WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.680 We are in our second week of the season of Lent. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:09.679 Lent is the season of the 40 days leading up to Good Friday and Easter. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:11.919 So we want to give you a few resources. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:16.160 Perhaps you're looking for something to read during the Lent season, maybe a new devotional. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:17.199 Here's a couple books. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:20.960 The first is Show Me the Way by Henry Nowen, a great book for Lent. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.920 And the second is Lent by Esau Macaulay. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:30.559 These would both be great resources for you just through the season of Lent, preparing your heart for Good Friday and for Easter. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:34.320 Now, historically in Lent, people fast from something. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.359 They pick something that they fast for these 40 days. 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:39.359 Maybe you're fasting from a certain thing. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:40.960 Is anybody fasting from a certain thing? 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:41.759 You don't have to be ashamed. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:42.719 You say, Yeah, I'm fine. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:44.079 I gave up something for Lent. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.960 This is kind of a historical thing that people do. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:51.840 Now, what's interesting, uh, if you gave up, maybe you give up your daily Starbucks, right? 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:57.600 And like the moment you want your daily Starbucks and you want it so badly, that's the moment it helps you remember. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:01.759 Oh, the thing that I need the most in life is really God's love to me in Jesus. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:07.280 And so the sacrifice can help us to remember Christ through this season. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:12.560 Now, what's interesting is that the 40 days during Lent do not count Sundays. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:14.799 Sundays are actually known as feast days. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:19.120 So it's very possible you've been over-sacrificing for years. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:20.480 Over-sacrificing. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:25.599 What you're supposed to do on feast days, on Sundays, is you're supposed to feast on. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:27.439 So have five Starbucks. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.280 Like you just, you're gonna go, you just go for it. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:31.680 You'd be a jittery mass, or you're just gonna go for it. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:32.879 You feast on it. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:39.519 Well, it's designed that way because on Sundays the church gathers together and we feast on the gospel. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:41.519 And this morning we're gonna feast. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:50.000 We're gonna look at this passage, but we're gonna feast on the assurance that we have in Jesus' fierce love for us. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:51.760 Let's reread our passage. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:54.159 Luke 13, 31 through 35. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:01.920 At that very hour, some Pharisees came and said to him, said to Jesus, Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:10.560 And he said to them, Go and tell that fox, behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finished my course. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:17.919 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:24.080 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:32.080 How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you are not willing? 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:40.000 Behold, your house is forsaken, and I tell you, you will not see me until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:48.159 So this passage, it can give us a feast of assurance because of the fierceness of God's love for us in this Jesus. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.520 Now, as for a definition, here's a definition of assurance. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.240 What does it mean to be assured with God? 00:02:54.479 --> 00:03:00.400 Assurance is God-given confidence, so God-given, not merit created, not I'm good enough or I've worked enough. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:05.919 God-given confidence that in Christ we are fully approved by God in the present. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:07.120 It is fully approved. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:14.000 It's in Christ with confidence in that because of Him, and fully accepted by God in the future. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:18.639 So we walk in confidence because we have assurance. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:24.479 Our confidence comes from the assurance we have that God is with us and God is for us. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:28.639 In our passage, Jesus was not afraid of Herod's threats. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:33.120 There is something more profound about Jesus and his life. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:37.840 He walked in confidence because he trusted that God was with him and God was for him. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.199 That was just secure. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:41.120 It was a foundation for him. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:46.800 Point number one is this we walk in confidence because God is with us. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.520 This past Thanksgiving, my family went up to Virginia to visit my sister. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.599 She has two girls, husband, and we all went to an escape room. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:57.520 Do you know what an escape room is? 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:00.000 So this is a picture of us once we got out. 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:01.840 We escaped, we made it out. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.560 Lots of girls in our family, as you can see. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.400 So we arrived at the escape room. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:10.319 It's like a normal business park and Keith, who's working in the escape room, he welcomes us in. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:13.520 It becomes very clear, Keith does not just work at the escape room. 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:15.120 Keith lives escape rooms. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.519 Escape rooms is his whole life, this is love, it's his passion, it is job. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.079 He loves, he's so excited for us. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:36.879 He gets us in the room, closes the door, so we're locked in the room, and an escape room is gonna be one room or two rooms, and you work your way over the course of an hour through a series of clues and hints, and you're solving these things that lead to the next clue, the next hint, you're problem solving to escape, to get out. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:44.079 And when you're in the room, the music starts to play, and it starts to get you get a little focused, a little obsessed. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:44.560 Right? 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.160 Like the world gets pretty small. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:50.079 You actually start and stop forgetting about the outside world, and you are just in this world. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:53.439 And I found myself a little nervous, like a little anxious. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:59.519 Like the music's getting to me, like some things had like kind of frightened me, like things popped out of places and scared me. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:02.160 My niece got locked in a closet at one point, right? 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:12.240 There were some things to get anxious about, but Keith had told us before he closed the door, he said, Hey, I will be watching, and I can hear you the entire time. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:23.439 And there were several times throughout it that we had to say, you know, Almighty Keith, oh Keith, oh divine Keith, will you please help us? 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.199 We don't know what to do. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.040 We are at the end of ourselves. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.120 We have locked Alyssa in the closet. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.680 Like, would you please, would you please help us? 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:33.120 We're stuck. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:45.360 Which is why we were nervous at times, rightfully anxious inside the room, and yet, because we had someone outside the room, we never really had to be afraid. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.920 There was a limit to our anxiety. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.120 I was assured. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.639 We could say, I was assured because I had Heath. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:56.879 Now, in Luke 13, Jesus is a great example for us. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:58.560 Pretty incredible example. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:00.079 He's getting threatened. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.920 Hey, Herod wants to kill you. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:03.600 But Jesus is living on purpose. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:05.759 He is brave in the face of threat. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:07.600 Everyone's turning against him. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:11.759 He should be filled with fear and uncertainty and anxiety and all that. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:12.879 But he trusts in God. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:14.720 He trusts that God is with him. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:19.199 And in this way, Jesus is an incredible example for us. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:20.879 Like, we should be like this. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:26.639 We should live on purpose, and we shouldn't have to live in fear because God has this, and we should trust God, right? 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:27.199 And all that. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:28.720 So Jesus is our example. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:39.040 And at the same time, if that's all we have, is Jesus as an example, or Jesus has teachings for us of how we should be, that very thing is our doom. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:42.959 It will eventually condemn you. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.000 Because you're not you're not perfect. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.279 I can't live up to be like Jesus. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.319 I want to be like Jesus because but I'm falling really short. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:58.720 And so actually, Jesus' example, apart from grace and forgiveness, is going to condemn me. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:03.040 The law without grace will condemn us and crush us. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:06.240 So Jesus' example, amazing, great, I want to be like that. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:09.360 And yet at the same time, I need him to be more than just an example. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:14.879 And this is why Jesus is not just an example, but Jesus is also our savior. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:20.720 Scotty Smith writes this prayer about our need and our assurance. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:25.439 And listen how Jesus is not just an example, but he's our Savior. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:36.240 Jesus, with fitting humility and unfiltered joy, I affirm you to be the reason, the only reason, I have no guilt in life and no fear in death. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:41.279 A line from my favorite hymn, I can hardly sing without choking up in Christ alone. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.879 I feel guilty, but I'm not. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.519 Because you took my guilt on the cross. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:49.519 I don't feel good enough. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:54.399 And I'm not, but you gave me your perfect righteousness. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:01.680 So Jesus is an example for us, but Jesus is our Savior full forgiveness and full righteousness. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:07.199 That's why we're assured, and because we're assured, that's why we can walk in confidence. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:13.920 Luke 13, 34, Jesus says this, Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:18.800 How often would I, and he's saying, Here is my heart. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:25.839 Have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.759 And you were not willing. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:33.360 Point number two is this Jesus promises to be a loving protective force for your heart. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.120 Jesus says, I'm a loving mama chick. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:38.320 I'm a hen. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:41.360 He's using these are farming people. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.639 He's just finding what's the what's the best example that he could grab that these people would understand? 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:47.519 Farm stuff. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:56.960 And he says, okay, I'm the mama chicken, you're the little chicks, you exist under my wing, and then the hen stands between the fox and the chicks. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.720 The hen will sacrifice herself for her chicks. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:08.720 Jesus is saying, I fiercely love you and will fiercely fight for you, and I will die for you. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:12.720 So two gospel ideas so clear in this metaphor that Jesus gives us. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:16.320 And the first is this, we are the chick and he is the hen. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:22.799 Meaning, Jesus is more compassionate to us than we will ever be toward him. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:30.720 In fact, any passion or compassion we have toward Jesus is because of his compassion to us. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:35.840 Number two, we are under his wing and he is in the fight. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:43.440 Meaning our security, our assurance is not by our love for him, but it's by his love, Jesus' love for us. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:46.799 And yet our hearts can plague us, can't they? 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:52.960 How can I be sure that I will wake up a Christian tomorrow? 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.919 I know I'm a Christian today, but what about tomorrow? 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:58.960 And what if something I do something horrible in between? 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:02.480 How do I know God smiles upon me today? 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.120 How do I know God loves me and likes me? 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:15.679 For years I lived knowing God loved me, but I kind of felt like he didn't delight in me or like me until I did enough good in a day, and it seemed to be about like 11 a.m. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.919 I was like, all right, I got a few check marks. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:20.159 Like now I feel assured. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:24.159 It's a horrible, anxious, neurotic spiritual way to live. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.960 We have enough anxiety in life. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.320 We don't have to be anxious in our relationship with God. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:36.480 At least it can be one area of life, a major one, that doesn't have to be filled with anxiousness. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:40.720 How can I know for sure that I will go to heaven? 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:42.559 Well, Peter has something to say about this. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.480 1 Peter 1, 3 through 5. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:56.480 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his great mercy, not according to your great church record, your spiritual record, your righteousness report. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:02.960 No, according to his great mercy, he has caused us, not us causing something else. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:24.320 He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God's power, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:27.039 Peter is speaking assurance, assurance, assurance. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:32.799 Point number three, we can walk in confidence because we have assurance in Jesus. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:40.080 For me, coming from a background that was incredibly performative when it came to spirituality. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:45.200 God loves you, but now you're on the treadmill, and you better run hard enough, or you're gonna get kicked off the bat, right? 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:50.879 God loves you, he lets you in the dance, but you better dance well enough to stay in the dance, or he'll kick you out of the dance. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:12:01.679 For me, learning about assurance was incredibly relieving, and it didn't excuse me into rebellion, it actually compelled me even more to want to know this Jesus. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:11.600 One of the resources I found that was so good for my heart was John Piper, because he speaks so well of the centrality, the goodness, and the sufficiency of Jesus. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.919 He gives five reasons for confidence. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:16.320 This is from author Pastor John Piper. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.200 Five reasons that we can have confidence. 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:26.480 Number one, you are not the decisive cause or sustaining power of your faith. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.600 You're a participant, but you're not the cause. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:39.759 Verse 3b, he has caused us to be born again. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:44.720 Verse 5, who by God's power are being guarded. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:50.159 Number two, our belief is through him. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:13:10.559 Later in 1 Peter 1, later in the chapter, verse 29 and 21, he was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:15.679 Verse 21a, who through him are believers in God. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:21.440 Our belief is through him, which means he causes and he keeps. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.600 We're participants, but we're not the cause and we're not the power. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.799 When I was 13 years old, I went to the Chilling Fields. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:31.200 There's this Baptist event in my town. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.720 Scared the hell out of me. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.519 Literally. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.720 Like it really did. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.480 I'm not, I'm not, I'm not cursing. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:38.639 It actually scared the hell out of me. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:48.320 I got under a tent at the end of the event, and they gave an invitation, and they said, Did you know if you die tonight on the way home, will you go to heaven or are you going to go to hell? 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.840 And I'm like, I really don't know. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.320 And I also heard Jesus really is enough for forgiveness of my sins, and I heard that God loves me. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:56.639 I heard those things while I was being scared the hell out of. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:00.879 And then he said, Hey, you can pray this prayer and give your life to Jesus. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:02.240 And so I really did. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.360 I gave my life. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:09.360 Now I don't know if that was the direct moment, but that was an expression of the faith that had been created in my heart. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:13.600 And so I bowed my head, I prayed the prayer, and he said, All you gotta do is pray this prayer. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:15.200 And I said, Okay, let's pray this prayer. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:17.279 I'm gonna pray this prayer, pray this prayer, give my life to Jesus. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:19.360 Okay, all you gotta do is raise your hand. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:22.799 I thought you said all I had to do was pray the prayer, and now I gotta. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.720 Come on. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.279 And so I'm I'm like, okay, like what what's going on here? 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.559 But but so I peeked. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:38.639 I looked up, and Jason, my buddy, had his hand up and said, okay, well, Jason has his hand up, I'll raise my hand, so I'll raise my hand. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:42.879 I just share that and say, maybe you made a decision. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:50.799 Maybe you prayed a prayer, maybe you walked an aisle, maybe you took communion the first time, and it meant a lot to you. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:15:00.320 Some inclination in your heart toward God, that you're gonna open your heart to Him, surrender your life, give your life to Jesus. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:05.200 In different denominations and different Christian faith backgrounds, it looks different, right? 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:10.000 Baptist, Methodist, Protestant, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, it can look different. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:13.200 It can look like walking an aisle, it can also look like receiving communion. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:21.360 But the inclination to want to pray the prayer, the inclination to want to take the communion. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:25.919 That is God causing faith. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:33.919 The prayer, the receiving, the walking the aisle, that's an expression of what God has already done in your heart. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:36.799 That's an expression that God has placed a desire in you. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:38.320 He is causing faith. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:41.279 And that's number three, faith comes by new birth. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.639 Verse 3 says, He has caused us to be born again. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.960 In Jesus, a new life begins in us. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:54.639 Our decision for Jesus is a sign of the new life that we did not cause, but he caused in us, and now we're expressing. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.720 By his great mercy, this has happened to us. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.840 Number four, God promises to keep us. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:11.679 Philippians 1, 6, and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.919 Number five, Jesus intercedes for us. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.840 Hebrews 7, 25. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:36.159 He is able to save to the uttermost, that means to the fullest, to the fullest extent possible, those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them, which means this on the Sunday that you're not caring about God and you're thinking about something else, you're doing it right now because it's the days I don't preach, that's what I do. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.679 I'm like, oh, this is what everybody's doing. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.720 They're thinking about other stuff. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:39.919 That's amazing. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:47.120 You don't care about God, you're numb, maybe you're rebellious, maybe you're escaping all sorts of things. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:50.960 In that moment, Jesus is interceding for you. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:58.159 In that moment, Jesus is interceding for you just as much in the moment that you're the most passionate, devout Christian Jesus follower possible. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.679 Isn't that amazing? 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:06.240 Doesn't that create like an inspiration in you to want to know this Jesus more that would love you like that? 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:11.759 It builds assurance that he is for you even when you're not for him. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:25.759 Verse 32, and he said to them, Go and tell that fox, behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day, I finished my course, the third day. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.759 He's speaking about his death on the cross and the resurrection. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.799 And he says, finish the word, finish. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:38.960 Point number four, we're secure with God, assured, because of Jesus' work for us, not our work for him. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:43.519 Our word for him is never finished, never perfect, never finished. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.000 Jesus' work for us, finished. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.599 And secure. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:54.880 When our sin is put upon Jesus on the cross and his righteousness given to us, so we're objectively his children. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:59.039 God's daughter, God's son, by his work for us, that is secure. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.559 It's finished. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:06.319 This week I was out in my yard just walking around looking at the new blooms, gardeners. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.759 Has anybody been looking walking around here? 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.880 A few gardeners in here. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.240 You're like, yeah, I know what you're talking about. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.799 Walk around and I look, I look at my little babies. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.160 My little babies are coming up. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.680 Here's a Linton Rose. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:20.480 Linton rose blooms at the beginning of Lent every spring, an amazing beginning to Lent. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:24.400 And then I'm walking around and I look at my little limelight hydrangeas. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.759 Look at this little baby. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.240 Oh. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:33.519 I mean, gardeners, you know exactly what non-gardeners are like, the stupid. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:40.319 But so a gardener, you're like, that is the cutest, most precious thing. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.799 My oak leaf hydrangea out by the street. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.000 Here's its little beginning. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.880 That is just the most darling little thing. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.599 And I just walk around and look at my babies. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.279 Oh, little babies. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:54.240 Now, two weeks ago, there was nothing. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.400 There were no blooms. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:57.839 Nothing. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.240 That was not there two weeks ago. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.319 And then something happened. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.400 The plant didn't move. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.799 The plant didn't cause something. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.680 Spring happened. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:16.799 Spring happened to the plant just as God happens to us. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.480 Which is why. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:25.200 And it's the only reason why we are not neurotic, anxious Christians when it comes to our relationship with God. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:29.279 There's plenty of other stuff to be anxious about, but not our relationship with God. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.200 We are secure, we are assured by his work for us. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.640 As spring happens to the plant, God happens to us. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:42.000 Because God comes to us, he fights, he lived, he died, and it's finished. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:45.279 So it's not a life of, God, do you love me? 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.480 Like, do you love me today? 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.759 How much do you love me today? 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.039 Do you like me today? 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.160 Do you delight in me today? 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.039 How are we doing today? 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.839 Am I okay today? 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.799 Do you accept me today? 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.440 No, no, no. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:56.720 Like you got enough to worry about. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.400 You don't have to worry about that one. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:01.279 Like, Jesus really is enough. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:06.400 And in his grace, we get to grow in that assurance that we have. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:11.759 That we are fully forgiven and fully righteous by Christ's finished work. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:15.440 And we get to learn to walk more confidently in the world. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.720 Let's pray together. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.599 Jesus, thank you that you hold us under your wing. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:31.920 Jesus, thank you that you stand between us and the darkness, between us and death, between us and our own penalty for our sin. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:36.160 And we are assured because of your love and work for us. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:45.039 For those of us struggling with assurance of faith, would you give these people the courage to come forward afterward and speak to a pastor? 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:58.799 We would love nothing more than those who do not know you this morning to come to know you, and those who do know you and struggling with assurance of faith to be more assured, would we rest all the more that Jesus, you are enough? 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:01.279 Jesus, you fully forgive us. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:03.920 Jesus, we are fully righteous in you. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.200 In Christ's name.