144 00:18:51.395 --> 00:18:53.385 Would you please join me in standing 145 00:18:53.405 --> 00:18:54.625 for the reading of God's word? 146 00:18:59.935 --> 00:19:03.545 This is from one John chapter five, verses 13 through 21. 147 00:19:05.925 --> 00:19:08.965 I write these things to you who believe in the name 148 00:19:08.965 --> 00:19:11.765 of the Son of God that you may know 149 00:19:11.765 --> 00:19:13.205 that you have eternal life. 150 00:19:14.705 --> 00:19:17.165 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, 151 00:19:17.795 --> 00:19:21.925 that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 152 00:19:23.015 --> 00:19:26.995 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know 153 00:19:26.995 --> 00:19:30.515 that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 154 00:19:32.495 --> 00:19:36.115 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading 155 00:19:36.175 --> 00:19:38.155 to death, he shall ask 156 00:19:38.895 --> 00:19:42.395 and God will give him life to those who commit sins 157 00:19:42.395 --> 00:19:43.395 that do not lead to death. 158 00:19:44.725 --> 00:19:46.555 There is sin that leads to death. 159 00:19:47.035 --> 00:19:49.275 I do not say that one should pray for that 160 00:19:50.675 --> 00:19:51.895 all wrongdoing is sin, 161 00:19:52.435 --> 00:19:54.655 but there is sin that does not lead to death. 162 00:19:56.795 --> 00:19:59.215 We know that everyone who has been born 163 00:19:59.215 --> 00:20:01.535 of God does not keep on sinning, 164 00:20:01.795 --> 00:20:04.375 but he who was born of God protects him. 165 00:20:05.155 --> 00:20:07.015 And the evil one does not touch him. 166 00:20:08.845 --> 00:20:10.585 We know that we are from God 167 00:20:11.435 --> 00:20:14.135 and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 168 00:20:15.455 --> 00:20:19.035 And we know that the Son of God has come 169 00:20:19.655 --> 00:20:23.335 and has given us understanding so that we may know Him 170 00:20:23.335 --> 00:20:26.665 who is true and we are in Him, 171 00:20:26.725 --> 00:20:29.185 who is true in his son Jesus Christ. 172 00:20:30.495 --> 00:20:32.915 He is the true God and eternal life. 173 00:20:34.015 --> 00:20:36.995 Little children keep yourselves from idols. 174 00:20:38.065 --> 00:20:39.115 This is the word of the Lord. 175 00:20:45.495 --> 00:20:46.835 You can, uh, go ahead and grab your seat 176 00:20:46.835 --> 00:20:48.045 If you haven't done so already. 177 00:20:48.865 --> 00:20:53.245 Uh, a few years ago, uh, I was on my way from, uh, 178 00:20:53.355 --> 00:20:56.005 home driving to the Apex campus, uh, 179 00:20:56.005 --> 00:20:58.205 going down the highway when I heard a loud pop. 180 00:20:59.305 --> 00:21:01.845 And my first thought was, yeah, probably should have got 181 00:21:01.845 --> 00:21:02.885 that oil change that I've been putting 182 00:21:02.905 --> 00:21:03.965 off past couple of weeks. 183 00:21:05.065 --> 00:21:06.325 Um, I dunno about y'all, 184 00:21:06.325 --> 00:21:08.365 but I if you're like me, you're like, I know my car. 185 00:21:08.365 --> 00:21:09.765 Like the light comes on. You're like, yeah, 186 00:21:09.765 --> 00:21:11.005 but I probably got another week or two. 187 00:21:11.005 --> 00:21:12.485 Right? Some of y'all are driving around 188 00:21:12.635 --> 00:21:13.885 with that light on right now. 189 00:21:14.185 --> 00:21:15.885 Uh, what I thought was, is that okay, 190 00:21:16.005 --> 00:21:17.285 I, I'm running low on oil. 191 00:21:17.325 --> 00:21:18.485 I need to go and get an oil change. 192 00:21:18.545 --> 00:21:19.565 But, uh, what I didn't 193 00:21:19.565 --> 00:21:20.685 realize was, is that there was a leak. 194 00:21:21.425 --> 00:21:23.765 And so the oil was leaving a lot faster than I thought. 195 00:21:23.985 --> 00:21:25.885 And so here I am sitting on the side 196 00:21:25.885 --> 00:21:27.965 of the highway on a cold Sunday morning, uh, 197 00:21:27.965 --> 00:21:29.125 with a cracked engine block 198 00:21:30.025 --> 00:21:32.085 and not knowing how I was gonna get around, 199 00:21:32.265 --> 00:21:33.485 uh, for the foreseeable future. 200 00:21:33.545 --> 00:21:34.845 Now, fast forward a couple of months, 201 00:21:35.125 --> 00:21:36.885 I was still working in student ministry at the time 202 00:21:36.945 --> 00:21:39.205 and our volunteers in middle school ministry over at the 203 00:21:39.235 --> 00:21:41.565 Apex Campus, uh, they actually worked together 204 00:21:41.565 --> 00:21:43.525 with another family that was in the church 205 00:21:43.585 --> 00:21:45.045 who was trying to get rid of a car. 206 00:21:45.225 --> 00:21:47.725 Uh, and basically they, they gifted me with a car. 207 00:21:47.725 --> 00:21:50.685 It was a 2008 Toyota Corolla old faithful. 208 00:21:50.745 --> 00:21:54.205 It was great, right? So I drove around in Old Faithful 209 00:21:54.205 --> 00:21:56.245 for a while, and it wasn't until about a year 210 00:21:56.245 --> 00:21:58.565 and a half, two years ago that I found out, uh, 211 00:21:58.565 --> 00:22:00.565 the whose family donated the car. 212 00:22:00.725 --> 00:22:02.965 I was standing in the lobby over at the Apex campus 213 00:22:03.425 --> 00:22:05.525 and uh, this guy walks up to me, he's like, Hey, listen, 214 00:22:05.545 --> 00:22:06.925 you probably don't know who I am, but 215 00:22:07.065 --> 00:22:08.645 but my family, we were the ones that 216 00:22:08.645 --> 00:22:09.925 that gave you that Corolla. 217 00:22:09.925 --> 00:22:11.885 We just wanted to know how did it work out for you 218 00:22:12.795 --> 00:22:14.085 past tense, okay? 219 00:22:14.285 --> 00:22:17.645 I said, it's going great. It's present tense. 220 00:22:17.745 --> 00:22:20.445 And he goes, you're still driving around in that car. 221 00:22:21.265 --> 00:22:23.325 He goes, man, this was a commuter car that we had. 222 00:22:23.325 --> 00:22:24.645 It was just supposed to get us back and forth. 223 00:22:24.675 --> 00:22:26.165 He's like, I thought it lasts you a couple months. 224 00:22:26.245 --> 00:22:28.645 I thought maybe you just squeeze a year out of it. 225 00:22:28.645 --> 00:22:29.925 And at this point, it had been a couple years. 226 00:22:29.945 --> 00:22:32.205 And I told him, I said, man, actually I have had zero 227 00:22:32.245 --> 00:22:33.365 problems with that car. 228 00:22:34.185 --> 00:22:36.885 And that was mostly true, okay? 229 00:22:37.715 --> 00:22:39.245 When he gave me the car, 230 00:22:39.615 --> 00:22:42.805 there was an NC Quick Pass sticker on the windshield. 231 00:22:42.805 --> 00:22:44.605 You know what I'm talking about? Little things So you can 232 00:22:44.605 --> 00:22:45.645 drive through the toll roads, right? 233 00:22:46.025 --> 00:22:48.645 So he gives me the car at the time I'm living in Raleigh 234 00:22:48.835 --> 00:22:50.605 near, back then it was the PNC arena. 235 00:22:50.665 --> 00:22:51.725 Now it's the Lenovo Center. 236 00:22:52.145 --> 00:22:54.645 I'm living over there and I was working part-time. 237 00:22:54.925 --> 00:22:57.525 I was waiting tables at the Improv Comedy Club in Kerry. 238 00:22:57.555 --> 00:22:58.885 Some of you might know what I'm talking about. 239 00:22:58.915 --> 00:23:00.245 It's in that weird part of Kerry 240 00:23:00.245 --> 00:23:02.125 that's like also kind of Morrisville. 241 00:23:02.125 --> 00:23:03.885 It's where like, around where the Northwest Kerry 242 00:23:03.885 --> 00:23:05.285 campus used to meet, right? 243 00:23:05.665 --> 00:23:08.325 Um, and so it was like a 40 minute drive to get to work, 244 00:23:08.465 --> 00:23:10.725 but it was like a 30 minute drive if I took the toll road. 245 00:23:10.785 --> 00:23:12.645 So I said, all right, I'll take the toll road. 246 00:23:12.645 --> 00:23:14.365 So I start going and after like a month, 247 00:23:14.785 --> 00:23:17.005 I'm making this drive like three times a week. 248 00:23:17.025 --> 00:23:18.925 So six times through this toll road. 249 00:23:18.925 --> 00:23:20.885 And I go, man, I still haven't gotten a bill 250 00:23:21.785 --> 00:23:23.045 for going through the toll roads. 251 00:23:23.045 --> 00:23:25.965 And so my thought was, I said one of two things. 252 00:23:26.585 --> 00:23:29.165 Either, uh, this family's like the salt of the earth 253 00:23:29.185 --> 00:23:30.925 and they're getting my bills for the toll road 254 00:23:30.925 --> 00:23:32.245 and they're taking care of 'em. 255 00:23:32.245 --> 00:23:33.245 And they haven't said anything to me. 256 00:23:33.305 --> 00:23:34.565 I'm like, they want to stay anonymous. 257 00:23:34.575 --> 00:23:35.845 We'll see how long that lasts, right? 258 00:23:37.625 --> 00:23:40.365 Or it's like one of those prepaid deals. 