Living to Overcome the World.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Thanks for being here. I’m grateful to see each and every one of you. Happy Father’s Day [0:05] I want to make two announcements before we get into the scriptures. The first announcement is next Sunday [0:11] We will be having our annual church picnic and that’s gonna be a great time [0:15] We’re meeting here at 1030 so about a half hour late [0:18] But if you want to show up at 10, I could use some help setting up. That’s fine [0:22] Come out next Sunday and just enjoy some time

[0:26] We’ll meet for a brief time of worship and the word between 1030 and 11 and then starting at 11 [0:32] We’re gonna start grilling out now where I need your help is we still need [0:37] volunteers so go to the website [0:40] Click on the link provided there and sign up to man the bounce house for a little while or or maybe we could [0:47] You’re a grill master and you can make us some spare ribs or something that you bring because I don’t think any of us know [0:53] How to do that so we’re not buying them

[0:54] But we’ll have we’ll provide the hamburgers and hot dogs and and if you know how to grill go ahead sign up for that [1:00] But we need help in all areas now. This is a bring your own lawn chair event [1:05] All right, so we’re not gonna provide seating out there because I don’t like carrying chairs [1:10] So I’m gonna ask you to bring your own lawn chair [1:13] And if you can’t stand for that long you really need to bring a lawn chair [1:17] And I also want to say that we are gonna have some some water stuff for the kids

[1:22] So we’re gonna have water balloons water guns a few different stations for the kids to get wet because it’s supposed to be pretty [1:27] Warm that day so be prepared [1:30] Bring your kids and swim trunks something that is okay to get wet [1:35] Because nobody wants their kids crying and if you put them in their nicest outfit [1:39] I don’t know why you would do that at a cookout, but if that’s you [1:42] Don’t do that next week. All right. I mean we’re gonna have a lot of fun games for the kids to play next week

[1:48] I’m really looking forward to it [1:50] It’s gonna be a great time for us to connect with each other [1:53] So be sure to come out next Sunday at 1030 for that and sign up to volunteer this week [1:58] Secondly, of course, I want to say happy Father’s Day to everyone [2:02] We live in a society where fathers are not often present and I’m so thankful [2:08] For each and every father that’s in here today. I’m so grateful for the father that God gave me

[2:15] Who is a huge reason that I am the man that I am today [2:18] All right [2:19] But if you’re someone who maybe you did not have a father that was there or you carry a great deal of pain [2:25] Because of hurt that your father put in your life or maybe you’re not able to be a father and that causes great pain for you [2:32] Here’s what I want to tell you today [2:34] Your identity in life is not driven by whether you had a good father whether you had a bad father

[2:41] Whether you can be a father your identity needs to be found in Jesus Christ [2:46] Because through him and we’re gonna talk about this a little bit today [2:50] God has adopted us into his family and he says he is the good father [2:56] He’s the great father that never leaves us or forsakes us [2:59] He brings us into his family and he’ll never put us out of his family his relationship with his children will endure throughout [3:07] Eternity so today on Father’s Day if I could tell you anything about fathers

[3:11] I want to tell you that we have the greatest father and king that anyone could ever have [3:16] That is the God that spoke the universe into existence [3:19] And so for all of you men all of you women all of you children this morning [3:23] My prayer is that today you would know the good father and you’d know his son Jesus Christ [3:29] whom he sacrificed for you and for I [3:32] If you have your Bibles open them up to 1st John chapter 5

[3:36] I’m so thankful that as I was out for a couple of weeks that God has raised up men around me that that can preach [3:44] the word [3:45] And I’m grateful for Clint and Nate carrying that load for the past two weeks [3:50] Nate made a comment that he preaches much shorter than I [3:57] So last week I sent Clint out to give you some perspective

[4:02] All right, I could do that every week [4:06] All right, but I don’t [4:08] All right [4:10] No, he did a great job. I’m so thankful for for those guys. God has given me such a great [4:18] community of [4:19] Pastoral brothers and pastors in training that can preach the word and I’m so I’m so thankful for those guys

[4:25] And so if you see him encourage them this morning [4:30] And and encourage me because if they keep doing this it means less work for me. So that’s great [4:35] That’s great first John chapter 5 I want to go ahead and read read the word this morning [4:41] starting in verse 1 everyone who believes [4:44] That Jesus is the Christ has been born of God [4:48] Everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him

[4:52] By this we know that we have been born of God when we love God and obey his commandments [4:58] For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments [5:03] And his commandments are not burdensome [5:06] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world our [5:15] faith [5:16] Who is it that overcomes the world?

