WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:04.960 Before I go any further, 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:06.200 I'd love to pray. 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:07.340 So let's pray. 00:00:09.360 --> 00:00:13.400 Lord, thank you for the privilege and opportunity to come together and 00:00:13.440 --> 00:00:14.456 worship, dear Lord, 00:00:14.488 --> 00:00:16.260 to worship and celebrate you, 00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:18.624 what you're doing in our lives. 00:00:18.624 --> 00:00:19.500 Dear Lord, 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.176 I just pray that as we continue to worship, 00:00:23.208 --> 00:00:23.608 dear Lord, 00:00:23.608 --> 00:00:28.882 that you would just continue go before me and what you have me to say. 00:00:28.906 --> 00:00:29.714 And dear Lord, 00:00:29.714 --> 00:00:38.146 that you would just open hearts and ears and minds to what we just sang, 00:00:38.178 --> 00:00:38.722 dear Lord, 00:00:38.722 --> 00:00:41.350 that you are a firm foundation, 00:00:41.930 --> 00:00:48.990 that you gave us the gift of grace and righteousness and the only reason 00:00:49.850 --> 00:00:53.140 we get to stand before you is because you loved us enough to give us 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:55.484 Jesus to pay for it all. 00:00:55.652 --> 00:01:01.612 And I hope we're just reminded of the power that we stand in believing in 00:01:01.636 --> 00:01:02.428 that. And dear Lord, 00:01:02.428 --> 00:01:06.508 I pray that if there's anybody that doesn't know that, 00:01:06.644 --> 00:01:12.840 that they would hear it and believe it and confess it and receive it. 00:01:13.540 --> 00:01:18.610 I look forward to what you're going to do and I love you, 00:01:20.110 --> 00:01:21.250 Jesus name, 00:01:21.790 --> 00:01:22.730 Amen. 00:01:25.630 --> 00:01:30.290 We've been in the Book of Romans since the beginning of the year. 00:01:32.430 --> 00:01:34.406 Does anybody remember? 00:01:34.598 --> 00:01:36.982 If you're wondering where Pastor Bobby is, 00:01:37.006 --> 00:01:38.450 he's in Bergal today. 00:01:40.910 --> 00:01:48.540 Continue to be praying for that congregation and our involvement in it. 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:51.496 Like I said, 00:01:51.496 --> 00:01:53.476 we've been in Book of Romans. 00:01:53.720 --> 00:01:55.980 We're. We're still in chapter one. 00:01:58.520 --> 00:02:01.184 Last week we talked. 00:02:01.232 --> 00:02:02.552 Bobby had talked about, 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:04.336 you know, 00:02:04.488 --> 00:02:07.500 Romans 16 and 17 is what he preached on. 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:11.319 That is kind of the thesis, 00:02:11.899 --> 00:02:16.999 one of the kind of purpose statements of Paul writing the letter. 00:02:17.499 --> 00:02:27.507 It is the cure for what Paul is fixing to go into talking about, 00:02:27.563 --> 00:02:30.533 which is kind of the diagnosis and the disease. 00:02:32.619 --> 00:02:35.759 Bobby asked a couple questions last week. 00:02:38.140 --> 00:02:40.380 When you go to talk to people, 00:02:40.380 --> 00:02:41.452 a lot of times, 00:02:41.452 --> 00:02:45.082 if you're a Christian and you feel bold and confident enough, 00:02:45.084 --> 00:02:46.196 you'll ask people, 00:02:46.348 --> 00:02:52.004 do they have faith and do we take that a step further and what do you 00:02:52.012 --> 00:02:53.120 have faith in? 00:02:53.820 --> 00:03:02.912 And from faith to faith is kind of this idea of Romans that and to. 00:03:02.956 --> 00:03:04.980 Just like it says in 16 and 17, 00:03:05.760 --> 00:03:11.320 it is through faith that a righteous person has life from start to finish 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:12.380 by faith. 00:03:14.640 --> 00:03:16.820 And as we're walking that out, 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:19.980 Paul in the beginning of Romans, 00:03:20.320 --> 00:03:22.760 I'm eager to preach and proclaim, 00:03:22.920 --> 00:03:25.860 he introduces himself as a slave of Christ. 00:03:26.160 --> 00:03:28.260 He doesn't introduce himself as, 00:03:29.610 --> 00:03:31.698 look at all these things I've accomplished. 00:03:31.698 --> 00:03:32.882 Look at all this prestige, 00:03:32.882 --> 00:03:34.146 look at all this status, 00:03:34.146 --> 00:03:35.796 look at all this wealth. 00:03:35.930 --> 00:03:41.190 He introduces himself as a lowly servant. 00:03:43.450 --> 00:03:44.658 He even says, 00:03:44.794 --> 00:03:47.634 and Bobby had brought it up last week in Philippians, 00:03:47.634 --> 00:03:53.026 all those things you could count it all as waste, 00:03:53.138 --> 00:03:55.870 garbage, a bunch of bull. 00:03:56.530 --> 00:03:57.870 It's worth nothing. 00:04:00.290 --> 00:04:01.730 What are you proud of? 00:04:01.730 --> 00:04:03.430 Was another question he asked. 00:04:04.610 --> 00:04:07.618 A lot of times what you're proud of is what you talk about, 00:04:07.618 --> 00:04:09.770 right? Talk about your kids, 00:04:09.930 --> 00:04:11.270 talk about your job, 00:04:11.650 --> 00:04:14.230 talk about your sports team, 00:04:14.930 --> 00:04:16.510 especially if they're winning. 