1 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:09,220 - Don't you guys love Michael Frazier? 2 00:00:09,220 --> 00:00:11,740 Thank you, Michael. 3 00:00:11,740 --> 00:00:16,440 We have such jewels in this house, 4 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,040 such gifts and treasure that the Lord has given us, 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,200 and man, I never want to take it for granted 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,080 how the Lord has blessed us. 7 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:25,640 Are you guys good this morning? 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,520 Well, praise the Lord. 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,560 I'm excited about today. 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,120 We are continuing our series, 11 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,640 The Greatest Stories Ever Told, 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,280 but before we do, we're not gonna have 13 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,620 vision casting tonight, as we announced, 14 00:00:37,620 --> 00:00:38,680 if you've gotten our announcement. 15 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:39,920 We're not gonna do our vision casting 16 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:41,560 because the snow's melting and we figured 17 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,520 you want to watch the Packers beat the Eagles tonight. 18 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,480 And so, we're gonna do that on January 26th, okay? 19 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:53,360 We're gonna do that at the last Sunday of the month instead, 20 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,160 and that was a call made due to the weather, 21 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,200 and so still, if you'd like to be a part 22 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,480 of the Chili Cook-Off, you can still register. 23 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,080 That'll be at 5.30. 24 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:03,440 6.30 will be vision casting. 25 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,200 Guys, we want you to come and be a part of that. 26 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:06,800 We have a lot to share. 27 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,340 Make plans, mark your calendars for that very special event. 28 00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:11,460 And then I've been asked to announce 29 00:01:11,460 --> 00:01:15,720 that our 50-plus group is going to have a conference here. 30 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,760 It's the Legacy Seniors Conference 31 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,200 for Individuals and Couples of 50-plus years age. 32 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:25,000 Cost is $15 for individuals, $25 for couples. 33 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,760 The event will be the weekend of Friday, 34 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,400 February 28th through March 1st. 35 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:30,680 It'll be held in the fellowship hall, 36 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,400 dinner on Friday evening, lunch on Saturday. 37 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,120 There'll be worship before the sessions, 38 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:37,400 and t-shirts will be available. 39 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,080 Deadline to register is February 9th, 40 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,860 and I'm assuming they can register on the app. 41 00:01:40,860 --> 00:01:41,760 Is that correct? 42 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,080 All right, so, I want you to register for this. 43 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,260 This is gonna be really, really great, okay? 44 00:01:46,260 --> 00:01:50,440 So, make plans for that if you fit that demographic, okay? 45 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,000 So, the greatest stories ever told. 46 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,180 Look at your neighbor and say, 47 00:01:54,180 --> 00:01:57,140 you are a part of the greatest story ever told. 48 00:01:57,140 --> 00:02:00,400 (congregation murmurs) 49 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,180 But it ain't all about you. 50 00:02:04,180 --> 00:02:07,340 (congregation laughs) 51 00:02:07,340 --> 00:02:12,380 Will you stand with me this morning? 52 00:02:12,380 --> 00:02:14,280 We are gonna read the entire 53 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,280 Genesis 3 chapter this morning. 54 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,880 (congregation laughs) 55 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,860 And you're gonna read it like I just gave you 56 00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:23,660 the best news on the planet, all right? 57 00:02:23,660 --> 00:02:25,160 Here we go. 58 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,440 Now the serpent was more crafty 59 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:31,760 than any other wild animals of Lord God had made. 60 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,960 He said to the woman, did God really say, 61 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,860 you must not eat from any tree in the garden? 62 00:02:38,860 --> 00:02:40,960 The woman said to the serpent, 63 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,400 we may eat from fruit the trees in the garden, 64 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,720 but God did say, you must not eat fruit 65 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,480 from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, 66 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,000 and you must not touch it or you will die. 67 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,740 You will not certainly die, the serpent said to the woman, 68 00:02:57,740 --> 00:03:00,380 for God knows that when you eat from it, 69 00:03:00,380 --> 00:03:03,860 your eyes will be open and you will be like God, 70 00:03:03,860 --> 00:03:06,320 knowing good and evil. 71 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,940 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree 72 00:03:08,940 --> 00:03:12,100 was good for food and pleasing to the eye, 73 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:15,300 and also desirable for gaining wisdom, 74 00:03:15,300 --> 00:03:17,440 she took some and ate it. 75 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,060 She also gave some to her husband, 76 00:03:20,060 --> 00:03:22,780 who was with her and he ate it. 77 00:03:22,780 --> 00:03:25,580 Then the eyes of both of them were opened 78 00:03:25,580 --> 00:03:28,100 and they realized they were naked. 79 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:30,440 So they sow fig leaves together 80 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,240 and made coverings for themselves. 81 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,100 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God 82 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:41,060 as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, 83 00:03:41,060 --> 00:03:43,200 and they hid from the Lord God 84 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,540 among the trees of the garden. 85 00:03:45,540 --> 00:03:50,040 But the Lord God called to the man, where are you? 86 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,120 He answered, I heard you in the garden 87 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,300 and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. 88 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:01,000 And he said, who told you that you were naked? 89 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:02,820 Have you eaten from the tree 90 00:04:02,820 --> 00:04:05,780 that I commanded you not to eat from? 91 00:04:05,780 --> 00:04:09,060 The man said, the woman you put here with me, 92 00:04:09,060 --> 00:04:13,100 she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it. 93 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:15,480 Then the Lord God said to the woman, 94 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,500 what is this you have done? 95 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:21,900 The woman said, the serpent deceived me and I ate. 96 00:04:21,900 --> 00:04:24,440 So the Lord God said to the serpent, 97 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,140 because you have done this, cursed are you 98 00:04:27,140 --> 00:04:30,780 above all livestock and all wild animals, 99 00:04:30,780 --> 00:04:32,740 you will crawl on your belly 100 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:36,060 and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 101 00:04:36,060 --> 00:04:39,180 And I will put enmity between you and the woman 102 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:41,660 and between your offspring and hers, 103 00:04:41,660 --> 00:04:45,540 he will crush your head and you will strike his heel. 104 00:04:45,540 --> 00:04:48,900 To the woman he said, I will make your pains 105 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:51,140 and childbearing very severe, 106 00:04:51,140 --> 00:04:54,740 with painful labor you will give birth to children. 107 00:04:54,740 --> 00:04:57,140 Your desire will be for your husband 108 00:04:57,140 --> 00:04:58,980 and he will rule over you. 109 00:04:58,980 --> 00:05:02,860 To Adam he said, because you listened to your wife 110 00:05:02,860 --> 00:05:06,420 and ate from the tree which I commanded you, 111 00:05:06,420 --> 00:05:09,660 you must not eat from it, cursed is the ground 112 00:05:09,660 --> 00:05:13,520 because of you, through painful toil you will eat food 113 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,260 from all the days of your life. 114 00:05:16,260 --> 00:05:19,100 It will produce thorns and thistles for you 115 00:05:19,100 --> 00:05:22,040 and you will eat the plants of the field. 116 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,880 By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food 117 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:26,940 until you return to the ground, 118 00:05:26,940 --> 00:05:30,300 since from it you were taken for dust you are 119 00:05:30,300 --> 00:05:32,680 and to dust you will return. 