259 00:23:40.465 --> 00:23:41.645 I'm like, you know what, maybe it's 260 00:23:41.645 --> 00:23:42.965 covered like through the year. 261 00:23:43.145 --> 00:23:46.165 And so I'm fine. So, uh, I'm working at this comedy club. 262 00:23:46.265 --> 00:23:47.645 My roommate gets a job there 263 00:23:47.645 --> 00:23:49.525 and I'm telling him, Hey bro, don't worry about it. 264 00:23:49.525 --> 00:23:50.805 Just get in the car. We'll ride together 265 00:23:50.805 --> 00:23:52.685 through the carpool, like tolls are taken care of. 266 00:23:52.685 --> 00:23:54.605 So we're going multiple times, right? 267 00:23:54.725 --> 00:23:57.045 I start doing a flag football league, flag football league, 268 00:23:57.045 --> 00:23:58.205 kind of in the same part of town. 269 00:23:58.545 --> 00:23:59.525 All of my friends. I'm like, Hey, 270 00:23:59.525 --> 00:24:00.525 just come over to my apartment. 271 00:24:00.935 --> 00:24:03.565 We'll, we'll, uh, carpool to the flag football game. 272 00:24:03.645 --> 00:24:05.645 I feel like a king, right? They like Mo Ho, uh, 273 00:24:05.645 --> 00:24:07.005 hoisting me around on their shoulders. 274 00:24:07.195 --> 00:24:09.645 It's great. Still don't get a bill for this thing. 275 00:24:10.395 --> 00:24:12.565 Fast forward like two years later, okay? 276 00:24:12.745 --> 00:24:15.845 Me and my wife were married and, uh, it's time for me to go 277 00:24:15.845 --> 00:24:17.565 and get my inspection renewed. 278 00:24:18.225 --> 00:24:22.885 So he's like, oh. So I go in 279 00:24:22.905 --> 00:24:24.485 to get my inspection renewed 280 00:24:24.485 --> 00:24:25.685 and the guy goes through all the things. 281 00:24:25.685 --> 00:24:27.445 He goes, okay, Mr. Nelson, your car hasn't 282 00:24:27.445 --> 00:24:28.765 passed all the inspection. 283 00:24:29.025 --> 00:24:31.045 Uh, but I can't renew your registration 284 00:24:31.045 --> 00:24:32.645 because there's an outstanding balance. 285 00:24:32.705 --> 00:24:34.525 And I, I'm like, what do you mean an outstanding balance? 286 00:24:34.755 --> 00:24:36.645 There's, he's, he goes, well, do you owe anything else? 287 00:24:36.645 --> 00:24:39.125 And the car? I'm like, no, the car's completely paid off. 288 00:24:39.125 --> 00:24:40.685 It's taken care of. And he goes, well, 289 00:24:40.755 --> 00:24:42.725 have you gotten maybe an unpaid speeding ticket 290 00:24:42.745 --> 00:24:43.885 or an unpaid parking ticket? 291 00:24:43.945 --> 00:24:45.045 Now I'm getting defensive. 292 00:24:45.505 --> 00:24:48.485 I'm like, man, listen, my brother in Christ, lemme tell you, 293 00:24:48.965 --> 00:24:50.005 I take care of my stuff. 294 00:24:50.005 --> 00:24:52.365 Everything needs to get done is done. It's all paid for. 295 00:24:52.365 --> 00:24:53.725 There's no outstanding things. He goes, well, 296 00:24:53.865 --> 00:24:55.325 listen, I can't renew your registration. 297 00:24:55.345 --> 00:24:58.045 The only other thing I can think of, he said, have you been 298 00:24:58.045 --> 00:24:59.165 through any toll roads? 299 00:24:59.165 --> 00:25:01.565 Because sometimes they won't let us renew this if 300 00:25:01.565 --> 00:25:02.725 you've been through a toll road. 301 00:25:02.745 --> 00:25:05.365 And so I go, you know what? It happens. I drive. 302 00:25:05.425 --> 00:25:07.925 Now I have, I have forgotten about all the 303 00:25:07.925 --> 00:25:08.965 times I'd gone through this thing. 304 00:25:09.045 --> 00:25:10.205 I thought, well, maybe I just drove 305 00:25:10.205 --> 00:25:11.365 through one and didn't notice it, right? 306 00:25:11.365 --> 00:25:13.005 So I go home, I tell my wife about, 307 00:25:13.005 --> 00:25:14.045 yeah, can you believe this man? 308 00:25:14.045 --> 00:25:15.725 They won't renew my thing because I didn't pay the thing 309 00:25:15.725 --> 00:25:17.245 because, so I'm calling people, Hey, I'm here 310 00:25:17.365 --> 00:25:19.365 to talk about the thing, talking to them on the phone. 311 00:25:20.025 --> 00:25:22.405 And this lady, I go, Hey, uh, I'm calling 312 00:25:22.405 --> 00:25:23.805 because I'm trying to renew my registration. 313 00:25:23.805 --> 00:25:25.125 They're saying there's something that might be a toll. 314 00:25:25.125 --> 00:25:26.245 I'm just calling to see if I have a balance. 315 00:25:26.245 --> 00:25:27.605 They say, what's your name? What's your license plate? 316 00:25:27.645 --> 00:25:29.045 I run all that. They go, okay, Mr. Nelson, 317 00:25:29.465 --> 00:25:33.285 you owe $545 worth the tolls. 318 00:25:37.185 --> 00:25:39.725 And my wife is just waiting for me to get off the phone 319 00:25:39.785 --> 00:25:41.325 and be like, oh, they made a mistake, right? 320 00:25:41.325 --> 00:25:42.845 And I'm like, huh, no, hold on. Lemme figure. 321 00:25:42.845 --> 00:25:45.845 Lemme talk to her first. So, 322 00:25:47.305 --> 00:25:48.685 so I'm talking to her and, 323 00:25:48.705 --> 00:25:50.085 and let me, I'm gonna be honest with you, church, 324 00:25:50.125 --> 00:25:51.485 I told you a small lie, okay? 325 00:25:51.645 --> 00:25:55.965 I actually had about 150 to $200 worth of unpaid tolls. 326 00:25:56.065 --> 00:25:58.445 The rest was all fees from not paying it 327 00:25:59.065 --> 00:26:00.365 for the time they had been left over. 328 00:26:01.465 --> 00:26:03.965 And all I could think about was all those times that I said 329 00:26:03.965 --> 00:26:05.965 with confidence, Hey guys, just come get in the car. 330 00:26:07.185 --> 00:26:09.925 Let me ask you this question. Uh, have you ever had 331 00:26:10.345 --> 00:26:13.565 or noticed in yourself a false sense of security 332 00:26:14.965 --> 00:26:17.715 where you're like, everything's okay as long 333 00:26:17.715 --> 00:26:20.355 as this job continues to, to pay the bills, as long 334 00:26:20.355 --> 00:26:22.035 as I continue to do what I'm supposed to do, as long 335 00:26:22.035 --> 00:26:23.035 as this person comes through for 336 00:26:23.035 --> 00:26:23.995 me, everything's gonna be okay. 337 00:26:24.225 --> 00:26:25.915 Only to have that thing let you down. 338 00:26:26.825 --> 00:26:28.715 Have you ever placed your faith in yourself 339 00:26:28.735 --> 00:26:30.355 or in someone else in a way 340 00:26:30.355 --> 00:26:33.715 that actually ended up hurting you in the long run? 341 00:26:34.975 --> 00:26:36.875 See, I was so certain that this little sticker 342 00:26:36.875 --> 00:26:38.475 that was on my windshield was my ticket 343 00:26:38.575 --> 00:26:40.275 to convenience when really, uh, 344 00:26:40.295 --> 00:26:42.635 it was costing me without me even realizing it. 345 00:26:44.225 --> 00:26:46.245 For the last nine weeks, we've been walking cover 346 00:26:46.345 --> 00:26:48.845 to cover line by line through the book of First John. 347 00:26:49.185 --> 00:26:51.805 Uh, and in this series, uh, first of all, really quick, 348 00:26:51.905 --> 00:26:53.285 can we just celebrate the fact that 349 00:26:53.285 --> 00:26:55.645 as Danielle finished reading today as a church, 350 00:26:55.665 --> 00:26:56.765 we have collectively read 351 00:26:56.875 --> 00:26:59.125 through an entire book of the Bible together. 352 00:26:59.265 --> 00:27:01.405 Can we just, I think that's super cool. 353 00:27:01.725 --> 00:27:02.965 I I think that's a beautiful thing 354 00:27:07.035 --> 00:27:08.125 through one John. 355 00:27:08.135 --> 00:27:10.085 We've been talking about the uncertainty of life, 356 00:27:10.105 --> 00:27:12.325 but one of the truths that I think there's been, uh, kind 357 00:27:12.325 --> 00:27:15.085 of lying or hovering right below the surface of all 358 00:27:15.085 --> 00:27:19.125 of this is that the only thing that's worse than uncertainty 359 00:27:19.905 --> 00:27:22.165 is absolute certainty in the wrong thing. 360 00:27:23.975 --> 00:27:26.915 The only thing worse than uncertainty is absolute 361 00:27:26.945 --> 00:27:28.395 certainty in the wrong thing. 362 00:27:28.395 --> 00:27:29.755 You've probably heard that expression before. 363 00:27:29.935 --> 00:27:32.595 Uh, don't place all your eggs in one basket, right? 364 00:27:33.095 --> 00:27:34.195 And we've probably heard that 365 00:27:34.195 --> 00:27:35.755 because what somebody was trying to tell you was, Hey, 366 00:27:35.755 --> 00:27:37.355 listen, in case that doesn't work out, 367 00:27:37.615 --> 00:27:39.555 you should probably have a backup plan. 368 00:27:40.255 --> 00:27:42.955 But what John wants us to know through this letter here is, 369 00:27:43.055 --> 00:27:44.875 is actually there is no backup plan. 370 00:27:46.355 --> 00:27:49.215 You have eggs, you gotta put 'em somewhere. 371 00:27:50.535 --> 00:27:51.885 Where are you putting your faith? 372 00:27:53.225 --> 00:27:54.615 Where are you putting your trust? 373 00:27:55.185 --> 00:27:56.815 Where are you putting your security? 374 00:27:56.915 --> 00:27:58.735 And so John says, Hey, listen, you've got 375 00:27:58.735 --> 00:28:01.055 to put your eggs in one basket. 