WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:19.800 In just two weeks, Lord willing, we're going to start a sermon series through the Gospel 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:23.160 of John, which will last a couple of weeks. 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:26.460 It might be longer than that. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:34.380 So, I'm really excited about that to get an up-close look at the person of Jesus, his 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:38.740 life and his death and his resurrection there in the Gospel of John. 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:46.340 But before we start that, I want to take just a couple of weeks, two Sundays as we start 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:53.740 a new ministry year to remember our mission, why we're here, what we're about. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:01:05.200 On the back of your bulletin each Sunday, we say, Southwood exists to experience and express 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:10.659 grace in relationships that impact eternity. 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:19.060 Now, that's a bold statement to say that what we're about every day, here and now, impacts 00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:20.060 eternity. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:23.640 But we believe the Bible tells us that. 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:31.840 And that mission, that thing that we're about is to experience and express grace. 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:40.099 To taste the sweetness of living with God ourselves, having relationship with him, and to share a 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:45.520 taste of that goodness with all sorts of other people around us every day. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:53.079 This should be happening all the time in our lives personally, our life together as a church 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:59.299 family, breathing in grace, breathing out grace. 00:02:00.039 --> 00:02:02.759 Experience and express. 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:05.479 I want you to try it with me this morning, okay? 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:06.259 Group activity. 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:07.099 Breathe in. 00:02:09.519 --> 00:02:10.560 Breathe out. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:17.080 Now, instead of breathing out, I want you to try something. 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:23.319 I want you to just blow out like you're trying to knock over the person in front of you, okay? 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:24.520 One, two, three. 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:26.960 Keep blowing. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.620 What happens pretty quickly? 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:36.159 You run out of air, don't you? 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:36.240 You... 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.360 Nothing else there? 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:41.260 It's ineffective. 00:02:41.820 --> 00:02:43.400 You feel empty. 00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:52.200 And I want you to remember that feeling because that same thing will happen to us spiritually. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:03:00.320 If you think you're just going to go be a good person, or if you're just going to be a church 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:07.280 that does great things in the community, but you quit actively breathing in God's grace, 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:11.079 pretty soon you're empty. 00:03:11.579 --> 00:03:16.039 You're blowing out, but not very much, and it's certainly not God's grace. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:23.879 It is vital that we continue breathing in, that we continue experiencing as well as expressing 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:25.019 God's grace. 00:03:25.019 --> 00:03:25.599 God's grace. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:32.319 So we're going to talk today about the breathing in, the experience of God's grace, and next 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.199 Sunday about the breathing out, okay? 00:03:34.359 --> 00:03:35.060 Easy enough? 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:39.359 We're going to look at a lot of different passages in God's word this morning. 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:46.039 Why don't we stop and ask him to speak his word to our hearts before we look at it together? 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:51.780 Father, our prayer this morning is that we would hear your voice. 00:03:53.859 --> 00:04:01.219 We want to be about our Father's mission, not something we've made up for ourselves. 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:11.219 Not only that, God, we want to do it your way, in your strength, not ours. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:15.099 So we need your help every hour. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:16.800 And this one especially. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:24.360 For the glory of Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, help speak to us. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.379 Change us, we ask in Jesus' name. 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:28.800 Amen. 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:39.920 When you breathe in, there's this constant two-step process that's happening in your body without 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:41.879 you even having to think about it. 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:46.000 Your body recognizes, need oxygen, right? 00:04:46.159 --> 00:04:46.759 Air. 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:49.899 Need for oxygen met. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.159 Just like that. 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:52.180 All the time. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:52.980 Oh, I need oxygen. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:53.899 There's oxygen. 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:54.939 I'm okay. 00:04:55.139 --> 00:04:57.740 And over and over again, that happens. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:05.920 That same process of having the need be recognized and then the need be met is how we constantly 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.379 experience grace. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.519 We become aware of our need for it. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:18.000 And just as quickly then we find Jesus there as the one who meets that need. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:27.560 I want us to see that grace and the way we experience it in three ways, three parts of life this morning. 00:05:28.220 --> 00:05:30.019 The first one's really important. 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:35.399 It's the one we've largely been celebrating already throughout this service. 