[5:20] Except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God pray with me father

[5:30] You’ve given us life through your son Jesus Christ [5:34] You’ve blessed us with every blessing in the heavenly places. You’ve given us a relationship with yourself [5:40] I pray that over the next few moments that we have together that that your word would become powerful to us that it would change us [5:49] That it would start in us a passion that drives us through this week to stay connected to you a passion that will drive us [5:57] To come to you in all needs [6:00] And God I pray for those this morning who are struggling in pain. I

[6:05] Pray for those over the past few weeks that have experienced great tragedy. I [6:09] Pray that they would not seek their hope in this life [6:12] But that they would seek hope in that which has overcome this world [6:16] and that is [6:18] the Lamb of God Jesus Christ your son [6:22] Father give me strength spirit speak this morning

[6:25] In the name of Jesus I pray amen well, it’s been a couple of weeks, so I’m ready to preach so hold on [6:34] But what I want us to understand this morning [6:36] Is that what we’re seeing in this passage in these five verses is a text that really drives us to understand? [6:43] What the Christian life is for us? What is it that God really wants to do in our lives? [6:49] What is it that he wants to do through us and he uses some great terms in here to really drive us to understand [6:56] What our faith in Jesus is all about the reality this morning is that all of you in here each and every one of you

[7:03] Are building your lives [7:05] towards something [7:07] Some of us think that we’re doing a great job some of us think that we’re building our lives towards something great [7:13] We’re experiencing great success. We’re experiencing peace [7:16] We’re experiencing so many good things and others of us in this room today are struggling [7:22] You’re really questioning. What is it that you’re building your life towards?

[7:26] What is it that the purpose of your life really is all about? [7:30] But the reality that we must deal with this morning [7:33] And we must ask ourselves the question is is in either of those situations this morning [7:38] Are you building your life on something that matters? [7:42] Are you building your life on something that is going to outlive you are you building your life on something of significance? [7:52] Or are we building our lives on things that are really trivial in nature is?

[7:57] Our life going to ultimately matter no matter what you are doing you must ask yourself [8:03] What is it that you are building your life towards because we all reach pivotal moments where we make decisions that shape our lives [8:11] Maybe you’re in one of those moments where you think that the [8:15] Ability to actually change and the ability to actually build your life on something that can give you [8:21] Significance can give you satisfaction. Maybe you think that moment has passed you by [8:26] Maybe you think that you are just condemned to continue in a life of just complete credulity and not really have a

[8:34] significant life of deep satisfaction and deep meaning [8:38] Well the reality that I want to deal with this morning is that you can change no matter where you find yourself in your life [8:47] That when you’re confronted with truth [8:50] God gives us hope of change [8:52] First John draws us into a conversation that God declares that all of our lives matter [8:59] That ultimately there is no one in this room

[9:02] And there is no one outside of this room that is ultimately going to find themselves being [9:06] Insignificant that if we do live lives of insignificance, it is not by God’s power that we do that [9:12] It is by our own decision and ultimately rebellion against God, but God would have us to have a real [9:21] legitimate life [9:22] What we read about in here about the person and work of Jesus Christ [9:25] Is that God did not send his son into this world simply to give us a do-over

[9:30] He didn’t simply send his son into this world to give us a second chance [9:35] But instead it’s something far more profound than a do-over a second chance could ever give us [9:40] What God sent his son into this world to do this text is going to tell us this morning [9:45] Is that he really came to came to give us a brand new life [9:51] By doing two things [9:53] The first thing that we see is what we sang about just a few moments ago, and that is that Jesus died

[9:59] If you ever sat and really wondered upon the death of Jesus and and what it really means about us [10:06] And we see two revelations the first one’s by his death in the death of Jesus [10:12] We don’t actually learn anything new about ourselves [10:18] And the death of Jesus what God is revealing to us is [10:23] Where we’re all going? [10:25] Where we’re all headed

[10:26] Each and every one of us will ultimately one day die and [10:33] Jesus came to give us that reality so profound [10:37] through the fact that God himself chose to come and exhibit what the ultimate ends of our sin and our [10:46] Delusions of grandeur apart from life in God will actually take us and that is to the grave [10:53] But the second revelation that God gives is so much more significant than the first that it is shocking [11:00] It’s extraordinary. It’s the reality that Jesus rose from the dead

