WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:10.720 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:13.359 Well, happy Easter. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:16.000 I'm so glad to have you join us today. 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:17.280 My name's Ryan. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:26.879 And down through the centuries, there's been this call and response by the church, especially on Easter, where uh one person says he's risen and the other says he's risen indeed. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:35.759 Now I know we're online and we can't really do that call and response, but I was thinking perhaps I could say he's risen and you could type in the chat, he's risen indeed. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:43.119 And for sure, if you'd do this for me, would you just uh write where you're watching from and just be fun to be all together in this moment? 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:50.159 So he's risen and go ahead, type that down in the chat, and we'd love to know where you're viewing from. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:55.840 Now, in our time together, I want us to wrestle just with one question. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:57.359 And here it is. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:01.039 What if God is really for you? 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:02.880 I mean, think about it. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:10.640 What if the God of the universe is like fundamentally for you and wild about you? 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:19.040 What if he's actually not against you or down on you, waiting to somehow make sure, you know, if you did something wrong, he's gonna whack you? 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:22.319 What if he's not even apathetic or distant? 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:27.200 What if God is actually for you? 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:36.719 You know, the staggering good news of Easter is that in Christ, God is actually for all people. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:43.280 He loves you with a relentless passion, he's pursuing you, he's your biggest advocate. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:49.439 And no matter what you've done or who you are, he is for you. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:51.760 He's for all people. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:53.680 Now the problem. 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:59.280 Now the problem is internally, you do this and I do this. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.000 There's just this something that happens that goes, yeah, but isn't there? 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:07.680 Even as if you're a follower of Jesus, you hear as God's for you. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:10.719 Yeah, but ah, yeah, I know he's for me. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:11.360 Does he love me? 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:12.479 Yeah, does he really like me? 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:31.840 Yeah, but and and here's the reason why, or at least in part, intuitively, uh, we sense that there's two almost irreconcilable ideas, two irreconcilable needs in our world, in our life, or realities. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.319 They're two words, in fact. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:42.319 Uh you may have never put uh word to it this way, but it's the idea of justice and the idea of mercy. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:52.080 And and we go in this reality, we need both of them, but we're not exactly sure how to experience both at the same time. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.639 You see, justice, um, justice has been used a lot lately, hasn't it? 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:59.280 And it's been defined in lots of different ways. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:05.840 And I thought just for our time, let's use the most basic or elementary definition of justice. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:10.960 Justice is simply getting what you deserve. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:15.599 And in our world, we need justice, isn't it? 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:25.039 We we want justice for those uh those who enact hate or evil, those who go on a shooting rampage, right? 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:31.039 And we long that justice is served, that they get what they deserve. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:38.240 You see, justice is just the consequences, both good or bad, of what we've done. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:47.280 And we all want people to be treated equally, fairly, justly, especially quote, bad people. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:56.479 Except, and here's the tension, except when it comes to ourselves. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:57.919 Isn't it true? 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:10.879 When it comes to ourselves, we don't necessarily always want justice or to get what we deserve unless it's justice in the good sense, maybe perhaps a promotion that we were unjustly overlooked for. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:15.520 And then, yes, we want justice, however, when it's not so good. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:21.439 Maybe when it's bad, we actually uh well, we don't really want justice. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.279 We want something entirely different, don't we? 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:27.600 Don't I? 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:32.079 See, we want mercy instead of justice. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:36.720 See, mercy is not getting what you deserve. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:46.079 See, mercy is turning that paper in late and and saying, I I still hope, I still wish I get full credit on that. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:54.399 Mercy is when you've acted or spoken in a way that's completely broken trust and relationship, but you hope they'll overlook it. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:56.959 You go, you know, I just would you give me a break? 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.079 It was a bad day. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:00.240 I was stressed, I didn't mean it. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:11.680 Mercy is when you when you run that red light or you speed and you get pulled over, and you go, would you just let me get off this one time? 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:15.279 See, justice, it's getting what we deserve. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:17.439 And our world needs justice. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:25.920 And mercy is getting what we do not deserve or not getting what we deserve, and we long for that. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:52.879 See, when we look at the chaos and the brokenness of our world, we can't help but see we need justice, and then when we look inside into the chaos and the brokenness of our life, we can't help but say, we need mercy, and therein lies the tension. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:58.959 Can God be just and merciful at the same time? 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:04.560 And when I approach him, how does he respond to me? 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:06.000 Is it justly? 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.079 Does he give me what I deserve? 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.600 Mercy, not getting what I deserve? 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:15.040 How does he respond to me? 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:19.199 And how do I really know that God is for me? 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:21.120 Well, Easter. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:33.040 Easter, the death and resurrection of Jesus, is actually the place where justice and mercy meet together. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:49.360 And so during our time, I actually want to tell you a not so Easter-ish story to help unpack this incredibly profound Easter reality that justice and mercy met in this Easter moment. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:54.160 And so we can say God is for us. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:07:06.800 And so I want to tell you the story of the Apostle Paul and how he encountered the resurrected Jesus on his way to Damascus. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:12.240 I want to tell you about an encounter he had with Jesus that forever changed his life. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:17.120 Now, if you don't know the Apostle Paul, he wasn't always called the Apostle Paul. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:25.199 He was actually called Saul of Tarsus, and he wasn't one of the original disciples of Jesus or first followers. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:27.360 In fact, he was on the opposite side. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:29.600 He was a Pharisee, he was an antagonist. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:32.399 In fact, he hated followers of Jesus. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:42.639 And as this movement sprang up in Jerusalem, he's he's looking for any way that he can stop this movement in their tracks. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:48.319 In fact, he's going out of his way to imprison and even kill followers of Jesus. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:57.600 And the Jewish high priests in Jerusalem, they're feeling threatened by this movement, and they've given Paul full authority and power to do this. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:04.720 He took it as his personal mission and vendetta to stamp out Jesus' followers. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:14.480 This is Saul of Tarsus, who would one day be called Paul the Apostle, who would one day write much of the New Testament. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:25.040 But in this moment, in this moment, he had enacted such terror on Christian Jewish believers that they're fleeing from Jerusalem. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:28.399 And well, I mean, they're running for their lives. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:30.240 And Paul says, I got them on the run. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:31.680 I want to go after them. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.679 A lot of them ran to Damascus. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.840 No, Damascus, about 140 miles from Jerusalem. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:41.759 And they're hiding out there thinking, hey, maybe we'll be safe here. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:48.480 Paul goes to the high priest and uh the Jewish leader and says, Would you give me papers to go to Damascus? 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:56.080 So if I find any believers, I can arrest them and bring them back here, whether men or women or whatever. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:57.840 And they say, Go on your way. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:10.720 And they actually sent him with some tough guys, some uh, some uh, you know, kind of like uh, what do you call it, officers that were gonna help him do these things. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:18.000 And this is where we pick up the story where Paul had an encounter that forever changed his life. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:26.399 In Acts chapter 9, it says, as he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:32.559 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.200 I can only imagine him going like, persecute you. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.960 Well, I've put a lot of people in prison, but you're not one of them. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.279 What do you mean, persecute you? 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.960 But he knew something was going on. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:43.919 I love his response. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.639 He's like, Who are you, Lord? 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.639 I don't know who you are, but here's what I do know. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:57.039 Whoever you are, you're God, your Lord, you're in control, and I'm not. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:03.759 And then the voice responds, the man responds, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:07.440 You can just imagine Saul in that moment. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:08.799 Think about this. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:19.759 He's knocked down, brilliant light, hearing this powerful voice, seeing Jesus, and he's going, Now I'm going to get what I deserve. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:26.240 And I've been persecuting his followers and even killing and imprisoning them. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:27.759 And now it's time. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:29.039 The reckoning is here. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:33.600 I'm knocked down on the ground and I'm never going to get up. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.279 And Jesus goes on. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:41.360 He says, Now get up and go into the city, and you'll be told what you must do. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:41.840 Get up. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:42.639 No, no, no. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:45.360 This isn't the end of the story for you. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:49.519 Well, Saul gets up from the light, he's blinded. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:53.440 And I just think that's actually an incredible grace of Jesus. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.879 The last image for Paul, think about this, was Jesus. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:01.840 And for three days he's blinded, he's fasting and praying. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:09.919 And the last thing he can't look at his circumstances, he can't look at himself, he can't look at all the only last image in his mind was Jesus. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.679 And he's praying and he's being drawn to Jesus. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:18.159 And so Jesus shows up to a man in Damascus named Ananias. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.279 He was a follower of Jesus in a vision. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:24.720 And he goes to Ananias and he says this. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:31.279 He says, Go to the house of Judas on Strait Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.320 He's praying. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:41.600 And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias and come to this place, uh, come and place hands on him to restore his side. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:43.120 You can only imagine. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:46.720 Ananias, everybody's heard about Saul of Tarsus coming. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.200 Come on. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:52.879 Here's the guy that unleashed a reign of terror in Jerusalem on followers of Jesus. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:59.200 We fled to here, and now he's coming here to arrest us, imprison us, bring us back. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.080 Are you kidding me? 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.600 You want me to go to who? 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.480 I don't think so. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:08.320 You might have got the wrong address, Jesus. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.399 Are you sure it was Judas on Straight Street? 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.679 I think it's another, you know, Straight Street, something like that. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.240 It can't be Saul of Tarsus. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:18.399 And Jesus responds, Go. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:30.240 The man is my chosen instrument to proclaim to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.159 No, you don't get it, Ananias. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.759 Like I've chosen him. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.679 You chose who? 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:37.519 Saul? 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.399 You chose Saul. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:43.600 I mean, think about it like in elementary playground days. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:48.159 Do you remember that when you had the lineup of people and you're picking your teams and you're choosing? 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:51.759 Like Saul's not even like the last kid picked. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.759 Saul's not even in the lineup. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:58.720 Saul's the bully, bullying all the kids lined up to pick, and he goes, I choose you. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:01.200 And Aeneas is going, like, oh my gosh. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:04.399 Okay, okay, Jesus, whatever you say. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.080 And he shows up. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.840 It's so powerful, so incredible. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:13.600 He shows up and he puts his hands on Saul. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:20.639 Saul had showed up to Damascus to put his hands on disciples and drag them to Jerusalem. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:24.080 And Ananias puts his hands on Saul to heal him. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.320 And he says this, this is powerful. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.480 Brother Saul. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:34.399 Not not enemy. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.480 Not not reject. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.279 Not how could you? 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.919 His first words were, Brother. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:47.600 Welcome to the family of God. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:50.799 He says, Brother Saul, notice what he says. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:14:01.840 The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me to you so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:06.240 And immediately the text says that something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:11.200 He has sight, he's seeing, and he says, Hey, I want to get baptized. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:15.759 I am a part now of the family. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:20.559 The Damascus Road, Paul had an encounter that changed his life. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:34.000 And by the way, it's likely that no one was thinking Saul was a candidate to be saved when he departed for Damascus to persecute the disciples. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:39.679 Never count God out and never count anyone out. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:50.799 See, in this count, in this story, in the Damascus road, we actually see how God responds to every single one of us. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.000 And how he calls us. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:59.600 And the amazing mercy of Jesus and the God who's for us. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.799 Let me tell you, this amazing mercy, think about this. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:12.480 No matter where you're at, what you've done, who you are, what's going on in your life, mercy not getting what you deserve. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:13.600 Listen to this. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:20.879 There is no path you can go down where Jesus is not lovingly pursuing you. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:33.120 There is no path that you can head down, that you can go down, that Jesus is not also at the same time saying, I'm pursuing you, I'm pursuing you, and I'm not pursuing you to put you in your place. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:38.639 I'm not pursuing you to make sure, you know, you stop doing, I'm pursuing you because I love you. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:41.600 I'm lovingly pursuing you. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.960 Paul, think about this. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:48.399 Paul on the road to Damascus is headed to persecute Jesus followers. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:51.840 And Jesus says, I want to interrupt that because I love you. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:57.120 On that road, on the Damascus road, I'll interrupt. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:03.440 This year, this year's been a turbulent year in the past year, hasn't it? 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:08.720 And it has quite literally knocked so many of us down. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.720 And for many, isn't it true? 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:17.919 We've maybe walked down some paths we never intended to walk down. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:37.600 Headed in a direction you never thought you would head, made some decisions because life was hard, because life was stressful, because life was chaotic, all these becausees, but where whatever the because was led you to a place you're looking up and going, How did I get here? 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:41.279 Maybe you walked away from Jesus. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.679 Maybe you feel distant from God. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:50.559 Maybe you made some decisions that are undermining your relationships or your peace. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.840 Maybe you stepped into an addiction. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:17:02.720 And whatever that path is, there's this lie that says, No, you're too far gone, you're too far down the road. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.160 I love that it says, just before he got to Damascus. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.599 Like he was just there. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.559 He was almost there. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.680 He was almost there. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.920 And then God says, I'm here. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:15.680 You're still not too far away. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:25.839 You know, over COVID, I was sitting and talking with a buddy, and he went down a really dark path. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:36.799 Really painful, made some decisions that really threatened to undermine his entire life, his family, his career, his future, all these things. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:47.599 And I remember, you know, it was maybe six months ago or so sitting with him, and this is just about as that path was being found out. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:50.240 He said this to me. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:56.559 Ryan, you don't know what I've done. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:03.119 And if you knew what I've done, you wouldn't be around me and you wouldn't love me. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:07.119 And right now, I don't even know if I believe in God. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:14.960 And I remember in that moment, because I didn't know the depth there. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:21.359 I said, I don't know what you've done, but I love you no matter what. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:35.599 Here's what I know whether or not you believe in God right now, I know Jesus is pursuing you because he believes in you and he's coming for you. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:41.359 There is no path you can go down where Jesus is not lovingly pursuing you. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:48.640 And let me tell you what you'll experience when you turn to the one who is lovingly pursuing you. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:52.559 And this is the reason most of us don't turn because we're afraid of what we'll experience. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.279 Is God for you? 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.000 Is God for you? 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:54.720 I don't know. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.319 I'm afraid of what I'll experience. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:01.519 Let me tell you what you'll experience when you'll turn to the one who's lovingly pursuing you. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:05.359 Instead of being rejected, you find that you're chosen. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.319 Notice what God said. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:11.279 Jesus said to Ananias, Go. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.519 He's my chosen instrument. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.240 Saul. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.160 Saul was my chosen instrument. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:25.039 Instead of being rejected, instead of being put out, instead of being told, no way, you can have no part, God says, You're chosen. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.519 I choose you. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.839 I want you. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:37.039 Like when you turn to him, it's not like somehow he's going, like, finally. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.960 Oh my gosh, I chose you. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:50.400 Instead of rejection, you're gonna experience and find out that you were chosen all alone. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:58.319 Instead of carrying shame, you're given a new name. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:05.119 And so many of us are carrying things that Jesus never wants us to carry. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:15.200 Christians who who carry their past with them, who carry shame and the sense of feeling worthless or alone. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:25.039 This feeling of like unworthy of love, unworthy of belonging, unworthy of acceptance. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.440 You're screwed up. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.279 You're a failure. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:33.680 Instead of carrying shame, he says, no, no, no. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:39.599 Jesus said, You're gonna carry, he told this to Ananias, go, he's my chosen instrument to carry my name. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:47.440 Like that's your new identity in Christ, your new creation, the old is God. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.279 Put the past behind you. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.720 Stop carrying that. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:58.880 You know, when we talk about, I want to go back just real quick to being rejected and chosen. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:02.640 One of the great gifts of life is the ability to choose. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.480 But I think there's an even greater gift. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:09.839 And that's the gift of being chosen. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:15.440 And God says, I chose you to carry my name. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.759 Yeah, you. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:27.279 You have a new identity, a new reality, and shame has no say in you. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:34.319 Instead, of an enemy you're embraced as God's family. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.000 Ananias goes, lays his hands on him. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:44.640 Brother, so welcome to the family of God. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:54.720 It's all that more powerful when we read Paul's statement in Colossians as he's writing to that church, as we understand his backstory and who he was. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:59.519 And he says, Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds, why? 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.599 Because of your evil behavior, because things you've done, you deserve to be alienated. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.880 Justice. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:17.759 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:26.240 There is no path you can go down where Jesus is not also lovingly pursuing you. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:33.759 And when you turn, when you turn to him, you'll find that you're chosen and given a new name. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:45.200 And in fact, Saul, as we talked about earlier, he changed his name, or his name was changed to Paul the Apostle, no longer Saul of Tarsus, but Paul the Apostle. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:52.079 And you're invited and welcomed in and adopted into the family of God. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.440 Is God for you? 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.720 Answers absolutely. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:09.519 Now the question is then, what about justice? 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:14.880 Does God then just kind of give a week and a nod to justice? 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:17.359 Of like, yeah, you know, we don't really deal with that. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.279 We kind of shove that away. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.640 And absolutely not. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:22.400 God is a God of justice. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:30.079 In fact, scriptures filled that He's He's on the side of the oppressed and the exploited, a father to the fatherless. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.720 And he's a God of justice. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:35.680 And so, what does that mean for us? 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:41.200 And how does God's justice and mercy meet? 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:50.319 Listen to how the Apostle Paul says it to the church in Rome, and you can just see his experience being laid out. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:24:12.160 He writes this you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, when there was nothing we could do to change the circumstances we find ourselves in, when the just consequences were coming against us, we were getting what we deserve, and we could do nothing about it. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:30.400 He says, in that place, in that moment, when you and I could do nothing to change the world around us and what was happening, says Christ died for the ungodly. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:33.039 I love that. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:40.480 Because Paul knew who he was in that moment encounter on the Damascus Road, I was ungodly. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.720 I was broken, I was far from him. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.960 In fact, I was anti-God. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:49.519 And if you're anti-God, Christ died for you too. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:52.799 Not just good people, not just special people. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:00.960 See, the justice of God, he says, there is a consequence to our actions. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:05.519 There is a debt that is owed that needs to be paid. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:08.640 And Jesus said, I will take that upon me. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:28.240 And for you to experience mercy, to not get what you deserve, that means that in me, I am going to take that on the full just payment of all that we've ever done, and the shame is going to be poured onto me, onto the cross, so that justice is fulfilled and mercy can then be expressed. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.279 He goes on. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:36.559 Though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:40.400 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:45.839 While we're still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:49.440 He's Christ, it's God for you. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:52.160 Yeah, he's pursuing you. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.759 He came for you. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.880 He died for you. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:58.319 He is so for you. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:08.000 You know, uh, when my youngest son Miles was smaller, uh, many, many years ago, I think he's about four. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.759 He's just turned 11 now. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:19.359 Uh, my wife was dropping off the older two kids from um to school, and he wasn't yet quite in school at that point. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.720 And so he's just hanging out. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:25.680 And as she's leaving, she ends up talking with some uh people in the parking lot. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:28.640 And so Miles does what any, you know, four-year-old does. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:33.119 He's looking around and what's around, he finds a rock, a big rock. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:43.599 And he looks at this rock and he just gets something in his mind, and he takes this rock and he hurls it as high as he could into the sky. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:48.480 Now, I remember later asking him, like, Miles, why did you throw the rock in the sky? 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.279 What were you trying to do? 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:53.039 And I remember him saying, Dad, I was trying to hit the sun. 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.720 Makes sense. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:00.160 Unfortunately, he missed, and he hit a brand new Audi. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:10.400 This rock fell with a thud right down on the hood of that Audi and bounced and lodged itself in between the dash and the hood. 