WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.820 I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to John chapter 6, and we are going to pick up 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:26.480 ! Actually in verse 35 to set the frame and the context of the passage that by God's grace 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:29.420 ! and the power of the Holy Spirit I will preach to you. 00:00:30.899 --> 00:00:37.820 I want you to follow with me as I read the first several verses so that your eyes are fixed on the 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:47.420 text that we're going to study together. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. 00:00:48.879 --> 00:00:54.260 Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 00:00:54.259 --> 00:01:02.759 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:12.659 come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. I'm going to pray, you're going to pray, 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:18.039 and we're going to plead with God that He will do a work that we can attribute to no one but the Holy 00:01:18.039 --> 00:01:18.679 Spirit. Amen? 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:27.979 Holy Father, this morning we are together because of Your grace, and we are here as people that are 00:01:27.980 --> 00:01:35.380 desperate in our own flesh, absolutely unable to handle the glory and the supremacy of Christ, 00:01:35.380 --> 00:01:43.620 and thankful for the fact that we who know You may rely upon the Holy Spirit that You have given to us. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:57.800 It is my desire, and it is the desire of every informed believer this morning that Jesus Christ be lifted up. 00:02:01.520 --> 00:02:07.200 That those who are here that do not know Christ may be convicted of the hopelessness and the misery 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:12.680 of their sin, and that they might find complete forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:24.300 And that those who are here who know Jesus might have a heart that is encouraged and strengthened by 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:34.080 understanding who He is more, and comprehending to a greater depth the love that He has for us. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:42.780 That as we leave this place, we might go out into a broken world as ambassadors. 00:02:46.100 --> 00:02:55.439 As people who understand that our life, passion, and purpose is to lift up the glory of Christ that other 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:00.439 people might find Him and know Him as God and Savior. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:09.620 And so, Father, we ask that the way we attend to the Word, the way I preach, the way we pray together, 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:16.259 might be reflective of our confidence in the things that You have written in this book. 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:18.979 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:20.319 Amen. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:20.439 Amen. 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:30.120 Well, it goes without saying that there's probably seldomly a week that does not go by without 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:34.579 me at one point or another in the office saying, this is a really good text. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:40.919 It happens to the point that it's almost redundant, and it's just the way it is. 00:03:41.019 --> 00:03:47.240 I mean, I get wrapped up in a passage, and I'm an emotional person. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:53.800 And sometimes I get cooked in the office, and studying is like, I can't wait till Sunday. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:54.820 It's really hard. 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:04.700 And then we get together, and I listen to you sing, and it's like, wow, I like it. 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:05.360 I do. 00:04:05.660 --> 00:04:06.439 I like it. 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:09.439 And I am so thankful. 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:12.180 How many of you notice that every now and then I turn around and look at you guys? 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:12.800 Do you notice that? 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:14.480 I am not counting. 00:04:18.340 --> 00:04:24.160 My dear father, he's in heaven now, he used to ask me every week, not every week, but often. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:25.420 He'd say, so how many were there? 00:04:25.460 --> 00:04:26.080 I said, I don't know. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.100 So how did it go? 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:28.939 He says, I'm not sure. 00:04:29.660 --> 00:04:31.800 And I say, well, no, come on, give me some idea. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:33.439 I said, I'm hoping they have me back next week. 00:04:33.460 --> 00:04:34.319 That was a standard. 00:04:34.840 --> 00:04:36.580 And it's like he never learned. 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:37.580 He did the same thing again. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:38.480 How many were there? 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:38.939 I don't know. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:40.060 How did it go? 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:40.579 I'm not sure. 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:47.459 You know, so anyway, one of the things I could tell you is that it's a privilege to preach 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:51.759 the word, and I trust this morning that your heart gets a hold of this passage. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.000 It's a tough one. 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:54.160 Can I tell you that ahead of time? 00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:55.340 It's a tough one. 00:04:55.339 --> 00:05:05.139 In relationship to this, I want to remind you, put your finger in John and go back to Deuteronomy 29.29. 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:08.859 Go back to Deuteronomy 29.29. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:11.459 Look at the text, right? 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:21.639 And the reason I want you to do this is because when we deal with some of the more challenging passages in Scripture, 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:26.579 it helps us to remember that these things are really not a surprise to God. 00:05:27.919 --> 00:05:34.179 And while they're a little complex and challenging for us, it's okay. 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:39.280 Deuteronomy 29.29, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:45.439 I bump into people periodically saying, well, when I get to heaven, I'm going to ask God. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:50.180 You know, I imagine when I get to heaven, I just go, whoa! 00:05:50.780 --> 00:05:51.860 It's just overwhelmed. 00:05:51.980 --> 00:05:53.780 It's like, where's my list of questions? 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:54.920 I'm not thinking about that. 00:05:54.960 --> 00:05:56.199 It's like, boom! 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:57.040 I'm there. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:03.400 The secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:10.720 But the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:20.400 I've got to tell you up front that what we are looking at here and in the remainder of John chapter 6 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:30.120 are the unfolding ministry of Christ in a more and more public setting that is going to lead ultimately to His rejection. 