The Sweet Deception: How Today’s Comfort Becomes Tomorrow’s Captivity

[00:04:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We worship because of who He is, not because of what we walk through.
[00:04:18] Amen.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Praise cause you're sovereign.
[00:04:25] Praise cause you reign.
[00:04:27] Praise cause you rose and defeated the grave.
[00:04:32] Praise cause you're faithful.
[00:04:33] Praise cause you're true.
[00:04:34] Come on.
[00:04:35] Praise cause there's nobody

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
We lift our hands to the heavens We're here for you We reach for the helm of your garment We know what it can do We know what it can do
[00:06:49] The King is in the room and you can sound the body
[00:07:51] Let's pray.
[00:08:45] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
[00:10:41] I love you Lord For your mercy never fails me In all my days I've been held in your hands From the moment that I wake up
[00:11:04] Until I lay my head, oh I will sing of the goodness of God All my life you have been faithful All my life you have been so, so good
[00:11:39] I love the sound of the goodness of God I love your voice You have led me through the fire In darkest night You are close like no other
[00:12:07] I've known you as a friend And I have been in the goodness of God All my life you have been faithful All my life you have been so, so good
[00:12:58] Your goodness is running after It's running after me With my life's angels I surrender now I give You everything Your goodness is running after It's running after me Your goodness is running after It's running after me
[00:13:49] All my life you have been faithful And all my life you have been so, so good With every breath that I am able
[00:14:18] Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God Oh, I will sing All my life you have been faithful All my life you have been so, so good

[00:15:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Good morning, if you just have a seat.
[00:15:22] I'm Ron, this is my wife Carrie.
[00:15:24] We're going to be facilitating communion this morning.
[00:15:26] If you did not get a communion, come into the doors.
[00:15:30] The ushers are ready to give you one, so if you just raise your hand.
[00:15:35] Here at Grace Covenant Church, you do not have to be a member of Grace Covenant.
[00:15:39] All you have to do is just know Jesus Christ, your personal Savior.

[00:15:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
It's a new year.
[00:15:47] It gets filled with anticipation and hope, doesn't it?
[00:15:50] Until you start dwelling on all life situations that you currently are facing.
[00:15:54] And then, man, if I could clap right now, it'd be like whammo, right?
[00:15:58] It stops sometimes, and we forget.
[00:16:00] Romans 15, 13 tells us that God is a God of hope.
[00:16:06] And he says that he would want to fill us with all joy and peace and that we could actually overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[00:16:16] That is a promise.
[00:16:18] And in scripture that's illustrated, I thought of two different things.
[00:16:20] One of them was Elijah is on Mount Carmel and he's there with his servant.
[00:16:25] He had been promised that the rain would come to take away the famine in Samaria.
[00:16:30] And so he tells his servant, go look, go look, look for the signs of God moving.
[00:16:35] He tells us that too, right?
[00:16:36] Look for the sign of his moving.
[00:16:38] Seven times he went out there.
[00:16:41] Nothing, nothing, nothing.
[00:16:43] There's Elijah.
[00:16:44] He's down on his knees on the ground and he's seeking God.
[00:16:49] Now, these seven times, was it quick?
[00:16:51] Was it one of those, I know it's happening, it's going to happen, it's happening.
[00:16:55] Go again, go again.
[00:16:56] It's right there.
[00:16:57] Or was it, God, can't see it yet.
[00:17:01] God.
[00:17:03] Was it an all-day thing?
[00:17:05] I don't know.
[00:17:05] We don't know, right?
[00:17:07] Have you been in both places?
[00:17:08] I have.
[00:17:10] But it came, and it came in a form of a small cloud, the size of a man's hand.
[00:17:15] And that represented all the fullness of rain and provision that was necessary to be able to make the change in Samaria and for the land to be healed.
[00:17:27] God wants to do that in us.
[00:17:28] We can think of Abraham in Romans chapter 4 that said that he had to face the fact that he was dead.
[00:17:34] He was a hundred years old.
[00:17:37] He could not fulfill the promise of God that he would have a son that would become a nation.
[00:17:43] And he faced that fact.
[00:17:44] He looked right at it.
[00:17:45] I see right in front of me, God, all that I can't make happen.
[00:17:49] And yet, he was fully persuaded that God had the ability to do what he promised.
[00:17:56] This is what God is asking us to do in the fulfillment of the provision in Christ, is that we can look for signs of evidence of him moving.
[00:18:05] It may not be the whole thing that we're looking for, but there's signs of his moving.
[00:18:09] And no matter how small it is, know that it's full of the rain, it's full of the provision of what God knows you need.
[00:18:16] And the other thing is stay fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He's promised.
[00:18:23] Amen?

[00:18:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
If you take your elements, take your bread, just hold it up because of the hope that was made before us in Jesus Christ and what Jesus did on the cross for us.
[00:18:39] We just thank you for that.
[00:18:41] If you take the bread with me.
[00:18:49] In the same manner, took the cup and said, Jesus said, this is my blood that was shed upon the cross.
[00:18:58] I made provision, a hope, and a future for you.
[00:19:03] I set it from the past to now, to the present.
[00:19:08] So if you'd take this cup with me.
[00:19:20] Father, thank you.
[00:19:21] Thank you that we have hope in Christ.
[00:19:26] There was said for us, think about Abraham, when he was fully persuaded, we think about
[00:19:35] Elijah just a small cloud but yet you met them where they were and yet you sent your son for us to die so that we will have a hope and a future thank you Jesus that you came thank you that you set us free and we look forward to the day that we get to set it with you and just thank you for in Jesus name amen won't you stand as we continue to worship

[00:20:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
I am an instrument of exaltation I was born to lift your name above all names You hear the melody of all creation There's a song of praise that only
[00:21:12] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

[00:21:35] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:22:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
There is no other name There is no other name

[00:22:36] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Who was and is and is to come Seated on the cross

[00:24:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Who else is worthy?

[00:24:17] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Who else is worthy?

[00:24:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
There is no one worthy of Jesus Who else is worthy?
[00:24:32] Who else is worthy?
[00:24:37] There is no one

[00:24:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
We thank you, Lord.
[00:24:49] We thank you, God, that you were the worthy one.
