Monday Nights @ First B (10) First B Jackson 2015-09-07 Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record. ---- It's kinda good. It it's it's good. I I mean, Monday is like it's it's food for the stomach, but it's it's food for the soul, isn't it? Yeah. Colossians two, he canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. This is what we boast in Christians, the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and, I let's sing of it. It's not old, man. It's I mean, it's an old message, but the message doesn't get old. I don't remember the address of the the verse, but I do remember it being something like that. Isiah? Is that Isaiah? About? Man of stars. Yeah. It's that one, but I was thinking about the it's about that that the freedom that we have, it's not it wasn't free. It was we're we're bought at a cost, you know. He purchased our freedom. And just looking at that and, really, I think it's just important we meditate on it and think of it often because it just we're we're leaky people and we tend to forget. You know? God, he he did everything for us through Christ. And so let's keep singing, shall we? Pages and pages of God, his thoughts, his words, his heart, right there, just a few inches away. I can carry it with me everywhere I go, read it whenever I want. When we open the Bible, what do we see? We see God himself in this world. We meet him here or we don't meet him, not with any hope or friendship. Reading the Bible is one of the most important But that's not always what we see and feel when we open our Bible. Our weak, tired, distracted eyes look, and all we see is a lifeless, boring portrait of a wall. But it's not a portrait. It's a window. It doesn't hang lifeless in an old far. A few days, a week, maybe a month. For the long run, we need something stronger, more compelling than discipline and resolve. There are too many traps along the path, too many hurdles. At the root, the reason we don't read the Bible is that we don't want to read the Bible. We don't see joy, peace, and life when we see that lever binding on our shelf. We see a wall, not a window. A boring portrait, not the never ending beauty beyond. So we put it off, leave it shut, and move on. We stay in bed, and we miss the miracle. The God who said let light shine out of darkness loves to speak light in the hearts and minds. God wrote a book, and with his book, these words in front of us, he wakens our dead, bored souls. He frees us from bondage to sin, from desires that rob us of life. He comforts the depressed, inspires the discouraged, guides the confused. Not good. I just wanna encourage you with that because I I just feel like it's such a great illustration of what a treasure God's word is. You know? And we can we can miss it, can't we? We can miss that treasure if we just don't open it up. And and and we would see that Bible more as as a window to know God, you know, a window into eternity rather than just this boring old portrait hanging on the wall. You know? Because I know it's it's something we all we all struggle with. It's going, ah, here it is on the shelf again. But looking at it going, man, this is this is a port this is a this is a window into eternity right here. There's treasure in this. So, anyway, Lauren, she shared last week about her dad and how her dad came to know Christ. And it was a very Lauren, would you just raise your hand for a second? If you haven't heard her story, I just encourage you to ask her to share it with you because it was so powerful. But to me, one of the most encouraging parts about your storyline is how God used the word just over and over again to comfort and strength and strengthen your family, give you hope, give you peace, give you assurance where honestly, lot a lot of people are just like hopeless. And it I mean, for you, you described it so well. But, you know, the one of the things that you said is that these Bible verses kept surfacing over and over and over again right when you needed them. And and that's that's my hope for for us. Listen. I don't know when when when and where God's word is gonna impact you. I I just don't. I don't always know what it's gonna be that grabs a hold of you, but I know that it will. I know that it will because God's word does not return void. Check this out. This came to mind for me today was God sends out his word. God, he sends it out to us. We got it. And it always produces fruit, like not sometimes. It always produces fruit. It accomplishes everything that God wants it to. Right? In his sovereignty, he's saying, no, this is gonna it's gonna do just what I want it to and it prospers everywhere. So there it is. I I believe that happens whenever we open up God's word. It's living, it's active, it's powerful. And that's why Ray and I, we've just said we're gonna say what the Bible says. It stands on its own. It really does. And then look at this. We got the spirit. Four John fourteen twenty six, the Holy Spirit, he'll teach you. He teaches us this, and he reminds us of everything that then he's told us. And that's that's how the guy that's how God's work word works in everyday life. You know? It's like we then can face anything that comes our way because of this. So I just open with that because it's good. That being said, we're wrapping up first John tonight. And again, I want you to kinda get the picture in your mind. John John is tender old man. Right? Kinda like that grandpa. Anybody have that grandpa? He's just so sweet. He just wanna hug him, that grandpa. Maybe somebody had the old crabby grandpa. I'm sorry. But probably the key verse in this whole thing is from is from John five thirteen. He says, I've written this to you who believe in the name of the son of God, who believe in Christ so that you may know you have eternal life. And listen, he really wants us to know. Like, as we're studying this, it's been popping out at me. He really wants us to know that there is a rich and satisfying life in Christ. A very rich and satisfying life in Christ. Let's not forfeit it. You know, not just in eternity somewhere out there, but right now. And tonight he's he's saying this. There's a few things, But these were the key words that stuck out to me as I as I read this was trust. To trust him for eternal life. Ask for his will to be done in our lives. Lovingly pray for one another. Obey his