1 00:00:00,699 --> 00:00:01,860 Love Mother's Day. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:09,420 And I want to make sure that all the dudes in the room are set right before we ever get started. 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:10,200 You guys ready? 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,280 Because all the dudes in the room are good dudes, right? 5 00:00:14,700 --> 00:00:15,780 Ladies, give a hand, yeah? 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:17,480 They're good dudes. 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,760 But just remember, there's always a better woman standing behind them rolling their eyes. 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:23,480 Amen? 9 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:25,140 You got it. 10 00:00:25,250 --> 00:00:25,780 You got it. 11 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:27,020 Well, Romans 5. 12 00:00:27,180 --> 00:00:35,020 So what I wanted to wrestle with today with you guys, and I may hop down and get on the floor with you, it's tough for me to stand here. 13 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:36,940 I got to move. 14 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,000 John, I got to move. 15 00:00:38,620 --> 00:00:41,960 It's tough being a coach and a preacher, and you know how it goes. 16 00:00:43,260 --> 00:00:49,060 For those of you don't know me, Joe Step, we moved up here about five years ago from Texas. 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,580 And any other Texicans in the room? 18 00:00:52,820 --> 00:00:54,180 We got Texan people, right? 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:56,580 We have Oklahoma, even better. 20 00:00:56,980 --> 00:00:58,040 my brides from Oklahoma. 21 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:00,520 Love you, Okies too. 22 00:01:01,660 --> 00:01:02,060 For real. 23 00:01:03,140 --> 00:01:04,160 With all the love of Jesus. 24 00:01:04,460 --> 00:01:04,640 Yeah. 25 00:01:05,620 --> 00:01:05,800 Amen. 26 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:15,140 And so I've had a wonderful opportunity to teach the high school Bible in Water Springs School. 27 00:01:15,540 --> 00:01:19,820 And over the last, off and on the first two years and about the last three years, 28 00:01:20,100 --> 00:01:26,340 I've had a chance to teach and be a part of leadership crew at our little cowboy church in Blackfoot. 29 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:31,880 out on Wheating Lane, if you all know Max and Mary Martin and that crew, we have our services 30 00:01:32,010 --> 00:01:38,440 on Saturday night at 7, have a lot of fun out there. And so it's been a real honor to get 31 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:44,140 to share the word and come alongside and teach and walk with brothers and sisters. And so as we 32 00:01:44,620 --> 00:01:50,840 start out today, I think probably stating something obvious that we're in a crisis of identity 33 00:01:50,870 --> 00:01:56,320 in our culture, would you say amen to that? But it's not new. It's not new. It goes back. 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,660 You know, I look through the scripture and I think about statements that Jesus said, 35 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:04,080 the world will hate you because it hated me. 36 00:02:06,860 --> 00:02:11,400 Paul warned that there's a time coming where they will not endure sound doctrine. 37 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:17,340 You go, okay, are we in a time like that where Christians are hated where even the people 38 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,320 in the body will not endure sound doctrine? 39 00:02:19,380 --> 00:02:20,440 It takes time to think. 40 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:26,300 And I got to thinking about that because, you know, what really drives our culture, what's really 41 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:32,300 last generation of our culture, would we say amusement has had a big impact on our culture? Have you 42 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:37,320 ever thought, have you ever broken down amusement? I'm a word guy. Like, what does it mean to 43 00:02:37,420 --> 00:02:42,740 muse? We don't use that term really in our culture anymore. But if you and I are musing, 44 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:49,800 what are we doing? You're thinking, you're meditating, you're working through something to muse over 45 00:02:50,060 --> 00:02:54,960 something. If you put an awe in front of it, what does that do, English majors? 46 00:02:56,260 --> 00:02:57,160 it negates it. 47 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:03,240 And if you put mint on the end as a suffix, it's the act of. 48 00:03:04,180 --> 00:03:06,060 So amusement, by definition, is what? 49 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,080 The act of not thinking. 50 00:03:10,060 --> 00:03:10,280 True? 51 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,960 And as believers, should we not be thinkers? 52 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,680 Should we not be those that are working through? 53 00:03:17,380 --> 00:03:22,300 I see where Paul is reasoning and proving that Jesus is the Christ. 54 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,640 That means that words have meanings. 55 00:03:24,860 --> 00:03:27,360 That means that there's a context to those words. 56 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:33,000 And as you dive into the word, it's absolutely necessary that we know the meaning of words. 57 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:33,920 We know the context. 58 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:35,620 Who's being spoken to? 59 00:03:35,780 --> 00:03:36,760 What's going on? 60 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:48,260 And you and I, as believers, really need to be committed to this thing, the Word of God, the living Word of God, that we would be able to share truth. 61 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,540 Now, you and I know that at the outset, you and I have been called the plant and water. 62 00:03:53,920 --> 00:04:04,340 what's the promise of God that when the word goes out Isaiah 5511 what is he say it will not return void it will accomplish the purpose for which he sent it 63 00:04:05,540 --> 00:04:15,940 now let's be really honest because you and I have a motive of the word going out but have we considered that God has a motive in that that's above our motive and that's a tough one 64 00:04:17,739 --> 00:04:23,540 Jesus said that the world will hate you because he hates me so you and I know that we can 65 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,300 we go out and share the truth, we risk offense. 66 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,660 But is that enough to shut you down, believer? 67 00:04:30,660 --> 00:04:34,080 I pray it's not, because if you and I are going to be a light in the world, 68 00:04:34,340 --> 00:04:35,820 then we need to go out and be that light. 69 00:04:36,820 --> 00:04:37,100 Yes? 70 00:04:38,060 --> 00:04:42,400 And so, Paul said that if you desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, 71 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:43,500 you will be persecuted. 72 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,160 And I look at this thing that is a, 73 00:04:49,420 --> 00:04:52,720 I would say probably the number one agenda of the enemy 74 00:04:53,260 --> 00:04:55,260 is to attack identity. 75 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:56,900 What happened in the garden? 76 00:04:59,140 --> 00:05:01,280 What was the first question asked of the enemy? 77 00:05:02,740 --> 00:05:05,580 Did God really say? 78 00:05:06,940 --> 00:05:09,580 And I look across our culture at all the things that we're fighting, 79 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:16,400 the race issues, the abortion issues, the bias issues, white privilege across the board. 80 00:05:17,020 --> 00:05:21,280 What is the underlying hiss of the snake in every one of those issues? 