1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 2: For more resources to help you in your walk with Christ, 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 2: please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. This morning, 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 2: we're going to continue our look at what we've been 5 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 2: looking at from the Gospel of John, specifically John chapter one, 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 2: the various things that are referenced about Jesus in that 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 2: opening chapter of John's gospel. And today we're going to 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 2: be looking at verses nine through thirteen of John chapter one. 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 2: So if you take your bibles in turn there with me. 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: It's not a long section, but there's some very interesting 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 2: things here that directly connect and directly tie even into 12 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: Genesis chapter one, And so we're going to see some 13 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 2: of those connections, I'm sure. But John chapter one, starting 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 2: with verse nine, this is what it states about Jesus 15 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: ultimately being the true light. It says this of him, 16 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: the true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming 17 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: into the world. He was in the world was made 18 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: through him. 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: Yet the world did not know him. 20 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 2: He came to his own and his own people did 21 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: not receive him. But to all who did receive him, 22 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 2: who believed in his name, he gave the right to 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 2: become children of God. Were born not of blood nor 24 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,199 Speaker 2: of the will of the flesh, nor of the will 25 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: of man, but of God. Let's pray, Lord, thank you 26 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: so much for the privilege to be able to take 27 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: a look at your word now, and we pray that 28 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: you'd speak to our minds and our hearts and help 29 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: us to understand the very things that we just read. 30 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: We pray that we would look at these things. 31 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 2: And recognize that that this is truth that was divinely revealed. 32 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: This wasn't something that the apostle John figured out. This 33 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: wasn't something that we in our own senses and in 34 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: our own nature would figure out. This is something you 35 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: revealed to us about you. And so Lord, I pray 36 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: that throughout the course of our time together today, as 37 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: we look at what your word states, that you'd help 38 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: us to grow at our walk with you. We would 39 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: appreciate who you are and what you've accomplished. And we 40 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: thank you that even as we look at this brief passage, 41 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 2: we can see something that you've revealed to us about 42 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: your heart here, and so we pray that you'd help 43 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: us to grow in our appreciation of. 44 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: You as we look at it together. 45 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 2: We pray that you'd speak to our hearts by the 46 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: power of your Holy Spirit, and we pray. 47 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: This all in Jesus' name. Amen. 48 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 2: So this is a very interesting portion of scripture, a 49 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: portion of scripture that I thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity 50 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 2: to read and contemplate. Here you have the apostle John 51 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: describing Jesus as the true Light. He does that right 52 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: in the opening verse that we just read there, John, 53 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: Chapter one, verse nine. And when he does that, when 54 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 2: he describes Jesus as the true Light here, he's not 55 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 2: just offering poetic language, and he's not just trying to 56 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 2: offer an interesting metaphor or something like that. 57 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: To look at, what he's actually. 58 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: Doing is he's making a bold theological declaration about the 59 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 2: identity of Christ. And again I mentioned last week, there 60 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: are many people in this world that are familiar with 61 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,839 Speaker 2: the name of Jesus but don't really know who they're 62 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 2: speaking of when they speak of him. What John is 63 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: saying here right off the bat, he's saying that Jesus 64 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: is the fulfillment of everything that God hinted at throughout 65 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: the entire Old Testament, every glimpse of light, every shadow 66 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 2: of hope, every prophecy that promised redemption. It all finds 67 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: its substance in Jesus, and so John wants us to 68 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: recognize that Jesus didn't just appear randomly. He came as 69 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: the long promised light who would shine light on people 70 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: living in darkness. Now, what we'll do is we'll work 71 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 2: our way through these verses a piece at a time. 72 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: But just to reiterate this, even though we just read 73 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: it just a few moments ago. In verse nine, John 74 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: says this. He says, the true light, which gives light 75 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 2: to everyone, was coming into the world. And I look 76 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: at that and I think, boy, that's quite the thought. 77 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: Because when you go back to Genesis one, you have 78 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: God saying let there be light, and it's really cool 79 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: if you take the opportunity. This is homework. I know 80 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: the message just began, and already I'm assigning homework. But 81 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: I'm telling you now to really appreciate what's going on 82 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: in John chapter one. It's very helpful to read Genesis 83 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 2: chapter one because you have John starting off this gospel 84 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 2: very similarly to Genesis chapter one. So the way the 85 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 2: whole Bible starts and the way this chapter starts are 86 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: very similar. 87 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: They connect very thoroughly. 88 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: The God who said let there be light in Genesis 89 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: one is now entering into the world that he created. 90 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: That's what John's revealing here. That's what John's speaking about here. 91 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: So this is the God who led Israel by a 92 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:44,799 Speaker 2: pillar of fire in Exodus, and he's stepping into human history. 93 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: This is the God promise, the God who promised through 94 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: Isaiah that the people who walked in darkness have seen 95 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: a great light. He comes to fulfill every word of 96 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: that promise. That's what we're seeing here. Creation began with 97 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: God's life filling the universe, and now redemption it begins 98 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 2: with God's light stepping into the universe that he's created, 99 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 2: into the world that he's created. But John also tells 100 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 2: us something heartbreaking right at the start here he. 101 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: Says Jesus was in the world. And then when you 102 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 1: look at verse ten, what does he say said. 103 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 2: He was in the world and the world was made 104 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 2: through him, yet the world did not know him. It 105 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: was in the world, the world was made through him, 106 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: and yet the world did. 107 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: Not know him. 108 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: And it's kind of interesting to look at that because 109 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: at first glance, I think a lot of people look 110 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 2: at that and they'll think, all right, well, that's ancient history. 