WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:20.399 Pray together. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:26.640 Lord, we just I just want to echo what Joyce said that we were created by by God for community. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:36.240 You are a God that dwells in the community of the Trinity, and so that we're not to be a lone ranger just kind of slogging through, becoming more jaded, more cynical with each passing day. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:40.399 And so, Holy Spirit, lead us into the truth today, illuminate the scriptures. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:46.560 Otherwise, we're gonna come and drink some free coffee and leave, and we're gonna miss the reason we're breathing today. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:47.759 And we don't want to miss that. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:56.079 So awaken us to the wonder that is in the gospel, the reality of God, and the greatness of his plan for the entire universe. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.520 And that includes us. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:03.439 We get to be swept up into this narrative that you're this story that you're telling that you're not done telling. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:08.319 So nourish the faith of the believer and pierce the heart of the unbeliever, Holy Spirit. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:10.079 This is what we ask you to do today. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.000 And we ask it in Jesus' name. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.000 And everyone said, Amen. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:14.400 Amen. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.519 If you got a Bible, I invite you to take it open up to 1 John chapter 4. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:18.719 First John chapter 4. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:22.560 Now, if you're busy today for the first time or you came with a friend, you're like, whoa, what is this? 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:23.200 What's going on? 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:24.239 Let me explain to you. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.280 Advent is the four Sundays that lead up to Christmas. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:28.799 And each Sunday has a theme. 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:30.640 And it's hope and then peace. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:32.319 And then last week we talked about joy. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:33.920 And today we're going to talk about love. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:38.799 And I want to talk about actually, here's what I want to talk about: how to be motivated by the love of God. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.799 How to be motivated by the love of God because I don't think we're sufficiently motivated. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:54.560 Like when I read in the Bible, Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, uh, he says the love of God compels us because we're convinced that Christ died for all, and therefore so that all may live in him. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:58.799 And so he's compelled, this acts upon him with this sufficient force. 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:00.480 And I think we've kind of lost that. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:04.239 So I'm going to read from 1 John chapter 4, starting in verse 10. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.319 And here's the task I have this morning. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:07.439 I want you to pray for me. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:14.960 The task we're talking about, the love of God, is to not let it kind of erode into the sentimental soupiness that lacks theological rigor. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:23.919 Uh, but but also the other side of the coin is to not let it become some cold theological logic void of warm affection and accessibility. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:25.599 And so I want to strike that balance. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:29.360 Now, let me just say what what what what what uh what I need to say. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:31.759 Uh I'm gonna talk about this. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:35.280 Uh, and there's an element of God's love that we don't talk about enough in the church. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:36.240 I'm gonna talk about that. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.800 And it may rub you the wrong way, and that's okay. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:39.680 Don't spit the bit. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:40.719 Stay with me, okay? 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.000 I want you to see it. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:48.159 Uh, because there's other uh attributes of God that make the love of God filled with wonder. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:53.039 And the reason the love of God doesn't motivate, like you remember back in the 70s, you would say somebody, hey man, God loves you. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:54.240 Oh man, thanks, bro. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:55.759 Now you say, Hey, God loves you. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:57.759 Uh yeah, tell me something I don't know. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:02.319 Uh it's lost its capacity to act upon us with compression. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:03.919 And I want us to get back to that today. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:05.520 First John chapter 4. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:07.759 I'll just read, start reading verse 10. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:09.520 He says, This, and this is love. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:15.360 Not that we've loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:20.000 Beloved, if God so loved us, we we also ought to love one another. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:21.120 Let me read it again. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:21.759 Just two verses. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:22.960 That's all you're getting today. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:25.199 Maybe beat the Methodist to all the good restaurants. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:25.680 Amen. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.240 Now you're paying attention. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:29.759 Uh let me say it again. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:30.960 Starting in verse 10. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:32.159 In this is love. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:39.199 Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:45.199 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:48.319 Uh, to be moved by the love of God, there's three things you got to do. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.639 And the first one is simply this start in the right place. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:52.639 Start in the right place. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:57.039 Uh, the love of God has lost its capacity because we start in the wrong place. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:06.240 I would go so far as to say that most of the world's religions start in the wrong place because they tell you to love God, and then they tell you the manner in which you love God. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:11.680 You need to do a lot of good, make a lot of sacrifices and do a lot of good deeds. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:16.720 And basically the manner in which you love God will eventually be measured. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.360 And if it's enough, and you can never know in this lifetime. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:20.560 That's what religion does to you. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:21.360 You can never know. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:25.439 So you're always striving, doing, trying, sweating. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:34.000 Uh uh, it's gonna be measured, and if it's enough, then you'll be allowed into paradise or heaven or one of the world religions, has a place called Nirvana. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:37.600 By the way, Nirvana was a great band in the early 90s, okay? 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:44.399 The nirvana was so good, and I'm not being facetious, Dave Grohl, who right now is the frontman for the Foo Fighters. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:48.560 Now, these are people who can actually play instruments and don't use auto-tune, okay? 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:53.040 How good does your band have to be if Dave Grohl could only be the drummer? 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:54.959 Kurt Cobain was a lead singer. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:56.000 That's nirvana. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:02.319 This other thing is just a myth, but it's this kind of the ultimate state when you're reincarnated multiple times and you get there. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:03.920 Well, this is what religion does. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:09.680 It starts in the wrong place and says, hey, do your best to love God and we'll give you an update on how you're doing. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:13.120 And so in the Bible says this in this is love. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:14.480 Here's why this is the wrong place. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:16.720 Just listen to actually what the Bible says. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:17.759 In this is love. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:21.839 Not that we have loved God, not that we have loved God. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:27.600 So I want to say to you this morning, stop trying to do what the Bible says you're incapable of doing, because that isn't love. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.040 Humanity attempting to love God is the essence of religion. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:37.600 It's this worked, works-based, undeterminable slog through religious mud up to your neck. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:38.720 What do I mean? 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:39.759 The right place. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:56.480 It's not enough to say that uh not that we have loved God, but you have to go all the way and say what the Bible actually says: that you and I are born incapable of loving God, uh, not because you're really bad, but because you're born really dead. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:01.519 Jesus didn't come to make bad people good people, more moral people. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:10.240 Uh the person in your neighborhood who's kind of like, I don't know why all the women in this neighborhood get together on Thursday nights and and drink wine. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.639 Why don't they care about things? 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:13.680 You don't care about that. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:15.839 You're really bothered because they don't invite you. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:16.240 Okay? 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.480 That's what's really got you upset. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.040 And so it's not about that. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:23.360 It's not about, oh man, I'm trying to love God. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:24.800 Don't these people all love God? 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:25.839 They're wicked sinners. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:26.879 God, I'm praying for them. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:27.519 No, no. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:32.240 Well, it's not enough to say, oh, hey, uh, not that we've loved God. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.839 You got to go all the way and say, okay, why can't we love God? 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.240 Because we are born by nature, all of us incapable of loving God because you're born spiritually dead. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:42.720 Okay? 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.759 You're not born, we're not all God's children, okay? 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:47.279 But well, I know we're all God's children. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.240 No, we're all God's creation, but we're not all God's children. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:54.399 Allow me to demonstrate, are you buying my kids presents this year for Christmas? 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:56.879 No, and the reason you're not is they're not your kids. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.079 This is how ignorant I am. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.240 I didn't know that after your kids get married, you still got to buy them Christmas presents. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:09.040 My 25-year-old got married back in the summer, and she sends her listing to her mama, like, well, what are you buying for her for? 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.800 She said, Well, she's still our daughter. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:13.839 Hey, what about for better, for worse, richer for poor? 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.639 How about they get a little bit of this poor part of this deal? 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:21.040 And then call back a couple days later, oh, and here's the things that Daniel likes. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:24.959 What? 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:30.240 So instead of getting less responsibility, I now have more responsibility. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:33.439 Don't think I won't be putting a stink on him when he shows up. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:34.000 Mm-hmm. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:35.279 Here you are, uh-huh. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:36.000 Yeah. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.519 All right, now good. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.519 See, it's not that the Bible says this is love, not that we loved God. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:56.560 So I, as your pastor, I'm saying to you that for people who don't know God, the worst thing you can do is just say, I'm gonna start loving God because you will wear yourself out and you'll look around and realize, you know what, there's not a lot of people that are taking notice of my efforts to love God. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:58.399 The Bible comes along. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:07:59.279 Why is this? 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:00.160 Why is this? 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:04.480 Because not because you're you're you're bad, you're dead, spiritually incapable. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:19.120 Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 to 3 says, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins of which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is not at work, and the sons of disobedience, among whom we all lived once. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:19.759 Hello. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:27.439 Among whom we all lived once in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:30.160 Remember that when you live that way, say amen. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:35.120 You remember that when you'd go to the club and you just pick up any willing person in there? 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:36.240 Remember that? 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:37.120 Say amen. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:38.639 Uh-oh. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:41.200 Do you see that? 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:42.639 That wasn't amen. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:46.879 That was like a I don't go to the club. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.679 Sure, sure. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.679 Who we all once live. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:52.399 The Bible indicts every one of us, okay? 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.600 To be the damnable wretches that we by nature are. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.879 Like I was talking to a pastor friend of mine this week, and he said, What are you talking about? 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.840 This Sunday, I said, Well, we do the themes of Advent, talking about love. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:06.799 And I said, To talk about love, uh, you to really understand the love of God, you gotta talk about some other parts of God. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:07.759 And he said, like what? 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:09.279 I said, like the wrath of God. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.840 He goes, Dang, bro, it's Advent. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.480 And I said, Dang, bro, it's the Bible. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:23.600 He says, We all once lived in the passings of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:27.039 Now, when I say wrath, that's not a word we use a lot in the culture today. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:31.600 Wrath is this it's the anger, it's anger demonstrated in punishment. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.879 Wrath is anger demonstrated in punishment. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:40.720 This is the part of the service where you're tempted to pull away from me, but let me just ask you to stay here and just listen. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:51.120 Uh uh So, what what that means is that when I say wrath is anger demonstrated in punishment, and the Bible says that we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:56.480 What this means is that we all by nature deserve for God to punish us in righteous anger. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:03.279 This beloved is where we have to start if you want to rightfully understand the love of God and the wonder contained within. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:09.279 I always go as far as to say this without the wrath of God, without God's wrath, you have problems, okay? 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:11.519 And let me just tick off four of them for you this morning. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:17.039 Again, without a right understanding of the wrath of God, you have four problems. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:20.080 Number one, you have a love of God that's void of wonder. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:23.279 You have a love of God that's void of wonder. 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:25.519 You're like, I I'm not sure what that means. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:30.080 Because we neglect what we deserve, we never fully appreciate what we have. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.759 Let me say it again. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:33.679 We neglect what we deserve. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:38.000 We by nature are objects of wrath, like the rest of humanity. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:41.840 We neglect what we deserve, and so we never fully appreciate what we have. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:48.000 Parents on Christmas morning, do you ever watch your kids' response and think, I think I deserve a bigger response than this? 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:50.320 Don't answer that. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:56.960 Yes, yes, because they could never give anything like listen, I drove to seven targets to find that goofy thing. 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:58.159 You better be over the moon. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:01.039 And they're like, eh, what else you got? 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.399 Yeah. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.879 A love void of wonder. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:09.120 Secondly, an evangelism fueled by persuasion instead of conviction. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.360 An evangelism that's fueled by persuasion instead of conviction. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:17.519 We don't talk about this in the church anymore, which is why there's that lack of zeal in evangelism. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:20.639 I'm talking to someone not long ago, and the guy goes, Well, you know, I grew up in church. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.279 I said, You did. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.240 Tell them what that was like. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:25.519 Well, I mean, I know God uh hates to sin, loves the sinner. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:28.720 And I said, God's angry with the sinner every day. 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:34.000 He loves the sinner, but he loves the sinner not in a way that he loves his own children. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:35.679 He goes, I don't know about that, man. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:39.039 I grew up in church, and I ask him the question I ask you, I said, Hey, it's Christmas, right? 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.200 Yeah, are you gonna buy my kids presents? 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.440 No, because they're not your kids. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:49.200 There's covenant love, and then there's this love for this general love for the world that John 3.16 talks about. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:53.440 And people see that on the side of the football game and think, I'm okay, you're not okay. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.000 And he's like, Oh, what do you mean I'm not okay? 