WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Hey man family, we're gonna be in John chapter 18. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.759 John chapter 18 and we are in week two of a series we started last week called 24. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:09.919 Everybody say 24 ready. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:16.879 Everybody's come on, we gotta have a little more on everybody say 24 ready. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:18.640 That's what I'm talking about. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:28.800 This is this is what we're teaching on the last 24 hours of the life of Jesus, and we said last week his life had all kinds of twists and turns. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.679 It started with Thursday evening. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:37.520 They had a supper, and it was at that supper where Jesus washed the disciples' feet. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:45.679 And then we talked last week that Jesus spent some time in prayer, praying for his followers, praying for his church. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:49.119 And here's a test question on a Sunday morning. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.200 Last week we said he prayed for one specific thing. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:55.920 Can somebody tell me what was it that he prayed for? 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:58.560 He prayed for unity. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:00:59.039 That's right. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:00:59.600 Unity. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:02.719 He prayed for unity in his church. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:08.640 And then after that, Jesus went to a garden later that night. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:13.599 He went to a garden called the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:17.439 And he continued praying at the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:24.079 And I want to show you guys some pictures of what this garden looks like today because it's actually a beautiful garden. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:31.120 And some of the trees in this garden, not all of them, but some of them, actually date back 2,000 years. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:33.519 So you can go to this garden. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:41.760 I think we have another picture of it too, and you can see some of the exact same trees that Jesus would have seen. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:49.599 Now at this garden, something unthinkable happened. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:58.000 At this garden, something happened that seems crazy. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:03.680 It was at the garden where Jesus was betrayed. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:14.319 And his betrayal isn't what really was the most crazy thing, but rather who betrayed Jesus? 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:16.479 That was the crazy thing. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:24.159 Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest friends. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:26.080 Judas. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.479 Everybody say Judas, ready? 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:37.039 Judas was somebody that spent nearly every waking moment for three years with Jesus. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:42.080 Judas was somebody that knew a lot of religious things. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:49.360 Judas was somebody that was a part of miracles happening. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:54.240 Judas was somebody that he served. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:04.080 But something tragic happened in Judas' life that led him to betray Jesus. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:10.000 Is that Judas never owned his own faith. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:21.840 When we look at the New Testament, we never one time seeing Judas saying, Jesus, you're my Lord, you're my master. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.319 I believe you're the forgiver of sin. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.879 My faith is in you and you alone. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.039 We never see that in here. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:33.439 We see Judas around people that follow Jesus. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:45.439 We see Judas engaged in spiritual activity, but as far as Judas personally owning his own faith, we never see it. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:52.400 And a faith that isn't owned is a faith that won't last. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:04:00.479 A faith that isn't owned is a faith that won't last. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:04.479 And here's what we're gonna see today from John chapter 18. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:11.680 We're gonna see a case study of a man that never owned his faith. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:19.439 And maybe more importantly, I'm gonna show you how you can personally own your faith. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:27.839 Because I have this fear that there's a lot of people in a lot of good churches that they've never owned their own faith. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.199 Yes, maybe their family member has faith. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:33.680 Yes, maybe their spouse has faith. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:47.600 Yes, maybe their grandma's got faith, or maybe their kids have faith, but they've never personally owned their faith, and they're tragically riding on the coattails of somebody else's faith. 00:04:48.480 --> 00:05:01.839 And when you write on the coattails of somebody else's faith, and you never personally own your own faith, you miss out on the power of a real relationship with God. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:04.319 So let's pick this up in John chapter 18. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:06.560 And if you're ready for God's word, would you say amen? 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:09.759 John 18, verse number one says this. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:23.199 There was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:30.879 Now, John is one of four biographies about the life of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.639 Those are what's called the Gospels. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:38.959 So you can see different accounts of the life of Jesus from the four Gospels, from these biographies. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:45.600 We know from Matthew's account that the other disciples that were with Jesus were Peter, James, and John. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:53.519 So Peter, James, and John, they go with Jesus to the garden, the pretty one that we just saw the picture of with the olive trees. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:58.800 And there in verse number two, they find Judas. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:12.399 Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:19.199 Judas had already made an agreement to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:24.399 He had already betrayed him because an agreement had already been made. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:36.879 So now what we're about to see is the agreement that's already been signed, sealed, they're ready to go, is now going to come into fruition where Jesus is going to be betrayed. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.240 But the agreement had already been made. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:55.920 So verse number three, Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:59.839 Now, if you study this out, this is very likely. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.560 This is a mob. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.240 This is a bunch of people. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:13.199 They're all coming. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:17.839 They got torches, they got weapons, they are ready to betray Jesus. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:23.279 And then Jesus, verse 4, knowing everything that was about to happen to him. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.000 After all, he's Jesus. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:27.439 He knows. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:33.519 Went out and said to them, Who is it that you're seeking? 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:42.480 In verse 5, Jesus of Nazareth, they answered, I am he. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.560 Jesus told them. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:51.199 Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:58.240 Now in the original language, Jesus says, I am. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:03.040 Jesus of Nazareth says, I am. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:10.399 What he was doing was he was referring back and going back to something that happened in Exodus chapter number three. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:11.839 There's a guy named Moses. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:13.920 Everybody say Moses, ready? 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.319 Moses was spoken to by God. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.959 God used a burning bush to speak to Moses. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:27.439 Now, isn't that kind of crazy that God used a burning bush to speak to somebody? 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.040 God can use all kinds of things to speak to all kinds of people. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:35.679 Moses asks God, He says, He says, Who are you? 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:37.039 This is what God said. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:38.879 God said, I am. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.720 In other words, I am eternal. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:44.639 I am self-existent. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:48.000 Simply in a simple way, God is. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.759 God is on his own. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.159 He is self-existent. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.279 He's eternal. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.440 Nobody made him, nobody created him. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.519 He was here way before time. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:00.720 He'll be, he'll be here. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:02.480 He stands outside of time. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:03.919 This is who he is. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:07.360 And then Jesus here, when they ask him, who are you? 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:22.000 He says, I am, referring to the fact that he is God, that he is Yahweh, that he is self-existent, that he is the one that was prophesied about this is who he is. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:26.480 And watch in verse number six how they responded to this. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:35.919 When Jesus told them, I am he, they stepped back and fell to the ground. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:52.960 See, friend, when you realize that Jesus is who he says that he is, there's only one right response and one natural response. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:56.399 And it's humility and it's surrender. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:06.879 But even though that was how they responded in verse number six, they still would go on and they would betray Jesus. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:11.600 Yes, we see who you are, but we're not truly going to follow you. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:16.080 So verse number seven says this. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:21.120 Then he asked them, again, some of y'all got that. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.080 Verse 7. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:25.200 Who is it that you're seeking? 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.919 Jesus of Nazareth, they said. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:30.960 I told you I am He, Jesus replied. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:32.399 Verse 8. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:37.120 So if you're looking for me, let these men go. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:43.840 This was to fulfill the words he had said, I have not lost one of those you have given me. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:53.919 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:57.200 The servant's name was Malchus. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.480 By the way, I think Peter missed. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:03.120 I don't think Peter was going for the ear. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:07.679 And Malchus did not have an ear there. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:13.200 At that, Jesus said to Peter, put your sword away. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:18.720 Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me? 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.559 Now here's what Jesus is referring to. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:29.440 The Father had sent Jesus to come and die on the cross for the sins of all of humanity. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:30.799 That was the plan. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.200 Why? 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:34.559 So your sins could be forgiven and my sins could be forgiven. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:38.720 And when Jesus says here, Am I not to drink the cup? 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:46.399 He's saying, Am I not to fulfill the Father's will by dying for all of humanity and dying for every single person? 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:55.759 This was part of the this was the event that put God's ultimate plan of salvation for our souls into movement, into action. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:08.879 Then the company of soldiers, verse 12, the commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:14.720 And from here, Jesus would experience court trials. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:18.399 And from here, Jesus would be beaten. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:26.000 And from here, Jesus would stand before another Jewish mob and they would cry out, crucify him! Crucify him. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:36.080 Because Judas was part of all these different things that happened. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.960 And Judas never owned his faith. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:46.720 Judas never made this personal decision to do what I'm going to invite every person in here to do. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.200 And that is to own your own faith. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:50.559 Now it's interesting. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:56.720 Verse number 10 of the passage Simon Peter had a sword. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:01.200 He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.360 Now y'all think this is a mob. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.120 There's like hundreds of people. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:11.919 There's hundreds of people, and there's Jesus, there's Peter, James, and John. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:15.440 Peter, I love that, bro. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:21.360 Peter in front of hundreds of people, like a mob of soldiers, he pulls out his sword. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.360 He's like, Let's go. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:28.080 He tries to cut off the probably not the ear. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.559 Take dude out, misses, hits the ear. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.600 And if you think in your mind, it's like, Peter, there's like hundreds of guys here. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.039 Like, you don't have a chance. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.600 But Peter's like, don't mess with my Lord. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:39.120 Don't mess with Jesus. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.279 You're gonna mess with him, you gotta get through me first. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:45.440 Anybody, you guys have, I don't know if any of you are older siblings in the room. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:50.399 And maybe you'll fight with your younger sibling and you'll pick on them and mess with them. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:53.519 But better nobody else mess with them and pick on them. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.200 You know what I mean? 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.360 Because you gotta go through me. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.559 That's your brother, that's your sister. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:05.039 Peter here said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.399 Like, you don't do that to him. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.080 And here's interesting, though. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:16.000 If you think uh 10,000-foot view, if you look at the life of Peter and the life of Judas, there's a lot of similarities, though. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.600 Like, Peter spent a ton of time with Jesus. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.559 Judas spent a ton of time with Jesus. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.720 Peter heard Jesus teach live and in person. 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:31.919 Judas heard Jesus teach live and in person. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:37.519 Which can you imagine hearing Jesus live and in person teaching? 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.080 Some of y'all are like, I saw the chosen. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.960 It's the same thing. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.159 No, it's not. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:49.600 Can you can you Peter was a part of miracles? 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.600 Judas was a part of miracles. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.159 Peter had all these opportunities. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.559 Judas had all these opportunities. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:02.879 But Peter's faith was in Christ, in the person of Jesus. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.000 He said, You are my Messiah, you are my Lord, you are my God. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.000 We don't see that in Judas's life. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:11.200 Maybe Judas' faith was in religious activity. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:15.840 Maybe Judas' faith was in everything that Jesus can do for me. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:20.159 Like my faith is that you're gonna make my life better, Jesus, so I'm gonna hang out with you. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.080 Whew. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.600 It's real. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:30.080 If you make my life better, my faith is that you will, I can live my best life now. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:35.759 But as far as Judas' faith in Christ, we don't see this. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:43.279 And Judas had this knowledge about Jesus, but he didn't have a true depth relationship with Jesus. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:51.519 And here's what's really interesting is sometimes in our life we can confuse knowledge with relationship. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.559 We can confuse knowledge with relationship. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:03.600 We could say it like this just because you know about someone doesn't mean you know someone. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:09.519 Just because you know about someone doesn't mean you know someone. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.879 Okay, for example, okay. 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:13.600 Let's talk about some spiritual stuff in here. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.440 Let's talk about sports. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.039 Can somebody tell me? 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.440 This is a Sunday morning trivia question. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:26.879 This past week, there was a season that got started, a professional sports league that got started. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.399 Can anybody NBA? 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.120 Who said NBA? 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:29.840 That was that Joey? 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.720 I know that's my boy. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:31.759 Joey, let's go. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.240 NBA. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.519 NBA got started. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.600 Here's what I want you guys to do on the count of three. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:39.440 I want you to shout out who's the greatest player in NBA history. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.559 Okay, the greatest. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.919 I want you guys to think. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.279 If you're a sports, if you're not a sports fan, just make up a name. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.480 Just make somebody up. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.840 Just say Pastor Nate, right? 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.399 It'd be great. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:48.879 Okay, right? 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.279 Ready? 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:49.840 You got the person? 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:50.080 Ready? 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.799 On three. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.759 One, two, three. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.960 I heard some LeBron. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.679 Oh, I heard so I heard some Kobe. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.639 Okay, we got Kobe. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.799 So we got we got a few delusional people in the room. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.679 I'm just kidding. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.319 I'm just kidding. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.599 Kobe's great. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:09.119 And then you got Michael Jordan. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.440 I mean, Michael Jordan. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:16.400 I mean, you know, he's got an entire like 10-part documentary after him. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.599 The last dance. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.519 Greatest documentary of all time. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:23.039 And uh, you know, he's pretty great. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:25.599 In fact, uh, I just want to hear from you guys. 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:31.039 Can can somebody tell me a fact, something about whoever you said was your greatest player? 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.559 LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:37.119 Can can you tell me just something about them? 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.319 It doesn't matter what. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.640 Somebody, you somebody talk to me. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.640 They can shoot a good hoop. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.559 All three of them, they can shoot a good hoop. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.039 That's right. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.000 That's right. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.079 Uh Kobe, Brian, we always get to the game so like wherever they're playing. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:58.000 We get to report first the next four and all night, just so you can leave out like what it looked like. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.599 You're a real Kobe fan. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.880 She just gave us all the details of Kobe's pregame. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.680 Yeah, that's that's right. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.640 Yeah, he'd do that. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.359 Yeah. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:13.200 Somebody tell me something about Michael Jordan. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.599 He was a baseball player? 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.480 What's that? 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.480 Somebody else? 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.039 Michael. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.880 He was in Space Jam. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.200 That's right. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.160 Space Jam. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.119 Can somebody tell me what team did Michael Jordan play for? 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:30.079 Chicago Bulls, the Wizards, North Carolina. 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.319 Let's see, let's see any real big sports fans. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.359 Here's a hard question. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:36.400 How many championships did Michael Jordan have? 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.680 Six. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.400 Let's go. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:41.359 Some of y'all are like Googling this stuff right now as we're judging. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.480 Okay. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:47.680 We all know these stuff about Kobe and these different guys, Michael Jordan. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.039 But here's my question. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.079 This is really this. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.160 I actually personally want to know this. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.359 Does anybody actually know Michael Jordan? 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.119 I'm skinning the room. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.000 Nobody. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.640 Nobody. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.359 Nobody in the balcony. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:04.160 Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.160 You know about Michael Jordan? 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:09.359 You know where he went to college? 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.960 I asked how many, how many championships does he have? 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.480 Somebody shouted out, six. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.480 What team do you play? 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.759 We're Chicago Bulls. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:26.799 Somebody said, Wizards, we know all, we know all this stuff about him, but we don't know him. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:38.240 And friend, it is possible that you know some things about God, but you don't truly have a deep relationship with God. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:43.279 That you know something that you learned growing up in church. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:53.599 Maybe you know a book of the Bible, maybe you know something your grandma taught you, but it's completely different than actually knowing God for yourself. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:20:03.119 And the only way we can have a deep relationship with God is if we personally own our own faith. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:13.279 And for us to own our own faith, we're gonna have to have some honest personal reflection about where we are with our faith. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:36.319 I have a leadership and pastoral coach that speaks into my life because I'm trying to be a good leader and trying to be a good pastor, and he speaks into my life, and he talks about making space in your life to think, to pray, to reflect, and to be honest with yourself. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:44.160 Creating space to think, to pray, to reflect, and to be honest with yourself. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:46.559 Now, here's what's really hard about this. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:49.759 All of us in the room are super, super busy. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.440 Like if I were to ask you, who's busy? 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.480 I'm busy. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:55.359 If I said who's busy, some of you'd raise up both hands. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.720 Some of you just show me a picture of your kid, you'd be like. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.319 And we're so busy, and it's it's hard to make space to do this. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:08.559 On top of this, the idea of being honest is really hard. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:18.160 Because for us to be honest with ourselves, we actually have to address some things in our lives that maybe aren't what they should be. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:26.319 We have to actually look inside and realize that maybe there's some sin in our life. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:36.559 Maybe there's something that isn't quite where it should be, but this is so important because we can only be as spiritually healthy as we are honest. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:43.279 And some of us, it's been a minute since we've been honest with ourselves. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:50.960 In fact, some of us, we are professional deniers and we are professional suppressors. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.359 You know what I'm talking about? 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:57.440 Something comes up, maybe the Holy Spirit tells you something, you're like, no, I'm good. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:04.240 Maybe a weakness is exposed in your life, and you're like, no, I'm fine. 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:11.359 Maybe we find ourselves drifting into this habit or drinking too much or doing this. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.279 We're like, no, I'm fine. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:18.960 I know I've had something, a drink every night for the last month, but I don't have a problem. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.599 I'm okay. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.839 I don't have an anger problem. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:29.599 It's that they're just wrong all the time and they won't listen to me. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.720 I'm not bitter. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.240 It's just the whole world, they just I don't understand why the world do this. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.039 Why are people like that? 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.559 I'm not bitter. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.400 I'm filled with joy. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.119 I'm filled with joy. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.559 Are you are you questioning me? 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.359 This is not gonna happen. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:23:00.160 We can be in denial and we cannot be honest with ourselves, but we can only be as spiritually healthy as we are honest, because when we are honest with where we are, now we know where we need to grow. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:11.759 Now being honest with ourselves begins, it begins with this spiritually, by asking ourselves: has there been a time when I personally trusted Jesus Christ to be my Lord and my Savior? 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:26.720 Have I understood the gospel that Jesus came to this earth, he died on the cross for my sin, and I'm turning away from my sin, and I'm putting my trust in Jesus Christ to be my Lord, to be my Savior, to be a believer in him. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:31.359 Everybody has to make that personal decision for themselves. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:42.160 And once we make that decision, then we have to ask ourselves okay, so I began a relationship with God, but where am I currently at with my relationship with God? 