WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.700 What a blessing, thank you. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:13.660 Yeah, very quickly about myself and our family. 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:21.059 We're the Dubnicks, my wife Christy, and we have two young children. 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:24.100 Young in the sense they are to me, but they're not to themselves. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.260 They're both students at Anderson University. 00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:32.480 And we've been in Birmingham, England for 16 years. 00:00:33.160 --> 00:00:36.960 Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom. 00:00:37.260 --> 00:00:40.500 It's a city of around four and a half million people. 00:00:41.120 --> 00:00:47.420 In our city, the evangelical Christian population is about 1%. 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:52.520 We have over 200 mosques just in our downtown area. 00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:55.140 Islam, by far the fastest growing religion. 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.259 We've been there 16 years. 00:00:57.380 --> 00:00:58.759 I kind of have a dual role. 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:05.620 I'm a church planter, so an elder at a local church that we helped plant about 12 years ago now. 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:08.620 We've now planted two more churches out of that. 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:11.980 So we have a network of churches that are meeting across Birmingham. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:15.079 But then also for the International Mission Board, 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:20.120 I serve as supervisor for all of our work in the United Kingdom and Ireland. 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:25.840 So that would be England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:29.519 So that would be about 40 adults and all their children. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:33.560 I think when we're all together, there's about 150 of us with kids. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:35.500 And we supervise that work. 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:42.900 And we still find folks who, maybe like yourself, are quite surprised that we as Southern Baptists 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:45.599 have missionaries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. 00:01:46.099 --> 00:01:50.159 You might think, well, that's the home of Charles Spurgeon and John Wesley and Charles Wesley. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:52.219 Why do we need missionaries there? 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.500 Well, I'll give you one example. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:56.840 And that is the nation of Ireland. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.719 Ireland is, interestingly enough, population-wise, 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:05.219 it's almost identical to the state of South Carolina. 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:07.819 So it's about 5.1 million people. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.280 So a little over 5 million people in South Carolina, 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:13.460 a little over 5 million people in Ireland. 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:17.099 Right now, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:22.020 we have almost 2,000 Baptist churches in South Carolina. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:25.000 In Ireland, we have 32. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:27.120 We have 32. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:30.719 So it would be like if you had 32 churches for all of South Carolina. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.780 So the evangelical population of Ireland is 0.4. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.159 So it's 99.6% lost. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:45.300 And so we are doing the work like all of our missionaries are doing around the world. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:50.800 And that is sharing the gospel, making disciples, and planting churches. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:55.560 Now, I'll confess, sometimes in the midst of the work, 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:57.439 and maybe you're like me, 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.900 maybe you experience discouragement sometimes. 00:03:01.359 --> 00:03:04.219 Maybe things aren't going the way you would like to see them go. 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:08.060 Maybe the Lord's not quite working the way you would like to see Him work. 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:10.159 And maybe you're a bit like me. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.500 And that is sometimes I can lose focus. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:17.500 I can lose sight of who God is. 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:20.620 In fact, Caleb, put that first slide up for us. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:22.219 Anybody recognize one of these? 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:26.300 If it was that big at the doctor's office, you wouldn't need glasses. 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:26.620 Amen? 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:27.740 Right? 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:32.620 I just got new glasses, actually, about a month ago. 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:35.539 Now, here's the thing about needing glasses. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.060 And unless you have something drastic happen medically, 00:03:39.579 --> 00:03:42.919 the truth is our eyes lose focus very gradually. 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:47.800 It's quite unusual that you just wake up one morning and everything's blurry. 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:49.600 It tends to happen over time. 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:53.900 And you kid yourself by doing things like squinting and moving closer. 00:03:54.200 --> 00:03:56.660 But you know in the back of your mind you probably need what? 00:03:57.320 --> 00:03:59.180 You probably need glasses, right? 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:04.180 And sometimes, for me, that can happen spiritually. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:09.040 Sometimes, for me, I can gradually lose focus. 00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:14.080 I can gradually lose sight of who God is. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:18.580 Before you know it, I wake up and spiritually, life is a bit blurry. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:20.819 Maybe you're a bit like that. 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:21.500 I'm not sure. 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:26.319 And so, I want us to spend just a few moments in the Word of God this morning. 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:30.560 And I want us, if you will, to get a spiritual eye exam. 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:37.400 I want us to refocus and remember who God is. 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:43.419 Because we who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we serve an amazing God. 00:04:43.479 --> 00:04:44.139 Amen, church? 00:04:44.679 --> 00:04:47.899 And I'll be the first to confess, I lose sight of that sometimes. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:49.779 I lose sight of it in my marriage. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:51.359 I lose sight of it in my parenting. 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:57.019 And certainly living in a country where 99% of the people do not know Jesus, 00:04:57.159 --> 00:05:02.759 I can lose sight of the fact that our God is an amazing God. 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:09.539 So, we're going to spend just a few moments just refocusing on who God is. 00:05:09.659 --> 00:05:13.000 And so, I want to invite you to turn to the book of Exodus chapter 3. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:15.240 The book of Exodus chapter 3. 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:16.300 And we're going to begin in verse 1. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:23.379 And probably, for many of us, a familiar account. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:26.180 Exodus chapter 3. 