back to indexBerean Community Church Sunday Service 7.25.2021
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Great is the Lord, as we reflect on who he is, 00:01:20.080 |
♪ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise ♪ 00:01:46.280 |
♪ Great is the Lord in whom we have the victory ♪ 00:02:15.820 |
♪ And Lord, we wanna lift your name on high ♪ 00:02:37.880 |
♪ And Lord, we trust in your unfailing love ♪ 00:03:00.480 |
♪ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise ♪ 00:03:26.760 |
♪ Great is the Lord in whom we have the victory ♪ 00:03:56.200 |
♪ And Lord, we wanna lift your name on high ♪ 00:04:13.920 |
♪ And Lord, we trust in your unfailing love ♪ 00:04:32.480 |
♪ And Lord, we wanna lift your name on high ♪ 00:04:47.200 |
♪ And Lord, we trust in your unfailing love ♪ 00:06:00.360 |
because you know when all the pandemic started last year, 00:06:04.320 |
we actually took a little bit longer to shut down. 00:06:13.080 |
of the saints gathering together in the church 00:06:32.760 |
we're doing this because this is a special circumstance 00:06:37.480 |
that the church should be in the habit of doing. 00:06:47.080 |
getting the people who are online to get back to church. 00:06:49.760 |
And this is what we wanted to try to prevent. 00:07:00.620 |
and with the various things that is going on, 00:07:05.560 |
if not to get in the habit of just worshiping online, 00:07:14.080 |
that we ask you to either join the church physically 00:07:26.100 |
First of all, we have a members meeting here at 2.30 p.m. 00:07:31.760 |
the service fair tables are going to be set up outside. 00:07:38.740 |
for those of you who are members in the church, 00:07:41.980 |
just so that you can see what's going on in the church. 00:07:44.340 |
Some of the tables are open for you to visit just to see. 00:07:48.220 |
Some of the tables are actually trying to recruit people 00:07:51.040 |
to help out with the ministries that they're in. 00:07:53.060 |
But this will be taking place after the members meeting. 00:07:55.820 |
So if you, for whatever reason, cannot make it, 00:08:09.420 |
And there will, we won't be having live streaming. 00:08:19.900 |
This coming Friday at 7.30, we have praise and prayer. 00:08:27.580 |
And then we'll have our corporate time of prayer together 00:08:32.220 |
And then fall Bible study, that's starting in September. 00:08:36.140 |
especially for those of you who are in home groups, 00:08:39.180 |
I know that there's a temptation to think like, 00:08:46.540 |
We need to know if we have enough space in that home 00:08:49.160 |
because a lot of the home group Bible studies are impacted. 00:08:54.160 |
we may have to move you to another home group. 00:09:12.340 |
And then along with that, the Bible study that's coming up, 00:09:20.700 |
And so that's basically how to do Bible study 00:09:23.360 |
in order so that you can get the most out of the home groups 00:09:31.800 |
and I think it'll be beneficial for most of us, 00:09:34.840 |
take that class and that's starting in August. 00:09:37.040 |
And Pastor Mark is gonna lead three weeks of that 00:09:39.480 |
to help you to do how to do inductive Bible study, okay? 00:09:45.920 |
We're gonna take some time to pray for the offering. 00:09:56.160 |
- Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace 00:10:27.360 |
that we may have a better understanding of who you are, 00:15:26.920 |
And as we have been reflecting through Mount Sinai 00:15:36.960 |
So as we sing this song, I hope we would reflect 00:19:36.680 |
All right, if you can turn your Bibles with me 00:19:42.680 |
We're gonna be looking at verse 22 and on today, 00:19:45.360 |
but I wanna read it in the context of verse 18 through 24. 00:19:57.700 |
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched 00:20:02.080 |
and to a blazing fire and to the darkness and gloom 00:20:04.720 |
and whirlwind and to the blast of the trumpet 00:20:09.640 |
that those who heard begged that no further word 00:20:15.760 |
if even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned. 00:20:19.040 |
And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, 00:20:27.720 |
the heavenly Jerusalem and to myriads of angels, 00:20:30.540 |
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn 00:20:32.880 |
who are enrolled in heaven and to God, the judge of all 00:20:36.880 |
and to the spirit of the righteous made perfect 00:20:39.600 |
