[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. This is the next message in our series on the book of John entitled, Jesus is God.
[0:14] Well, I am very blessed for the work that God's doing in Ben's life. Hold your hand up, Ben. And Alex's life.
[0:27] Hold your hand up, Alex. They've been working in the Spanish church. Thank you. You can have a seat. I really believe God's doing something special in their lives. I'm very proud of them.
[0:39] I hope you are. How about an amen for them? They're not very proud of you. Just a couple. But I thank God for them. And I thank God for the way that they are serving.
[0:53] And I'm excited that we get to do Spanish and English together. And I hope I translate or learn how to translate.
[1:04] Espero que nuestro traductor aprenda a traducir. And, but it's exciting because I love to see everybody together. De verdad es emocionante porque puedo ver a todos juntos. And then watch Alex and how God's working in his life.
[1:15] And then watch how God's working in Ben's life. And then, of course, there are lots of other people. Claro que hay muchas otras personas. That are working, but I just wanted to thank those two.
[1:28] I'd like to ask you to take your Bibles and go to John chapter 8. And I'd like to ask Betty to come here for just a minute. And I want to talk to you tonight.
[1:41] And I want to talk to you tonight. About something that might be a tad confusing to you. Acerca de algo que tal vez sea un poco confuso para ustedes. You know, I hope you know by now. Espero que sepan hasta ahora.
[1:52] That God is pleased with us. Dios está agradado con nosotros. All the time. Todo el tiempo. Every day. Cada día. Every night. Cada noche.
[2:03] On your worst day. On your best day. On your best day. You can't do anything to make him love you more. And you can't do anything to make him love you less.
[2:15] Your relationship with him is not a. Relación con él. It's not a performance based relationship. No se trata de lo que tú puedes hacer. But at the same time. Pero al mismo tiempo.
[2:26] The Bible says you ought to please God. And so I married this lady. Yo me casé con esta mujer. Mi papá se casó con esta mujer. And if you marry her I'm going to kill you.
[2:38] Y si tú te casas con ella te va a matar. But I married her 38 years ago. Pero mi papá se casó con ella hace 38 años. And I've been pleased with her.
[2:49] Y yo he estado agradado con ella. Ever since then. Desde ese día. I've been pleased with her on her bad days. Ella me ha agradado aún en su peor día. I have been pleased with her.
[2:59] Y yo he estado agradado con ella. When I wanted to kill her. Cuando aún la quería matar. And there have been times. Y aún han habido tiempos. When I was like. Cuando yo quería decir.
[3:10] I need to squeeze that neck. Necesito apretar ese cuello muy fuerte. Pop that head off there. Y sacarle la cabeza. Not really that bad. No tanto. No tanto. But the point is.
[3:21] Pero el punto es. That I have been pleased. Que yo he sido agradado. My life didn't really begin. Mi vida en verdad nunca empezó. Until August the 18th, 1973.
[3:33] El 18 de agosto de 1973. I got saved before that. Yo acepté a Cristo antes de ese día. But I can promise you getting married. Te prometo que estar casado. Is probably the greatest thing. Is la mejor cosa.
[3:44] That ever happened to me on this earth. Que me ha sucedido sobre esta tierra. Outside of being saved. Aparte de ser salvo. And then. God gave us our first child. Dios nos dio nuestro primer hijo.
[3:54] On August the 5th, 1975. En 5 de agosto de 1975. And I told Betty. Y le dije a mi esposa. I didn't think life could get any better. No pensé que la vida podría ser mejor. But when we got a child.
[4:06] Pero cuando llegó un hijo. It was like good night. It was like exploded up to greatness. Explotó la grandeza aún más. And it was like the most wonderful thing. Above the wonderful.
[4:16] And the best thing I could experiment. We were afraid. When Betty was pregnant. Teníamos miedo. Cuando Betty estaba embarazada por segunda vez. I was very afraid. Yo tenía mucho miedo.
[4:27] That I would not be able to love our second child. That I would not be able to love our second child. And I told Betty. Y yo le dije a mi esposa. I am terrified. Yo tengo terror. It would be impossible to love another child.
[4:41] Like I love this first one. And then. I did not want any girls. In my family. I was certain.
[4:52] That God wanted me to raise men. So they could be men of God. And the nurse came out. Y la enfermera.
[5:05] Enfermera. Enfermera salió. Thank you. I was the grand old age of 23. Yo tenía la gran edad de 23 años. I think it was 22. Tal vez 22.
[5:16] But anyway. She said, Mr. Gardner. Pero dijo, Sr. Gardner. You have a little girl. Usted tiene una niña. And I said, oh no. Yo le dije, no. And I did for real. En verdad dije eso.