[11:06] His resurrection is a declaration [11:09] He gives us something brand new in that he gives us the reality that if we trust him and if we follow him into the life [11:16] That he promises to endure forever then our end will be like his [11:23] Our end will be in resurrection [11:26] That death does not have to be the end faith though is not just an academic exercise [11:32] It is a real life of trusting and following

[11:36] It is a life of real love and confidence that leads us to build upon a belief that God has something bigger for us [11:43] Than we could ever really imagine for ourselves [11:48] And in the resurrection we see something that goes past the reality of this world in the resurrection [11:54] We see something that goes past any hope that we could possibly have in family in [12:00] career in bearing children in anything in [12:04] The resurrection we see something that is not naturally to be found in this world

[12:11] in the resurrection we see a [12:16] Brand-new existence [12:19] Number one this morning what I want you to see from this text is that the love of Jesus [12:23] gives confidence [12:25] That changes the direction of our lives [12:29] Note that in that first verse in first John chapter 5 verse 1

[12:34] He uses the language that anyone that believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God [12:42] This is not new language of the New Testament [12:45] This is actually something that John borrowed from Jesus himself that John records in John chapter 3 [12:51] John is meeting with one of the religious leaders of that day [12:55] Who’s really beginning to ask questions about the relationship that he can have with God and Jesus tells him [13:02] He says that unless you are born again

[13:05] You cannot know the life of God [13:08] So for us is very confusing because even Nicodemus himself the guy in John chapter 3 he begins to ask question [13:15] How can I once again enter into my mother’s womb? [13:18] Completely not understanding that Jesus is actually talking about something greater than that something that is not physical [13:24] But rather something that is supernatural that God desires to do in each and every one of our lives [13:31] And over the last two weeks we’ve seen that God defines

[13:35] Love through Jesus that God gives a specific definition as to what it is that love actually is and how wrong [13:43] We’ve actually gotten it for so long [13:45] But the statement that God is love is not so much a statement about God as it is about love

[13:52] That the love of God is something that is always bringing us back to God and more so it is something that gives us so much [13:59] confidence [14:01] That we fear no judgment [14:03] That the love of God can actually give us so much confidence that we go from a condemned people [14:10] To a people that are absolutely fearless of judgment [14:14] This new life cannot be described as anything other than born again

[14:21] Born to new life born to a new path born to a brand new and different [14:29] direction [14:29] Than we were ever on before we receive an entirely new life [14:35] Because everything starts fresh in Jesus because that is what resurrection looks like [14:41] When you’re experiencing the reality of death which Ephesians chapter 2 tells us that we experience apart from life in God this [14:49] interaction this coming into contact with Jesus is going to change everything in you and it’s going to be as

[14:56] Solid as the difference is going from death is to going to life [15:01] I’ve been to a few funerals in my day the reality is is that when I look in the casket I see nothing I [15:09] See a lifeless vessel. I see someone that can no longer do anything [15:14] I see someone that doesn’t have the ability to move that doesn’t have the ability to breathe [15:19] It doesn’t have the ability to communicate with you and I so in the scriptures [15:24] When we see examples of this change of this born again into a brand new life

[15:30] What he’s saying is that the life in Christ is as [15:34] different from who you were to who God is making you as [15:39] It would be that if a dead body were to raise again to brand new life [15:44] Nothing can possibly be the same once you come into contact with the God of the universe [15:50] And he actually brings you in and says you are now my own [15:54] You were once in rebellion against me now. You are no longer in rebellion. I’ve redeemed you

[16:00] I have paid the penalty for your sin [16:01] And I desire to give you the power to live a brand new life in a brand new way [16:09] But the comprehension there must be that it is in a brand new direction [16:15] It’s not on the same path [16:17] So we must understand that if we are to be the people of Jesus [16:23] We must wrap our minds around the reality of what it means to be born of God

[16:28] That if we come into contact with the God of the universe and remain on the same pathway as we were before [16:36] Remain with the same values as we had before remain functioning with the same [16:43] affections as we had before [16:47] We did not truly have faith because we’ve not been born afresh [16:55] And so what he’s talking about here [16:58] Is brand new

[17:00] What he’s talking about here is a complete and utter [17:05] overhaul of our lives

[17:09] Brings the reality that we’ve been living for the wrong things [17:14] We’ve been living for things that ultimately don’t matter [17:18] And when we come into relationship with God it brings the understanding that only that which is done for God [17:25] will last [17:27] Because only God has shown that he has the power over death [17:34] Only God himself has shown that he has so much hope

