Nicodemus

[0:00] Good morning everybody. This is the day that the Lord has made.

[0:11] We will rejoice and be glad. This is the day that the Lord has made.

[0:30] Let us rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made.

[0:45] Let us rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made.

[1:00] Let us pray. Holy God, we come to you today to exalt your holy name, to praise you and worship you. And we pray that this service of worship will be a blessing to you.

[1:11] May we experience your presence powerfully as we sing to you and know you more. In Jesus' name, amen. I'd like to invite you all to stand if you're able as we sing together.

[1:23] Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Stand up, stand up for Jesus.

[1:33] Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Stand up, stand up for Jesus.

[1:55] He's soldiers of the cross. He's soldiers of the cross. Lift high his royal banner. It must not suffer loss.

[2:07] From victory until victory, his army shall be lead. Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.

[2:24] Stand up, stand up for Jesus. The trumpet call obey. Forth to the mighty covenant In this glorious day.

[2:39] He that our brave now serve him Against unnumbered foes. Let courage rise with danger And strength his strength oppose.

[2:55] Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Stand in his strength alone. The arm of flesh will bail you Ye do not trust your own Put on the gospel armor Each beast put on with bear Where duty calls our danger Be never wanting there The Lord be with you.

[3:28] The Lord be with you. Please be seated. In your bulletin this morning You will find a mission moment. This is for our Joshua connection. And I want to give a little Explanation about this.

[3:39] We started this ministry years ago. And some people think It's to feed people in Niagara Falls. Which it does. It feeds people that don't have meals. Some people think it's to do A vacation Bible school in Niagara Falls.

[3:50] Which we do. And we provide clothing and furniture And a lot of things. But ultimately the purpose of this ministry Is to launch a church. To start a new congregation In that region of Niagara Falls.

[4:02] And because of our efforts And our support We now have a baby congregation. It's been worshiping for a couple of years. They have about 40-45 people Attending every week. Which is actually doubled The size of our Niagara Falls ministry.

[4:16] So it's really an amazing thing That because of your efforts And your generosity We're bringing the gospel to people. Unfortunately it's a baby congregation. So their contributions Are baby contributions.

[4:29] And so that's why we take up an offering To help them With trying to bring the gospel to Jesus Christ. So we call that to your attention this morning. Thank you. And we have some things going on this week.

[4:41] Tuesday from 5 to 6.30 Is the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. So we invite you to come on out To have some pancakes And it's for a free will offering.

[4:52] And all the donations for that Go toward our Easter celebration. So the Easter family celebration There's a clipboard going back around that. So check that out for help And donations and things For that ministry.

[5:06] Also then Tuesday we go for pancakes. Wednesday there's the Ash Wednesday service Here at 7 o'clock. And then Friday Is what the other clipboard is for Which is our first fish fry.

[5:17] Fish fry. Because we're kicking off Lent And we'll be doing fish fries On Fridays all the way through Lent. So we need some help with that. It's a wonderful ministry And outreach to our community. And it's actually a lot of fun.

[5:29] So I invite you to all of that. So I am thankful to be here In the house of the Lord with all of you. To be able to worship together. And I'd love to hear from you today. What are you all thankful for? What's God blessing you with?

[5:42] Yeah, Jim. Birth of your second grandson. Wonderful. Yay. What else? Yeah, Sue. Oh. So James got married And married somebody who is full of faith.

[6:04] Yeah. Yeah. For forgiveness. For forgiveness. Oh, goodness. For forgiveness. When you forget your birthday. Uh-oh.

[6:14] Don't do that. We're thankful. But we're thankful for forgiveness. Yes. Always. Always. Anyone else want to share? Up there.

[6:27] Yeah, Tom. My dad celebrated his 91st birthday Friday. 91. Woo. Oh, praise God. That's wonderful. Yeah. Anyone else? Yeah. Tom Cross was there celebrating birthday his Friday.

[6:40] Hundreds of people are coming here. Yeah. Yeah. There's much to be thankful for.