00:04:17.010 --> 00:04:19.980 But do you talk about the Lord that way? 00:04:20.940 --> 00:04:24.380 And that's where I believe that boldness and confidence comes from, 00:04:24.380 --> 00:04:30.560 is when you are reminded who God is and who you are or who you get to be 00:04:31.020 --> 00:04:32.052 by receiving, 00:04:32.196 --> 00:04:35.120 believing, accepting what God has to offer you. 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:42.080 Well, Paul gives us kind of the cure in 1617, 00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:47.566 and now he's about to explain why we need a cure. 00:04:47.678 --> 00:04:49.966 So I had asked the question, 00:04:50.038 --> 00:04:53.008 how many of you know you got a disease? 00:04:56.790 --> 00:04:58.126 Anybody else? 00:04:58.318 --> 00:04:59.038 Not a fit. 00:04:59.038 --> 00:05:00.078 And I'm not talking about a fit. 00:05:00.078 --> 00:05:01.630 Maybe y'all got physical diseases, 00:05:01.630 --> 00:05:03.970 but you got a spiritual disease. 00:05:06.390 --> 00:05:08.718 You get the cure before you get the diagnosis. 00:05:08.718 --> 00:05:12.606 And this is kind of the diagnosis of the disease. 00:05:12.798 --> 00:05:16.718 And next week we're kind of going to go into, 00:05:16.854 --> 00:05:21.662 these are some symptoms you might have if you have that disease. 00:05:21.726 --> 00:05:25.102 And guess what Paul says. 00:05:25.286 --> 00:05:27.134 I'll just read Romans, 00:05:27.182 --> 00:05:28.094 chapter 1, 00:05:28.262 --> 00:05:29.646 verse 18 says, 00:05:29.718 --> 00:05:35.790 for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and 00:05:35.830 --> 00:05:37.290 unrighteousness of men, 00:05:38.690 --> 00:05:39.430 all. 00:05:40.050 --> 00:05:41.510 Guess what all means? 00:05:42.610 --> 00:05:44.150 Everybody. Everyone. 00:05:47.170 --> 00:05:51.834 The ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness 00:05:51.882 --> 00:05:53.150 suppress the truth. 00:05:55.810 --> 00:05:57.790 Guess who's in the all category? 00:05:57.898 --> 00:05:58.888 Me and you. 00:05:58.962 --> 00:05:59.990 Everybody, right? 00:06:00.370 --> 00:06:01.482 Who's ungodly, 00:06:01.546 --> 00:06:07.570 who's unrighteous without the blood bought grace gift of God. 00:06:07.650 --> 00:06:08.470 Jesus. 00:06:09.210 --> 00:06:10.530 That's me and you. 00:06:12.570 --> 00:06:14.066 You got a disease, 00:06:14.258 --> 00:06:15.590 I have a disease. 00:06:15.930 --> 00:06:17.310 The problem is, 00:06:20.170 --> 00:06:24.130 do you acknowledge you have a disease and that is killing you? 00:06:26.570 --> 00:06:29.466 Or maybe you don't acknowledge that you have a disease and that's the 00:06:29.466 --> 00:06:35.166 problem. Or maybe when I read that first sentence for the wrath of God. 00:06:35.198 --> 00:06:37.330 Why does God have wrath? 00:06:37.990 --> 00:06:39.446 Nobody likes to talk about that, 00:06:39.446 --> 00:06:40.250 does he? 00:06:41.350 --> 00:06:43.000 God would not be God. 00:06:42.846 --> 00:06:48.766 God would not be a just judge if there was no penalty for sin. 00:06:48.958 --> 00:06:50.730 It would be like saying. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:57.810 It would be like saying, 00:06:59.200 --> 00:07:05.432 let's say I raped and killed your daughter and go to court. 00:07:05.536 --> 00:07:07.780 And the judge says, 00:07:09.280 --> 00:07:09.920 you know what, 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.248 Nick? Just let that one go. 00:07:12.304 --> 00:07:13.232 Don't worry about it. 00:07:13.232 --> 00:07:13.616 You know, 00:07:13.616 --> 00:07:14.220 we'll. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.208 We'll deal with that later. 00:07:16.208 --> 00:07:18.300 Would that be justice? 00:07:19.280 --> 00:07:22.290 Would that be the penalty? 00:07:22.450 --> 00:07:24.386 No. So it isn't that. 00:07:24.538 --> 00:07:26.914 If God just excused all your sins, 00:07:27.042 --> 00:07:27.858 he wouldn't be God, 00:07:27.858 --> 00:07:28.670 would he? 00:07:30.090 --> 00:07:35.350 The great thing is that he sent his son Jesus, 00:07:35.690 --> 00:07:37.340 he didn't excuse our sin. 00:07:37.410 --> 00:07:39.426 He sent Jesus to pay for our sin. 00:07:39.426 --> 00:07:43.002 So it's like God being the just judge that he is, 00:07:43.002 --> 00:07:45.066 Jesus steps in front of us and says, 00:07:45.066 --> 00:07:50.824 I will take that penalty that doesn't do away with the wrath of God, 00:07:50.872 --> 00:07:52.160 that doesn't do away with that. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:56.840 There needs to be justice for wrong, 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:58.024 for ungodliness, 00:07:58.072 --> 00:07:59.112 for unrighteousness. 