back to indexBerean Community Church Sunday Morning Service 01.14.24
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This morning, we'd like to introduce a new song. 00:04:14.640 |
It's called "He Will Keep You" by Sovereign Grace. 00:04:20.480 |
and I'll read a portion of it here from the ESV. 00:04:27.280 |
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in 00:04:32.480 |
When the Bible says the Lord will keep us from all evil, 00:04:43.840 |
I'd like to borrow from Spurgeon, and I quote, 00:04:47.320 |
"Three times you have the phrase, 'Jehovah shall keep,' 00:04:50.640 |
"as if the sacred trinity thus sealed the word 00:04:58.480 |
"What anxiety can survive this triple promise?" 00:05:01.200 |
Brothers and sisters, this morning let us reflect 00:05:12.360 |
and how his tender mercies and sustaining love 00:05:22.160 |
will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:05:27.480 |
will he not be faithful to bring it to completion 00:08:25.500 |
Let me get to a few announcements before we get started. 00:08:29.460 |
we have a members meeting that's taking place 00:08:35.080 |
actually after this service and the third service, 00:08:43.100 |
and they have a retreat coming up, so they're doing that. 00:08:48.340 |
if you're members of the church, please take your food, 00:08:54.220 |
But if you're gonna go off, you can just buy it 00:08:56.220 |
and then take it off and then eat it somewhere, okay? 00:09:02.460 |
But after the third service also, we're gonna have lunch, 00:09:04.540 |
and then at two o'clock, we're gonna meet here. 00:09:06.500 |
And again, so that's happening right after service. 00:09:14.460 |
Members class is starting today, actually, at 9.30. 00:09:29.420 |
again, that workshop is happening this coming Saturday. 00:09:40.540 |
from going through how to do inductive Bible study, 00:09:44.460 |
That'll help you to jump into the Bible study 00:09:54.100 |
If you are part of the BAM ministry or family ministry, 00:09:58.900 |
They have Monday nights, and then Thursday morning 00:10:01.420 |
at 9.30 to 11.30, and Friday morning 9.30 to 11.30. 00:10:04.860 |
So two morning sessions, and then one Monday night. 00:10:15.480 |
So please sign up for that if you're planning 00:10:25.180 |
That will help us greatly to be able to prepare 00:10:29.840 |
So if you're planning to do it and you haven't done it, 00:10:34.060 |
And then there's announcements from the FIG ministry, 00:10:40.020 |
it's a segment of ministry in the family ministry 00:10:42.300 |
that if you're not part of the FAM 245 newlyweds, 00:10:45.280 |
or if you're not over 50, that ministry is for you. 00:10:48.900 |
And so we're gonna be presenting during the members meeting 00:10:52.660 |
how that's organized, what the purpose of it is, 00:10:54.860 |
and our brother Dean is going to be coming and presenting. 00:11:02.420 |
the new ministry, and Jubilee ministry, 50 and over, 00:11:05.400 |
they're gonna be having the yearly Bible reading together. 00:11:08.640 |
So they want to fellowship together meaningfully, 00:11:11.120 |
and so they're taking sign-ups after the third service. 00:11:14.540 |
So not this service, but right before, during lunchtime, 00:11:23.480 |
please go to that table and sign up for that, okay? 00:11:27.720 |
After, let me pray for us, and then afterwards, 00:11:34.500 |
Otherwise, we're gonna be giving online, okay? 00:11:38.460 |
Let me pray for us, and then after our worship, 00:11:42.860 |
and giving his testimony to be baptized this morning. 00:11:46.380 |
Father, we thank you so much for the constant blessing 00:11:55.240 |
Thank you, Father, that you have given us eternal life, 00:12:10.040 |
I pray that our worship will be an overflow of gratitude 00:12:15.240 |
that it would be given to you in spirit and in truth. 00:12:18.120 |
I pray, Father God, that even in this giving, 00:12:22.800 |
and again, that may it be multiplied and handled wisely 00:17:27.260 |
♪ You shattered death and freed us from our fears ♪ 00:17:37.740 |
