WEBVTT 00:00:05.533 --> 00:00:08.233 Well, good morning to all of you. 00:00:08.233 --> 00:00:11.233 How's everybody today? 00:00:11.333 --> 00:00:16.865 How many of you really enjoyed meeting in that new fellowship hall this morning for life groups? 00:00:16.932 --> 00:00:19.199 Yeah, it was awesome. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:20.899 I'll walk through there. 00:00:20.899 --> 00:00:23.865 Oh, man, it just felt so fresh and new and nice. 00:00:23.865 --> 00:00:26.865 I'm expecting you all to be way more spiritual now as a result. 00:00:26.865 --> 00:00:29.865 Okay. I saw you in there. 00:00:29.865 --> 00:00:31.265 Listen, is great together. 00:00:31.265 --> 00:00:36.500 We had such a great time last week celebrating 85 years of our church's history. 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:41.066 What an awesome day to remember what God had done. 00:00:41.133 --> 00:00:43.799 I've had so many just encouraging comments. 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.165 I didn't know that about our history. 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.165 I didn't know. 00:00:46.165 --> 00:00:49.665 And I've also heard you left this person out by the way you forgot about them. 00:00:49.865 --> 00:00:51.365 I'm sorry for the oversight. 00:00:51.365 --> 00:00:55.865 It's now because I didn't like them, but we couldn't cover everybody just hitting some highlights a long way. 00:00:55.865 --> 00:01:05.632 In fact, if you haven't had a chance to check it out afterwards in the lobby, we've got our time lines that were down there in the fellowship hall that Isaac put together that goes through the history of the church. 00:01:05.632 --> 00:01:12.665 It's fun to just read through that and learn even more about what God has done in the 85 years of valid use history. 00:01:12.766 --> 00:01:16.365 Today, we're back in the Book of John, continuing in the Book of John. 00:01:16.365 --> 00:01:25.365 In fact, we're wrapping up chapter 12, and in the end of Chapter 12, we're going to see a big transition in the book of John. 00:01:25.465 --> 00:01:28.933 And that made me think about my own transitions in life. 00:01:28.933 --> 00:01:32.933 We've all much of life is defined by our transitions. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:40.766 I remember one in particular when I went into the fifth grade, so that was a long time ago. 00:01:40.933 --> 00:01:48.099 But also it was when I went from attending a Christian school to going public school for the first time. 00:01:48.099 --> 00:01:51.933 Plus I went kind of out in the West in the Carter Elementary for fifth grade. 00:01:51.933 --> 00:01:58.865 That was a whole new experience, new people, new school system, a lot of changes, a lot of different things. 00:01:58.965 --> 00:02:07.433 One thing I remember about that year, though, was one person that everybody was talking about all the time. 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.000 Michael Jackson, Right. 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.000 Do you remember him? 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:11.199 Of course. 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:13.932 Michael Jackson, He was all the rage in fifth grade. 00:02:13.932 --> 00:02:18.765 And you can date yourself depending on which year that was for you and date me accordingly. 00:02:18.765 --> 00:02:21.432 But like his music was huge. 00:02:21.432 --> 00:02:23.400 He had blown up at every level. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:25.000 That's all everyone was talking about. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:30.300 In fact, I remember one of my classmates, Natalie Mitchell, still remember her name, and she had this button on it. 00:02:30.366 --> 00:02:40.165 I love Michael Jackson had the heart and a picture of Michael Jackson right there on it, like people were enamored with would go away for the summer. 00:02:40.165 --> 00:02:42.633 We'd go into a new school the next year, middle school. 00:02:42.633 --> 00:02:46.133 A lot of those same students were there, but everything had changed. 00:02:46.133 --> 00:02:48.733 Michael Jackson was no more. 00:02:48.733 --> 00:02:51.932 He was still around, but now he was not cool. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.532 It was no longer cool to love Michael Jackson. 00:02:54.532 --> 00:02:56.566 Now he was so fifth grade. 00:02:56.566 --> 00:03:00.665 He was so last year, like, how could you be such a child? 00:03:00.665 --> 00:03:02.966 You want to like his stuff anymore? 00:03:02.966 --> 00:03:05.966 That's old news. 00:03:06.133 --> 00:03:09.300 And it's really interesting how there's this tendency in our hearts right to go. 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:12.199 We go from praise just like that. 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:16.932 We go from praise to unbelief. 00:03:16.932 --> 00:03:17.699 Right? 00:03:17.699 --> 00:03:19.532 He's all the best. 00:03:19.532 --> 00:03:21.233 He's the greatest. 00:03:21.233 --> 00:03:22.733 Yeah. No, no. 00:03:22.733 --> 00:03:26.566 We don't care about him any more. 00:03:26.665 --> 00:03:40.699 And of course, we have seen that pattern not with Michael Jackson, but with Jesus in Scripture up in the book of John, all the way up through to now unbelief, unbelief, unbelief in different forms. 00:03:40.765 --> 00:03:49.466 In fact, the main word that defines the book of John is believe 92 times that word shows up, believe, believe, believe. Why? 00:03:49.466 --> 00:03:52.000 Because there's so much unbelief, unbelief, unbelief. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.599 And it's building and building. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:59.599 And today it's going to hit a bit of a pinnacle before we hit this big transition in the book. 00:03:59.665 --> 00:04:10.900 In fact, what we're going to see in the book today are five belief killers, five things that will destroy your belief as we go through this passage. 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:18.065 We're going to start by looking at the context, reminding ourselves of what we studied last week. 00:04:18.132 --> 00:04:30.466 Transitioning into today's passage last week ended with verse 36, and we're going to start with verse 36 because verse 36 in most Bibles is split in half with a paragraph break. 00:04:30.565 --> 00:04:32.899 So look at John chapter 12, verse 36. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:37.300 And if you don't have a Bible, we have church Bibles out in the connection corner. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:39.533 You can slip out any time and get one. 00:04:39.533 --> 00:04:40.899 Those are free for you. 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:48.300 You can keep that and the page numbers on the screen are tied with that specific version of the Bible to help you find your place. 