 00:30:59,920 --> 00:31:06,040 I don't want you to experience the judgment that is coming I don't want you 315 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:14,360 to have to go through any of that first Timothy chapter 2 verses 1 through 4 316 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:21,200 says first of all then I urge that petitions prayers intercessions and 317 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:29,840 thanksgivings be made for you for kings and all those who are in authority so 318 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:36,560 that they may lead a tranquil and quiet life and all godliness and dignity this 319 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:43,800 is good and it pleases God our Savior who wants everyone to be saved and to 320 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:49,480 come to the knowledge of truth this is what's the this is what's on the heart 321 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:57,040 of God this is what he instead wants for us instead of experience a set of us 322 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:03,600 experiencing a harsh punishment a punishment that is well deserved he 323 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:09,080 says instead of destroying man I want to save man instead of condemning you I 324 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:17,360 want to save you and bring you to me he wants to save us and bring us to him 325 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:26,640 Hebrews chapter 2 verse 17 through 18 therefore he had to be like his brothers 326 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:32,800 and sisters in every way so that he could become a merciful and faithful 327 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:39,840 high priest in matters pertaining to God to make atonement for the sins of the 328 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:46,800 people for since he himself has suffered when he was tempted he is able to help 329 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:56,280 those who are tempted this is how see many times we forget you know God he 330 00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:01,640 he's holy he's he's all of this and there have been many people across the 331 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:09,120 world who question you know how can it be possible that God would just you know 332 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:14,400 get get rid of sin or get rid of the punishment for sin and so on and when 333 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:21,000 you study the scriptures you learn it's all been done in Christ it's all been 334 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:28,400 done in God saying there's no way you could ever pay for sin and at the same 335 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:35,000 time experience a perfect and holy union that I want with you there's no way you 336 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:41,640 can do it not in your own strength not in anything that you can do it's been 337 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:47,440 stated many times tonight our works are like filthy rags yeah at times we've 338 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:52,680 done good at times we've you know been a nice person and all that many other 339 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:58,120 times we can all testify even myself that we've dropped the ball we've been 340 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:03,240 less than kind and less than supportive and we've outright just sinned against 341 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:11,560 God ultimately all all sin is ultimately against God and so because of that God 342 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:17,920 says I'm gonna go in your stead I'm gonna come down from heaven I'm going to 343 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:25,840 take on flesh I'm going to go before all of it before the wrath that is coming 344 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:34,760 I'm going to take it so that you don't have to so that we don't have to there's 345 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:40,560 more to it than God just saying you know okay you feel bad that's cool water 346 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:45,360 under the bridge if God did that that's what we would call sweeping it under the 347 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:55,000 rug and that's not holy that's not just in accordance to God's nature because of 348 00:34:55,000 --> 00:35:00,080 that God said he would help us and he will make a way for us he would come and 349 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:09,120 be our atonement and why he would do so Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4 through 5 350 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:17,640 but God who is rich in mercy because of his great love that he had for us made 351 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:24,640 us alive with Christ even though we were dead and trespasses you are saved by 352 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:33,480 grace the ultimate answer is love love is the reason that God did all of it and 353 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:38,240 when we talk about God's mercy is one of those subjects where if you're going to 354 00:35:38,240 --> 00:35:43,440 talk about one you have to understand the why of it you have to understand how 355 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:51,120 mercy God's mercy is so beautifully intertwined with God's love it'd be as 356 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:59,240 if I said hey make sure you go out and buy napkins and you don't know why the 357 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:03,600 why is I spill something on the table and I need naps and to clean it up and 358 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:10,600 this is where it is with God God has given us his mercy he's shown us this 359 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:18,160 amazing compassion and the why is because of the love that he asked for us 360 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:27,080 God said I will lay down my life for all mankind no one's going to take it Jesus 361 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:32,120 himself said that he doesn't he's not having his life taken no one's forcing 362 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:41,120 him to do it but rather Jesus God said I'm going to give my life for you and 363 00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:46,960 this is one of those moments even in the Bible where you realize wow there's a 364 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:54,440 lot of love that God has in his heart for for us all I got into a discussion 365 00:36:54,440 --> 00:37:01,280 with a friend a while back and one of the things that he said is that why was 366 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:07,960 why did it all happen why did you know the the the gardens happen why did the 367 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:12,560 sin happen all that so why do you allow it to happen just so that he could die 368 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:20,720 on the cross for us one of the things I said to that was you wouldn't truly know 369 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:26,960 to what extent God loves you if it didn't happen and I truly believe that 370 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:35,160 with all my heart I believe that if the cross didn't happen we wouldn't truly 371 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:39,680 truly have an understanding a full understanding of just to what extent 372 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:52,040 God would go to for us from Ephesians chapter 2 verse 4 the Greek word there 373 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:59,400 for rich is plusioy and it means abounding in wealth and I find it 374 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:06,280 really interesting that this is the word that is connected to mercy if he's in 375 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:11,400 chapter 2 verse 4 but God who is rich in mercy because of his great love that he 376 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:20,360 had for us plusioy is connected to the word mercy as in to say God's mercy for 377 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:27,240 us is exceedingly great than what we may be aware of it's more than enough for 378 00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:36,920 all mankind and it's made possible through what Christ did on the cross 379 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:43,760 when I think about the cross I think about this beautiful picture I mean well 380 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:48,880 not even a picture it is what happened I think about how it's a moment where we 381 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:57,280 see the perfect love of God but we also see the righteous wrath of God in one 382 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:05,600 moment the wrath that came to punish sin but also the love that said I'm going to 383 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:10,320 take it so that they don't have to I'm going to take it so that mankind doesn't 384 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:19,080 have to and as a result of all that as a result of all that he did we get to 385 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:23,880 