[6:51] I pray that we'll all become very aware of God's presence in our lives and the many blessings that God is giving to all of us. Every moment, God is there with you. So as we give back to God, let's reflect on just how good God is.

[7:06] Let's pray.

[7:36] Heavenly angels are watching over me. Heavenly angels are watching over me. Every day, every hour, I feel the love.

[7:49] I feel the power. Heavenly angels are watching over me. Every day, they're watching me. All night, yes, and all day.

[8:03] All night, yes, and all day. All night, yes, and all day. I know the angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, yes, and all day. All night, yes, and all day. Angels watching over me, over me.

[8:17] Every day, every hour, I feel the love. I feel the power. Heavenly angels are watching over me.

[8:29] Heavenly angels are watching over me. Every day, they're watching me. Oh, I lay me down to sleep. Angels watching over me, my Lord.

[8:41] I pray, Lord, my soul to keep. Angels watching over me, over me. Every day, every hour, I feel the love.

[8:56] I feel the power. Heavenly angels are watching over me. Every day, they're watching me. Yes, every day.

[9:08] I know that. Every hour. I feel the love. I know that. I feel the power. Heavenly angels are watching over me.

[9:18] Yes, every day. Yes, every day. They're watching me. Yes, every day. I know that. Every hour. Yes, I feel the love.

[9:29] I know that. I feel the power. Heavenly angels are watching over me. Yes, every day. Every day.

[9:39] The angels are watching over me. Watching over me. praise God for all blessings flow.

[9:51] Praise God for all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here beyond. Praise Him above me.

[10:08] Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him, all body of the host.

[10:19] Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Lord, we thank you for your goodness, for your blessings, for all that you've done for us and continue to do.

[10:38] Lord, we thank you and we praise you. We give back to you a reflection of our love and of our commitment, and we pray that you will bless these gifts, to be in ministry to others, that they too may come to know you and experience your love and your grace.

[10:54] In Jesus' name, amen. Please be seated. Let's come to the Lord in prayer. Lord, we come to you this day with open hearts, vulnerable and humble before you.

[11:13] We pray that you will respond boldly to our calls, taking these burdens, taking these pains, Lord, from us. Increase our trust in you.

[11:26] Increase our faith in you. Increase our dependence on you, Lord. We thank you and we praise you because we know you are good and you are there with us through everything. We pray, Lord, for people who are struggling physically.

[11:40] We pray that your healing hand will be upon them and that they will find recovery, that their body may become whole and well again. We bind up cancer in the name of Jesus through your power and grace, and we cast it out.

[11:58] We pray for healing of broken bones, for healing after surgery, for healing of all sorts of diseases. We pray that your healing hand will come upon your people powerfully, boldly, that we may proclaim your miracles.

[12:14] We pray for people who are grieving with heavy hearts, Lord, and we pray your comfort and your peace. Wrap them in your loving arms, Lord, and help them to know that you are there and you bring hope.

[12:30] Lord, we pray for people who are experiencing turmoil in their relationships. We pray that forgiveness will abound, that your grace will overflow, and that healing will occur between people.

[12:45] Lord, we pray for healing among people. We pray for people in their finances. We pray for an abundance, an overflowing, that people may feel secure.

[13:00] Lord, we pray for you. We pray that you will open eyes to opportunities and bring a path forward, Lord. Guide us all in the opportunity that you would have us to take.

[13:12] Open doors that need to be open, closed doors that need to be closed. Make your path straight and make your path lit by your light. Hold us in your firm foundation, Lord, as we trust in you for all things.

[13:30] We pray for our church. We lift it up to you, Lord, that you will continue to guide its ministries. We pray for discernment. We pray for wisdom.

[13:41] We pray for direction. We pray that any decisions made in this church may glorify you and be what you would have us do. Lord, we pray for our greater denomination.

[13:56] And we pray for our community. We pray for open hearts. And we pray that you will give us your boldness and strength to witness to others by what we say, by what we do, by the way we live, that people may know you through us.

[14:13] Give us that strength as we live into your victory in Jesus' name. Amen. Now let's hear from the word of the Lord. Good morning.