111 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: That's how things were at the time when Christ came 112 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: to this earth. And that's true, that is how things 113 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: were at the time that Christ came to this earth. 114 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: But it's also it continues to be a reflection of 115 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: the human heart at present because sin blinds us, and 116 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 2: sin convinces us that we can live independently from the 117 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 2: one who formed us. Sin persuades us to worship created 118 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: things instead of the Creator. 119 00:05:59,120 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: And it's the same. 120 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 2: Path that Israel fell into throughout the course of Israel's history. 121 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: In fact, in Judges chapter two, you see the writer 122 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 2: describing a generation that did not know the Lord or 123 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 2: the work that he had done for Israel. Now, the 124 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 2: problem wasn't that God hadn't revealed himself, because God had 125 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: certainly revealed himself in many different ways. The problem was 126 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: that their heart, their hearts were resistant. And that's very 127 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: much the issue that we deal with personally. It's also 128 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: the issue that we deal with culturally. And I find 129 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: it helpful when I look at a portion of scripture 130 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: like this, and when it's describing things like this. At 131 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: one point I would look at things like this and 132 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: I would say I would think of it primarily as 133 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 2: talking about other people. 134 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: And I think that that's very easy to do when 135 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: you look at it something like this. 136 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 2: All right, he was in the world, the world was 137 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: made through him, yet the world did not know him. 138 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 2: I look at stuff like that sometimes and my first 139 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 2: inclination is to think it's talking about other people and 140 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 2: not myself. And then when I look back over the 141 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 2: course of my own life, I have to admit that 142 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: that same resistance used to mark my own life. 143 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: So it's not just talking about other people. 144 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: This is talking about the state of my heart at 145 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: one season of life as well. There were seasons that 146 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: I could look back on when I could tell you 147 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: I knew facts about Jesus, but I didn't actually know him. 148 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: You know. 149 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: I could even quote some verses, not super well, but 150 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: I could even quote a few things. And I could 151 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: tell you certain things about what I thought I believed. 152 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: But I wasn't receiving Christ as lord of my life. 153 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: I was just going through the motions. I wasn't walking 154 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: in his light. I was choosing self reliance over surrender, 155 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: and it produced the kind of spiritual darkness that scripture 156 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 2: warns us about. In fact, in Proverbs chapter fourteen, it 157 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: tells us that that there's a way that seems right 158 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: to a person, but in the end it leads to death. Well, 159 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 2: I've walked down some of those seams right roads before, 160 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: and they never deliver what they promise. And here you 161 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: have the apostle John, as the Holy Spirit is giving 162 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 2: him these words to say, he's describing the heart condition 163 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 2: of the world as Jesus entered into it. Though the 164 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: world was made through him, the world did not know him. 165 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: The world was made by him and didn't know him. 166 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 2: But then John continues in verse eleven and he says 167 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: he came to his own and his own people didn't 168 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: receive him. His own people did not receive him. Now, 169 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: who are these people that John is referencing. He's referencing 170 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 2: the nation of Israel. He's referencing the Jewish people. And 171 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: think about some of the advantages that Israel had. They 172 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 2: had scripture, The Scripture was revealed to them. They had 173 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: prophets and prophecy, these things that were revealed to them. 174 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: They had a history of God working in and among 175 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: and through them. They even had a covenant identity that 176 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: God had given them. So you would look at that 177 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 2: and you would say, right, they have every reason to 178 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: recognize Jesus. They have all the advantages that could possibly 179 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 2: be given God revealing himself to them in many ways, 180 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 2: God showing them the scriptures and revealing the scriptures to them. 181 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 2: All of these things Mira list things, and yet it 182 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 2: says many refused to receive him. And again, before we 183 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: rush to judge them, we need to recognize how often 184 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 2: we tend to do a very similar thing. 185 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: Because I think it's. 186 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 2: Very easy for us to know His word and maybe 187 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 2: even be familiar with Christian culture and just what day 188 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 2: to day life is for people who profess to be 189 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: followers of Christ. I think some people may even serve 190 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,959 Speaker 2: in ministry or even lead others. But if we're honest, 191 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: I think that there are moments where our hearts are 192 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 2: tempted to resist the very things that Jesus wants to 193 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 2: do in us. There's a work that God has to 194 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: do within us to soften our hearts, because by nature, 195 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: we are hardhearted towards the. 196 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: Plan of God. 197 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: What we're attempting to do is to be God of 198 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 2: our own life. And you look at what Scripture reveals. 199 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 2: It says He came to his own and his own 200 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 2: people did not receive him well, why didn't they receive 201 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 2: him well? Effectively, they were trying to be the arbiters. 