WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.879 Church this morning, we are grateful to have each of you in attendance with us this morning. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:11.980 I hope the service has already been a blessing to you. Can you say amen to that? Amen. The music, 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:17.780 the bells down here, that was really cool to watch. And I know it's blessed me and I hope 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:22.199 it has you as well. We're going to continue on in our series on Ephesians this morning. So if 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:26.359 you would take the word of God with me and turn to Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus, 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:32.719 Ephesians chapter 3. We'll begin chapter 3 this morning as we've been going through this book. 00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:37.820 We've been talking, you know what babe, I left my clicker down there. Would you mind bringing that? 00:00:37.879 --> 00:00:50.879 I'll take my hot tea too. I don't normally bring drinks with me to the pulpit, but as you can tell, 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:55.480 my voice is a little weird this morning. I've got a little cough and it'll be helpful to have this 00:00:55.479 --> 00:01:01.239 up here with me. Ephesians chapter 3, as we've been going through this book, we've been talking 00:01:01.239 --> 00:01:07.500 about all the different themes throughout this book and it kind of has a two-part theme, who we are 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:18.199 and how we live. So as we go through this book, the first three chapters of the book are talking about 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:26.180 who we are as Christians, as believers and followers of Jesus. Who does that make us? And it talks about 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:32.640 our identity in Christ. So that's been the theme all throughout chapter 1, chapter 2, and now continuing 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:40.240 on through chapter 3. The book is kind of helpfully split into two parts and that is who we are in 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:49.159 Christ. And then chapters 4, 5, and 6 cover how we live for Christ. So much of our study for this 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:55.379 series comes from the Christ-centered exposition series, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians by Pastor Tony 00:01:55.379 --> 00:02:01.099 Merida. The background of the book, again, it was written by the Apostle Paul somewhere around the 00:02:01.099 --> 00:02:09.939 year AD 62 while he was in Roman imprisonment. And he was closely familiar with the church in Ephesus that 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:15.479 this letter was written to. He had been the pastor there for about three years. Acts chapter 19 talks 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:22.099 about that. And so this letter was carried by hand by carrier to the church in Ephesus while he was back 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:28.240 in Rome in imprisonment. And it was then distributed throughout some of the early churches around that 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:44.260 area. So, excuse me. We gonna work? For some reason this thing's not working. Can y'all advance it to the next? 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:52.300 It might be. Anybody got triple A's in their pocket? 00:02:52.300 --> 00:03:04.360 I'll try that again here. There we go. All right. We are good to go. So, again, we are continuing on 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:09.200 part one, who we are in Christ. And today we're going to be going through Ephesians chapter one. 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:16.240 I'm sorry, chapter three, verses one through 13. So, if you are able to, please join me in standing with 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:22.020 your copy of the Word of God. If you didn't bring one with you, there should be one in the back of the 00:03:22.020 --> 00:03:28.080 queue in front of you. And let's read Ephesians chapter three, verses one through 13. I'm reading 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:34.740 from the Christian Standard Bible. For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:42.379 Gentiles, you have heard, haven't you, about the administration of God's grace that he gave to me 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:49.140 for you. The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 00:03:49.139 --> 00:03:57.619 By reading this, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. This was not 00:03:57.619 --> 00:04:03.659 made known to people in other generations, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:14.299 by the Spirit. The Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, partners in the promise in Christ 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:20.460 Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was 00:04:20.460 --> 00:04:27.500 given to me by the working of his power. This grace was given to me, the least of all the saints, 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:35.400 to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:42.180 administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God's 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:48.600 multifaceted wisdom may be now made known through the churches to the rulers and authorities in the 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:55.819 heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him 00:04:55.819 --> 00:05:04.180 we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So then I ask you not to be discouraged 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:10.960 over my afflictions on your behalf, but they are for your glory. You can be seated. Father, I thank 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:16.939 you for this time together. I pray that you would continue to speak to us through your word. I pray 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:23.539 that as this letter was written many centuries ago, that it is still alive and relevant for us today, 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:31.079 that your work, that your word would speak your work into our hearts, that we would be changed 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:37.479 by your power for your glory. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. All right, so we read 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:46.160 about the mystery. We read all kinds of different themes throughout this, these first 13 verses of 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:53.540 this first chapter, third chapter of Ephesians. The theme, I believe, of these first 13 verses in 00:05:53.540 --> 00:06:01.800 Ephesians 3 is a Christ-centered Christian. A Christ-centered Christian. Now that goes right along 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:07.740 with our theme of starting out the holiday, starting out Christmas, Christmas should be, 00:06:07.840 --> 00:06:13.879 for the follower of Jesus, all about Christ. It should be all about Christ. We get to enjoy 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:18.840 many other themes throughout the Christmas season, throughout the holiday season. Hopefully we get 00:06:18.840 --> 00:06:25.560 to have time with family, with friends. We get to reflect on the meaning of generosity. We get to reflect 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:31.420 on making good memories together, etc. There are all kinds of things that we can do. If you turn on 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:38.079 Hallmark Christmas movies, it's all about leaving your fiance who works for the big job in the city 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:43.759 and getting together with, you know, the old guy in the flannel shirt back home that you used to date. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:49.720 So anyway, there's all kinds of themes that you'll encounter at Christmas, but for the child of God, 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:56.120 it really should center around the person of Christ. It's about his advent. It's about his coming. 00:06:57.460 --> 00:07:02.220 And so if we are going to be Christ-centered Christians, well, it just so happens that 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:07.620 Philippians, I'm sorry, Ephesians chapter, I am on about eight different medications right now, 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:14.900 so please forgive me if I say the wrong thing. And I believe they're all legal. So Ephesians chapter 3 00:07:14.899 --> 00:07:21.639 talks about how exactly we can be a Christ-centered Christian. So let's get into it. Number one, 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:25.779 a Christ-centered Christian is a willing prisoner of Christ. 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.779 Anybody want to go to jail? Anybody want to be a prisoner? 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.839 Let's look at verse 1 again. We just read it a moment ago. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:39.359 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles. 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:43.519 He's a prisoner of Christ. He uses this word intentionally. 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:50.179 You can flip over if you want or just look at the screen, but back in Zechariah chapter 9, 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:56.179 we're going Old Testament here, minor prophets. Return to the strongholds, you prisoners of hope. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:03.679 Even today, I declare that I will restore double to you. If you read later on in the New Testament 00:08:03.679 --> 00:08:11.099 about the story of Onesimus, and Onesimus was a prisoner. He was a slave of a wealthy man 00:08:11.100 --> 00:08:19.660 who was actually, had become a Christian. And Paul met Onesimus. Onesimus himself gave his life to 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:25.620 Christ and put his faith in Jesus. And then God began to do a work in Onesimus' life. And he was 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:32.500 actually sent by his master to, on a journey to go see Paul. And Paul was able to see him converted. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.960 He was able to see his life change. He started helping out in the ministry. And so Paul writes back 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:43.379 to the owner of Onesimus, because remember, slavery was legal back then, right? So it was a part of the 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:48.019 culture. And so Paul writes back to the owner of Onesimus, pleading on his behalf, saying, 00:08:48.300 --> 00:08:55.100 Onesimus was your prisoner, but now he has become a prisoner of Christ, like I am and like you are. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:09:03.120 And so there is the idea of freedom in Christ. What does freedom in Christ mean? What are we being 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:11.060 freed from? You can say it louder. Yeah, sin. You got it. We're being freed from sin. We're being 00:09:11.060 --> 00:09:20.419 freed from the chains of the old life, the old self. And so as we are casting that off and embracing 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:27.580 our new freedom in Christ, we're actually accepting a new master. We're actually becoming prisoners of 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:37.660 Christ because we are secure in him. We can't leave him. He doesn't forsake us. There's nothing we can do 00:09:37.660 --> 00:09:47.300 to take ourselves out of his hand. And so we are now prisoners of Christ, or as the prophet Zechariah 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:55.340 talked about, you could be prisoners of hope. And this was specifically written for the Hebrew people 00:09:55.340 --> 00:10:01.600 that were prisoners of Babylon at that time. And even though they were still prisoners of Babylon, 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:08.879 they had this prophecy that gave them hope. It said you can return to the stronghold tonight. You can 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:14.860 return to the fortress where you're being held captive. But even though you are prisoners on this 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:22.139 earth, you are also prisoners of hope, that blessed eternal hope that God will rescue there, 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:27.460 will rescue you. And there is a direct correlation there. There's a direct parallel to where we find 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:35.139 ourselves today. Folks, we are bound by this wicked world. We can't leave this planet right now. We can't 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:41.519 go and start our eternity with God until he calls that moment when he calls us home, until he deems 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:46.899 this is the moment that you'll come home to me. But until then, we are bound in this world. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:54.840 But we can be prisoners of hope. We can be prisoners of hope that God has not forgotten about us. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:11:00.159 And actually, his promise said, I will restore double to you. I can tell you, I can promise you, 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:07.799 God has restored so much more than double for us. When he sent his son Jesus to be born in the manger 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:12.600 of the Virgin Mary, as we're going to be talking all about that during the Christmas season, 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:21.019 you'll hear it over and over again. It's a wonderful reminder that God has given so much to us. He held 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:29.019 nothing back. And so his promise is so real for us. And we are no longer, if you have put your faith 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:36.100 in Jesus, no longer prisoners of sin, no longer prisoners of darkness, no longer prisoners to those 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:42.560 temptations, those bad habits, those things that you just can't seem to break. Now we can be prisoners 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:49.600 of Christ. We can be prisoners of hope. And so that's what Paul is reminding us of as he starts it off 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:57.040 here at Ephesians 3. He says, I am a prisoner of Christ, but I am a willing prisoner of Christ. One of the 00:11:57.040 --> 00:12:04.200 great Christian songwriters, a man named Bill Gaither, wrote a song, says, I'm a prisoner of hope. And I put it 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:11.300 down here so I can read it for you. Just a few of the words. He says, I'm a prisoner of hope, bound by my 00:12:11.300 --> 00:12:19.900 faith, chained to your love, locked up in grace. I'm free to leave, but I'll never go. I'm wonderfully, 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:27.440 willingly, freely a prisoner of hope. And that's true. The only part I would change in that is we're 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:31.759 not free to leave because I don't think there's anything you or I could do to lose our salvation, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:38.100 our freedom in Christ. He's given it to us. He's never going to take it away. And so he says, 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:45.779 I am a prisoner of hope. I'm a prisoner of Christ. Let me tell you, Jesus reminds us, we've said it many 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:53.679 times, his yoke is easy. His burden is light. He's not a mean taskmaster. He's not going to lord it over 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:59.860 you. He's not going to harm you. He's not going to run you down. He's not going to speak evil of you. 