1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,528 Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church Podcast, 2 00:00:03,624 --> 00:00:06,552 where we are proclaiming the truth to the world. 3 00:00:06,656 --> 00:00:09,672 My name is Pastor Josh, and I want to thank you for listening to 4 00:00:09,696 --> 00:00:10,728 this podcast. 5 00:00:10,904 --> 00:00:14,616 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 6 00:00:14,648 --> 00:00:16,300 you in the word of God. 7 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:17,528 Now, come along. 8 00:00:17,584 --> 00:00:21,700 Let's look into the Bible and see what God has for us here today. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:24,340 All right. 10 00:00:25,450 --> 00:00:29,522 Well, I asked on Sunday, I believe it was, maybe it was a couple 11 00:00:29,546 --> 00:00:33,282 Sundays ago, what if anyone had any Christmas traditions, But 12 00:00:33,306 --> 00:00:36,738 I was wondering if anyone had any New Year's Eve or New Year's 13 00:00:36,754 --> 00:00:37,394 Day traditions. 14 00:00:37,442 --> 00:00:39,682 Does anyone have any of those that you guys do? 15 00:00:39,866 --> 00:00:43,074 We don't really have any of those, but does anyone have one that 16 00:00:43,082 --> 00:00:43,714 you guys do? 17 00:00:43,802 --> 00:00:46,450 What's that you're in bed by? 18 00:00:46,490 --> 00:00:49,906 So that's a tradition of getting in bed by 10:00. 19 00:00:49,938 --> 00:00:50,710 Okay. 20 00:00:52,020 --> 00:00:55,564 So one of the things that Micah and I did yesterday is we sat 21 00:00:55,612 --> 00:01:00,476 down and we just talked about 2024 and the things that God blessed 22 00:01:00,508 --> 00:01:00,908 us with. 23 00:01:00,964 --> 00:01:02,940 And it was kind of an exciting time to. 24 00:01:02,980 --> 00:01:03,468 To go back. 25 00:01:03,524 --> 00:01:05,644 Sometimes you don't realize how much God has really done in your 26 00:01:05,652 --> 00:01:09,340 life until you actually go back and recount all the things that 27 00:01:09,380 --> 00:01:10,364 that have actually happened. 28 00:01:10,412 --> 00:01:14,444 And so hope that you've had a wonderful 2024. 29 00:01:14,612 --> 00:01:17,484 And hopefully we're going to be praying for God to give us an 30 00:01:17,492 --> 00:01:19,000 even better 2025. 31 00:01:19,370 --> 00:01:21,362 And we don't know what the future holds, right? 32 00:01:21,386 --> 00:01:24,802 I mean, 2025, it's fresh, it's new. 33 00:01:24,986 --> 00:01:29,858 But obviously by looking at the news, things aren't any better 34 00:01:29,914 --> 00:01:32,050 just because the calendar turned over. 35 00:01:32,090 --> 00:01:32,482 Right? 36 00:01:32,586 --> 00:01:35,310 But what we do know is that God is still in control. 37 00:01:35,770 --> 00:01:39,810 And we do know that through God's word, he has given us promises. 38 00:01:39,970 --> 00:01:43,666 And one of the promises that I wanted to go through here this evening 39 00:01:43,858 --> 00:01:46,532 is a promise of newness. 40 00:01:46,666 --> 00:01:50,096 And as we start out the new year and we think about that, we're 41 00:01:50,128 --> 00:01:53,056 new and fresh, and maybe some of you even have some New Year's 42 00:01:53,088 --> 00:01:53,552 resolutions. 43 00:01:53,616 --> 00:01:56,432 Now, those can be a little bit dangerous because what happens with 44 00:01:56,456 --> 00:01:58,880 New Year's resolutions usually is that we're really excited about 45 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,160 it for a little bit of time, and then they kind of pass away. 46 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,752 And so instead of calling them New Year's resolutions, let's call 47 00:02:04,776 --> 00:02:06,020 them New Year's goals. 48 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,880 And I think we should set goals in our life. 49 00:02:08,920 --> 00:02:12,752 I think we should set personal goals, maybe if you're in the professional 50 00:02:12,896 --> 00:02:14,614 world, professional goals. 51 00:02:14,792 --> 00:02:18,778 But I think most importantly, we should have spiritual goals in 52 00:02:18,834 --> 00:02:19,418 our life. 53 00:02:19,474 --> 00:02:22,986 I think that we should look towards moving forward in our spiritual 54 00:02:23,018 --> 00:02:25,610 growth and in our spiritual disciplines. 55 00:02:25,770 --> 00:02:28,810 When I use the words spiritual disciplines, what am I talking about? 56 00:02:28,850 --> 00:02:33,082 Well, I'm talking about prayer, Bible reading, Bible study, 57 00:02:33,266 --> 00:02:37,866 witnessing, teaching, growing, all of those aspects of the spiritual 58 00:02:37,898 --> 00:02:41,840 walk that help us grow in all our walk with Christ. 59 00:02:42,220 --> 00:02:45,092 So with that being said, even before I get started tonight, if 60 00:02:45,196 --> 00:02:47,668 some of you have ever done this before, you'll know that it's 61 00:02:47,684 --> 00:02:48,580 a beneficial thing. 62 00:02:48,620 --> 00:02:51,668 But I would challenge you to read through scriptures this year. 63 00:02:51,724 --> 00:02:53,060 Read through the Bible from. 64 00:02:53,180 --> 00:02:56,052 From day one all the way to day 365. 65 00:02:56,236 --> 00:02:58,916 We have a Bible reading planned for you out in the lobby. 66 00:02:58,948 --> 00:03:00,788 I printed out 25 copies. 67 00:03:00,964 --> 00:03:02,916 I didn't know how many people would be here this evening. 68 00:03:02,948 --> 00:03:04,452 If you'd like to take one of those with you. 69 00:03:04,476 --> 00:03:08,120 It's a plan that helps you read through the Bible day by day. 70 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,536 There's some breaks in there, but it kind of guides you through 71 00:03:10,608 --> 00:03:11,256 Scripture. 72 00:03:11,368 --> 00:03:12,152 And I. 73 00:03:12,256 --> 00:03:13,752 I would encourage you to grab one of those. 74 00:03:13,776 --> 00:03:15,224 If we run out, just let me know. 75 00:03:15,312 --> 00:03:18,940 And I would love to make sure I get enough copies for everybody. 76 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,968 Well, where do we start when it comes to the new year? 77 00:03:23,104 --> 00:03:26,376 I thought about that and I said, let's start at the end. 78 00:03:26,528 --> 00:03:30,200 So let's get our Bibles out and let's look at Revelation chapter 79 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:31,140 22. 80 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:33,688 If you know anything about Scriptures, that's the end. 81 00:03:33,744 --> 00:03:35,832 You say, how are we starting out at the end? 82 00:03:36,016 --> 00:03:36,824 From the beginning? 83 00:03:36,872 --> 00:03:37,992 Right at the beginning of the year. 84 00:03:38,016 --> 00:03:40,344 Well, I want to take you to a passage of scripture, Revelation 85 00:03:40,392 --> 00:03:45,780 chapter 22, and it speaks of God making all things new. 86 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:47,672 Revelation chapter 22. 87 00:03:47,696 --> 00:03:50,312 We're going to start in verse number one, and we're going to look 88 00:03:50,336 --> 00:03:54,060 at the first five verses here in the last chapter of the Bible. 89 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,576 And I know that's a different place to start out when you're talking 90 00:03:57,608 --> 00:04:00,472 about the beginning of the year, but I think that it'll make 91 00:04:00,496 --> 00:04:01,960 sense once we start looking at this. 92 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,172 And, and I think that one of the things that helps us understand 93 00:04:05,276 --> 00:04:08,244 the hope that we have in a new year is understanding the hope that 94 00:04:08,252 --> 00:04:09,360 we have in Christ. 95 00:04:09,900 --> 00:04:13,268 You know, I think a lot of times for me, I get so excited about 96 00:04:13,324 --> 00:04:17,700 an event that's coming up that I wrap up all my expectations in 97 00:04:17,740 --> 00:04:18,244 that event. 98 00:04:18,332 --> 00:04:21,492 And when that event doesn't go the way that I expect it to go, or 99 00:04:21,516 --> 00:04:23,492 maybe it goes really well, but it's over. 100 00:04:23,596 --> 00:04:24,980 There's somewhat of a letdown. 101 00:04:25,060 --> 00:04:27,220 I don't know about you guys, but, you know, looking forward to 102 00:04:27,260 --> 00:04:28,468 Christmas and having family. 103 00:04:28,524 --> 00:04:29,416 It's all great. 104 00:04:29,548 --> 00:04:34,400 But then, you know, days go by and people leave and the food's gone 105 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,904 and, you know, all, all your new gifts wear out and they're newness 106 00:04:37,952 --> 00:04:40,272 and, you know, you're kind of back to the mundane and there's that 107 00:04:40,296 --> 00:04:41,040 letdown. 108 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,112 And so many times, I think as believers, we have these expectations 109 00:04:44,176 --> 00:04:45,472 that are set in the world. 110 00:04:45,576 --> 00:04:49,392 And when those things fail, which they inevitably will, we get 111 00:04:49,416 --> 00:04:51,808 that letdown, we get that disappointment. 112 00:04:51,984 --> 00:04:54,960 But when we keep our eyes fixed on the true hope that we have 113 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,032 in Christ, we are able to keep our eyes fixed on that newness of 114 00:04:59,056 --> 00:04:59,240 life. 115 00:04:59,280 --> 00:05:02,360 And so Revelation chapter 22, this is @ the very end, right? 116 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:07,432 This is the Apostle John here kind of explaining what he sees that 117 00:05:07,456 --> 00:05:08,584 is to come. 118 00:05:08,752 --> 00:05:12,120 And he says, here, and he showed me a pure river of water, 119 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,392 of life, clear as a crystal proceeding out of the throne of God 120 00:05:16,536 --> 00:05:17,740 and of the Lamb. 121 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,162 Now, now we understand these descriptions, but we can't ultimately 122 00:05:22,336 --> 00:05:24,878 wrap our minds around exactly what he's talking about. 123 00:05:24,934 --> 00:05:27,790 We can do our best, but he's speaking of this beautiful place, 124 00:05:27,830 --> 00:05:30,686 this pure river, water of life, clear as a crystal. 125 00:05:30,798 --> 00:05:33,230 And then he says in verse two, in the midst of the street of it 126 00:05:33,270 --> 00:05:35,742 and on either side of the river was there the tree of life, 127 00:05:35,846 --> 00:05:38,622 which bear 12 manners of fruits and yielded her fruit every 128 00:05:38,646 --> 00:05:38,830 month. 129 00:05:38,870 --> 00:05:41,854 And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 130 00:05:41,902 --> 00:05:45,326 And so this speaks of the unification of all the believers 131 00:05:45,358 --> 00:05:48,158 of all time coming together and finding healing. 132 00:05:48,334 --> 00:05:50,930 Says in verse 3, and there shall be no more curse. 133 00:05:51,430 --> 00:05:52,958 Aren't you excited for that day? 134 00:05:53,014 --> 00:05:53,902 What is he talking about here? 135 00:05:53,926 --> 00:05:56,410 He's talking about no more sin curse on us. 136 00:05:56,710 --> 00:06:02,126 As of right now, in 2025, January 1st, we are still cursed 137 00:06:02,158 --> 00:06:03,010 with sin. 138 00:06:03,430 --> 00:06:05,454 This earth is cursed with sin. 139 00:06:05,502 --> 00:06:09,246 Now, many of us, hopefully all of us tonight, have trusted in Jesus 140 00:06:09,278 --> 00:06:10,190 Christ as our Savior. 