202 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 2: They were trying to be their own gods. And you know, 203 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: when you look at this, when you think about what's revealing, 204 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 2: what's being revealed here, it's probably useful to be a 205 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 2: bit introspective, because I don't think there was a whole 206 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 2: ton of introspection going on at the time that these 207 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 2: scriptures were being delivered. So maybe if we're in a 208 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 2: spot where we're wrestling with a hard heart, maybe we 209 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 2: need to wrestle with this. 210 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: A little bit. 211 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: Maybe he's calling you to forgive someone who hurt you. 212 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,959 Speaker 2: Is that something that the Lord's saying at this season 213 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 2: of your life? This is my calling on your life 214 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: forgive someone who hurt you. Or maybe he's convicting you 215 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: about a habit that's slowly shaping your character in a 216 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: negative way because you keep welcoming into your life and 217 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 2: it doesn't belong there. Or maybe he's inviting you to 218 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 2: trust him in the midst of a season that seems 219 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: unstable or unpredictable. You might feel that innertention as the 220 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit nudges you to obey, and I look at that, 221 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 2: and I think in these moments, we're discovering whether whether 222 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 2: our faith is superficial or it's relational, whether this is 223 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 2: a surface faith, or whether this is something that's actually 224 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: relational that we take seriously. During the time in which 225 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 2: John wrote these words down, the Pharisees were very much 226 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: an influential religious group among the people of Israel. They 227 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: knew the scripture better than anyone. It always amazes me 228 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 2: when you look at what the Gospels reveal about that group. 229 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 2: They had to memorize large portions of scripture. And when 230 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 2: the very one that all the scriptures were pointing towards, 231 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: Jesus himself, stood right in front of them, they missed him. 232 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 2: They missed the Messiah standing right in front of them. 233 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 2: And I think we're supposed to look at that and say, 234 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: you know what, that's a warning for me too, because 235 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 2: familiarity isn't the same as faith. I can know a 236 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: lot of things about Jesus. I could be familiar with 237 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 2: his name and their context. They could even tell you 238 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: directly what he looked like, because they were looking at 239 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 2: him face to face. But familiarity is not the same 240 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 2: as faith. He came to his own and his own 241 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: people did not receive him. It's actually a very sad statement. 242 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 2: His own people did not receive him. He came to them. 243 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: He didn't expect them to come to him. He came 244 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 2: to them, and they didn't receive him. But then the 245 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 2: passage turns. There's a beautiful turn that happens here in 246 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 2: John chapter one, because John doesn't stop with this rejection here. 247 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 2: If this is the way the story ended, that would 248 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: be a very very. 249 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: Sad thing, indeed. But he ends up. 250 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: Offering one of the most hope filled statements in scripture 251 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: when you look at verse twelve, because in verse twelve 252 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 2: he says this, but to all who did receive him, 253 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: who believed in his name, he gave the right to 254 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 2: become children of God. Think about that statement. Let me 255 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 2: just let it linger for a second. 256 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: But to all who did. 257 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: Receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the 258 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 2: right to become children of God. That's the heart of 259 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 2: the gospel in a single sentence, isn't it. It's the 260 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,959 Speaker 2: heart of the gospel in one sentence. Jesus didn't come to. 261 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: Just inform us. 262 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 2: He came to this earth to transform us. He wanted 263 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 2: to make us someone new, new people. He came to 264 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 2: take people who were spiritually. 265 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: Dead and make them alive. 266 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 2: He came to take outsiders and bring them into the family. 267 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 2: And I like that phrase where he says he gave 268 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 2: them the right to become children of Gods God. That's 269 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 2: actually a huge statement when you think about it, the 270 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 2: right to become children of God. That's not meant to 271 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: be just cute language or sentimental language. What John's using 272 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 2: here is covenant language. He's talking about legal relational adoption 273 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 2: in the spiritual sense. God isn't letting us in reluctantly. 274 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 2: He's not looking at you and looking at me and saying, 275 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 2: I guess I'll let you in. You know, I guess 276 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 2: it'd be the polite thing to do. I guess I'll 277 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 2: allow you into my presence. Just don't get too close. 278 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 2: That's not what he's doing. He's welcoming us with eagerness 279 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 2: through faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture reveals to us we 280 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: are no longer spiritual orphans. We're sons and daughters with 281 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 2: full access to our Father. I love what we're told 282 00:13:56,640 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 2: in the Book of Isaiah and Isaiah forty three, Verse one, 283 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:01,599 Speaker 2: the Lord reveals. He says, fear not for I have 284 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 2: redeemed you. I have called you by what my name? 285 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 2: And what does he say? 286 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: You are mine? I've called you by my name. You 287 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: are mine. 288 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 2: That's what Jesus came to make possible. And when you 289 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 2: truly believe that, your life totally changes. Think about this 290 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 2: idea here. What it means that Jesus gives you, like 291 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 2: it said in the verse, the right to become God's children. 292 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: That means that your identity is no longer rooted in 293 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 2: your past. That means your identity is no longer rooted 294 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: in your failures. That means that your identity doesn't need 295 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: to be rooted in your fears or your struggles. And 296 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: it's not rooted in your achievements either. It's rooted in Jesus. 297 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 2: And it means that you can approach God with confidence, 298 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 2: not because you're impressive, but because you're his family. You're 299 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 2: part of his family. It means your life has direction 300 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: because you're not wandering in the dark anymore. You're walking 301 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 2: in the light of the one who saves you. And 302 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 2: then when you look at verse thirteen, John adds this. 303 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 2: He says, speaking of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ. 304 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: He says, all right, they're now children of God. They've 305 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 2: been given the right to become children of God. And 306 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: he says, who were born not of blood, nor of 307 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 2: the will of the flesh, nor of. 308 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: The will of man, but of God. 309 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: What he's doing here is he's making it clear that 310 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: salvation isn't something we create, and salvation isn't something we control. 