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.559 And there was this big dent in the middle. 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.839 My wife's amazing. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:18.799 I would certainly hope that I would do the same thing, but she's godly and amazing. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:23.279 And she takes a note, writes down, hey, I'm so sorry about the dent. 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:25.279 Uh my son threw a rock. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.240 Please give us a call. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.839 We'll take care of the cost. 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:30.640 Like, we can take care of an Audi cost. 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:37.359 Well, the guy calls me later that day, and uh and he's going, like, you know, I'm so sorry. 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:40.960 If it was my old car, we wouldn't even have this conversation. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.880 I wouldn't be doing or saying anything. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:46.480 But I literally got this car this last week. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:47.680 I mean, it's brand new. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.440 It's amazing, it's immaculate. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:51.759 And so I said, No, I totally get it. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:55.119 I'm, you know, just take it to the body shop and we'll cover it. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:28:00.079 Well, he hands me the bill, and it's something like$722.46. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:09.759 I don't remember exactly, but I think I might remember exactly how much it was because I'm like, gulp, that's a lot of money. 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.839 Now imagine. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:14.799 Imagine if Miles came to me. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:18.400 He said, Dad, I feel so sorry about that dent. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.960 I want to pay for the Audi. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:25.279 I said, Okay, son, why don't you pay for the Audi? 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.440 Well, how are you gonna do that? 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:30.079 Well, I'm gonna clean my room every single day. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.400 I'm gonna do my homework on time. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:36.000 You know, in fact, Dad, I'm gonna wash your car. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.599 Those are all really, really good things. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:49.519 But unfortunately, at four years of age, it's actually impossible for Miles to pay for the Audi at that stage in his life. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:54.880 He can't earn or make money, and the sum is far too great than what he could ever earn in that moment. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:29:01.279 He cannot pay for the Audi, but justice demands that somebody pays for the Audi. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:19.440 And so, as his dad, I got out my checkbook and then gulped and wrote a check to this man for$722.46 and handed it to him. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:27.599 See, this is the reality of where justice and mercy meets. 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:40.880 Miles in his condition can do something that he cannot undo, that he cannot pay for, but needs to be paid for, and he's in a debt, and the consequence requires that it's paid for. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:47.759 And as his dad, as his dad, I say, I'll cover that. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.119 I'll cover that. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.880 I'll pay for that. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:30:15.279 And that is where we are with Christ and what happened at the cross is we stand in a place where we cannot pay back the pain and the heartache and the consequence, and Jesus says, I'll cover that. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:31.359 I died for you, so that you can experience mercy in your time of need, and experience the God who is for you and for me. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:48.240 And for some, this is the very first time that you're hearing about the God who's for you, or that you realize that he actually is fully just and fully merciful, and he's extending it to you and longs to welcome you into his family. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:54.000 And I just want to invite you in this moment, would you just simply cry out to him? 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:57.440 Would you simply pray along with me this prayer? 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:04.000 Heavenly Father, today I want to experience you. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:08.480 I know you're lovingly pursuing me on my path. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:32.960 And I believe that you came for me, that you died for me, that you rose again to new life, that I might have brand new life to cover all the things that I've done that I might, that I might experience your chosen new name family. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.880 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:47.599 And the scripture says anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved because it is in the finished work of Jesus. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:54.960 It's in the finished work where justice is fully expressed and mercy is fully found. 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:56.640 God's choosing you. 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:25.200 Maybe you have grape juice, maybe you have wine, maybe you have orange juice or whatever. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:42.799 These symbols represent the God who said, My justice is gonna not be poured out onto you, but onto Jesus so that you will not get what you deserve, but you'll enter into the family of God. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:48.240 And as you partake in those elements, would you remind yourself of his grace? 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:54.000 Remind yourself his love, remind yourself maybe you have wandered on a path. 00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:01.839 And today's the day where you go, Jesus, uh, I'm I'm calling on you, I'm coming back to you. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:05.359 Would you come and meet me here? 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:10.160 And let's partake communion together as a church. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:13.759 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:18.960 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:21.519 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:27.599 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.