141 00:06:10,270 --> 00:06:13,982 So no longer are we defined by that curse, but we still feel the 142 00:06:14,006 --> 00:06:15,144 effects of that curse. 143 00:06:15,302 --> 00:06:16,564 What's the effect of that curse? 144 00:06:16,612 --> 00:06:17,732 That's the sin nature. 145 00:06:17,796 --> 00:06:18,932 That's the flesh. 146 00:06:18,996 --> 00:06:20,244 That's the old man. 147 00:06:20,332 --> 00:06:22,404 And we see the world, a broken world. 148 00:06:22,492 --> 00:06:25,204 There's still death, there's still disease, there's still hate. 149 00:06:25,252 --> 00:06:26,292 There's still murder. 150 00:06:26,436 --> 00:06:29,924 And so the Bible says that we are still living in that curse. 151 00:06:29,972 --> 00:06:34,100 But the Bible says one day right here, there will be no more 152 00:06:34,140 --> 00:06:34,916 curse. 153 00:06:35,108 --> 00:06:37,380 And that day that we're longing for is the day that when 154 00:06:37,420 --> 00:06:40,436 we are with our Savior, there's going to be no more sin. 155 00:06:40,468 --> 00:06:41,524 There's going to be no more pain. 156 00:06:41,572 --> 00:06:43,492 There's going to be no more suffering, there's going to be no 157 00:06:43,516 --> 00:06:44,388 more disease. 158 00:06:44,564 --> 00:06:48,640 There's only that newness of life forever and ever. 159 00:06:48,940 --> 00:06:52,532 It says, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and 160 00:06:52,556 --> 00:06:54,372 his servants shall serve him. 161 00:06:54,556 --> 00:06:57,236 This speaks to the perfect plan of God. 162 00:06:57,348 --> 00:07:00,880 We are in his presence and we are serving Him. 163 00:07:01,180 --> 00:07:01,652 I know. 164 00:07:01,676 --> 00:07:05,172 I've heard a lot of people say over the years, what's heaven going 165 00:07:05,196 --> 00:07:05,668 to be like? 166 00:07:05,724 --> 00:07:08,132 We're just going to be sitting on a cloud and playing a harp and 167 00:07:08,156 --> 00:07:09,124 singing forever? 168 00:07:09,252 --> 00:07:10,052 I don't think so. 169 00:07:10,076 --> 00:07:11,444 I think there's more to it than that. 170 00:07:11,532 --> 00:07:12,484 Are we going to be singing? 171 00:07:12,532 --> 00:07:13,160 Yes. 172 00:07:13,580 --> 00:07:15,828 I don't think all of us are going to be playing the harp. 173 00:07:15,924 --> 00:07:17,348 Maybe some of us will be. 174 00:07:17,484 --> 00:07:21,076 But the truth is, is that we will be not only worshiping him by 175 00:07:21,148 --> 00:07:24,532 singing and praising him, which we will, but it also says that 176 00:07:24,556 --> 00:07:26,324 we will be there serving him. 177 00:07:26,492 --> 00:07:27,892 And serving is worship, right? 178 00:07:27,916 --> 00:07:30,996 We know that eternity means that we are going to be worshiping 179 00:07:31,028 --> 00:07:31,284 God. 180 00:07:31,332 --> 00:07:33,012 But in that comes service. 181 00:07:33,196 --> 00:07:36,260 In that comes us being used by God still. 182 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:38,052 And we see that we're not done with our work. 183 00:07:38,076 --> 00:07:39,422 Then verse 4. 184 00:07:39,446 --> 00:07:43,230 And they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads. 185 00:07:43,390 --> 00:07:47,326 This speaks to our identification, our identity in Christ. 186 00:07:47,478 --> 00:07:48,830 And then it says, verse 5. 187 00:07:48,870 --> 00:07:51,370 And there shall be no more, no night there. 188 00:07:52,070 --> 00:07:57,086 They need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord giveth 189 00:07:57,118 --> 00:07:57,934 them light. 190 00:07:58,102 --> 00:08:01,534 This is going to be that point in time in which we can see truly 191 00:08:01,582 --> 00:08:02,890 the light of the world. 192 00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:05,370 And I'm looking forward to that day. 193 00:08:05,750 --> 00:08:08,782 And then it says here, and this is the last phrase that I want 194 00:08:08,806 --> 00:08:09,534 you to see there. 195 00:08:09,622 --> 00:08:12,270 It says, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall 196 00:08:12,350 --> 00:08:14,958 reign forever and ever. 197 00:08:15,014 --> 00:08:16,750 What an amazing thing that is. 198 00:08:16,870 --> 00:08:18,366 So how can God do this? 199 00:08:18,438 --> 00:08:21,342 How is God going to work this all out? 200 00:08:21,366 --> 00:08:25,326 Well, we go back and we look at verse one of chapter 21. 201 00:08:25,478 --> 00:08:27,886 It says, and I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 202 00:08:27,918 --> 00:08:30,634 And for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, 203 00:08:30,742 --> 00:08:32,274 and there was no more sea. 204 00:08:32,402 --> 00:08:35,490 And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down 205 00:08:35,530 --> 00:08:38,402 from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her 206 00:08:38,426 --> 00:08:39,110 husband. 207 00:08:39,530 --> 00:08:40,786 This is a beautiful picture. 208 00:08:40,818 --> 00:08:42,338 This is the culmination of everything. 209 00:08:42,394 --> 00:08:44,802 This is the culmination of God's promises. 210 00:08:44,866 --> 00:08:46,882 This is the culmination of the gospel. 211 00:08:46,946 --> 00:08:48,994 This is the culmination of the kingdom. 212 00:08:49,042 --> 00:08:50,018 And it says, verse three. 213 00:08:50,074 --> 00:08:53,298 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle 214 00:08:53,314 --> 00:08:56,386 of God is with men, and he will Dwell with them, and they shall 215 00:08:56,418 --> 00:08:57,138 be his people. 216 00:08:57,194 --> 00:08:59,926 And God himself shall be with them and be their God. 217 00:08:59,958 --> 00:09:03,382 We see that it's the presence of God that brings this newness of 218 00:09:03,406 --> 00:09:03,638 life. 219 00:09:03,694 --> 00:09:06,330 It's the presence of God that brings this perfection. 220 00:09:06,670 --> 00:09:07,302 Verse 4. 221 00:09:07,326 --> 00:09:08,582 This is one that I'm excited for. 222 00:09:08,606 --> 00:09:11,190 I don't know about you, but it says, and God shall wipe away all 223 00:09:11,230 --> 00:09:12,550 tears from their eyes. 224 00:09:12,710 --> 00:09:15,890 It's not until this moment that all the tears are wiped away. 225 00:09:16,510 --> 00:09:19,414 I know that there's a lot of misconceptions about what happens 226 00:09:19,462 --> 00:09:20,038 after death. 227 00:09:20,094 --> 00:09:23,414 But what we can see here is at this very moment is when God wipes 228 00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:27,290 away all the tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death. 229 00:09:28,150 --> 00:09:29,182 This is exciting, right? 230 00:09:29,206 --> 00:09:29,550 This is. 231 00:09:29,590 --> 00:09:30,846 Death is abolished. 232 00:09:30,958 --> 00:09:31,630 No more death. 233 00:09:31,670 --> 00:09:32,622 Death is a painful thing. 234 00:09:32,646 --> 00:09:32,830 We. 235 00:09:32,870 --> 00:09:35,950 We just saw there's a terrorist attack down in. 236 00:09:35,990 --> 00:09:36,974 In Louisiana. 237 00:09:37,022 --> 00:09:40,238 We've seen shootings, we've seen people get hurt in. 238 00:09:40,294 --> 00:09:41,102 In car accidents. 239 00:09:41,166 --> 00:09:42,350 We've seen people die of. 240 00:09:42,390 --> 00:09:43,566 Of different illnesses. 241 00:09:43,678 --> 00:09:45,582 But what we can see at this point is that there's going to be 242 00:09:45,606 --> 00:09:46,650 no more death. 243 00:09:47,110 --> 00:09:49,070 Death, where is thy sting? 244 00:09:49,230 --> 00:09:53,864 Neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. 245 00:09:53,992 --> 00:09:56,420 For the former things are passed away. 246 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,424 Folks, if you live with pain and if you live with suffering and 247 00:10:00,432 --> 00:10:03,304 you live with sorrow, the Bible says all of that is going to 248 00:10:03,312 --> 00:10:03,880 be wiped away. 249 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,576 That's what we're looking Forward to. 250 00:10:05,728 --> 00:10:06,312 Verse 5. 251 00:10:06,336 --> 00:10:08,984 And he sat upon the throne and said, this is what I want you to 252 00:10:08,992 --> 00:10:09,320 think about. 253 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,976 This is the thesis of the lesson tonight. 254 00:10:12,088 --> 00:10:13,560 This is what God says to us. 255 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,170 He says, behold, I make all things new. 256 00:10:18,710 --> 00:10:21,118 The original language in the Greek. 257 00:10:21,214 --> 00:10:23,262 It's not just that he makes things new then. 258 00:10:23,366 --> 00:10:23,870 It's this. 259 00:10:23,910 --> 00:10:24,974 It's this continuous. 260 00:10:25,022 --> 00:10:26,846 That he's making things new. 261 00:10:26,998 --> 00:10:30,302 From the moment that we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, he 262 00:10:30,326 --> 00:10:32,366 is making things new in our lives. 263 00:10:32,518 --> 00:10:34,350 And this is the culmination of that. 264 00:10:34,390 --> 00:10:35,118 This is it. 265 00:10:35,174 --> 00:10:38,430 This is where he says, I've been working in your life, making 266 00:10:38,470 --> 00:10:41,860 you a new creation, and now you're seeing it come to pass. 267 00:10:42,030 --> 00:10:43,800 And he said unto me, write. 268 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:45,944 For these words are true and faithful. 269 00:10:46,072 --> 00:10:48,424 So God says to the apostle John, write this down. 270 00:10:48,512 --> 00:10:50,760 I happen to think about what John's thinking. 271 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:52,424 He's going through this like man. 272 00:10:52,512 --> 00:10:54,088 What will it be like to have no more death? 273 00:10:54,144 --> 00:10:56,424 What will it be like to have no more sorrow, no more pain? 274 00:10:56,472 --> 00:10:57,512 God's making all things new. 275 00:10:57,536 --> 00:10:59,592 And God wakes him up and says, john, write this down. 276 00:10:59,616 --> 00:11:00,456 They need to hear this. 277 00:11:00,528 --> 00:11:02,056 And that's what he's Saying here, He says, make. 278 00:11:02,128 --> 00:11:05,420 Make note of this, because these words are faithful and true. 279 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:08,792 And that excites me. 280 00:11:08,896 --> 00:11:11,784 I don't know about you, but this world is a painful world to 281 00:11:11,792 --> 00:11:12,312 live in. 282 00:11:12,416 --> 00:11:13,980 There's suffering, there's sor. 283 00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:15,440 There's loss. 284 00:11:15,740 --> 00:11:18,436 But what God says here, and I want you to think about that phrase, 285 00:11:18,468 --> 00:11:21,508 he says, behold, I make all things new. 286 00:11:21,644 --> 00:11:24,340 Now for some of us, we're like, well, I'm longing for that 287 00:11:24,380 --> 00:11:24,628 day. 288 00:11:24,684 --> 00:11:26,372 When is that day going to happen? 