WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:01.120 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.280 --> 00:00:02.000 Merry Christmas. 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:03.040 We're glad you're here with us. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:05.280 Have you been watching your Christmas movies? 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:07.040 Are you watching your Christmas movies? 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:17.519 Last night I we watched, we were just kind of vegging out at our house, and we were watching we watched The Grinch, the animation one, and then we followed it with Santa Claus 2. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:20.320 The Tim Allen series, you know, one, two, and three. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:22.079 We like two particularly. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:23.679 Is anybody's favorite? 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:25.280 It's a Wonderful Life. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:29.039 Very traditional people, you know, very traditionalists. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:31.920 Remember, George Bailey is in despair. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.320 He's thinking about taking his own life. 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:37.359 He's immersed in his mistakes. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:40.399 He's wondering if his life has any meaning. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:48.240 And then the angel Clarence shows up and begins to show him how much his life actually has meant to the people around him. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:52.960 And so, in that, a great shift occurs in George's life, right? 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:58.399 We get that shift in the movie where he goes from sorrow to joy. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:03.759 And we get that end scene where he's family and all the people in town start coming in, right? 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:05.280 That shift has occurred. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:10.879 And finally, George concludes that he, in fact, is the richest man in town. 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:13.519 George shifts from sorrow to joy. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.799 Today we experience that same shift in our Advent weeks. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.200 We're in week three, Sunday number three. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:22.480 Advent week number one was about facing our darkness. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:25.760 Advent week number two was about repenting of that darkness. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:32.640 And now Advent week number three is about this shift from sorrow to joy. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:45.599 We move into joy in the midst of all of our imperfection and our mess because we're sort of like George Bailey in that we realize we are loved in our real, actual selves. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.840 We continue in Luke chapter 3. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:50.400 We're picking up where we left off last week. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.680 Luke is reporting John the Baptist message. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:59.840 John is this wild man preacher out in the wilderness, and he is preparing the way for Jesus. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:07.280 He's repenting, he's preaching a message of repentance of the heart, not just of religious duty. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.840 And so this is where John's message comes in. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:13.280 Here's how Luke writes it, Luke 3, 7 through 9. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:22.960 He said, so that's John, said, therefore, to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:25.759 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:29.039 And do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:33.439 For I tell you, God is able to from these stones raise up children for Abraham. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:46.960 In other words, he's saying, hey, don't think your heritage or your Jewish legacy or your religious resume is what's going to create a right relationship with God. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:51.840 He's saying there's something much more profound that God is doing. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:55.919 Verse 9, even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:00.719 Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:03.039 So John calls his audience a root of vipers. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:06.159 He's calling them towards fruits worthy of repentance. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:08.080 These words are filled with urgency. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:13.039 These words can feel a bit daunting when you read them or you hear them. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:19.439 But as we dig in and we put it in the context of where John is taking us, where is John pointing? 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:23.520 Well, everything John is doing is taking us and pointing us to Jesus. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:32.319 In that context, what we find is that this message is much more constructive and comforting than it is condemning. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:41.520 And point number one is this our fruit as a Christian is always inside of and empowered by God's grace. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:44.479 Fruits worthy of repentance. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:50.879 Those are fruits as a response of God's grace and as a response of our repentance, right? 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:55.520 Every time we see the word fruit, right away, we are having a message sent to us. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.199 Fruit is always a response to a root. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.159 Listen to how 1 John writes this. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:10.560 1 John 5.3, for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:18.079 Okay, so if we're going to love God, there's this alignment of how we live, our hearts, and our actions toward how God wants us to live. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.319 And 1 John 5.3 is saying, hey, that's the love of God. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.120 Love of God is paired with action. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:29.199 But we don't get 1 John 5.3 until we have read through 1 John 4.19. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.079 We love because he first loved us. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.800 Okay, so the only way we love him is because he loved us. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:40.480 Because he loved us, we can love him, and out of our love for him begins a life that wants to honor him. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:45.920 So that life that wants to honor him, that fruit, is still rooted back in his love for us. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:48.800 Now back to Luke 3.10. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:51.759 The crowds asked him, What then shall we do? 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.680 Okay, what do we do? 