00:06:32.179 --> 00:06:35.019 The way in which John 6 closes off. 00:06:36.299 --> 00:06:44.419 Remember, after He preached the conclusion to His sermon, most everyone left except for His twelve, the disciples. 00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:48.000 And He looks at them and says, hey guys, are you leaving too? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.560 And Peter comes through this time. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:52.600 He says, where are we going? 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:54.259 You're the one who has the words of life. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:55.259 You're it. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.079 Most everybody else left. 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:02.819 And so we're kind of in the early stage of watching this unfold. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:12.319 And remember that already in John 6, we find that Jesus had fed a throng of about 20,000 people. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:22.199 And everybody who had witnessed that understood that something spectacular, something supernatural had happened. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:36.600 On the heels of that, in a much smaller setting, He had displayed His deity and His supremacy in that in the midst of a storm that He actually sent His disciples into, 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.579 He had come and He had delivered them from that. 00:07:39.579 --> 00:07:48.039 Now, you would think that in the face of what had happened there in the early part of John 6, 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:57.919 that the people would have been just absolutely persuaded that Jesus was the answer to their spiritual needs and the deep issues of their heart. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:05.500 In fact, if you look just back a little bit, you'll remember that after the feeding of the throng, 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:09.319 they had come and they wanted to make Him their king. 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:13.319 Do you know why? 00:08:14.700 --> 00:08:21.540 It wasn't because they understood the darkness of their heart and the despair of their spiritual condition. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:26.000 They were just interested in something on a very superficial basis. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:30.000 Yesterday morning, I was walking along... 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:30.960 Is it Scioto River? 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:31.780 Is that where we were? 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:32.720 Scioto River. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:34.220 Man, they're doing a lot of work downtown. 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:38.720 And I'm walking along Scioto River and I stopped and was talking with a particular individual. 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:41.300 And towards the end of the conversation, I said, 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:42.639 So how can I pray for you? 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:48.039 This individual was an upgrade from a couple weeks ago where the person said with words. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:52.600 And the individual said, 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:54.960 Well, why don't you pray for health and prosperity? 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:58.879 Well, that's like saying sick them to a dog. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:00.720 So I did. 00:09:00.819 --> 00:09:02.159 I said, you know, I prayed. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.699 By the way, I think I did miss the health and prosperity part and think about it. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:07.439 But I did get to the main story. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.279 Do you know who that is? 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:09.620 That's Jesus. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:13.560 The only one who can make a real difference in anybody's life is Jesus. 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:20.720 And the people were pretty pleased that Jesus had fed them. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:27.679 They wanted to kind of move it along and make Him king and see that He kept on pulling off these all wonderful things. 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:36.419 And so we find here in John chapter 6 as we move our way through that Jesus, earlier, He explains the issue of bread of life. 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:38.899 And He says, I am the bread of life. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:46.799 Now, that's a pretty open statement about His deity and His ability to solve the deepest needs of mankind. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.120 But you know what? 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:49.019 They didn't buy it. 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:50.500 They didn't get it. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:10:04.940 And so as we look at this passage this morning, we're going to find several very significant spiritual truths that I want you to kind of hold in tension. 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:06.000 Do you know what I mean by tension? 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:08.879 I'm going to use a big fancy word probably. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:16.419 If I use fancy words beyond this one, I want a deduct on my box. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:18.840 You know, it's like, you said this. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:20.939 The word is antinomy. 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:21.919 Will you write that down? 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.299 Anti-nomy. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.340 And what it means is opposing laws. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:40.200 What we're going to find in John chapter 6 is the seemingly opposing truths of the absolute sovereignty and glory of God in saving individuals 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:45.600 and the absolute responsibility of mankind of responding to the offer of the gospel. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:54.180 And I want you to know that this passage is one that is profoundly humbling to believers. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:59.500 In fact, when someone says to you, so how did you come to salvation? 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:03.700 Probably what we ought to say is, well, it's really because I'm a good person. 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:04.659 I had good genetics. 00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:05.059 No! 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:08.120 I'm a super rat! 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:18.319 Thursday, Judith and I were in a situation with a bank, and I was waiting for Judith, and I ended up talking to the lady. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:24.899 And somehow or another, we got around to talking about marriage and what God had done in our lives and stuff. 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:32.360 And I was telling the person what a skunk I was and had been in particular. 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.060 And later on, I said, you know what? 