156 00:24:39.475 --> 00:24:40.308 Hello. Hope 157 00:24:44.585 --> 00:24:48.225 I uh, I gotta be honest, something kind of snuck up on me earlier this week. Uh, 158 00:24:48.226 --> 00:24:52.385 something I wasn't anticipating. Um, back at Christmas, 159 00:24:52.484 --> 00:24:56.785 my wife bought me a smoker because she's awesome. So I really appreciate that. 160 00:24:57.265 --> 00:24:59.225 Uh, on top of the smoker, we also have a grill. 161 00:24:59.645 --> 00:25:02.825 And so you take those two things and combine the beautiful weather that we've 162 00:25:02.826 --> 00:25:03.365 had this week. 163 00:25:03.365 --> 00:25:06.865 And I have been looking for any excuse that I could possibly find to cook 164 00:25:07.145 --> 00:25:09.345 outdoors. I wanna spend as much time out there as possible, 165 00:25:09.865 --> 00:25:12.265 want to get around the grill, get around the smoker. Um, 166 00:25:12.405 --> 00:25:13.744 that's not what caught me off guard. 167 00:25:13.745 --> 00:25:18.305 What caught me off guard was the other day we were driving in the car, uh, 168 00:25:18.405 --> 00:25:19.185 she was driving. 169 00:25:19.185 --> 00:25:21.984 I was in the passenger seat and I was scrolling through my phone. 170 00:25:22.425 --> 00:25:24.865 I got this app that helps me find, uh, 171 00:25:24.875 --> 00:25:27.984 deals and discounts on meat at local grocery stores. 172 00:25:29.085 --> 00:25:30.625 And that caught me off guard. 'cause I'm 30. 173 00:25:30.785 --> 00:25:33.984 I had thought I had like another 10 years before that became a normal staple in 174 00:25:33.985 --> 00:25:37.905 my life. That feels like, it feels like 40 plus behavior, right? But here I was, 175 00:25:38.005 --> 00:25:39.145 I'm looking for, uh, 176 00:25:39.335 --> 00:25:42.225 food and and meat that's on sale so I could throw it on the smoker, 177 00:25:42.226 --> 00:25:46.265 throw it on the grill. And uh, I verbally said out loud 'cause I was shocked. 178 00:25:46.785 --> 00:25:50.744 I go, Aldi has Wagyu beef on sale. 179 00:25:51.845 --> 00:25:55.545 And Morgan goes, what's Wagyu beef? Like, what's so special about it? 180 00:25:55.565 --> 00:25:57.945 And the reason why I said something was because I'm like, 181 00:25:58.785 --> 00:26:03.385 I don't really trust Aldi to have Wagyu beef. 182 00:26:03.386 --> 00:26:06.425 And I can tell by the way that some of you are looking at me that you had the 183 00:26:06.426 --> 00:26:09.665 same question that my wife had. What makes this stuff so special? 184 00:26:10.125 --> 00:26:12.465 And so it kind of sent me down a rabbit trail. Um, 185 00:26:13.095 --> 00:26:17.905 good news for you is I only have 30 minutes tonight and we at some point 186 00:26:17.906 --> 00:26:19.185 have to open the Bible, right? 187 00:26:19.205 --> 00:26:23.145 So I'm gonna give you the abbreviated version of it. But Wagyu beef, uh, 188 00:26:23.146 --> 00:26:23.865 the reality is, 189 00:26:23.865 --> 00:26:28.425 is most of us have probably never had a real Wagyu beef in our life. 190 00:26:28.426 --> 00:26:32.385 That's because, uh, of all of the beef that's labeled that way in America, 191 00:26:32.855 --> 00:26:37.744 only around five to 10% of it is authentic in order for it to be authentic. 192 00:26:38.185 --> 00:26:41.825 Uh, the word Wagyu literally translates to Japanese cattle. 193 00:26:42.234 --> 00:26:46.285 These are four different breeds of Japanese cows. Uh, and they are, um, 194 00:26:46.425 --> 00:26:49.565 the meat is considered a delicacy. It's it's tender. 195 00:26:50.315 --> 00:26:53.605 It's got this naturally buttery flavor to it. Uh, 196 00:26:53.625 --> 00:26:56.885 and the way that it gets to that point has a lot to do with the way that this 197 00:26:56.886 --> 00:26:58.605 cattle is raised. Uh, 198 00:26:58.734 --> 00:27:03.165 these cows are raised in a stress-free 199 00:27:03.166 --> 00:27:03.999 environment. 200 00:27:05.205 --> 00:27:09.875 Their goal is they want these cows to be as relaxed as possible. So, um, 201 00:27:09.984 --> 00:27:11.555 some of the things that happens to 'em is, 202 00:27:11.556 --> 00:27:15.715 one is they're allowed to age longer than most other cows that are used for beef 203 00:27:15.775 --> 00:27:17.795 are allowed to, they have a better diet. Uh, 204 00:27:17.796 --> 00:27:21.835 so they eat like rice straw and corn and barley instead of just grass out in 205 00:27:21.836 --> 00:27:25.675 some random field. Uh, they are given a clean, calm, spacious, 206 00:27:25.676 --> 00:27:27.835 and warm environment. Some of them have a, 207 00:27:27.955 --> 00:27:31.035 a barn just for one cow that's temperature controlled. 208 00:27:31.155 --> 00:27:33.994 'cause they don't want the cow to be stressed out. Uh, in extreme cases, 209 00:27:34.065 --> 00:27:37.395 this doesn't happen all the time, but in certain farms in Japan, 210 00:27:37.705 --> 00:27:40.155 they will literally, they'll give the cows massages, 211 00:27:40.744 --> 00:27:42.915 they'll play classical music for the cows. 212 00:27:43.425 --> 00:27:46.715 Some of them will drink milk out of a bottle like this is, 213 00:27:47.025 --> 00:27:49.315 they're very specific in the way that they're treated. 214 00:27:49.315 --> 00:27:52.994 They aren't given any growth hormones. Uh, the farmers, uh, 215 00:27:52.995 --> 00:27:56.315 closely track their weight, their diet and their wellbeing. 216 00:27:56.375 --> 00:28:01.115 And I remember I'm explaining all this to Morgan and at one point I just kind of 217 00:28:01.395 --> 00:28:05.375 stop and I go, how do you think those cows feel? Like, 218 00:28:05.376 --> 00:28:09.295 what do you think they think is going on , right? They'd be like, I, 219 00:28:09.315 --> 00:28:09.925 if we're honest, 220 00:28:09.925 --> 00:28:13.615 some of us in this room would pay serious money to get treated on vacation the 221 00:28:13.616 --> 00:28:16.055 way these cows get treated in their everyday life. 222 00:28:17.185 --> 00:28:22.055 But then it takes a dark turn because you realize that the 223 00:28:22.056 --> 00:28:26.615 whole reason why these cows are being raised in this life of comfort 224 00:28:27.355 --> 00:28:29.655 is ultimately for their consumption. 225 00:28:31.295 --> 00:28:35.915 The reason they're being taken care of so well is so that eventually they can 226 00:28:35.916 --> 00:28:39.595 end up on somebody's, uh, uh, plate. Here's the truth about beef. 227 00:28:39.615 --> 00:28:42.915 If you don't know this, um, beef, the, uh, the, 228 00:28:43.095 --> 00:28:45.915 all the work that they do like in the massaging and all that stuff to try to, 229 00:28:46.195 --> 00:28:47.275 uh, keep them low stressed, 230 00:28:47.455 --> 00:28:50.675 that's because it causes the fat to distribute in a different way. 231 00:28:50.675 --> 00:28:53.075 And that's what gives beef that marbling that we like, 232 00:28:53.585 --> 00:28:56.595 that kind of distributes the flavor all the way throughout. 233 00:28:56.596 --> 00:28:59.395 Their comfort is designed for their consumption. 234 00:28:59.455 --> 00:29:02.555 If you ever go to the store and you go to buy a piece of meat and it seems a 235 00:29:02.556 --> 00:29:03.915 little bit darker, you ever see that, 236 00:29:04.145 --> 00:29:07.035 that means the cow was probably distressed when it got slaughtered. 237 00:29:07.695 --> 00:29:12.315 And they don't want that for these cows because then they lose money on how, uh, 238 00:29:12.415 --> 00:29:16.455 how well they can sell for their entire life 239 00:29:18.045 --> 00:29:22.185 is established the way that it is to comfort them to get them ready for 240 00:29:22.345 --> 00:29:27.095 slaughter. And if that's not dark enough for you, . Um, 241 00:29:27.795 --> 00:29:32.695 as I was thinking about this message today, I started to recognize, 242 00:29:32.955 --> 00:29:37.335 man, I really feel like that is the same trap that sin tries to set for us. 243 00:29:40.335 --> 00:29:41.168 See, for these cows, 244 00:29:41.805 --> 00:29:45.375 they may think that this temperature controlled barn is a symbol of their 245 00:29:45.376 --> 00:29:49.975 freedom and their luxury, but instead it's a way that leads to death. 