WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:25.160 I have to tell you, not too long ago there was an individual visiting our church and the person, I went up to them and said, I don't think I've met you before. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:28.679 ! And the individual said, well, no, actually I was here two years ago. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.240 Well, my memory, short-term memory of what it is, it's like, yeah, okay. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:46.260 The individual said, the truth of the matter is, is when I came here about two years ago and you were preaching and you got emotional, I thought it was pure drama. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:50.060 And I just thought you were putting it on. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:51.320 And it was pretty disgusting. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:56.740 The person said, you know what? 00:00:57.500 --> 00:00:58.679 I don't think it is. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.879 I have to tell you that because my heart is full. 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:13.319 And we are going to get to John chapter 1. 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:22.959 But I want to start somewhere to kind of help you understand the glory of the passage that we're going to be in. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.259 Turn in the book of Revelation to chapter 5. 00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:30.640 And listen as I read it to you. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:43.620 And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:53.500 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals. 00:01:53.500 --> 00:02:04.519 And no one in the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:19.460 And one of the elders said to me, weep no more. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:29.319 Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered so that he can open the scroll and the seven seals. 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:34.579 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw the Lamb. 00:02:34.580 --> 00:02:51.880 Standing as though one who had been slain with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:57.860 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:13.280 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:16.800 And they sang a new song. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:30.920 The reason we have Revelation chapter 5 is because we have John chapter 1. 00:03:34.020 --> 00:03:36.880 And I want you to understand the connection between the two. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:54.199 And as I take up this passage in John chapter 1, verse 14 through 18, I have to tell you that as a shepherd and a sower of the seed, there is a part of me that as I have studied this week and as I've prayed for our time together in the Word of God today, 00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:58.120 there has been a portion of my heart that has been conflicted a little bit. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:05.979 Because I realize that in the sowing of the seed, and that's what preaching is. 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:14.620 In the sowing of the seed, there will be some seed that falls on hard and stony ground. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:28.779 And there's some of you going to walk out of here just as bitter, just as unforgiving, just as stubborn, just as unrelenting in your sinfulness as when you came in. 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:33.459 And there's some of you that are going to respond for a moment. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:43.939 And perhaps by just the effect of our time together and the prompting and plotting work of the Spirit of God, you're going to have a moment of softening. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:53.299 And there will be a little bit of fruit spring up, but it will soon be stifled and squashed by the life that you live. 00:04:53.300 --> 00:05:04.680 But there will also be some that will fall upon good soil that's been prepared by the Spirit of God. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:14.040 And as you behold, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord are going to be changed from glory to glory by the Spirit. 00:05:14.900 --> 00:05:15.620 Now listen to me. 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:17.259 I want you to hear me. 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:25.000 The God who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to be the Savior of lost mankind, 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:31.420 once in particular that believers, those who know the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:42.959 do not spend the remainder of their time here on this earth as grumpy, unhappy, broken, disconsolate, discouraged individuals. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:56.399 And being other than we are by nature is not something that happens merely because we take a pill or we decide to change. 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:04.139 If salvation is of the Lord, so also is transformation. 00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:13.939 And if there's anything that changes the heart of a believer, it's seeing Jesus. 00:06:14.979 --> 00:06:15.759 Do you understand that? 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:21.740 And so if you're sitting here and the truth of the matter is, is that the Spirit of God is already prompting you and saying, 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:26.259 stop, stop, I have the perfect remedy. 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:34.980 And it is you, by the work of the Spirit, with all humility, pleading with Him, saying, 00:06:35.340 --> 00:06:36.819 hey, Jesus, I know you saved me. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.300 I don't want to stay this way. 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:48.139 You asking that He would open up His word and that you, by His grace, would behold wondrous truths out of His law. 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:56.840 Well, as we look at John chapter 1, beginning there in verse 14, it says, 00:06:56.960 --> 00:07:06.800 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:11.879 And so let me begin this morning by just kind of reminding you that in this passage, 00:07:11.960 --> 00:07:14.720 and we're going to take from 14 and work our way through to 18, 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:21.120 that what we are really dealing with is the Bible statement, the Word of God that tells us, 00:07:21.440 --> 00:07:23.780 Christ Jesus chose to become man. 00:07:25.260 --> 00:07:28.520 Christ Jesus chose to become man. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:32.060 I want you to recognize, as you look at that passage, 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:37.480 that these nine verses that we have here at the very beginning of verse 14 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:41.700 are really, in some ways, the most profound words that we've heard so far. 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:47.879 It is true that Christ is the creator of the universe. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.659 It is true that He is the light and He is the life. 00:07:51.979 --> 00:07:55.899 And it is true that coming into this world, many rejected Him. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:03.719 But overarching and superior to all of that is the reality that at the very heart of His coming 00:08:03.719 --> 00:08:09.319 is the fact that He came to be our Savior and He came to reveal the Father to us. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:15.399 And so what we find in this text is that the Word tells us the second person of the Trinity, 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:25.079 Christ, took on for all eternity the flesh and nature of His fallen creature, mankind. 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:29.939 I want you to understand that there is no other religion in the world 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:37.779 that rests its faith on the complete humiliation of its God. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:46.019 I remember a number of years ago as I was on West Broad in H.H. Gregg. 00:08:46.059 --> 00:08:49.000 It used to be Sun TV before that and H.H. Gregg after that. 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:50.179 And now I don't know what it is. 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:55.000 But I was in there, I think, getting speakers for a stereo or something. 00:08:55.099 --> 00:08:56.479 That tells you how long ago it was. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:09:04.179 And ended up being serviced by a very likable Somali salesman. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:08.639 And he was the most affable, congenial man. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:12.219 And guess what we ended up talking about besides speakers? 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:12.899 What would you think? 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:15.979 I mean, I got a Gospel of John in my pocket. 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:21.420 It's like, hey, while we're doing this, if I'm going to buy something from you, just listen to me. 00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:27.639 And so we're talking about our religions, you know, and we're getting into it. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.659 And he's being respectful. 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:31.980 I mean, after all, he wants to sell me something. 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:39.860 And he's, you know, how many of you have been involved in conversations where you're really not tracking? 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.759 It's like, uh-huh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:44.259 And you're completely there. 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:45.259 You're somewhere else, you know. 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:47.259 And he was going through the routine. 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:55.039 And I remember getting down to the point of explaining that God sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, here to the earth. 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:56.919 And God became flesh. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:09:59.240 You know what he did? 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:01.559 He laughed in my face. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:08.600 Salesman, hoping to sell some product, just began, I can't believe, you can't believe that. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:11.240 God doesn't do that. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.240 I said, yes, he does. 