120 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,660 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife 121 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:37,960 and clothed them. 122 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:42,560 And the Lord God said, the man has now become like one of us 123 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,500 knowing good and evil. 124 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:47,660 He must not be allowed to reach out his hand 125 00:05:47,660 --> 00:05:50,500 and take also from the tree of life 126 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:52,800 and eat and live forever. 127 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,180 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden 128 00:05:56,180 --> 00:05:59,540 to work the ground from which he had been taken. 129 00:05:59,540 --> 00:06:03,380 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side 130 00:06:03,380 --> 00:06:07,340 of the Garden of Eden a cherubim and a flashing sword, 131 00:06:07,340 --> 00:06:10,260 flashing back and forth to guard the way 132 00:06:10,260 --> 00:06:11,620 to the tree of life. 133 00:06:11,620 --> 00:06:14,060 Father, I thank you for your word. 134 00:06:14,060 --> 00:06:15,620 I thank you that it brings life 135 00:06:15,620 --> 00:06:18,000 and I pray, Lord, that you would minister to us today 136 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,560 through it, in Jesus' name, amen. 137 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:21,460 You may be seated. 138 00:06:21,460 --> 00:06:26,100 Good job reading that whole chapter. 139 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:30,080 I know that was difficult for some of you, including me, 140 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,300 but we made it through. 141 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:34,940 I hope you're following the Bible reading plan 142 00:06:34,940 --> 00:06:37,680 that the team gave out for you 143 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,640 and I just want to encourage you, 144 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,480 if you haven't started the plan 145 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,420 or maybe you started and you stopped, 146 00:06:44,420 --> 00:06:45,980 I want to tell you it's not too late, 147 00:06:45,980 --> 00:06:48,060 ever too late to get in God's word. 148 00:06:48,060 --> 00:06:50,160 It's never too late to start again. 149 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,520 God is a God of start again. 150 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,360 And so start today, start today, get into the word. 151 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,360 Pick up where we are in the plan. 152 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,260 I believe today's Genesis 11. 153 00:07:01,260 --> 00:07:03,160 So get into the word. 154 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:04,380 If you need a copy of the plan, 155 00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:05,580 you can see Pastor Justin. 156 00:07:05,580 --> 00:07:07,280 He'll make sure you get one, okay? 157 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:11,740 You are part of the greatest story ever told. 158 00:07:11,740 --> 00:07:14,820 But the greatest stories are only great 159 00:07:14,820 --> 00:07:18,520 if every significant part of the story is present. 160 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,060 And our stories, and our story begins 161 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:24,360 with one of the most tragic moments in human history, 162 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,360 the separation of God from his creation. 163 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,200 To admit the fall and not talk about sin 164 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,260 when it comes to our story is like watching a movie 165 00:07:33,260 --> 00:07:34,560 and starting 15 minutes in 166 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,640 after the problem has been illuminated. 167 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,980 Has anybody ever seen the movie Finding Nemo? 168 00:07:39,980 --> 00:07:44,620 If you wait 15 minutes into Finding Nemo 169 00:07:44,620 --> 00:07:46,340 and you see Nemo's gone 170 00:07:46,340 --> 00:07:49,580 and some dad fish is trying to find him, 171 00:07:49,580 --> 00:07:51,220 you won't really understand what happened. 172 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:53,360 You have to watch the part where he goes off 173 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,860 and tries to touch the boat, right? 174 00:07:55,860 --> 00:07:57,100 He tries to touch the boat. 175 00:07:57,100 --> 00:07:59,160 And you see this up here. 176 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:03,700 Bruce, you gotta know all of the parts of the story 177 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:06,260 in order to fully understand or bring meaning 178 00:08:06,260 --> 00:08:08,140 to the resolve at the end. 179 00:08:08,140 --> 00:08:12,380 And so we cannot dismiss the part of our story 180 00:08:12,380 --> 00:08:14,900 that we are part of a broken world 181 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:17,820 and we are sinners fallen from God's grace, 182 00:08:17,820 --> 00:08:19,840 fallen from God's glory. 183 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,280 And we need God's grace in order to be in relationship 184 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,420 and be in connection with him. 185 00:08:24,420 --> 00:08:28,180 Now sin is not a fun topic to talk about. 186 00:08:28,180 --> 00:08:29,780 It's not something that we enjoy talking, 187 00:08:29,780 --> 00:08:31,260 it's something we enjoy doing, 188 00:08:31,260 --> 00:08:34,200 but it's not something we enjoy talking about, 189 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,160 especially when it comes to the conviction 190 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,440 that the Holy Spirit uses to change our lives. 191 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,040 Why would we wanna change our lives? 192 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:42,560 Why would he want to change our lives? 193 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:44,340 Well, he wants to change our lives 194 00:08:44,340 --> 00:08:46,640 so that we can be more like him 195 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,840 because sin always leads to destruction. 196 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:54,380 Sin always leads to destruction. 197 00:08:54,380 --> 00:08:57,480 The story of Adam and Eve is the foundation 198 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,660 of humanity's brokenness. 199 00:08:59,660 --> 00:09:02,660 One act of disobedience didn't just affect Adam and Eve, 200 00:09:02,660 --> 00:09:05,500 it fractured three vital relationships, 201 00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:08,100 a relationship with God, a relationship with others 202 00:09:08,100 --> 00:09:09,500 and a relationship with ourself. 203 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:11,160 And today we're gonna go through those things. 204 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:15,000 But even if their failure, God's response 205 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,240 was not to abandon Adam and Eve, 206 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,580 it was to initiate a redemptive plan, hallelujah. 207 00:09:21,580 --> 00:09:25,280 Sin, Romans 3, 23 says, "For all have sinned 208 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,440 "and fallen short of the glory of God." 209 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,340 Would you say everybody? 210 00:09:29,340 --> 00:09:32,920 Everybody has fallen short of the glory of God, 211 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,120 that includes you and me. 212 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,580 Sin did not just usher in bad actions. 213 00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:42,400 We see a list of some of these actions 214 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,060 in the book of Galatians. 215 00:09:44,060 --> 00:09:47,900 But it also caused us to question the purity 216 00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:51,500 of everything and everyone around us. 217 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:54,400 Every relationship is tainted by sin 218 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,740 because all of us are tainted by sin. 219 00:09:59,940 --> 00:10:03,420 And because of a tainted relationship, 220 00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:06,580 we need the Holy Spirit to dispel from us, 221 00:10:06,580 --> 00:10:09,960 to extract from us, to eradicate from our being 222 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,720 our sinful desires, our sinful ways 223 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,720 so that we can operate in perfect unity 224 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:20,000 and harmony and intimacy with first the Lord 225 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,560 and then one another. 226 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:26,240 It's only when Jesus is the center of your relationships 227 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,200 that he exposes and eradicates sin and restores intimacy. 228 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,640 I was on the West Coast just a little while ago 229 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,680 with my friend John and we were out in the desert 230 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:35,420 and I was wearing these boots. 231 00:10:35,420 --> 00:10:37,780 And these boots were one of my nicer pair of boots 232 00:10:37,780 --> 00:10:38,720 and they were brown. 233 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,480 They were really good solid color brown. 234 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:41,760 Well, when we left the desert, 235 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,880 they were a solid color white because of all the dust. 236 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,020 And we were going to go to this nice restaurant 237 00:10:47,020 --> 00:10:50,060 and I said, "Hey, we're gonna have to swing by the hotel 238 00:10:50,060 --> 00:10:52,720 "and change these boots because I can't just wear 239 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,300 "these dusty boots into this nice restaurant." 