246 00:29:50.075 --> 00:29:52.335 And for us, sin is a, a, 247 00:29:52.415 --> 00:29:55.375 a trap that lures us in with comfort and pleasure, 248 00:29:55.475 --> 00:29:57.495 but it doesn't lead us to life. Instead, 249 00:29:57.995 --> 00:30:00.935 sin is the way that leads us to death. 250 00:30:02.695 --> 00:30:06.875 We are on our way over the next couple of weeks towards Easter Sunday where we 251 00:30:06.876 --> 00:30:10.795 celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. But as we make our way there, 252 00:30:11.275 --> 00:30:13.875 I want us to take a look at the way that Jesus, uh, 253 00:30:13.985 --> 00:30:16.355 made his way to Easter Sunday as well. 254 00:30:16.356 --> 00:30:21.155 So we're gonna be looking at Jesus in a couple of moments in his life leading up 255 00:30:21.255 --> 00:30:24.515 to his eventual resurrection, which we're all gonna celebrate together. 256 00:30:24.775 --> 00:30:29.415 But we're gonna start in a garden. If you have your Bible, 257 00:30:29.445 --> 00:30:32.495 turn to Matthew chapter 26. Um, 258 00:30:32.625 --> 00:30:37.055 we're gonna start in verse 36. This is taking place the night before, 259 00:30:37.935 --> 00:30:40.055 uh, or the night that Jesus gets betrayed. 260 00:30:40.056 --> 00:30:44.215 It's the night before he goes to the cross. This is after the last supper. Um, 261 00:30:44.315 --> 00:30:47.615 so the communion that we've all shared in together, uh, 262 00:30:47.625 --> 00:30:50.135 Jesus institutes that as a tradition. 263 00:30:50.195 --> 00:30:52.535 And then he goes into the garden of Gethsemane. 264 00:30:53.075 --> 00:30:54.775 And starting in verse 36 it says, it says, 265 00:30:54.776 --> 00:30:57.535 then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. 266 00:30:58.035 --> 00:31:01.575 And he said to his disciples, sit here while I go over there and pray. 267 00:31:02.985 --> 00:31:05.825 And taking with him, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. 268 00:31:05.826 --> 00:31:08.705 He began to be sorrowful and troubled. 269 00:31:08.865 --> 00:31:13.445 I want you to be mindful of those two words. Then he said to them, 270 00:31:14.005 --> 00:31:17.725 my soul is very sorrowful, even to death. 271 00:31:17.905 --> 00:31:21.605 Remain here and watch with me. And going a little further, 272 00:31:21.785 --> 00:31:26.325 he fell on his face and prayed saying, my Father, if it be possible, 273 00:31:26.825 --> 00:31:31.415 let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, 274 00:31:32.395 --> 00:31:35.455 but as you will. Now, this is a big deal. 275 00:31:36.115 --> 00:31:37.615 If you've been reading through the gospels, 276 00:31:37.616 --> 00:31:40.655 you know Jesus is the superhero of the story, right? 277 00:31:40.755 --> 00:31:44.095 No matter what anybody throws at him, nothing seems to really throw him off. 278 00:31:44.096 --> 00:31:47.055 Nothing really seems to get him disheveled. But in this moment, 279 00:31:47.395 --> 00:31:52.095 we are told that Jesus is brought to a place of sorrow in 280 00:31:52.295 --> 00:31:56.375 grief. And so the question that we have to ask is, is what brought him there? 281 00:31:57.085 --> 00:31:58.375 What got him to that point? Now, 282 00:31:58.376 --> 00:32:01.255 there are two obvious things that stand out to us. The first one is, 283 00:32:01.315 --> 00:32:04.055 is it the cross? Well, 284 00:32:04.585 --> 00:32:08.645 maybe I don't think Jesus was looking forward to going to the cross, 285 00:32:08.646 --> 00:32:12.285 but let's be honest, this was a fairly common method of execution. 286 00:32:13.205 --> 00:32:16.415 This is a really common way to kill people at the time. Let's not forget, 287 00:32:16.425 --> 00:32:21.295 Jesus was surrounded by two common criminals who also endured the cross next 288 00:32:21.296 --> 00:32:22.175 to him that day, 289 00:32:22.315 --> 00:32:25.975 the apostle Peter would go on to be crucified upside down because he didn't 290 00:32:25.976 --> 00:32:29.015 think he was worthy of being killed the same way that Jesus was killed. 291 00:32:29.115 --> 00:32:31.055 So surely the cross was a lot. 292 00:32:31.955 --> 00:32:35.695 But I don't think the man who invented trees was afraid of being hung on a tree. 293 00:32:38.365 --> 00:32:39.995 Certainly wasn't death. I mean, 294 00:32:39.996 --> 00:32:43.355 Jesus knew that he would rise again in three days. 295 00:32:43.415 --> 00:32:45.235 He had already prophesied that this would happen. 296 00:32:46.095 --> 00:32:49.195 He had raised his friend Lazarus from the dead just a few chapters earlier. 297 00:32:49.335 --> 00:32:50.355 So it's not death. 298 00:32:50.415 --> 00:32:53.155 So what is it that leads to Jesus feeling sorrowful and troubled? 299 00:32:53.156 --> 00:32:57.475 What led to him falling on his face and begging his father to take this thing 300 00:32:57.785 --> 00:33:00.875 away? It wasn't the cross, it was what would happen there. 301 00:33:01.835 --> 00:33:06.735 And it was prophesied in Isaiah chapter 53 verses three through 302 00:33:06.736 --> 00:33:09.655 five, hundreds of years before Jesus was ever born. 303 00:33:09.656 --> 00:33:14.615 The prophet Isaiah wrote this says that Jesus was despised and rejected by men. 304 00:33:14.616 --> 00:33:18.575 He was a man of sorrows and he was acquainted with grief. 305 00:33:18.675 --> 00:33:23.015 And as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised. 306 00:33:23.035 --> 00:33:27.055 And we esteemed him. Not surely check this out, 307 00:33:27.115 --> 00:33:31.255 he is born our griefs and carried our sorrows, 308 00:33:31.915 --> 00:33:35.585 yet we esteemed him, stricken, smitten by God and afflicted, 309 00:33:35.685 --> 00:33:38.145 but he was pierced for our transgressions. 310 00:33:38.145 --> 00:33:41.465 A lot of us know this verse and we get really excited about this verse, 311 00:33:42.005 --> 00:33:43.905 but this verse is identifying something to us. 312 00:33:43.925 --> 00:33:47.185 He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. 313 00:33:47.495 --> 00:33:52.305 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And with his wounds, 314 00:33:53.325 --> 00:33:55.065 we are healed. 315 00:33:56.535 --> 00:34:01.465 What was it that brought Jesus to sorrowful, uh, 316 00:34:01.466 --> 00:34:05.055 to feeling sorrowful and troubled? It was our sin. 317 00:34:06.315 --> 00:34:07.935 It was our iniquity. 318 00:34:08.695 --> 00:34:13.275 It was the fact that for the first time Jesus would feel the sting of sin. 319 00:34:14.385 --> 00:34:17.685 The sin of the entire world was about to be placed upon his shoulders. 320 00:34:17.686 --> 00:34:20.565 And this leads us to two questions. The first is, well, 321 00:34:20.566 --> 00:34:22.125 what is the weight of sin? 322 00:34:22.945 --> 00:34:24.965 And why don't we feel it the same way that Jesus does? 323 00:34:27.585 --> 00:34:31.035 What are the repercussions of our sin that would cause Jesus this much trouble? 324 00:34:31.094 --> 00:34:32.795 The other question we have to ask is, listen, 325 00:34:32.975 --> 00:34:37.675 if my sin was enough to bring the most powerful, uh, 326 00:34:37.805 --> 00:34:42.594 least anxious man on the face of the planet down to his face on the ground and 327 00:34:42.595 --> 00:34:47.285 overwhelming sorrow, then why do I still choose to hold onto it? 328 00:34:51.435 --> 00:34:55.385 Let's address the second question first. Why do we hold onto and choose our sin? 329 00:34:55.386 --> 00:34:59.755 Well, the simple reason is that we enjoy it. The truth is, 330 00:34:59.935 --> 00:35:04.635 is that I am so broken and you are so broken and we collectively 331 00:35:04.735 --> 00:35:08.555 are so broken that whether we care to admit it or not, we enjoy our sins. 332 00:35:09.945 --> 00:35:10.864 And before we go too far, 333 00:35:10.985 --> 00:35:14.825 I do wanna take a moment to define what the Bible means when we talk about sin. 334 00:35:15.225 --> 00:35:16.505 Uh, as you read through scripture, 335 00:35:16.645 --> 00:35:19.745 it becomes evident that sin is not just bad behavior, 336 00:35:20.355 --> 00:35:25.105 which is what a lot of us understand it to be. Sin is a broken condition. 