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:36.399 Grace. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:36.759 Grace. 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:40.519 That God's grace is greater than all our sin. 00:05:41.039 --> 00:05:43.139 Grace for yesterday. 00:05:43.919 --> 00:05:45.699 For all our failures. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:47.479 All our mistakes. 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:49.259 All our sin. 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:58.799 It is possible that you've actually been in church many times and have never heard the actual good news of Jesus. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:01.160 Because you may have only heard religion. 00:06:02.280 --> 00:06:05.960 Religion says here's how you must live to get in with God. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:07.620 To be in his family. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:09.819 To have a relationship with him. 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:12.740 Y'all, the Bible tells better news than religion. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:17.960 Okay, I want to make sure if you've never grasped that before that you hear it this morning. 00:06:18.080 --> 00:06:22.920 It says we were made to live with God and to live like God. 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:27.340 But it's also honest that we're all failures. 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:30.799 We don't do that, do we? 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:33.359 We live the way we want so often. 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:37.479 We are born in sin and we choose to sin. 00:06:38.739 --> 00:06:44.679 And Romans 6 says the wages of sin is death. 00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:48.059 That's what we have earned from God. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:50.819 We need help, don't we? 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:56.099 Ephesians 2 says, in fact, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. 00:06:56.339 --> 00:06:56.939 Trouble. 00:06:57.339 --> 00:07:04.819 But, but Jesus meets our need. 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:11.079 The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:18.179 Back in Ephesians 2, but God, because of his great mercy, this incredible love that he has, 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:23.879 even when we were dead, he loves us, he made us alive together with Christ. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:28.560 By grace, you have been saved. 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:40.259 One easy definition of grace to remember is God's riches at Christ's expense. 00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:47.740 Jesus pays our wages. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:48.740 Jesus pays our wages. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:49.740 Death. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:50.699 Death. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:08:01.120 And the unending riches of God, greater than you can imagine, are dumped freely on people who don't deserve them, 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:03.959 could never earn enough to pay for them. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:12.759 God gives life, eternal life, restored relationship with the creator king to people who could never earn it. 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:21.039 Experiencing grace means coming to realize first how much I need to be rescued. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:28.420 And then right alongside that, how completely Jesus rescues me. 00:08:28.520 --> 00:08:35.060 How big my sin is, bigger than I could deal with, and how much bigger my savior is. 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.180 It's not too big for him. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:38.899 That's experiencing grace. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:42.120 Let me picture it for you this morning. 00:08:43.079 --> 00:08:43.980 It's like this. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:50.860 Imagine I have a book called The Life of Will. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:52.519 It's a big book. 00:08:52.579 --> 00:08:53.179 I'm getting old. 00:08:54.679 --> 00:09:00.659 And there's a lot of things in here to read about, things I've done. 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:08.219 It's really a book about all of the things I've done that I shouldn't have thought, or that I shouldn't have said, 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:10.579 or that I should never have acted that way. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:19.199 And it's also got a bunch of ways that I did think that I was supposed to think this way, and talk that way, and do that thing, and I didn't. 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:20.919 I failed to do them. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.860 Well, let's just read a few of them. 00:09:24.199 --> 00:09:25.860 Preached a sermon too long. 00:09:27.459 --> 00:09:28.339 Never done that. 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:32.800 But neglected his family for his own comfort. 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:37.399 Stretched the truth to make himself look good. 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:43.060 Those were this week, by the way, so watch out for the sermon. 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:47.399 We're not going to read the whole book this morning. 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:48.639 That's not what this is about. 00:09:48.920 --> 00:09:51.100 But there is a problem. 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:55.480 Can you imagine if there was a book like this for you, with your name and picture on the front of it? 00:09:55.480 --> 00:10:00.279 What do I need in a book like this? 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:03.680 I need good things. 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:04.680 Don't I? 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:11.779 Almost everyone agrees that in our lives, in the book of our lives, the good needs to outweigh the bad. 00:10:12.339 --> 00:10:12.539 Right? 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:21.739 I mean, what I need to do is that I need to start writing shorter chapters of bad things and longer chapters of good things, people would say. 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:26.200 Religion says to that problem of good things. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:35.659 That the solution is that Jesus, or in another religion, someone else, tells me how to be a better person. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:45.860 Even helps me to be a better person so that I write enough good chapters that things finally balance out and God says will is good enough. 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:48.759 That's the message of religion. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.039 Y'all, that's not grace. 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:58.720 That's not freedom from performance, but that's pressure to perform. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:02.779 That's not the good news of Jesus, is it? 00:11:04.180 --> 00:11:09.560 Grace brings you into relationship with Jesus. 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:17.879 You see your need, and then it's not Jesus tells me how to be a better person. 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:22.599 It's Jesus is the better person. 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:24.819 There's a second book, you see. 00:11:26.119 --> 00:11:28.819 It's called The Life of Jesus. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:31.319 Y'all like object lessons like this, right? 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:33.519 Nod your head, yeah, do object lessons. 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:36.019 The Life of Jesus. 00:11:36.099 --> 00:11:37.779 I just want to read you a few parts of it. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:39.939 What are some of the things he did? 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:44.000 Jesus obeyed his parents. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:47.639 Jesus loved his enemies. 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:51.439 Jesus gave his life for his friends. 00:11:51.579 --> 00:11:57.539 Jesus was tempted to sin, and he quoted scripture and obeyed his father. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:02.339 All of this perfect living. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:10.100 A whole book full of the life of Jesus, all the way to the cross where he gives his life. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:20.019 The good news of the gospel is that these two books, your life and all the ways you've failed, 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:26.420 and Jesus' life and all the ways he succeeded, see, they actually get a cover swap. 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:41.899 Second Corinthians chapter 5, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:50.379 Jesus, who had never sinned at all, sees our book. 00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:53.000 He knows our need. 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:58.179 He understands that death is coming to us because of this, 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:04.959 and he goes to the cross and stands in our place to pay for everything we've ever done or failed to do. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:09.360 But then keep reading. 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:17.840 That in him, in Jesus, we might become the righteousness of God. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:24.580 That the perfect record of Jesus, you remember all those amazing things he did in this book? 00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:31.740 He says, I'm going to give you that record. 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:40.460 I'm going to give Will, the one I died on the cross for, the record of all of those things I've done, 00:13:40.560 --> 00:13:46.700 so that he can stand righteous before God, so that he can be welcomed into God's family and loved. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.240 Jesus is the better person, right? 00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:50.860 Not me. 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:56.720 And he rescues me and then transforms me to make me perfect forever. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.460 Guess how much that costs you to swap the covers on those books? 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.139 Nothing. 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:05.919 All of that is for free. 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:07.019 We pay nothing. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.460 Jesus pays a lot, doesn't he? 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:10.539 We say Jesus paid it all. 00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:17.960 We offer nothing but our need, and Jesus meets it completely. 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:26.240 That's why we sing, nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:29.280 Jesus is all we have, right? 00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:31.500 But he is all we need. 00:14:31.540 --> 00:14:31.740 Amen? 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:39.259 If you realize that this morning, you sing just as I am, without one plea, 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:48.439 but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:52.860 It's by grace we have been saved through faith. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.120 It's a gift. 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:56.259 Not something we work for. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.240 Remember those words Derek read from Ephesians 2? 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:02.820 That's why we sing amazing grace. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:07.879 How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:09.000 Oh, my need. 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.840 God is so great. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:14.259 I can't even imagine making up for all of it. 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:19.360 I once was lost, but by grace now I'm found. 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:22.000 Was blind, but now I see. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:32.259 Friend, nothing could be more needful, more important, more exciting this morning 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:39.340 than for you to experience God's grace to you personally in Jesus. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:44.600 Grace means that you don't have to run home and get cleaned up and come back. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.600 No, actually it means that God cleans you up himself. 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:55.240 He says, come, I will clean you and I will welcome you into my family forever. 00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:59.840 You just trust him that he does that for you. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.560 It's as simple as it is free. 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:08.279 As much as it costs Jesus, it is entirely free to you. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:13.940 By the way, if it weren't, it wouldn't be grace. 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:22.160 Jesus, the one who meets your deepest need invites you to come to him this morning. 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:27.600 I plead with you, don't miss out on Jesus one more day. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.000 He's done it all. 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.220 You don't have to wait. 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.280 Come and trust him this morning. 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:37.120 In fact, that is the call for every single person in here today. 00:16:37.760 --> 00:16:41.040 It doesn't matter if you've ever met Jesus before or not. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:43.000 That is what we all need, isn't it? 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.819 More of Jesus, more of grace. 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.539 Do you need that? 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.379 I do. 00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:51.860 You see, that's the beauty of experiencing grace. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:56.079 Experiencing grace is not a one-time experience. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.980 If that's the way you think about it, we need to change that. 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:02.699 That's why it's where our mission starts every day. 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:05.200 Grace for today. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:15.039 Just as our bodies were designed always to need oxygen, our souls were designed always to need grace. 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:19.200 We never get over our need for Jesus. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:28.759 Many mornings I run down a beautiful greenway near our house. 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:33.779 It's lined with these gorgeous trees and they're all so full of life. 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:38.140 But since the storm a couple of weeks ago, it's a little bit different view. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:47.539 I run down this beautiful greenway, but those green trees are now surrounded by very brown branches on the ground all around them. 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:54.339 They were just such vibrant, strong, full of life branches. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.539 But what happened? 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.359 You know what happened. 00:17:56.700 --> 00:18:02.740 They got blown away from the trunk and they dried up fast. 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:07.460 There's nothing green about them anymore after just a couple of weeks. 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:13.039 See, those branches were never designed to be disconnected from the tree, were they? 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:16.619 See, Jesus says the same about you and me. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:26.599 It's not that Jesus says, hey, I rescued you, so stop being so needy and go out there and get on with living your life for me. 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.220 That's not what he says. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:34.899 Jesus says, I rescued you, so you never leave my side. 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.039 Look at John chapter 15. 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:37.359 Listen to this. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:41.240 He says, abide in me and I in you. 00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:43.759 Keep staying connected to me. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:51.539 As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.519 I am the vine. 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.679 You are the branches. 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:59.279 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:01.879 For apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:05.679 If anyone does not abide in me, he's thrown away like a branch and withers. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.539 That's what happens. 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.060 Jesus is saying, you see this. 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.779 You know this. 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:11.940 These are people who are around trees all the time. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.960 They knew what a vine was and what branches were. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.799 Here's what happens when you disconnect them. 00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:17.740 It doesn't go well for the branches, does it? 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:20.440 In fact, apart from him, you can do nothing. 00:19:20.560 --> 00:19:21.940 You have no life in you. 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:27.039 See, it's not just Jesus meeting our needs once, is it? 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:31.400 Experiencing grace means constant needs. 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:34.960 Constantly met in Christ. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.180 Just constant needs all the time. 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:40.259 Constantly met in Christ. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.460 I want you to think for just a minute of all the people in the Bible. 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:45.480 I couldn't list them all, but I'm going to give you a few. 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:50.440 People who see their need, all sorts of different kinds of needs, 00:19:50.600 --> 00:19:53.740 and then what happens almost as quickly as they see their need for some of them 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:56.660 is they see Jesus meet their need. 00:19:56.660 --> 00:20:08.640 Insufficient disciples who think, how will we feed 5,000 plus people with five loaves and two fish? 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:13.960 Come to Jesus with that, and they pick up the leftovers, don't they? 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:22.880 A sinful woman who knows she's unworthy pours out all that she has on Jesus, 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:25.819 who alone welcomes her. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:34.299 A paralyzed man who's so desperate for help that his friends cut a hole in a roof, 00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:42.319 gets to Jesus and receives forgiveness of sin and healing of his body. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:52.919 A thirsty woman who asks for a drink, receives from Jesus, who she didn't even know, living water. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:21:00.500 A blind beggar who is ignored and shushed by others cries for Jesus, and he sees. 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:07.980 A bleeding woman who reaches out for Jesus is restored physically and socially for the rest of her life by one touch. 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:19.140 A desperate father who throws himself at Jesus' feet, receives his dying daughter restored to him. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:25.980 Grieving sisters who bemoan that if Jesus had been there, their brother would never have died. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:28.420 Tell Jesus that. 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:32.480 And they see Jesus raise Lazarus back to life. 00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:42.140 And of course there's a dying thief who knows that death on a cross is what he deserves. 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:52.820 And he is granted the gift of eternal life in his last breaths by the man on the middle cross. 