289 00:11:26,556 --> 00:11:28,100 I've mentioned this quite a bit in. 290 00:11:28,140 --> 00:11:29,588 In my speaking is. 291 00:11:29,644 --> 00:11:33,284 You know, as I get older, I'm more excited to be with my Savior. 292 00:11:33,332 --> 00:11:36,084 When I was young, I was like, lord, don't come back, Lord, I want 293 00:11:36,092 --> 00:11:37,060 to live for a long time. 294 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:38,340 I want to experience all these things. 295 00:11:38,380 --> 00:11:41,822 But as we experience this world, there's a song that says, 296 00:11:41,846 --> 00:11:45,502 and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of 297 00:11:45,526 --> 00:11:46,414 his glory and grace. 298 00:11:46,462 --> 00:11:50,526 And so the more we rest in Christ, and the more we see how beautiful 299 00:11:50,558 --> 00:11:55,390 and perfect and holy he is, and then we see how evil and terrible 300 00:11:55,470 --> 00:11:58,462 and painful this world is, the more we say, these things are not 301 00:11:58,486 --> 00:11:58,990 what we want. 302 00:11:59,030 --> 00:12:01,010 We want to be with our Savior. 303 00:12:01,350 --> 00:12:04,542 So how is God making things new in our lives right now? 304 00:12:04,646 --> 00:12:05,246 Because that's. 305 00:12:05,278 --> 00:12:05,534 It's. 306 00:12:05,582 --> 00:12:06,270 It's not here yet. 307 00:12:06,310 --> 00:12:06,510 That. 308 00:12:06,550 --> 00:12:08,110 That part right there is not here yet. 309 00:12:08,150 --> 00:12:11,294 There's still pain, there's still sorrow, there's still death, 310 00:12:11,382 --> 00:12:13,646 there's still loss, there's still tears. 311 00:12:13,838 --> 00:12:16,702 But how is he working out that plan in our lives right now? 312 00:12:16,726 --> 00:12:20,558 I want you to go with me to another passage in the New Testament, 313 00:12:20,574 --> 00:12:24,930 and that is found in Romans, Romans chapter. 314 00:12:26,390 --> 00:12:28,398 Actually, let's go to second Corinthians first, and then we'll 315 00:12:28,414 --> 00:12:29,198 go to the Romans passage. 316 00:12:29,214 --> 00:12:31,038 Let's just go to second Corinthians, chapter five. 317 00:12:31,174 --> 00:12:33,410 Most of you know this passage of Scripture. 318 00:12:33,750 --> 00:12:34,644 The, The. 319 00:12:34,782 --> 00:12:40,856 The beginning of God making our lives new is salvation. 320 00:12:41,048 --> 00:12:45,500 We can't experience newness of life without that transformation, 321 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,232 without God indwelling us. 322 00:12:48,416 --> 00:12:54,808 And so the hope of newness, the hope of perfection, the hope 323 00:12:54,864 --> 00:12:59,096 of eternal life can only be found in an individual who has trusted 324 00:12:59,128 --> 00:13:04,390 in Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and has experienced that transformation. 325 00:13:04,550 --> 00:13:07,670 Second Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 17. 326 00:13:07,790 --> 00:13:09,350 You guys know this passage. 327 00:13:09,510 --> 00:13:14,342 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, that's the disclaimer. 328 00:13:14,406 --> 00:13:17,766 That's the factor that makes someone have this new life. 329 00:13:17,838 --> 00:13:20,262 It says, if any man be in Christ, what does it mean to be in 330 00:13:20,286 --> 00:13:20,518 Christ? 331 00:13:20,574 --> 00:13:25,094 It means to have our identity set in him, to Put our faith in Jesus 332 00:13:25,142 --> 00:13:27,610 to trust in his work of salvation. 333 00:13:28,090 --> 00:13:31,682 So if there, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature or a 334 00:13:31,706 --> 00:13:32,482 new creation. 335 00:13:32,546 --> 00:13:33,266 So that's the. 336 00:13:33,338 --> 00:13:34,642 That's the rebirth. 337 00:13:34,786 --> 00:13:35,186 It's. 338 00:13:35,218 --> 00:13:37,650 It's the rebirth that's talked about in John chapter 3. 339 00:13:37,690 --> 00:13:41,202 Remember when Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the middle of the night 340 00:13:41,226 --> 00:13:44,514 and he's scared, and he's like, we know that you're from God 341 00:13:44,562 --> 00:13:45,602 because of what you're doing. 342 00:13:45,706 --> 00:13:48,002 And he says, you know, how are you doing these things? 343 00:13:48,026 --> 00:13:50,510 And Jesus explains them well, you got to be born again. 344 00:13:50,970 --> 00:13:53,778 And that blew Nicodemus's mind because he's like, how can I be born 345 00:13:53,794 --> 00:13:53,970 again? 346 00:13:54,010 --> 00:13:56,370 How could I go back into my mother's womb and be born again? 347 00:13:56,410 --> 00:13:57,876 I can't understand this. 348 00:13:58,018 --> 00:13:59,456 And that's what Jesus is teaching. 349 00:13:59,488 --> 00:14:02,208 He's teaching this new creation, this new creature that 350 00:14:02,264 --> 00:14:04,640 comes through a life in Christ. 351 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:06,240 And he says, old things are passed away. 352 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,144 Behold, all things are become new. 353 00:14:08,232 --> 00:14:10,704 And it works down and talks about reconciliation. 354 00:14:10,752 --> 00:14:14,544 It talks about now, our job as ambassadors for Christ and explains 355 00:14:14,592 --> 00:14:17,712 how that can happen through Jesus's sacrifice for us. 356 00:14:17,736 --> 00:14:21,552 In verse 21, he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might 357 00:14:21,576 --> 00:14:23,232 be made the righteousness of God in him. 358 00:14:23,256 --> 00:14:26,370 And so God gives us a new life. 359 00:14:26,750 --> 00:14:28,982 He gives us a new creation. 360 00:14:29,126 --> 00:14:31,530 He gives us a new righteousness. 361 00:14:32,190 --> 00:14:33,462 What is new righteousness? 362 00:14:33,526 --> 00:14:37,894 Well, righteousness before we were saved was what we tried to do 363 00:14:37,902 --> 00:14:38,662 in our own strength. 364 00:14:38,726 --> 00:14:42,630 I tried to be a good person, and I tried to say the right thing. 365 00:14:42,670 --> 00:14:44,454 I tried to do the right thing. 366 00:14:44,622 --> 00:14:47,970 But ultimately, we all know that we will fail in that. 367 00:14:48,910 --> 00:14:50,918 We all know that we can't do enough. 368 00:14:50,974 --> 00:14:53,062 We all know that we can't earn our way to heaven. 369 00:14:53,126 --> 00:14:56,256 So God gives us a new righteousness, and that righteousness 370 00:14:56,288 --> 00:14:57,328 is found in him. 371 00:14:57,384 --> 00:14:59,936 That righteousness is found in Jesus Christ's righteousness. 372 00:14:59,968 --> 00:15:01,904 And so we go to Romans chapter five. 373 00:15:01,992 --> 00:15:03,580 Let's go to Romans chapter five. 374 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,740 And it speaks of that walk after salvation. 375 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:07,728 So. 376 00:15:07,784 --> 00:15:12,096 So the new life starts at the moment of salvation, but it doesn't 377 00:15:12,128 --> 00:15:12,608 end there. 378 00:15:12,664 --> 00:15:15,740 God then starts working in this newness of life. 379 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:17,792 And so we're that new creation. 380 00:15:17,856 --> 00:15:18,880 Old things are passed away. 381 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:19,808 Folks, if. 382 00:15:19,864 --> 00:15:21,312 If an individual says, you know what? 383 00:15:21,336 --> 00:15:23,660 I was saved, and there was no change in my heart. 384 00:15:24,490 --> 00:15:27,186 I was saved and I had no new desires. 385 00:15:27,378 --> 00:15:28,354 I was saved. 386 00:15:28,482 --> 00:15:29,938 And I don't feel any different. 387 00:15:29,994 --> 00:15:31,058 I don't think any different. 388 00:15:31,114 --> 00:15:32,514 Folks, there's a challenge there. 389 00:15:32,602 --> 00:15:35,234 The challenge is, let's look at what Scripture says about salvation, 390 00:15:35,282 --> 00:15:36,962 what does it mean to be in Christ? 391 00:15:37,146 --> 00:15:40,306 Now, I'm not here to judge someone's profession of faith, okay? 392 00:15:40,338 --> 00:15:44,178 I don't walk around and go, well, I look at your life and I don't 393 00:15:44,194 --> 00:15:44,898 believe you're a Christian. 394 00:15:44,914 --> 00:15:46,706 I don't believe you meant it when you prayed that prayer. 395 00:15:46,738 --> 00:15:47,650 That's not my job. 396 00:15:47,770 --> 00:15:50,930 My job is to point people to Scripture to say, this is what a 397 00:15:50,970 --> 00:15:53,382 new life looks like. 398 00:15:53,486 --> 00:15:56,118 This is what hope in Jesus Christ looks like. 399 00:15:56,254 --> 00:16:00,422 And it's for the individual to inspect his or her own life and say, 400 00:16:00,446 --> 00:16:01,318 you know, what is this? 401 00:16:01,374 --> 00:16:01,970 Me? 402 00:16:02,270 --> 00:16:04,406 I don't know if anyone's ever come to you and said, well, I'm. 403 00:16:04,438 --> 00:16:06,022 I'm doubting my salvation. 404 00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:06,662 I don't know. 405 00:16:06,686 --> 00:16:08,342 I don't feel saved ever. 406 00:16:08,526 --> 00:16:11,238 Don't raise your hand, but just most of us have probably heard 407 00:16:11,254 --> 00:16:12,886 someone say, I don't feel saved. 408 00:16:13,078 --> 00:16:14,422 And, and I'm going to be honest with you. 409 00:16:14,446 --> 00:16:17,964 There's going to be days where I've gotten up and I don't feel saved. 410 00:16:18,142 --> 00:16:18,912 But what do I do? 411 00:16:18,936 --> 00:16:23,168 I go back to what I know about Scripture, and I would point someone 412 00:16:23,224 --> 00:16:24,784 to First John chapter. 413 00:16:24,832 --> 00:16:27,792 Well, all of First John read the book of First John. 414 00:16:27,976 --> 00:16:31,620 The book of First John is a biography of a believer. 415 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,776 And, and so when we read First John, we say, okay, I'm not perfect, 416 00:16:35,888 --> 00:16:38,880 but First John is something that can characterize my life. 417 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:39,232 I'm. 418 00:16:39,296 --> 00:16:41,008 I'm walking in the love of Christ. 419 00:16:41,064 --> 00:16:42,976 I'm walking in this newness of life. 420 00:16:43,048 --> 00:16:46,132 If you read First John and it's foreign to you, I would say 421 00:16:46,156 --> 00:16:49,840 it's time to inspect the truth of the Gospel in your own life. 422 00:16:50,460 --> 00:16:54,724 And so we get to Romans chapter 5, and we see we're justified 423 00:16:54,772 --> 00:16:55,204 by faith. 424 00:16:55,252 --> 00:16:56,068 Verse 1. 425 00:16:56,204 --> 00:17:00,180 We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also 426 00:17:00,220 --> 00:17:03,364 we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice 427 00:17:03,412 --> 00:17:04,612 in the hope of glory. 428 00:17:04,756 --> 00:17:07,764 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation 429 00:17:07,812 --> 00:17:10,468 worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope. 430 00:17:10,604 --> 00:17:13,252 And he goes on to talk about the Holy Ghost, which is given to 431 00:17:13,276 --> 00:17:13,855 us. 432 00:17:14,027 --> 00:17:14,967 Verse 5. 