81 00:05:21,940 --> 00:05:23,260 The woke movement, you name it. 82 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:28,240 Put anything on the table that's going on right now in our culture that is a dividing point, 83 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:32,440 it deals with identity, and the underlying question is what? 84 00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:35,400 Did God really say? 85 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:37,180 Are you with me? 86 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:39,560 And how does it get guys? 87 00:05:39,780 --> 00:05:44,720 It's really interesting when you start wrestling with the statements that are made. 88 00:05:45,540 --> 00:05:47,420 A woman has a right to her own body. 89 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:51,840 How many of us would agree with you? 90 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:59,020 that. Yeah, you do. You can get up and eat breakfast or not. You can drink coffee or not. You can go to 91 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:04,000 bed early, stay up late. You can do, you have a right to your own body. But when the assumptive language 92 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:09,420 brings in, by definition that you can kill a baby whenever you want, you go, okay, well, that's a little 93 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:16,560 scary. So you see the guys. You see how the enemy deceives. Everybody with me on that? So all I'm saying, 94 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:21,820 I'm not coming in here and throw stones politically, I want to get down to a core of the scripture that 95 00:06:21,860 --> 00:06:23,740 what is being attacked is identity. 96 00:06:24,700 --> 00:06:27,360 And you and I as believers need to be aware of this. 97 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:29,540 So in Romans 5, we're going to dig in. 98 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,580 And John, I love what you had to say here because it's not if we're going to be in a battle, 99 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:35,700 it's that we're in a battle. 100 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,760 Why did Paul write what he did in Ephesion 6 about the armor? 101 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,420 Because the spiritual battle is a reality, not an if. 102 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:44,720 Parents, you know this. 103 00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:45,820 Marriages, you know this. 104 00:06:46,620 --> 00:06:47,540 You have kids, you know. 105 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:49,900 You're at a job, you know. 106 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:51,740 And just live in life. 107 00:06:51,820 --> 00:06:53,280 and dealing just in this space, 108 00:06:54,340 --> 00:06:55,160 how's that battle going? 109 00:06:55,260 --> 00:06:57,520 How many of us struggle with that self-talk? 110 00:06:58,980 --> 00:07:00,620 The insecurities, the what-ifs. 111 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:01,740 Am I the only one? 112 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:02,980 No, amen. 113 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:04,820 We're all wrestling with it. 114 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,320 So what is going to change that? 115 00:07:08,780 --> 00:07:09,640 It has to be true. 116 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:10,400 Jesus promised. 117 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:12,240 You abide in my word. 118 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:13,660 You're truly my disciples. 119 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,960 You will know the truth, and the truth will what? 120 00:07:17,740 --> 00:07:18,420 Make you free. 121 00:07:19,420 --> 00:07:20,800 And so, as John has said, 122 00:07:20,900 --> 00:07:21,980 I want to echo that. 123 00:07:22,340 --> 00:07:25,000 We have to be very careful that we're not emotionally driven. 124 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,840 The truth has to be the cornerstone of everything, 125 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,440 beginning with identity and purpose. 126 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,880 Because if you don't let Christ, the Word of God, 127 00:07:39,419 --> 00:07:41,640 define you who you are and why you're here, 128 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,760 the world will be happy to do it. 129 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:46,280 And it does a really good job. 130 00:07:46,380 --> 00:07:47,940 The enemy is fantastic at it. 131 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:50,280 So I also think of it in this way. 132 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:59,680 how many times in scripture do we find don't grow weary don't become discouraged in your soul don't lose 133 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:06,760 heart my grace is sufficient is christ divided count it all joy comfort others if you've been comforted 134 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:13,879 bless those who curse you be steadfast immovable keep your eyes fixed on jesus why are those 135 00:08:13,940 --> 00:08:22,460 encouragements all through Scripture. Why? Because you're going to. You're not a bad Christian 136 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:26,520 if you run it in the ditch. You're not a bad Christian if you're struggling with identity. You're 137 00:08:26,660 --> 00:08:31,200 struggling with the questions. You're not a bad Christian. Let's put it in perspective. 138 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:39,740 How much did the enemy, through the Pharisees, bust Jesus about his identity? You ever looked at that? 139 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,840 Here's just some examples. Think about this. They call Jesus. 140 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:51,520 Jesus, a blasphemer. They called Jesus a Samaritan, half-breed. Y'all know the context on Samaritans. 141 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:58,840 He has a demon, they said. And actually, the accusation of having a demon comes up three different 142 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:03,660 times in John. Are you aware of that? They were really big on saying he was demon-possessed. 143 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:12,440 Attack on identity. It goes further. You're a glutton. You're a drunkard. You practiced by the power 144 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:20,600 of Beelzebub. You are a deceiver. You are a sinner. You were born of fornication. Now put that in context. 145 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:30,020 Jesus is in his 30s by this time, early 30s, and they tell him you were born in fornication. 146 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:42,420 What did they know? Do you think it was an issue of how he was born? Who was the father? Do you 147 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:48,400 you think that that was an issue in that society? Have you ever wrestled with that? She's pregnant? 148 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:57,520 Joseph's going to put her away? And they are still bringing up that accusation when she's truly a virgin 149 00:09:58,660 --> 00:10:04,860 and, as Isaiah said, a virgin will conceive. We have a fulfilled prophecy. That was still an angle of 150 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:12,220 attacking identity 30 years later. Put that in perspective. So Jesus dealt with it. But what did Jesus do? 151 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:13,000 He spoke truth. 152 00:10:13,140 --> 00:10:17,240 The response, if God were your father, you would have loved me. 153 00:10:17,660 --> 00:10:23,840 I proceed forth and came from God, nor have I come of myself, he sent me. 154 00:10:24,580 --> 00:10:25,700 Think of the I am statements. 155 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:27,300 Did Jesus know who he was? 156 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:28,860 I am the good shepherd. 