back to indexBerean Community Church Sunday Service 2/18/2024
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and to sing praises to your name, O Most High, 00:03:10.720 |
to declare your loving kindness in the morning 00:03:22.240 |
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by what you have done, 00:03:26.040 |
and I will sing for joy at the works of your hands. 00:03:35.320 |
We're gonna begin our worship by singing a song. 00:04:14.320 |
♪ Oh, it is good to worship and praise the Lord ♪ 00:04:56.720 |
♪ Oh, it is good to worship and praise the Lord ♪ 00:05:49.600 |
♪ Oh, it is good to worship and praise the Lord ♪ 00:06:02.400 |
♪ Oh, it is good to worship and praise the Lord ♪ 00:06:26.880 |
And I'm sure as some of you guys may have already noticed 00:06:43.520 |
And so we need to figure out a way to renegotiate 00:06:47.040 |
the exchange that we have between them and us. 00:06:49.960 |
that parking lot is shut down until further notice. 00:06:57.520 |
again, the lot behind us is reserved for you. 00:07:06.880 |
that a lot of the parents have not utilized yet. 00:07:33.960 |
but we don't know if that's gonna open up again. 00:07:44.720 |
So this is a new name that I forgot who came up with, 00:07:59.720 |
for babysitting and program that they have there, 00:08:13.360 |
So Baby Seating Ministry is gonna be happening 00:08:23.240 |
And it's relevant only to this service, okay? 00:08:31.960 |
and there'll be, volunteers will be babysitting. 00:08:35.040 |
They've already carpeted the floor so it's cushiony, 00:08:43.840 |
but Sunday afterwards, that ministry will be open, okay? 00:08:49.720 |
they'll be coming to the Seeds Ministry after that. 00:08:52.720 |
Old Testament Survey, as I have already mentioned, 00:08:56.920 |
Pastor Peter Chung is going to be leading our church 00:09:03.000 |
or you need a refresher on the general outline 00:09:09.760 |
that's a class I strongly recommend you to take. 00:09:17.680 |
we have an All-Church Cleaning Maintenance Day. 00:09:20.160 |
So the more people sign up, the quicker it'll go, 00:09:25.000 |
And I know that, you know, we've had a lot of questions, 00:09:29.600 |
wouldn't it be better if we just hired janitors to do that? 00:09:37.040 |
to take ownership of the church that we're attending, 00:09:39.900 |
that even though our church is a certain size, 00:09:44.280 |
I think it's beneficial for our church members 00:09:46.620 |
to take ownership of the building that we're using. 00:09:50.680 |
we highly encourage you to come and help us clean. 00:09:53.360 |
That's happening on March 9th, Saturday at 9 a.m. 00:10:06.300 |
that's taking place on March 9th, from 7.30 to 1 p.m., 00:10:11.960 |
the Divine Design for Marriage from MacArthur, 00:10:19.120 |
and they're gonna be going hiking, having fellowship. 00:10:24.080 |
please sign up for that with our brother, Jason Choi. 00:10:28.000 |
I'm just gonna refer you to our website and to our app. 00:10:33.600 |
Again, if you haven't transitioned to Subsplash, 00:10:38.240 |
We're gonna keep the Zelle open for just a little bit longer, 00:10:49.880 |
But again, it will only be open for a little bit longer 00:10:52.920 |
to give you a little bit more time to transition. 00:10:55.860 |
But let me pray for us and give you an opportunity to give, 00:11:12.320 |
Help us to give you what is sincere in our hearts, 00:11:17.560 |
not simply our time, not simply out of obligation. 00:11:21.920 |
I pray, Father, that you would fill our hearts 00:11:29.080 |
of the worship that you're creating inside of us. 00:11:42.160 |
it would be in reflection of our dedication to you. 00:12:41.280 |
and as always, I'll take a minute to greet each other, 00:13:49.360 |
♪ He would send his only Son to come and rescue us ♪ 00:14:51.320 |
♪ He would send his only Son to come and rescue us ♪ 00:15:48.200 |
♪ That he would send his only Son to rescue us ♪ 00:16:02.640 |
♪ He would send his only Son to come and rescue us ♪ 00:18:56.480 |
♪ You'll be just as fine as the brightest star in the sky ♪ 00:20:35.480 |
All right, if you can turn your Bibles with me 00:20:47.480 |