240 00:10:55,300 --> 00:10:57,640 Can I tell you guys that sometimes we are walking 241 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:01,200 into places with dusty boots and we don't even realize it? 242 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,940 Do you know that whenever if I had worn those dusty boots, 243 00:11:03,940 --> 00:11:05,740 I would have left a trail and everybody else 244 00:11:05,740 --> 00:11:06,640 would have known about it? 245 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,180 Do you know that when we have sin in our lives, 246 00:11:09,180 --> 00:11:12,020 the residue of our sin is apparent sometimes 247 00:11:12,020 --> 00:11:14,320 to everybody else when it's not apparent to us? 248 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:19,320 I needed to change the boots. 249 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,760 I needed to change the boots because the boots were dirty. 250 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,200 Can I submit to you guys that we live in a fallen, 251 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,200 broken world that's saturated with sin? 252 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,040 See, I was out in the desert. 253 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,240 I wasn't trying to get my boots dirty. 254 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,280 The environment around me caused my boots 255 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,400 to turn a different color. 256 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,980 What I'm saying to you is we are saturated 257 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:43,540 in a world of sin, so it stands to reason 258 00:11:43,540 --> 00:11:46,420 that the dust particles of sin will be on us 259 00:11:46,420 --> 00:11:47,500 at the end of each day. 260 00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:50,460 That's why every day we're supposed to acknowledge the Lord. 261 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:52,700 Every day we're supposed to pick up our cross 262 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:54,700 and follow Him because if we don't, 263 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:57,020 if we don't acknowledge, if we don't examine ourselves 264 00:11:57,020 --> 00:11:59,240 every day, then we will eventually wake up 265 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,120 and we will have dusty boots and have no idea 266 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:02,320 that we're wearing them. 267 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:07,760 Sin is like a film that we walk through, 268 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,280 but we have an agent of grace, Jesus Christ, 269 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,520 that allows us to eliminate that film, 270 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,960 that nastiness, that dust away from our lives. 271 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:23,740 Sin is deceiving, but the deception isn't 272 00:12:23,740 --> 00:12:27,040 will you choose the Lord or will you choose Satan? 273 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,060 The deception is will you choose the Lord 274 00:12:29,060 --> 00:12:30,460 or will you choose yourself? 275 00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:33,760 Will you choose the Lord or will you choose yourself? 276 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,220 See, we don't have to be excited about the fall 277 00:12:36,220 --> 00:12:37,060 and that it happened. 278 00:12:37,060 --> 00:12:38,200 We don't need to be excited. 279 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,520 We don't have to be excited, but let me tell you something. 280 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,580 In it, we get to see an extraordinary beauty 281 00:12:44,580 --> 00:12:47,320 and witness the love of a powerful God in a way 282 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,340 that we never would have seen had the fall not happened. 283 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:53,540 So let's look at three things that sin does. 284 00:12:53,540 --> 00:12:55,100 The first thing is this. 285 00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:58,240 Sin fractures our relationship with God. 286 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,020 The Word tells us then the man and his wife 287 00:13:00,020 --> 00:13:01,720 heard the sound of the Lord God 288 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,120 as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day 289 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,580 and then they hid from the Lord God 290 00:13:06,580 --> 00:13:07,920 among the trees of the garden. 291 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,920 How many of you are hiding this morning? 292 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:15,620 How many of you are hiding from your creator, 293 00:13:15,620 --> 00:13:18,180 the one who loves you, the one who pursues you, 294 00:13:18,180 --> 00:13:21,260 the one who provided Jesus to die on the cross, 295 00:13:21,260 --> 00:13:22,580 the one who has a plan and a purpose? 296 00:13:22,580 --> 00:13:24,980 How many of you are hiding from the Lord God this morning? 297 00:13:24,980 --> 00:13:29,060 Adam and Eve were created for intimate fellowship with God. 298 00:13:29,060 --> 00:13:32,240 I want you to imagine walking side by side with your creator 299 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,580 knowing him fully and being fully known, 300 00:13:34,580 --> 00:13:37,160 but sin changes everything. 301 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:38,740 And instead of walking toward God, 302 00:13:38,740 --> 00:13:42,180 they hid from him in shame and in fear. 303 00:13:42,180 --> 00:13:47,060 The Word tells us that perfect love drives out all fear 304 00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:50,940 and you have a God who is perfect love. 305 00:13:50,940 --> 00:13:55,300 It doesn't say that your perfect obedience drives out fear. 306 00:13:55,300 --> 00:13:57,960 It says his perfect love drives out fear. 307 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,060 Sin separates us from God. 308 00:14:01,060 --> 00:14:03,580 It convinces us that we're unworthy of his presence 309 00:14:03,580 --> 00:14:07,420 and tempts us to run from the very one who can heal us. 310 00:14:07,420 --> 00:14:10,020 But I want you to notice God's response 311 00:14:10,020 --> 00:14:12,740 in Genesis chapter three, verse nine. 312 00:14:12,740 --> 00:14:17,740 He says this, "Where are you?" 313 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,400 That's a poignant, profound question that God asks. 314 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:23,340 "Where are you?" 315 00:14:23,340 --> 00:14:27,060 Do you realize that this is not a question of geography? 316 00:14:27,060 --> 00:14:31,540 That God Almighty knew exactly 317 00:14:31,540 --> 00:14:34,260 where Adam and Eve were geographically? 318 00:14:34,260 --> 00:14:38,200 God already knows where they are physically. 319 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,440 The question, "Where are you?" 320 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:44,900 is an invitation to self-reflection and honesty. 321 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:47,220 It is as if God is saying, 322 00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:50,940 "Do you see where your sin has taken you? 323 00:14:50,940 --> 00:14:54,460 "Do you see the distance between us? 324 00:14:54,460 --> 00:14:57,120 "Will you come back to me?" 325 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:01,900 This shows God's heart that even in their rebellion, 326 00:15:01,900 --> 00:15:05,040 he initiates the conversation seeking to restore them. 327 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,720 Where are you? 328 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:11,760 This question is the beginning of God's redemptive plan. 329 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,680 He doesn't wait for Adam and Eve to come to him. 330 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,660 He comes to them and it reflects the gospel itself. 331 00:15:17,660 --> 00:15:20,340 While we were yet sinners, God pursued us through Jesus 332 00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:22,040 in Romans chapter five, verse eight. 333 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,760 I want us to understand, church, 334 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,300 that God's first response to sin wasn't punishment, 335 00:15:27,300 --> 00:15:28,320 it was pursuit. 336 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,960 God's first response to sin wasn't punishment, 337 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,040 it was pursuit. 338 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,000 And can I tell you, any time you sin and you run 339 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,900 and you hide from God, God's initial response is not, 340 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:41,240 "How can I punish you? 341 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:42,440 "What is the consequence?" 342 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,000 It is that he misses you and wants to be with you. 343 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:49,040 But your sin separates. 344 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,160 Your sin separates and your God wants to be with you. 345 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,560 So he asks the question of all of us, "Where are you?" 346 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:02,900 God is not up in heaven with a magnifying glass 347 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:06,340 looking down to smite you at the first stench of sin. 348 00:16:06,340 --> 00:16:08,440 Our sin is present. 349 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,680 God wants to illuminate it so that we can be with him. 350 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,900 He does not want to be separate from us. 351 00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:19,360 Sin fractures our relationship with God. 352 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,080 Sin also fractures our relationship with one another. 