157 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,280 I am the way the truth and the life. 158 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,720 I am the resurrection and the life. 159 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:33,960 I am the true vine. 160 00:10:34,420 --> 00:10:36,540 I am the light. 161 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:37,800 I am the bread. 162 00:10:38,340 --> 00:10:42,220 And you think about that, Christian, where do you and I stand when it comes to 163 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:49,260 truth, do we truly know who we are? That's the goal today is to wrestle with what the Bible says 164 00:10:49,260 --> 00:10:55,860 is our true identity, our true spiritual standing. Pray with me. Father, thank you for the 165 00:10:56,140 --> 00:11:04,700 opportunity to gather here. And because of your presence in the believer, we know that you're leading 166 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:10,360 us in truth. You're comforting us in every breath. That we're never alone in anything that we're 167 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:15,460 dealing with. Forgive us where we pray in a way. We hope you'll be with us. We pray you'll be 168 00:11:16,690 --> 00:11:21,420 there or this. Rather be thankful, Father, that you are with us now. Even if we're going through 169 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:26,660 that valley of the shadow of death, what are we promised? Your presence. Father, thank you that you 170 00:11:26,660 --> 00:11:31,800 are with us now as we work through your living word. This is your breath on paper. We get a fellowship 171 00:11:31,890 --> 00:11:37,860 and communion with you. And thank you for the privilege. Thank you for the blessing that we get to do 172 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:45,400 this together. Unify us in truth, your truth, in Jesus' name. Everyone said. Amen, amen. All right. So, 173 00:11:45,740 --> 00:11:51,620 in honoring God's word, let's stand, Romans 5, 1 through 5. If you stand great if you don't, I'd just say it. 174 00:11:51,680 --> 00:11:57,820 All right, here we go. Romans chapter 5, therefore, since we've been justified by faith, we have peace 175 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:03,839 with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we also have obtained access by faith 176 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:05,900 into the grace in which we stand. 177 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,860 We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 178 00:12:09,020 --> 00:12:12,080 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, 179 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:14,900 knowing that suffering produces endurance, 180 00:12:15,380 --> 00:12:18,560 endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 181 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,760 And hope does not put us to shame. 182 00:12:22,060 --> 00:12:22,420 Why? 183 00:12:23,660 --> 00:12:26,800 Because God's love has been poured into our hearts 184 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,420 through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 185 00:12:31,660 --> 00:12:32,320 Can we say amen? 186 00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:33,320 Amen. 187 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:34,200 You may be seated. 188 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:34,680 Thank you. 189 00:12:35,020 --> 00:12:36,640 So a little context for this. 190 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,100 As you move through chapter four in the book of Romans, 191 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:42,800 we get to a guy called Abraham. 192 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:44,940 And we know about Abraham. 193 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:45,240 Amen? 194 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:46,500 Scotty teach on Abraham. 195 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:48,580 Does he help you guys know who Abraham is? 196 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:49,800 All right. 197 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:50,940 If he's not, pray for him. 198 00:12:51,220 --> 00:12:51,540 We'll get him. 199 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,520 So Abraham, we know as Galatians and other Paul's writings, 200 00:12:57,660 --> 00:13:02,440 he really digs deep into this because Abraham was justified by faith. 201 00:13:02,620 --> 00:13:02,860 Yes? 202 00:13:03,580 --> 00:13:07,360 he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. 203 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:14,480 That is the root of what I would say is the most important doctrine that we build everything else around, 204 00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:17,040 is that God is the one who justifies. 205 00:13:17,820 --> 00:13:19,880 Now what does it mean to be justified? 206 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:29,100 Justification specifically is God taking his righteousness, the rights of Jesus, 207 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,860 and imputing it to the sinner who by purification, 208 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:40,540 faith has trusted Jesus as Lord. It's to be declared righteous. You and I don't declare ourselves 209 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:48,660 righteous. God does it because of our faith in the Lord Jesus. And so there at the end of chapter four, 210 00:13:49,140 --> 00:13:58,260 if you'll read with me, verse 23, sorry, we'll back up to 22. That is why his faith, speaking of Abraham, 211 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:00,880 was counted to him as righteousness, 212 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:04,380 but the words it was counted to him 213 00:14:04,820 --> 00:14:06,580 were not written for his sake alone, 214 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:08,100 but for who else? 215 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:12,020 Everyone in the room! 216 00:14:13,380 --> 00:14:14,260 Think about that. 217 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,460 And he goes on, and this is why it's so powerful. 218 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:21,480 It will be counted to us who believe in him, 219 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,900 who raised from the dead Jesus, our Lord, 220 00:14:25,380 --> 00:14:28,099 who was delivered up for our transgressions 221 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,960 or trespasses and raised for our justification. 222 00:14:33,220 --> 00:14:35,220 He dies for sin, the blood covers sin, 223 00:14:35,300 --> 00:14:37,420 he's raised up from the dead three days later, 224 00:14:37,940 --> 00:14:38,360 and what? 225 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:40,420 So that we may be justified. 226 00:14:41,180 --> 00:14:42,680 The sinner for the rights. 227 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,620 Now think about the beauty of grace and mercy in that context. 228 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:48,020 Now, is God just? 229 00:14:49,580 --> 00:14:50,060 Absolutely. 230 00:14:51,220 --> 00:14:51,900 1,000%? 231 00:14:52,660 --> 00:14:53,640 No questions, right? 232 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:58,020 Let's suppose that God only acted in his justice. 233 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,040 what would everybody in the room deserve? 234 00:15:01,020 --> 00:15:02,060 Death, that's it. 235 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,780 I am so glad he is a just God. 236 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,240 I'm even more glad he's a God of mercy. 237 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,580 And every one of us, that ought to open our eyes 238 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:22,500 because God has done something that is above and beyond 239 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,100 even the beauty of justice, 240 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,760 because justice requires punishment, judgment, and wrath. 