337 00:35:25.415 --> 00:35:28.265 It's both. And scripturally speaking, 338 00:35:28.525 --> 00:35:32.785 sin is both a verb and a noun. It is what we do and it's why we do it. 339 00:35:32.805 --> 00:35:33.825 It is the, uh, 340 00:35:34.055 --> 00:35:38.725 it's the actions that we take and the condition by which those actions, uh, 341 00:35:39.205 --> 00:35:40.965 uh, uh, take root into our heart. 342 00:35:41.025 --> 00:35:45.325 It is the inward nature that plays itself out in outward behaviors. 343 00:35:45.344 --> 00:35:50.035 It is both the symptom and the cause. Over the past couple of weeks, 344 00:35:50.036 --> 00:35:52.555 we've been walking through a series called Heart Check, where we've been, uh, 345 00:35:52.955 --> 00:35:55.875 checking our hearts and allowing God to check our hearts, uh, 346 00:35:55.975 --> 00:35:59.755 to see if there's anything selfish in us that would prevent us from living lives 347 00:35:59.756 --> 00:36:03.875 of generosity. But now let's widen our parameters and ask ourselves, 348 00:36:04.175 --> 00:36:08.635 why are our hearts so willing to harbor this disease of sin? 349 00:36:09.545 --> 00:36:10.915 It's because at the end of the day, 350 00:36:11.215 --> 00:36:14.915 sin scratches the itch of our damaged and corrupted hearts. 351 00:36:16.735 --> 00:36:18.555 In order for us to enjoy sin, 352 00:36:18.556 --> 00:36:21.395 there have to be conditions that allow it to fester. Uh, 353 00:36:21.396 --> 00:36:23.995 Paul David Tripp is a theologian. He puts it this way. He says, 354 00:36:23.996 --> 00:36:26.555 the DNA of sin is selfishness. 355 00:36:28.235 --> 00:36:30.175 Sin really does make life all about me. 356 00:36:31.485 --> 00:36:35.344 My sin causes me to shrink my world down to the size of my wants, 357 00:36:36.245 --> 00:36:40.945 my needs and my feelings. The truth is, is sin is easy. 358 00:36:42.045 --> 00:36:46.425 If I feel something, I do it. If I want something, I take it. 359 00:36:47.925 --> 00:36:52.665 If I desire something, I pursue it. And I exhaust all means to get it. 360 00:36:54.145 --> 00:36:58.105 Because the only thing that matters to sin is satisfying my desire. 361 00:36:59.015 --> 00:37:00.105 It's the essence of sin. 362 00:37:01.045 --> 00:37:05.305 Sin is following my own way as opposed to following the way of Jesus. 363 00:37:05.385 --> 00:37:07.864 Proverbs chapter 14, verse 12 says this, it says, 364 00:37:07.865 --> 00:37:09.905 there's a way that seems right to man, 365 00:37:09.925 --> 00:37:13.185 but in the end it is the way to death. 366 00:37:14.655 --> 00:37:19.635 The way that's referenced here is sin. Sin is the way that leads to death. 367 00:37:19.835 --> 00:37:24.475 And so my prayer for today is that we paint, uh, a terrible, uh, 368 00:37:24.476 --> 00:37:25.915 picture of what sin is. 369 00:37:26.495 --> 00:37:30.114 My hope is that we would paint a disgusting picture of sin in a beautiful 370 00:37:30.435 --> 00:37:33.594 portrait of God, which if I'm honest, my words will not be enough to do. 371 00:37:34.315 --> 00:37:38.675 I will not be able to paint a picture of how grotesque sin is or how beautiful 372 00:37:38.935 --> 00:37:40.035 God is. But my hope is, 373 00:37:40.036 --> 00:37:44.035 is that through our time together that we will allow God to reorient our 374 00:37:44.036 --> 00:37:46.955 priorities and reorient our hearts back to him. 375 00:37:46.956 --> 00:37:50.875 And so I wanna break down six symptoms of sin. 376 00:37:52.055 --> 00:37:56.195 And the first one is this is that sin is deceptive in nature. 377 00:37:58.075 --> 00:38:01.145 Let's take a look at sins origin story, right? This is Genesis chapter three. 378 00:38:01.625 --> 00:38:01.675 Uh, 379 00:38:01.675 --> 00:38:06.185 Satan approaches eve in the garden and tries to convince her that what God said 380 00:38:06.405 --> 00:38:08.625 was a lie. That's deception. Ultimately, 381 00:38:08.626 --> 00:38:12.105 what Satan is trying to do is God has said one thing and he said, Hey, 382 00:38:12.125 --> 00:38:16.385 how can I twist this to make it seem like God didn't really mean what he said? 383 00:38:16.844 --> 00:38:18.745 But instead of just twisting God's words, 384 00:38:18.844 --> 00:38:22.825 he starts telling her these half truths. So where God said, Hey, 385 00:38:22.826 --> 00:38:25.905 if you eat of the fruit on this tree, you will die. Satan says, you won't die. 386 00:38:28.775 --> 00:38:32.155 He tells her the, the half truth that you'll be like God, 387 00:38:32.156 --> 00:38:35.805 knowing the difference between good and evil. And listen, both of these lies, 388 00:38:35.806 --> 00:38:37.245 there's a little bit of truth in them, right? 389 00:38:37.246 --> 00:38:39.245 Because they wouldn't physically die, 390 00:38:39.305 --> 00:38:43.965 but they did experience spiritual death and separation from that day. Uh, 391 00:38:44.114 --> 00:38:48.364 will they be like God knowing the difference between, uh, uh, good and evil? Uh, 392 00:38:48.465 --> 00:38:51.925 yes, but not just on an intellectual level. For the first time, 393 00:38:52.325 --> 00:38:56.965 humanity would experience and feel the weight of evil for themselves. 394 00:38:58.855 --> 00:39:03.555 Sin always twists the truth to hide a and tries to hide the consequences. 395 00:39:04.795 --> 00:39:06.495 And that's just the first time we do it right. 396 00:39:07.315 --> 00:39:10.415 The first time we sin something alluring. And you, you do it, and then you, 397 00:39:10.416 --> 00:39:12.655 you feel a certain way about it and you realize, okay, 398 00:39:12.855 --> 00:39:15.255 maybe that thing was wrong. So that's just the first time. It, 399 00:39:15.395 --> 00:39:18.295 it promises you something and then gives you consequences instead. 400 00:39:18.296 --> 00:39:22.055 But as sin becomes more and more persistent over time, uh, it keeps, 401 00:39:22.235 --> 00:39:26.375 we keep falling into the same traps over and over and over and over again. 402 00:39:28.435 --> 00:39:31.295 And we start to believe the craftiness of sin that says, Hey, 403 00:39:31.296 --> 00:39:35.295 this time will be different. Just do it one more time. 404 00:39:37.695 --> 00:39:41.675 And so you start thinking things like, oh, well now like this isn't a big lie. 405 00:39:41.775 --> 00:39:45.395 I'm just gonna tell this little lie because if I don't get myself out of this 406 00:39:45.715 --> 00:39:48.355 situation, things are gonna get worse for me. Or we start saying, yeah, 407 00:39:48.395 --> 00:39:51.915 I deserve the right to seek pleasure outside of my marriage because I'm not 408 00:39:51.916 --> 00:39:56.155 finding it from my spouse and I deserve to be happy. We're scratching at that, 409 00:39:56.225 --> 00:39:58.715 that, uh, selfishness itch inside of us. 410 00:39:58.945 --> 00:40:03.675 Sins deception is to offer us short-term pleasure and deliver long-term regret. 411 00:40:05.135 --> 00:40:08.435 And that deep, harmful regret is called shame. 412 00:40:09.335 --> 00:40:12.315 And shame leads us to the second symptom of sin, 413 00:40:12.316 --> 00:40:16.705 which is distance between us and God, Adam, 414 00:40:16.795 --> 00:40:19.225 after Adam and Eve's sinned in the garden for the first time, 415 00:40:19.255 --> 00:40:22.864 they experience distance from God prior to their sin. 416 00:40:22.865 --> 00:40:26.945 The Bible tells us they walked hand in hand with God. They walked through the, 417 00:40:26.946 --> 00:40:29.864 through the garden with him in peace with him, imperfect unity. 