♪ And all would be made right if you appear ♪ 00:17:42.740 |
♪ And all would be made right if you appear ♪ 00:19:28.540 |
♪ Who else could whisper and darkness trembles ♪ 00:22:28.420 |
♪ And who else invites me to call Him Father ♪ 00:24:17.900 |
to our Heavenly Father for saving a wretched sinner like me. 00:24:20.900 |
In Matthew 5, 3, 6, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, 00:24:27.000 |
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:24:30.360 |
"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 00:24:34.200 |
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 00:24:38.760 |
My walk with God began when the seed was planted 00:24:44.060 |
Before then, I grew up learning about sorcery, 00:25:06.460 |
I acted like a Christian for a couple of years, 00:25:13.560 |
until I decided to stop faking it and left altogether. 00:25:16.640 |
A little over a decade worth of a hardened heart 00:25:32.480 |
On September 3rd, 2022, I was at Irvine Spectrum, 00:25:37.440 |
just by coincidence, and two brothers from Berean 00:25:53.200 |
soon turned to blessings when I take scripture to heart. 00:25:56.460 |
I thank God he didn't answer my prayers for physical death 00:26:04.200 |
Instead, his blessing was that I was able to die to self 00:26:11.180 |
God loved me and called me even when I hated myself. 00:26:16.000 |
I am blessed to have been spiritually confused 00:26:18.720 |
because I am able to see more clearly of his word 00:26:23.360 |
It is a blessing to lose my brother on my graduation night. 00:26:33.120 |
and now my siblings and my mom are attending service 00:26:43.720 |
God's shown his love and mercy and always there for me, 00:26:51.820 |
It is a blessing to have struggled with alcohol addiction 00:26:55.640 |
because I know now God was with me during rehab 00:27:09.040 |
It is a blessing to grow up in a fatherless home 00:27:12.040 |
because I found comfort through our heavenly father, 00:27:15.560 |
and I was given the strength to forgive my earthly father, 00:27:19.280 |
and the father-son relationship started to bloom. 00:27:22.480 |
God has changed my way of thinking and has done so much, 00:27:30.000 |
and I'm so, so grateful just to be born again, 00:27:32.720 |
and I'm just so, so grateful just to be born again, 00:27:36.440 |
and now I wanna take the next step seriously. 00:27:43.880 |
- Marvin, do you understand when you go into the water 00:28:05.080 |
you're being united with Christ in his death? 00:28:07.600 |
You're coming out to Christ's resurrected life? 00:28:09.960 |
I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:28:33.960 |
Marvin, thank you so much for that powerful testimony, 00:28:36.960 |
and as he has shared, he was able to come to our church 00:28:48.600 |
and then so we've been seeing him growing and maturing, 00:28:57.680 |
Outreach team at church that goes out once a month 00:29:05.400 |
and so we have quite a few brothers and sisters 00:29:07.720 |
who are going out, and we encourage you to come 00:29:11.240 |
and even if you've never done street evangelism, 00:29:16.000 |
and then you can learn to hear how they're doing that, 00:29:24.800 |
like 10-minute driving distance in any direction. 00:29:27.600 |
You'd be surprised how few people really know the gospel. 00:29:31.720 |
'Cause we typically think like we need to drive to India, 00:29:34.400 |
and we need to go out to China or certain places, 00:29:40.400 |
Interesting thing is this is not a Christian nation 00:29:45.800 |
in the sense that it's filled with Christians, 00:30:02.600 |
and actually even know what the gospel is is a minority. 00:30:10.760 |
just to take a survey so that the church can see 00:30:13.880 |
how few people actually are able to articulate the gospel, 00:30:18.760 |
and it's a minority, very small minority of people 00:30:21.400 |
can even articulate what it is that they believe, 00:30:24.520 |
and so you and I are living in the mission field 00:30:34.080 |