311 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 2: It's a miracle of grace. It's a spiritual birth. It's 312 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: something only God can do. When you place your faith 313 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 2: in Jesus Christ, you're fulfilling or you're experiencing the fulfillment 314 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 2: of ancient promises that have said that God wants to 315 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 2: make you his And if you've ever wondered if God 316 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 2: is patient with you, I think these verses should settle that. 317 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 2: Because Jesus came into a world that what didn't recognize him. 318 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 2: He came to people who didn't receive him, and yet 319 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 2: he still offered himself fully and freely, and he still 320 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 2: invited them into his family. And he's still doing that today. 321 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 2: He's doing that right now, very same thing. He's shining 322 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 2: his light in dark places. He's still rescuing people who 323 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: didn't know that they needed rescuing, and he's still softening 324 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 2: hearts that once resisted him. 325 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: And I think about this. 326 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 2: A lot when I have the opportunity to hear the 327 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 2: personal testimonies of some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. 328 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 2: Because over time, as I've heard people tell the story 329 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 2: of how they walked one way and then the Lord 330 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 2: revealed himself to them and softened their hearts and helped 331 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 2: them open their eyes to see that they needed him, 332 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 2: there's a very similar story that I've often heard, and 333 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: maybe it's a story that you have once told as well. 334 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 2: So many people have said this, and tell me if 335 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 2: this is your story. Also, I get like, in a paraphrase, 336 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 2: I've heard people say, there are moments in my early 337 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 2: years when I sensed God tugging at my heart and 338 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: I resisted because I thought I needed to clean myself 339 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: up before I came to him. Do you ever have 340 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 2: that thought in your mind that you needed to get 341 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 2: everything right before you came to him. I've also heard 342 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 2: people say, you know, I didn't understand that he's the 343 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: one who cleans us, He's the one who changes us. 344 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 2: He's the one who gives us a new birth. So 345 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: then personally speaking, what does that mean? Well, looked, I've 346 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 2: looked at this and I've thought to myself, you know, 347 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 2: I've heard that story so many times. Everybody seems to 348 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 2: think that they have to get everything squared away and 349 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 2: everything right before they come to the Lord. And I've 350 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 2: learned this even after coming to the Lord, that the 351 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 2: sooner I give the Lord my mess, whatever my mess 352 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 2: happens to be, at the moment the sooner, he starts 353 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 2: transforming it into something meaningful. And I think a lot 354 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: of times people think that they have to fix the 355 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 2: mess then they can come to him, that they have 356 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 2: to get cleaned up before they go to the dinner party. 357 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 2: And He's like, no, that's not how it works. He's 358 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 2: the one who cleans you up. That's what the grace 359 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 2: of God does. It finds you where you are, and 360 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 2: it doesn't leave you there. You're welcomed in and you're transformed. 361 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 2: And so John, what John's doing here is he's inviting 362 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 2: us to consider a central question. And the central question 363 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: he's inviting us to think about is this idea of. 364 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: Have you received him? 365 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: Because he says, coming back to John one twelve, but 366 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: to all who did receive him, but to all who 367 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 2: did receive him. So he's inviting us to ask that question, 368 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 2: have we received him, not just acknowledged him, not just 369 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 2: agreed with facts about him, but received him. Have you 370 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 2: opened your heart to the true light, the light of 371 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ, and let him define your identity as a 372 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 2: child of God, Because if you do, everything changes, Every 373 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 2: single thing changes. When you truly receive Jesus Christ, the 374 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 2: true light begins reshaping every single thing inside of you. 375 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: Your priorities shift, your desires change, and even your understanding 376 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 2: of reality starts to shift because you start seeing the 377 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: world differently. You see it through a new clarity. It's 378 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: like the way a room looks you ever find yourself 379 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 2: When I'm traveling, I've noticed that at a lot of 380 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 2: the hotels I'll stay at, they have these very heavy 381 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 2: curtains on the windows, and when the curtains are closed, 382 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:09,959 Speaker 2: it's like super dark in there. 383 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: You can't see a single thing. 384 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 2: And then in the morning you open it up and 385 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 2: light just floods the room, and I feel like, in 386 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 2: a very real analogy, that's what it's like. When Jesus 387 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: transforms a person's mind. 388 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: You go from. 389 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 2: Darkness to bright light, and the light just it doesn't 390 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 2: just reveal what's already there. It starts to change how 391 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 2: you function in the space that you're in. That's what 392 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 2: Jesus does to a person's heart. He illuminates the heart 393 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 2: and then he transforms the heart. And that's part of 394 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 2: what John's getting at in this passage when he's talking 395 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 2: about all these things, and he's talking about it through 396 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,959 Speaker 2: the sense of Jesus being the light. He's showing us 397 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 2: that our relationship with God is built on what God 398 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 2: is doing. It's not built on our effort. It's built 399 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 2: on spiritual birth. Just like none of us initiated our 400 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 2: physical birth, none of us initiate the spiritual birth. 401 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: This is a work of God. God does that. 402 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 2: He initiates the spiritual birth. He doesn't wait around for 403 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 2: us to reach some sort of level of maturity or 404 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 2: a higher moral level or something like that. He doesn't 405 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 2: demand that we prove ourselves ahead of time. Instead, what 406 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 2: he does is he takes people who were spiritually dead 407 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 2: and he gives us life. If it's interesting, when you 408 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: look at John chapter three, you. 409 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: Go a couple chapters ahead. 