[17:40] inside of him that it can be counted on because he and he alone can look to the dead and make it rise

[17:50] Our pursuits then will ultimately in this life expose what our confidence is in [17:58] You see if you live a life [18:00] Pursuing the faith that is available in Jesus [18:04] Pursuing the building of the things that matter to God

[18:09] Then you’ve been born again [18:14] But if [18:15] We claim faith in Jesus yet continue to pursue that which is limited to this world [18:22] That which when we die will die with us [18:27] That which we could pursue without faith in Jesus Christ [18:31] That does not fit the analogy given in the New Testament

[18:36] That does not fit the analogy of being born again it fits the analogy [18:43] Of being dead again [18:46] Tells us the Apostle Paul does that if we continue to chase [18:52] the things of the old life [18:55] Then we’re not running the race of Jesus Christ [18:58] The Apostle Paul looked at everything that he chased before he came to faith in Jesus Christ all the religious

[19:05] excellence all of the physical excellence all of the material gain that he could have possibly had and he said compared to the [19:13] overwhelming value of [19:16] Jesus Christ and the faith that I have in him and the life that I have in him in the pursuits that I have in him [19:22] I see all that other stuff as [19:25] rubbish as [19:27] Trash that is worthless, but to be buried

[19:30] See Paul understood that in God we have an eternal hope [19:37] Because only God can take us into an eternal kingdom everything else is transient everything else rusts

[19:46] Secondly this morning when we get into verse 2 we see that God directs us [19:50] To live to help others know him through Jesus look at the end of verse 1 [19:57] The second half of verse 1 he says that in everyone who loves the father [20:02] Loves whoever has been born of him then in verse 2. He says by this we know [20:09] That we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments [20:15] So what he does there is he moves our affections into a specific

[20:22] Direction and that direction is towards those who have been born of God or those whom he identifies as the children of [20:30] God [20:32] We understand in this passage is [20:35] Different than what we would expect because in our lives our understanding of what it means to actually love people is just to be [20:41] Nice to be kind and they covered that a few weeks ago [20:43] But here he gives a specific definition to those whom we are to put our love towards

[20:49] He says those first who have been born of God [20:54] Those who are called the children of God so he gives us a special relationship [21:00] With other people who have been born again [21:04] The love of God will ultimately lead to a people of God [21:09] The mark of being born again in verse 2 is that we will love those who have been born of God what God is [21:14] Doing here is he is forming a community of people who will follow him and that community is

[21:22] the church [21:23] Do you understand that when you come to faith in Jesus Christ that when you’re born again

[21:30] You’re not ultimately [21:32] Completely who God wants you to be I [21:36] Hope you realize that if you haven’t go home look in the mirror check the activities of the day and you’ll realize that [21:41] All right [21:43] But so what God does is in his infinite wisdom he gives us significant [21:48] relationships in our lives to mold us and to

[21:52] Continue to make us and form us into the people that he wants us to be [21:57] So right there [21:58] He says that when you’re born of him you must realize that I’m doing something new and you are going to naturally form [22:06] relationships with other Christians [22:09] Other people who have been born of him and in those relationships [22:14] They’re going to have a significant difference than any other type of relationship that you’re going to have in your life because those

[22:21] relationships [22:22] specifically exist to help you grow in [22:26] Relationship with God that those relationships exist to help you become [22:31] What God’s great vision for you is in Jesus that you would actually become one who is a disciple of? [22:39] Jesus Christ and that just simply means that you are someone that spends your life [22:43] Following Jesus with everything that you have

[22:47] He’s telling us that we are building something connected to Jesus in this life where we will need to partner with other [22:56] believers [22:57] Look in Ephesians chapter 1 as well as Ephesians chapter 4 and these two different passages [23:04] He’s going to unpack this for us [23:06] He says in Ephesians 1 he says and he put all things under his feet [23:10] Speaking of Jesus Christ and gave him his head over all things to the church, which is his body

[23:18] the fullness of him [23:19] Who fills all in all and then in chapter 4 he goes into even greater detail [23:27] He says rather speaking the truth and love we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head [23:33] Into Christ from whom the whole body joined and held together [23:39] By every joint which it is equipped when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up [23:48] in love