the message is going to center around John the Baptist, 00:20:50.480 |
and so this is gonna be the first part of it. 00:20:55.480 |
but we're gonna be on the subject of John the Baptist 00:21:06.480 |
"about all these things, summoning two of his disciples. 00:21:15.480 |
"When the men came to him, they said to John the Baptist, 00:21:18.480 |
"'Has sent us to you to ask, are you the expected one, 00:21:23.480 |
"At that very time, he cured many people of diseases 00:21:35.480 |
"and her, the blind, received sight, the lame walked, 00:21:43.480 |
"Blessed is he who does not take offense at me." 00:21:54.480 |
We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us, 00:21:59.480 |
that we may do more than just listen and to learn, 00:22:06.480 |
truly worthy of the calling that you've given. 00:22:15.480 |
Let me ask you a question that I want you to think about 00:22:37.480 |
That the Son of God came and walked on this earth 00:22:41.480 |
and he gave his life so that you and I, sinners, can be saved? 00:22:53.480 |
the beginning of our faith begins by confessing we believe that. 00:23:01.480 |
but for whatever the reason, after we become Christian, 00:23:08.480 |
And so we go through various periods of our life 00:23:16.480 |
And so as a result of that, sometimes we remain in our doubt, 00:23:20.480 |
and that doubt causes us to remain distant from God. 00:23:27.480 |
Maybe you've had somebody that you dearly loved, 00:23:30.480 |
and they passed away, and you cried out to God, 00:23:36.480 |
Or certain things that are happening in your life, 00:23:47.480 |
I know that the congregation can wrestle with that, 00:23:49.480 |
because I know many pastors who wrestle with that. 00:23:55.480 |
Is this just something that I'm wishful thinking? 00:24:02.480 |
and they get to that point and they never move beyond that, 00:24:05.480 |
most people have a crisis of faith simply out of neglect. 00:24:12.480 |
It's like, I met Christ, and initially I didn't go to church, 00:24:22.480 |
the passionate pursuit of Christ no longer exists in your life. 00:24:34.480 |
They didn't pursue it, they didn't seek it, they didn't ask. 00:24:37.480 |
Now, everyone at some point in their walk with God 00:24:44.480 |
But every once in a while, we run into somebody 00:24:54.480 |
In the last few years, we've run into some people, 00:25:04.480 |
and bore so much fruit, and then after they die, 00:25:12.480 |
That their private life, they were completely different people. 00:25:15.480 |
And maybe most people, their difference may not be as drastic. 00:25:31.480 |
Today, we're going to be dealing with John the Baptist. 00:25:40.480 |
it says the disciples of John reported to him 00:25:44.480 |
Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, 00:25:55.480 |
are you the expected one, or do we look for someone else?" 00:25:59.480 |
It says, Luke's recording has two separate, same statement, 00:26:12.480 |
you know that it's for the purpose of emphasis. 00:26:15.480 |
The fact that Luke records the same question twice 00:26:25.480 |
Many people during that time asked the question. 00:26:27.480 |
Many people today will ask the same question. 00:26:31.480 |
Is this real? Is Jesus really the Son of God? 00:26:36.480 |
But the reason why we're perplexed is because it's John. 00:26:43.480 |
John is the last prophet of the Old Covenant. 00:26:47.480 |
In fact, in the next text, we're going to see that Jesus says, 00:27:26.480 |
they get together with the children in their womb, 00:27:30.480 |
because he recognized the Savior in Mary's womb. 00:27:46.480 |
He's the one, when Jesus showed up on the scene 00:27:55.480 |
And so he diverted all the attention to Christ. 00:28:03.480 |
The whole reason why I exist is to prepare for you." 00:28:18.480 |
"This is my beloved Son, who I am well pleased." 00:28:25.480 |
He's the one who dedicated his life for this purpose. 00:28:55.480 |
because they clearly understood he was a prophet from God 00:29:02.480 |
by the time Christ shows up, he was the superstar. 00:29:08.480 |
He was the closest thing that they've heard of a prophet 00:29:16.480 |