[14:53] Good morning. Our scripture reading this morning is from the book of John, chapter 3, verses 1 through 12. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

[15:08] He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.

[15:21] Jesus replied, Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. How can someone be born when they are old?

[15:31] Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born. Jesus answered, Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

[15:47] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying you must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases.

[15:59] You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. How can this be? Nicodemus asked.

[16:11] You are Israel's teacher, said Jesus, and do you not understand these things? Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen.

[16:22] But still, you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe. How then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

[16:33] This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Thank you, Jan.

[16:46] Two questions people have asked me about. First, am I glad to be back? No, it was 70 degrees, 80 degrees down there. Are you kidding? What's this white stuff?

[16:56] I don't like it. It's good to be back with you. That's what's true. And the second thing is people ask me, I seem to be hobbling around. I'll explain this once so I don't have to do it a couple hundred times.

[17:07] What they tell me from the x-rays is because I have flat feet, the bones in the bottom of my leg have twisted and so they don't line up with my knee anymore. So I have to twist them back.

[17:21] Now it took me 40, 50 years to twist them out of place so that's not going to happen right away but I'm wearing inserts in my shoes to help do that. So you might see me in sneakers. Don't be weirded out by that, you know?

[17:33] Last night somebody said sneakers. I've never seen you in sneakers. I own sneakers and jeans and t-shirts. I know. Some of you find it an amazing concept. I want to talk to you about something called the lottery effect.

[17:47] And that is that they've discovered that you can give people who are very poor a bunch of money. I mean a ton of money. And for the majority of them five years later they'll be broke.

[18:01] Why does that happen? How does that happen? It's almost as if they were programmed to never have money. Other people can actually find themselves in a situation where they've had a devastating loss and have no money even though they used to have wealth and all of a sudden it seems like they get it back.

[18:23] I want to talk to you about Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a leader of the Jewish people. He served on their leading council like a congressman.

[18:35] Nicodemus understood the rules. He lived by the rules. He believed in things. He was considered good. He was courageous. He was respected. That's an important thing.

[18:48] And he actually was quite wealthy. He's actually what everyone wanted to be. What people aspire to be even in our culture. yet something in Nicodemus was missing.

[19:01] Even though he had everything everybody seemed to want something wasn't right. So he snuck away at night to talk to Jesus.

[19:12] That's a good idea by the way. You could do that too. It's called prayer. If you're a little confused and not sure what to do with your life it's good to go and talk to God. God might give you the guidance you need like he did with Nicodemus.

[19:25] And what he did was he told Nicodemus you need a total shift. A complete change. In verse 3 he said truly I tell you no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are can you find it in the word search?

[19:47] On the far margin. Unless they're born again. You've probably heard that statement somewhere along the line. Some people even use it to describe people.

[19:58] Are you a born again? As if it's a noun. It's not a noun. It's a process. We can't see. We can't enter the kingdom of God.

[20:11] Unless we're born in a different way. We see things differently. We perceive things different than the way we have. And it's hard to see what you don't see.

[20:24] I know that might sound strange but the truth is sometimes we don't see it because we just never were exposed to it. My grandson asked me a question. the other day. He said you know Papa when I watch TV a lot of times I watch the shows my mother watched growing up.

[20:41] And she said that when she was growing up she'd watch the shows you watched growing up. He said which shows did you watch that your parents watched when you grew up? And I said dude there was no TV. As you gotta understand we didn't have a TV when I started out in life.

[20:57] So my parents they had a radio. Imagine sitting and listening to the box. Yeah. And he just kind of looked at me like dude you're old.

[21:14] Whole shift that his perspective this guy comes from another planet. Because in some ways I do. It's a different understanding when we see things that we don't normally see.

[21:28] It's up there in the word search too it starts with a P. Anybody see it? A paradigm shift.

[21:39] It's backwards you see it? Ever hear that word? Paradigm shift. Which is when you look to see things and become aware of something that previously you never even imagined.