376 00:28:01.205 --> 00:28:02.855 Just make sure that it's the right one. 377 00:28:03.645 --> 00:28:05.175 Make sure that it's the right Jesus. 378 00:28:05.765 --> 00:28:07.735 Make sure that it's the right gospel, holy 379 00:28:07.955 --> 00:28:11.255 and completely place yourself in his loving arms, 380 00:28:11.255 --> 00:28:14.175 because that is where hopefully you find your source 381 00:28:14.275 --> 00:28:15.655 and your sense of security. 382 00:28:16.595 --> 00:28:17.815 And so through this whole letter, 383 00:28:18.365 --> 00:28:21.095 because John wants us to have this certainty, this, 384 00:28:21.125 --> 00:28:22.255 this sense of security, 385 00:28:22.565 --> 00:28:24.855 he's invited us into inspecting two things. 386 00:28:24.955 --> 00:28:27.055 The first he wants us to inspect Jesus. 387 00:28:27.445 --> 00:28:29.455 He's teaching us about who Jesus really is. 388 00:28:29.525 --> 00:28:31.895 Despite false teachings, despite rumors, uh, 389 00:28:31.895 --> 00:28:34.175 despite the uncertainty that you may feel in this life, 390 00:28:34.175 --> 00:28:37.095 the security that Jesus offers you is not a 391 00:28:37.095 --> 00:28:38.295 false sense of security. 392 00:28:38.965 --> 00:28:40.935 It's assurance. It's something you can hold onto. 393 00:28:41.555 --> 00:28:43.575 The second thing that, or the second person rather, 394 00:28:43.575 --> 00:28:44.695 that John invites us 395 00:28:44.695 --> 00:28:48.095 to inspect is ourselves or the believer. 396 00:28:48.635 --> 00:28:51.495 He says, Hey, look at yourself. Do you love like Jesus? 397 00:28:52.515 --> 00:28:56.735 Do you live like Jesus? Are you practicing righteousness? 398 00:28:56.795 --> 00:28:58.215 Is his spirit transforming? 399 00:28:58.235 --> 00:29:00.735 You and John, even in, in one, John chapter three, 400 00:29:01.055 --> 00:29:03.135 reassures us that, Hey, when you feel like you've blown it, 401 00:29:03.485 --> 00:29:05.175 when you look at your life and you realize, man, 402 00:29:05.255 --> 00:29:06.735 I haven't been great in all those areas, 403 00:29:06.805 --> 00:29:09.335 when your heart condemns you, he reassures us 404 00:29:09.335 --> 00:29:12.655 that the God we follow is even greater than our hearts. 405 00:29:12.805 --> 00:29:16.095 John wants us to know with certainty. 406 00:29:16.775 --> 00:29:18.595 And in this passage that we're gonna look at today, 407 00:29:18.595 --> 00:29:22.475 John uses that word no, KNOW, seven times. 408 00:29:22.615 --> 00:29:25.915 He used it 39 times throughout the entire book of one John, 409 00:29:25.915 --> 00:29:28.315 because his goal is for you to know, 410 00:29:29.135 --> 00:29:30.355 and what does he want us to know? 411 00:29:31.245 --> 00:29:33.035 Let's look at the passage that Danielle read 412 00:29:33.035 --> 00:29:35.035 for us earlier, starting in verse 13. 413 00:29:36.445 --> 00:29:39.055 John writes, I write these things to you 414 00:29:39.475 --> 00:29:43.245 who believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know 415 00:29:43.275 --> 00:29:47.085 that you have eternal life, that you may know 416 00:29:47.085 --> 00:29:48.365 that you have eternal life. 417 00:29:48.365 --> 00:29:50.205 This is John's whole purpose for writing this letter. 418 00:29:50.265 --> 00:29:51.325 Now, here's what I want you to do. 419 00:29:51.365 --> 00:29:53.245 I want you to put on either your thinking cap 420 00:29:53.245 --> 00:29:54.685 or grab your time machine, whichever one 421 00:29:54.685 --> 00:29:55.805 is more easily accessible to you. 422 00:29:55.905 --> 00:29:58.565 And I want you to think back to week one of this series, 423 00:29:58.755 --> 00:30:01.245 because when I introduced this series, I said, 424 00:30:01.245 --> 00:30:04.805 because of what John wrote in one John one, three, he says, 425 00:30:04.825 --> 00:30:06.405 oh, my purpose in writing this is 426 00:30:06.405 --> 00:30:08.045 that you may have fellowship with me 427 00:30:08.185 --> 00:30:09.245 and with the other believers. 428 00:30:09.245 --> 00:30:11.965 Right? Remember he said, y'all who don't understand 429 00:30:11.965 --> 00:30:14.165 who Jesus is, I want you to have fellowship with us 430 00:30:14.265 --> 00:30:15.285 who know him intimately. 431 00:30:15.745 --> 00:30:17.325 So which one is it? Like, 432 00:30:17.505 --> 00:30:19.185 if you've noticed throughout this past 433 00:30:19.245 --> 00:30:21.145 or throughout this book, John tends 434 00:30:21.145 --> 00:30:23.345 to like popcorn all over the place. 435 00:30:23.605 --> 00:30:25.745 And we're like, did John, John, did you lose the plot 436 00:30:26.695 --> 00:30:27.785 like I thought you were writing 437 00:30:27.805 --> 00:30:28.985 so that we would have fellowship. 438 00:30:29.005 --> 00:30:30.745 And now you're writing about eternal life. 439 00:30:30.765 --> 00:30:33.425 And the truth is, is that to John, it's all one 440 00:30:33.425 --> 00:30:36.725 and the same, to have fellowship with the believers, 441 00:30:37.265 --> 00:30:40.485 to have fellowship with God is to have eternal life. 442 00:30:40.545 --> 00:30:41.725 How do we know that? He thinks that? 443 00:30:41.725 --> 00:30:44.365 Because in John chapter 17, verse three, 444 00:30:44.875 --> 00:30:48.045 John records a prayer from Jesus where Jesus says, 445 00:30:49.305 --> 00:30:50.765 and this is eternal life. 446 00:30:51.585 --> 00:30:52.765 So he's about to define it. 447 00:30:53.785 --> 00:30:56.395 This is eternal life that they know you, 448 00:30:57.135 --> 00:31:00.915 the only true God in Jesus Christ, whom you have sinned. 449 00:31:02.255 --> 00:31:07.045 Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God, 450 00:31:08.465 --> 00:31:09.885 not something you get after you die. 451 00:31:11.045 --> 00:31:14.375 Eternal life is not the, the golden streets 452 00:31:14.475 --> 00:31:16.415 and the the crystal lakes 453 00:31:16.415 --> 00:31:18.375 and the mansion that we all hope for one day. 454 00:31:18.375 --> 00:31:19.895 And the the crown of righteousness, right? 455 00:31:19.895 --> 00:31:23.295 Like all that stuff gets, gets added on towards the end. 456 00:31:24.285 --> 00:31:25.905 But right now, Jesus says, 457 00:31:25.905 --> 00:31:29.025 you can experience eternal life if you know God, 458 00:31:29.685 --> 00:31:33.105 if you love God, if you love his kids, if you love God 459 00:31:33.105 --> 00:31:35.625 and you love his church, John is saying, all 460 00:31:35.625 --> 00:31:37.065 of this is eternal life. 461 00:31:37.065 --> 00:31:38.505 And I don't want us to blow past this. 462 00:31:38.505 --> 00:31:40.385 Because what he's saying is that right now, 463 00:31:40.725 --> 00:31:42.265 as we gather together 464 00:31:42.525 --> 00:31:44.585 and we share fellowship with one another, 465 00:31:44.605 --> 00:31:46.145 and as we sing songs to God 466 00:31:46.145 --> 00:31:48.145 and experience fellowship with him, 467 00:31:48.175 --> 00:31:49.625 what we're actually experiencing is 468 00:31:49.625 --> 00:31:51.465 what Jesus died on the cross to give us. 469 00:31:52.625 --> 00:31:54.555 Like right now, you're experiencing that 470 00:31:56.305 --> 00:31:58.995 what a beautiful gift knowing God 471 00:31:59.015 --> 00:32:01.115 and this knowing, it's not just like some sort 472 00:32:01.115 --> 00:32:02.275 of intellectual ascent. 473 00:32:02.345 --> 00:32:03.995 It's a, it's not just a thought process. 474 00:32:04.225 --> 00:32:06.315 It's a deep, intimate knowledge. 475 00:32:06.785 --> 00:32:09.875 It's a life changing, life altering knowledge. 476 00:32:11.675 --> 00:32:14.375 And the only way that we can receive this eternal life is 477 00:32:14.375 --> 00:32:16.135 by way of the son, the right son, 478 00:32:16.155 --> 00:32:17.535 the right Jesus, the right gospel. 479 00:32:17.675 --> 00:32:19.695 And, and, and what I, the reason why I think John wants us 480 00:32:19.695 --> 00:32:21.895 to get this so important is hypothetically speaking, 481 00:32:22.195 --> 00:32:24.575 if you have your version of Jesus, that you're huddled 482 00:32:24.575 --> 00:32:26.935 around over here, and then I have my version of Jesus 483 00:32:26.935 --> 00:32:28.375 that I'm huddled around over here, 484 00:32:28.515 --> 00:32:29.735 but the real Jesus is over 485 00:32:29.735 --> 00:32:31.015 there, well then where's the unity? 486 00:32:32.545 --> 00:32:34.795 There's no unity around the right thing. 487 00:32:34.795 --> 00:32:36.915 Instead, we've created disunity over 488 00:32:36.915 --> 00:32:38.315 what we perceive, right? 489 00:32:38.815 --> 00:32:43.045 So John wants us to say, Hey, gather around the right Jesus. 490 00:32:43.225 --> 00:32:45.565 And when you, uh, have a relationship with Jesus, 491 00:32:45.985 --> 00:32:47.285 you can know the Father. 