353 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,820 It fractures our relationship with one another. 354 00:16:25,820 --> 00:16:28,060 The man said, "The woman you put here with me, 355 00:16:28,060 --> 00:16:31,080 "she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it." 356 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:36,760 Adam and Eve's relationship, if we examine it, 357 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,860 was designed to reflect unity and partnership. 358 00:16:39,860 --> 00:16:43,380 But sin introduced blame and division. 359 00:16:43,380 --> 00:16:45,920 Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, 360 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,420 and humanity's relationships have ever been marked 361 00:16:48,420 --> 00:16:51,500 by selfishness, pride, and conflict ever since. 362 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:55,640 Motivations and intentions are all called into question 363 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,540 when we try to love and build deep connections 364 00:16:58,540 --> 00:17:00,300 with others because of sin. 365 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:04,200 Because of the tainting of the world 366 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,320 when you try to move in pure love toward one another, 367 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,300 it's about, "What's that motive there? 368 00:17:09,300 --> 00:17:10,440 "What are they trying to do? 369 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:11,640 "What's going on here?" 370 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,600 Purity is question because we live 371 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,360 in this tainted, broken world. 372 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:19,160 The Word says in the book of Psalm, 373 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,700 "Search me, God, and know my heart. 374 00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:23,840 "Test me and know my anxious thoughts. 375 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,700 "See if there's any offensive way in me 376 00:17:25,700 --> 00:17:28,740 "and lead me into the way everlasting." 377 00:17:28,740 --> 00:17:32,520 When was the last time you asked God to search your heart? 378 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,000 See, here's the thing. 379 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,940 We can probably come to mind real fast those obvious sins, 380 00:17:38,940 --> 00:17:41,000 those sins that are kind of the big ones. 381 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:45,680 But guys, there's probably some low-level things 382 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,640 that the people who love you most 383 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,340 are gonna see before you see. 384 00:17:49,340 --> 00:17:52,540 God, search my heart. 385 00:17:52,540 --> 00:17:56,240 Lord, would you illuminate, would you give God permission 386 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:00,920 to illuminate areas in your life that you need to change? 387 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,720 That's a hard prayer because it means 388 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,940 that you've gotta do something with the information. 389 00:18:06,940 --> 00:18:09,180 When God illuminates something, you've gotta choose 390 00:18:09,180 --> 00:18:10,800 whether or not you're going to change. 391 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,340 Here's the thing, we like to get up here. 392 00:18:12,340 --> 00:18:14,440 I talked last week about exotic sin. 393 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:16,400 I talked about, I named a few. 394 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:17,840 You know the exotic sins. 395 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:19,460 But what about selfishness? 396 00:18:19,460 --> 00:18:20,440 What about pride? 397 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,040 What about unkindness? 398 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:30,440 There's a whole slew of little sneaky booger sins 399 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,540 that stick to our life quite figuratively and literally. 400 00:18:34,540 --> 00:18:37,480 (congregation laughing) 401 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,040 And they taint our relationships. 402 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:41,600 Yet we walk around and smile and say, 403 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:42,880 "I'm not getting drunk. 404 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:46,700 "I'm not doing X, Y, and Z, so I'm good." 405 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:50,480 Yeah, well, your righteousness is like filthy rags. 406 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,720 You need Jesus every day. 407 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:54,920 Everyone needs Jesus. 408 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,520 And there will always be layers for you to address. 409 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,880 There will always be layers for you to address in your life. 410 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,660 Because we're on a journey to become like Him, 411 00:19:07,660 --> 00:19:09,380 to look like Him. 412 00:19:09,380 --> 00:19:13,260 Sin damages our ability to love and to serve one another. 413 00:19:13,260 --> 00:19:17,700 It turns unity into competition and harmony into hostility. 414 00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:19,620 But God's redemptive work transforms 415 00:19:19,620 --> 00:19:21,440 our relationships with others. 416 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,620 Romans 12, 10 calls us to a different way. 417 00:19:23,620 --> 00:19:26,380 It says, "Be devoted to one another in love." 418 00:19:26,380 --> 00:19:29,400 That's not, "Oh, I love you, let me hug your neck. 419 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:30,380 "Oh, yeah, you're so good." 420 00:19:30,380 --> 00:19:32,600 No, be devoted to one another in love. 421 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:36,620 That means, "Hey, you're headed to be hit by a Mack truck 422 00:19:36,620 --> 00:19:38,880 "and I'm gonna push you out of the way. 423 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,020 "Your sin is destroying you 424 00:19:41,020 --> 00:19:43,820 "and I'm gonna call that out in your life. 425 00:19:43,820 --> 00:19:46,500 "I'm gonna be devoted to you in love." 426 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:50,360 Then it says, "Honor one another above yourselves." 427 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:51,620 What does that honor word mean? 428 00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:56,580 It means I find out that Zach is moving in sin. 429 00:19:56,580 --> 00:19:58,980 I don't go to Doug and James and Robert and say, 430 00:19:58,980 --> 00:20:00,780 "Let me tell you what Zach's doing." 431 00:20:00,780 --> 00:20:02,760 (audience laughing) 432 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:04,240 Let me share with you what's going on. 433 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:05,840 Ooh, look what he's doing. 434 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,460 No, I honor that person. 435 00:20:08,460 --> 00:20:11,320 And I'm devoted to them in love. 436 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,220 And when I call them out for their sin, 437 00:20:13,220 --> 00:20:15,840 I should be doing it with tears, 438 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:17,280 because my heart is breaking. 439 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,560 Because when you love someone 440 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,440 and you see them in destructive patterns, 441 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:22,460 it should break your heart. 442 00:20:22,460 --> 00:20:25,440 Remember the prayer, God, give us tears for the loss. 443 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,320 Give us a broken heart for what breaks yours. 444 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,700 And we need people in our lives calling each other out. 445 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:34,820 We need intimate relationships. 446 00:20:34,820 --> 00:20:36,860 We need people in our life who will say, 447 00:20:36,860 --> 00:20:40,100 "Hey, listen, let me encourage you in this. 448 00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:43,900 "This may be an area where X, Y, and Z." 449 00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:46,280 I shared the story about the sugar smack on my face 450 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:47,580 for three hours. 451 00:20:47,580 --> 00:20:50,080 Nobody tells me there's a piece of cereal on my face 452 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:53,180 at school until I reach up and got a midday snack 453 00:20:53,180 --> 00:20:54,020 and I ate it. 454 00:20:54,020 --> 00:20:56,440 (audience laughing) 455 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,340 That's not love. 456 00:20:58,340 --> 00:21:01,160 Tell me I got sugar smack on my face. 457 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:06,740 The Lord has blessed me with some really incredible friends. 458 00:21:06,740 --> 00:21:09,100 One of them is this guy. 459 00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:12,580 And we were having a conversation, 460 00:21:12,580 --> 00:21:13,980 I asked him earlier if I could share the story. 461 00:21:13,980 --> 00:21:16,280 We were having a conversation, I don't know, 462 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,780 probably a year ago or something like that. 463 00:21:17,780 --> 00:21:18,660 I don't remember when it was. 464 00:21:18,660 --> 00:21:20,500 And we were on the phone. 465 00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:23,660 And I don't remember what I did to frustrate James. 466 00:21:23,660 --> 00:21:25,460 And I probably frustrate him daily. 467 00:21:25,460 --> 00:21:27,060 But at this particular moment, 468 00:21:27,060 --> 00:21:29,220 I frustrated him about something, he got agitated. 469 00:21:29,220 --> 00:21:31,420 And out of his anger, we were on the phone, 470 00:21:31,420 --> 00:21:33,320 he yelled at me and we hung up. 471 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,620 And it didn't end well. 472 00:21:35,620 --> 00:21:38,420 And I never experienced that kind of response 473 00:21:38,420 --> 00:21:39,860 from James before. 