[21:54] You must be born again. You gotta start over again. You need to be as the scripture could also be interpreted born from above.

[22:07] And Nicodemus is like what? Am I supposed to go to my mother's womb again? Well maybe. Jesus said you're a leader and you don't understand this?

[22:19] And the truth is we have a lot of leaders that don't get it. Sometimes you'll look at people who are leading and you'll say why can't you see what I see? And actually the goal is to find leaders who can see things we don't see.

[22:35] Amen? Not guide us to what we already knew. We don't need that. See most people are stuck. They have trouble with this whole concept because it's hard to believe.

[22:50] It sounds too easy and yet at the same time confusing. They want a new life. But how do you do that? How do you do that?

[23:03] When it feels as if it means giving up everything you've always known. When it means taking a stand where you're not used to standing.

[23:18] When you were a little child a baby baby little child the Bible says that give me a child until they're until they're about five or six and I will guide them in the way they should go.

[23:30] When you're born into this world your brain is vacant. There's nothing up there. Like an empty computer. That's why kids remember everything we remember nothing.

[23:42] Ours are clogged full of stuff. Old guys like me are going searching searching searching can't find it. I know it's in there but I can't find it. Anybody else have that problem? Yeah.

[23:52] Not babies. Everything you put in them is like sucked right in because it's empty. And they start to create patterns based on the information that has been implanted in their mind.

[24:07] And it goes into something called the subconscious. The subconscious are the operating programs of your brain. You know on the computer there's operating programs they're working regardless of what you put in the top.

[24:20] And whether you're aware of it or not if your operating program is broken it doesn't matter what you put in the top your computer is broken right? It's the same thing with people. We develop an operating program a subconscious that guides our lives.

[24:40] And it's developed largely by the time we're about five or six or seven years old. All this input a lot of it good a lot of it wonderful things you know pick up your fork and put it in your mouth not your nose I mean these are good things right?

[24:56] but some of them send us on a different pathway and so there are voices that are speaking in our subconscious that regardless of what we consciously think will reject that thought and will tell the rest of us to do what they have in mind.

[25:15] So your life is being guided by a five or six year old did you know that? Yeah it's being guided by a five or six year old and so what we need is we need a paradigm shift.

[25:28] Nicodemus was a leader he was programmed to be a leader. Nicodemus was wealthy he was programmed to be wealthy. Nicodemus followed the rules he was programmed to follow the rules he was respected because he was programmed to be respected it was who he was and Jesus said you have to make a decision to change.

[25:50] that's what this whole series has been about lives transformed through God but this whole series we've been talking about for the last few weeks is that you will never have your life transformed by God until you are motivated to change your life.

[26:09] Until you are excited about going in a different direction you will never be born again because it's like going back into the womb and starting over.

[26:22] Jesus said in verse 9 he said you what did he say he said Nicodemus said how can oh I'm reading the wrong nope I don't know anyways I'm reading the wrong verse I don't get it doesn't matter I'll find it in here basically what he said is that you don't understand spiritual truths that's the end of it actually you don't understand spiritual truths truths because you don't even understand earthly truths you don't even see what's going on the change requires a decision we have to go through a natural birth to be born into this world and we have to go through a spiritual birth to understand the things of God so Nicodemus says how can someone be born when they're old and the answer is it's hard it's really hard it's harder because the older we are the more we've been putting in information that supports what our subconscious has already decided to believe we filter out the stuff we don't agree with because our subconscious doesn't agree with it we turn the channel to the channel that supports us we go to the church it says what we want to hear we've already been programmed for the rest of our lives and it's hard to see new things when I was young about

[27:53] I'd say 32 33 I used to go out to breakfast with a couple of old guys I bet they were in their mid-50s really ancient fellas right this is like 1992 1993 and they were talking about something called the worldwide interweb or at least that's what they called it and the one guy is like what are you talking about he says no this is really cool you get on your computer you can put in any word and stuff just comes into your computer the guy's looking at him like what are you nonsense doesn't work that way no no really really all you do is type stuff into the computer and things just appear from all over the world now I'm a young guy and I never heard of that thing so I went home I was like this is neat I'm going to try this thing and it worked but the other old guy is like no that's just whacked you've been doing something wrong because it's hard when we're old to accept something new it just is and the reason is because old patterns and old habits and old understandings are hard to break you're not just trying to change your service mind you're not just trying to change your folders in your computer you're trying to change the operating system and changing the operating system is tough anybody remember the DOS operating system