492 00:32:47.585 --> 00:32:49.925 And this is what, what all of this boils down to. 493 00:32:51.335 --> 00:32:55.295 When we know God, we can understand that truly knowing God 494 00:32:55.885 --> 00:32:59.415 anchors our life with unshakeable certainty. 495 00:33:01.125 --> 00:33:05.485 Truly knowing God anchors our life in unshakeable certainty. 496 00:33:05.485 --> 00:33:07.045 That's what we're gonna be talking about this morning. 497 00:33:07.045 --> 00:33:09.285 And I'm gonna come back to that statement a couple of times 498 00:33:09.285 --> 00:33:11.045 through all the stuff that John talks about, 499 00:33:11.195 --> 00:33:13.805 because he's talking about all of this through the lens 500 00:33:13.825 --> 00:33:15.085 of knowing God. 501 00:33:15.085 --> 00:33:17.685 And thank God he does, because it actually makes a lot 502 00:33:17.685 --> 00:33:20.165 of this, uh, uh, a little bit easier to understand. 503 00:33:20.245 --> 00:33:22.085 I don't know if you were standing while Danielle was reading 504 00:33:22.185 --> 00:33:25.445 and being like, I, I don't know what we're talking about. 505 00:33:26.505 --> 00:33:28.765 Uh, she even came to me earlier today 506 00:33:28.765 --> 00:33:30.085 and she was like, man, I was reading through the pastor 507 00:33:30.085 --> 00:33:31.405 and she's like, I'm really interested to see 508 00:33:31.505 --> 00:33:32.565 how you're gonna talk about all this. 509 00:33:32.725 --> 00:33:33.645 'cause it feels like he talks about 510 00:33:33.645 --> 00:33:34.485 all sorts of things, right? 511 00:33:34.505 --> 00:33:36.605 He, he talks about, oh, well, if you pray 512 00:33:36.605 --> 00:33:37.645 for stuff, you're gonna get it. 513 00:33:37.905 --> 00:33:38.925 And he says stuff like, 514 00:33:38.925 --> 00:33:40.525 there's a sin that doesn't lead to death. 515 00:33:40.525 --> 00:33:42.205 And you're like, what in the world are we talking about? 516 00:33:42.265 --> 00:33:44.325 But when we look at all of this through the lens 517 00:33:44.345 --> 00:33:46.765 of knowing God, it starts to make sense. 518 00:33:46.765 --> 00:33:48.205 So let's start with those next few verses. 519 00:33:48.205 --> 00:33:50.365 First John chapter five, verses 14 through 15. 520 00:33:50.385 --> 00:33:52.325 He says, uh, 521 00:33:52.325 --> 00:33:54.725 and this is the confidence that we have toward him, 522 00:33:55.115 --> 00:33:59.005 that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 523 00:33:59.985 --> 00:34:04.455 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know 524 00:34:04.485 --> 00:34:06.975 that we have requests, that we have the request 525 00:34:07.125 --> 00:34:08.335 that we asked of him. 526 00:34:08.485 --> 00:34:12.555 Okay? I wanna focus on the part 527 00:34:12.555 --> 00:34:15.075 that we're sure about, uh, 528 00:34:15.265 --> 00:34:16.875 less than the part that we're interested in. 529 00:34:17.425 --> 00:34:18.475 Okay? Um, 530 00:34:18.535 --> 00:34:20.555 the part we're all interested in is, wait a minute. 531 00:34:20.975 --> 00:34:22.635 The Bible says, if I pray for something, 532 00:34:22.935 --> 00:34:24.395 I'm gonna get it right. 533 00:34:24.575 --> 00:34:25.875 That's what we all want to talk about. 534 00:34:25.935 --> 00:34:27.675 Let, let's get there, we'll get there in a second, 535 00:34:27.855 --> 00:34:30.395 but let's get to the point that we know for sure 536 00:34:30.655 --> 00:34:32.075 and have certainty around. 537 00:34:32.225 --> 00:34:33.675 Because I think just like 538 00:34:33.675 --> 00:34:35.795 how Ben talked about a few weeks ago, how the idea 539 00:34:35.795 --> 00:34:39.075 that like Jesus loves you is kind of a cliche term. 540 00:34:39.435 --> 00:34:41.235 I think we also forget about the fact that, 541 00:34:41.235 --> 00:34:43.035 that God hears us when we pray, 542 00:34:43.985 --> 00:34:45.845 and we think of that as a cliche as well. 543 00:34:46.475 --> 00:34:49.405 John says, we can have confidence that when we pray, 544 00:34:49.745 --> 00:34:50.765 he hears us. 545 00:34:50.905 --> 00:34:52.565 And I just want to ask you this question. 546 00:34:53.545 --> 00:34:57.565 Do you, do you have confidence when you pray 547 00:34:57.595 --> 00:34:59.565 that your God hears you? 548 00:35:00.895 --> 00:35:04.835 Or do you feel like your prayer requests are like backed up 549 00:35:04.835 --> 00:35:08.565 as in his inbox, like it's buried beneath a bunch 550 00:35:08.565 --> 00:35:10.285 of junk mail and holiday ads? 551 00:35:11.075 --> 00:35:14.375 Like maybe when he gets time, he'll get around to it. 552 00:35:15.695 --> 00:35:18.635 Listen, I think it's a beautiful thing that we can know God, 553 00:35:18.635 --> 00:35:20.795 but in my mind, it's far more astounding to me 554 00:35:20.945 --> 00:35:22.795 that God even cares to know us. 555 00:35:23.965 --> 00:35:26.415 Like that's just a, it's a crazy thought. 556 00:35:26.435 --> 00:35:28.295 Let me ask you, have you ever a, have you ever met someone 557 00:35:28.635 --> 00:35:30.655 and felt like you weren't worthy of their time? 558 00:35:31.705 --> 00:35:33.355 Like maybe, maybe you're at work 559 00:35:33.375 --> 00:35:35.355 and somebody who's really high up in the company comes 560 00:35:35.355 --> 00:35:37.565 walking through your office, or maybe you're at the airport 561 00:35:37.565 --> 00:35:39.285 and you see a celebrity walk to the airport, right? 562 00:35:39.285 --> 00:35:40.485 What do we, what do we typically do? 563 00:35:40.485 --> 00:35:42.285 We say, oh listen, they, they probably don't wanna be 564 00:35:42.365 --> 00:35:43.805 bothered by me, right? 565 00:35:44.625 --> 00:35:46.165 But what we tend to do is we tend to bring 566 00:35:46.165 --> 00:35:47.325 that same mentality to prayer. 567 00:35:48.665 --> 00:35:51.285 We tend to think, man, God's so big. I'm so small. 568 00:35:51.315 --> 00:35:54.285 Like he's got a lot on his plate. My thing isn't big enough. 569 00:35:54.285 --> 00:35:56.765 There are people with far worse problems than me. 570 00:35:56.945 --> 00:35:59.285 Can I tell you something? You are absolutely right. 571 00:35:59.905 --> 00:36:01.725 And he still wants to talk to you. 572 00:36:03.375 --> 00:36:06.745 Your thing still matters no matter how big or how small. 573 00:36:07.175 --> 00:36:10.145 He's never too busy. He always has time for you. 574 00:36:11.155 --> 00:36:14.015 And he hear, John wants us to know he hears you 575 00:36:14.805 --> 00:36:15.855 when you pray. 576 00:36:15.975 --> 00:36:17.495 I I think one of the most, um, 577 00:36:18.095 --> 00:36:20.935 interesting stories in all the Bible is the story of job. 578 00:36:21.715 --> 00:36:22.755 I dunno if you've read it before. 579 00:36:22.755 --> 00:36:24.155 If you haven't, I highly recommend it. 580 00:36:24.155 --> 00:36:25.915 Uh, hopefully we get to preach on it at some point. 581 00:36:25.915 --> 00:36:27.235 It's a really fascinating story. 582 00:36:27.535 --> 00:36:29.715 Uh, but basically what happens is, is Job is this guy 583 00:36:29.715 --> 00:36:31.435 who everything is going pretty great for him in life. 584 00:36:31.695 --> 00:36:33.155 He has a great relationship with God. 585 00:36:33.155 --> 00:36:34.435 And one day Satan goes to God 586 00:36:34.435 --> 00:36:36.595 and says, Hey, listen, can I pick on Job a little bit? 587 00:36:37.025 --> 00:36:39.195 He's like, I think the only reason why Job loves you is 588 00:36:39.195 --> 00:36:40.075 because everything seems to be 589 00:36:40.075 --> 00:36:40.995 working out great in his life. 590 00:36:41.115 --> 00:36:44.395 I bet you if Joel's, if Job's, uh, circumstances changed, 591 00:36:45.135 --> 00:36:46.395 I'm willing to bet that he would curse 592 00:36:46.395 --> 00:36:47.475 you and turn his back on you. 593 00:36:47.615 --> 00:36:49.635 And so God grants Satan the permission to do this. 594 00:36:49.635 --> 00:36:53.355 And the entire book of Job is Job having a conversation 595 00:36:53.385 --> 00:36:56.035 with his friends, trying to figure out why does good things 596 00:36:56.335 --> 00:36:58.155 or why do bad things happen to good people? 597 00:36:59.095 --> 00:37:01.955 God, why do you allow this misery to come down on me? 598 00:37:01.955 --> 00:37:03.755 And so for the entire book, they're talking to each other. 599 00:37:03.775 --> 00:37:06.115 And then in the last, uh, right around the last, uh, 600 00:37:06.135 --> 00:37:08.515 few chapters, in chapters 38 through 41, uh, 601 00:37:08.655 --> 00:37:10.395 God actually starts talking to Job. 602 00:37:11.815 --> 00:37:14.475 And he does this thing where he starts talking about all 603 00:37:14.475 --> 00:37:15.475 that he has control over. 604 00:37:15.535 --> 00:37:17.995 He starts telling Job about how powerful he is, 605 00:37:18.015 --> 00:37:20.595 and he lists some pretty incredible things, okay? 606 00:37:20.665 --> 00:37:22.555 Just, just through the course. Here's a few of 'em. 607 00:37:22.555 --> 00:37:24.195 He asks Job, he says, job, do you know 608 00:37:24.195 --> 00:37:25.795 who laid the Earth's foundations? 