00:07:59.176 --> 00:08:02.660 It means that Jesus took it for us. 00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:06.930 So we're born with sin. 00:08:08.320 --> 00:08:09.872 Maybe you don't acknowledge that. 00:08:09.872 --> 00:08:10.480 Maybe you think, 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:10.752 you know, 00:08:10.752 --> 00:08:11.742 I'm pretty good, 00:08:12.250 --> 00:08:18.950 but have you ever had to teach a baby to sin? 00:08:20.250 --> 00:08:23.930 I got a two year old and I'm about to have another one. 00:08:23.930 --> 00:08:26.900 I got a 10 year old and 7 year old too. 00:08:26.714 --> 00:08:28.978 But watching them all grow up, 00:08:29.034 --> 00:08:31.674 that's one of the reasons children are blessing. 00:08:35.930 --> 00:08:38.402 You ever had to teach a kid to stop sharing? 00:08:38.402 --> 00:08:39.706 You ever had to go to them and say, 00:08:39.706 --> 00:08:41.860 hey, stop sharing, 00:08:42.020 --> 00:08:43.484 stop giving your stuff away, 00:08:43.484 --> 00:08:44.660 stop being so nice. 00:08:44.660 --> 00:08:47.300 Y'all ever had to teach y'all kids that? 00:08:47.660 --> 00:08:51.748 No, you have to teach them to share because you, 00:08:51.804 --> 00:08:54.840 they just have this inherent nature, 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:58.852 this collateral damage from the fall from Adam and Eve, 00:08:58.996 --> 00:09:00.436 that what? 00:09:00.588 --> 00:09:02.084 Mine, mine, 00:09:02.132 --> 00:09:02.708 mine, mine, 00:09:02.708 --> 00:09:03.368 mine, mine. 00:09:03.268 --> 00:09:03.840 Right? 00:09:06.310 --> 00:09:06.966 Like I said, 00:09:06.966 --> 00:09:07.654 the other half, 00:09:07.654 --> 00:09:12.370 maybe the other half of you don't acknowledge that you have a disease. 00:09:14.470 --> 00:09:17.262 Maybe some of you acknowledge that you do have a disease. 00:09:17.262 --> 00:09:21.262 And your problem is you compare your disease to somebody else's disease 00:09:21.326 --> 00:09:21.686 and say, 00:09:21.686 --> 00:09:22.606 at least it ain't. 00:09:22.606 --> 00:09:25.130 I ain't as infected as they are. 00:09:28.870 --> 00:09:30.686 Talked about righteousness last week, 00:09:30.758 --> 00:09:31.850 16, 17. 00:09:33.530 --> 00:09:36.830 It is through faith that a righteous person has life. 00:09:38.890 --> 00:09:42.150 Righteousness isn't your right activity. 00:09:43.130 --> 00:09:46.550 It is your right standing with God because of Jesus. 00:09:48.970 --> 00:09:52.810 Jesus stepped in front of you and took what you deserved and paid for it. 00:09:52.810 --> 00:09:55.450 So I don't know what side you're on. 00:09:55.482 --> 00:09:59.030 Either you think you're not good enough and you hide, 00:10:01.310 --> 00:10:05.230 or you think you can be good enough if you do enough. 00:10:05.230 --> 00:10:06.070 Religion, right? 00:10:06.110 --> 00:10:07.210 That's religion. 00:10:08.510 --> 00:10:10.582 I went to three services today. 00:10:10.766 --> 00:10:12.174 I worked the parking lot. 00:10:12.174 --> 00:10:13.374 I went to Bible study, 00:10:13.374 --> 00:10:14.406 I went to worship. 00:10:14.406 --> 00:10:17.046 I wrote a letter to my compassion kid. 00:10:17.950 --> 00:10:20.260 I signed up for a meal train. 00:10:20.990 --> 00:10:22.450 I'm doing pretty good. 00:10:24.030 --> 00:10:28.340 At least my intellectual infection isn't as bad as somebody else's. 00:10:29.400 --> 00:10:32.400 Or maybe you think you're not good enough. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.080 I'm still a little hungover from last night. 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.384 I don't want anybody to know the things I'm doing. 00:10:39.384 --> 00:10:40.704 I'm going to hide. 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:46.024 I know I need to change. 00:10:46.024 --> 00:10:47.528 I know I want something different. 00:10:47.528 --> 00:10:49.680 I know this don't satisfy me, 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:51.700 but I'm scared to tell anybody. 00:10:52.090 --> 00:10:56.590 You don't acknowledge that you have something going on with you. 00:10:59.450 --> 00:10:59.946 You know, 00:10:59.946 --> 00:11:01.106 you can go to hell, 00:11:01.106 --> 00:11:03.426 be separated from God forever, 00:11:03.618 --> 00:11:04.906 sitting in that chair right there, 00:11:04.906 --> 00:11:07.216 as good as you can anywhere else. 00:11:09.930 --> 00:11:12.790 The good news is the Gospel, 00:11:13.130 --> 00:11:18.178 just like God's all ungodliness and all unrighteousness of men. 00:11:18.234 --> 00:11:18.794 Guess what? 00:11:18.794 --> 00:11:19.830 The gospel, 00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:22.568 like he says in verse 16:17, 00:11:22.624 --> 00:11:24.632 that's why it's the cure. 00:11:24.776 --> 00:11:26.580 The gospel is for everyone. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:32.700 It's for the religious and it's for the rebellious. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:36.776 Joby Martin, 00:11:36.808 --> 00:11:38.000 who I quote a lot, 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.440 who's probably one of my favorite pastors, 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.712 like I've said before, 00:11:41.712 --> 00:11:46.136 because he is a redneck from Dillon, 00:11:46.168 --> 00:11:46.792 South Carolina, 00:11:46.792 --> 00:11:48.858 and I'm a fellow redneck from Keener, 00:11:48.858 --> 00:11:49.518 North Carolina. 