[29:22] I wouldn't switch from that to Windows for five years because I believed Windows was just a flash it'll be gone changing the operating system means changing everything and to do that that means we have to change something else starts with an I do you see it up there you got to change the input you got to change the input in the computer you got to change the zeros and dots and ones that you put into the computer but in our lives we have to do something entirely different flesh gives birth to flesh but the spirit gives birth to spirit Jesus said it's a verse I was looking for earlier we're oriented to the things we've been taught by the culture around us and God is calling us to be oriented to what he wants so we're too focused on physical stimuli we're too focused on our natural desires and so we perceive what the world has told us to perceive you know we are what we tell ourselves

[30:39] I know you might not believe that there was a man in the 1930s wrote a book called think and grow rich his name was Napoleon Hill anybody ever read that book an old book when I was about 13 or 14 years old it had a lot to do with changing my life his philosophy was really very simple if you have a passion if you spend your days if you spend all your time if you work in every single way in every aspect of your life thinking only about breathing living and concerned about money you will become rich that's what it takes you want to be rich when you're not rich you've got to shift the paradigm and make it all about money change the input and you change the outcome a few years ago my sister sent a recipe for a soup to my wife and my wife had me go out to the store and buy these weird spices one was called garam masala and the other one was karda dim and dum dum now you probably could pronounce those right

[31:51] I can't they were outrageously expensive because this was years ago nobody used these things and and I thought this is so foolish it's for one bucket of soup so I said I've got to try some of these and other recipes all of a sudden people are telling me how great my cooking is it's amazing never tasted a taste like this it's not garlic it's not oregano it's not all the spices we're used to there's something in this chicken what is it not telling you it's garam masala and cardamandum dum dum dum since then I've discovered tarragon my sister sent me a jar of green stuff my daughter and wife could tell you what it is I don't know I just use it to cook with it's great I've discovered that if you put different things into the recipes I know this is going to sound crazy you get a different result right

[32:57] Philippians talks about this very clearly in chapter 4 it says brothers and sisters whatever is true whatever is noble whatever is right whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things whatever is true whatever is noble whatever is right whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things and whatever you've learned or received or learned from me or seen in me put into practice and the God of peace will be with you if you put in different inputs if you change what you put into your mind and your heart every day believe it or not little by little you can start to change the operating system oh that's not easy that's not going to come from one little input you've got to be putting this in so much that it overwhelms the operating system into changing everyday you need to wake up and say love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control the fruits of the spirit need to become a part of who you are

[34:20] Napoleon Hill said you've got it everyday think about money talk about money spend your time on money be with money live with money it's the same principle it changes us you see Nicodemus was a man with a foot in both worlds he wanted to live in the world he was raised to be the world that his culture told him which by the way was religious but God was calling him to live in a spiritual world a different place a place that went beyond religion and he needed to be born again that creates obvious confusion he went to see Jesus at night Nicodemus night the original Nicodemus night and why do you think he came at night he didn't want anybody to see him absolutely he calls Jesus teacher because he could perform signs he sees there's something in

[35:23] Jesus but he's still living in the shadows the bible says you can't serve two masters you'll either hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other and then here's the part that's the kicker it says you can't serve God and money whoa didn't expect that I thought Satan I thought evil I thought oh what does that mean Nicodemus is confused he's not sure what to think because his whole world is centered around what he's been taught to be he's a leader in the nation of Israel and the leading council got together because some guards were sent to get Jesus disciples and this is what they said finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees who asked them why didn't you bring Jesus in I said well nobody ever spoke like this man does the guards replied you mean he's deceived you also the Pharisees said have any of the rulers of the