experience the mercy we get to experience that undeserved kindness that 386 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:27,160 undeserved compassion 387 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:35,800 honestly it's one of those moments that I was thinking about earlier I'm like man 388 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:44,280 praise God for it if praise God that we are not asked to do anything for 389 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:50,200 salvation we're not asked to do anything to experience that mercy to experience 390 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:56,640 that undeserved compassion that undeserved kindness that undeserved love 391 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:02,440 that all he's just saying is look a work has already been finished a work has 392 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:09,720 already been done now now is the time for mercy now is the time for mercy if 393 00:40:09,720 --> 00:40:17,600 you so choose it's on us to just accept the mercy that God has laid out for us 394 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:24,240 the groundwork is already laid out it's done it's finished but God says now walk 395 00:40:24,240 --> 00:40:33,760 in the mercy that I have blessed you with mercy is one of those things that 396 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:39,280 the more you ponder on it the more you can really go crazy thinking wow God 397 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:45,200 even while I was still a sinner you wanted to give me mercy even while I was 398 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:51,440 cursing you you wanted to give me mercy even while I was described in the Bible 399 00:40:51,440 --> 00:41:00,400 as being your enemy you had a plan to make sure that I can enjoy your mercy 400 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:06,120 it's for that that is for that reason that we're all here tonight for that 401 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:12,000 reason that we're all here to worship that we're all here to say thank you 402 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:20,520 Lord thank you for your gift of mercy I know I have sinned I'm sorry but I thank 403 00:41:20,520 --> 00:41:25,920 you for Christ I thank you for this compassion that I don't deserve this 404 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:33,800 infinite love that I didn't ask for but I so desperately need and so desperately 405 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:40,240 crave in my life thank you for just laying that on me and letting that be 406 00:41:40,240 --> 00:41:46,840 more and exceedingly great than all that I am and all that I can do thank you 407 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:51,320 that's the reason we're all here tonight the reason we're here to say Lord thank 408 00:41:51,320 --> 00:42:00,080 you for the mercy and with that we we praise him and we worship him so let's 409 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:09,000 worship the Lord evening church so I am pastor Rick if you don't know who I am 410 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:14,840 and I have the pleasure of speaking with you guys about God's grace and 411 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:21,080 salvation I have honestly the best job out of all of these unfortunately John 412 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:28,520 got the worst but I just want to recap what we've seen so far we have seen 413 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:35,000 God's holiness his character the thing that he is which is beyond our 414 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:43,280 understanding we've seen the depravity of man sinful wicked deserving of 415 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:49,640 instant death the thing that we don't realize that we don't we don't deserve 416 00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:55,360 second chances we don't deserve another day but why do we why do we get that 417 00:42:55,360 --> 00:43:03,720 what Cedric just shared God's mercy all coming from his love his mercy and not 418 00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:09,080 immediately destroying Adam and Eve the moment that they sinned not starting 419 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:16,040 over and anew no we not only have a holy God but we have a loving God and I get 420 00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:23,320 to share with you what he did from his love how he gives a salvation so 421 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:31,120 starting in John 3 16 and 17 it says this for God loved the world in this way 422 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:37,440 he gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not 