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:27.680 And we're going to begin in verse 1. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:38.439 And just to remind us of the context, Moses, who has spent most of his life living a life of privilege in Egypt. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.720 If you remember, Moses committed murder. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:44.360 As a result, he is on the run. 00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:49.199 And he has made his way to the wilderness, met a woman. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:50.780 They have been married now. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:55.920 And he has now went from a life of privilege in Egypt to the life of a shepherd. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:59.040 Among, for him, what would be in many ways foreigners. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.379 And this is where we pick up in Exodus chapter 3, beginning in verse 1. 00:06:05.840 --> 00:06:06.680 True story. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:08.360 This is what the Bible says. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:14.840 Now, Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:21.879 And he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:27.920 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush. 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:34.600 And Moses looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 00:06:35.219 --> 00:06:41.259 And so Moses said, I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up. 00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:45.360 Now, when the Lord saw that Moses had turned aside to look, 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:49.939 God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.420 Moses said, here I am. 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:55.439 And then the Lord said, do not come near here. 00:06:55.860 --> 00:07:00.420 Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:07.080 And he said also, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:11.439 And then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:16.199 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:22.360 and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:26.220 So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:30.500 and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.899 to a land flowing with milk and honey, 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:39.560 to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.720 Now behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to me. 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:49.379 And furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:53.399 Therefore, come now and I will send you to Pharaoh 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:58.480 so that you may bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:01.720 But Moses said to God, who am I? 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:05.279 Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:08.540 and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:12.280 And God said, certainly I will be with you 00:08:12.280 --> 00:08:16.020 and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you. 00:08:16.379 --> 00:08:20.720 When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain. 00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:25.280 And then Moses said to God, behold, I'm going to the sons of Israel 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:29.200 and I will say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:32.060 Now they may say to me, what is his name? 00:08:33.060 --> 00:08:35.100 In this case, what shall I say to them? 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:39.720 And God said to Moses, I am who I am. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:45.259 And he said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I am has sent me to you. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:49.680 God furthermore said to Moses, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 00:08:50.060 --> 00:08:53.139 the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.220 the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. 00:08:56.560 --> 00:08:59.160 And this is my name forever. 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:02.779 And this is my memorial name to all generations. 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:07.159 Now go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:12.339 the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:16.939 has appeared to me saying, I am indeed concerned about you 00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:20.159 and what has been done to you in Egypt. 00:09:20.839 --> 00:09:21.839 Let's pray together. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:24.879 Lord Jesus, we thank you for your word. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.120 We thank you, Lord, that it is true. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:33.259 And Lord, as we spend just these next few moments just looking at your word, 00:09:33.419 --> 00:09:37.399 we just want to confess that without your spirit, we cannot understand it. 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.980 And so Holy Spirit, just pray that you would open our minds, 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:43.419 give us understanding of your word. 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:46.560 We ask Holy Spirit that you would soften our hearts, 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:50.080 that we might be changed and transformed by your word. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:53.800 And we pray now in these next moments that you would speak to us, 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:57.460 your people, for your glory and for our good. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.500 We humbly ask in Jesus' name. 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:00.480 Amen. 00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:04.180 An amazing account. 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:09.360 An amazing account of a man being sent on a mission. 00:10:10.020 --> 00:10:14.340 A man being sent out by God to do something for God. 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:24.540 And how God begins by enabling Moses to refocus and to understand who God is. 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:29.300 And so let's just quickly see four simple truths in the text. 00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:32.960 Now, we have a culture at our church where we write things down. 00:10:33.180 --> 00:10:35.240 I would encourage you to write these things down, 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:37.879 not because I'm saying it, but because they're in the word. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:42.580 Four simple truths about who God is. 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:44.220 Number one, we see this. 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:49.180 Number one, as followers of Jesus, we serve a powerful God. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:49.920 Amen. 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:55.700 As followers of Jesus, we serve a powerful God. 00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:58.139 I mean, look here, verses two and three. 00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:58.840 Look what happens. 00:10:58.940 --> 00:10:59.180 He says, 00:10:59.540 --> 00:11:04.639 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:08.660 And he looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:10.300 I mean, so picture this. 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:17.339 See, can you imagine coming out your front door and you look over at your azalea and it's on fire, but it's not burning up. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:21.079 And you're looking at me like that would be normal at your house. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.519 I'm assuming it would not be. 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:22.819 Amen. 00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:23.879 Right. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.379 And then there's this beautiful understatement. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:27.659 I love these understatements. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:31.720 And Moses said, hmm, I'll turn aside and see this great sight. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.039 Right. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:35.259 Like Moses looks and it's like, what in the world is going on? 