433 00:17:15,103 --> 00:17:15,495 The. 434 00:17:15,567 --> 00:17:20,215 The way that we understand God working through our life is the Holy 435 00:17:20,247 --> 00:17:21,939 Spirit moving in our life. 436 00:17:22,479 --> 00:17:26,295 And, and then we get to verse number six, and he says, what shall 437 00:17:26,327 --> 00:17:26,999 we say then? 438 00:17:27,039 --> 00:17:29,015 Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 439 00:17:29,047 --> 00:17:31,511 So we he explains grace in Romans chapter five. 440 00:17:31,535 --> 00:17:33,015 He says, you have been given grace. 441 00:17:33,127 --> 00:17:34,519 You have been given forgiveness. 442 00:17:34,599 --> 00:17:38,151 But then what he says, is this the challenge for many people who 443 00:17:38,175 --> 00:17:40,527 don't understand what God has done to say, well, you know what? 444 00:17:40,623 --> 00:17:43,232 If God is going to forgive me, then I can just keep sinning. 445 00:17:43,376 --> 00:17:45,140 I can abuse grace. 446 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:46,960 And he goes, no, no, no. 447 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,544 He says, what shall we say then? 448 00:17:48,632 --> 00:17:52,112 Should we continue in sin that grace may abound, God forbid. 449 00:17:52,256 --> 00:17:56,640 How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? 450 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,760 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ 451 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,992 were baptized into his death, Therefore we are buried with him 452 00:18:03,016 --> 00:18:04,592 by baptism into death. 453 00:18:04,696 --> 00:18:08,662 So this is talking about the identification being in Christ, okay? 454 00:18:08,806 --> 00:18:11,814 That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by glory of the 455 00:18:11,822 --> 00:18:14,134 Father, even so we should walk in. 456 00:18:14,302 --> 00:18:17,174 There's our phrase of the evening newness of life. 457 00:18:17,342 --> 00:18:19,910 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, 458 00:18:19,950 --> 00:18:23,126 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing 459 00:18:23,158 --> 00:18:26,150 this, that our old man, that's the old way, that's the sin nature. 460 00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:29,702 Our old man is crucified, killed with him, that the body of 461 00:18:29,726 --> 00:18:30,726 sin might be destroyed. 462 00:18:30,758 --> 00:18:33,254 And henceforth we should not serve sin. 463 00:18:33,302 --> 00:18:37,948 For if, for he that is dead is freed from sin, meaning when we are 464 00:18:38,004 --> 00:18:41,340 dead to our sins, we are freed from the bondage of that sin. 465 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:45,164 And so yes, as Christians, we don't live sinless lives, but the 466 00:18:45,172 --> 00:18:48,492 Bible says that we are striving to be pushed forward in 467 00:18:48,516 --> 00:18:51,948 the Holy Spirit so that we can live more and more righteous lives 468 00:18:52,004 --> 00:18:54,960 for him, not in our righteousness, but his righteousness. 469 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:57,340 That's how God is working newness of life. 470 00:18:57,380 --> 00:18:59,084 He's working that change out in our life. 471 00:18:59,172 --> 00:19:02,632 So, so what it would look like practically is someone walks in here 472 00:19:02,656 --> 00:19:04,696 and they're characterized by sin. 473 00:19:04,728 --> 00:19:09,592 They're maybe not evil people, but we all know in reality all of 474 00:19:09,616 --> 00:19:12,232 us are evil outside of our righteousness in Christ. 475 00:19:12,336 --> 00:19:15,016 But anyway, they walk in and maybe they don't break the law, maybe 476 00:19:15,048 --> 00:19:17,992 they don't break the rules, but they come in and they're defined 477 00:19:18,056 --> 00:19:19,016 by their sin. 478 00:19:19,128 --> 00:19:22,600 And then they trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they're justified. 479 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,288 Then there's that change, there's that newness of life, there's 480 00:19:25,304 --> 00:19:27,330 that transformation, there's that repentance. 481 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:28,798 Repentance is that about face. 482 00:19:28,854 --> 00:19:33,006 And so that is the miracle of God working newness in our life. 483 00:19:33,158 --> 00:19:37,870 So when we see a changed Christian, when we see a person changed, 484 00:19:38,030 --> 00:19:40,542 that is the miracle of the newness of life. 485 00:19:40,646 --> 00:19:41,822 That is the beginning of it. 486 00:19:41,846 --> 00:19:45,486 And God eventually is going to bring that to pass at the end. 487 00:19:45,638 --> 00:19:49,150 The culmination of all of that will be when we are restored to him, 488 00:19:49,270 --> 00:19:51,182 when we are reconciled completely to Him. 489 00:19:51,206 --> 00:19:54,130 The theological term for that is glorification. 490 00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:57,676 We're glorified when we're with him in his presence, when we're 491 00:19:57,708 --> 00:19:59,212 walking with him forever and ever. 492 00:19:59,316 --> 00:20:04,588 That's when newness of life will be completely imagined and seen 493 00:20:04,644 --> 00:20:05,960 and lived out. 494 00:20:06,340 --> 00:20:12,348 So the question is today is how can we say that God is making 495 00:20:12,404 --> 00:20:14,920 all things new when we look around at this world? 496 00:20:15,700 --> 00:20:17,868 Well, we know that in the beginning, God created the heavens 497 00:20:17,884 --> 00:20:18,780 and the earth. 498 00:20:18,940 --> 00:20:21,232 We know that he pronounced everything good. 499 00:20:21,396 --> 00:20:22,980 Genesis, chapter one. 500 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:24,888 But what happened? 501 00:20:25,064 --> 00:20:26,728 Well, we sinned. 502 00:20:26,824 --> 00:20:27,400 The curse. 503 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:28,504 Remember the curse. 504 00:20:28,632 --> 00:20:29,928 The curse came. 505 00:20:30,064 --> 00:20:33,096 So mankind sins and marred creation. 506 00:20:33,288 --> 00:20:35,032 And so the world is no longer good. 507 00:20:35,056 --> 00:20:38,712 If I've heard recently someone said, well, my faith in humanity 508 00:20:38,776 --> 00:20:41,800 has been restored because they helped this little animal off the 509 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:42,152 ice. 510 00:20:42,216 --> 00:20:45,620 And like, well, you know what they were. 511 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,086 Don't have faith in humanity, okay? 512 00:20:48,208 --> 00:20:51,670 Humanity will fail outside of Jesus Christ. 513 00:20:52,130 --> 00:20:54,282 We cannot have faith in humanity. 514 00:20:54,346 --> 00:20:56,670 Humanity is broken and is marred. 515 00:20:57,250 --> 00:21:00,870 And so what we can see here is that from Genesis, chapter three, 516 00:21:01,970 --> 00:21:07,114 okay, all the way, all the way to Revelation, okay? 517 00:21:07,162 --> 00:21:11,066 All the way to the very end, we understand that this is a world 518 00:21:11,138 --> 00:21:13,630 that is defined by sin. 519 00:21:14,380 --> 00:21:17,012 But something will change at the great white throne. 520 00:21:17,076 --> 00:21:17,880 Judgment. 521 00:21:18,220 --> 00:21:23,572 So after God judges sin, he promises a new heaven. 522 00:21:23,636 --> 00:21:30,440 He promises a new earth where suffering, pain, death will all cease. 523 00:21:31,340 --> 00:21:33,220 And so what we can see here is that. 524 00:21:33,340 --> 00:21:36,340 And we go back to Revelation and we think about what John is. 525 00:21:36,380 --> 00:21:37,732 Is bringing to us here. 526 00:21:37,836 --> 00:21:39,680 He sees this beautiful city. 527 00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:41,488 He sees God. 528 00:21:41,664 --> 00:21:44,576 He sees all of the people serving him and praising him. 529 00:21:44,648 --> 00:21:49,200 And so he's understanding that this is what God is promising us 530 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:50,500 from the very beginning. 531 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:51,856 It's. 532 00:21:51,888 --> 00:21:54,304 It's what believers have longed for. 533 00:21:54,472 --> 00:21:56,112 It's what all of us should be longing for. 534 00:21:56,136 --> 00:21:56,416 The. 535 00:21:56,488 --> 00:22:00,208 The book of Romans, Romans, chapter 8 says that they're Romans. 536 00:22:00,224 --> 00:22:01,088 Chapter 8, verse 19. 537 00:22:01,144 --> 00:22:05,094 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestations 538 00:22:05,272 --> 00:22:06,554 of the sons of God. 539 00:22:06,602 --> 00:22:07,370 Meaning this. 540 00:22:07,490 --> 00:22:12,842 If we are children of God and we are working properly in his path, 541 00:22:12,906 --> 00:22:15,610 in our life, and we're following his will, we should long 542 00:22:15,730 --> 00:22:17,710 for the day of that unification. 543 00:22:18,770 --> 00:22:19,466 I think it's. 544 00:22:19,498 --> 00:22:23,482 It's summed up well In Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20, I 545 00:22:23,506 --> 00:22:25,002 am crucified with Christ. 546 00:22:25,106 --> 00:22:26,910 This speaks of that identification. 547 00:22:27,250 --> 00:22:28,874 Nevertheless, I live. 548 00:22:29,042 --> 00:22:31,328 Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. 549 00:22:31,434 --> 00:22:33,684 And the life which I now live in the flesh. 550 00:22:33,732 --> 00:22:37,044 I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself 551 00:22:37,092 --> 00:22:37,840 for me. 552 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:41,492 And so there's this idea that God is making all things new in our 553 00:22:41,516 --> 00:22:44,308 life only when he takes control through salvation. 554 00:22:44,404 --> 00:22:45,812 And the Bible speaks of all of this. 555 00:22:45,836 --> 00:22:48,180 The Bible speaks of Ephesians, chapter four, putting off the old 556 00:22:48,220 --> 00:22:53,012 and putting on the new, not walking in sin, but walking in newness 557 00:22:53,076 --> 00:22:53,972 of life. 558 00:22:54,156 --> 00:22:58,936 And so the Bible tells us over and over again that this is the path 559 00:22:58,968 --> 00:23:02,232 that God wants us to have it all of creation, Romans chapter 8 560 00:23:02,256 --> 00:23:04,232 says, is groaning for this restoration. 561 00:23:04,376 --> 00:23:11,096 So how can we look at 2025 through the lens of a human seeing 562 00:23:11,128 --> 00:23:14,056 all the news and seeing all the pain and still hope in the newness 563 00:23:14,088 --> 00:23:14,696 of God? 564 00:23:14,808 --> 00:23:17,224 It's looking towards the promise at the end. 565 00:23:17,312 --> 00:23:21,128 It's, it's believing in faith that God is keeping his word and 566 00:23:21,184 --> 00:23:24,418 will keep his word to make all things right now. 567 00:23:24,474 --> 00:23:27,282 Now, partially he is making things right now by the sense that 568 00:23:27,306 --> 00:23:30,562 he has saved us and he's changing us and he's working it out 569 00:23:30,586 --> 00:23:33,090 for us and he's working out his good in our life and he's working 570 00:23:33,130 --> 00:23:34,610 out our good in our lives. 