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:05.220 He will uplift you. He will give you joy. And if you don't have that in your life right now, 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:10.639 if you're not experiencing that in your life right now, it might be because you're not spending 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:19.080 enough time with your master. You need to get closer as a prisoner of hope, a prisoner of Jesus 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:29.980 Christ to your master. So let's look back at Ephesians three, a prisoner of Christ, a willing 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:35.100 prisoner of Christ. That's what a Christ-centered Christian looks like. Number two, a Christ-centered 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:41.639 Christian understands the mystery of Christ, understands the mystery of Christ. If you're 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:45.620 filling out the blank in your bulletin this morning, I believe it's mystery there. Let's look 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:52.600 down at verse three, verse three of Ephesians two. The mystery was made known to me by revelation. 00:13:53.340 --> 00:14:00.340 Verse four, by reading this, you're able to understand my insight into this mystery of Christ. 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:06.120 This was not made known to people in other generations. Now it's revealed to his holy 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:12.039 apostles and prophets by the spirit. Here it is. You see the little colon there in my text? It's got a 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:17.939 colon introducing this is the mystery. You ready for it? Here it is. The Gentiles are co-heirs, 00:14:18.719 --> 00:14:25.659 members of the same body, partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. That's the mystery. 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:35.059 The Jewish people had always been God's chosen people, and they still are today. And we need to 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:40.419 continually pray for the Jewish people as they're undergoing all that strife in the Middle East right 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:50.799 right now. Don't be lax in that. However, God has also opened the door for the Gentiles. That was the 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:56.659 mystery that Paul was trying to introduce. And he was writing it to a group of Gentiles that said, 00:14:56.740 --> 00:15:04.439 listen, I've got good news. You can be saved. You can access God. The veil has been lifted. The curtain 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:11.240 has been torn. The door has been swung open. All can be now. What does he say? Co-heirs. 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:19.740 Anybody ever been an heir to a great fortune? You have been. I hope you tithed off of it. I'd like 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:27.800 to have a conversation with you after. I've got some needs around here. Anyway, I've never had a rich 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:34.279 uncle die. My ship's never come in. I've never been heir to a great amount of wealth. But I could tell 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:44.819 you that you and I are co-heirs with Jesus Christ to all the riches of God, to all the wealth of the 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:51.839 gospel of Jesus that says you don't have to pay for your sin. Your sin has been paid for. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:16:01.180 You now can be joint heirs, co-heirs with Jesus. You can be called the sons and daughters of God. 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:10.280 That is wealth beyond imagination. That is riches beyond compare. And that is the mystery of Christ 00:16:10.280 --> 00:16:17.220 that he has opened the door to anyone who will turn to him. So Colossians chapter one, 00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:23.779 Paul wrote this to the church at Colossians. He says, I became a minister according to the 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:28.540 stewardship from God. A minister of the church is what he's talking about here as you read in verse 00:16:28.540 --> 00:16:33.879 24. So picking it up in verse 25, I became a minister according to the stewardship of God that 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:42.420 was given to me for you. What was it for? To make the word of God fully known. Now that is the ministry 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:48.659 that all of us have received. There are some in the eyes of the government who are legal ministers, 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:54.099 right? And we've been ordained or licensed or, you know, set us set apart for this ministry. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:59.860 We make it our life's calling. We go about that work day to day. And often times we're called pastors 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:09.240 in churches. But every member is a minister. Every member of the body, everyone who comes together 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:15.120 for corporate worship here in our church is a minister. And we have all received this ministry 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:22.339 to make the word of God fully known. And so a Christ-centered Christian understands this mystery. 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:30.299 The mystery hidden for ages and for generations, but now revealed to his saints. Verse 27, to them, 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:38.859 God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:47.859 Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. And that is the best summary of the mystery of God that 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:59.599 we could ever ask for. Christ in us, the hope of glory. There's no glory in this world. There's no glory 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:06.859 that you and I could ever achieve on our own. But there is hope of glory. There's hope of God making 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:16.359 something glorious out of our life. But it has to come from Christ in us. If Christ is not in you 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:27.699 this morning, please don't walk out of this room without inviting Christ to save you from your sins. 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:34.439 Say, God, I turn from myself. I repent. I turn from my sins. And I turn to Jesus. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:41.820 And then Christ can be in you. And he can make something glorious of you. That's the good news. 00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:46.840 That's what we call the gospel. That's what we're talking about at Christmas time. That's what some 00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:51.660 of the songs we sang today we're referencing. That's what all throughout Christmas, as the world 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:57.420 is talking about peace on earth, goodwill toward men, Jesus coming to earth, that's what this season 00:18:57.420 --> 00:19:04.340 is about. The mystery of God, Christ in us, the hope of glory. The Christ-centered Christian, 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:12.200 number three, is a servant of the gospel of Christ. He's a servant of the gospel of Christ. Man, once we 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:17.340 wrap our head around that good news, once we wrap our head around that mystery, and we understand it 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:24.420 fully, then we are a servant to it. Then that is our responsibility. That is the privilege. That is the 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:30.840 calling that God has placed on our life. Let's look at verse 7, back in Ephesians 3. I was made a servant 00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:38.380 of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of his power. God is 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:45.840 working in us. Through his grace, he has decided then to give us a high and holy calling. And that is 00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:51.820 to be a servant of this gospel of Christ. Galatians chapter 2, Paul gives a little bit more insight 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:58.139 into what he's talking about. He says, this is the level of servitude that I've committed to serve 00:19:58.139 --> 00:20:05.079 God in getting this gospel out. He says, I've been crucified with Christ. Man, that is a powerful 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:10.960 statement. Jesus hanging on that cross. Picture that in your mind. I think it's important around 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:15.559 Christmas time when we're talking about the birth of Jesus and we picture him lying in the manger to 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:22.419 also remember that that life that started in that manger that day, that earthly life, 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:30.179 spanned 33 and a half years and it ended with Jesus hanging on that cross. So picture that in 00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:37.679 your mind today. And Paul says, I have been crucified with him. It's like I have hung myself up on that 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:45.680 cross with him. So then I no longer live. But guess what? If I hung myself on that cross, then I would 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:51.880 have just died and there would have been no resurrection. If Paul had hung himself on that cross, 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:57.680 there would have been no resurrection for him because he was not God and I'm not God and you're not God. 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:01.740 You might feel like sometimes you're God of your life, but you're deceiving yourself. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:13.099 There is only one God and his name is Jesus. And so if you want life, true life, then Christ has to 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:21.319 live in you. So he says, I've been crucified with Christ. And so now I no longer live, but Christ 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:28.440 through his resurrection power lives in me. And the life that I now live in this body, yes, I'm still 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:35.039 living in this body, but I'm actually living it by the faith in the son of God, by faith that I've 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:40.259 placed in the son of God. I can't see him. I wasn't alive when he was walking around this earth, but I 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:45.180 understand that he didn't stay dead. I understand that he rose from the grave and I understand that 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:52.120 he is just as alive today as he's ever been. And he is just as accessible today for you as he has ever 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:57.259 been for anyone in history, anyone that we read about in the Bible. And so I have faith in him. 00:21:57.259 --> 00:22:03.740 I have faith, even though I can't see it, I know he is real and I know he is there and I've seen him 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:11.220 work in my life. And so I put my faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. It's 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:16.879 not some God that was passed down that just says, you have to do this and you have to do that and you 00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:22.779 have to give this amount and you have to live this way or else you won't get to me. You can't access 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:30.339 me. That is not the God that we serve. The God that we serve loves us and gave himself for us. 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:44.359 So he's a good God. He's a good father. He's a good co-heir. He loves us. He gave himself for us. 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:52.559 So now we are a servant of his gospel and we go spread it to everybody we know. Many of you are 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:57.459 going to see family members over the holidays. Maybe we'll see people that you haven't seen in a long 00:22:57.459 --> 00:23:04.279 time. There's going to be opportunities that God brings into your life to be a servant of his gospel. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:09.000 There's going to be opportunities around the dinner table or in private conversations 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:16.339 to check on the status of their souls. We'll catch up on all the other things. How's work going for you? 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:23.480 How's family? We'll catch up on all the other details of their life. But can you find an opportunity 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:26.920 by God's grace to check on their soul? 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:34.099 I encourage you to be a servant of the gospel and continuing on in that theme, 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:41.139 the Christ-centered Christian proclaims the riches of Christ. Proclaims the riches of Christ. 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:48.919 Look down at verse 8 back in Ephesians 3. This grace was given to me, the least of all the saints. 00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:54.699 Trust me, Paul understood how wicked he had been prior to his salvation. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:24:03.400 He had been killing Christians on behalf of the government. He was the least of all. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:11.519 And he said, this grace was given to me to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ. 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:16.620 And to shed light for all about the administration of this mystery that we were talking about, 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:23.940 hidden for ages in God who created all things. Proclaim the incalculable riches of Christ. 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:27.140 Incalculable. You like that word? I love that word. 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:30.660 They could have used other words, but I love that incalculable term. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:36.480 It's like you can get out your Texas instruments, fancy calculator. Anybody have that? 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:41.779 I remember when I had just the regular calculator growing up, and my mom wouldn't let me use it for math 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:44.120 because she's like, no, you need to learn how to do it without the calculator. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:48.720 But then finally I got old enough in high school, and I'm like, okay, you can use your calculator. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:56.059 I remember when my brother got his Texas Instruments fancy calculator thing. 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:59.019 I don't know what all it did. I'm not a mathematician. 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:05.620 But it was amazing, and it seemed like it could do everything and maybe even drive your car for you. 