418 00:40:30.085 --> 00:40:32.825 But after their sin, they hid from him. 419 00:40:33.205 --> 00:40:36.385 And it was the first time that humanity felt like there was any distance between 420 00:40:36.405 --> 00:40:37.625 us and God, Genesis three, 421 00:40:37.626 --> 00:40:40.945 eight tells us that they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God. 422 00:40:40.946 --> 00:40:44.425 But you know what's fascinating about the distance created between God and man, 423 00:40:46.114 --> 00:40:51.105 God didn't leave them. The distance came from their attempt to hide. 424 00:40:53.145 --> 00:40:54.645 God didn't push them away. 425 00:40:55.745 --> 00:40:59.325 The sting of sin brought on shame to Adam and Eve. 426 00:40:59.326 --> 00:41:02.245 And so they discovered that man, maybe if we hide, 427 00:41:02.265 --> 00:41:05.645 we can get away with something. This is a picture of how shame works. 428 00:41:06.105 --> 00:41:09.125 It starts with, Hey, you know what you should do? And it ends with, 429 00:41:09.525 --> 00:41:10.565 I can't believe you did that. 430 00:41:13.005 --> 00:41:16.155 You're a terrible person man, if, 431 00:41:16.815 --> 00:41:21.735 if God could see you right now. And so we develop these habits, 432 00:41:21.785 --> 00:41:22.618 right? 433 00:41:23.364 --> 00:41:27.305 We develop these habits where we try to create some space between us and God, 434 00:41:27.306 --> 00:41:29.864 but what happens is, is we don't only create space between us, 435 00:41:29.885 --> 00:41:32.665 we begin to lose intimacy with God. 436 00:41:32.725 --> 00:41:36.085 We start doing these little things and I'm, I'm, 437 00:41:36.225 --> 00:41:38.325 I'm trusting that I'm not the only one that does this. 438 00:41:38.326 --> 00:41:40.685 But in certain times when my sin is weighing heavy on me, 439 00:41:40.795 --> 00:41:44.445 when my shame is weighing heavy on me and my brokenness, I don't think, man, 440 00:41:44.485 --> 00:41:45.285 I should go and pray. 441 00:41:45.285 --> 00:41:48.165 I think I should avoid prayer because God doesn't wanna talk to me right now. 442 00:41:49.125 --> 00:41:53.085 I shouldn't go to church because if they knew what I had going on in my life, 443 00:41:53.086 --> 00:41:54.525 man, they would all think I was a phony. 444 00:41:55.655 --> 00:41:58.735 I don't wanna open my Bible because clearly I don't do what it says anyway. 445 00:42:00.065 --> 00:42:02.525 And the more we drift away from those practices, man, 446 00:42:02.526 --> 00:42:06.245 the more our intimacy with God erodes. And that brings us to the third symptom. 447 00:42:06.545 --> 00:42:08.165 It distorts our perspective. 448 00:42:09.945 --> 00:42:14.125 Sin twist our view of how we view God and ourselves and others. 449 00:42:14.265 --> 00:42:17.445 And this is the result of the brokenness in our heart. 450 00:42:17.475 --> 00:42:20.364 That it's that drift away from the waves of God. 451 00:42:20.365 --> 00:42:22.925 When we hide ourselves and distance ourselves from God, 452 00:42:23.225 --> 00:42:25.885 we are left to our own devices to try to figure life out on our own. 453 00:42:26.745 --> 00:42:28.795 So when we say, I'm gonna stop praying, 454 00:42:29.175 --> 00:42:32.114 I'm gonna stop seeking God for the answer. I'm gonna stop reading my Bible, 455 00:42:32.215 --> 00:42:33.355 I'm gonna stop going to church, 456 00:42:33.415 --> 00:42:35.955 I'm gonna stop showing up to small group because of my shame. 457 00:42:36.265 --> 00:42:39.155 What ends up happening is we start looking at all these other places for 458 00:42:39.156 --> 00:42:42.795 solutions and it ends up jacking up our vision and our understanding of the 459 00:42:42.796 --> 00:42:43.915 world around us. Uh, 460 00:42:43.955 --> 00:42:46.635 a few weeks ago I went to go and hang out with the high schoolers over at the 461 00:42:46.705 --> 00:42:49.755 Apex campus and they were doing like a March madness night. 462 00:42:49.756 --> 00:42:53.114 So they did a bunch of basketball games and stuff like that. But Justin, 463 00:42:53.295 --> 00:42:56.555 the youth pastor, the high school pastor over at the, uh, at the Apex campus, 464 00:42:56.895 --> 00:43:00.515 he bought these upside down glasses off of Amazon. 465 00:43:00.516 --> 00:43:02.235 You put 'em on and it inverts your view. 466 00:43:02.395 --> 00:43:04.635 He uses mirrors to make everything upside down. So he's like, Aaron, 467 00:43:04.775 --> 00:43:08.114 put these on and try to make a basket. I made it not trying to brag, but 468 00:43:10.235 --> 00:43:14.985 I had these glasses on for a while and then eventually when I took them off, 469 00:43:15.425 --> 00:43:19.185 I realized it took me a moment to like, look at the world the right way again. 470 00:43:20.305 --> 00:43:22.805 And sin does this same thing for us. 471 00:43:22.945 --> 00:43:27.645 Romans 1 25 paints the picture of people who exchange the truth of God 472 00:43:27.945 --> 00:43:31.925 for a lie. We take truth off the shelves and we replace it with a lie. 473 00:43:31.926 --> 00:43:33.245 And we're like, yeah, it's always been there. 474 00:43:33.344 --> 00:43:37.525 That's the way things have always operated. Isaiah five 20 says that, uh, 475 00:43:37.526 --> 00:43:40.725 people will start to confuse light with darkness and darkness with light. 476 00:43:42.465 --> 00:43:46.125 Do you see things in our world that 20 years ago were considered deplorable and 477 00:43:46.126 --> 00:43:50.685 they're just normal now? That's what sin does. One Timothy four, 478 00:43:50.925 --> 00:43:55.045 two teaches us that over exposure to this type of rebellious understanding, 479 00:43:55.725 --> 00:43:58.245 actually sears our consciousness in a way, uh, 480 00:43:58.246 --> 00:44:00.885 that it causes us to turn off the voice of God completely. 481 00:44:00.945 --> 00:44:04.364 And it makes us unreceptive to any truth that he offers. 482 00:44:05.915 --> 00:44:07.215 And while all that's going on, 483 00:44:08.675 --> 00:44:12.415 sin is skewing the view of the things we were made to love. 484 00:44:12.555 --> 00:44:15.655 We were made to view ourselves with love. 485 00:44:15.715 --> 00:44:19.455 But sin causes us to stop viewing ourselves as image bearers of God and instead 486 00:44:19.456 --> 00:44:20.815 start believing we're impostors. 487 00:44:22.625 --> 00:44:26.955 Instead of seeing ourselves in sons and daughters of God, we see ourselves as, 488 00:44:27.015 --> 00:44:32.015 as shame covered failures. It distorts how we view other people, right? 489 00:44:32.165 --> 00:44:36.735 It's the reason why pride leads to racism towards people who don't look like us. 490 00:44:36.736 --> 00:44:39.215 Because we start thinking I'm better than they are. 491 00:44:39.885 --> 00:44:44.015 It's the reason why pornography causes us to object objectify people and view 492 00:44:44.016 --> 00:44:46.215 them as items for pleasure instead of children. 493 00:44:46.565 --> 00:44:51.055 Made in the image of God's selfishness is the reason why we see others as an 494 00:44:51.056 --> 00:44:54.855 inconvenience instead of people who Jesus Christ himself died to redeem. 495 00:44:54.885 --> 00:44:58.655 It's the reason why insecurity makes us view the people we don't get along with 496 00:44:58.715 --> 00:45:01.094 as a threat instead of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 497 00:45:02.864 --> 00:45:06.614 Every issue the world has ever known is a result of how sin distorts our 498 00:45:06.615 --> 00:45:08.255 perspective. It distorts the way we view God. 499 00:45:08.875 --> 00:45:13.255 Sin is the reason why we think that God is this evil sky monster who just hates 500 00:45:13.256 --> 00:45:14.089 us. 501 00:45:15.225 --> 00:45:18.475 It's the reason why we feel entitlement and we think we deserve more. 502 00:45:18.535 --> 00:45:23.305 And God is holding something back from us in this skewed broken, 503 00:45:23.825 --> 00:45:27.785 uh, perspective of God leads us to a broken relationship with God. 504 00:45:30.985 --> 00:45:34.364 See, as long as God is just this thing in the sky, 505 00:45:35.265 --> 00:45:38.285 sin can easily remove us from him. But the reality is, 506 00:45:38.485 --> 00:45:40.165 is that God is much more close than that. 507 00:45:40.166 --> 00:45:41.965 He desires to be much more close than that. 508 00:45:42.905 --> 00:45:45.645 God is an intimate father who loves you. 509 00:45:47.755 --> 00:45:52.495 The next symptom of sin that I want to talk about is that sin displeases the 510 00:45:52.496 --> 00:45:56.375 heart of God. But I even want to help change your perspective on that. 511 00:45:56.495 --> 00:45:59.295 I think when we think about the fact that sin displeases the heart of God, 512 00:45:59.395 --> 00:46:03.135 we think God's upstairs waiting for us to mess up so he can strike us with a 513 00:46:03.136 --> 00:46:04.255 lightning bolt, right? At some point, 514 00:46:04.256 --> 00:46:06.695 everybody had that view of God in their mindset, 515 00:46:06.755 --> 00:46:10.455 but that's not what I mean when I say sin. Displeases the heart of God. 516 00:46:10.475 --> 00:46:13.815 The reason why sin displeases the heart of God is because he knows what he made 517 00:46:13.816 --> 00:46:17.265 you for. He knows you're better than that. 518 00:46:18.795 --> 00:46:21.335 He knows that he made you to bear his image. 