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.720 If it weren't for Jesus, I'd be dead. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:39.639 The person said something very interesting. 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:41.759 She said, you know what? 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.060 I think what you have is real. 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:47.379 Yeah, it is. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.539 I said, well, why would you say that? 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:54.419 She said, well, you're not talking much about yourself. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:57.899 I'm not the hero in my story. 00:11:57.940 --> 00:11:58.659 Is that true for you? 00:11:59.120 --> 00:11:59.940 You're not the hero? 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:08.080 You see, as this passage, we're going to come to grips with the reality of the truth that salvation is something that God does. 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:11.140 But He also expects us to be involved in it. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:16.420 And so, as we work our way through this, let's kind of step into the text there in verse 36. 00:12:16.640 --> 00:12:19.360 And let's deal, first of all, with human unbelief. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:27.279 Verse 35 makes it clear that Jesus let people know that He was the bread of life. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.379 He had already proved His deity, His divine power. 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:41.560 He had done a noteworthy miracle, and people had no reason to doubt His person. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:50.139 And yet, we find that when He went forward and revealed Himself and let them know that He was the answer to their deepest needs, 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:55.359 their only interest was just like that woman who said, will you pray for health and prosperity? 00:12:55.619 --> 00:13:02.000 They just wanted Jesus, like many people do today, just for the outside part. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:09.480 Look at verse 36, and you see that Jesus spotted the attitude that they had. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.220 He says this in verse 30, 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:16.120 I said to you, but I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.019 What was He saying? 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:28.940 He was saying that they had received adequate information about who He was and what He was there to do, 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:37.020 and yet they were consciously and willingly choosing to deny Him and to reject His offer. 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:46.180 By this point in Christ's public ministry, He had done many notable, undeniable miracles. 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:55.720 John does not give us many of those because John's focus is different than the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 00:13:55.720 --> 00:14:04.060 But if you were to work your way through a harmony of the Gospels that kind of puts the Gospels together in a chronological fashion, 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:07.600 what you would find is that by this time Jesus had cleansed the temple. 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:13.759 He had done so announcing His undeniable deity and His unquestioned authority. 00:14:14.680 --> 00:14:18.440 He had performed many different public miracles. 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:25.200 He had healed innumerable individuals of sicknesses that were undeniable and without question. 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:31.960 In every case, when He performed a miracle, it wasn't something that had a long tail on it before it came to fruition. 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:37.040 It was something that was immediate, at the moment, powerful. 00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:38.820 He'd cast out demons. 00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:40.060 He'd raise the dead. 00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:45.160 And in every case, people had marveled at the evidence of His power. 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:55.179 They had no question that this was someone abnormal, exceptional, unusual in strength and ability. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:03.639 And yet, for all the display of power and the throng that willingly followed Him, 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:08.399 wanting to be witness to the next spectacular thing that He did, 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:12.199 in the midst of all of that, they were unwilling to believe in Him. 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:20.920 And you see, the throng was interested in what Jesus could do for them on a very superficial basis. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:28.320 They were not interested in having Jesus get a hold of the bankrupt and dark hearts that they had 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:33.860 and having Jesus solve the most terrible problem that they had, namely, their own sin. 00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:39.660 And so let me draw several conclusions for you when you look at that verse 36. 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:42.980 I said to you that you have seen Me and don't believe. 00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:46.019 Understand this. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:50.939 Unbelief and refusing to come to Christ does not happen because of a lack of information. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:16:01.439 Unbelief and a refusing to come to Christ does not happen because of a lack of information. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:09.340 In the case of the people that were standing around Jesus when He preached this sermon in John chapter 6, 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:15.740 and I don't know the biological facts of digestion, but it probably was about 24 hours. 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:21.480 I'm not sure that all of what they had consumed the day before had already finished off. 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.740 And here they were. 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.300 They'd seen the miracle. 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.500 They'd enjoyed the food. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.340 They were probably having a little bit of aftertaste as they thought about, 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.340 I wonder if He'll do it again. 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:32.620 And yet they denied the truth. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.539 I want you to understand that they're a little bit like Thomas. 00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:40.240 Remember Doubting Thomas? 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:48.200 Unless I see the nail prints and I can put my fingers in those holes, I'm not believing. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:51.799 Now, by the way, they had adequate proof. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:56.240 So I want you to recognize something else in relationship to this truth. 00:16:56.659 --> 00:17:03.940 Unbelief is a conscious choice to reject God in the light that He has given to us. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.720 Unbelief is a conscious choice. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.579 Turn over your Bibles for a moment to Romans chapter 1. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.180 We're in John chapter 6. 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.240 We will come back there. 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:17.299 But I want you to pay attention for a minute to what we find in Romans chapter 1. 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:28.940 Romans chapter 1, verse 20 and 21. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:33.860 For His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:39.619 have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:41.959 So they are without excuse. 00:17:44.679 --> 00:17:49.719 For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God nor give Him thanks. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:54.740 But they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.339 That's pretty interesting, isn't it? 00:17:57.339 --> 00:18:01.240 Because it tells us that men are without excuse and that actually, 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:04.419 as you work your way through the remainder of the passage here in Romans, 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:10.419 it is undeniably clear that men choose to reject the truth that they have 00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:16.259 and they shut down the work and convicting power that is in the evidence around them. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.599 I don't want to know the facts. 00:18:18.699 --> 00:18:21.619 How many of you have ever dealt with an individual when you're in the conversation 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:23.379 talking with them about a certain matter? 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:27.160 In emotional terms, what they do is they put their fingers in the air 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:28.220 and they go, la, la, la, la, la, la. 00:18:28.320 --> 00:18:29.200 What are they trying to do? 00:18:30.260 --> 00:18:31.140 Trying to shut you up. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.980 They don't want to hear it. 00:18:33.760 --> 00:18:37.500 Jesus said, you've heard it, you've seen it, and you choose not to believe. 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:41.140 So when we look at verse 36, 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:46.820 and we see that these individuals willingly rejected Christ and His offer of salvation, 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:50.720 we know what they did, but the question follows, why did they do it? 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:55.880 Why would an individual in the face of the power of Christ 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:58.740 willingly turn away from the work of God 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:02.519 and choose to walk from the light and to stay in the darkness? 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:07.259 I want you to look with me at divine grace that we find there in verse 37. 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.100 Let me read it to you. 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:11.680 All that the Father gives me will come to me. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.880 Saving faith is the work of God. 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:27.340 You see, when Jesus explained to these people why they were unbelieving as they remained, 00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:31.640 He made it clear that despite all that they had seen, 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:38.780 that their choice of not believing in Him had something to do with the work of God. 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:43.740 So what we'd have to say in part as we read this passage, 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:46.079 those who come are those who are given. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:49.079 Those who come are those who are given. 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:54.139 The ones who come and believe in Jesus are the ones who are given to Jesus by the Father. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:58.160 This truth is profound, and it deserves some careful thought. 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:01.579 Behind the coming is the giving. 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:07.619 Everyone, every single person that has ever or will ever come to Christ 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:12.639 comes because of the blessed work of the Father in the individual's life 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:15.099 in bringing them to conviction. 00:20:17.659 --> 00:20:19.359 Five children in our family. 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:22.980 I'm referring to my brother and sisters. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:30.319 All five of us sat night after night and listened to my father as he held family devotions. 00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:36.140 All five of us together heard the stories, 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:39.779 remembered hearing of the power of the gospel, 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:43.920 and of the five, three of them walk presently with Christ, 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:46.640 and two of them are far away from the Lord Jesus. 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.200 And when I asked myself, 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:52.079 well, what is it that made Tim Knoyer respond in that environment, 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:54.299 and my brother and sister not respond? 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:57.419 I don't have a logical answer. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.579 We all heard the same thing. 00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:03.460 We all heard the same thing. 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:06.199 And so I would have to say that 00:21:06.199 --> 00:21:09.659 if I were to give an answer for the reason for my salvation, 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:11.399 salvation is of the Lord. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.939 It's the work of God that called me. 00:21:14.419 --> 00:21:15.279 And I got to tell you, 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:21.019 God had to chase stubborn, arrogant, selfish, wicked, ungodly, 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:25.759 just a miserable skunk named Tim Knoyer all the way across. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:32.099 And as we read in the Scriptures, we find this, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:38.900 that the story of redemption is always and invariably a picture of God at work 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:45.240 and in His mercy pursuing people who are hopelessly lost apart from Him. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:49.059 I love the fact that in the Old Testament, 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:52.539 we hear that statement so many times, 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:56.519 salvation is of the Lord, salvation is of the Lord, salvation is of the Lord. 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:59.059 In fact, does anybody know what the name Jesus means? 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.700 How many of you know? 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.240 Raise your hand. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.220 Wave at me. 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:04.099 I know what the name Jesus means. 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.740 Come on. 