241 00:15:29,860 --> 00:15:31,500 and you and I have received grace and mercy 242 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,860 that the God of heaven would put on flesh and die in our place 243 00:15:36,660 --> 00:15:39,620 have you trusted the Lord Jesus without a doubt 244 00:15:39,670 --> 00:15:43,100 to know that he is truly the Lord of the universe 245 00:15:43,820 --> 00:15:46,260 and that three days later God raised him from the dead 246 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,140 the declaration of Paul is anyone who believe in that Jesus 247 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,340 the Jesus of Scripture not the Jesus of culture 248 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:54,740 not the Americanized Jesus 249 00:15:55,660 --> 00:15:57,740 but the Jesus who fulfilled every single 250 00:15:57,780 --> 00:16:03,380 single promise, fully God, fully man, who died and rose again the third day, has ascended to 251 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:10,380 heaven, and by the way, is he finished? Do we live as if he's coming back? Well, I hope so. 252 00:16:11,780 --> 00:16:19,280 And so we move then into our text. Therefore, and I love that, because he's laid the groundwork for 253 00:16:19,580 --> 00:16:24,380 Abraham. Abraham justified faith, not just to him alone, but to us also who believe in Jesus, 254 00:16:24,740 --> 00:16:32,560 whom God raised. Well, therefore, since we have been justified by faith, what's the context there? 255 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:38,320 Is this for somebody who's going to be saved? No, he's writing to those who have believed, 256 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:43,280 who have trusted, who have been justified, declared righteous. And he goes on to say, 257 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:53,499 what is the result of being justified by faith? What's Paul say next? We have what? We have peace 258 00:16:53,700 --> 00:17:01,560 with God. Now think about that. If God is the one who gives us peace, can you improve on that? 259 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:11,220 Can you get peaceier? Can you improve on peace? So this is something I think is really critical for 260 00:17:12,220 --> 00:17:18,199 believers, that you and I understand our reality. We understand our spiritual position with our Lord 261 00:17:18,420 --> 00:17:22,380 Jesus Christ, with God, because we can only get to God through Jesus Christ. Amen? 262 00:17:23,319 --> 00:17:24,400 I'm the way the truth and life. 263 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:26,020 No one comes to the Father except through me. 264 00:17:26,339 --> 00:17:27,240 He is the door. 265 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:28,240 He is the way. 266 00:17:28,580 --> 00:17:30,180 How many doors on the ark, by the way? 267 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,520 How many doors in the temple? 268 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:34,780 Hmm. 269 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,680 I think the Old Testament was screaming something to us. 270 00:17:40,020 --> 00:17:40,820 There's only one way. 271 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:42,020 That's Jesus. 272 00:17:43,020 --> 00:17:46,180 So because God has declared us righteous, 273 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,440 because of our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, 274 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:49,900 the scripture says, 275 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:51,820 we are at peace with him. 276 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,420 that is your spiritual reality relationship with God. 277 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:04,020 How many of us feel at peace on any given day? 278 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,760 You have financial issues, you have relational challenges, 279 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,080 you have the what-ifs going on in your own brain, 280 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,040 you've got securities, insecurities. 281 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:16,140 We have the feeling that I have to do better 282 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:17,680 in order for God to love me more 283 00:18:17,860 --> 00:18:21,780 or step up in a certain way that God will finally be okay with me, 284 00:18:22,300 --> 00:18:25,620 by the way, because you're a sinner, he would never be okay with you. 285 00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:27,120 He was okay with Jesus. 286 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,920 And if you have trusted him by faith, now you're okay with him. 287 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:32,500 Can you get okayier? 288 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:36,100 No, you're at peace with him. 289 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:37,220 That's the declaration. 290 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:43,940 And this is my encouragement to you as believers that we would know what our standing is. 291 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,420 Because believe me, when you stand in the truth, 292 00:18:50,660 --> 00:18:56,880 What can take us down if God before us, we are more than conquerors? 293 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:57,360 Why? 294 00:18:57,880 --> 00:18:59,700 Does that mean everything goes our way? 295 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:00,620 No. 296 00:19:00,860 --> 00:19:03,500 Okay, if you've read the book of Acts, you have a pretty good idea, yeah? 297 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,320 I think Paul went everywhere, spoke the truth, and he got busted up a little bit. 298 00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,680 And by the second journey, what do you do? 299 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:11,500 Hey, you know what? 300 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:13,640 Probably need to enlist a doctor. 301 00:19:13,940 --> 00:19:14,840 Yeah, let's do that. 302 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:19,560 Because that first one, being stone drug out of the town there at Icodium, Listra, 303 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:29,260 left for dead gets back up right beat within an inch of his life at philippi now none of us have 304 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:40,440 struggled that way i i don't think and we're whining about what so a little context 305 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:49,560 so i i really want to encourage you to meditate on that what what does it mean that 306 00:19:49,580 --> 00:19:53,340 Paul says you and I as believers are at peace with God. 307 00:19:54,940 --> 00:19:59,920 That means that through Jesus Christ, you and I are at peace with him because he's at peace with us. 308 00:20:01,660 --> 00:20:02,440 That's his peace. 309 00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:06,900 Now what's the next impact? 310 00:20:08,380 --> 00:20:09,360 What's the scripture say there? 311 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:09,880 Read it with me. 312 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:12,380 We are at peace with God. 313 00:20:13,060 --> 00:20:15,020 Then what's the very next statement in your scripture? 314 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,540 Through our Lord Jesus Christ, I love the word. 315 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,860 through because you have the Red Sea, you have the door, you have the rock, you have all the 316 00:20:24,010 --> 00:20:29,720 things in the Old Testament that are amazing pictures of God doing something through something. 317 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:32,620 The beauty of the picture of through. 