[5:26] And I went to the window. Y fui a la ventana. It was way back in the dark ages. Fue en los tiempos oscuros. When you couldn't be in the room with your baby being born. In a fancy millionaire hospital like they have here.
[5:38] Y no era como el hospital hermoso que hay acá. Back then they used to take a hammer. En esos días sacaban un martillo. And hit the woman in the head. Y le daban a la mujer en la cabeza. And said, hush, cry.
[5:49] Y decían, deja llorar. That's the only part that's not true. Esa parte no es verdad. The única part that can do it for them. That's the only part that's not true.
[6:00] But then I was so in love with Stephanie. Entonces, vi a Stephanie por primera vez y me enamoré. And then Joy was born. Después vino Rebeca. And God just kept getting things better and better. Y Dios mejoraba y mejoraba las cosas.
[6:11] And then there was this horrible tragedy. Después hubo esta tragedia horrible. Who's standing to my right right now. Y ahora está parado aquí en la plataforma. I want you to understand something about your relationship to God tonight.
[6:24] Quiero que entiendas tu relación con Dios por un momento. And I've taken a little bit of liberty. Y tal vez me tomo un poco de libertad. And I shortened the message so I could. Y he cortado el mensaje un poco para tomar esa libertad.
[6:35] But there's a group in this room that is... That's really suffering with legalism. Que de verdad está sufriendo con legalismo. And you almost think... Y piensas... You have to do...
[6:46] Que tú tienes que hacer... What I want you to do... Lo que yo quiero que hagas. And if you don't always do... Y si tú no siempre haces... What I want you to do... Lo que yo quiero que hagas... We're not going to be in love. No vamos a estar enamorados.
[6:56] And you've turned marriage... Tú has convertido al matrimonio... Well, no. Christianity... No, el cristianismo... Into a list of rules... En una lista de reglas. And you're not really very happy. Because you don't accept...
[7:10] That you are loved. Then there's another group in this room... And buddy, you're on the other end of the thing. Y tú estás al otro lado. You're like, I don't like rules. Tú dices, a mí no me gustan las reglas.
[7:20] I like sin. And so... I'll just call it grace. And I'll live like I want to live. And say that's okay. God's pleased.
[7:32] So I don't have to worry about it. Did you know both of those are... True? But they're not true. So I want to tell you that Betty... I've been pleased with Betty for 38 years.
[7:47] But you know she can please me. Even though I'm pleased. And I'm going to show you that in the Bible. And I hope when you go home tonight...
[7:58] You'll understand a tad about the grace you have. And the liberty that you have. But the right desire that you ought to have.
[8:10] But the right desire that you should have. We were... I was a tad discouraged before church. I was a tad discouraged before church. So I took three of the guys with me.
[8:21] We went down to the bar. And I got a really big drink. At Arby's. It was a Jamocha shake.
[8:34] And the guy said to me... What size do you want? Small, medium, or large? I said, yeah. I drank a big one.
[8:46] So I'm a little high right now. I said, Jamocha shake. I have witnesses. But I want you to understand. I love Betty. And Betty loves me.
[9:00] And we are pleased. But nothing thrilled me more. Than on Sunday. We grabbed our little gifts.
[9:15] And we went into the bedroom. So we could get away from our kids. And have some privacy. And David and Katie.
[9:26] Stood at the door. And listened. And said, what are you giving her? And I gave Betty a little gift. And I saw that she was pleased.
[9:39] She was pleased. But she was pleased. Man, I love Jesus. He loves me. But I want him to be pleased.
[9:52] Let's have a word of prayer. Father, I thank you so much. For all that you do. I pray that you work tonight. And show us your strength.
[10:04] And help us tonight to understand. How to please you. Even though you're pleased. In Jesus' name.
[10:16] In the name of Jesus. Amen. Now this is going to be really rapid. Because Ronald gave me 12 minutes. And I have to finish on time.
[10:28] I gave him 12. Look at John chapter 8 with me if you would. That was a joke with brother Ronald. I made a preacher mad with that one time.
[10:38] I don't want to do it again. John 8, 28. Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall you know that I am He, and that I do nothing of myself.
[10:52] But as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things, that He that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please Him.
[11:04] You'll read it. He said Jesus, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, and that I do nothing for myself. But as the Father taught me, I speak so.
[11:16] Because the one who sent me is with me, is not left me alone. The Father has left me alone, because I always do what He likes. Let me ask you a question. Now let me ask you a question. Do you think God would have left him alone?
[11:26] Do you think God would have left him alone? In verse 29. In verse 29. If he had not done the things that pleased God, how could God leave God alone?
[11:40] So if you'd write some things, I'm going to give you some truths, I think it would change your life. Number one. God was already pleased with Jesus.
[11:52] The relationship with God was not performance-based. But in verse 29, Jesus said, I always do what pleases my dad.