[23:50] See we see a little bit of clarification in this as to what real love in our lives is supposed to be all about [23:56] That Jesus actually says that the church is an organism that he finds his fullness in [24:03] There in chapter 1 in other words the church is going to serve to complete [24:08] The mission that Jesus came to accomplish himself the church then we are people who are partners and [24:16] Participators in the great mission that God is doing in this life [24:20] So much so that we see ourselves as having the identity of God’s body

[24:26] And to make that help make more sense to you [24:29] We are to function as God’s hands and feet and mouthpieces in this world [24:35] That he has called us to join together [24:39] To grow his future kingdom right here right now in this world to live as signs of that coming kingdom that we have [24:47] Faith that he will deliver [24:49] Ultimately the reality of the first John 5 is telling us by our love for those who have been born of God is

[24:56] That you cannot hope to do it on your own [24:59] That you must in faith [25:03] Join others in the church to follow Jesus [25:07] Because that is God’s plan a and there is no plan B [25:12] You will not find in scripture a place where it says that you are to try to follow Jesus [25:19] By yourself as a lone ranger or mercenary for the gospel

[25:23] Disciple yourself love him by yourself [25:27] Worship him by yourself do what makes perfect sense to you by yourself [25:32] Use your own wisdom by yourself make your own decisions by yourself about the big things in life. No in [25:38] Scripture he continuously says go into the community of the church go into the community of the church [25:44] Go into the community of the church because it is there that God is assembling his body for his [25:51] Purposes and that is never easy, but it is always right

[25:56] It is sometimes difficult, but it is always good

[26:02] And anytime you get a bunch of sinners together, it’s gonna get weird sometimes [26:06] It’s going to if you’ve been married, you know what that’s all about [26:12] But the reality is is that God says and he declares to us that in faith [26:17] We must trust that it is a worthwhile venture [26:21] Simply because he declares it be so and we are to trust his wisdom above our own

[26:31] This involves two groups [26:33] The first group are those who are already in the church those who have trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior [26:40] Those who are seeking to be disciples. We’re to love them [26:45] We’re to [26:46] sacrifice [26:47] for other people in the church

[26:49] That means that sometimes when we’d rather be doing something to benefit ourselves [26:55] We make the sacrifice and say no, I’m gonna go benefit others [27:00] That means that when people come into our lives, and they’re not exactly like us [27:05] We sacrifice our preferences and say God’s right. I’m wrong. I’m gonna love them anyway, even though I don’t really get them [27:12] That means that when we don’t want to go to community group because we’re a little bit tired [27:17] Make the sacrifice and we say for the glory of God alone

[27:21] I will go and I will trust that his wisdom is above my own [27:26] It involves great sacrifice to love the people of God [27:31] But he gives us in verses 1 & 2 the reality that [27:36] Sacrifice is one that is declared by him that we make in the life of love to grow it up [27:42] Into his vision for the church [27:45] The second people that it involves though is those who are not yet in the church

[27:50] One of my favorite things about the gospel is that ultimately I don’t know [27:54] Who God is going to call to follow him? [27:58] That there are people who are in the church right now who have realized the greatness of God the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus [28:04] But there are legions in this world who’ve not yet known the glory of Jesus and as soon as we speak it [28:11] They’re gonna believe it [28:12] They’re gonna join us in our venture to grow God’s church and we are to live a life of pouring our love into the mission

[28:19] of Jesus for those who have not yet realized their identity as [28:24] Members of the body of Jesus Christ that we’re to live lives of holiness [28:29] Faithfulness and obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ because that is how they are going to see who God is [28:38] We are to struggle in order to live lives in accordance with the scripture [28:42] So that people will see maybe even a glimpse through us as to who God is and what he is like [28:49] Because he’s declared it be so for us

[28:52] And this involves faithful obedience to God and that’s the only loving way to live [28:58] That he actually calls us into a life of obeying the commands that he has set out in scripture [29:05] And he’s saying that this is the mark of love [29:08] That you obey God [29:11] Sometimes it’s very hard [29:14] because sometimes what that means is is that we confront people with error and

[29:20] That is difficult because it doesn’t feel loving to us in our human body [29:24] That causes conflict how can disunity possibly be loving

[29:31] It’s because it is always unloving to allow people to step foot in [29:37] Front of a roaring train even if they think it’s the best decision of their lives

[29:44] If you were to see an 18-wheeler headed straight towards your child [29:49] Your child thinks it’s the most fun thing in the world to stand in front of an 18-wheeler as it comes towards him or her [29:55] At 55 miles per hour [29:58] Would you stop them [30:00] Would you push them out of the way? [30:04] Yes, because that is what love drives you to do

