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. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:29.839 Religion cannot give us joy. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.600 Religion can make us forget for about the length of a service, and then we walk out and we get back to the grind. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:38.399 But joy gives us the perspective of eternity. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:49.439 So we've come this morning to bask in, to marinate in the joy of Advent, the encouragement that is ours because of the first coming, and the encouragement that is ours because of the second coming. 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:53.359 And so, Lord, we live in between the first Advent and the Second Advent. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:55.679 We don't want to occupy that space in fear. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.000 We want to occupy that space in understanding. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.560 So, Holy Spirit, illuminate the scriptures today. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:02.320 Cause what is on the page. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:05.280 It's not just words, it's an invitation. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:11.280 It's this juicy, God-basod life that says, Hey, this is what you're capable of. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:13.439 This is what I created you for. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.480 Everything else is a pale substitute. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:18.560 And we reject that in Jesus' name. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:21.120 And we accept what we were created for today. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:22.879 This joy-filled life. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:28.719 Now, Holy Spirit, explain this to us from your word and by your spirit, we ask in Jesus' name. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:30.640 And everyone said, Amen. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:31.120 Amen. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:32.480 You can have a seat if you got a Bible. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.439 I invite you to take it, open up the 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:36.959 If you don't have a Bible, don't sweat it. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:38.079 It'll come up on the screen. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:41.040 We got here behind me at Jerry Jones's garage sale. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:42.319 How are we doing this morning? 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:43.359 We good? 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:44.000 That was terrible. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:44.640 Let's try it again. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:45.840 How are we doing this morning? 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.719 Was that not incredible, those kids right there? 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.439 Listen, let that be just a little reminder. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.359 That's what we're capable of. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:58.079 My favorite part is the kid who doesn't know the words, and then the chorus comes and just yells it at us. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.040 I was like, yes, yes, absolutely. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.480 I want to talk to you today about the encouragement of the second advent. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:14.560 It is helpful and historical during Advent to acknowledge that we live between the first Advent, then Jesus comes the first time, and the second Advent when he's going to come the second time, okay? 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:26.719 Uh and we want to occupy that space out of this reality that the Bible calls joy because we can look back in confidence and we can look forward in joy at the certainty that awaits us, okay? 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:31.599 Now, if you you may be, if you're visiting today, like, hey, my grandkid was singing, that's why I'm here. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:32.960 What do you mean by advent? 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:36.240 Advent is the four Sundays that lead up to Christmas, okay? 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.039 And so what happens is each Sunday has a theme. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.400 It was hope, peace. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.080 Today's theme is joy. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.280 Uh, and so Advent is a Latin word, just means arrival. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.080 And so when the Old Testament closed, a lot of people don't understand this. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:54.719 If you read like the end of the Old Testament, they got that they're called the minor prophets, Habakkuk, Malachi, Zephaniah. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:57.680 That's where homeschoolers go to get names for their children, okay? 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:01.360 Those last part of the Old Testament, those guys sound angry. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.080 If you read that part, you're like, bro, what is up? 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:05.120 Okay, lighten up. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:06.319 Here's what's happening. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.120 God's people are not listening. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:11.120 And so God is kind of getting intense. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:14.719 He's raising his voice through the medium of these men called the minor prophets. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:16.080 And it sounds really harsh. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.159 But what happens is God's people don't listen. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:19.199 So, what does God do? 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:20.560 God stops talking. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:25.280 And so, from the close of the Old Testament to Jesus coming, look at me. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:29.039 400 years of pretty much silence. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:33.520 And people looked forward in faith to the Messiah that would come. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.879 And so Jesus comes, he's born in the manger. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:40.080 That's they call that the Advent, the arrival, the coming. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:47.280 And we live between the first Advent and the Second Advent because not only did He come in the manger, but He's gonna come again in glory. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:48.080 Amen. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:53.840 And so we get to live between the first Advent and the Second Advent, the first coming and the second coming. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:07.120 I want to talk to you this morning from 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 about the encouragement of the second Advent because in this little section of scripture, in this faith in this church in this community called Thessalonica, they were kind of upset and worried the Christians were, and they had a lot of questions. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:12.080 They were like, hey, we they lived with this belief that Jesus could come at any second, okay? 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:14.479 Hey, you notice that we've kind of lost that in America? 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:22.480 We're just kind of like, dude, I'm like Christmas shopping, I'm doing my thing, I'm I'm I'm grinding, I gotta get that bonus at the end of the year so I can get that new deniali. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:23.360 Amen. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.759 You are like, uh not so much. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.120 Me neither, amen. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:35.519 Uh but they're kind of worried, and here's they have questions, and they're like, hey, we believe Jesus will come back any moment, and Jesus is gonna come and get us. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:36.160 We get that. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:38.800 What's gonna happen to grandma who died 20 years ago? 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:41.519 Am I gonna be in heaven and she's gonna be stuck in the ground? 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.759 Is this one of those you have to be present to win? 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:44.879 Raffles, okay? 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.079 Because I don't know how this works. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:47.920 And so they're asking Paul questions. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.560 And Paul, right here in the section of First Thessalonians, he says, Let me speak to this with certainty. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.639 And here's the thing, he he ends with. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:55.839 You'll see this in just a minute. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:02.160 He says, I want to, I want to encourage you, and I want you to encourage one another with these words. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.439 So here's my agenda. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:04.879 I'm laid it down right here. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.240 I want you to walk out here in just a little bit and be encouraged. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:10.639 I want you to have a little more clarity about the future. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:14.879 I don't want you to wonder, hey, is Hamas in Israel what's going on over there? 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.360 You know, the Bible says there'll be wars and rumors of wars. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:20.160 You got Russia and Ukraine, you got Hamas in Israel. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:22.240 Is Jesus getting ready to come back? 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.240 Because a lot of people are kind of like, I'm gonna wait till the last minute to get my act together. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.920 So if Jesus is coming, let me tell you this: he could come at any time. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:32.240 And that'd be fine with me. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:34.959 I will have to come to work tomorrow. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:39.439 Let's read the Bible, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 13. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.519 He says, But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:48.560 That's a reference to death, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:56.160 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:04.399 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:07.920 For the Lord Himself, he's not going to send a representative. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:16.879 The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:24.160 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with him, with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.160 And so we will always be with the Lord. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:30.079 Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.879 Now, uh there's a few things I want to say from the text. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.720 And the first one is simply this what we believe informs our emotions. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.439 What we believe informs our emotions. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:41.680 That's the first two verses, verses 13 and 14. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:49.040 Well, you see here some people that are grieved because they had no hope about their friends and relatives who had died because they didn't believe the gospel. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:50.560 They didn't believe in Christianity. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.439 And so they grieve and we grieve, okay? 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:54.639 Christians grieve. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:59.040 It's not like super spiritual when you lose a loved one to be like, well, you know, God's good all the time. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:00.240 All the time's God's good. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:01.600 I'm gonna be fine. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:02.959 No, be sad. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:07.839 Be sad, but here's what the here's what here's what separates the believer from the non-believer. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.639 Both of them are they grieve and they lose a loved one. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.879 The non-believer grieves. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:18.560 The Christian grieves, but the Christian has hope and the unbeliever doesn't. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:19.839 Does that make sense? 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:20.800 Say amen. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:26.399 So it Christianity is not this emotionless existence where you just cling tighter to the Bible and act like it doesn't. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:27.279 No, no, no, no. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:28.720 We grieve. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:33.839 It does not mean we don't have emotions, but our emotions do not create our reality. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.600 Our reality is determined and established and decided by what we believe. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.399 And what we believe has already existed and established it was true long before we got here. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:48.319 So we don't alter it according to our preferences, the winds of culture, or the feelings of those around us, okay? 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:59.759 If you can embrace one simple truth that would change your life, yes, you have feelings, but your feelings do not create your reality, nor do your feelings create reality for everyone that lives in the house with you. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.639 Some of you want to get up and leave right now, don't you? 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.600 You're like, that's a word from the Lord for me, Pastor. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:08.319 Slip out quietly, we'll dim the lights, okay? 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.040 Now, now let me say this as we're talking about feelings, okay? 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.720 I tell people this all the time in counseling. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.720 Everything you feel is valid, in that you really feel that. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.079 And they're like, Yes, I can't wait to tell my husband. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:23.040 But everything you feel is not truthful. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.720 And that's where they're like, Oh, what you're talking about, Willis. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:29.519 Yes, everything you feel is valid, and then you really feel it. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:33.120 Your mom is that you really think your mom's a jerk. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.879 But does that mean your mom's a jerk? 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.240 Not necessarily. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:39.919 See, the Bible doesn't say to the Christian, don't feel things. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:44.159 Oh, you grieve, but don't grieve as those without hope. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:49.519 When you feel whatever you feel most consistently, or does it make you more or less hopeful? 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:51.759 That's the question you should think about today. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.000 See, belief has already been established. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:54.960 What will you believe? 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:57.120 Either you submit to it or you don't, all right? 00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:03.120 So what we believe informs our emotions, because he says right there in verse 13, we do not want you to be uninformed. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:04.960 He didn't say we don't want you to grieve. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:06.399 I don't want you to be uninformed. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:13.919 I don't want you to not know this, brothers, about those who have already died, that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.759 We grieve, but what we believe informs how we feel. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:21.440 Here's the second thing we see in the text that what we believe is clarifying. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:23.279 What we believe is clarifying. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:27.519 It sounds simple, innocuous, almost kind of trite, like, okay, what we believe is clarifying. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.639 I shaved my legs for this. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:29.120 Are you kidding? 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:29.919 Are you kidding me? 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.080 Uh, until you begin to unpack it, okay? 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.320 Just I'm gonna read one verse, verse 14. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:43.759 Uh, he says, For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.799 The Bible is so compacted, so dense, so nutrient-rich, okay? 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:56.000 It's easy to read that sentence and kind of skip over it, but I want to point to three beliefs that are just baked in to verse 14. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.720 The first one is simply this Jesus died. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:09:59.919 Jesus died. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.360 You're like, no duh, bro. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.440 That's more Easter than Christmas, but I'll just hang with me just for a second. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:06.559 Jesus died. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:15.519 This invites everyone in the world who thinks that they're a good person, because if we're good, then how do you explain the death of the Son of God who was who lived a perfect life? 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:21.840 Well, I would say it like this: you only sacrifice perfection to alleviate imperfection. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:28.320 You only sacrifice perfection, that would be Jesus, to alleviate imperfection, which would be all of us. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.120 Does that make sense? 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.159 Say amen. 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:32.320 And so you sacrifice, and this is what happened. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.080 The Bible says Jesus died. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.320 Here's the problem with most of us in this room. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.639 You think you've outgrown the death of Jesus. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.679 It's something you believe to get into the Christian life. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:48.159 And I would want to claw that back and say, no, this is something you need to hold on to so that you enjoy the Christian life. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:49.519 And I'm going to demonstrate. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:53.519 My wife has been sick for about the past six weeks, and we finally got a diagnosis. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.480 It's pneumonia. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:55.360 We're doing okay. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.639 Uh, we're taking drugs, we got doctors' visits, but it just kind of hangs on. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:02.159 So my wife has this hacking cough, and some friends invited us to dinner. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.919 And I texted back and said, you know what? 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.480 Thank you so much. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:06.480 She said, Can y'all come to dinner Thursday or Friday? 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:07.600 And I said, We really can't. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:09.039 Marcy's under the weather. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.559 Uh, but can we take a rain check? 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:14.000 And she texted back and said, How about if I bring you dinner Thursday or Friday? 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:15.759 And I'll just drop it on the porch. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.639 And I texted back, You are my new favorite church member. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:19.279 Uh. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:21.200 And she dropped it. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:25.840 Now, now stay with me because this person may be in this room, like, ah, you're not gonna tell this, are you? 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.879 Yes, I am. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.720 Uh, it dropped delicious. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:34.639 It was like this chicken rice casserole thing with crunchy onions on top, this fresh salad, and then some brownies. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:35.840 Here's my favorite part. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.440 Here's why perfect Jesus dies for our imperfection, okay? 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.240 And so you can embrace your imperfections today. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:48.399 When I say you can embrace your imperfections, I don't just stop there because that you say, oh, I'm not perfect, no one's perfect. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.440 God knows we're all human. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:58.879 See, when we stop there, we don't take it all the way back to the death of Jesus, it fuels our cultural fascination and addiction with authenticity. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.879 I'm just being authentic. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:02.240 I'm just keeping it real. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.600 That's just the way God made me. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:07.600 Jesus did not die for you to be authentic or more authentic or just to keep it real. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:13.519 Jesus died for you to find, he did not die for you to find your true self or your emotional truth. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.200 No, no, no. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.759 Jesus dies so you can be forgiven and made new. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:21.440 Authentic is a cheap substitute for new. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.039 Ask yourself this question. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:28.720 What would break off of you if you embraced the fact that embraced the fact that you were not perfect? 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:37.440 And that that is only sustained by the fact that Jesus Christ was perfect, lived a sinless life, died in your place on the cross for your sins. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.200 And so you have to stop trying to convince everybody that you are perfect. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:42.879 What would get broken off of you? 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.240 Would you be less defensive? 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:49.360 Men, when your wife pointed out something in your life, would you instead of going, Well, what about you? 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.879 Would you be like, you know what? 