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.559 Would you get it up like this 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:11.460 so I know the amount of information that is out here in the crowd? 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.980 Raise your hand high. 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.299 Thank you. 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.480 Way in the back. 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.160 Extra points. 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.920 See that he gets a hamburger for lunch, okay? 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.620 Okay. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.539 Do you know what Jesus means? 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.140 It means Jehoshua saves. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:29.099 Jesus means Jehovah saves. 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.880 How's that for a name for our Savior, right? 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.900 Salvation is of the Lord. 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:40.460 And so when you look here at Jesus displaying His incredible power 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:44.660 that made people chase Him around the lake because they wanted to be around Him, 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:48.460 their interest had nothing to do with their spiritual need. 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:59.660 I want you to understand the Bible makes it clear that salvation necessarily is the work of God. 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:01.800 It's only the work of God. 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.440 And why is that? 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:06.500 Let's stop for a moment and think about a couple different passages in relationship to this. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.620 Turn to your Bible. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.519 You're there in John. 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.560 We're going to come back to it. 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:11.800 But go to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:16.759 Why is it that salvation has to be something that God does? 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:22.359 Because several years ago, I had a shoulder that needed a surgical procedure. 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:26.119 And after my surgery, I had to go for therapy. 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.640 Therapy is lots of fun. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.240 Am I right? 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:31.140 Who anybody here wants to tell me how much fun therapy is? 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.720 Hi, Abby. 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.759 Is therapy fun? 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:36.519 Huh? 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.160 No. 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:39.299 Katie, is therapy fun? 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.539 Hi. 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.480 No, it's not fun. 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:45.039 But in therapy, here's what you do. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:52.480 You go and they smile at you and then they put your arm or your leg or whatever to a position that you didn't think it should go to. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:52.980 Am I right? 00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:59.859 And they say to you, and now do this about a thousand times when you're at home. 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:02.299 It's kind of a partnering deal. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:06.079 They make you suffer and then send you home with information to suffer more. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:11.279 That's not how salvation is. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:19.940 Over in Ephesians chapter 2, it says this in verse 1, and we get hammered on this or with this repeatedly in chapter 2. 00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:22.859 It says, you were dead in your trespasses and sin. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.779 How many of you have ever been around dead people? 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.440 Raise your hands. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.279 Been around dead people. 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:30.839 Can you imagine having a conversation with a dead person? 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:33.319 Do you understand lying there does not make everybody happy? 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:36.000 Would you please get up and do something about this? 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:38.859 You don't have to stay that way. 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:41.839 If you just start breathing now, it would be better. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:44.480 You know, I mean, there are lots of things you could say to a dead person. 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.819 How are they going to respond? 00:24:46.679 --> 00:24:47.399 Room temperature. 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.099 That's it. 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.619 Won't change. 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.839 Do you know why? 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.179 Because they're dead. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:25:04.720 And when the Bible describes our condition prior to conversion, the Bible makes it undeniably clear that our condition is marked by our spiritual death. 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:10.100 Let's look at another thing in relationship to that. 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:16.180 Salvation is necessarily the work of God because, one, we are dead in our sins. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:23.320 In Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8 and 9, it says, for by grace you're saved. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:28.000 It's something that happens to us, not something we of our own initiative do. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:32.420 Then go back, if you will, to Ephesians chapter 1 and look at verse 4. 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:40.580 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:46.399 Well, I've got to just step aside for a moment here and go off on a tangent. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.240 How many of you know what a tangent is? 00:25:49.899 --> 00:25:50.639 That's a tangent. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:53.379 I'm moving away from the pulpit because I'm going on a tangent. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.359 Here's the tangent. 00:25:57.659 --> 00:26:03.079 Salvation that is authentic produces transformation in a life that is recognizable. 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:05.139 Everybody heard me say that, right? 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:07.599 Now, it's not all that it could be immediately. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:15.240 And I wish that Jesus, in Tim Kenoyer's case, the minute I got saved, had made me just about as close to holy and perfect as conceivable 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:19.419 because it's been a long, arduous journey to make slow progress. 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.319 Everybody agree with that. 