and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant 00:20:41.680 |
and to the sprinkle blood which speaks better 00:20:46.320 |
Father, we thank you for the privilege that we have 00:20:52.060 |
to be able to come before your throne of grace 00:20:55.200 |
with confidence because of the blood of Christ. 00:21:00.960 |
persevering with us and at times correcting us, 00:21:12.520 |
only your word go forth and that it would not return 00:21:15.760 |
until it has accomplished the purpose that you have ordained 00:21:20.080 |
I think as you guys know, we are in wedding season, right? 00:21:27.040 |
So we have so many weddings and we know some of you 00:21:30.940 |
recently got married and we know that some of you 00:21:35.160 |
just got engaged, there's weddings coming up. 00:21:39.840 |
We had one here yesterday and then we had another one 00:21:41.840 |
I think on Tuesday and so our pastors are busy 00:21:44.160 |
officiating weddings and so through the years, 00:21:49.940 |
I think in our church we have so many young people, 00:21:53.760 |
we've had so many weddings and somebody asked me 00:22:06.000 |
And there's more weddings going on now than ever. 00:22:13.600 |
we get so caught up in the logistics of the wedding 00:22:16.520 |
that by the time they get to the wedding ceremony, 00:22:21.600 |
Get this over with and then let's go to the honeymoon 00:22:23.960 |
and enjoy ourselves and they don't actually enjoy 00:22:26.660 |
the ceremony which is obviously nobody plans to do that 00:22:34.500 |
why they're getting married in the first place. 00:22:48.660 |
And so remembering all of those things like the highlights 00:22:57.220 |
there are certain things that I can look back 00:23:05.220 |
One, it's obvious is that what makes a wedding memorable 00:23:10.220 |
to me is that those two people wanted to be together. 00:23:17.300 |
And so oftentimes, especially if you're in a Christian 00:23:28.340 |
Like we want to produce and do God's work together. 00:23:35.180 |
but the real honest reason is because she's pretty 00:23:41.740 |
There's something about each other that attracted you 00:23:49.500 |
If you want to honor God, you have to get married, right? 00:23:52.340 |
It's a choice you made because you'd rather be 00:23:54.580 |
with that person and not to be with that person. 00:23:56.660 |
So the obvious reason is because you want to. 00:23:59.660 |
And so of course, everybody gets married for that purpose 00:24:05.620 |
of like trying to get the logistics and the guest rights 00:24:11.380 |
And then you got the drama between the in-laws 00:24:13.980 |
and like who wants this and who doesn't want this. 00:24:17.260 |
they completely forget about why they're getting married 00:24:25.340 |
So the weddings that I remember where they just, 00:24:28.380 |
they never lost focus and they're just so happy to be there 00:24:31.220 |
and all the little things that didn't go right, 00:24:36.700 |
you know, the person that they want to get married to. 00:24:38.280 |
So that's one of the first things that I remember. 00:24:46.940 |
we'll have a situation where just get this over with. 00:24:57.440 |
And so the ceremony itself is just kind of get it over with. 00:25:15.120 |
And you can see, and then that's kind of like a catalyst 00:25:24.880 |
And I've had non-Christians who are witness to. 00:25:27.880 |
That's why one of the things that when I officiate weddings 00:25:30.080 |
I want to make sure that the gospel is clearly presented 00:25:43.000 |
but they knew that this was something that they're missing. 00:25:47.700 |
You know, if non-Christians fell short of the glory of God, 00:25:51.120 |
that's the primary thing that they're not able to do. 00:25:54.600 |
And so at least being in the midst of this celebration, 00:25:57.400 |
they noticed that this is something that was beautiful 00:26:05.280 |
that you don't get so caught up in the logistics 00:26:07.480 |
that you forget that this is a worship before God. 00:26:10.240 |
Before we ask for blessings of family and friends, 00:26:16.540 |
And then the third, the final thing I remember 00:26:20.760 |
about what was memorable to me was the gathering of people 00:26:27.360 |
I've been to weddings where the parents are very influential 00:26:33.760 |
and the wedding has like five, six, 700 people 00:26:42.600 |
And so some of them come because they genuinely saw you 00:26:46.900 |