00:11:49.546 --> 00:11:56.682 So he speaks my language and opens the word of God up to me in a way that 00:11:56.706 --> 00:11:57.802 helps me remember. 00:11:57.946 --> 00:12:02.330 But he was on a podcast and he said, 00:12:02.370 --> 00:12:06.546 you know how you can tell somebody knows the gospel is when they're in 00:12:06.546 --> 00:12:08.010 trouble. Do they say, 00:12:08.130 --> 00:12:09.066 I'm in trouble, 00:12:09.066 --> 00:12:10.298 don't tell dad. 00:12:10.474 --> 00:12:11.266 Or they say, 00:12:11.266 --> 00:12:12.026 I'm in trouble, 00:12:12.026 --> 00:12:13.150 go get dad. 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:20.940 When we get into the symptoms next week, 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:29.780 a lot of times us as Christians like to use Romans chapter one for 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:31.240 atheists or gays. 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:34.210 This is why you don't do that. 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:38.548 And you missed the whole part about haughtiness and deceitfulness and 00:12:38.604 --> 00:12:43.660 lies and maliciousness and suppressing the truth. 00:12:47.280 --> 00:12:52.712 Another thing Jubie says that I remembered that I like is the Bible's not 00:12:52.736 --> 00:12:57.880 binoculars to look through at someone else to see how they're doing as 00:12:57.920 --> 00:13:00.848 much as it is a mirror to reflect back to you, 00:13:00.848 --> 00:13:04.660 to remind yourself how you're doing and that you need help. 00:13:09.210 --> 00:13:10.910 Write those two things down. 00:13:13.450 --> 00:13:15.990 Don't qualify or compare sin. 00:13:16.490 --> 00:13:18.434 And the Bible is a mirror, 00:13:18.434 --> 00:13:19.910 not binoculars. 00:13:21.610 --> 00:13:23.794 Last half of verse 18 says, 00:13:23.962 --> 00:13:25.794 who by their unrighteousness, 00:13:25.842 --> 00:13:27.190 suppress the truth. 00:13:27.530 --> 00:13:29.270 That's the ESV version. 00:13:29.690 --> 00:13:31.710 The NLT version says, 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:44.540 sorry, wicked people who push away the truth from themselves. 00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:48.856 Ephesians 5:6 says it this way. 00:13:49.008 --> 00:13:50.536 In another letter Paul wrote, 00:13:50.536 --> 00:13:53.496 don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, 00:13:53.496 --> 00:13:57.304 for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey. 00:13:57.352 --> 00:13:59.432 That's another way of saying what I just said. 00:13:59.432 --> 00:14:00.830 You try to compare. 00:14:00.990 --> 00:14:02.462 You try to say, 00:14:02.646 --> 00:14:04.130 well, at least mine, 00:14:04.470 --> 00:14:05.942 I don't look as bad as that. 00:14:05.830 --> 00:14:08.838 I ain't gray and yellow and got stuff oozing out of me. 00:14:08.838 --> 00:14:10.570 So, you know, 00:14:12.630 --> 00:14:14.610 you suppress the truth. 00:14:16.070 --> 00:14:17.530 You push it away. 00:14:18.790 --> 00:14:23.740 I like the way the NLT Says that because you keep God at arm's distance, 00:14:23.742 --> 00:14:26.318 you don't let him come all the way in you. 00:14:26.318 --> 00:14:28.640 Lord, stay right here. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:40.240 There's a difference in believing that God is who he is and believing in 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:43.156 God. There's a difference in believing. 00:14:43.348 --> 00:14:44.628 I'm sure you've heard Bobby, 00:14:44.628 --> 00:14:48.284 if you've been here any length of time or a lot of pastors use this. 00:14:48.284 --> 00:14:53.160 There's a difference in believing that if I stand on this table, 00:14:53.990 --> 00:14:55.530 it'll hold me up. 00:14:56.150 --> 00:15:02.046 Or if I get on top of the table and show you that I believe in this table 00:15:02.046 --> 00:15:03.696 because it holds me up. 00:15:08.470 --> 00:15:09.582 Verse 19 says, 00:15:09.606 --> 00:15:13.942 for what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it 00:15:13.942 --> 00:15:17.678 to them plain as day. 00:15:17.734 --> 00:15:19.714 You ever heard anybody say that? 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.900 It's kind of sounds like southern saying, 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:27.620 give you an example. 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:30.208 By the looks of this table, 00:15:30.208 --> 00:15:34.820 it's as plain as day that they didn't read the directions. 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:43.008 We bumped into Randy's ex girlfriend at the store today and it's as plain 00:15:43.008 --> 00:15:43.416 as day. 00:15:43.416 --> 00:15:45.726 They're still in love with each other. 00:15:47.550 --> 00:15:49.130 Is Chrissy pregnant? 00:15:49.710 --> 00:15:51.690 Well, this is plain as day. 00:15:54.510 --> 00:15:58.854 You can clearly see something is different, 00:15:58.942 --> 00:16:02.838 right? What Paul's trying to say, 00:16:02.894 --> 00:16:04.690 it's plain as day. 00:16:09.710 --> 00:16:12.020 How does everybody know right from wrong? 