see that Jesus' ministry is starting to flourish 00:29:19.480 |
and all the disciples who were coming to John 00:29:30.480 |
"And they came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, 00:29:36.480 |
behold, he is baptizing and all are coming to him.'" 00:29:50.480 |
John, I don't have the text for you for the sake of time, 00:29:57.480 |
I told you that I came to prepare the way for the bride, 00:30:05.480 |
that when he comes that you ought to follow him." 00:30:07.480 |
And he ends that passage in John 3, 30 by saying, 00:30:26.480 |
And yet he's sitting and asking the disciples. 00:30:36.480 |
the parallel passage to the text that we're looking at, 00:30:40.480 |
but in that text it tells us that John is sitting in prison. 00:30:45.480 |
Most commentators believe that John has been in prison 00:30:48.480 |
for at least a year, possibly up to two years. 00:30:52.480 |
And so during the two years that he's sitting in prison, 00:31:04.480 |
So that angered somebody who was in great power 00:31:10.480 |
he ends up getting beheaded for him calling out 00:31:16.480 |
During the two years that he's sitting in prison, 00:31:20.480 |
it seems like his faith started to get questioned. 00:31:28.480 |
and what he dedicated his life to, it just didn't fit. 00:31:30.480 |
His idea of the Messiah didn't fit what he was seeing. 00:31:40.480 |
describes what Jesus' ministry was going to be like. 00:31:44.480 |
He says, "The ax is already laid at the root of the trees. 00:31:47.480 |
"Therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit 00:31:52.480 |
"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, 00:31:55.480 |
"but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, 00:32:00.480 |
"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." 00:32:06.480 |
"repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 00:32:15.480 |
But he said, "The one who's coming, when Jesus comes, 00:32:19.480 |
"with the power of the Holy Spirit and fire." 00:32:21.480 |
And fire, in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, 00:32:31.480 |
he's not simply going to take you through a ceremony. 00:32:33.480 |
Real judgment, real cleansing is going to happen 00:32:42.480 |
Real power is coming, and he will make things right. 00:32:45.480 |
In verse 12, it says, "His winnowing fork is in his hand, 00:32:48.480 |
"and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor, 00:32:52.480 |
"but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 00:32:56.480 |
This is how he understood the Messiah's ministry. 00:32:59.480 |
He said, "When Jesus comes, he's going to bring this fire." 00:33:04.480 |
But after he says this, he spends two years in prison, 00:33:12.480 |
Why would a man who was handpicked by God himself 00:33:19.480 |
and as soon as Jesus appears, his life is over? 00:33:32.480 |
and the separating of the wheat and the chaff did not happen, 00:33:59.480 |
In fact, we know that this was not just a problem 00:34:07.480 |
and the people who were crying out, "Hosanna, Hosanna," 00:34:09.480 |
turned against him because he didn't come to conquer. 00:34:12.480 |
His idea of conquering was giving up his life, 00:34:14.480 |
and even the disciples, even though Jesus made it very clear 00:34:17.480 |
he's going to go to the cross, he's going to be beaten, 00:34:21.480 |
they didn't understand because what they understood 00:34:24.480 |
to be the Messiah didn't fit what Jesus was doing. 00:34:38.480 |
where we imagine what our life is going to be like, 00:34:42.480 |
and when life doesn't turn out exactly the way 00:34:52.480 |
and this will happen, and that you will bear so much fruit. 00:34:59.480 |
our honest crisis of faith is, "Where are you? 00:36:24.480 |
Even though this is a man after God's own heart, 00:36:51.480 |
"Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 00:36:53.480 |
"In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted. 00:37:00.480 |
"For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, 00:37:02.480 |
"and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord. 00:37:04.480 |