[00:24:52] That you were the one that could take our sin, take our death, be that perfect sacrifice that we could never become, Lord.
[00:25:02] We thank you for a clean slate, for a new year, for a chance to step in to the fullness of what you've called us to be, Lord.
[00:25:12] And thank you for each and every heart in this room, each and every heart listening from home or wherever they may be this morning, God.
[00:25:22] We trust you.
[00:25:24] We love you.
[00:25:26] We worship you.
[00:25:28] In your name we pray.
[00:25:29] And we all said, Amen.
[00:25:31] Amen.
[00:25:32] Well, before you take a seat, continue with worship as you love on one another.

[00:26:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Well, good morning Grace Covenant.
[00:26:17] I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
[00:26:22] I'm so glad you guys are here with us today and joining us as we worship.
[00:26:26] If this is your first time here or if you're just relatively new to attending here at Grace Covenant, we would love to meet you.
[00:26:34] If you would stop by Guest Central on your left on your way out, we have a free gift for you just for stopping by and saying hi to us.
[00:26:42] We'd love to see how we can make Grace Covenant a home church for you.
[00:26:48] I've got a couple announcements for you today as we kick off the new year.
[00:26:52] First is that we have our, excuse me, we have our Grow and Serve Sunday next week, January 11th, and this is going to be during both services, and it's a special day to learn about how you can join in and get involved in what's happening here at Grace Covenant.
[00:27:09] You'll have ways, discover ways in how you can serve others as well as grow in your own faith in Jesus.
[00:27:17] And you'll be able to learn about ministries, connect with leaders, and find where God might be calling you to step in, get involved in here at Grace Covenant.
[00:27:27] Second thing I got for you is that Level 1 Discipleship is back.
[00:27:31] I know we had a lot of people asking about when we're going to do Level 1 again.
[00:27:34] Well, here it is.
[00:27:35] It is starting January 14th.
[00:27:39] This is a proven and effective discipleship class that has been written and tested and refined for...
[00:27:46] more than 20 years to maximize the impact and ability to transform lives so this is an awesome way for you to dive in to see develop your identity in god and just continue to disciple and grow in your relationship with jesus and so if you have questions about that you can talk to pastor steve but we are doing sign ups today and they are going to be also at guest central on your way out so if this is something that you might be interested in be sure to get signed up to get more information
[00:28:15] Lastly, we have our women's conference coming up.
[00:28:19] Last year, we had a men's conference.
[00:28:20] Women, now it is your turn.
[00:28:22] You get to go.
[00:28:22] It is coming on February 6th and 7th, and this is going to be at the Cornelius campus, so it is at the main campus, and all the women will come together, and this is going to be a time to step away from the life's noise and experience the transformative power of God's Word.
[00:28:42] Enjoy inspiring speakers, practical breakout sessions, and meaningful moments of prayer and fellowship.
[00:28:48] And to get signed up for that you can go to the website at gracecovenant.org backslash events or you can use the iPad lobby on your way out and get signed up there.
[00:29:00] Last and certainly not least, we have our time of offering.
[00:29:03] This is our time where we get to give back to God as He has given us so many blessings in our lives.
[00:29:09] And there's three ways that we can do that.
[00:29:12] One, through the website.
[00:29:13] Two, on the app.
[00:29:14] And third is through the boxes in the back.
[00:29:19] I'm going to pray for service and invite Pastor Steve up.
[00:29:22] Lord, thank you for today.
[00:29:23] Thank you for this opportunity to come and worship you and grow together, Lord.
[00:29:27] I pray that you would just be with the message today, Lord.
[00:29:30] I pray you'd be with Pastor Steve as he comes.
[00:29:32] And I pray that you'd just bless this offering this morning.
[00:29:35] I pray all this in your name.
[00:29:36] Amen.

[00:29:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Well, good morning.
[00:29:45] Happy New Year!
[00:29:46] Man, it's good to see you.
[00:29:48] How many of you enjoyed last Sunday on your couch?
[00:29:52] I know that some of you gathered together, and someone sent me a picture of a group, I think, at Dennis' house, and it looks like you guys were enjoying yourselves over there.
[00:30:01] Sherry and I, we sat alone at our house, which does not happen ever for us.
[00:30:07] So that was a pretty different experience for us.
[00:30:11] But man, it is good to be back.
[00:30:13] Amen.
[00:30:14] There's something about being together in the house of the Lord and worshiping with His people.
[00:30:21] To come together with like-minded people who love Jesus and want to proclaim His goodness.
[00:30:27] There's just something powerful about it.
[00:30:29] And so we are so glad that you are here.
[00:30:31] So a couple things before I jump into my message.
[00:30:34] I'm going to do exactly what I should not be doing, and I'm going to repeat some of the announcements.
[00:30:40] First of all, I want to talk about this women's conference, by the way.
[00:30:45] I'm just going to let you know.
[00:30:47] I'm overcoming a sickness.
[00:30:48] You might hear it a little bit.
[00:30:50] I don't think I'm contagious.
[00:30:51] I'm doing much better, but I'm still a little bit congested and a little tired.
[00:30:54] So just be mindful of that if I'm not my energetic self this morning.
[00:30:59] Some of you might appreciate that.
[00:31:00] I know my wife will.
[00:31:01] But a couple of things I want to point out.
[00:31:06] Natalie Runyon, a famous author.
[00:31:09] Yes.
[00:31:10] Have you read her book?
[00:31:11] What's the book called, Sherry?
[00:31:13] The one that we know.
[00:31:17] Raised to Stay, she did a lot of research into why so many folks are, especially you younger generation, are kind of growing up and leaving church and just talking about that dynamic.
[00:31:28] Great, great speaker.
[00:31:29] We saw her at one of our Four Square conferences.
[00:31:31] Highly recommend women.
[00:31:33] This is going to be one of those events you want to be a part of.
[00:31:35] I think it's going to be amazing.
[00:31:37] You will not regret being a part of this.
[00:31:39] What a great opportunity to start your new year.
[00:31:43] And I want to encourage you, there's going to be some devotions that go along with that.
[00:32:09] There's a
[00:32:11] The time you guys heard me last Sunday, the time for action is when?
[00:32:29] Right now.
[00:32:30] Today is the day of the Lord's favor.