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:15.180 Yes, he does. 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:26.000 In fact, the reason that I know I have complete forgiveness for all of my sins is because God sent his son to make complete payment for my sins. 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:31.220 Do you know how the Muslim, Islamic person pays for his sins? 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:38.160 It's kind of on a basis of, hey, you do a little bit of good, you kind of pay off a little bit of bad, right? 00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:39.680 It's kind of on the installment plan. 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:44.180 A lot like the idea that Catholics have about purgatory. 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:48.199 I think I shared with you, my sister, Michelle, lives in Egypt. 00:10:48.839 --> 00:10:52.039 And one day she was working in the kitchen and cut her finger. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.519 And in ran her Muslim helper. 00:10:56.739 --> 00:10:58.639 And she said, hold your finger towards heaven. 00:10:58.739 --> 00:10:59.199 Hold it up. 00:10:59.239 --> 00:10:59.620 Hold it up. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.620 Hold it up. 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:03.340 God will see the blood and he'll wipe out an extra sin. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.379 Well, I'm a diabetic and I prick myself four times a day. 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:09.620 It's like... 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:14.560 You know, it's like... 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.179 I want to tell you something. 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:20.619 I don't make fun of the fact that Jesus is the one who satisfied the debt of my sins. 00:11:23.119 --> 00:11:28.819 But the world doesn't understand that God, seeing our complete inability, 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:38.199 sent his son into the world to become flesh and to die for us. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:46.400 And so in using this name, the word, in verse 14, 00:11:46.900 --> 00:11:51.879 he is kind of calling back into mind all that we saw in those opening verses 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:55.300 where he announced the deity and the glory of Christ 00:11:55.300 --> 00:12:05.720 and recognized the absolute majesty, the supremacy of the second person of the divine Godhead. 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:12.779 And as we think about the fact that Christ came into the world and became man, 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:20.720 I want you to understand that our faith rests completely on the fact that Christ became completely man for all eternity. 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:25.580 He is 100% God and he is 100% man. 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:28.720 Now, can you tell me how that works mathematically? 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:31.139 The answer is, it's a matter of faith. 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:34.240 And I don't make that to be overly simplistic. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.220 It's just a fact. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:40.740 The Bible tells us that Jesus is all man and all God, and he's not 50-50. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:46.860 It's not just in John that we find this doctrinal truth. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.420 And I'm going to have you track with me. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.720 We're going to look at several different paces where it is true. 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:56.120 Turn into Philippians. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:58.980 Go to Philippians 2, verse 7 and 8. 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:05.620 And let me track with you there what we read. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:07.620 It says, 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:27.340 Now, there's another passage that I want to reference here in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:31.379 as the apostle is kind of putting together the mystery. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:42.519 And in the scriptures, a mystery is different in terms of what the Bible means by a mystery and what we mean by a mystery. 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:51.720 A mystery, in our sense of thinking, is something that's a secret that we're trying to figure out before the TV show ends. 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.439 Whodunit. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:14:00.400 In the Bible, a mystery is something that God reveals to us that we would never figure out apart from that. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:07.360 And so when Paul says what he does, there in verse 16, 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:11.199 Indeed, great, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. 00:14:11.319 --> 00:14:20.319 In other words, it is just beyond our capacity to understand the unbelievable revelation of the truth. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:23.519 Speaking about God, 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:33.539 He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up into glory. 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:44.600 The Savior that I worship is all mankind, entirely human. 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:49.059 He understands my frame and my frailty and yours as well. 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:59.639 And He took on for all eternity the clear character and person and nature of man. 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:02.639 Hebrews chapter 2, verse 14. 00:15:05.739 --> 00:15:13.219 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things that through death. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.039 Why did He take on flesh and blood? 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:21.620 He took on flesh and blood so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death. 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.740 That is the devil. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.799 Do you know why I have victory over death? 00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:30.719 It's because Jesus died in my place. 00:15:31.699 --> 00:15:33.519 And He's gained victory over death. 00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:39.439 Well, let us go a little further into the text in John chapter 1. 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.740 We look there in verse 14. 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:41.000 It says, 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.279 The word became flesh. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:50.940 And in telling us that it became flesh, it's telling us what we've talked about here, that Jesus is entirely man. 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:56.159 I want us to take a little bit of time to think about this little word dwelt. 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:01.059 Some of you may have the word tabernacled. 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:16.459 And I have to say that I understand the word tabernacle here to not refer to what many have commonly thought is a reference to the tabernacle in the Old Testament where the glory of God was revealed. 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:46.440 You see, when John chose to use the word tabernacle in the Old Testament. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:58.640 That was at the very center of the camp of the nation of Israel does not really communicate accurately the imagery that this verse tells us. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:06.140 You see, the word became flesh and set His tent up with us. 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:13.960 Now, I know one of the things that happens in the summertime is some of you go camping. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.020 And I happen to like camping. 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:24.880 It took me probably about 40 years of marriage to persuade my wife that it was something that was a good idea. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:32.340 You guys, when you go camping, and Judith and I, when we go camping, we do it a little differently than some. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:35.980 We go camping most of the time down at Old Man's Cave. 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:41.600 And we go, listen to me, we go after Labor Day and we go before Memorial Day. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:45.820 That's because all the natives have cleared out between those times. 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:52.439 Last winter, Judith and I camped in Old Man's Cave in December. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:59.779 And besides the squirrels and the deer and the raccoons, we were pretty much on our own. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:07.559 Camping, for some of you, is a pop-up with a propane stove. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.740 And you better have A.C. 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:12.220 And God bless you. 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.000 Have a good time. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:17.920 But that's not camping what this passage is telling us about. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.480 Listen to me. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.240 Camping is gritty business. 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:23.940 It really is. 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:30.860 Growing up in India, and that's why I was fully persuaded that my wife should love camping, 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.720 we would go. 00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:36.460 We had three-day vacations and ten-day vacations. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:42.700 And we thought that camping was the best way to get away from that hovel that was our boarding school. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:48.500 And we would pack and we would be gone the minute we were legally allowed to leave the property. 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.299 And we'd go. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:54.180 One place was about a 15-mile hike and the other was about 26. 00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:56.940 We'd set up a tent and we'd stay. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.440 One case was three days and the other was ten days. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:03.579 Now let me tell you something about tenting together when you've been ten days together 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:08.460 and it took you 26 miles to get there walking, carrying a 45-pound pack. 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.480 Guess what you smell like? 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:09.960 A goat. 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:16.599 And not only that, but after you sat around the campfire, 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:18.319 we didn't have propane stoves. 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:20.139 We didn't have kerosene stoves. 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:23.099 It was just plain old ordinary wood smoke. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.859 Do you follow that? 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:28.659 And about the third afternoon, as we were beginning to cook supper, 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:32.539 there began to have this little conversational rift running through the camp of, 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:34.740 hey, you're not sleeping in my tent. 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:37.899 And you're not sleeping in my tent. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:41.019 And so everybody would go down to the cold mountain stream. 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.059 Let me tell you something. 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:44.460 Himalayan mountains, 8,000 feet. 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:51.279 Even in July, the streams were not tolerable. 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:57.460 But the choice of sleeping outside or inside, we would dip temporarily, 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:00.659 lather up generously, and then dip temporarily. 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.500 Do you follow what I'm saying? 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.940 Here's my point. 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:12.620 Now, when this passage tells us that the Word became flesh and set its tent up among us, 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:17.920 what it's telling us is that he was willing to leave the glory of heaven for us 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:21.539 and set his tent where we are 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:25.339 and to do it forever. 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:33.859 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:42.119 In order to be slain as the Lamb, he had to be willing to come and tent where we are. 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:50.699 And I've got to tell you that the gritty reality of tenting in this world doesn't compare 00:20:50.699 --> 00:20:55.239 to what happened when the Father sent his Son down here for us. 00:20:57.199 --> 00:20:59.379 Allow me just to speculate just for a moment, 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:02.979 but I want you to kind of think about the angels kind of sitting around 00:21:02.979 --> 00:21:04.719 as they're watching Jesus leave heaven. 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:07.779 Now, this is not, I'm not going to write a book, okay, 00:21:07.959 --> 00:21:10.159 since I taught Sunday school like I did, you know, 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:13.019 but I want you to just imagine one of them says to the other one, 00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:13.940 where's he going? 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.480 He's going down there. 00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:17.360 What? 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:19.720 To visit? 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:20.060 No. 00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:22.420 He's going to live there forever. 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:25.440 He's, you know what it says in Peter, 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:30.360 it says that the angels kind of look at this business of Christ's relationship with us 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:32.900 and it says that they try to pull the curtain back 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:34.960 so they understand and they can't figure it out. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:39.539 He came here to be completely man, 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:43.180 to be subject to hunger and to thirst and humiliation 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:45.720 and endure the extreme suffering of the cross. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.100 And as it says there in this passage, 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:48.539 it says, 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:52.340 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.180 There's a reason 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:58.539 that so much of our singing 00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:02.180 magnifies the wonder of the incarnation. 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:05.120 As I was studying this week, 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:08.000 I found myself repeating the words to the song 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.500 that we actually sang last week, 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.580 how deep the Father's love for us, 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:13.340 how vast beyond all measure, 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.160 that he should give his only son. 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.240 Why? 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:21.620 To make a wretch his treasure. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.080 Do you follow that? 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:31.539 Why was God willing to send his son to this earth to tent with us? 00:22:31.659 --> 00:22:33.919 It's because we need that. 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:40.220 And so I want you to understand that John then goes on in verse 14, 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:44.119 not only to explain the fact that Jesus came here, 00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:47.159 but also to announce that Christ came not only to take on flesh, 00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:49.720 but to show us the full glory of the Father. 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.819 Look at the second part of verse 14. 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:53.759 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:55.879 and we have seen his glory. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.779 Glory as the only son from the Father, 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:00.899 full of grace and truth. 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:04.819 Now, I'm going to beg your indulgence, 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:08.119 because of the focus of this passage, 00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:14.740 to not spend time dealing with the uniqueness of the sonship of Christ, 00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:17.980 only begotten son. 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:22.279 I want you to understand that it is a foundational theological truth, 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:25.440 but in the flow of the passage that we're looking at, 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:29.640 as I'm going to lay it out for you here with the focus on his coming, 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.240 we're not going to deal with that, which is a very important truth. 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:38.120 But I want you to understand that Christ came to reveal the full glory of the Father. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.240 Why did Jesus come? 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.420 It's so we can see God. 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:43.500 So we can see God. 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:46.920 And so the second point that I want you to understand this morning, 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.800 as we look at this text, 00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:51.759 is that Jesus fully reveals the invisible God. 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.779 Now, I'm going to kind of step on the pedal here, 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.060 and put together, 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.539 we took quite a bit of time on the first part of 14, 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:01.560 and we're going to press the rest of it together, 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:03.660 and explain it in simple parts this way. 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:07.240 Jesus came to fully reveal the glory of the Father, 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:08.320 who is our God. 00:24:09.540 --> 00:24:11.180 And in the last part of 14, 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:14.360 what we find is that it explains to us 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:19.460 that John wants us to clearly understand 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:23.980 that Jesus is the glory, 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.720 and we can see it. 00:24:26.300 --> 00:24:27.300 We can handle it. 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:32.120 If you were to go at another point into 1 John, 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:35.799 as 1 John kind of begins to lay out the argument 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:40.119 about the Lord Jesus Christ being God the Son, 00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:42.699 he talks about the fact that our hands have handled, 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.859 and our ears have heard, 00:24:44.219 --> 00:24:45.939 and our eyes have seen, 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.339 talking about Christ. 00:24:49.239 --> 00:24:51.359 I want you to look at what it says here, 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.119 in essence, 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.819 that John wants us to grasp, 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:59.439 is that Jesus lets man see the fullness of God's grace and truth. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:02.360 Because of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:06.680 we have everything that is needed for us to comprehend 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:11.220 just how gracious and just how truthful Christ is. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.580 As we look here in the passage, 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:16.000 pick up now, if you will, 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:18.420 in verse 14 or 15, 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:18.779 it says, 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:21.380 John bore witness about him and cried out, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.140 this was he of whom I said, 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.640 he who is coming after me ranks before me 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.980 because he was before me. 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:29.819 In essence, 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:33.259 that passage tells us that John the Baptist's ministry 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:40.240 was to be a formal announcer of Christ's coming. 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:42.400 How many of you remember last week 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:45.559 when Aaron Holopeter played Hail to the Chief? 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:47.259 The purpose of that was to remind you 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:52.019 that John's ministry was this formal task 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.740 of letting people know, 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.240 hey, he's coming, 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.279 he's coming, 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.319 he's coming, 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.279 he's coming. 00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:59.839 That's what John the Baptist did. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.680 And John the Baptist's ministry 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.839 is stunning 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:06.180 for the tremendous impact that he had, 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:08.059 and he never did 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.259 the kind of miracles 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:11.879 that we find Moses or Elijah 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:13.440 or Jesus doing. 00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:17.579 The miracle of John the Baptist's ministry 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:20.079 was the power of the Holy Spirit 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:21.559 taking his preaching 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.699 and using it 00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:24.859 to hammer at the issue 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.299 of a need for repentance. 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.159 And people were drawn by that. 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.619 And so here, 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.919 what we find is that 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:35.839 John the Apostle 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.019 wants us to understand 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:39.000 that John the Baptist's ministry, 00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:39.819 verse 15, 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:42.139 was to bear witness to Jesus, 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:45.720 and when John the Baptist 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.780 saw Jesus, 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.120 guess how he responded? 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:51.759 John the Baptist announced the truth. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.000 This is him. 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.240 This is him. 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.140 He'd been saying, 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.800 he is coming, 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.520 he is coming, 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.360 he is coming, 00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:59.200 and when John the Baptist 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.500 saw with his eyes 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.500 for the first time 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:04.100 the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.180 do you know what he said? 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.820 behold, 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.240 the Lamb of God 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:11.799 who takes away the sins 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.799 of the world. 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.799 I mean to tell you, 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.799 can you imagine 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.840 that kind of statement 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.660 being made 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:18.100 among those Jews 00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:19.000 who were expecting 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.220 the Messiah to come 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.560 and who had been listening? 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.779 They'd been hanging on 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.940 every word 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.039 of John the Baptist, 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.680 and then he stands back 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.060 and he says, 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.460 that's him 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:30.580 pointing to Jesus. 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.980 There's no wonder 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.960 that some of his disciples 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.240 packed up and left that time. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.460 Bye, John. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.620 That's him. 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.579 I'm gone. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.680 And by the way, 00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.600 when some of the other 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:43.019 little small-minded disciples 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.920 came to John and said, 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.519 do you realize 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.460 we're losing the crowd? 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.620 And what did he say? 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.420 He says, 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.460 well, let's get this right. 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.360 He must increase, 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:51.840 imperative. 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.460 It's an absolute necessity 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.779 that he increase 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.420 and I decrease. 00:27:59.340 --> 00:28:00.259 Well, as you look at 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.620 verses 16 through 18, 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:05.479 we find that John the apostle 00:28:05.479 --> 00:28:07.239 lays out three remaining truths 00:28:07.239 --> 00:28:09.219 about Jesus. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.119 Number one, 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:14.079 Jesus is the full revelation 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.259 of the glory of God. 00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.599 Verse 16, 00:28:16.719 --> 00:28:17.619 and from his fullness 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:19.699 we have received grace 00:28:19.699 --> 00:28:20.759 upon grace. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:24.359 Jesus is the full revelation 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.259 of God. 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:27.799 The word full that is used here 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.979 is the word pleroma, 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.279 which is talking about 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:32.240 having it packed into the point 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.259 that nothing else will fit. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.160 Full. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.839 And when you stop 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.259 and think about that statement 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.220 of his fullness, 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.720 he then goes on 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.120 because he just doesn't want us. 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.420 He's not satisfied 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:48.920 with just, 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.819 it's the full deal. 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.120 He goes on and says, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.480 and grace for grace. 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.500 And when he uses 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.180 that little phrase 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.079 in verse 16, 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.200 grace upon grace, 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:58.120 he is talking about grace 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.779 that is packed 00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:00.000 on top of grace. 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.279 Let me remind you 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.700 a little bit 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.360 of the fact 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.299 that in the scriptures 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:06.200 before the time 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:06.960 of highlighting 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:08.660 or bolding, 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:11.059 what was used 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.680 and particularly 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.340 was used 00:29:12.340 --> 00:29:14.240 in auditory communication 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.580 is that when you 00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:16.680 wanted to make a point, 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.759 you repeated it 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.240 immediately. 