Beyond ‘Trying Harder’: Evaluating a Sermon on Finishing the Course

[00:08:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
And good morning and welcome to First Baptist Church of Mooresville.
[00:08:54] We are delighted that you have chosen to be with us here this morning.
[00:08:58] Whether you are here in person, whether you are graciously in the fellowship hall in our overflow area, or perhaps you are at home,
[00:09:07] Worshipping with us via our live stream.
[00:09:09] However you are here, we are grateful.
[00:09:12] Most importantly, because we know that God has something special for each and every one of us this morning.
[00:09:18] And it begins when we join together as a community of faith to worship Him and Him alone.
[00:09:25] Perhaps you're here this morning and you have some questions about First Baptist Church.
[00:09:28] How do I get connected?
[00:09:29] How do I get more involved?
[00:09:32] Or how do I become a member here at First Baptist Church?
[00:09:35] You'll find a Connect Card in the pew in front of you.
[00:09:38] If you would be so kind as to fill that out.
[00:09:40] Perhaps even you have some prayer requests that you would like to communicate to us as a ministerial team.
[00:09:45] You can put all of that information there on the Connect Card.
[00:09:48] Just place it in the offering plate as it is passed around a little later in the service and we will reach out to you this week and answer any questions or pray with you, whatever it is that you may need.
[00:09:57] Perhaps this morning you are a first-time guest and we especially want to thank you for being here.
[00:10:02] At the conclusion of our service we invite all of our first-time guests to meet with us at the Welcome Center here in the back.
[00:10:09] We have a small gift as a way of saying thank you for being here and just to be able to get to meet you and to get to know you a little bit more.
[00:10:17] but we have a special service that is planned for you today that has been prayed over that has been prepared so we pray now that you would open your hearts and your minds to hear the still small voice of God speaking into our lives thank you so much for worshiping with us good morning everybody

[00:10:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
It is great to be here today on this Lord's Day.
[00:10:44] We are glad that you are here.
[00:10:46] We acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and He's with us right now.
[00:10:53] He's above us in His glory.
[00:10:56] He's beneath us as our firm foundation.
[00:10:58] He goes before us, lighting our path, and behind us, guarding our way.
[00:11:06] The Old Testament lesson this morning on the screen from Deuteronomy says, It is the Lord who goes before you.
[00:11:13] He will be with you.
[00:11:14] He will not leave you or forsake you.
[00:11:17] Do not fear or be dismayed.
[00:11:20] As we open worship this morning, I invite you, if you're able to stand as we sing together the words, Christ be all around me.
[00:11:37] Our Lord and Savior, trusting that He holds us close and He guides us in every step we take.

[00:12:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
As I wait, eyes of God, satisfied,
[00:12:41] The voice of God, lead me on, be my guide, oh be my guide.
[00:13:04] Oh Father, below me, before and behind me, in every eye that sees me,
[00:13:08] In every eye that sees me Christ be with me

[00:14:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter Day.

[00:15:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Your life, your death, your blood was shed For every moment, every moment Your life, your death, your blood was shed For every moment, every moment Your life, your death, your blood was shed For every moment, every moment Your life, your death, your blood was shed

[00:16:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Holy above and below me, before and behind me,

[00:16:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Let's pray.
[00:16:59] Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
[00:17:05] We gather as your people to lift our voices together in praise, for you are worthy of all honor and glory.
[00:17:14] Lord Jesus, you are above us in all your majesty and glory, King of kings and Lord of lords.
[00:17:20] You are beneath us as the solid rock upon which we stand.
[00:17:25] You go before us, lighting the path we cannot see, and You guard us from behind, protecting us from the enemy of our souls.
[00:17:34] Lord, we join our hearts as one body this morning to sing Alleluia.
[00:17:38] We come to worship You with loud hosannas, praising Your name with joy.
[00:17:43] Let our united voices rise to heaven as we proclaim that Jesus is Lord.
[00:17:49] As we lift our praises to you, open our eyes to see you, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to receive the truth of your word.
[00:18:00] May our worship be a joyful offering that honors you and you alone.
[00:18:05] We ask this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again, that we might have eternal life.
[00:18:15] And all who agree say, Amen.

[00:18:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Christians join to sing, Hallelujah, Amen!
[00:18:52] All praise to Christ our King, Hallelujah, Amen!
[00:18:53] Let all with heart and voice before His throne rejoice,
[00:19:15] All the praises fill one sky, Hallelujah, Amen He is our guide and friend, To us He'll condescend, His love shall never end, Hallelujah, Amen
[00:19:44] Alleluia!
[00:20:06] Amen!
[00:20:06] Life shall not end but strain Alleluia!
[00:20:07] Amen!
[00:20:07] On heaven's crystal shore His goodness we'll adore

[00:20:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Good morning church family.
[00:20:34] We're so glad that you're here today.
[00:20:36] We have some exciting things going on here at First Baptist that we would love to share with you.
[00:20:41] Tonight our youth will meet from 5 30 to 7 30 in the fellowship hall.
[00:20:46] We will be having Winter Olympic Games competition in addition to a taco meal provided by the Disciples Pathway class.
[00:20:52] So thank you Disciples Pathway for that.
[00:20:55] We will worship along with our youth praise team and we're going to begin our study of the book of James.
[00:21:01] And yes, since there's no school tomorrow, we will extend our evening and play underground church for those who would like to stay.
[00:21:08] Our youth group has just exploded and it's all because of our students inviting friends and then those friends inviting friends and so on.
[00:21:17] Several weeks ago, we asked them to raise their hand if someone had invited them, and at least half of them raised their hand.
[00:21:25] How amazing is that?
[00:21:33] Because of this amazing growth, we will be taking over 50 students to Caswell this summer.
[00:21:38] One way that you can help support our students is by purchasing an FBC t-shirt.
[00:21:43] There are several different designs to choose from, plus you can wear it proudly and get the name of FBC out in our community.
[00:21:52] You can see some of the shirts displayed here at the church.
[00:21:55] To order, you can email or you can use the QR code that's in your bulletin.
[00:21:59] We want to say a huge thank you to Mary Ann Greenhill for creating these shirts for us.
[00:22:04] Also, don't forget on January 20th at 1130, our Joy Club, which stands for Just Older Youth, will be meeting.
[00:22:13] Chef Shane will be cooking a delicious meal, and Pastor Seth will be sharing a presentation on the life, ministry, and influence of John Wesley.
[00:22:21] Be sure to sign up and bring a friend with you.
[00:22:24] You do not want to miss it.
[00:22:25] and Wednesday Night Live is coming back.
[00:22:29] We are kicking off our 2026 Wednesday Night Live with a chili cook-off on January 28th at 6 p.m.
[00:22:36] It's going to be a great night and we want everyone to be there.
[00:22:39] That night you will hear all about our different ministry opportunities coming up in our music ministry, our youth and children's ministries, and you'll hear about upcoming Bible studies.