commands. Know him more and keep them in our hearts. Mhmm. K? Those are the you have something to say? There's a keyword you had it in the first backed up one. So Yeah. The keyword to have any of those work is the belief. Yeah. Belief. You know? I mean, people can go off on other things. Yeah. But they you don't hear enough of it. Yeah. You gotta believe. I'm getting there. I love it. It's true. I believe. Yep. Yep. Let's read it through. Okay? Let's read it through. I'll read it. You you follow along on the screen if you'd like. Here it is. I've written this to you who? Believe. Believe. Okay. In the name of the son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our request, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death. I'm not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know that God's children do not break a practice of sinning for God's son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we're children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one. And we know that the son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his son Jesus. He's the only true God and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts. Let me pray on that. Okay? God, again, I'm just I'm thankful for your word. I am so grateful that it always produces fruit. It'll accomplish everything that you want it to, and I'm praying that it will accomplish everything that you want it to for those here that are listening. In Christ's name, amen. Again, picture this grandpa. Right? Loving, tender grandpa. You know? Writing to these believers, wrapping up these wrapping up this letter with these gentle, loving reminders to this the family of God. Right? We're a family. We're brothers and sisters in Christ. We're a family. And the first one was trust. I've written to these this to those who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. He's saying, be assured. Be assured. Don't have any doubts about it. If you have the son, you have life. Trust this truth. It comes right from Jesus. And John was a witness to Jesus' life, death, resurrection, ascension, the whole thing. So he knows this to be true. He's been walking in it, living it. He was there when Jesus said this. Check it out. I tell you the truth. Those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they've already passed from death alone. So say I'm saying this trust this truth. You know, sometimes I think that we can question our salvation to the point where it's just crippling. We're not moving forward. So I was worried about it. Now we can wrestle with it. I think it's healthy to wrestle with our salvation. Yeah. But, really, if you trusted Christ, you trusted Christ. If you believe it, you believe it. You know? Amen. And you've been given eternal life. So let me encourage you with that. Know it, trust it. The gospel is that of belief. Okay. Verse fourteen fifteen, ask. We're confident he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. Since we know he hears us when we make our request, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. Oh, I can ask for anything I want. Yeah. Remember this one? Remember this in Matthew six? Hey. This he's sitting with his disciples. Picture this. He's saying, guys, listen. This is how you should pray. Here it is. Our father in heaven, holy is your name. Let's start out with the holiness of God, and you're great. You're good. Your kingdom come and your will be done. How often do we say, my kingdom will come and my will be done. Right? No. John's reminding us. He's saying, hey, ask. Make your request known. But remember, we're asking for his kingdom, his will. Right? Yeah. You know? And that's that's a tough one for us. And I know it's a tough one for us because it's a tough one for me. Because I know I know what Carl wants. Okay? But that's not always in line with what God wants all the time. You know? God loves his children. Can I just say that? God loves his children. And sometimes children need discipline. I mean, we just need a good old fashioned spiritual spanking sometimes. Alright. I'm moving on. Amen. Amen. Amen. Here's another one. Pray. Right here. Pray. Specifically, for one another. Right? Remember the whole theme of the book has been love one another. Love one another. Love one another. You gotta care for one. Can't say you love God if you don't love each other. Verse 16 to 17. You see if all believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, pray. Gotta give that person life. There's a sin that leads to death. I'm not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin. Not every sin leads to death. A lot of commentators debate this one. Can I just not go there? Can I just get right to the point, please? I think the point John, is saying is pray for each other, guys. Yep. Pray for one another. Whether they've fallen away from Christ for a time or they've denied Christ altogether, pray. You know? Here's here's some of my learning. Can I share it with you? I can't change a person's mind or heart. I just can't. I mean, it's just not within me. I I can't do it. I can't offer salvation. I can't offer peace. I can't offer hope. I don't even know why God uses me, to be honest, but he does. But I can't do that thing. My job, our job is to pray for God to do his work in people's lives. His life transforming work in people's life to change hearts and minds. Right? I think one of the greatest gifts that we've been given is prayer. I I mean, I I really believe that. It it is one of the most effective gifts that he's given us, and we can so underutilized prayer. And it's not a gossip prayer. Can I say that? It's not, oh, what have you been doing? Oh, that sounds scandalous. I'll pray for that. It's not it's not that. You know? It's this kind of prayer where we are genuinely calling out to God to grab a hold of a brother or sister that's fallen away or denied Christ. And and we just want them to come into agreement. You know? That's the whole idea of a Christian faith. It's it's like, hey, doors open. Come on in. You know what I'm saying? Pray for each other. Let's not forget. Good reminder. Let's get in tune with God. Someone put God is is put somebody on your heart. Because doesn't this happen sometimes? You go, why do I keep thinking about this person? Like all day, just keep thinking about them. You think maybe God's asking me to pray