410 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 2: One of the most popular statements in the Bible. You 411 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 2: find in John chapter three about the fact that Christ 412 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 2: is inviting us to be born again. And he's having 413 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 2: this conversation with a man named Nicodemus, and he does 414 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: this in John chapter three. He tells him, look, you 415 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 2: gotta be born again. And Nicodemus is puzzled by this. 416 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 2: He's like, what do you mean, I've got to be 417 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 2: born again? But basically what Jesus was trying to indicate 418 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 2: there is this if we could fix ourselves through effort, 419 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 2: he wouldn't bother to say that, saying you got to 420 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 2: be born again. It's like, well, I had nothing to 421 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 2: do with my birth the first time, and you're telling 422 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 2: me I have to be born again. 423 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: How do I do something control over the first time? 424 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 2: And what Jesus is saying is no, you don't have 425 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 2: You don't control the new birth either. That's a work 426 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 2: that I'm willing to do in you. So the problem 427 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 2: isn't that we're imperfect. The problem is that, apart from Christ, 428 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: we're spiritually dead, and the only remedy for death is resurrection, 429 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 2: and that's what God gives us in Jesus Christ. The 430 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 2: only remedy for death is resurrection, A new birth. And 431 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 2: here when John says we're born of God, what he's 432 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: telling us is that our new identity is a miracle. 433 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: This is something miraculous. It's a work of God's grace. 434 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 2: And I think that truth becomes even more powerful when 435 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 2: we remember the backdrop of the Old Testament, and John 436 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 2: certainly is writing with that in the back of his 437 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 2: mind here, you'd even say in the forefront of his mind, 438 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 2: because Israel's entire story was shaped by God's promise to 439 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 2: redeem and restore from the moment when you go to 440 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: the earliest chapters of Genesis, which John is pulling from 441 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 2: as he writes here, But from the very moment that 442 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 2: Adam and Eve fell, God began pointing to a coming savior, 443 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 2: and he promised that a descendant of the woman would 444 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: crush the serpent's head. You see that in Genesis chapter three. 445 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 2: And then you go a little bit further into the 446 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 2: book of Genesis and he promises Abraham when you get 447 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 2: to Genesis chapter twelve, that all the nations would be 448 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 2: blessed through his offspring. You're like his offspring. Who's the offspring? 449 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 2: What's being spoken of here? It's a reference to Jesus 450 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:35,880 Speaker 2: and then when you get to the Book of Exodus, 451 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 2: he promises Moses that a greater prophet was coming. And 452 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 2: in particular, I should say it's in the Book of Deuteronomy. 453 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 2: When you get to chapter eighteen of the Book of Deuteronomy, 454 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 2: Moses has promised that a greater prophet is coming. The 455 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 2: people of Israel had promise that a greater prophet is coming. 456 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 2: Then you get to the Book of two Samuel chapter seven, 457 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 2: and David was promised that a son would come from 458 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 2: his line who would reign for And every one of 459 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 2: those promises was building toward this moment in John chapter one, when. 460 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: The true Light stepped into the world. 461 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 2: But I think what strikes me most is the contrast 462 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 2: between how the world responded and how God responded. 463 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: It's very different. 464 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: The world didn't recognize Jesus, many of his own people 465 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 2: didn't receive him, and yet God still pursued. God still 466 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 2: offered adoption. God still he opened the door for anyone 467 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 2: who would believe. And that tells me something important about 468 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 2: the heart of God. 469 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: God is not discouraged by human resistance. 470 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 2: What he is, though, is patient, faithful, and he keeps 471 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 2: inviting even when people ignore him. 472 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: Over and over and over again. 473 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 2: In fact, we're told in Peter's letters, What does Peter say? 474 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 2: You know, it's the patience of God that leads to repentance, 475 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 2: the patience of God. 476 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: Have you ever feared. 477 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 2: That maybe you have failed too many times or drifted 478 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 2: too far from God and maybe then disappointed him beyond 479 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:12,479 Speaker 2: what He's willing to repair. 480 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 1: Have you ever wondered that about yourself? You ever wondering? 481 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,880 Speaker 1: You know, Lord? Maybe like I've tested your patience. Lord. 482 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,479 Speaker 2: I know I've been doing that since day one, But 483 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 2: maybe I've done that too much, or maybe I've just 484 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 2: disappointed you. Maybe I'm just a big disappointment to you God. 485 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 2: You know, maybe you had higher thoughts from me, and 486 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 2: maybe I'm just a big disappointment. Do you ever wonder 487 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 2: if that's the case, if God's just disappointed in you, 488 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: or maybe just your life has gone too far? 489 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: You're a lost cause? Now? Right? 490 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 2: Maybe I should just stop the message right here and 491 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 2: just say everyone go home and think you're. 492 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: A lost cause. You're just a lost cause. Right. 493 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 2: That'd be the worst sermon ever. Right, What do you 494 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 2: learn in church today? 495 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:52,360 Speaker 1: Well? 496 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 2: I learned we're a lost cause. Well, I already knew 497 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 2: that about myself. The truth is, I think that's actually 498 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 2: what most people are preaching to themselves. I think there 499 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 2: are many people in this world that just think they're 500 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,880 Speaker 2: a lost cause. They think they're just so far beyond 501 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 2: the redeeming grace of God that God can't repair the 502 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 2: mess that they've made because it's just too big or 503 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 2: too it goes too deep. You look at this passage, 504 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 2: this passage, if you think about it, it actually speaks right 505 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 2: into that fear, doesn't it. Because the offer is still standing, 506 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 2: the true light is still shining. The invitation isn't limited 507 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 2: to those who have a flawless record, because none of 508 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:26,479 Speaker 2: us have a flawless record. 