or not every Saturday, once a month on Saturday, 00:30:41.320 |
or we invite you to come and join them when they do go out. 00:30:44.980 |
If you can turn your Bibles with me to Ephesians 6, 00:30:48.480 |
and I'm just gonna be reading verse 18 for the sake of time. 00:30:53.580 |
I'm gonna read the whole thing, starting from verse 10. 00:31:09.780 |
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 00:31:21.560 |
"so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, 00:31:26.320 |
"Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, 00:31:29.680 |
"and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 00:31:35.680 |
"In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith, 00:31:43.680 |
"and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. 00:31:51.440 |
"with all perseverance, and petition for all the saints, 00:31:54.400 |
"and pray on behalf that utterance may be given to me 00:31:57.580 |
"in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness 00:32:02.840 |
Father, give us understanding, open our eyes, 00:32:12.700 |
but it would be direction, it would be our refuge, 00:32:30.960 |
Charles Spurgeon says, "I know of no better thermometer 00:32:36.440 |
"the measure of the intensity of your prayers." 00:32:46.040 |
Charles Spurgeon says, "A more accurate thermometer 00:32:50.660 |
"to be able to measure the spiritual health of somebody 00:32:57.640 |
"The first great characteristic of us as Christian people 00:33:00.660 |
"as that is that we are no longer self-confident. 00:33:15.120 |
A spiritual mature person is not an individual 00:33:24.700 |
who's read the Bible and is able to articulate his faith 00:33:31.520 |
and all those things, though it is important, 00:33:34.080 |
the true measure of a spiritual mature person 00:33:47.800 |
Spiritual mature person is not somebody who's gifted, 00:33:49.920 |
so they're able to articulate, organize, disciple. 00:33:57.160 |
a true mature Christian is a growing recognition 00:34:00.360 |
is of his inability because he knows who God is. 00:34:06.140 |
and what God has called us to do, we are unable. 00:34:09.720 |
It is only a small child who doesn't know his limitation 00:34:17.260 |
that thinks that I can handle whatever it may be coming. 00:34:23.880 |
A spiritual immature person may take on the task, 00:34:26.960 |
spiritual task, of their own spiritual growth, 00:34:30.000 |
of this spiritual battle and say, I'm gonna do it, 00:34:32.040 |
I'm gonna apply myself, I'm gonna be disciplined, 00:34:35.520 |
I'm gonna get organized so that we can bear more fruit. 00:34:40.960 |
The Bible says you cannot bear fruit unless you abide in me. 00:34:47.840 |
that you and I need to engage in than to fervent prayer 00:34:51.560 |
because prayer ultimately is humbling ourselves before God 00:35:00.160 |
only when God is called upon can we make any difference. 00:35:17.100 |
they have a dedication ceremony and God says this, 00:35:35.080 |
but first and foremost, the reason why he needs to be humble 00:35:37.560 |
is because he recognizes that he is desperate for God. 00:35:42.040 |
When he humbles himself and pray and seeks my face 00:35:49.520 |
will forgive their sin, will heal their land. 00:35:52.240 |
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive 00:36:09.640 |
before it is a house of learning and training 00:36:14.920 |
this is a house of prayer where we come to engage God, 00:36:19.920 |
where we come to pray, humble ourselves and seek him. 00:36:22.960 |
He says when we do that, he says he will be attentive 00:36:29.560 |
I can't emphasize enough how important this prayer is, 00:36:35.640 |
not only for our church, but individually, right? 00:36:39.120 |
Every day that we function, every year that we function 00:36:48.320 |
Everything that you're telling me to do in this book, 00:36:50.540 |
I'm gonna do my best, I'm gonna apply, I'm gonna study, 00:36:55.860 |
What he has called us to do is a spiritual battle. 00:37:08.160 |
