WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:26.480 What if Jesus is good for all people and not just some people? 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:45.759 What if he's actually really, really good for every single person on the planet, regardless of your your race, your creed, your nationality, your background, your religion. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:56.719 You know, we live in a world, you know, we talk about, hey, what's good for you isn't necessarily good for me, and and some things that's true, like um with food, right? 00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:58.799 Like like gluten. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:03.679 Um I don't mean to brag, but uh I can eat it all. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:05.760 And some of you can't. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:07.840 It's really not good for you. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:18.239 But what if Jesus is actually really, really good for every single person on the planet? 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:21.040 And then this. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:25.519 How do you have a compelling faith in the heart of the Silicon Valley? 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:31.040 We've certainly seen what it looks like to have a condemning faith. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:42.400 But how do you have a compelling faith in a place that well it seems downright anti-Jesus at times? 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:53.280 You know, in ancient Rome they didn't have presidential elections, they had regime changes. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:03.439 When the Apostle Paul penned the letter to the church in Rome, it had just undergone a regime change. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:06.879 Claudius, the emperor, uh, had just died. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:10.159 Many people think he was poison in AD 53. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:11.599 It was actually in A.D. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:16.000 49 where he had expelled the Christians from Rome and they started coming back. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:31.039 Okay, the the emperor's dead were starting to come back, uh, but his predecessor, or though his the one coming after, um was actually his adopted son, not his biological son, Nero. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:33.439 AD 64. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.800 Nero is installed as emperor. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.759 For the first couple years, he's 16 years old when he first becomes emperor. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:48.319 For the first couple years, this actually goes pretty well because his advisors held most of the power. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:03:00.479 And then if you've read any history or watched any uh shows, you'll you'll know that Nero is infamous, salacious, can't go into all of his history in life. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:08.159 It is wild, murdered the people closest to him, his mom, his spouses, all the I mean, it was gnarly. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.360 And Nero, AD 64, lit Rome a fire and blamed the Christians. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:28.719 And and one actually historian said it this way: said that Nero executed Christians with lavish publicity. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.439 He crucified them. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:51.919 In the gladiatorial games, he would throw them to the wild beasts, and then he would host parties and he would use Christians as living torches and lighting them aflame to light his parties at night. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:07.199 And it's in the heart of Rome and to this church that the Apostle Paul pens these words at this time. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:21.439 For I'm not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:31.839 I am not ashamed of this gospel of Jesus because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.079 First to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:44.800 How do you have a compelling faith in the heart of the Roman Empire under the reign of Nero? 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:54.639 And how do you have a compelling faith in the heart of Silicon Valley? 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:14.240 The first followers of Jesus, these early Christians, the Apostle Paul, the disciples, they had three fundamental convictions that produced a compelling faith. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:24.000 The first conviction was simply this: that the gospel is actually good news, not good advice. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:30.399 The gospel, what he's proclaiming, is actually good news, not good advice. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:33.040 Good advice is like, hey, here's a little parenting tip. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.680 You're struggling with your toddler, you're struggling with your teen. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:37.600 Hey, here's a little health tip. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:39.680 Oh, you want to get in shape quick? 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:40.720 I got some tips. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:45.279 With the social media is inundated with advice. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.759 This is not the gospel. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.879 The gospel is not good advice, it is fundamentally good news. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:54.000 I like the way N.T. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:57.439 Wright, historian and theologian, defines news. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:03.360 He says, News is something has happened upon which the world is a different place. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:05.519 Something happened. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:11.279 And as a result of that happening, the world, the landscape has changed. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:18.800 And the Apostle Paul says, I am not ashamed, I am not embarrassed of the gospel. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:23.040 That word gospel means good news, as many of you know. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:25.360 It's the Greek word uangeleon. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:38.639 It's good news, news that makes one happy, information that causes one joy, words that bring a smile, a message that causes the heart to be sweet. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:47.600 This word Uangeleon, if you if you had some significant moment of good news in your life, you you would declare the Uangeleon. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:59.759 If you're out to battle and you won the war, you would send a herald sprinting as fast as he could, declaring the Uangeleon that you have victory. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.959 And then in the heart of Rome, this is fascinating because this is where Paul's writing it. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:20.480 This word began to take on special meaning when the imperial cult, meaning that the emperor began to declare that he alone is divine and to be worshipped, and all the subjects of Rome are to come under this religion. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:26.720 The imperial court, every time a new emperor was enthroned, declared the Uangeleon. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:34.000 The Uangelion that a son of God has landed upon the throne, the Savior of the world, sound familiar? 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:42.079 And this would be spread through the entire Roman Empire. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:58.319 And Paul confronts the powers of Rome and the Uangellian of Nero and says, No, the good news, something has happened upon which the world is a different place. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:07:59.279 What is that? 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:04.639 All of Christianity hinges upon the resurrection of Jesus. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:11.199 All of Christianity hinges upon the historical events. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:17.519 See, it's good news, not good advice. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:19.199 It's not like, hey, you know what? 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:21.759 I have I have a new religion for you to try out. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:23.839 I have a new philosophy about life. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:27.360 I have a new kind of some ideas, let's kick it around. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:29.759 No, something happened. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:44.720 There was a man who walked in the Middle East, in Palestine, and he preached and he performed miracles, and tons of people followed him. 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:49.759 He said really outrageous things. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:58.399 He even said that people were going to kill him, and on the third day he would come back to life. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:07.519 And the religious powers condemned him, and the Roman powers crucified him. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:13.519 And then on the third day he rose from the grave. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:18.639 Something happened as a result of which the world is a different place. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:26.000 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul says it this way: For what I receive I pass on to you as a first importance. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:29.840 One, that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:39.279 In fact, all major historians agree on five historical facts around who Jesus is, the death and resurrection. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.960 First, that Jesus was a real person and that he died by Roman crucifixion. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:49.120 And then he was buried and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:53.039 The second thing, they all believe he was buried in a tomb. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.200 Now, here's the interesting part. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.879 All major historians do not believe that Jesus rose from the grave. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:05.039 But they all do believe the tomb was empty. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.200 There are lots of ways to try to explain it. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.799 We don't really fully understand it. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:17.200 You know, maybe he just wasn't quite dead and he just revived himself, you know, in the cool of the tomb and moved multiple tons of stone and said, I'm risen. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.600 You know, maybe that's one explanation. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:21.600 Maybe the disciples stole the body. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:34.639 There's plenty of these out there, but everybody agrees Jesus, a real man, lived, walked, really died, was really buried, and the tomb was empty. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:37.679 And then this next part is fascinating. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.639 Then he appeared to Cephas, that is Peter and the twelve. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:49.840 After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are all still living, though some have fallen asleep. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:55.519 Then he appeared to James and the apostles, and last of all, he appeared to me, the Apostle Paul, as one abnormally born. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:05.039 That the disciples really, really believed that they saw the risen Lord to the point that they died for that story. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:22.399 And that the skeptic, the Apostle Paul himself, who was murdering and trying to stamp out followers of this Jesus, said he saw him and he gave his life for him. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:29.360 The gospel fundamentally is that there is an event that took place, and that event changed everything. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:43.200 That Jesus died, and he took on the power of hell and death itself, and he rose on the third day, and in his resurrection, he defeated death and sin and Satan that we might have life. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.039 It's an event that changed it all. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:47.679 C.S. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:53.279 Lewis writes this Christianity, if false, is of no importance. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.720 And if true, of infinite importance. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.639 The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:09.279 The Apostle Paul, a little later on in chapter 15 of Corinthians, would say it this way. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:16.399 If Christ did not rise from the dead, your faith is futile. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.879 It's worthless. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:23.120 First conviction they had. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.559 Something happens. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:39.679 On January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, officially outlawing slavery in the Confederate States. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:54.320 It wasn't until June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Gallatin, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of all enslaved African Americans. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:13:05.200 For two and a half years, these men, women, and children were free, but nobody told them. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:12.480 The war had been won and their freedom had been secure, but they still were enslaved because nobody told them. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:17.919 And the power of the land, the evil held on to their grip. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:23.360 And the first followers, they said, something has happened. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:29.200 Jesus has defeated the power of sin, death, and Satan. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:35.039 And he really rose from the grave, and it changes everything. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:46.799 See, if Jesus really rose again on the third day, then all that he said is true and trustworthy. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:57.200 This is what the Apostle Paul was not ashamed, even in the heart of the Roman Empire. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:02.879 The second conviction they had was that the gospel is powerful. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:07.200 Because it is the power of God that brings salvation. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:11.279 The gospel, not a person, is powerful. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:14.639 The gospel, not a method, is powerful. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:28.720 The gospel is powerful, like what I just shared to you, that Jesus came, he loves you, he came for you, he died in our place, and that he rose again to the third day, and he is extending the offering life. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:31.679 The kingdom of heaven is breaking forth here and now. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:33.279 That is powerful. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.879 Not my method. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:45.840 When I was uh 17, it was the summer before my senior year. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:49.759 I had a personal and powerful encounter with Jesus. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.600 I grew up in the church. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:15:01.120 Um and I uh by the time high school, I was just kind of living my own way, just trying to fit in, honestly, like we all are, I think most of us at least in high school. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:08.720 And then I like encountered Jesus, and he changed my life. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:18.240 Like, like it was just one of those moments where I'm like, oh my God, you wow! And and I couldn't help but just share him with everyone. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:22.080 Here I'm the 17-year-old pimple-faced kid. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:28.000 I don't really know a whole lot, but everyone I'm coming up to, I'm like, ah, Jesus, you know? 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:33.600 And I I wasn't like the coolest, I wasn't like the uncoolest, but I wasn't the coolest. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.759 Um, I didn't even need to say the uncoolest. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.120 I was, yeah. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.039 First day, senior year, I'm in U.S. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:43.919 Gov class. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.600 And Preston, who was the coolest. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.120 Preston was the coolest man. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:51.039 He was, he I I talk about him now. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.960 I'm like, he can sell snow to Eskimos. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.320 I he like he's the got the most charm, charisma. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.240 He fit in every group. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.720 And he's sitting next to me in U.S. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.279 Gov. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:04.960 The seating was like where all four of us were kind of facing each other. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:14.399 And here I am, this kid that Jesus just changed his life, and like I can't hold it in, and I I'm not really interested in what the teacher's saying, anyways. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:21.279 And I turned to Preston and I go, has anybody ever told you about Jesus? 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.480 And he goes, No. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.120 Like, can I? 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.519 Sure. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.679 I mean, he's stuck there. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.799 We're sitting next to each other. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.080 We got like an hour and a half. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.720 I had a captive audience, literally. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:44.960 And for the next hour, I just was talking about, I don't know even what I said, but I was just like telling him like Jesus, and he changed my life. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:51.919 And at the end of it, as we're walking out, he's like, hey man, could do you think we could meet and talk more about this Jesus? 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.159 Yeah. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:17:00.960 Do you think I could invite some friends over to your house and we can meet and talk about this Jesus? 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.440 Sure. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:11.920 And Preston, who doesn't know Jesus, started a Bible study at my house with all his friends. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:22.000 I began to write their names on a three by five card and just pray for them every night before I went to bed. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:25.119 We'd on Wednesday nights sit and we'd read 1 John and talk about it. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.759 And here I'm like 17-year-old, I don't know a whole lot. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:34.480 I'd go to my dad, ask him some questions, and then like lead this Bible study, and Preston really liked this song called Light the Fire. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:38.480 And so we sang it multiple times over and over and over again. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:44.400 And on January, five months later, Preston gave his life to Christ. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.920 I got to see him last week. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:01.359 On the day he gave his life to Christ, he made sure that was his wedding day as well because it was so significant in his life. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.079 Because new life broke forth in his life. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.680 One of my best friends to this day. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:14.240 But the power wasn't because I had the right words, the power wasn't because I knew the right things to say. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:14.960 I didn't. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.720 I'm a 17-year-old kid. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:23.680 Jesus will speak through a junior higher, Jesus will speak through a fifth grader, and Jesus will speak through a 50-year-old if you're just willing. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:27.279 It's good news and it's powerful. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:33.119 And here's the most amazing part is also you are empowered by the Spirit of God. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.680 The gospel's power and you're empowered. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:43.359 Jesus said, but you'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you'll be my witness. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.720 That's all I was. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.400 It's not that complicated. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.319 This is what Jesus did in my life. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:53.599 I'm witnessing because I saw what Jesus did in my life, and I'm telling you what Jesus did in my life. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.480 We complicated. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.400 This is what Jesus did in my life. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.039 That's it. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.640 I think he wants to do it in your life. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.599 Want to try it out? 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.480 I don't know how to. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.680 Let's take you to this person. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.000 He might know how to help you, or she might know how to help you. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:09.039 And you'll be my witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, until the very end of the age. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.759 You are empowered by the Holy Spirit. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.039 Now think about this. 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.839 We talk about this. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:23.519 The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives and dwells inside of you. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:29.759 And so if resurrection life is living in us, then resurrection life should spring up around us. 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:35.759 And here's where I land, friends, because here's what happens to my heart, and maybe it happens to you. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:39.359 Like my heart for the lost kind of goes like this. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:46.960 And there's times where I'm like, I'm really passionate, times where I'm just really want to be in my comfort zone. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:55.440 Isn't it funny that one of the names for the Holy Spirit is the comforter? 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.799 I don't think we need a comforter if we're going to stay in our comfort zone. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.240 One of his names is the counselor. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:10.960 I don't think we need a counselor if we're going to stay in places that we know and understand. 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:18.000 But my heart for the lost goes up and down. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:29.680 And here's what happens for me is when I'm in proximity with those who are far from Jesus and I'm intentional, then all of a sudden my heartbeat for them grows. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:38.960 The Apostle Paul would say to Philemon in Philemon 6, I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith so that you'll have a full understanding of every good thing you have in Christ. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.880 Have you ever been around someone who just shared their faith and how on fire they are? 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:46.720 Like if you want that first fire, share your faith, is what the apostle Paul's saying. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:52.720 He's like, but then we sit back, we don't do it, and we're wondering what's going on, and we're missing out on the power of God. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.759 And people, there's Prestons everywhere around us. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.119 The gospel. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:05.519 First conviction is good news, not good advice. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.359 The gospel's powerful. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:12.799 And the final conviction is the gospel's for everyone. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:19.359 This was crazy in the ancient day. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:26.240 The gospel for every single person, not special people, not the right people. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:42.799 In the ancient day, you had your local deity that you had to protect you, and you appease them and you pleased them, and and like you had your in-group and your out group, and you're really clear on who's out, and you defined your reality by all of that. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.480 And what does the apostle say? 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:49.119 He says, It's the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:59.759 Every single person on the planet, regardless of what they believe, regardless of what they believe. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.200 They look like? 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:04.480 Regardless of what their past has been. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.720 Every single person, yes, Republicans and Democrats. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:13.599 Yes, liberal and conservative. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.000 Yes, LGBTQ. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:19.839 Yes, your neighbor. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:24.160 Yes, your coworker. 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.559 Yes. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.880 Your friend. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.119 Yes. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.480 Your family. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.039 Yes. 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.559 Your classmate. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.400 To everyone. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:41.200 Not some people. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:51.759 In fact, John, the gospel writer and the uh one of Jesus' disciples pinned the most famous verse, and we miss how big and crazy this is. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.119 He writes this, for God so what? 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.640 Loved. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:06.240 Like when you approach God, when you're coming to him, he's not standing up there with his arms crossed going, like, oh, I've been waiting. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.640 Toe tapping. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.920 Right? 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.960 You're gonna get it. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:17.200 Like God's disposition towards you is one of love. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.960 He loves you, he loves you, he loves you, he came for you. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.839 He loves you. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.200 How do you know he loves you? 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:26.319 For he sent his one and only son. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.400 He's like, I'm coming for you. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:34.240 And there's nothing I won't do to be with you, to bring you home, to bring you into my family. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:38.079 My arms are not crossed, my arms are open wide. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.519 I love you. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.880 And it's the world. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:51.920 There is no past too great that the gospel is not greater. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:58.400 And some of you are believing the lie and waiting, like, I gotta fix up my life before I get to God. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:01.759 He's going, no, just just come to me. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.720 We'll work on it together. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.680 Whoever believes. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:15.920 Believe we turned into an intellectual activity. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.920 That's not what it means. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:23.920 Because how you behave reveals what you believe. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:34.799 Belief is I am going to place the full weight of my life on. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:39.759 I've been going about life my own way. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.440 I've been trying to figure things out. 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:44.880 I've been working really hard and it's not working out. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:56.240 I'm tired of trusting my way, or I'm tired of trusting that TikTok influencer, or I'm tired of trusting whatever cultural kind of value that I've been running after. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.160 I'm tired of whatever it is. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.680 It's not working. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:07.119 And today I place my faith, my trust, the full weight of my life upon you, Jesus. 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:14.559 And the promise, the power of the gospel is you are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son He loves. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:17.039 You are now a child of God. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:27.839 The Spirit of God lives inside of you, awakened to new life, kingdom life flowing through. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:29.359 That's what eternal life is. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:31.920 It's life now and forevermore. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:38.319 This is the gospel for every single person. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:43.279 Tim Keller says it this way The gospel is this. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:47.599 We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dare believe. 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:56.319 Yet at this very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dare hope. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:06.160 The gospel of Jesus is the singular solution to all that is broken in our lives and in the world. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:10.240 What if, friends, what if? 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.240 Just think come with me for a little bit. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.880 Just come on. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:15.279 Just just just what if it with me. 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:18.079 What if we took the what if? 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.240 Stay with me, follow me. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:29.920 What if we took the what if off of what if Jesus is good for everyone and not just someone? 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.039 Some people. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:38.160 Jesus is good for all people. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.079 Period. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:45.440 Every single person needs Jesus. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:49.759 And if you're here today and you've yet to receive him, today is the day of salvation. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:54.160 The Holy Spirit has been working on your heart, and he just needs your yes. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:56.559 He just needs your yes. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.839 Yes, today. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.599 I I trust you. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:05.599 Every single person needs Jesus. 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:13.680 If the gospel's so good, why don't we share it with everybody? 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.559 You ever wrestle with that? 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.359 Ever wonder that? 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.359 Like if it really is so good. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:25.119 Why aren't we, like Diane was saying, like with the latest restaurant? 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:31.359 This is amazing! I think one of the reasons why is we've encountered this guy. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:36.000 Seen this guy before, yeah? 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.160 Bullhorn guy? 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:45.039 Bullhorn guy that's yelling at you, that's telling you how much God hates you. 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:48.559 Bullhorn guy, as I'm sitting in line, I don't sit in line. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.599 I'm standing in line. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.640 I stand in lines. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.079 I don't sit in lines, by the way. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:59.440 I'm standing in line at cold play as he's yelling at people, and all I want to do is he's not with me. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.200 He doesn't represent us. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:12.319 I think sometimes we don't share because we don't want to be associated with bullhorn guy. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:20.400 Friends, you are in large part the greatest Christian most of your friends, co-workers, or classmates will ever know. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:25.359 And what we do is we allow bullhorn guy to define what a Christian really looks like. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:30.559 We let him, it's generally he, shape. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:41.440 Let me give you just five myths we believe in that keep us from sharing. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:45.200 The first myth, myth number one, is my faith is a private issue. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.839 It's just a private thing. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:54.240 We don't talk about politics, we don't talk about sex, we don't talk about faith. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:58.160 Jesus said, You are the light of the world. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:00.079 A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:06.319 Let your light so shine before men that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:10.880 Your faith is not private, it's personal. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:14.559 It is deeply personal, but it was never intended to be private. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:17.440 Myth number two, my life is my message. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:22.480 It's just, you know, Ryan, I'm just gonna live it out and hope somebody notices. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.279 And friends, we need to live it out. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:38.160 We need Christians who live winsome lives, who care for the things that Jesus cared for, the people that Jesus cared for, that are living out and mending the brokenness and injustices in our society. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.359 Yes, and amen. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:43.759 And Saint Francis of Assisi gets misquoted. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.519 He didn't even say this, by the way. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:49.440 Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:52.319 And we use that as a cop-out to never use words. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.079 The Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 10 would say it this way. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:59.279 How can they believe if they never hear? 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:01.839 And how can they hear if nobody preaches? 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:05.039 And how can if nobody preaches and nobody's sent? 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:08.480 Like somebody has to be sent to preach, to declare. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:13.920 And then he goes, and he quotes Isaiah, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:18.160 Myth number three, it's not my gift. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:21.680 It's not just not my, you know, Ryan, you're the preacher. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.880 You're the preacher. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:25.839 Last week we looked at Matthew 28, 18. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.519 Go therefore and make disciples. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:29.680 This may not be your gift, it is our call. 00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:35.759 And we all, we all have a witness, we all have a story. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:40.799 Myth number four, I don't know enough. 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:46.640 Isn't that beautiful in Diane's story of like, I just, I don't know, and she just stepped into it. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:54.000 John 9, it talks about blind Barmaeus, and he's brought before the religious leaders, and they're just pouting them with questions. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:56.319 And his answer is beautiful. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:59.279 I don't know about all that stuff. 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:02.640 That's the NIV, by the way, the new Ingram version. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:08.880 Um I don't know all about this, but this one thing I do know. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:14.799 I once was blind, and now I see. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:18.240 I don't know about all those questions. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.720 I don't know about all the stuff that you're wrestling with. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.440 I don't know. 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:30.319 But here's what I know is when I was 17 years old, Jesus met me and he changed my life, and I know he wants to do that for you. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.680 That's what I know. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:39.200 This one thing I know. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:47.039 I once was blind, but now I see your story is powerful. 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:48.720 And then myth five. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.319 Well, people just aren't open. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:55.200 You know, it's just people just aren't open around here. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:32:00.160 Jesus would say, look up, the field is white with harvest. 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.000 Pray for workers. 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:08.400 Like Jesus looks around us and says, There is a harvest around us if you all have eyes to see what I see. 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:13.119 Um I run. 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:17.359 I may not look like it, I get that. 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.640 Um, but I run. 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:20.880 I started like a decade ago. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:26.960 Um, I didn't want to go to the gym, didn't want to pay, and I figured I could run for 30 minutes. 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.240 I enjoy it now. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.519 I really, I really do. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:33.440 Um I put on my headphones, I listen to worship music, I pray. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.279 Run my neighborhood, I run the same. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.400 I'm pretty boring. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:43.759 I run the same path every single time, the same thing every single day, time and time again. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:47.039 Which means I run past a particular neighbor. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.279 I ran past this particular neighbor often. 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:56.480 I'd see this dad out front with his kids, and something pricked my heart as I was running, I just started praying for him. 00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:02.480 And I just started praying for him and praying for him and running, and like, and then I see him out there, and when I saw him, I'd pray for him. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:12.079 And one day on the run, uh, like as I'm coming up to his house to see him with the kids out there, like, I felt this prick in my heart, like, you should stop and talk to him. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:17.039 And I began to argue with the Holy Spirit of God inside of me. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:21.680 And I say, Don't you know I'm taking care of your temple right now? 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.680 I cannot stop. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.680 I argue, I'm like, that's a bad idea. 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.680 I'm this awkward, this stranger. 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:32.480 I've run past his house, it'd be just weird. 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:40.240 And I said, I said, I give I I hit his house like a couple times on my my loops that I'm doing, so I said, Fine God, if he's still out there, I'll stop. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:42.319 I come by and you know run it. 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:44.720 This is not how I run, that was embarrassing. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:48.079 Um and he wasn't there. 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:51.599 I was like, oh, it's a sign. 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:54.640 I don't have to stop. 00:33:56.240 --> 00:34:05.119 And so I start to run past his house, and like that conviction, like right here, was like a knot in my chest. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:10.320 And the further I got from his house, like the heavier it felt. 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:16.880 Like, I'm like, I am not going to be able to like get through the day if I don't go back to his house. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:21.599 And so I'm, you know, a good 300 feet from past his house, I find God. 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.719 I think I said it out loud. 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:28.559 I'm just saying, and I and I go up to his house and I knock on the door, and he opens the door. 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:34.159 And I'm like, hey, I'm neighbor, I'm runner. 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:38.159 He's like, no, no, yeah, I see. 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:40.159 You yeah, you've lost some weight. 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:43.920 Thanks for noticing. 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:52.880 I said, this might be weird, but I'm a Christian, and I just wanted to, like, like I've been praying for you. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:55.360 I just want to, I've been praying for your family. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:35:03.679 You, I just walked and run past and pray for you, and I just felt like like God was asking me to stop and talk with you and just tell you about Jesus. 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:07.440 I I know it's weird and awkward, and his response was amazing. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:12.000 He's like, I don't think that's weird at all. 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:17.519 Like, if you really believe what you believe, why wouldn't you share that? 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.360 Yeah, that's what I meant. 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:28.320 We developed a little friendship out of that conversation, found out that we both love volleyball. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:30.079 We started playing some volleyball together. 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:34.239 He moved and we lost touch. 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:41.440 I don't have that neat little wrapped bow of, and here he is. 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:45.840 Because often that's a lot of our experience. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:48.480 That's a lot of our story. 00:35:50.719 --> 00:36:02.239 Uh there's one study that said, when sharing Jesus, that people need 7.6 encounters with the gospel before they receive Jesus. 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.800 7.6. 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:13.519 See, with Craig, I I don't know if I was number one or if I was number six along that line. 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:17.440 Here's what I do know, I wasn't 7.6, right? 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:30.639 But what I am confident of is he encountered someone that cared enough to share, that spent time, developed a relationship so it wasn't some weird guy knocking on his door. 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:35.360 And gotta be, I gotta be somewhere there, one one through six. 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.159 I'm somewhere there. 00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:38.400 I don't know if I was one or two or three or four. 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:42.000 I don't know, but I'm still praying from him when God brings them to my mind. 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:45.519 And I don't know the end of the story, but I hope to see him in heaven. 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:53.760 And yet we stay in our comfort zone. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:56.960 Because I don't know if they're open. 00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:59.599 Here's what I want us to do. 00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:02.960 Pull out this card for me. 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:17.920 When I was in high school, as a 17-year-old kid, I had a three by five card by my bed. 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:24.639 I wrote down the names of all the guys in that small group that Preston brought. 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:29.920 And I prayed for them every night before I went to bed. 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:37.360 Amazing part of that story is every single one of them came to know Jesus that year. 00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:41.039 Minus one, and I found out later he was already a Christian. 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:47.679 On the back of this card, you see a blank. 00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:55.840 Would you take time and write somebody's name in your life that you're going to pray for who does not yet know Christ? 00:37:56.239 --> 00:38:01.599 Could be a coworker, could be a neighbor, could be a classmate, could it be a teammate? 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:04.480 You're like, I got more than one. 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.599 Wonderful. 00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:08.639 Fill up the whole thing. 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:15.679 And then would you look for opportunities to consistently care for them? 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:18.000 We're gonna pray for them. 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:18.800 Prayer. 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.239 We're gonna care. 00:38:20.719 --> 00:38:22.320 And then we're gonna share. 00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:26.320 I'm gonna look for opportunities. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:29.280 Jesus, would you help me to have a conversation with them? 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:33.679 Would you give me the opportunity to share with them in some way about you today? 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:42.960 It might be an invite to have coffee, to have a happy hour or a dinner. 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:45.280 It might be to our awakening birthday. 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:47.039 Like, hey, we have this big party. 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:48.239 We throw a big party. 00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:55.039 It's a great big, easy invite for people to come and get a taste of what Jesus is like. 00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.760 But would you do that? 00:38:58.719 --> 00:38:59.119 Prayer. 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:00.639 Care. 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.480 Share. 00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:11.519 The interesting part is we have no idea what hangs in the balance of our willingness to risk. 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:20.239 Like I said, I had lunch with Preston and his family last week. 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.840 We were down in San Diego. 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:39.280 And as we were driving, you know, he's got a daughter the same age as my daughter in college and has a son uh similar age to a rider who's a senior and Jenny was telling Ella the story in Preston's story. 00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:46.639 And I didn't know when I shared Jesus with Preston that his older brother uh had died of leukaemia. 00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:50.639 I didn't know all the story of their family. 00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:56.960 Because what I saw on the outside was this picture perfect, popular dude. 00:39:57.599 --> 00:40:00.320 Why would he want anything with Jesus? 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:07.840 Yet the reality is the hungering of his soul, he needed Jesus because everyone does. 00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:10.800 And one risk. 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:28.239 Ella was so, she's like, Dad, if you didn't share, he married a pastor's daughter, his whole future rewritten and redeemed. 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:32.239 Because the gospel is powerful. 00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:34.960 Who's your one? 00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:39.119 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:43.679 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:45.920 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:52.000 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.