[00:22:50] Be sure to sign up in the back after the service today if you would like to be a part of one of our new Bible studies or if you would like to make chili for the chili cook-off so that we can prepare accordingly.
[00:23:04] We are also doing a book swap, so go ahead and start bringing in your books either to the C building or the fellowship hall.
[00:23:11] If you have any questions or would like further details, you can contact Donna Basinger or Kim Herriman.
[00:23:18] Finally, we're kicking off our canned food drive starting now through February 15th.
[00:23:23] This is a great way to serve families in need right here in our community.
[00:23:27] So bring lots of canned goods and let's make an impact.
[00:23:31] Thank you for listening and now let's continue worshiping the Lord together.
[00:23:34] Let's pray.
[00:23:41] Heavenly Father, we come before you with grateful hearts.
[00:23:45] We thank you for the way that you're moving among our students, our adults, our seniors, and our children.
[00:23:52] We praise you for the opportunities ahead, opportunities to grow in fellowship,
[00:23:56] to deepen our faith through your word and to serve our community with compassion.
[00:24:02] Lord, as we prepare to give our tithes and our offerings, we recognize that everything we have comes from your hand.
[00:24:09] Teach us to be joyful, generous, and faithful stewards of the blessings you have entrusted to us.
[00:24:15] Use these gifts to further your kingdom through ministry in this church, outreach in our community, and the sharing of the gospel beyond these walls.
[00:24:24] Bless the hearts of those who give
[00:24:27] Bless those who serve and bless every ministry represented here.
[00:24:31] May all that we do bring glory to your name.
[00:24:33] We love you, we trust you, and we give you thanks.

[00:29:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Well, at this time we are dismissing for children's church, so if that is you, fifth grade, and down, off you go.
[00:29:39] Some big fifth graders up here.
[00:29:42] If you're visiting today and you're not sure where to retrieve them, the quickest way is up the ramp behind the piano.
[00:29:50] Turn right and down the steps.
[00:29:52] If you need the elevator, just keep going until the hall won't go anymore.
[00:29:57] Turn left.
[00:29:59] and the elevator will be on your left downstairs and then you'll have to come back to the right this way to find them so if you need help find somebody in the hallway they're right below us with children's church as you came in i hope you picked up a prayer sheet it's emailed to you call the church let us know if there are situations that we need to be in prayer for before we we do that though just a quick announcement for the martin family that uh welcomed
[00:30:28] Clark and Drew yesterday morning, seven pounds, 13 ounces, all are doing well.
[00:30:33] Congratulations to you, Clark.
[00:30:39] At this time, let's go to the word of prayer.
[00:30:43] Almighty God, we stand before you this morning and declare with one voice, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
[00:30:52] The whole earth is filled with your glory.
[00:30:56] We see your power in creation all around us and we feel your presence in this sacred place.
[00:31:03] But Lord, we are a broken people and we come confessing our sin.
[00:31:07] We've fallen short.
[00:31:09] We've turned away from your perfect will.
[00:31:12] But Lord, we know that your mercy is greater than our failures.
[00:31:16] Through the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary's cross, we ask for your forgiveness.
[00:31:23] Wash us clean, O God.
[00:31:26] Make us white as snow.
[00:31:29] And Lord, we are hurting.
[00:31:31] There are bodies that need healing.
[00:31:32] There are hearts that are wounded.
[00:31:35] There are minds that are troubled.
[00:31:39] We cry out to you, the Great Physician.
[00:31:42] Lay your healing hand upon us.
[00:31:45] Restore what the enemy has stolen.
[00:31:48] Make us whole again.
[00:31:51] Lord, in this congregation and friends of this congregation are many that are going through struggles and trials.
[00:31:57] We lift up Mike Privet, the Reverend Mark Pitts, Elaine Trawick, Nancy Blake as she's recovering at home from surgery, Karen Porches as she prepares for surgery this week, for Gussie Payne,
[00:32:21] For the Jennings family as Van's father, Vester, passed away in Alabama.
[00:32:28] Father, we know that you hold tomorrow even if we don't know what is in store for us.
[00:32:36] Guide our steps and order our paths.
[00:32:39] Go before us and make the crooked places straight.
[00:32:42] Let your Holy Spirit lead us in the way everlasting.
[00:32:47] It is you alone who are worthy, Lord.
[00:32:49] It is you alone we worship.
[00:32:52] Together we lift our hearts and cry out, Holy is the Lord.
[00:32:55] In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray.
[00:33:01] Amen.

[00:33:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Well, good morning, everyone.
[00:33:11] Thank you so much for being here.
[00:33:13] For those of you that are in the overflow, we have a really nice crowd back there.
[00:33:16] Thank you so much for being so selfless and giving up your seat and being in the overflow so you can make sure that we have enough room in here.
[00:33:26] Well, if you will, would you kindly get your Bibles out and turn to Acts?
[00:33:31] chapter 20 we're going to continue this morning and what we call our course series we started this last year just going through the book of acts chapter by chapter verse by verse i will say we have got to a point we're hitting a little bit of a fast forward button and so i want to kind of skip all the way to the end of acts chapter 20.
[00:33:52] And as you turn there, let me just give you a little bit of context about what's happening and why this is so important for us today.
[00:34:01] Paul has been in the city of Ephesus about three years now.
[00:34:07] If you were here last Sunday, we shared how God used Paul and other people to radically turn Ephesus upside down.
[00:34:14] Well, now after three years of being there and working very hard and preaching a lot,
[00:34:19] Actually, you're going to find in Acts 20, Paul one time was preaching, and he was preaching so long at midnight, there was a young man who closed his eyes, went to sleep, and fell out a window to his death.
[00:34:33] Paul quits preaching, goes out, prays over the guy, he's raised back to life, and then, I think this is hilarious, Paul continues the sermon.
[00:34:43] That really has nothing to do with today's sermon.
[00:34:46] I just want you to know, if you think I'm long-winded, you would have really struggled under Paul.
[00:34:51] But Paul's been working very hard.
[00:34:52] He's been preaching.
[00:34:53] He's been faithful.
[00:34:54] Well, now after three years, Paul's getting ready to leave Ephesus.
[00:34:58] And what Paul is going to do is he's going to gather the church, and he's going to give them a farewell sermon, a goodbye sermon.
[00:35:05] This is really important because this is the longest or the most extended speech or sermon we have in the book of Acts that's directed toward Christians.
[00:35:16] And think about that.
[00:35:17] Every sermon we've looked at over this past year has been a sermon that's been preached to non-believers.
[00:35:22] But today this, or at least people who've been hostile like in Acts 15, but today this is for believers.
[00:35:28] And here's the point.
[00:35:30] When you follow Jesus, and I've seen this over and over, people get really excited, they're really passionate, but after a couple years, perhaps even after a couple months, they begin to fizzle.