571 00:23:34,730 --> 00:23:38,098 But what we can ultimately see is that though there is pain and 572 00:23:38,154 --> 00:23:41,410 suffering now, the promise is that God is going to take this all 573 00:23:41,450 --> 00:23:41,698 away. 574 00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:44,130 And so we live in light of that with hope. 575 00:23:44,250 --> 00:23:46,578 So, so what happens tomorrow when we get bad news? 576 00:23:46,634 --> 00:23:48,642 Well, I'm not living for tomorrow. 577 00:23:48,706 --> 00:23:50,146 I'm living for eternity. 578 00:23:50,178 --> 00:23:53,620 I'm not living for 20, 25, I'm living for eternity. 579 00:23:53,780 --> 00:23:55,796 And, and that will help us in many different ways. 580 00:23:55,828 --> 00:23:58,532 I think it'll help us in understanding all the things that 581 00:23:58,556 --> 00:24:00,596 God has given us in the newness of life. 582 00:24:00,668 --> 00:24:05,060 So he's given you a new life, he's given you a new hope, he's given 583 00:24:05,100 --> 00:24:09,124 you a new name, he's given you a new identity, he's given you a 584 00:24:09,132 --> 00:24:10,084 new righteousness. 585 00:24:10,212 --> 00:24:13,460 Jesus says, I've given you a New Testament, a new promise, a new, 586 00:24:13,500 --> 00:24:14,680 a new commandment. 587 00:24:15,020 --> 00:24:16,596 And that's the beauty of the so. 588 00:24:16,668 --> 00:24:20,158 So prior to Jesus right there. 589 00:24:20,214 --> 00:24:22,942 And well, even today, I mean, it's not just prior to Jesus, even 590 00:24:22,966 --> 00:24:27,982 today, people believe that they have to keep the law to be saved, 591 00:24:28,046 --> 00:24:33,966 to see God there, there, you know, 613 laws that these folks follow 592 00:24:34,038 --> 00:24:37,022 and they stay right on the path as best as they can, even though 593 00:24:37,046 --> 00:24:38,942 none of us could keep the law perfectly. 594 00:24:39,086 --> 00:24:42,446 But now we have a new covenant, we have a new promise. 595 00:24:42,478 --> 00:24:43,486 And it's not this. 596 00:24:43,638 --> 00:24:46,942 It's, it's not, hey, keep all these laws and then maybe I'll give 597 00:24:46,966 --> 00:24:47,752 you Greece. 598 00:24:47,926 --> 00:24:50,020 The Bible says, hey, there's a new commandment. 599 00:24:50,180 --> 00:24:55,412 Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, Strength. 600 00:24:55,476 --> 00:24:58,052 After that, love your neighbor as yourself and all of that, the 601 00:24:58,076 --> 00:25:01,252 law and the prophets, everything is hanging on this. 602 00:25:01,436 --> 00:25:03,428 So you say, well, how can I love God with everything? 603 00:25:03,484 --> 00:25:05,396 Well, you, you love him in everything. 604 00:25:05,468 --> 00:25:08,644 By trusting in him, by committing to him, by saying, you 605 00:25:08,652 --> 00:25:08,852 know what? 606 00:25:08,876 --> 00:25:10,340 I'm going to give my life over to Him. 607 00:25:10,380 --> 00:25:12,308 You know, it's a hard thing to do that. 608 00:25:12,364 --> 00:25:14,080 It's a hard thing to go all in. 609 00:25:14,630 --> 00:25:16,046 It really, really is. 610 00:25:16,198 --> 00:25:18,670 And, and for me, I, I, I know that even in my life. 611 00:25:18,710 --> 00:25:19,390 Am I all in? 612 00:25:19,430 --> 00:25:20,126 That's a good question. 613 00:25:20,198 --> 00:25:21,102 I don't know. 614 00:25:21,286 --> 00:25:22,302 I, I really don't know. 615 00:25:22,326 --> 00:25:26,050 Because we can't ultimately know that answer until we are tested. 616 00:25:26,710 --> 00:25:28,942 Like right now, theoretically, I'm all in, right? 617 00:25:28,966 --> 00:25:30,750 There's nothing that could change my mind. 618 00:25:30,790 --> 00:25:32,894 But that might change tomorrow when pressures come. 619 00:25:32,982 --> 00:25:35,262 And that's a challenge that all of us have to think about. 620 00:25:35,446 --> 00:25:38,670 Like, what will happen if this is challenged in my life? 621 00:25:38,790 --> 00:25:42,410 What will happen if my expectations aren't met in 2025? 622 00:25:43,350 --> 00:25:44,414 You know what? 623 00:25:44,582 --> 00:25:48,530 I remember what it means to not have expectations fulfilled. 624 00:25:49,590 --> 00:25:51,530 We, we were driving up to the hospital. 625 00:25:52,470 --> 00:25:57,118 It's almost been a year now, and we had Micah and Nora, and everything 626 00:25:57,174 --> 00:25:57,726 went smoothly. 627 00:25:57,758 --> 00:26:01,502 We were like, I, I, I, I was like, okay, we're gonna go in. 628 00:26:01,526 --> 00:26:03,102 Everything's gonna be the exact same way. 629 00:26:03,206 --> 00:26:06,286 And I remember that night, it did not go the way that we expected 630 00:26:06,358 --> 00:26:07,198 it to go. 631 00:26:07,334 --> 00:26:10,374 And there was a lot of fear, there was a lot of concern, there 632 00:26:10,382 --> 00:26:12,118 was a lot of confusion. 633 00:26:12,294 --> 00:26:15,814 And, and my expectations were not met by, by any stretch of the 634 00:26:15,822 --> 00:26:16,570 imagination. 635 00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:20,610 But looking back on that with, without telling the whole story again, 636 00:26:20,910 --> 00:26:24,230 looking back on that, we understand why God allowed certain 637 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:25,430 things to happen in our life. 638 00:26:25,470 --> 00:26:26,470 We know that now. 639 00:26:26,590 --> 00:26:32,326 I mean, every time that I look at Silas, I understand now. 640 00:26:32,478 --> 00:26:34,870 God more and more through not, not, not. 641 00:26:34,910 --> 00:26:39,076 Silas isn't the instrument of that, but he's the reminder of God's 642 00:26:39,108 --> 00:26:39,524 faithfulness. 643 00:26:39,572 --> 00:26:41,028 He's the reminder of God's provisions. 644 00:26:41,044 --> 00:26:44,004 He's a reminder of the conversations that I have with the 645 00:26:44,012 --> 00:26:45,092 Lord that evening. 646 00:26:45,236 --> 00:26:48,580 And, and I will tell you that those are the realities in life when 647 00:26:48,620 --> 00:26:49,700 we are tested, where. 648 00:26:49,740 --> 00:26:51,040 Where are we going to turn? 649 00:26:51,340 --> 00:26:53,940 And I don't know what 2025 holds for all of us here. 650 00:26:53,980 --> 00:26:54,564 I don't know. 651 00:26:54,652 --> 00:26:55,732 I really don't know. 652 00:26:55,836 --> 00:26:58,020 I don't know what the political climate will be. 653 00:26:58,060 --> 00:27:00,580 I don't know what the international climate will be. 654 00:27:00,620 --> 00:27:04,104 I don't know what the financial climate will be. 655 00:27:04,252 --> 00:27:07,808 But what I do know is that God is still good What I do know is God 656 00:27:07,824 --> 00:27:08,780 is still in control. 657 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:13,120 And when we look at the, the chaos in this world so many times, 658 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,904 it's easy to get our eyes fixed on that and our expectations 659 00:27:15,952 --> 00:27:16,544 aren't met. 660 00:27:16,632 --> 00:27:20,112 And when our expectations are met, we start turning to things that 661 00:27:20,216 --> 00:27:21,460 are not scriptural. 662 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:26,448 So, for example, okay, we all would say we believe God is in control. 663 00:27:26,584 --> 00:27:30,060 I hope, I hope that's what you would say. 664 00:27:30,380 --> 00:27:32,644 We all believe that God has promised that he's never going to 665 00:27:32,652 --> 00:27:33,908 leave us nor forsake us. 666 00:27:34,044 --> 00:27:36,240 We all believe that God is love. 667 00:27:36,540 --> 00:27:39,124 We all believe, hopefully, that we love God with all of our 668 00:27:39,132 --> 00:27:40,164 heart, soul, mind and strength. 669 00:27:40,212 --> 00:27:41,428 We love him with everything. 670 00:27:41,484 --> 00:27:42,932 And we love our neighbor as ourself. 671 00:27:43,076 --> 00:27:45,812 But the true test is like, when things don't go the way that 672 00:27:45,836 --> 00:27:49,012 we want them to go, are we willing to say those same things 673 00:27:49,036 --> 00:27:49,668 about God? 674 00:27:49,764 --> 00:27:52,964 Are we willing to say that he's there with us when we don't 675 00:27:53,012 --> 00:27:53,840 feel that? 676 00:27:56,070 --> 00:27:59,390 And, and what I would say, and the best advice that I ever had given 677 00:27:59,430 --> 00:28:02,254 to me was don't. 678 00:28:02,382 --> 00:28:03,950 Feelings are good, emotions are good. 679 00:28:03,990 --> 00:28:06,770 God gave us emotions and we should embrace those emotions. 680 00:28:07,270 --> 00:28:12,830 But our emotions should not dictate to us our truth, right? 681 00:28:12,950 --> 00:28:19,822 So if I'm angry or I'm upset or I'm let down or I'm fearful, I 682 00:28:19,846 --> 00:28:24,796 can't let those emotions dictate my truth about what God's 683 00:28:24,828 --> 00:28:29,692 word says about him, about me, about salvation, about newness of 684 00:28:29,716 --> 00:28:32,044 life, about the hope that we have in Him. 685 00:28:32,212 --> 00:28:36,716 But what I can do is allow my emotions to be dictated and controlled 686 00:28:36,748 --> 00:28:38,780 by what I believe in, the truth of God. 687 00:28:38,860 --> 00:28:42,492 So it's my faith that brings me to the point where, yes, I know 688 00:28:42,516 --> 00:28:45,916 that this is a bad circumstance, but I know that God 689 00:28:45,948 --> 00:28:46,300 is good. 690 00:28:46,340 --> 00:28:47,340 I know that he loves me. 691 00:28:47,380 --> 00:28:49,072 And, and so you go back to what you know. 692 00:28:49,096 --> 00:28:52,016 And so your emotions are dictated by your truth instead of 693 00:28:52,088 --> 00:28:53,072 vice versa. 694 00:28:53,216 --> 00:28:56,144 And that's helped a lot in my own life because I'm going to tell 695 00:28:56,152 --> 00:28:57,184 you, sometimes fear. 696 00:28:57,232 --> 00:28:57,440 The. 697 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,520 The Bible says that the fear of man is a snare or a trap. 698 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,272 And so it's the fear of man that sometimes pulls us away from 699 00:29:04,296 --> 00:29:05,456 doing what we need to do. 700 00:29:05,528 --> 00:29:07,200 And God has wonderful plans for you. 701 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,648 I know he does because he has a plan for all of us. 702 00:29:09,784 --> 00:29:13,024 But, but the plan that God has for us sometimes makes us stretch 703 00:29:13,072 --> 00:29:13,616 ourselves. 704 00:29:13,728 --> 00:29:15,792 It sometimes takes us out of our comfort zone. 705 00:29:15,856 --> 00:29:18,576 It sometimes takes us to a place that we don't expect to go. 706 00:29:18,728 --> 00:29:22,544 But what I would say is that go back to when, when Those trials 707 00:29:22,592 --> 00:29:23,740 of life come. 708 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,928 When those success successes of life come. 709 00:29:27,064 --> 00:29:30,416 When the confusion comes, just go back to say this. 710 00:29:30,568 --> 00:29:32,048 God is making this all right. 711 00:29:32,104 --> 00:29:34,688 God is doing what he said he is going to do. 712 00:29:34,744 --> 00:29:37,888 And he is going to ultimately conclude this by saying, hey, we're 713 00:29:37,904 --> 00:29:38,944 going to be there one day. 714 00:29:39,032 --> 00:29:41,900 And I think the apostle Paul says it this way. 715 00:29:42,250 --> 00:29:46,098 One day when we get to heaven and we're with our Savior, we're 716 00:29:46,114 --> 00:29:51,010 going to say, that was it that little temporary pain for this glory. 