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.160 Such as 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.720 Isaiah chapter 6, 00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.180 holy, 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:22.700 holy, 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.360 holy. 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:23.479 holy. 00:29:24.659 --> 00:29:24.919 Oh. 00:29:25.979 --> 00:29:26.759 Or Jesus, 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.359 one of the things 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:28.000 that he would say 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.559 occasionally, 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.599 if he said it 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.240 in King James, 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.679 it would be 00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:31.379 verily, verily. 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:33.240 If he said it 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.859 in ESV, 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:34.500 it was truly, 00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:34.879 truly. 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.519 And what he was saying, 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.279 it was kind of 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.899 a double tap, 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.139 you know, 00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:40.039 bang, bang. 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.339 This is really 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.119 right. 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.199 And so here 00:29:44.199 --> 00:29:45.319 is John 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.579 using that same 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:48.919 principle 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:49.899 of emphasis 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.579 to say 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.479 grace 00:29:51.479 --> 00:29:52.919 upon grace. 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.939 Second thing 00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:55.479 we see there 00:29:55.479 --> 00:29:56.279 in verse 17, 00:29:56.479 --> 00:29:56.659 it says, 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.099 for the law 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.479 was given 00:29:57.479 --> 00:29:58.079 through Moses, 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.199 grace and truth 00:29:59.199 --> 00:30:00.279 came through 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.679 Jesus Christ. 00:30:02.699 --> 00:30:03.459 And what we 00:30:03.459 --> 00:30:04.059 understand that 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.779 to mean is that 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.679 Jesus is better 00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:06.359 than the law. 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.139 We will see 00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.879 later that Jesus 00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.500 didn't come to 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.199 replace the law, 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:10.719 that's not what 00:30:10.719 --> 00:30:11.139 he came. 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.359 He fulfilled 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:12.759 the law. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.359 But we understand 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.599 that the purpose 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.259 of the law 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.240 was principally 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.359 to expose 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.819 several very 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.799 important key 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.339 features 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.139 in our 00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:24.059 understanding. 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.980 One is 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.700 the holiness 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.220 of God. 00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:26.700 What does 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.059 the law 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.559 tell us? 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.419 It tells us 00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:28.680 that there 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.119 is a God 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.399 who has 00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:30.180 holy standards. 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.919 And standards 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.859 don't change. 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.019 I was getting 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.500 ready to go 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.079 visit my mom 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:38.460 and dad 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.379 and Pastor 00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:39.980 Saul told 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.379 me in advance, 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:41.680 he says, 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.099 by the way, 00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.440 I want you 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.639 to know 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.200 there's a 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.899 semi-truck 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.419 that tipped 00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.720 over here 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.240 on the 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.480 on-ramp 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.059 going on 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.700 to 270 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.180 off of 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.559 Roberts. 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.500 Do you 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:50.920 know why 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:52.680 semi-trucks 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.240 tip over? 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.220 Huh? 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:57.039 There's a 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.059 little lesson 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.779 in physics 00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.360 in case you're 00:30:59.360 --> 00:30:59.720 wondering. 00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.319 It's when you 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.279 have too big 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.759 of a load 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.100 and you're 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:02.580 going too 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:03.380 fast and 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:03.759 guess what 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.100 happens? 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:04.799 And it's a 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.259 sharp dug, 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:05.680 am I right? 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:06.980 You've never 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.299 tipped one 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:07.740 over, right? 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.880 Praise God. 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.279 But there 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.720 it was, 00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:11.400 sprawled all 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:11.740 over the 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.059 road. 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.080 And I 00:31:14.080 --> 00:31:14.440 thought to 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:14.819 myself, 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.140 I'm going 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.680 to be smart, 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.279 I'm going 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.559 to avoid 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:16.819 this, 00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:17.100 and then I 00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:17.480 got on the 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:17.840 phone and 00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:18.100 guess what 00:31:18.100 --> 00:31:18.400 I did? 00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.180 I'm just 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.519 following 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.059 habit and 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.380 the next 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:21.700 thing I 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.000 know is 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:28.420 I didn't 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:28.799 come back 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.039 and tell 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.580 Pastor Saul 00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.000 immediately. 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.440 I was like 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:34.140 but here's 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:34.500 the truth. 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.500 There's a 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.019 reason why 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.420 when you're 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:38.160 driving on 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.580 those on 00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:38.880 ramps, 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.100 they have 00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:39.440 these little 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:39.960 pictures of 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.500 trucks tipped 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:40.799 over. 