and then some of them come out of obligation. 00:26:54.260 |
And so they have a lot of that dynamic going on 00:27:05.380 |
and then they go through the motion and they feed them 00:27:10.020 |
because they've shown their face, given their gift, 00:27:13.400 |
And then they wait until their friends in the back, 00:27:21.160 |
where they're just kind of appeasing people who are there 00:27:24.840 |
but just not genuinely celebrating what's happening. 00:27:27.880 |
And so those are the three things that stand out to me, 00:27:35.920 |
They really are happy that they're getting married 00:27:53.540 |
If you look at Hebrews chapter 12, 22 in the NASB, 00:27:58.440 |
it doesn't really flesh out the meaning behind it 00:28:07.220 |
That word general assembly has more significance 00:28:18.120 |
and I'm gonna also read the NIV, it says this. 00:28:21.240 |
and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, 00:28:23.480 |
and to innumerable angels in festal gathering. 00:28:31.080 |
but you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, 00:28:40.240 |
Do you notice what's different between the NASB 00:28:53.080 |
or you're getting together, we're gonna clean the church, 00:29:00.880 |
so that's also an assembly, general assembly. 00:29:03.340 |
The meaning behind this is actually fleshed out 00:29:08.320 |
It's not just any gathering, it is a celebration. 00:29:14.160 |
That is why it's called, again, in NIV, a joyful assembly. 00:29:22.200 |
like a wedding ceremony, where there is an assembly, 00:29:25.260 |
but the assembly is for the purpose of celebration. 00:29:36.400 |
so we're just gonna, everybody who's not condemned, 00:29:49.880 |
And what is the meaning of that word, euangelion? 00:29:57.680 |
we apply it to pretty much everything, right? 00:30:00.640 |
They're having a half-off sale at some boba shop. 00:30:08.880 |
So we use the term good news for anything good, 00:30:17.380 |
It wasn't just something that was good versus bad. 00:30:29.680 |
Culturally, it was not the only way it was used, 00:30:35.040 |
was when the soldiers of your country went to war, 00:30:41.000 |
and people are eagerly waiting to see who won. 00:30:44.280 |
Because if the soldiers representing your nation 00:30:47.040 |
to protect and to fight for you, if they lost, 00:30:56.280 |
and they may become slaves the rest of their lives. 00:30:59.080 |
So it wasn't just their livelihood or just their pride. 00:31:03.120 |
And so it was eager waiting to see if you won. 00:31:08.400 |
and they would celebrate, they would come back 00:31:22.280 |
It's kind of like the news that would break out into a parade. 00:31:26.560 |
And just like if you've seen video clips maybe on YouTube 00:31:31.480 |
after World War II, the US conquers their enemies, 00:31:34.640 |
and they would come back and have a huge parade. 00:31:37.480 |
And that's the kind of idea that this word euangelion has. 00:31:41.040 |
So the very word itself has the idea of celebration. 00:31:48.600 |
Jesus himself, in John 10.10, in the description 00:31:52.600 |
of why he came, he says, "The thief comes only 00:31:58.920 |
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." 00:32:06.360 |
Bios is biology, where we get the word biology. 00:32:11.760 |
He didn't come so that we could live forever, 00:32:15.720 |
Whether you're a Christian or non-Christian, we have souls, 00:32:20.640 |
It's just the difference between will it be in heaven 00:32:25.160 |
So he's not saying that he came so that you can exist forever. 00:32:28.280 |
The word here used is zoe, where we get the word to be alive, 00:32:34.240 |
where you can be living and not be alive, right? 00:32:39.000 |
And that's exactly what happened at the fall. 00:32:41.120 |
Soon as they disobeyed God, zoe is what they lost. 00:32:55.320 |
In other words, to celebrate, to restore the joy that 00:33:04.560 |
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a wedding feast, 00:33:11.520 |
Verse 1 through 14, where he went out and invited people 00:33:15.600 |
to come to his son's wedding, and people would say no. 00:33:20.280 |
that he gives, that the kingdom of God is like a wedding feast. 00:33:29.120 |
not simply of a gathering, but of a wedding celebration, 00:33:32.760 |
that people are being gathered for the purpose of experiencing 00:33:38.040 |
this joy, this zoe, that was lost because of the fall. 00:33:46.080 |
and I know that there are some of you who've just 00:33:52.200 |