[30:08] Friends when we deal with the gospel when we deal with the truths of God we are dealing with the life [30:16] Saving words of God truth is [30:21] always [30:22] Loving even in the face of conflict that it may cause [30:26] It’s a part of our obedience to the commands is that we function our deeds and we fashion our actions [30:34] After the example of Jesus Christ in light that he has saved our lives

[30:42] Secondary in obedience to God he’s given us a great commission to make disciples [30:46] And we do that oftentimes through word as well as indeed and

[30:52] When we do that [30:53] The sinful world will sometimes [30:56] proclaim that our love [30:58] Looks a lot like hate to them [31:01] But in those moments we must realize that being born again is going to look different to those who have not been born again [31:10] And the only way that they can be born again is through the truth of who Jesus is

[31:17] There’s no real tension between faithfulness to the truth and the commands of God to love [31:25] Because friends truth is always loving and we do it in ways though that do not [31:32] condemn because we do not believe that anyone has to be condemned because Jesus ultimately [31:38] Gives us great hope of change and redemption [31:43] Thirdly this morning obeying God is not always easy [31:48] But it is real freedom

[31:50] It’s a very interesting section of this passage in verse 3 [31:55] He says for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments [32:00] Kind of reiterates himself there, but then note what he says and his [32:05] commandments are [32:08] not [32:09] Burdensome I don’t know about you, but there have been often many times in my life where that seems completely counterintuitive to how I actually think

[32:17] Obedience feels pretty burdensome oftentimes when I want to do one thing and somebody tells me I need to do another [32:24] Well that seems like they’re laying a burden on my shoulders [32:28] So how in the world is it that God could call us into a brand new life? [32:33] That’s nothing like my old life and then have kind of an audacious statement like [32:39] It’s not burdensome [32:41] Probably seems that way to you just as it does to me

[32:44] But what I found in the scriptures is is that there are four ways and that’s not really an exhaustive list [32:50] But I want to give you four ways that I see that what John is saying here is true [32:56] The first one is that God is gracious [33:00] He gives us Jesus as our advocate in [33:04] Matthew chapter 23 Jesus is talking to a group of religious leaders called the Pharisees of that day [33:10] And he’s talking about all the laws and all of the commands that they have laid on the people of Israel

[33:15] And he says that they tie up heavy burdens [33:18] Hard to bear and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger [33:26] So here’s what’s going on in that day God’s given us the Old Testament he’s given us the law

[33:33] The Pharisees come in and they look at the law and they begin to give more laws [33:39] They begin to explain exactly how those laws work and how many steps can you take on the Sabbath day? [33:45] How much can your animals do on the Sabbath day? How do you handle food on the Sabbath day? How do you tithe? [33:52] Well, we got a tithe of everything so if you have mint in your rack of food preparation [33:58] Well, you got to really weigh that out so that exactly 10% is given back to God [34:03] And so they’re just laying all of these weighty laws on top of the people of Israel with no forgiveness

[34:11] Nothing except obey this or you’re going to hell [34:16] That’s the reality of what the Pharisees do and Jesus calls them out right here in Matthew chapter 23 [34:21] And he says the opposite of what first John says he says you’re laying burdens [34:25] Jesus himself though in Matthew chapter 11 puts it this way [34:29] He tells the people he says take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am [34:35] Gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls and here’s the kicker in verse 30 for my yoke is

[34:42] Easy and my burden is light

[34:47] It’s a great promise that we have from God that I pray gives you hope but here’s why it’s so hopeful [34:55] When John writes in first John chapter 2 he says that Jesus is our advocate [35:01] What he’s saying there is preceded by if you’ve forgotten about this that if anyone does sin [35:07] If anyone finds themselves in disobedience [35:13] Know that you have an advocate in Jesus Christ who always promises to forgive [35:18] See God is so gracious that he calls us into this life of following him. He calls us to fight for it

[35:25] He calls us to obey him and he knows as a loving father

[35:30] We’re going to blow it [35:32] And he says in those moments do not run away from me in [35:38] Those moments run towards me because I am a God of grace [35:42] Who will forgive you in Jesus over and over and over again? [35:47] Secondly God is empowering the Holy Spirit is our strength [35:51] We saw last week as well as many weeks before