318 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:35,080 And then he says what? 319 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:39,480 This is an amazing spiritual reality, our standing with God. 320 00:20:39,620 --> 00:20:43,500 Not only are we peace with Him, but through Him also, we have what? 321 00:20:44,700 --> 00:20:47,700 We have obtained access by faith. 322 00:20:47,980 --> 00:20:50,860 Hebrews four, we have a high priest that has passed through the heavens. 323 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:52,720 So what's the result of that? 324 00:20:53,060 --> 00:20:55,580 That you and I in our time of need can do what? 325 00:20:57,399 --> 00:20:59,240 Boldly approach the throne of grace. 326 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,900 You go, okay, well, let's put that in a larger context. 327 00:21:03,860 --> 00:21:07,100 At the end of this, we find out the Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts. 328 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:09,520 How much of the Holy Spirit did God give us? 329 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:10,700 A half? 330 00:21:11,460 --> 00:21:11,860 A third? 331 00:21:14,060 --> 00:21:16,840 We got the Holy Spirit to prove God's love for us. 332 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:23,720 So anybody trying to gain or attain a larger hold on the Holy Spirit? 333 00:21:25,900 --> 00:21:31,020 Do we go after the Holy Spirit thinking he ought to show up in a way that he hadn't been? 334 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,400 Are we guilty of thinking that God's holding out? 335 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:40,460 Are you and I in a position being taught or have been taught in error that somehow God's holy? 336 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:41,560 Well, I need more of this. 337 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:42,240 I need more of that. 338 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:42,840 I need more of that. 339 00:21:42,940 --> 00:21:43,120 No. 340 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,400 What you need is submission, humility, and obedience. 341 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:48,580 That's what the body of Christ needs. 342 00:21:51,420 --> 00:21:55,200 Like God's missed it somehow, because it's all about little old you. 343 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:58,640 I think we need to repent and get in a right spot. 344 00:21:58,920 --> 00:21:59,460 Is that fair? 345 00:22:00,260 --> 00:22:00,840 Is that fair? 346 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:06,140 Because, listen, the reality is when you look over time and the impact of our culture, 347 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:11,260 would we say that the culture has had far more of an impact on the church of Jesus 348 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,480 than the church has had on the culture? 349 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:22,800 So we need to be careful about that because this right here is what's going to help us continue to be that influence that we ought to be. 350 00:22:23,340 --> 00:22:25,040 Based on truth, not emotion. 351 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:27,820 Not on knee-jerk reactions. 352 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:33,660 Not on feeling sorry for myself because I didn't get it the way I thought I should have got it. 353 00:22:34,500 --> 00:22:38,220 I wonder if we could sit down with Job if we might be educated a little bit. 354 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:39,540 Okay. 355 00:22:41,220 --> 00:22:43,200 That's another sermon, but we got to move. 356 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:50,260 So this is an amazing thing that because of justification, because of belief in Jesus Christ, we have access. 357 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:52,460 Right? 358 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:56,240 Now, as you look at the whole of the New Testament, we have presence. 359 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,780 That's why I think it's really important that we adjust our prayers. 360 00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:01,540 We have access. 361 00:23:02,540 --> 00:23:04,040 God is with us. 362 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,320 And I love Psalm 23. 363 00:23:07,140 --> 00:23:09,660 Even though I walk through the valley of shadow death, I will feel no evil. 364 00:23:09,690 --> 00:23:09,820 Why? 365 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:11,900 You're with me. 366 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:14,000 Now, did we pray that way? 367 00:23:15,620 --> 00:23:17,620 God, I hope you'll be with me when I go to X. 368 00:23:17,980 --> 00:23:19,820 God, I hope you'll be with my family when they're traveling. 369 00:23:20,260 --> 00:23:20,900 Well, are they believers? 370 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:22,540 Why would you pray that way? 371 00:23:23,620 --> 00:23:28,720 Let's change our prayer and say, God, thank you that there's nothing I'm going to deal with today. 372 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,900 Thank you that whatever I run into, you already know it. 373 00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:35,440 So thank you. 374 00:23:35,820 --> 00:23:37,320 Please give me wisdom in that moment. 375 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:42,200 Please help me respond in a way that honors and glorifies you. 376 00:23:42,860 --> 00:23:47,160 Father, help me keep my flesh in check and stay submitted to the Holy Spirit. 377 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,880 Help me to do right because I know you're not going to miss it. 378 00:23:52,420 --> 00:23:55,100 I teach my students to remember the work of the Holy Spirit. 379 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,260 He'll never miss the word of God or the will of God. 380 00:23:59,740 --> 00:24:01,120 He's always on point. 381 00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:03,080 It's you and I to have the problem. 382 00:24:04,540 --> 00:24:05,860 So we have access by faith. 383 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:07,320 What do we have next? 384 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:08,660 Look at the next statement there. 385 00:24:08,780 --> 00:24:09,220 Read with me. 386 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:11,720 We have access by faith and we what? 387 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:15,820 stand in grace 388 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:19,660 what 389 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:23,900 that was one for you and I 390 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,360 through the death barrel and resurrection of Jesus 391 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,680 who conquered sin, conquered death, conquered hell 392 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:33,460 boom! And what's he do? You're at peace with me now 393 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:35,940 because you've trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, you're at peace. 394 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,720 You always have access to me. I'm your perfect 395 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:40,900 father. I'm the good father. 396 00:24:42,740 --> 00:24:45,540 I'm not an earthly father. 397 00:24:46,660 --> 00:24:48,160 My ways are higher than your ways. 398 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:50,260 My words are higher than you. 399 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,220 My reasoning, my ultimate goals and purposes are not your ways. 400 00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:56,560 They're past finding out, Paul says. 401 00:24:57,220 --> 00:25:00,580 So let us be very careful, and maybe we need to repent here too, 402 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:06,880 that we have relegated the God of heaven to a earthly type father like you and me 403 00:25:07,380 --> 00:25:10,500 that would make justifications, that would make consolations, 404 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,320 and reason our way out of doing the right thing. 