[00:32:33] Today is the day that you begin to move forward.
[00:32:36] Today is the day that you move away from sin, when you make decisions that better your life.
[00:32:39] Right now.
[00:32:40] It's not tomorrow.
[00:32:41] It's not when things settle down.
[00:32:42] It's today.
[00:32:43] And so I want to encourage you, as we join in this fast together this month, this is a great opportunity for you to set the distractions aside and open up space in your life to hear
[00:32:56] God's voice because here's the reality God is speaking to you he is speaking to you the question is are you listening
[00:33:05] And this is one of those things that's going to create space in your life to hear the voice of the Lord clearly.
[00:33:12] And so I want to encourage you to engage in whatever that looks like for you.
[00:33:16] For some of you, you might just be fasting from media or social media.
[00:33:20] I think some of you need to fast from social media for the rest of your lives, but that's beside the point.
[00:33:26] But whatever that looks like for you, what does it look like to make space for God to move in your life?
[00:33:31] This is what the fast is about, and that's what I want to encourage you to think about as we move forward with that.
[00:33:35] Amen?
[00:33:35] Amen.
[00:33:38] Well, this morning we are, as we enter into the new year, starting a new series.
[00:33:43] How many of you... Acts was great, by the way.
[00:33:47] How many of you like those long, expository series?
[00:33:51] Anybody?
[00:33:52] Three of you do great.
[00:33:53] All three.
[00:33:53] Oh, more of you.
[00:33:54] Thank you.
[00:33:55] All right.
[00:33:56] Well, today we're starting a series called Fire and Cloud.
[00:34:00] And for the next couple months, we're going to be going through the book of Exodus.
[00:34:04] and I think it's going to be spectacular because what you're going to find is that the big picture of Exodus
[00:34:17] is salvation it is not just a history lesson listen it is a gospel trailer and i know that some of you have had some lust and pleasant experiences reading through the old testament right some of us we look at it as boring outdated however i guarantee that by the end of our time together when we complete this series i believe that you will your view will be completely different
[00:34:41] It is exciting, it is deep, and it is full of life lessons that will transform our lives if we take the time to go through it.
[00:34:52] And so I want to go ahead and jump in this morning, starting at Exodus chapter 1 in the first verse as we look at this exciting historical narrative.
[00:35:03] Here we go.
[00:35:03] You guys ready?
[00:35:06] You got your journals out ready to write some stuff down?
[00:35:09] Expecting the Lord to speak to you today.
[00:35:11] Here we go.
[00:35:13] These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family.
[00:35:18] Reuben and Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar, Zebulon and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher, the descendants of Jacob, numbered 70 in all.
[00:35:27] Joseph was already in Egypt.
[00:35:29] Already, we're starting exciting, right?
[00:35:32] Already.
[00:35:33] What better way to start a book than with a genealogy?
[00:35:36] That's definitely the way to grab everyone's attention, isn't it?
[00:35:39] So what's going on here?
[00:35:41] So immediately, we're seeing this lineage of the sons of Jacob.
[00:35:46] And we see, and the whole point of this is that Moses, who's the author, is kind of showing that the story doesn't end, the Genesis story doesn't end there, that this is actual continuation of that story.
[00:35:59] This is after some significant events that happened in the book of Genesis.
[00:36:04] Now, the book of Genesis is a pretty spectacular book.
[00:36:09] I mean you think about all that's contained there from the creation story to the fall all the way up to the flood and then Noahic covenant then we move into the Abrahamic covenant all the way to the Isaac and Jacob and then to the story of Joseph now for those of you who don't know just very quickly I don't have time to go through it all over this morning but Joseph
[00:36:32] Had these 11 brothers, him and his brothers, and he was one of the youngest, which means he was one of the least favored.
[00:36:41] Yet in this case, his dad absolutely loved him.
[00:36:45] And David started, or rather Jacob...
[00:36:49] David, Jacob, Joseph there we go Joseph he started having these dreams showing him in authority and he started sharing these dreams this is what you don't do with his brothers they became jealous we're gonna kill him but instead sold him into slavery through a long series of events he ended up in Egypt as a slave eventually made his way to second of command in Egypt
[00:37:11] Well, famine hit the land, the Israelites, Jacob, all of his sons, and all of Joseph's brothers, they were starving, so they come to Egypt, where there was plenty of food, where they encounter Joseph, and we all know that amazing story of redemption and forgiveness and restoration there.
[00:37:30] And so what happens is because of the famine in the land, the Hebrews at that point move into Egypt and they're given the best of the land there.
[00:37:41] And so again, so much happens in that book and that's where we start off in the book of Exodus.
[00:37:48] And so if you remember that, or as I just mentioned, Moses is the author and he is writing to the very people who experienced the deliverance from slavery that we're going to read in the coming months.
[00:38:00] And so think about it.
[00:38:02] Understand what's happening here.
[00:38:03] They don't have a Bible.
[00:38:05] They don't really know
[00:38:08] This God, this is the God of their ancestors.
[00:38:12] This historical narrative is written to help remind, to help reinforce the character of God that they were actually kind of discovering together.
[00:38:20] And so we begin with this genealogy which reveals some significant aspects of God.
[00:38:28] This is the God of continuity.
[00:38:31] What He begins, He will finish.
[00:38:35] This is the God who keeps His promises that He doesn't forget His people.
[00:38:39] And in fact, the Exodus becomes Israel's primary reference point.
[00:38:45] As you look at it through all of Scripture, it's the most referenced story throughout Scripture.
[00:38:54] It's the primary reference point for who God is.
[00:38:56] He's the God who hears and the God who sees and the God who comes down and dwells, lives with His people.
[00:39:03] He's the God who delivers His people.
[00:39:06] Later, the prophets and the poets and worshipers of Israel continue to look back and reference these moments.
[00:39:14] Even as we move into the New Testament, we're going to see that the whole Exodus story is actually a beautiful, beautiful picture of salvation.
[00:39:25] And so we need to change the way that we read and understand what God is saying through these historical narratives.
[00:39:31] It's not just about locations and facts and people.
[00:39:35] We don't read this as if we're reading a history book.
[00:39:40] This is about, it's not about the where's and the when's.
[00:39:43] It's not about what happens.
