WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:22.800 This morning we're finishing up our series, This Is Good. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:32.159 And in a world filled with bad news in a year that's had so much sad news, don't we need some incredibly good news? 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.320 And that's what we've been talking about for the last few weeks. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:37.679 It's interesting. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:49.679 The New Testament writers, when they talked about the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, they called it good news. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:01:00.240 The four biographies that we have in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of Jesus' life are called the Gospels or the good news. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.240 It's that word ulangellion. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:12.480 It's news that makes one happy, information that causes one joy, words that bring a smile, a message that causes the heart to be sweet. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:18.640 That fundamentally at the core of Christianity is not just good advice. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.159 Like, how do I just navigate life a little bit better? 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.959 How does Jesus make my life just a little bit better? 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.439 It's fundamentally good news. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:32.719 See, news is something has happened as a result of which the world's a different place. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:38.959 Something happened 2,000 years ago in an obscure part of the Roman Empire. 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:43.120 And as a result, the world is a different place. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:45.920 The life of Jesus. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:53.519 The death of Jesus on the cross, which has taken away the penalty of sin. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:06.000 The resurrection of Jesus, which has brought and ushered us into new life and new relationships, restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:14.960 That event was fundamentally good news then, and it's good news today for you and for me. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:26.800 And as a result, your world and my world, no matter what's going on in the world, can be fundamentally a different too. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.560 See, the good news has the power to change your life. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:35.759 The good news has the power to change this year for your life. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:52.879 The good news has the power to bring purpose to your life, even in the midst of the most trying of circumstances in a no-good, lousy, crazy 2020 year. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.199 And so we've been talking about this. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:56.879 That we started with week one. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:01.360 This is good, the heart of God, and his heart to welcome you home. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:12.879 Week two, we talked about the healing pool, and we're all in search of something to bring wholeness and healing to our lives, and no one but Jesus will bring that to your life and to my life. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:20.319 Last week we talked about the whole gospel, that it's not just about heaven when I die, which is amazing. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.840 When our world is, you know, falling apart. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:28.639 Isn't it such good news to know that this isn't the end of the story? 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:37.039 And yet it's about ushering heaven in on earth of being his hands and feet to a hurting and broken world. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.639 Well, today we're going to talk about the grand invitation. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:44.000 The grand invitation of the gospel. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:52.960 And I what it is, is I I want it, I think it's going to address two maybe objections that you've had throughout this series. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:55.599 Last week we ended with our memory verse. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.360 We've been doing these memory verses every week. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:58.560 I hope you're keeping up. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:03.919 And and Jesus said in Luke, he said, Whoever wants to be my disciple. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:05.680 Isn't that amazing? 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:10.479 I mean, we don't think about that, but how expansive that was. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:12.319 How open that was. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:13.520 Whoever. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:16.240 Whoever wants, do you want to be my disciple? 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:19.360 Well, you couldn't really mean whoever, Jesus. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:20.639 Not me. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:23.839 I think that's one of our objections, right? 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:25.839 It's not me. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.319 Whoever wants to be my disciple. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.879 No, no, you don't know where I've been. 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.439 You don't know what I've done. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.040 Listen, I you don't know what's been done to me. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:38.240 I'm damaged goods. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:39.360 You wouldn't really want me. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:45.680 God, there's no way that you would want me, that you could love me. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:54.240 You've maybe in this season, and COVID has been a very hard season for you, and the racial injustice and all that's happening. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:57.360 Maybe where you're sitting, you feel hopeless. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.519 Maybe you feel stuck. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:11.439 Maybe you've returned to some habits and ways, or some new things have popped in that have grabbed hold of your life that you feel absolutely like a failure. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:17.600 God could never want you or love you, except you. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:20.079 And you're going, not me. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:24.480 Whoever wants to be, well, I'm not one of those whos. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:30.160 And the gospel says, yes, you. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.560 Oh, especially you. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:43.279 You know, it's interesting who Jesus hung out with. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:56.879 We started our series with Jesus talking to the Pharisees who were complaining that he was hanging out with tax collectors and sinners, and he told these great stories about the heart of God. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.240 And it wasn't just one particular instance. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.800 This was just the heart of God. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:18.959 And what we see in the life of Jesus, in the invitation to every single person, is this good news that God will use your surrendered past to accomplish his purposes. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.199 Even you, even me. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:30.480 And we pick up a story in Luke chapter 5 where once more we see a tax collector and we see an invitation of Jesus. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:35.120 If you got your Bibles, would you flip over to Luke chapter 5? 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:39.439 Luke chapter 5, verse 27. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:45.199 And I actually love hearing in the studio people flipping to their Bibles too with me. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.199 I missed that sound, by the way. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.680 Luke 5, verse 27. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:51.920 And it starts uh this way. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:56.160 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:01.680 Like he's walking around in his everyday and he sees a tax collector by the name of Levi. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:06.560 You might know him as Matthew, sitting at his tax booth. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:21.199 Now, for context, if we can understand in the ancient Near East, the uh role of the tax collector, or at least the category of the tax collector that is, is you put in the same bracket murders, robbers, and tax collectors. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:22.879 They were in one category. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:29.360 So when you saw a tax collector, you had the same thought about a tax collector that you had about a murderer or a robber. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:42.160 And you looked at someone who was a traitor to the Jewish people because he was a corroborator with the Roman Empire and he was ripping off his own people for his personal gain. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:43.839 This is the perspective. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.399 And Jesus sees this tax collector, someone who's been saying, not me. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:54.079 My past, my present, who I am, that whoever wants to be, not me. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.959 And notice what Jesus says. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.759 He doesn't see a tax collector. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:01.920 What he says, follow me. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.519 Instead of not me, he says, follow me. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:10.160 You're worthy of invitation, Levi. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:12.000 You're worthy. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.560 I want you to be with me. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:17.040 You're invited in. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:19.439 It's the grand invitation of Jesus. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.360 Would you follow me? 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:24.000 But but you don't know what I've done. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:24.800 Actually, I do. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:25.360 I see you. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.120 Remember, Jesus said, I see you. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:28.720 Follow me. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:32.080 And then Levi got up. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:33.440 It's amazing. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:36.480 And left everything and follow him. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:38.159 He left his business. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:40.480 He he left his livelihood. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.879 He left his source of income. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:54.240 And it was such a competitive area that leaving his tax booth meant someone else would fill in that spot and he would probably never be able to go return to that profession again. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.960 There was something so compelling about the invitation of Jesus that he said, I gotta go. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:00.000 I gotta lean in. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:07.039 I want to be with you because what you're offering is better than what I'm living in. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.720 Follow me. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:15.200 Left his business, his identity, his wealth, his earthly security. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:22.879 Levi walked away from everything he had worked for to have what he could never earn. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:25.360 Follow me, you're fully loved. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.120 Follow me, you're fully forgiven. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:31.600 Follow me, you're fully accepted and welcomed. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.159 You're invited in. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:35.919 No. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:38.399 Here's what's amazing about Leaf. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:49.279 When he got up and left everything, he didn't just drop his old buddies and go, I'm done. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.399 I'm out. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:10:03.840 In fact, what he did is he recognized I have been invited in, and I can't believe it, I thought, not me, to be invited in, to be welcomed in. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:08.000 Like I've been invited into the communion of Jesus to invite others in. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:15.600 And so what he's gonna do is he's gonna go to his friends who all thought, not me, we're not me's and he's gonna say, You're invited in. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:16.639 Notice what he says. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:25.600 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:38.720 He said, I'm gonna gather all of my friends because I've been living as if God never wanted me, God never cared about me, the way I've been, who I am, is unwanted, unworthy. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:44.720 And God said, You're worthy, you're invited in, and I can't help but share it with everyone around. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:11:00.879 It reminds me of uh 1 Peter chapter 2, where it says, For you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people of God's own possession, that you might declare the excellencies of him who's called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.519 Like you've been invited into the family of God. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:10.240 You've been invited to follow in the ways of Jesus, to experience new life, to invite others in. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:19.759 You're chosen to declare the excellencies, the praises of Jesus, who's called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.399 Well, there's a few people that had a problem with this. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:25.200 We've seen them throughout the course of our time. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:31.120 It's the Pharisees, and it says the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who all belong to the sect complain to his disciples. 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:37.679 They didn't have guts to talk to Jesus about this, complain to his disciples, why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:46.320 All the wrong people, all the out people, all the people that religion has said you're not worthy, you're not wanted, and you're on the out. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:48.320 And Jesus answered them. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.120 My purpose, don't miss this. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:12:17.120 The reason I came to this planet, fully God, fully man, the Son of God, Jesus, to not call the righteous, those who think they have it all figured out, but for all the not me in the world, all the people that never felt like they're good enough, felt like they're pushed out. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.320 Repentance. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:23.279 That means turning from the way that you're going and turning and going in a new direction. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.639 That's what Levi did. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:31.600 He he was living a life that that was fundamentally broken, but he thought he had no other option. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:34.080 Jesus says, I have another option, follow me. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:37.679 And Levi says, I'm done with that life, I'm running after you. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:38.879 That's repentance. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.799 See, here's what's so amazing. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.840 This is good. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:45.120 God will use your surrendered past. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:52.879 God will use your surrendered past to accomplish his purposes. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.720 Did you notice Levi? 00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:04.080 His past, tax collector, his circle of relationships, tax collectors and sinners. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:11.440 And God took that surrendered past and said, I'm going to accomplish my purposes through you. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.240 I'm going to use you as an agent of grace and healing and light. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:21.759 And for some, there's some parts of your life that are messes, honestly. 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:24.720 And you've like thought I have to push that down. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:30.240 And God's going, no, if you'll bring it into the light, and if you'll surrender it to me, that actually will be future ministry. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.120 I actually want to take that hurt. 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:34.639 I want to take that pain. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:39.600 I want to take that area and use that for my glory and good. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:41.759 But you have to bring it into the light. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:43.279 You have to surrender it to me. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:48.799 You have to go, God, you have everything, and you can use everything in my life. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.120 He won't waste that. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:58.799 He'll actually leverage it for good when you surrender it to him and go, okay, that's my past. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.559 I used to be a tax collector. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.080 I used to be in this world. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:11.279 And now I can connect with those in that world to help show them how good Jesus is for all the not-ne's. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:14.159 That's the grand invitation of God. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:27.360 So let me ask you, what is it in your life that presently you're going, okay, this is an area that I thought God could never use? 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:32.639 I'll give you a very um raw example for me that I've used many times. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:35.840 In high school, I got hooked up on pornography. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.600 It was a whole area. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.679 It's not like I'm free from lust. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:47.200 I still struggle with that, but but the bondage of that moment and those that sin is has been broken in my life. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:15:03.600 And I gotta tell you, when I talk about it up front, there's so many guys that come to me that that past, surrender to him, God has used for his purpose to bring freedom to lots of other people as well. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:06.000 But would we talk about it? 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:12.639 Would we bring it open and say, God, you can use everything when it's brought to you and surrendered to you? 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.879 What is it for you? 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:22.480 What is an area that you thought God could never use and maybe you've just kept hidden, but you need to bring it to him and go, okay, here you go, God. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:27.200 And it might be the very place where God wants to do his greatest ministry through you. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.080 Not me. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.639 This is good. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:32.240 God will use your surrendered past to accomplish his purpose. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:36.879 I think the second objection is it's 2020, Ryan. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:41.440 This grand invitation, that's great, and ministry and purpose. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.480 Wow, that sounds great, but it's 2020. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:47.039 This this year. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:49.919 Life is on pause. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.519 We're stuck. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:54.320 We're just trying to get through this. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:58.080 Literally, our world has been set on fire. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:03.200 We move from not me to not now. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.879 Life's on pause. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:10.159 I can't live out my calling and my purpose. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.399 Life's on pause. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:34.159 And here's the power of the gospel and what I believe God wants to lean in because I know that there's a number of people that I talk to that are spiritually dry, that are drifting, and that have just accepted, I'm just gonna try to get through this season. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.000 Listen to this. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.960 This is good. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.600 Circumstances have changed. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.480 Your calling has not changed. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.039 Circumstances have changed. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.919 And let's admit that. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.159 The circumstances of our life have changed. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:53.200 You're just trying to figure out how do you work and be a homeschool parent. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:17:04.880 How do you navigate uh the increasing complexities and what's happening in our world and the economy and the elections coming up and racial justice? 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:13.359 And I mean, we're just being hit by so many things, and you feel emotionally disoriented and maybe numb, and you're just going like, not now. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.960 Circumstances have changed. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.960 Here's the good news. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:25.359 Why you are on this planet has not changed. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:38.400 It may look different, but your purpose hasn't changed, and you can still live out your divine calling and purpose even now. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.519 You're like, not now. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.720 No, no, even now. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.640 Even now is more important. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:49.599 This is why Jesus, in his final words to his disciples, and so Matthew would have been here listening to Jesus' words. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.319 Levi listening to Jesus' words here. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:58.559 Jesus says to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:00.079 Isn't that good news? 