00:16:14.330 --> 00:16:16.630 Where do morals values, 00:16:17.290 --> 00:16:18.626 where they come from? 00:16:18.778 --> 00:16:20.428 You ever thought about that? 00:16:21.610 --> 00:16:24.146 Every culture has some sort of moral code, 00:16:24.146 --> 00:16:25.510 some sort of standard. 00:16:25.930 --> 00:16:29.554 There might be cultures that are a little different, 00:16:29.642 --> 00:16:30.578 but everybody, 00:16:30.674 --> 00:16:31.362 they have, 00:16:31.466 --> 00:16:33.750 there's some level of expectation. 00:16:36.090 --> 00:16:37.740 Where does that come from? 00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:42.536 Pete Holmes, 00:16:42.568 --> 00:16:44.218 who's a stand up comedian. 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:54.056 I love being able to study and prepare a message and see what God 00:16:54.248 --> 00:16:56.096 highlights and gives you throughout the week. 00:16:56.096 --> 00:16:58.392 And throughout the week I just stumbled across this guy, 00:16:58.392 --> 00:17:03.030 Pete Holmes and he's doing this stand up bit about God is nothing. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:07.842 And he says in thinking about what I just said about where does right and 00:17:07.842 --> 00:17:08.950 wrong come from. 00:17:09.330 --> 00:17:13.514 Some people think God created a universe and some people think nothing 00:17:13.562 --> 00:17:14.910 created a universe. 00:17:15.410 --> 00:17:20.474 Which is the funniest guess and the nothing people make fun of the God 00:17:20.522 --> 00:17:23.550 people and they say God doesn't exist. 00:17:24.050 --> 00:17:25.310 Okay, maybe. 00:17:25.730 --> 00:17:28.040 But you know what definitely doesn't exist? 00:17:28.042 --> 00:17:33.956 Nothing. That's the defining characteristic of nothing is that it doesn't 00:17:33.988 --> 00:17:37.800 exist. So it has to come from somewhere. 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:49.220 Verse 20 For his invisible attributes, 00:17:49.300 --> 00:17:51.124 namely his eternal power, 00:17:51.292 --> 00:17:56.292 divine nature have clearly been perceived ever since the creation of the 00:17:56.316 --> 00:17:59.330 world in things that have been made. 00:18:00.430 --> 00:18:02.170 So they are without excuse. 00:18:05.150 --> 00:18:06.370 Like I said, 00:18:08.030 --> 00:18:11.734 like I learned the Bible is not binoculars. 00:18:11.782 --> 00:18:15.414 It's not for you to be able to weaponize this first and say you're 00:18:15.414 --> 00:18:16.730 without excuse. 00:18:19.310 --> 00:18:22.690 Yes, God has clearly made Himself known. 00:18:23.760 --> 00:18:29.352 But how do you go about telling people that with love, 00:18:29.536 --> 00:18:30.500 with respect, 00:18:30.800 --> 00:18:35.240 with a commonality of I have a disease just like you. 00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:39.220 And even though our infections might be different, 00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:43.140 1617 the cure right. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:50.124 God made us right in his sight because he gave us his only son who paid 00:18:50.172 --> 00:18:50.832 it all. 00:18:50.836 --> 00:18:53.468 And that's the only way you're going to get out of this. 00:18:53.204 --> 00:18:55.060 That's the only way you're going to get over this. 00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:59.020 It's the only way you're going to get rid of this infection. 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.892 Psalm 19:1 2 says, 00:19:02.916 --> 00:19:04.668 the heavens proclaim the glory of God. 00:19:04.668 --> 00:19:07.228 The skies displays craftsmanship. 00:19:07.324 --> 00:19:09.356 Day after day they continue to speak. 00:19:09.356 --> 00:19:11.666 Night after night they make them known. 00:19:17.710 --> 00:19:23.094 I love when you look at creation, 00:19:23.142 --> 00:19:25.062 when you look at the sky, 00:19:25.062 --> 00:19:26.422 when you look at the stars, 00:19:26.422 --> 00:19:28.550 when you look at plants, 00:19:28.630 --> 00:19:31.090 animals, when you look at people, 00:19:32.110 --> 00:19:36.038 they reveal who God is and that he is much, 00:19:36.094 --> 00:19:37.744 much bigger than we are. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.880 Job, chapter 38. 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.910 Write that down. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.600 If you need to be reminded how small you are and how big God is, 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.064 read job, 00:19:49.064 --> 00:19:50.220 chapter 38. 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:52.192 I'm not going to read the whole chapter, 00:19:52.192 --> 00:19:58.448 but in thinking about nothing and God, 00:19:58.624 --> 00:20:00.792 and where does right and wrong come from? 00:20:00.792 --> 00:20:03.300 And we are without excuse, 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:08.970 he responds to Job after a series of going back and forth with his 00:20:09.010 --> 00:20:12.274 friends and going back and forth with God and Job trying to figure out, 00:20:12.274 --> 00:20:15.574 God, why have you done all these things to me? 00:20:16.770 --> 00:20:19.710 Lord, answered Job from the whirlwind. 