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:50.632 We want you to find the passage to make it easy. 00:04:50.632 --> 00:04:54.565 We want you reading God's Word, studying God's Word. 00:04:54.632 --> 00:05:06.565 But John, Chapter 12, verse 36 B When Jesus had said these things, He departed and hid himself from them. 00:05:06.632 --> 00:05:11.165 So having said these things, these things very obviously everything he said before them. 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:20.565 And last week we looked at the situation where a couple of Gentiles came to him and said, Well, they didn't come to him, came to some of the disciples and said, Can we get some time with Jesus? 00:05:20.665 --> 00:05:31.766 And Jesus completely ignores them, never talks to him, doesn't even mention them, but he makes a statement in what he says. 00:05:31.833 --> 00:05:38.966 He says, Now it is my hour when those foreigners showed up seeking time with him before them. 00:05:39.065 --> 00:05:40.165 Not my hour, not my time. 00:05:40.165 --> 00:05:42.899 My time has not come over and over again. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:48.199 But now, now, now it's my hour. 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:56.466 There is something about the Gentiles showing up that Jesus says It's time now, Not ever. 00:05:56.466 --> 00:06:00.033 Everybody didn't know what that means yet. 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:05.565 But the weird thing about this verse is what happens in response to that? 00:06:05.665 --> 00:06:09.565 It says, When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 00:06:09.632 --> 00:06:12.533 So why would he do that? 00:06:12.533 --> 00:06:20.500 I mean, the people he came to John chapter one, verse 11, the very start of the book, the Prolog, that sets the whole context of the book. 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:25.065 It says he came to his own meaning to the Jewish people, he came to them and they did not receive him. 00:06:25.065 --> 00:06:29.632 He knew this was going to happen, so his own people are rejecting him. 00:06:29.632 --> 00:06:34.065 Finally, someone from outside foreigners are coming to show up. 00:06:34.165 --> 00:06:40.033 You would think that Jesus would go, okay, you don't want me, I'm going to turn to you. 00:06:40.165 --> 00:06:44.800 I'm going to build a big ministry with these people who do want to hear from me. 00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:47.100 But that's not what he does in this moment. 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:49.399 He goes, The Gentiles are here. 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:54.632 My hour has come and I'm drawing away from everyone. 00:06:54.833 --> 00:07:02.233 It's like he's been at the front of the concert performing to the gigantic audience. 00:07:02.333 --> 00:07:07.865 The concert ends and here is a moment of transition. 00:07:07.865 --> 00:07:17.033 Now he goes to the back to meet those who are backstage, the select few, the ones who are the rabid fans he's drawn away. 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:28.165 And we're going to see in this next group of of chapters his intense focus on investing deeply in the disciples in his remaining few days with them. 00:07:28.233 --> 00:07:31.233 So in this setting, he's drawing away, He's pulling them back. 00:07:31.266 --> 00:07:32.733 He's starting to focus on the disciples. 00:07:32.733 --> 00:07:35.466 Now, why is that? 00:07:35.466 --> 00:07:40.733 Why is that His response to the critics, to the unbelief? 00:07:40.733 --> 00:07:47.300 John, if you have a Bible, has the Jesus of words in red, you'll see it's black here for the next few verses. 00:07:47.533 --> 00:07:49.432 John's going to give us some commentary on that. 00:07:49.432 --> 00:07:51.533 He's going to explain before Jesus talks again. 00:07:51.533 --> 00:07:53.733 He's going to explain why. 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.000 And this sets up the first belief killer we see in the passage. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:14.500 Just look at these next couple of verses here, verse 37, verse 38, though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:24.899 Lord, who has believed what he heard from us and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. 00:08:24.966 --> 00:08:30.932 So verse 37, verse 38, John starts to explain why Jesus is pulling away. 00:08:31.065 --> 00:08:50.966 And the first belief killer we see here, the word isn't here in here, but I think it sums up the sentiment that is here is the word cynicism, cynicism that cynical heart, that doubting heart, that questioning heart that's that wants to just not believe in anything. 00:08:50.966 --> 00:08:53.466 The question everyone's motives. 00:08:53.566 --> 00:08:57.899 You know, if you look back at verse 37, it says, they say he had done many signs before them. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:09:03.732 Even though he had done that, they still did not believe in him. 00:09:03.832 --> 00:09:07.500 One commentator said they persisted in their unbelief. 00:09:07.566 --> 00:09:10.932 They were committed to their unbelief. 00:09:11.033 --> 00:09:23.566 They were determined to stay, not believing there is something about their heart that said, I cannot be persuaded to move off my unbelief. 00:09:23.700 --> 00:09:29.500 Nothing you can do, nothing Jesus can do can open my heart to him. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.832 They continued to disbelieve. 00:09:31.832 --> 00:09:37.765 That is the first belief killer to be mindful of, to be aware of. 00:09:37.832 --> 00:09:41.865 It's a pattern we've seen in the Book of John, and we've seen it all throughout the Bible. 00:09:41.865 --> 00:09:52.033 This was the pattern in the Old Testament with the Israelites in the wilderness and in Egypt, the very thing they're crying out for. 00:09:52.133 --> 00:09:53.865 Freedom from slavery. 00:09:53.865 --> 00:09:55.899 Please, Lord, deliver us. 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:58.899 Save us now. Okay? 00:09:59.066 --> 00:10:05.765 He delivers them too many years of complaining about being delivered. 00:10:05.865 --> 00:10:10.700 Why did you take us out of a place where we had food just to die in the wilderness? 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:13.232 What are you doing? 00:10:13.232 --> 00:10:21.332 Complaining, doubt upset even though they saw miracle after miracle. 00:10:21.566 --> 00:10:26.200 After miracle after miracle it's the same pattern. 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:32.732 And by the way, we need to take pause here in ourselves. 00:10:32.732 --> 00:10:38.200 Remember, we're no better than the people in the Bible. 