if you think that you're having some success, right, 00:37:26.240 |
that this is beyond us and we have to pray, right? 00:37:32.640 |
This is not we should pray, we should do our best to pray. 00:37:36.280 |
We have to pray and so we talked about last week 00:37:39.600 |
that our theme for this year and maybe for as long 00:37:44.200 |
as I'm a pastor here, maybe this is gonna be our theme, 00:37:51.120 |
we're praying too much, you know what I mean? 00:37:55.120 |
Until we get to that point, this is how important it is. 00:37:58.360 |
If I came up here and told you that I had no time 00:38:02.260 |
to prepare for a sermon but I'm gonna talk anyway, right? 00:38:06.040 |
I'm just gonna see what the Holy Spirit has to say 00:38:08.440 |
this morning and then just kind of like, let's see. 00:38:11.200 |
If I came up here and told you that that's how I came up 00:38:14.200 |
here, who among you are gonna take me serious, right? 00:38:18.920 |
But yet, if I told you that there was no prayer involved, 00:38:23.800 |
that I didn't depend on God, in the Western church, 00:38:37.520 |
Even though I'm the pastor and I'm guilty of it, 00:38:40.000 |
we need to keep striving toward this direction 00:38:42.280 |
because this is how important this really is. 00:38:45.800 |
So last week, we talked about praying in the spirit, 00:38:48.340 |
first and foremost, that we need to gear up, right? 00:38:55.640 |
we're not just shadow boxing, we're just kind of 00:38:57.920 |
floating along and if you just do what comes naturally, 00:39:06.080 |
The 80% accuracy, I'm not 100%, I'm not a prophet, 00:39:09.760 |
with 80% accuracy because I've been doing this a long time. 00:39:18.640 |
what happens when you graduate, after you graduate, 00:39:22.360 |
After you start dating, you start getting married, 00:39:24.880 |
having children and there's nothing new under the sun. 00:39:28.320 |
Seeing it over and over again for over 30 years, 00:39:35.020 |
the temptation that's gonna come into your life, 00:39:36.740 |
the struggle that happens is very predictable. 00:39:39.620 |
If all you're doing is just going and just following 00:39:46.140 |
And you're living by your flesh and not by the spirit. 00:39:49.640 |
First and foremost, if we're gonna live our lives 00:40:02.740 |
and your feet, put on the proper shoes to get ready. 00:40:06.920 |
That we're not gonna just coast along and, you know, 00:40:14.700 |
and no different than anybody else in the world. 00:40:21.900 |
this is what I strove after, this is what I sought after. 00:40:32.180 |
Get ready, right, prepare yourself for action, right? 00:40:35.960 |
If you're studying the Bible and you're not ready 00:40:49.220 |
it depends, if you're getting ready to go to work 00:40:53.020 |
you're gonna have to put on the proper clothing, right? 00:40:56.380 |
And proper shoes, but if you're going on a fashion show, 00:40:59.780 |
right, nice heels, shiny, you're not gonna have to run, 00:41:05.620 |
you're not gonna do any heavy lifting with that. 00:41:08.420 |
How many of us live our lives with spiritual clothing 00:41:17.360 |
So first and foremost, he said, put on the proper shoes, 00:41:30.820 |
First, get yourself ready, are you committed to this? 00:41:34.460 |
then anything I say from this pulpit is just time. 00:41:38.780 |
You've committed, you signed a covenant, a lot of you, 00:41:44.620 |
you're gonna have to, you've given me exactly 40 minutes, 00:41:48.260 |
45 minutes to speak, so anything that goes over that, 00:42:00.860 |
Things I say here is like reading instructions 00:42:07.060 |
but you don't have the furniture to put together. 00:42:16.900 |
I know how to, if I want to, but it's not being applied. 00:42:20.980 |
So if you have truth, but you're not girding your life 00:42:30.620 |
He says to gird up your loins, put up the proper shoes, 00:42:37.300 |
he says there's three things that he tells us 00:42:41.380 |
If you're going into battle and you're only gonna do 00:42:46.080 |
