WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daley preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.719 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:19.920 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.400 I have a really wonderful announcement to make. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:31.599 You know, God works in some amazing and incredible ways. 00:00:31.599 --> 00:00:37.200 Sometimes when we are sick and we are... 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.200 we ask God for healing. 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:42.000 We ask for prayer. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:43.799 In times when we're vulnerable, 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:47.200 or in times where we just... 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:52.200 we want God's comforting and healing hand to be with us. 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:56.200 And so I just found out, can you stand? 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:00.600 Just at least stand. 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:05.200 You got... you were testing to see if there's cancer, 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:07.600 and you found out that there... 00:01:07.600 --> 00:01:08.599 I'm cancer-free. 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:10.400 That you are cancer-free. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:16.400 And I want to take this moment to just give a round of applause. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:17.800 Praise God. 00:01:17.800 --> 00:01:20.800 Because you know, the question that comes up is, 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.200 does God continue to heal? 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.000 Does God continue to transform and restore? 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:28.799 And the answer is yes. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:31.200 How God heals us? 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:35.200 Well, that's the great mystery of how God works in our lives. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:38.000 God is the great transformer. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.200 And he does such wonderful things in our lives. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:45.200 And I just wanted to just really take a moment for that before our time. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:49.799 Let's pray and we'll begin our time of our sermon. 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:52.799 And Father, we thank you for this time, 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:56.799 this opportunity for bringing us here today. 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.200 You are the sovereign God. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:01.599 You are the God of miracles. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:05.200 And you do so much for us. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:10.000 You are a holy God. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:14.000 You are strong and you are mighty. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.000 You sent your Son, Jesus the Christ, 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:22.400 the Son of the living God, 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:25.199 to change the course of history, 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:30.599 to provide salvation in believing in Jesus. 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:33.199 And we ask that you're with us this morning. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:38.000 We ask that you may tug at our shirts, 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.599 that you may call us to know you, 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.599 to grow in you, 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:47.000 and to do good in your holy name. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:50.400 We certainly are a needy people 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:55.400 and we rely on you for everything. 00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:59.000 I'm reminded of that Psalm 65, 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:02.800 that message that we did where that verse says that, 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:06.199 you visit the earth and you water it. 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:09.599 And oh, how you cultivate and care for the earth, 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:13.599 much like how you care for us. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:17.799 And you are with us in this place as we are going into our message, 00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:21.599 hands in service, loving our city. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:26.199 It is in Jesus' name that we pray and we all say together, amen. 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:28.000 You know, these past couple of weeks, 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:33.199 we have been talking about how important it is for us as the church 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:35.599 to build community together, 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:39.400 to exhibit the love of Christ to others. 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:44.800 I mentioned that before that children are the future of this church 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.400 and the future of Christianity. 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:49.599 As the body of Christ, 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:54.599 it is critical that we teach children diligently. 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:56.400 What do we teach them? 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.200 We teach them life skills, 00:03:58.200 --> 00:04:01.200 but we teach them about the Lord. 00:04:01.200 --> 00:04:03.200 We teach them about Jesus Christ 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:07.400 and the wonderful miracles that he performed. 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:13.400 We teach Bible stories just as Noah's Ark or Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:15.200 which is a pretty hard one to teach, 00:04:15.200 --> 00:04:18.000 but it's necessary to teach. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.399 We teach about who God is and that God loves us. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:27.199 It's one of the basics of Christianity that Jesus loves me. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.600 This I know for what? 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:33.399 For the Bible tells me so. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.800 And that's such a fundamental that we should learn as children 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:37.800 if you don't know it. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.800 We should learn as adults. 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:43.800 It's never too late to learn this simple truth. 