509 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: It's extended to whom, to all who did receive him. 510 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 2: That's who this invitation is extended to, to all who 511 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 2: did receive him. If you belong to Jesus today, understand 512 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 2: that it's not because you were pursuing him. It's because 513 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 2: he kept pursuing you. He kept drawing you in, He 514 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 2: kept shining light into places that you thought were too dark. 515 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 2: He did that for you, and as a child of God. 516 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 2: If you've trusted in Jesus Christ and have experienced the 517 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 2: benefits and blessings that John's talking about in this passage. 518 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 2: As a child of God, understand the privilege that's been 519 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 2: given to you. The God who pursued you and transformed 520 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 2: you now invites you to walk with him. 521 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:10,120 Speaker 1: He doesn't just. 522 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 2: Transform you and then send you out and say, all right, 523 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 2: don't embarrass me. He walks with you, He sticks with you. 524 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: You get to walk in that light with him. You 525 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 2: get to see yourself through the lens of God's love. 526 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 2: You get to experience the security that comes from knowing 527 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 2: that you belong to him. 528 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 1: That's directly what he. 529 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 2: Says you are mine again in Isaiah forty three, you 530 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 2: are mine. But again, let's make that personal. Let's make 531 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: that practical for just a moment. What does it actually 532 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 2: look like to walk in the. 533 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: Light that Jesus gives? 534 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 2: How does a child of How does being a child 535 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,360 Speaker 2: of God shape the way we live our everyday lives? 536 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 2: Let me suggest a few things, and I hope you'll 537 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 2: find this practical, because I find this practical. To think 538 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 2: about what does this mean for us today? Well, first 539 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 2: of all, it means you don't have to hide anymore. 540 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 2: You don't have to hide anymore. Darkness loves secrecy and 541 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:05,439 Speaker 2: it thrives on shame. But children of the Light, what 542 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: they do is they bring their struggles into God's presence 543 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 2: because they know that he doesn't reject them. He restores them. 544 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 2: In fact, in first John chapter one, verse seven, that 545 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:15,640 Speaker 2: passage reminds us that when we walk in the light, 546 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 2: the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for us, 547 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 2: it cleanses us. So that means that when you come 548 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: to the Lord with your failings or your mistakes, your sins, 549 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: whatever it may be, your fears, the things that you're 550 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 2: wrestling with, you can confess these things. 551 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: Before the Lord without fear. 552 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 2: You can come before him confident that He's willing to 553 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 2: hear you and restore you. 554 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: You can be honest about your weaknesses. 555 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: You can open your heart up fully to the Lord, 556 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 2: knowing that your Father welcomes you. It means you don't 557 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 2: have to hide anymore. And most people, I think are 558 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 2: trying to hide from God. And many Christians think that 559 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 2: they have to hide from God if things get a 560 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 2: little too messed up in their life. 561 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 1: And what's the Lord saying? 562 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 2: No, As Christ is the Light, He's in vite us 563 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,159 Speaker 2: to walk in the light not revert back to shadows. 564 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: Something else that I think Scripture reveals to us just 565 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 2: by way of a principle, is that it means you 566 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 2: don't have to face life alone. I think I mentioned 567 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 2: this last week, but I'll highlight it again one of 568 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 2: my own personal struggles whenever I've noticed that I'm going 569 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 2: through seasons where i feel particularly anxious if I identify 570 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 2: one of the things at the root. One of the 571 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 2: things at the root is that I'm trying to do 572 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 2: things alone that I was not meant to do alone. 573 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 2: It means I'm trying to shoulder burdens that I'm supposed 574 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 2: to be sharing with the Lord, or just straight up 575 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 2: giving over to the Lord and involving my brothers and 576 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 2: sisters in Christ. And because we're children of God who 577 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,719 Speaker 2: are walking in the light, it means we don't have 578 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 2: to face life alone. God did not adopt you and 579 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 2: me to then leave us isolated. Think about what He's 580 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 2: given to you and to me as we're part of 581 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 2: his family. He's given us his spirit. So Scripture tells 582 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: us that the Holy Spirit has sealed us, baptized us, 583 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 2: and lives within us. He indwells us he's also given 584 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 2: us access to His word. 585 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 1: What are we doing right now? 586 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 2: We carve out time on Sunday mornings and hopefully throughout 587 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: the week, just during your personal times to actually look 588 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 2: at the Word of God and what he's revealed, because 589 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 2: we understand more about his nature and what he desires 590 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 2: to do in our life through that. So he's given 591 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 2: us his spirit, He's given us his word, and he's 592 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 2: given us something else. And I know you appreciate it 593 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 2: because you wouldn't be here if you didn't appreciate the 594 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 2: third thing that He's given us each other. He's united 595 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 2: us our common identity in Christ, makes us family with 596 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 2: one another. These are your brothers and sisters in Christ. 597 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 2: And it means you don't have to face life alone. 598 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 2: This is all very intentional. This is all part of 599 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 2: God's design. When he says, look, I'm going to be 600 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 2: your father, what he's also saying is that means you 601 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 2: get to be a family. It means you don't have 602 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 2: to face life alone. Something else that this means is 603 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 2: that it means you can live life with purpose instead 604 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 2: of drifting. You have people in your life that it 605 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 2: just feels like, no matter what age they are, they're 606 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 2: always drifting when they were teenagers, they seem to be drift. 