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.100 Do you 00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:42.360 know why 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:42.680 they put 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.059 those there? 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.779 It's not 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.120 to let 00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:45.620 trucks know 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.019 that that's 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.319 the right 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.700 place to 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.059 do it. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:51.480 It's 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:51.860 to say 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.360 to truck 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:52.759 drivers, 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:53.720 please don't 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.360 do this. 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.380 And so 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.340 Jesus came 00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:57.860 to make 00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:59.860 clear the 00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.539 sinfulness of 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:00.980 our hearts, 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.580 but he's 00:32:01.580 --> 00:32:02.200 better than 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.640 that. 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:03.200 And what I 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.740 don't mean 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.640 like the law 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.160 is bad, 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:05.960 but there's 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.620 more to 00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.559 the glory 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.279 of God 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:08.799 in his 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.340 care for 00:32:09.340 --> 00:32:09.720 us than 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.259 the law. 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.539 In 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:11.980 addition 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:14.839 sin is 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.860 grace and 00:32:15.860 --> 00:32:16.279 truth. 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:16.819 And Jesus 00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.720 came and 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.200 he opened 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:19.440 up so 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.819 that all 00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.059 of us 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.620 could see 00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:22.519 that despite 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.220 the reality 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.779 of the fact 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.120 that the 00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:25.259 law condemns 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:25.839 us as 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.880 sinners who 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:27.599 have every 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.220 reason to 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.279 expect eternity 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.839 in hell, 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.640 God in 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:33.480 his undeserved 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.299 kindness sent 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:34.640 the Lord 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:35.380 Jesus to be 00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:35.960 our Savior 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:37.880 and deliver 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:38.660 us from the 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:39.480 ugliness and 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.079 the bitterness 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.939 and the 00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:41.779 darkness of 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.439 our soul. 00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:46.980 Furthermore, 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.720 as we see 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.679 here in 00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:49.379 verse 18, 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.019 it says, 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.199 no one has 00:32:52.199 --> 00:32:53.059 ever seen 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.599 God. 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.899 I remember 00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:59.220 while we're 00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.480 on the 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.019 heaven is for 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.480 real deal, 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:01.759 I remember 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.319 a friend who 00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:02.740 came to me 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.319 once and 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.159 had a picture. 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:04.939 He was a 00:33:04.939 --> 00:33:05.399 truck driver, 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:05.639 Doug, 00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:06.000 I want you 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.159 to know 00:33:06.159 --> 00:33:06.439 that. 00:33:07.199 --> 00:33:08.799 And he 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.259 came to me 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.500 and said, 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.640 you have to 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:11.000 see this, 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:11.519 it was a 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:11.900 Polaroid. 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.160 How many 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.279 of you 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.519 remember 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.220 Polaroids? 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.180 If you're 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.759 old enough 00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:15.359 to remember 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:16.160 Polaroids, 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:16.819 it's like you 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:17.660 also remember 00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.559 horse-drawn 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.119 carriages, 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.920 close together. 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.779 And I 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.539 remember this 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.000 guy said, 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.220 no, 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.420 no, 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.579 I've seen 00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:26.059 God. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.779 And he 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.140 had a 00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:28.759 Polaroid, 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.079 he'd been 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:29.880 driving somewhere 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:31.039 about their 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.299 Pilot Mountain 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.660 in North 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.119 Carolina, 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:34.319 and he'd 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.859 seen this 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.660 cloud formation 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.039 and he was 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.519 convinced it 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:36.940 was God. 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.640 God was in 00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:38.039 the cloud. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.359 Do you 00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:38.779 follow that? 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:38.819 God, 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.539 and he, 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.480 I mean, 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.019 heaven help 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.119 me. 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.139 I stared at 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:43.480 that thing 00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:43.960 for I didn't 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.200 want to 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.839 disrespect the 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.000 guy. 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.220 He was 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:45.660 quite a bit 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.000 bigger than 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.160 me. 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:46.720 And it was 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:46.879 like, 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:49.599 that's God? 00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:49.639 God, 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:52.079 no, 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.079 00:33:52.199 --> 00:33:52.579 I don't 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.079 see it. 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:53.980 Okay? 