[00:39:44] It's about who are we?
[00:39:49] What is God like?
[00:39:51] What is his character?
[00:39:53] That's what this story is about.
[00:39:57] This is the scripture that shaped the identity of the Jewish people.
[00:40:00] This story is to help us discover the truth about who God really is.
[00:40:05] And so don't read through this looking through dates and facts and look at this as a historical narrative that points to the character of God and how he loves his people and how he desires a relationship with his people.
[00:40:25] So why does this matter for us today?
[00:40:29] This is gonna be a great series because so many believers misunderstand the Old Testament.
[00:40:36] A lot of us read it and we see this God who looks angry, vengeful,
[00:40:43] and so often we avoid it or maybe we rush through the Old Testament to get back to the New Testament right the one that we like with Jesus who is so loving and kind and peaceful but over the next couple of months we're gonna discover that actually the opposite is true yes God is holy yes God absolutely hates sin okay what Exodus shows us a God who is patient
[00:41:09] A God who relentlessly pursues this people that He loves.
[00:41:14] Relentlessly pursues relationship with His people.
[00:41:18] In spite of their brokenness, in spite of their open rebellion,
[00:41:25] And so as we read this story, don't just watch what God does.
[00:41:29] Listen, watch what God is like.
[00:41:31] See what He's like.
[00:41:33] Because listen, the God that we meet and that we see in Exodus, it is the same God we worship today.
[00:41:41] Amen?
[00:41:43] So that's my series introduction.
[00:41:46] So the story of Exodus doesn't start with salvation, though.
[00:41:51] You know where it starts?
[00:41:53] In Egypt.
[00:41:55] And as you look through Scripture, often you'll begin to understand that some things often represent themes.
[00:42:05] And in Scripture, Egypt, you guys know what that represents?
[00:42:10] Sin.
[00:42:12] Egypt always represents sin.
[00:42:15] It represents the old life.
[00:42:18] It represents slavery.
[00:42:20] It represents what God saves us from.
[00:42:23] And so this morning, before we get to the idea of salvation, we want to see that in the coming weeks, in the coming months.
[00:42:30] But I want to go through the start of Exodus and kind of talk about the nature of sin that we can learn from this book.
[00:42:39] Are you guys good with that today?
[00:42:41] Listen, it's going to be, man, we're going to start the year off heavy, but I think this is going to be good.
[00:42:45] We have to, because there's some themes that we have to learn today that are going to set us up to be able to understand the rest of the book as we go through it.
[00:42:53] Okay?
[00:42:54] And so let's go ahead and continue in the book of Exodus, chapter 1, verse 6 through 7.
[00:42:59] My first point is this, and it is that sin starts sweet.
[00:43:04] How many of you this year are getting rid of sweets in your life as a New Year's resolution, at least for the first week?
[00:43:11] Because we know it lasts a week and then you move on, right?
[00:43:15] Sin starts sweet.
[00:43:18] Let's read.
[00:43:18] Exodus 1, verse 6 says, Remember, they're in Egypt.
[00:43:26] They're...
[00:43:27] They're benefiting from the abundance of the land.
[00:43:34] They're benefiting from being a part of Egypt, the protection of Egypt.
[00:43:38] They're enjoying themselves, right?
[00:43:40] They have favor with Pharaoh.
[00:43:41] And it says, Now Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful.
[00:43:48] They multiplied greatly.
[00:43:51] They increased in number and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
[00:43:56] So Joseph dies, a generation passes, and yet the people of Israel are fruitful.
[00:44:01] They multiply.
[00:44:02] They fill the land.
[00:44:03] And at this point of the story, Egypt doesn't really feel like bondage, does it?
[00:44:07] It feels like a blessing.
[00:44:09] It feels like provision.
[00:44:09] It feels like security.
[00:44:11] I mean, if you think about it, these folks have it made.
[00:44:15] And that's exactly how Egypt works at the beginning.
[00:44:19] Egypt was safe.
[00:44:21] The land where they lived, where they were given Goshen was extremely fertile.
[00:44:25] In fact, I think it is the most fertile land in the world.
[00:44:31] It provides for their needs, especially during that famine, during their time of struggle.
[00:44:36] This was all that they needed.
[00:44:38] And that is exactly what sin feels like, isn't it?
[00:44:42] It often steps in and starts meeting legitimate needs in illegitimate ways.
[00:44:48] And so sin can often feel like comfort when you're stressed, in control, when you're anxious, escape when you're overwhelmed, affirmation when you feel insecure.
[00:44:58] Sin always comes, listen, with a promise of happiness.
[00:45:05] It offers a payoff.
[00:45:06] The things that we often need, right?
[00:45:08] Things like relief and pleasure and control, and then it tightens in to slavery.
[00:45:14] And I want to be very real with you this morning, often sin feels absolutely great.
[00:45:23] As the saying goes, if sin isn't fun, well, you're just not doing it right.
[00:45:28] Right?
[00:45:28] We all understand that.
[00:45:29] Let's be real this morning.
[00:45:31] But I appreciate the insight that Augustine brings when he explains that sin isn't only doing bad things.
[00:45:38] It's often loving good things in the wrong order.
[00:45:42] It's not about doing bad things.
[00:45:45] It's about placing good things on the throne of our hearts.
[00:45:50] Good gifts get promoted to God positions.
[00:45:54] And the desire isn't always wrong, it's the placement of those things on the throne of our hearts.
[00:46:00] Relationships aren't wrong, right?
[00:46:04] But when we are willing to disobey God for the health of the relationship, listen, then that becomes sin.
[00:46:10] Success isn't bad.
[00:46:12] But when your identity and sense of worth are wrapped up in that promotion, then it becomes sin.
[00:46:19] And that's Egypt.
[00:46:20] It's a place that felt like provision until, listen, until it became a master.
[00:46:27] And here's the warning that we see in the beginning here of Exodus.
[00:46:32] Don't get comfortable.
[00:46:35] Don't let your guard down.
[00:46:37] What begins as comfort, just like that, can become captivity.
[00:46:44] And we're looking at how we define right and wrong, or if we should pursue something, we often ask the question, is it helping me?
[00:46:51] And I want to propose, I think, a better question.
[00:46:56] I think the question that we should be asking is, is it forming me?