[36:32] Pharisees believed in him no but this mob of dummies that knows nothing of the law there's a curse on them Nicodemus said he went to see Jesus at night and he asked him does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing and they replied are you ignorant too are you from the backwaters are you a rube look into it you'll find that no prophet comes out of Galilee duh Nicodemus what are you thinking and he just was quiet why do you think he was quiet because he wanted to fit in right no one can have two masters and yet Nicodemus is struggling with which world do I stand in this world or do I stand in this world and so he was quiet because he didn't want to be mocked he was a respected ruler so he decided to stand quietly where he didn't belong anymore

[37:46] Nicodemus was raised to be a leader he was raised to be wealthy he was raised to follow the rules and have courage and he was raised to be starts with an R do you see it up there respected oh let me tell you folks being loved is a wonderful thing but if you have a choice of being loved or respected go for being respected because you'll never find real love until you're really respected that's just the truth first you have to be respected like that's what I was taught that's in my what is that subconscious be respected do what's right it's his paradigm and Jesus says the wind blows wherever it pleases you hear it sound but you can't tell where it comes from or where it's going that's what it's like with people born of the Holy Spirit that they are being guided by

[38:47] God that they let go my grandma used to say that all the time let go and let God I haven't talked about my grandma much lately she was born quite wealthy and married a wealthy guy who lost almost all the money he ever had and when they died she was living on social security income which back then was like $8,000 a year the difference is she was happy the quantity of money and the quantity of things didn't matter she was happy let go and let God don't have one foot in one kingdom and another foot in another kingdom stand in God's kingdom because what would happen if we were born into a place where the rules that we've been taught to live by don't really matter anymore the next few weeks we're going to talk about starts with a K do you see it on the bottom kingdom of

[39:57] God where God is the primary concern God is the primary focus God is the reason we live and we exist and what we are what if we were born into a kingdom where God was first and what would it mean for Napoleon Hill's idea of think and grow rich first Timothy says to us the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs money isn't bad it's just paper I like it it's good stuff I like having a lot of it but I've discovered that that paper doesn't change who I am what I am or how people think about me or feel about me or what I can do for God and if I have a choice between God or money between the ideas of what matters that this world is trying to convince us of every day on that

[41:07] TV screen that didn't exist when I was a kid on that computer that didn't exist when I was a kid then maybe we can be born again Jesus died we call it Good Friday we're going to celebrate that in a few weeks you say celebrate yes because his death gave us life right but when he died and was hanging there on the cross and they took the body down do you know what his disciples did the people who loved him and followed him around for three years they scattered into the darkness they disappeared into the shadows because they were afraid they were afraid the kingdom that they thought Jesus promised didn't turn out the way they expected and so they they disappeared a guy named

[42:07] Joseph of Arrhythmia came to get Jesus Bible our body we never even heard of the guy before or since just some guy came along and got Jesus body but he had a friend who came with him anybody want to guess what his name was Nicodemus stepped out of the shadows and when everybody else was slinking away Nicodemus took a stand and you might say well that's courageous but it's beyond that it says that he brought a hundred and fifty thousand dollars in spices to anoint Jesus body I wonder if the garrison masala and cardamendodom were among them I don't think so but can you imagine that's why we know he was wealthy anybody who's got that amount of spices or buy that amount of spices isn't poor right but not only was did he have it he was willing to give it to Jesus what does it mean to be born again it means a paradigm shift and that paradigm shift means that we need to make a decision to change which is what we've been talking about a few weeks and then we need to live into that decision we need to live into a different way of seeing life so we're going to talk over the next few weeks about what is kingdom living what does the bible tell us the kingdom of god is like