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:11.019 I mean, that thing was very capable of all sorts of things that I couldn't even begin to come close to understanding. 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:22.339 But to think that all the computers, all the fancy calculators, all the brilliant minds on this earth 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:32.279 could never put themselves together in a room and calculate the riches of the love of God for us. 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.419 Couldn't be done. 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:37.740 It's beyond calculation. 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:40.159 It's beyond human understanding. 00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:45.679 We cannot come close to understanding what God did for us, 00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:47.980 the love he has for us. 00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:51.319 These are the riches of Christ. 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:55.200 It's the riches of the gospel, of this mystery. 00:25:56.519 --> 00:26:00.259 It's still mysterious to those whose eyes have not been opened. 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:02.740 It's still hard to understand. 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:07.240 So we proclaim, we proclaim the riches of Christ. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.039 Colossians chapter 2. 00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:12.980 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:17.279 so that then they may have all the riches of complete understanding 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.639 and have the knowledge of God's mystery. 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.220 See that? See that? 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.639 Dash right there. 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.299 What is God's mystery? 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.220 In one word? 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.039 What is it, folks? 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.299 Christ! 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.460 That's it. 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:30.159 He is the mystery. 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:33.539 And that's what it said earlier. 00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:36.740 Remember, Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:44.140 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:46.039 We're all looking for wisdom. 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.660 We're all looking for knowledge. 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.920 And God says, come together around this mystery. 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:52.240 Be encouraged in your heart. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.860 Be encouraged in your hearts. 00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:57.720 Be joined together in love so that you can experience these riches. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.300 And then proclaim these riches. 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.259 Proclaim Christ. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.539 Proclaim the mystery. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.340 Proclaim Christ in you. 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.819 The hope of glory. 00:27:07.939 --> 00:27:10.439 That is what a Christ-centered Christian does. 00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:14.419 And number five, boldly accesses the Father through Christ. 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:20.139 A Christ-centered Christian can boldly access the Father through Jesus Christ. 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.960 Back in verse 12, it talks about that. 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.900 In him. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.480 In Christ. 00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:29.220 Finished up. 00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:34.759 Back in verse 11, saying, all this is accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:38.259 And in verse 12, in him we have boldness. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:42.220 And we have confident access through faith in him. 00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:45.720 Listen, apart from Christ, you and I can't get to God. 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.560 We can't approach the Father. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.480 You and I are sinful. 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:54.420 We have no right to access the King of the universe. 00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:57.860 Except through our mediator. 00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:04.800 Except through the one who makes intercession for us. 00:28:05.020 --> 00:28:06.920 The one who paid our debt. 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:11.040 The one who now is a joint heir with us. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:16.560 He has elevated us to this status that we could have never achieved on our own. 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:18.220 We could never deserve. 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:23.539 And yet, through Christ, we now have access to the Father. 00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:26.940 Through Christ, we can access our Father anytime. 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.000 Any place. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.019 Any place. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:28.860 Anywhere. 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:30.759 We don't have to feel nervous. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.160 We don't have to feel scared. 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:33.799 We know his great power. 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.519 We know what he's capable of. 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.920 Man, you read through the Old Testament. 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:39.279 God is capable of some fearsome things. 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:41.220 Some scary stuff. 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:41.700 Alright? 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:44.620 But we don't have to be afraid. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.319 We don't have to be scared. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:49.240 We have achieved sonship. 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.720 Son status. 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.160 Not through anything we did. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.420 Through the gift. 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.920 No strings attached. 00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.960 That Jesus gave us. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:01.000 When he paid that penalty. 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.600 When he died on that cross. 00:29:02.840 --> 00:29:04.079 When he rose from the grave. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:08.160 And when he said, anyone who puts their faith in me, I will wash their sins away. 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.759 I will give them sonship. 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:14.840 I will give them that status and access to the Father through Jesus Christ. 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:28.059 Hebrews chapter 4 says, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. 00:29:28.199 --> 00:29:30.579 Have you ever been in need of mercy and grace? 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:33.419 Anybody, can you just join me in lifting your hand up? 