00:21:52.819 --> 00:22:01.099 Friends, this is the way we are to live every day. 00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:03.899 Always needing Jesus. 00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:10.079 Every need, every breath, we need his grace. 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:17.480 I tell you that because I have lived many years of my life saying that I believe in the good news of Jesus and of grace. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:21.200 But honestly thinking that I don't need grace anymore. 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:25.819 I got that once and now it's on me. 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:29.160 May that never be the way that we live. 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:33.799 We have to acknowledge our needs like these people in the Bible. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:37.799 You won't experience grace to meet your needs if you don't have any. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:44.039 You won't experience grace to forgive your sins and your failures if you don't have any. 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:50.899 You won't experience grace to give you strength and weakness or direction and confusion if you don't have any. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.299 The good news is you do. 00:22:54.299 --> 00:23:01.440 I just stopped to think of the things I knew from this week of people in this room. 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.819 Situations of need. 00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:05.879 Needing to experience Jesus' grace just this week. 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:12.839 When your heart is drifting distant from God, it's grace that draws you back. 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:16.000 And it's grace that assures you of your welcome home. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:24.460 When the new kid at school wants to sit next to you and it's not cool and your friends don't want him to. 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:31.440 It's grace that helps you embrace someone who's undeserving just like you. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:38.819 When you're facing a health crisis that you never imagined. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.460 And you never knew what it would be like. 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:47.140 It's grace that enables you not to despair. 00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:53.000 But to have hope in the gracious good shepherd who's with you. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:24:00.180 When you're feeling weak before a temptation that if you're honest just feels like an addiction to you. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:04.180 You can't put the phone down or the food down or the drink down. 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.600 And you're doing it again. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.500 It's grace. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:11.440 His grace that is sufficient for you. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:16.840 His power that shows up and is perfect in your weakness when you're sure you can't stand. 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.620 When you're treated unfairly at work. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.279 It's grace you need to forgive. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:26.079 And to rest in God's plan, not yours. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:31.079 When you're feeling inadequate for the task that you're called to. 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:33.000 You're afraid you're going to fail again. 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:35.960 It's grace that whispers you're not on your own. 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:41.779 When anxiety and stress are controlling you. 00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:49.440 It's the grace of God that frees you to trust. 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:55.120 As a result leads you into peace and rest. 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:57.000 When your marriage is hard. 00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:59.740 It's grace that empowers you to endure. 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:03.680 And it's grace that brings undeserved love again. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.660 When you're feeling alone. 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:11.059 And unloved. 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:18.380 It's grace that reminds you of the huge price. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:23.579 That the God of the universe paid to have you as his own. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.059 As his beloved. 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:29.619 We are a needy people. 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:35.279 But we have a need meeting Savior. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.700 For all of them. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:40.099 What's your situation? 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:43.960 Where's your need today? 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.980 Maybe I didn't name yours. 00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:47.440 Ran out of time. 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:52.579 But my God will meet all your needs. 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:54.899 Every need of yours. 00:25:55.139 --> 00:26:00.359 According to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.679 And you say. 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:03.759 But I don't deserve him to pastor. 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.720 That's why it's called grace. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.559 He does it anyway. 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:12.359 And we get to taste that. 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:15.759 And we get to share that for free. 00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:17.220 But that's next week. 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.539 And we're going to talk more about that. 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.680 But for now. 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:22.539 Scottish pastor Andrew Murray reminds us. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:25.259 Jesus drew us by his grace. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.399 When he said come. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.639 And Jesus keeps us by his grace. 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:31.299 When he says abide. 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:33.559 The grace to come. 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.599 And the grace to abide. 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:38.240 Are alike from him alone. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:42.000 What that means is that our mission. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:45.619 Is not independently strong. 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:47.160 Living for Jesus. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.619 That's not it. 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:53.140 It is desperately dependent. 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:55.799 Living with Jesus. 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:58.319 Praying for his help. 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:01.460 Longing to be directed by his word. 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.960 Thirsty to gather. 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:04.380 To worship together. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.480 Because my heart needs redirection. 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.660 Eager to share with others of him. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.880 Because he's my only hope. 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:11.040 I'm that desperate. 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.640 Desperately dependent. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:15.440 So that what happens when you live desperately dependent. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:18.520 Is that Jesus gets bigger in your eyes. 00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:21.360 Jesus is more glorious to your heart. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:23.760 Jesus is more gracious to you. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.000 Every day. 00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:26.780 That you walk with him like that. 00:27:28.520 --> 00:27:31.360 You do know that we still sing. 00:27:32.280 --> 00:27:33.220 Some of you have been Christians. 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:35.640 70 and 80 and 90 years. 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:37.620 And you still sing. 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:39.779 Nothing in my hand I bring. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.419 Simply to thy cross I cling. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:42.699 Right? 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.759 Naked you dress me. 00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:48.099 Helpless you grace me. 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.019 Foul. 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.799 Dirty. 00:27:50.479 --> 00:27:54.419 Wash me clean again in the fountain of Jesus blood. 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:58.399 Just as I used to be. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.779 Without one plea. 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:01.739 No, no, no. 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.539 Just as I am. 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:05.259 Without one plea. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.120 Except that I finally got my act together. 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.259 God you need to know it. 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.480 No, no, no, no. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.599 Just as I am. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.940 Without one plea. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:17.220 But that thy blood was shed for me. 00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:20.519 And that by grace you bid me come. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.359 To thee. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:25.319 Friend, grace is still amazing. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.039 Every day. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:31.960 It is amazing grace that is with you through many dangers, toils, and snares. 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:37.720 Because Jesus will your shield and portion be as long as life endures. 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:42.240 You don't have to look for anything else to protect you. 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:45.039 For anyone else to be your sufficiency. 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:49.119 Grace will lead you safely home. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:53.559 We better get there. 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.879 Speaking of grace, bringing us home. 00:28:56.179 --> 00:29:00.199 The grace of God to us in Jesus is so amazing. 00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:09.139 It is so boundless and endless that there's not only grace for the sins and the failures of all your yesterdays. 00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:10.759 All of them, he can take them. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:19.900 There's not only grace for the countless physical, spiritual, emotional, relational needs we face today. 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.279 And that is a lot. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:26.160 But also grace for all our tomorrows. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:31.960 In fact, this is going to be shorter but maybe more exciting. 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:40.319 I don't think it's unbiblical to say that perhaps Jesus and grace may get more amazing. 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:47.240 May blow our minds more in eternity than they do already. 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:50.420 Back to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:29:50.420 --> 00:30:09.360 By grace you have been saved and seated with Jesus in the heavenly places so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:13.820 You realize by now I think that grace can't be separated from Jesus, don't you? 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:15.320 You've heard me say that before. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:17.700 You can't separate grace and Jesus. 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:25.420 It's because we are seated with him in heaven that we get God's grace eternally dumped on us. 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:33.500 Peter tells us this is the grace we are to set our hope fully on right now. 00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:40.519 Nothing else but the grace that is to be given us at the revelation of Jesus. 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:50.279 When we see him, I'm never again going to lose sight of the one who meets all of my needs the way that I do sometimes right now. 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:53.180 There's going to come a day when I never lose sight of him again. 00:30:54.639 --> 00:31:04.440 See, this grace is really the same grace that we talked about from the first day we met Jesus and had our sins washed in his blood. 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:11.080 Covered by his perfect, righteous life that we get to have as our own. 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.799 Because we don't make ourselves fit for heaven, do we? 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.660 Can you imagine? 