[00:35:40] Fizzle in their commitment, fizzle in their passion, fizzle in their service.
[00:35:45] And what Paul's going to give us today, we're going to see eight things that Paul's going to give us
[00:35:49] that's going to help you keep your passion and live effectively for for the kingdom okay so let's go ahead and let's start acts chapter 20 let's just jump all the way down to verse 18 and i want you to look at what paul's saying to this church in verse 18 paul said this
[00:36:05] When they came to him, he said, You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia.
[00:36:14] Did you check that?
[00:36:15] Look at this.
[00:36:16] From the very beginning, Paul says, I have lived among you.
[00:36:22] I've lived among you.
[00:36:25] Can I just let you in on something?
[00:36:27] If you're going to minister to people, you've got to live among people.
[00:36:32] You don't live above people.
[00:36:34] You don't live separate from people.
[00:36:36] We call that the ministry of presence, being there in people's lives.
[00:36:42] That means you've got to smell like people sometimes and be involved in messy relationships and have hard conversations.
[00:36:50] And y'all, that's tough.
[00:36:52] And it's going to cost you.
[00:36:53] It's going to cost you inconvenience.
[00:36:55] It's going to cost you discomfort.
[00:36:57] And it most certainly cost Paul.
[00:36:59] Look what he says in verse 19.
[00:37:01] Serving the Lord with all humility and with peers and trials that happened to me through the plot of the Jews.
[00:37:10] Y'all, that is not typically how we think of religious leaders today, at least not in 2026.
[00:37:16] We want leaders that look polished.
[00:37:19] We want leaders that walk in power and victory, perhaps a little bit of swag.
[00:37:23] But that certainly was not Paul.
[00:37:25] Paul says, I've been serving with tears.
[00:37:28] And look what he says, with humility.
[00:37:31] Now, this is a really interesting word, humility.
[00:37:34] in greek the word humility is the the pay for no sumay that's a mouthful okay here's the point it's actually two words combined together mind and weak it literally means a weak mind and so in greek culture that's actually an insult it's really kind of a derogatory term with negative connotations and think of it in our culture today it'd be like calling someone trash
[00:38:02] And that's what the word humility means to the Greeks, right?
[00:38:05] You have a weak mind.
[00:38:06] You're not worth anything.
[00:38:08] Yet what's interesting is that in that culture, what's known as an insult, in the New Testament, that word is used over 200 times.
[00:38:17] Now, how does an insult from outside the church become a virtue for inside the church?
[00:38:24] You want me to tell you how?
[00:38:25] It's because it's not about us in the first place.
[00:38:28] Paul says, I do have a weak mind compared to Jesus.
[00:38:32] Paul says, I'm not very impressive compared to Jesus.
[00:38:36] Paul says, there's nothing about me that's worth recognizing compared to Jesus.
[00:38:42] You see, what Paul's doing in this farewell speech is he's not leaving them a man to admire.
[00:38:49] He's pointing them to a Savior to worship, amen?
[00:38:52] He's saying, listen, the reason Ephesus has been turned upside down isn't because Paul's great, it's because there's one greater than me, and his name is Jesus.
[00:39:02] You with me this morning?
[00:39:04] You've been to, I think if it's kind of like a marriage ceremony, you've been to a wedding, right?
[00:39:09] As soon as the bride walks in, what does everyone do?
[00:39:13] They look at the bride.
[00:39:14] Now, I have kind of a unique perspective because I'm usually on stage during these things, right?
[00:39:20] And so here's what I've noticed.
[00:39:21] They'll look at the bride, but you know who they look at next?
[00:39:25] The groom.
[00:39:26] They want to see if he's crying, if he's shedding a tear.
[00:39:29] It's like an omen or something.
[00:39:31] If he cries, it's six more months of healthy marriage.
[00:39:33] I don't know.
[00:39:34] So they're looking at the bride, looking at the groom, looking at the bride, looking at the groom.
[00:39:37] Imagine you're at a wedding.
[00:39:38] You're looking at the bride.
[00:39:39] You're looking at the groom.
[00:39:40] And all of a sudden, one of the groomsmen steps out.
[00:39:44] And he's trying to get the bride's attention on him.
[00:39:48] And he starts flirting with her, winking, blowing little kissy faces at her.
[00:39:54] If you're that groom, what do you want to do?
[00:39:57] Probably punch that guy in the face, right?
[00:39:59] Listen, First Baptist, let me give you a warning and let me give myself a warning real quick.
[00:40:05] Just by default of going to First Baptist, how many of you know God's been awfully good to this church over the past year?
[00:40:12] You heard Lisa explain the story.
[00:40:14] We've had an explosion in our youth and our kids and in growth.
[00:40:17] Here's the warning.
[00:40:19] We're never going to make our names great.
[00:40:21] And that can often be a temptation in moments of success.
[00:40:25] See, our job is not to lift our name up.
[00:40:28] It's not our job to even lift up the name of First Baptist.
[00:40:31] We don't want to ever take the attention off the groom.
[00:40:35] Bible says that the church is the bride and that Jesus is the groom and we want to make sure that the people in mooresville they don't know how great first baptist is we want them to know how great jesus christ is amen right this now for paul number one i got eight of these for you paul decided that he wanted people over recognition he wanted people over recognition make note of this letter a
[00:40:57] Kingdom impact is loving people not being noticed and you know that is a temptation in ministry sometimes you want people to pat you on the back you want people to lift you up not paul paul said listen i don't care if you notice me i just want you to notice jesus would you write this down letter b christians live among people not above them because we have called we've been called to serve and to serve alone and boy did paul serve look at this verse 20 how i did not shrink
[00:41:25] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:41:44] Because anytime you preach, anytime you're sharing your faith, you're always nervous.
[00:41:48] Told you before, D.A.
[00:41:49] Carson says the definition of evangelism is two nervous people having a conversation.
[00:41:54] The person who's talking is nervous, and the person who's listening is nervous, right?
[00:41:58] But notice for Paul, whatever fear was there, whatever
[00:42:01] Nerves were there.
[00:42:03] That didn't win.
[00:42:04] Paul put that down.
[00:42:05] He said, no, I want to be faithful even when I don't feel like it.
[00:42:08] And so he preached.
[00:42:10] Look at this.
[00:42:11] He said, I was teaching you in public and from house to house.
[00:42:14] The gospel didn't stay behind the pulpit.
[00:42:17] The gospel was going into the living rooms.
[00:42:19] Y'all, from the churches, the synagogues, to the marketplaces, to the homes, Paul was sharing this gospel.
[00:42:25] And what kind of gospel was he sharing?
[00:42:27] Well, look at this in verse 21, testifying both to Jews and Greeks, look at this, of repentance toward God and
[00:42:37] Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:42:41] Paul says, I want to preach about repentance and faith.
[00:42:45] Here's what that tells me.
[00:42:47] Paul wasn't preaching some of the gospel.
[00:42:49] He wasn't preaching part of the gospel.