the first thing that you're concerned about when 00:34:04.980 |
So what's the second thing that you're concerned about? 00:34:13.280 |
this wedding feast that's described in Mount Zion. 00:34:22.060 |
But the guest list is what he describes here. 00:34:35.460 |
Why are the angels the first ones on this list? 00:34:39.060 |
Remember when we were studying Hebrews chapter 1 many, 00:34:46.060 |
He begins Hebrews chapter 1, description of all the things 00:34:51.400 |
and all the people that Jesus Christ is superior over. 00:34:56.760 |
He's superior than Moses, more than the covenant, 00:35:12.600 |
that Jesus is superior over, and he starts at the very top. 00:35:35.840 |
had a sense of awe and respect for the angels, 00:35:43.080 |
In fact, at Mount Sinai, when the law was given, 00:35:49.080 |
The angels were so powerful, in Genesis chapter 19, verse 13, 00:35:52.880 |
when God brings judgment upon the nation of-- 00:36:07.600 |
they were the scary people who went and conquered 00:36:11.020 |
When God brought judgment upon the Assyrians, 00:36:14.040 |
it only required one angel to wipe out 185,000 soldiers. 00:36:21.680 |
So naturally, they were very powerful beings. 00:36:30.040 |
their natural inclination was to bow down and worship. 00:36:47.580 |
because they see something so much greater than them, 00:36:50.180 |
they would have to stop and say, I'm just an angel. 00:36:56.420 |
It's significant because this wedding ceremony 00:37:03.060 |
If somebody invited you to a wedding ceremony, 00:37:05.300 |
and you found out that all the superstars of this generation 00:37:12.300 |
You're naturally going to be all your favorite sports, all 00:37:14.740 |
your favorite movie stars, all your favorite scientists, 00:37:22.980 |
And so for that reason, he's saying the angels-- 00:37:37.140 |
when we were younger, when we described somebody rich, 00:37:48.860 |
For sure, if you own a home in San Jose, you're a millionaire. 00:37:52.900 |
Today, if we want to describe somebody very rich, 00:38:00.060 |
Because millionaire just doesn't have the same ring. 00:38:04.260 |
And obviously, because the way we use the term now 00:38:14.800 |
they would say thousands or thousands upon thousands. 00:38:20.660 |
is countless number of angels who will be present here. 00:38:37.460 |
Revelations 5, 11, 14 is a specific description 00:38:48.900 |
and the living creatures, and the elders, and a number of them 00:38:52.060 |
was myriads upon myriads, and thousands upon thousands, 00:38:54.900 |
saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that 00:38:57.940 |
was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, 00:39:03.820 |
Every creative thing which is in heaven, and on earth, 00:39:06.220 |
and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things in them, 00:39:09.180 |
I heard saying, to him who sits on the throne, and to the lamb, 00:39:12.980 |
be blessing, and honor, and glory, and dominion forever 00:39:15.540 |
And the four living creatures kept saying, amen, 00:39:21.980 |
That's the same scene that's being described here 00:39:26.780 |
there's going to be this festival, this joyful gathering, 00:39:38.660 |
22, that this gathering is going to be a joyful, festal 00:39:44.740 |
gathering, but the same scene is described here as worship? 00:39:53.020 |
That joy and worship is used interchangeably. 00:40:01.420 |
it's just like worship, like what time is worship? 00:40:16.900 |
This idea of worship is something that we do to attend. 00:40:32.660 |
So therefore, a Christian who is constantly grumbling 00:40:36.540 |
cannot be in worship, because worship, by definition, 00:40:43.580 |
You can't be celebrating if you're constantly 00:40:53.980 |
We worship what causes the greatest joy in our life, 00:41:00.700 |
Because the word worship comes from the Latin word 00:41:02.860 |
"we are scipe," and it means to give worth to something. 00:41:06.500 |
That's the very definition of the English word worship. 00:41:09.700 |
We see value in it, so therefore, we give praise. 00:41:21.660 |
If God is not the producer of the greatest joy in your life, 00:41:34.180 |
if my sermon goes over, and not at this church. 00:41:42.860 |
If it goes over at certain times, like I've allowed you 00:41:46.100 |
40 minutes, 45 minutes, and I'll be gracious 50 minutes, 00:41:56.580 |
you're going to say that's important enough to listen 00:42:01.140 |