[00:46:59] Is this ruling me?
[00:47:01] Is this replacing God?
[00:47:04] And I want to encourage you this morning as we're entering into this new year, some of us, we need to get before the Lord and ask, Lord, is what Egypt in my life started as relief but is now becoming a reliance?
[00:47:16] Amen.
[00:47:17] And so first of all, we have to see that sin starts sweet.
[00:47:20] Let's continue.
[00:47:21] Second of all, sin turns sour.
[00:47:26] It starts sweet, but it turns sour.
[00:47:28] Let's continue to read in Exodus 1, verse 8.
[00:47:34] It says, You have to be aware which king is sitting on the throne of your heart.
[00:47:44] You got to be self-aware.
[00:47:45] Because a new king comes, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.
[00:47:51] Look, he said to his people, the Israelites have become far too numerous for us.
[00:47:57] Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or they will become even more numerous, and if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.
[00:48:06] And so they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.
[00:48:11] And they built Pithom and Ramesses as store cities for Pharaoh.
[00:48:15] But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.
[00:48:19] And so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly.
[00:48:27] They made their lives bitter and harsh labor.
[00:48:31] And with harsh labor and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields, in all their harsh labor, the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
[00:48:41] Do you see that repeat of words?
[00:48:43] Worked them ruthlessly.
[00:48:48] And just like I said before, that was fast, wasn't it?
[00:48:55] One generation is all it took
[00:48:59] The blink of an eye in the history of Israel, and they went from blessing to absolute slavery.
[00:49:09] It doesn't take long for things to change, does it?
[00:49:12] A new king, it says, came to the throne that did not know Joseph.
[00:49:19] And in that moment, everything changed.
[00:49:21] And listen, it's a picture of what happens when sin takes the throne of our heart.
[00:49:27] and obey you with pleasure with relief control comfort but once it is established once it moves in it doesn't bring peace does it it brings pain sin doesn't just want a moment it wants to reign in your heart you see these folks who once found favor with the king are now seen as a threat and then that blink of an eye their whole lives change you see they became dependent on Egypt
[00:49:55] It became their source of safety, and along the way, they forgot about the God of their ancestors.
[00:50:03] But by then, guess what?
[00:50:04] The hook was set.
[00:50:06] And what once brought security now brings slavery.
[00:50:11] What first provided for their need now uses them, and they're trapped.
[00:50:16] They are helpless.
[00:50:17] You guys ever feel this with sin?
[00:50:19] They were stuck.
[00:50:21] And that's exactly what sin does.
[00:50:23] It starts sweet and then it turns sour.
[00:50:29] Always, always.
[00:50:32] Listen, there are no exceptions.
[00:50:39] Sin can never deliver what it promises.
[00:50:45] Always, always it will bring destruction.
[00:50:50] That's the picture that we see here.
[00:50:52] Always, always, it will bring slavery.
[00:50:56] Church, it is the same with us.
[00:50:59] Think about the escape from anxiety that you use.
[00:51:03] It becomes the source of anxiety when your wife finds out, doesn't it?
[00:51:09] Think about the bottle that once brought you comfort now brings shame and fear as you realize that you can't stop.
[00:51:18] Think about the career that you dreamed would define your worth now destroys it as your family falls apart.
[00:51:26] Do you see the trap?
[00:51:28] Sin will always enslave you and what we will see in the next point is that it will always bring destruction.
[00:51:39] Proverbs 5.
[00:51:40] I mean, I've been going through the book of Proverbs.
[00:51:43] I encourage you to check that out.
[00:51:45] It is a beautiful book.
[00:51:47] Proverbs 5, verse 21 says this, For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all of your paths.
[00:51:57] Listen, that could be at the same time scary and encouraging, right, depending on what you're doing right now.
[00:52:02] The evil deeds of the wicked, listen, the evil deeds of the wicked, what does it do?
[00:52:10] It ensnares them.
[00:52:11] The cords of their sin hold them fast.
[00:52:16] For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.
[00:52:22] You see, Solomon tells us that sin ensnares you like cords that hold you fast.
[00:52:27] It's not just something that slows you down.
[00:52:29] It actually begins to bind you.
[00:52:30] You get entangled in it.
[00:52:32] It wraps around you.
[00:52:33] And the more you struggle, guess what?
[00:52:36] The more it constricts.
[00:52:41] When I was younger, I had this corn snake in this aquarium, and it kept getting out.
[00:52:46] I had this top on it, and it'd kind of sneak out on the side.
[00:52:52] You could open up the top, or you could take the whole lid off, but it would kind of sneak out the side.
[00:52:57] So I had this brilliant idea.
[00:52:58] I got duct tape, and I taped the whole lid around it so it couldn't get out.
[00:53:06] And one day I go to look for my corn snake.
[00:53:08] It was a really cool one.
[00:53:09] It was like orange and white.
[00:53:10] It was such a cool snake.
[00:53:12] Sherry would have hated it.
[00:53:13] And I looked in the aquarium and it was like,
[00:53:19] It's gone.
[00:53:19] What's going on?
[00:53:20] So I kind of open up the lid, and it's not in there, and I'm like, what is going on?
[00:53:23] How did this thing get out?
[00:53:24] I mean, this thing was like airtight.
[00:53:27] And so then I'm like, I've got to figure this out.
[00:53:28] So I start pulling the tape off around it, and I'm still looking.
[00:53:32] I pull the lid off, and it's not in there.
[00:53:34] And then I look over at the tape, and somehow it had made its way into, in between the lid and the tape, and it was literally stuck to the tape.
[00:53:44] It was dead.
[00:53:48] How many of you have ever seen those mice traps?
[00:53:52] You know what I'm talking about, don't you?
[00:53:54] And I know this is a little bit, but this is such a great picture of sin.
[00:53:59] What happens with those mice?
[00:54:02] They walk over it.
[00:54:03] It's just a piece of sticky paper.
[00:54:05] That's all it is.
[00:54:06] And they go over and they put a foot on it.
[00:54:09] I don't know, a paw, whatever they have.
[00:54:11] And they can't get it up, can they?
[00:54:13] And so what do they do?
[00:54:16] They put the other one on to try to push off, and guess what?
[00:54:19] And eventually, you find them, they are entwined, stuck on that thing.