[00:42:52] Paul was preaching all of the gospel.
[00:42:55] He was preaching repentance.
[00:42:58] Repentance.
[00:42:58] Y'all, that alone is offensive.
[00:43:01] Because when you tell someone they have to repent, that means they have sin in their life.
[00:43:06] That means they're not a good person.
[00:43:09] I don't have to tell you, most of you who've been here for the last year know my absolute disdain for contemporary country music.
[00:43:17] Hell, I absolutely hate it.
[00:43:20] The problem is I have a lovely wife and two lovely daughters who love contemporary country music.
[00:43:28] So therefore, because I love them, I listen to it.
[00:43:32] There's a song recently I heard on the radio.
[00:43:34] I'm so embarrassed to tell you I even know who this is by.
[00:43:37] It's Luke Bryant, and it's called Most People Are Good.
[00:43:40] Have you heard this song?
[00:43:42] It's like his core conviction.
[00:43:45] He thinks most people are good.
[00:43:48] When I heard that song, I just wanted to scream.
[00:43:50] Luke, Brian, have you read the book of Acts?
[00:43:55] Most people, that is so contrary to what the scripture teaches.
[00:43:59] There's nothing gonna, listen, your sin is so bad, the only possible way you could be saved was by Jesus Christ dying a horrendous and painful death on a cross.
[00:44:12] That's how bad your sin is.
[00:44:14] See, most people, actually all people, we're inherently sinful and evil.
[00:44:18] which is why we have to repent.
[00:44:20] But listen, Paul doesn't stop there.
[00:44:22] He says, don't just repent.
[00:44:23] You can also have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:44:26] There's repentance and there's forgiveness because he is just and faithful to forgive us of all of our sins, amen.
[00:44:32] This is what we call both truth and grace, truth and grace.
[00:44:37] And listen, if all you're doing is preaching truth, repentance, well, then that's a message of cruelty.
[00:44:43] But if all you're doing is preaching grace, forgiveness,
[00:44:47] Well, that's cowardliness.
[00:44:50] But Paul was not cruel and Paul was not a coward.
[00:44:54] Paul was faithful.
[00:44:55] So he preached both, the whole gospel.
[00:44:58] I've heard it said like this before.
[00:45:00] The gospel will comfort the afflicted, but it also afflicts the comfortable.
[00:45:09] Ain't that good?
[00:45:11] Give me a second of personal privilege.
[00:45:13] Let me tell you, every Sunday I'm praying my heart out.
[00:45:16] As I'm walking into this sanctuary from the basement of Building B up here, I'm just praying with every step.
[00:45:21] And I'm saying, Lord, please help me.
[00:45:23] Help me in the sermon.
[00:45:24] Just fill me with your Holy Spirit.
[00:45:26] But listen, I'm not just praying that God helps me in the sermon.
[00:45:29] One of the things I often pray is, God, I need your help after the sermon.
[00:45:35] Because there's one thing I know to be true.
[00:45:36] The gospel comforts the afflicted, but it afflicts the comfortable.
[00:45:42] And not everyone's happy when you get done preaching.
[00:45:45] Some people it's going to make upset.
[00:45:47] Some people are going to get mad.
[00:45:49] John Wesley, by the way, I'm sharing about him Tuesday, so I really hope you sign up to come and hear that.
[00:45:53] I know that sounds weird, by the way, the Baptist preacher talking about the founder of the Methodist Church, but the writings of John Wesley has really spoke to me, changed my life.
[00:46:03] Let me share with you one quick Wesley story.
[00:46:05] John Wesley would send out some of those young Methodist preachers, and when they would come back, they would report to him on how the church service went.
[00:46:12] and John Wesley would ask them he'd say did anybody get saved and if they said no the follow-up question was did anybody get mad and if they still said no he would look at him he said my young brother if no one got saved and no one got mad then you didn't preach you didn't preach because the gospel alone is offensive because every person here where phil said and we deserve hell
[00:46:41] You, your sin, you are created by God, adored by God.
[00:46:47] He set his affections on you, but your sin has now turned your eyes inward.
[00:46:51] So you've lived your life caring only about you and yours.
[00:46:55] That is the definition of sin.
[00:46:57] That's why when we spell sin, S-I-N-I is always in the middle of sin, because I is always in the middle of sin.
[00:47:02] and because of your transgression because you thought you knew better than God because you thought your ways were higher than his ways that is called separation between you and God and there is absolutely nothing you can do to bring yourself back to a loving relationship with God I explain it like this sometimes imagine you're here and God's here and you're trying to get close to him well the problem with that is you can't because let's say this represents your sin you're actually
[00:47:32] This would represent your sin.
[00:47:34] Okay.
[00:47:36] Because the closer you try to get to God, guess what's blocking you?
[00:47:39] Your sin.
[00:47:40] So what does God do?
[00:47:42] God has sent his son Jesus to live a perfect life, a blameless life.
[00:47:47] Jesus had no ill motive.
[00:47:49] He had no impure thought.
[00:47:51] He lived a perfect life.
[00:47:52] And at the end of that, he wasn't rewarded.
[00:47:55] He was cursed.
[00:47:56] And they put him on a cross and they killed him on that cross.
[00:48:00] He died.
[00:48:02] Why?
[00:48:02] To pay the price for your sin.
[00:48:07] Jesus who is innocent became guilty so you who are guilty can now be innocent and now you have access to God that my friend is the gospel and all you have to do is give your heart to Jesus say Jesus I trust you now as my Lord and my Savior and if you do that listen he is just and faithful to forgive you of your sins or you can say this no
[00:48:34] C.S.
[00:48:34] Lewis puts it this way, every person will either say, Lord, thy will be done, or Lord, my will be done.
[00:48:45] And if you say that, my will be done, one day you will take your last breath and God will look at you and he'll say, okay, thy will be done.
[00:48:57] that's what we call hell by the way some of you this has kind of become a topic lately some of you say how could a loving and just god send someone to hell well let me explain you you think that's not just 70 years of sin here doesn't equal a eternity of torment and damnation and i think there's something you're forgetting about it's not just what you do it's who you do it to i've explained before if i'm walking down the sidewalk and i kick a cat by the way
[00:49:25] You also know my disdain for cats, but I promise you I've never actually kicked one.
[00:49:30] But if I did, okay, if I kicked a cat, am I going to get in trouble for that?
[00:49:34] Probably not, especially not if anyone sees.
[00:49:36] Cats are not going to tell anyone.
[00:49:38] But if I leave here and I go to Publix and I kick a little old lady standing in line, am I going to get in trouble for that?
[00:49:44] You better believe it.
[00:49:46] But what if I try to kick a police officer?
[00:49:48] I'm going to get even more trouble, right?
[00:49:50] That's assault on an officer.
[00:49:51] What if I try to kick the King of England or the President of the United States?
[00:49:55] Well, there's even a more severe punishment, right?