And so I get kind of scowls, and I can see it on your faces 00:42:13.100 |
that you've given me, and it's like I've ruined your life 00:42:23.300 |
But what produces the greatest joy is not necessarily worship. 00:42:26.300 |
It's just this is something that has to be done, 00:42:28.860 |
and then so that we can get to what produces joy. 00:42:38.820 |
And if worship is what causes the greatest joy, 00:42:43.020 |
whatever causes the greatest joy is constantly on our mind. 00:42:48.900 |
Those of you who are sports fans, if you're a Dodgers fan-- 00:42:55.980 |
I have no idea, because I'm not a big Dodgers fan. 00:43:00.860 |
And you probably know the stats of the people who are playing. 00:43:04.220 |
You probably know how they played the last game. 00:43:09.020 |
You probably know what they have to do in order 00:43:20.900 |
Whatever that causes the greatest amount of joy 00:43:28.740 |
In fact, you get frustrated when other fans don't know. 00:43:32.060 |
You call yourself a Dodgers fan, and you don't know? 00:43:38.420 |
Whatever causes the greatest joy is on your mind constantly. 00:43:43.580 |
And if it causes the greatest joy in your life, 00:43:51.700 |
Oh, I'm not good at witnessing, because I'm an introvert. 00:43:54.040 |
I've never seen an introvert who keeps their greatest 00:43:59.180 |
You may not be screaming it, but your wife, your children 00:44:07.220 |
So if that's your greatest joy, you end up sharing it. 00:44:22.500 |
because they say, oh, that makes that guy so happy. 00:44:29.460 |
And whatever is creating the greatest joy in your life, 00:44:34.100 |
automatically, you feel a community with other people 00:44:42.620 |
is you're in some sort of a chat room with other Dodgers fans. 00:44:53.680 |
And the people in that room, you may not even 00:44:59.980 |
All you know is that the same thing causes joy in your life. 00:45:07.620 |
So if you're at church, and you have a church filled 00:45:16.100 |
have to produce a community with artificial things. 00:45:21.060 |
We have a rock climbing church-- rock climbing fellowship 00:45:24.780 |
So anybody who's rock climbing, let's get together. 00:45:39.780 |
Like fishing or-- so you have to create this artificial love 00:45:50.180 |
But if you have true, true joy from, let's say, 00:45:54.200 |
playing Dodgers, do you have an age limit there? 00:45:58.940 |
Is that, oh, we're going to have a chat room for Dodgers fans, 00:46:10.780 |
And whoever loves Dodgers, whether you are 13-year-old 00:46:15.300 |
are sharing this joy together produces this community. 00:46:22.060 |
that have people who have seen the glory of the gospel 00:46:28.180 |
produces the greatest joy, and the community happens. 00:46:34.340 |
with the Jews, the Gentiles, the tax collectors, the fishermen, 00:46:39.740 |
the educated, uneducated, slave owners, and former slaves. 00:46:43.100 |
They all gathered together because the same thing 00:46:48.260 |
Whatever causes the greatest joy is the source 00:46:55.380 |
That's why our primary goal is to proclaim Christ. 00:47:01.220 |
is not so that we can produce a false sense of unity 00:47:16.500 |
is that no matter what background, no matter where 00:47:18.780 |
you came from, no matter how different we were before we 00:47:21.420 |
came in together, what causes the greatest joy in our lives 00:47:31.580 |
Fifthly, whatever produces the greatest joy in our life, 00:47:35.620 |
we are more than willing to pay the most price for. 00:47:40.420 |
Again, if you're a Dodgers fan and they're at the World Series 00:47:43.220 |
and even though you're struggling financially, 00:47:54.300 |
Because it produces the greatest joy in your life. 00:48:00.540 |
And not because you are more disciplined than other people, 00:48:18.980 |
it's not just a cross, oh, we've got to bear, 00:48:25.900 |
And that's how it's described in Matthew chapter 13 to 46. 00:48:30.260 |
like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found 00:48:34.340 |
And from joy over it, goes and sells all that he has 00:48:42.420 |
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking 00:48:49.040 |
he went and sold all that he had and bought it." 00:48:52.740 |
There are two things I want to emphasize here. 00:48:58.300 |
the ultimate price, sell everything for that, 00:49:06.740 |
And if a Christian either forgets or distracted 00:49:10.900 |
and are more tempted by the things of this world, 00:49:12.980 |