405 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:14,720 Amen, fair? 406 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:18,020 So let's not relegate God to some humanly guy. 407 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:20,680 His ways are higher than our ways. 408 00:25:20,780 --> 00:25:25,960 The beauty of this is, you and I stand in grace. 409 00:25:31,100 --> 00:25:33,220 Now, what do you think the impact would be on that? 410 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,180 We could be here the rest of the day 411 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,480 sharing testimony of what it means 412 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:48,120 we would stand in grace. And that grace is what God gave. That is the beauty of the gift of Jesus, 413 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:55,820 doing for us what we could never do for ourselves or for one another. Amen? So that's an amazing thing, 414 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:02,780 isn't it? And this is Paul helping you and I understand our spiritual standing in reality. 415 00:26:03,740 --> 00:26:10,320 Not an emotional place, but a spiritual reality. I'm at peace with him. I have access to him. 416 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:11,920 and I stand in grace. 417 00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:13,280 Let's keep going. 418 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:14,160 What's next? 419 00:26:15,140 --> 00:26:15,760 What do you find? 420 00:26:16,580 --> 00:26:17,160 We have what? 421 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:19,760 We rejoice in what? 422 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:20,920 Something specific. 423 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:21,840 Hope. 424 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:23,880 And that hope is tied to what? 425 00:26:25,140 --> 00:26:25,920 The glory of God. 426 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:31,060 Now the best I can understand about this is that the glory of God is when Christ comes back. 427 00:26:31,940 --> 00:26:33,400 Do you and I have that kind of hope? 428 00:26:33,780 --> 00:26:37,700 And by the way, is biblical hope or wring your hands, bite your nails kind of hope? 429 00:26:38,340 --> 00:26:38,920 Well, I hope so. 430 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:40,980 Hey, are you born again? 431 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:41,760 Well, I hope I am. 432 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:43,060 Right? 433 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:44,040 It'd be like me saying, 434 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,660 sir, are you in the auditorium with me right now? 435 00:26:47,020 --> 00:26:47,860 Well, I hope I am. 436 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:49,140 I'm really working on it. 437 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:50,280 I'm trying to be. 438 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:53,280 No, I think the scripture's pretty clear. 439 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,180 John writes to us in first John, what's he say? 440 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,180 I write to those of you who believe on the name of the Son of God 441 00:27:00,260 --> 00:27:02,160 that you will know that you have eternal life. 442 00:27:03,060 --> 00:27:04,800 Now, somebody who knows a relationship with God 443 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:05,880 and knows you have eternal life, 444 00:27:06,180 --> 00:27:07,180 they're going to live a little different. 445 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:10,060 Think a little different. 446 00:27:11,020 --> 00:27:14,120 Oh, by the way, I think it's a whole lot different because we used to be a dead thing, 447 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:15,120 now we're a living thing. 448 00:27:16,180 --> 00:27:16,280 Amen? 449 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:20,220 He didn't come to pat us on the back and make our bad hairday a better hairday. 450 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:22,580 It's not a self-help program. 451 00:27:23,220 --> 00:27:25,120 It is a transformation. 452 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:27,740 Death to life. 453 00:27:30,220 --> 00:27:30,580 Phenomenal. 454 00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:33,100 So we rejoice in hope. 455 00:27:33,620 --> 00:27:40,040 And what I would say is how many of you in your journey as a Christian have come to the realization that 456 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:48,180 where you were in hope early on in your Christianity has only widened and deepened because of the experiences you've had. 457 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,480 And now you look more forward to heaven than you ever have. 458 00:27:52,540 --> 00:27:53,720 That's an amazing thing. 459 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:55,880 Young people, have an ear. 460 00:27:56,220 --> 00:28:01,520 And you need to be investing in the generation that is ahead of us and the generation that's ahead of them. 461 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,940 So you can appreciate what that journey looks like. 462 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:09,440 And that's where the beauty of the body and how we attain unity, 463 00:28:09,900 --> 00:28:13,500 how we attain maturity and encouragement, correction. 464 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,380 So the older crew in the crowd, 465 00:28:18,900 --> 00:28:22,500 does our young people need some correction every now and then? 466 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,780 I was going to say, that's where I was going. 467 00:28:26,810 --> 00:28:27,620 You beat me to it. 468 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:30,360 We all need correction, don't we? 469 00:28:31,180 --> 00:28:31,860 We all need correct. 470 00:28:31,940 --> 00:28:32,860 Because God's got it right. 471 00:28:32,860 --> 00:28:33,900 The Holy Spirit has it right. 472 00:28:34,020 --> 00:28:35,000 That's why I love Romans. 473 00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:36,320 Paul says, you know what? 474 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:37,940 You and I don't even know how we ought to pray. 475 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,560 But the Holy Spirit always prays according to the will of God. 476 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:42,300 He never misses it. 477 00:28:42,540 --> 00:28:42,920 Aren't you glad? 478 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,580 And by the way, God begun a good work in you. 479 00:28:46,660 --> 00:28:47,500 He will continue it. 480 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:48,280 That's the promise. 481 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,000 The Holy Spirit prays for you, right? 482 00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:52,260 Because you and I don't know how to. 483 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:57,460 And we find out also Jesus is always intercessing for those who have come to God through him. 484 00:28:57,900 --> 00:29:02,860 We have the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, at work on yours and my behalf, every breath and heartbeat. 485 00:29:03,100 --> 00:29:03,900 That's good news. 486 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:05,200 Do we live that way? 487 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:07,740 Hmm. 488 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,620 maybe we need to step back and let truth set us free. 489 00:29:13,380 --> 00:29:18,100 That doesn't mean you're going to be free of your issues and what the world brings. 