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:42.365 It's not like because we're newer, we're more enlightened. 00:10:42.432 --> 00:10:46.200 Now. Those same tendencies are in my heart as well. 00:10:46.265 --> 00:10:49.399 I mean, just last week we celebrated 85 years of ministry. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:58.899 We celebrated the renovation of the fellowship hall, and I got to tell you, it's so easy within a week to forget all that. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:14.966 And if we're not constantly fighting for gratitude, for not constantly fighting for belief or it's just natural to move towards unbelief, towards cynicism, towards doubt, towards complaining, that's where we naturally go. 00:11:15.232 --> 00:11:18.399 We've got to fight for belief. 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:21.265 So that's the first belief killer we see in here. 00:11:21.265 --> 00:11:25.899 Now, what's interesting is what he does to support this. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:32.100 John just doesn't say, Yeah, people don't believe he cites an Old Testament verse to support it. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:35.365 In fact, what he quotes is Isaiah 53 one. 00:11:35.432 --> 00:11:41.700 This is a pretty close quote from 53 one Lord who has believed what he heard from us and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. 00:11:41.932 --> 00:11:43.533 I want to turn to that passage. 00:11:43.533 --> 00:11:45.299 Turn with me to the Book of Isaiah. 00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:49.265 We've got the page numbers on the screen in the Old Testament. 00:11:49.332 --> 00:12:04.899 Isaiah 53 is a pretty well-known passage in terms of painting a proper picture of who the Messiah will be because there were many improper perceptions or ideas about what the Messiah would be like. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:11.399 And Isaiah 53 points forward gives a hint, gives a glimpse of who the Messiah would be. 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:18.533 And of course, verse one is a quote from what we just read Who has believed what he has heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:28.500 The important part of that is when it says Who has believed This isn't a questioning terms of the I wonder who has believed. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:31.166 It's more of a has anyone believed? 00:12:31.166 --> 00:12:33.166 Is there anyone who has believed? 00:12:33.166 --> 00:12:44.600 It's pretty clear that no one has believed in the strong arm of the Lord, meaning his ability, his might, his miracles. 00:12:44.666 --> 00:12:48.466 Has anyone believed in these? 00:12:48.566 --> 00:12:51.265 But notice what he says in verse three. 00:12:51.265 --> 00:12:54.000 So move forward. Just a couple of verses. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:13:06.432 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief and as one from whom men hide their faces. 00:13:06.533 --> 00:13:08.533 He was despised. 00:13:08.533 --> 00:13:14.299 And we esteemed him. Not two words that really stood out to me here. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:15.533 That sum up this section. 00:13:15.533 --> 00:13:29.666 He was despised and rejected the point of why he is quoting this here when he says they didn't believe in him and he quotes Isaiah. 00:13:29.732 --> 00:13:37.066 The point in the midst of this is just reminding us this didn't somehow trip up Jesus. 00:13:37.066 --> 00:13:40.066 God wasn't surprised by their unbelief. 00:13:40.166 --> 00:13:43.832 It's not like this is ruining his plan and messing everything up. 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.700 What am I going to do? 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.533 I did all these miracles. 00:13:47.533 --> 00:13:50.432 I tried to reach these people and they don't believe in me. 00:13:50.432 --> 00:13:53.765 Oh, no. What did I do wrong? 00:13:53.865 --> 00:13:55.966 No, he's not surprised by this. 00:13:55.966 --> 00:14:00.832 In fact, John cites Isaiah to say he knew this would happen. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:04.166 He saw it coming. 00:14:04.232 --> 00:14:08.066 Now, there's a reason why he cites this toward that end. 00:14:08.133 --> 00:14:11.133 In fact, he's going to unpack this in the next couple of verses. 00:14:11.365 --> 00:14:14.832 Notice what he says next verse 39 and 40. 00:14:14.832 --> 00:14:16.166 Go back to John now mature. 00:14:16.166 --> 00:14:18.200 You're back in John. Chapter 12 again. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:20.066 By the way, we're going to go back to Isaiah again. 00:14:20.066 --> 00:14:22.365 So keep it handy. 00:14:22.365 --> 00:14:23.732 We'll back there in just a second. 00:14:23.732 --> 00:14:43.265 But verse 39, verse 40, notice what he says therefore they could not believe for again, as Isaiah said, he has blinded their eyes, hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, understand with their heart and turn. 00:14:43.332 --> 00:14:46.332 And I would heal them. 00:14:46.332 --> 00:14:53.033 The second belief killer in this passage of five belief killers is right here. 00:14:53.033 --> 00:14:56.700 Hardness of heart. 00:14:56.765 --> 00:15:03.399 A hard heart makes it really hard to be open to the Gospel. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:08.899 Hard, hard work at one level makes it impossible to believe. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:15.865 In fact, what's interesting here, we're going to compare verse 37 to verse 39, because you see a fascinating progression. 00:15:15.865 --> 00:15:27.799 If you look back at verse 37, it says They did not believe, but in verse 39 it says They could not believe. 00:15:27.865 --> 00:15:36.966 It seems that they went from a place of I refuse to believe, to a place where I'm no longer even able to believe. 00:15:37.033 --> 00:15:39.533 That's hard to think about. 00:15:39.533 --> 00:15:41.200 I'll tell you what's even harder to hear. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:50.700 What's even more shocking in this passage is who gets the blame for that or the credit? However you want to look at verse 40, Look back there. 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:54.299 He has blinded their eyes. 00:15:54.365 --> 00:16:02.765 He has heart in their heart so that they won't repent. 00:16:02.865 --> 00:16:05.865 Anybody else find this difficult to understand? 00:16:05.865 --> 00:16:08.566 Am I the only one that goes, What's going on here? 00:16:08.566 --> 00:16:16.200 Are you saying that God went around hardening some people's hearts specifically so that they wouldn't believe in him and wouldn't repent? 