"The wicked, in haughtiness of his countenance, 00:37:13.480 |
"Your judgments are on high out of his sight, 00:37:16.480 |
"as for all of his adversary, he snorts at them." 00:37:21.480 |
He says, "I've lived my life righteously to follow you, 00:37:28.480 |
And they said, "There's no judgment coming upon me." 00:37:43.480 |
multiple times you may have asked the question, 00:38:05.480 |
And we allow that doubt and that crisis to linger, 00:38:19.480 |
But when Christ says to pick up your cross and follow me, 00:38:41.480 |
And there is a huge difference between questioning 00:38:47.480 |
Questioning is somebody who's already come to a conclusion, 00:39:12.480 |
Maybe there's things that you don't understand. 00:39:17.480 |
Maybe your perception, your goals, your dreams 00:39:20.480 |
were all founded upon something that God desires to destroy. 00:39:29.480 |
In fact, the Bible says, "Seek, ask, and knock, 00:39:34.480 |
"You'll open the door, and he will be found." 00:40:00.480 |
Somebody who's never sacrificed anything to follow Christ 00:40:05.480 |
can remain in the crisis of his faith the rest of his life 00:40:14.480 |
A nominal Christian neither wants to be shaken in his faith 00:40:23.480 |
nor does he want to be challenged and be convicted 00:40:32.480 |
it will force him to move beyond his mediocre life. 00:40:36.480 |
It will force him to sacrifice what is important to him, 00:40:42.480 |
is the Christian life that he has created for himself 00:41:00.480 |
and as a result of that, you may have to leave the church. 00:41:04.480 |
I mean, I can't keep coming to church if I don't believe this. 00:41:07.480 |
You're going to lose all the friends that you've created. 00:41:20.480 |
Everything that I built up has to be sacrificed. 00:41:22.480 |
If I pursue this and I come to the conclusion 00:41:30.480 |
they come to a crisis of faith and they remain 00:41:34.480 |
because they don't want to face the consequences, 00:41:44.480 |
they also need to move beyond where they are, 00:41:49.480 |
this cultural Christianity that they've embraced 00:41:53.480 |
that you've never truly surrendered your life to Christ, 00:41:59.480 |
You sang about Him, but you never followed Him. 00:42:04.480 |
and so you've pursued your life in mediocre Christian life, 00:42:08.480 |
pursuing your own pleasure, pursuing your own life, 00:42:14.480 |
no longer belongs to you, what is your career? 00:42:21.480 |
It no longer matters because you have been crucified with Christ. 00:42:26.480 |
by the blood of Christ and you now belong to Him. 00:42:36.480 |
Your life will come when Christ comes in His glory, 00:42:40.480 |
and when Jesus said, "He who wants to come after me 00:42:43.480 |
must deny himself and pick up his cross, follow me," 00:42:55.480 |
I've heard people say that if you reject Christ, 00:43:06.480 |
if heaven and hell is real, you'll go to hell. 00:43:10.480 |
And I've heard people say, "But if I'm wrong, 00:43:13.480 |
I've lost nothing because I have family, friends, 00:43:34.480 |
but there's nothing further from what we see in Scripture. 00:43:50.480 |
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 00:43:53.480 |
If we have hoped in Christ, in this life only, 00:44:14.480 |
He didn't simply say, "If you don't have a community, 00:44:19.480 |
you want to be a righteous person rather than unrighteous, 00:44:22.480 |
you want a place where your children are going to be 00:44:39.480 |
Because our whole life is to be dedicated to follow Jesus, 00:44:43.480 |
and he went to the cross, and he told us all, 00:44:55.480 |
He needed confirmation because he's about to give his life. 00:45:01.480 |
Those who have never surrendered their life to Christ 00:45:08.480 |
Can live in mediocrity because you already have 00:45:14.480 |
You have everything that you have desired in Christ already. 00:45:23.480 |
and force you to make a decision out of the church, 00:45:26.480 |
nor do you want to be bothered to force you to question, 00:45:37.480 |
So we oftentimes embrace the crisis and stay there 00:45:45.480 |
because of the consequence one way or the other. 00:45:57.480 |