490 00:29:18,260 --> 00:29:19,340 It's common to man. 491 00:29:20,420 --> 00:29:26,120 But it does mean we have a right eye and a right way that we can respond and continue to move. 492 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:27,420 Amen? 493 00:29:28,020 --> 00:29:28,160 Okay. 494 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:30,800 So we rejoice in hope. 495 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:31,900 Jesus is coming back. 496 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:33,780 Yeah, that's good news. 497 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:35,140 So you know what? 498 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,320 Let's live in a way that we're not ashamed that is appearing. 499 00:29:38,700 --> 00:29:39,100 Amen. 500 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:41,180 And I love this. 501 00:29:41,540 --> 00:29:43,180 You know, Paul is a great salesman, I think. 502 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:51,040 Because not only does he tell us that we're at peace with God, we have access by faith, we stand in grace, we rejoice in the hope of God, what's the next statement he makes? 503 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:51,580 I love this. 504 00:29:53,380 --> 00:29:53,880 Verse three. 505 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:55,780 Not only that. 506 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:57,940 More than that, right? 507 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:04,080 You ever heard those sales, what are some of the, QVC, anybody, QVC are in here? 508 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:05,980 eBay or anything? 509 00:30:06,140 --> 00:30:06,320 All right. 510 00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:09,420 Well, you know, it was always, they have a sales pitch. 511 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,560 I'm not relegating Paul to a salesman, but I'm just saying, 512 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,020 they always give you the deal, man, and not only that, there's more. 513 00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:17,620 And then they give you the next thing, right? 514 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:19,140 And then you just can't help but to buy it. 515 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,800 Well, Paul says, how great is it that you and are at peace with God? 516 00:30:25,620 --> 00:30:26,440 10 out of 10, right? 517 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:27,420 Access by faith. 518 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:29,980 Access with God, amazing, yeah, presence. 519 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:30,860 10 of 10. 520 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:32,380 Right? 521 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:34,160 We stand in grace, 10 of 10. 522 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:36,280 And rejoice and hope. 523 00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:43,140 10 of 10. And guess what? There's more. Are you with me? Now look at the next one. 524 00:30:43,460 --> 00:30:47,760 And this is where I think in American culture, if we're not careful, can really take us down. 525 00:30:48,020 --> 00:30:53,140 Take a look. More than that, we rejoice in what? What is your word say? 526 00:30:53,260 --> 00:31:03,460 Tribulation or suffering or affliction. Suffering, tribulation, affliction. We rejoice in it. 527 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:07,380 How come no one said amen? 528 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:10,540 How come no one said amen? 529 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:12,820 Everybody with me? 530 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:15,200 What does John say? John 2? 531 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,120 John 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, and 4. 532 00:31:18,780 --> 00:31:20,800 Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 533 00:31:21,799 --> 00:31:24,760 knowing that the testing of your faith produces 534 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:26,460 and what's Paul say here. 535 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:28,540 Sounds like they're on the same page. 536 00:31:28,540 --> 00:31:29,040 I love this. 537 00:31:29,740 --> 00:31:33,420 We know that that suffering is going to produce three things, 538 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:43,500 what number one perseverance what else do you have there perseverance or uh what's another word for perseverance 539 00:31:43,620 --> 00:31:51,600 is why i'm asking endurance okay well is a trackster going to get miss selina taught my son how to run track 540 00:31:52,599 --> 00:31:58,600 amazing here's a thing does form matter does repetition matter how many of us could get out and 541 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,659 run a marathon right now why because we haven't trained 542 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:05,500 How many of us can go out and boldly share the gospel? 543 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:06,780 Well, we're not in the word. 544 00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:08,980 I'm really happy to sit here and be told what it says, 545 00:32:09,100 --> 00:32:10,360 but I'm not going to read it for myself. 546 00:32:12,540 --> 00:32:13,080 Amen or me. 547 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,300 25 years of pasturing has taught me something 548 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,280 that we have a culture that's really, really happy to be told 549 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:22,320 what the Word of God says, 550 00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:24,740 but we won't read it and work through it ourselves. 551 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,520 And the Holy Spirit it resides in you is your teacher, not me. 552 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:32,620 And that's absolutely powerful. 553 00:32:33,260 --> 00:32:41,780 So all of a sudden we step back and we realize that in God's economy, suffering is an avenue to three things. 554 00:32:42,700 --> 00:32:45,520 Endurance, character, and what? 555 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:46,500 Hope. 556 00:32:47,940 --> 00:32:51,920 And he finishes and he says, and hope doesn't put to shame. 557 00:32:52,220 --> 00:32:52,520 Why? 558 00:32:52,980 --> 00:32:53,940 Because of love of God. 559 00:32:54,060 --> 00:32:56,400 And by the way, how much of the love of God do you think? 560 00:32:57,780 --> 00:33:02,260 Only on Mondays and Thursdays, only on Sunday morning, only when I feel like it? 561 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:12,360 no this is this is an absolute the love of god has been poured into our heart through who the holy spirit 562 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:16,340 who has been given to us how do we navigate our lives 563 00:33:17,799 --> 00:33:22,640 paul would say it this way one of my favorite verses 564 00:33:24,420 --> 00:33:30,760 galasians 220 i've been crucified with christ i no longer live christ lives in me that's identity 565 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:41,120 the life I now live in this flesh by the way eyesight hearing knees hips elbows fingers is it getting better 566 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:48,860 no this flesh is going to pass away and aren't you glad we're going to be made like him when he comes back 567 00:33:49,860 --> 00:33:54,820 all right so in the midst of all the stuff that's common to us all the things that you and i deal with 568 00:33:55,160 --> 00:34:00,060 all the stress all the pressure all the anxieties all the worries all the things you and i know that we've been 569 00:34:00,100 --> 00:34:05,100 crucified with Christ, I no longer live, Christ lives in me. That's the believer's true position. 570 00:34:05,540 --> 00:34:09,740 The question is, have you pushed him down and you think it's all about you and your agenda? 571 00:34:11,659 --> 00:34:16,500 Because our identity has been completely changed. Metamorphosis. We're not that old man anymore. 