609 00:37:26.775 --> 00:37:30.675 He goes, job, I'm the one who tells the shore of the sea 610 00:37:30.685 --> 00:37:33.135 where to stop Job. 611 00:37:33.135 --> 00:37:35.815 Lemme ask you a question. You know, like, like 612 00:37:35.815 --> 00:37:38.255 how when the lights go away, it gets dark 613 00:37:39.095 --> 00:37:40.195 and then when the lights come back 614 00:37:40.195 --> 00:37:41.355 on, the darkness goes away. 615 00:37:41.495 --> 00:37:44.255 Job. Do you know where the darkness goes? Because I do. 616 00:37:45.585 --> 00:37:49.325 He says, job, when you see lightning streak across the sky, 617 00:37:49.325 --> 00:37:50.925 do you know I'm the one that charted the 618 00:37:50.925 --> 00:37:51.965 course for that lightning? 619 00:37:53.125 --> 00:37:56.295 He's telling Job for three chapters how powerful he is. 620 00:37:56.315 --> 00:37:58.695 And you know what the most astounding part of all of it is? 621 00:37:59.405 --> 00:38:01.215 It's not any one of those particular acts 622 00:38:02.675 --> 00:38:05.205 that God is talking to a human being. 623 00:38:07.575 --> 00:38:11.795 Are you kidding me? He even gives him the time of the day. 624 00:38:11.905 --> 00:38:14.115 He's basically saying, Hey, you see all the stuff I could be 625 00:38:14.115 --> 00:38:17.525 busy with, but Job, I see you and I'm talking to you 626 00:38:17.945 --> 00:38:19.045 and I'm restoring you. 627 00:38:19.505 --> 00:38:21.285 And I want, when you, when you complain 628 00:38:21.465 --> 00:38:23.925 and you ask all these questions about me, and you curse me, 629 00:38:23.985 --> 00:38:26.445 and you wonder if I'm good, Hey, I'm still here 630 00:38:27.325 --> 00:38:28.385 and I'm still listening. 631 00:38:29.175 --> 00:38:30.795 And that is the beauty and the power 632 00:38:30.855 --> 00:38:31.875 of the God that we have. 633 00:38:31.895 --> 00:38:33.155 And that's what John wants us to know. 634 00:38:33.155 --> 00:38:36.485 Listen, that God, you have access to him right now. 635 00:38:36.485 --> 00:38:40.125 Listen, there are artists and musicians and actors 636 00:38:40.465 --> 00:38:42.805 and people who put stuff out into the world all the time, 637 00:38:42.865 --> 00:38:44.045 put out art and stuff like that. 638 00:38:44.265 --> 00:38:45.845 And, and, and I admire their work, 639 00:38:45.865 --> 00:38:48.045 and I can send them a DM on Instagram right 640 00:38:48.045 --> 00:38:49.085 now, and they would never see it. 641 00:38:49.085 --> 00:38:51.565 But I can stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon 642 00:38:52.025 --> 00:38:55.045 and talk to the one who created it, and he hears me 643 00:38:55.685 --> 00:38:58.025 and he cares, and he talks back, 644 00:38:59.585 --> 00:39:01.445 God is never too busy for you. 645 00:39:01.465 --> 00:39:03.325 And that is the assurance that we have. 646 00:39:03.325 --> 00:39:07.795 That's what we talk about when we say, no, God, to have 647 00:39:07.795 --> 00:39:09.835 that level of a relationship with him. 648 00:39:11.265 --> 00:39:14.205 Now, here's the part we can, we can get excited about that, 649 00:39:14.265 --> 00:39:15.365 but there's still a part of it 650 00:39:15.365 --> 00:39:17.205 that confuses us and disorients us. 651 00:39:17.205 --> 00:39:18.645 And it's what John says next. 652 00:39:18.715 --> 00:39:21.365 It's the part that says you receive whatever it 653 00:39:21.365 --> 00:39:22.445 is that you ask for, right? 654 00:39:25.735 --> 00:39:27.415 I think what we need to be mindful of, the part 655 00:39:27.415 --> 00:39:29.895 that really makes the difference in this is that John says 656 00:39:29.895 --> 00:39:33.415 that we must pray according to his will. 657 00:39:34.565 --> 00:39:36.665 As a big caveat, it's a really important thing. 658 00:39:36.765 --> 00:39:37.985 And I know for some of us, you're like, eh, 659 00:39:37.985 --> 00:39:39.225 it feels kinda like a killjoy, right? 660 00:39:39.225 --> 00:39:41.665 Like according to God's will, right? 661 00:39:42.005 --> 00:39:43.385 But it's so important, 662 00:39:43.445 --> 00:39:45.465 and I think this is important for us to remember 663 00:39:45.465 --> 00:39:46.945 because there are so many of us 664 00:39:46.945 --> 00:39:48.185 who I think we end up getting mad 665 00:39:48.185 --> 00:39:49.665 and shaking our fist at God 666 00:39:49.695 --> 00:39:51.345 because he won't give us something 667 00:39:51.345 --> 00:39:52.945 that he never promised us in the first place. 668 00:39:55.095 --> 00:39:56.265 Like we're asking him for things 669 00:39:56.265 --> 00:39:57.785 and he's like, well, where did I ever say that? 670 00:39:57.785 --> 00:39:59.265 I, and not like in a judgmental way, 671 00:39:59.265 --> 00:40:01.185 but he's like, listen, I, I promise you a lot, 672 00:40:01.185 --> 00:40:03.065 I've made a lot available to you, 673 00:40:03.765 --> 00:40:05.825 but the things you're asking for don't fall on that list. 674 00:40:05.825 --> 00:40:07.385 And so now we're putting parameters on God 675 00:40:07.385 --> 00:40:08.625 that he never even placed on himself. 676 00:40:08.625 --> 00:40:10.225 There are people who walk away from the faith 677 00:40:10.225 --> 00:40:12.865 because they prayed for a promotion and someone else got it. 678 00:40:13.795 --> 00:40:15.585 There are those of us who walk away from the faith 679 00:40:15.585 --> 00:40:17.865 because we've prayed for a spouse or for a child 680 00:40:17.885 --> 00:40:19.465 or for a house, and we never got it. 681 00:40:19.465 --> 00:40:20.985 And listen, I wanna be sensitive here. 682 00:40:21.005 --> 00:40:22.265 I'm, I'm, I'm not saying that you 683 00:40:22.265 --> 00:40:23.865 shouldn't ask for those things. 684 00:40:23.995 --> 00:40:25.665 James tells us that every good 685 00:40:25.685 --> 00:40:27.505 and perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father. 686 00:40:27.595 --> 00:40:30.105 Above. He's the giver of all good things. 687 00:40:30.565 --> 00:40:33.825 But the promises we need to hold onto are the ones 688 00:40:33.825 --> 00:40:37.385 that we see in scripture, the ones according to his will. 689 00:40:37.965 --> 00:40:40.825 In Philippians four 19, uh, the Apostle Paul, 690 00:40:40.825 --> 00:40:43.905 he writes this, he says, and my God will supply every need 691 00:40:43.905 --> 00:40:48.585 of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 692 00:40:49.485 --> 00:40:53.045 Okay? I mentioned the Apostle Paul wrote that, 693 00:40:53.045 --> 00:40:55.665 but do you know when he wrote that he was sitting in a jail 694 00:40:55.695 --> 00:40:58.425 cell facing the end of his life? 695 00:40:59.335 --> 00:41:01.315 And the obvious prayer request for Paul 696 00:41:02.175 --> 00:41:03.275 was, get me outta here. 697 00:41:04.745 --> 00:41:06.515 That was the clear thing for him to pray for. 698 00:41:07.095 --> 00:41:11.175 But instead, Paul is teaching the, the Philippians 699 00:41:11.215 --> 00:41:12.575 as he's teaching them about commitment. 700 00:41:12.575 --> 00:41:14.855 He's saying, Hey, listen, I, I actually don't complain 701 00:41:14.855 --> 00:41:17.135 because maybe God is using this jail cell 702 00:41:17.275 --> 00:41:18.575 to give me what I really need. 703 00:41:19.385 --> 00:41:22.255 Maybe he's using this situation to give me joy in the midst 704 00:41:22.275 --> 00:41:23.935 of poor circumstances, the faith 705 00:41:24.155 --> 00:41:25.615 to trust him when times get hard. 706 00:41:25.615 --> 00:41:27.855 The peace on cold nights when I'm questioning, 707 00:41:27.995 --> 00:41:29.135 how did I end up here? 708 00:41:30.045 --> 00:41:31.585 Can I just correct something for just a second? 709 00:41:31.585 --> 00:41:32.945 And this is a little bit of a tangent, I'm sorry. 710 00:41:33.020 --> 00:41:34.300 But I think this is so important to say. 711 00:41:34.725 --> 00:41:35.925 I think sometimes we think, oh, 712 00:41:36.005 --> 00:41:37.285 I pray for stuff and I don't get it. 713 00:41:37.285 --> 00:41:38.845 That must mean that I don't have enough faith. 714 00:41:40.395 --> 00:41:43.405 I would argue that if you prayed for something 715 00:41:43.405 --> 00:41:46.565 and you got it like every single time, I actually think 716 00:41:46.565 --> 00:41:47.805 that would weaken your faith over time. 717 00:41:48.825 --> 00:41:50.605 And I say that because like, if, if I needed 718 00:41:50.605 --> 00:41:52.845 to turn on a light in my house, I turn on the switch. 719 00:41:52.845 --> 00:41:53.965 And that doesn't require faith. 