All you need is a sword, what it's gonna cut, 00:42:48.860 |
but because we have an enemy that is attacking us, 00:42:57.960 |
the shield of faith, and helmet of salvation. 00:43:07.160 |
like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:43:13.080 |
were you aware that you were being attacked this week? 00:43:23.280 |
whatever compromises that you may have in your life, 00:43:27.060 |
and he's constantly scheming to drive you away from God? 00:43:31.340 |
Do you know that that actually happened this week? 00:44:08.060 |
I mean, obviously, you put on the breastplate 00:44:10.900 |
of righteousness because it protects your vital organs, 00:44:13.420 |
your lungs, your heart, and the other parts of your body, 00:44:16.980 |
where if a sword comes in punctured, you're gonna die. 00:44:25.540 |
Now, when he says to put on the breastplate of righteousness, 00:44:30.560 |
is he talking about justification or sanctification, right? 00:44:35.100 |
Is he saying, be reminded that you are righteous before God, 00:44:52.580 |
that you need to live a righteous life, live a holy life, 00:44:56.460 |
and to protect yourself so that Satan can't attack you? 00:45:05.540 |
The right answer to that, in my opinion, is both. 00:45:18.520 |
between justification, sanctification, and glorification, 00:45:25.280 |
I'm justified, but I'm not being sanctified, right? 00:45:29.360 |
I will be glorified, but I'm not absolutely sure 00:45:41.060 |
The whole purpose of why God made us righteous 00:45:59.800 |
That's what the scripture says in Romans chapter six. 00:46:08.000 |
we're supposed to wear the breastplate of righteousness. 00:46:10.120 |
Is it just talking about, you know, I'm saved, always saved, 00:46:14.720 |
so what I do, sanctification, doesn't matter? 00:46:24.520 |
He declared us righteous so that we may live righteously. 00:46:30.080 |
So when he says to put on the breastplate of righteousness, 00:46:50.560 |
so that we can be protected by the enemy's attack. 00:47:02.200 |
The first thing, the qualification of an elder or a deacon 00:47:07.800 |
Now above reproach, we think, well, who's perfect? 00:47:15.720 |
Is he saying that you need to be perfect, right? 00:47:19.900 |
If you're not perfect, you can't be an elder, 00:47:34.480 |
wanted to attack you, there's nothing obvious 00:47:56.080 |
the easiest thing to do is nullify the preacher. 00:47:58.480 |
How can I take you seriously when your life is like this, 00:48:01.800 |
when you do this, and this is what you do with your life? 00:48:07.520 |
to handle the word of God, you must be above reproach 00:48:13.360 |
And if you have obvious things that you are doing in life 00:48:16.480 |
that you're going to speak into other people's lives 00:48:18.680 |
and say, you should do this, you shouldn't do this, 00:48:20.360 |
and the first thing that people who don't want to hear it 00:48:30.840 |
to engage in spiritual battle, you must be above reproach. 00:48:38.800 |
keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles 00:48:41.240 |
so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, 00:48:46.560 |
as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 00:48:49.800 |
When you begin to speak truth into the life of unbelievers, 00:48:58.100 |
and they have obvious things that they're going to point out, 00:49:02.560 |
immediately nullified, at least in their eyes. 00:49:10.280 |
he says, to put on the breastplate of righteousness. 00:49:13.360 |
Remember, Satan's stronghold is in this world, 00:49:17.460 |
and Satan is called the accuser of the brethren, 00:49:25.020 |
Any aspect of your life where your conscience is not clear, 00:49:28.040 |
he's going to accuse you, and nothing weakens our prayer 00:49:39.880 |
A perfect example is that you see the disciples. 00:49:45.800 |
and he keeps repeatedly telling them, making it clear. 00:50:00.980 |
Even though Jesus made it absolutely crystal clear. 00:50:05.320 |
Jesus says, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, 00:50:08.240 |