[12:11] Matthew chapter 3, verse 17. And we do not have time to look these up. You just write them down if you'd like. Jesus said, God said from heaven, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.
[12:29] He is just starting his ministry. He has not done anything to gain points. In Matthew chapter 17, in verse 5, on the Mount of Transfiguration, God said from heaven, this is my beloved son and I am well pleased.
[12:55] Hear ye him. God couldn't love Jesus more than he did. Jesus couldn't do anything to make God love him more.
[13:06] nor could Jesus do anything that would make God love him less. Don't forget, Jesus was God in human flesh.
[13:20] How can you be more loved or accepted than to be this person that Jesus was?
[13:32] There's a big lesson to learn here. how the Son pleases the Father even though the Father's pleased. Let me just show you a couple of verses real quick.
[13:47] In verse 29 that you're reading in John 8, 29, he said, I do always those things that please him. In 8, 29, in the book of John, where you're reading, he says, because I do what he likes.
[13:59] But in John chapter 4 and verse 34, Jesus said, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me. Jesus said, my meat, what's more important than food to me is to do the will of the Father.
[14:23] You remember the story? They were at the well. He had met the woman. He was talking to the woman.
[14:35] The boys had gone to get something to eat. And they got back. And they said, Master, don't you want something to eat? And he said, no, I don't need anything to eat.
[14:48] Because my meat is to do what God wants me to do. In John chapter 6 and verse 38, he said, I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.
[15:06] In John chapter 14 and verse 31, I hope you'll look at this verse, maybe you'll write this in your books.
[15:18] Jesus said, but that the world may know that I love the Father and as the Father gave me commandment, even so do I.
[15:33] Let's go, arise and let's go hence. get up, let's go here. You understand what he said? He said, I love God more than I love food. My reason to be on this earth is because I love God and I'm going to obey God for no other reason.
[15:50] So all you people know, I love the Father. I may be loved. I don't have to do anything to be loved, but I want you to know that I love him.
[16:03] The second thing you might write down, God's already pleased with you. God is already pleased with you.
[16:15] Because your relationship with God is not a performance based relationship. It's a grace based relationship.
[16:29] Your relationship with God is not a performance based relationship. It's a grace based relationship. Ephesians 2.8.9 says, For my grace are you saved through faith?
[16:49] That's not of yourselves. It's a gift of God. It's a gift of God. Not of works. Let's see him and she boasts. Stop a second. You think God doesn't love you.
[17:02] You think you don't measure up. But if you are born again child of God, you are loved.
[17:15] Not by what you do, but for what he did. This afternoon at the house, one of our grandchildren had filled their dapper to the brim.
[17:35] And her mother was not very worried to change her. And she was ripe.
[17:51] And so she went over close to Chris and there was a chair there. And so when she got up out of the chair, he shoved her chair over towards me.
[18:07] Then she grabbed the chair and started walking and everybody was hollering you need to go see that person. And her daddy said, Boy, she stinks, don't she?
[18:20] And her mother said, She stinks. And I wasn't pleased, but they were pleased. And I was pleased.
[18:33] She's my granddaughter. You are his son. Romans chapter five and verse eight. He loved you when you didn't deserve to be loved.
[18:44] He loved you when you were ungodly. He died when we were sinners.
[18:57] He loved us when we didn't deserve to be loved. He loved you when you were already stuck. He loved you when you were ungodly.
[19:08] when you didn't love him.
[19:18] In the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. He loved you when you were a sinner. He loved you when you were ungodly. He loved you when you didn't love him.
[19:33] First John 4, 19. We love him because he first loved us. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more.
[19:47] There is nothing you can do to make him love you less. He has already given his son for you. Romans 8, 32.
[19:58] Look at this verse. You need this verse. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all.
[20:13] How shall he not with him also freely give us all things? He gave his son. He gave the best that he had.
[20:28] There is nothing left to give. He bankrupted heaven. He gave everything he had. He already loves you.
[20:41] And by the way, when you mess up where sin abounds grace much more abounds. Romans 5, 20 says moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
[20:57] But when sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Would you write this down?
[21:10] You are accepted in the beloved. You're accepted. Do you understand what that means? How many of you have ever been to a party or a gathering and you felt like you didn't belong?
[21:28] Maybe people didn't want you there. You didn't feel like you really fit in. Has anybody in this room been there besides me?
[21:39] How many of you have been there? Say amen. I'm accepted in heaven. He made me accepted. You know, when I walk into my family's house, I really don't care.
[21:56] I know they love me. If my hair's not all it ought to be, if my breath's not at all it ought to be, you know, it doesn't matter. I know they love me. There's a beautiful thing about home.
[22:09] There's something beautiful about the house. Guess what? You have a home. And you're accepted. That's a pretty beautiful statement. By the way, you have a new past, a new present, and a new future.