[00:54:24] And what happens to every one of those mice?
[00:54:29] Dead.
[00:54:32] You see, that's the picture that God gives us of sin.
[00:54:39] And I want to share this this morning.
[00:54:40] That's why God tells us to deal with this decisively.
[00:54:46] Hebrews 12.1 says we should throw off everything that hinders in the sin, I love what it says here, that so easily entangles us.
[00:54:56] How many of you have ever tripped over your shoelaces?
[00:55:00] Isn't it interesting?
[00:55:01] It's not the huge boulders that we have to fear.
[00:55:04] We don't trip over those.
[00:55:05] We trip over the little things that wrap around our feet, and before we know it, we're on our face.
[00:55:14] That's the picture of sin.
[00:55:22] So sin starts sweet, it turns sour, it always escalates, it always leads to destruction.
[00:55:28] And this is, I think, the most important point that I want to bring before you this morning, and it's this.
[00:55:32] Sin always, always leaves a legacy.
[00:55:39] Let's continue to read this morning in Exodus 1, verse 15.
[00:55:44] The king of Egypt saw, said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shipram and Puah,
[00:55:52] By the way, there are some names in Scripture you should not use.
[00:55:57] Let's just go ahead and give these ones a break.
[00:56:00] I'm glad we don't have any Puahs here.
[00:56:05] When you were helping the Hebrew woman during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him.
[00:56:14] But if it's a girl, let her live.
[00:56:16] And so the midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Israel, or rather Egypt, had told them to do.
[00:56:22] They let the boys live.
[00:56:24] And then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, Why have you done this?
[00:56:28] Why have you let the boys live?
[00:56:30] And the midwives answered Pharaoh, Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women.
[00:56:34] They are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.
[00:56:37] Anybody, we got any vigorous on the way to the hospital ladies here today?
[00:56:43] I don't know if I should ask that question.
[00:56:45] And so God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.
[00:56:50] And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
[00:56:53] Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people.
[00:56:56] Listen, it wasn't just the midwives now, it wasn't just the professionals.
[00:56:59] Everybody now is responsible to kill Hebrew boys.
[00:57:05] Everybody.
[00:57:07] Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.
[00:57:17] And so here we see Pharaoh's true heart.
[00:57:21] He is not satisfied with enslaving Israel.
[00:57:27] Listen, he wants to destroy their future.
[00:57:36] Pharaoh wants to erase every trace of hope that the Hebrews can change their circumstances.
[00:57:44] He wants to lock their bondage in place for the long haul.
[00:57:47] And so you know what he does?
[00:57:48] He does what every tyrant does throughout history.
[00:57:51] He targets the most vulnerable in society, the easiest, the weakest target.
[00:57:56] Who does he target?
[00:57:59] The next generation.
[00:58:02] And that is exactly what sin does.
[00:58:05] It isn't content with just a little bit of compromise.
[00:58:08] It aims to steal your peace.
[00:58:10] It aims to wreck your home.
[00:58:11] It aims to, listen, destroy your future.
[00:58:16] And here's the hard truth that you need to catch this morning.
[00:58:19] Your sin doesn't stop with you.
[00:58:25] No man is an island
[00:58:29] It's not something that you are doing when nobody is looking.
[00:58:33] As long as I'm not hurting anybody, let me tell you, sin never stops with you.
[00:58:39] It radiates.
[00:58:40] It ripples.
[00:58:41] It reproduces.
[00:58:42] And unfortunately, the damage of sin is never isolated.
[00:58:46] It always goes outward.
[00:58:47] It affects your marriage.
[00:58:49] It affects your family.
[00:58:50] It affects our church.
[00:58:51] It affects the community.
[00:58:53] Listen, sin affects our nation.
[00:58:57] One of the most significant factors that shapes us, think about it, is the people around us.
[00:59:03] We're all partly a product of our environments, aren't we?
[00:59:07] What we were taught, what we watched, what we survived, what we normalized in our home.
[00:59:12] And yes, there is hope.
[00:59:14] We live in a nation of great opportunity.
[00:59:16] God's grace is amazing.
[00:59:18] People can heal.
[00:59:19] Cycles can break.
[00:59:20] However, we have to be honest with where we've started.
[00:59:26] Let's call this what it is.
[00:59:27] Listen, listen.
[00:59:29] Every one of us has felt we are living with the effects of our parents' sin.
[00:59:39] Every one of us.
[00:59:41] Not because our parents are terrible people, but because they are human.
[00:59:47] And sin doesn't stay contained with them.
[00:59:50] A father's anger becomes a son's anxiety.
[00:59:54] A mother's criticism becomes a daughter's shame and perfectionism.
[00:59:58] Infidelity doesn't just break vows.
[01:00:01] It breaks a kid's ability to trust people.
[01:00:05] Addiction doesn't just take a person.
[01:00:07] Listen, it changes the whole atmosphere of a home.
[01:00:11] This is real church, and it is extremely powerful.
[01:00:17] And listen, we're not talking about generational sin so that you can go and blame your parents and all your hard life, you know, this is why I'm such a terrible person.
[01:00:26] It's all their fault.
[01:00:28] No, listen, it's about naming what shaped you so that you can stop passing it on, so that you can stop doing something about it.
[01:00:39] Someone once told me, listen, and I know I've said this before and I will say it again, it may not be your fault, but what?
[01:00:45] You guys remember the rest of this?
[01:00:47] but it's your responsibility.
[01:00:52] It may not be your fault but it is your responsibility.
[01:00:58] You may not be responsible for what happened to you but you can determine where it stops.
[01:01:11] Isn't that good news?
[01:01:14] You have the resources of heaven to change your present and your kids' future.
[01:01:23] It is available to you.
[01:01:30] I want to take a moment to explain why this is critical for us to understand as we go through the book of Exodus.
[01:01:38] Listen, because the Old Testament, let's be honest, it can be a hard read.
[01:01:43] Amen?
[01:01:44] At times it feels brutal.
[01:01:46] Often it seems as if God is brutal.
[01:01:51] But so much of the Old Testament that we interpret as anger from God is actually God protecting His people.
[01:01:59] Because nobody understands the damage that sin causes like God.
[01:02:07] He's the only one that truly understands its danger.