474 00:21:39,860 --> 00:21:40,780 And I'm shocked. 475 00:21:40,780 --> 00:21:46,060 And literally 15 seconds later, he calls right back. 476 00:21:46,060 --> 00:21:51,220 And he says, "Kevin, I don't wanna ever yell at you 477 00:21:51,220 --> 00:21:52,560 "like that again. 478 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:54,580 "Would you forgive me?" 479 00:21:54,580 --> 00:21:57,820 I responded out of anger. 480 00:21:57,820 --> 00:21:59,580 I responded out of frustration. 481 00:21:59,580 --> 00:22:05,060 Now the reason I share that story is to say 482 00:22:05,060 --> 00:22:07,660 that in your relationships, I'm gonna tell you something. 483 00:22:07,660 --> 00:22:09,820 If you've got real connection, real deep relationship, 484 00:22:09,820 --> 00:22:11,960 there's gonna be conflict, first of all. 485 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:13,660 There's gonna be conflict. 486 00:22:13,660 --> 00:22:15,540 But as you grow closer to people, 487 00:22:15,540 --> 00:22:19,340 you're going to see people at their best and at their worst. 488 00:22:19,340 --> 00:22:20,560 And can I tell you something? 489 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:21,620 And maybe James remembers, 490 00:22:21,620 --> 00:22:23,580 I have no idea what that conversation was about, 491 00:22:23,580 --> 00:22:26,100 but what was impactful was that the Holy Spirit 492 00:22:26,100 --> 00:22:27,840 brought immediate restoration. 493 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,900 Because James walked in humility 494 00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:32,060 and he called me right back and said, 495 00:22:32,060 --> 00:22:35,160 "Wait a second, this is not how I'm to respond 496 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,620 "to situations like this." 497 00:22:37,620 --> 00:22:39,980 And can I tell you, I told James this morning, 498 00:22:39,980 --> 00:22:41,180 and I believe that. 499 00:22:41,180 --> 00:22:45,100 Listen, he knows a lot of my flaws and a lot of my best, 500 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,240 and I know a lot of his flaws and a lot of his best. 501 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,420 This man exudes Jesus Christ. 502 00:22:50,420 --> 00:22:53,100 And the people closest to you are the ones 503 00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:55,740 who can actually say he is the real deal 504 00:22:55,740 --> 00:22:57,740 and this guy's the real deal. 505 00:22:57,740 --> 00:23:00,140 You need people in your life who love you enough 506 00:23:00,140 --> 00:23:03,580 that will call you out, that will call you up, 507 00:23:03,580 --> 00:23:06,340 that will say to you, "Hey, this is not how we handle this. 508 00:23:06,340 --> 00:23:08,380 "This is not what this looks like. 509 00:23:08,380 --> 00:23:12,160 "Let me help you become more like Christ, 510 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:13,100 "and you help me." 511 00:23:13,100 --> 00:23:15,300 There's an invitation, it's a two-way street 512 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:19,400 that's being devoted to one another in love. 513 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,240 The Word says this, "Examine yourselves 514 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,220 "to see whether you are in the faith. 515 00:23:25,220 --> 00:23:26,300 "Test yourselves. 516 00:23:26,300 --> 00:23:29,380 "Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you 517 00:23:29,380 --> 00:23:31,440 "unless of course you fail the test?" 518 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:35,960 Listen, I don't wanna be a selfish person, 519 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,040 but I'm living in a world saturated by selfishness, 520 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:41,360 so it stands to reason that if I'm not reflecting 521 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:45,680 and examining my life, I will operate in a selfless posture. 522 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:50,480 I don't wanna be a prideful person, 523 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:54,040 but I'm living in a world saturated with pride. 524 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:55,360 So if I'm not paying attention 525 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:56,920 and I'm not examining my heart 526 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:58,080 and following the Holy Spirit 527 00:23:58,080 --> 00:23:59,400 and allowing him to move in my life, 528 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,560 I probably will start to operate in pride. 529 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,760 I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be a liar, 530 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:10,760 but if I'm saturated in a world of lies and deceit, 531 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,840 so if I don't constantly examine myself 532 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,360 and I don't get before the Lord Jesus Christ 533 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:19,400 and allow him to do a work in my life, 534 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:20,880 then I may become a liar. 535 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:22,280 Do you understand what I'm saying? 536 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,880 You become like what you're saturated around 537 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:26,920 and who you're with, right? 538 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,320 And guys, we're saturated in a culture of sin. 539 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,320 But we have this Jesus. 540 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,560 We have the gift of the Holy Spirit who will help us. 541 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,680 Can I tell you, if you ever get caught up in a sin pattern, 542 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,880 there is always a way out. 543 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,960 There is always a way out. 544 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:47,840 Now, it might pass through like a kidney stone, 545 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:48,920 but there's a way out. 546 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,800 (congregation laughing) 547 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:51,920 There's a way out. 548 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:55,560 Let's look at God's response here. 549 00:24:55,560 --> 00:25:01,200 First of all, he goes and he says, "What have you done?" 550 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,160 He says to Adam, "What have you done?" 551 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:05,600 Why does he go to Adam first? 552 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:10,260 Goes to Adam as the leader and he says, 553 00:25:10,260 --> 00:25:12,280 "Hey, what have you done?" 554 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:13,480 And what does he say? 555 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:16,360 She did it. 556 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,920 All right, he goes to Eve. 557 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,160 "What have you done?" 558 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,080 He made me do it, the serpent. 559 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,360 And he goes to the serpent. 560 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:31,620 Here's something interesting I want you to notice here. 561 00:25:31,620 --> 00:25:34,260 God is always about getting to the root of the issue. 562 00:25:34,260 --> 00:25:36,960 He's always about getting to, 563 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,460 see, we like to address symptoms and move on. 564 00:25:39,460 --> 00:25:42,400 Adam blamed Eve. 565 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:43,520 He said, "All right, let's get to Eve." 566 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:44,400 Eve blamed the serpent. 567 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:45,440 Okay, let's get to the serpent. 568 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,760 The serpent was the root, but he didn't stop there. 569 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,760 He addresses the serpent and then he goes back to Eve. 570 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:55,420 Then he addresses Eve and he goes back to Adam. 571 00:25:55,420 --> 00:25:57,680 Can I tell you right now that God wants to get 572 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,640 at the root of the sin in your life? 573 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,680 He's not, the symptoms, sometimes those vices 574 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,000 and those things we go to and we pray, 575 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,880 "Lord, I wanna stop doing X, Y, and Z." 576 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:08,440 Those are just vices and God says, 577 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:09,920 "I want to get to the root 578 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:14,800 because if I can uproot what's going on, then it will die. 579 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,160 It will die." 580 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,200 I don't know how many times I've gone out 581 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,160 into my flower bed or garden and pulled out things 582 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,760 and weeded and weeded and weeded and guess what? 583 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,300 Weeds come back unless I get it at the root. 584 00:26:28,300 --> 00:26:32,880 The weeds come back and guys, your sin, 585 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,200 have you ever noticed whenever you pull something out 586 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:36,400 and you don't get at the roots, 587 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,560 at least my experience has been it actually comes back 588 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:40,760 bigger, it actually comes back worse? 589 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,800 'Cause the root has had an opportunity to get stronger, 590 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:48,760 to get stronger. 