[00:49:57] Because I'm probably going to be shot.
[00:49:59] It's not just what you do, it's who you do it to.
[00:50:01] And you have sinned against a holy, perfect, infinite God, which means you deserve a holy, perfect, infinite punishment.
[00:50:10] And the definition of that is hell.
[00:50:13] Amen?
[00:50:15] How could a loving God do that?
[00:50:18] It's because he's given you what you want.
[00:50:20] You make a decision, Lord, I don't want you, I don't want to be around you, I don't want you leading my life, I want to be distant from you.
[00:50:27] Eventually, you will look at him and he will say, I will be done.
[00:50:32] And if you don't want a relationship with me, here's eternity without me.
[00:50:36] And the definition of that is hell.
[00:50:40] Now it's your decision how you respond to that today.
[00:50:43] Y'all listen, my job has nothing to do with your response.
[00:50:48] My job, your job, Paul's job, is just to make sure we're clear about the gospel.
[00:50:55] So here's my question.
[00:50:57] How clear have you been about this gospel?
[00:51:00] Who have you told this gospel to?
[00:51:02] Have you spoke the truth?
[00:51:04] Paul later on would say this if you want to make note of it.
[00:51:07] 1 Timothy 2.7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle.
[00:51:11] I am telling the truth.
[00:51:13] I'm not lying.
[00:51:14] I am a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
[00:51:17] You know what Paul did?
[00:51:18] Write this down.
[00:51:19] Number two, he put truth over approval.
[00:51:21] He put truth over approval.
[00:51:23] Make a note of this.
[00:51:24] Declare what is profitable, not what is popular.
[00:51:30] Write this down.
[00:51:30] Letter B.
[00:51:31] The gospel always calls for repentance.
[00:51:35] Brothers and sisters, you've got to speak the truth.
[00:51:38] You can't just live a good life and assume that people by your actions are going to know Jesus.
[00:51:42] That's like watching a news broadcast on mute.
[00:51:45] You might get some of the story, but you're never going to get the full story.
[00:51:47] You've got to be bold.
[00:51:48] You say, I just can't do that.
[00:51:49] I'm just not bold enough to do that.
[00:51:51] Well, Paul actually talks about that.
[00:51:53] Verse 22.
[00:51:54] He says this.
[00:51:55] And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem constrained by the Holy Spirit.
[00:52:02] Did you see that?
[00:52:03] Why is he going to Jerusalem?
[00:52:04] Because he's constrained by the Holy Spirit.
[00:52:07] Paul says, this isn't because I have talent.
[00:52:09] It's not because I feel good.
[00:52:11] It's because the Spirit is leading me.
[00:52:13] Would you quickly write this down?
[00:52:14] Number three, Paul just made a decision.
[00:52:16] He's going to be Spirit-led over self-reliant.
[00:52:19] This is not because he's talented.
[00:52:20] It's not because he's gifted.
[00:52:22] It's because the Holy Spirit is stirring in him.
[00:52:24] Make note of this.
[00:52:25] Letter B. Submission to the Spirit, not confidence in self.
[00:52:30] See, that's why you can't tell the truth.
[00:52:32] Not because you're a theologian.
[00:52:34] Not because you're a gifted orator.
[00:52:36] It's because the Holy Spirit is running through your veins.
[00:52:40] Outcome is his responsibility.
[00:52:42] For brothers and sisters, obedience is your responsibility.
[00:52:45] Amen.
[00:52:46] Paul goes on look at this in verse 23 he says this except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and affliction await me but I do not count my life of value nor as precious to myself now just notice when Paul says I don't count my life as any value Paul's not saying that my life is worth less what he is saying is that Jesus is worth more amen Jesus is worth more
[00:53:16] If only I may, what?
[00:53:19] Finish my course in the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel, the grace of God.
[00:53:27] See, for Paul, he says, because I want to be spirit-led, my main objective now, I just want to finish the course.
[00:53:34] That's it.
[00:53:35] I just want to finish the course.
[00:53:37] There's a lot of Christians, and they'll come to the Lord, and they'll be so excited.
[00:53:42] They'll be ready to tell everyone about the Lord.
[00:53:46] They've been not long in their journey.
[00:53:47] They begin to fizzle out.
[00:53:48] Why?
[00:53:49] Because you haven't finished.
[00:53:51] You haven't finished the course.
[00:53:54] You've not made the Lord the priority.
[00:53:56] There's a couple of reasons for this.
[00:53:58] Let me give you three just real quick if you want to write these down.
[00:54:01] First one is pain.
[00:54:02] Maybe you've tried to tell people about Jesus, but you've been mocked, right?
[00:54:07] There's been hostility.
[00:54:09] That certainly happened to Paul.
[00:54:11] Maybe the other reason, the second one is fatigue.
[00:54:15] Right?
[00:54:15] You're trying to do this, but there's no difference.
[00:54:18] You invite your friends to church and they come out for a little bit, but then they drop off and you don't hear from them again, right?
[00:54:24] Your marriage is still the same.
[00:54:26] Nothing in your house has changed.
[00:54:27] Nothing in your work has changed.
[00:54:29] And you're just tired.
[00:54:30] Listen, Paul went through that.
[00:54:32] Paul was rejected.
[00:54:33] He was abandoned.
[00:54:34] He was forsaken.
[00:54:35] He knows that.
[00:54:36] Here's the third one.
[00:54:37] I think this is the most common one.
[00:54:38] It's not pain.
[00:54:39] It's not fatigue.
[00:54:40] It's just simply division.
[00:54:43] Just division.
[00:54:45] Where you want God, but your heart's torn because you also want something else.
[00:54:51] Jesus, I want to follow you, but I also really love my comfort.
[00:54:59] Jesus, I want to do what you say, but I want to live here.
[00:55:02] I got my own plans.
[00:55:07] Jesus, I do want to follow you, but I also want to follow her or him.
[00:55:15] I've got desires and needs you know Lord.
[00:55:19] Jesus I want to follow you but there's things I want to buy.
[00:55:25] Jesus I want to follow you and obviously I want your approval but I really need to stand on the approval of others.
[00:55:32] That's a divided heart.
[00:55:33] I tell you all the time, if you say, God, you're 99% in charge of my life, that still means you're 100% in charge because you're picking where the 1% is.
[00:55:41] That's why one of the prayers that I'm praying over my life, one of the prayers I'm praying over your life comes from Psalms 86, 11.
[00:55:48] Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in truth and unite my heart to fear your name.
[00:55:54] Lord, I don't want a divided heart.
[00:55:56] I want a heart that beats for you and for you alone and I want to finish the course.
[00:56:01] FBC, finish the course!
[00:56:04] Let me talk to every mama in here who's got little ones and you're up to your elbows in diapers and you're losing sleep and you're frustrated.
[00:56:12] Finish the course for this season in your life and be pouring God into those kids so one day those kids can be shot out like arrows into dark places for the glory of Jesus Christ.