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:25.639 How many of you wish you didn't have as much problem with indwelling sin as you have had? 00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:27.039 Okay. 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:40.539 But the point I want to make is that genuine salvation, genuine conversion does produce a walk that is undeniably different from where you were before. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:54.119 Last week, talking with an individual about the Lord, I'm amazed how many people I bump into that tell me they have been saved but are living scandalous lives. 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.819 You know what I mean by scandalous? 00:26:56.099 --> 00:27:01.739 I mean they're living lives that are deeply marred by the unintended consequences of sin. 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:09.000 And one of the things I love telling people is that, hey, let me tell you something about real salvation. 00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:18.679 Real salvation brings the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the indwelling Holy Spirit is a take-no-prisoners helper to help you change, to be different than who you used to be. 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:20.180 And everybody said, amen. 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.160 Whew. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.160 One. 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.840 Thank you, Jesus. 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:27.700 Okay. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.920 Let me say it again because it's an important point. 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:39.480 Salvation brings, among other things, a Holy Spirit who's at work in us, helping us be different than we used to be. 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:41.340 And everybody said, amen. 00:27:41.840 --> 00:27:42.580 That's better. 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:52.099 And so people watching you should say to you, how come you're different? 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:58.019 How come you're different? 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:01.699 Our neighbor came in Friday afternoon. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.119 I'd been working so bad. 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.419 My batteries died. 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:12.080 And so Friday evening, providentially, we're sitting there, and our neighbor come knock on the door and wants to talk to us. 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.320 Hindu girl. 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:23.380 She wanted to tell us that she is in love with some young man, and, you know, I knew that. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:26.680 Truck had been there several nights in a row, and, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.120 You know, I live in the world. 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:37.259 And so she says, you know what, I'm hoping we can get married and that we can have a marriage like Judith and you. 00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:42.619 I thought, oh. 00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:46.159 I mean, that's like saying sick him to a dog. 00:28:46.219 --> 00:28:46.859 Do you understand that? 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:51.879 I mean, well, you know what, I'm really a good person. 00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:54.639 And Judith is pretty lucky to have me. 00:28:54.640 --> 00:29:05.220 Here's what I said. 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:08.000 I said, I'm not the hero in my story. 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.240 I'm not the hero in my story. 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.240 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:33.080 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. 00:29:33.280 --> 00:29:34.740 Look at verse 11 and 12. 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:45.200 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will, 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:54.539 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:57.920 I'll tell you the truth. 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:07.240 Friday evening, as Judith and I sat together in our living room and shared what God had done in our life, 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:18.759 I shared that I had been an absolutely miserable husband that by my selfish arrogance had so deeply harmed our marriage that Judith had left me for a while. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:23.559 And only God had put our marriage back together again. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:28.240 And Ruchika looks at me and she says, how can that be? 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:33.819 I said, the line, you know, it's like, well, Ruchika, I'm not the hero in our story. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.799 Is that true for you? 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:43.359 Do people look at the life you are living and recognize that it's different? 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:46.240 And are curious. 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:50.659 Are you taking supplements that make you this way? 00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:53.939 You know, I mean, that's the answer to most everything today. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.000 You know, it's a supplement. 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:57.479 You know, no, no, it's not. 00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:59.559 But I've got to tell you who it is. 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.039 It's Jesus. 00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:01.519 It's Jesus. 00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:09.079 So, John adds to our understanding of this issue of grace. 00:31:09.199 --> 00:31:10.519 Go back to John chapter 6. 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.859 We don't want to miss the lesson here. 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:14.879 In verse 44 here, John makes it clear. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:19.220 He says, no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:25.019 Anybody here ever deal with a well and water? 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.240 Okay. 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.299 I grew up in India. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:37.519 We got our water by walking to the well and dropping a bucket down deep down into the well and then pulling it up. 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.400 Okay. 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:40.780 You had to draw the bucket up. 00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.440 It didn't come up. 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.220 Water, water, come to the top. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:45.640 You had to pull it up. 00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:48.360 And here is Jesus. 00:31:48.580 --> 00:31:51.120 He's talking to people who understood the process. 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:57.360 And he says, no one can come to me unless the Father who calls, the Father who sent me draws him. 00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:09.859 So, I want you to understand that when we think about what happens in salvation, on the divine part of it, we recognize that God does it. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:13.259 But let's not stop there because Jesus doesn't. 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:18.160 And I will raise him up at the last day. 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.940 Go back to verse 37. 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:25.859 And whoever comes to me, I will not cast out. 00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:29.099 There's another piece that I want to draw attention to. 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:33.679 Those who come by grace are kept by grace. 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:36.919 Let me say that slowly because I don't want you to miss it. 00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:42.559 Those who come by grace are kept by grace. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:48.819 Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.859 I love that. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.960 Draw two thoughts for you here. 00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:57.359 Jesus won't throw you out. 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.200 He won't show you the door. 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:08.039 Those who are saved can be certain that he who saved them will not lose patience and decide it's time to dismiss you from his family. 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:17.639 In fact, one of the things I will tell you, I have no hesitation saying to believers, and by the way, how many of you know that believers can sin? 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:20.119 Can sin horribly. 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:22.920 Can sin for years. 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:28.539 And I don't know whether an individual who's sinning is a believer or not, but here's what I do know. 00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:39.539 If you are a believer and you are involved in sin, the Father who cares for you will not let you get away with it. 00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:50.319 In fact, I can tell you, in terms of the short run, it is practically easier to be a non-believer engaged in sin than a believer. 00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.599 Why is that? 00:33:51.599 --> 00:34:02.659 Non-believers basically do not endure the progressive chastening of the Father who is bent on bringing you to holiness. 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:08.900 The unbeliever is not dealt with the same way that the believer is. 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:15.019 And so I want you to recognize that when we are saved by Christ, we are kept by Christ. 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:25.320 And I love that truth because his unfailing love means that there's nothing I can do that is going to make him love me more or nothing I can do that's going to make him love me less. 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.000 He loves me. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.800 That won't change. 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:33.759 One more thing that I want you to recognize in this passage, and I want you to mark it. 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:38.739 Salvation is of the Lord, and he's the one who keeps us. 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:43.480 But salvation's call is to whosoever and to everyone. 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:51.719 I confess the two truths in this text are hard to hold in tension, but they're true, and they're there, and they're for our benefit and for our encouragement. 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:59.880 And I am blessed by the reality that he who came to be the Savior of the world makes such a welcome call to all. 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.539 Look at the passage with me. 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:05.740 Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:19.219 I want you to recognize this morning as you think about the reality of the work of God in salvation that one of the blessings that we have is that in his love he calls us. 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:21.379 He draws us to himself. 00:35:22.359 --> 00:35:25.099 And yet that is something he is doing all over the world. 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:28.699 He is drawing people to himself in every corner of this globe. 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:38.539 In fact, I kind of take not pleasure in what's happening in America, but I take pleasure in what is happening all around the world in some of the most difficult of environments. 00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:44.059 That's where the gospel and its power is most radically and powerfully displayed. 00:35:44.799 --> 00:35:45.480 Why is it? 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:49.199 Because Christ is drawing people to himself. 00:35:49.879 --> 00:35:52.659 And whosoever will may come. 00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:54.859 So I want you to think this morning. 00:35:55.920 --> 00:36:00.259 Where are you in relationship to the sweetness of the gospel? 00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:01.460 Let me give you two different pictures. 00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:10.239 One is the woman at the well who when Jesus came into her life, she was exposed as a sinner and humbled by her condition. 00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:16.599 And she came to grips with the fact that only Jesus could be the remedy for the darkness of her heart. 00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:17.699 And what did she do? 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.819 She came to faith. 00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:22.240 After she came to faith, she scampered into town. 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:23.600 And what did she do then? 00:36:24.600 --> 00:36:26.080 Hey, she was fired up. 00:36:27.140 --> 00:36:31.600 She was like a person who was selling longer burger baskets, but for heaven. 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.880 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:34.920 I hope nobody sells longer burger baskets anymore. 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.440 I didn't want to use other illustrations. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:38.600 But she was into town. 00:36:38.760 --> 00:36:39.800 Come see the man. 00:36:40.580 --> 00:36:41.019 Why? 00:36:41.720 --> 00:36:43.240 Because her heart was cooked by that. 00:36:44.160 --> 00:36:45.460 Is your heart cooked like that? 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:50.340 Have you come to grips with the beauty of Christ and what he's done in saving you? 00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:59.099 And does it make a difference in the life that you live and the passion with which you share the Lord Jesus Christ with other people? 00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:00.400 Yes or no? 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:08.960 Well, earlier this morning as we were in our Sunday school class listening to James McDonald talk about the matter of witnessing, 00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:22.579 I said to our congregation that the reason people don't witness is first of all because they don't see the power of the cross at work helping them change and grow. 00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:35.500 And if you're a child of God, listen to me carefully, you can be confident that the Spirit of God indwells you and he is interested. 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:40.440 In fact, he is invested in helping you be different tomorrow than you were today. 