519 00:46:21.344 --> 00:46:23.375 Jesus tells a story in Luke chapter 15. 520 00:46:23.445 --> 00:46:26.135 It's a very common parable called the Story of the Prodigal Son. 521 00:46:26.995 --> 00:46:27.895 And in this story, 522 00:46:27.896 --> 00:46:31.415 there's a young man who desires his inheritance and he asked his father, Hey, 523 00:46:31.416 --> 00:46:35.495 can you gimme my inheritance? He runs off from home and he blows through it. 524 00:46:36.275 --> 00:46:39.495 He messes up everything that he has. He he finds himself hungry, 525 00:46:40.005 --> 00:46:42.655 doesn't have a job, doesn't have a money. And so what does he start doing? 526 00:46:43.515 --> 00:46:48.175 He starts coming back to his father's house with the expectation of, 527 00:46:48.415 --> 00:46:50.935 I know it's gonna be bad, but maybe I can make it less bad. 528 00:46:50.995 --> 00:46:54.575 So let me put together an apology. Lemme try to write a story. 529 00:46:54.895 --> 00:46:58.094 Lemme try to frame this in a way where I could at least come back in and just be 530 00:46:58.095 --> 00:47:01.895 a servant in his house. But much to that prodigal son, surprise, 531 00:47:01.896 --> 00:47:05.335 when he goes back home, while he's still a long way off, 532 00:47:05.336 --> 00:47:09.775 his father sees him from a distance. He's been waiting for him at the doorstep, 533 00:47:10.215 --> 00:47:13.255 watching the road that leads to the house waiting for his son to come back home. 534 00:47:13.256 --> 00:47:15.335 And so what does he do? He runs to the father. 535 00:47:15.555 --> 00:47:18.614 He wraps his arms around him and gives him a hug. He gives him a kiss, 536 00:47:18.635 --> 00:47:21.735 he puts a robe on him and he says, Hey, I've been waiting for you to come back. 537 00:47:21.875 --> 00:47:23.255 We have a party ready to go. 538 00:47:23.835 --> 00:47:27.975 And the reason why Jesus tells that story is to paint to us a picture of what 539 00:47:27.976 --> 00:47:29.330 the heart of God looks like. 540 00:47:29.765 --> 00:47:34.485 A loving father whose son has run off is not just angry that the son 541 00:47:34.585 --> 00:47:37.565 ran off. He's scared because he is like, man, what are you doing over there? 542 00:47:39.415 --> 00:47:41.215 I got a room for you here in my house. 543 00:47:43.045 --> 00:47:44.725 I have everything you could ever need right here. 544 00:47:44.785 --> 00:47:46.805 Why are you settling for lesser things? 545 00:47:48.435 --> 00:47:51.725 Ephesians four 30 tells us that our sin, 546 00:47:51.905 --> 00:47:54.045 it grieves the Holy Spirit and we're commanded. 547 00:47:54.385 --> 00:47:58.565 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of 548 00:47:58.566 --> 00:48:03.045 redemption. And that word grief, it means to cause sorrow, 549 00:48:03.755 --> 00:48:07.885 pain, unhappiness, or distress. You know what's not there? 550 00:48:08.025 --> 00:48:08.925 Disappointment. 551 00:48:13.114 --> 00:48:16.185 God's concern for you is one of compassion, 552 00:48:16.965 --> 00:48:21.285 not of contempt because he sees what sin does to you. 553 00:48:23.645 --> 00:48:27.025 He sees the next symptom, which is that sin deforms us. 554 00:48:29.325 --> 00:48:32.545 See, we were made in God's image. We were made to reflect God's love, 555 00:48:33.005 --> 00:48:37.344 his truth and his beauty. But our sin reshapes us into something else. 556 00:48:37.405 --> 00:48:40.585 So instead of reflecting love, we start perpetuating hate. 557 00:48:40.655 --> 00:48:44.785 Instead of speaking truth, we start telling lies instead of reflecting beauty, 558 00:48:45.125 --> 00:48:47.225 we destroy others. And all sat, uh, 559 00:48:47.285 --> 00:48:51.785 all sorts of ugly disrespectful things come out of our mouth towards people that 560 00:48:51.786 --> 00:48:52.825 God created and loves. 561 00:48:54.375 --> 00:48:57.555 We were made to walk through this world with wisdom and confidence, 562 00:48:58.114 --> 00:48:59.555 humility and selflessness. 563 00:48:59.775 --> 00:49:04.515 But instead we find ourselves in a generation defiled by impulses and 564 00:49:04.516 --> 00:49:06.875 insecurity and fear and selfishness, 565 00:49:09.155 --> 00:49:11.735 we start becoming people that we don't even recognize. 566 00:49:11.935 --> 00:49:14.895 Have you ever had that moment you snap at somebody, 567 00:49:15.915 --> 00:49:19.085 your anger erupts and then you just stop and go, where did that come from? 568 00:49:20.525 --> 00:49:23.385 You find yourself wanting things or desiring things and you're like, man, 569 00:49:23.475 --> 00:49:27.425 where did that, where did that? How did that happen in me? Teenagers, 570 00:49:27.426 --> 00:49:28.265 if you're here, 571 00:49:28.285 --> 00:49:30.585 if you're sitting with your parents and you're listening to this, 572 00:49:30.735 --> 00:49:34.344 this is the reason why every now and then your parents will see you act out of 573 00:49:34.345 --> 00:49:36.425 character and they go, when did you start doing that? 574 00:49:37.445 --> 00:49:39.035 How'd you start acting that way? 575 00:49:40.844 --> 00:49:44.055 It's because they know how they've invested into your life and who they're 576 00:49:44.056 --> 00:49:47.175 hoping you become. And so when you start acting out of character of that man, 577 00:49:47.176 --> 00:49:48.855 again, it's the heart of a loving father that says, 578 00:49:48.856 --> 00:49:52.614 where did you pick that up from? Where did you learn that? 579 00:49:52.655 --> 00:49:55.055 I never designed for you to experience that. 580 00:49:57.125 --> 00:50:00.295 This is the reason why Romans 12 two, Romans 12, two, excuse me, 581 00:50:00.364 --> 00:50:03.015 says that we aren't people who are to be conformed, 582 00:50:03.195 --> 00:50:05.375 but we're to be people who are transformed. 583 00:50:06.455 --> 00:50:10.235 We don't just take on the natural shape of our surroundings in this culture and 584 00:50:10.236 --> 00:50:12.395 the society that we find ourselves in. Instead, 585 00:50:12.695 --> 00:50:15.875 God desires for us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, 586 00:50:15.885 --> 00:50:20.675 which is really him reforming us back into the way he wanted us to be in the 587 00:50:20.676 --> 00:50:21.509 beginning. 588 00:50:24.535 --> 00:50:27.795 And all of this leads us to sins. End game 589 00:50:30.705 --> 00:50:32.925 sin will destroy your soul. 590 00:50:34.635 --> 00:50:36.685 This is the goal the whole time. 591 00:50:38.685 --> 00:50:43.625 So many times we try to eradicate sin because it's like a cosmetic ick. 592 00:50:44.985 --> 00:50:49.635 I just don't like the way this looks on me. But the behavior is all cosmetic. 593 00:50:49.655 --> 00:50:52.594 Really what the enemy is going for is your soul. 594 00:50:52.695 --> 00:50:56.114 Romans 6 23 says that the wages of sin is death. 595 00:50:56.455 --> 00:51:00.035 And death is the only thing that sin has to offer. 596 00:51:01.335 --> 00:51:04.955 It kills joy and relationships and purpose. And eventually, 597 00:51:05.455 --> 00:51:09.515 if left unchecked, sin will destroy your soul. 598 00:51:09.785 --> 00:51:13.594 Without Jesus, sin will destroy your soul. This Easter season, 599 00:51:13.805 --> 00:51:16.755 we're all about celebrating eternal life as we should. 