[00:56:22] Finish!
[00:56:23] All the men in here, you need to finish the course.
[00:56:27] You are the spiritual leader of your house.
[00:56:30] You need to protect your wife.
[00:56:31] You need to protect your kids.
[00:56:33] There is an enemy at the door.
[00:56:34] Don't be bored with that.
[00:56:37] Finish it.
[00:56:38] Don't be one of those guys who have a midlife crisis, buys a sports car, and starts unbuttoning your shirt down to your belly button.
[00:56:44] Don't do that.
[00:56:45] That's icky.
[00:56:47] You finish and you be strong.
[00:56:50] If you're in the marketplace, you finish the course.
[00:56:54] You remember that.
[00:56:55] The reason you're working in the first place isn't because of your money-making potential.
[00:56:59] God alone is the one who provides.
[00:57:01] That's what the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy.
[00:57:04] You see, the only reason God puts us into the marketplace isn't so we can provide for ourselves, but because God uses us as a missionary.
[00:57:12] So you make sure you're having those gospel conversations.
[00:57:15] You make sure your living is
[00:57:17] of the world, salt unto the earth so people can know who Jesus is.
[00:57:22] Don't get bored with it.
[00:57:23] Don't revert your attention.
[00:57:25] Don't just focus on your retirement.
[00:57:27] You finish the course to be faithful where you're at.
[00:57:30] Amen?
[00:57:32] We tell our kids that all the time.
[00:57:35] Finish your homework.
[00:57:36] Finish the project.
[00:57:39] Here's what I say.
[00:57:39] Finish that broccoli.
[00:57:43] Finish school.
[00:57:46] Finish the course.
[00:57:47] It's what your Heavenly Father is telling you.
[00:57:49] You know, Martin Luther, we already talked about John Wesley.
[00:57:52] Let me talk about another one.
[00:57:53] Martin Luther, great reformer.
[00:57:55] He said, there's two days on my calendar, this day and that day.
[00:57:59] This day and that day.
[00:58:00] The day I'm in right now and the day that I'm going to stand before the Lord.
[00:58:05] And that's the only two days to count.
[00:58:07] Therefore, I'm going to finish the course.
[00:58:11] Listen, write this down.
[00:58:13] Paul put completion over comfort.
[00:58:16] Make note of this.
[00:58:17] Obedience to Christ, rather than self-preservation.
[00:58:22] You say, how do you do that?
[00:58:23] Well, Paul begins to answer this.
[00:58:24] Look, verse 25.
[00:58:26] And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone out proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
[00:58:33] Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all.
[00:58:41] For I did not, there it is, shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
[00:58:47] You know what Paul's doing here?
[00:58:48] He's actually quoting a passage from Ezekiel, Ezekiel 33, 8.
[00:58:52] If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die.
[00:58:55] You do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way.
[00:59:00] The wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
[00:59:06] but Paul says there's no blood on my hands you know why because my mind was set on eternity therefore i understood the urgency of this would you make note of this we're going to fly through this number five urgency over ease urgency over ease make note of this letter eight eternal realities require urgency now
[00:59:27] If there's just this day and that day, that means we have to be about our Father's business.
[00:59:32] Write this down.
[00:59:33] Love does not remain silent.
[00:59:35] And make note of this.
[00:59:36] We want eternal inheritance, not temporary success.
[00:59:40] That's why we have to be bold, telling the truth, because this is an urgent matter.
[00:59:45] Let me give you one more great reformer.
[00:59:47] Charles Spurgeon, my favorite quote of all time.
[00:59:49] Here's what Charles Spurgeon once said.
[00:59:51] If sinners be damned...
[00:59:52] At least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies, and if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped around their knees, imploring them to stay.
[01:00:02] If hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exhortations, and not let one go unwarned and unprayed for.
[01:00:12] Is that true in Morrisville?
[01:00:17] Is that true in your life?
[01:00:20] Is that true in your family?
[01:00:24] By the way, listen, Paul's not throwing his finger in people's face to say to turn or burn.
[01:00:30] Remember, Paul's coming in a posture of humility and tears because he understands the urgency.
[01:00:40] Brothers and sisters, can we say that it's true that if people in Morrisville are going to go to hell, then let them go by jumping over the dead bodies of the people at First Baptist Church.
[01:00:55] If people in your family, if people in your school, if people at your work are going to go to hell, then at least let them go with our arms wrapped around their knees, begging them and imploring them to stay.
[01:01:04] And not let one family member, not let one person in this city, not let one person in your neighborhood, not let one person in your school or in your workplace go without being unwarned or prayed for.
[01:01:18] Which means we got some warning to do and we got some praying to do.
[01:01:21] Amen?
[01:01:22] We need some church mamas to come up here, grab ahold of this altar and not let go and say, God, I'm not moving till you do what I know you can do.
[01:01:33] Paul knew the urgency of this.
[01:01:34] Paul continued to go on, verse 28.
[01:01:37] Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
[01:01:47] Verse 29, I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
[01:01:55] And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw you away, to draw away the disciples after them.
[01:02:04] Therefore, look at this,
[01:02:06] Be alert.
[01:02:08] Paul said, you know what the problem is?
[01:02:10] You know why some people never had this urgency?
[01:02:13] It's because they don't guard their hearts.
[01:02:15] They don't guard their hearts.
[01:02:16] That's why they begin to fizzle out.
[01:02:18] And Paul understood this, that the church, look at this, it's a watchtower over a platform.
[01:02:25] It's a watchtower over a platform.
[01:02:28] We've got to guard our hearts.
[01:02:30] And you've got to guard your heart for this.
[01:02:33] We've got to keep each other accountable.
[01:02:34] Can I ask you a question?
[01:02:36] You're in Sunday school.
[01:02:38] Are you in a small group?
[01:02:41] You sign up for a Bible study?
[01:02:43] You guard your heart in the Word of God?
[01:02:45] You may note this, letter A.
[01:02:47] We protect the flock, not promote ourselves.
[01:02:50] You know why Paul preached so strongly about this?
[01:02:52] Because Paul knows something.
[01:02:53] Danger often comes from within, not from outside.
[01:02:56] Read the book of Acts.
[01:02:58] The most intense moments where the enemy was attacking wasn't through the Pharisees and it wasn't through the Romans.
[01:03:05] It was from people inside the church.
[01:03:08] Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 5.
[01:03:10] What about those widows in Acts 6 that begin to complain?
[01:03:14] Their hearts wasn't being guarded, right?
[01:03:17] Listen, that's why as Christians, more than ever, you ever flown an airplane?
[01:03:21] Remember what they tell you?
[01:03:23] If the oxygen mask comes down, what are you going to do?
[01:03:25] You put it on first before you help anyone else.
[01:03:28] Some of you have to put your oxygen mask on right now.
[01:03:30] You've got to guard your heart so you can keep your eyes focused on this urgency.