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:06.720 Not COVID has the authority, not the Starkmarker has the authority, not a government or an election has the authority. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.720 Jesus has all authority. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:20.799 And he will accomplish his purposes, and nothing will thwart it. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.440 Why? 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:28.960 Because he is the resurrected Savior, and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:39.039 And as Jesus followers, we need to move our eyes off of our circumstances and shift our eyes to our Savior who has all authority. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:50.880 And in light of that, in light of him and his grand invitation, he says, therefore, go and make disciples. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:55.839 Go and invite others in. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.160 Just as you've been invited in. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:00.160 Whosoever will follow me. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.240 Go. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:06.079 Literally, that means as you're going about your day. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.720 Like I'm not going very far. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:11.599 Well, you're probably going for a walk in your neighborhood. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.880 Disciple. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:13.920 Go. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.920 Well, I'm on Zoom every day. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.359 Oh, that's fantastic. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:23.759 So, so maybe therefore, Zoom and make disciples. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.240 Therefore. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:32.480 With your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers, your kids. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:47.279 Therefore, as you go, would you live life in such a way that you would be inviting others in into the excellencies of Him and who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light? 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:55.279 Make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I've commanded you. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:59.519 See, circumstances have changed, and they're always changing, by the way. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:09.440 Your calling, your why to know God and to make him known, to help someone else step into a relationship with him. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:20.079 That's why when the apostle Paul is writing to Philemon, he says this says, I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:20.880 Why? 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:24.960 So that you'll have a full understanding of every good thing you have in Christ. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:37.519 There's something about stepping into your calling and about beginning to share this good news with other people that it awakens, refreshes every good thing that you have in Christ. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.400 Here's how we say it at awakening. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.519 We exist. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:46.240 Our purpose is to awaken this generation to new life. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.960 Now, how we do that's changed. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:54.160 I never intended to speak to a camera and be a TV preacher. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.799 And I can't wait until we gather again. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:59.200 But until that day comes, you guess what? 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:02.400 We're fulfilling our purpose as a church. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:07.119 And no, COVID is going to circumvent his calling on our life. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:15.519 A pandemic cannot undermine our purposes as a church, our purpose as the church, and your purpose as his child. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.880 We exist. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.680 Our purpose. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.680 Would you get clear on why you exist? 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:21.519 You don't exist just to make it through. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:23.759 You exist to make disciples. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.799 You exist to invite others in to experience this good news. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:37.920 You know, we believe our dream as a church, and this isn't hindered by this moment, is we'd be a church where daily people step into new life in Jesus. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:43.200 We'd be a church that makes a tangible impact in our city through expressions of compassion. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:48.079 We'd be a church where every day people are engaged, not just on Sundays. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:55.519 We'd be a church that's a strategic training center to raise up the next generation of world changers. 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.279 Friends, circumstances have changed. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:19.440 And we can keep our eyes fixed on our circumstances, or we can shift them to the one who has all authority, the one who has invited you in, the one who said, I have a purpose for your life that is bigger than any storm, that is greater than any bad year, and I've invited you in. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:22.079 So would you lean in to this moment? 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.559 That's why we're here. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.799 Great. 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:32.960 We can't gather as the church, but we can go be the church. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:46.559 I would love and I look forward to the day, and I won't ever, I think, take for granted the power and the blessing and the joy of the gathering of God's people together, the worship and to hear God's word. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.720 There's something deeply encouraging and refreshing to our soul. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:57.759 I think that's why this moment is so important, even though it's not the way we ideally have it. 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:05.279 But would we fix our eyes that we don't, we never went to church in the first place. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.039 We are the church. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:08.319 You are the church. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.039 I am the church. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:13.039 And so wherever we're going, church is happening. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:18.160 And we would bring the love of Jesus there. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:27.680 Now, chances are, as I've been talking, you're going, that's great, Ryan. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:33.519 Sounds like you're doing fine, but you don't get me. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:35.200 Because this is me. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.799 Honestly. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.039 Because if you open me up, I'm empty. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.559 I'm exhausted. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:48.240 I feel alone. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.680 I feel overwhelmed. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:54.319 I feel I'm spiritually dry. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.799 I just feel lost and confused. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.920 Because this is actually how I am. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:09.920 I'm just like this empty, like wandering, and I feel assaulted on, and I'm just trying to make it through. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:13.519 And so, not me, not now, that's me. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:19.599 And then Jesus says this, knowing this is where you would be. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.720 Knowing this is where I would be. 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:26.960 Knowing that we can't do it on our own. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:32.000 And in and of ourselves, we are empty, overwhelmed, anxious. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:36.640 And surely, and surely I'm with you. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.480 Like I'm with you. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:44.960 Even to the end of the age. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.960 With you always. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.319 I'm with you in this moment. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.119 I haven't left you. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.400 I haven't abandoned you. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:59.279 I haven't I haven't said, like, you know what? 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:03.759 I guess you're just gonna have to figure this out on your own. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:25.839 The way the apostle Paul would say it in Colossians, Colossians 1.13, he would say, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:29.200 He's like, I'm with you, I'm rescuing you. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:35.359 But the gospel is even better than that. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:45.039 See, because I think so many of us are feeling empty and hollow and just like, I got nothing. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:55.599 And the apostle Paul in Colossians 1 27 would say it this way: that it's actually Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:58.559 Like, like you're not empty. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:00.079 I'm in you. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:04.559 I'm with you always to the very end of the age, to the point that I'm in you. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:06.240 It's Christ deposited in you. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.160 It's the Spirit of God that sealed you. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:16.240 I am in you, and right now you're not walking around an empty, overwhelmed, exhausted, no good person. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.160 You are a Christ-filled Christian. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:24.720 This is you right now, through COVID. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:27.200 This is Christ in you the hope of glory. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:34.559 The hope of glory is not the economy, the hope of glory is not a vaccine, the hope of glory is not however the election pans out. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:40.240 The hope of glory is that Christ himself has been deposited in you. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:43.839 This is actually why, and this is our memory verse, and I want you to get this. 00:26:43.920 --> 00:27:01.759 This is why Jesus would say in Acts chapter 1, verse 8, but you will receive power, supernatural power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you'll be my witnesses, your purpose, your calling to declare his excellencies. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:20.480 In Jerusalem, that's those close to you, in Judea, the places you go, Samaria, people that you may not agree with or even like, and even to the ends of the age, his power indwelling you, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, dwells in you. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:25.839 You are not empty, you're not alone, you have Christ in you. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:33.920 Now, if you got your Bibles and you're in Colossians, you went from 127, flip over then to chapter 3, verse 1. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:48.960 It says, Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things, so there's an act of setting of realizing this is your reality. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.880 And then he says this. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.480 In God. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:04.640 So I don't know when you look at you, when you think about you, what you see. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:08.319 I think what you see is this empty me. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.440 Empty me says, not me, not now. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:19.440 And what God says is true of you is Christ in you, but it's even better than that. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:28.799 Colossians 3 told us that you are in Christ. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:33.119 Not only is Christ in you, but you are in Christ, and so this is you. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.720 I don't know if you can see you in there. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:36.000 Can you see yourself in there? 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:40.640 You're in there, and then Christ is in you, and this is your reality. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:56.480 And so as you go, you go as a fully equipped, spiritually empowered ambassador of the gospel of Christ because Christ is in you and Christ is over you. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:04.000 Christ is under you, is your foundation in all around you. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.599 And so it's his power, not yours. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.599 It's his strength, not yours. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:16.000 And you're going, I feel empty, but the reality is I'm gonna fix my mind, set my heart on what's true. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:31.759 You have everything you need to be and to do what God has called you to be and do through his power, through his presence in you. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:38.000 And so, as we close this series, this is good. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.480 This is you. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:30:01.519 And so would you keep this picture in your head so that you might be healing and hope and help to those who need to hear the good news that God loves you. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:14.799 The good news that he hasn't left you, the good news that he wants to bring new life into your life to raise dead things to life, to bring healing and life. 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:17.680 For I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:23.440 For the power of God, for the salvation of many. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.920 Would we be that church? 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:33.440 The church on the go, the church empowered and dwelt by Christ, surrounded by Christ to express his love. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:42.720 Jesus, thank you for the reality that you never leave us, you'll never forsake us. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:51.359 And that right now, in this moment, you have given your followers everything we need. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:31:00.799 All the power, all the strength for today, in this moment, to be and to do what you've called us to be. 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:15.759 And so, God, I ask for my friends right now, in this moment, that you would reignite, reignite a passion and a holy why, your purpose and your calling in their life. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:32.720 Give them a fresh vision to see others the way you see them, a heart that breaks for the things that break for your heart, and a confidence that you're with them and you're in them, so they will step forward when they feel like they can't to see that you can. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:34.799 In Jesus' name. 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.759 Amen.