600 00:51:17.655 --> 00:51:21.075 But if eternal life is a thing, then eternal death is as well. 601 00:51:22.525 --> 00:51:27.485 And eternal life is defined in the Bible as the way of which we get to walk 602 00:51:27.515 --> 00:51:30.925 with God. Not just someday after we die, but like starting right now. 603 00:51:32.205 --> 00:51:35.745 We get to experience the life and the fullness that he offers to us through 604 00:51:35.746 --> 00:51:36.579 Jesus. However, 605 00:51:36.935 --> 00:51:40.665 there's an eternal death and an eternal separation from God as well. 606 00:51:40.666 --> 00:51:43.705 For those of us who deny the way of Jesus. And listen, 607 00:51:44.485 --> 00:51:47.145 if you think this world we live in is hard now, 608 00:51:48.285 --> 00:51:51.945 if you think the effect of sin on all of us is hard now man, 609 00:51:51.975 --> 00:51:56.065 there's two outcomes. It either gets better or it gets a whole lot worse. 610 00:51:56.295 --> 00:51:59.465 There's a quote from Randy Alcorn that I wanna share. He puts it this way. 611 00:51:59.466 --> 00:52:00.425 He says, for the Christian, 612 00:52:00.765 --> 00:52:05.585 the present life is the closest that they will ever come to hell for the 613 00:52:05.586 --> 00:52:09.025 unbeliever. It's the closest they will ever get to heaven. 614 00:52:12.114 --> 00:52:16.175 If I can put this bluntly, half of this is great news for some of us. 615 00:52:18.355 --> 00:52:21.535 And the other half of this is terrible news for the rest of us. 616 00:52:23.175 --> 00:52:25.915 The bad news is that there are people under the sound of my voice who will 617 00:52:26.045 --> 00:52:28.795 experience an eternity and held, 618 00:52:29.145 --> 00:52:34.094 separated from God for those who willingly persist their 619 00:52:34.114 --> 00:52:38.215 own way, who consistently choose the disordered uh, passions, 620 00:52:38.216 --> 00:52:42.055 that heart that that sin gives to us instead of allowing God to give us a new 621 00:52:42.056 --> 00:52:46.094 heart. This is a reality. It is the way that we were all headed. 622 00:52:46.195 --> 00:52:48.375 And for some of you, it's the way you're still headed. 623 00:52:51.114 --> 00:52:55.844 But there's good news. Maybe you've made it to this point. You're like, man, 624 00:52:56.085 --> 00:52:58.525 Aaron, I came to church this week 'cause I really needed some encouragement. 625 00:52:58.625 --> 00:53:02.495 And you were feeling like one of those cows getting slaughtered right now. 626 00:53:02.496 --> 00:53:04.614 Like it's not feeling too good, man. 627 00:53:05.925 --> 00:53:07.585 And I do think encouragement is important, 628 00:53:07.586 --> 00:53:10.825 but I think at sometimes encouragement can be a little bit shallow. 629 00:53:11.775 --> 00:53:16.455 And instead we need truth. And so I hope you find encouragement in this, 630 00:53:16.456 --> 00:53:19.215 but I want to help us all see the truth as well, 631 00:53:19.485 --> 00:53:23.015 that if we're going to celebrate the resurrection in a few weeks, 632 00:53:23.395 --> 00:53:27.765 we can't get there without being in the garden with our savior as he 633 00:53:27.795 --> 00:53:32.685 experiences the overwhelming grief and sorrow of sin. 'cause here's the truth, 634 00:53:33.385 --> 00:53:37.364 we can't appreciate God's grace until we've tasted our guilt. 635 00:53:38.945 --> 00:53:41.325 The thing that makes good Friday so good, 636 00:53:42.344 --> 00:53:45.205 the thing that makes Easter Sunday worth celebrating, 637 00:53:45.295 --> 00:53:48.965 let's not water down the gospel. People, we were dead. 638 00:53:50.305 --> 00:53:52.125 We had nothing to offer ourselves. 639 00:53:53.185 --> 00:53:55.765 Sin was the way that led us to death. 640 00:53:55.905 --> 00:54:00.165 And God sent Jesus to be a detour for all of that. And so because of Jesus, 641 00:54:00.235 --> 00:54:04.765 because of his life and death and burial and eventual resurrection, guess what? 642 00:54:04.985 --> 00:54:09.775 We can talk about sin in all of its effects in the past tense. Yeah, 643 00:54:09.776 --> 00:54:12.094 we still deal with these things. Yes, we still see these things, 644 00:54:12.114 --> 00:54:15.695 but now there is a way that leads to healing. So how do we receive that? 645 00:54:15.696 --> 00:54:18.415 The first thing is this, acknowledge that you are a sinner 646 00:54:20.745 --> 00:54:22.225 and that applies for each and every one of us. 647 00:54:23.594 --> 00:54:26.755 Recognize the reality that all of us have sinned against God. 648 00:54:27.015 --> 00:54:31.895 Who are you hiding it from? God. He knows 649 00:54:33.975 --> 00:54:37.155 all of us at one time or another have been the prodigal son and he is waiting 650 00:54:37.335 --> 00:54:38.955 for you to return back home. 651 00:54:39.094 --> 00:54:41.955 And not only is he waiting for you to find your way back home, 652 00:54:42.335 --> 00:54:44.915 he made the way back home by giving us Jesus. 653 00:54:46.765 --> 00:54:48.465 And so once you acknowledge your sin, 654 00:54:48.605 --> 00:54:50.945 the second thing for you to do is to believe in Jesus. 655 00:54:51.045 --> 00:54:53.585 And I know we've had a lot of really bad news so far, 656 00:54:53.885 --> 00:54:58.185 but I wanna let you know this. Okay, here's the harsh reality. Sin is powerful, 657 00:54:58.805 --> 00:55:01.185 but here's the greater reality. Jesus is greater 658 00:55:02.815 --> 00:55:06.205 where sin deceives Jesus guides us to truth. 659 00:55:07.015 --> 00:55:09.005 Where sin displeases the heart of God. 660 00:55:09.055 --> 00:55:11.725 Jesus honors and makes the heart of God happy. 661 00:55:11.775 --> 00:55:16.525 Where sin distorts Jesus brings clarity. Where sin defiles Jesus, 662 00:55:16.725 --> 00:55:20.765 purifies where sin destroys Jesus, heals Where sin. Check this part out, 663 00:55:20.775 --> 00:55:25.125 where sin once distanced us from God. Now because of Jesus, 664 00:55:25.705 --> 00:55:29.925 God distances us from our sin. Listen to this. This is uh, 665 00:55:29.975 --> 00:55:31.725 Psalm 1 0 3. He says, 666 00:55:31.864 --> 00:55:35.045 let all that I am praise the Lord with my whole heart. 667 00:55:35.525 --> 00:55:40.285 I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord. 668 00:55:40.545 --> 00:55:43.645 May I never forget the good things he does for me. 669 00:55:44.305 --> 00:55:47.565 He forgives all of my sins and heals all of my diseases. 670 00:55:47.566 --> 00:55:51.885 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 671 00:55:51.945 --> 00:55:56.125 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles. 672 00:55:56.265 --> 00:56:00.645 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 673 00:56:00.864 --> 00:56:04.325 He reveals his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 674 00:56:04.425 --> 00:56:07.805 The Lord is compassionate and merciful. 675 00:56:08.185 --> 00:56:11.525 He is slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 676 00:56:11.585 --> 00:56:15.285 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry with us forever. 677 00:56:15.335 --> 00:56:19.405 Check this part out. He does not punish all of our sins. 678 00:56:20.435 --> 00:56:23.965 He does not deal harshly with us as we deserve. 679 00:56:24.905 --> 00:56:27.565 For his unfailing love towards those who feel fear, 680 00:56:27.585 --> 00:56:30.925 him is as great as the heavens is above the earth. 681 00:56:31.025 --> 00:56:35.485 He has removed our sin as far from us as the east is from the west. 682 00:56:35.545 --> 00:56:37.685 The Lord is like a father to his children, 683 00:56:37.785 --> 00:56:42.364 tender and compassionate to those who fear him, for he knows how weak we are. 684 00:56:42.465 --> 00:56:45.005 Listen to that church. Be encouraged by that. 685 00:56:45.344 --> 00:56:47.725 He knows how weak we are. 686 00:56:48.995 --> 00:56:50.925 Your failure is not a surprise to him. 687 00:56:53.844 --> 00:56:57.905 He remembers that we are only dust. Our days are earth. And I'm sorry, 688 00:56:57.925 --> 00:57:02.344 our days on earth are like grass, like wild flowers. We bloom and we die. 689 00:57:02.445 --> 00:57:06.025 The wind blows and we are gone as though we have never been here. 690 00:57:06.285 --> 00:57:10.985 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. 