423 00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:43,800 perish but have eternal life for God did not send his son into the world to 424 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:51,800 condemn the world but to save the world through him here's the truth God offers 425 00:43:51,800 --> 00:44:01,360 us salvation through Jesus Christ God's grace upon us stems and comes from his 426 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:06,160 love for us the whole reason he's merciful on us the whole reason he does 427 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:12,240 everything for us and gave us Jesus the whole reason he came down was because he 428 00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:19,380 loved us not wanting anyone to go to hell he came and bore our sins on the 429 00:44:19,380 --> 00:44:26,640 cross 1st Peter 2 24 says he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree 430 00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:34,400 so that having died to sins we might live for righteousness by his wounds you 431 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:44,600 have been healed think of this God our Creator holy beyond understanding lowered 432 00:44:44,600 --> 00:44:53,760 himself to his own creation to become his own creation nothing is compared to 433 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:59,040 who God is nothing's comparable we can't understand him and yet he lowered 434 00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:05,840 himself Philippians 2 6 through 8 says who existing in the form of God did not 435 00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:12,080 consider equality with God as something to be exploited instead he emptied 436 00:45:12,080 --> 00:45:17,720 himself as assuming the form of a servant taking on the likeness of 437 00:45:17,720 --> 00:45:24,200 humanity and we had when he had come as a man he humbled himself by becoming 438 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:35,520 obedient to the point of death even to death on a cross he is God unable to be 439 00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:42,520 fully understood by our small little brains and he who is so holy and 440 00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:47,480 glorious Moses couldn't even look at his face but had to see his afterglow see 441 00:45:47,480 --> 00:45:53,840 his backside as God passed by and that still made him shine bright to the rest 442 00:45:53,840 --> 00:46:03,160 of the people he that God the only God lowered himself to his creation served 443 00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:10,240 us and died for us and then defeated death three days later and from this 444 00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:16,560 from beating death from fulfilling the law Jesus then imputes or gives and 445 00:46:16,560 --> 00:46:21,640 covers us with his righteousness no longer stuck in the depravity of 446 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:28,040 mankind that we are in sin but given the righteousness of God which fulfills the 447 00:46:28,040 --> 00:46:37,160 law 2nd Corinthians 521 says he made the one who did not know sin to be sin for 448 00:46:37,160 --> 00:46:43,160 us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God as followers of 449 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:52,480 Jesus God doesn't see our sin anymore he sees Jesus's righteousness now yes we 450 00:46:52,480 --> 00:46:57,380 fail and we repent but we are covered we are imputed we are given Jesus's 451 00:46:57,380 --> 00:47:06,840 righteousness we gain salvation we gain freedom from the law Roman 614 says for 452 00:47:06,840 --> 00:47:13,680 sin will not rule over you because you are not under the law but under grace 453 00:47:13,680 --> 00:47:19,440 salvation the beautiful thing I would say thank God for this but salvation is 454 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:24,440 so much more than just not going to hell that's the common thing Oh salvation so 455 00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:30,520 I just don't go to hell no salvation is so much more we are in 456 00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:36,360 dwelled with the Holy Spirit God's Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity 457 00:47:36,360 --> 00:47:41,400 comes and lives within us he's our assurance our down payment towards our 458 00:47:41,400 --> 00:47:47,960 salvation until the new heaven the new earth our perfected bodies and honestly 459 00:47:47,960 --> 00:47:53,720 those that aren't tamed with sin to come that he's that it Ephesians 1 13 through 460 00:47:53,720 --> 00:48:00,080 14 says in him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard 461 00:48:00,080 --> 00:48:06,800 the word of truth the gospel of your salvation and when when you believed the 462 00:48:06,800 --> 00:48:12,800 Holy