WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 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. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:27.600 Today we're closing out a series called Where in the World Did We Go Wrong? 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:30.960 And let me begin just by asking this question. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:36.079 What comes into your mind when you think about God? 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:49.840 Maybe, like we sang earlier, that he's good, that he's kind, that he's loving, he's forgiving, he's wise, maybe that he's all powerful, he's holy, he's mighty, he's mysterious. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:54.799 Maybe that he's distant, aloof, impersonal. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:01:01.520 What comes into your mind when you think about God? 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:09.920 How do you think God feels when he looks at you? 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:17.120 How do you think he feels when he thinks about you? 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:23.840 Thirty-eight percent of young adults feel never good enough for God. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:32.480 Forty-seven percent of young adults say they struggle with anxiety and insecurity about how God sees them. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:40.159 Fifty-seven percent of Christians, just about two out of every three, believe God is mostly disappointed with you. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:46.400 How do you think God feels when he looks at you most let's say disappointed? 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:52.560 One in three Christians say they feel emotionally distant from God most of the time. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:59.200 Only 28% consistently feel deeply loved and hated by God. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:00.000 A. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:25.039 And that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:29.919 Today the sermon title, as we close out our series, is The God Who Pursues. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:31.919 Go ahead and say that to your neighbor. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:38.240 Genesis 3 is the story where humanity blew it big time. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:40.319 We've been walking through that. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:51.039 Adam and Eve were placed in the garden, placed in perfection, placed in a place where pleasure without perversion, love without distortion, fully known, fully loved. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.400 Life as it was intended to be. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:59.680 And yet, in a moment of temptation, they believed the lie of the servant. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:03.120 They took the fruit, they ate. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:07.439 And shame flooded the garden. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.719 They covered up, they grabbed fig leaves. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:12.240 Where are my fig leaves? 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:13.599 They're somewhere around here. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:15.680 There they are. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.400 They grabbed fig leaves to cover up their nakedness. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:21.120 Yeah. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:23.120 Okay, I won't, I won't get too. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:23.919 Yeah. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:24.639 Yeah. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:25.520 Yeah. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:27.919 Easy. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.319 Brokenness entered the human story. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:36.479 And this chapter is often called the fall. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:44.719 But it's not just the story of where everything went wrong. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.039 It's the story of how God responds to make it right. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:57.039 How does God respond when we blow it big time? 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:03.599 From the very beginning, he shows us how he responds. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:08.080 Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened, they hid, and I want you to notice something. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:13.439 God's first response is that God makes the first move. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:15.520 How does he respond? 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:18.639 He doesn't wait, he doesn't stand back, he's not aloof. 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:19.839 It says Genesis 3:8. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:27.680 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:28.959 And what'd they do? 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:35.360 They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden, but the Lord God called out to the man, Where are you? 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.240 When we blow it big time, what does God do? 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.680 He makes the first move. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.120 He didn't wait for Adam and Eve to come to him. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.959 He didn't ghost them. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:47.600 He didn't avoid them. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:49.360 He didn't give them the silent treatment. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.879 He didn't cancel them. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:58.639 He moves towards them and he doesn't just move towards them, he moves towards them in love. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.279 God didn't come storming into the garden. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:02.000 What did he do? 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.199 He came walking in it. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:06.079 He didn't just barge in like, what's going on? 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:10.800 Actually, by the way, my daughter just got home from college, which is awesome. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:15.439 And uh I was reminded of this her very first day, moving her in. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:17.279 Uh, she had two roommates. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:22.000 They got there a couple days earlier than she did, so they already moved in. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.160 Now, you can imagine a dorm room with three girls and stuff. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.600 And so as they moved in, there were three dressers. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:32.079 Well, the girls had taken all three dressers. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:34.959 Ella comes in, she's like, and she's so nice about it. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:38.319 She's like, Oh guys, do you think I could maybe get one of the three? 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:42.639 Because there's three of us, and if you count it up, like I should get one of those. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:44.240 And the girls felt terrible. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.879 They're like, Oh, we thought about I'm so sorry. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:48.639 And so they're like, Absolutely. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.879 She's like, I'll I'll empty out that other one. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.639 I gotta go be with my family uh for lunch, and they'll come back. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:01.439 Couple hours come back, and all of a sudden, this girl comes in, and then her dad, he storms in. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:05.279 And literally, first words, never met the man before in my life. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:06.480 First encounter. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.319 What's going on in here? 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.199 Intense. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:13.519 We're like, woo! My wife, she's amazing. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:15.600 She's like, hey, I'm Jenny. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:23.519 God did not storm into the room and go, what's going on in here? 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:25.519 What'd you do? 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:27.839 How could you? 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:33.120 God came in invitationally, where are you? 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.759 Where are you? 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:45.759 Because you have moved and our relationship has shifted and changed, like how theologian John Stott says it. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:49.360 He says, the Bible's not the story of humanity in search of God. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:54.240 No, but it is of God in search of humanity. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.240 How does God respond when we blow it big time? 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:07.600 God makes the first move, He moves towards you in love every time. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:13.360 We see it in the garden, and then we see it in Jesus. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:17.040 Because when you look at Jesus, friends, remember this. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.959 When you look at Jesus, he is the very explanation of God. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:25.920 If you want to know how God feels about you, look at Jesus. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.839 If you want to know how God responds when you blow it, look at Jesus. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:36.879 If you want to know how God thinks of sinners, of doubters, of strugglers, look at Jesus. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:42.560 The Pharisees and religious leaders had a terrible time with Jesus because of this, by the way. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:43.839 Because what did he do? 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:47.120 He welcomed tax collectors and sinners. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:59.759 And on one occasion, he tells one of the most famous parables of all time to reveal the God who makes the first move, the parable of the lost sheep. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:04.639 Begins this way. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:10.879 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus, but the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.560 I like that word muttered. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.600 This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:21.920 He welcomes them to sit and eat with someone was to accept them. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:27.120 Not to agree with what they're doing, but to say, you're loved, you're welcome into my presence. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:30.959 And then Jesus told them this parable. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:35.679 By the way, the word parable here is singular, but he tells three stories. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:43.679 These three stories all tell one compelling picture of God's heart for those he came for. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.000 It's the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.919 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:56.879 Does he not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:58.159 Of course he does. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.759 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:05.440 Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:06.879 I found my lost sheep. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:17.519 I tell you the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:29.679 From the garden to Jesus, when we blow it big time, God's first response is, I'm moving towards you in love. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:36.639 I've come to seek and search for those who are lost. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:41.840 And I'll go to any lengths for the one who is far away. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:44.639 He always makes the first move. 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:51.279 Before we decided to look for God, God had already been looking for us. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.279 So Adam and Eve come out of hiding. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.159 Where are you? 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.919 I got these fig weaves. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:09:58.639 Somewhere. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:02.240 They're covering up. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.120 Covering up. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.000 They're covered. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.039 Okay. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.000 And Adam responds this way. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:21.360 We hid because we heard you. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.559 And we were afraid because we were naked. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.960 And then I love God. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.320 He doesn't give this lecture. 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:32.639 He says, Who told you you were naked? 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:36.159 Did you eat from the tree I said not to? 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:38.320 There's like everything you had at your disposal. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.440 Did you do that one thing? 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.919 And then and then blame enters the garden. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:46.159 They just begin to blame one another right after each other. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:48.000 And here's what's incredible. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:59.120 In the midst of this moment, something's so stunning because when we make choices, there's consequences to every single choice, and God begins to explain the consequences. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:10.080 The consequences, the devastation of sin that brought brokenness and pain and relational fracture and distance and ultimately death. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:20.240 In the midst of just explaining these consequences to those decisions, we see the stunning beauty of hope. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.279 God offers a promise to them. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:31.919 And he says that he will restore what we've ruined. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:36.080 God himself will restore what we ruined. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:45.679 Speaking to the serpent, he says, and I'll put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, and he'll crush your head and you'll strike his heel. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:53.279 He's prophesying of one to come, declaring, one will come who will restore and make all things right again. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:12:02.399 There is a fracture, and this is where brokenness and pain and evil entered the human story, and God says, I will not leave it undone. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:08.320 Right after humanity breaks the world, God speaks of one who will come and break the curse. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:13.279 That he didn't give up on us, but he gave us a redeemer. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.360 Now this is known as the proto-evangelum. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:20.960 Proto meaning first, evangelum meaning gospel. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.840 This is the very first time the gospel is ever shared in the Bible. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.799 Goes all the way back to Genesis 3. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:37.919 That in the midst of our darkest moment of our deciding and choosing apart from God, the gospel's being declared. 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:49.120 That's God's promise of redemption, the coming of a Savior who will defeat evil, which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.559 I love this, by the way. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:58.399 In the garden, God didn't turn to Adam and Eve and said, How are you going to fix this? 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.200 Or he didn't even give them a step-by-step guide. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:05.679 Here's what you need to do to work it out. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:14.399 God himself will restore what we've ruined. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:20.240 And the reason is we cannot in and of ourselves fix it. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:26.159 And he says, I will cover it. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.759 The Apostle Paul picks up on this in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:35.679 He writes, For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.919 For in Adam all die. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:46.960 In this moment in the garden, death just permeated out, and the brokenness of the world we see all around us. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:50.399 So in Christ all will be made alive. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:54.559 A new Adam has come to bring about new creation. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.120 Again, I like what John Stott says, this theologian. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.519 He says, Grace is God loving. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:03.519 God stooping. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:06.000 God coming to rescue. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.120 This is grace. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.600 Stooping, coming to rescue. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:16.080 God giving himself generously in and through Jesus Christ. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.120 How does God respond when we blow up big time? 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.799 He makes the first word. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.240 He himself reverses the curse. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:30.720 He restores what we've ruined. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.600 And then the chapter closes this way. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.559 I love this. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.840 This is amazing. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:40.879 God closed what we try to cover. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.320 Remember, how could you forget at this point? 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.000 The fig reef. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:49.440 Oh, this is awkward. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:55.759 Speaks so much more to just their nakedness. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.480 It was the exposure to vulnerability. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:03.039 The parts of us that we are ashamed of. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:10.000 The parts of us we're afraid that if anybody sees, they won't love us. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.960 And so we try to cover up. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.200 It's what we do. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:26.480 And in the garden, God's final moment with them here it says, the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:31.519 Your temporary covering, your effort of stuff that's just gonna fall apart. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:38.799 There was a sacrifice that needed to be made, and I am going to clothe you. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:44.240 We cover up with fig leaves all the time today, don't we? 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.399 It's our performance. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:56.320 We're in a performance-driven culture, so if we can just cover up with our performance, other people won't see the real you success or image management. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:00.000 It's the things that we post, we want, present, we want others. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:06.639 It's the numbing to just cover up our own internal world. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:11.039 We keep ourselves so busy so we don't have to even deal with ourselves. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.440 It's the perfectionism. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:20.639 Now here's what's amazing: this picture, if you do a study, it's really fun. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.440 Do a study of God clothing. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:27.919 It's actually woven throughout the Bible. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:33.200 Here we see it in Genesis that God clothes Adam and Eve. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:45.679 See in Isaiah 61, 10, I love this verse, it says, For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:52.080 Like he took the fig leaves away and he says, I'm going to clothe you and your garment. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:57.679 It's not just anything, it's the garment of salvation, it's a robe of righteousness. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:03.360 Like it's being draped on you, my righteousness and my salvation. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:21.359 And when Jesus tells the Pharisees about the very heart of God, remember the parable, there's three of them: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and then the parable of the lost son. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.319 We know it more as the prodigal son. 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:34.559 The prodigal son, the younger son, tells his dad, and many of us are familiar with it, Dad, give me my inheritance. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:40.720 Translation, I wish you were dead so I could get what's mine. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:51.920 Father, rather than denying him, rejecting him, simply says, okay. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:18:01.599 Divides his property, gives it to his son, and says that the younger son goes off to a distant land and squanders it on wild living. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:06.480 And you just fill in the blank of whatever your wild living you would do. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:27.279 And then a severe famine hits the land, he spent all that he has, and now he is destitute with no support, and he finds himself hungry with no one to help him, and he begins to just like work at a farm, and he's working with these pigs. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:37.200 And one day, as he looked at the pigs eating the slop, longing just to be able to eat the food that they're eating. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.039 I love this line. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:55.039 It says, When he came to his senses, there's something for you here of there's a moment in time when you realize that all the direction and the life that you're going down, you realize it is not fulfilling. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:00.559 In fact, it's only creating more emptiness, and you come to your senses. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:08.720 He says when he came to his senses, and he's like, even my servants, uh my father's servants eat and live better than I am. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:13.119 I'm gonna go back to my dad, and I'm gonna tell him, and he prepared this whole speech. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.559 I'm not worthy to be your son, let me be your servant. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.200 This is where we pick up the story. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:22.720 So he got up and went to his father. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.640 This line is so good. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:41.519 But while he was still a long way off, every day the father had been looking towards the horizon in the direction that his son left, waiting to see, would a dot appear, and as that dot appeared, would that begin to visualize and see? 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.000 Oh, that's the shape, that's the shadow of my son. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:47.440 I can just catch the characteristics of his walk. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:56.319 While he was a long way off, the father saw him, filled with compassion, not condemnation. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.519 How did the father feel about his wayward son? 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:10.559 Filled with compassion, he ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:22.319 See, I think when we are on our way home, when we are headed back, when we think we're returning to God, what keeps us in hiding, friends, is simply this is we don't think God's filled with compassion. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:29.440 We think his arms are crossed, disappointed. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.759 How could you? 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:36.880 The son then started on his speech, you know. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.960 He prepared this thing, he had a long walk. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.279 It was a pretty good speech, too, you know. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:47.839 He says, uh the son said to him, Father, I've sinned against heaven against you, I'm no longer worthy to be your son. 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:55.119 But the father said to his servant, he wasn't even listening to the kid's speech. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.079 Quick. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.960 What does he say? 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:59.119 Quick, quick, say that with me. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.680 Quick. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.039 No, no, do it again. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.839 Quick. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:07.920 Because this is something I missed in the text so many times, and I've preached this text a lot of times. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.799 Quick! Bring the best what? 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.880 Robe. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.720 Bring the best robe. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.960 Put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, bring the fat of calf and kill it. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.480 Let's have a face and celebrate. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.640 For the son of mine was dead and is alive again. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.920 He was lost and he's found. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.599 So they began to celebrate. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.480 Quick. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.000 Think about this. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:34.160 The father put the best robe on his son before he could get cleaned up. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:38.160 Yeah, three of you got it. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:41.200 I missed this. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.359 Where was he before? 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:45.200 He was in a pigstie. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.720 He's dirty. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.720 Long journey. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.519 Tell you what, I'm a little bit of a germaphobe. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.720 You my first word wouldn't have been it would have been quick. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.240 It would have been quick. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.519 Get a bucket. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.839 Let's clean them up. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.119 Quick, right? 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:07.200 I don't know if I want to put this on you. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.759 You're gonna dirty my robe. 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.599 That would have been my response. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.799 The father's response. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.759 Don't miss this. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:19.359 The father response isn't go get yourself cleaned up, and then we'll get you in the robe. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:23.279 And so many of us think that's how he's responding to us. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:27.680 He says, quick, get my best robe. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:36.400 Get my best robe and put it on him just as he is. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:44.160 Because no matter about what stank he came in with, he's my kid and he has robed in righteousness. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:52.079 See, I think for most of us as Christians, we understand only part of the gospel. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:57.680 We understand Colossians 1.27 says it this way. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:03.680 You know, it's Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:07.519 And I think we get that part of the gospel, like Christ is in me, right? 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:14.880 Like, okay, uh, the Holy Spirit dwells in me, so I just thought I'd do it more of a visual here of like, here you are. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.880 Cool, look good. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:24.319 And then we go, like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I get this, that Christ is in me. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:27.440 The hope of glory, that's the gospel. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.160 And I'm like, oh, how cool, isn't that awesome? 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:42.240 I'm like, Christ is in me, but then here's how we kind of think of the rest of our life is then we're still a failure. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:45.599 We're still a sinner. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:50.960 We're still guilty, shamed. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:55.440 I couldn't even really write brokenness, but it fits with the word. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:08.240 And so we know we're saved by grace and saved by Jesus, but we feel like we just suck. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:12.160 Because it's Christ in me, but I'm in my all my muck. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:16.960 I'm showing up and I just have all of this around me. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.720 And so, what do you feel when God looks at you? 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.319 You're like, look at me. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:27.119 Of course we feel disappointed. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.480 We think he's disappointed. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.519 Look at me. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.079 It defines me. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:35.119 Christ may be in me, but look at me. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:46.480 See, the gospel, yes, Colossians 1.27, Christ in you, the hope of glory, but hang on, let's jump to um Galatians here. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:56.960 So in Christ Jesus, in Christ Jesus, in Christ Jesus, say in Christ Jesus. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:02.640 So it's not just Christ in you, you're in Christ Jesus. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:13.920 You all are children of God through faith, for all of you who are baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:21.359 See, the gospel is this as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed your sin from you. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:26.480 As far as the east is from the west, the Psalms tells us that. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:33.680 Romans 8, 1 says, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:39.759 So Christ is in you, yes, friends, but you are in Christ. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.920 Come on, people. 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.920 That's the gospel. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.559 That's the gospel. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:26:00.160 You are in Christ Jesus, and Christ Jesus is in you. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:02.480 So the question, how does God feel about you? 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.359 How does he feel about you? 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:14.559 He feels about you the same way he feels about his son Jesus. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:25.519 And when he sees you, he sees his son because you are clothed in Christ Jesus with robes of righteousness. 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:31.680 This is who you are, your standing and position in Christ. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.240 This changes everything. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:47.119 Oh, friends, if you would just begin to understand that when God sees you, he smiles. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:55.920 We wouldn't hide, we wouldn't cover up, we wouldn't try to take all these things and fake it till we make it. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:27:03.839 We just become like, I'm so loved, I'm so accepted, I've already been covered, it's already been paid for, it's already been separated, and so this is just me. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.839 I'm saved by grace. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:15.920 I Christ is in me, and I am in Christ, and so I just can't wait to share with you the grace that I've been given. 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:34.319 So let me ask you what would change for you what would change if you actually believe this is your reality. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:58.319 This is what you're doing. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.680 The old is gone. 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.839 The new is gone. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.720 How does God feel about you? 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:16.079 He made the first move. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.039 He restores what we've ruined. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:24.640 And he clothes what we try to cover up. 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:38.799 You may notice at the end of our services, almost every week, part of the benediction, I say to you, You're loved. 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.599 You're loved by God. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:46.400 It's not because I don't really know what to say. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:51.119 It's like, oh shoot, I forgot to plan that part. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:56.480 He's stuck on repeat again. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:15.519 When you understand you are the beloved and the father's arms are open wide, you will experience the power and the transformation of the gospel in your life like you never have before. 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:25.119 And so I'm gonna invite you as the band comes up and they're gonna sing of the goodness of God, and that his goodness is running after you. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:27.759 He's pursuing you in love. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:32.880 And I'm gonna ask Christians, would you be wrecked by the gospel again today? 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:52.880 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, that you would be wrecked by his love, wrecked by his grace, overwhelmed in this moment, that you would believe it to your core, that would move from head knowledge to heart reality. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:59.279 And you just invite him, Jesus, would you help me to believe it? 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:01.519 Would you help me to believe it? 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:05.039 And would you repeat it and repeat it and repeat it? 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:10.559 I am the beloved, I am a daughter, and I am a son of the King Most High. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:13.759 I am robed with righteousness. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:25.599 Some in this room you've never said yes to Jesus. 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:30.559 You had no idea that God loves you. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:35.839 And in this moment, I want to invite you. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.440 Would you say yes to him? 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.359 It's so simple. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:43.359 He's the God who came for you. 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:50.240 It's that moment when we come to our senses, when we recognize our need, we long to return home. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:55.839 And we just simply say, Jesus, would you come into my life? 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:59.039 If that's where you're at, I just want to pray a simple prayer. 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:02.559 Prayer is just a conversation with God. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.880 Would you pray after me? 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:14.000 Heavenly Father, I believe you love me. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.559 I believe you came for me. 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:30.079 I believe you died for me to rescue me, to break the bondage of brokenness, sin, and death. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:36.880 I believe you rose again to new life that I might have life. 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:42.400 I'm tired of trying to cover up and measure up fakeness. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.519 I need you. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:51.359 Jesus, would you come into my life and make me? 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:59.680 If you wouldn't mind with eyes closed, head bowed, if that's right where you're at. 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:01.839 I just would love to know if you'd be able to pray for you. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:07.279 Would you raise your hand up high if you said yes to Jesus for the very first time? 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:10.079 Go ahead and raise him up high. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:28.160 The parable of the sower of the lost son in the coin says that heaven rejoices. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:34.400 Every time one person experiences his grace. 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:37.279 So we rejoice with you. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:46.160 Jesus, in this moment, as we worship, I ask for your presence to overwhelm us with your love. 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:49.519 Anchor deep our identity in you. 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.440 In Jesus' name. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:00.799 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:05.440 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:07.680 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:13.759 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.