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:18.700 Is that what you're saying? 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:18.700 Is that what the Bible is saying? 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:20.600 That's so confusing? 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:23.265 I agree. It is very confusing. 00:16:23.265 --> 00:16:24.332 And it's been a great service. 00:16:24.332 --> 00:16:30.265 I appreciate you all coming now. We're going to deal with it. 00:16:30.265 --> 00:16:36.066 We'll press into it because it is confusing what is going on here. 00:16:36.166 --> 00:16:38.000 What could he be driving it? 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.732 First, let's look at this reference in context. 00:16:40.732 --> 00:16:43.332 Isaiah's chapter six is what he was quoting. 00:16:43.332 --> 00:16:47.966 He's blinded their eyes, heart in their heart, lest they see with their eyes and understand with heart turn. 00:16:47.966 --> 00:16:51.365 I would heal them if you go back to Isaiah chapter six. 00:16:51.365 --> 00:16:56.832 So that's actually he's quoting chapter six, verse ten. 00:16:56.966 --> 00:16:59.066 But if you're in chapter six, you'll see the context. 00:16:59.066 --> 00:17:02.432 And it's a familiar passage for a lot of people. 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.965 Or Isaiah receives a vision of the Lord. 00:17:04.965 --> 00:17:09.799 He's there in the throne room and he sees the Seraphim. 00:17:09.865 --> 00:17:14.000 And what is it that they say over and over and over again? 00:17:14.066 --> 00:17:16.333 What is it? 00:17:16.333 --> 00:17:31.165 Holy, holy, holy! Which, by the way, side note, I love it whenever we sing a song that repeats Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. 00:17:31.165 --> 00:17:34.500 Sometimes I can find myself thinking, okay, I got that. 00:17:34.633 --> 00:17:37.833 We said that right? 00:17:34.633 --> 00:17:37.833 Yeah, he's holy. Great. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:40.766 What's next? 00:17:40.766 --> 00:17:42.700 The picture is for all of eternity. 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:49.566 Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. 00:17:49.665 --> 00:17:52.165 So he's in there seeing that, experiencing that. 00:17:52.165 --> 00:17:57.799 And his response is to say in verse eight, the Lord says, Who shall I send? 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.665 Who will go for us? 00:17:58.665 --> 00:18:02.500 Isaiah says, Here I am, send me, I'm your guy. 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:04.133 I want to go tell people about this. 00:18:04.133 --> 00:18:06.200 I want everybody to have this experience. 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:10.965 I want everybody to know what this throne room is like. 00:18:11.066 --> 00:18:16.865 And so God says, Great, by the way, it's going to go terrible for you. 00:18:16.965 --> 00:18:17.900 Good luck. 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:19.633 No one's going to want to hear it. 00:18:19.633 --> 00:18:23.865 You're going to come away saying they keep on hearing, but they don't understand. 00:18:23.965 --> 00:18:26.465 Has anyone heard the strong arm of the Lord? 00:18:26.465 --> 00:18:36.500 Does anyone believe no one's going to want to hear what you have to say, which often seems to be the role of the prophet. 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:43.532 If you read through the Old Testament, people weren't usually excited that the prophet was coming around here. 00:18:43.532 --> 00:18:46.200 He comes to judge us again, Here he comes to tell us about our sin. 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.799 Here he comes to talk about repentance. 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:50.066 Great. Can't wait. 00:18:50.066 --> 00:18:53.232 No. Usually we're like, Who is this guy? 00:18:53.232 --> 00:18:56.633 What's he doing here? Let's get rid of him. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:19:00.232 In our culture today, you can talk about Jesus. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.599 That's great. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.333 Yeah. 00:19:02.333 --> 00:19:04.532 He's got plenty of great things to say. 00:19:04.532 --> 00:19:06.365 He's a good guy. 00:19:06.365 --> 00:19:15.833 But when you start talking about sin, repentance, judgment, you start going there. 00:19:15.833 --> 00:19:16.766 No, no, no. 00:19:16.766 --> 00:19:18.732 We don't want to hear about that. 00:19:18.732 --> 00:19:22.133 Oh, to be honest, there's often times we don't want to hear about that. 00:19:22.133 --> 00:19:23.200 Right? 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:27.365 That's not that's not what we came for was the light cheery message, the encouragement. 00:19:27.465 --> 00:19:31.333 We want that to. 00:19:31.432 --> 00:19:36.633 But God says, look, people aren't going to want to hear this message. 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:38.133 This is one of the challenges. 00:19:38.133 --> 00:19:47.200 Now, if you go back to John, that's setting the context for Isaiah, he's saying you won't have success, people will reject you. 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:49.465 By the way, he knew this would happen. 00:19:49.465 --> 00:19:51.232 It's not surprised by that. 00:19:51.232 --> 00:19:54.833 But it's all part of a bigger plan. 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.865 I had a friend who served in missions. 00:19:56.865 --> 00:19:59.099 He served in Africa. 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:13.566 He served for ten years in the same village, and it was a place where very remote and the soil there was literally hard and spiritually hard. 00:20:13.633 --> 00:20:15.566 I mean, he had to build his own house. 00:20:15.566 --> 00:20:25.965 He oftentimes it was so hot there, it was cooler to just sleep outside and sleep outside and in their yard and not a yard in the courtyard. 00:20:26.066 --> 00:20:27.333 The culture was very interesting. 00:20:27.333 --> 00:20:31.000 And he came back and I'll share this more of the story at some other time. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:35.766 The reasons he came back were so good, so interesting. 00:20:35.833 --> 00:20:40.732 When we came back, we sat down to meet and he said, You know, John, I'm not supposed to come back. 00:20:40.732 --> 00:20:42.500 Not really sure what I accomplished. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:50.400 They're not really sure if there was much fruit left behind. 00:20:50.465 --> 00:20:55.266 And from a human level, you can hear that and go, well, that was a failure. 00:20:55.333 --> 00:21:01.232 I mean, why did you even spend ten years of your life there? 