691 00:57:11.885 --> 00:57:16.345 His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to 692 00:57:16.346 --> 00:57:18.865 his covenant, of those who obey his commands. 693 00:57:20.475 --> 00:57:22.295 That's what Jesus offers, man. 694 00:57:26.875 --> 00:57:28.475 So you accept Jesus. And then man, 695 00:57:28.476 --> 00:57:32.115 we've got to learn how to be people who receive and walk by the power of the 696 00:57:32.116 --> 00:57:36.315 Holy Spirit who allow the Holy Spirit to shape our lives. Listen to me. 697 00:57:37.105 --> 00:57:39.115 When you accept Jesus into your life, 698 00:57:39.116 --> 00:57:42.955 Ephesians tells us that the first inheritance that we receive as believers is 699 00:57:42.956 --> 00:57:43.665 the Holy Spirit. 700 00:57:43.665 --> 00:57:48.475 That means that the power and the presence of God is placed deep inside of us. 701 00:57:48.775 --> 00:57:52.755 And this is what gives us the power to start saying no to sin and start saying 702 00:57:52.815 --> 00:57:53.795 yes to God's voice 703 00:57:55.445 --> 00:57:59.505 by being led by the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our lives. 704 00:57:59.685 --> 00:58:03.025 The next thing that you should do if you start walking in this man church, 705 00:58:03.165 --> 00:58:05.905 we have got to get serious about repentance. 706 00:58:07.285 --> 00:58:12.145 We have got to get serious about allowing God to reorient our hearts. Listen, 707 00:58:12.425 --> 00:58:16.785 the the uh, the the essence of sin is disoriented desires. 708 00:58:17.875 --> 00:58:21.805 When there's something inside of us that tries to take its place over God, 709 00:58:22.785 --> 00:58:24.085 that's what sin is. 710 00:58:24.105 --> 00:58:28.125 And God wants to rearrange that and he's willing to change your heart, 711 00:58:29.595 --> 00:58:33.715 but you have to be willing to change your mind. The reality is, 712 00:58:33.915 --> 00:58:36.475 is God will give you new desires, he will renew your heart. 713 00:58:36.575 --> 00:58:37.675 But at the end of the day, man, 714 00:58:37.676 --> 00:58:41.395 we have to be a people who learn to say no to the things that are appealing to 715 00:58:41.396 --> 00:58:45.155 our flesh. And instead say yes to the life that Jesus wants for us. 716 00:58:45.255 --> 00:58:50.035 And then the change in behavior comes. It's not just about, 717 00:58:50.055 --> 00:58:53.675 man, I suck at life. Lemme get better at it. It's about God, 718 00:58:53.915 --> 00:58:57.155 I need you to change my heart. I'm willing to change my mind. 719 00:58:58.105 --> 00:59:00.605 And that leads to a change of behavior and church, 720 00:59:00.745 --> 00:59:02.405 here's the last thing that I have for you. 721 00:59:04.245 --> 00:59:07.435 Maybe you've been following Jesus for a while and you're like, has it worked? 722 00:59:08.425 --> 00:59:13.195 Because sin is still crouching at my door. Listen, church, 723 00:59:13.315 --> 00:59:16.795 I want to give you this. Don't give up. 724 00:59:18.565 --> 00:59:20.225 Do not quit. 725 00:59:21.995 --> 00:59:26.525 Wake up every single day with the humility and the determination to 726 00:59:26.715 --> 00:59:30.925 eradicate your sin. And I promise you it's not gonna be easy. 727 00:59:31.025 --> 00:59:32.765 It is going to be a lifelong struggle. 728 00:59:32.825 --> 00:59:36.565 But here is a reminder that we get from Paul in Philippians chapter one, 729 00:59:37.085 --> 00:59:40.525 verse six. He says this, he says, the God who began the good work. 730 00:59:41.225 --> 00:59:42.885 So the salvation that you've received, 731 00:59:43.305 --> 00:59:47.525 the God who began that good work will see that work through until the day when 732 00:59:47.526 --> 00:59:50.845 Jesus Christ returns in church. That is something that is worth celebrating. 733 00:59:50.846 --> 00:59:53.765 That is a reason why we come back and while we celebrate Easter, 734 00:59:53.766 --> 00:59:58.085 because it is proof to us that God started something in our lives and he's not 735 00:59:58.086 --> 00:59:59.205 gonna quit until he is done. 736 01:00:00.895 --> 01:00:05.885 There is a glory that is waiting for each and every one of us. Yeah, 737 01:00:06.265 --> 01:00:08.765 sin is terrible. Satan is the worst, 738 01:00:10.225 --> 01:00:13.725 but God gave us another way through Jesus 739 01:00:15.425 --> 01:00:18.805 church, do not give up. 740 01:00:19.875 --> 01:00:23.245 Keep fighting the good fight, man. It's a lifelong battle. 741 01:00:24.625 --> 01:00:29.085 But our God is so much greater, our God is so much greater. Listen, 742 01:00:29.305 --> 01:00:29.886 if you're here, 743 01:00:29.886 --> 01:00:34.165 if you're at any of our campuses and God is speaking to your heart, 744 01:00:35.285 --> 01:00:37.205 I wanna let you know something. We have been praying for you. 745 01:00:38.625 --> 01:00:40.565 We have been praying for the prodigals to come home. 746 01:00:41.745 --> 01:00:45.565 We have been praying for those transformations for God to, to raise, uh, 747 01:00:45.715 --> 01:00:50.445 dead men and women back to life the same way that the power of God raised Jesus 748 01:00:50.795 --> 01:00:54.685 back to life. If that's you men, we want you to talk to somebody. 749 01:00:56.505 --> 01:01:00.405 We want to celebrate with you. If, if God was here in these spaces, 750 01:01:00.555 --> 01:01:02.605 he'd wrap his arms around you and give you a big hug. 751 01:01:02.825 --> 01:01:06.165 We want to be the arms and feet of Jesus and we want to be able to do that for 752 01:01:06.166 --> 01:01:09.805 you as well. Church, let's keep fighting. 753 01:01:11.095 --> 01:01:13.685 Let's allow God to keep transforming our hearts. 754 01:01:14.745 --> 01:01:19.605 And let's be the type of people who hate sin with everything 755 01:01:19.606 --> 01:01:22.645 within us. Father, we love you. 756 01:01:23.815 --> 01:01:27.325 Thank you for the work of Jesus. Thank you for the worst work of the cross. 757 01:01:28.105 --> 01:01:30.045 Praise your holy name. Amen. 758 01:01:34.795 --> 01:01:38.765 Come on church, let's stand to our feet. Let's respond to this gospel. Call 759 01:01:41.475 --> 01:01:45.965 your cross my freedom, your stripes, 760 01:01:46.785 --> 01:01:51.205 my healing, my praise, king Jesus, 761 01:01:52.535 --> 01:01:54.765 glory to God in heaven. 762 01:01:55.715 --> 01:01:58.285 Your blood is still speaking. 763 01:01:59.485 --> 01:02:03.885 Your love is still reaching all praise. Come on. 764 01:02:05.215 --> 01:02:08.965 Glory, glory to God. Come on your cross, 765 01:02:10.205 --> 01:02:14.525 your cross. My freedom, your stripes, 766 01:02:15.605 --> 01:02:19.645 my healing. Praise King Jesus. 767 01:02:21.885 --> 01:02:22.125 Your. 768 01:02:22.125 --> 01:02:26.645 Blood is still speaking today. Your blood still speaking, 769 01:02:28.005 --> 01:02:32.005 your love is still. Praise. 770 01:02:33.805 --> 01:02:34.638 Come 771 01:02:40.485 --> 01:02:42.125 my freedom, your 772 01:02:47.565 --> 01:02:48.398 king Jesus. 773 01:02:49.375 --> 01:02:50.208 Glory. 774 01:03:32.305 --> 01:03:36.815 Glory come. 775 01:03:37.255 --> 01:03:40.455 Let's give him praise for Jesus. Let's give him 776 01:03:42.255 --> 01:03:45.855 glory forever. Come. 777 01:03:47.485 --> 01:03:48.318 We're gonna give glory 778 01:03:54.405 --> 01:03:55.238 Hall 779 01:04:00.075 --> 01:04:00.908 hallelu. 780 01:04:04.075 --> 01:04:08.085 Come on church. Let's give God some praise. Come on, let the Lord hear it. 781 01:04:16.405 --> 01:04:21.405 I think we just need to take a moment. Um, let's just pray. 782 01:04:22.345 --> 01:04:26.045 Is that all right? All right, let's pray. Father, thank you for, uh, 783 01:04:26.046 --> 01:04:28.805 this evening. Thank you for your power. 