00:20:20.610 --> 00:20:22.082 And this is just the first. 00:20:22.082 --> 00:20:26.590 Let's say nine verses. 00:20:28.050 --> 00:20:31.226 Who is that that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 00:20:31.226 --> 00:20:32.274 Brace yourself, 00:20:32.442 --> 00:20:36.402 because I have some questions for you and you must answer them. 00:20:37.290 --> 00:20:39.794 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? 00:20:39.794 --> 00:20:40.314 Tell me, 00:20:40.314 --> 00:20:41.690 if you know so much, 00:20:41.690 --> 00:20:44.018 how do you know its dimensions were determined? 00:20:44.018 --> 00:20:45.650 And who did the survey? 00:20:45.650 --> 00:20:47.202 What supports its foundations? 00:20:47.266 --> 00:20:50.762 Who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the 00:20:50.762 --> 00:20:52.098 angels shouted for joy? 00:20:52.194 --> 00:20:56.484 Who defined the boundaries of the sea as it burst from its womb? 00:20:56.890 --> 00:21:00.752 And as I closed its clouds it in thick darkness, 00:21:00.816 --> 00:21:04.420 for I locked it behind barred gates limiting its shores. 00:21:06.520 --> 00:21:10.816 How does God make all that water out there stop right there? 00:21:10.968 --> 00:21:12.948 Have you ever thought about that? 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.696 If you look around, 00:21:17.848 --> 00:21:19.498 it's as plain as day. 00:21:20.760 --> 00:21:25.380 And to know that that God that can make the water stop right there, 00:21:25.520 --> 00:21:26.464 all that water, 00:21:26.464 --> 00:21:29.740 I don't even know how many gallons or volume. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:33.130 I ain't even smart enough to figure that out. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:46.140 That God loves you and in spite of yourself gave up his son, 00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:52.722 not only so you can be saved from the penalty of sin but that you are 00:21:52.722 --> 00:21:54.682 being saved from the power of sin. 00:21:54.682 --> 00:21:56.914 If you have believed and that's happening right now, 00:21:56.914 --> 00:22:01.850 you can have the power of sin leave you. 00:22:01.970 --> 00:22:03.030 If what? 00:22:03.650 --> 00:22:04.986 Faith to faith, 00:22:05.178 --> 00:22:06.314 start to finish, 00:22:06.442 --> 00:22:07.626 moment to moment. 00:22:07.738 --> 00:22:09.550 If you just have faith. 00:22:10.770 --> 00:22:17.146 So are we as believers reminding believers, 00:22:17.218 --> 00:22:22.970 unbelievers and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ of that very thing? 00:22:23.090 --> 00:22:24.650 Or do we say, 00:22:24.770 --> 00:22:27.538 well, the Bible says this and you ain't doing it. 00:22:27.538 --> 00:22:43.290 So thinking about hiding right from wrong kids, 00:22:43.450 --> 00:22:46.030 they instinctively hide when they do wrong. 00:22:46.510 --> 00:22:48.430 Do you have to teach them that? 00:22:48.430 --> 00:22:50.054 I can give you two examples. 00:22:49.766 --> 00:22:51.730 Happening in my house now, 00:22:52.030 --> 00:22:52.606 like I said, 00:22:52.606 --> 00:22:54.586 I got a two year old. 00:22:55.630 --> 00:23:01.142 There's a picture of my phone of Olivia in the snack cabinet with the 00:23:01.166 --> 00:23:02.170 door closed. 00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:04.710 At my mom's house, 00:23:04.734 --> 00:23:09.354 she's got a snack cabinet and it happens to be the bottom cabinet because 00:23:09.470 --> 00:23:12.604 she's Gigi and she constantly reminds me, 00:23:12.742 --> 00:23:14.448 it's your job to train your kids. 00:23:14.448 --> 00:23:16.758 It's my job to spoil your kids. 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.816 You know, 00:23:19.816 --> 00:23:21.480 there's all kinds of snacks in there. 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:23.264 But one day, 00:23:23.352 --> 00:23:24.224 couldn't find Olivia. 00:23:24.224 --> 00:23:24.984 And this was when, 00:23:24.984 --> 00:23:25.480 I don't know, 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:27.380 she's two or three walking, 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:31.800 I hear this rustling in the snack cabinet. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:36.072 And she's hiding because she's in there eating peanut butter out in the 00:23:36.072 --> 00:23:37.392 jar with her hand. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.224 But she knows she ain't supposed to do it that way, 00:23:42.224 --> 00:23:44.534 so she gets in there and hides. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:56.664 Henry about to start potty training when he's got a poop. 00:23:56.712 --> 00:23:58.032 Guess what he does? 00:23:58.080 --> 00:24:00.072 He goes in the corner and hides. 00:24:00.072 --> 00:24:03.312 And you'll ask him and you can tell something's going on. 00:24:03.312 --> 00:24:06.984 Henry, are you pooping? 00:24:07.032 --> 00:24:08.056 No, dad, 00:24:08.248 --> 00:24:11.340 no. He's lying. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:25.540 Did I have to teach him that God has clearly made himself known? 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.320 Jesus says, 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.760 ask, seek, 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:32.688 knock, and the door will be open. 00:24:32.688 --> 00:24:33.980 Ask somebody. 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:39.832 Christians, help. 00:24:40.016 --> 00:24:41.224 Remind me, 00:24:41.312 --> 00:24:43.448 Paul, in the first half of the letter, 00:24:43.448 --> 00:24:44.536 like we've been learning, 00:24:44.536 --> 00:24:45.552 what does he say? 00:24:45.552 --> 00:24:46.500 He says, 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:54.968 I'm hoping to get to you so I can encourage you and you can encourage me 00:24:55.024 --> 00:24:57.216 so that I can be encouraged by your faith. 00:24:57.032 --> 00:25:00.396 And I can encourage you with my faith so that we can be reminded that 00:25:00.396 --> 00:25:05.016 we're being released from the power of sin and that it's an ongoing thing. 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:14.960 Ask if you don't understand. 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:20.020 Do we give people the freedom and the comfort? 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:27.840 And are we humble enough to allow people to ask those questions that 00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:30.780 aren't always easy to answer? 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:38.796 Or are we just in here trying to be good enough by showing our stuff, 00:25:38.988 --> 00:25:41.900 which, as Paul said, 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:44.080 are just filthy rags. 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:48.292 Knock and the door will be open. 00:25:48.292 --> 00:25:52.188 Keep on I'm not asking you to understand everything. 00:25:52.244 --> 00:25:53.908 I'm not asking you to know everything. 00:25:53.908 --> 00:25:56.218 I'm just asking you to have faith. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:02.244 The cure to this disease. 00:26:02.292 --> 00:26:03.316 We all got a disease. 00:26:03.316 --> 00:26:03.916 Like I said, 00:26:03.916 --> 00:26:04.892 the cure to this. 00:26:04.892 --> 00:26:06.388 Romans 16:17. 00:26:06.524 --> 00:26:08.836 For I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:26:09.028 --> 00:26:14.560 It is the power of God for salvation to everyone. 00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:20.644 Power. Dunamis is a Greek word, 00:26:20.692 --> 00:26:21.748 which is where we get our word. 00:26:21.748 --> 00:26:22.600 Dynamite. 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:30.256 You ever felt the power of something exploding? 00:26:30.448 --> 00:26:32.758 I'm sure some of you marines have. 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.704 I'm not a Marine, 00:26:34.704 --> 00:26:36.160 but I'm a redneck. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:40.820 And I had a buddy, 00:26:42.280 --> 00:26:43.536 two examples. 00:26:43.728 --> 00:26:46.928 I worked for a farmer named Mike Wilson. 00:26:47.104 --> 00:26:51.490 And every Fourth of July after we get done working, 00:26:51.870 --> 00:26:53.382 we'd set off fireworks. 00:26:53.446 --> 00:26:58.982 And because he had irrigation ponds and land and swamps, 00:26:59.126 --> 00:27:03.078 he always had dynamite to blow up beaver dams. 00:27:03.094 --> 00:27:07.054 But he also would take a half a stick of that dynamite, 00:27:07.078 --> 00:27:07.806 and at the very end, 00:27:07.806 --> 00:27:09.456 we would blow something up. 00:27:09.790 --> 00:27:13.090 And you would put it under a. 00:27:13.560 --> 00:27:18.272 Some appliance that somebody threw away and you'd blow it up. 00:27:18.456 --> 00:27:21.488 Well, a lot of times I had no idea. 00:27:21.584 --> 00:27:26.456 You know when you have felt something blow up and you felt the force and 00:27:26.456 --> 00:27:32.000 the wind and impact and your ears ring and you not be able to hear and 00:27:32.040 --> 00:27:33.168 you feel it, 00:27:33.304 --> 00:27:34.656 it is an experience. 00:27:34.808 --> 00:27:36.424 And that's what I'm reminded of, 00:27:36.424 --> 00:27:38.260 the power of God. 00:27:40.450 --> 00:27:42.760 God has the power to save you. 00:27:43.890 --> 00:27:45.882 You can never do. 00:27:45.986 --> 00:27:47.410 You can never be too bad. 00:27:47.410 --> 00:27:49.390 You can never be too good. 00:27:49.970 --> 00:27:50.960 And guess what? 00:27:50.770 --> 00:27:53.070 It's for everyone who believes. 00:27:54.210 --> 00:27:55.074 For in it, 00:27:55.074 --> 00:27:58.010 the righteousness of God is revealed from faith. 00:27:58.090 --> 00:28:00.154 For faith as it is written, 00:28:00.202 --> 00:28:03.470 the righteous shall live by faith. 