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:02.559 I said, I just want to tell you, this is love that God is angry with you, and he will eventually punish you for your sins. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:07.279 Because you don't have faith in what Jesus did on the cross, you have faith in yourself. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:12.799 So we started this conversation, you were kind of cocky and arrogant, and kind of now you're like, won't won't. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:21.039 He said, Well, see, unbiblical things that we say to lost people gives them a confidence that the Bible never does. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:27.840 And when you just find the courage to say what the Bible actually says, that God's not happy with you, read Psalm 5, verses 4 to 6. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:29.919 God says, I'm angry with the wicked every day. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:32.960 I hate all workers of iniquity. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:35.919 All of a sudden it's a different conversation. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:38.080 What we say to people is not helpful. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.279 We say to people, oh, God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.159 This is why most people are comfortable in their lostness. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.279 Have you noticed that? 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:48.000 No one's bothered by not being a Christian anymore. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:53.759 It's like, hey, bro, because well-meaning people have said, hey, God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:58.240 And what happens is, well, I got a plan, and thank you that God has a plan. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:02.480 I'm gonna run my plan, and then if this doesn't work, then I'll be open to that. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:08.000 And this is what I mean when I say an evangelism that's fueled by persuasion instead of conviction. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:14.559 Here's the third thing you have without without the wrath of God, you have a love of God that inspires no worship. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:17.679 You have a love of God that inspires no worship. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:27.440 Ladies, if you're here today, high school students, college students, single adults, if you're looking for a man that's gonna be marriage material, just watch him when we worship and see what he's like. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:30.240 Do not marry a man that does not sing in church. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.320 You will be bored the rest of your life. 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:35.360 You will have to talk him in to come into church, okay? 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.960 And so when I say without the wrath of God, you lose this love of God. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:42.480 You don't have a love of God that inspires worship because what is there to be thankful for? 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.320 It's just kind of like, yeah, God loves me. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.840 Of course, God loves me, okay? 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:51.120 I'm a Republican, I watch Fox News, I'm conservative, of course he loves me. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:54.000 It's math, but it's never music. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.000 Now, some of you know this and some of you don't. 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:59.200 Before I became the pastor here, I traveled and preached all over the country. 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:04.559 And I remember I was doing an event for a church, and I kind of had the feeling when we were talking on the phone, it was kind of horty-torty. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:09.519 And then they said, uh, and now on Sunday, we are a very dignified church, and you need to wear a suit. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.919 And I said back on the phone, I wear a suit on two occasions, to Mary and to bury. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.799 That's about it. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:24.080 And they said, Well, sir, we are on TV, and the only you need to wear a suit, you need to make sure your shoes are shine, trim your fingernails, and I was like, Oh my gosh, please, Jesus, come back. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.279 But he didn't. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:33.759 And so I took a suit, I have a suit, uh, and and and they had the big kingdom chairs up on the stage, big wooden thrones, something out of the Game of Thrones. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.519 I thought a dragon was gonna fly by. 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:39.200 And we're sitting there, and they were like, Don't cross your legs, don't show the bottom of your feet. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:41.519 I'm like, I've been on TV before, just knock it off. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:44.879 And I know I'm the only one that does this, but I was kind of judgy. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:50.320 I was kind of looking around, like they had a big organ with pipes going through the ceiling, and I just like, how much did that thing cost? 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:53.600 Okay, you could have sold that, and the money could have been given to the poor. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.720 By the way, Judas talk like that, not Peter. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:00.559 But I know you never do, you never walk in somewhere and judge somebody. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:04.879 You never walk in somebody's house and kind of go, they mean a deal with the devil to get this nice crib. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:10.559 I'm sitting up there getting ready to preach to this church, and I'm gonna help them, and I'm just like, huh. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.639 And then the choir comes out and they got robes on. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.320 I'm like, look, it's the KKK. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.840 Okay, here we go. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.440 Yes. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.519 I know you're not that judgmental. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:22.639 This is just me a long time ago, but I've gotten better. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:27.440 And I'm just sitting there and they and I I am so judgy. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.799 That's what the kids say nowadays. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:30.799 We don't say judgmental day, we say judgy. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:32.240 I say shut up. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:39.519 Anyway, I'm looking at the choir over my shoulder, and in my head, I thought, this, what's the median age of these people? 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.639 110? 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:43.360 Are they gonna be able to like make noise? 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:45.759 And I was just like, why? 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.360 There was no young people in there. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:50.480 And I was just like, oh, okay, this will be quiet. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:56.960 And we're sitting there, and the organ lady started playing, and they play. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:07.600 And then she started going crazy and like and then she downshifted. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:12.320 It sounded like somebody just scored a goal at a hockey game. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:25.200 I was, I looked over and she was giving it this, and the choir was standing there with their little folders, and they came in full voice off the top rope, singing this old hymn from the church. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:42.559 Oh, worship the king, all glory us above, and gratefully sing of his wonderful love, our shield and defender, the ancient of days, pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise. 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.840 And I'm over here, standing here, Mr. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:50.000 Judgy, and I just looked over my shoulder and burst into tears. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.600 I was just like, it was so awe-inspiring. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.840 I turned, I got in trouble, I turned my back on the crowd and just looked at them. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.639 And the TV people are going crazy, they're waving in the back. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.919 And I was just like, like, are y'all drinking this in? 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:07.440 And then they rounded into the second verse and they honked it off. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:22.000 They said, Oh, tell of his might, oh, sing of his grace, whose robe is the light and canopy space, his chariots of wrath, the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is his path on the wings of the storm. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:39.599 And here's what I was doing: I wasn't watching them sing, I was watching a bunch of blue-haired people who knew things about God that I didn't understand, who had buried their kids and buried their husband, and would go every day to the nursing home to talk to their wife who doesn't remember them anymore. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:44.640 And I was just like, Oh Jesus, please don't send me to hell. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.079 I'll do better. 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:48.720 They sang the third verse. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:54.640 They got to the end, they sang the last verse that says this, Frail children of dust, and feeble is frail. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.480 In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:01.839 Thy mercy's how tender, how firm to the end. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:05.839 Our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:13.920 And then grandma over there put it down and low and racked the pipes off and landed the plane. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.680 And all you could hear was me going. 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.400 The guy got up to make announcements, and he said, And our guest speaker today is Neil McLendon. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:25.200 And once he gathers himself, he's gonna come and preach. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:27.920 It's like, yeah, pretty much. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:36.559 But see, here's the thing: without the wrath of God, you have no frame of reference for the wonder that is the love of God. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.720 And you have a love of God that inspires no worship in you. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.599 Here's the last thing you have without without God's wrath. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:49.920 You have no need for the manger and no explanation for the cross, no need for the manger. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.359 This is what the Bible says. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.960 If you look up, we start in verse 10. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.400 If you just look up in verse 9, one verse up, it just says this. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:00.400 It says, And anyone who does not love God does not know God because God is love. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:08.079 And this is the love of God was made manifest among us that God sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:10.160 You don't need the manger. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:22.480 If there's no fixed disposition in God towards people that makes you by nature his enemy, then why does God have to leave the sanctity of heaven and come to the depravity of earth? 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:25.920 You have no explanation for the manger. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.759 Have a very secular Christmas. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.599 Just be who you really are. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:36.480 And say to your kids, this is where mom and dad make up for the fact that we abandon you to go out with our friends. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:41.119 Without the wrath of God, you have no need for the manger. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:44.480 And you really have no explanation for the cross. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:47.440 It's just what's what's the point? 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.960 But see, look at me. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:51.920 That sounds terrible, but that's great news. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:57.359 Because when you start at the right place, then secondly, this is how the love of God motivates you. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.400 You start at the right place. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.240 Secondly, you see the right things. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:05.759 He goes on to say, he says, Hey, in this is love that God, excuse me, in this is love. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:10.640 Not that we've loved God, but that he, here's the part you need to see that he loved us. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:13.200 And this is love, not that you've loved God. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.640 Get over yourself. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:18.480 You by nature are spiritually dead, you can't do anything. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:27.519 But he loved us, and he sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.480 Propitiation is a big word, it means to appease. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.920 Remember, you talked about the wrath of God being on us. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.559 I'm talking to the guy who's kind of like, Yeah, I grew up in the church. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.480 Oh my God, hates a sin, beloves a sinner. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:43.440 I said, God is angry with you every day, my man, and you are storing up wrath. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.119 Oh, I ain't down with that. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.559 I don't care what you're down with. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:53.039 I say, you know, the Bible says in John 3, I know John 3.16, no, not John 3.16, 20 verses later, John 3.36. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:56.160 Whoever does not believe the wrath of God remains on him. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:59.599 How does it remain on you if it's not on you in the first place? 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:05.920 See, you went to church and consumed youth group up on your lust to be Captain Cool. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:15.200 And now you're a 20-something out here on Tinder, looking to hook up and saying things about God and the world that are not even remotely close to being true. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:20.160 Matter of fact, if I believed in the God you you believe in, I would never go to church. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:24.160 I wouldn't worship that God, He doesn't deserve anything. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.240 Ah, be careful, man. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.119 He might get you. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:32.799 I think the God I'm talking about has a higher probability of getting you than the God you're talking about getting me. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:34.880 Oh. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:46.400 But when you start in the right place and you see the right things and you understand, oh, I don't have to live in fear because the wrath of God, you gotta talk about the wrath of God because it makes the cross glorious. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.400 In the cross, the wrath of God. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:51.119 Remember, anger demonstrated in punishment. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.759 In the cross, the wrath of God is satisfied. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:59.759 He loved us and he demonstrated his love for us, not for righteous people who occasionally gossip. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.480 Or good people who have bad days here and there. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:07.920 But here's who Christ came and died for: for weak, ungodly sinners. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:12.720 So if you're here this morning, this is the greatest thing you'll ever hear. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:16.960 If you're weak, if you're like, ah, I try to stop doing that, but I just keep going back. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:21.759 If you're ungodly, if you're like, oh man, can anybody smell my breath? 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.799 It's not good. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:25.119 Last night followed me in today. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.039 Yes. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.799 Any sinners. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:30.640 Weak, ungodly sinners. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:34.079 So if you're here today and you're a real sinner, this is great news. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.559 Why? 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:41.119 Because the Bible says this in Romans chapter 5, verse 6 for while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:46.880 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person, one might dare even to die. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:52.559 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:59.920 Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God? 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.599 See, it's all in the Bible. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:03.359 We just skip over it. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:12.240 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:19.119 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now have received reconciliation. 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:23.759 If you want to grow in your love for God, think about his love for you. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.440 Let me say it again. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:30.079 If you want to grow in your love for God, and this is deep, you want to be motivated by it. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:33.279 You never want to outgrow the fact that God loves you. 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:36.720 You want to think about his love for you because this is the fuel. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:41.200 The fuel for loving God is a right understanding of his love for you. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:51.440 And part of that is understanding that you and I, by nature, everyone in this room, everyone in this world was born by nature, an object of wrath. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:54.799 You have a target on you and you deserve it. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:00.240 Merry Christmas! Aren't you glad you shaved your legs for this? 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.960 You should be. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:09.039 Because if you deserve that, look at me, and you get the love of God. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.200 How do you ever get over that? 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:16.480 How do you ever, ever, ever get over that? 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:19.279 Guy named Dan Dehan wrote a book called The God That You Could Know. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:25.839 And in the book, he says the highest motive in heaven and earth for obedience is love resulting from gratitude. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:41.519 It's the sinful woman in Luke 7, who just heard Jesus teach at the temple and she finds out where he is and she goes home and gets her little bought, her little box of tootie fruity Vaseline and crashes the party and starts just slathering on his feet behind him, and he never looks around. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:47.039 And these religious weasels are all thinking to themselves if he was really a prophet, he'd know what kind of woman is touching him. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.359 And Jesus knows what they're thinking. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:52.559 Look at me, he knows what you're thinking as well. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.119 Stop being phony. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:59.119 Your pretense is a rebellion against God's reality. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:02.079 And he says, Simon, I have a story to tell you. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.519 Yes, master. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:08.640 And Jesus basically punches him in the throat verbally. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:12.319 And says, Hey, a certain man owed 50 grand. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.720 And the guy him. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:17.039 And somebody else owed five bucks, and God forgave him. 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.680 Who's more grateful? 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.359 Oh, the one that owed 50,000. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:19.759 Yeah. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:25.440 And then Jesus is like, she does this kind of stuff because she's forgiven much. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:32.240 The reason you didn't wash my feet or greet me or kiss me or anoint my head with oil, you don't think you're a very bad sinner. 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:37.200