591 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:53,060 God wants to uproot some things in your life. 592 00:26:53,060 --> 00:26:55,720 You must get to the root in order to be healed. 593 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,020 We love to address the symptoms, we love to numb the pain 594 00:26:58,020 --> 00:27:00,920 and use excuses to get by for a little bit longer, 595 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,760 but God wants to eradicate the sin in your life. 596 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,800 Lastly, sin fractures our relationship with ourselves. 597 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,240 Do you know you have a relationship with yourself? 598 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,200 Some of you need to realize 599 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:14,520 you got a relationship with yourself. 600 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,240 You got a relationship with yourself. 601 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,640 It says then the eyes of both of them were open 602 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:20,960 and they realized they were naked 603 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,280 so they sewed fig leaves together 604 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:23,800 and made coverings for themselves. 605 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,480 Before the fall, Adam and Eve were secure in their identity 606 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:32,060 as God's creation, but sin distorted their self-perception, 607 00:27:32,060 --> 00:27:34,760 replacing peace with shame. 608 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,840 They tried to cover themselves with fig leaves 609 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,320 in an inadequate attempt to hide their brokenness. 610 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,480 And listen guys, sin does the same thing to us. 611 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:45,760 It distorts how we see ourselves. 612 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:47,320 When was the last time you looked at, 613 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:49,480 I'm being very like serious here. 614 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,320 When's the last time you looked in the mirror 615 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:56,720 and you said, man, I am the beauty. 616 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:59,300 I'm so beautiful, I'm the essence of the king. 617 00:27:59,300 --> 00:28:01,600 Most of us look in the mirror and we say, 618 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:04,560 man, I got a pimple here, crevice here, right? 619 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:08,220 You look in the mirror and you don't like what you see. 620 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,600 Some of you look in the reflective mirror of your inside 621 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,680 in your in-being and you don't like what you see. 622 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:21,120 Do you know that you were wonderfully and created, 623 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:23,920 you were wonderfully and fearfully made by your creator? 624 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:29,720 He created your inmost being, he knows exactly who you are. 625 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:33,360 Do you know that it is okay for you to look at yourself 626 00:28:33,360 --> 00:28:36,800 and say, I'm a son, I'm a child of the most high God. 627 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,260 I'm a son and a daughter of a king. 628 00:28:40,260 --> 00:28:45,020 Guys, when you can walk in the freedom of knowing 629 00:28:45,020 --> 00:28:48,320 that he's got you and that you belong to him, 630 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,720 there's nothing that will stop you here on earth. 631 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,580 It's incredible the extraordinary things 632 00:28:53,580 --> 00:28:57,300 that your king will do in you and for you. 633 00:28:57,300 --> 00:29:00,520 God does not leave us in our shame. 634 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,920 Romans 12, two offers hope, it says this, 635 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:05,160 do not conform to the pattern of this world, 636 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:08,240 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 637 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:09,120 Do you know what that tells me? 638 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,400 It means the renewing of my mind can actually happen. 639 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,000 It means that it actually can happen. 640 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,000 You know that thought that you continue to have, 641 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:17,740 you know that thing that's in your brain that you're like, 642 00:29:17,740 --> 00:29:19,880 I just can't get, I can't stop thinking about this, 643 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:21,800 I can't stop going back to this. 644 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,280 Listen, the serpent planted a thought. 645 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:27,840 The serpent didn't grab, he didn't have, 646 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,120 I don't know, maybe an arms, I don't know, 647 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,800 he was slither after, he didn't grab the apple 648 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,720 and shove it in Eve's mouth. 649 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:38,120 He planted a thought, and this is what the enemy does to you 650 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:40,840 this is why the ultimate deceit isn't choosing the Lord 651 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,280 or Satan, it is choosing the Lord or yourself 652 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,680 because guess what, you're in the driver's seat. 653 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:50,580 And the serpent, the enemy, will plant this idea in your, 654 00:29:50,580 --> 00:29:53,440 if I just do this, it will numb this for a little while. 655 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:57,320 I'm just gonna tell this little white lie, 656 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:58,680 I don't, it doesn't matter. 657 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,720 I'm just gonna be a little bit, 658 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:02,720 I'm just gonna have a little bit untruth 659 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,720 because I don't need to explain the whole thing 660 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:07,160 so I'm just gonna tell a little bit of a white lie 661 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:08,520 in this explanation. 662 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,340 It's a thought. 663 00:30:10,340 --> 00:30:15,000 And then you give birth, it gives birth to action 664 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:16,900 and you choose to move. 665 00:30:16,900 --> 00:30:18,280 But if we renew our mind, 666 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,120 we can't renew our minds on our own, 667 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,600 but if we allow the Holy Spirit to renew our mind, 668 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:28,600 then we begin to operate in the truth and with the truth. 669 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,520 Renewing is possible and it's a daily task. 670 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:36,640 Sin is the genesis and the heartbeat of pain and isolation. 671 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,080 Through Jesus, God invites us out of the hiding 672 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:40,040 and into his presence. 673 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,560 Listen, hiding from God deepens the pain. 674 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:45,600 Stepping toward God begins the healing. 675 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,400 Hiding from God deepens the pain. 676 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:50,300 And guys, can I tell you, 677 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:52,820 there are people sitting under the sound of my voice 678 00:30:52,820 --> 00:30:57,320 that you have been in severe pain for a very long time. 679 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:01,760 Guys, are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? 680 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:05,400 God has healing for you. 681 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:11,320 The whole point of let there be light 682 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:14,920 is so that Jesus can enter your story 683 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:16,600 and be a part of your story 684 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,920 and that you can experience God 685 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:23,440 in a way that you've never experienced him before. 686 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,120 Can I ask you, do you need healing today? 687 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:27,160 I don't mean do you need something 688 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:29,180 to temporarily override the symptom. 689 00:31:29,180 --> 00:31:31,120 I'm talking about everlasting healing. 690 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:34,920 You see, in the garden there was this tree. 691 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:36,720 It's called the tree of life. 692 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,600 And some of us would think, man, 693 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,640 it's kind of mean of God 694 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,800 to kick Adam and Eve out of the garden. 695 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:46,680 Has anybody ever thought that? 696 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:49,400 Man, that's kind of like mean of God 697 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:50,800 to just say get out of my presence. 