720 00:41:54.005 --> 00:41:57.905 I just do it right when I don't turn on, 721 00:41:57.905 --> 00:42:01.455 when I flip the switch and the lights don't turn on, God, 722 00:42:01.455 --> 00:42:02.975 please don't let this be like too expensive. 723 00:42:04.095 --> 00:42:06.295 I really hope this isn't cra like I start asking questions, 724 00:42:07.075 --> 00:42:10.055 but in the same way, like when you pray to God for something 725 00:42:10.055 --> 00:42:13.695 and he doesn't give it to you, that's when faith kicks in. 726 00:42:14.885 --> 00:42:17.545 That's the moment when you say, man, do I really trust him? 727 00:42:18.545 --> 00:42:20.645 That's the moment when you really have to ask, God, do I, 728 00:42:20.665 --> 00:42:23.525 do I actually believe that you care about me? 729 00:42:23.525 --> 00:42:25.245 This is what Paul is getting at in Philippians. 730 00:42:25.305 --> 00:42:27.085 Uh, Paul, a phrase that he uses throughout the letter 731 00:42:27.085 --> 00:42:28.565 of Philippians is even if, 732 00:42:29.065 --> 00:42:31.445 and I just wonder if we can be the type of people that pray, 733 00:42:31.555 --> 00:42:35.315 even if prayers, God, whether this works out 734 00:42:35.315 --> 00:42:37.675 or not, even if you give this to me 735 00:42:37.735 --> 00:42:41.295 or you don't, even if this makes sense in my mind 736 00:42:41.315 --> 00:42:45.135 or it doesn't, Lord, you see my physical, tangible needs. 737 00:42:45.195 --> 00:42:48.495 But even if you don't answer this prayer the way I think you 738 00:42:48.495 --> 00:42:52.055 should, I have certainty that you have given me what I need. 739 00:42:53.085 --> 00:42:55.615 Even if prayers, that's what it looks like 740 00:42:55.615 --> 00:42:57.055 to pray according to his will. 741 00:42:57.245 --> 00:42:59.095 Timothy Keller, he puts it this way. 742 00:42:59.795 --> 00:43:03.015 He says, God will either give us what we ask for in prayer, 743 00:43:03.755 --> 00:43:06.695 or he will give us what we would have asked him 744 00:43:06.695 --> 00:43:08.735 for if we knew everything he knows. 745 00:43:10.045 --> 00:43:12.655 Come on, come on. 746 00:43:14.285 --> 00:43:15.325 I wanna put it another way. 747 00:43:16.285 --> 00:43:20.225 The purpose of prayer is not for me to get what I want, 748 00:43:21.315 --> 00:43:22.935 but to humble me to the point 749 00:43:22.935 --> 00:43:24.735 of trusting what he wants for me. 750 00:43:26.195 --> 00:43:27.295 That's the purpose of prayer. 751 00:43:27.875 --> 00:43:30.495 And that comes from knowing God. 752 00:43:31.525 --> 00:43:33.455 When you know him, you trust him. 753 00:43:34.575 --> 00:43:38.635 But you can't know God's will if you don't first know God. 754 00:43:40.815 --> 00:43:43.185 This is intimacy, this is relationship with him. 755 00:43:43.855 --> 00:43:46.025 Alright, we covered that. That's a lot. 756 00:43:47.675 --> 00:43:49.665 Let's move on to the easy part of the passage. 757 00:43:50.365 --> 00:43:54.305 Um, sarcasm, by the way, uh, verses 16 758 00:43:54.365 --> 00:43:57.505 and 17, John writes, 759 00:43:57.505 --> 00:44:00.865 if anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading 760 00:44:00.965 --> 00:44:03.345 to death, he shall ask God 761 00:44:03.365 --> 00:44:05.105 and God will give him life to those 762 00:44:05.125 --> 00:44:06.865 who commit sins that do not lead to death. 763 00:44:06.865 --> 00:44:09.025 There is sin that leads to death. 764 00:44:09.945 --> 00:44:11.625 I do not say that one should pray for 765 00:44:11.625 --> 00:44:13.025 that all wrongdoing is sin, 766 00:44:13.085 --> 00:44:16.465 but there is sin that does not lead to death. 767 00:44:16.805 --> 00:44:19.515 All right? Is John saying here 768 00:44:19.585 --> 00:44:21.555 that there is good sin and bad sin? 769 00:44:22.695 --> 00:44:25.515 No. Right? Because he clearly states in verse 17 770 00:44:25.515 --> 00:44:27.435 that all wrongdoing is sin. 771 00:44:27.455 --> 00:44:28.675 So this is not a license 772 00:44:28.935 --> 00:44:31.165 or permission to send or do whatever we want. 773 00:44:31.165 --> 00:44:33.805 So what is he talking about? Well, first thing we have 774 00:44:33.805 --> 00:44:35.925 to keep in mind is that when John talks about life 775 00:44:35.985 --> 00:44:38.325 and death here, he's talking about spiritual 776 00:44:38.325 --> 00:44:39.805 life and spiritual death. 777 00:44:40.115 --> 00:44:44.205 Okay? So, uh, if spiritual life, um, 778 00:44:44.305 --> 00:44:45.405 is eternal life 779 00:44:45.545 --> 00:44:48.685 and knowing God, then spiritual death means, uh, 780 00:44:48.775 --> 00:44:50.285 separation from God. 781 00:44:50.745 --> 00:44:53.165 So when he talks about sin that leads us to death, 782 00:44:53.315 --> 00:44:55.045 he's talking about a sin that leads 783 00:44:55.045 --> 00:44:57.325 to eternal separation from God. 784 00:44:57.955 --> 00:45:01.205 Okay? Sin that leads to eternal separation from God. 785 00:45:01.265 --> 00:45:04.405 Now, most scholars would agree, which by the way, dude, we, 786 00:45:04.405 --> 00:45:06.405 there's, there's just not enough time 787 00:45:06.505 --> 00:45:07.605 to get into all this, okay? 788 00:45:07.625 --> 00:45:10.205 So I'm, I'm gonna try to minimize this as much as I can, 789 00:45:10.745 --> 00:45:14.605 but most scholars agree that this boils down to two types 790 00:45:14.665 --> 00:45:15.885 of sins, okay? 791 00:45:16.145 --> 00:45:19.285 Not specific sins, but types of sins. 792 00:45:20.025 --> 00:45:21.125 The first is 793 00:45:21.125 --> 00:45:22.765 what John has been talking about all throughout this letter, 794 00:45:23.395 --> 00:45:25.685 flat out rejection and denial of Jesus. 795 00:45:26.675 --> 00:45:28.005 Okay? So that's the first one. 796 00:45:28.005 --> 00:45:30.325 This is a sin that leads to eternal separation from God, 797 00:45:30.435 --> 00:45:32.805 just flat out rejecting and denying who Jesus is. 798 00:45:33.385 --> 00:45:35.885 The second is unrepentant sin 799 00:45:36.585 --> 00:45:40.325 or sins that we willingly choose not to turn away from. 800 00:45:40.345 --> 00:45:42.285 He even addresses both of these, uh, 801 00:45:42.285 --> 00:45:43.965 between verses 18 through 20. 802 00:45:44.105 --> 00:45:47.925 So first verse 18, he talks about the, uh, unrepentant sin. 803 00:45:47.985 --> 00:45:50.365 He says, we know that everyone who has been born 804 00:45:50.365 --> 00:45:52.405 of God does not keep on sinning, 805 00:45:52.985 --> 00:45:56.205 but he who was born of God protects him. 806 00:45:56.385 --> 00:45:58.925 I'm sorry, he who was born of God protects him. Yeah. 807 00:45:58.925 --> 00:46:01.325 And the evil one does not touch him. 808 00:46:01.475 --> 00:46:05.165 Here, John is talking about that unsent, unrepentant sin. 809 00:46:05.165 --> 00:46:08.645 He's talking about those who are not constantly making an 810 00:46:08.645 --> 00:46:10.525 effort to put sin to death, 811 00:46:10.705 --> 00:46:12.645 but instead choose to relish in it. 812 00:46:13.305 --> 00:46:15.485 The ones who just enjoy it, who just say, you know what? 813 00:46:15.545 --> 00:46:17.005 I'm doing this thing. I know it's wrong 814 00:46:17.005 --> 00:46:18.405 and I'm gonna keep doing that thing anyway. 815 00:46:18.415 --> 00:46:23.165 Right? Uh, the point that he's making, um, is not only 816 00:46:23.165 --> 00:46:25.685 that our sin in this way should be of our concern, 817 00:46:25.705 --> 00:46:26.925 but also for others, right? 818 00:46:26.925 --> 00:46:29.285 Because he says that we should be praying for those 819 00:46:29.345 --> 00:46:31.565 who we see living in that sort of cycle of sin. 820 00:46:32.145 --> 00:46:34.605 So remember what we just talked about a second ago about 821 00:46:34.605 --> 00:46:37.085 prayer, praying, uh, for the will of God? 822 00:46:37.085 --> 00:46:38.485 And if you're like, man, what is the will of God? 823 00:46:38.665 --> 00:46:42.045 The eradication of sin is always the will of God. 824 00:46:42.745 --> 00:46:44.405 So if you're looking for a way to start praying, 825 00:46:44.545 --> 00:46:47.365 God help me, uh, to turn for my sin. 826 00:46:47.545 --> 00:46:48.925 And I pray for those around me 827 00:46:48.925 --> 00:46:50.485 who I see living in sinful ways, 828 00:46:50.485 --> 00:46:52.125 and I know you want them to turn from that as well. 829 00:46:53.355 --> 00:46:56.485 This text tells us that God will, uh, answer those prayers 830 00:46:56.485 --> 00:46:58.045 and will move in on that behalf. 831 00:46:58.195 --> 00:47:02.385 Okay? Um, so this leads us to a question. 