but I pray that you would be able to withstand his attack. 00:50:19.400 |
because they were seeking their own glory, own honor. 00:50:22.360 |
So when Jesus was going to the cross, it didn't make sense. 00:50:55.540 |
Even though he said it repeatedly over and over again. 00:51:06.920 |
Remember, after supper, Jesus takes them to the Gethsemane 00:51:12.240 |
because he knows what's going to happen in the morning. 00:51:14.880 |
And he takes his disciples with him and asks them to pray. 00:51:17.800 |
And each time he comes back, they've fallen asleep. 00:51:21.920 |
He's frustrated because these are his closest companions. 00:51:29.360 |
And yet every time he comes, they're just conked out. 00:51:38.960 |
They just had probably the biggest meal of the year, 00:51:46.120 |
And after that, this is in the middle of the night. 00:51:49.300 |
You know, I don't know if you've ever tried praying 00:51:54.480 |
I remember early on when I became a Christian, 00:52:01.700 |
And almost every night I fell asleep, almost every night. 00:52:05.120 |
We would hear people snoring, but the pastor would tell us, 00:52:07.280 |
you know, go to the bathroom and put water in your face. 00:52:11.440 |
And so we endured, we endured through the praying. 00:52:13.440 |
So I look at them and say, yeah, that looks like me, right? 00:52:21.600 |
It would make sense if you didn't understand the context. 00:52:28.080 |
See, normally you can understand in time of peace, 00:52:34.580 |
Of course they're going to be falling asleep. 00:52:36.140 |
But remember, Jesus told them that he's going to die. 00:52:38.780 |
That in a few hours, he's going to be tortured. 00:52:46.820 |
How many of you would have a good night's sleep 00:52:55.380 |
because the wedding day's the next day, right? 00:52:58.660 |
See, in the human context, we may look at them and say, 00:53:02.980 |
Of course they're not going to be praying fervently. 00:53:13.940 |
that what they were selflessly desiring may happen. 00:53:18.740 |
And as a result of that, there was no urgency. 00:53:24.980 |
So Jesus' frustration isn't simply that they weren't praying. 00:53:31.700 |
how desperate of a situation that they were in, 00:53:55.300 |
whether it's just pleasure, just comfort and peace, 00:54:03.300 |
than a life that is continually lived in unrighteousness. 00:54:09.460 |
That's why he says to put on the breastplate of righteousness 00:54:15.300 |
Secondly, he says to put on the shield of faith, 00:54:24.100 |
You use that for defense because of the attacks coming. 00:54:26.580 |
He says in order to withstand the flaming arrows of the devil, 00:54:35.540 |
"Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, 00:54:38.980 |
"but resist him firm in your," what, "faith." 00:54:41.940 |
If you're going to resist the devil's attack, 00:54:46.020 |
he says you must have a firm grasp of your faith. 00:55:06.020 |
I mean, you have to understand the whole purpose 00:55:08.820 |
of satanic attack is to keep you away from God. 00:55:19.380 |
that he will bring stumbling blocks to your life 00:55:21.540 |
in order to prevent you from passionately pursuing God. 00:55:25.540 |
I think in our generation where you and I live, 00:55:31.620 |
We are so afraid that if we make certain decisions 00:55:51.620 |
because of course God wants us to be comfortable. 00:55:55.460 |
Of course God wants us to be wealthy and strong, 00:55:58.580 |
even though we say we're those false prophets, 00:56:16.980 |
that when God blesses us, we get good things. 00:56:20.340 |
And when God doesn't bless us, we get bad things. 00:56:24.340 |
He says to stand firm because he will attack. 00:56:28.820 |
His primary attack is to keep you away from God, 00:56:44.820 |
it's hard for them to enter the kingdom of heaven 00:57:02.100 |
You need to have this much money, this kind of budget. 00:57:09.780 |
preach this way, organize your sermon this way. 00:57:12.180 |