[22:27] And it's already written. Some preacher would like to tell you that God's going to keep bad records about you. But God doesn't keep bad records about you.
[22:41] Because your bad record's on the cross. It's already paid for. It's already erased. It's already under blood. That's how I'm going to make it all the way to heaven.
[22:55] You say, how do you know you'll live okay tomorrow? Because I didn't do it up until today. He did it. And so I can make it. Some of you are going to say, but when we're in the flesh, God won't be pleased.
[23:13] Would you open your Bibles to Romans 8, 7? You need to read these verses with me. I will be finished in less than six minutes. You'll be out in 15.
[23:25] Romans 8, 7 says, because the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be. Dice, por cuanto los designios de la carne son en amistad con Dios porque no se sujetan a la ley de Dios ni tampoco pueden.
[23:41] Verse 8, out of context really scare you. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[23:56] That's terrible. I can't please God. Some days I'm in the spirit and some days I'm in the flesh so he's happy when I'm in the spirit but when I'm out of the flesh he's not happy but could you read verse 9?
[24:16] It comes right after verse 8. This is a real deep Bible truth. It's best to read the next verse and see what it says.
[24:28] But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit. So, I don't live in the flesh.
[24:41] I live in the spirit. First thing, God is pleased with Jesus. God is pleased with you. The third thing, the secret to being pleased excuse me, I would say it better than that.
[24:58] The secret to being pleasing when he's already pleased. Do you understand what happened?
[25:11] He was already pleased with Jesus. He said it at the beginning of his ministry. He said it at the end of his ministry.
[25:21] It makes sense that he was pleased because he was God in the flesh but he said, hey, I know my father's pleased pleased. But I want to please him.
[25:33] I know my father's pleased. I know my father's pleased. But I want to please him. He is so funny. You remember when he calls Lazarus out of the grave? He said, God, I'm asking you to bring Lazarus out of the grave.
[25:49] Not because I need to say this out loud. But they need to hear it. Because I know who I am. I know who you are. I know there wouldn't be these issues. But I got a lot of dummies here listening.
[26:02] And I want them to know God answers prayer. The way you do it is you don't live for yourself. Romans 8, 7 through 9.
[26:18] I can't read all that but this is what he said. For even Christ pleased not himself. He didn't do his own will.
[26:31] Some of us take grace to say since I'm saved I'll just do anything I want to do and it doesn't really matter.
[26:42] But Jesus didn't live that way. Jesus' idea was not my will but your will be done.
[26:53] And that's how you're supposed to live. You're already pleasing. He is already pleased with you. but you ought to have a heart to want to please him.
[27:08] I can't live on August the 18th 1973 that was a long time ago.
[27:20] I can't live I can't live I can't live I can't live I can't live but I'm sure I'm sure I'm sure I'm sure that I'm loving but I'm sure that I'm loving I can't live I can't live on May the 6th from 1962 that's when I got saved He loves me He loved me before that day but man do I want to please him.
[27:56] In Colossians chapter 1 in verse 10 Paul said he's praying for his people he says that you might walk worthy of the Lord and all pleasing man I want you to walk where God's happy.
[28:14] You ever watched how a parent acts with their child? Boy they get their child in front of somebody and they show off they say look how my kid can do this look how my kid can do this now a lot of times the kid won't do it they'll do it every time when nobody's watching but when you want to show off they won't do it and so the parents hate them and they take them to the pound and they take them to sell them they're pleased but you let that kid show off pleasing even more I don't have time to show you it's one minute until I'm supposed to quit I want to please him and it ought to be your desire to please him being a giver pleased him loving God pleased him living by faith please just let me sum it up with a couple things you can take home don't ever use God's grace as an excuse to take advantage
[29:32] Betty loves me so I think I'll be abusive Betty loves me so I think I'll just go spend some time with another woman Betty loves me no need to get her a Christmas gift Betty loves me I don't have to tell her I love her I told her that 40 years ago that's not the way it works and you know but how come you want to apply that to God if you are loved and you love somebody I think you want to please them more than you want to live we do not have to live under legalism but we do not have to live with a license to sin you live in tension every day no tension tension nothing else tension it's like he's pleased but I want to please him he loves me but I want to show him
[30:46] I love him and you never let him get out of place if you do you'll mess up some of our people well you're into God's grace so you try to find excuses for your sins others and others are into rules if you don't do these ten things God won't love you boy you're both miserable you gotta find a balance father I love you I pray you'd work in your people's lives tonight God help us to rejoice in what you've done in our lives thank you for being pleased with us for making us accepted in the beloved God please help us to live holy lives pleasing you because that's what we wanted to do you have been listening to
[32:01] Austin Gardner pastor of Vision Baptist Church for contact information location service times or more audio and video recordings log on to www.visionbaptist.com