and we forget what it is that we have in Christ, 00:49:19.860 |
of seeing the value of what it is that we have in Christ. 00:49:33.700 |
He was trading something that is of lesser value 00:49:47.300 |
And what produced joy is because they recognized the value. 00:49:51.460 |
That's the distinction between a Christian and a non-Christian. 00:49:53.660 |
That's why the Bible says that the God of this age 00:49:57.900 |
so they do not see the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:50:09.740 |
But a Christian is one whose eyes have been opened 00:50:17.620 |
And as a result of that, they're willing to sell everything 00:50:27.500 |
So in John chapter 15, verse 11, if you know that passage, 00:50:31.300 |
John chapter 11 is the passage where Jesus gives the I 00:50:37.220 |
and you cannot bear fruit unless you abide in me. 00:50:40.740 |
If you abide in me, my word's abiding in you. 00:50:42.660 |
Ask whatever you wish, it shall be given to you. 00:50:46.900 |
these things I have spoken to you so that what? 00:50:49.740 |
My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full. 00:51:00.780 |
And so if we don't understand the value of what 00:51:03.700 |
it is that we have in Christ, his imperative-- 00:51:09.500 |
when we talk about the grace of God, the love of God, 00:51:15.020 |
because we have this unconditional love of God. 00:51:19.660 |
about picking up the cross and sacrificing suffering 00:51:28.220 |
But he says here the reason why he gives the indicatives 00:51:33.660 |
is for the same reason, so that we may have joy. 00:51:37.820 |
He tells us to pick up our cross because he's 00:51:48.860 |
all these people who have sacrificed everything 00:51:53.540 |
indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they 00:51:56.500 |
went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 00:52:05.260 |
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, 00:52:11.460 |
So the reason-- if our joy comes from something 00:52:15.380 |
that this world produces, then naturally you're 00:52:48.260 |
can have insurance for eternity, but God is not your pursuit. 00:52:54.140 |
God is just somebody to help you pursue this. 00:52:56.180 |
And you realize after time goes by that that's not 00:53:02.140 |
If God's not going to give me this, I don't want him. 00:53:05.700 |
And so that's part of the reason why so many people drift 00:53:08.340 |
and so many people choose to walk away from God. 00:53:14.940 |
From the get-go, God is not what they wanted. 00:53:18.660 |
They wanted something from God, but it is not 00:53:29.740 |
Worship at Berlin Community Church happens at 9 o'clock, 00:53:38.180 |
Don't go over hour and a half, because after an hour and a half 00:53:49.740 |
is where we come to receive life in the presence of the only one 00:53:58.620 |
I'm not going to read the whole passage where he has this 00:54:02.660 |
She recognizes that he is no ordinary person. 00:54:05.940 |
And he said, you Jews want to worship in this mountain, 00:54:09.060 |
We have different opinions of where we should worship. 00:54:11.500 |
And it is to that response he says, what God is looking for 00:54:17.540 |
Whether you worship in this mountain or that mountain, 00:54:19.780 |
whether it's 9 o'clock and 11 o'clock, that's not the point. 00:54:23.060 |
What God is looking for are people who will worship Him 00:54:33.180 |
recognize the value of what it is that we have in Christ. 00:54:38.340 |
And that's why the Bible is filled with the word, 00:54:40.580 |
remember, remember, remember the height from which you had 00:54:53.260 |
If you've drifted from that, spiritual maturity 00:55:02.700 |
that you can only find it by reading so many books. 00:55:11.820 |
Everything that you needed for life and Godliness 00:55:14.260 |
has been given to you in the knowledge of His Son Jesus 00:55:17.660 |
And that's why he says, remember, repeatedly, 00:55:22.820 |
who are worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. 00:55:35.260 |
because we have more people than the church down the street. 00:55:40.620 |
or better whatever it is that we think the church is. 00:55:43.900 |
A good church and a bad church, the distinction is worship. 00:55:49.500 |
Are people worshiping in spirit and in truth? 00:55:52.420 |
Or are they just checking in and checking out? 00:56:08.380 |
of the church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven. 00:56:11.620 |