[43:41] Jesus gave us a clue because we read this chapter actually quite a lot chapter 3 in the 16th verse it says god so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life for god did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him god is not a god of condemnation god is a god of love that's what those verses tell us god did not come here to hurt or destroy or punish you god does not live to the concerns of the world where they try to rip each other apart tear each other down how can we make people we respect look worse how can we rip apart our leaders how can we talk about people as if they're garbage instead it says don't condemn learn how to live to love so Napoleon Hill was right about one thing and that is what you put your focus on is what you will become we have a different way of saying it in the bible seek first god's kingdom and god's righteousness and the rest of this stuff will take care of itself you won't have to worry about it you won't have to struggle with it you won't get caught up in it you'll stand where god wants you to stand you must be born of the water and the spirit some people think that's the womb and the holy spirit others say no that's the water of the holy spirit the water of baptism and the decision we make why why do we say it's so important that if you're going to baptize a child that they become part of the church so that we can put the right input into them right from the beginning god bless you parents that you're giving at least a little bit of the message of god so that your children can stand in the kingdom of god listen before creation my eternity in your hand you spoke the earth into motion my soul now to stand listen before my failure and carried the cross for my shame my sin weighed upon your shoulders my soul now to stand so what can I say and what can I do do love to change so paddle his head

[47:21] I can't see who season who潮 come from hear and hope of salvation your spirit unneav in me My life to declare your promise My soul now to stand So what can I say?

[47:54] What can I do? The offer this time of God With you I'll stand with my fire on the banner In awe of the one who gave it all I'll stand my soul, my dear surrender All I am is yours I'll stand with my arms high on the banner In awe of the one who gave it all I'll stand my soul, my dear surrender

[48:55] All I am is yours All I am is yours We need to make a decision Right here, right now That we're going to live in a different direction We're going to push aside the brokenness And we're going to receive the wonder, the blessing of God Will you pray with me?

[49:30] Dear God in heaven Dear God in heaven Dear God in heaven I have sinned I have sinned I've followed the wrong voices I've followed the wrong voices I'm living the wrong way I'm living the wrong way Take my heart, Lord Take my heart, Lord Take my mind Take my soul Take my soul Take my soul And change me Change me What I believe What I believe What I do What I do What I am What I am In Jesus' name we pray In Jesus' name we pray Amen Amen God has decided For you Before you were even born He decided for you That if you would make that decision He'll send the spirit to change your life Change your operating system In the name of Jesus Christ Your sins are forgiven In the name of Jesus Christ Your sins are forgiven Glory to God Amen Amen Every time my heart

[50:43] Turns from darkness to light Every time temptation comes And someone's time to fight Every time somebody lives To serve and not be served I know, I know, I know, I know God is on the moon On the moon Hallelujah God is on the moon In many mighty ways God is on the moon On the moon Hallelujah God is on the moon On the moon today Every time in week There's someone Falls upon their knees For dares to speak the truth That sets men free And every time the truth Is made to stand up on the world I know, I know, I know, I know God is on the moon On the moon Hallelujah God is on the moon In many mighty ways God is on the moon

[51:43] On the moon Hallelujah God is on the moon On the moon today I see a generation Standing on the moon In each and every nation God is on the moon Two, three Many times the gospel Stills a surgeon's soul And someone says Sending me here I go I know, I know, I know I know, I know God is on the moon On the moon Hallelujah God is on the moon in many mighty ways.

[52:29] God is on the moon, on the moon, hallelujah. God is on the moon, on the moon today. I see a generation standing on the truth.

[52:50] In each and every nation, God is on the moon. Amen. God is on the moon within us and all of us together as a body of Christ.

[53:02] And so as we prepare for a table of grace, let's greet our brothers and sisters with the peace of the Holy Spirit. He does the one, two, one, two, three, four.

[53:19] Okay, well. I'm getting stuck in the string.

[53:32] I'm getting stuck in the string. I'm getting stuck in the string, huh? I'm getting stuck in the string. Great.

[53:45] Long live. Long live. Long live. New and baby. We need nothing. We need nothing. Long live. Okay. But, what would you remember there were just 그러니까 Seattle, which came out of court?

[53:56] IPU ce n'amur to get a book that I can't give themooth 영sek güey, but I got a book that i'm telling a book that all I can have described as the book that will be perfectly learned about it. Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

[54:43] Just as I am though tossed about, with many a conflict, many a doubt, by dreams and fears within, without the Lamb of God, I come, I come.