607 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 2: When they're in their twenties, they're drifting. Thirties drifting, forties, fifties, sixties, 608 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 2: it's like they're drifting. I actually had a conversation recently 609 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 2: with someone who recently retired, and you know what he 610 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 2: said to me, And it was the strangest thing I've 611 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 2: heard someone who had recently retired saying. Most of the 612 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 2: time people are like, yeah, recently retired, I can't wait 613 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 2: to go to warm weather play some golf, do you know? 614 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: And this is what he said. 615 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 2: He said, I recently retired, and I honestly don't think 616 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 2: I've ever figured out what I was actually supposed to 617 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 2: be doing with my life. That's literally what he said. 618 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 2: And I was like, that is a strange thing to 619 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 2: have to admit. But you know what, if we're letting 620 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 2: the world define the terms, if we're thinking that the 621 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 2: good life is based on whatever you know, this world 622 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 2: tells us it's going to be, and we don't realize, no, 623 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 2: the good life is actually found in Christ, you end 624 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 2: up drifting. But when you know Christ, when he knows you, 625 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 2: means you could live your life with purpose instead of drifting. 626 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 2: Children of God are not meant to walk in the dark. 627 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 2: The light has come to hope that you maybe stumble 628 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 2: into meaning somewhere along the way. You find meaning in Christ. 629 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 2: You're being guided by Christ. You're being led by Christ. 630 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: Actually love what it tells us. 631 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 2: Longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm one nineteen, reminds us 632 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 2: that God's word is a lamp to our feet and 633 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 2: a light to our path. So when you know Jesus, 634 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:27,240 Speaker 2: what happens your life isn't random. Your work has purpose, 635 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 2: your relationships have depth, your struggles have meaning because God 636 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 2: uses it all to form you more into the likeness 637 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 2: of his son Jesus. Christ means you can live with 638 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 2: purpose instead of drifting. It also means you can hope confidently, 639 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 2: or some would say boldly. I think this world tells 640 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 2: us to keep our expectations low so we don't get disappointed. 641 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 2: But when the children of God are we're invited to 642 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 2: see things differently. We're invited to hope with courage because 643 00:31:58,480 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 2: we know how the story ends. 644 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: We know, Oh, Jesus is coming again. We know light winds. 645 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 2: I love how in the Book of Isaiah, so many 646 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 2: prophetic things about Jesus in the Book of Isaiah, but 647 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 2: Isaiah's sixty it actually gives us a prophetic picture of 648 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 2: the day when the nations generally are going to walk 649 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 2: in the light of the Lord. That is the future 650 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 2: that's promised to God's people, and it's the hope that 651 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 2: we carry every day because we've already seen Him do 652 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:26,239 Speaker 2: that work within us, where he reveals things to us 653 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 2: we wouldn't naturally know. But then here's the part that 654 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 2: humbles me every time, because when I look at this, 655 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 2: I think to myself, all right, Jesus didn't give us 656 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 2: the right to become children of God because we earned it. 657 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 2: It's not how you become a child of God. He 658 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 2: gave us that right because He loved us. He loves us, 659 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 2: He loves you. He loves you with a love that 660 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 2: began before creation, a love that pursued you during your 661 00:32:55,720 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 2: season of resistance, and a love that sent true light 662 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 2: into a dark world so that you could be rescued. 663 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: That's the kind of love Christ has for us. You 664 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 1: aren't an afterthought in God's story. You're part of his family. 665 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 2: And I want to say this, and I hope I'm 666 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 2: preaching this directly to someone's heart. If you need to 667 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 2: hear this, understand this. There may be people in this 668 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 2: world who, at times in your life maybe have made 669 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 2: you feel like you're just somebody to put up with, 670 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 2: not somebody to love. And maybe you've unintentionally kind of 671 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,920 Speaker 2: affixed that to God too, where you start thinking yourself, 672 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,719 Speaker 2: maybe God just tolerates me, Maybe he just puts up 673 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 2: with me. Do you ever just feel do you ever 674 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 2: feel like that's the case. Do you ever wonder like, 675 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 2: do you think God's just putting up with you? Do 676 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 2: you think He's just tolerating you? I know sometimes I 677 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 2: talk to believers who really struggle with feeling unworthy of 678 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 2: God's affection, and I understand that maybe that's you today. 679 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 2: Maybe you've been wrestling with that. Maybe you believe, maybe 680 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,720 Speaker 2: you believe in Jesus for sure, but then there's part 681 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 2: of you that still thinks that that God just tolerates 682 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 2: you more than he delights in you. Well, if that's 683 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,240 Speaker 2: how you feel, if that's something that you've been wrestling with, again, 684 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 2: look at John one twelve. Let me just bring it 685 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 2: back up on the screen. Look at John one twelve again. 686 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,239 Speaker 1: But to all who did receive him, who believed in 687 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: his name. 688 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 2: He gave the right to become children of God, been 689 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 2: given the right to become a child of God. That's 690 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 2: legal language, the way it's communicated there in the scriptures. 691 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 2: It's legal language. It means this is what it means. 692 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 2: Your status is settled. You aren't someone that God's just 693 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 2: barely tolerating. It means that you are intentionally embraced. You 694 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:52,600 Speaker 2: are wanted in the family of God. You are secure. 695 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 2: Here's the other thing to kind of think about. You know, 696 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,439 Speaker 2: a few moments ago we sang Heart the Herald angels sing, 697 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:01,479 Speaker 2: and it's a beautiful remind of the ways in which 698 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 2: angels are used of God to praise him and remind 699 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 2: us of his goodness. But what are angels referred to 700 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:15,800 Speaker 2: in scripture as ministering spirits or ministering servants? 701 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:16,479 Speaker 1: Right? 702 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 2: And here's the thing. If God wanted servants, he wanted 703 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,920 Speaker 2: more servants. He could have created more angels if that 704 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,800 Speaker 2: was God's plan for you, if he just wanted more servants. 