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:38.119 If you've ever been in need of mercy and grace, I have many, many, many times in my life. 00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:46.519 In any of those times, we've got a direct line of access to the throne of the King of Kings. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.279 And that grace never runs out. 00:29:49.659 --> 00:29:51.079 That mercy never runs out. 00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:53.439 It's right there for us in our time of need. 00:29:53.799 --> 00:30:00.319 I thought this was a great quote by missionary Jim Elliott who actually gave his life in mission service. 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:03.139 He was a missionary pilot down in South America. 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:06.899 And he gave his life for the spreading of the gospel. 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:09.500 He was a servant of the gospel all the way to the end. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.380 And he said this about approaching God boldly. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.580 He said this, God is still on his throne. 00:30:17.280 --> 00:30:18.780 We're still on his footstool. 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:20.980 Remember the earth is God's footstool we read in the Bible? 00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:22.620 He says God is on his throne. 00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.900 We're on his footstool. 00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:26.340 And there's only a knees distance between. 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.360 Isn't that a neat quote? 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:33.480 Oftentimes we picture praying as falling to your knees. 00:30:33.560 --> 00:30:35.300 And that could be a very effective way of praying. 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:37.460 But whether you're on your knees or not. 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:41.419 You've got a direct line of access anytime to God. 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:46.079 That's how we remain a Christ centered Christian. 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:48.740 Is by going through Christ. 00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.740 In prayer. 00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:54.039 Crying out to God. 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.799 Saying God I need you. 00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:58.639 I don't even always know what to ask for. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.879 But I just come to you. 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:02.299 And say please help. 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:04.240 Please help with this. 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.720 Please help with this. 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.099 Please. 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.779 I messed up. 00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:08.779 Please help. 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.559 I don't know how to fix this. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.119 I'm being attacked. 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.240 Someone's trying to undermine me. 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.680 I just suffered a great loss. 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.639 Whatever it is. 00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:22.099 Whatever it is. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.559 You can give it to Jesus. 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.839 There's a direct line of access. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.839 And you can boldly go to the Father. 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:30.639 So in my way of review. 00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.959 A Christ centered Christian. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:34.639 Is a willing prisoner of Christ. 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.639 A Christ centered Christian. 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:38.539 Understands the mystery of Christ. 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:40.299 Which is Christ in us. 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:42.179 A Christ centered Christian. 00:31:42.179 --> 00:31:43.119 Is the servant. 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.939 Of the gospel of Christ. 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:47.000 A Christ centered Christian. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.480 Then of course proclaims. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.459 The riches of Christ. 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.099 And a Christ centered Christian. 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:53.139 Can boldly access. 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.339 The Father. 00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:55.799 Through Christ. 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:55.919 Christ. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.059 We're going to close with this. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:04.379 If we are going to be a Christ centered Christian. 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:08.579 Then we must understand the why. 00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:10.059 Behind the what. 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:13.059 Often times throughout church history. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.440 We've focused on the what. 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:20.460 And we've gotten a little bit removed. 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.579 From the why. 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.579 Sometimes a lot removed. 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.899 You understand what I'm saying? 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:25.920 Sometimes. 00:32:26.300 --> 00:32:27.980 How many of you grew up in church. 00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:28.759 Or Sunday school. 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.680 Or where you constantly heard. 00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:32.140 Don't do this. 00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:33.019 Do this. 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.519 How many of you guys heard that? 00:32:34.840 --> 00:32:35.440 Or am I alone? 00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.019 No. 00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:36.540 Many of us. 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:36.759 Right? 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.720 That's been kind of a bit of common theme. 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.700 Sometimes churches can take it too far. 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:44.060 And they can go into something of what's called legalism. 00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:45.600 That they're making all these rules. 00:32:45.780 --> 00:32:47.380 Some of which are not even in the Bible. 00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:49.680 And they're requiring people to live by them. 00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:52.100 To achieve right standing before God. 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:53.079 Well. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:57.379 That's not in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:32:57.879 --> 00:33:00.699 There's nothing you and I can do to earn favor for God. 00:33:00.919 --> 00:33:04.039 He says all your righteousness is as filthy rags. 00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:08.859 So sometimes we focus too much on the what of being a Christian. 