Spirit is the down payment of your inheritance until the redemption of the 463 00:48:12,800 --> 00:48:21,040 possession to the praise of his glory we are filled with God the promise and the 464 00:48:21,040 --> 00:48:26,240 assurance down payment on what is to come and not only that the Holy Spirit 465 00:48:26,240 --> 00:48:32,840 was promised promised by Jesus to do what John 14 26 be our helper but the 466 00:48:32,840 --> 00:48:37,560 counselor the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach 467 00:48:37,560 --> 00:48:43,160 you all things and remind you of everything I have told you he comes to 468 00:48:43,160 --> 00:48:47,540 guide us in our lives we aren't just left with salvation but God comes and 469 00:48:47,540 --> 00:48:52,080 guides us and shows us how to live reminding us of Jesus's words God's 470 00:48:52,080 --> 00:49:00,840 words reminding us how to live righteously oh man so many things to be 471 00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:08,400 thankful for we also become members of God's family first John 3 1 through 2 472 00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:13,200 says this see what great love the father has given us that we should be called 473 00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:18,920 God's children and we are the reason the world does not know us is that it didn't 474 00:49:18,920 --> 00:49:26,560 know him dear friends we are God's children now and what we will be has not 475 00:49:26,560 --> 00:49:32,840 yet been revealed we know that when he appears we will appear like him because 476 00:49:32,840 --> 00:49:42,320 he will because we will see him as he is we are no longer enemies of God but 477 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:48,880 instead we are family we are in God's family adopted and he is our father this 478 00:49:48,880 --> 00:49:57,280 is part of that salvation thank God and the beautiful thing we get perfected 479 00:49:57,280 --> 00:50:02,160 bodies the next thing to come right filled with the Holy Spirit as a 480 00:50:02,160 --> 00:50:05,240 downpain with the next thing to come perfected bodies that are no longer 481 00:50:05,240 --> 00:50:11,080 tainted with sin that we still struggle with today but instead in these 482 00:50:11,080 --> 00:50:18,800 perfected bodies we will be living with God Philippians 321 for more 483 00:50:18,800 --> 00:50:22,640 confirmation on this says he will transform the body of our humble 484 00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:28,080 condition into the likeness of his glorious body by the power that enables 485 00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:37,640 him to subject everything to himself we even have each other as family members 486 00:50:37,640 --> 00:50:43,400 not only are we in God's family and we will gain a new body that no longer 487 00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:46,640 desire sin and is perfect and lives forever and you don't have to worry 488 00:50:46,640 --> 00:50:51,840 about those achy bones and problematic like cancer and other diseases but 489 00:50:51,840 --> 00:50:56,880 instead we are part of the family of God which means we are each other's family 490 00:50:56,880 --> 00:51:02,520 as humans we desire relationship and friendship and that's what we have 491 00:51:02,520 --> 00:51:09,080 together 1st John 1 7 says if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light 492 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:15,720 we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us 493 00:51:15,720 --> 00:51:24,200 from all sin we have fellowship with one another as Christians we are connected 494 00:51:24,200 --> 00:51:31,520 to each other through Jesus we belong to a loving family not a dysfunctional one 495 00:51:31,520 --> 00:51:37,680 but a perfect and loving one a beautiful saying that I've know most of us have 496 00:51:37,680 --> 00:51:42,680 heard where blood is thicker than water that's actually a shortened version of 497 00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:47,920 the original and is incorrect because it makes you think that family is more 498 00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:53,920 important than friends but here's the truth the full saying means the exact 499 00:51:53,920 --> 00:52:02,960 opposite the blood of the Covenant is thicker than the water of the womb think 500 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:07,400 about that the blood of Jesus Christ the blood of that covenant and the covenants 501 00:52:07,400 --> 00:52:11,080 we make with others the one that we enter into and as a family are in 502 00:52:11,080 --> 00:52:16,080 covenant with Jesus that blood is more important so your family members sitting 503 00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:22,280 here are more important than your unbelieving family members they are 504 00:52:22,280 --> 00:52:27,280 closer and the ones that we should be closer with