[55:14] Just as I am thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, heart and cleanse freely, because I promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

[55:52] Amen. Do you believe the promise today? Amen. There is a beautiful and wonderful promise that we remember when we come to the table, that we receive fresh and new when we come to the table, and everyone is welcome at the table.

[56:07] If you love God, repent of your sin, and seek to live in peace as disciples of Jesus Christ, you are welcome to come to receive the promise, fresh and new, this day.

[56:21] And as you come to the table, you come alone, but you come with everyone who is a member of the body of Christ, who is coming to receive all that God has.

[56:34] You are welcome this morning, not because I invite you, but because God himself has invited all people. If you know that God is calling you this day to be part of the church of Jesus Christ, you come.

[56:51] The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift up your hearts. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

[57:01] It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere, to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.

[57:15] When we turned away and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets.

[57:28] And so with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

[57:44] Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy are you and blessed is your son, Jesus Christ.

[57:55] Your spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people.

[58:11] He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

[58:29] Now on that night in which he gave himself up for us, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks to you. And he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples. He said, take and eat.

[58:39] This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And when the supper was over, he took the cup. Again, he gave you thanks and praise and gave it to his disciples.

[58:52] He said, drink from this all of you. This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.

[59:06] And so in remembrance of these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ's offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

[59:22] Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here. And on these gifts of bread and wine, make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood.

[59:43] By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

[59:55] Through your Son, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit and your Holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. Amen. Shall we pray as Jesus taught us?

[60:09] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread.

[60:23] And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[60:36] For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

[60:50] The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

[61:17] Amen. Will those who are serving this morning please come forward. Amen. Thank you.

[62:20] Thank you.

[62:50] Thank you. I'd like to invite you all to stand if you're able as we sing together, Standing on the Promises.

[63:20] Standing on the Promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let His praises bring.

[63:42] Glory in the highest I will shout and sing, Standing on the Promises of God. Standing, standing, Standing on the Promises of God my Savior.

[64:02] Standing, Standing. I'm standing on the Promises of God.

[64:14] Standing on the Promises of God. Standing on the Promises of God. When the howling storms of doubt and fear are said, By the living Word of God I shall prevail.

[64:30] Standing on the Promises of God. Standing, Standing. Standing on the Promises of God my Savior.

[64:44] Standing on the Promises of God.

[64:56] Standing on the Promises of God. Standing on the Promises of God. So there was a couple of kids hanging around listening to their parents talking and doing what parents do.

[65:10] And the one said to the other, you know, adults, I mean really all they do is talk, talk, talk. They never do anything, they don't play, they don't have any fun. There's nothing more boring in life than adultery.

[65:28] You know, I've talked to little children. They're a delight. You must be teaching them something wonderful at home. I don't know that it's what we teach them before they're five that really is the biggest problem.

[65:41] It's what we allow our lives to be filled with from there on after. We start to listen to voices that aren't even our parents' voices and certainly aren't God's voices.

[65:53] Go be a child a little more. Because those who are like children will enter the kingdom of God, Jesus said. Love more. Play more. Forgive more.

[66:04] Live more. Because that's the image of God that you were created with. You have an operating system below your subconscious. And that came from God.

[66:16] Reach down and find it. And go and live. In Jesus name. Amen. Nothing more boring than adultery.

[66:31] There was nothing who worked on. But God knew before they had come true. Indeed. The living Raum in the Maria promised gate that were intelligent to Ginger.

[66:42] There might have been no future or not about that. Even the kä confuse. There was a very death when it was believed that chitliners are of the first hotel. Meaning a Gabriel mountainец, he laid out & even more blurry. Tonight will become an experience with someone that really should swim up with please. If you are�사ion, if this eternal leaned or not merci would come to God, Even more lions are there, The guston and awaited them their expression, It will see someone that surelyidé asRECO will be applied on hisidental kinком.

[66:57] Amen.