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.579 Here's what 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:56.939 the Bible 00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:57.240 says, 00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:57.539 it says, 00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:58.240 no one 00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.939 has ever 00:33:58.939 --> 00:33:59.779 seen God. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.779 And I'm 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.019 of the 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.719 private opinion 00:34:03.719 --> 00:34:04.259 that we 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:04.799 will never 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.419 see God, 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.179 the Father. 00:34:07.679 --> 00:34:08.420 But we 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:08.980 will see 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.619 Jesus and 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.099 we will be 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.940 satisfied in 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.579 seeing him. 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.019 God. 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.279 And so as 00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:13.880 we look at 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.420 this majestic 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:17.460 declaration of 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:18.500 the reality of 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.039 the coming of 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.599 the Lord Jesus 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.179 Christ, it 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:20.840 tells us that 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:22.420 Jesus makes 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.559 the invisible 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:25.139 God fully 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:25.940 known. 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.360 And what's 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.099 the value of 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.199 that? 00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:29.440 What's the 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.679 benefit that we 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.340 receive by 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.880 understanding that 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.099 Christ is the 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:34.559 one who 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:36.000 completely satisfies 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.860 the longing of 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.779 our heart to 00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.679 know the 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.099 Father? 00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:39.199 Father, 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:43.500 there is 00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:43.940 something in 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.599 our heart that 00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.420 desires to 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:47.839 know, and 00:34:47.839 --> 00:34:48.579 Christ satisfies 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.039 that. 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.259 So let me 00:34:51.259 --> 00:34:52.000 get intensely 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:53.119 practical as we 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:53.900 bring things here 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.480 to a close. 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.380 If you're a 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:57.039 sinner here this 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:57.759 morning and you 00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.480 are under the 00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.480 terrifying burden 00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.239 of your sin, 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:02.739 I have no doubt 00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:03.400 that some of the 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:03.900 things that are 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.799 happening to you 00:35:04.799 --> 00:35:05.940 today, your 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:07.279 thinking are just 00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:08.119 kind of strictly 00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.940 the outstakes 00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.839 outcome of 00:35:09.839 --> 00:35:11.519 mistreatment or 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.819 consequences, and 00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:14.079 you may be 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.659 sitting here and 00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.319 just not getting 00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:16.139 the memo that 00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:17.440 God in His 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.420 holy judgment 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.900 will eventually 00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:21.039 deal with sin. 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.460 I want you to 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.059 know that Christ 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.839 Jesus came into 00:35:25.839 --> 00:35:27.519 the world to 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.179 give you hope and 00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:28.739 to draw you to 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.279 the light. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:32.199 He came to 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.819 die in your 00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.500 place and to 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.539 satisfy the debt 00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.420 of your sin. 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:35.460 sin. 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.659 And I just 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.480 cannot understand 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:38.940 how you could 00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:41.900 turn away from 00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:42.780 a loving God 00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:43.360 who willingly 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.260 would sacrifice 00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:45.200 His own son 00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:45.700 for you. 00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:48.619 I don't want 00:35:48.619 --> 00:35:49.180 you to be bad 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:49.539 soil. 00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:52.420 There are some 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:52.940 of you here that 00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:53.460 are believers, 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:55.760 and there was a 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.180 point in your 00:35:56.180 --> 00:35:57.720 life where you 00:35:57.720 --> 00:35:58.740 were under that 00:35:58.740 --> 00:35:59.559 pall and under 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.340 the burden of 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:00.960 your sin, and 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.039 you were 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:02.880 convicted of 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.639 the absolute 00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.940 misery and 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.539 the certainty 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.760 of judgment, and 00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.519 you came to the 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.679 Lord Jesus, and 00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.559 you had all your 00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.920 sins forgiven, and 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:11.320 do you know what 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:12.000 that felt like? 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:13.679 It was like, the 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.340 burden's been 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:14.740 lifted. 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.380 But as it says in 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:20.820 the book of 00:36:20.820 --> 00:36:22.000 Revelation, you've 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.539 forgotten your 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.199 first love. 00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:27.880 Can I tell you 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:31.160 that as we read 00:36:31.160 --> 00:36:31.700 through the book 00:36:31.700 --> 00:36:35.059 of John, John's 00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:36.800 gospel is, for 00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:38.720 one, profoundly 00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:40.240 evangelistic, because 00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:41.820 it will say over 00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.860 and over and 00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:45.380 over again, God 00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:47.320 sent His Son to 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:50.119 save lost, broken, 00:36:50.660 --> 00:36:51.940 ruined sinners. 