and we gain this through 505 00:52:27,280 --> 00:52:34,840 Jesus we choose Jesus that means we also choose to be a part of the family of God 506 00:52:34,840 --> 00:52:41,200 another thing is we gain hope a hope for future of heaven with God in a perfect 507 00:52:41,200 --> 00:52:48,640 place with no sin 1st Peter 1 chapter 1 verse 3 says blessed be the God and 508 00:52:48,640 --> 00:52:53,200 father of our Lord Jesus Christ because of his great mercy he has given us new 509 00:52:53,200 --> 00:52:57,760 birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the dead 510 00:52:57,760 --> 00:53:02,240 we don't have to worry about death we don't have to worry about the fear of 511 00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:08,080 what happens next we get to proclaim first Corinthians 1555 which says where 512 00:53:08,080 --> 00:53:13,680 death is your victory where death is your sting we don't have to worry anymore 513 00:53:13,680 --> 00:53:19,840 why because we have eternity with God to look forward to Revelation 21 1 through 514 00:53:19,840 --> 00:53:25,880 5 says this then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the 515 00:53:25,880 --> 00:53:31,320 first earth had passed away and the sea was no more I also saw the holy city 516 00:53:31,320 --> 00:53:36,440 the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God prepared like a bride 517 00:53:36,440 --> 00:53:43,040 adorned for her husband then I heard a loud voice from the throne look God's 518 00:53:43,040 --> 00:53:52,280 dwelling is with humanity and he will live with them they will be his people 519 00:53:52,280 --> 00:53:59,480 and God himself will be with them and will be their God he will wipe away 520 00:53:59,480 --> 00:54:07,800 every tear from their eyes death will be no more grief crying and pain will be no 521 00:54:07,800 --> 00:54:12,720 more because the previous things have passed away then the one seated on the 522 00:54:12,720 --> 00:54:20,320 throne said look I am making everything new he also said right because these 523 00:54:20,320 --> 00:54:31,040 words are faithful and true heaven where there's no more pain no more sorrow just 524 00:54:31,040 --> 00:54:39,360 fullness of joy praising and worshipping our God and creator who is holy God's 525 00:54:39,360 --> 00:54:45,680 grace his salvation is so amazing and everything we should be thankful for 526 00:54:45,680 --> 00:54:50,960 there is so much more than just not going to hell there is so much more than 527 00:54:50,960 --> 00:54:55,680 I've even covered that comes from God's grace and salvation there is so much 528 00:54:55,680 --> 00:55:03,960 more to be thankful for with that if you're here tonight and you don't know 529 00:55:03,960 --> 00:55:11,720 Jesus but you want to you've heard how holy God is you understand as humans 530 00:55:11,720 --> 00:55:17,400 where we are stuck in our sin in depravity but then you've heard of God's 531 00:55:17,400 --> 00:55:22,560 mercy his grace and his salvation and you want to enter into his family and 532 00:55:22,560 --> 00:55:27,980 you believe him and you believe these I have two verses for you Romans 10 9 533 00:55:27,980 --> 00:55:32,960 through 10 if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your 534 00:55:32,960 --> 00:55:38,560 heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved one believes with the 535 00:55:38,560 --> 00:55:43,520 heart resulting in righteousness and one confesses with the mouth resulting in 536 00:55:43,520 --> 00:55:50,480 salvation and I want to give you that chance to confess that you believe in 537 00:55:50,480 --> 00:55:56,440 Jesus so with everyone please close your eyes and if you want to give your life 538 00:55:56,440 --> 00:56:00,640 to Jesus you want to confess that you believe God and he is who he says he is 539 00:56:00,640 --> 00:56:08,280 please feel free to raise your hand and for any of those that are online saying 540 00:56:08,280 --> 00:56:23,240 yes and confessing please follow after me in prayer Lord thank you so much 541 00:56:23,240 --> 00:56:32,040 thank you for not destroying me Lord I am a wretched sinner who's not 542 00:56:32,040 --> 00:56:38,920 deserved of heaven not deserved of you is just is wrong but Lord you are holy 543 00:56:38,920 --> 00:56:46,080 and good and you are also loving Lord you are God and I believe you are who 544 00:56:46,080 --> 00:56:51,760 you say you are I put my trust and faith in the work that you did on that cross 545 00:56:51,760 --> 00:57:00,320 Lord come into my life guide me fill me with your Holy Spirit Lord I trust and 546 00:57:00,320 --> 00:57:07,800 believe you in Jesus name we pray amen and with that for anyone who has joined 547 00:57:07,800 --> 00:57:18,960 the family of God welcome we love you so we'll go ahead and pray and just praise 548 00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:24,560 God and thank him with another worship song Lord we as the family of God love 549 00:57:24,560 --> 00:57:28,960 you so much