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:38.759 Like this bush is burning, but it's not consumed. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:46.460 And this is just the first of countless displays of the power of God that Moses will see. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.000 Moses will see staffs turn to snakes. 00:11:49.439 --> 00:11:51.539 Moses will see oceans part. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.860 Moses will see enemies conquered. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.960 Moses will see water from a rock. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:58.179 Moses will see manna in the morning. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.019 He's going to see all of it. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:05.539 This is just the first foretaste of the power of God that he's going to experience. 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:15.519 And as we refocus and we remind ourselves who God is, let us not forget that we serve a powerful God. 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:20.620 You know, I think some of the best songs we sing are kids songs. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.099 I really do. 00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:24.299 You ever sing, what a mighty God we serve? 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:27.699 Has that not made it to Pickens? 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.480 Y'all sing that? 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.599 What a mighty God we serve. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.319 Y'all know that one? 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:33.319 What a mighty God we serve. 00:12:33.319 --> 00:12:34.360 Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:34.620 Right? 00:12:34.719 --> 00:12:35.319 Y'all with me? 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:35.980 Right? 00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:38.259 We serve a mighty God. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.480 He is a powerful God. 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:43.480 Look at the person beside you and say, God is a big, big God. 00:12:43.579 --> 00:12:43.899 Do it. 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:50.519 He is a big, big, powerful God. 00:12:50.939 --> 00:12:56.639 We serve the God who walks on water and who feeds thousands with a kid's lunchbox. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.879 That's the God we serve. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:05.159 And he is the same God in Pickens as he is in Paris and Easley as he is in Ethiopia. 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:06.699 He is that God. 00:13:06.699 --> 00:13:14.039 And we have to be reminded that we, through Jesus Christ, serve a powerful God. 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:16.279 Now, how do we encounter that power today? 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:19.919 We encounter it by his spirit and through the word. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:24.399 We've already heard testimony this morning about the power of the word of God. 00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:28.980 Romans 1.16 says, for I'm not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the what? 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:34.000 The power of God unto salvation, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.940 It is the power. 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:38.340 That Greek word there in Romans 1.16 is dynamos. 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.820 It's where we get our English word dynamite. 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:47.000 It is this book has the dynamite power of God to change lives. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.840 Do you believe that? 00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:51.100 Like it's from Genesis to Revelation. 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.500 It is one story. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.660 Sixty six books, one story. 00:13:55.020 --> 00:13:58.360 And that one story is the good news of the gospel. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:03.260 That there is a God and he has come to seek and save that which is lost. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:06.080 And there is power in this word. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:13.040 At our church plant, it was during COVID, we celebrated our 10-year anniversary at one of our churches. 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:20.860 And as part of our 10-year anniversary, we were just kind of going back and reflecting on what we had seen the Lord do in 10 years. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:29.100 And in 10 years, by God's grace, we had seen 31 people saved and baptized in 10 years. 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:31.259 And here was the amazing thing. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:40.120 All 31 who have been saved and baptized, every one of them came to faith in Jesus by studying the Bible. 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.980 Every one of them. 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:45.120 And by the way, the quickest turnaround was 18 months. 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:52.539 From the time someone opened this book for the first time to the time they hit the waters of baptism, the quickest turnaround was 18 months. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:55.039 Spending time in the word. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:15:00.159 We prayed over a community not far from our home called Castlevale. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:02.419 Castlevale is a government housing estate. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:06.079 There are 10,000 people living in less than one square mile. 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:08.219 So picture the government projects. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:11.019 10,000 people, one square mile, no church. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:13.759 And we prayed over that housing estate. 00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:14.839 We walked it. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.899 We prayed over it for three years. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.559 Didn't know a single person that lived there. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.079 God opened a door. 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.339 We met someone who was a believer. 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.360 They invited us in. 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:26.360 And we started a Bible study. 00:15:26.839 --> 00:15:28.720 We started with about 21 people. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:33.639 We just invited, we went door to door to every home, invited 10,000 people. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.040 We had about 25 people who turned up. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:38.279 And we started studying the Gospel of Mark. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.540 And we met week after week. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:42.399 And that first week, we were handing out Bibles. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:45.120 And I looked over to the woman beside me. 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:45.920 And her name was Deb. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:49.019 And at that time, Deb was 50, white British woman. 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.680 And I handed her a Bible. 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:53.360 And when she took hold of it, she said, what's this? 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.779 I said, that's a Bible. 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:56.019 And she looked at it oddly. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:58.679 I said, Deb, have you ever held a Bible? 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.039 She said, I've never seen one. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.100 50 years old, white British. 00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:05.899 And she had never done that to a Bible. 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.919 Had never seen one. 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.220 Had never held one. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.959 And we began to open up. 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:13.059 And we studied through the Gospel of Mark. 