[01:03:33] I want to ask Bethany, she'll begin to wrap us up.
[01:03:36] Number seven, we're going to give you this one.
[01:03:38] Paul says, I want to be word-built over world-made.
[01:03:43] I want to guard my heart so I can be word-built over world-made.
[01:03:48] Verse 32, When I command to you, God,
[01:03:52] and to the Word of His Grace.
[01:03:56] Paul says, I'm leaving you with the Word.
[01:03:59] Why?
[01:04:01] Well, because to be Word-built over world-made means that peace and strength comes from God's Word.
[01:04:07] So that's how we guard our hearts.
[01:04:09] That's how, that's how we're gonna keep our eyes focused on this day and that day.
[01:04:15] Listen to the last part of Paul's speech here.
[01:04:17] Verse 33.
[01:04:19] He said, I come no one silver or gold or pearl.
[01:04:24] Verse 34, you yourselves know that these hands minister to my necessities and to those who are with me.
[01:04:31] Verse 35, in all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak.
[01:04:38] And remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he himself said, look at this, it is more blessed to give
[01:04:47] and To Receive.
[01:04:48] You know the last thing Paul made a decision about?
[01:04:51] He was going to have service over stuff.
[01:04:55] He was going to live that type of life.
[01:04:57] Why?
[01:04:57] Because blessing comes from giving, not getting.
[01:05:01] Paul made a decision, I'm going to give more than I take.
[01:05:05] Where did he learn that?
[01:05:06] From Jesus.
[01:05:08] On the night in which Jesus was betrayed, right before he broke the bread, he walks into the upper room, hours before he would be killed.
[01:05:18] And he begins to wash his disciples' feet.
[01:05:22] Now y'all, I wouldn't have done that.
[01:05:23] If that was me, I mean, if that was me, I would have walked in.
[01:05:26] If I knew, I just had a few minutes left.
[01:05:29] I think I would have looked at those guys and said, listen, I love you, but I need some me time.
[01:05:34] I see people by myself, not Jesus.
[01:05:38] He washed their feet.
[01:05:39] Why?
[01:05:39] Because the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
[01:05:47] So let me ask you this question.
[01:05:49] Do you give more than you take?
[01:05:52] What about in your relationships?
[01:05:53] What about with your friendships?
[01:05:55] What about with your parents?
[01:05:56] What about with your kids?
[01:05:57] What about with your spouse?
[01:06:00] All of you married men, let me ask you this question.
[01:06:03] Whose preference do you think about more?
[01:06:05] Yours or your wife's?
[01:06:09] Ladies, let me ask you this question.
[01:06:11] Whose comfort do you think about more?
[01:06:14] Yours or your husband's?
[01:06:15] Do you give more or do you take more?
[01:06:19] What about when it comes to the way you spend your money?
[01:06:23] You give more, you take more.
[01:06:24] Listen, there are so many people who go to church and they will say, Jesus, I trust you with eternity, I trust you with salvation, but I don't trust you with my checkbook.
[01:06:35] I'm not going to tithe.
[01:06:36] I mean, I'm going to be generous every once in a while, but I'm not going to be committed to this because I won't trust you in all these other areas, but not there.
[01:06:44] Brothers and sisters, listen, you understand that God gives us money-making potential so we can give.
[01:06:51] So more and more people can hear about Jesus Christ.
[01:06:54] I think everyone knows this.
[01:06:56] Listen, to live above your means, is that a sin?
[01:06:59] Well, yeah, you're not being a good steward.
[01:07:02] Can I tell you it's just as much a sin to live to the full extent of your means?
[01:07:06] Because now it's all become about me, my comfort, my hope, my wants.
[01:07:12] What about your time?
[01:07:14] I've told you, listen, I can tell you if you fizzled out or not.
[01:07:17] You just got to show me two things, your checkbook and your calendar.
[01:07:22] You let me look at that and I can tell you if you fizzled.
[01:07:25] Or I can tell you if you're kingdom living.
[01:07:29] I can tell you if you believe that there's an urgency right now.
[01:07:32] And every aspect of Paul's life, he gave more than he took.
[01:07:39] Is that true about you?
[01:07:41] Well, I say every aspect.
[01:07:43] That's not entirely true.
[01:07:45] There is one relationship Paul could never give more than he could take, and that was his relationship with God.
[01:07:54] Let me just read this quickly to you.
[01:07:56] Here's how this finishes.
[01:07:58] After Paul preaches this sermon, this goodbye, farewell sermon, to these people that he loves dearly, verse 36, when he said these things, he knelt down and he prayed with them all.
[01:08:11] And there was much weeping on the part of all.
[01:08:14] They embraced Paul and they kissed him.
[01:08:17] I just love that.
[01:08:18] You know, there's been, I've left churches before.
[01:08:21] I've given a farewell sermon.
[01:08:24] I don't ever remember anybody kissing me afterwards.
[01:08:28] Why do they do that?
[01:08:30] Well, when someone leaves and you kiss them, it's typically because it's your spouse or your kids, right?
[01:08:37] Family.
[01:08:39] And that's the way they saw Paul's family.
[01:08:41] They hugged him, they embraced him, they kissed him on the cheek.
[01:08:43] Oh, we love you, Paul.
[01:08:45] Look at this, verse 38.
[01:08:46] Being sorrowful, most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again.
[01:08:54] And they accompanied him to the ship.
[01:08:59] They say, Paul, we're gonna see you off.
[01:09:02] They walk with him, he gets on the ship.
[01:09:03] I kind of get this image in my head as the ship's going out, everyone's waving at Paul.
[01:09:07] See you, Paul.
[01:09:09] Be good in Jerusalem!
[01:09:15] You know, Paul's not the only one who took a trip to Jerusalem.
[01:09:20] One time Jesus went to Jerusalem.
[01:09:23] But Jesus' experience and Paul's experience was very different.
[01:09:28] When Paul goes to Jerusalem, he's got his family and his friends standing there at the dock waving him goodbye.
[01:09:35] When Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem, his closest friends tried to talk him out of it.
[01:09:42] When Paul goes to Jerusalem, Paul will eventually record and say later on that, My God has stood by my side and that he will never forsake me.
[01:09:53] But when Jesus would go to Jerusalem, there would be a crowd that would stand before Him and they would yell to the top of their lungs, Crucify Him!
[01:10:03] When Jesus was in Jerusalem, He was hanging on a cross and He cried out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
[01:10:14] Paul could never ever give up as much as Jesus had already given up for Paul.
[01:10:21] Amen?
[01:10:24] Paul can never give up as much as Jesus had already given up for him.
[01:10:29] In First Baptist, you're never going to be able to give up as much as Jesus has already given up for you.
[01:10:35] And so because Jesus has already given me everything, because I'm going to take, take, take more from him than I could ever give, that means in every other area of my life, now I want to be known as a giver and not a taker.