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:11.119 This is what you should do. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.799 This is what you should not do. 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.459 This is what you should look like. 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:16.500 Well you would never go in a place like that. 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:18.039 Well you would never dress like that. 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:19.619 Well you'd never wear your hair like that. 00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:21.420 I mean I've heard all kinds of things. 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:25.859 That are wrapped up in the what of being a Christian. 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:28.940 And sometimes it gets so extreme. 00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:32.819 That we get away from the why of it all. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:35.619 When you go back to the why. 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:38.200 Then the what makes sense. 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.159 You've all done it. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.379 You've all been there. 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:44.899 How many of you guys by lifted hand would be able to say. 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:46.779 I've worked a job that I didn't really want to work. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:46.980 Yeah. 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:51.240 And I dare say the people who didn't raise their hands. 00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.200 Have probably been there too. 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:52.879 Most of us. 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.420 How many of you would say. 00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:59.980 I've done a chore or a task around the house. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:01.920 That I wasn't really looking forward to doing. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.480 Yeah. 00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:03.200 Okay. 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.019 Changed a diaper. 00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:05.619 Right. 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.720 Nobody wants to do that. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.199 I changed my share. 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.219 Didn't I. 00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.019 Okay. 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.420 Got to verify. 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.699 Because otherwise y'all think I'm lying. 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:18.559 Why? 00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.839 I don't want to change a diaper. 00:34:20.419 --> 00:34:21.239 That's not fun. 00:34:21.899 --> 00:34:22.919 Why would I do that? 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:25.839 Well obviously there's a very clear why there. 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.699 You got to keep the kid healthy. 00:34:27.819 --> 00:34:28.899 You got to keep him sanitary. 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:30.759 Can't just let it sit. 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.239 You know. 00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.339 You know. 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:35.980 Why would you work a job you don't want to work? 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.879 Well because it's the only job you have right now. 00:34:38.939 --> 00:34:40.079 And you need a paycheck coming in. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.419 Why? 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:42.279 Well because you got to pay bills. 00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:42.500 Why? 00:34:42.580 --> 00:34:43.760 Because you got to take care of your family. 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.060 Why? 00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:44.920 Because you love them. 00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:48.560 If you keep tracing the why back. 00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:51.160 Then the what makes sense. 00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:53.260 Why would you get up and come to Sunday. 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.780 Come to church on Sunday morning. 00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.880 When you'd rather go to the lake. 00:34:57.080 --> 00:34:58.320 When you'd rather sleep in. 00:34:59.620 --> 00:35:01.440 Why would you go out of your comfort zone. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:03.360 And start a gospel conversation. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:05.380 Where you start talking about Jesus with somebody. 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:07.580 When that can be awkward or uncomfortable. 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:09.260 And you're not sure how it's going to turn out. 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:10.100 Or how they're going to react. 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:12.000 Why would you do those things. 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:15.119 Because of Christ in you. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.819 Because he loved you. 00:35:18.779 --> 00:35:20.299 When you couldn't even love him. 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.420 Because he forgave you. 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.199 He is the why. 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:27.159 Behind whatever what. 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:29.099 God asks of you. 00:35:30.319 --> 00:35:31.839 So finally our takeaway today. 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:34.660 Jesus Christ himself. 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:36.140 Is the why. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.480 Behind the what. 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:39.800 Of me being a Christian. 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:42.220 Of me being a child of God. 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:44.400 It's Jesus Christ. 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.800 He's the reason for the season. 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.220 Right? 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.320 He's the reason for every season. 00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:50.940 He's the reason. 00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:52.320 For all of us. 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:53.360 To have life. 00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.579 To get up and do. 00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:56.200 Whatever God asks of us. 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.019 Every day. 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.700 He's the why. 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.800 Behind our what. 00:35:58.860 --> 00:35:59.920 Would you bow in prayer with me. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:01.539 Lord we thank you so much. 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.400 For being our why. 00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:04.079 There is no greater why. 00:36:05.680 --> 00:36:06.159 Oftentimes. 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.220 Even family. 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.780 Which oftentimes. 