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:07.500 But coming back to what we see here, God's always at work behind the scenes. 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:10.500 You don't know exactly what he's doing. 00:21:10.633 --> 00:21:18.465 He may be working in ways you could know he is working in, ways you could never imagine. 00:21:18.465 --> 00:21:22.032 He's doing things you can't fathom. 00:21:22.133 --> 00:21:25.200 As I was walking in there, Walker told me a story. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:30.165 I wasn't planning to share this, but he shared it with me and I thought it was so powerful. 00:21:30.165 --> 00:21:35.066 I mentioned from here a couple of weeks ago that I had prayed with a guy that on Friday and that week he passed away. 00:21:35.066 --> 00:21:37.500 His name was Steve Price. 00:21:37.566 --> 00:21:43.099 He was a guy who was involved in the church here on the margins for quite a while, and he had a lot of challenges. 00:21:43.165 --> 00:21:46.365 And we had a memorial service for him, for him in here. 00:21:46.465 --> 00:21:52.232 I got to tell you that for me, I just showed up for part of the before the service, but to connect with people. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:55.266 It was so cool to watch our church love on the people who were in there. 00:21:55.266 --> 00:21:57.532 That was a powerful part for me. 00:21:57.532 --> 00:22:03.299 Just watching our committed, faithful church members, loving on people who don't go to church, you're just loving on them. 00:22:03.365 --> 00:22:07.865 That's I mean, that's a picture of what the church is supposed to be about. 00:22:07.965 --> 00:22:10.232 But I know Steve had some challenges. 00:22:10.232 --> 00:22:14.633 We didn't ignore that Dave shared with me as I was walking in. 00:22:14.633 --> 00:22:26.566 You know, he said, I met a guy there at that service, Dave, did the priest, the service who came up to me and he said, I know Christ because of Steve. 00:22:26.665 --> 00:22:30.165 You never know who God is going to use to reach people. 00:22:30.266 --> 00:22:34.066 You never know what he's doing in the background. 00:22:34.066 --> 00:22:46.133 And here part of what's going on is that God's plans are often different than ours because he's got a lot bigger picture in mind than us. 00:22:46.133 --> 00:22:51.665 He sees things, see things that we can't ever possibly see. 00:22:51.766 --> 00:23:09.833 And so when literally across the street had the Sunday school and her class Sunday school meeting in her bed, in her house, and there were five adults and 12 children, did she fully see that we would be gathering like this 85 years later? 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:13.299 Well, she said she did actually, which is hilarious. 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:15.133 That's great. I love that. 00:23:15.133 --> 00:23:17.365 But there are plenty of times where you don't know. 00:23:17.365 --> 00:23:18.633 I don't know what God's going to do. 00:23:18.633 --> 00:23:20.932 I'm just taking a step of faith. 00:23:20.932 --> 00:23:23.865 He sees a lot more than I see. 00:23:23.865 --> 00:23:24.599 And who knows? 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:32.566 With my friend in Africa for ten years was seemingly now for who knows what God is doing, Do that in the background. 00:23:32.665 --> 00:23:34.165 I know I haven't answered your question yet. 00:23:34.165 --> 00:23:39.165 So let's get back to the question of is God hardening hearts? 00:23:39.266 --> 00:23:39.633 Okay. 00:23:39.633 --> 00:23:41.665 I know he says he wants people to come to know him. 00:23:41.665 --> 00:23:44.099 He's been calling people to believe in him all throughout the book. 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.965 What does that mean? 00:23:46.066 --> 00:23:48.865 I'm just going to share with you for quick points on this. 00:23:48.865 --> 00:23:54.099 I read in a commentary by Don Carson, I thought these were really helpful, so I'm just going to read from them, quote them. 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:56.000 I thought it gave a really good perspective. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.465 And these are going to be on the screen to help you. 00:23:58.465 --> 00:24:09.299 Number one, God's sovereign T is never pitted against human responsibility in scripture, especially in these kind of matters. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:14.465 God's sovereignty is not pitted against human responsibility. 00:24:14.566 --> 00:24:15.365 Both are true. 00:24:15.365 --> 00:24:18.865 God is sovereign and we are accountable. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.532 We are responsible for our decisions. 00:24:21.532 --> 00:24:22.200 Both are true. 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:26.465 Those are held in tension together somehow. 00:24:26.532 --> 00:24:38.432 Second number two, God's hardening is a holy condemnation of the guilty people who are condemned to do. 00:24:38.432 --> 00:24:44.066 And b, what they themselves have already chosen. 00:24:44.133 --> 00:24:45.165 And this is complex. 00:24:45.165 --> 00:24:53.032 We could spend a lot of time unpacking this from many places in Scripture, but you see often times Romans Chapter one is a good place. 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.532 He gave them over three times. 00:24:54.532 --> 00:24:56.599 He gave them over because of their unbelief. 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.732 He gave them over. 00:24:57.732 --> 00:25:00.465 He gave them over. He gave them over. 00:25:00.465 --> 00:25:02.165 You see, with Pharaoh, God hardened his heart. 00:25:02.165 --> 00:25:03.566 Pharaoh's heart was hardened. 00:25:03.566 --> 00:25:17.532 You see this progression in interplay of hardening, and often times people end up where they already wanted to be, the path they had already chosen. 00:25:17.633 --> 00:25:24.066 They did not believe so they could not believe. 00:25:24.133 --> 00:25:27.665 In fact, one commentator said it this way. 00:25:27.732 --> 00:25:29.700 He says, I will lead to. 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:31.232 I cannot. 00:25:31.232 --> 00:25:37.365 I'm sorry, I will not leads to I cannot. 00:25:37.465 --> 00:25:45.833 Number three, in the midst of this reality, God's sovereignty brings hope. 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:50.500 Part of this, as difficult as this is to read, it also brings hope. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:59.732 He is, even when people are rejecting him, even though he knows people won't believe in him, he's still in control. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:03.965 The world didn't fall apart because people reject him. 00:26:04.066 --> 00:26:06.099 His plans will still come about. 