698 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,720 In fact, you know, Kevin, you keep saying 699 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:53,640 he wants to be with us, 700 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:56,240 yet he was the one that chose to banish them from the garden. 701 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:58,920 Do you understand why he chose to do that? 702 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,360 You see, in the garden there was a yes, a yes, a yes, 703 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,960 a yes, a yes, a yes, a yes, do this, do this, do this, 704 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:06,640 name this, you can do this, you can do this, 705 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,400 you can do this, don't do that. 706 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:10,960 And we focus on the one dope. 707 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:12,760 Can I tell you there's so many more yeses 708 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:15,000 in the kingdom than there are nos? 709 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,160 So many more yeses than there are nos. 710 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:19,120 But there was this no in the garden 711 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,880 and they broke that rule 712 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,560 and there was this other tree called the tree of life 713 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,800 and when they broke the rule, they became broken. 714 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,600 Adam and Eve were broken and here's the thing, 715 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,000 had they gone and been able to stay in the garden, 716 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,040 had they eaten from that tree, 717 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:38,280 then they would remain in their broken state for eternity. 718 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:42,080 And so God banishes them from the garden 719 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:45,400 to protect them from themselves. 720 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,120 I want you to understand this, 721 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:52,240 God's responses are always fueled by perfect love. 722 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:55,040 We don't always understand because it doesn't feel good 723 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:57,680 when God responds to our choices. 724 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,560 Sometimes there are consequences that are necessary 725 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:04,360 because of what we've done that we have to feel 726 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,400 and we have to walk through. 727 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:10,280 But it's all birthed and fueled out of perfect love. 728 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,800 And when we trust him with that, when we can trust him, 729 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:16,080 we understand there is a redemptive plan right off of Eve. 730 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,560 God is always one step ahead. 731 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:24,240 And so for Adam and Eve, God had a redemptive plan 732 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,920 and that redemptive plan has moved all throughout history 733 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:30,760 to 2025 here in January for Springhouse Church. 734 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,200 He has a redemptive plan for your life. 735 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:38,720 God's responses are always fueled by perfect love 736 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,160 and preparing for this message, 737 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,720 I wrote this poem that I'd like to share with you. 738 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,560 In Eden's glow where life began, 739 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:47,400 God walked with man hand in hand, 740 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,120 but whispers came a serpent's ploy 741 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:53,760 to steal their trust, their peace, their joy. 742 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:56,880 Did God really say the tempter lied? 743 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,440 And with that doubt, their faith untied, 744 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,560 the fruit was taken, the line was crossed, 745 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,600 and all creation felt the cost. 746 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,120 They hid in shame, their hearts laid bare, 747 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:10,280 a chasm formed, no bridge was there. 748 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,800 The blame was cast, the cure was sown, 749 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,640 and sin's deep roots were fully grown. 750 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:19,120 The tree alive now kept from sight, 751 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:21,480 its gates were barred by flaming light, 752 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,280 a mercy wrapped in judgment's guise 753 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:26,760 to spare the world from endless cries. 754 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:29,480 Yet God in love would not let go, 755 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:32,280 a seed of hope began to grow. 756 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:36,480 Through toil and pain, through thorn and strife 757 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:39,840 would come the one who would bring new life. 758 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,000 For in the garden, truth was clear, 759 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,600 the fall brought death, but grace drew near. 760 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:47,760 A promise spoke of Satan's fall, 761 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,440 of Christ who crushed the curse for all. 762 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:52,680 And on a hill, the tree would stand, 763 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:56,360 a rugged cross by sovereign hand. 764 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:59,680 The weight of sin, the shame, the loss, 765 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,080 redeemed and healed upon that cross. 766 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:04,160 The veil was torn, the way made new, 767 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:06,360 eternal life came into view. 768 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,720 The tree alive now ours to see, 769 00:35:08,720 --> 00:35:11,280 through Christ who died to set us free. 770 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,960 So come, O sinner, lift your gaze, 771 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:16,800 no longer lost in Eden's haze. 772 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,720 For where sin grew, his grace abounds, 773 00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:22,960 and in his love, new life is found. 774 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,160 There is another tree. 775 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:31,320 There is another tree, and in the book of Revelation, 776 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:33,800 the word tells us because of the blood of Jesus Christ, 777 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:35,680 there's gonna come a day that we are gonna partake 778 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:37,760 of that tree of life and live forever. 779 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:41,120 But we are not gonna live forever in our broken state. 780 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,920 We're gonna live forever perfect, just like him. 781 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,520 And we're going to worship Jesus Christ 782 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,720 around the throne for all eternity. 783 00:35:48,720 --> 00:35:50,280 Are you ready to go there? 784 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:51,840 Are you ready to be there? 785 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,960 Sin has been washed away. 786 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:58,640 The curse of sin has been put to death. 787 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:02,820 The curse of sin no longer has a hold on you. 788 00:36:02,820 --> 00:36:08,240 Saints, lean in to the Lord. 789 00:36:08,240 --> 00:36:11,220 Eradicate the sin in your life. 790 00:36:11,220 --> 00:36:14,480 Know that you are not alone in what you walk in. 791 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:19,080 And if you wanna be proactive, 792 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,840 which I encourage you to do, come on out worship team, 793 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,200 I encourage you to get with people in your life 794 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:30,200 who you love and say, help me examine my heart. 795 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:32,140 What can I do to change? 796 00:36:32,140 --> 00:36:37,080 And if you find somebody who's willing to actually go there 797 00:36:37,080 --> 00:36:41,220 and have those conversations with you, you have found gold. 798 00:36:41,220 --> 00:36:45,040 You have found something that the Lord supernaturally, 799 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,440 someone supernaturally God has put in your life. 800 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:51,840 That is what community is really about, 801 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:53,700 getting a relationship. 802 00:36:53,700 --> 00:36:55,240 This is my daughter Lucia. 803 00:36:55,240 --> 00:37:04,200 I've told this story before, but it fits today. 