When we say church, there's always two parts. 00:56:16.620 |
There's a universal church and the local church. 00:56:19.300 |
The universal church is God's program, God's membership. 00:56:24.700 |
And only God knows, true people who genuinely know God. 00:56:36.980 |
there will always be some wheat and tares in the church. 00:56:41.220 |
He's going to discern at the end who they are. 00:56:47.900 |
it's always going to have some mix in the church, 00:56:51.180 |
some people who genuinely love Christ and want to meet Christ. 00:56:57.940 |
And then there's going to be people in the church who 00:57:00.540 |
don't fit in because their primary goal is not God. 00:57:05.900 |
There's all the things that's going to be mixed in. 00:57:09.380 |
But the celebration that you and I are going to experience 00:57:11.660 |
when we get to Zion is going to be pure celebration. 00:57:23.940 |
And they come, but then they don't suffer with you. 00:57:34.660 |
that those who don't have genuine faith wake up, 00:57:49.220 |
But in Zion, he says it's going to be perfect. 00:57:53.020 |
Only true fans of Christ are going to be there. 00:58:09.660 |
to be with other people who is a true fan-- not a bandwagoner, 00:58:15.820 |
you know the joy, the celebration, the koinonia 00:58:25.100 |
They may be from rival gangs sitting next to each other. 00:58:29.340 |
And they're hugging each other, celebrating, high-fiving, 00:58:36.260 |
In heaven, we're going to experience that pure joy. 00:58:40.220 |
Because he's going to separate the wheat and the tares. 00:58:57.940 |
said, "After these things, I looked and behold, 00:59:02.180 |
from every nation and all the tribes and the people 00:59:04.780 |
and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, 00:59:13.260 |
'Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, 00:59:19.380 |
If you are not a true worshiper of God, that sounds boring. 00:59:44.020 |
That's why non-Christians always say, "Ah, heaven's boring. 00:59:46.980 |
I want to go to hell so that I can party with people like me." 00:59:58.220 |
why it says, "Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author 01:00:02.140 |
For the joy set before Him endured the cross." 01:00:11.500 |
He said He put up with the cross in order to have joy. 01:00:22.260 |
Because that's why He didn't have it this side of the cross. 01:00:28.900 |
that He can have joy in us, and that we can have joy in Him. 01:00:42.860 |
And if you're a good person, you do these 10 things. 01:00:47.620 |
and you're just gritted and more disciplined than other people. 01:00:50.980 |
You're going to work harder than everybody else. 01:00:56.660 |
Again, there's nothing wrong with these things 01:00:59.100 |
if that's our pursuit of joy, if that causes us to worship God 01:01:07.700 |
is causing us to be bitter and angry and upset, 01:01:18.980 |
The best witness as a church is to become the best worshippers. 01:01:25.460 |
Because the non-Christians, when they come see us, 01:01:28.260 |
and if what produces joy in us is no different than the world, 01:01:34.660 |
If we're happy when we make money, and we're sad 01:01:36.580 |
we don't make money, if we make good investments, 01:01:52.860 |
is what produces joy that the world does not understand. 01:01:57.980 |
Why are you so happy in the middle of a pandemic? 01:02:01.260 |
Why are you so happy when your job is the way it is? 01:02:04.460 |
Why are you so happy when you're so tired raising kids? 01:02:12.500 |
And that causes us to say it's because of God, who does not 01:02:24.460 |
is preserved for us by the power of God until He comes. 01:02:29.540 |
So our joy and our worship is not like the world. 01:02:35.260 |
A person who is not worshiping God and spirit and the truth, 01:02:38.860 |
and you try to share the gospel with somebody, 01:02:40.700 |
all you're doing is regurgitating information. 01:02:55.020 |
and you want to share that with other people. 01:03:02.960 |
And then the final part we're going to save for next week, 01:03:08.140 |
I want you to be happy when we leave, all right? 01:03:11.220 |
He says, millions of angels are going to be there. 01:03:15.460 |
This is the gathering of the true church, who's 01:03:18.260 |
going to be worshiping together, and then God, the judge of all. 01:03:38.820 |
He says, no, God, the judge of all, is also going to be there. 01:03:46.080 |
There's all kinds of things that can be described. 01:04:12.780 |