[01:02:14] Not that it just breaks rules, but listen, it destroys lives.
[01:02:17] Not just that it hurts individuals, it spreads.
[01:02:22] Sin can move from one person to a family, to a church, to a community, to a nation, and it can infect generation after generation after generation after generation.
[01:02:32] and so listen we have to understand right up front in this first chapter of Exodus that God takes sin very seriously and it's not because he's looking for people to punish but because he's determined listen our God is a protector he is a healer he is our savior and sin makes the very things we want most impossible
[01:03:01] Right, let me rephrase this.
[01:03:02] Sin makes the very things we want most impossible to hold.
[01:03:06] Think about that.
[01:03:08] You can't truly live in peace while you're entangled in what steals peace.
[01:03:15] You can't walk in joy while you're feeding what numbs and corrodes joy.
[01:03:20] You can't do both of those things.
[01:03:23] You can't experience real reconciliation while you're hiding things that fracture trust.
[01:03:31] you can't live in freedom while you're bound by what enslaved you can't have both at the same time and ultimately this is the deepest issue you can't be in full communion with your creator while you're choosing things that separate you from him are you with me this morning
[01:03:55] You see, sin doesn't just break laws, it breaks fellowship, it steals wholeness, it destroys life.
[01:04:00] And in Exodus 1, God is showing us what He's trying to prevent when He says, no, don't walk that path.
[01:04:10] And so many often, so often we miss this completely
[01:04:38] When we look at the Old Testament and we look at these things and these stories, we think it's outdated or these laws, these are recommendations maybe that God has, but it doesn't really apply to me.
[01:04:49] It doesn't affect me.
[01:04:50] Sometimes we act like we're the exception, but I want to challenge you this morning.
[01:04:56] If God takes this seriously, then I think we might need to as well.
[01:05:05] And so as we go through the book of Exodus, we're going to see some drastic measures that God takes to protect His people.
[01:05:12] If God takes this seriously, then I think it's wise for us to do the same.
[01:05:17] And so today is the day.
[01:05:18] When is the day?
[01:05:19] Today.
[01:05:21] Today is the day that we deal with sin.
[01:05:26] Today is the day that we repent.
[01:05:27] Today is the day that we ask for forgiveness.
[01:05:30] Listen, sin has already wasted so much of your life.
[01:05:34] Don't let it waste another moment.
[01:05:38] Today is the day
[01:05:41] of Salvation and so I want to take a few moments I know we're running a little short but listen let's start this year off right amen how many of you believe that this is going to be a good year in the Lord with you how many believe that well let me tell you I recently heard a saying that said this if if you believe that you can or if you believe that you can't you're right
[01:06:06] And so I believe, listen, I believe this is going to be an amazing year for our church.
[01:06:09] We've got some spectacular.
[01:06:11] God is faithful.
[01:06:13] He's, man, I believe people, man, I just believe an outpouring of the Spirit this year.
[01:06:19] and listen I'm believing that for you as well it doesn't matter if you don't believe it for you though it doesn't matter listen if if you're if you're you cannot the very things that you want in your life joy peace security you cannot have those things while you are walking in sin they don't match okay they don't mix
[01:06:41] Those are the very things that are stealing what you desire.
[01:06:46] I know that they promised them.
[01:06:47] I know that you thought maybe for a moment you had those things, but let's get real with ourselves.
[01:06:55] Man, let's take some moment because I just believe the Lord wants to transform your life this year.
[01:07:01] I believe He wants to do something new.
[01:07:03] I believe that some of you have been on the fence for so long and there is a depth that He wants to take you to that you've never experienced.
[01:07:09] The question is, will you take that with Him?
[01:07:11] Will you proceed?
[01:07:12] Will you do what you need to do to move forward?
[01:07:16] Will this be the year for you?
[01:07:18] It could be like every other year where you've made some plans and you never follow through.
[01:07:21] Well, listen, this can be the year where you follow through and you see the favor of the Lord on your life.
[01:07:27] But it starts with a repentant heart.
[01:07:29] It starts with us cleaning house.
[01:07:31] It starts, listen, with one of the scariest things that some of you, listen, you won't even do because you're so scared of it.
[01:07:36] You know what it is?
[01:07:38] It's being honest with yourself.
[01:07:42] Some of you today, man, you feel the Holy Spirit already prompting you.
[01:07:45] Man, I'm excited about this time because I want to give us an opportunity to just release those things for the Lord.
[01:07:52] Man, and when that happens, the freedom that comes, the favor that comes,
[01:08:02] And so this morning, let's have a moment with the Lord.
[01:08:06] I know we're a little long, but I really don't mind this because I believe the Lord wants to do something fresh this morning.
[01:08:12] So let's bow our heads for a moment because some of you this morning, maybe for the first time, you're starting to realize the potency of sin.
[01:08:31] Not just mistakes, man, but it is a power that traps, it is a power that corrodes, it is a power that spreads, and maybe you've known it for a long time.
[01:08:41] But honestly, you thought that there's nothing you can do about it.
[01:08:45] Well, today I want to tell you that today is the day of salvation.
[01:08:48] Some of you feel stuck.
[01:08:50] Some of you feel like your past has had the final word.
[01:08:52] But here's the good news of the gospel.
[01:08:54] You are not beyond rescue.
[01:08:55] You are not too far gone.
[01:08:57] Jesus came for people just like you.
[01:09:00] He came for sinners just like me.
[01:09:04] And Jesus came to bring you out.
[01:09:08] And so if you're ready to turn to Him today and ask Him into your life to save you from your brokenness, become Lord of your life, I just wanna, right where you are, I just wanna, if you can raise your hand and look at me, I just would love to pray with you this morning.
[01:09:20] If nobody's here, that's okay.
[01:09:21] I just wanna pray for those this morning.
[01:09:23] If that's you, I'd like to pray, amen.
[01:09:25] Anybody else?
[01:09:26] Anybody?
[01:09:27] We're just gonna pray together.
[01:09:28] Let's make Jesus not just our Savior, but we believe His way is truth.