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:47.039 How am I doing in my walk with the Lord? 00:23:47.279 --> 00:24:04.079 And this requires honesty, and honesty can be hard, but we will only grow as we're honest, and the gospel of Jesus Christ actually gives us the freedom to be honest. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.559 Let me let me explain. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:22.240 If in our lives we think that our identity is determined by us being right, by us having our ducks in a row, by us being righteous, by us having ourselves together, we'll never be able to admit any failure. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:28.559 We'll never be able to humble ourselves because we feel like it's an attack on our personal identity. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.039 Let's let me get personal. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.119 It's enough for me to just talk about this general. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.319 Let me talk about me. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:42.400 I remember as I was coming to grips with the beauty and the depths of the gospel, motives in my life started getting exposed. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:52.559 So, for example, I was I had measured my standing with God on my performance and everything that I did rather than the grace of God. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:00.960 I found worth and meaning in everything I quote unquote did for God rather than simply being a child of God. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:09.440 And for so long in my life, I would live in denial because I'm like, no, I can't admit weakness. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:13.519 Like, I'm good, I'm strong, I'm Nate, I go to the gym, I do this. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:22.240 But when I started understanding in the gospel, my identity is not based on what I do, but based on what God says about me. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:26.559 It actually gave me the freedom to be honest with myself. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:31.599 And the most free people are the most honest people. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:35.440 And the gospel allows us to be free and honest. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:43.119 This is why we say the gospel doesn't just save us, it shapes us, strengthens us, and guides us. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:50.559 There is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and there's nothing you can do to make God love you less. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:55.440 So you can be open and honest with where you are in your faith. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:59.039 Even honest about the ugly things in your heart. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:07.039 Even be honest about the things that you're watching that nobody else knows, or you think nobody else knows. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:14.319 And when we're honest, it's then and only then that we can actually grow. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:18.720 Because owning your faith requires growing your faith. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.160 Owning your faith requires growing your faith. 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:28.480 So if you say, Nate, I want to own my faith, I love that. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:32.559 Now what that means is that you have to intentionally grow our faith. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:41.039 But growing your faith takes time and energy and self-awareness. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:51.599 And sometimes what will happen is we can look at people that have a deep faith and we think, man, I can never be like them. 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:56.640 Like we see their faith and we're like, that's that's for them. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:58.319 I just I just can't do it. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:07.680 Like, Nate, if you knew what I've experienced, if you knew what I've done, if you knew my mistakes, if you just like, I can never have a deep faith like this person. 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:22.559 Friend, if you knew all the if you just knew this, can I just say, friend, if you knew the grace of God, if you knew the power of God, if you knew how God could change lives, if you knew what God can do in your life, you can have a deep faith. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:27.039 You can have a faith that's deep, that's resilient, that's strong. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:29.599 But the question is, is how do we do this? 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:35.839 I want to end with the illustration with a good old backpack. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:38.480 How many of you, how many of you are in school? 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:40.160 Anybody in school right now? 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:42.319 School, oh man, I pray for y'all, man. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:45.839 That's a people ask me, do I want to go back to school? 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.240 I'm like, ask me if I want to go to the dentist. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:50.240 The same answer, okay. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:52.640 I gotta I got a backpack here. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:58.559 This backpack, this is like a this is a military grade backpack. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:06.160 So this thing is strong, this thing is durable, this thing could go through snow, heat. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.680 It it don't matter. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:10.799 This is a strong, durable backpack. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:15.680 I also have something that's not quite as durable and strong. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:19.200 I have this right here. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:27.039 Now, because I'm such a big spender and I'm so rich, I got this at Walmart for like$2. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:39.599 And uh it's it's kind of it works, but if I were to put this in the middle of a parking lot on a hot summer day, this would be done. 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:42.640 This would melt, it'd be no good. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:48.960 This right here though, this this thing, this backpack, this is strong and durable. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:58.960 Now going back to our text, going back to our text, this is like Peter's faith. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.400 Strong and durable. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:07.200 Now we know Peter messed up, he denied Christ, but he ended up martyr being a martyr and giving his life for Christ. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:10.799 You read Acts, you're like, Peter, you are strong in your faith. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:13.920 This represents the faith of Judas. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:18.799 Very weak. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.599 Not a whole lot. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.839 Not very durable. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:39.279 But if we looked in this bag, we would see some things that allowed Peter's faith to be strong. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:46.799 We'd look in here and we'd discover, oh, we'll look at that in a minute. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:54.319 Would discover a foundation of God's word. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.119 Peter knew God's word. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.039 Peter knew the Old Testament. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:04.799 Peter, Peter, the words of Jesus were a part of Peter. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:15.519 And for some of you, if you want a deep faith, can I just say that God's word, God's truth, is gonna have to be a part of your life. 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:22.000 You will only be as strong spiritually as you are connected to God's word. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:29.519 I was so excited to see all those names on the foundation screen just a few minutes ago, seeing all those names. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:32.160