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:16.059 And we began to go through the Gospel of Mark. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:16.860 And can I tell you what? 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:20.339 All 25 of them just could not get enough of it. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:20.879 Why? 00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:22.139 Because it's good news. 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:23.259 Do you like good news? 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:25.399 Good news travels fast. 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:28.039 And they could not get enough of the good news. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.720 In fact, when we finished the Gospel of Mark, it was our last night. 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:36.279 And me and one of our elders from our church, we turned up that night. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.700 And some of the ladies started crying. 00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:40.080 We're like, what's wrong? 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.100 They said, we don't want to stop. 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.399 Can we do more? 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.639 And so we're trying to think what to do. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:45.340 And they love movies. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.319 They love to watch TV. 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:48.919 And so we just decided, what if we do the Jesus video? 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:53.819 And so we'll just watch like a 20-minute clip of the life of Jesus. 00:16:54.099 --> 00:16:55.279 And then we'll just discuss it. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:59.419 And so there are about 25 of us, all white British. 00:17:00.099 --> 00:17:02.019 And so it's the first night. 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.399 And we show a clip. 00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:05.519 And it's Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount. 00:17:05.659 --> 00:17:07.700 And Jesus walking around with the Pharisees. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.059 And he's talking and doing his thing. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.019 And when we're done, we would just ask these simple questions. 00:17:12.679 --> 00:17:13.440 What did you like? 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.599 What did you not understand? 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:18.639 What is something new that you learned? 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:21.259 What is something you should do based on what you learned? 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.539 And we're asking those questions. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:26.379 And we get to the question, what is something new that you learned you didn't know? 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.099 And they're kind of quiet for a minute. 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.859 And then Tracy, Tracy's about 40. 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.179 She raises her hand. 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:33.639 We say, Tracy, what did you learn? 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:35.500 She said, well, I'll tell you what. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.240 Something I learned. 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:39.440 And she said, man, that Jesus got nice legs. 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.680 I said, I'm sorry. 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.559 She said, that Jesus is a good looking man. 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.079 And all the women started going, mm-hmm. 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:47.380 I was thinking the same thing. 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.339 He's a good looking fella. 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.019 And so I look at my friend. 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.680 And he looks at me. 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:52.920 He's like, I'm not taking this one. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.200 And it had never occurred to me. 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:58.599 And I said, oh, I'm so sorry. 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:02.259 Does everyone understand that's not really Jesus? 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.299 Like that's an actor. 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:07.480 And there was silence. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.779 And then they all exploded in laughter. 00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:12.779 They really thought it was Jesus. 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:16.079 No context. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.139 They don't even know when he lived. 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:20.419 Right? 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:27.859 And through this book, and through the power of the gospel, Deb came to faith. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:30.899 She was the first person we ever baptized on the mission field. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.599 It was a special day. 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.480 I even wore my University of South Carolina t-shirt when I baptized her. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.399 Oh, come on, church. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:38.719 Amen. 00:18:39.459 --> 00:18:40.219 I know. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:40.819 I know. 00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:41.379 I know. 00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:43.539 I'll do Clemson the next time, right? 00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:45.319 Baptized Deb. 00:18:45.719 --> 00:18:46.459 Can I tell you what? 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:50.139 About six months later, her 18-year-old daughter came to faith. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.959 And just one after another. 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:55.919 And now the grandparents are with us every Sunday. 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.299 They haven't come to faith yet. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.919 You pray for Roy and Diane. 00:18:59.179 --> 00:19:00.459 They're 80 and 79. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:03.759 They have not come to faith yet, but it's just a matter of time. 00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:05.779 And they cannot get enough of this book. 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:11.840 And through the power of the gospel, three generations are going to come to be in heaven together. 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.600 Amen, church? 00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:15.460 We serve a powerful God. 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.299 Secondly, we see this. 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:22.259 As followers of Jesus, we serve a powerful God, but we also serve a personal God. 00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.779 We serve a personal God. 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:25.779 Look back at your Bible. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.480 Look at what he says in verse 4. 00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:29.559 He says, 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:37.180 When the Lord saw that he, meaning Moses, had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, what? 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.519 Moses, Moses. 00:19:40.639 --> 00:19:42.379 Now, we, of course, fast forward. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.660 And Moses is trying to think, you know, how's this going to work? 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:49.639 Because you're sending me to the leaders of Israel. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.700 And I'm supposed to tell them I have a message from you. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.480 How's that going to work? 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.559 Who are you? 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.180 And we see in verse 14. 