717 00:29:51,170 --> 00:29:54,386 And I long for that day because there's days where I don't 718 00:29:54,418 --> 00:29:55,442 feel that there's days. 719 00:29:55,546 --> 00:29:58,002 I'm going to tell you there's days where I'm like, what is going 720 00:29:58,026 --> 00:29:58,590 on? 721 00:29:58,970 --> 00:30:01,202 And you say you're allowed to say that as a pastor. 722 00:30:01,346 --> 00:30:02,962 I don't know if I'm allowed to say that or not. 723 00:30:02,986 --> 00:30:04,946 But I'm going to tell you there are some days where I don't 724 00:30:04,978 --> 00:30:06,210 know what God is doing. 725 00:30:06,250 --> 00:30:07,506 I don't know what his plan is. 726 00:30:07,578 --> 00:30:09,576 I don't know why he would let this happen. 727 00:30:09,698 --> 00:30:11,564 I don't know why he would work it this way. 728 00:30:11,652 --> 00:30:13,916 But all I say is that, lord, I trust you. 729 00:30:13,988 --> 00:30:14,812 And that's by faith. 730 00:30:14,876 --> 00:30:15,308 It is. 731 00:30:15,364 --> 00:30:18,572 Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 6 says, it's impossible to please him 732 00:30:18,596 --> 00:30:19,500 without faith. 733 00:30:19,660 --> 00:30:19,980 So. 734 00:30:20,020 --> 00:30:22,748 So I would take a step to say it's impossible to love him without 735 00:30:22,804 --> 00:30:23,228 faith. 736 00:30:23,324 --> 00:30:24,924 I can't love God without faith. 737 00:30:24,972 --> 00:30:25,920 It's impossible. 738 00:30:26,660 --> 00:30:30,620 Because for me, if I love God, I believe that he's going to keep 739 00:30:30,660 --> 00:30:31,180 his word. 740 00:30:31,260 --> 00:30:33,372 I believe that he is good. 741 00:30:33,476 --> 00:30:35,320 I believe that he is in control. 742 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:36,240 And for. 743 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:41,008 For many of us, including myself, I will say that until things 744 00:30:41,064 --> 00:30:43,952 look like they're going bad, then I go, well, we're losing. 745 00:30:44,016 --> 00:30:44,880 Christians are losing. 746 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:45,984 Faith is losing. 747 00:30:46,112 --> 00:30:48,384 God's gonna be wiped away from the map, folks. 748 00:30:48,432 --> 00:30:52,180 God is not going to be wiped away from the world scene, okay? 749 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,360 If you read the Book of Revelation, if you question that 750 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,880 God is coming, okay, he is coming with. 751 00:30:59,000 --> 00:30:59,376 With. 752 00:30:59,448 --> 00:31:02,738 With righteous indignation, okay? 753 00:31:02,834 --> 00:31:04,450 This world will be judged. 754 00:31:04,530 --> 00:31:06,194 And I'm not trying to scare you, I don't know when it's going 755 00:31:06,202 --> 00:31:06,402 to happen. 756 00:31:06,426 --> 00:31:07,362 It could be another 50 years. 757 00:31:07,386 --> 00:31:09,026 It could be another 5,000 years. 758 00:31:09,098 --> 00:31:10,434 It could be another 50 minutes. 759 00:31:10,482 --> 00:31:15,298 But we know that ultimately God is going to make all things new. 760 00:31:15,354 --> 00:31:18,898 He's going to restore us and he's going to vindicate us. 761 00:31:18,954 --> 00:31:21,666 Because the Bible says, vengeance is mine, I will repay, 762 00:31:21,698 --> 00:31:22,738 saith the Lord. 763 00:31:22,914 --> 00:31:28,610 I look at things in the news and I say, wow, I want to make this 764 00:31:28,650 --> 00:31:29,294 right. 765 00:31:29,482 --> 00:31:33,110 And some of you have that sense of justice in your heart. 766 00:31:33,150 --> 00:31:34,690 You want to do that too, right? 767 00:31:35,150 --> 00:31:36,810 Protecting the innocent. 768 00:31:38,750 --> 00:31:41,750 There is innocent blood that is being shed in this world. 769 00:31:41,790 --> 00:31:42,690 We know that. 770 00:31:44,030 --> 00:31:46,210 So does God care about that? 771 00:31:46,830 --> 00:31:48,130 I believe he does. 772 00:31:48,750 --> 00:31:51,638 Why isn't he doing something immediately, right now? 773 00:31:51,694 --> 00:31:52,502 Completely. 774 00:31:52,646 --> 00:31:56,512 Because he is long suffering, because he's patient, because he 775 00:31:56,536 --> 00:31:58,144 wants more folks to come to him. 776 00:31:58,232 --> 00:31:59,520 So what does that mean for us? 777 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:03,952 We have to get busy in proclaiming the truth of God to this 778 00:32:03,976 --> 00:32:04,540 world. 779 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:10,976 He saved us and he's equipped us and he's challenged us and he's 780 00:32:11,008 --> 00:32:14,672 commissioned us to go proclaim the truth of God in this lost and 781 00:32:14,696 --> 00:32:15,580 dying world. 782 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,736 And so you say, well, I don't know if I can do that. 783 00:32:18,808 --> 00:32:19,488 You can. 784 00:32:19,624 --> 00:32:20,780 I know you can. 785 00:32:21,470 --> 00:32:22,662 It's not easy. 786 00:32:22,806 --> 00:32:27,110 But the Bible says that people like, think about guys like Elijah. 787 00:32:27,270 --> 00:32:28,070 We say, well, he. 788 00:32:28,110 --> 00:32:28,982 He was different. 789 00:32:29,086 --> 00:32:31,734 He was a special, like, special character. 790 00:32:31,782 --> 00:32:33,110 He had like, an extra measure of. 791 00:32:33,150 --> 00:32:34,166 Of glory on him. 792 00:32:34,238 --> 00:32:36,278 The Bible says in the book of James, he was just like everybody 793 00:32:36,294 --> 00:32:36,890 else. 794 00:32:37,790 --> 00:32:38,262 He was. 795 00:32:38,286 --> 00:32:39,490 He was a human being. 796 00:32:40,910 --> 00:32:45,334 Yeah, Paul, you think about Paul, you think about John the Baptist, 797 00:32:45,382 --> 00:32:45,970 right? 798 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:49,936 Man, Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest prophet 799 00:32:49,968 --> 00:32:50,400 to ever walk. 800 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,096 I mean, John the Baptist was a human being. 801 00:32:52,168 --> 00:32:52,992 Now, I'm not saying that. 802 00:32:53,016 --> 00:32:53,408 Hey, you're. 803 00:32:53,424 --> 00:32:54,704 You're John the Baptist, okay? 804 00:32:54,752 --> 00:32:58,064 What I am saying is that you have been equipped by God to do what 805 00:32:58,072 --> 00:33:00,140 he has called you to do in the time that you have. 806 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:01,840 And, and so this is. 807 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:02,912 This is the goal. 808 00:33:03,056 --> 00:33:07,040 So for me, you know, when I get down in the dumps and I start 809 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:10,340 feeling bad about things is when I start focusing on myself. 810 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:12,912 Like, I start really inspecting my own life. 811 00:33:12,936 --> 00:33:13,696 And I go, you know what? 812 00:33:13,768 --> 00:33:17,688 I'm not really smart enough to do what God has given me in my life. 813 00:33:17,744 --> 00:33:19,320 I'm not really equipped enough. 814 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:20,008 I'm not really. 815 00:33:20,064 --> 00:33:20,648 And I start. 816 00:33:20,704 --> 00:33:21,128 And if. 817 00:33:21,184 --> 00:33:25,464 Let me be honest, if you look into your own life, you're going 818 00:33:25,472 --> 00:33:26,136 to find flaws. 819 00:33:26,168 --> 00:33:28,920 If you're honest, we can find flaws in each other. 820 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:29,480 Like I could. 821 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:29,816 I. 822 00:33:29,888 --> 00:33:32,792 If you follow me around for a week, you find a lot of flaws in 823 00:33:32,816 --> 00:33:35,656 my life and probably vice versa. 824 00:33:35,848 --> 00:33:40,136 But when we take our eyes off of ourselves, because. 825 00:33:40,208 --> 00:33:42,472 Because that's really an egotistical, prideful thing. 826 00:33:42,496 --> 00:33:44,560 Like, well, I'm just so worried about how I'll come across. 827 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,232 I'm going to be really worried about how people like what people 828 00:33:47,256 --> 00:33:48,416 are going to say about me. 829 00:33:48,488 --> 00:33:52,032 The moment we stop worrying about what people say about us when 830 00:33:52,056 --> 00:33:55,184 we live for Christ is the moment that we can be used by God. 831 00:33:55,312 --> 00:33:56,864 And so what I would say is this. 832 00:33:57,032 --> 00:33:58,400 Romans, chapter 1, verse 16. 833 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,420 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. 834 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:02,800 Like, are we ashamed of the Gospel? 835 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:04,752 That's a question that I want to ask. 836 00:34:04,856 --> 00:34:06,640 It's a question that I'm asking myself. 837 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,840 And I would encourage you to think about this year in 2025. 838 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,900 What's my spiritual goals for. 839 00:34:12,940 --> 00:34:17,492 For some of us, our spiritual goal should be to, to start reading 840 00:34:17,556 --> 00:34:21,364 scripture because you, because you might not know all of the promises 841 00:34:21,412 --> 00:34:22,200 of God. 842 00:34:22,940 --> 00:34:25,556 You might not understand what God has said because you haven't 843 00:34:25,588 --> 00:34:25,812 read it. 844 00:34:25,836 --> 00:34:27,060 You haven't studied it. 845 00:34:27,180 --> 00:34:29,348 And you know, all of us need that study. 846 00:34:29,404 --> 00:34:32,516 All of us need to get into the word of God consistently and faithfully 847 00:34:32,548 --> 00:34:33,412 and read. 848 00:34:33,596 --> 00:34:37,034 But not just read, study, meditate. 849 00:34:37,212 --> 00:34:39,294 And the word meditate just means to dwell on. 850 00:34:39,382 --> 00:34:41,970 We all know what it means to dwell on something negatively. 851 00:34:42,310 --> 00:34:44,930 So let's dwell on something positively in His Word. 852 00:34:45,590 --> 00:34:47,134 It might be a prayer life. 853 00:34:47,302 --> 00:34:51,102 You might need to grow in your area of prayer, communicating with 854 00:34:51,126 --> 00:34:51,374 God. 855 00:34:51,422 --> 00:34:51,726 Right? 856 00:34:51,798 --> 00:34:54,222 Any relationship is based upon communication. 857 00:34:54,366 --> 00:34:56,318 All of us that are married understand that. 858 00:34:56,374 --> 00:34:59,214 All of us that have worked in a workplace understand that communication 859 00:34:59,262 --> 00:34:59,630 is key. 860 00:34:59,670 --> 00:35:01,934 And the way that we communicate with God is number one. 861 00:35:02,022 --> 00:35:06,616 We hear him through His Word and we speak to him in prayer. 862 00:35:06,728 --> 00:35:09,608 There's other spiritual disciplines, service within the church. 