832 00:47:02.445 --> 00:47:04.585 If this is the type of safe, unrepentant sin is a sin 833 00:47:04.585 --> 00:47:06.385 that leads us to death, uh, what do we do with that? 834 00:47:07.725 --> 00:47:11.305 We confess it. We have got to confess it. 835 00:47:11.305 --> 00:47:13.665 There, there's a power in the confession of sin. 836 00:47:13.665 --> 00:47:16.025 What I love about this is, this is actually confession is 837 00:47:16.025 --> 00:47:19.105 the way that God rigged the game for us 838 00:47:19.125 --> 00:47:21.025 to overcome something that was meant to kill you. 839 00:47:23.085 --> 00:47:26.105 Sin, the only purpose of sin is to ruin your life. 840 00:47:27.465 --> 00:47:28.725 And God says, yeah, but there's a 841 00:47:28.725 --> 00:47:30.805 loophole if you confess it. 842 00:47:31.455 --> 00:47:33.605 First of all, he tells us that he is righteous 843 00:47:33.605 --> 00:47:35.045 and just to forgive us of our sins 844 00:47:35.045 --> 00:47:36.445 that came earlier in one John, 845 00:47:36.745 --> 00:47:38.885 but also confession to one another. 846 00:47:39.745 --> 00:47:40.845 Here's the beautiful thing. 847 00:47:40.845 --> 00:47:44.845 Because of Jesus confessed sin doesn't lead to death. 848 00:47:45.265 --> 00:47:46.965 It leads us to the feet of Jesus. 849 00:47:49.545 --> 00:47:52.195 Confessed sin does not lead to death. 850 00:47:52.705 --> 00:47:54.155 It's not a hopeless dead end. 851 00:47:54.505 --> 00:47:56.035 When you confess your sin, 852 00:47:56.095 --> 00:47:58.275 it will lead you back to the feet of Jesus. 853 00:47:58.285 --> 00:48:01.635 Where in desperation you find healing and restoration. 854 00:48:03.585 --> 00:48:05.115 When you admit God, I'm broken 855 00:48:05.115 --> 00:48:06.155 and there is something wrong with me, 856 00:48:06.155 --> 00:48:07.635 and you go back to Jesus. 857 00:48:07.665 --> 00:48:11.075 When your sin causes you to turn to him, there's healing in 858 00:48:11.075 --> 00:48:12.875 that and it actually leads to life. 859 00:48:12.975 --> 00:48:15.515 The other sin that leads to death, I mentioned, 860 00:48:15.655 --> 00:48:17.755 is the flat out rejection of who Jesus claims to be. 861 00:48:17.775 --> 00:48:19.275 So we see this in verse 20. 862 00:48:19.335 --> 00:48:21.835 He says, we know that the Son of God has come 863 00:48:22.055 --> 00:48:24.555 and has given us understanding so that we may know him 864 00:48:24.555 --> 00:48:26.635 who is true, and we are in him, 865 00:48:26.695 --> 00:48:29.315 who is true in his son Jesus Christ. 866 00:48:29.935 --> 00:48:33.525 And he is the true God and eternal life. 867 00:48:33.585 --> 00:48:34.965 Pay attention to what John is saying here. 868 00:48:35.115 --> 00:48:37.165 Eternal life isn't a thing you receive. 869 00:48:37.235 --> 00:48:38.565 This is what we've been talking about this whole time. 870 00:48:38.875 --> 00:48:43.275 It's a person that you know, so you can't reject Jesus 871 00:48:43.535 --> 00:48:45.555 and still receive eternal life 872 00:48:45.555 --> 00:48:47.555 because Jesus is eternal life. 873 00:48:49.235 --> 00:48:52.135 So, so John is saying here, listen, the only thing 874 00:48:52.525 --> 00:48:56.535 that a human being can do is that, that that 875 00:48:56.645 --> 00:48:59.215 that isn't covered by the blood of Jesus 876 00:49:00.395 --> 00:49:01.575 is not place your faith in him. 877 00:49:02.065 --> 00:49:05.385 Amen. Jesus makes a way for all sinners 878 00:49:05.885 --> 00:49:07.305 to be welcomed into his family. 879 00:49:07.805 --> 00:49:10.425 But unless you are willing to place your faith in him, 880 00:49:12.185 --> 00:49:14.435 that salvation isn't made available to us. 881 00:49:15.915 --> 00:49:17.395 I, I don't know if you notice this, but in that verse, 882 00:49:17.395 --> 00:49:20.395 in verse 23 times, uh, John uses the word true. 883 00:49:20.695 --> 00:49:22.995 Did you notice that? Uh, 'cause I did not. 884 00:49:23.355 --> 00:49:25.675 Somebody had to point it out to me three times. 885 00:49:25.895 --> 00:49:27.435 He uses that word true 886 00:49:27.435 --> 00:49:31.075 because John is obsessed with truth, the truth that the son 887 00:49:31.075 --> 00:49:32.115 of God has come, 888 00:49:32.175 --> 00:49:34.395 and that is what we are gonna be celebrating this week. 889 00:49:34.905 --> 00:49:38.155 That is what Christmas is all about, that Jesus came, 890 00:49:38.295 --> 00:49:40.075 he he truly came, 891 00:49:40.135 --> 00:49:42.875 and in celebrating that we celebrate that that baby grew up, 892 00:49:42.875 --> 00:49:45.515 that he died on a cross to give us eternal life, 893 00:49:45.655 --> 00:49:47.795 to give us a way to turn away from sin 894 00:49:47.795 --> 00:49:49.555 and instead to know God, 895 00:49:49.895 --> 00:49:52.355 to know God even better than you know your sin. 896 00:49:53.795 --> 00:49:55.395 'cause some of us know our sin all too well, 897 00:49:56.595 --> 00:49:58.255 and it's painful and it hurts us, 898 00:49:58.795 --> 00:50:00.255 and it feels like it condemns us. 899 00:50:02.185 --> 00:50:03.685 But God is saying, man, I can know you 900 00:50:03.685 --> 00:50:04.805 even more intimately than that. 901 00:50:07.895 --> 00:50:09.555 All of this boils down to this. 902 00:50:09.575 --> 00:50:11.875 If you wanna make sure that you, you avoid the sin 903 00:50:11.875 --> 00:50:13.915 that leads to death, here's the two steps for it. 904 00:50:14.055 --> 00:50:17.635 One, confess sin and two, confess Christ. 905 00:50:19.385 --> 00:50:20.395 Confess your sin. 906 00:50:21.985 --> 00:50:23.475 Drag it out of the dark into the light, 907 00:50:23.475 --> 00:50:24.835 just like John talked about in chapter one. 908 00:50:25.215 --> 00:50:28.705 And confess Christ, plead the blood of Jesus. 909 00:50:29.525 --> 00:50:31.905 Cry the name of Jesus over your life, 910 00:50:31.935 --> 00:50:34.305 over your family's life, over the circumstances 911 00:50:34.305 --> 00:50:36.305 that you face, over the sin you're struggling with, 912 00:50:36.885 --> 00:50:39.495 because that is where the power of healing comes. 913 00:50:41.905 --> 00:50:43.565 As we come to a close, there's one final verse. 914 00:50:45.755 --> 00:50:50.125 It's first John 5 21, and it feels outta left field. 915 00:50:51.275 --> 00:50:54.805 John goes, little children keep yourselves from idols. 916 00:50:58.745 --> 00:51:01.645 I'm like, we sin that doesn't lead to death, 917 00:51:01.645 --> 00:51:03.045 does lead to death, all this sort of stuff. 918 00:51:03.045 --> 00:51:04.325 It's like it felt, it feels like 919 00:51:04.325 --> 00:51:06.445 that sometimes we do this thing up here when we're talking, 920 00:51:06.455 --> 00:51:08.445 we're like, we're talking and then whoever's on 921 00:51:08.445 --> 00:51:09.485 keys will like start playing. 922 00:51:09.485 --> 00:51:10.325 And we're like, really? Already. 923 00:51:10.325 --> 00:51:11.245 Okay, lemme say one more thing. 924 00:51:11.245 --> 00:51:13.525 And then John's like, Hey, stay away from idols. Okay, bye. 925 00:51:13.625 --> 00:51:17.885 I'm done. Right? Why is he saying that? 926 00:51:19.115 --> 00:51:20.285 What does it have to do with anything 927 00:51:20.285 --> 00:51:24.805 that we've been talking about at the end of five chapters, 928 00:51:25.425 --> 00:51:27.725 at the end of nine weeks of study that we've been in? 929 00:51:27.825 --> 00:51:31.325 Why would John close by telling us to stay away from idols? 930 00:51:32.275 --> 00:51:33.645 Well, what is an idol? 931 00:51:35.115 --> 00:51:38.365 It's a lesser, manmade substitute for God 932 00:51:42.335 --> 00:51:43.845 throughout this entire letter. 933 00:51:44.075 --> 00:51:47.565 John wants his audience to know the real Jesus, the one 934 00:51:47.565 --> 00:51:50.445 who came, the one who lived, the one who died, the one 935 00:51:50.445 --> 00:51:52.325 who rose again, so that we could have a right 936 00:51:52.325 --> 00:51:53.885 relationship with God. 937 00:51:53.985 --> 00:51:57.525 And John's final Hail Mary, like dart throw. 938 00:51:58.345 --> 00:52:02.565 The last thing I want you to remember, stay away from 939 00:52:03.205 --> 00:52:04.285 anything less. 940 00:52:06.475 --> 00:52:10.725 Stay away from the toll tag that makes you think 941 00:52:11.395 --> 00:52:12.965 that you're safe and you're secure. 942 00:52:13.075 --> 00:52:16.685 When you're really not, stay away from anything else 943 00:52:16.795 --> 00:52:18.485 that appears to offer you the things 944 00:52:18.485 --> 00:52:20.205 that only Jesus can give you. 945 00:52:20.385 --> 00:52:24.645 But it can't stay away from everything else that says, Hey, 946 00:52:24.715 --> 00:52:26.325 this is what life is really all about. 947 00:52:26.435 --> 00:52:28.885 When really eternal life himself came down 948 00:52:28.885 --> 00:52:32.765 and revealed himself to you little children, this term 949 00:52:32.765 --> 00:52:36.765 of endearment, stay away from false idols. 950 00:52:36.765 --> 00:52:40.085 Don't fall for a fake. Don't fall for a phony. 951 00:52:40.135 --> 00:52:42.205 Don't settle for a lesser substitute. 