00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:56.140 John's gospel is 00:36:56.140 --> 00:36:57.579 also profoundly 00:36:57.579 --> 00:37:00.380 edifying, because 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:02.099 as we see in 00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:02.980 the gospel of 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:04.019 John, the 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.799 heart of 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:05.840 Christ, and 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.759 the love of 00:37:06.759 --> 00:37:07.759 Christ, and 00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:08.699 the wisdom of 00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:09.679 Christ, the 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.840 believer's heart 00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:13.619 that is not 00:37:13.619 --> 00:37:15.199 sour-sucking on 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.239 self-centered 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.360 thinking, how's 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:22.920 that, is going 00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:23.860 to find comfort 00:37:23.860 --> 00:37:26.039 and hope 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:28.980 love and 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.539 affection, 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:33.139 patience, 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:37.480 joy in the 00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.099 Holy Spirit. 00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.159 God. 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:42.659 I'll close with 00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:43.799 one other 00:37:43.799 --> 00:37:44.619 passage. 00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.099 You know, if 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.539 there's anything 00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:48.059 that I am 00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:48.699 persuaded that 00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.519 God is doing in 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:50.119 the lives of 00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:50.619 those who are 00:37:50.619 --> 00:37:51.360 truly believers, 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:51.980 that He is 00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:52.799 changing us. 00:37:52.860 --> 00:37:53.079 Would you 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:53.360 agree with 00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:53.559 me? 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:54.279 Huh? 00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.719 If you're a 00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:57.039 child of God, you 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.960 can't stay the way 00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.360 you are. 00:37:58.619 --> 00:37:59.199 Everybody say 00:37:59.199 --> 00:37:59.799 yes! 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.420 Okay. 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:03.000 Hey, if you're a 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.799 child of God, you 00:38:03.799 --> 00:38:04.759 can't stay the way 00:38:04.759 --> 00:38:05.139 you are. 00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:05.980 You can come 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.699 easy or you can 00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:07.319 come hard, but 00:38:07.319 --> 00:38:07.599 He's going to 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.159 take you there. 00:38:08.839 --> 00:38:09.379 Now, listen to 00:38:09.379 --> 00:38:09.619 me. 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:11.819 2 Corinthians 00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:12.639 chapter 3, 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:14.339 verse 18. 00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.279 And we all, 00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:17.839 with unveiled 00:38:17.839 --> 00:38:19.000 face, beholding 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.839 the glory of the 00:38:19.839 --> 00:38:20.039 Lord. 00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.559 That's what we've 00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.259 seen this morning. 00:38:22.619 --> 00:38:23.759 The Word became 00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:24.699 flesh and dwelt 00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:25.579 among us. 00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:27.539 And we have 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.940 seen His glory. 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.079 You follow that? 00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:31.739 It says, 00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:32.819 beholding the 00:38:32.819 --> 00:38:33.380 glory of the 00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:34.659 Lord are being 00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:36.739 transformed into 00:38:36.739 --> 00:38:37.679 the same image. 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:40.739 If you're sick and 00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:41.519 tired of staying 00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:42.380 where you are, 00:38:42.779 --> 00:38:43.639 then you put your 00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:44.679 eyes on Jesus a 00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:45.699 little harder and 00:38:45.699 --> 00:38:46.639 keep locked on, 00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:47.400 because here's what 00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:47.739 happens. 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:49.059 As you stay focused 00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:50.319 on Christ, the 00:38:50.319 --> 00:38:52.019 truth of who He is 00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:54.119 begins to change 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:54.519 you. 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:58.039 And as it says, 00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:59.299 transformed into 00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.060 the same image 00:39:00.060 --> 00:39:01.120 from one degree 00:39:01.120 --> 00:39:02.280 of glory to 00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:02.680 another. 00:39:03.220 --> 00:39:04.680 For this 00:39:04.680 --> 00:39:06.720 comes from 00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:08.220 the Lord who 00:39:08.220 --> 00:39:09.660 is the Spirit. 00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.460 I like that. 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.900 Let's close in 00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:15.160 prayer. 00:39:21.060 --> 00:39:22.000 Father God, 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:26.260 your prophet 00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:27.940 Zechariah penned 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:28.340 under your 00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:29.200 direction, these 00:39:29.200 --> 00:39:29.579 words, 00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:30.500 not by might 00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:32.240 nor by power, 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.500 but by my 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:33.920 Spirit, 00:39:34.120 --> 00:39:34.700 saith the Lord. 00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:36.960 And it has 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:38.039 been my desire 00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:38.860 this morning that 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.800 people would see 00:39:39.800 --> 00:39:41.140 the glory of the 00:39:41.140 --> 00:39:41.640 Lord Jesus 00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:42.240 Christ. 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.780 That those who 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:45.660 are here today 00:39:45.660 --> 00:39:46.780 and are under the 00:39:46.780 --> 00:39:47.400 burden and the 00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:48.180 despair of their 00:39:48.180 --> 00:39:49.600 sin would cry 00:39:49.600 --> 00:39:50.260 out and say, 00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:51.539 I need Jesus to 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.300 save me. 00:39:54.200 --> 00:39:55.100 And those who 00:39:55.100 --> 00:39:55.840 are here who are 00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:56.320 believers, 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:56.660 believers whose 00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:57.320 lives are 00:39:57.320 --> 00:40:00.140 complicated by 00:40:00.140 --> 00:40:01.140 unforgiveness and 00:40:01.140 --> 00:40:01.519 bitterness, 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:04.800 by an 00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:05.480 unrelenting 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.519 bout with 00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:07.980 self-focus and 00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.500 depression, 00:40:09.059 --> 00:40:10.260 that are 00:40:10.260 --> 00:40:10.920 consumed with 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.800 anxiety, 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.039 would be 00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:15.840 resolute this 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:16.620 morning to set 00:40:16.620 --> 00:40:17.420 their eyes upon 00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.300 the Lord Jesus 00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:19.140 that seeing 00:40:19.140 --> 00:40:19.580 Him, 00:40:21.080 --> 00:40:21.700 they would be 00:40:21.700 --> 00:40:22.280 changed from 00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:23.100 glory to glory. 00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:25.099 glory to 00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.639 the Spirit. 00:40:27.659 --> 00:40:28.339 And so we 00:40:28.339 --> 00:40:29.000 understand that 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:29.579 you put us on 00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.179 the spot this 00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:30.679 morning of 00:40:30.679 --> 00:40:31.920 responding in 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.460 some way. 00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:33.159 Some of us are 00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:33.819 going to be bad 00:40:33.819 --> 00:40:34.239 soil. 00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:36.420 Others of us, 00:40:36.519 --> 00:40:37.199 by the grace of 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:37.819 God and the power 00:40:37.819 --> 00:40:38.299 of the Spirit, 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:38.679 are going to 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:39.420 produce fruit. 00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:41.819 And we plead 00:40:41.819 --> 00:40:43.659 with you to be 00:40:43.659 --> 00:40:44.819 gracious in your 00:40:44.819 --> 00:40:45.460 precious name. 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:45.699 Amen. 00:40:46.339 --> 00:40:46.940 Let's stand 00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:47.559 together as we 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:47.779 close.