[01:09:34] His word is life and so we want to make him Lord of our life and so this morning let's go ahead and pray this together if you want to receive from the Lord I encourage you to posture yourself in such a way to receive let's all pray this together Jesus I need you I confess that I have sinned I've tried to live life my way oh it's left me empty and bound today I turn from my sin
[01:10:05] and I turn towards you thank you for dying on the cross for me thank you for rising again come on pray this forgive me cleanse me make me new be my savior be my lord fill me with your spirit teach me to follow you and lead me into the freedom you promised and everybody said amen amen listen
[01:10:36] I have one other prayer I want to do, but for those of you who have just prayed, for those of you who are new to church, I love newcomers here, at this point, here's your next step.
[01:10:44] We're not done.
[01:10:45] Here's your next step, though.
[01:10:46] We have a discipleship program that's starting in January.
[01:10:50] You need to be a part of that.
[01:10:52] That is your next step, right?
[01:10:54] At some point, if you want to move forward, you have to do the things that are moving forward.
[01:10:58] That's moving forward.
[01:10:59] I believe it is a...
[01:11:01] I love being a part of it and I want to encourage you to be a part of that as well but before we move on I want to have one more prayer and for those of us so if we can again posture ourselves in such a way to receive because listen because one of the most dangerous places to be and this is some of us today one of the most dangerous places to be is to be casual with sin
[01:11:28] Not wrestling, not repenting, not resisting, just, I guess this is just the way it is.
[01:11:35] and some of us aren't merely tempted we are actually listen some of us this morning we are agreeing with it we're not just coming to the edge listen some of us are intentionally you know your heart you are intentionally walking forward and i want to say this to you with all of the love that i can muster as your pastor god loves you too much to bless what will destroy you
[01:12:02] God will not bless a life built on unrepentant sin.
[01:12:06] God will not bless a relationship founded on unrepentant sin.
[01:12:13] He will not bless a career that is guided by unrepentant sin.
[01:12:19] Not because He's withholding good, but because He refuses to partner with that which brings death.
[01:12:34] When we knowingly, openly sin against God, we are inviting, listen church, with all the love in my heart, we are inviting destruction into our lives and into our homes and into our futures and our children.
[01:12:51] And I'm not here to shame you.
[01:12:53] Listen, it's meant to wake us up because sin never is just about you.
[01:12:57] It spreads, it entangles, it affects generation after generation.
[01:13:00] And so here's the invitation I have for you this morning.
[01:13:03] Right now, ask the Holy Spirit to search you.
[01:13:05] Lord, where have I been casual?
[01:13:08] Where have I been justifying?
[01:13:10] Where have I been hiding?
[01:13:12] Where have I been defying your word?
[01:13:15] Bring it second into the light.
[01:13:19] I want to encourage you this morning, not in vague generalities, Lord, I have some unspoken sin, I don't know what it is.
[01:13:25] Listen, name it.
[01:13:26] Even right now, just under your breath, confess to the Lord, Lord, I confess of this sin.
[01:13:31] Even where you are, right now, but I know that this is wrong.
[01:13:34] This is not your way, I confess it.
[01:13:37] Expose the lie, church, be set free from it.
[01:13:41] And lastly, turn towards Jesus.
[01:13:44] But I repent of this sin.
[01:13:46] I turn from it.
[01:13:47] I recognize its destructive nature.
[01:13:51] I turn towards you.
[01:13:53] Listen, repentance isn't God's punishment.
[01:13:55] It's God's rescue.
[01:13:56] It's the doorway out of Egypt.
[01:13:59] It's the doorway out of sin.
[01:14:00] And if that's you today, if you need to surrender something, I want to pray this over you today.
[01:14:07] Father, we step into your light right now.
[01:14:09] Come on, church.
[01:14:11] We refuse to minimize sin any longer.
[01:14:14] We refuse to excuse it.
[01:14:15] We refuse to manage it.
[01:14:17] We bring it to you.
[01:14:20] We confess.
[01:14:21] We have carried Egypt into places you meant to be holy.
[01:14:25] We have called bondage normal.
[01:14:27] We have justified the things that are destroying us.
[01:14:32] This morning we repent.
[01:14:34] We turn from hidden compromise.
[01:14:36] We turn from divided loyalty.
[01:14:38] We turn from counterfeit comfort.
[01:14:41] We turn from anything that keeps us bound.
[01:14:44] We surrender to you fully our bodies,
[01:14:49] Our minds, our relationships, our screens, our money, our appetites, our anger, our pride, everything
[01:15:00] Jesus, you're not only Savior, this morning we declare you are Lord of our lives.
[01:15:05] You reign over every part of us.
[01:15:08] Sin does not get a seat at the table anymore.
[01:15:13] And so Holy Spirit, break the cords, cut the entanglements, heal what sin has wounded, restore what sin has stolen, replace counterfeit comfort with your presence.
[01:15:26] And Lord, we declare this over our homes.
[01:15:30] We declare this over our children.
[01:15:33] We declare this over our families.
[01:15:35] The cycle ends here.
[01:15:37] We will not tolerate it anymore.
[01:15:40] Shame does not get the last word.
[01:15:42] Bondage does not get the final.
[01:15:43] Say, by your grace and your grace alone, freedom grows from this moment forward.
[01:15:49] And if that is your prayer today, let's give the Lord an amen.
[01:15:54] Amen.
[01:15:55] Come on.
[01:15:56] Amen.
[01:15:58] Man, it is right in front of some of you this morning.
[01:16:01] I can sense it is right in front of you.
[01:16:03] Let's stand.
[01:16:05] Some of you, listen, what you do from here is you walk forward in this new life that no longer has control over you, that no longer defines who you are.
[01:16:19] And so let me speak this blessing and posture yourself in such a way to receive it this morning.
[01:16:26] May the Lord meet you in the ordinary days ahead.
[01:16:30] May repentance become your pathway to peace.
[01:16:33] May you experience the joy of being fully loved and fully free.
[01:16:37] May your relationships grow healthier, your conscience grow clearer, come on, and your faith grows stronger as you follow Jesus.
[01:16:46] And may this new year, listen, let it be marked with freedom.
[01:16:53] Let it be marked with joy in every home.
[01:16:56] Let it be marked with peace because King Jesus is on the throne, amen?
[01:17:05] Amen.
[01:17:06] It is so great to be with you.
[01:17:07] Have a happy new year.
[01:17:09] Be blessed.