952 00:52:44.985 --> 00:52:47.765 All of this, the only way that you can avoid it is 953 00:52:47.785 --> 00:52:49.005 by knowing God, 954 00:52:49.005 --> 00:52:51.005 because I said this earlier, I'm gonna say it one more time. 955 00:52:51.375 --> 00:52:54.805 Truly knowing God anchors our lives in 956 00:52:55.035 --> 00:52:56.805 unshakeable certainty. 957 00:52:57.695 --> 00:53:00.165 Throughout the course of this series, uh, one 958 00:53:00.165 --> 00:53:02.685 of us would come out and, uh, you know, we try 959 00:53:02.685 --> 00:53:04.565 to do a quick little recap at the beginning of the message. 960 00:53:04.665 --> 00:53:06.005 Say, Hey, for the past x amount of weeks, 961 00:53:06.005 --> 00:53:07.405 we've been in this series called uncertainty, 962 00:53:07.405 --> 00:53:08.805 where we're talking about how to find certainty 963 00:53:08.805 --> 00:53:09.885 in the midst of uncertain times. 964 00:53:10.225 --> 00:53:11.445 And I don't know about you, but 965 00:53:11.445 --> 00:53:13.365 after nine weeks, there's still a lot of stuff. 966 00:53:13.365 --> 00:53:16.805 I don't know, I'm still very 967 00:53:16.805 --> 00:53:18.085 uncertain about a lot of things. 968 00:53:19.755 --> 00:53:21.525 Some of you have things in your life right now 969 00:53:21.525 --> 00:53:22.605 that you were uncertain about. 970 00:53:24.415 --> 00:53:25.965 Think back over the last year, 971 00:53:26.715 --> 00:53:28.685 what did you think 2025 was gonna be like? 972 00:53:31.825 --> 00:53:32.845 Is it a little bit different? 973 00:53:34.575 --> 00:53:35.605 Maybe you've done that thing 974 00:53:35.605 --> 00:53:36.925 where you're like, man, it's been a tough year. 975 00:53:36.945 --> 00:53:38.925 I'm just ready, I'm ready for 2025 to be over 976 00:53:38.925 --> 00:53:39.965 so I can put it in the rear view mirror 977 00:53:40.065 --> 00:53:41.405 so I can go into 2026. 978 00:53:41.505 --> 00:53:43.805 As if your problems don't have jurisdiction 979 00:53:43.805 --> 00:53:46.485 there, They follow you. 980 00:53:47.705 --> 00:53:48.805 And there's probably even 981 00:53:48.805 --> 00:53:50.045 more that you don't know about yet. 982 00:53:51.745 --> 00:53:54.725 Listen, the message of First John is this 983 00:53:56.675 --> 00:53:59.685 certainty doesn't come from knowing what's waiting 984 00:53:59.685 --> 00:54:00.765 around every corner. 985 00:54:02.515 --> 00:54:05.085 True certainty comes from knowing God. 986 00:54:06.555 --> 00:54:08.445 True certainty comes from the alpha 987 00:54:08.625 --> 00:54:10.245 and the Omega, the beginning 988 00:54:10.505 --> 00:54:13.005 and the end, the one who knows you and loves you 989 00:54:13.025 --> 00:54:14.885 and sees you and hears you when you pray. 990 00:54:17.145 --> 00:54:19.645 So church, I, I, I hope you didn't listen to this series 991 00:54:20.025 --> 00:54:22.765 or go through this study expecting answers, 992 00:54:25.875 --> 00:54:28.005 because I don't have the answer to every problem 993 00:54:28.005 --> 00:54:29.045 that life can throw at you. 994 00:54:29.585 --> 00:54:32.205 But God does, God does. 995 00:54:33.305 --> 00:54:35.205 He says, if you'll place your faith in me, 996 00:54:35.795 --> 00:54:37.845 I'll be your unshakeable anchor 997 00:54:38.515 --> 00:54:40.885 through all the uncertainty that life can throw your way. 998 00:54:42.905 --> 00:54:43.925 As we come to a close, 999 00:54:44.045 --> 00:54:45.885 I I know we've celebrated already people 1000 00:54:45.885 --> 00:54:48.285 who have placed their faith in Jesus, their, uh, people 1001 00:54:48.285 --> 00:54:49.805 who have made the decision to be baptized. 1002 00:54:50.105 --> 00:54:52.165 And, and, and I'm so grateful for that. 1003 00:54:52.165 --> 00:54:53.725 That has been insanely beautiful. 1004 00:54:53.725 --> 00:54:55.525 But I'm willing to bet there's some in here as well. 1005 00:54:55.945 --> 00:54:58.125 You think, man, I just still feel uncertain about a lot. 1006 00:54:59.585 --> 00:55:02.685 And if you have never had a chance to meet Jesus, if, if, 1007 00:55:02.685 --> 00:55:06.005 if this idea of knowing God sounds foreign to you, man, 1008 00:55:06.005 --> 00:55:09.765 we would love to introduce you And he's waiting for you. 1009 00:55:11.065 --> 00:55:12.405 He loves you and he cares about you. 1010 00:55:12.425 --> 00:55:14.645 And, and he wants to know you, uh, intimately. 1011 00:55:14.645 --> 00:55:17.365 And he wants to, he he does know you intimately. 1012 00:55:17.365 --> 00:55:19.245 He wants to invite you to learn a little 1013 00:55:19.245 --> 00:55:20.285 bit about him as well. 1014 00:55:21.905 --> 00:55:23.165 And so if that's you, I just wanna 1015 00:55:23.165 --> 00:55:24.405 close out our time by praying. 1016 00:55:24.465 --> 00:55:26.085 But before I do, I also wanna say this. 1017 00:55:26.465 --> 00:55:28.485 Um, man, if you know someone in your life 1018 00:55:28.865 --> 00:55:30.005 who just needs a little bit of hope, 1019 00:55:30.985 --> 00:55:33.645 who just needs a reminder that there is a God who sees them, 1020 00:55:33.645 --> 00:55:35.485 who loves them, who knows them, who cares about them, 1021 00:55:35.505 --> 00:55:37.525 who hears 'em when they pray, listen, we are going 1022 00:55:37.525 --> 00:55:40.445 to be celebrating this through the Christmas season. 1023 00:55:40.505 --> 00:55:42.245 And so, uh, uh, there's still time. 1024 00:55:42.515 --> 00:55:43.925 Make sure you're inviting people back 1025 00:55:43.985 --> 00:55:45.405 to the Christmas Eve services. 1026 00:55:45.665 --> 00:55:47.605 And even if they can't get here, guess what? 1027 00:55:47.905 --> 00:55:49.165 You get to go out with the light of Jesus 1028 00:55:50.105 --> 00:55:52.845 and you get to proclaim that there is a God who loves them 1029 00:55:52.905 --> 00:55:55.085 and knows them and sees them and cares about them. 1030 00:55:56.145 --> 00:55:57.765 And so right here in this moment, if you're here 1031 00:55:57.765 --> 00:55:59.365 and you wanna make that decision for the very first time, 1032 00:55:59.445 --> 00:56:00.485 I just wanna invite you to pray. 1033 00:56:02.235 --> 00:56:03.255 Father, um, 1034 00:56:07.675 --> 00:56:10.575 the idea that we get to know you is mind blowing. 1035 00:56:13.275 --> 00:56:16.295 You have created everything we have ever laid our eyes on. 1036 00:56:18.155 --> 00:56:21.535 Um, And yet you still want to know us. 1037 00:56:22.555 --> 00:56:24.565 You want us, us to be in that sort of relationship with you. 1038 00:56:24.595 --> 00:56:27.205 It's the reason why Jesus came down 1039 00:56:28.185 --> 00:56:31.565 and drew close to us, got into our mess, 1040 00:56:31.745 --> 00:56:33.045 got into our grossness 1041 00:56:35.795 --> 00:56:37.565 because you wanted to show us, man, this is 1042 00:56:37.565 --> 00:56:40.245 how badly I want us to have a right relationship against. 1043 00:56:40.245 --> 00:56:41.405 So God, thank you for that. 1044 00:56:41.865 --> 00:56:42.925 And Lord, I just pray 1045 00:56:43.115 --> 00:56:45.005 that if there's anybody here under the sign of my voice, 1046 00:56:45.005 --> 00:56:47.085 anybody who's watching online who has never made 1047 00:56:47.085 --> 00:56:49.765 that decision before, but they are realizing maybe today 1048 00:56:49.765 --> 00:56:52.125 for the very first time, that eternal life only comes 1049 00:56:52.185 --> 00:56:53.325 by knowing you. 1050 00:56:53.465 --> 00:56:56.765 God, I pray, uh, that they will today start to experience 1051 00:56:56.905 --> 00:56:59.525 and feel and know you. 1052 00:57:01.205 --> 00:57:02.765 I pray for all of us that we would, uh, 1053 00:57:02.765 --> 00:57:05.245 start living eter into eternal life now 1054 00:57:05.305 --> 00:57:06.885 and not just waiting for it someday. 1055 00:57:08.155 --> 00:57:10.485 Lord, you're good, you're good. 1056 00:57:10.745 --> 00:57:13.565 And we're grateful as we move into this Christmas season. 1057 00:57:13.565 --> 00:57:16.965 Lord, my prayer, um, is just that we will be mindful of you, 1058 00:57:17.835 --> 00:57:19.405 that we would keep you at the center 1059 00:57:19.545 --> 00:57:20.765 of everything that we do. 1060 00:57:20.765 --> 00:57:23.085 Lord, I pray that we enjoy, uh, opening gifts 1061 00:57:23.105 --> 00:57:24.965 and giving gifts in the lights and the songs 1062 00:57:24.965 --> 00:57:26.925 and all that sort of stuff, but God, I just pray that all 1063 00:57:26.925 --> 00:57:29.085 of it is a reminder of the ultimate gift 1064 00:57:29.085 --> 00:57:31.965 that you gave in your son Jesus Christ. 1065 00:57:33.115 --> 00:57:35.925 Lord, we love you. We bless your name. 1066 00:57:36.545 --> 00:57:39.765 We ask all these things in your son's name, we pray, amen. 1067 00:57:40.135 --> 00:57:41.135 Merry Christmas y