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:48.600 And I've also mentioned the importance of considering the empty chair, 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.000 which in turn is our neighbor. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:53.600 Remember when I brought a chair over here and I asked, 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:55.199 who is our neighbor? 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:57.000 It's a very good question, 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:01.199 because how you may answer that may be different than how I may answer that. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:02.400 Who is literally your neighbor? 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:04.400 Who's next door to you? 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.799 Who are the people that you interact with on a day to day basis? 00:05:08.799 --> 00:05:14.199 You know, God calls each and every one of us into a relationship with Him. 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:17.399 The Lord calls us to believe in Him. 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:20.199 Will you respond to that call? 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:25.799 We are called to come to know the Lord and to be on a journey, 00:05:25.799 --> 00:05:31.199 a journey of growing as Christians into the men and the women 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.599 that God has designed us to be. 00:05:34.599 --> 00:05:37.399 We're not saved by what we do, 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:40.399 rather we are saved by belief. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:42.599 It's one of my favorite passages in scripture, 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:45.399 John chapter 6 verse 47, 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.000 where Jesus is saying, 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.000 truly I say to you, 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:52.800 whoever believes has eternal life. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.599 And we will be going over two, 00:05:55.599 --> 00:05:56.599 two scripture readings, 00:05:56.599 --> 00:05:58.599 but before we do, 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:01.400 I want to share a story with you and 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:04.200 it's amazing how technology is getting so much better. 00:06:04.200 --> 00:06:07.400 I said put a downtown city in Southern California 00:06:07.400 --> 00:06:10.600 and that's what the technology made. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.200 You know, I love technology, 00:06:12.200 --> 00:06:14.400 but it gets a little scary if I'm being honest here. 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:17.000 That looks a little too... 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:18.400 It's that borderline, right? 00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:21.400 Between reality and fantasy, if you will. 00:06:21.400 --> 00:06:25.200 But I use this image as 00:06:25.200 --> 00:06:27.400 to kind of make you think of this story. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.000 So I want to share this story with you. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.799 You know, sometimes God moves us to act 00:06:33.799 --> 00:06:37.599 or to do something that is uncomfortable, 00:06:37.599 --> 00:06:39.599 even when we don't want to. 00:06:39.599 --> 00:06:41.000 Sometimes we're so busy, 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:42.599 we want to go about our way, 00:06:42.599 --> 00:06:45.799 we have places to go and people to see, 00:06:45.799 --> 00:06:49.000 but God wants us to act in a certain moment, 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.199 at a certain time. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.799 Years ago, when Amber and I were dating, 00:06:53.799 --> 00:06:55.599 when we were back in California, 00:06:55.599 --> 00:06:56.799 you can see the palm trees, 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.199 I don't think they do very well here. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.600 We were back in California and we were out on a date. 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:06.000 This was before children, this was before we got married. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.600 We were in the city of Fullerton and we had fun. 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:10.600 You know, we were out having a nice dinner 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:14.000 and just really enjoying each other's company. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.199 Now, I don't remember where we went. 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:19.800 In fact, all I know is that the date went well, 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.199 but there's one point that I... 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.199 There's one thing that I do remember at the end of this date, 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.399 this evening with Amber. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:31.599 You know, it was getting late and I had to take Amber back 00:07:31.599 --> 00:07:33.199 to where she was living. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.000 It was going to be a drive. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:36.800 I'm like, okay, it's getting a little late, 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.399 it's time to go. 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:41.599 And I remember I was heading towards the car 00:07:41.599 --> 00:07:46.599 and there was this homeless man who was sitting there 00:07:46.599 --> 00:07:51.399 and he was wanting not just money, 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:54.000 but he was wanting a conversation. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.000 And that was something I wasn't ready for at that time. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.800 I thought, I gotta go home. 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:01.600 I gotta take Amber back. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.800 I gotta have to do something here. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:10.800 And it was in this moment where I did the wrong thing 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:13.800 and I didn't pay attention to him. 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:16.199 All the man wanted was just to talk about 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:19.600 how he had lost his family 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:25.600 and how really there was so much loss and pain 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:28.600 and suffering that happened in his life. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.200 But there was something about him. 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:34.399 This was over 10 years ago. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.600 And I still remember this man, 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:41.200 that there was something about him that I felt deep within me 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:45.000 to talk to him, but I was so stubborn 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.800 as to not converse with him. 