God, the judge, and all of a sudden, what do we see? 01:04:20.500 |
Why is God described as the God of Mount Sinai? 01:04:26.740 |
is a neutral word to discern right and wrong. 01:04:33.060 |
The reason why it produces a negative emotion 01:04:42.500 |
and you hear the word judge, immediately judgment 01:04:48.060 |
But those who have been covered by the blood of Christ, 01:05:05.100 |
and it's just like the way-- remember the book of Judges? 01:05:10.900 |
everyone did what was right in their own eyes. 01:05:14.140 |
And you notice there, it doesn't say everyone 01:05:18.420 |
It said everyone did what was right in their own eyes. 01:05:21.860 |
Some of the greatest sins that are committed in human history 01:05:26.220 |
are committed by people who are convinced that they are right, 01:05:32.620 |
That's what's going on right now in our generation. 01:05:34.740 |
Everyone is proclaiming what they're doing is righteous. 01:05:42.220 |
And he says, the reason why Israel kept on falling 01:05:45.140 |
is because everyone did what was right in their own eyes. 01:05:49.740 |
And then as a result of that, the judgment would come. 01:05:58.620 |
So the judge in nation's history was a deliverer. 01:06:10.140 |
So here, when he says, God, the judge, will be there. 01:06:18.740 |
Yes, the God, the judge, will bring condemnation. 01:06:22.900 |
We will have to give account of every sin, every careless word 01:06:29.940 |
just like if you were to stand before a human judge. 01:06:34.140 |
But the judge that he's referring to here in Mount Zion 01:06:39.060 |
and have been declared righteous because of the blood of Christ. 01:06:47.340 |
And righteousness will prevail because of the blood 01:07:00.740 |
We're not here to say, you know, I attended worship. 01:07:34.700 |
I came to God years ago, 10 years ago, 30 years ago, 01:07:39.740 |
I wanted my sins to be justified by the blood of Christ. 01:07:43.580 |
But when was the last time you came to Christ 01:07:46.460 |
to experience this life, to have greater joy, 01:07:57.300 |
And if we've seen something in the world that produces joy, 01:08:04.580 |
so that we can have insurance to go to heaven, 01:08:06.740 |
you're completely missing the whole point of our existence, 01:08:13.280 |
may have this joy and have it to the fullest. 01:08:18.980 |
is to see our gathering as the greatest place of joy. 01:08:29.240 |
And stop complaining that we're on this plane together 01:08:47.620 |
coveting the people who are in the business class. 01:08:59.660 |
Maybe God put you on the coach because there's 01:09:02.260 |
people in the coach that you'll be celebrating with. 01:09:11.060 |
But to be grumbling because we're in the coach, 01:09:20.620 |
Think about what's at the other side when we land. 01:09:27.380 |
so that we would learn to celebrate and have life here 01:10:07.500 |
Take some time to honestly confess before God. 01:10:11.420 |
Open my eyes that I may see once again the treasure 01:10:18.380 |
So let's take some time to pray as our worship team leads us. 01:11:48.740 |
Church family, let's go ahead and rise together 01:11:50.820 |
as we sing this last song, "How Great Is Our God." 01:12:28.260 |
And darkness tries to hide and trembles at his voice, 01:13:13.940 |
And time is in his hands, beginning and the end, 01:16:14.100 |
Revelation 5, 11-14, "Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, 01:16:19.580 |
and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads, 01:16:23.580 |
and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 01:16:28.580 |
to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. 01:16:33.580 |
And every created thing which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, 01:16:38.580 |
and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, 01:16:44.580 |
be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.' 01:16:48.580 |
And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen,' and the elders fell down and worshipped." 01:16:55.580 |
Lord, we pray that you would help us to be true worshippers in spirit and in truth, 01:17:02.580 |
wherever it is that you send us, beyond Sunday, beyond mornings of devotions, 01:17:12.580 |
Help us, Lord God, to be the aroma of Christ wherever you send us, especially in this dark age. 01:17:56.580 |
An empty grave is there to keep my Savior live. 01:18:39.580 |
And life is worth the living just because he lives.