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.599 Makes up. 00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:12.039 So much of the other why's. 00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.680 In our life. 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.940 It often goes back. 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:15.000 To our love for family. 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.579 But Lord. 00:36:16.659 --> 00:36:17.300 Far too often. 00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.760 We've seen family split up. 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.220 We've seen. 00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.500 Earthly relationships. 00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:22.000 Broken. 00:36:23.740 --> 00:36:24.920 We've hurt others. 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:26.099 And we've been hurt ourselves. 00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:28.279 Those why's. 00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:29.299 Don't always hold up. 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:32.420 But the why of Jesus Christ. 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:32.940 In us. 00:36:33.279 --> 00:36:34.539 That'll never go away. 00:36:35.799 --> 00:36:37.219 That'll never grow stale. 00:36:39.299 --> 00:36:40.799 That'll never shame us. 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:44.199 I pray that you would remind us. 00:36:44.279 --> 00:36:45.279 Draw our attention back. 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:47.059 To the person of you. 00:36:48.199 --> 00:36:49.639 During this Christmas season. 00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.400 This day. 00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.039 This week. 00:36:52.779 --> 00:36:53.940 Bring our minds back. 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.519 In whatever you ask of us. 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.659 However difficult. 00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.699 However menial. 00:36:59.139 --> 00:37:00.039 However low. 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:01.199 And seemingly meaningless. 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:02.039 The task. 00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:03.739 Or undesirable. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:04.800 The task. 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:06.099 That we do for you. 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:08.659 That you've put into our lives. 00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:09.860 I pray that we would remember. 00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.420 You're that why. 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.340 That we would focus. 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.900 And center our lives. 00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:15.000 On you. 00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.420 As a Christ. 00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.619 Centered Christian. 00:37:17.759 --> 00:37:18.460 We'll trust you. 00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:19.739 To give us the grace. 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.280 And the power. 00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:21.340 To do that. 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:22.500 It's in Jesus name we pray. 00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:23.219 Amen. 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.539 Would you lift your heads. 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:25.079 For a moment. 00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:26.699 We're going to take just a moment. 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.619 We'll be out of here. 00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:29.119 Together in just a moment. 00:37:29.279 --> 00:37:29.400 But. 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.440 If. 00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:34.019 I asked this question earlier. 00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:36.219 You don't know Jesus personally. 00:37:36.219 --> 00:37:36.960 As your savior. 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.099 Hasn't been. 00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:39.039 One moment. 00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.059 That you can point to. 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.440 That says. 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.539 I repented from my sin. 00:37:42.119 --> 00:37:43.579 And I put all my faith in Jesus. 00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:44.880 To forgive me. 00:37:45.259 --> 00:37:45.719 Cleanse me. 00:37:46.199 --> 00:37:47.179 And make me his child. 00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:49.559 That I hope you don't. 00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:50.559 Leave this room. 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.799 Without taking care of that today. 00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:53.679 Now would you bow your heads. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:54.599 With me for privacy. 00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:56.339 And I'm just going to ask that question. 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.480 If you've never done that. 00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:59.339 Never put your faith in Jesus. 00:37:59.339 --> 00:38:00.699 For the forgiveness of your sins. 00:38:00.739 --> 00:38:01.899 Would you slip your hand up real quick. 00:38:02.339 --> 00:38:03.179 I'll pray for you. 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:04.099 Thank you. 00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:06.639 Put your hands down. 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.460 Let me ask you this. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:09.699 How many of you would say. 00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:11.259 God spoke to me about something today. 00:38:11.259 --> 00:38:11.980 From his word. 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.599 I just need prayer. 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.440 For whatever it is. 00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:15.480 That God's working on my heart. 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.699 Would you slip your hand up. 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.659 And I'll pray for you as well. 00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.500 Thank you. 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.199 Thank you. 00:38:19.879 --> 00:38:20.819 You can put your hands down. 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:21.440 Thank you. 00:38:21.759 --> 00:38:22.839 God you see these hands. 00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:23.960 And you know every situation. 00:38:24.379 --> 00:38:25.219 I pray that you would. 00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:26.259 Enable us. 00:38:26.379 --> 00:38:26.960 Empower us. 00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:27.859 To take the steps. 00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:29.400 That you would like us to take. 00:38:29.879 --> 00:38:31.239 We'll give you all the glory for it. 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.819 Thank you for being our why. 00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:33.859 In Jesus name we pray. 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:34.659 Amen. 00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:38.079 We're going to sing just a verse of a song here. 00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:39.359 And I'll be down front. 00:38:39.399 --> 00:38:41.079 If you'd like to meet me down front for prayer. 00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:42.719 I'll be happy to talk with you. 00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.659 Thank you folks.