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.833 In fact. 00:26:06.833 --> 00:26:13.232 Number four, what is most surprising through the hardness of the hearts of the Jews? 00:26:13.232 --> 00:26:13.465 Go ahead. 00:26:13.465 --> 00:26:18.599 Put that up on the screen through the hardness of the hearts of the Jews, meaning through the rejection of people. 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:23.133 His plans come about through the hardness of the hearts of the Jews, specifically the Jewish leaders. 00:26:23.133 --> 00:26:32.532 God brings about his ultimate purposes, even when things seem to be completely derailed. 00:26:32.566 --> 00:26:36.333 He's still at work, he's still bringing about his purposes. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:45.299 And we see that here in John Chapter 12, that everything is building towards his ultimate purpose. 00:26:45.365 --> 00:27:02.400 Need to make a statement about this dynamic, though, in terms of starting with they will not believe in it, leading to they could not believe that should also serve as a warning to us. 00:27:02.465 --> 00:27:06.200 Don't stay in a state of unbelief. 00:27:06.266 --> 00:27:09.833 Deal with your heart and the condition of your heart. 00:27:09.833 --> 00:27:18.400 Now, don't another day go by where you continue in a state of unbelief. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:21.500 You're not guaranteed another moment. 00:27:21.633 --> 00:27:25.266 Steve Price Everything was going along great. 00:27:25.365 --> 00:27:27.333 48 years old. 00:27:27.333 --> 00:27:28.599 Life was good. 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.732 Things were picking up. 00:27:29.732 --> 00:27:34.032 They were pointing the right direction. 00:27:34.133 --> 00:27:36.200 And then it was over. 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:39.599 Just this day, I called with a friend of mine whose dad passed away a couple of weeks ago. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.865 I said, What happened? 00:27:40.865 --> 00:27:41.865 He grew up here in the church. 00:27:41.865 --> 00:27:44.700 We knew each other here in the church. 00:27:41.865 --> 00:27:44.700 What happened? 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:46.599 He went to bed and didn't wake up. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:50.066 Don't know. Everything was fine. 00:27:50.133 --> 00:27:58.833 Our church in Little Rock, a family, they all go to bed Saturday night and I wake up Sunday night and their seven year old daughter didn't wake up. 00:27:58.900 --> 00:28:02.099 They don't know why everything was fine. 00:28:02.165 --> 00:28:03.965 What happened? 00:28:03.965 --> 00:28:06.965 Don't know. 00:28:07.032 --> 00:28:08.965 You never know what tomorrow holds. 00:28:08.965 --> 00:28:11.266 It's not meant to be some kind of scare tactic. 00:28:11.266 --> 00:28:14.200 It's just reality. 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:16.165 Don't let another day go by Where? 00:28:16.165 --> 00:28:21.000 Haven't said, Lord, where do I stand with you and make things right with him? 00:28:21.133 --> 00:28:22.266 Don't be like these. 00:28:22.266 --> 00:28:29.833 And Isaiah and then John, who said, Yeah, I see the miracles. 00:28:29.932 --> 00:28:36.700 He's all right now. He's Lord, make sure you know that he is Lord. 00:28:36.865 --> 00:28:40.633 So that's the second belief killer I will not lose to. 00:28:40.633 --> 00:28:43.599 I cannot. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:51.365 Now, what's interesting here is right here in this section, we get just a glimmer of hope right in the midst of this depressing part of people not believing. 00:28:51.365 --> 00:28:53.400 Look at verse 41. 00:28:53.465 --> 00:28:58.633 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 00:28:58.732 --> 00:29:03.232 He saw the glory of Christ in that moment. 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:09.365 Nevertheless, many, even of the authorities, believed in him. 00:29:09.465 --> 00:29:15.099 Here's a glimmer of hope in the midst of this, in the midst of us saying Jewish leaders and authorities have rejected him. 00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:17.432 In fact, they want to see him killed. 00:29:17.432 --> 00:29:30.266 But there are a few who believed in him and many believe that's probably speaking of Nicodemus, who we saw in chapter three, who came to him at night and wanted to hear from him. 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:33.766 Maybe Joseph, their Matthew, who's the one who provided the tomb to bury Jesus. 00:29:33.766 --> 00:29:43.865 A few of the Pharisees, a few of the leaders said, You know, there's something with him, something about him. 00:29:43.965 --> 00:29:52.000 However, the challenge is how they responded to that, because it immediately says, but back to verse 42. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:30:09.032 But for the fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue for fear of the Pharisees. 00:30:09.032 --> 00:30:13.833 They did not confess it. 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:22.732 We would describe this as a weak faith, as a as a tentative faith, as a partial faith. 00:30:22.732 --> 00:30:33.665 And really, at the end of the day, an incomplete faith, because our faith isn't just private. 00:30:33.732 --> 00:30:38.566 Christianity is inherently a public faith. 00:30:38.665 --> 00:30:41.133 It's not something you just keep to yourself. 00:30:41.133 --> 00:30:44.133 The call is to tell others. 00:30:44.365 --> 00:30:56.766 In fact, in the history of the early church, you know, someone would come to know Christ, they would claim to follow him, but then they wouldn't baptized. 00:30:56.766 --> 00:31:08.365 In fact, sometimes one year they'd wait, sometimes two years, sometimes three years, because in that culture, you know, the Romans were fine with you believing in Jesus. 00:31:08.365 --> 00:31:08.900 That's fine. 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:11.032 Put him in the mix with all the other gods. 00:31:11.032 --> 00:31:11.900 That's great. 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:15.633 Another superhero, another guy who does amazing things. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:17.566 That's fine. 00:31:17.566 --> 00:31:22.799 The problem was when you said you only believe in him and not the others. 00:31:22.865 --> 00:31:24.965 That was the problem. 00:31:24.965 --> 00:31:29.032 And the preeminent son of that was baptism. 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:31.000 Once you were baptized, you can believe in Jesus. 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.066 That's fine. 00:31:32.066 --> 00:31:36.833 But when you're baptized, you're saying, I reject Roman gods, I reject Roman authority. 