572 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:22,340 But yet Paul would also say, we need to reckon ourselves dead to sin. I think that's a 573 00:34:22,419 --> 00:34:30,040 breath-by-breadth journey. And you and I need to carry that close with us as close of the 574 00:34:30,220 --> 00:34:36,080 reality of being at peace with God, standing in grace, access, presence that we are never, 575 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:42,320 ever, ever alone. And one of the enemy's greatest whispers in our ears, no one understands. 576 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:49,520 You're all alone. And he loves to isolate, doesn't he? Then Paul would say, the life I now live in 577 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:54,980 this flesh, I live how? By faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 578 00:34:55,780 --> 00:35:00,020 So let me ask you, why do we live as if we need Christ to come back and die and 579 00:35:00,060 --> 00:35:07,960 resurrect again. Why is it that we live as though one time wasn't enough? I would love to have that 580 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:16,980 dialogue sometime. What justification do we have for disobedience? Do you see what I'm saying here? 581 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:23,160 Because as soon as I turn to my own flesh agenda, I'm stiff-arming Christ, the death-barrel and 582 00:35:23,300 --> 00:35:28,060 resurrection. What Paul says, he's already proven that. Can he improve on the death-barrel and 583 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:35,400 resurrection? Is Jesus ever going to improve on that? No, that's final. That's once for all. So that's why 584 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:41,380 you and I can say, I stand in grace. I'm at peace. I rejoice in the coming back of Jesus because I know 585 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:47,840 that is what sets every day. I don't need a shot in the arm. I don't need a motivational speaker. 586 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:53,420 I don't need somebody to pat me on the back because Jesus has already done the ultimate. He's 587 00:35:53,580 --> 00:35:57,800 proven his love. It's a done deal. And he's going to seal it by coming back. 588 00:35:58,180 --> 00:36:01,120 Why do we live as if that needs to happen again? 589 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,560 And so wherever it is that we need to take our hands off and say, you know what? 590 00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:11,340 I too easily get diverted. 591 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:13,940 I make it too much about me. 592 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:18,860 I make it too much about Sister Susie that sit in my chair this morning or whatever it is. 593 00:36:20,240 --> 00:36:24,700 Because there's a lot of stuff that doesn't matter that sets us off and drops us down. 594 00:36:25,260 --> 00:36:26,740 And we need to be honest about that. 595 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:38,940 but we come back to the very core and we'll wrap this up of the beauty of yours and my spiritual standing in the Lord Jesus Christ. 596 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,920 Say them with me, we're at peace with God. 597 00:36:44,210 --> 00:36:45,760 We have access by faith. 598 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:48,300 I stand in grace. 599 00:36:49,380 --> 00:36:49,740 Wow. 600 00:36:50,620 --> 00:36:51,780 I rejoice in hope. 601 00:36:53,730 --> 00:36:55,080 I rejoice in suffering. 602 00:36:56,579 --> 00:37:02,100 Why? Because the love of God has been poured into my heart. 603 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:06,820 So what? Amen. 604 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:15,100 So the question is, if you and I actually apply the truth and we walk in that reality, 605 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:24,080 I wonder how it will transform our relationships, our thought life, our interaction, our dialogue, 606 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:27,620 what happens behind closed doors? 607 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:29,340 Everybody with me? 608 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:32,980 How it is that you and I would pour into one another, 609 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:35,140 how it is that you and I would encourage one another, 610 00:37:35,540 --> 00:37:37,580 how it is that you and I would get over issues 611 00:37:37,820 --> 00:37:40,220 and love well, forgive well, because guess what? 612 00:37:40,820 --> 00:37:45,180 It's the standard of Christ's forgiveness that you and I forgive. 613 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:48,900 It's the standard of his love that you and I love. 614 00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:51,300 It's the standard of the Word of God 615 00:37:51,420 --> 00:37:53,400 that we correct and rebuke. 616 00:37:55,380 --> 00:37:56,480 that's necessary to. 617 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,060 It's necessary for us to be trained. 618 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:00,980 It's every day. 619 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:03,000 I love you guys. 620 00:38:03,140 --> 00:38:04,580 I really appreciate the opportunity 621 00:38:04,740 --> 00:38:05,960 to come in and encourage you. 622 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:08,980 And so as you and I walk in that truth, 623 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:11,920 as you and I remember the spiritual reality, 624 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:15,340 let's do it all for the glory of God. 625 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:16,320 Amen. 626 00:38:16,580 --> 00:38:19,600 Father, thank you so much for our time together this morning. 627 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:21,040 Thank you for truth that sets free. 628 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:23,000 And Father, wherever day, 629 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:23,620 and we're struggling. 630 00:38:24,420 --> 00:38:25,620 We got areas where we're weak. 631 00:38:25,740 --> 00:38:27,020 We got areas where we're hitting walls. 632 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:28,220 We got pits that we're in. 633 00:38:28,300 --> 00:38:29,340 We don't know how to get out of. 634 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:34,900 But, Father, what we know is that your word is necessary for us to be able to take the steps necessary. 635 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:41,560 So, Father, I pray today that just this reset, this understanding of who we are spiritually, 636 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:49,640 what you have done for us, the beauty of grace, will reset and help us to reevaluate in truth, 637 00:38:50,540 --> 00:38:53,000 how to deal relationally, how do we deal with forgiveness, how to how to do we deal with forgiveness, 638 00:38:53,020 --> 00:38:58,860 How do we deal with the struggle, at work, finances, where is it that I need to stand, 639 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:05,480 that I'm going to walk in a way that honors you because I cannot improve standing in grace. 640 00:39:05,580 --> 00:39:06,600 I can't improve on peace. 641 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:07,720 I can't improve on that. 642 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:09,360 That's already one. 643 00:39:09,980 --> 00:39:11,800 That's already final in our Savior. 644 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:15,780 There's a whole lot to be said about that. 645 00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:17,300 Many other sermons and talks. 646 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:22,960 The Father, the truth sets free, and we thank you for your teaching today, your presence with us. 647 00:39:23,860 --> 00:39:28,240 helping us know through Jesus Christ who we are and why we're here. 648 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:29,800 In Jesus' name, everyone's said. 649 00:39:30,740 --> 00:39:31,120 Amen, amen. 650 00:40:00,780 --> 00:40:01,000 Amen.