[01:10:47] I want every relationship I have to be kind of fall in this category with my wife, with my kids, with the people I'm serving at First Baptist, with the church that God has me in, has my family in, that my family's growing in.
[01:11:00] I just want to give more than I take.
[01:11:05] Is that true in your life right now?
[01:11:08] I want to ask you today to do one thing for those of you who are believers, because this is a message for believers.
[01:11:14] Would you just make a decision today to renew your life?
[01:11:18] To rededicate your life today to be a person who puts people over recognition, truth over approval, to be spirit-led, not self-reliant, to have completion over comfort, to have a sense of urgency over ease, to be a watchtower over a platform, and to have service over stuff.
[01:11:37] For some of you say, I can't do that.
[01:11:41] But for some of you, you can't do that because you've never actually trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior in the first place.
[01:11:46] Listen, today is the day.
[01:11:47] Today is the day.
[01:11:50] The Bible says that he is just and faithful to forgive you of your sins.
[01:11:53] And maybe today, if you've never said yes, you've been going through the motions.
[01:11:58] It all looks good on the outside, but on the inside, you've never surrendered your life to Jesus.
[01:12:01] I want to ask you today if you'd come.
[01:12:04] This altar is going to be open.
[01:12:06] For some of you in here who do not know the sweet name of Jesus, you never trust him, let today be the day where you die to yourself, you trust him as Lord and Savior.
[01:12:14] And for those of you who have confessed his name, let today be the day where you say, Lord, I will not fizzle out.
[01:12:23] From now on, there's gonna be two days on my calendar, this day and that day, and I'm renewing myself to you because I can never give like you've given.
[01:12:33] I've taken so much, you've given me everything.
[01:12:36] So here's my heart, Lord.
[01:12:38] Would you stand right where you're at?
[01:12:39] Lord Jesus, we thank you.
[01:12:41] Father, we pray today that you would help us.
[01:12:45] We pray that you would help us not just talk the talk, Lord, but walk the walk by actually laying down our lives.
[01:12:58] Father, I pray that if there's someone in here who has confessed your name, but they have been very
[01:13:04] I pray that if there's someone in here who's tasted and seen your sweet grace before, but they've just turned their eyes inward, oh Lord, that today would be the day.
[01:13:21] Today would be the day where they come and they repent of their sins and they renew that relationship with you.
[01:13:28] Father God, I pray that if there's someone in here who's never tasted and seen,
[01:13:34] Maybe they've been going through the motions.
[01:13:35] On the outside, it looks good, but deep down there, a million miles away from you.
[01:13:40] But you would give them the boldness and the courage today to say, I surrender all.
[01:13:45] But I can't do this on my own anymore.
[01:13:46] I need you and only you.
[01:13:49] Lord, would you put their eyes on you in this moment.
[01:13:53] Father, we pray all of these things in your holy and most exalted name.

[01:14:02] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[01:14:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
In Jesus' name we pray.

[01:15:01] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[01:15:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy,
[01:16:35] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[01:18:48] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[01:19:18] Amen.
[01:19:41] The end of flesh and meat has given way
[01:20:09] The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

[01:20:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Man, well, church family, I want to share something with you.
[01:20:32] I want to ask if Paulette will come.
[01:20:35] Paulette Porter has been a member here for quite some time.
[01:20:38] Paulette is a Christian.
[01:20:41] She gave her life to Christ a while ago.
[01:20:48] But Paulette's also been very sick and has not felt well for quite some time.
[01:20:55] And recently, Paulette had a surgery, and really, God used that as a miracle.
[01:21:01] It changed her life.
[01:21:03] She's having more energy than she's ever had.
[01:21:06] And I just want you to know, Paulette's standing before you today to let the church know that she has renewed her faith.
[01:21:16] Dedicate her life to Jesus.
[01:21:19] And we're so excited about this.
[01:21:21] But listen, God's not done with Paulette.
[01:21:25] God's not done with me.
[01:21:28] Can I ask you just this morning?
[01:21:30] My mic's going a little bit in and out.
[01:21:31] Can I ask you, if you made that decision today, just throw your hand up in the air just so we can be praying for you that you've renewed your relationship with Jesus.
[01:21:41] You rededicated your life.
[01:21:42] Anyone else?
[01:21:43] I see hands going up.
[01:21:44] Yeah.
[01:21:45] That's amazing.
[01:21:46] Can I ask you another question?
[01:21:47] Would you be so bold to say, you know what?
[01:21:51] I didn't just read my life.
[01:21:53] I started a relationship with Jesus.
[01:21:56] Today's the day I got to say, would you be so bold just to throw your hand up?
[01:22:02] Anybody here this morning?
[01:22:09] Thank you for that hand.
[01:22:12] Listen, the Lord is moving and the Lord is stirring and He is not done with you.
[01:22:17] God prays for people like Paulette and for people like you to raise your hand.
[01:22:21] I'm so bold about that.
[01:22:22] Now let's take that same boldness.
[01:22:24] Let's leave this sanctuary and let's tell the people of Morrisville this urgent, urgent message of the good news of truth and grace.
[01:22:34] Let's pray.
[01:22:35] Father, we thank you for who you are.
[01:22:36] I thank you for Paulette and I thank you for every person out there who raised their hand.
[01:22:40] Father, I thank you that you're a God who doesn't give up on us.
[01:22:44] Father, even when we trust you as Lord and Savior, and even those moments when our eyes have turned inward, your eyes did not turn away.
[01:22:55] You still pursue us and you love us and you are so willing to take us back.
[01:23:00] You're not just the God of second chances, you're the God of third chances, fourth chances, fifth chances, a hundred chances.
[01:23:07] Oh Lord, thank you for that being true, not just in life, thank you for that being true in Paulette's life.
[01:23:12] Thank you for that.
[01:23:12] Thank you for making that true in the lives of many people who rose their hands this morning.
[01:23:18] Father God, we thank you for the new life here this morning, not just those who have rededicated their lives, but those who have surrendered their life to you, but who trust you as Lord and Savior, who made a decision to die to themselves so they could be brought to life in, for, and through you.
[01:23:34] Oh, Lord Jesus, I pray, I pray that you stir the hearts of the people at First Baptist, that we leave here, and that, Father, we share the good news, this urgent message.
[01:23:45] We put truth over approval.
[01:23:46] We put people over recognition, and that, Father God, we finish the course, completion over comfort.
[01:23:55] Oh, Lord, if people in Morrisville are going to go to hell, then let them go by jumping over the dead bodies of the people in this sanctuary.
[01:24:02] Let them go with our arms wrapped around their knees, begging them and imploring them to stay, and not let one person go without being unwarned or prayed for.
[01:24:13] Father, so now as we go to do that very thing, would you bless us, keep us, make your face shine upon us, and give us traveling mercies until we meet again.
[01:24:22] We pray all of this in your holy and mostly good name.
[01:24:26] And all those who agreed said, Amen.
[01:24:29] You are dismissed.