863 00:35:09,784 --> 00:35:10,264 There's. 864 00:35:10,312 --> 00:35:15,064 There's areas of, of witnessing evangelism, there's areas 865 00:35:15,152 --> 00:35:20,792 of fasting and, and sacrifice and being allowed to be focused on 866 00:35:20,816 --> 00:35:21,000 Him. 867 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:21,960 And the list goes on and on. 868 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,260 So what are your spiritual goals for 2025? 869 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:25,688 For. 870 00:35:25,744 --> 00:35:30,840 For us, last year, it was to institute a specific time in which 871 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,464 we had family devotions. 872 00:35:33,512 --> 00:35:37,720 And the busyness of life has pulled us a lot from that. 873 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,680 And what we have to do is we have to recalibrate and say, okay, 874 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:42,980 what matters, what's important? 875 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:46,840 For, for me, I'll just, I'll be real. 876 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,896 I, I have no reason to put up a front to you. 877 00:35:49,968 --> 00:35:55,256 For me, my goal for 2025 is to pray more, pray more, always pray 878 00:35:55,288 --> 00:35:55,624 more. 879 00:35:55,712 --> 00:35:58,220 Someone asked me recently, how, how much should I pray? 880 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:00,128 And I answered more. 881 00:36:00,264 --> 00:36:01,488 Like, what does more mean? 882 00:36:01,544 --> 00:36:04,496 Well, if you're praying five minutes, pray six minutes, pray without 883 00:36:04,568 --> 00:36:04,960 ceasing. 884 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:09,072 Biblically speaking, have a constant communication with God. 885 00:36:09,216 --> 00:36:10,768 How much should I read more? 886 00:36:10,904 --> 00:36:12,656 I'd encourage you to read through scripture. 887 00:36:12,768 --> 00:36:14,608 I would encourage you to take that Bible reading plan. 888 00:36:14,664 --> 00:36:16,928 And if you don't pick that one, there's plenty of great ones 889 00:36:16,944 --> 00:36:18,768 on different apps that you can go through. 890 00:36:18,904 --> 00:36:21,024 And I would encourage you to try to do that. 891 00:36:21,192 --> 00:36:22,656 So what are your spiritual goals? 892 00:36:22,688 --> 00:36:24,608 I don't want you to answer me right now, but I want you to pray 893 00:36:24,624 --> 00:36:26,150 about that for the next few days. 894 00:36:26,190 --> 00:36:27,590 Be praying about what your goals are. 895 00:36:27,630 --> 00:36:30,450 Because if you don't set goals, what's going to happen? 896 00:36:31,070 --> 00:36:33,542 Well, you're just going to kind of drift, right? 897 00:36:33,566 --> 00:36:36,054 And I'm not saying that we should be checklist oriented as a 898 00:36:36,062 --> 00:36:38,790 Christian because we know that it's more than that, but. 899 00:36:38,830 --> 00:36:42,774 But all of us should put some sort of plan down that we say, you 900 00:36:42,782 --> 00:36:42,934 know what? 901 00:36:42,942 --> 00:36:44,902 This is what I'm going to strive to do in the power of God. 902 00:36:44,966 --> 00:36:48,166 I'm going to ask him to give me strength to overcome the distractions, 903 00:36:48,278 --> 00:36:50,534 to overcome the difficulties and say, you know, I need to do more 904 00:36:50,542 --> 00:36:51,162 of this. 905 00:36:51,326 --> 00:36:54,466 Maybe for you it's exercising in your spiritual discipline. 906 00:36:54,578 --> 00:36:57,346 Maybe for you, you know, as we studied the spiritual gifts, you've 907 00:36:57,378 --> 00:36:58,418 really narrowed down. 908 00:36:58,474 --> 00:37:01,042 You know what, I'm a teacher or I'm a. 909 00:37:01,066 --> 00:37:02,738 I have the gift of ministry, the gift of helps. 910 00:37:02,754 --> 00:37:03,986 I have the gift of mercy. 911 00:37:04,098 --> 00:37:07,826 How can I dive deeper into that spiritual gift or spiritual 912 00:37:07,858 --> 00:37:08,910 gifts this year? 913 00:37:09,690 --> 00:37:12,386 And it doesn't have to be within the confines of Middletown 914 00:37:12,418 --> 00:37:13,362 Baptist Church. 915 00:37:13,506 --> 00:37:16,162 It could be within your community, it could be within your 916 00:37:16,186 --> 00:37:18,696 home, it can be within your workplace. 917 00:37:18,728 --> 00:37:20,952 But I would encourage you to be thinking more and more about how 918 00:37:20,976 --> 00:37:23,320 God is going to use you in 2025. 919 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:27,400 And so I would say a practical thing to do would be to write down 920 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:33,032 a list of spiritual goals for 2025 and then say, okay, how am I 921 00:37:33,056 --> 00:37:34,660 going to go about doing these things? 922 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:36,328 Maybe you say, you know what? 923 00:37:36,384 --> 00:37:38,328 I want to read my Bible more and I want to read some. 924 00:37:38,384 --> 00:37:39,820 Some spiritual books. 925 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:43,112 Well, it's very easy to get started, get a book, start reading. 926 00:37:43,176 --> 00:37:43,416 Okay? 927 00:37:43,448 --> 00:37:44,248 You got to get started. 928 00:37:44,304 --> 00:37:45,460 That's the biggest thing. 929 00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:47,416 Maybe it's church attendance. 930 00:37:47,448 --> 00:37:50,232 Now I'm speaking to a crowd that came out on a Wednesday night 931 00:37:50,256 --> 00:37:51,000 of New Year's Day. 932 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:52,056 So that's really cool. 933 00:37:52,168 --> 00:37:53,384 I'm glad you guys are out. 934 00:37:53,472 --> 00:37:54,616 But maybe it's just being church. 935 00:37:54,648 --> 00:37:55,896 You go, I need to be in church. 936 00:37:55,928 --> 00:37:58,580 I need to be around other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 937 00:37:59,440 --> 00:37:59,944 Maybe. 938 00:37:59,992 --> 00:38:01,144 Maybe you need to. 939 00:38:01,312 --> 00:38:03,448 Here's one thing I was hit with last year. 940 00:38:03,584 --> 00:38:05,580 I was challenged with friendship. 941 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:11,250 You know, like, how many make meaningful friendships do I have 942 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:11,966 in the Lord? 943 00:38:11,998 --> 00:38:12,462 You know, and. 944 00:38:12,486 --> 00:38:13,614 And like, we get busy. 945 00:38:13,662 --> 00:38:16,990 You know, my wife's my best friend, but there is an element of 946 00:38:17,030 --> 00:38:20,110 iron, sharpening iron and being able to be around folks that 947 00:38:20,150 --> 00:38:21,870 are of, like, faith, and. 948 00:38:21,910 --> 00:38:23,262 And I think we need more of that. 949 00:38:23,366 --> 00:38:25,630 And so, you know, maybe for some of us, you don't think about 950 00:38:25,670 --> 00:38:28,142 friendship as a spiritual thing, but maybe for some of us, 951 00:38:28,166 --> 00:38:31,934 we want to pursue more of what it means to be a godly friend and, 952 00:38:32,022 --> 00:38:33,262 and grow in that regard. 953 00:38:33,326 --> 00:38:37,448 Maybe it's parenting, maybe it's grandparenting, uh, maybe it's 954 00:38:37,464 --> 00:38:38,440 in your marriage. 955 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:39,480 I don't know what it is. 956 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:39,720 But. 957 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:41,752 But maybe God has some spiritual goals for you as a. 958 00:38:41,776 --> 00:38:44,424 As a couple, as a husband and wife, to say, you know, we're going 959 00:38:44,432 --> 00:38:45,540 to do this together. 960 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:47,608 Maybe you have some goals within your workplace. 961 00:38:47,624 --> 00:38:50,328 Maybe you say, I want to share the gospel with at least one person 962 00:38:50,384 --> 00:38:50,760 this year. 963 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:51,528 You know, that's a. 964 00:38:51,584 --> 00:38:52,328 That's a. 965 00:38:52,464 --> 00:38:53,960 Sounds kind of trivial. 966 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:55,272 One person over a whole year. 967 00:38:55,296 --> 00:38:55,752 But you know what? 968 00:38:55,776 --> 00:38:58,376 If everyone shared the gospel with just one person in the year, 969 00:38:58,448 --> 00:39:00,056 there would be a lot more gospel presented. 970 00:39:00,088 --> 00:39:01,140 I'm going to tell you that. 971 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,104 And so I would encourage you, maybe think about someone in your 972 00:39:04,112 --> 00:39:05,848 life and it doesn't have to be a complete stranger. 973 00:39:05,944 --> 00:39:09,112 I think a lot of times we think about soul winning and evangelism. 974 00:39:09,176 --> 00:39:11,960 I'm going to walk up to the scariest guy at the store and walk 975 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:14,472 up to him and give him a confrontation, and that might be 976 00:39:14,496 --> 00:39:14,680 you. 977 00:39:14,720 --> 00:39:15,416 That's fine. 978 00:39:15,528 --> 00:39:16,264 Go for it. 979 00:39:16,352 --> 00:39:18,552 But what I would say is that there are people in your life that 980 00:39:18,576 --> 00:39:21,352 you probably have a relationship with that would hear 981 00:39:21,376 --> 00:39:24,424 you out, that would understand you and know your life and say, yeah, 982 00:39:24,472 --> 00:39:24,888 you know what? 983 00:39:24,944 --> 00:39:25,640 I'll hear you out. 984 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:28,712 I respect your faith, and you might have an opportunity to share 985 00:39:28,736 --> 00:39:31,496 with them why the Bible says on First Peter, chapter three, verse 986 00:39:31,528 --> 00:39:34,412 15, give an answer for the hope that is within you. 987 00:39:34,596 --> 00:39:36,556 And so people see your hope, give them an answer. 988 00:39:36,588 --> 00:39:38,364 Give them an answer in Jesus Christ. 989 00:39:38,532 --> 00:39:43,040 And so our spiritual goals in 2025 need to be individual goals. 990 00:39:43,540 --> 00:39:46,252 But just as much as there's individual goals, we need to have 991 00:39:46,276 --> 00:39:46,924 corporate goals. 992 00:39:46,972 --> 00:39:49,596 We need to have goals within the church. 993 00:39:49,788 --> 00:39:52,748 And for the next three Sundays, for the next three Sundays, 994 00:39:52,764 --> 00:39:56,188 we're going to be going through three goals that I believe 995 00:39:56,324 --> 00:39:59,190 this church, Middletown Baptist Church, should strive after. 996 00:39:59,340 --> 00:40:02,390 In 2025, we're going to go through three goals. 997 00:40:02,730 --> 00:40:06,834 On the third Sunday of the month, we are going to be launching 998 00:40:06,882 --> 00:40:09,234 our church vision, and it's going to be one of those goals, and 999 00:40:09,242 --> 00:40:10,562 it's going to be a really big thing. 1000 00:40:10,666 --> 00:40:11,954 We're really excited for it. 1001 00:40:12,042 --> 00:40:12,930 And I wouldn't. 1002 00:40:13,010 --> 00:40:15,474 I wouldn't say It's a reason to be afraid. 