00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:00.920 And God said to Moses, I am who I am. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.860 This is what you are to say to the Israelites. 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:05.380 I am has sent me. 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:07.200 Don't miss this, right? 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:10.900 God knew Moses by name. 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:14.880 And he wanted Moses to know him by name. 00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.420 Let me say that again. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:18.539 God knew Moses by name. 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:23.779 He doesn't say when the Lord saw that he came over, he didn't say, hey, man, man. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.920 Person, person. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:29.000 No, he knew him by name. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.480 Jesus said, even the very number of hairs on our head are numbered. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.779 He loves you that much. 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:39.879 Look at the person beside you and say, God knows you by name. 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.319 Go ahead. 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:41.319 Go ahead. 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:48.019 And I tell you what, when you know and love Jesus, that brings a smile to your face. 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.299 Amen. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:53.779 He knows you by name. 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:58.359 He is a powerful God, but he is a personal God. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:02.779 And really, there's something extremely significant here in this passage. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:08.119 This is the first time in history that God reveals his name to a human. 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:16.539 The word Yahweh there, it's the very first time in the Bible that God tells him he didn't do this with Abraham. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.220 He didn't do it with Isaac. 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.680 He didn't do it with Jacob. 00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:24.200 None of the patriarchs knew his name, his personal name. 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:26.080 But this is the first time. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:32.860 And Moses is the first person in human history to know God's name. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.779 I am Yahweh. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:38.400 After this time, it's used 5,590 times in the Bible. 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:39.480 After this. 00:21:40.840 --> 00:21:43.220 We forget, sometimes I forget God has a name. 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.140 I just call him God. 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:46.480 It'd be like calling Pastor Daniel man, right? 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:48.000 No, he has a name. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.200 Well, God has a name. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.220 He says his name is Yahweh. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:54.559 He wanted Moses to know him. 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:57.360 And can I tell you, I take great comfort in that. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:59.400 Because that means God knows you. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.720 He knows your family. 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.980 He knows your needs. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.299 He knows your situation. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:06.420 He knows what's going on in your life. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:09.279 He knows what's going on in the life of your children. 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:11.160 He knows about your workplace. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.400 He knows your challenges. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.860 He knows your valleys. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.940 He knows your peaks. 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.559 He knows all about you. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:19.440 And he radically, radically loves you. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:23.900 He knows you by name. 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.480 Knows you by name. 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:30.720 I met someone recently who got to meet the queen. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.980 And they're trying not to brag. 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:36.920 But it'd be kind of hard not to brag about meeting the queen, right? 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:41.800 And I remember just having this little twinge of jealousy. 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.320 Just this little twinge. 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:46.560 Because they were telling me, actually, they talked more about the food than they did the queen. 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:49.640 They're like, man, they had like, the food was amazing. 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.680 And, you know, and they were going on and on. 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:55.900 And I remember leaving that conversation and just thinking, oh, wow. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.120 Like, woe is me. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:59.659 I'll never get to meet the queen or the king of England. 00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:03.179 And then the Lord just reminded me, yeah, that's true. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:05.119 You'll never meet the queen or the king of England. 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:07.079 But you've met the king of glory. 00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:09.019 The king of glory. 00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:12.939 And he knows you by name. 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.339 Isn't that wonderful? 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:19.679 Many years ago, Christy and I were at the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:22.039 And it was rammed. 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:25.080 And thousands and thousands of pastors and people. 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.779 And we saw Charles Stanley. 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:29.380 And Charles Stanley was signing books. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:32.519 And so I said, hey, Christy, should we go and talk to Charles Stanley? 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.840 And she's like, yeah, let's do that. 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:36.100 And so we get in the line. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.640 We get up. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:39.060 We were probably both in our, like, mid-20s. 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.640 We were young. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.620 And we get to, you know, Charles Stanley. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.960 And I'm not sure, like, do I kiss his ring? 00:23:44.060 --> 00:23:44.940 Like, I don't know. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.440 He's the closest thing we had to a pope. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.360 Like, what do I do? 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.480 He's my hero. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.900 And so we begin talking. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.320 And he immediately looks at me. 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:54.440 And he says, well, Kenny, tell me about yourself. 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.820 And I'm like, oh, well, I'm in the Raleigh-Durham area. 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.779 And he's like, oh. 00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.940 And he's asking me about this. 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.539 He says, well, Kenny, what about your family? 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:05.580 And we're just, you know, we're just having this amazing conversation. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:07.340 And he says, well, Kenny, have a wonderful day. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.480 I was like, well, Chuck, you have a wonderful day, too, you know. 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:12.120 And so we walk off. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.640 And I'm, like, buzzing. 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:15.080 I'm absolutely buzzing. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:17.400 I'm like, Christy, he knew me. 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:20.300 Like, I told you one day, marry me. 00:24:20.540 --> 00:24:21.460 It's going to be big. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.780 And we're going to have a TV show. 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.700 You'll have pink hair. 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.920 It's going to be amazing. 00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:27.259 Like, this is happening. 00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.780 Charles Stanley knows me. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:31.820 Christy's just listening, listening, listening. 00:24:32.280 --> 00:24:34.160 And then she says, are you done? 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.380 I'm like, yeah. 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:38.440 She says, well, he could know you by name. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.040 I said, yeah. 00:24:39.780 --> 00:24:42.019 She said, or it could be that you're wearing a name tag. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:48.240 Now, I like to still believe Charles Stanley knew me by name. 00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:50.960 But it was probably the name tag. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:54.359 But Jesus knows me by name. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:57.259 And Jesus knows you by name. 00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:00.639 He knows all your bad stuff. 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.980 He knows all your good stuff. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:06.759 And he loves you just the same. 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.500 Amen, church? 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:14.299 Let's refocus and let's remember that as followers of Jesus, we serve a powerful God. 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.880 We serve a personal God. 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:17.240 But then thirdly, we see this. 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:21.319 That as followers of Jesus, we serve a perfect God. 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:24.380 As followers of Jesus, we serve a perfect God. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:26.039 Look what happens in verses 5 and 6. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:29.579 The Lord says, do not come any closer. 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.539 Take off your sandals. 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:35.240 For the place where you are standing is holy ground. 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:41.000 And at this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:46.839 The Lord says, the place where you stand is holy ground. 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:49.559 Moses, you can't get any closer. 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:52.299 You would be consumed by my holiness. 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:54.799 You would be consumed by my goodness. 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:57.059 Like, God is holy. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:01.420 It has the same meaning in Hebrew here as it would in Greek in the New Testament. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:05.300 It's that idea of being other, being set apart. 00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:07.539 And so, God is other. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.600 He is set apart. 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.600 He is not like us. 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:16.060 We live in a world today where holiness is a concept no one understands. 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:16.880 Right? 00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:21.000 I mean, holiness is something we don't talk about. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:23.460 In fact, we don't talk about it a lot of times in our churches. 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:31.079 And yet, the Lord says, you know, in 1 Peter, He says, be ye holy for I am holy. 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.360 The Lord says. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:34.440 It's a command to God's people. 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.019 Be holy for I am holy. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:36.920 Be set apart. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.400 Now, for God to be set apart means He never makes a mistake. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.819 He doesn't sin. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:48.500 He's, you know, the Bible says Jesus was tempted in every way as a man, yet without sin. 00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:49.299 Right? 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.000 God is holy. 00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.600 He is other. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.420 He is set apart. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:54.160 And that's why Jesus came and died for us. 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:56.920 And Millie, thank you for singing about the blood. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.640 What can wash away my sins? 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.940 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:03.039 Right? 00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:04.960 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:09.840 The Bible says, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin, the book of Leviticus says. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:16.039 And so, because God is holy, because He has set apart, we can't approach Him. 00:27:16.580 --> 00:27:19.019 But God has made a way through Jesus Christ. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:23.240 And through the blood of Christ, we can be in the presence of God. 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:28.839 But this powerful, personal, perfect God, there's another element to His perfection. 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:31.879 And it's this, that we're called to be holy. 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:37.879 And that phrase, particularly in the New Testament, it means to be set apart, to be used. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:40.240 To be set apart, to be used. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:46.700 So, when we lived in North Carolina, we owned some land at the backside of our house. 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.420 And I would have to cut that. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:50.579 And so, we had a John Deere riding lawnmower. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.200 And I would cut the grass. 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:58.500 And about April, every year, I would take the lawnmower. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:02.220 And I would take it to a gentleman in our church who owned a lawnmower repair shop. 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:05.380 And what He would do is, He would change the belts. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.920 He would sharpen the blade. 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.160 He would oil it. 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.460 He would check the gaskets. 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:11.720 He would even wash it and clean it up for me. 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.819 Here's what He was doing. 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:17.700 He was setting it aside and making it ready to be used. 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:20.660 He was getting it ready for service. 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.579 Are you with me? 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:23.720 Now, that's the word holiness. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.660 God takes you and I. 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.220 He washes us. 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:35.019 He works in us and through us, by His Spirit, through the Word, that we might be used by Him and for His glory. 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.039 Right? 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.680 And so, we have a God who's powerful. 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:42.019 We have a God who's personal, but He's perfect. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:45.880 And in His perfection, He makes a way for you and I. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:50.920 He makes a way for our holiness that we might be used for His glory. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:53.420 But then lastly, we see this. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:59.700 As followers of Jesus, we encounter this powerful God, this personal God, this perfect God. 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:02.920 But lastly, He is a preserving God. 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:08.840 He is a God who is preserving, who is saving, who is calling out a people for Himself. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:11.460 Look at verses 7 and 8, and look what He says there. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.580 He says this, 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.400 The Lord said, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.519 I've indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:19.700 I've heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:22.600 and I am concerned about their suffering. 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:27.179 So I've come down to rescue them from the land of the Egyptians, 00:29:27.439 --> 00:29:31.879 to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:34.279 a land flowing with milk and honey. 00:29:35.719 --> 00:29:36.740 What's He say there? 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.379 He says, 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:40.159 I've come down to rescue them. 00:29:40.219 --> 00:29:42.099 Your translation might say deliver them. 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:45.859 That God is preserving a people for Himself. 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:51.659 That He is a God who is actively working in the world through His gospel, 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:54.380 calling men and women to Himself to be saved. 00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:56.019 Preserving a people. 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:58.960 Listen, when I walk through the streets of Birmingham, England, 00:29:59.320 --> 00:30:01.320 and I hear the Muslim called a prayer, 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:03.720 and I see the Sikh Gurdwara, 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.620 and I see the Hindu temple, 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:09.279 and I see the literally millions and millions of people 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.660 who have never heard the gospel, 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:13.980 I will remind myself by faith, 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:16.680 Lord, You have people in this city, 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:20.060 and You are preserving a people for Yourself. 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:22.840 You have people in this city, 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:27.140 and You are calling a people to Yourself. 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.100 He says, 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:30.080 Go and rescue my people. 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:33.140 And we hear echoes of that 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:35.600 as we then go to Luke 19.10. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.879 And the Scripture says, 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:39.480 Jesus came to do what? 00:30:39.699 --> 00:30:41.899 To seek and save that which is lost. 00:30:42.659 --> 00:30:44.579 Moses was sent on a rescue mission, 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:46.919 as was the Son of God. 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:50.319 Jesus left all the glories of heaven 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:53.419 to come and seek and save that which is lost. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.279 John 3.17, right? 00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:57.899 Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, 00:30:58.139 --> 00:31:01.559 but that through Him the world might be saved. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:04.279 Jesus came on a rescue mission. 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:07.440 He died on an old rugged cross. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.700 And three days later, 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:11.519 He was raised to life again. 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:15.399 Oh, death, hell, where is your sting? 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.259 Jesus was victorious. 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.099 Amen, church? 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:22.740 And He has come to seek and save that which is lost. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:25.639 He is a preserving God. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.700 He's come to rescue. 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.700 He's come to deliver. 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.139 Do you know what? 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.500 He knows your neighbors by name. 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:36.920 He knows your prodigal by name. 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.359 He knows your co-workers by name. 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.460 And never miss this. 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:44.000 His deepest heart is to save them. 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.240 Amen? 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:47.819 He has come to seek and save that which is lost. 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:51.299 And you and I have the immense privilege 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:53.619 of being His hands, 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:54.639 His feet, 00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:56.700 whether it's Pickens or Pakistan. 00:31:56.700 --> 00:32:00.059 We have the immense privilege to go 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:01.919 and to share this hope, 00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:03.779 to share this good news 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:07.279 that men and women might be rescued. 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:09.680 This book still changes lives. 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.359 Do you believe that? 00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:12.579 The gospel is still good news. 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.960 Jesus is still saving. 00:32:14.379 --> 00:32:15.519 He's not finished yet. 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:17.859 And He's called you here at First Baptist. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:20.359 He's called us to lock arms hand in hand 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:22.059 and to go around this world 00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:24.240 starting right here where you are 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:26.440 that men and women, boys and girls, 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:29.559 may know Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:33.139 Maybe you've come in this morning 00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:35.259 and you've never done that for yourself. 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:37.200 Maybe for you, 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:39.359 you've maybe read a bit, 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:41.019 like my friend Deb. 