804 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:06,460 We lived in Nolensville a long time ago, 805 00:37:06,460 --> 00:37:11,460 and there was an evening where I had gone downstairs, 806 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,960 and I'd like to check on the girls every night 807 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,560 just to make sure they're okay and they're tucked in bed. 808 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:21,960 And I went to Hadassah and I'd gone to Ruby. 809 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:23,300 At that time, Nora wasn't born, 810 00:37:23,300 --> 00:37:26,440 and I'd gone to Lucia's room, and Lucia wasn't there. 811 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:27,540 She wasn't in her bed. 812 00:37:27,540 --> 00:37:30,560 And so I figured, okay, she went to the bathroom 813 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:31,400 or something like that. 814 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:33,900 And so went into the bathroom and she wasn't there. 815 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:37,900 And so I went downstairs, and when I got downstairs, 816 00:37:37,900 --> 00:37:39,560 I saw that the back door was open. 817 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,120 And Dad's heart starts to go whoa. 818 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:48,360 So I go, Lucia, Lucia, where are you? 819 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:51,240 Nowhere to be found. 820 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:54,920 So I run from that door all the way to the front door, 821 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:57,520 and I open it up, and we've got dogs. 822 00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:59,860 And listen, Lucia loves our animals, 823 00:37:59,860 --> 00:38:00,920 and she takes care of them. 824 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,040 And I'm thinking maybe she's taking them out. 825 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:04,920 I mean, it's close to midnight. 826 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:05,740 Geez. 827 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:11,520 Open the door, and I'm trying to be quiet in the house, 828 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,000 but there comes a point where you don't care 829 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:14,660 how quiet you've been if it's your kid. 830 00:38:14,660 --> 00:38:15,500 Is that true? 831 00:38:15,500 --> 00:38:16,480 - Yeah. - Right? 832 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,320 Lucia! 833 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,160 Lucia! 834 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:21,320 Sherry comes running down the stairs. 835 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:22,200 Why are you screaming? 836 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:23,020 What's going on? 837 00:38:23,020 --> 00:38:24,240 I can't find Lucia. 838 00:38:24,240 --> 00:38:25,160 Well, she's probably in the back. 839 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:26,520 No, I checked the back. 840 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,360 Well, she's probably, no, I checked there. 841 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:33,280 And so in a flurry, I go and I get my coat and my shoes 842 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:34,360 'cause I'm like, she's outside. 843 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,740 The door was open, and I'm freaking. 844 00:38:37,740 --> 00:38:40,280 And so as I'm sitting down quickly putting on my shoes, 845 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:45,100 I hear this sound coming from our front entrance bathroom. 846 00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:46,180 And I stopped for a second, 847 00:38:46,180 --> 00:38:47,260 and I thought maybe I heard something. 848 00:38:47,260 --> 00:38:49,820 So I go in there and I look, and she's not in there. 849 00:38:49,820 --> 00:38:51,060 And I turn around and I go, 850 00:38:51,060 --> 00:38:52,660 and I go to go outside the door, 851 00:38:52,660 --> 00:38:56,500 and I hear something again, and I get real still. 852 00:38:56,500 --> 00:39:01,220 And I back up, and I turn back around, 853 00:39:01,220 --> 00:39:03,300 and I go into the bathroom. 854 00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:06,620 And I stand there. 855 00:39:06,620 --> 00:39:07,700 The light was on. 856 00:39:07,700 --> 00:39:08,540 It didn't dawn on me. 857 00:39:08,540 --> 00:39:10,240 The light was on until this moment. 858 00:39:10,240 --> 00:39:16,420 And so I bend down, and I open the vanity doors. 859 00:39:16,420 --> 00:39:20,540 And inside the vanity sits Lucia 860 00:39:20,540 --> 00:39:23,700 with chocolate all over her mouth. 861 00:39:23,700 --> 00:39:28,280 And as we say, sin leaves residue. 862 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:33,540 And she just busted out of tears. 863 00:39:33,540 --> 00:39:38,080 But can I tell you, her daddy busted out in tears as well. 864 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:41,300 Because in that moment for me, 865 00:39:41,300 --> 00:39:43,120 it didn't matter what she had done. 866 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:45,900 My daughter was lost, and now she was found. 867 00:39:45,900 --> 00:39:49,300 And can I tell you, friends, 868 00:39:49,300 --> 00:39:51,940 some of you are running around and hiding 869 00:39:51,940 --> 00:39:55,020 with chocolate on your face with the residue of sin. 870 00:39:55,020 --> 00:39:58,860 And your father, your heavenly father, is opening the door. 871 00:39:58,860 --> 00:40:00,100 And you're so scared, 872 00:40:00,100 --> 00:40:01,540 because you don't know what's gonna happen. 873 00:40:01,540 --> 00:40:04,700 And all he's saying is, I found you. 874 00:40:04,700 --> 00:40:06,960 Come out of hiding. 875 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:08,620 I have found you. 876 00:40:08,620 --> 00:40:14,760 There's an invitation today to come out of hiding. 877 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:17,800 And it's a bold step. 878 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:21,420 Would you raise your hand this morning 879 00:40:21,420 --> 00:40:23,260 if you've ever had to come out of hiding 880 00:40:23,260 --> 00:40:24,540 in some shape, form, or fashion? 881 00:40:24,540 --> 00:40:25,680 Raise your hand. 882 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:26,720 Keep it up. 883 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:28,220 Everybody look around the room. 884 00:40:28,220 --> 00:40:31,420 Why am I doing this? 885 00:40:31,420 --> 00:40:34,660 Because the enemy's saying to you, you're the only one. 886 00:40:34,660 --> 00:40:36,100 You're the only one. 887 00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:38,100 That is a lie from the enemy. 888 00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:39,380 And you know what the enemy says? 889 00:40:39,380 --> 00:40:42,220 I don't want you to be free when you leave today. 890 00:40:42,220 --> 00:40:45,580 But God wants to liberate you. 891 00:40:45,580 --> 00:40:47,340 God wants to do something in you 892 00:40:47,340 --> 00:40:49,420 that you've never seen him do before. 893 00:40:49,420 --> 00:40:50,660 He wants to set you free 894 00:40:50,660 --> 00:40:53,540 in the most supernatural, extraordinary way. 895 00:40:53,540 --> 00:40:55,380 And the people who are about to come up here 896 00:40:55,380 --> 00:40:58,140 and pray for you, they're not perfect. 897 00:40:58,140 --> 00:40:59,900 These people are the most jacked up, 898 00:40:59,900 --> 00:41:02,520 messed up people we have on leadership. 899 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:04,360 Come on, join our leadership team. 900 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:11,220 But they know this God. 901 00:41:11,220 --> 00:41:12,300 They know this Jesus. 902 00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:14,420 They know who to point you to. 903 00:41:14,420 --> 00:41:16,460 And they'll walk with you. 904 00:41:16,460 --> 00:41:19,660 And they'll say, hey, get you a James in your life. 905 00:41:19,660 --> 00:41:21,720 Get you somebody in your life that you can go, 906 00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:24,880 hey, I need to look more like Christ. 907 00:41:27,580 --> 00:41:30,060 So I've done my level best, 908 00:41:30,060 --> 00:41:31,700 hopefully with the Holy Spirit's help, 909 00:41:31,700 --> 00:41:34,380 to convey to you that sin separates you from God. 910 00:41:34,380 --> 00:41:36,620 It is your choice to continue in your sin. 911 00:41:36,620 --> 00:41:38,460 It is also your choice to be liberated. 912 00:41:38,460 --> 00:41:40,820 And this morning, the invitation is here. 913 00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:42,020 Would you stand with me? 914 00:41:42,020 --> 00:41:45,500 Some of you may be here and be like, 915 00:41:45,500 --> 00:41:46,940 man, Lord, I just need to, 916 00:41:46,940 --> 00:41:49,020 I've not asked you to examine my heart. 917 00:41:49,020 --> 00:41:50,300 Maybe that's the prayer this morning. 918 00:41:50,300 --> 00:41:52,780 God, would you examine my heart this morning? 919 00:41:56,180 --> 00:41:59,020 Because everyone in this room, that is a command. 920 00:41:59,020 --> 00:42:00,700 That is what we all should be doing, 921 00:42:00,700 --> 00:42:02,020 is examining our heart. 922 00:42:02,020 --> 00:42:04,900 And truth be told, if Jesus Christ was standing right here, 923 00:42:04,900 --> 00:42:07,500 every one of us would be down on our knees and face. 924 00:42:07,500 --> 00:42:10,860 If you were gonna minister to people, 925 00:42:10,860 --> 00:42:12,020 would you come forward? 926 00:42:12,020 --> 00:42:16,020 And with those of you, 927 00:42:16,020 --> 00:42:18,380 don't let the enemy talk you out of it. 928 00:42:18,380 --> 00:42:20,420 If you need to come and you need to confess, 929 00:42:20,420 --> 00:42:22,060 you need to pray, you need to, 930 00:42:22,060 --> 00:42:23,620 maybe it's just I wanna agree with somebody 931 00:42:23,620 --> 00:42:24,520 to examine my heart. 932 00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:25,540 I wanna be free. 933 00:42:25,540 --> 00:42:27,420 Come this morning, come right now. 934 00:42:27,420 --> 00:42:28,820 Don't hesitate, don't wait. 935 00:42:28,820 --> 00:42:30,340 These people love you. 936 00:42:30,340 --> 00:42:32,340 Come, spend time in the altar space. 937 00:42:32,340 --> 00:42:33,180 Let's worship. 938 00:42:33,180 --> 00:42:35,760 (gentle music)