1003 00:40:15,602 --> 00:40:16,834 But it is going. 1004 00:40:17,002 --> 00:40:21,474 If, if we cooperate, if our church says we believe in this goal, 1005 00:40:21,602 --> 00:40:25,550 and I think it's a scriptural goal, I think it will stretch us. 1006 00:40:25,860 --> 00:40:27,052 It will stretch us. 1007 00:40:27,156 --> 00:40:29,580 It'll put us in a place that we might say, hey, I've never done 1008 00:40:29,620 --> 00:40:30,076 this before. 1009 00:40:30,148 --> 00:40:32,876 I've never gone and done something like this before. 1010 00:40:33,028 --> 00:40:35,852 But I guarantee you, as God stretches you, that's the way that 1011 00:40:35,876 --> 00:40:36,600 we grow. 1012 00:40:37,300 --> 00:40:39,516 Growing isn't always easy. 1013 00:40:39,628 --> 00:40:42,760 Actually, it's more difficult than we would expect it to be. 1014 00:40:43,220 --> 00:40:44,828 Sometimes there's growing pains. 1015 00:40:45,004 --> 00:40:47,644 And I would encourage you to be praying about how God leads you 1016 00:40:47,652 --> 00:40:47,932 this year. 1017 00:40:47,956 --> 00:40:49,644 How can you walk in newness of life? 1018 00:40:49,732 --> 00:40:52,140 And so I want you to think about what Revelation chapter 21, 1019 00:40:52,180 --> 00:40:54,780 verse 5 says, that God's going to make all things new. 1020 00:40:54,820 --> 00:40:56,732 How is he making things new in your life? 1021 00:40:56,916 --> 00:40:58,828 Are you noticing the newness of life? 1022 00:40:58,884 --> 00:41:01,276 Are you allowing it just to be like, well, you know what? 1023 00:41:01,428 --> 00:41:02,844 Same old, same old. 1024 00:41:03,012 --> 00:41:06,720 For me, I've been really challenged with walking differently 1025 00:41:07,940 --> 00:41:10,556 so many times as we've been saved for so long. 1026 00:41:10,708 --> 00:41:13,484 Many of us, most of us have been saved for a very long time. 1027 00:41:13,652 --> 00:41:15,964 We get so complacent. 1028 00:41:16,012 --> 00:41:19,932 We get so used to the gospel that we miss the grandeur and the 1029 00:41:19,956 --> 00:41:22,040 miracle of what the gospel really is. 1030 00:41:22,940 --> 00:41:24,404 And the gospel is everything. 1031 00:41:24,492 --> 00:41:25,428 The gospel is every. 1032 00:41:25,484 --> 00:41:25,796 Why. 1033 00:41:25,868 --> 00:41:28,520 Why do what we are doing without the gospel? 1034 00:41:29,340 --> 00:41:29,748 Right? 1035 00:41:29,804 --> 00:41:35,012 You could go, you know, you could join a social club and have 1036 00:41:35,036 --> 00:41:36,320 your friendships there. 1037 00:41:37,980 --> 00:41:41,092 You could join a sports team and go get your athleticism. 1038 00:41:41,156 --> 00:41:41,732 You could. 1039 00:41:41,836 --> 00:41:46,452 You could even join a charity and give food to the poor and needy, 1040 00:41:46,516 --> 00:41:47,754 which is a great thing. 1041 00:41:47,892 --> 00:41:52,610 But you can do all of those things and not have the gospel. 1042 00:41:53,030 --> 00:41:53,438 So. 1043 00:41:53,494 --> 00:41:55,070 So why are we doing what we're doing? 1044 00:41:55,110 --> 00:41:56,574 The gospel is the heartbeat. 1045 00:41:56,622 --> 00:41:58,510 The gospel is the root. 1046 00:41:58,590 --> 00:42:00,206 The gospel is the centerpiece. 1047 00:42:00,238 --> 00:42:00,926 And we say, okay. 1048 00:42:00,958 --> 00:42:03,726 Everything that we do is centered in the gospel. 1049 00:42:03,838 --> 00:42:05,294 It's centered in the gospel. 1050 00:42:05,422 --> 00:42:07,614 And so that's what we're going to be talking about here for the 1051 00:42:07,622 --> 00:42:10,382 next three weeks at church is what are our goals? 1052 00:42:10,446 --> 00:42:12,094 And so I'm not going to check you. 1053 00:42:12,102 --> 00:42:14,222 I'm not going to say, hey, as you head out tonight, I want a list 1054 00:42:14,246 --> 00:42:15,006 of all of your goals. 1055 00:42:15,038 --> 00:42:18,284 But if you would like to say, hey, Pastor, I've. 1056 00:42:18,332 --> 00:42:21,400 I've got a few goals that I would like to accomplish this year. 1057 00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:23,660 I would love to say, like, well, let me hear them. 1058 00:42:23,700 --> 00:42:24,140 Like, if you. 1059 00:42:24,180 --> 00:42:25,756 If you want to share them with me, you can. 1060 00:42:25,828 --> 00:42:29,084 And if you want to Say, like, hey, how can I accomplish these goals? 1061 00:42:29,132 --> 00:42:32,364 Like, like, I, I feel like God is calling me this way. 1062 00:42:32,452 --> 00:42:33,756 How could I get there? 1063 00:42:33,908 --> 00:42:37,548 And, and maybe, just maybe someone within the church has something 1064 00:42:37,604 --> 00:42:40,092 going on the same way, and we can get people together and we can 1065 00:42:40,116 --> 00:42:42,234 start working and collaborating and getting some of 1066 00:42:42,242 --> 00:42:43,642 these goals accomplished. 1067 00:42:43,786 --> 00:42:45,882 But I would say, hey, maybe you're like, I, I want to read some 1068 00:42:45,906 --> 00:42:48,314 more books on a different topic. 1069 00:42:48,442 --> 00:42:54,042 Maybe it's the topic of, I don't know, prayer or, or whatever, 1070 00:42:54,106 --> 00:42:56,346 heaven, and you want some reading materials. 1071 00:42:56,378 --> 00:42:58,026 I would love to point you in that direction. 1072 00:42:58,058 --> 00:42:58,618 Okay. 1073 00:42:58,714 --> 00:43:03,498 The, the purpose of the pastor is not to get up and just give you 1074 00:43:03,554 --> 00:43:04,842 content on Sunday morning. 1075 00:43:04,946 --> 00:43:06,122 That's one element. 1076 00:43:06,266 --> 00:43:09,470 The Bible says in Ephesians, chapter four, equipping the saints 1077 00:43:10,370 --> 00:43:12,218 for the work of the ministry. 1078 00:43:12,394 --> 00:43:16,506 So it's my job to give you every tool that you can, scripturally 1079 00:43:16,538 --> 00:43:18,522 speaking, to do what God has called you to do. 1080 00:43:18,546 --> 00:43:20,250 And so I want to help you in that. 1081 00:43:20,370 --> 00:43:22,570 And so let's, let's collaborate, let's get together, 1082 00:43:22,610 --> 00:43:22,970 let's talk. 1083 00:43:23,010 --> 00:43:23,898 Don't be ashamed of it. 1084 00:43:23,954 --> 00:43:26,362 Don't say, well, it's embarrassing, folks. 1085 00:43:26,426 --> 00:43:28,186 There's nothing more exciting for a Christian. 1086 00:43:28,218 --> 00:43:30,362 There shouldn't be anything more exciting for Christians to get 1087 00:43:30,386 --> 00:43:33,002 together and say, like, how can we talk about God working in 1088 00:43:33,026 --> 00:43:33,482 our life? 1089 00:43:33,586 --> 00:43:34,618 It's an exciting thing. 1090 00:43:34,674 --> 00:43:38,018 I love to get together with pastors sometimes and just say, hey, 1091 00:43:38,034 --> 00:43:38,850 what's your church doing? 1092 00:43:38,890 --> 00:43:41,666 And it's not about competition, it's not about jealousy. 1093 00:43:41,698 --> 00:43:44,002 It's like, hey, I want to see what God's doing at your church. 1094 00:43:44,146 --> 00:43:46,310 And then I'm just going to give you a little bit of a hint. 1095 00:43:47,530 --> 00:43:49,390 Hey, whose kid is that over there? 1096 00:43:50,730 --> 00:43:51,426 That's my kid. 1097 00:43:51,458 --> 00:43:52,510 So I can say that. 1098 00:43:54,010 --> 00:43:56,226 But one of the things, I'll give you a little, a little hint 1099 00:43:56,258 --> 00:43:57,026 and then we'll be done. 1100 00:43:57,098 --> 00:43:59,506 One of the things that we're going to be doing is collaborating 1101 00:43:59,538 --> 00:44:00,146 with other churches. 1102 00:44:00,178 --> 00:44:03,876 You've already seen us kind of do that already with, with our Christmas 1103 00:44:03,908 --> 00:44:04,484 Eve service. 1104 00:44:04,572 --> 00:44:06,164 And some people start getting nervous. 1105 00:44:06,292 --> 00:44:10,084 Whoa, collaborating with another church is that, that, that's 1106 00:44:10,092 --> 00:44:11,012 our competition? 1107 00:44:11,156 --> 00:44:16,340 Well, if they're a Bible preaching, solid church that we agree 1108 00:44:16,380 --> 00:44:18,164 with, there's nothing wrong with helping them out. 1109 00:44:18,252 --> 00:44:18,740 Okay. 1110 00:44:18,820 --> 00:44:21,476 The Bible says to go to Jerusalem, Judea, and to the uttermost 1111 00:44:21,508 --> 00:44:22,440 part of the earth. 1112 00:44:22,860 --> 00:44:23,652 And then it all. 1113 00:44:23,676 --> 00:44:24,756 I, I skipped one there. 1114 00:44:24,828 --> 00:44:25,444 Samaria. 1115 00:44:25,492 --> 00:44:28,956 Samaria is a place that we're not comfortable going and sometimes 1116 00:44:29,108 --> 00:44:31,212 going to another church and helping another church that might 1117 00:44:31,236 --> 00:44:32,828 need some help is, is a difficulty. 1118 00:44:32,844 --> 00:44:35,740 We go, well, if we help them, how we're losing that. 1119 00:44:35,780 --> 00:44:38,092 No, we're all part of the kingdom of God now. 1120 00:44:38,116 --> 00:44:39,852 We don't go to, we're not ecumenical. 1121 00:44:39,996 --> 00:44:41,836 We don't go to a church that doesn't believe the gospel. 1122 00:44:41,868 --> 00:44:43,772 We don't go to a church that practices things differently than 1123 00:44:43,796 --> 00:44:44,840 we practice them. 1124 00:44:45,220 --> 00:44:48,172 But we go and we help and we support other fellow brothers and 1125 00:44:48,196 --> 00:44:48,476 sisters. 1126 00:44:48,508 --> 00:44:52,252 Hey, we might even have opportunities to go outside of our 1127 00:44:52,276 --> 00:44:54,604 confines and support people in other countries. 1128 00:44:54,692 --> 00:44:56,480 We already do in our missions and giving. 1129 00:44:56,620 --> 00:44:58,296 You know, one of the things that I've been really challenged 1130 00:44:58,328 --> 00:45:01,288 with is sometimes we're willing to write a check, but we're 1131 00:45:01,304 --> 00:45:03,032 not willing to take a step. 1132 00:45:03,216 --> 00:45:06,296 And I think sometimes it might be that some of us that are able, 1133 00:45:06,368 --> 00:45:08,552 maybe we're not able to write a check, but we're able to go and 1134 00:45:08,576 --> 00:45:09,144 help. 1135 00:45:09,312 --> 00:45:11,576 That might be something that we can think about for our goals 1136 00:45:11,608 --> 00:45:12,872 in 2025. 1137 00:45:13,056 --> 00:45:16,552 And so I will stop there and save the rest for this Sunday. 1138 00:45:16,656 --> 00:45:18,420 Hope that you can come back for that. 1139 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:22,344 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 1140 00:45:22,392 --> 00:45:23,144 podcast. 1141 00:45:23,272 --> 00:45:25,890 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing blessing for you. 1142 00:45:26,270 --> 00:45:28,486 You would like to find out more information about our church 1143 00:45:28,518 --> 00:45:32,134 or this sermon, you can find us at middletownbaptistchurch.org 1144 00:45:32,262 --> 00:45:35,130 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 1145 00:45:35,550 --> 00:45:40,006 You can also email me directly at Josh Massaroiddletownbaptistchurch 1146 00:45:40,038 --> 00:45:44,518 dot com if you've enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and follow 1147 00:45:44,574 --> 00:45:47,530 along for future podcast and updates. 1148 00:45:47,950 --> 00:45:49,030 Thank you so much. 1149 00:45:49,150 --> 00:45:49,974 God bless. 1150 00:45:50,102 --> 00:45:51,230 Have a wonderful day.