784 01:04:31.885 --> 01:04:35.875 Thank you for your spirit, uh, that has moved, uh, 785 01:04:35.945 --> 01:04:39.955 through Aaron tonight. In that message, uh, 786 01:04:40.095 --> 01:04:45.035 we are confronted face to face through your word with our own sin, 787 01:04:46.295 --> 01:04:48.675 but we're also confronted with the truth of the gospel. 788 01:04:49.785 --> 01:04:53.195 That you are a God who has overcome sin and death. 789 01:04:55.095 --> 01:04:59.115 And while it would be easy to change, um, behavior, 790 01:05:00.555 --> 01:05:02.325 what you want to change is our hearts. 791 01:05:05.705 --> 01:05:06.725 And so Father, uh, 792 01:05:06.745 --> 01:05:11.245 we pray that you would move in a mighty way to do exactly that where there is 793 01:05:11.265 --> 01:05:13.485 sin, help us to lay it down at your feet 794 01:05:16.165 --> 01:05:20.565 and help us to embrace the hope of the gospel that comes through a relationship 795 01:05:20.566 --> 01:05:23.965 of surrender to you. In Jesus' name. 796 01:05:25.925 --> 01:05:28.095 Amen. Come on, let's give God some praise one more time. 797 01:05:29.175 --> 01:05:30.008 Yeah. 798 01:05:33.715 --> 01:05:37.415 Listen, as we, um, get to gather every single week, 799 01:05:37.435 --> 01:05:41.375 we are so thankful to God and we just believe that he is on the move and he's 800 01:05:41.376 --> 01:05:43.135 preparing us, uh, 801 01:05:43.136 --> 01:05:46.935 and that he is moving in our church in a way that is special and unique and 802 01:05:46.936 --> 01:05:50.255 we're thankful for it. And we're hoping to see much, much more of it. 803 01:05:50.256 --> 01:05:54.735 Like we have expectancy in our heart to see people's lives changed with the hope 804 01:05:54.736 --> 01:05:59.295 of the gospel. And every week we gather to that end, we gather, uh, 805 01:05:59.296 --> 01:06:01.495 to be encouraged in the work that God is already doing, 806 01:06:01.515 --> 01:06:03.255 but also in the work that is to come. 807 01:06:03.555 --> 01:06:07.415 And so we want to have you come back every single week to be a part of these 808 01:06:07.416 --> 01:06:07.856 gatherings, 809 01:06:07.856 --> 01:06:10.895 but we also want you to live this out as you move through the weeks of your 810 01:06:10.905 --> 01:06:14.095 lives. And we want to help you with that. And so listen, if you're new to hope, 811 01:06:14.096 --> 01:06:15.695 make sure you stop at our next steps area. 812 01:06:15.795 --> 01:06:18.575 If you are at one of our physical campuses, and if you're watching online, 813 01:06:19.275 --> 01:06:20.615 let us know in the chat that we are, 814 01:06:20.616 --> 01:06:24.975 that you are new and any way that we can serve you or help you to grow in your 815 01:06:24.976 --> 01:06:28.255 relationship with Jesus Christ. And we want you to keep showing up. 816 01:06:28.395 --> 01:06:30.975 So next week, keep showing up. Uh, 817 01:06:30.976 --> 01:06:33.415 we're getting close to Easter season and uh, 818 01:06:33.416 --> 01:06:35.255 we want you to show up for that as well. 819 01:06:35.256 --> 01:06:38.575 But we also want you to invite neighbors, friends, coworkers, 820 01:06:38.605 --> 01:06:40.895 anybody who you know, because here's what I know, 821 01:06:40.896 --> 01:06:44.655 there's not a person on earth that doesn't need to hear the hope of Jesus 822 01:06:44.675 --> 01:06:45.508 Christ. 823 01:06:45.595 --> 01:06:50.175 And so you can reserve a ticket to be at one of our physical campuses during 824 01:06:50.195 --> 01:06:54.535 Easter time. Grab a ticket for you, grab one for a friend and family member, 825 01:06:54.536 --> 01:06:56.055 whoever it is that you want to invite. 826 01:06:56.215 --> 01:07:00.535 And you can do that by simply going to get hope.net/easter. Uh, 827 01:07:00.536 --> 01:07:04.215 all the information on locations and times that we're gonna gather are there. 828 01:07:04.595 --> 01:07:06.855 Please make sure you go in there and grab a ticket. 829 01:07:06.925 --> 01:07:10.415 It's gonna be a great opportunity to worship the Lord. And man, 830 01:07:10.475 --> 01:07:14.415 we wanna see you. We wanna see you at Easter time. Now, 831 01:07:14.435 --> 01:07:15.495 as we move through Easter, 832 01:07:15.496 --> 01:07:18.855 what we know is that we don't just gather in the body of Christ, 833 01:07:18.915 --> 01:07:22.975 but often we gather as families, uh, in and around the areas, uh, 834 01:07:22.976 --> 01:07:26.215 where God has placed us. Uh, you might gather with your friends, 835 01:07:26.285 --> 01:07:28.055 with your coworkers, with your neighbors. 836 01:07:28.555 --> 01:07:30.815 And what we know is that when we get to those gatherings, 837 01:07:30.816 --> 01:07:33.975 they are typically celebrations where we have food present 838 01:07:35.525 --> 01:07:36.325 typically, 839 01:07:36.325 --> 01:07:40.255 because there are a lot of families when we get to the holidays who are reminded 840 01:07:40.515 --> 01:07:43.695 of what they don't have. And food is one of those things. 841 01:07:43.955 --> 01:07:47.335 And then we recognize a long time ago as a church that one of the ways we can 842 01:07:47.575 --> 01:07:51.135 minister to people is through a tool of food. And I wanna be clear, 843 01:07:51.635 --> 01:07:56.495 it is not about the food. Uh, it's about the opportunity to meet a need that, 844 01:07:56.496 --> 01:07:59.455 that God has so graciously put right in front of our church. 845 01:08:00.035 --> 01:08:03.375 And so when we get to this time, uh, we typically will, uh, 846 01:08:03.376 --> 01:08:07.215 have an opportunity to pack our food pantry here at Hope Community Church with 847 01:08:07.216 --> 01:08:12.215 food because we expect people to show up at our doors with this simple need. 848 01:08:12.915 --> 01:08:13.855 Now, you may not know this, 849 01:08:13.856 --> 01:08:18.525 but where our church is positioned is in the triangle. And in Wake County alone, 850 01:08:19.064 --> 01:08:23.805 one out of every five children has the potential of going to bed 851 01:08:24.064 --> 01:08:26.125 at night without having food, 852 01:08:28.195 --> 01:08:31.645 Without that basic need being met. And as a church, 853 01:08:32.145 --> 01:08:34.645 we realize that we could do something about that. 854 01:08:35.104 --> 01:08:38.245 And so we ask that you bring food back to our physical campuses, 855 01:08:38.354 --> 01:08:40.765 drop them off each week as we move through the spring, 856 01:08:41.145 --> 01:08:43.564 and we want to pack the pantry to be able to support the needs. 857 01:08:43.785 --> 01:08:44.565 You might not know this, 858 01:08:44.565 --> 01:08:49.535 but over 450 families are reached and depend on our 859 01:08:49.536 --> 01:08:51.295 food pantry here at Hope Community Church. 860 01:08:52.215 --> 01:08:55.814 And so we wanna make a huge effort to make sure we have those needs met. 861 01:08:55.995 --> 01:08:56.935 And so to do that, 862 01:08:57.035 --> 01:09:00.015 if you want to find out information about our pantry or about how you can do 863 01:09:00.016 --> 01:09:04.095 that, you can simply text the word food to the number 7 2 9 8 9. 864 01:09:04.435 --> 01:09:06.135 And there will be a list there where, uh, 865 01:09:06.136 --> 01:09:09.655 you'll find items that you can gather and bring back. In addition to that, 866 01:09:10.035 --> 01:09:12.335 if you or somebody who has a need for food, 867 01:09:12.395 --> 01:09:16.895 we also want you to text that same word food to 7 2 9 8 9, 868 01:09:17.314 --> 01:09:21.975 and we will reach out to you and see how we can support you through the tool of 869 01:09:21.976 --> 01:09:25.055 food. Now, we know that not everybody has usage of a phone. 870 01:09:25.056 --> 01:09:27.495 And so if you're at one of our physical campuses, we'd love it. 871 01:09:27.496 --> 01:09:31.535 If you stop at the next steps area, let us know. And, and man, 872 01:09:31.536 --> 01:09:35.455 we want to meet that need. By God's grace, y'all, we love you. 873 01:09:36.125 --> 01:09:39.455 This has been a wonderful time of worship and we do hope to see you back here 874 01:09:39.456 --> 01:09:42.135 next week. So God bless you guys, we'll see you soon.