The person who is picking up his cross needs to know for sure 00:46:02.480 |
that when Jesus says that there's life on the other side of this cross, 00:46:20.480 |
The way that Jesus even answers this question, 00:46:23.480 |
he answers them, he says, "Go and report to John 00:46:28.480 |
Blind receive sight, lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, 00:46:30.480 |
and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up. 00:46:39.480 |
it tells us that he was already hearing this, 00:46:52.480 |
what you have heard your disciples have seen. 00:46:54.480 |
Go tell him that the true evidence of the one is in me. 00:47:02.480 |
You see, people who've endured in their faith 00:47:08.480 |
I understand God. I understand why he's doing it. 00:47:10.480 |
I understand what he's doing now in our culture. I understand. 00:47:18.480 |
"If you don't drink of my blood and eat of my flesh, 00:47:25.480 |
But Jesus turned to them and said, "Are you going to go too?" 00:47:29.480 |
We believe you are the Son of God, and you have the words of life. 00:47:40.480 |
There are things that often happen in our lives 00:47:59.480 |
even if I don't understand where he is leading me to, 00:48:10.480 |
In John 3, 2, when Nicodemus comes to him at night, 00:48:13.480 |
this man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 00:48:15.480 |
"Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, 00:48:18.480 |
for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 00:48:23.480 |
They recognized these signs, and Nicodemus says, 00:48:27.480 |
John 7, 31, many of the crowds believed in him, 00:48:30.480 |
and they were saying, "When the Christ comes, 00:48:32.480 |
he will not perform more signs than those which this man has. 00:48:38.480 |
So they believed because of the many miracles, 00:48:40.480 |
because they knew it was a clear sign that he's the one. 00:48:45.480 |
"If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, 00:48:50.480 |
But now they have both seen and hated me and my father as well." 00:48:59.480 |
because I have not given them enough evidence. 00:49:13.480 |
we're 2,000 years removed from these miracles. 00:49:16.480 |
So if Jesus said, "I'm going to leave you these miracles 00:49:18.480 |
as a clear sign of who he is," what about us? 00:49:23.480 |
When we come to crisis of faith, what do we do? 00:49:27.480 |
If Jesus' answer to the crisis of faith that John the Baptist had, 00:49:37.480 |
because people of that generation asked the same question. 00:49:40.480 |
Even though they had front-row seats of his miracles, 00:49:42.480 |
they kept on asking him, "We need signs, we need signs." 00:49:45.480 |
Remember what Jesus said, this wicked and evil generation, 00:49:47.480 |
"I will give no sign except for the sign of Jonah," 00:49:57.480 |
So if anybody doubts, anybody has crisis of faith, 00:50:00.480 |
you can look into that, and I will leave that as a proof 00:50:06.480 |
For 2,000 years, even though we're 2,000 years removed 00:50:10.480 |
from these miracles that Jesus is referring to, 00:50:29.480 |
The fact that the Jews and Gentiles got together, 00:50:31.480 |
the fact that this obscure small group of fishermen 00:50:34.480 |
turned the world upside down in the first 100 years, 00:50:37.480 |
the fact that we have Scripture that's been copied 00:50:43.480 |
more than any other historical document that we have, 00:50:49.480 |
historical validity of the resurrection of Christ, 00:50:58.480 |
I've had so many people throughout the years come to me 00:51:06.480 |
And so I would ask them, "What is it that you have a hard time?" 00:51:09.480 |
"You know, these miracles and these things, I'm not sure if I believe." 00:51:12.480 |
And they're about to walk away from their faith, 00:51:15.480 |
and I would suggest to them to read this book, 00:51:22.480 |
And at the end of it, you can read that and say, 00:51:26.480 |
But you don't know how many people that have come to me and asked me, 00:51:31.480 |
that they wouldn't even take time to read that. 00:51:40.480 |