[35:55] That God tells us that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ [35:58] He anoints us with his Holy Spirit that means that God’s life [36:03] Actually enters into our own and he tells us that he’s not calling us to muster up strength [36:10] He’s not calling us to be all that we can be on our own when he calls us to obey [36:15] He’s not calling us into a life of drudgery in which we try and try and try under our own strength until we’re completely [36:22] Worn out he says

[36:24] obey me and [36:26] I’m gonna give you my own strength to do it [36:30] I’m going to empower you through my Holy Spirit to where you now have my ability to be faithful [36:38] God’s ability to be holy God’s ability to be obedient. He says you can follow me under my power [36:48] Thirdly God gives hope [36:50] His promises are sure in Jesus

[36:54] Paul writes in first Corinthians that every promise that God has ever made finds its yes in Jesus [37:00] How can we trust God? [37:03] Well, we can trust him because we know that he said his son would come [37:09] He said his son would heal. He said his son would forgive [37:14] He said his son would save and friends 2,000 years ago [37:18] He came through on those promises and then he says in light of that trust that he’s going to redeem

[37:26] That he’s going to restore this world to his kingdom that he’s going to come again [37:31] He says he’s going to take us to heaven when we die that Pharisees gave zero hope [37:37] Religion offers no hope your career offers [37:42] No hope even your spouse can ultimately offer you no hope in death [37:48] But God says I’ll give you hope because I’ll raise you to new life

[37:55] and then fourthly [37:56] God is for us [37:59] He’s our father who’s never against us [38:03] Romans chapter 8 verse 31 says what then shall we say of these things if God is for us who can be against us? [38:11] I don’t know about you, but in my life. I often feel like there are many against me in [38:16] My life. I often feel like I’m against myself. I

[38:21] Feel so much conflict inside of me in temptation [38:24] So much conflict in my life because I’m in relationships with other sinners [38:29] There’s so much conflict because my body will ultimately perish [38:34] But what he’s saying there is that ultimately the reality that he has adopted us into his family [38:41] The reality that he says he’s going to be our father who will always stay with us and never leave us [38:49] He’s saying understand that I’m always gonna be for you

[38:53] No matter who it seems against you [38:55] I’m for you and when God’s for me well [38:58] That’s a lot more hope than if anybody else is for me because they’re not God and he is

[39:06] Obedience to God is the only freedom in this life that really [39:11] exists [39:12] Because when we know Jesus we know what it looks like to be freed and liberated from sin

[39:23] Finally this morning I want to finish in verses 4 & 5 [39:29] Verse 4 he says for everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world [39:36] our faith [39:37] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [39:46] I want to finish by making a statement to you and then spend a moment unpacking it [39:49] But here’s where this text is headed for you this morning

[39:52] It’s headed towards the direction of overcoming this world [39:55] Overcoming everything that this world could ever bring against you of overcoming everything that this world could ever offer to you [40:01] Overcoming everything that this world will ever do to pull you down towards itself and say what I have in this world is better [40:08] Than what God offers me in his world and that is the reality that the only way to [40:14] Overcome the world is to build something that’s not of this world the church

[40:20] See he tells us in this text he says I’ve overcome the world [40:24] Anything that it can offer you anything that could give you

[40:30] And he quotes [40:33] Jesus [40:33] John 16 33 Jesus puts it this way [40:38] He says I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace in the world [40:46] You have tribulation [40:48] But take heart I have overcome the world

[40:57] The setting that Jesus says this

[41:01] It’s hours before he goes to the cross [41:06] Experiences the greatest suffering this side of heaven

[41:14] Jesus looking into great tribulation [41:18] great suffering [41:21] excruciating pain [41:24] Looks to his disciples to comfort them [41:28] think about that [41:31] He says in this life, you’re gonna face tribulation. I know that cuz that’s where I’m going

[41:40] So this all right [41:43] I’ve overcome that

[41:47] Time and time again in this world you’re going to face hardship

[41:52] You can have hard days and hard nights some of the hard days lead to harder nights

[42:01] But we have a God that knows what it’s like to suffer and then we also have a God that knows what it’s like to [42:05] Completely defeat that suffering by rising from the dead

[42:10] And he says all these interesting things about loving other believers about living for the church about obeying his commands for the sake of the children of God and that is the church [42:22] And then he says things about overcoming the world after [42:26] Laying down his vision for his people building his church [42:33] First John 1 3 through 4 puts it that knowing him is nothing short of [42:40] pure joy and because of that [42:43] His commands can’t possibly be burdensome