00:31:36.833 --> 00:31:40.865 And that's when persecution comes. 00:31:40.932 --> 00:31:46.465 And so they wanted to make sure, Are you really all in before we baptize you? 00:31:46.532 --> 00:31:55.932 Because there's a good chance after baptism, persecution will come because our faith is public. 00:31:55.932 --> 00:31:58.799 Our confession is public. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:02.532 It's not just private. 00:32:02.633 --> 00:32:07.700 And so part of the challenge here is to have a sense of urgency and part of what we see. 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:11.200 In fact, the third belief killer is here in verse 43, right after that. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:24.266 Part of the reason why they wouldn't publicly confess, they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 00:32:24.333 --> 00:32:40.665 And so belief killer number three is here, and I'm simply calling this idolatry anything that I love more than God, that I love more than Christ is an idol. 00:32:40.766 --> 00:32:42.566 I am putting it above him. 00:32:42.566 --> 00:32:47.165 I'm worshiping it, worshiping it rather than him. 00:32:47.232 --> 00:32:51.032 And they love the glory of man more than the glory of God. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:33:00.833 They were more concerned about receiving praise from people than receiving praise from God. 00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:03.333 And I remember I was taking a class in seminary. 00:33:03.333 --> 00:33:17.365 There was a three class series on systematic theology, and it was taught by Wayne Graham, who wrote the book Systematic Theology, which by the way, is super accessible, even though it's 1000 pages. 00:33:17.365 --> 00:33:27.500 I know a lot of people who've read it for their morning devotion and found it worshipful, very easy to read a lot of difficult concepts and they're very accessible. 00:33:27.566 --> 00:33:28.700 But he's teaching the class. 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:33.066 We get to the section on the theology of salvation. 00:33:33.165 --> 00:33:33.900 But how? 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.833 What does the Bible say about how people are saved? 00:33:35.833 --> 00:33:40.432 And we impacted a great lengths at the same time we're teaching through that. 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:46.465 Joel Osteen had been on the Larry King Show, so this was almost 20 years ago now. 00:33:46.732 --> 00:33:49.232 Joel Osteen, you may know who he is. 00:33:49.232 --> 00:33:51.732 He's a well known pastor in Houston. 00:33:51.732 --> 00:33:57.299 Big, big church, lots of books, well known. 00:33:57.365 --> 00:33:58.400 He's on Larry King Live. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:00.365 And Larry King asks him this question. 00:34:00.365 --> 00:34:05.633 Basically, you mean to tell me you think only Christians are going to heaven? 00:34:05.633 --> 00:34:12.833 You mean to tell me Larry King's just you mean to tell me Jews and Muslims are going to heaven? 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:18.465 And Joel Osteen dances around that one man like an Appalachian clogher. 00:34:18.465 --> 00:34:30.099 He was all over the stage just here and here and here and never really clearly answered it. 00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:35.065 Now, he did some clarification follow up afterwards, and I get some of what he was saying. 00:34:35.065 --> 00:34:42.532 I get it in terms of, look, Joel Osteen or John Majors doesn't decide who goes to heaven and or not. 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:44.865 I mean, that's God's the one who decides. I get. 00:34:44.865 --> 00:34:48.666 Yes, that is true. 00:34:48.766 --> 00:34:58.900 Wayne Groome in that class commented and he said, guys, if you are ever in that situation, you're on the Larry King Live show and he asks you that question or wherever, let me tell you how to respond. 00:34:58.900 --> 00:35:00.166 I'm gonna tell you exactly how to respond. 00:35:00.166 --> 00:35:01.965 I have got the answer for you. 00:35:01.965 --> 00:35:05.065 Do you mean to say you believe the Bible says only those who follow Christ go to heaven. 00:35:05.065 --> 00:35:07.032 Here's what you say. 00:35:07.032 --> 00:35:18.666 Yes, You say yes, right? 00:35:18.733 --> 00:35:23.666 That's not how the audience will respond when you say it that way. 00:35:23.733 --> 00:35:27.800 And he said, look, it's okay to then follow up with clarification. 00:35:27.865 --> 00:35:30.199 It's okay to say, here's why. 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:37.632 And I don't delight in those who don't know Christ, not going to heaven, but I believe the Bible and I believe the Bible says Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. 00:35:37.766 --> 00:35:41.565 And then you lay out the plan of salvation. 00:35:41.666 --> 00:35:47.233 You never know when in that moment, when you're on the edge of true hope. 00:35:47.333 --> 00:35:48.800 I don't back away from that. 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:52.833 Don't shy away from that public confession. 00:35:52.932 --> 00:35:56.900 Don't worry about if you get disinvited from Oprah or not. 00:35:56.965 --> 00:35:57.965 Okay? 00:35:57.965 --> 00:35:59.900 Publicly confess. 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:01.599 Don't worry about the glory of man. 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:06.532 Be more concerned about the glory of God. 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:11.099 So belief killer number three, idolatry. 00:36:11.166 --> 00:36:12.699 And then believe killer number four. 00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:14.900 Let's look at verse 44 through 46. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:17.865 Jesus finally does speak up. 00:36:17.865 --> 00:36:19.465 John's giving us the context. 00:36:19.465 --> 00:36:21.065 Here's why this is happening. 00:36:21.065 --> 00:36:22.865 There's more going on behind the scenes. 00:36:22.865 --> 00:36:25.065 We know people are going to reject Jesus. 00:36:25.065 --> 00:36:28.065 Jesus speaks up. Here's what he says. 00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:37.132 Verse 44 Jesus cried out and said, Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 00:36:37.132 --> 00:36:40.965 And whoever sees me sees him, who sent me. 00:36:41.065 --> 00:36:47.000 I have come in to the world as light so that whoever believes me may not remain in darkness. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:37:09.532 The fourth believe killer we see here is that last word in verse 46 darkness remaining in darkness, staying in a place where you're not exposed to truth, to light will kill your resolve to follow Christ. 