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:51.199 I look back at that moment as a time that 00:08:51.199 --> 00:08:53.199 I should have listened to him. 00:08:53.199 --> 00:08:56.199 I should have spent time with him. 00:08:56.199 --> 00:09:00.199 And I am convinced that I should have shared 00:09:00.199 --> 00:09:03.599 who Christ is with this man. 00:09:03.599 --> 00:09:06.000 We ended up driving and it bothered me so much 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.399 that I told Amber, can we go back to that guy? 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:11.199 Can we turn around? 00:09:11.199 --> 00:09:12.599 We went back. 00:09:12.599 --> 00:09:14.399 I couldn't find him. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:19.199 And I drove for 10, 15 minutes looking for him. 00:09:19.199 --> 00:09:22.600 And that made an impact on my life. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:25.199 Why did I not converse with him? 00:09:25.199 --> 00:09:28.199 Why did I not act in that moment? 00:09:28.199 --> 00:09:32.799 And I tell this story as a reminder to myself 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:38.000 and maybe as an encouragement to you 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.000 that if God calls you to speak to someone 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:44.000 or to give someone a dollar, 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:50.600 sometimes God will move you to act, to be present. 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:52.799 What if I did something different? 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:55.399 What if I had shared who Christ is? 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.799 What if I just listened to him? 00:09:57.799 --> 00:09:59.000 Would the outcome be different? 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:00.399 I don't know. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:04.000 But what I do know is that in that moment 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:07.799 when I did the wrong thing, it made an impact on me 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:12.000 that now that will never happen again. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.000 If someone really needs my time, I need to stop what I'm doing 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.000 and I need to pay attention. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.200 You never know who God will send your way. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.200 I don't know if the man's saved. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.600 I don't know where he is. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:28.799 I don't, quite frankly, I don't know who he is. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:30.799 But I pray for him. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.799 And I pray that God will work in his life. 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:35.200 He is a man. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.799 I call him the man in Fullerton. 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:42.799 He's someone that I pray for even to this day. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:46.000 And what a profound impact that people can have on this. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:53.000 And with that, I want to ask you a question. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:59.199 Have you ever had an experience where you were called to help someone? 00:10:59.199 --> 00:11:01.199 Have you ever had a moment like that? 00:11:01.199 --> 00:11:04.199 Have you ever had a moment where you just felt moved 00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:08.000 and you didn't understand why you wanted to help out? 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.000 It could be a family member. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:12.000 It could be a stranger. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.000 It could be someone in your church. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.000 It could be anyone. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.000 Have you ever felt that calm? 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:21.000 If you've ignored it, how did that feel? 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:25.000 But if you listen to it, how did that feel? 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:29.000 Because sometimes God just pulls at you at his timing. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:33.000 You know, it'd be so nice if we could make an appointment with God 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.000 and say, all right, you know, at one o'clock I'd like to go help, 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:40.000 but that's not how God's timing works. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.000 And so I'd like to go with our scripture reading. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:12:05.000 It's going to be from Matthew chapter 25 verse 34 through 40 in your ESVQ Bible. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:18.000 It's going to be on page 988. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:21.000 Verse 34. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:26.000 So Matthew 25 verse 34 through 40. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:30.000 Then the king will say to those on the right, 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Come, you who are blessed by my father, 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:38.000 Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:42.000 For I was hungry and you what? 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.000 You gave me food, right? 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:48.000 I was thirsty and you what? 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.000 You gave me drink. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.000 I was a stranger and you what? 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.000 You welcomed me. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.000 I was naked and you ignored me. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.000 No. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:03.000 And you what? 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:05.000 You clothed me. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.000 I was sick and you said whatever. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.000 No, you what? 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.000 You visited me. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.000 I was in prison and you came to me. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:19.000 Then the righteous will answer him saying, 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:21.000 Lord, when did we see you hungry? 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:25.000 When did we feed you or thirsty and give you drink? 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:30.000 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothed you? 