00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:42.779 And all God's people would say amen in theory. 00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:43.219 Try it. 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:44.980 Amen. 00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:45.840 Yeah. 00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.719 He is interested. 00:37:47.860 --> 00:37:51.400 In fact, he's invested in helping you be different tomorrow than you were today. 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:59.200 And when you see the Spirit of God working to help you change, it gives you energy and enthusiasm to go out to other people and say, 00:37:59.300 --> 00:38:01.780 Hey, you don't have to stay the way you are. 00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:11.599 Second thing, when we understand how much Christ loves us, 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:20.280 given the fact that we're really unlovable, everybody said amen. 00:38:20.280 --> 00:38:20.420 Amen. 00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:21.700 Amen. 00:38:21.700 --> 00:38:21.820 Amen. 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:31.280 When we understand how much Christ loves us, that overwhelming fact makes us love him and drives us to talk about him. 00:38:38.019 --> 00:38:40.579 Jesus looked at that crowd and he says, Hey, let me tell you something. 00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:44.299 I've showed myself to you 00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:46.420 and you don't believe 00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:51.079 all that the Father 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:54.119 intends are drawn 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:58.739 and it may be this morning in the preaching of the word of God 00:38:58.739 --> 00:39:02.299 that where you are sitting there is something going on 00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:06.079 that cannot be explained apart from the drawing of God 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:09.739 to bring you to the point of recognizing that the darkness 00:39:09.739 --> 00:39:11.899 the depression 00:39:11.899 --> 00:39:15.159 the emptiness of your soul 00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:18.279 is nothing other than God at work 00:39:18.279 --> 00:39:23.299 helping you come to grips with the bankruptcy of your spiritual condition 00:39:23.299 --> 00:39:26.579 and his intention is to draw you to himself 00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:30.399 and there stands Jesus with his arms wide open 00:39:30.399 --> 00:39:31.199 and what does he say? 00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:33.279 he says come unto me 00:39:33.279 --> 00:39:35.039 come unto me 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:36.739 come unto me 00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:41.279 and it would be wrong 00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:43.279 it would be wrong 00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:47.419 for me 00:39:47.419 --> 00:39:49.859 to stand at this pulpit 00:39:49.859 --> 00:39:51.739 and not plead with you in Christ's stead 00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:53.719 if you're here and you do not know Christ 00:39:53.719 --> 00:39:55.939 it is my plea this morning 00:39:55.939 --> 00:39:58.079 that you confess him as your savior 00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:59.399 and believe on him alone 00:39:59.399 --> 00:40:00.379 for salvation 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:03.880 that's to unbelievers 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:07.619 to believers it's this 00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:13.440 so when was the last time 00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:18.280 that you were so overwhelmed with the love of Christ 00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:20.960 that it made a difference in what you said 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:23.079 to other people 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:24.740 fair question? 00:40:24.739 --> 00:40:28.759 so when was the last time 00:40:28.759 --> 00:40:30.299 that the love of Christ 00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:31.500 so overwhelmed you 00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.859 that it made a difference 00:40:32.859 --> 00:40:34.099 in the way you live 00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:36.079 that unbelievers ask you 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.719 what was going on 00:40:37.719 --> 00:40:39.000 and what was different? 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:50.679 I am on temporary assignment here 00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:55.079 this is not my favorite job 00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:59.360 my favorite job is coming in the future 00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:01.039 when I in the presence of Christ 00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:02.280 will enter joy 00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:05.099 unending praise and adoration 00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:06.460 but while I'm here 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:08.519 I have a job that's pretty clear 00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:12.639 and by the way 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:15.360 that's your job too 00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:18.300 let's close in prayer 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:23.420 holy father this morning 00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:24.780 as we think about the passage 00:41:24.780 --> 00:41:26.800 we understand that Jesus is the center 00:41:26.800 --> 00:41:30.219 he is the savior of the world 00:41:30.219 --> 00:41:32.159 he is the only one who can change 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:34.860 the wounded and broken heart 00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:36.400 and bring complete forgiveness 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:37.880 and there are those 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:38.820 who are here today 00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:40.440 that need Jesus as their savior 00:41:40.440 --> 00:41:42.180 and I would plead with you 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:44.240 that you would grab a hold of their heart 00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:45.619 and bring them to the cross 00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:49.039 and there are believers here this morning 00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:51.780 that have lost sight of the glory 00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:52.820 and the power 00:41:52.820 --> 00:41:54.320 and the joy 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:55.740 that they have in Christ 00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:58.679 and only your spirit 00:41:58.679 --> 00:42:00.699 can rekindle their affections 00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:04.000 and Lord we would ask that you do that 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:05.779 that in the temporary period we have 00:42:05.779 --> 00:42:06.879 between here and eternity 00:42:06.879 --> 00:42:08.579 we who know Christ 00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:10.639 will be faithful in our high and holy calling 00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:13.319 we ask this in your precious name 00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:14.300 amen 00:42:14.300 --> 00:42:14.380 amen