And so we have come to this system and training people. 00:57:14.900 |
If you follow these directives that we found to work 00:57:18.100 |
and you apply it, the chances of your success 00:57:23.460 |
And yet through all of that training, there's no prayer. 00:57:38.340 |
It's just us applying ourselves and being smart. 00:57:49.700 |
you cannot bear fruit unless you abide in me. 00:58:05.940 |
even though you may not articulate it this way, 00:58:17.940 |
When something desperate happens in your life, you will pray. 00:58:20.580 |
When somebody gets sick and no amount of medicine 00:58:24.980 |
If you lose your job and you can't pay your bills, 00:58:36.020 |
One way that we are attacked is to keep you proud. 00:58:47.060 |
is that Satan will constantly accuse you of your wrongdoing. 00:59:02.260 |
that you keep regurgitating over and over again. 00:59:04.340 |
And somehow you think that you have exhausted his grace. 00:59:15.940 |
You know what's interesting is I've heard people say, 00:59:22.500 |
You know, like, you know, the Bible, you gotta open it up. 00:59:36.500 |
You get up, putting your clothes on, brushing your teeth. 00:59:40.420 |
I've heard people talk about prayer as so casual. 00:59:47.380 |
on this topic of prayer is from Martin Lloyd-Jones. 00:59:50.180 |
And he said, "Prayer is the most difficult discipline 01:00:05.540 |
He's the one who could snap of a finger, destroy. 01:00:14.740 |
This is a God that people can't even look at and live. 01:00:20.340 |
You don't go to him casually, your heart filled with sin 01:00:25.140 |
He says, "No, prayer forces us to examine our hearts. 01:00:31.380 |
"Prayer forces us to see if we're living a sinful life. 01:00:37.780 |
"There's nothing that will hinder your Christian life 01:00:43.300 |
Some of you, because of your sins, you think, 01:00:49.140 |
"You know, I'm gonna get myself right before I go to God." 01:00:51.940 |
No, God says to come to him so that you can be right. 01:00:55.620 |
So it humbles the proud and it encourages the weak. 01:01:02.420 |
That any of you who is proud, you think you can do it, 01:01:06.820 |
And any of you who you think have maybe crossed the line, 01:01:13.940 |
And it's the same path, whether you're rich or poor, 01:01:20.340 |
well-educated or uneducated, disciplined or undisciplined, 01:01:24.020 |
it is the same door that we go through to meet Christ. 01:01:28.100 |
And as soon as there's unrighteousness in your life, 01:01:32.020 |
Satan will put his foot, his knee on your neck 01:01:39.140 |
It is by faith, it is the shield of faith says, 01:01:45.860 |
"I don't go to him because of my righteousness. 01:01:49.940 |
"and I'm gonna live my life to honor and glorify him." 01:01:53.300 |
One of my favorite quotes from Corrie Ten Boom, 01:01:59.620 |
and I'm sure you've heard me say this before, 01:02:28.260 |
And some of you may be in the thick of things right now, 01:02:31.940 |
you know how much God is using your teenagers 01:02:49.620 |
Is there a line in your head that you have drawn 01:02:55.220 |
that you've decided, "I'm gonna disown this kid." 01:02:58.340 |
Is there a line that you have drawn in your heart, 01:03:20.340 |
that your child, I'm talking about your child, 01:05:11.380 |
And he says, this is what a Christian looks like. 01:05:20.260 |
because God is light and there's no darkness in Him. 01:05:23.460 |
But he also says a Christian struggles with sin, right? 01:05:31.380 |
that we're going to need to constantly come to Him 01:05:38.020 |
So he spends four or five chapters describing, 01:05:41.940 |
this is a Christian, this is a non-Christian. 01:05:57.620 |
so that you may know that you have eternal life. 01:06:05.300 |
so that you have assurance of your salvation. 01:06:07.540 |
But why did he go through four or five chapters 01:06:10.580 |
of telling them who's a Christian and non-Christian 01:06:22.180 |
You see, that letter is written to Christians 01:06:27.220 |
because non-Christians wouldn't read that letter. 01:06:34.740 |