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:34.000 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.000 The king will answer them. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:40.000 Truly, I say to you, as you did, 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.000 as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.000 you did it to me. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:48.000 And what? 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:56.000 Powerful versus powerful words from scripture here. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.000 This verse is a part of when Christ is teaching about his final judgment, 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 where he's talking about that the righteous will inherit the kingdom. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:07.000 These are people that have exhibited the love of Christ. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.000 They have served the least of these. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:16.000 And this is building upon the foundation of salvation. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:19.000 Do you realize that when you believe in the Lord, 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:23.000 you will be saved and from that salvation, 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:27.000 you are called to grow and to act? 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:30.000 In other words, by following these commands, 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:35.000 it's an outward expression of being saved, right? 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:39.000 From the foundation, from that foundation of salvation, 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:43.000 building upon the salvation which you have received. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:49.000 To inherit the kingdom, it speaks of living out God's kingdom here on earth. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:55.000 It speaks of experience with what God has to offer and sharing it with others. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.000 It's exhibiting the love of Christ with others. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:04.000 It's loving one another just as Christ has loved us. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:09.000 It is important that Christ is our righteousness. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:13.000 And when Christ speaks of the righteous inheriting the kingdom, 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:20.000 by believing in Christ, we are declared righteous in the eyes of God. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:25.000 Now works in of themselves, they do not save you. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:30.000 But we are saved by faith, by believing in Christ. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:36.000 And because of this, you can do good in the name of the Lord. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:43.000 Because we are saved by grace through faith, doing good is a response to salvation. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:48.000 Do you respond to the salvation that you have received from Christ? 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.000 How do you respond? 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:56.000 These verses that speak of the least of these is so powerful. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:01.000 And the question comes up to us today is, who are the least of these? 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:09.000 In your life, in our church's life, in the city of Ontario or in the Treasure Valley, 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.000 who would be the least of these? 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.000 Well, these people are vulnerable in our world. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:20.000 And these are people who are in need and Christ calls us to care for them. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:25.000 These verses speak of when you do good for those in need, 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.000 it's as though you are serving Christ himself. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000 That's hard. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.000 Because sometimes we don't want it, right? 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:35.000 Sometimes we don't. 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:39.000 Do I really have to help feed those in need? 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:42.000 Do I really have to exhibit the love? 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.000 Yeah, absolutely. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:51.000 In the same way that God loves you, you are called to share in that love. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.000 Well, how do you share in that love? 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:56.000 Well, obviously we share in the gospel message. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:02.000 We do this also through service, these acts of kindness. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:08.000 And there's a question that I have that I'd like to bring up as we are going here is, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:14.000 do you see Christ in the people that you interact with? 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:18.000 Because when we're talking about the least of these, it's thinking of, 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:24.000 okay, Christ is saying, when you've done these to me, it's as though you're doing it to me. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.000 So it's as though you're seeing Christ in people. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:33.000 That's really difficult at times. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:36.000 But it changes the way that you look at people. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.000 It changes the way that you interact with people. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:46.000 If we are all made in the image of God, why do we exhibit hatred towards one another? 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.000 Think about that. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:51.000 Do you see Christ in those who are in need? 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:55.000 When we think about it, we are all sinners that are in need of a Savior. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.000 We all need Jesus. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:04.000 And when we share in the love of Christ, they will know who we are by our action, 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.000 by our words, by our love. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.000 It's not from my glory. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:13.000 It's sharing God's love. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:18.000 It's showing people who Christ is. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:22.000 And this should be a call for us to share in the word of God, the gospel message, 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.000 but also for us to serve one another. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:30.000 Let us now go to our second passage in the book of James. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.000 I'm going to put this on the screen here. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:40.000 It's going to be James chapter 2, verses 14 through 17 on page 1212. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:47.000 It's easier to say than 1212. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:19:06.000 It is... 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:18.000 1200. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:32.000 1200. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:37.000 This is the famous passage that says that faith without works is dead. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:40.000 What good is it, my brothers? 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:46.000 If someone says he has faith but does not have works, can that faith save him? 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:51.000 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed, there it is, the clothing again, right? 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:54.000 Or lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:20:02.000 go in peace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:07.000 Right? There's words that need to be spoken, but there's also action with that. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:15.000 So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.000 And I bring this up because reading this on the surface, it's very difficult. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:21.000 It's harsh language. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:25.000 It would appear that you need to do good in order to be saved in the eyes of God, 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:31.000 but that's simply not the case because James is writing to brethren, the brothers, 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:37.000 who are those who already believe in the Lord. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:41.000 James is mentioning that in having faith, right? 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:46.000 In having that foundation in Christ, you are building upon it. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:49.000 It is a response in receiving salvation. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:54.000 I realize this verse is a very misquoted one. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:21:00.000 Again, because James is speaking to existing Christians, existing believers. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.000 This is not creating a works-based system here. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:09.000 So in having faith, be moved to act, be moved to do good, 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:13.000 works are but a byproduct of salvation. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:20.000 And in order to understand this verse, I want you to think of the idea of having a dead or living faith, 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.000 an active or an inactive faith. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:28.000 That's a better way of explaining this because you can have dead faith, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:33.000 which means that you believe in the Lord, but you're not doing anything. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:41.000 But if you have an active faith, it means you are actively participating as a person who is part of the body of Christ 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:48.000 and going out and following what Scripture says, what Scripture calls for us to do. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:55.000 That would be a better way of explaining a very difficult passage to people. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:59.000 Do you have an active faith or do you have a dead faith? 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:05.000 There's still faith there, but is it ongoing, right? 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:10.000 Is it something that you are living out or is it something that you're not doing? 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:19.000 It would make sense that James is speaking about the difference between an active or even a dormant faith. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:23.000 I know it's saying a dead faith is very harsh, but let's think about it. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:27.000 It's a call for you to do good in the name of the Lord. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:34.000 And these two verses that I'm sharing with you from Matthew and from James, they're not contradictions. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.000 They certainly are verses though that are difficult. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:42.000 It's okay to have verses that are difficult to wrestle with. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:47.000 Even as your pastor, I will tell you there are verses that I struggle with. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:53.000 There are times when I'm trying to figure out what in the world Paul, what do you mean by this? 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:56.000 Okay, Proverbs? 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:04.000 That's wisdom there, but it's a lot of depth in such jam-packed, you know, one-liners. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:09.000 It's okay to wrestle with Scripture. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:18.000 That wrestling is to help mold you to become a more mature Christian. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:25.000 It's just like how we talk about this idea of having milk, drinking from milk and going to solid food. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:31.000 Now, for those of us who have children, do you give your newborn a steak? 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:39.000 You know, and if you have, then maybe we should talk after. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:44.000 But you give them formula or you give them milk from the mother. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:49.000 You give them something that is suitable and as they're growing, I don't want a bottle anymore. 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:51.000 I want orange juice. 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:53.000 I want cookies. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:55.000 I want whatever, right? 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:59.000 But as they're growing, they're switching their palate, right? 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:06.000 It's the same way for us that we are to grow and to have that active faith. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:10.000 It's okay to wrestle with Scripture. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.000 It's okay to wonder. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:17.000 And quite honestly, sometimes we don't have all of the answers. 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:23.000 We have the most important answers in Scripture, but certainly it's okay to wonder. 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:28.000 When I get to heaven, look, I know I'm going to ask Jesus a lot of questions about some of these verses. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.000 And that's okay. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:40.000 It's part of your spiritual walk in knowing the Lord, that God will mold you and transform you in time. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:46.000 Passages from James is talking about being living and active, right? 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:48.000 Active in our faith. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:52.000 When you tell someone that you love them, right? 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:57.000 Don't you want your actions to match up with your words? 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:04.000 If I tell my wife I love her and I don't ever do acts of service, 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.000 or I don't ever get her flowers, 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:12.000 or I don't give her kisses on the forehead or whatever it is, 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.000 eventually you kind of wonder, right? 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.000 Same thing with children. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:24.000 I just say, you know I love you is different than, hey, I love you. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:27.000 And hey, I'm going to spend time with you or whatever it is. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:33.000 I know there's love languages and theories of how to exhibit love with children and your spouse. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:39.000 But the point is, if you just say it and there's no backing to it, causes you to wonder. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:45.000 So when you commit to something, you want to make sure that your word has weight to it. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:50.000 It's much like saying you love someone or you're committing to someone. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:53.000 There is a call to live out your faith. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:55.000 I want you to keep that in mind. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:01.000 And so in looking at these scripture verses, I want to put this up on the slide. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:04.000 So we have the 3e pathway, right? 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:09.000 Number one, this is all from scripture. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:14.000 Number one, believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.000 Number two, be on a path of growing in faith. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:24.000 And number three, do good in the name of the Lord. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:27.000 It's just a simple process. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:30.000 It's three steps, right? 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:35.000 I hate saying that, it's three steps in becoming a Christian, but really it's one step and that's believing in the Lord. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:38.000 But in that, it's a spiritual journey. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:45.000 The spiritual journey to come to know who the Lord is and growing upon being saved. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:52.000 That we are called to be on this path. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:58.000 Let us be encouraged to be believers that are focused on the next generation. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.000 Let us focus on young families. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:03.000 Let us focus on children. 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:06.000 And let us be a light in the community. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:11.000 Let us love one another just as Christ has loved us. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:18.000 I've been speaking about how we as the church, we are going to be focusing on having community classes for children. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:27.000 And I've also been mentioning how we should be encouraged as the body of Christ to be present in the community. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:31.000 Being good, godly believers who are leaders. 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:33.000 That's a call for us. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:45.000 In addition to these community classes, I'm working with Amber and the staff and working with the board to create a way that we can love Ontario. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:47.000 Love this city. 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:53.000 Coming alongside with existing community projects and being present with them. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:57.000 It's not about our glory, it's about God's glory. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:28:00.000 And it's about serving Him with gladness. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:11.000 So let us think of how we can be a part of this body of Christ that is active in their faith. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:26.000 I would like to encourage each and every one of you to find a way where you can connect, where you can commit to be a part of this community, but to be active in your faith. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:30.000 Do you remember when you were a child? 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:37.000 Do you remember the love that people shared with you in coming to know the Lord? 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:48.000 For those of us who grew up in the church, you may have an image or a thought of how people were, how they loved you. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:59.000 They took care of you and how you came to know the Lord as a young child and there were people who were there, let's do the same thing. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:02.000 Let's be present with the next generation. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:13.000 Because my friends, when we think of the next generation, millennials, Gen Zers, Generation Alpha and Gen Beta, I don't know about that. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:24.000 I don't like that name and I would certainly hate being called Gen Beta, but the point is, is young people need to know the Lord. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:27.000 And they're constantly bombarded by what? 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:32.000 Technology, social media, everybody has an opinion. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:38.000 Everybody has things to say and a lot of people are saying a whole lot of nothing. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:43.000 But the thing is, let us be the light to the community. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:51.000 Let us share in the love of Christ our testimony, stories of how God has moved in our life. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:30:00.000 This story that I've shared about the man in Fullerton, the homeless man in Fullerton at that, is not an easy story to tell. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.000 It really affected me and it still does. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:09.000 I mean, just talking about it, even now I still think, gosh, I should have, I should have, what a could have should have, but I didn't. 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:12.000 And now moving forward, I'm going to do differently. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:17.000 But let this be a call for you to serve the community. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:21.000 But first and foremost, believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:24.000 Beyond a path, that's why you have these images here, right? 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:30.000 Encouraging a prayer to know, asking Jesus into their heart, believing in him, right? 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.000 For some of us, it's the sinner's prayer. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:37.000 Think of the thief on the cross who says, Jesus, remember me. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:41.000 And Christ says, you will be with me in paradise. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:44.000 See how simple that is? 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:48.000 Encourage to believe in the Lord. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:54.000 Encourage to be a part of the body of Christ, to be a part of the church equipped. 00:30:54.000 --> 00:31:09.000 I mean, I like to think he's studying scripture and I like to think they're all studying scripture as a representation, but opening the word of God and letting God work in and through your life and engage. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:14.000 Serving the community, sharing in your testimony, sharing the gospel message. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:18.000 Let us consider who has not heard the good news of the gospel. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:23.000 Let us consider those we can serve and those we can invite into the church. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:28.000 Part of it is the invitation here, but part of us is also going out into the world. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:35.000 And as we go forth in this month of January, let us be active in our faith. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:48.000 As we close, I want to mention something to you, which I, in my study and preparation for this sermon, was something that really impacted me. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:56.000 I want us to reflect on how many of us know the story of Esther. 00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:15.000 In Esther chapter 4, verses 14 through 17, Esther was facing this critical decision, and she was reminded by Mordecai that perhaps she has been placed in her position for such a time as this. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:30.000 This call was specific to Esther, but in the same way, it is a story that we can think about in our lives of sometimes God places us in certain moments for certain times, for certain seasons, 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:36.000 much like how God places us in a situation to speak to certain people. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:44.000 Sometimes we meet people and they give us an answer to something we've been wondering about the Lord for a while, and you're like, where did that come from? 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:49.000 Sometimes God places us in such times. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:33:04.000 And I believe that God has placed all of us here for such a time as this to make a difference in the lives of the next generation, in the context of our church and in the context of our community. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.000 And Esther was, she responded with courage. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:13.000 She called for a fast and prepared to approach the king. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:16.000 And this story, it's found in your notes here. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:34.000 It shows the importance of boldly stepping out into faith, and it recognizes that in her unique position, she made a difference, much like how we are placed in our own unique position to make a difference for the Lord. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:41.000 And it reminds me that we too are placed for such a time as this. 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:47.000 Consider how you can boldly go out to love and to serve the Lord. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:52.000 And I want you to think about that as we close. Let's pray together. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.000 Father, we thank you for always being there for us. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:04.000 We thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:10.000 We thank you for allowing us to gather here today and to hear the message. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:30.000 We pray that today that your word will dwell richly in us, that it will move us to act, but also that it will transform us, that it will heal us, and that it will show us your power and your glory. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:37.000 You are the light of the world. You are that light that shines in the darkness. 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:57.000 We pray that lives are transformed and that people who don't know you will believe in you, that people will grow in faith in believing you, that believing first and then growing, and that people will go out. 00:34:57.000 --> 00:35:04.000 New Christians, Christians that are maturing, will be encouraged to go out and do good in your holy name. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:14.000 Lead us and guide us as we go out boldly to serve your church, but also to serve this community. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:24.000 We are so much better when we all work together for your holy name, for a house that is united. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:39.000 That is what we want to be, united in faith, just as we know in Scripture that a house divided cannot stand, may we be united and stand firm on the truth of your word. 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:50.000 Let us intentionally focus on the next generation and we pray that in everything we do, that it will be according to your will, that you will lead and guide us where you want us to go. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:53.000 May we follow in your footsteps. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:56.000 It is in Jesus' name that we pray.