You've already come to a conclusion without even searching. 00:51:44.480 |
You've already made the conclusion that Christ is not what you want. 00:51:51.480 |
that He left enough evidence that anybody who is 00:51:56.480 |
He says He left evidence for you at least to come to the conclusion 00:52:01.480 |
that something spectacular must have happened. 00:52:06.480 |
is the conclusion that Jesus must have been resurrected from the dead. 00:52:11.480 |
Yet so many people who will never search, ask, and knock 00:52:21.480 |
You've never researched. You've never searched. 00:52:25.480 |
And just as it says in Romans 1 that they suppress the truth 00:52:28.480 |
because they love darkness more than the truth, 00:52:32.480 |
so many nominal Christians will come to a crisis of faith 00:52:37.480 |
and have doubts that they never share with anybody else. 00:52:44.480 |
They doubt if this is real, but you can see by the decisions that they make. 00:52:48.480 |
They doubt if God is going to take care of them 00:52:50.480 |
because of the way that they make decisions about finances, 00:52:57.480 |
And they will never pursue because if you pursue this, 00:53:00.480 |
either you will conclude that you don't believe 00:53:03.480 |
and everything that you've built up is destroyed, 00:53:06.480 |
or you will come to the conclusion that this is absolutely true 00:53:12.480 |
and it will destroy your nominal Christian life that you've built up. 00:53:16.480 |
And you can no longer embrace cultural Christianity and be okay. 00:53:26.480 |
Neither option is acceptable to a nominal Christian. 00:53:37.480 |
The real question is, "How come more people don't ask?" 00:53:43.480 |
It isn't that John asked to clarify because he's about to give his life. 00:53:47.480 |
I need to be sure that this is the right path. 00:53:54.480 |
and they're perfectly okay with living with their doubts, 00:53:59.480 |
but they're unwilling to face the consequence of that question. 00:54:05.480 |
Jesus ends this interaction in Luke 7:23 by saying, 00:54:08.480 |
"Blessed is he who does not take offense at me." 00:54:14.480 |
He's reconfirming for John that what is happening to you is ordained. 00:54:21.480 |
You are hated because they've hated me, just like Jesus said. 00:54:28.480 |
They will reject you because they rejected me. 00:54:32.480 |
In fact, over and over again, this was the prophecy given to us clearly 00:54:36.480 |
in Luke 2.34-35, "And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 00:54:41.480 |
'Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel.'" 00:54:50.480 |
He understood the rise of Israel, but he didn't understand the fall of Israel, 00:54:55.480 |
which was prophesied from the get-go and for a sign to be what? Opposed. 00:55:01.480 |
When Jesus reveals the sign of who he is, he said many will oppose him. 00:55:05.480 |
They will hate him. They will be offended by him. 00:55:07.480 |
"And a sword will pierce even your own soul to the end 00:55:10.480 |
that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." 00:55:15.480 |
When he is revealed, the opposition will be revealed. 00:55:19.480 |
What's truly in their heart, he says, will be revealed. 00:55:23.480 |
And he will be the cause of the rise and fall of many in Israel. 00:55:27.480 |
1 Peter 2.7-8, Peter says, "This precious value then is for you who believe, 00:55:32.480 |
but for those who disbelieve. The stone which the builders rejected 00:55:36.480 |
became the very cornerstone and a stone of a stumbling and a rock of offense. 00:55:41.480 |
For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, 00:55:50.480 |
That this cornerstone, which the church is built upon, 00:55:53.480 |
is an offense to those who do not recognize him. 00:56:02.480 |
We live in a culture where we try to make Christianity 00:56:10.480 |
And you know who hates true Christianity more than anybody else? 00:56:18.480 |
If you read the book of Revelation carefully, the Antichrist figure is a religious figure 00:56:24.480 |
who is going to unite all religious people under his umbrella. 00:56:31.480 |
And the people who oppose that are the ones who have embraced the true gospel 00:56:42.480 |