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.720 I I want to be defensive right now, but I have no need to be defensive. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:00.000 I'm gonna appropriate the death of Jesus, his perfect life and death for my imperfect life. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.759 Yes, somebody snickering going, you've not met my husband. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.519 He is never wrong. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.639 He is never wrong. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.440 He's the most no, no, no, that that's not true about anybody. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.639 Would you be less defensive? 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.639 Would you be less engaged in oppression management? 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:13.919 Would you be less fearful? 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.440 Would you be less anxious? 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:18.080 Again, Jesus died for imperfect people. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:21.759 Stop, try, stop acting like you still don't need his death. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:25.120 So our friend that brings the meal, comes to the door. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.639 My wife's in bed asleep. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.840 My dog goes crazy. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.440 If you come to my house, my dog does not buy. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.960 I'm holding the door trying to hold him back. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:35.120 And she's kind of like, hey, and I'm like, come in. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.159 She's like, no. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:40.960 Uh and then she hands me the stuff, and then she says, The brownies are burnt on the bottom. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:41.519 I'm sorry. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.279 Just cut the bottom off. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.639 Yes. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.120 Now, here's the great part of that, okay? 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.399 That is probably one of the biggest compliments I've gotten all year. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:52.080 You've got about eight more days. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:53.919 Hurry, people, okay? 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.159 And you say, I don't get the compliment. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.240 Here's the great compliment about that. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:04.879 Here's this woman who's embracing the fact that perfect Jesus died a perfect death for her imperfect self. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.399 Here's why it's a compliment to me. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:10.240 What she was saying was, hey, I know that I don't be perfect around you. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.240 Here's the brownies, they're free. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.679 Cut the bottom off. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.840 And I just took them out of the pan like a watermelon. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:21.039 I just held the rind, the bottom part, and you're like, hang nine, nine, nine. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.200 I brought one to the office. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.159 Somebody's like, What is that? 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.120 This is the most incredible. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.200 Chocolate and vanilla kind of stuff. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.559 And you got some caramel in there. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.600 Why are you holding the bottom? 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.039 Because it's burnt. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:35.120 Like the bottom eighth inch is like charcoal, but it's good for your teeth. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.879 And they're like, Where'd you get that? 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:37.840 No, no, no. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:39.039 A lady of our church makes it. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.720 I said, Did that bother you? 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:44.080 No, I was so blessed when she just got said, here, sorry. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.240 And she wrote a sweet note and put it in the bag. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.360 The bottom's burnt. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.480 Cut it off. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:49.440 Yes. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:55.600 See how liberating it is when you embrace the perfection of Jesus, you can embrace the imperfection of you. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.360 What a gift. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:01.919 Because what this lady was saying was, Hey, I don't have to be perfect around you. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.919 I don't have to manage your impression of me. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.879 I got distracted. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:06.720 I had the oven too hot or whatever. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.679 It's free. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.279 Shut up and eat it. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:10.639 Yes. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.840 So Jesus, see how consequential what you believe is. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.279 What you believe is clarifying. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.159 So what do you believe? 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.279 They believe Jesus died. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.879 That's the first belief right there in the text. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.799 Secondly, Jesus rose from the dead. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:26.559 The resurrection is proof that God has accepted Jesus' death as sufficient payment for your sins. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:28.559 So you don't have to wonder if you've done enough. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.320 You don't have to engage in math. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.240 You can wait to hear the music. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:39.759 Is we don't try to do enough. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.960 We don't try to do more. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.720 We don't try to do better. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.360 No. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.399 What do we do then? 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.200 Look at me. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.559 We do different. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:54.399 Proof that you've embraced this, not just in your head, but in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:57.279 The resurrection is the receipt. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:57.919 Okay? 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.000 Happens every time I go to CVS. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:00.799 I went this week. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:03.519 I bought one thing and I got six feet of receipt. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.559 It's like, what? 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:06.799 You want me to wallpaper in my bathroom with this? 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.799 And the guy's like, ah yeah, man, come on. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.120 I don't know. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.399 The coupons on there. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:10.960 Okay. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.679 And every time I walk out, I think about the resurrection. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:16.240 It's the receipt, it's the proof of purchase. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:21.679 When God raised Jesus from the dead, what he's saying to you is, hey, stop fearing your past. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:26.480 Your worst day is not your last day because this is your best day. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.960 You ain't got to worry about people finding out. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.639 Stop trying to manage their impression. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.879 Jesus died for all that stuff. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.799 You're afraid people are going to find out. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:38.879 And he rose to signify it's paid in full. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.759 End of it. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.960 Stop fearing it. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:45.840 So when the Bible says simple things like Jesus died, Jesus rose from the dead. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.679 Again, proof that you believe that. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:54.240 Not just and you've experienced that in your life is that you don't try to do enough or do more, do better. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.679 You do different. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:58.080 And in doing different, look at me. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.320 You do more and you do better. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.399 Here's the third thing you see in the text. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:05.839 Uh uh, the third belief, because what we believe is clarifying. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.359 Christians who have died will be resurrected. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:15.279 This is Paul is speaking to the question that they have that that that is overwhelming these people. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.880 Like, what's gonna happen, man? 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.759 What's gonna happen? 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:21.279 My grandma died, or I lost my wife seven years ago, or we lost a child. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.079 I don't want to be in heaven, my child stuck here in the ground on earth. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:26.400 What's gonna and he said, Whoa, whoa, calm down. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:29.359 Uh uh, there's two words in verse 14 I want you to underline. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.599 And it's the two words, even so. 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:32.720 Even so. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:34.079 Let me read verse 14 again. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:39.119 For since we believe that Jesus died, see how consequential what you believe as a Christian is? 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.319 It's not what you feel. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:46.319 If you're a Christian who's ruled by what you feel, then every Sunday you come to church, you need me to make you feel something. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:49.359 And let me just love you enough to say that's not fair to me. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.119 And it's not fair to church. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:55.680 That's why a lot of people get down on church because it doesn't scratch where you're itching every Sunday. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.599 Well, Pastor wasn't on today, I know what his deal was. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.039 No, no, look at verse 14. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:09.359 For since we believe that Jesus died, secondly, that he rose again, then those two little words, even so. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.680 Underline those in your Bible, okay? 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.480 Even so. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:15.359 It's important that you get the cohesive nature of the Bible. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.880 Allow me to demonstrate this means even so means in the same way. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:22.000 Because this is true, then by extension, this is also true. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.119 Here's what I mean by the cohesive nature in the Bible. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:28.880 Uh even so, he says, even so what? 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:34.079 Through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, those who have died. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:36.160 Now, what do you mean the cohesive nature in the Bible? 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:41.359 1 Corinthians chapter 15, whole nother book, whole nother city, right into a whole nother issue. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:47.759 Paul says this, but in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.279 Hear it again. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:52.079 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.160 Because some of you are like, well, did he really rise from the dead? 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.880 I mean, I don't know. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.160 I heard that, but is it true? 00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:01.599 He says he really did raise from the dead, he was really raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.839 Now, first fruits is a phrase we're not familiar with. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.839 It's not a 2023 word, but here's the law of first fruits, okay? 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.519 Get ready to say this after me. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:15.200 The law of first fruits is simply this is that the law of first fruits means there will be more fruit. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.640 The law of first fruits means there will be more fruit. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.599 Say it with me. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:23.359 The law of first fruits means there will be more fruit. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.720 That's about a C minus. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.519 We'll try again. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.480 Uh, here we go. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:30.319 The law of first fruits means there will be more fruit. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.680 Now, this is important. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:39.839 It's really grounded and rooted in the Old Testament with the tithe, because they can they didn't use the word tithe, well, they use the word tithe, but more intimate language was the first fruit. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.480 Okay, they would bring the first fruit of their increase. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:45.359 They gave first because they believed there will be more to come. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.440 Now, many people nowadays they give last out of what might may or may not be left over, and that's kind of what they experience. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:59.680 But when they would give their first fruit, uh their offering, their first fruit, and they would say, God, we're giving this in faith because we believe there's going to be more fruit. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.960 Okay, does that make sense? 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.079 Say amen. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:07.920 Now, I want to establish this in the Bible, and then I want to point to it in the it in other places in the Bible. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.440 I want to point to it in the text. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:13.279 The law of the first fruits, this is not a sermon about giving. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:15.279 This is a sermon about understanding. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:15.759