and thank you for all that you've done for us Lord for those that 550 00:57:28,960 --> 00:57:33,360 have come to know you tonight and all around the world Lord I pray that they 551 00:57:33,360 --> 00:57:37,920 are blessed and that other Christians would come along and lift them up and 552 00:57:37,920 --> 00:57:42,760 edify them and disciple them and point you towards you Lord in Jesus name we 553 00:57:42,760 --> 00:57:50,120 pray amen are you thankful for the Lord amen we're gonna close tonight with 554 00:57:50,120 --> 00:57:56,720 communion because after looking at the infinite holiness of God that is just 555 00:57:56,720 --> 00:58:02,280 beyond our comprehension contrasted with the depravity that we that we have 556 00:58:02,280 --> 00:58:07,820 within us a depravity of man which led to God's mercy not giving us what we did 557 00:58:07,820 --> 00:58:14,040 deserve which was death a final punishment but instead giving us grace 558 00:58:14,040 --> 00:58:18,720 giving us what we definitely didn't deserve and that is salvation through 559 00:58:18,720 --> 00:58:23,680 his son and that salvation was affected to us through his death on the cross as 560 00:58:23,680 --> 00:58:27,600 Jesus God in the flesh came to pay the price for every sin you've ever 561 00:58:27,600 --> 00:58:31,800 committed every sin you did today and every sin you will ever do for the rest 562 00:58:31,800 --> 00:58:37,440 of your life and it's because of that great love we get to go to heaven we get 563 00:58:37,440 --> 00:58:41,560 to know we're saved and we get to live as God's people today and one of the 564 00:58:41,560 --> 00:58:45,560 things the Bible has told us to do is when we gathered together to remember 565 00:58:45,560 --> 00:58:50,840 him in communion in communion we share of the bread and the juice and the bread 566 00:58:50,840 --> 00:58:55,800 represents the body of Christ that was broken the bread we use in communion is 567 00:58:55,800 --> 00:59:01,080 an unleavened bread because biblically leaven is a is a symbol of sin because 568 00:59:01,080 --> 00:59:07,200 what does leaven do to bread puffs it up and so we have bread cracker if you will 569 00:59:07,200 --> 00:59:11,200 just it's it's it's without that leaven in it it's not puffed up because it 570 00:59:11,200 --> 00:59:17,080 represents the body of Christ that was without sin of any kind who was perfect 571 00:59:17,080 --> 00:59:23,280 and holy forever and always and yet he was the one that took the full wrath of 572 00:59:23,280 --> 00:59:29,040 God for us as his body was brutalized on the cross and then as we partake of the 573 00:59:29,040 --> 00:59:33,840 juice in communion that's his blood represents his blood being shed for us 574 00:59:33,840 --> 00:59:40,680 that not only did we not go to hell as was shared but then we get all of these 575 00:59:40,680 --> 00:59:44,800 blessings that come from the blood of Christ as he said to his disciples in 576 00:59:44,800 --> 00:59:49,760 ID Institute at communion this is the blood of the new covenant not the old 577 00:59:49,760 --> 00:59:54,440 one that was just a temporary covering a sweeping under the rug but the blood of 578 00:59:54,440 --> 00:59:58,400 the new covenant washed us clean permanently and forever and that is a 579 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:03,320 wonderful thing to remember it is a wonderful thing to be thankful for so if 580 01:00:03,320 --> 01:00:06,080 the men of the communion board will come forward right now we're gonna get ready 581 01:00:06,080 --> 01:00:11,440 to to pass out communion to those of you that are here I will ask that as we come 582 01:00:11,440 --> 01:00:15,080 through with the bread first and then the juice that you would hold on to 583 01:00:15,080 --> 01:00:19,320 both emblems until we're done serving everybody and then I'm gonna come up and 584 01:00:19,320 --> 01:00:23,640 we will pray and partake together and during the time of us passing out 585 01:00:23,640 --> 01:00:27,920 communion right now we are gonna be worshiping and so please as we've done 586 01:00:27,920 --> 01:00:32,320 this whole night stay in the attitude of worship and praise and thanksgiving to 587 01:00:32,320 --> 01:00:40,200 God Lord we're so grateful for you God has been shared tonight so much Lord 588 01:00:40,200 --> 01:00:44,640 there is so much to be thankful for especially when we look at who we are 589 01:00:44,640 --> 01:00:50,760 compared to your holiness and God yet you you chose to die for us you chose to 590 01:00:50,760 --> 01:00:55,960 come in and be the atonement to die on that cross Lord and the greatest act of 591 01:00:55,960 --> 01:00:59,880 love that was ever shared simultaneously the greatest expression of God's wrath 592 01:00:59,880 --> 01:01:05,360 and how you feel about sin and yet Lord you took it so that we wouldn't have to 593 01:01:05,360 --> 01:01:10,720 and so Lord on the eve of our national celebration of thanksgiving God we're 594 01:01:10,720 --> 01:01:15,200 thankful