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:21.660 A place of perfection, of holiness, of glory. 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:24.000 Can you get yourself ready for that place? 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:30.000 The multicolored multitude around the throne of heaven. 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:39.779 They're clothed in pure white robes because they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:44.099 We are totally wrapped in Jesus. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:46.859 Completely covered by him. 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:49.539 Not just once, but forever. 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:55.180 You never get uncovered from his righteous robes. 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:59.839 Friends, you understand that part of the glory of heaven will be that we still sing, 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:04.059 Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:13.639 We will cast our crowns before the throne in a humble and needy and grateful acknowledgement that there is one king. 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:18.379 That there is one originally righteous person. 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:24.900 That there is one perfect savior, the spotless Lamb who was slain. 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:30.440 And with overflowing joy, we're going to run through the pearly gates and sing, 00:32:30.520 --> 00:32:35.160 Just as I am, without one plea, except thy blood was shed for me. 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:39.680 And that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come. 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.620 I come. 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.580 I see you. 00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:42.820 You're glorious. 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.899 You are reigning. 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:45.480 You are loving me. 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.919 And I come. 00:32:47.419 --> 00:32:48.619 I come. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:55.119 And throughout eternity, the song of the redeemed will be of God's amazing grace. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:59.019 When we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:04.819 We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun. 00:33:06.179 --> 00:33:06.919 Breathe in. 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.980 Breathe deeply. 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:15.819 His grace is and always will be sufficient. 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.880 Pray with me. 00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:24.819 O God of grace, 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:30.099 You have imputed my sin to my substitute 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:33.779 And have imputed his righteousness to my soul, 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:36.779 Clothing me with a bridegroom's robe, 00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:39.159 Decking me with jewels of holiness. 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:44.079 But in my Christian walk, I am still in rags. 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:47.059 My best prayers are stained with sin. 00:33:48.199 --> 00:33:50.839 My penitential tears are so much impurity. 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:54.579 My confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin. 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:58.500 My receiving the spirit is tinctured with selfishness. 00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:02.899 I need to repent of my repentance. 00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:05.579 I need my tears to be washed. 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:08.860 I have no robe to bring to cover my sins. 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:11.319 No loom to weave my own righteousness. 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:15.059 I am always standing clothed in filthy garments. 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:19.159 And by grace, I'm always receiving change of raiment. 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:22.779 For you always justify the ungodly. 00:34:23.819 --> 00:34:26.159 I am always going into the far country 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:28.619 And always returning home as a prodigal. 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:31.519 Always saying, Father, forgive me. 00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:35.059 And you are always bringing forth the best robe. 00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:37.819 Every morning let me wear it. 00:34:38.339 --> 00:34:39.980 Every evening return in it. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:42.199 Go out to the day's work in it. 00:34:42.259 --> 00:34:43.299 Be married in it. 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.940 Be wound in death in it. 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:47.379 Stand before the great white throne in it. 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:50.240 Enter heaven in it shining as the sun. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:56.200 Grant me, Father, never to lose sight 00:34:56.200 --> 00:35:00.119 Of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. 00:35:02.140 --> 00:35:04.840 The exceeding righteousness of salvation. 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:08.740 The exceeding glory of Christ. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:11.840 The exceeding beauty of holiness. 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:16.539 The exceeding wonder of grace. 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.640 Amen. 00:35:20.140 --> 00:35:23.660 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.799 Catch your image below. 00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:27.000 And also loving our own future. 00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:31.099 I hope for a future where you can nicht balance for the way of God. 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.480 Focus on the Lukács像 Massive 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.079 отдых for this judgment there. 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:36.279 What message shall we embrace on the way of God? 00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:38.000 To be involved and should have received on it. 00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:39.099 The exceeding peace with logros. 00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:40.379 I hope that the purpose is going on. 00:35:40.379 --> 00:35:42.480 You may say that you should have received on it.. 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.159 The exceeding beauty. 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:44.619 What message shall we tie from him? 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.039 The expected of you once again. 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:47.299 For rounds to conduct serves on your own birth altar.