And so the greatest opposition is going to come within the church of nominal Christians 00:56:48.480 |
who does not desire to be represented to the world 00:56:52.480 |
by hateful speech of saying Christ is exclusive. 00:56:57.480 |
There's only one way of salvation and his name is Jesus Christ. 00:57:04.480 |
And we have churches after churches, pastors after pastors, 00:57:07.480 |
who are more afraid of the opinion of men than they are of the judgment of God. 00:57:13.480 |
And as a result, we created a Christianity that doesn't look anything like what we see in the scripture. 00:57:19.480 |
Jesus is reaffirming to John the Baptist, "Blessed is he who does not take offense at me." 00:57:25.480 |
In fact, Paul describes his ministry in this way, 00:57:28.480 |
"For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved, among those who are perishing. 00:57:35.480 |
To the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. 00:57:44.480 |
For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but ask from sincerity, but ask from God. 00:57:53.480 |
The question is not, "Why did John ask this question?" 00:57:57.480 |
The question is, "Why are we not pursuing this?" 00:58:04.480 |
Is the gospel that you embrace worth giving your life for? 00:58:14.480 |
Have you given your life to be a follower of Jesus Christ? 00:58:21.480 |
Do you give praise for other people that seem to be going hard? 00:58:26.480 |
But by the decisions we make, by the life that we choose, by the priorities that we have in life, 00:58:32.480 |
we have crises of faith that we're not dealing with. 00:58:37.480 |
So the challenge this morning is not to figure out why John asked the question, 00:58:41.480 |
because we can clearly understand why John asked the question. 00:58:46.480 |
Jesus said to pick up your cross, and he has his cross on his shoulder. 00:58:51.480 |
He said, "They hated me, so they're going to hate you," so he's experiencing this hate. 00:58:55.480 |
He's about to end his life in ministry, proclaiming Christ, so he needed to know, "Are you the one?" 00:59:07.480 |
How many of us have come to that point and just embraced nominal Christianity? 00:59:16.480 |
How many of us have chosen to embrace mediocrity and blamed our doubt for not giving all to Christ? 00:59:28.480 |
This message of the cross requires us to come to a conclusion. 00:59:36.480 |
If you do, it is worth everything that you have. 00:59:45.480 |
If it cuts your life short, if it ruins your business, 00:59:51.480 |
if you get fired, if you can't get the job, and your life gets cut short, 01:00:00.480 |
it's worth everything that God has called us to sacrifice. 01:00:24.480 |
Why aren't more people asking, seeking, and knocking? 01:00:53.480 |
More than simple lip service, but our very lives. 01:00:59.480 |
Help us, Lord God, to confess and to believe and to practice 01:01:09.480 |
It is no longer us that live, but Christ living in us. 01:01:15.480 |
Help us, Lord God, that that may not be empty confession, 01:01:23.480 |
As John gave his life preparing for Christ's path, 01:01:31.480 |
call us, Lord God, as you have planned to the church, 01:01:36.480 |
that the gates of Hades would not be able to prevail against it, 01:01:39.480 |
that we would not live our lives in mediocrity, 01:01:43.480 |
but that we would be a community fully convicted of this truth, 01:01:48.480 |
that wherever you lead us, that we would follow and glorify you. 01:03:35.480 |
♪ And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ again ♪ 01:04:30.480 |
♪ And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ again ♪ 01:05:38.480 |
♪ And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ again ♪ 01:05:58.480 |
♪ And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ, my Lord ♪ 01:06:08.480 |
♪ And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ, my Lord ♪ 01:06:32.480 |
strengthen, rebuke, encourage, and build up the church 01:06:37.480 |
that we may be the aroma of Christ wherever you send us. 01:07:11.480 |
♪ An empty grave is there to put my Savior last ♪