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:13.166 I did a road trip with my son recently. 00:37:13.166 --> 00:37:20.865 I mentioned taking him out to college in Phenix, and we ended up camping on the edge of this incredible canyon. 00:37:20.965 --> 00:37:22.266 And here it is, the middle of the night. 00:37:22.266 --> 00:37:23.565 It's pitch black. 00:37:23.565 --> 00:37:25.199 I mean, you can see the stars. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:29.666 It's pitch black late at night. 00:37:29.666 --> 00:37:41.099 And someone and I measured it on on Google Maps a mile and a half away across the canyon, turns on a light, just a little bitty light. 00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:46.432 And I could see it a mile and a half away. 00:37:46.565 --> 00:37:51.532 It is amazing how just a glimmer of light travels. 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:55.365 The smallest hint of light can pierce through the darkness. 00:37:55.465 --> 00:37:57.965 And so don't stay in a place of darkness. 00:37:57.965 --> 00:38:00.800 Move towards that hint of light. 00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:05.166 Find just a glimmer of light in the midst of the darkness. 00:38:05.266 --> 00:38:13.699 This is why I say to folks all the time, If you're stuck in a dark place and just get in one verse of the Bible, find one verse that will give you hope. 00:38:13.766 --> 00:38:17.666 Find one person that can speak truth into your life. 00:38:17.733 --> 00:38:22.432 Just find a glimmer of light and watch it work. 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:27.699 Don't stay stuck in the darkness. 00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:29.300 That's the fourth belief killer. 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:36.365 And then lastly, number five, look at verse 47 through 50, if anyone. 00:38:36.365 --> 00:38:39.833 Here's my words and does not keep them. 00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:44.733 I do not judge him for I do not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 00:38:44.733 --> 00:38:49.365 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge. 00:38:49.465 --> 00:38:56.365 The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day, for I have not spoken on my own authority. 00:38:56.365 --> 00:39:02.266 But the father who sent me, he has himself given me a commandment. 00:39:02.266 --> 00:39:04.699 What to say, what to speak. 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:08.465 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. 00:39:08.565 --> 00:39:24.365 What I say, therefore, I say, as the father has told me, the fifth belief killer that we see, and I'm taking a phrase from another passage of Scripture to describe what he's explaining is this phrase itchy ears. 00:39:24.465 --> 00:39:25.599 You know what I mean by that? 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:27.166 Itchy ears. 00:39:27.166 --> 00:39:31.000 I just want in fact, some translations say tickled ears. 00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:33.199 I just want my ears not literally tickled. 00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:38.000 Okay, that's weird, but I want to hear entertaining words. 00:39:38.065 --> 00:39:42.500 I just want to hear things that pleased my ears. 00:39:42.565 --> 00:39:47.733 But don't bring the sin, the judgment, the repentance. 00:39:47.733 --> 00:39:49.699 Yeah. Jesus has some great things to say. 00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:52.199 He's a good dude. Yeah, that's interesting. 00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:53.333 Oh, wait. 00:39:53.333 --> 00:39:57.266 Sin, judgment, repentance. 00:39:57.333 --> 00:40:02.932 But he makes it clear here there will be a day of judgment. 00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:09.465 He said it's not right now, but the same words I'm speaking now will bring judgment. 00:40:09.565 --> 00:40:14.199 In fact, I'm just going to quote Dan Carson again, because he said it so well. 00:40:14.300 --> 00:40:25.199 The same message that proclaims life and forgiveness to believers proclaims condemnation and wrath to the unbeliever. 00:40:25.266 --> 00:40:26.032 Same message. 00:40:26.032 --> 00:40:30.565 One message to one person brings hope to the other. 00:40:30.565 --> 00:40:40.800 Condemnation, wrath don't be driven by itchy ears. 00:40:40.865 --> 00:40:43.800 In fact, here's what I want to do Now. 00:40:43.800 --> 00:40:51.632 You've heard five different belief killers, and any one of us in here at any time has struggled with any one of those sometimes. 00:40:51.632 --> 00:40:56.965 All right. And certain seasons of life, we're going to move into a time of communion. 00:40:56.965 --> 00:41:05.699 In fact, if you're a deacon and you're helping to distribute communion, go ahead and prepare for that. 00:41:05.766 --> 00:41:17.099 But while we take communion together and I'll give some instruction on communion, first communion here is for anyone who knows Christ and claims to follow him. 00:41:17.166 --> 00:41:22.699 You don't have to particularly be a member of this church, but we'd love for you to partake in communion with us. 00:41:22.699 --> 00:41:26.099 It is for those who claim to know him and follow him. 00:41:26.166 --> 00:41:29.432 And what will happen is they will pass these trays out down the aisle. 00:41:29.432 --> 00:41:31.465 And in there are two cups stacked together. 00:41:31.465 --> 00:41:33.865 One has juice, one has bread one on top of the other. 00:41:33.865 --> 00:41:37.733 Just take those two together, hold on to them till everyone gets theirs. 00:41:37.733 --> 00:41:42.199 And then I'll lead us through taking those together. 00:41:42.266 --> 00:42:04.032 But what I want you to do while those are being distributed, while you're taking those, think of those belief killers and pray over those five different belief killers cynicism, darkness, itchy ears, idolatry, hardness of heart. 00:42:04.132 --> 00:42:10.800 Just pray for God to expose whatever one of those is in your heart now, and pray for repentance. 00:42:10.865 --> 00:42:13.632 Pray for change. 00:42:13.733 --> 00:42:17.099 And maybe, maybe there's someone in your life who you know is also struggling. 00:42:17.099 --> 00:42:18.565 Guys, go ahead and start distributing those. 00:42:18.565 --> 00:42:22.666 Once you're ready, you can go ahead, start passing those out. 00:42:22.766 --> 00:42:27.565 Pray for someone else in your life who you know is struggling with unbelief. 00:42:27.632 --> 00:42:30.833 We're going to use this time now for self-reflection, prayer for others. 00:42:30.833 --> 00:42:35.032 And then once it's all distributed, I'll bring us back together and lead us in taking those together.