for Alright. Here's another one. Obey. We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning for God's son holds them securely and the evil one cannot touch them. Remember just a few verses up. I don't know when the last time I was speaking. But he said this one, that loving God means keeping his commands and his commands aren't burdensome because they're not. Because they're not meant to shackle us but to actually give us freedom. The bottom line is this. Listen. Love and obedience go hand in hand. They do. And to love God means to do what he says. And let me be sure to make this point that God has given us the means to obey, and that means to obey is Jesus. Alright? I I just I need to say that. That is not us, but it's Christ in us. That's how we can obey in the first place. Remember the John fifteen five that Jesus is the vine. We're the branches. We remain in him, him and us, then we bear fruit. This isn't just about behavior modification. I want to make that so clear that Christian life is not about behavior modification. I'm just gonna do this and try harder and do better. It's behavior transformation. We're being transformed into the likeness of Christ because we're so tightly attached to him on that vine. Does this make sense? Yep. He's the one that enables us and empowers us to live a transformed life. So point there. Loving God means to obey. He's given us the means to do so. That means is Christ. It is Christ in you. That's what Paul said. He said, it's not me, but it's Christ in me. It's Christ through me. Making sense? Mhmm. Okay. Alright. Which is why John says, we gotta know him. Why would you wanna obey somebody you don't know? You know? Verse 20, he's given us understanding we can know the true God, live in fellowship with him because we have fellowship with his son Jesus. He keeps bringing it back to Jesus again and again to know him, to live in fellowship with him. And what is one of the best ways to know Jesus? Spend time with him. Hang out with Jesus, you know? Hang out with him in the gospels. As you read the gospels, just follow his life. And he did this. Wow. He turned water into wine. He healed the leper and forgave that woman. You know, we just keep tracking with the gospel. We talk with him throughout the day. We actually try to put into practice what he's teaching us. You know what's amazing is how close that that God draws us to him when we have resolved, we have made up in our mind that we are gonna spend time with him and let him fill our hearts and minds. It is amazing how close we can get with God when we've resolved to just hang out with him. You know? The more we know Jesus, the more we love him. I've never I've never once and you tell me if you've heard. Have you heard anyone read the gospels and say, man, that Jesus seems like a real jerk? Have you ever heard anyone say that before? Hang out with Jesus and you go, man, this guy is the most loving friend. I I mean, I wanna hang out with this guy. I wanna know him. He didn't come to condemn the world. He came to save it. You know? I think a lot of people get a very bad taste in their mouth from Christians because they are the they they seem to be the ones that feel like they could tell you what to do. You know? Jesus didn't come and condemn the world and came to save it. I know. Let's not forget it. Here's the thing. When you know how much God loves you, when you know how much Jesus loves you, like what he went through for you, I guarantee you wanna know more. Can't help but want to know Jesus more when you know what he went through for your part. Alright. Here's John's conclusion. I'm wrapping it up. Keep him in your hearts. I started to get teary as thinking about this old man writing this letter probably toward the end of his life. And going, keep Jesus in your heart. You know? That credible old man, you're like, man, this guy's lived a life. He's probably lived hard. And at the end of his life, what is he saying? They keep Jesus in your heart. He didn't say anything about himself. It wasn't here. Here's one more rule. It was like, you keep Jesus in your heart. Verse 21. Keep away from anything that might take God's place in your heart. That doesn't need much explanation, does it? You know, we know what that means. Don't let anything run interference with Jesus in your heart. You know? If their behaviors and and we know what they are. If they're unhealthy and they're just not good and it's dark and Jesus is getting crowded out, let's do something about it. You know? For David, it was it was just straight up confession. He said, create in me a clean heart and renew a loyal spirit within You know? It just came clean before God so we can walk in the light. You know? He'd been walking with Jesus for a long time. Gentle encouraging words show it. Christ ruled in his heart. We see it. And and that's what that's what God wants for us. So there it is. That's the conclusion of first John. What do you think of the book of first John? Did you dig it? It's good. Yeah. Trust, ask, pray, obey, know, and keep. I don't expect you to memorize that, by the way. But I do expect this, that the Holy Spirit is gonna remind you of this teaching. And I I promise you it'll happen. Right when you need it, right where you need it, and it'll help you to recall, and it's gonna produce fruit. Trusting, asking, praying, obeying, knowing, and keeping. So what do you say we close with the song? Pray. Yeah. And while these guys are coming up, I wanna pray. What's that? Yeah. The the acronym for that one is TAP book TAP book. That's a joke. We pray, God, this is good stuff. And and John is spot on. And I'm I'm just again, I'm thankful for his his life and his testimony of you. This encouragement to us, trusting you for eternal life, asking for your will to be done, praying lovely lovingly praying for each other, obeying your commands because they are meant to give us, freedom, knowing you more, keeping you in our hearts. These are the basics. But Holy Spirit, I'm asking for you to remind us of these things, but it's all we need reminding. We really do. And, I was praying for the power of Christ within us. In Christ's name. Amen. You wanna stand up? Hey. Let me encourage you to live in the light this week. And just like just like John was saying, keep them in your hearts, walk with Christ. How's that? Amen. Amen.