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.539 Maybe you've looked at it, 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:43.599 you've thought over it, 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:44.960 but maybe there's never been a time 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.559 in your life 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.920 when you personally 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:48.639 have asked Jesus Christ 00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:50.480 to forgive you of your sins 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.420 and to come and change you. 00:32:53.159 --> 00:32:54.420 Can I say He loves you? 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.799 He knows you by name. 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:57.379 And in just a moment, 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:59.159 you're going to have an opportunity 00:32:59.159 --> 00:32:59.920 to do that. 00:33:00.639 --> 00:33:01.879 Maybe today's the day 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:03.519 that you need to be rescued 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.240 and delivered 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.779 and know Jesus Christ 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.599 as Lord and Savior. 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.720 Maybe you're like me. 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:11.480 And maybe spiritually, 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:13.700 things have been a bit 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:15.279 out of focus lately for you. 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.920 Maybe you're facing discouragement. 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:20.000 Maybe you're up against trials. 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:21.000 Maybe it's that sin 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.900 that you just can't get victory of. 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.480 Maybe it's guilt. 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.799 Maybe it's condemnation. 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:28.039 Maybe it's apathy. 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:31.039 Maybe today you just need to say, 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:33.380 Lord, would you just do 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:34.680 something new in my heart? 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.500 And Lord, would you help me 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:38.279 once again to just experience 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.220 your power? 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.839 Would you help me to know 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:42.199 that you know me by name? 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:44.000 Would you do a work in my life 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.099 that I might be set apart 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.779 for your glory? 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.480 Lord, would you work through me 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.579 that others might be saved? 00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:50.599 Lord, just help me refocus 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:52.179 on who you are. 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.899 We're going to have 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.919 a time of response. 00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:58.179 Maybe we just need to come 00:33:58.179 --> 00:34:00.599 and pray for Pickens. 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.619 Pray for Easley. 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.019 Pray for Greenville. 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.839 Pray for the nations. 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:08.000 However the Lord might lead you. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:11.019 I pray as He speaks. 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.380 You'll obey. 00:34:13.779 --> 00:34:14.779 Let's stand together. 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.319 And as we stand, 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:17.500 our musicians are coming. 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:20.179 Let me lead us in a word of prayer. 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:23.340 And then we're going to sing together. 00:34:23.759 --> 00:34:24.799 I surrender all. 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:27.259 Let me pray for us. 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:30.139 Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word. 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:34.000 Thank You, God, for who You are. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:37.259 You are a big, powerful God. 00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:39.879 There's nothing we will ever face 00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:40.839 bigger than You. 00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.179 There's no challenge 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:43.339 that You can't conquer. 00:34:43.839 --> 00:34:44.900 There's no struggle 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:46.279 that You can't give us victory. 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:48.639 You are a big, powerful Savior, 00:34:48.799 --> 00:34:49.639 and we praise You. 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.940 We thank You, Jesus, 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:54.259 that You know us by name. 00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:56.159 You know the very number of hairs 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:56.900 on our head, 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:58.119 that You know us, 00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:59.799 and You want us to know You. 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:02.759 Whatever we're going through today, 00:35:02.879 --> 00:35:04.019 Lord, You see it, 00:35:04.319 --> 00:35:06.119 and Your heart breaks with ours. 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.379 Oh, thank You, God, 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.119 that You're perfect. 00:35:09.359 --> 00:35:11.019 You've never made a mistake. 00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:12.839 You are the same yesterday, 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.339 today, and forever. 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.559 And Lord, thank You 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:18.539 that You work in us and through us, 00:35:18.759 --> 00:35:21.480 that we might be used for Your service. 00:35:23.279 --> 00:35:24.839 And then, Lord, we thank You 00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:28.119 that You are preserving a people for Yourself. 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.659 Thank You, Jesus, 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:31.799 that You left the splendor 00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:34.299 and glory and majesty of heaven 00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:37.119 to come and be born in a barn, 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:39.559 to die on an old rugged cross, 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:42.440 that we might know You as Lord and Savior. 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:44.359 I pray right now, Lord, 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.880 for maybe that's one, 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.259 the one who's here this morning, 00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.839 and there's never been a day 00:35:48.839 --> 00:35:49.799 when they've known You 00:35:49.799 --> 00:35:50.779 as Lord and Savior. 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:54.160 God, I pray that they would call out to You, 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.240 confessing You as Lord, 00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:57.480 believing in their heart 00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:59.080 that You rose from the dead. 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:03.980 Lord, I pray for those of us 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:06.660 who maybe have just lost a bit of focus, 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:08.880 lost sight of who You are. 00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:13.560 God, today, would You do a work of renewal 00:36:13.560 --> 00:36:15.760 in us and through us. 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:17.380 Lord, have Your way, 00:36:18.060 --> 00:36:20.860 we pray in Jesus' name. 00:36:21.560 --> 00:36:21.900 Amen.