[42:48] And then he tells us ultimately that he’s overcome the world and [42:53] If we are to overcome this world [42:55] We must exhibit a faith in this life that will overcome this world [43:01] We must exhibit a faith that shows that we believe in something greater than this world could ever offer us and the only [43:10] Thing that we will ever find in scripture that he says is what we will pour our lives into by faith is the church [43:19] In Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 Peter has just said you’re the Christ

[43:25] You’re the Messiah of God and upon declaration of that [43:29] Jesus looks to him and says I’m going to build my church [43:34] The gates of hell will not even be able to prevail against it [43:38] in that declaration we see the true meaning of how to [43:43] Overcome this world and it is to build the only thing that we know will endure in [43:48] Eternity and that is the body of Jesus Christ

[43:53] Because he’s made himself full by his children. He’s made himself full by his mission [43:59] He’s made himself glorified by the reality of redeeming you [44:04] Redeeming me through his own sacrifice, and then he unleashes us and he says live in this world as my children [44:12] Live in this world to grow my church [44:15] Live in this world to take everything captive to the beautiful [44:21] creation of a people of God and find your

[44:26] identity in [44:29] the people of God [44:31] if our lives are to be significant if we are to build towards a

[44:43] Destination

[44:45] Significance it’s gonna last for eternity [44:48] We have to join together we have to build God’s church

[44:53] This must be our vision [44:55] From living to bring people into his body in this culture to giving our lives

[45:04] To making disciples and then prayerfully sending those disciples out to plant more churches

[45:14] We must be the people who the most [45:19] significant thing about our lives is that we are [45:23] Disciples together of Jesus Christ and we risk everything on that [45:30] We stake our claim on that [45:32] And we say this is what it means to be a follower of Jesus [45:38] That I’ll obey him that I’ll trust him that I’ll lean hard into his grace

[45:43] That I’ll use the power of the Holy Spirit that I’ll believe him as my father and I’ll know that if he is for me [45:49] There’s no one else that could possibly be against me because the legitimate life [45:56] It’s all about Jesus

[46:00] And so I’m 127 one we see this amazing declaration by the psalmist [46:07] Says unless the Lord builds the house

[46:12] Those who build it labor in vain [46:15] Unless the Lord watches the city the watchman stays awake in vain

[46:24] Friends it is God’s work, but it is our hands [46:31] And I don’t know about you [46:34] But I want to build something that’s gonna outlive me [46:37] And I’m not talking about leaving money to my kids. I’m talking about something that will endure forever [46:41] If I’m gonna have significance then my life must be all about Jesus [46:51] So I’ll leave you with the question

[46:54] What in your life is all about Jesus and friends?

[47:03] You may point to some one thing maybe you can point to two

[47:11] But when I see that word or those words born again [47:17] What I see God declaring is a whole life that’s all about Jesus

[47:28] That’s my prayer for village church [47:31] As I’ve been gone that’s been my prayer for us [47:36] Is that we will be a people who are all about Jesus and [47:43] Will sacrifice anything that stands in our way of being that [47:49] As the band comes up want to enter into my favorite time every week [47:57] That’s the Lord’s Supper

[48:00] The Lord’s Supper is something that Jesus himself instituted for us centuries before he even came to this world [48:09] What it is is it is a celebration of God working on our behalf [48:15] And that’s what we have in the cross [48:17] We are a sinful people friend. You’re a sinner. So am I [48:25] And we couldn’t save ourselves we couldn’t redeem ourselves there’s nothing that we could do [48:30] So God himself came down and said I will do the work of redemption

[48:35] I will do the work of saving you I will pay the price that you should be paying and he took the full [48:43] Wrath of God the Father onto himself against sin so that you and I wouldn’t have to

[48:51] The cup represents the blood that he shed for us the bread represents the body that was broken for us [48:58] And we do this in remembrance of the great sacrifice of Jesus [49:01] But we do it in celebration as a people who understand the victory [49:07] Over sin and death because he rose again to new life [49:13] And he tells us to do this until he comes back [49:17] So when we do this

[49:20] We’re saying God I [49:22] trust you I [49:24] Trust you saved me and I trust you’re gonna come get me [49:28] If you’re a follower of Jesus, I invite you to one of the six stations around this room [49:33] The aisles might get a little crowded so just be patient [49:36] But if you’re not a follower of Jesus you can become one today

[49:41] Scripture says today is the day of salvation for you

[49:45] You need God in your life, and if you trust Jesus to forgive your sins and to save you eternally [49:52] You can have them and this meal can have significance for you when you’re ready