for our country and the pilgrims and all the food but God what 595 01:01:15,200 --> 01:01:21,600 we're most thankful for is your death for our sin your resurrection that 596 01:01:21,600 --> 01:01:26,240 defeated the power of sin and death and the opportunity that if we would just 597 01:01:26,240 --> 01:01:30,720 put our faith in you to believe in who you are we would be forgiven and we 598 01:01:30,720 --> 01:01:35,440 would be saved forever thank you so much it's in Jesus name 599 01:01:35,440 --> 01:01:42,280 amen father God we are so grateful to you we're so grateful God that you went 600 01:01:42,280 --> 01:01:51,240 to the cross that you gave your body to be brutalized in our place Lord were 601 01:01:51,240 --> 01:01:57,080 you quite literally took the death penalty that was due to us upon yourself 602 01:01:57,080 --> 01:02:03,160 Lord as the word says you were beaten and you were mocked and the crown of 603 01:02:03,160 --> 01:02:09,560 thorns that was was thrust upon your head Lord that you were scourged whipped 604 01:02:09,560 --> 01:02:14,560 Lord that you were forced to carry your own cross all the way to Golgotha where 605 01:02:14,560 --> 01:02:22,440 you were then nailed to that cross Lord such an incredibly painful trial but 606 01:02:22,440 --> 01:02:30,640 Lord sin deserved nothing less and yet God you were without sin you took that 607 01:02:30,640 --> 01:02:37,600 punishment in our place Lord you gave your body in our place and God we are 608 01:02:37,600 --> 01:02:44,840 eternally eternally grateful eternally thankful because God there was no way 609 01:02:44,840 --> 01:02:51,240 we could have paid for ourselves we're too but too depraved Lord so God we 610 01:02:51,240 --> 01:02:56,080 remember that your body was given for us that you willingly laid 611 01:02:56,080 --> 01:03:04,880 down your life to be the sacrifice to pay the price of our sin Lord we love 612 01:03:04,880 --> 01:03:10,480 you and we thank you for all of it it's in Jesus name let's partake together 613 01:03:10,480 --> 01:03:19,520 Lord as was said you didn't just die on the cross to take what we deserve but 614 01:03:19,520 --> 01:03:25,000 Lord your blood was shed establishing a brand new covenant God pure blood 615 01:03:25,000 --> 01:03:31,760 without sin perfect blood was shed Lord that Lord we would be cleansed by the 616 01:03:31,760 --> 01:03:36,360 blood our sin would be washed away permanently that Lord when you would 617 01:03:36,360 --> 01:03:42,520 look at us through the death of your son Jesus Christ you would see us spotless 618 01:03:42,520 --> 01:03:50,120 without blemish you would see us as sinless perfect people as your son was 619 01:03:50,120 --> 01:03:55,720 and Lord we know that that's a future promise when we go to heaven Lord and 620 01:03:55,720 --> 01:04:00,040 we have our new bodies and Lord will be in that perfect paradise but today here 621 01:04:00,040 --> 01:04:07,320 Lord we all know we still struggle with sin and yet Lord because of your great 622 01:04:07,320 --> 01:04:14,640 love through our faith in Jesus Christ you look upon us today as your children 623 01:04:14,640 --> 01:04:23,360 as your spotless children and God it's because of what you did on the cross so 624 01:04:23,360 --> 01:04:30,000 we remember Lord your shed blood that paid the price that washed us clean and 625 01:04:30,000 --> 01:04:35,000 made possible Lord the restored relationship between us your creation 626 01:04:35,000 --> 01:04:41,360 you our Creator God may we be thankful for everything but most thankful for 627 01:04:41,360 --> 01:04:49,700 that Lord we love you and yes again we thank you it's in Jesus name we pray 628 01:04:49,700 --> 01:04:54,760 let's partake together well God bless all of you we're 629 01:04:54,760 --> 01:04:59,480 entering into this season where it's simultaneously great celebration but 630 01:04:59,480 --> 01:05:04,160 also great difficulty for some people and so I would encourage all of us as we go 631 01:05:04,160 --> 01:05:08,880 forward remembering God getting ready to celebrate his birth and all that don't 632 01:05:08,880 --> 01:05:12,840 forget the people around you that might be hurting during this season don't 633 01:05:12,840 --> 01:05:15,360 forget the people around you that might think they don't have a lot to be 634 01:05:15,360 --> 01:05:20,400 thankful for love them share with them the hope that is in Jesus Christ be 635 01:05:20,400 --> 01:05:26,120 thankful people and then by example show others that they too can experience a 636 01:05:26,120 --> 01:05:29,760 hope that is beyond all understanding and that in that they could find 637 01:05:29,760 --> 01:05:34,840 thankful thankfulness and joy and peace and all of that as well so we're gonna 638 01:05:34,840 --> 01:05:43,120 close in in one more song I believe and again praise God for he is holy praise 639 01:05:43,120 --> 01:05:48,600 God for his mercy and his grace praise God for our salvation amen God bless you 640 01:05:48,600 --> 01:06:14,640 guys