705 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 2: And obviously we want to have a heart of service, 706 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:34,200 Speaker 2: and it's my desire to serve the Lord, and I'm 707 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,759 Speaker 2: sure it's your desire as well. But that's not your 708 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 2: chief identity. According to this passage, if he wanted more servants, 709 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 2: he could have created more angels. He wanted something different. Instead, 710 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 2: he wanted sons and daughters. That's what he wanted, sons 711 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 2: and daughters. He wanted a family. He wanted you. That's 712 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 2: why Jesus came. He stepped into a world that didn't 713 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 2: recognize him. That's why he went to the cross, That's 714 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 2: why he rose again. Every step he took was for 715 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:21,759 Speaker 2: the purpose of bringing you into the family. So as 716 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 2: we finish up, let me just leave you with this encouragement. 717 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:29,800 Speaker 2: If you've received Jesus, I want to encourage you. Walk 718 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 2: in the light. Don't go back to darkness. 719 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 1: You have a new light. You're part of a new family. 720 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:34,800 Speaker 1: Don't go back to darkness. 721 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 2: If you've trusted in Jesus Christ, if he's your Lord, walk. 722 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:38,439 Speaker 1: In the light. 723 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,960 Speaker 2: Lean into your new identity. You're a child of God. 724 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:45,000 Speaker 2: You've been given the right to become a child of God, 725 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:46,799 Speaker 2: adopted to. 726 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,040 Speaker 1: The family of God. Lean into that identity. 727 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:54,240 Speaker 2: Remind your heart daily that you are God's child. Remind 728 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:57,480 Speaker 2: your heart of that when temptation tries to pull you 729 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:02,400 Speaker 2: back into darkness, remember who you belong to. Don't go 730 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:06,879 Speaker 2: back to where you were. Progress forward when your own 731 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 2: insecurities or when your own fears starts telling you you're alone, 732 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,440 Speaker 2: you're just tolerated, you're. 733 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:13,280 Speaker 1: Barely even wanted. 734 00:37:14,719 --> 00:37:19,399 Speaker 2: Remember who your father is and who and the fact 735 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:25,240 Speaker 2: that he chose to be your father. When shame tries 736 00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:30,720 Speaker 2: to convince you that you're unworthy, remember the price Jesus 737 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:33,400 Speaker 2: paid to make you his. He looked at you and 738 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 2: he said, I'm gonna make you mine. I'm gonna make 739 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 2: you mind. And Scripture reveals to us that for the 740 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:40,320 Speaker 2: joy set before him, he endured the cross. 741 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: What was this joy set before him? 742 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:44,279 Speaker 2: It was the joy of you and me, we who 743 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:50,960 Speaker 2: were lost, being brought into a permanent family forever. I 744 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:53,400 Speaker 2: love this portion of Scripture because it reminds us the 745 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 2: true light has come and because of him, we're no 746 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:00,160 Speaker 2: longer in the dark. We are home, we are love, 747 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:04,400 Speaker 2: We are his, We belong to him forever, part of 748 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 2: his eternal family. And that's a promise we should reassure 749 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 2: our hearts with every single day. Let's pray, Lord, thank 750 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:19,840 Speaker 2: you so much for your word, and thank you for 751 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 2: the fact that we could look at a portion of 752 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 2: scripture like this, and just think about this and. 753 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:25,920 Speaker 1: Meditate on the fact that. 754 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 2: In and through your son Jesus Christ, we experience a 755 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 2: new life. We experience new birth. We who were once 756 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:39,360 Speaker 2: dead are no longer dead. We who are once distant, 757 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:44,480 Speaker 2: we don't need to live distant anymore. We who once 758 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:50,120 Speaker 2: failed to recognize who you are now we see you. Now, 759 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 2: we understand what you're doing. Now we're understanding where you're 760 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 2: aiming to take us. And so, Father, I'm grateful for 761 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:00,960 Speaker 2: the fact that when we look at a scripture like this, 762 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,040 Speaker 2: these are reminders that you bring to our hearts and 763 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:07,040 Speaker 2: bring to our minds. We were distant, we were rebels, 764 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 2: and you said you desired that we be your family. 765 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:12,560 Speaker 2: And so you've adopted us, and you've given us the 766 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 2: right to become your children through your son Jesus Christ. 767 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:18,280 Speaker 1: Father, I'm so grateful for that fact. 768 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:20,000 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful that when we look at this portion 769 00:39:20,040 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 2: of scripture that we could look at it in a 770 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:23,319 Speaker 2: very personal way. We don't have to look at it 771 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:25,680 Speaker 2: and say, this is talking about other people, this is 772 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 2: talking about a different era. You're talking about us, and 773 00:39:28,719 --> 00:39:32,040 Speaker 2: you're talking about right now. The application of this passage 774 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,680 Speaker 2: is something that transcends the decades. And so Lord, we're 775 00:39:34,719 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 2: grateful for what you reveal to us here. Help us 776 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 2: to rejoice in you, help us to rejoice in the 777 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 2: fact that you sent your son, the true Light into 778 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 2: this world, that now, by your grace, we have the 779 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:52,440 Speaker 2: privilege to walk with you through him. Lord, you tell 780 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:54,680 Speaker 2: us in your word that it's your desire that we 781 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:58,799 Speaker 2: receive your son, not just that we know about him, 782 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:02,239 Speaker 2: not just that we agree with certain details about him, 783 00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:04,600 Speaker 2: but we receive him as our Lord, that we receive 784 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 2: him as our savior, that we experience the blessing of 785 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:12,840 Speaker 2: having every single one of our sins completely forgiven, and 786 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:16,879 Speaker 2: then our unrighteousness replaced with the righteousness of your son. 787 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:18,719 Speaker 2: And so, Father, now we know that as you look 788 00:40:18,760 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 2: at us, you don't see us for our sins. You 789 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:24,000 Speaker 2: see the righteousness of your son, Jesus Christ. That's what 790 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:28,800 Speaker 2: you see, and that's what you'll see forever. You promise 791 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:31,360 Speaker 2: that we will live a glorified existence in your presence 792 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:36,320 Speaker 2: for all eternity, because we've literally been completely forgiven. 793 00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:39,480 Speaker 1: Of sin and invited into your family. 794 00:40:39,719 --> 00:40:43,959 Speaker 2: And because that's real, Lord, because that's true, we pray 795 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,600 Speaker 2: that we would live as men and women who are 796 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:49,200 Speaker 2: absolutely convinced of that truth. Again, Father, help us never 797 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 2: to go back to darkness, but to continue walking in 798 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:54,279 Speaker 2: the light, and to rejoice in who you are, the 799 00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:56,399 Speaker 2: fact that you've made yourself known to us through your 800 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,640 Speaker 2: son Jesus Christ. We thank you for all of these things, 801 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:01,440 Speaker 2: and we pray this all in Jesus' name. 802 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:03,000 Speaker 1: Amen.