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:54.959 What should our life be like? 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:03.279 Point number two is this our life of repentance is sorrow for mistakes and a concern for faithful action. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:10.079 So this question, what should we do, is actually throughout Luke's writings in the book of Luke and also in the book of Acts. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:18.000 And it reflects a repentant heart's new desire, a new concern that is birthed inside of us. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.839 That is our life aligned with God's purposes. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:30.879 See, for Luke, repentance is a feeling, sorrow for our mistakes, and it's paired with concrete acts of change. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.560 So John the Baptist answers the question: what should we do? 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.439 John the Baptist answers in verses 11 through 14. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:44.000 Here's what he says He says, To the crowds, he says, share your clothing and food, which is the message of generosity. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:49.680 To the tax collectors, he says, collect taxes justly, a message of justice. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:55.839 To the soldiers, he says, be content without extortion, a message of contentment. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:58.560 So we go, oh, that's amazing. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:05:59.120 Right? 00:05:59.279 --> 00:05:59.839 That's amazing. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:03.199 A life of generosity and justice and contentment. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.439 Like who does all of us would be like, yeah, that's what I want. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:07.680 I would love a life of generosity, justice, and contentment. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:08.959 That sounds like an amazing life. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:10.160 That's wonderful. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:14.240 My problem with this is me. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:15.199 Right? 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:21.600 My problem is I am not always generous or just or content. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.079 So how do you change? 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:29.600 How do you grow in godliness when you're not always the thing you've been asked to be? 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.439 Verses 15 through 18. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:43.759 As the people were in expectation, all were questioning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:49.519 The strap of whose sandals I'm not worthy to untie, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:58.720 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:04.079 So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:16.879 Verse 18, point number three, the good news of and life with Jesus is for all people, poor and rich, powerless and powerful. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:25.519 The generalization of tax collectors and soldiers and all the other gospels is these are hard-hearted, greedy people. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:28.720 But Luke consistently is different. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:32.959 Luke consistently writes differently about tax collectors and soldiers. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.439 He shows them responding to the gospel. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:43.279 So Luke is saying the gospel's for all of us, poor and rich, powerless and powerful. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:08:05.920 Which means just because you have money or influence or some sort of status or some sort of power, or your boss does, or your neighbor does, or your cousin does, your dad does, it doesn't mean their hearts do not also become weary and burdened and guilty and ashamed and need Jesus. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.079 Now back to verse 17. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:15.839 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.759 But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:29.360 This is a fear-inducing verse for sure, verse 17, and yet there's joy in it because it's a promise that he is gathering the wheat into his barn. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:34.480 And if you're a Christian, you've surrendered to Christ, and you're in Christ, you are the wheat. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:47.120 The promise here is that Jesus came to took the threshing and the unquenchable fire, so we might become the stalks of wheat that bear fruit. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:52.480 By his grace, we grow in this, we bear fruit, and we grow in godliness. 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:58.480 This week I saw Time magazine's photos of 2024. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:02.080 This is an image in Taiwan back in April. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:05.039 A 7.4 earthquake hit Taiwan. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:06.240 This was an image taken. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:09.039 Rescue workers are preparing to enter the falling building. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:13.679 Now, if you're in that building, maybe you're strong enough or smart enough to get out of that building. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:18.399 But nobody's strong enough or smart enough to fix the building by themselves. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:23.519 Not one person can lift that building or even tear it down and rebuild it. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.279 At some point, outside help is needed. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:32.000 So they bring in a crane and a crew and probably more cranes and more crews. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:37.039 It doesn't matter how smart or strong they are, or we are. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.679 Sometimes we just need outside help. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:48.480 Most likely you have some building falling over in your life or in your heart. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.960 Something you can't control. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:54.639 Something that's just leaning over a bit more than you want it to. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.279 And you just wish the thing would straighten back out. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.919 You can't seem to get over it, but you also can't let go of it. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.759 You're stuck. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:05.600 And what if? 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:16.559 What if the gospel is true, which says there's a one-way love to you in Jesus, and that God actually loves you in your exact place of helplessness. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:21.840 There's a lot of life where smart and strong work. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.000 And we're pretty good at that. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:28.720 But there's some things we just simply need outside help. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:35.200 And the pain isn't forgotten when you receive love in your exact place of helplessness. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:42.639 The difficulty doesn't go away, the disappointment doesn't disappear, but somehow something changes. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:45.919 Somehow you're not stuck anymore. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:54.399 Fleming Rutledge reminds us how repentance relates to us growing, how we get unstuck. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:11:01.200 If I am told over and over to repent, to change, to orient my life to God, nothing will ever happen. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:07.919 I will cling to the Gucci luggage, not that I could afford it, and the earthly status symbols more desperately than ever. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:11.360 I don't need to hear exhortations to repent. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:16.879 I need power from outside myself to make me different. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:29.840 A power from outside is coming, a power that is able to make a new creation out of people like us, stones like us, people who have no capacity of ourselves to save ourselves. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.879 The power that is coming is not our power. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:40.080 Not the power of our deeds or our inner strength or our spiritual discipline or our faith or even our repentance. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:47.600 It is God's power that gives good deeds and inner strength and spiritual discipline and faith and repentance. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.759 Is your Christian faith in your own Christian faith? 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:55.679 Or is your Christian faith in Jesus? 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.679 Paul, toward the end of his life, he'd been a Christian for a while when he writes Romans. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:03.759 And he writes this passage in Romans 7. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.840 You've probably heard it before. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:10.399 It feels like a diagnosis of what it feels like to be a Christian. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:11.919 We've been a Christian a while. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.519 See if this feels like you. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:17.600 This is the message translation of Romans 7, 17 through 25. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.000 But I need something more. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:28.799 For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.919 I realize that I don't have what it takes. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:35.200 I can will it, but I can't do it. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.080 I decide to do good, but I don't really do it. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.039 I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:45.600 My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:50.960 Something has gone wrong deeply within me and gets the better of me every time. 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:53.679 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.120 The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:04.159 I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:10.879 Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.320 I've tried everything, and nothing helps. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.279 I'm at the end of my rope. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:20.399 Is there no one who can do anything for me? 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.799 Isn't that the real question? 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:28.799 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:41.360 He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions, where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:50.080 And here's the point, point number four, our transforming life is a fruit, not a cause. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:53.440 It's a fruit of resting and walking with Jesus. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:14:03.600 You became a Christian, you've been a Christian for a month or five years or 50 years, but you haven't changed as much as you thought. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:12.480 Or you changed a lot, like really quick, and then you discover this whole other part of yourself is not as good as you thought it was. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.759 Or you're worn out trying. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:20.639 Or you're pretty good, but man, you became really judgmental along the way or self-righteous. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:26.799 Church, we do not pursue a changed life. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:35.200 What we pursue is greater and greater gaze on Christ who forgives and heals and declares us righteous. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:45.039 See, we live to rest in and walk with Jesus, and thus the fruit of that is a changed life. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:48.000 Well, what does that mean for you? 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:58.799 Well, it means that you can have a life of rooting the core of who you are, your inner self, in a stable, secure love that's more profound than this world. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:03.279 And it is one way toward you in your helplessness. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:08.559 For all the forgiveness you need, all the righteousness you need, and all the identity you need. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:15.840 There's a story in the Old Testament where King Manasseh, he has led Judah into idolatry. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.840 Then his son, Amon, becomes king. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.799 Two years after becoming king, Amon gets assassinated. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:26.320 So then the kingship goes to his son, Josiah, who's eight years old. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.840 Eight-year-old king. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.840 Josiah's king for about eight years. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.799 He turns 16. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.159 He's in the temple one day. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:37.919 He finds a scroll of the law, how these people should be living. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:45.120 And these people have been living in rebellion for years, not aligned to the ways and the purposes of God. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:48.639 Now, during that time, Zephaniah is a prophet. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.320 He's been speaking to the people. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:57.519 So their lives are amass, Jerusalem's about to fall, and this prophet first declares judgment over these people. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:02.480 And he declares judgment as to declare a word of grace. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.799 And that's the climax of the book. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:08.159 The reason we rejoice today is rejoicing Sunday. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:11.039 Zephaniah 3, 16 and 17. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.960 This is the new living translation. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:20.080 On that day, the new the announcement to Jerusalem will be cheer up, Zion, don't be afraid. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.639 For the Lord your God is living among you. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:24.240 He is a mighty Savior. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.639 He will take delight in you with gladness. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:30.000 With his love, he will calm all your fears. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:34.399 He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:44.320 Our last point is this our sin and fears are quieted by God's loving regard to us in our helplessness. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.519 The ESV takes this idea, verse 17, changes the words around a bit. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:56.720 And the New Living Translation, Calm Your Fears, is translated, He will quiet you by His love. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:05.680 Does anybody else have a part of themselves that needs to be quieted or loved? 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.599 One of the coming of age classic movies. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:15.039 1999, Ten Things I Hate About You. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.799 Does anybody love that movie? 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.240 It's great. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:24.240 Kat is the smart, independent high school girl. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:30.079 And one boy gets like the rebel boy in the school to pretend like he likes Kat. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:36.720 And then in the course of that, Kat starts to like that boy, and sure enough, that boy actually does begin to like Kat. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.640 And then, of course, you can figure out what would happen. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:50.720 Kat figures out the initial motive of the boy, but now the boy really does like her, and she likes him, but she's hurt, and she's cold, and she's resistant, she's turned off. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:53.440 So, what does he do to win her over? 00:17:54.960 --> 00:18:00.000 How does anyone turn a cold, resistant heart? 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.359 So we get this scene near the end of the movie. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.960 It's about two minutes long. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:19.440 You're just too good to be true. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.599 And take my out of you. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:26.480 You do not have a too. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.880 I wanna hold it so much. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:43.359 I don't want to get to the end. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.599 By the way, does that look like your high school? 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:10.079 I mean, it's very very similar to Marietta High School. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.519 It's very similar. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.279 But did you hear those lyrics? 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.240 He's wooing her. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:19.680 He's pouring love over her one way as she is resistant to him. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.240 Right? 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.440 I love you, baby. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.200 Let me love you. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.279 Like this is this is the message of Christ. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:25.920 I love you. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.720 Let me love you. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.200 I love you. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.400 Let me love you. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.799 Now listen again to Zephaniah 3. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.160 Listen to this passage again. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.240 Cheer up, Zion. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.400 Don't be afraid. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:39.039 For the Lord your God is living among you. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.880 He is a mighty Savior. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.839 He will take delight in you with gladness. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.279 With his love, he will calm all your fears. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:51.039 And he will rejoice over you with joyful song. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:53.200 What if it's true? 00:20:53.440 --> 00:21:01.680 What if in the place of your helplessness, your sin, your mess-ups, your failure, that building that's tipping over? 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.880 What if you're actually loved there? 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:09.359 And that it's not based on your merits, based on Christ's work for you? 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:12.720 What if all the forgiveness you ever needed is in Jesus? 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:16.240 And what if all the righteousness you could ever need is in Jesus? 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:24.799 And what if all the identity that we're looking for all over the place we could actually have secure identities, God's daughters and God's sons. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.640 Because of Jesus' love for us and our helplessness. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.720 Well, the Heavenly Father delights and rejoices over you. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:35.200 And for that, we have rejoicing Sunday. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:43.440 Perhaps you're here and you have a question about something, something about that, or some other spiritual question, and I'll be down front afterward in love to speak with you. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.559 Let's pray together. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:53.359 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you loved us even while we did not love you, and you love us now, even while at times we do not love you. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.799 And we thank you that your love is one way and sufficient. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.359 It is unconditioned. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.200 And that we know it in Jesus objectively in history on the cross. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:13.759 As we move toward Christmas, we celebrate that you come into our mess to pursue us in our sin and pursue us in our chaos. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:17.519 God, would we trust you even more? 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.559 Would we love you? 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.799 And would our lives on you. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:29.839 We pray that we gaze all the more on Jesus and our lives to be a fruit of such delight. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.279 In Christ's name we pray. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:31.839 Amen.