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:06.260 If you have believed in this gospel, 00:28:06.260 --> 00:28:06.780 like I said, 00:28:06.780 --> 00:28:09.420 you've been saved from the penalty of sin. 00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:11.520 But don't stop right there, 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.828 right now. 00:28:13.964 --> 00:28:15.252 If you're living by faith, 00:28:15.252 --> 00:28:18.120 you're being saved from the power of sin. 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.380 Guess what? 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.560 We all are. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:24.052 So encourage each other to go back to the source, 00:28:24.052 --> 00:28:26.820 to go back to the only person that can cure your disease, 00:28:26.820 --> 00:28:30.760 instead of pointing out whose disease is worse than whose. 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.610 And guess what? 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:37.040 One day we're going to be saved from the presence of sin. 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.868 No more sickness, 00:28:41.868 --> 00:28:42.564 no more death. 00:28:42.564 --> 00:28:43.276 No more crying, 00:28:43.276 --> 00:28:44.076 no more tears, 00:28:44.076 --> 00:28:48.040 no more of any of that. 00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:50.468 That's what heaven's going to be like. 00:28:50.468 --> 00:28:52.448 Jesus is going to be there. 00:28:53.060 --> 00:28:54.540 And like Toby says, 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.764 they got so much gold, 00:28:55.764 --> 00:28:58.074 they're going to use it as pavement. 00:29:03.630 --> 00:29:05.610 Do you know you're in trouble? 00:29:06.430 --> 00:29:09.400 That you have a disease that is killing you? 00:29:11.230 --> 00:29:12.342 Dad, I'm in trouble. 00:29:12.342 --> 00:29:13.662 I need your help. 00:29:16.270 --> 00:29:19.050 Like the Father with the mute Son, 00:29:21.070 --> 00:29:22.070 Lord, I believe. 00:29:22.190 --> 00:29:23.840 Help me with my unbelief. 00:29:35.020 --> 00:29:35.812 As Christians, 00:29:35.876 --> 00:29:37.732 do we turn to God? 00:29:37.796 --> 00:29:38.812 Do we turn to other. 00:29:38.812 --> 00:29:40.676 Hey, you're in trouble. 00:29:40.868 --> 00:29:42.280 Let's go get dad. 00:29:46.780 --> 00:29:48.100 I'm going to pray. 00:29:48.950 --> 00:29:54.878 The band's going to come up and I want you to ask yourself some of those 00:29:54.934 --> 00:30:05.390 questions. I'm going to be right down here and I dare you step out in 00:30:05.430 --> 00:30:07.770 faith to lay something down. 00:30:10.230 --> 00:30:11.486 Maybe you're suffering, 00:30:11.598 --> 00:30:13.010 maybe you need healing. 00:30:13.910 --> 00:30:15.890 Maybe your marriage is in trouble. 00:30:18.250 --> 00:30:19.670 Maybe you need saving. 00:30:22.330 --> 00:30:23.590 Stop hiding, 00:30:26.010 --> 00:30:28.430 run to your father for help. 00:30:31.770 --> 00:30:33.750 And if I can help you, 00:30:34.410 --> 00:30:36.060 I'd love to tell you. 00:30:36.202 --> 00:30:38.650 If you don't know what I'm talking about, 00:30:38.650 --> 00:30:39.866 I'd love to explain it to you. 00:30:39.866 --> 00:30:41.846 I'd love to pray for you. 00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:50.092 I'd love to have the opportunity to remind you the power that our creator 00:30:50.156 --> 00:30:52.812 has and that it can save you, 00:30:52.836 --> 00:30:53.876 it can sustain you. 00:30:53.876 --> 00:30:54.820 It can break, 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:55.932 like we sang, 00:30:55.996 --> 00:30:57.356 it can break those chains, 00:30:57.356 --> 00:30:58.652 it can break those bonds, 00:30:58.652 --> 00:31:03.484 those things that are holding you back from experiencing an abundant life 00:31:03.572 --> 00:31:04.480 freedom. 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:11.522 So I'm going to pray the band's going to come up and you just respond 00:31:11.586 --> 00:31:14.350 however God leads you to. 00:31:15.290 --> 00:31:16.310 Let's pray. 00:31:27.610 --> 00:31:38.892 God, thank you for reminding me that I'm infected with the fallenness of 00:31:38.916 --> 00:31:44.028 this world and my own selfishness and pride and sinfulness in that it is 00:31:44.084 --> 00:31:47.900 when I run to you that I stop hiding, 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:53.060 that I confess that I let go of these things and cast my cares to you, 00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:58.760 that I am released from the power of it. 00:32:00.350 --> 00:32:08.630 Thank you for Paul and this letter and his boldness to remind us that we 00:32:08.670 --> 00:32:10.342 all are infected, 00:32:10.406 --> 00:32:10.918 dear Lord, 00:32:10.918 --> 00:32:13.490 and that you provided the way. 00:32:14.990 --> 00:32:18.374 Help us just to step out in faith, 00:32:18.422 --> 00:32:18.774 dear Lord, 00:32:18.774 --> 00:32:24.166 not just simply not knowing and going anyway and trusting that you're 00:32:24.198 --> 00:32:25.550 going to meet us there. 00:32:25.550 --> 00:32:29.840 And I pray that you'll do just that in these next few moments. 00:32:30.190 --> 00:32:31.170 Love you. 00:32:31.630 --> 00:32:32.070 Amen.