If I say this is a Christian who's a non-Christian 01:06:59.780 |
He said the purpose of why he wrote this letter 01:07:16.180 |
because until your assurance of salvation is sure, 01:07:28.980 |
and you definitely will not pray with certainty. 01:07:37.380 |
Am I talking to somebody who's angry with me? 01:07:45.780 |
Am I talking to somebody who's trying to kill me? 01:07:48.740 |
I mean, my conversation would look very different 01:07:58.180 |
the way I talk to maybe somebody trying to harm me, 01:08:00.340 |
that conversation is going to look very different 01:08:07.860 |
the first place where you will be hindered is your prayer. 01:08:16.660 |
so that they may know that they have eternal life, 01:08:27.460 |
so that he may become a sympathetic high priest, 01:08:29.460 |
so that we may enter the throne of grace with confidence." 01:08:38.100 |
is not simply so that you won't have penalty of sin, 01:08:44.500 |
But there's two things that we need to know about this throne. 01:08:51.780 |
It's not a casual place that we're walking into. 01:09:09.300 |
that we don't speak to God just out of the whim. 01:09:38.500 |
The whole purpose of why the Holy Spirit is with us 01:09:41.780 |
So if we don't know exactly where we stand before God, 01:09:46.820 |
the first thing that will be hindered is your prayer. 01:09:58.420 |
And that's why we put on the helmet of salvation 01:10:02.820 |
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life 01:10:11.140 |
"will be able to separate us from the love of God." 01:10:21.460 |
Check off and say, "That's what you're supposed to do. 01:11:32.980 |
the more we understand the depth of his love, 01:11:34.820 |
and the more we understand the depth of his love, 01:12:00.500 |
if you had a friend that you couldn't talk to 01:12:23.060 |
Because the safest place for any Christian to be 01:12:44.420 |
Salvation is not a different destination when we die. 01:13:30.980 |
So he says, "Therefore, put on the helmet of salvation." 01:13:36.820 |
If somebody asks you how you're doing spiritually 01:14:01.220 |
So it's dangerous for a Christian to feel good, 01:14:11.700 |
It's like, "Everything's good, but I can't breathe." 01:14:19.620 |
Everything is good, but I just can't breathe. 01:14:28.580 |
We can't be a church that focuses so much attention 01:14:54.020 |
I want to travel to this and I want to do that. 01:15:14.900 |
That we're not studying the Bible as a fashion show, 01:15:48.340 |
that we are called out to be prayer warriors. 01:15:59.860 |
Teach us to prioritize, Lord God, above everything else. 01:16:03.060 |
That whatever fruit that we bear with our families, 01:16:09.940 |
that is because your spirit is in the midst of us. 01:16:22.260 |
Lead us, Lord God, to build a house of prayer. 01:17:03.220 |
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. 01:17:31.140 |
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. 01:20:22.260 |
Heavenly Father, we pray that wherever you send your saints, that we would be the aroma of Christ. 01:20:30.660 |
That we may be aware of the unbelievers in our lives. 01:20:33.860 |
That we may shed the light of Christ, His love that you've given to us. 01:20:38.260 |
That we would be eager and sober and ready at all times, Lord God, in season and out of season. 01:20:43.860 |
To make the gospel and the hope that we have in Christ clear. 01:20:46.660 |
Help us, Lord God, to live in such a way where we are walking in the Spirit. 01:20:56.260 |
Help us, Lord God, to know the power of Christ as we continue to engage in prayer. 01:21:05.060 |
And to be able to shield ourselves, Lord God, with faith. 01:21:08.260 |
To put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. 01:21:13.460 |
Knowing, Father God, that it is your love that covers us. 01:21:17.060 |
So we pray that you would help us, Lord God, wherever you send us. 01:21:58.660 |
An empty grave is there to keep my Savior's lips. 01:22:40.660 |
And life is worth the living just because He lives.